Author: Staff

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin filed a lawsuit on April 10 in the Wisconsin Supreme Court seeking the release of elderly and vulnerable people from state prisons in order to avoid a dangerous outbreak that would further strain the state’s health care capacity and put public health at risk. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of two incarcerated individuals with pre-existing conditions, state criminal defense lawyers, and Disability Rights Wisconsin, asks the court to order Gov. Tony Evers and state corrections officials to reduce the prison population down to a level where social distancing is possible, giving priority...

Is is often thought that in times of struggle and pain that God has somehow abandoned us. That somehow the storm that besieges us means the absence of Love. Members the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee came together to compile a list of prayers to help remind each of us that we are never alone during our most difficult days, and that the Almighty Healer walks alongside us, holding our hands through this storm, carving a future that all of God’s children shall be nurtured in the light of Grace, Compassion, and Love. American Baptist Churches of Wisconsin God,...

Governor Tony Evers directed the Department of Natural Resources on April 9 to close several state parks to protect the health and safety of Wisconsinites. Due to unprecedented crowds, litter, vandalism and out of an abundance of caution to protect public health and safety and help flatten the curve, the following Wisconsin State Parks, Forests and Recreational Areas were closed beginning Friday, April 10, until further notice: Northeast Region: High Cliff State Park Southeast Region: Big Foot Beach State Park, Harrington Beach State Park, Havenwoods State Forest, Kohler-Andrae State Park, Kettle Moraine State Forest Lapham Peak, Loew Lake, Mukwonago...

Anna Landmark and Chantia Lewis, members of the Opportunity Wisconsin steering committee, were recently joined by displaced workers and small business owners for a press call to discuss how COVID-19 is impacting communities around Wisconsin. On the heels of a record rise in unemployment claims nationwide, and more than 100,000 new unemployment claims filed in Wisconsin in just the past week and a half. Opportunity Wisconsin is a coalition of Wisconsin residents fighting for an economy that works for working people. “I wanted to participate in this forum because it is a unique time in history and it is...

During the daily COVID-19 video press conference on April 7, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said that he was left with no choice but to take action concerning the overcrowding of Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses. County leaders switched to a lighter bus schedule as the coronavirus spread across the region, and stopped collecting fares from riders on March 28. MCTS has kept the transit system going, to help essential workers get to jobs, and individuals without transportation visit the doctor. Under the current “Safer at Home” order, non-essential businesses have been closed since March 12, with gatherings...

The Milwaukee County Historical Society has been no exception to the list of statewide closures due to the efforts aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, but MCHS saw it as an opportunity expand into digital tourism. Where many institutions might see challenges in presenting their content in a digital format, MCHS looked for a way to bring their 2020 feature exhibit, “Revealed: Milwaukee’s Unseen Treasures,” to a sheltered public. That creative spark allowed for the development of short videos that would expand on the artifacts presented in the exhibit. “We thought it would be a shame if all...