DWD claims staff walk through outdated UI system

— Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to modernize the state’s Unemployment Insurance system would automate the current tedious and time-consuming process, claims workers argued. From March 15, 2020, to Jan. 16, 2021, 1.28 million initial claims were filed in Wisconsin, quadruple

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WEDC optimistic about Foxconn deal

Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary Missy Hughes said she’s optimistic about a new deal with Foxconn, but dodged on the details. WEDC asked to work with Foxconn on a new agreement that aligns with the company’s plans for development in

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Corporate collections boost state GPR

Corporate collections rose 72.6 percent to date in fiscal year 2021 compared to last year. Despite a pandemic-induced recession, that corporate tax boost helped Wisconsin see a 5.2 percent increase in GPR collections in the first five months of the

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Home sales surge as mortgage rates hit all-time low

Existing home sales continued to surge in Wisconsin as mortgage rates hit a new record low in November, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s latest monthly analysis.  The home sales report shows Wisconsin on a record pace for sales while

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DWD claims staff walk through outdated UI system

— Gov. Tony Evers’ plan to modernize the state’s Unemployment Insurance system would automate the current tedious and time-consuming process, claims workers argued. From March 15, 2020, to Jan. 16, 2021, 1.28 million initial claims were filed in Wisconsin, quadruple the initial claims filed in all of 2019, said Department

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Forward BIOLABS leverages coworking to support biotech startups

As coworking becomes more popular among freelancers and small business professionals, the biotechnology industry is also seeing new opportunities to leverage the model.  Madison-based Forward BIOLABS is a biotech coworking space that allows biotech startups to get off the ground without the overhead and supply cost. On average, Forward BIOLABS

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Report: Wisconsin’s pre-pandemic economy is a long road ahead

The state has a long road ahead before the economy returns to pre-pandemic levels, according to the latest report from Forward Analytics. Forward Analytics is the research arm of the Wisconsin Counties Association. “The COVID Economy: The Economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Wisconsin” examines the economic damage wrought by the

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State schools superintendent candidates hope to increase tech literacy

All seven of the state’s school superintendent candidates agreed that Wisconsin needs to increase the technology literacy of its students — but each contender has a different plan to get there. In a webcast series with WisBusiness.com-WisPolitics.com released earlier this month, in partnership with Milwaukee Tech Hub Coalition, each candidate

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Dairy veterans: flexibility, cooperation key to success

A trio of dairy industry veterans highlighted flexibility and openness to cooperation as keys to success as they led a virtual panel at a state dairy conference. A strong, processor-producer relationship helped dairy farmers like Jim Winn and Kevin Souza deal with market changes — such as the popularity of

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Adults over age 65 eligible for COVID-19 shot next week

Adults over the age of 65 will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Monday, but it could be months until hundreds of thousands of older Wisconsites get their shots, health officials say. Currently, frontline health care workers, residents in long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes and assisted living

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Progressive farmer-processor relationships key in 2021, beyond

Strong working relationships between farmers and processors establish clear expectations of the product and please consumers, says a supply chain expert at Grande Cheese Company. Greg Siegenthaler, vice president of milk marketing and supply chain at the Fond du Lac-based cheese company, will be a panelist at this year’s Dairy

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Locast local TV streaming service launches in Madison

Local broadcast TV streaming service and app Locast makes its Wisconsin debut today, launching 34 local channels to more than 650,000 people in the Madison area. The free, nonprofit service includes local FOX channel 47 in the Madison area, which airs the Green Bay Packers-Los Angeles Rams playoff game Saturday

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Cocktails-to-go a potential tool for restaurants to stay afloat

Cocktails-to-go could be another tool that restaurants can use to stay afloat during a capacity-limiting pandemic that restricts indoor dining. The bill, which is circulating the Capitol for cosponsors, would allow a “Class B” licensed retailer — most commonly taverns and restaurants — to sell a cocktail or wine by

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WEDC optimistic about Foxconn deal

Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary Missy Hughes said she’s optimistic about a new deal with Foxconn, but dodged on the details. WEDC asked to work with Foxconn on a new agreement that aligns with the company’s plans for development in southeastern Wisconsin. WEDC ruled Foxconn was not eligible for $3

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Evers, DHS call for more vaccines from federal government

Gov. Tony Evers and the Department of Health Services are calling on the federal government to increase the state’s weekly COVID-19 vaccine dose allocation.  The state is getting about 70,000 doses per week from the federal government, health officials said last week. This week, Wisconsin needs more than 10,000 additional

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MATC President hopes to pursue more community collaboration in 2021

Financial losses and pandemic-influenced enrollment fluctuations have left Madison Area Technical College looking to surrounding communities for guidance.  “Our planning was not just for the fall. Our planning is looking out five, six years, and how we can meet community needs,” MATC President Jack Daniels III (pictured above) told a

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WEDC allocates $1.7M to nine regional groups, three chambers of commerce

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. is allocating nearly $1.7 million for nine regional groups and three chambers of commerce as “key strategic partners” for the coming year. The money comes as regional economic development organizations face private-sector funding challenges while supporting their communities in recovering from the economic impacts of

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Advisory panel discusses next eligible vaccine recipients

Wisconsin has vaccinated a fifth of its priority patients, and the advisory committee to the state health department is deciding who will be next.  The state will not wait to vaccinate all 450,000 frontline health care workers and long-term care residents and staff before moving on to “phase 1B” —

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Construction groups support proposals to combat worker misclassification

Construction association groups are voicing their support for task force recommendations aimed at combating worker misclassification and payroll fraud. Wisconsin is losing $200 million in tax revenue annually due to payroll fraud, according to a study on worker misclassification released in early 2020. The state lost $91.2 million in personal

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Corporate collections boost state GPR

Corporate collections rose 72.6 percent to date in fiscal year 2021 compared to last year. Despite a pandemic-induced recession, that corporate tax boost helped Wisconsin see a 5.2 percent increase in GPR collections in the first five months of the 2021 fiscal year over the previous year, according to the

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Wisconsin provides free, at-home COVID-19 saliva tests

The state has entered a contract with Vault Medical Services that will provide free, at-home COVID-19 saliva collection kits to everyone who lives in Wisconsin. Wisconsinites can now order a collection kit online and have it shipped to their home. The kit has instructions on how to collect the saliva,

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Home sales surge as mortgage rates hit all-time low

Existing home sales continued to surge in Wisconsin as mortgage rates hit a new record low in November, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s latest monthly analysis.  The home sales report shows Wisconsin on a record pace for sales while continued low inventory levels pushed home prices even higher.  November

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