Milwaukee County is going to make another attempt to raise the local sales tax to pay for services. County Executive David Crowley says he and partners plan to ask the Republican-controlled legislature to approve a binding referendum asking local voters to increase the sales tax by 1%. The county would use the extra revenue for mental health services, as well as COVID-19 and property tax relief. Crowley says stress over the coronavirus pandemic has taken a toll on the mental health of many

The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments virtually Tuesday in a case that could determine whether local health officials can close schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. In September, Dane County issued an order restricting in-person instruction for students in grades 3-12. Private schools and parents sued — and the supreme court temporarily blocked the order. The court also blocked a more recent school closure order from Racine until this case is decided. Private Schools Take Legal Action

With COVID-19 patients filling many hospital beds , some health care systems are expanding care of milder coronavirus cases at the person's home. When Green Bay resident Dan DeGrave tested positive for COVID-19 in late September, he wasn't admitted to the hospital. He was sent home, and soon after, an iPad was delivered to his house. "And with that iPad, I got to test my oxygen levels, my blood pressure and my temperature. And that was hooked up, that iPad, to a nurse in Milwaukee. She could see

Select healthcare workers and long-term care residents in Wisconsin could start getting vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as this month. Wisconsin Deputy Health Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk briefed reporters on vaccine plans Monday. She said Wisconsin expects to receive about 50,000 doses of the vaccine manufactured by Pfizer — if it gains emergency use authorization from the federal government. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration could give Pfizer the green light as soon as this week .

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many teachers and students out of their classrooms, and onto their computers. But K-12 education wasn’t built to be virtual. So how have teachers adapted their in-person instruction for the computer screen? WUWM's Emily Files visited virtual classrooms to find out, and will tell those stories this month. In this first installment, we learn how a Milwaukee fourth grade English teacher breaks up a 90-minute class to keep kids engaged. It’s 9 a.m. the Tuesday before

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said he’s pleased that Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine has been approved in the United Kingdom – and is optimistic it will soon be rolled out in the U.S. In a media update Thursday, Barrett estimated Wisconsin would initially receive about 50,000 doses of the vaccine. He said they’ll be distributed to those most in need. "There’s a consensus that health care workers should be at the top of the list, that they should be the first ones to receive those vaccines, and I

A Kenosha County court commissioner has ruled that there is sufficient evidence to warrant a trial for Kyle Rittenhouse. He’s the 17-year-old white Illinois teenager accused of killing two men during a night of unrest in Kenosha, which followed the police shooting of Jacob Blake, who is Black. Rittenhouse is charged with six counts, including homicide and attempted homicide, for fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber, and wounding Gaige Grosskreutz on Aug. 25. READ: Kyle Rittenhouse

When museums, galleries and theaters close that means painters, dancers and musicians don’t have a place to perform or a source of income. Dozens of them talked about the challenges they face in a video conference Tuesday arranged by the Wisconsin Arts Board. The meeting included 15 arts organizations to help brainstorm ways for artists to survive the pandemic. Dozens of artists took turns speaking. One of them was Freida High Wasikhongo Tesfagiorgis. She is a painter, art historian, and a

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he’ll sign an ordinance that increases fines for bars and restaurants that violate mask and social distancing orders. Under the new rules, penalties would increase from a maximum of $500 per violation to a maximum of $5,000 per violation. The Common Council unanimously approved the measure last month. The move comes as the city and state have seen skyrocketing numbers of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations. On a conference call Tuesday, Barrett said the

Updated 3:51 p.m. The predominately white Burlington Area School District, about 30 miles west of Racine, has been grappling with how to address — and teach children about — racism. On Monday night, the school board adopted an anti-racism policy. But the people who were advocating for such a policy say it’s not enough. As Schools Pledge To Fight Racial Injustice, MPS Looks To Cut Ties With Police The Burlington School District is 80% white, 14% Hispanic and a little more than 1% Black. Darnisha