Waukesha School District is the only district of those that are eligible in Wisconsin to deny federal funding for free and reduced-price lunches for all students. The school board voted in June to resume the pre-pandemic National School Lunch Program, reports the Washington Post, in which students must apply for funding.
Some members of the school board said funding meals for all students, regardless of their families’ incomes, could lead them to “become spoiled.”
A group of about 900 parents and guardians in the district have formed the Alliance for Education in Waukesha, who have been advocating for the district to accept the federal funding.
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“Even if it’s not my kid who needs that food, it’s just a matter of putting yourself in someone else’s shoes and understanding that we all need to take care of each other,” said Karen Fraley.
Wisconsin DHS: COVID-19 Weekly Recap
The seven-day average for new COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin is 1,584 as of Friday. That figure has been on the rise since July and is the highest it’s been since February.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has confirmed 7,577 total deaths from the disease.
Fifty-one percent of Wisconsinites are fully vaccinated — 82.6 percent of people age 65 and older and 34.3 percent of children age 12-15.
The Post Crescent outlines COVID-19 activity, protocol and vaccination progress at facilities throughout Wisconsin, such as prisons, schools, nursing homes, packaging plants and event venues.
Wisconsin Hospitals In Dire Need Of More Nurses
As the delta variant causes another wave of COVID-19 patients to seek medical care, Wisconsin hospitals are again scrambling to find nurses.
One Wisconsin health system said it was in “critical need” of nearly 200 nurses, while others are offering $15,000 hiring bonuses, according to a report in the The Post-Crescent.
As of Thursday, more than 800 people were hospitalized with COVID-19, based on data from the Wisconsin Hospital Association. It’s a level not seen since January.
Badgers Season Previews: Football, Volleyball
The first game for Badgers football is next Saturday, Sept. 4. Check out these score predictions and season details from Ben Kenney at the BadgersWire.
The Badgers volleyball team has fallen short of the Big Ten national title by just one game both in 2019 and in 2021. This season, the goal is to secure that national championship. The team won their first game Friday night.
STEM Center Director Shares Passion For Hands-On Experience
Liz Taylor is the first director of the Energies STEM Center in Milwaukee. She’s also the director of STEM at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
The STEM Center provides opportunities for K-12 students to get hands-on experience in science and math activities.
Taylor discovered her passion for engineering when she had such hands-on opportunities in her high school physics class. Read about how her own experience has impacted her work today here.
1 Man Dead, 1 Injured After Lightning Strike Hit
On Tuesday, a man was killed by a lightning strike in Menomonie. Another man was severely injured. The two men were working on ladders.
Authorities identified Richard Nelson, 60, at the construction site. He was not breathing and was pronounced dead at the scene.
The incident is under investigation by the Dunn County Sheriff’s Office.
Paul Farrow Elected As Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman
The Wisconsin Republican Party has a new leader. The party’s executive committee on Sunday elected Paul Farrow to serve as the party’s new chairman.
He replaces Andrew Hitt, who recently stepped down from the position after serving for over two years. Hitt will continue to serve on the executive committee as immediate past chairman.
Farrow currently serves as Waukesha County executive and previously served in both the state Assembly and Senate. As chairman, he will oversee party strategy and fundraising efforts ahead of the 2022 election cycle.
ICYMI: Biden Nominates Milwaukee Mayor For Luxembourg Ambassador
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett will be nominated as the new U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg, the White House announced Wednesday.
“(Barrett) has led Great Lakes mayors in both Canada and the U.S. as the chair of the Great Lakes and Saint Lawrence Cities Initiative, and spearheaded multiple clean, green initiatives in the city to clean up rivers, parks, and brownfields,” Biden wrote in a statement.
Barrett has served as mayor since 2004.
Read more from WPR here.
US Supreme Court Blocks Eviction Moratorium
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a plan Tuesday to extend the national ban of evictions. It was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday.
“As a result of this ruling, families will face the painful impact of evictions, and communities across the country will face greater risk of exposure to COVID-19,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.
Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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