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Today we feature a story by WPR’s Shamane Mills, who reports that while many people are returning to work, child care remains scarce — and the industry is in trouble. Mills tells the story of Silke O’Donnell, who closed her Madison day care center after 27 years. “Last year was just so mentally stressful,” O’Donnell said. “I just made the decision that I’m going to quit a couple years early.” Mills reports that thousands of day care centers across the country have closed due to rising costs and falling enrollment during the pandemic, including many in Wisconsin.
Top Stories
Children at Sunshine Family Daycare work on a craft at a table Monday, May 10, 2021, in Madison, Wis. Credit: Angela Major / WPR
Wisconsin’s child care industry faces a tough recovery after COVID-19 — WPR
New vaccines developed to fight COVID-19 pandemic could break ground in cancer treatment — Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
GOP leaders discuss workforce shortage, increased enforcement of work search rules — Wisconsin State Journal
Local colleges receive eight figures in federal COVID aid — Eau Claire Leader Telegram
Wisconsin businesses can’t find workers, citing unemployment benefits — Fox6 News
Heart of Vilas County trails remains popular after pandemic biking boom — WXPR
U.S. nursing home deaths fall sharply as older Americans are vaccinated — The New York Times
Quotable
“I believe that this additional money that we’re giving is a disincentive to return to the workforce.”
State Rep. Donna Rozar, R-Marshfield, arguing in favor of a GOP plan to eliminate the additional $300 a week pandemic unemployment benefit
“We’re only at about 45% fully vaccinated, there are still people who are vulnerable who would love to go back to work, who maybe have kids at home. There is no vaccine right now for young children. I think we do need to take away the additional funding, I just think it’s premature.”
State Rep. Deb Andraca, D-Whitefish Bay, arguing against ending the extra benefit now
Data to Note
Here’s a look at the Department of Health Services’ vaccine dashboard, which showed Thursday that 48.1% of Wisconsinites have received at least one vaccine dose, including 83.4% of those ages 65 and older. Meanwhile, 42.3% of Wisconsinites are fully vaccinated, including 79.3% of those older than 65. Racial disparities persist in distributing vaccines. The shares of Black, Hispanic and Native American residents to receive a dose remain below that of white residents.
On Thursday, the state DHS reported a seven-day average of 143 new daily infections, continuing a long-term downward trend in new cases. The state also reported 19 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the full toll to 7,129.
This chart from WisContext shows how infections, deaths and hospitalizations have disproportionately affected people of color in Wisconsin.
Find a vaccine site near you
DHS and the federal government have partnered with Vaccine Finder to help Wisconsinites find vaccinations. Vaccinations are often by appointment, but providers are increasingly offering walk-in options. In addition, people seeking COVID-19 shots can text their ZIP code to 438829 to find nearby vaccine providers
COVID-19 fact-checking
Not sure if something you heard about COVID-19 is true? FactCheck.org offers this page full of explainers — and debunking of common distortions — about the disease to help you sort out fact from fiction.
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Wisconsin child care centers struggle as economy reopens — 6/3/21 is a post from WisconsinWatch.org, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.