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Wisconsin’s largest business groups are using words like ‘devastating’ and ‘extinction level’ to describe the economic problems created by the state’s coronavirus lockdown.  Wisconsin’s Manufacturers and Commerce and the state’s Restaurant Association yesterday pressed lawmakers to reopen the state. The groups say many businesses cannot wait another month to reopen. The Restaurant Association’s Kristine Hillmer says half the state’s restaurants could close forever if the lockdown lasts longer. Governor Evers says he’s willing to talk about reopening the state, but

Four people are charged after attempting to use fake 100-dollar bills at Eau Claire businesses. A criminal complaint shows the four people were charged yesterday with forgery, resisting arrest, and eluding. Police said they tried to use to false money at three different businesses Tuesday afternoon. Police said during a traffic stop one of the men was outside the vehicle and the driver took off leading police on a chase exceeding 100-miles-per-hour and ending near Osseo. Three suspects fled from

The Quick Response Community Fund is distributing nearly 275-thousand dollars to area non-profits. Officials said part one of the emergency grant funds will benefit 42-area non-profits. The emergency grant cycle is now moving onto phase two and will focus on steps to help non-profits recover and serve populations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Just about 10 percent of people tested for the coronavirus are testing positive, even as more people are being tested. The state’s Department of Health Services yesterday said six-thousand-854 people have tested positive for the virus, while another 69 thousand have tested negative. That means the state’s positive-test-rate is holding at about 10 percent. The positive-test-rate has around 10 percent for weeks.

 The number of people who’ve lost their job in Wisconsin during the coronavirus outbreak is closing-in on 500-thousand. The state’s Department of Workforce Development released its latest numbers yesterday. Last week alone, the state says 55-thousand people filed a jobless claim. So far, the state says it’s paid-out more than 290-million-dollars in unemployment benefits to over 480-thousand people.

Prosecutors in Milwaukee are asking for a life sentence for the man accused of killing five family members at his home earlier this week. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office yesterday filed formal, first degree homicide charges against 43-year-old Christopher Stokes. Police say Stokes admitted that he ‘massacred’ his family on Monday. Four of the five people he is accused of killing were teenagers. Milwaukee Police are not guessing at a motive for the crime.

They say there is no use crying over split milk, but what about spilled Spotted Cow? Add wasted beer to the list of annoyances from the coronavirus. Breweries across the country, and here in Wisconsin, say they are dumping kegs of beer because the coronavirus has closed the bars. The folks who make Spotted Cow are replacing half-empty kegs in bars, and using the extra beer for fertilizer. The New Glarus Brewery figures it will dump between five-thousand and 10-thousand half-empty

In a move designed to help renters with the financial burden brought on by the COVID-19 crisis,  Wisconsin landlords are temporarily barred from charging late fees and penalties.  The Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection approved an emergency bill this week to put that policy in place.  It prevents those charges from being applied during this public health emergency and for three months afterwards.  A public hearing on the emergency rule will be held later next month.

Hundreds of Wisconsin National Guardsmen are helping communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Over 300 soldiers and airmen are assigned to mobile testing sites around the state including at the Kenosha County Detention Center and Dane County Jail.  The Wisconsin Department of Health says the state has the capacity to complete eleven-thousand tests a day with 50 labs statewide producing results.

An investigation continues into a series of suspected animal poisonings.  The Fish and Wildlife Service is offering a one-thousand-dollar reward for information leading to those responsible for killing two dogs in Forest County over the weekend.  The Wisconsin DNR says two other dogs died earlier this month in Florence County after eating something placed along a road.  Poisonings have been detected in Marinette, Florence and Forest counties.