Rep. Ed Brooks Among 23 Republicans Planning To Introduce Package Of Bills Totaling $3.5M By Shamane Mills The number of older residents in Wisconsin is high compared to other states; that means the demand for health care is expected to rise at a time when the number of medical professionals is dwindling. Rep. Ed Brooks, […]
Report: Wisconsin Sees 70 Percent Increase In Fatal Drug Overdoses During Last Decade
Wisconsin’s Overdose Death Rate Similar To National Rate, According To Report By Shamane Mills Wisconsin has seen a surge in fatal overdoses during the last decade, and the state is catching up to other states in drug-related deaths. A new Wisconsin Department of Health Services report indicates drug overdose deaths in the state went up […]
Madison Police Give Nonviolent Drug Offenders Choice: Arrest Or Treatment
Additional Recovery Initiative To Start As Soon As January By Shamane Mills The Madison Police Department has received a three-year, $700,000 federal “smart policing” grant to try a new way to deal with nonviolent drug offenders who commit low-level crimes. Rather than arrest, drug users will be given a chance to get treatment. The heroin […]
Madison Schools Seek To Narrow Achievement Gap With New Early Childhood Zone
North Side Schools Offer Family Support To Boost Early Learning By Shamane Mills Madison-area schools are expanding an effort to narrow the achievement gap between students who are well off and those who aren’t. Typically, the disparity in grades breaks down along racial lines. In 2013, Leopold Elementary in Madison was the first to give […]
Madison Looks To Close Digital Divide
Residents In Low-Income Neighborhoods To Get Used Computers, High-Speed Internet By Shamane Mills Internet access is not only helpful, it’s often essential to complete schoolwork, apply for a job or book doctor appointments. With most Internet providers requiring customers to not only buy broadband, but also TV and phone services, accessing the World Wide Web […]
Wisconsin Makes Gains In Health Coverage
Census Data Shows Uninsured Rate Dropped To 5.7 Percent Last Year By Shamane Mills Wisconsin’s uninsured rate continues to go down. The U.S. Census Bureau reported the state’s uninsured rate last year dropped to 5.7 percent, meaning 323,000 Wisconsin residents went without health coverage in 2015. That number has steadily dropped since the Affordable Care […]
Worker Shortage Prompts Call For Immigration Reform In Wisconsin
Dairy And Restaurant Industries In Wisconsin Join National Reason For Reform Campaign By Shamane Mills Business and civic leaders in all 50 states are kicking off what’s called the Reason for Reform campaign. Representatives from dairy farms and restaurants in Wisconsin joined officials from Dane County’s Latino Chamber of Commerce at a press event Wednesday […]
New Food Stamp Standards Could Boost Access To Healthier Foods
Some Store Officials Say They May Have Problems Stocking Better Food by Shamane Mills The U.S. Department of Agriculture is proposing new rules to increase access to healthy food for those using food stamps, but convenience store officials said the move may result in fewer locations participating in the program. The proposal requires retailers participating […]
Report: Number Of People Without Health Coverage In Dane County Down Significantly
Between 23,000 And 25,000 People Remain Uninsured by Shamane Mills A report by Dane County public health officials estimates the number of residents without insurance has dropped by as much as 40 percent since 2013 because of changes at the state and federal level. In the years leading up to the Affordable Care Act, 1 […]
Milwaukee To Release Teen Pregnancy Statistics, At Time When Prevention Funding Is In Jeopardy
Teen Pregancy Rates Have Dropped Dramatically In Milwaukee Over Past Decade By Shamane Mills Milwaukee is expected to release its most recent figures for teen pregnancy soon, at a time when some lawmakers want to cut funding for federal pregnancy prevention programs. Milwaukee once had the second-highest teen pregnancy rate in the nation. The most […]