Wisconsin pharmacies key in COVID-19 vaccination plan

Wisconsin’s not seeing a problem with “pharmacy deserts” harming its COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In fact, pharmacies are a big help. Pharmacy deserts refer to areas with limited or no access to community pharmacy services. The federal government sponsors systems to

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Ending tariffs could improve competition with China

Trade experts said eliminating or reducing tariffs would improve competition between the U.S. and China.  Former President Trump’s relationship with China has significantly reduced the success rate of Wisconsin companies, panelists explained yesterday in a Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce

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Housing market starts new year on record pace

The Wisconsin market for existing homes started the new year on record pace even as inventories continued to tighten statewide, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association. This follows a record year for home sales in 2020. January home sales increased

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Legislature passes PPP tax protections

The Legislature has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would match state law to more than two dozen federal tax codes, including a provision that would ensure businesses that took PPP loans aren’t taxed on the expenses they covered with the federal

Read More »

Wisconsin pharmacies key in COVID-19 vaccination plan

Wisconsin’s not seeing a problem with “pharmacy deserts” harming its COVID-19 vaccination efforts. In fact, pharmacies are a big help. Pharmacy deserts refer to areas with limited or no access to community pharmacy services. The federal government sponsors systems to identify and define areas with shortages of health professionals or

Read More »

Business leader panel discusses barriers facing Black-owned businesses

Racial disparities in business ownership and entrepreneurship pose unique challenges. But that doesn’t mean Black business owners can’t reach their full potential, speakers told “The Business of Metro MKE,” a virtual series presented by the MMAC centered on issues shaping the region’s health and economy. “Be careful who you listen

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Women in the workforce need support as the pandemic continues

Panelists agree the pandemic is a source of stress and fatigue for many women who have now become stay-at-home mothers and teachers.  Without positive reinforcement from employers, these women are most likely to experience burn-out at work, speakers told “The Shift,” a virtual series presented by Kohler Co. centering on

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Dem leaders back local sales tax options, minimum wage hike

The Legislature’s top Dem leaders in a WisPolitics.com luncheon voiced support for Evers’ budget proposals to raise the minimum wage and allow for expanded local sales taxes. Evers’ budget would allow counties to add an additional half-cent sales tax and municipalities of at least 30,000 people to implement a new

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Culver’s saw a 4 percent increase in sales in 2020

Culver’s saw a 4 percent sales increase in 2020 over 2019 and opened 50 new restaurants nationwide, including three in Wisconsin.  Co-founder and former CEO Craig Culver joined a Wisconsin Alumni Association event this week to share the story of Wisconsin’s iconic drive-thru chain, which fared differently during the pandemic

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State financial institutions request marijuana banking options

Creating a statute to allow Wisconsin banks to take on customers in the marijuana business would provide clarity for the state’s financial institutions.  It’s now unclear if a Wisconsin bank could take on an Illinois marijuana dispensary as a customer, for example, explained Wisconsin Bankers Association COO Mike Semmann and

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Overhauling UI system won’t fix current delay, labor attorney says

Labor and employment attorney Victor Forberger argues that overhauling the UI computer system isn’t going to help the current delay in unemployed people getting their benefits. The foundation of Gov. Tony Evers’ latest special session bill was to revamp the Unemployment Insurance system. Evers had sought $5.3 million to begin

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Baldwin, Gallagher introduce bill to support women in trucking

Dem U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher are introducing legislation in their respective houses to support women in the trucking industry. Currently, women make up 47 percent of the U.S. labor force, yet represent 24 percent of America’s trucking workforce and only about 7 percent of

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Biz leader urges cooperation to help state’s economy weather COVID

Cooperation between people and businesses will lift Wisconsin’s economy out of the pandemic stronger than it was before, says Madison Region Economic Partnership President and CEO Jason Fields. In a Greater Madison Chamber of Commerce virtual event yesterday, Fields said more cooperation between rural and urban businesses will help achieve

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Ending tariffs could improve competition with China

Trade experts said eliminating or reducing tariffs would improve competition between the U.S. and China.  Former President Trump’s relationship with China has significantly reduced the success rate of Wisconsin companies, panelists explained yesterday in a Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce World Trade Association virtual event. While tariffs have received negative

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Divesting from fossil fuels up for debate in Wisconsin

Divesting from fossil fuels could be a smart financial choice to help Wisconsin lead the fight against climate change, according to Dem Rep. Greta Neubauer of the state’s climate task force. But a GOP lawmaker, also on the task force, disagrees. The Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change Report released

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Housing market starts new year on record pace

The Wisconsin market for existing homes started the new year on record pace even as inventories continued to tighten statewide, according to the Wisconsin Realtors Association. This follows a record year for home sales in 2020. January home sales increased 9.8 percent compared to that same month last year, and

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Evers’ budget tax proposals total a $1 billion increase

The net impact of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget tax proposals would be a $1 billion increase over the biennium, according to his office. The biggest chunk of that would come from matching state tax laws to the provisions of a tax bill former President Trump signed in December 2017. The

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Panel: STEM is growing, but minorities still underrepresented

Growth and innovation in STEM has become a guiding force in the economy, but minorities continue to be underrepresented in these fields, according to a Milwaukee business panel.  Leaders from Northwestern Mutual, Milwaukee Area Technical College, Jet Constellations and IC Stars spoke at a virtual event put on by Fuel

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Madison, Kenosha County on opposite ends of in-migration

Madison’s economic growth has pushed the demand for housing to record numbers.   Madison was one of the few metro areas that had the biggest gains in terms of in-migration due to a strong local economy, according to the latest Milken Rankings. The capital city jumped to No. 34 in 2021

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Legislature passes PPP tax protections

The Legislature has overwhelmingly approved legislation that would match state law to more than two dozen federal tax codes, including a provision that would ensure businesses that took PPP loans aren’t taxed on the expenses they covered with the federal money. Wisconsin business groups say it will save small businesses

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