MADISON, Wis. – This Monday is the start of the Democratic National Convention. Before the pandemic, this event would have drawn tens of thousands of people to Milwaukee for an entire week of parties and rallies. COVID-19 moved that convention out of Milwaukee and turned it into a virtual-only event, as is the case for the upcoming Republican Convention. Other heavily attended events like Big 10 football and Summerfest have been postponed or cancelled as well. Large gatherings, even outside, remain a major concern for health officials when it comes to containing COVID-19 infections. UW Health officials want to remind

MADISON, Wis. — Yesterday was Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which marks the approximate day that a Black woman must work into the next year to make what a white non-Hispanic man made, on average, at the end of the previous year. This disparity in pay, which is part and parcel of the tremendous racial wealth gap perpetuated by the president’s economic policies, has contributed to deepened inequality in Wisconsin. Black women from across the Badger State joined Opportunity Wisconsin in conversation to share their experiences and underscore the importance of ending the economic inequality Black women face in the

Today, Biden for President announced a quartet of new ads that demonstrate the national leadership a Biden-Harris Administration would exemplify and the clear steps they would take as President and Vice President to get the virus under control and fix the economy. The new ads are being released after Biden and Harris called for a national mask mandate over the next three months to help save lives, and after they were briefed by public health experts. “Ready to Lead” will air on television and digital in key battlegrounds states — including Arizona, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin — and

MADISON, Wis. — In the two weeks since Governor Tony Evers’ mask mandate, Wisconsinites have united in support of this crucial public health measure. Public polling and grassroots mobilization show widespread support for the mask mandate and the Governor’s decisive action. Meanwhile, as the COVID-19 death toll in Wisconsin tops 1,000, the Republican-led legislature has not offered a single solution to deal with the pandemic or even convened a session in 121 days. Said A Better Wisconsin Together Executive Director Nicole Safar, “We know how to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and prevent more people from dying, and still Wisconsin

GREENDALE, WI — Last week, the country’s top state legislative election forecaster CNalysis moved Wisconsin’s 82nd District from “Safe Republican” to “Likely Republican,” a shift favoring Democratic challenger Jacob Malinowski. The forecast moved 69 seats, including three in Wisconsin. The 82nd District is one of 15 competitive races in the state, most of which would be Democratic gains. Jacob’s campaign manager Nick Famularo noted, “Experts are starting to notice our momentum, and we’re excited to continue working hard to win in November. Despite its partisan gerrymander, the 82nd District is one of the most competitive seats in Wisconsin this year.” “The people of

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) launched the first tier of modernized Youth Apprenticeship (YA) program curriculum, which will be used in the 2020-2021 school year. The modernization project increases the rigor and relevance of the 11 career clusters and associated 55 pathways currently used in YA.  DWD is ensuring that the curriculum offers seamless alignment with the Registered Apprenticeship (RA) program, maximizes dual enrolment credits, increases the number of certificates a student may earn, and reflects emerging technologies. “Youth Apprenticeship is a valuable program that introduces high school juniors and seniors to career pathways and connects employers

Brookfield, WI  – The economic downturn during the pandemic has served to illustrate the increasing gap between small business and big business.  In America, big business is ever looking to swallow small business, either by acquisition or outright displacement. Tom Palzewicz, running for Wisconsin’s Fifth Congressional District seat in Washington, wants to level the playing field. “The pandemic has exasperated the market share movement from small business to big business,”  Palzewicz explained.  “The stock market is still doing relatively well because the big businesses are gobbling up market share from the small businesses.  Think about this—every mom and pop retailer

City of Racine – The U.S. Census Bureau recently announced that it is cutting its schedule for data collection for the 2020 Census a month short, meaning that for residents to be counted, they have to respond by the end of September, instead of the end of October as long-publicized. Racine Mayor Cory Mason issued the following statement in response to this announcement: “The U.S. Constitution requires us to conduct a complete and accurate count of our country’s population once every ten years. Cutting the Census count short increases the likelihood of inaccurate data and a significant undercount that could deprive

WAUKESHA – The Waukesha County Jail has denounced a practice which previously limited incarcerated individuals of the Muslim faith from having access to a Quran and Halal diet after the ACLU of Wisconsin wrote a letter calling for the jail to comply with constitutional standards that protect religious freedom.  Although the jail has provided incarcerated people with a Bible, 28-year-old Shayne Longley, a member of the Muslim faith, entered the Waukesha County Jail, was told if he wanted to read Quran he would have to purchase one from the commissary. Longley was also denied access to a Halal diet which

Office of Children’s Mental Health Director Linda Hall today announces the publication of a new fact sheet about improving school outcomes and what our communities can do to make a difference. Highlights include: Students who struggle with mental health issues are at especially high risk for expulsion, perform lower on academic achievement tests, and have decreased graduation rates. Early child care and education providers should increase their understanding of the importance of using trauma-informed principles and addressing their own racial and gender implicit biases. Preschool providers should implement a curriculum that builds children’s social and emotional skills and increase family

Yesterday, Congresswoman Grace Meng, a Democratic National Committee Vice Chair, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul and former Olympic medalist and figure skater Michelle Kwan kicked off Wisconsin Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) for Biden — a statewide coalition of AAPI elected officials and community leaders and members who will mobilize AAPI voters across the Badger State. They were also joined by Biden for President National AAPI Vote Director Amit Jani and Wisconsin AAPIs for Biden Co-Chairs May yer Thao and Angelito Tenorio. The launch of Wisconsin AAPIs for Biden comes on the heels of Biden selecting Senator Kamala Harris as his running mate —