Community Updates

Afghan Refugees in Madison and Dane County

As of September 3, 2021, more than 8,000 refugees from Afghanistan are being housed at Fort McCoy in western Wisconsin. From here, they will be sent to various communities throughout Wisconsin and the rest of the country. Many residents of Madison are interested in helping to welcome and assist Afghan refugees. The Wisconsin Department of Children and Families has compiled this guide with information on how to help the Afghan refugees arriving at Fort McCoy. For information on how to assist Afghan refugees arriving in Madison and Dane County, contact the Jewish Social Services of Madison or the Lutheran Social Services of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. 

SWIB Internships Open for Summer of 2022! 

The State of Wisconsin Investment Board (SWIB) is now accepting applications for their Summer 2022 internships. SWIB is one of the nation’s largest institutional investors and offers internship opportunities in a variety of fields. These internships are paid, with compensation ranging from $17/hour for undergraduates to $42/hour for MBA/PhD graduate students. For more information on SWIB internships, including how to apply, click here.

UW-Madison’s $175 Million School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences

From left to right: Representative Don Vruwink (D-Milton), UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, Representative Shelia Stubbs (D-Madison)

On September 17th, I was honored to attend UW-Madison Computer, Data & Information Sciences’ event “The Convergence of What’s Next”. At this event, we celebrated UW-Madison’s $175 million commitment to help establish The School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences. It is great to see exciting things happening at our state’s flagship university! This school, which will be a hub for technological innovation, is truly an investment in UW-Madison and in the future of our state. For more information, click here.

Know Your Electeds!

On September 23rd, I was interviewed for Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin’s program called “Know Your Electeds”. In this interview, I got to share about aspects of my personal life as well as what I have been working on in the legislature. It was an honor to work with Spectrum News 1 Wisconsin for this interview, and stay tuned via my Facebook and Twitter for more information on when this interview will air!

New Crisis Triage Center in Dane County

On September 27th, 2021, I stood with Dane County Executive Joe Parisi to announce our proposal to include a $10 million 24-hour crisis triage center in the 2022 budget. This center would divert individuals experiencing behavioral health issues away from the criminal justice system while providing them with the help and resources they need. This is certainly a step in the right direction for our criminal justice system, and I look forward to ensuring this proposal becomes a reality. For more information on this proposal, read The Capital Times’s report on it here.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announcing his plan to build a new crisis triage center in Dane County.

Agency Updates

Attorney General Josh Kaul Advises Wisconsinites Against Evolving Ransomware Threats

On September 13th, Attorney General Josh Kaul published a statement advising Wisconsinites against the ever-changing threat of ransomware. Ransomware is a type of cybercrime in which hackers hold particular systems or data hostage until the owner pays a ransom. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased our dependence on technology and the Internet, which increases our risk of being exposed to cybersecurity crimes as well. To avoid being impacted by ransomware, make sure to keep an offline backup of your files and to avoid clicking on any suspicious links, advertisements or email attachments. To read the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s statement about ransomware, click here.

Attorney General Kaul Joins Coalition in Support of DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Texas Abortion Ban

On September 15th, Attorney General Josh Kaul joined a coalition of 24 attorneys general filing an amicus brief in support of the United States Department of Justice’s challenge to Texas’s six week ban on abortions. The brief claims that Texas’s law, which bans almost all pre-viability abortions, violates almost 50 years of precedent set by the Supreme Court that establishes the constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy prior to viability. To read more about this brief, click here.

Register for MARKETPLACE Today!

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) is hosting the 40th annual MARKETPLACE - Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development for minority-, women-, veteran-, and LGBTQ-owned businesses virtually on December 7th and in person on December 8th and 9th. This conference is the premier statewide business building conference for minority, woman, veteran, and LGBTQ business owners, and registration is now open. Until October 25th, all attendees are eligible for a discounted rate. To register or find more information on MARKETPLACE, click here.

New Testing Requirement for Executive Branch Employees

On September 14th, the Department of Administration announced a requirement for all executive branch employees, interns, and contractors to be tested weekly for COVID-19. This requirement only applies to employees who have not submitted their vaccination status or are unvaccinated, and will go into effect beginning October 18, 2021. As of September 10, 2021, almost 70% of all executive branch employees have reported being at least partially vaccinated. Given the increased risk of severe infection for unvaccinated individuals, all state employees are encouraged to get vaccinated as soon as possible. To read the DOA’s full statement, click here.

Federal and State Officials Advise Wisconsinites That Making or Buying Fake COVID-19 Vaccine Cards is Illegal

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) leadership released a statement on September 10th reminding the public that making and buying fake vaccination cards is illegal and punishable under federal law. Legitimate COVID-19 vaccine cards are critical tools in preventing further illness and death from COVID-19. In the same statement, the DHS also reminded the public not to post pictures of their vaccine cards on social media, as this can prompt their information to be stolen and used to commit fraud. To read the DHS’s entire statement, click here.

DHS Recommends Pfizer Vaccine Booster Doses for Certain Demographics

The DHS recommends that certain populations receive a booster dose of Pfizer at least 6 months after receiving their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. At this time, only individuals who received the Pfizer vaccine are recommended to get a booster shot; data regarding the efficacy of Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster vaccines is still being considered. According to the DHS, all people 65 years and older, all residents in long-term care facilities, and people ages 50 to 64 with certain underlying medical conditions should receive a second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. The DHS also recommends that additional populations, ones that are not included in the list above, may receive a booster dose of Pfizer. For more information on this matter, read the DHS’s full statement here.

Dane County Face Covering Mandate

The face covering mandate in Dane County will be in effect until October 8, 2021. According to Madison and Dane County Public Health, under the current mandate, a face covering is required among people ages two and older in any enclosed space open to the public where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit, are present. Additionally, face coverings are required while driving or riding in any form of public transportation. For more information and a full list of exceptions, click here.

COVID-19: Resources for Parents and Guardians

Currently, children under the age of 12 years old are ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. The DHS has compiled the following resource for parents and guardians to reference regarding how to stay safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. To find additional resources to help support your family’s health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit this link.

Educational Updates

Classes Begin Amidst High Campus Vaccination Rate and New Testing Requirement for the Unvaccinated

On Wednesday, September 8th, UW-Madison had their first day of classes, with the majority of courses this year being offered in-person. As of September 1st, 90% of the campus community is fully vaccinated, with 88% of students being fully vaccinated and 92% of employees being fully vaccinated. Because the highly contagious delta variant is a potential concern as we look toward the future, as of August 30th, weekly covid testing is required for students and employees who have not provided proof of vaccination. UW-Madison’s campus vaccination rate is something to be proud of and hopeful about, as vaccinated people are at less of a risk for experiencing the most severe impacts of COVID-19. If you are unvaccinated, students and members of the broader Dane County community can make an appointment to be vaccinated through UHS at the following link.

Indigenous People’s Day Celebration

In the beginning of October, MATC will be hosting an Indigenous People’s Day celebration. In 2019, Governor Evers designated the second Monday in October as Indigenous People’s Day in Wisconsin. This holiday, which is on the same day as Columbus Day, was created to recognize and celebrate indigenous groups and traditions. In Wisconsin, there are eleven federally-recognized Native American Indian tribes. In October, each Madison College campus will celebrate Indigenous People’s Day at a different location and time. For more information, please refer to the graphic below.

Expanded Mask Requirement in Grades 4K-8 to Include Masking Outdoors

In the beginning of September, MMSD issued a mask mandate that includes masking indoors, outdoors, and on buses for elementary (grades 4K-5) and middle school (grades 6-8) communities. These measures apply to all staff, families, visitors, activities, and after school childcare in the school buildings. The expanded measures have been put in place to add an extra layer of safety mitigation for students, while the risks associated with the Delta variant continue to evolve. For more information on the expanded mask mandate, click here.

MMSD National Merit Scholar Semifinalists

On September 27^th, MMSD announced that 26 local students qualified as National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. Achievement of this designation is based on high performance on the 202 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Congratulations students and best of luck in the final round!