“It’s in nobody’s interest. It’s not in the president’s interest, it’s not in the House’s interest, it’s not in our interest,” Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) said of a shutdown.

WASHINGTON, DC - Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are wondering if they can trust President Trump to sign legislation to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown before the end of the year.

Read the full story here

Lawmakers continue to struggle at times with masks and social distancing, with notoriously extroverted members having trouble resisting gathering in groups.

WASHINGTON, DC - Congress is experiencing a spike in COVID-19 cases among lawmakers while doing exactly what Americans are being warned not to do for Thanksgiving this year: gathering together after traveling from all over the country.

In the last week alone, seven members of Congress have tested positive for COVID-19 with three others quarantining after exposure.

Read the full story here

Program ensures Wisconsin kids have access to high-quality programming and a safe place to go during the pandemic.

Program provides eligible grantees average awards of $14,600 per eligible movie theater screen in Wisconsin.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today announced that $10 million from the COVID-19 Movie Theater Grant Program has been awarded to 54 movie theater operators across Wisconsin. The program will provide critical funds to assist movie theaters impacted by the pandemic.

“Wisconsin businesses across industries and communities have felt the strains of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and movie theaters have been particularly hard as they also battle stalled movie production,” said Gov. Evers. “Movie theaters are often a corner stone of our main street businesses, and I am glad we were able to get these funds out the door to help them keep theirs open.” 

Funded by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funds and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA), the COVID-19 Movie Theater Grant program provides eligible grantees average awards of $14,600 per eligible movie theater screen in Wisconsin. Grant funds can be applied towards pandemic-related operational costs such as facility improvements to provide appropriate social distancing, cleaning and sanitizing, and personnel costs necessary to provide appropriate COVID-19 safeguards. 

“Movie theaters employ thousands of individuals throughout the state,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan. “We hope this funding will provide some relief to these institutions in communities large and small so that they can continue to provide Wisconsinites with employment and family memories in the years to come.”

A full list of grant winners is available here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/vote-47-mb5-s5.jpgNovember 19 Hearing features 3rd Congressional District. Commissioners to learn more regarding tools used for developing legislative district maps.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/deer-hunters-s5.jpgSen. Jeff Smith (D – Brunswick) and Rep. Katrina Shankland (D – Stevens Point) write about the precautions Wisconsinites must take to prevent the spread of both COVID-19 and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) this hunting season.

Campaign had sued for defamation because TV station ran ad about Trump’s failed coronavirus response. Another baseless legal action successfully rebuffed says PUSA.

Washington, DC – The Trump campaign has requested to dismiss their case against a local TV station in Wisconsin. The campaign sued for defamation because the TV station ran a Priorities USA Action ad that used Trump's own words to tell the truth about Donald Trump’s failed coronavirus response. Priorities USA intervened in the case and the ad can be found here. Priorities USA Chairman Guy Cecil issued the following statement:

“Like all of his other misguided legal actions, Donald Trump only knows how to lie, cheat, and sue his way out of accountability for his actions,” said Guy Cecil, Chairman of Priorities USA. “Priorities stood strong against the Trump campaign’s onslaught of baseless legal actions and we have successfully rebuffed Donald Trump’s effort to censor the truth about his failed leadership. I have confidence that the courts will continue to reject Donald Trump’s other foolish litigation pursuits in the weeks to come.”

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/coronavirus-ppe-prep-s5.jpgSeniors Should Not Believe Republican Scare Tactics about COVID Vaccine says Green Bay Senator Dave Hansen.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/high-voltage-lines-farms-s5.jpgAdministration wants to hear your thoughts and feedback as they put together the People's Budget. Sessions to be on-line starting November 17.

"Hope" featured in 2020 holiday ornaments handmade by students to celebrate Wisconsinites’ resilience as we practice empathy and compassion to get through this together.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, in a letter to educators and students, announced "Hope" as the theme for the 2020 holiday ornaments handmade by students this holiday season and distributed across Wisconsin. The governor's letter to Wisconsin educators with additional information and instructions regarding the 2020 holiday decorations can be found here.

“Now more than ever, we all need hope. That’s why this year we are not only asking students to make holiday ornaments that celebrate hope and what it means to them, their families, and their communities, but celebrating that hope across our state,” said Gov. Evers. “I know that if we stay hopeful, celebrate Wisconsinites’ resilience, and continue to practice empathy and compassion, we are going to get through this together.”

Each year, Wisconsin students are invited to create ornaments used to decorate a tree in the State Capitol Rotunda. This year, as Wisconsinites continue to navigate difficult times and the State Capitol remains closed due to the ongoing pandemic and efforts to keep Wisconsinites and visitors safe, the ornaments will be shared with veteran's homes, hospitals, and nursing homes to celebrate hope and the holiday season across the state.

“Hope” themed ornaments should be sent by Fri., Dec. 4, 2020, to:

Claire Franz
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Facilities Development & Management
17 West Main Street, Suite 119
Madison, WI 53703