Contact: GovPress@wisconsin.gov More than 400,000 Wisconsin households to continue seeing emergency food assistance as state COVID-19 cases trend in wrong direction MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced his administration has reached a deal with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to ensure the state will continue receiving more than $70 million in food assistance benefits for more than 400,000 Wisconsin households. “More than $70 million a month means we can get support to a lot of folks across our state who are still struggling in the midst of a pandemic and need help putting food

CONTACT: Doug Erickson, University Communications, dderickson2@wisc.edu, (608) 294-0204 MADISON – Through poetry, Hajjar Baban has found her voice and her calling. Her chosen field, she says, allows her to “be honest about my understanding of the world while changing and imagining new ways of being.” The 2020 UW-Madison graduate already has achieved considerable success. She’s now poised for more. Baban has been named one of 30 recipients of a 2021 Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowship for New Americans, a merit-based graduate school program for immigrants and children of immigrants. She was chosen from a pool of 2,445 applicants, the most in

Contact: Jennifer Miller/Elizabeth Goodsitt 608-266-1683 Office of Children’s Mental Health Director Linda Hall today announces the publication of a new fact sheet, Responding to COVID Changes at School, and details what our communities, schools, parents, and policymakers can do to make a difference. Some students returning to in-person learning may be anxious about getting back into a routine and about what to expect in an altered classroom environment. Extra support to ensure positive emotional well-being for all students will be critical for successful school outcomes. Children in rural areas, low-income families, Hispanic families, and children with special needs have been disproportionately

Contact: Joe Zepecki jz@jzcomms.com 202-445-1517 WISCONSIN — As part of Medicaid Awareness Month, Protect Our Care is launching a campaign to push the Republican governors and state legislators in the 14 holdout states to accept the additional funds now available to them through the American Rescue Plan to expand Medicaid. The campaign — featuring a website, digital ads, and state reports — will also hold Republicans in Congress accountable for their votes against the American Rescue Plan and their efforts to sabotage Medicaid at every turn. Protect Our Care will focus the “GOP Medicaid Deniers” campaign in four states —

Contact: Morgan Finke, (608) 243-0482, communications@publichealthmdc.com This morning, the CDC and FDA recommended pausing use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, after six reported cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals who received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Public Health Madison & Dane County will follow this recommendation until further information is provided. These adverse events appear to be extremely rare and are currently only documented in six cases out of about 7 million vaccines given, but the pause shows how seriously vaccine safety is taken. We encourage everyone who gets a vaccine to use v-safe,

Contact: James A. Martinez American Lung Association O: 312-445-2501 | C:  312-718-5875 E: James.Martinez@Lung.org MILWAUKEE – Today, the American Lung Association in Wisconsin announced that it will present Children’s Wisconsin with the 2021 Legacy Award for their commitment to public health and their work in identifying that vaping was behind a sudden surge of mysterious lung illnesses across the country. The recognition will take place during the Association’s annual Oxygen Ball, presented by UnitedHealthcare, on Thursday, April 22. The event, which typically takes place at the Hyatt Regency, was reimagined as an interactive live stream experience. “It is an honor to receive such a prestigious

Contact: Jennifer Miller/Elizabeth Goodsitt 608-266-1683 What: DHS experts will join Governor Tony Evers to answer questions about the status of COVID-19 in Wisconsin and our response, along with questions about vaccines and variants. Who: Governor Tony Evers Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk, Wisconsin Department of Health Services Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases Ryan Nilesestuen, Chief Legal Counsel, Office of the Governor When: Tuesday, April 13, 2021 from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. Where: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbKdqbB5x1oJdf-jiSf4gVw/live Wisconsin Eye Please RSVP to Chris Sydow before 12:30 p.m. only if you plan to ask a question, and include the reporter name. In

Contact: DNR Office of Communications DNRPress@wisconsin.gov MADISON – Spring has sprung. And with 49 state parks, more than 500 boat launches, 15 state forests, 44 state trails, over 5,000 campsites, and much more – your adventure awaits. As we usher in a new season, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced several State Park System operations updates outlined below. Starting April 30, the following changes will be implemented: Observation towers and playgrounds will be open Volunteer group sizes will be increased to 50 people Capacity for open-air shelters, amphitheaters and outdoor group campgrounds will be increased to 100 people Non-department led special event

Contact: Jason Rae, (715) 790-4334 jason@wislgbtchamber.comMILWAUKEE – The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce announced today Oshkosh Corporation has joined the organization as its newest gold member. “We are proud to welcome Oshkosh Corporation to the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber as our newest gold member,” said Jason Rae, President & CEO of the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce. “We’re excited to be working with such a well-known company like Oshkosh Corporation to build and strengthen Wisconsin’s diverse business community. We know that in order for companies to succeed, diversity and inclusion in the workplace is essential.” “At Oshkosh Corporation, we believe in

Contact: Elizabeth Goodsitt/Jennifer Miller 608-266-1683 Today the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced an important tool to assist linking those in recovery with housing options. The Recovery Residence Registry will serve as the DHS referral source for those seeking recovery housing options and facilities must be listed on the registry to receive funding from state agencies. The registry and application for facilities is available on the DHS website. DHS is encouraging facilities that provide residency for people in recovery to get listed on the Recovery Residence Registry creating a comprehensive list to best serve Wisconsinites. “Safe and stable housing