MON AM News: Altruize participates in gener8tor criminal justice reform cohort; WMC applauds UW System choice of Thompson as interim president

— Altruize, an app that enables volunteers to control and verify their volunteer data without paperwork, is participating in gener8tor’s gALPHA Social Impact: Criminal Justice Reform Summer 2020 cohort. 

The program was created so that social innovation can break poverty cycles and provide a path to financial freedom, according to a release. In gAPLPHA’s program, individuals and start-ups are brought together for four weeks to identify how ideas and products could have an impact on the criminal justice system.

Nicole Sdao, founder and CEO of Altruize, said the gener8tor program would allow Altruize to research how the app could reform the way court-ordered community service is perceived while increasing compliance and decreasing recidivism. 

“The gALPHA program has been an amazing opportunity to fully understand the immense impact that Altruize will have on the justice system, particularly with the juvenile justice system since court-ordered community service is preferred with this group,” Sdao said.

And gALPHA is equally excited to have Altruize as a part of the cohort.

“They are bringing a high-tech solution to a sometimes low-tech process of tracking parole and community service hours,” said Joe Bazydlo, director of gALPHA Social Impact Madison. “Their product could add a lot of efficiency and insights to parole offices, and I’m excited to see their future developments.”

According to Sdao, the next step for Altruize is to partner with social impact investors and sponsors. 

“Partnering with socially purposeful investors and sponsors will give us the opportunity to make true reform in the criminal justice system and do it through the power of volunteerism,” Sdao said.

Listen to a previous WisBusiness podcast with Sdao: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/wisbusiness-the-podcast-with-nicole-sdao-ceo-and-founder-of-lets-thrive-360/ 

— Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce applauds the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents’ choice of former Gov. Tommy Thompson to serve as UW System interim president.

“His service to Wisconsin is unmatched, and his leadership will be crucial in this unprecedented time,” said WMC President and CEO Kurt Bauer. “We look forward to continuing our great relationship with the state’s public universities and once again working in partnership with Gov. Thompson.”

Thompson’s appointment is effective July 1. But according to the UW System, President Ray Cross will stay on another 90 days as a consultant to help with the transition. A new search won’t start for at least a year, and Thompson will serve until a permanent appointment is named.

— A top National Guard official visited Madison to thank Wisconsin National Guard’s citizen soldiers and airmen for their efforts battling COVID-19.

Gen. Joseph Lengyel, member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, visited June 7 to talk with Wisconsin Guard members at its COVID-19 specimen collection site at the Alliant Energy Center in Madison.

“It’s just a pleasure to see the professional men and women of the Wisconsin National Guard doing testing, and sanitation of facilities around the state,” Lengyel said in a statement. “I couldn’t be more proud.”

At the Alliant Energy Center, Lengyel observed the Guard personnel facilitating one of the state’s largest COVID-19 community-based testing sites. Members directed traffic, verified personal information and safely collected COVID-19 specimens to be sent to a lab for testing.

Sunday marked the State Emergency Operations Center’s 100th day of activation for coronavirus response, the longest continuous SEOC activation in the state’s history. 

To date, the state has administered more than 485,000 tests, with the Wisconsin National Guard responsible for collecting over 143,000 of those.

The National Guard has ongoing coronavirus testing sites statewide, supporting the state’s initiative to increase COVID-19 testing. A total of 25 specimen collection teams made up of nearly 500 citizen-soldiers and airmen are involved in the mobile testing sites.

Community-based testing sites are located at the Alliant Energy Center in Dane County, United Migrant Opportunity Services and Custer Stadium in Milwaukee County, Horlick High School in Racine County and Baraboo High School in Sauk County.

The Guard is conducting site-based testing at the Wisconsin Secure Program Facility in Grant County, the Racine Correctional Institute and a senior-care facility in Sparta in Monroe County.

— President Trump will make an official visit to Wisconsin on Thursday to tour Fincantieri Marinette Marine and speak at the shipyard.

Marinette Marine was awarded a nearly $800 million contract April 30 to build a first-in-class guided-missile frigate for the Navy. The contract includes the possibility for nine additional ships and could be worth $5.5 billion if all options exercised.

The White House said Trump will discuss his “decisive actions to expand the shipyard.”

The stop will be Trump’s first in Wisconsin since a January campaign rally in Milwaukee. It also comes two days after Vice President Pence visits Waukesha County for a campaign stop to launch what the campaign is billing a “Faith in America Tour.”

Earlier this month, Trump tweeted about the contract.

“We just landed Wisconsin a massive Navy shipbuilding contract. Beautiful designs!” he wrote June 5.

— Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson will be the featured guest at a virtual event set for noon on Friday. This Newsmaker Lunch Hour is presented by a partnership among the Milwaukee Press Club, WisPolitics.com and Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

Johnson, a Republican from Oshkosh, will field questions from a panel of journalists from noon to 1 p.m., moderated by Milwaukee Press Club President Gene Mueller, host of Wisconsin’s Morning News at Newsradio 620 WTMJ.

The Milwaukee Press Club’s Newsmaker Luncheon Series is underwritten by presenting sponsor Spectrum News 1 and sustaining sponsor Mueller QAAS, LLC.

WisPolitics.com partners with the press club for this luncheon as part of its ongoing event series in Milwaukee, sponsored by UW-Milwaukee, Wisconsin Academy of Global Education and Training, ELEVEN25 at Pabst, Milwaukee Police Association, The Firm Consulting, Medical College of Wisconsin and Spectrum.

Rotary Club of Milwaukee will also partner on this event.

You must register in advance to view this event: https://milwaukeepressclub.org/events/u-s-sen-ron-johnson-to-headline-newsmaker-lunch-hour/

— COVID-19 hospitalizations number 243 patients, according to Wisconsin Hospital Association data. 

That figure includes 94 COVID-19 patients in ICU, an increase of three since Friday. 

Additionally, inpatients with pending tests number 153, a decrease of five since Friday. 

Of the state’s confirmed cases, 13 percent have been hospitalized, and 3 percent have received intensive care, according to DHS.

WHA data show that statewide, Wisconsin seems to have a stable and adequate supply of beds and ventilators.

Hospitals, however, continue to lack personal protective equipment for health care workers.

The WHA data show 29 hospitals have a seven-day or less supply of face shields, 41 have a limited supply of goggles, 34 have limited N95 masks, 35 have limited gowns, and 29 hospitals have limited paper medical masks.

Health care workers account for about 10 percent of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 2,376. 

See the WHA dashboard here: https://wispolitics.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c540e35869d1ba4ca61b4228e&id=5ec8e86af6&e=63cd46885a 

— Over the weekend, the state saw 14 COVID-19 deaths, bringing the death toll to 744. 

Milwaukee County had nine new deaths. Kenosha County had two while Forest, Racine and Winnebago had one more death each. 

The number of recovered patients continues to rise, now at an estimated 78 percent, while 3 percent of patients have died. Nineteen percent are still in a 30-day waiting period of symptom onset or diagnosis.

Counties reporting deaths include: Milwaukee (371), Racine (58), Brown (39), Kenosha (39), Waukesha (38), Dane (32), Rock (23), Walworth (18), Ozaukee (15), Washington (13), Grant (12), Winnebago (11), Outagamie (8), Clark (6), Fond du Lac (6), Dodge (5), Waupaca (5), Jefferson (4), Richland (4) and Sheboygan (4).

Door, Forest, Marinette and Sauk counties report three deaths each. Adams, Buffalo and Calumet counties report two deaths each.

Bayfield, Burnett, Columbia, Green, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Monroe, Polk, St. Croix and Wood counties report one death each.

Plus, the state saw 280 new confirmed COVID-19 cases yesterday, a steep dropoff from the 385 new cases reported Saturday.

Despite a decrease in cases, the percentage of positive tests rose to 4.6 percent from 3.8 percent Saturday, a new two-week high and the highest since May 30. 

The new cases bring the cumulative count to 24,819. The state reported 6,051 tests today, far short of the state’s daily testing capacity of 17,688 tests. 

Click here for more coronavirus resources and updates: https://wispolitics.us12.list-manage.com/track/click?u=c540e35869d1ba4ca61b4228e&id=2e58409955&e=63cd46885a 

— UW System President Ray Cross told regents he planned to petition Gov. Tony Evers for additional emergency funding to cover COVID-19 tests and personal protective equipment.

During an emergency board meeting Thursday, Cross warned the system could see additional costs upwards of $50 million if it had to purchase the necessary supplies for the fall semester on its own.

“We’re working hard to find …. ways to reduce this cost,” he said. “We don’t know exactly what this cost will be, but if we have to absorb everything it’ll be in excess of $50 million.”

Cross added the system is in talks with university chancellors, local counties and the Department of Administration to find ways it can save costs and still gain the necessary equipment for the fall semester.

The system’s latest fiscal estimate suggests it could see a more than $100 million net loss through the summer months alone, even after accounting for cost-savings measures and federal aid.

See a previous WisBusiness story on the UW-System and other education facilities preparing for the fall semester: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2020/class-to-be-in-session-and-in-person-this-fall-education-leaders-say/

#TOP STORIES#

# Students’ return to college campuses this year will help state’s economy 

http://click.bizjournals.com/a02aix0JpU0T00sYPW8FDyP

# President Trump to visit Fincantieri Marinette Marine on Thursday 

https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/06/19/president-donald-trump-visit-fincantieri-marinette-marine/3225040001/

# Milwaukee Police Voted Out Of Public Schools 

https://www.wpr.org/milwaukee-police-voted-out-public-schools

#TOPICS#

# AGRIBUSINESS 

– Nunes to serve as 73rd Alice in Dairyland https://brownfieldagnews.com/news/nunes-to-serve-as-73rd-alice-in-dairyland/ 

– Triggered Dairy Payments May Entice More Into The Program https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/06/20/triggered-dairy-payments-may-entice-more-into-the-program/ 

– Local Butchers Booked Out Until Summer and Fall 2021 https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/06/19/local-butchers-booked-out-until-summer-and-fall-2021/ 

– Health officials offer resources for aging farmers https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/health-officials-offer-resources-for-aging-farmers/article_14a67927-af02-565d-b185-f983b630fe99.html 

# ECONOMY 

– Wisconsin’s economy shows worst gaps between Blacks and whites, study says https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/06/20/wisconsin-economy-ranks-worst-racial-inequity-study-says/3222916001/ 

# EDUCATION 

– Milwaukee schools will end funding for police patrols

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/crime-and-courts/milwaukee-schools-will-end-funding-for-police-patrols/article_94092281-c1a6-55f4-ab6d-801c93be06fd.html

– ‘Safe pair of hands’: UW appoints former Gov. Tommy Thompson interim president

https://madison.com/ct/news/local/education/safe-pair-of-hands-uw-appoints-former-gov-tommy-thompson-interim-president/article_a1134c7f-a8c1-502c-aa58-b5a0d4a00e77.html

# ENVIRONMENT

– Environmental DNA Provides Another Way To Estimate Wisconsin’s Fish Populations https://www.wpr.org/environmental-dna-provides-another-way-estimate-wisconsins-fish-populations 

# FINANCIAL SERVICES 

– Downtown Madison recovery program would aid businesses damaged following protests

https://madison.com/ct/news/local/govt-and-politics/downtown-madison-recovery-program-would-aid-businesses-damaged-following-protests/article_3542cb15-47fa-5644-b1bd-5698235edf57.html

– SBA, Treasury backtrack, pledge to release some PPP loan data https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/20/sba-treasury-ppp-loan-data.html 

# HEALTH CARE 

– DHS: Percentage Of Positive COVID-19 Tests Drops To 2.5 Percent After Thursday Spike

https://www.wpr.org/dhs-percentage-positive-covid-19-tests-drops-2-5-percent-after-thursday-spike

– Southeast Wisconsin hospitals, clinics approach pre-pandemic activity levels http://click.bizjournals.com/ifGU08WJyBx00P0iaTp2Y0D

– No new cases of COVID-19 in northwestern Wisconsin on June 21 https://www.superiortelegram.com/lifestyle/health/6544383-No-new-cases-of-COVID-19-in-northwestern-Wisconsin-on-June-21

– Green Bay-area restaurants, golf course close due to coronavirus concerns https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/get-access/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.greenbaypressgazette.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2F2020%2F06%2F20%2Fgreen-bay-coronavirus-restaurants-close-due-covid-19-concerns%2F3229702001%2F

– Superior nursing home reports positive COVID-19 case https://www.superiortelegram.com/news/government-and-politics/6541037-Superior-nursing-home-reports-positive-COVID-19-case 

– La Crosse County reports 23 new COVID cases https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/la-crosse-county-reports-23-new-covid-cases/article_ea714fb7-d0db-528a-9ceb-73e7e6b96e16.html#tracking-source=home-the-latest 

# LEGAL 

– Lawsuits aim to ease rules limiting Wisconsin college voters https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/06/20/lawsuits-aim-ease-rules-limiting-wisconsin-college-voters/3231830001/  

# MANUFACTURING 

– Kingsway Kombucha plans opening in late 2020, early 2021 https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/18/kingsway-kombucha-plans-opening-in-late-2020-ear.html  

– Briggs & Stratton restores executive salaries, amends credit agreement https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/18/briggs-stratton-restores-executive-salaries-amends.html  

# POLITICS 

– Wisconsin Marks Juneteenth With Rallies, Flags And Virtual Events

https://www.wpr.org/wisconsin-marks-juneteenth-rallies-flags-and-virtual-events

– Looking back at the origins of Milwaukee’s Juneteenth festivities

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/06/19/how-juneteenth-celebrations-started-and-grew-milwaukee/3207453001/

# REAL ESTATE

– HSA Commercial plans spec industrial building near Milwaukee airport https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/21/hsa-plans-spec-industrial-building-near-airport.html 

– Home sale prices in southeastern Wisconsin reaches 10-year high for month of May https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/16/housing-sales-prices-rise-in-se-wisconsin.html  

# REGULATION 

– Tony Evers, Mandela Barnes unveil bills banning police chokeholds and limiting use of force https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-mandela-barnes-unveil-bills-banning-police-chokeholds-and-limiting-use-of-force/article_ce621244-d5b9-5ba0-85e8-e705cb26d6cb.html

# RETAIL 

– OSHA investigating Amazon’s facilities in Kenosha for COVID safety

https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/06/19/osha-investigating-amazons-facilities-kenosha-covid-safety/3217634001/

# SMALL BUSINESS 

– A sweet story of persistence, Neat-O’s Bake Shoppe pushes through pandemic https://www.midwestfarmreport.com/2020/06/21/a-sweet-story-of-persistence-neat-os-bake-shoppe-pushes-through-pandemic/ 

# SPORTS 

– Packers’ Aaron Rodgers invests in connected rowing machine startup https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/17/aaron-rodgers-invests-in-connected-rowing-startup.html 

# TECHNOLOGY

– Sabhya Technologies helps small manufacturers extract value from data https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2020/06/18/sabhya-technologies-helps-small-manufacturers.html  

# TOURISM 

– Some Marcus movie theaters in Wisconsin reopen without requiring masks

https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/some-marcus-movie-theaters-in-wisconsin-reopen-without-requiring-masks/article_bfc58cf3-5a5f-5f84-85e8-dc832b4cc442.html

– Union Terrace approaches semblance of summer with phased reopening

https://madison.com/ct/news/local/education/union-terrace-approaches-semblance-of-summer-with-phased-reopening/article_fe667119-4898-5217-a888-c5245b16521e.htm

– City of Milwaukee prepares ordinance for parades, public speakers during DNC http://click.bizjournals.com/gQ0TD8x0p20JWY0PUi0atFy 

– Tribal governments ‘crippled’ by lost gaming revenue during pandemic https://www.leadertelegram.com/news/front-page/tribal-governments-crippled-by-lost-gaming-revenue-during-pandemic/article_9d528599-7086-5fb2-9375-7733f9cd28a0.html 

– Ho-Chunk casinos in Wisconsin Dells, Wittenberg, Black River Falls set to reopen https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/2020/06/19/ho-chunk-casinos-wisconsin-dells-wittenberg-set-reopen/3222923001/ 

– Pandemic pause: A quiet summer not the norm for amusement ride operators https://lacrossetribune.com/news/state-and-regional/pandemic-pause-a-quiet-summer-not-the-norm-for-amusement-ride-operators/article_b137fe1a-8458-528f-864d-0418fbe509fa.html 

# TRANSPORTATION 

– Scooters could return to Milwaukee, but not anytime soon http://click.bizjournals.com/s0NFixJ0TW8q0UapDy20P0Y 

# UTILITIES 

– Michigan wants proof Enbridge’s Line 5 can operate safely https://www.superiortelegram.com/business/energy-and-mining/6544393-Michigan-wants-proof-Enbridges-Line-5-can-operate-safely 

# PRESS RELEASES

<i>See these and other press releases: 

http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 </i>