Apr. 20, 2020 6:30p
A 10th death due to COVID-19 has been reported in Racine County. According to numbers provided by the state Monday, new cases and hospitalizations continue to inch upward. The number of deaths in Kenosha and Walworth counties remained the same, at five and six, respectively.
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Foxconn announced Monday that it's begun to produce in Mt. Pleasant thousands of "procedural" masks designed for use by medical professionals, law enforcement, pharmacists, caregivers and others. A news release says the masks, being produced under the "Sharp" brand name, have already been tested. Assemblers are following safety protocols and procedures. The company also says its continuing to work with a Minnesota-based company on an initiative to build medical ventilators.
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A request for help in producing cloth masks and gowns has gone out from Kenosha County. It's asking on behalf of long-term care and assisted living facilities. Instructions on how to make masks are available here. People who are able to help are asked to email COVID19@kenoshacounty.org.
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Racine Police Chief Art Howell and Kenosha County Sheriff Dave Beth have signaled they won't follow the lead of Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling who says he'll be leaving enforcement of Gov. Evers' Safer at Home order up to health investigators. Schmaling said Friday he believes Evers' extension of the order to May 26th represents an overreach and is unconstitutional. In a news release Monday, Chief Howell said any enforcement actions undertaken by city officers will be "data-driven, science and fact-based and non-partisan in nature, with the sole purpose of safeguarding life."
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Nine Kenosha non-profits are in line to split over $650,000 in federal funds that have been allocated to the city to relieve pressures brought on by COVID-19. They include Kenosha County United Way. the Shalom Center, the Boys & Girls Club, Kenosha YMCA, ELCA Outreach, Kenosha Area Family and Aging Services, Kenosha Community Health Center, the Salvation Army and the Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corp. The funding plan is go to before the city council for final approval May 4th.
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A Racine County cold case is the subject of a new podcast. Kerry O'Brien-Krueger was 31 when she disappeared in 1989 shortly after being called away on short notice for a business trip to fill in for a co-worker. Her boss later told investigators that no such business trip existed. For the podcast, click here.
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Traditional Earth Day festivities on Gateway's campuses in Kenosha, Racine and Elkhorn will be replaced by a virtual event that'll be delivered on Facebook Wednesday, Apr. 22nd from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The college will post a variety of environmental discussion topics, at-home activities, educational resources and more throughout the day. Viewers will be able to submit gardening questions, tour Gateway's greenhouses on its Kenosha campus and learn how to turn a yard into a year-round feeding station for birds. For more, click here.
Another Earth Day event will be co-hosted Wednesday evening by Racine Mayor Cory Mason and State Rep. Greta Neubauer and members of Racine Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The hour-long discussion from 7 until 8 will focus on policies that are being explored at the city and state level, including those that are under consideration by the Governor's Climate Change Task Force. Register for the Zoom video conference by going here.
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