MADISON – At night in a Ugandan forest, a team of American and African scientists take oral swabs from insect-eating cyclops leaf-nosed bats. In a necropsy room near the Baltic Sea, researchers try to determine what killed a donkey, a Bennett’s tree-kangaroo and a capybara at a German zoo – all of them suffering from severe brain swelling. Neither team was aware of the other, yet they were both about to converge on a discovery that would forever link them – and help solve a long-enduring mystery. They were each about to find two new relatives of the rubella virus,

MADISON, Wis. – The City of Darlington is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program to improve the public drinking water system. The project primarily includes the replacement of existing deficient 4, 6 and 8 inch water mains and associated fixtures. Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required; however, in accordance with the SDWLP federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted prior to funding this project. The SDWLP has determined that the project will not result in significant

Fort Atkinson, WI:  In response to Governor Evers’ Department of Health Services Executive Order #3 to limit mass gatherings indoors, 33rd Assembly District Democratic candidate and Fort Atkinson City Council President Mason Becker made the following statement: “It didn’t have to be like this,” Becker said. “More than 175 days ago, experts told us what we needed to do to gain control over this pandemic: social distancing, wearing a mask, and not gathering in large crowds. Republicans – including my opponent –   are putting partisanship over human life and our safety. They have refused to work with the Governor,

WASHINGTON — The Millennial Action Project (MAP) partnered with bipartisan legislators from the Wisconsin Future Caucus, Emmy-award winning comedian Charlie Berens, and writer and comedian Kristin Brey, to promote safe voting in Wisconsin amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The video — featuring Wisconsin Representatives LaKeshia Myers (D), Jessie Rodriguez (R), Danny Riemer (D), and Tyler Vorpagel (R) — marks the first-ever video and statement of sitting bipartisan legislators released to encourage Wisconsinites to vote early and safely in this election.   Watch the PSA here “Our colleagues in the Wisconsin Future Caucus have banded together across the aisle to ensure that

Brookfield, WI – The days of going to college and automatically getting a job are a thing of the past.  In the new economy, people need to have the right credentials and face stiff competition for high-paying positions.  They consider creating their own job, but without healthcare, they may shy away and never try.  Democrat Tom Palzewicz sees a way to get around the problem. By reworking our healthcare system, Palzewicz envisions a new small business surge, as the American entrepreneurial spirit takes center stage in a new economy. “If you look at the statistics, there is a heavy level of

MILWAUKEE – A new Marquette Law School poll of likely Wisconsin voters finds little change in preference or attitudes following the first presidential debate and after President Donald Trump tested positive for COVID-19. While twice as many respondents say former Vice President Joe Biden did better in the debate as say Trump did better, the shift in the vote margin since early September is a single point. In the new poll, Biden is the choice of 46% of likely voters and Trump is supported by 41%. Libertarian candidate Jo Jorgensen is the choice of 4%, while 8% say they would

(Madison)—With the pandemic raging in Green Bay and Northeast Wisconsin, State Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay) urged people to support and follow recent emergency health orders requiring people to wear masks and limiting the number of people who can be in public places like bars, restaurants and parties. “Wisconsin has one of the highest infection rates in the country and our area has one of the highest infection rates in the state,” said Hansen.  “No one likes being limited in where they can go or wearing masks.  This is not a political issue.  The virus doesn’t care about politics.  This

(WISCONSIN) — Ahead of the vice presidential debate, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler, 35th Assembly Candidate Tyler Ruprecht, and Tina Pohlman, who has pre-existing conditions, held a video press conference to tell their stories and discuss the Trump administration’s efforts to strip health care protections. Access to quality and affordable health care is at the top of Wisconsinites’ minds as the election approaches, and Trump has ruthlessly undermined the health care system, putting the coverage of 2.4 million Wisconsinites with pre-existing conditions at risk. Watch the full event here or read excerpts of what the speakers said below. Chair Ben

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds voters that if they don’t have an acceptable photo ID, they still have time to get one to vote. “If you don’t have an acceptable photo ID, you can get one for free after just one visit to a Wisconsin DMV office through the ID Petition Process,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “Just bring whatever identifying documents you have like a birth certificate and proof of your current address,” said Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission. “However, if you don’t have everything necessary, the DMV will still mail you

MADISON, Wis. – With the 2020 deer hunting season underway, hunters are reminded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to follow the deer carcass transport regulations and to dispose of deer carcass waste appropriately. The movement of deer carcasses infected with chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a pathway for the disease to spread, and leaving carcass parts on the landscape is a possible route for disease transmission to other deer. CWD can spread among deer by direct contact between animals and indirectly through exposure to environments contaminated with CWD prions, the protein that causes the disease. Exposure to an area where a CWD-positive

MADISON, Wis. – The City of Pewaukee is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to address deficiencies in their public drinking water system. The project includes the construction of Well Station No. 5 treatment facility and building modifications. Activities related to this project are minor actions under Chapter NR 150, Wis. Admin. Code, for which no environmental analysis is required. However, per the SDWLP federal requirement 40 C.F.R. §35.3580, an environmental review must be conducted before funding this project. The SDWLP has determined that the project will not result in significant adverse environmental effects and no

MADISON, Wis. — Gov. Tony Evers authorized the Wisconsin National Guard to support local law enforcement authorities in Wauwatosa after officials there requested the Guard’s assistance to help ensure public safety.   Local authorities requested Wisconsin National Guard assistance and troops mobilized this week to state active duty in advance of an anticipated charging decision in the case of an officer-involved shooting in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin that occurred Feb. 2 and resulted in the death of Alvin Cole.   “One of our core missions in the Wisconsin National Guard is to serve our fellow citizens and preserve public safety,” said Maj.

Record COVID-19 surges throughout the state increases pressure on Wisconsin health systems Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov or 608-219-7443 MADISON — Due to increased COVID-19 hospitalizations and at the request of hospital systems, Gov. Tony Evers announced today the Alternate Care Facility (ACF) at Wisconsin State Fair Park will begin accepting COVID-19 patients within the next week. The announcement comes as Wisconsin health systems experience rising pressure to manage record surges in COVID-19 patient hospitalizations. As of yesterday, there were 853 COVID-19 hospitalizations, an increase of 71 over the day before.  “We hoped this day wouldn’t come, but unfortunately, Wisconsin is in a much different, more dire place