I hope you are keeping cool during these very hot days!
A note of appreciation - it is honor to represent our community in the state legislature. Your kind words and considerate notes kept me going. Thank you for emailing and calling about important issues, I cannot thank you enough for trusing me with representing you!
Gov. Evers Announces the Passing of Ben Belzer
July 20th, 2020
Gov. Tony Evers announced the death of 25-year-old staffer, Ben Belzer, the governor’s personal assistant, who died tragically in a tubing accident over the weekend. Ben joined the governor’s office as the governor’s personal assistant in February of 2019. He was raised in La Crosse, Wisconsin, a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and previously worked for U.S. Congressman Ron Kind and at Blumenfeld & Associates, LLC. For more information click here.
Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance Ended July 25, Governor Evers, DWD, Voice Support for Program Restart
Mon. July 27, 2020
MADISON – Governor Tony Evers and Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Caleb Frostman last week sent a letter to the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation voicing their support for the extension of the Federal Pandemic Unemployment Insurance (FPUC) program, which ended July 25.
Even though the program has ended, Wisconsin has maintained the program infrastructure so that it can quickly reimplement the program under the current program guidelines. Any modification to the program would require new coding and additional implementation costs. All outstanding weekly claims filed between April 4 and July 25 will continue to receive FPUC back payments once claims are approved.
The letter sent to the Wisconsin Congressional Delegation can be accessed here.
Gov. Evers Announces $41.6 Million Distributed Through Wisconsin Farm Support Program
Mon. July, 27, 2020
Applications open for second round of funding on August 10
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that nearly 12,000 Wisconsin farmers received a total of $41.6 million through the Wisconsin Farm Support Program, a joint program between the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR). Each recipient received a $3,500 payment.
With $8.4 million remaining after the first round of the program, another round of funding will be distributed. The second round is open to farmers whose gross income from farming is between $10,000 and $5 million. Applications will be accepted between August 10-24. More information on the program and how to apply can be found here.
Gov. Evers Orders Flags to Half-Staff in Honor of Army Cpl. Francis J. Rochon
Fri. July 24, 2020
MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced today that the flags of the United States and the state of Wisconsin will be flown at half-staff on July 25, 2020, in honor a recently identified Korean War Soldier whose remains have been returned to Wisconsin for burial.
Army Cpl. Francis J. Rochon of Superior will be buried with full military honors on Saturday, July 25, in Foxboro, Wisconsin.
On July 7, Public Health Madison & Dane County put out a new order requiring face coverings being worn in Dane County. You can find more information about this order here.
Beginning June 15th, Tenant Resource Center will be accepting online applications. Please call 608-257-0006 or visit their website for more information: https://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/.
Dane County is partnering with the Tenant Resource Center to administer a $10 million eviction-prevention fund using money from the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to meet the needs of the newly unemployed or underemployed.
The effort also delivers $500,000 in new eviction-prevention funding to neighborhood-based Joining Forces for Families offices, and spends $390,000 on limited-term housing assistance staff and rental aid by expanding an existing program provided by Catholic Charities of Madison.
If you are facing eviction and need legal assistance, please contact Legal Action of Wisconsin. If you receive a notice of termination or eviction court papers, please call Legal Action’s intake line 1-855-947-2529 or email hmw@legalaction.org for eviction support.
Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services
DWD Releases Virtual Workplace Bulletin Board
On July 22nd, the DWD announced the release of its eWorkBoard, a new virtual workplace bulletin board. The DWD eWorkBoard includes posters on a variety of topics including minimum wage law, fair employment, and more. For more information click here.
DWD Releases Information on Unemployment Data
On July 20th, the DWD released information related to the total number of unemployment calls received, applications filed, claims processed, and monies distributed in Wisconsin as of the week ending July 18, 2020. Based on preliminary numbers, there were 24,838 initial applications filed the week ending July 18. Of those new applications, 1,271 applications are from claimants who have exhausted their UI benefits and applied for PEUC. This is compared to 28,661 in initial applications the week prior. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants Now Open for 2021
On July 21st, the DATCP announced that they are accepting applications for the Producer-Led Watershed Protection grant program. Applications are due by September 21. These grants are awarded to producer-led groups whose projects help support and advance conservation initiatives by bringing farmers together with their local communities. Each group is eligible for up to $40,000 each year in matching funds. For more information click here.
DATCP Hosting 'Question, Persuade, Refer' Virtual Training Sessions for Agriculture Service Providers and Farmers
On July 17th, the DATCP announced that As part of its efforts to provide resources to help address farmer mental health wellness, the Wisconsin Farm Center is hosting a series of Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) virtual training sessions for agriculture service providers, farmers, and the agricultural community. The Farm Center will host the first virtual session Wednesday, July 29. Five additional virtual sessions are scheduled this summer through early fall. There is no cost to attend. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Department of Justice
AG Kaul Joins Multistate Lawsuit Challenging Trump Administration Rule Curtailing States’ Clean Water Act Oversight
On July 21st, Attorney General Kaul joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final rule unlawfully curtailing state authority under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act. For more information click here.
AG Kaul Seeks Court Order to Immediately Block DeVos Rule Threatening K-12 Public School Pandemic Relief Funds
On July 20th, the DOJ announced that AG Josh Kaul joined an expanded coalition of nine attorneys general and several local jurisdictions on Friday in filing for a preliminary injunction to immediately block U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ unlawful attempt to siphon pandemic relief funds away from K-12 public schools while litigation is ongoing. For more information click here.
Attorney General Kaul Announces Lawsuit Against Trump Administration for Allowing Health Care Discrimination
On July 20th, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 23 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit to stop a new Trump Administration rule that makes it easier for health care providers and insurance companies to discriminate against certain vulnerable and protected classes of Americans. For more information click here.
AG Kaul Sues EPA Over Rule Undermining Mercury, Air Toxics Standards
On July 20th, the DOJ announced that Attorney General Josh Kaul, with a coalition of 25 states, cities and counties, is suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) over its rule reversing the agency’s determination — first made nearly 20 years ago — that it is “appropriate and necessary” under the Clean Air Act to regulate mercury and other toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs
Amid pandemic, new leader takes command of Wisconsin Guard disaster response unit
On July 22nd, the DMA announced that Maj. Matthew Kelly is the new commander of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team (CST), a joint unit comprised of expert Soldiers and Airmen in various disciplines related to weapons of mass destruction and chemical and biological hazards. The 54th CST supports local and state authorities at domestic incident sites involving weapons of mass destruction or chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive agents by identifying such agents and substances, assessing consequences, advising how best to respond and assisting with any requests for additional military support. For more information click here.
Wisconsin National Guard surpasses 250,000 specimens collected for COVID testing; statewide testing continues this week
On July 20th, the DMA announced that the Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection teams’ cumulative total gathered for COVID-19 testing topped 256,000 as teams continue to operate across Wisconsin supporting local health departments and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services with COVID-19 testing efforts. In Dane County multiple teams established a community-based testing site May 11 at the Madison’s Alliant Energy Center and has collected nearly 71,000 specimens as of July 20. This site typically is open Monday through Saturday. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Department of Corrections
Comprehensive Testing for COVID-19 at DOC Institutions Complete
On July 20th, the DOC announced that comprehensive testing at Wisconsin Department of Corrections (DOC) institutions is complete and there are 9 active cases of COVID-19 among those in the care of the DOC, and the percentage of positive tests for those in DOC institutions is at 1.2% The agency worked with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Wisconsin National Guard to test all people and staff at its 37 facilities. This mass testing began May 12 and wrapped up July 1. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation
WEDC reviews more than 30,500 applications for We’re All In grants for small businesses
On July 22nd, the WEDC announced that they have reviewed all of the more than 30,500 applications it received last month from small businesses seeking We’re All In Small Business Grants. In the program’s first phase, WEDC has approved grants totaling $40.7 million to almost 16,300 businesses throughout the state. WEDC has already disbursed more than $27.4 million to nearly 11,000 businesses; the organization is processing an additional $13.3 million to more than 5,300 businesses. In the second phase, which is already under way, WEDC staff are working with the remaining roughly 14,000 businesses to gather additional information about their applications to help them qualify for the grants. For more information click here.
Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance
Governor's Prescription Drug Task Force Hears Challenges, Strategies from Diverse Stakeholders
On July 22nd, the Governor's Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices heard how prescription drug costs have impacted some of our vulnerable populations and learned about some of the strategies that other states have employed to lower their costs. For more information click here.
Governor's Prescription Drug Task Force Focuses on Prescription Drug Manufacturing and Consumer Discount Programs
On July 21st, the Governor's Task Force on Reducing Prescription Drug Prices learned more about consumer discount programs and other efforts to increase prescription drug affordability. This marked the sixth time the task force has met either in person or via videoconference since November 2019. For more information click here.
You can find the latest data about unemployment cases from the Department of Workforce Development by clicking here.
If it has been at least three weeks since you submitted your application and you have not received your benefits, my office may be able to help you. We are able to pass along your concern to DWD.
If you are experiencing a different issue with your application, please emailRep.Stubbs@legis.wisconsin.govwith the following information:
Full name
Phone number
Home Address
Date of Birth
Last 4 Digits of your Social Security Number
Issue that needs to be resolved
Status of your application
Did you apply online?
What date did you submit it?
My staff will send this information to DWD and request that they promptly look into your case. I understand that this is a difficult financial time for many, and I am committed to helping you receive your benefits in a timely manner.
The MMSD Summer Food Program provides free, nutritious meals during summer vacation. Children can eat breakfast, lunch and snack for free Monday - Friday starting June 22nd.
Any changes to times or locations for mobile pantry distributions will be communicated via our new texting service. To receive a text message when there is a change to the regular schedule, text FOODDANE to 555888. Click here for more information
As a reminder, there is also a pop-up mobile food site on the east side, located in front of the East YMCA at 711 Cottage Grove Road.
New shield couples COVID-19 protection with a clear view of the face
The team that developed the Badger Shield to meet the needs of hospitals, nursing homes and schools has created a new version — again working with partners from UW Health, Midwest Prototyping and others — a shield that provides a full, clear view of the face while still filtering virus particles through surgical fabric that cinches around the wearer’s chin and jawline. For more information click here
Themed SOAR Live sessions are drawing an unexpectedly large virtual audience
Due to the global pandemic, all SOAR activities are being offered virtually this summer. That includes the Q&A sessions that typically would occur in person when newly admitted students visit campus prior to the start of fall classes. To increase interest and keep things light, the SOAR student workers brainstormed themes for the live events and gave them catchy titles. The sessions are proving popular and most are averaging around 40 participants. For more information click here.
Helen Faith named Director of Student Financial Aid
Helen Faith has been named the new director of the Office of Student Financial Aid at UW–Madison. Faith has twenty years of financial aid experience at both public and private, and 2- and 4-years institutions. Building off the successes of programs like Bucky’s Tuition Promise, Faith will focus on continuing to increase the number of UW–Madison’s Federal Pell Grant recipients and work closely with Professor Nick Hillman and the Student Success Through Applied Research (SSTAR) Lab. For more information click here.
July 17th, 2020
UW–Madison establishes free, campus-wide COVID-19 testing to support campus reopening
By the beginning of the fall semester on September 2, UW–Madison will offer no-cost COVID-19 testing to all students, faculty and staff, with some testing set to begin in early August. For more information click here.
I hope this e-newsletter is helpful. Thank you for your feedback on our e-newsletters! My staff and I always appreciate your feedback. As always, if you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me at my office or at rep.stubbs@legis.wisconsin.gov. Though my staff and I are working remotely, we will make every effort to address your questions and concerns as soon as possible.
