Since the beginning of the pandemic, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development has faced criticism for long delays in delivering unemployment benefits. In April, Wisconsin hit a record unemployment rate of over 14%. That’s approaching numbers last seen during the Great Depression, according to DWD Chief Economist Dennis Winters. More than 728,000 unemployment claims have […]
Wisconsin’s Unemployed May Risk Their Health and Benefits
Picture by Goodfreephotos_com on Pixabay. Yesterday, Public Health Madison & Dane County announced the implementation of a county-wide reopening plan called Forward Dane. It went into effect today and removed travel restrictions, opened tennis and disc golf courses, allowed businesses to prepare to reopen, and removed any criminal penalty for violating the county’s stay-at-home order. […]
What’s the Word: Unemployment
As the novel coronavirus continues to surge around the country, fears are mounting about just how high unemployment levels will rise. This week on “What’s the Word,” Adam Schuster looks at the history of unemployment in this country, and how today’s ongoing crisis fits within it.
Seeking Answers: Madison Residents Face Uncertainty in Unemployment
Last week, nearly 70,000 Wisconsinites applied for unemployment insurance as many businesses have begun to close in order to slow the spread of COVID-19. Last year, just over 5,200 residents applied for unemployment over the same week. And just yesterday, 10,872 people filed for unemployment in Wisconsin, nearly 10,000 more than did on that date […]
Getting Wisconsin Back on Track
“We have to aspire to be first again.” According to Mike McCabe, Wisconsin appears to have lost its ambition to be first, or best. In this commentary, Blue Jean Nation’s Mike McCabe discusses our state’s shortcomings, and what we should do to get it back on track.
Dane County Promises Lawsuit Against Walker Drug Testing Proposal
MADISON (WORT) — Dane County Executive Joe Parisi is pledging to sue the state if lawmakers approve new drug testing requirement. Darcy Bean reports.
