Author: The Associated Press

Wisconsin Republicans Ask Supreme Court to Block Extended Absentee Voting

State moving ahead with in-person voting despite health risks of coronavirus crisis

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin Republicans say they’re asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block extended absentee voting in Tuesday’s primary. Wisconsin is moving ahead with in-person voting despite concerns about the public health risks of the coronavirus crisis. A federal judge rejected lawsuits seeking to postpone the election but extended absentee voting by six days. The GOP says that…

Wisconsin GOP Says Election Should go on as Scheduled

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -Wisconsin Republicans Say Election Should be Held as Planned Tuesday Despite Governor’s Request to Delay Gov. Tony Evers is calling on the Legislature to meet in special session to approve moving Wisconsin’s presidential primary to an all-mail footing. Voting advocacy groups and Evers’ fellow Democrats have been pushing him and Republican legislative leaders to postpone Tuesday’s election…

Judge Won’t Delay Wisconsin Election but Extends Voting

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge on Thursday declined to postpone Wisconsin’s presidential primary over the health threat from the new coronavirus, but he ordered that people be given an extra six days beyond Tuesday’s election for absentee voting. U.S. District Judge William Conley had signaled in a court hearing earlier this week that he was uncomfortable overruling the…

Republicans Support Waiving Unemployment Waiting Period

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Republican legislative leaders said for the first time Wednesday that they support temporarily waiving a one-week waiting period for people to receive unemployment benefits as part of a state aid package in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said in a conference call that work was…

Federal Judge to Take Testimony in Election Lawsuits

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal judge was set to hear arguments Wednesday on why he should postpone Wisconsin’s spring election as the coronavirus continues to sweep across the state. The election is still set to go on as scheduled on Tuesday. A number of other states have postponed their spring elections to protect voters and poll workers from the…

Evers Seeks Disaster Declaration as Unemployment Grows

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers asked President Donald Trump on Tuesday to issue a major disaster declaration for the state of Wisconsin due to the coronavirus pandemic, as unemployment claims hit a daily high and the state’s health secretary warned lawmakers that Medicaid enrollments were going to increase dramatically. Evers said he hoped the declaration, which also would…

More Labs Helping With COVID-19 in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin will be able to double its capacity to process COVID-19 tests with the addition of new laboratories that will assist with the effort, Gov. Tony Evers said Monday. The new public-private partnership includes laboratory support from Exact Sciences, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Promega, and UW Health. Existing labs that had been doing the testing were able…

Wisconsin Dairy Farmers Hit Hard by Coronavirus

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The coronavirus has delivered a severe blow to Wisconsin dairy farmers who rely on selling milk to restaurants, schools and the hospitality industry. About one-third of Wisconsin dairy products, mainly cheese, are sold in the foodservice trade, the Journal Sentinel reported. Farmers say the coronavirus outbreak has caused milk prices to drop to unprofitable levels this spring, at…

Two Dane County Jail Inmates Have Coronavirus

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Two inmates in the Dane County Jail in Madison have tested positive for COVID-19 and results are pending on another six inmates who are in isolation. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said Thursday night that all of the inmates were tested after they had fevers. The sheriff’s office said nine more inmates who had contact with some…

Wisconsin COVID-19 Cases Jump to More Than 700

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin health officials report another jump in the number of positive COVID-19 tests. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services on Thursday reported 707 positive cases of the coronavirus. That’s more than 120 cases since Wednesday, when 585 positive tests were reported. The number of deaths in Wisconsin caused by COVID-19 stands at eight. Milwaukee County has the…

Gov. Tony Evers Orders Closure of Salons, Spas, Tattoo Parlors

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, file) MADISON, Wis. – In a continued effort to slow the spread of COVID-19 Gov. Tony Evers has ordered the closure of more businesses.  On Friday, Evers ordered all nail and hair salons, barbers, spas, tanning and tattoo parlors to be closed as of 5:00 p.m. Friday. Evers and state health officials said all of the…