Bram Sable-SmithWPR/Wisconsin WatchView CommentsWhen Fall River-based Robbins Manufacturing laid off David Ficke on March 29, the welder followed in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites during the coronavirus pandemic. He filed an initial unemployment claim, hoping it would help him survive a shutdown of much of the state’s economy.But when a call to the state’s unemployment help line placed him in a queue of 400 to 500 people, Ficke knew he would wait a long time for a lifeline.Unable to pay rent, he moved into the “Hotel Chrysler” — his 2006 Town and Country minivan...…Bram Sable-SmithWPR/Wisconsin WatchView CommentsWhen Fall River-based Robbins Manufacturing laid off David Ficke on March 29, the welder followed in the footsteps of hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites during the coronavirus pandemic. He filed an initial unemployment claim, hoping it would help him survive a shutdown of much of the state’s economy.But when a call to the state’s unemployment help line placed him in a queue of 400 to 500 people, Ficke knew he would wait a long time for a lifeline.Unable to pay rent, he moved into the “Hotel Chrysler” — his 2006 Town and Country minivan...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - The U.S. Postal Service has identified hundreds of absentee ballots for the April election that never made it to voters or couldn't be counted because of postmark problems, a new report says. The post office's internal watchdog chalked the problems up to receiving outgoing absentee ballots at the last moment from election officials, inconsistent postmarking of ballots and one mail carrier's inattention to getting absentee ballots to voters in Fox Point. The  accounts for some but not all of the problems that marred voting for the...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - The U.S. Postal Service has identified hundreds of absentee ballots for the April election that never made it to voters or couldn't be counted because of postmark problems, a new report says. The post office's internal watchdog chalked the problems up to receiving outgoing absentee ballots at the last moment from election officials, inconsistent postmarking of ballots and one mail carrier's inattention to getting absentee ballots to voters in Fox Point. The  accounts for some but not all of the problems that marred voting for the...WW…

Appleton Post-CrescentThe state health department confirmed 598 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and updated its weekly rankings of virus activity levels, bumping 13 more counties into the "high" group. Officials acknowledged Wisconsin's surge in cases during a media briefing Tuesday. The state's seven-day rolling average of new cases now stands at 565, up significantly from mid-June, which saw averages under 300. The county activity rankings reflect the same trend. When the Department of Health Services first released the data for the week of June 17, just 19 counties had high...…Appleton Post-CrescentThe state health department confirmed 598 new COVID-19 cases Wednesday and updated its weekly rankings of virus activity levels, bumping 13 more counties into the "high" group. Officials acknowledged Wisconsin's surge in cases during a media briefing Tuesday. The state's seven-day rolling average of new cases now stands at 565, up significantly from mid-June, which saw averages under 300. The county activity rankings reflect the same trend. When the Department of Health Services first released the data for the week of June 17, just 19 counties had high...WW…