http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/gb-immigrant-workers-vocesfrontera-s5.pngVoces de la Frontera Action Green Bay and others held a demonstration to kick off their May Day worker’s march for COVID-19 relief.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/foxconn-wisconsin-plant-2017-s5.jpgWisconsin Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors set to review, approve agreement.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers released a statement Sunday regarding the shooting in Kenosha early that morning.

“My heart breaks for Kenosha this morning in the wake of a shooting that took three lives and injured at least two others. I want to thank the first responders who reacted quickly and are still working to investigate and find those involved in this senseless tragedy.

“Kathy and I join Wisconsinites in hoping and praying those injured will recover from their injuries. We are thinking of the families and loved ones affected and the entire Kenosha community as they grieve and grapple with yet another tragic incident of gun violence.”

The facility there is one of only two facilities nationwide that Pfizer is using to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and has supplied more than 50 million doses across the country. Signs bill to keep it going.

PLEASANT PRAIRIE — Gov. Tony Evers today, together with Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Secretary-designee Dawn Crim, visited and toured the Pfizer facility in Pleasant Prairie. The governor also signed Assembly Bill (AB) 120, now Wisconsin Act 25, which will help Pfizer, Inc., and Wisconsin continue to provide COVID-19 vaccine, vaccination materials, and solutions nationwide. 

“The folks at Pfizer have been doing tireless work to get our state and country vaccinated as quickly as possible,” said Gov. Evers. “Their vaccine production and ability to distribute vaccine and other materials nationwide are critical factors in getting shots in arms, saving lives, and putting this pandemic behind us. As a Wisconsin employer and partner in our fight against COVID-19, I was glad to sign this bill to help them get materials to every state in the nation and to tour their facility today to see their good work firsthand.”

“Throughout the pandemic, we have worked closely with our regulatory boards, the governor’s office, and legislators to give our healthcare system and its partners the flexibility to get staff, medications, and now vaccines where we needed them,” said DSPS Secretary-designee Dawn Crim. “Our team at DSPS has also been working diligently, and we are ready to put this law into action right away so that Pfizer and other partners can continue to help Wisconsin—and the rest of the country—emerge and recover from the pandemic as quickly as possible.”

The facility in Pleasant Prairie is one of only two facilities nationwide that Pfizer is using to distribute COVID-19 vaccines and, so far, Pfizer has supplied more than 50 million doses across the country. Pfizer employs 300 personnel in Wisconsin, including 115 employees in Pleasant Prairie, and continues to grow its employment in the state with the hopes of reaching more than 180 employees at the Pleasant Prairie facility in 2022. 

Photos of the governor's visit for use provided courtesy of the governor's office are available here, here, and here.  

Assembly Bill 120, now Wisconsin Act 25:

• Creates an optional Wisconsin third-party logistics provider license so COVID-19 vaccines developed by Pfizer, Inc., at the facility located in Pleasant Prairie, and the associated vaccination kits created by a third party, can be delivered to states that require this type of license.

PMC will hold a virtual Executive Session from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. to discuss and vote on draft map-drawing criteria used to sift and winnow the 2020 U.S. Census data.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/teaching-students-s5.jpgSen. Smith writes about the critical investments for our schools that Governor Evers proposed in his 2021-23 biennial budget.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/farm-family-dinner-s5.jpgState will continue receiving $70 million a month for FoodShare Program from Feds, more than 400,000 Wisconsin households affected.

Will discuss and vote on draft map-drawing criteria online April 15 at 5:30 pm.

Madison, Wis. — The People’s Maps Commission (PMC) will hold a virtual Executive Session from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 15, 2021, to discuss and vote on draft map-drawing criteria that will be used to sift and winnow the 2020 U.S. Census data.

The criteria were developed by the Commissioners after hearing from more than 1,000 Wisconsinites, representing 65 counties and 245 municipalities, as well as engaging 18 redistricting experts from across the U.S. and Wisconsin.

The PMC criteria are ordered into four groups based on their importance and ultimate feasibility. These four groups create a data funneling process that will guide the next phase of the Commissioners' work and lead to the ultimate goal of fair district maps in Wisconsin.

The four grouping criteria are:

• GROUP 1: Traditional Districting Principles
• GROUP 2: Communities of Interest
• GROUP 3: Population Tuning
• GROUP 4: Partisan Fairness

A high-level overview of the draft criteria is available for review HERE. A more in-depth explanation of the draft process is available HERE.

There will not be an opportunity for public comments during the Executive Session; however, written comments remain strongly encouraged throughout the tenure of the PMC initiative. Written comments can be submitted at any time using the feedback form available on the People’s Maps Commission website HERE. A link for viewing the Executive Session will be shared publicly closer to the meeting date.

Selected by a three-judge panel, the Commission is a nine-member nonpartisan redistricting commission charged with drawing fair, impartial maps for the State of Wisconsin. More information about the Commission, its members, and its activities are available HERE.

Every 10 years, each state redraws its legislative and congressional districts using data from the decennial census. In addition to the data from the 2020 U.S. Census, the Commission will use information gathered during the public hearing process to prepare new maps. It will then be up to the Legislature to take up and approve the maps created by the Commission.

Individuals interested in watching previous PMC hearings can find the recordings HERE.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-small-business1-s5.jpgInvestment in economic well-being will revitalize Main Streets and prioritize equitable recovery across the state.

Sixth DHS community-based vaccination clinic to open.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) announced Tuesday that the sixth community-based vaccination clinic in the state will open in Barron County on April 20. The site will be located at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire campus in Rice Lake, Wisconsin.

“We started opening these clinics with the goal to optimize local vaccination efforts by closing gaps in vaccine access across Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers. “From Rock County to Racine, and now in Barron County, these clinics are helping us accomplish that goal by getting more shots in arms and helping our communities bounce back from COVID-19.”

Initially, the Barron clinic plans to administer at least 200 doses per day and has the ability to do up to 500 doses per day, dependent on vaccine supply. The clinic will be open Tuesday through Saturday, from 11 a.m.-7 p.m.

Anyone ages 16 and older can schedule an appointment at the Barron clinic by using the Wisconsin COVID-19 Vaccine Registry. For vaccine-related questions and appointment registration support, individuals can call toll-free at 1-844-684-1064. For more information on available COVID-19 vaccination options, visit the Where can I get vaccinated? webpage.

The DHS community-based vaccination clinic in Barron County is operated by AMI Expeditionary Healthcare through collaboration with Barron County Health Department, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Western Wisconsin Public Health Readiness Consortium, area health care partners including Cumberland Healthcare, Marshfield Clinic Health System, Mayo Clinic Health System, and Prevea Health, other local partners, and DHS. Various factors including population demographics, local health capacity, operations, and concentration of other vaccine providers are taken into consideration when planning for clinics.

Other DHS community-based vaccination clinics are located in the following counties: Douglas, La Crosse, Marathon, Racine, and Rock. As of April 12, these sites have administered 28,416 total vaccine doses.

For up-to-date information about Wisconsin’s COVID-19 response, visit the DHS COVID-19 webpage. We encourage you to follow @DHSWI on Facebook, Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram for more information on COVID-19.