Olivia Richardson

The coronavirus pandemic is having an impact on Wisconsinites in just about every way possible. That includes people at risk of homelessness. Some of them have turned to Impact 211 for help.

Theresa just moved into her new apartment after a yearlong struggle. She says her troubles began in August 2019, when her husband passed from ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. After her husband’s death, Theresa remained in their apartment for a time, eventually moving out and putting their possessions in storage.

Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris spent Labor Day visiting Milwaukee.

Harris met with Jacob Blake and his family. Blake is the African American father who Kenosha police shot in the back seven times two weeks ago. She then made stops at a local union chapter and spoke with representatives of the city's Black and brown communities. 

The coronavirus pandemic has affected every part of life — including in prisons. On Thursday, a small group of protesters in Milwaukee joined a national movement to advocate for safety for those held in prison as a part of the #JustUs campaign.

“It's got to be us that leads the charge because no one understands what it is to be behind bars,” said Caliph Muab'El, an organizer and executive director of Breaking Barriers Mentoring. 

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is rolling out a new decision-making tool in the fight against the coronavirus. The online survey helps people determine if they should participate in group activities during the pandemic. The move comes as Wisconsin has seen a jump in coronavirus cases whose origin can be traced to group gatherings.  

Updated on Thursday at 10:50 a.m. CT

Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, party officials said Wednesday, signaling a move to a convention that essentially has become entirely virtual.

As of Thursday, Milwaukee County has had more than 17,100 cases of COVID-19 and 374 deaths from the virus.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley says that while the greatest impact of COVID-19 is on human life, it’s also impacting finances. He says the impact of the coronavirus could total near $300 million in lost jobs, reopening costs and service needs.

Despite summertime hopes, the coronavirus is still around. In fact, the state reports that cases are rising at an alarming rate. The highest numbers are being recorded in younger people.

Tuesday marked the largest single-day increase in new coronavirus cases in Wisconsin — at 1,117. The state also reported 13 deaths, bringing the total to 859.

Those ages 20-29 are largely responsible for the increase in coronavirus cases.

On Tuesday, the Milwaukee Common Council narrowly confirmed the appointment of Claire Woodall-Vogg as the executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission.

After an hour-long discussion, Woodall-Vogg was approved in a vote of 8 to 7. Woodall-Vogg’s appointment comes with a bit of urgency as the Aug. 11 partisan primary draws near.

The job was open because former Executive Director Neil Albrecht announced plans to retire. Mayor Tom Barrett appointed Woodall-Vogg to take Albrecht’s place.

Health officials say it’s possible we won’t see a vaccine or cure for the coronavirus for awhile. So in the meantime, they’re recommending testing and contact tracing as ways to help control the spread of the infectious disease.

Contact tracing is the process of informing people that they may need to self-isolate or get tested because they’ve been in contact with someone who’s tested positive for the coronavirus.

Businesses have been reopening over the last few weeks, as local governments have relaxed measures put into place to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. And in demonstrations for racial equality across the nation, huge groups of people have been assembling after months of social distancing and staying at home.

It might appear, to some, as if the coronavirus is out of the way. But Milwaukee County officials say the region is not in the clear – and things could get worse.

The eleventh day of demonstrations for George Floyd and black lives took place in Milwaukee Monday.

The original goal of one protest was to stop at sites where black and brown lives have ended at the hands of local police. But the organizer shifted plans after a couple of conflicts over the weekend. The new mission was to show how even seemingly “safe” neighborhoods and businesses can play a role in harming black residents – or helping to heal the community.

Even though many Wisconsin businesses are reopening and activities are resuming, the presence of the coronavirus can cause a sense of loss in safety and stability for some people. That’s according to Dr. Emily Mazzulla.

“I think we have not seen the end of the traumatic impact. I think it's just beginning,” Mazzulla says. She is the Marquette University Director of SWIM Collaboration and Innovation. Its mission is to drive community-based collaboration to address trauma.

The Wisconsin Emergency Operations Center and National Guard continue to increase testing and contact tracing capacity for the coronavirus.

Testing and tracing go hand-in-hand with promoting social distancing and taking other precautions at businesses and in public spaces, state Department of Health Services Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said during a Tuesday briefing. That’s about a week after the state Supreme Court rejected Gov. Tony Evers’ safer-at-home order.

While the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' safer-at-home order last week, Milwaukee still has its own policy in effect. The order has no expiration date, and Mayor Tom Barrett hopes residents willingly comply with the restrictions.