Apr. 22, 2020 6p
(AP)---Nearly 150 employees and family members of workers at the JBS Packerland meatpacking plant in Green Bay have tested positive for the coronavirus. Brown County Health Dept. officials said Wednesday there were another 39 cases tied to American Foods Group and 19 to sausage maker Salm Partners in nearby Denmark. All of the plants remain open. Meatpacking facilities in other states that have seen spikes in cases have shut down. The cluster of cases tied to JBS appears to be the largest of its kind in Wisconsin. More than half of the 402 confirmed cases in Brown County are linked to food processing plants. Brown County is the fourth most populated county in the state but it now has the second-highest number of cases, jumping ahead of Dane County but behind Milwaukee County.
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(WGTD)---COVID-19 could be contributing indirectly to a spike in the number of fires in Racine that have been attributed to careless use of smoking materials. Four such fires have occurred over the past six days, causing over $67,000 in damage. Nearly a dozen people have been displaced. While it’s just a hunch, Fire Dept. Lt. John Magnus says he thinks people are smoking more because of virus-induced stress. And that could be leading to a greater number of fires.
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(WGTD)---Although it may be hard to visualize in advance, plans for a virtual ceremony for Gateway Technical College graduates have been finalized and shared with students. Graduates are being asked to submit a photo and a message to be used in the ceremony. Commencement speakers will be recorded ahead of time. Still to be determined: How the college will handle caps and gowns. Also undecided, a date and place for some type of future, in-person celebration.
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(WGTD)---The City of Racine has reopened applications for grants from a small business emergency fund. Earlier this week the city council replenished the $250,000 account with an allocation of $650,000, money generated by the city’s Sanitary Sewer Surcharge Fund and the city’s share of room tax revenue. Some 18 businesses won awards the first time around, but more than 100 had applied.
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(WGTD)---With bars and restaurants closed, bartenders have taken a big hit. In Kenosha, the $100 fee to renew a bi-annual license is being waived, to be payable upon their return to work.
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