Month: June 2020

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — All prisoners and staff in Wisconsin’s 36 adult prisons will be tested for COVID-19 under the state Department of Corrections’ plan to resume more normal operations. The Wisconsin State Journal reported Thursday that the procedures include quarantining new prisoners and transfers for 14 days. The department resumed accepting new prisoners and accepting transfers on Monday, after a moratorium that Gov. Tony Evers issued on March 23 […]

The lakeside festival that draws hundreds of thousands of people to downtown Milwaukee each summer has been canceled after it was earlier moved to September. Summerfest officials said Thursday that out of an “abundance of caution” for fans, artists, vendors and staff, the event will not take place this year. Summerfest CEO Don Smiley says staff explored numerous options to operate the festival in a safe manner in light of […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross is asking Gov. Tony Evers and legislative leaders to call a special session of the Legislature to help UW deal with “unprecedented financial and planning challenges” due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cross wants laws changed so UW can borrow money through a line of credit and possibly start classes earlier than Sept. 1. He is also asking for a reduction […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The attorney for a man whose criminal case was featured in Netflix's “Making a Murderer” series says he has contracted COVID-19 in prison.  Kathleen Zellner tweeted Wednesday that Steven Avery has the disease. Avery is serving a life sentence for the 2005 killing of photographer Teresa Halbach. Offender records show he's currently incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Institution. The state Department of Corrections announced Friday that 184 […]