The Mondovi School District has released a re-opening plan. The plan is based on three covid 19 risk levels, low, medium and high. Under the High risk category virtual learning will be done for all grades, under the medium risk level, face to face instruction with students remaining with their grade level cohorts will be held for PreK through grade 5, while for grades 6-12 it will be blended learning with 2 days face to face and three days virtual at home. In the low risk level face to face instruction for all grade levels with preK-grade 5 remaining with grade level cohorts. When in the building, all students will be required to wear a face covering and the district will re-evaluate the face covering policy after Governor Ever's order expires on September 28. The entire plan is available on the Mondovi School District website.
Mondovi residents could see a large increase in their water bills. During a public meeting on the water rates, it was discussed that due to the increasing expenses and the city may have to raise water rates by 102%. Before the rates could be raised, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission would have to approve any rate increase and another public hearing would be held. Meanwhile, the council did approve new wastewater rates and a new billing method. Starting in February 2021, billing will be done monthly and the new residential rates will be $20 per 1,000 gallons, rising to $30 in 2022 and $40 in 2023.
As the campaign season heats up, those wanting to show support for their candidates are reminded that signs are prohibited on public property. Durand Mayor Patrick Millien says during the primary, city workers found campaign signs at Memorial Park and the Fire Hall. Boulevards are also off limits as they are part of the state rights-of-way. If you have a sidewalk, a good rule of thumb is to put the sign on the side of the sidewalk that has your yard and house.
Wisconsin school districts were already having a hard time finding enough substitute teachers – then the coronavirus pandemic complicated the picture. The challenge of virtual learning is ramped up even higher when an unfamiliar teacher is called on. The numbers are working against the schools. Many full-time teachers don’t want to return to the classroom and fewer substitutes are available if a few of those teachers test positive. As districts struggle with those questions, there’s yet another looming issue – substitute bus drivers.
Governor Tony Evers announced on Thursday that the state has been busy getting federal CARES act funding out to help Wisconsinites over the past several months. A large chunk of that funding went to shore up medical responses but also to help struggling businesses. Republicans have criticized Evers for sitting on about 300 million dollars of the discretionary funding, but he says he's holding on to it to see if more help is needed as the pandemic continues.
The chief clerk of the Wisconsin Assembly has released records showing a former state lawmaker tried to convince a legislative aide to have sex with him. The incident happened last year. Staush Gruszynski told state human resources officials he was drinking heavily and didn’t remember talking to the staff. She filed a formal complaint accusing the Democrat of propositioning her at a Madison bar last October. Media outlets filed a lawsuit last March seeking the information. It was released Wednesday, a day after Gruszynski lost a primary election.
The Minnesota Legislature has gone through three special sessions and still has no agreement on a bonding bill. The latest session ended Wednesday with several bills approved. Both parties agree – the state needs a bonding bill. There’s more than a billion dollars of work that needs to be done. The jobs created will be important to Minnesota’s economy. Governor Tim Walz could bring lawmakers back for a fourth special session next month. That’s what some of them expect and nearly all say they hope the bonding bill is passed then.
Wisconsin Republicans have their sights on veto-proof super-majorities in the state Legislature. They need to flip three seats in the Wisconsin Senate and three in the Assembly to have a two-thirds majority in each house. That would be enough to override any vetoes by Democratic Governor Tony Evers. Tuesday’s primaries set the match-ups for November. One of the most hotly-contested races will be in the 32nd Senate District in western Wisconsin where Republican Dan Kapanke will try to beat former state Ag Secretary Brad Pfaff.
Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall-Vogg says it’s almost certain we won’t know who won on Election Day in November. She said it isn’t likely her office will be able to count all of the absentee ballots before midnight. Woodall-Vogg said Wednesday it took until 2:30 a-m to count the absentee ballots in the primary election. She expects there will be a lot more November 3rd. She says lawmakers could make things easier by changing the law to allow local clerks to start counting ballots before the polls close that day.
The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison says the state’s flagship campus is “in a real financial crisis.” Chancellor Rebecca Blank blames the challenging situation the school faces as the fall semester approaches on the coronavirus pandemic. Blank says how bad things will get depends on factors like students who are enrolled for the fall semester actually showing up, how deep state budget cuts are, and whether lawmakers give the university the authority it needs to borrow money. Blank's comments were given Wednesday to the Rotary Club of Madison membership.
Rochester police say a 26-year-old suspect is in custody after trying to run over a police officer with his car. The incident started when the man wouldn’t pull over for a traffic stop at about 2:10 a-m Wednesday. After following the car for about five miles, it pulled into a parking lot and the officer approached on foot. That’s when the driver is accused of aiming his car at the officer, who was hit and thrown onto the hood. The officer fired a shot, missing the suspect, who then tried to run away. He was caught and arrested. The officer was taken to the Mayo Clinic, treated for minor injuries and sent home. Authorities haven’t released the suspect’s name.
Congressman Tom Tiffany has written a letter to Wisconsin’s governor asking him not to stand in the way of Wisconsin kids who want to get the best education they can. The Republican from the state’s Northwoods area says he takes Governor Tony Evers at his word when he says he won’t order all Wisconsin schools to start fall classes online. But, Tiffany says if those schools do move online, someone needs to study the impact of all that time at home and on a screen before it becomes has a negative effect on the students
Governor Tony Evers has granted pardons to nine more people. This latest round brings to 56 the total number of pardons granted by the Democratic governor. The eight men and one woman were convicted of a variety of crimes, including stealing vehicles, driving a getaway car, and selling marijuana, when they were teens or young adults. Pardons do not result in an expungement, and are only granted to those who've completed their prison terms and have not committed any new crimes.
No comments:
Post a Comment