10.6% of Absentees Yet to be Returned Election officials are only able to count absentee ballots that are received by Election Day, per state law. Voters who have yet to return an absentee ballot to the Clerk’s Office have six options: Drop of the absentee ballot in one of the 14 secure ballot drop boxes around the City of Madison. Most drop boxes are located at Madison Fire Stations. Voters have until 5:00pm on Monday, November 2, to return their ballot to a drop box. The drop boxes should be used by City of Madison voters only. Drop off the

MADISON, WI. OCT. 28, 2020 –Bayfield County is receiving a $250,000 state grant to help support the development of a multi-phased expansion project for the Wild Rice Retreat located in the Town of Bayfield, two miles south of the City of Bayfield on State Highway 13. The Community Development Investment Grant from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) will support the first phase of an expansion project for the Wild Rice Retreat, a center for guided retreats and a venue space for local events. “A vibrant blend of businesses is key to a community’s overall economic success, which is why it

October 29, 2020 – The latest single-housing permit numbers show that homebuilding has significantly increased in quarter three compared to quarter two. The data, compiled by information required to be submitted by municipalities to the Department of Safety and Professional Services, shows 3,825 permits were issued across the state in the third quarter of 2020 compared to 3,155 in the second quarter. “Homebuilding permits are up twenty two percent in quarter three compared to quarter two,” said Wisconsin Builders Association (WBA) Executive Director Brad Boycks. “During a time when so many industries are experiencing significant hardship, we are thankful the construction

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is convening local educational leaders to explore ways the community can best support the emotional and mental health needs of school kids as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to surge. The County Executive announced today he is forming his “K-12 Emotional Wellness Work Group” to advise county and school officials on strategies to help with the emotional and mental health challenges young people are currently facing. “There’s no doubt the high rates of infection and increasing numbers of hospitalizations we are seeing would only be worse if our schools were fully open,” County Executive Parisi said.

MADISON – A team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is part of a new multi-institution effort to better understand Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome. Adults with Down syndrome are at high risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease beginning in their late 40s, because of their unique biology. The vast majority will eventually develop the disease by their late 60s, but signs of the disease may be evident when they are much younger. The new effort, funded by up to $109 million from the National Institutes of Health over the next five years, is focused in part on

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission reminds residents that it is illegal to give discounts, incentives and other free stuff in exchange for voting. “Every election, well-meaning businesses or groups offer discounts or free food and drinks to people who come into their establishment with an I Voted sticker,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “However, that is against the law.” According to state law against election bribery, it is illegal to offer someone an item worth more than $1.00 to induce a person to vote, not vote, vote for a particular candidate, not vote for a particular

MADISON, WI – The Wisconsin Elections Commission has been receiving questions from voters and the media about spoiling their absentee ballots, which cancels an already returned absentee ballot so the voter can vote absentee in person at their clerk’s office or on Election Day. “Very few voters should need to spoil their ballots,” said Meagan Wolfe, Wisconsin’s chief election official. “Voters interested in changing their method of voting or who they vote for have some options but need to act soon.” Here are several frequently asked questions about spoiling ballots. For more information about absentee voting, visit https://elections.wi.gov/2020. Can people

MADISON ​ —​ Gov. Tony Evers today, with Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Secretary-designee Andrea Palm, highlighted the expansion of COVID-19 testing across Wisconsin. This includes 71 new free community testing sites that will now be available in 56 counties and 7 tribal nations. These sites have the capacity to test approximately 48,000 people each week. Increasing access to testing for all individuals continues to be a major pillar of Wisconsin’s statewide response plan, and these efforts will help meet this goal. “Testing is a critically important part of our state’s response to this pandemic, and we want to

The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for the Study of Liberal Democracy (CSLD) announces a gift of $880,000 from the Menard family, in support of the Center’s stated mission to probe the nature and prospects of liberal democracy and its core principles, practices, and institutions. “This gift enables the CSLD to continue its effort to promote the critical understanding of the cardinal principles and institutions of liberal democracy, including constitutionalism and the rule of law, individual rights, and the meaning of freedom and free markets in a flourishing liberal democracy,” says CSLD director and professor of political science Richard Avramenko. “It

WASHINGTON, DC – The Department of Interior today announced a new rule de-listing the Gray Wolf in the lower 48 states, allowing state and tribal governments to develop their own locally-tailored management rules to reflect the unique conditions and needs of their own jurisdictions. “Today’s announcement represents an important first step toward restoring local control over the skyrocketing gray wolf population in Wisconsin” said Rep. Tom Tiffany. “For too long, the Endangered Species Act has been a statutory ‘Hotel California,’ where well-funded, radical environmental groups see to it that animals ‘check-in’ to the federal ESA list – but never leave.”

(Fond du Lac, WI) – Today, Congressman Glenn Grothman introduces the Healthcare Professionals for Glenn coalition. This coalition highlights our courageous healthcare professionals, in all sectors of the industry, that have pledged their support for him and his work on their behalf in Congress. “I am honored to have received the support from so many of the healthcare professionals within our communities. While facing a global pandemic, our healthcare professionals have remained some of the hardest working and dependable individuals that we can always count on,” Grothman said.  I have and will continue to ensure our healthcare workers’ well-being are