There are almost 13,000 Afghan refugees — about half of them children — at the Fort McCoy base in Wisconsin. Fort McCoy is hosting more refugees than any other base in the U.S., reports the Wisconsin State Journal.
On Thursday, officials with the U.S. Department of Defense allowed media inside the base for the first time.
State Journal reporter Emily Hamer spoke with several people staying at the base — women, men, base officials, an Afghan NPR reporter, a Paralympic basketball player.
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She recounts observations of children at Fort McCoy: “Sameer, 12, grinned as he ran to catch a purple frisbee thrown by a volunteer in a grassy area near the Women and Children’s Center. Sameer came to the U.S. from Afghanistan with his grandmother. He giggled sheepishly and said he likes it at the base, in part because he gets to play with his bicycle.”
Fort McCoy continues to seek donations of new or gently used clothes — especially winter items — for the refugees. Donations can be dropped off at Salvation Army locations across Wisconsin.
Wisconsin DHS: COVID-19 weekly recap
The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin is 2,506 as of Friday. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed 8,009 total deaths from the disease.
Fifty-three percent of Wisconsinites are fully vaccinated — 83.5 percent of people age 65 and older and 41.8 percent of children age 12-15.
This week, DHS announced its recommendations for booster shots for those who’ve gotten the Pfizer vaccine. People who are eligible can get the booster shot six months after their initial vaccine series.
Plan ahead if you want a Culver’s Curderburger
The Culver’s Curderburger floated as an April Fool’s joke earlier this year. On Oct. 15, it’s becoming a reality, but just for that day — National Cheese Curd Day.
The restaurant chain encourages interested customers to arrive early, as there’s a limited amount of Curderburgers available.
Catching Wisconsin’s ‘fall peak’
We hope you’ve gotten a chance to explore outside this week, because many regions of the state have recently experienced their “fall peak,” when shades of red, orange and yellow are at their brightest.
Southern Wisconsin will peak the week of Oct. 11, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Weather patterns play a key role in the timing of the leaves’ color changes. This year, warmer temperatures have delayed the process.
Experts share tips for navigating apartment searches
Renting shortages are everywhere in the increasingly competitive housing market.
In Wisconsin, there’s a shortage of almost 120,000 rental housing units, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition.
The Post Crescent reports that in order for Green Bay to meet the projected housing demand set for 2040, it would need to develop 310 rental units each year, based on the city’s 2020 housing market study.
In the article, housing experts in Northeast Wisconsin, landlords and renters share their tips for apartment searching in such a market when it comes to budgeting, communication and the applications process.
Little Free Library has Wisconsin roots
Madison was one of the first locations to share books through Little Free Library, says Margret Aldrich, director of communications for Little Free Library.
Now, there are about 3,000 Little Free Libraries throughout Wisconsin.
“Wisconsin is a community that cares about education, cares about neighbors cares about bringing people together,” Aldrich said. “So it’s really a wonderful place for a little free library networks to spring up.”
Mail policy at Fox Lake Correctional Institution could expand
A policy established in April at Fox Lake Correctional Institution has inmates’ mail photocopied and the originals shredded as part of an effort to crack down on drug-laced paper.
Inmates say they’ve experienced months-long delays in receiving their mail, denials for educational materials, and missing pieces of letters they’re unable to retrieve.
Despite this feedback, the state Department of Corrections said it’s considering expanding the policy, which has shown success in limiting overdoses and behavior related to K2, or “spice,” reports FOX6 Milwaukee.
Dodge County Medical Examiner PJ Schoebel said there have been no deaths by overdose at the facility so far this year.
GiGi’s Playhouse raising awareness for Down Syndrome Awareness Month
October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month.
GiGi’s Playhouse in Madison is hosting events throughout the month to raise awareness, such as an education symposium, volunteer opportunities and a few virtual Family Fun Nights.
On Oct. 22, participants are invited to the Generation G Gala at Madison Marriott West.
“The gala is key to expanding our voice in the world and to promoting our mission — to change the way the world views Down syndrome and to send a global message of acceptance for all,” the group wrote in a press release.
The U.S. debt limit: What is it? When will it crash?
The government avoided a shutdown, for now. President Joe Biden signed a short-term funding bill Thursday evening, which will keep the government funded until Dec. 3, reports NPR.
The government is on the verge of shutdown because of this thing called the debt ceiling, or debt limit.
The U.S. hit its debt limit at the end of July, according to this explainer from the New York Times.
“The debt limit is a cap on the total amount of money that the federal government is authorized to borrow to fulfill its financial obligations,” NYT reports.
The Bipartisan Policy Center has estimated that U.S. Treasury will truly run out of cash sometime between Oct. 15 and Nov. 4.
As of Friday morning, the national debt sits at nearly $28.5 trillion.
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