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United Way report: 1/3 of Wisconsin households struggle with basic needs

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A new report from the United Way of Wisconsin shows about one-third of state households struggle to afford basic needs.

The study is based on 2018 data, so it doesn’t take into account any impact from COVID-19. The United Way report shows 11-percent of households were living below the federal poverty line, and 23-percent are ALICE households, an acronym standing for asset limited, income constrained, employed.

From the report:

For far too many families, the cost of living outpaces what they earn. Yet these workers perform jobs that are critical to the functioning of our local communities – educating our children, keeping us healthy, and making our quality of life possible. When funds run short, these households are forced to make impossible choices, such as deciding between quality child care or paying the rent, filling a prescription or fixing the car. These short-term decisions have long-term consequences not only for ALICE families, but for all of us. The future success of our communities is directly tied to the financial stability of these fragile ALICE households.

The United Way says Wisconsin needs to find ways to make child care and health care more affordable. More information, including data for all 72 counties, can be found here.

Governor Evers opposes White House plan to send federal agents to Milwaukee

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The White House has announced that Milwaukee is on the list of cities where President Trump will be sending federal agents to “make law enforcement stronger”.

Governor Tony Evers says he doesn’t want them here. 

“Amping up the Federal presence will I believe create more turmoil and and less successful approaches to making sure the people have a chance to express their First Amendment rights while doing it safely.”

In his press briefing on Thursday, Governor Evers says there’s no need for federal agencies to be doing the policing in Wisconsin. 

“I have full faith and trust not only in the people of Wisconsin, but also the folks that serve in our police forces whether it’s at the county or local level.”

There’s been no specific timetable given for what troops will be arriving when. Other cities on the President’s list include Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland.

DHS reports largest single day increase in COVID-19 cases since start of pandemic

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Wisconsin has recorded its highest number of COVID-19 detections since the start of the pandemic.  (Raymond Neupert)

11-hundred and 17 new cases were confirmed on Tuesday.

“This is the largest single-day increase in new cases Wisconsin has ever seen and it’s a good reminder that each of us needs to do all we can to stop the spread.” Interim state health officer Stephanie Smiley says there are simple steps that can stop the spread of the coronavirus, if people would just follow them. 

“We can stay at home as much as possible, we can practice physical distancing when we have to go out, we can wear a mask or cloth face covering,” says Smiley.

“Again if you’re experiencing any symptoms or if you’ve been exposed to covid-19 please access a test. This is one very important way you can help stop the spread of covid-19.”

The 7 day average of new cases is also up, now at 890 new cases a day. Over 44-thousand people have now tested positive since the start of the pandemic.

Green Bay mayor announces plan for face mask requirement

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Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich has announced plans for a city-wide face mask requirement.

“I feel like this is a very reasonable step to take,” Genrich told reporters. “It’s one that other communities in Wisconsin are contemplating or taking and about half of all US states have a face covering requirement in place, the vast majority of the country’s population is living with the requirement. I’m hopeful that the council will see the wisdom of having the safeguard in place and will follow suit.”

The ordinance would require face coverings to be worn indoors throughout businesses in the city. Violations would be dealt with like trespassing violations. There will be medical exemptions.

“We all want Packer season to be back and to be conducted in person, but in order to do that, we need to really push down this curve. We want our economy back going strong, but in order to do that we really need to bring the fight to the coronavirus,” Genrich said. “

Ahead of the press conference, protesters crowded the corner of Walnut and Jefferson in front of City Hall. The anti-mask demonstrators weren’t too keen on even considering an ordinance.

“I don’t think it’s right because it’s taking away that person’s freedom to feel safe. Masks don’t make me feel safe, I have a medical condition,” said one protester.

“Certainly there’s going to be a variety of opinions, but I think we really need to look to those who are identified as true experts,” Genrich told WTAQ News.

Public comment will be allowed as the city council discusses the matter during their meeting at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday night.

WTAQ

Evers believes schools can reopen safely

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Governor Tony Evers

Governor Tony Evers believes K-12 schools in Wisconsin can open safely — if state residents do what they can to stay clear of COVID-19.

“Whether you have your own children or not, I’m really encouraging you to take it easy. Be as safe as possible, don’t get into small rooms with a whole bunch of people that don’t have masks, and help us make sure that schools open safely,” Evers said during a media conference call Tuesday.

“If people really want those schools to be open, we all need to pay attention to and pay attention to our own health, and then I think it will be much easier for them to open safely.”

Evers noted that the state Department of Public Instruction has issued “Education Forward,” guidance on how districts around the state can safely educate their students this fall.

“I believe that we can open schools, and so I am not in any position to say we’re going to, or not going to and I’m ordering them closed. That gets at an issue about what orders I can do or not do. I’m still optimistic that they can open, and there’s lots of options,” the governor said.

State Supreme Court rules for Republicans in Lame Duck Law challenge

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The Wisconsin Supreme Court has once again ruled in favor of Republicans in the legislature, in a series of lawsuits challenging the Lame Duck Laws. The ruling is being praised by majority leaders in both chambers.

In an opinion issued on Thursday, the court upheld laws passed by Republicans in 2018 that limit some of the powers of the Governor’s office.

One of those laws prevents the governor and the attorney general’s office from leaving federal lawsuits that the state has joined. That law was enacted to keep Governor Tony Evers from dropping out of a number of controversial lawsuits the state was involved in during the Walker administration.

“We had a race for governor in 2018. I won. Unfortunately, things got off on the wrong foot because Republicans immediately passed a law overriding the will of the people and the election, and they’ve been sour grapes ever since,” Evers said on Twitter.

The court also upheld a measure that requires the Republican-led Joint Finance Committee to sign off on lawsuit settlements for the state. That law has led to a protracted standoff between Republicans and Attorney General Josh Kaul on just how the JFC will be allowed to be read in on confidential cases.

Among many provisions, the ruling requires that Attorney General Kaul send settlements to the Joint Committee on Finance for review, according to a statement from Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald.

“Today’s ruling is a victory for the Legislature and all Wisconsinites who want to hold government accountable. A rogue attorney general can no longer unilaterally settle away laws already on the books and unelected bureaucrats can’t expand their powers beyond what the people have given them through their representatives.”

“In grasping at power after the 2018 elections, legislative Republicans demonstrated open hostility to outcomes chosen by Wisconsin voters and made it more difficult for state government to function effectively,” said AG Kaul in a statement. “Today’s decision leaves for another day a ruling on whether most applications of two provisions undermining the authority of the Office of Attorney General are constitutional, but the ultimate result is inevitable: those provisions will be found to be unconstitutional in nearly all of their applications.”

“Our state’s founders established co-equal branches of government in Wisconsin,” said Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in a statement. “This ruling reaffirms that each branch is equal to the other. This idea runs counter to what the governor and attorney general seem to believe. They deem the executive branch is the most important one and should unilaterally rule over the state.”

State Senator Tim Carpenter assaulted during overnight unrest in Madison

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A Wisconsin state Senator said he was attacked by protesters overnight as he was heading to the State Capitol Building.  A  WKOW 27 News crew came across Senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) around midnight.  Carpenter said he was assaulted for taking a photo of the protest, an incident he apparently captured in a cell phone video which he posted to Twitter.

A few moments later Carpenter collapsed and an ambulance was called. He was able to get into the emergency vehicle on his own.

Also overnight, two statues on the grounds of the Capitol were taken down, during demonstrations over the Tuesday arrest of an activist. Protesters were demanding the release from jail of 28-year-old Devonere Johnson

Police took Johnson into custody outside a downtown restaurant at around 12:30 p.m. He was tentatively charged with disorderly conduct while armed, resisting arrest and attempted escape.

The Madison Police Department shared video of Johnson inside Coopers Tavern, and of his arrest. The footage inside the Tavern shows Johnson emphasizing that he is disturbing the restaurant and holding a baseball bat while speaking through a bullhorn.  Johnson followed a man into the restaurant that he called a racist.

The two statues that protesters pulled down were of Forward, which normally stands outside the State Capitol at the top of State Street. and left it lying in the middle of the road.

The same group also tore down the Colonel Hans Christian Heg statue on the opposite side of the Capitol a short time later. That statue was then thrown into Lake Monona. Heg was Norwegian immigrant who was killed in action while fighting in the Union Army during the Civil War.

Tommy Thompson will serve as UW System Interim President

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Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson has agreed to serve as University of Wisconsin System Interim President.

The Board of Regents announced Friday that Thompson, the state’s only governor to serve four terms, will assume the new leadership role effective July 1.

UW System President Ray Cross is retiring, and the only finalist for the position withdrew his name from consideration last week.

“The University of Wisconsin System is the state’s most valuable asset, and I will be its biggest advocate and its toughest evaluator,” Thompson said in the news release. “No other institution in the state can do more to improve lives, communities, and Wisconsin’s economy.”

University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents President Andrew S. Petersen said he asked Thompson to serve as interim president because of his legacy of bringing people together and finding common ground.

“Governor Thompson is a statesman who offers the kind of leadership the UW System needs right now,” Petersen said. “I have witnessed his collaborative yet direct leadership style. He is perfectly suited to serve as Interim President.”

The move was greeted enthusiastically by Republican leaders in the Wisconsin Legislature, which has budget oversight for the UW System.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos tweeted that Thompson is “a great selection” for the interim post.  “I want to thank Governor Thompson for stepping up to serve our state again in this capacity.”

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald released the following statement:

“I could not be happier with the Board of Regents’ pick. Governor Thompson has always been one of the University of Wisconsin System’s strongest advocates. As we face unprecedented times, there is nobody better to step in and make sure Wisconsin’s prized universities continue to thrive.”

Juneteenth flag will fly over Wisconsin Capitol

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The Evers administration is making more flag news. Governor Tony Evers announced Wednesday that the Juneteenth flag will fly at the State Capitol Friday.

Juneteenth is marked annually on June 19 and commemorates the end of slavery in America on that date in 1865.

This will be the first time the Juneteenth flag has flown at the Capitol. It will temporarily replace the Pride flag, which Evers last year ordered to be flown over the East Wing, below the U.S. flag and Wisconsin flags.

‘It doesn’t have to be brutality to feel abusive’ – cops meet people at Marshfield rally (AUDIO)

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WDLB photo

Reactions to the killing of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police continue to spread across Wisconsin. Marshfield police officers met with people at a downtown cookout and rally Thursday, including Police Chief Rick Gramza.

“We solve problems better together than apart. The goal was just to have some tough conversations, be vulnerable. And we weren’t here as much to talk as we are to listen and learn.”

LISTEN RickGramza :40

Echo Means of Marshfield shared some of her concerns and past experiences with law enforcement in the city, after moving there from Milwaukee

“It doesn’t have to be brutality to feel abusive. Probably the first five years we lived up here was very abusive.”

LISTEN Echo Means :54

Local businesses donated food to feed the rally. Several hundred people attended, many carrying signs in support for George Floyd. Local businesses donated food to feed the rally.

WDLB