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Evers seeks to intervene in redistricting case

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Governor Tony Evers has signaled he wants to be involved in a redistricting case. Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul on Monday asked a federal court to allow Evers to intervene in a lawsuit filed last month by Democrats, that asks a federal court to draw the state’s next set of electoral maps.

The governor’s motion contends state law recognizes a joint role for both the governor and the Legislature in the redistricting process, and that the governor should be allowed to provide input in the litigation.

The Democratic governor said he intends to submit maps drawn by a commission he created to both the Legislature and the federal court for its consideration.

Wisconsin state employees report nearly 70 percent vaccination rate

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Nearly 70 percent of state employees in Wisconsin have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Eighty-seven percent of state employees have reported their vaccination status, and close to 70 percent report getting at least one dose, according to a Monday press release from the state Department of Administration.

That’s above the 55.5 percent of Wisconsinites who’ve received at least one dose of a vaccine.

So far, the Evers administration has not mandated vaccination for more than 30,000 state workers. DOA Secretary Joel Brennan said that given the ongoing public health threat posed by the Delta variant, vaccination remains the best tool for beating back the latest surge.

Keep an eye on your kid’s mental health as in-person classes resume

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As many kids head back to school for in-person classes, it’s important for parents and teachers to keep an eye on them to see how they’re adjusting.

UW-Health child psychologist Dr. Jason Horowitz says in most cases kids are going to be better off being with their peers, but in some cases that’s not true. 

“Kids who may be prone to anxiety particularly in social situations may have difficulty making the transition from what may be more comfortable for them, doing school at home or doing school virtually.”

Parents should be on the lookout for their kids acting out more or being more withdrawn than usual. Those sorts of behavioral changes could be signs their kid is having a tough time transitioning to school. 

“Teachers are really good at looking for those kinds of warning signs and I’m sure that they will be doing that as school kicks off again!”

Horowitz says it’s up to parents and teachers to help their kids make the adjustments they need to flourish with their peers. 

UW Health: Unvaccinated Wisconsinites 32 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19

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While “breakthrough” infections are occurring, unvaccinated people in Wisconsin are 32 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated, and 13 percent more likely to die than those who are fully vaccinated.

UW Health Dr. Joseph A. McBride says breakthrough cases are to be expected. “I really hope that people look at these breakthrough data not with cynicism and doubt, but with understanding this remains our best tool at lowering the rate of infection for the individual, and also the severity of infection for the individual.”

The discrepancy in COVID-19 cases among unvaccinated and vaccinated is confirmed in data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. At this point, 55.5 percent of Wisconsin residents have received at least one dose of a vaccine, and 52.2 percent have completed the vaccine series.

“The message that I hope the people of Wisconsin take, is that getting the vaccine is still the most effective way to limit someone’s risk of acquiring the infection, and significantly reduce the risk of having a severe manifestation of the infection, things like hospitalization and death,” McBride said.

Democrats confident of refugee vetting process at Fort McCoy

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Wisconsin Democrats who visited Fort McCoy on Tuesday said they’re certain of the vetting process Afghan refugees being housed there have undergone.

“We were hearing, at least anecdotally, that there’s just nobody who’s popped up that has any red flags,” said  U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin

“There are no 100 percent guarantees with any of this, but I am comfortable with the extreme vetting process that we were briefed on today,” said congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse.

Congressman Mark Pocan and several state lawmakers were also part of the delegation. Fort McCoy is one of eight military bases temporarily housing Afghan refugees.

As of Friday, more than 8,700 people had arrived at the base in central Wisconsin, which has a potential capacity of some 13,000. Kind said Tuesday that the number of refugees was no longer being updated by officials at the base.

Drive safely around school zones

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With students back at school in-person around Wisconsin, drivers are urged to remain aware of pedestrians in and around schools. Shawn Koval is schools coordinator with UW Health’s Healthy Kids Collaborative.

“The volume of traffic, and the volume of students and staff on those streets in front of schools and by schools is going to be much increased this year,” Koval said. “It’s especially imperative that those drivers stay off their devices, that they keep their head on a swivel and are aware in these school zones.”

Koval said it’s also imperative to pay attention to crossing guards signs, especially if you’re dropping kids off. “It’s really, really important to pay attention not only to the busses and things like that, but to the crossing guards, and to anybody that’s in yellow and orange, to follow their directions and follow the signage right around school buildings.”

Koval added that drivers and pedestrians alike should stay off their phones in school zones, so they can give full attention to their surroundings.

Wisconsin’s 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases is at its highest in more than 6 months

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Wisconsin’s 7-day average of new COVID-19 cases is at its highest in more than 6 months.  Ahead of Labor Day weekend, the state Department of Health Services encourages Wisconsinites to continue taking steps to protect themselves and others against COVID-19.

The state is seeing very high case activity, with the 7-day average of new confirmed cases at 1,699 and cases continuing to rise. Getting vaccinated against COVID-19, wearing a mask, avoiding indoor gatherings, staying home if you feel sick, and following other public health best practices are important steps everyone can take to stay safe and help prevent further spread.

“COVID-19 cases are rising in Wisconsin due to the more contagious Delta variant. People who are not yet fully vaccinated continue to make up the significant majority of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths,” said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer and State Epidemiologist for Communicable Diseases. “It is critical that we take action now to prevent further spread of the virus.

Tommy Thompson rejects Republican oversight of UW System COVID-19 protocols

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Interim UW System President Tommy Thompson

Interim University of Wisconsin System President Tommy Thompson says he won’t back down, in the face of demands by Republican lawmakers who want to weigh in on any campus COVID-19 protocols.

“I’m not abdicating my responsibility, and I will contest it aggressively,” Thompson said during a call with reporters on Tuesday.

“Even though I don’t want to pick a fight with the legislature, I am going to stand my ground to make sure that we maintain our colleges and make sure that our students are able to get the best education possible, in as safe and a healthy way as possible.”

Majority Republicans on the Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules have directed the UW System to submit its pandemic protocols for approval. Thompson said that’s not going to happen, and predicted the UW will win if the issue ends up in court.

“We will contest it,” Thompson said. “I don’t want to fight with the legislature, but we will contest it aggressively, whether it be in the circuit court, court of appeals or the Supreme Court.”

Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules co-chair, state Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), said he’ll ask legislative leaders to begin legal action against the UW System following a September 2nd deadline to submit those pandemic plans to the committee.

New state website provide details on tax allocations

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A new website can show you where your state tax dollars are spent. The information is provided by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

It reveals that 36 percent of state taxes go to K-12 schools, 16 percent to health-care programs like BadgerCare, eight percent to local property tax relief, 7 percent to the Department of Corrections (prisons), 6 percent to the UW System and 5 percent to local governments.

The site is the result of legislation (Act 66) from Senator Rob Cowles (R-Green Bay) and Representative Samantha Kerkman (R-Salem), the co-chairs of the legislature’s Joint Audit Committee.

“The website prepared and published by DOR, months in advance of the deadline we set by law, meets the requirements in Act 66 and exceeds my expectations,” Cowles said. “I encourage all Wisconsinites to visit the dashboard learn more about where their tax dollars are being used in Wisconsin State Government. I want to thank Secretary Barca and his team at DOR for their efforts to make the dashboard readily available.”

 

Wisconsin offers $100 gift card as vaccination incentive

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers hopes FDA approval of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, and a new state vaccine reward program, will drive up the state’s vaccine numbers.

“This is a double header for us, a double header win. One is, we’re providing this incentive, we think it’s going to make a difference. And we do believe that the approval of Pfizer is going to make a huge difference, too,” Evers said Monday during a press conference in Oshkosh. “You hear it all the time, people will say ‘well, they’ve just been emergency approved, now this one has been approved fully.”

Now through Labor Day, Wisconsin residents who get a first dose of a COVID vaccine will get a hundred dollar VISA gift card.

“With the COVID-19 vaccine reward program, you’re not only going to protect your communities and save lives, but you’re also going to get a hundred dollar VISA gift card to spend any place you want to, and for whatever you want to,” Evers said.