http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/door-county-people-s5.jpgSen. Smith reflects on the budget listening session he hosted last week. The conversation was a reminder of how the budget connects us to one another and will help us build stronger communities.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/foxconn-wall-s5.jpg$80 million, six-year agreement to guarantee taxpayer savings, protect local and state infrastructure investments, require job creation to receive incentives.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/high-school-students-s5.jpgBeyond the Classroom Grants help ensure access to learning opportunities and programming for kids ages 5 to 17.

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.