The Milwaukee Times Newspaper and milwaukeetimesnews.com Milwaukee's Only “Blue Chip” Community Newspaper
Weekly Newspaper
“Journalistic Excellence, Service, Integrity and Objectivity Always”
Vol. 39 • No. 17 • Thurs., April 23, 2020 - Wed., April 29, 2020 • An NCON Publication Serving The Milwaukee Area • 75¢
IN THIS ISSUE:
Gov. Evers announces Badger Bounce Back plan to reopen Wisconsin’s economy Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday, April 20, 2020 the Badger Bounce Back plan to share guidance on the criteria that must be met before the state’s economy can safely reopen. “As we’ve learned over the past month, in the most difficult of circumstances, Wisconsinites will rise to the occasion, helping each other and working together to do what’s best for our families, our neighbors, and our communities,” Gov. Evers said. “That’s what the Badger Bounce Back is all about: our resilience as a people and as a state. I am excited and hopeful about this plan.” According to a news release, the Badger Bounce Back plan was established to decrease the number of cases and COVID-19-related deaths to a level that the state’s healthcare system can handle. In an effort to do so, Evers announced a plan to greatly increase the state’s testing capacity for COVID-19. Evers said in a news conference Monday that the Badger
Bounce Back plan was established to help the state reach the White House’s recommended criteria for reopening the state. The full Badger Bounce Back plan is available at https://content.govdelivery.com/attachments/ W I G OV / 2 0 2 0 / 0 4 / 2 0 / file_attachments/1431305/ Badger%20Bounce%20 Back%20PlanFINAL.pdf. State health officials are setting a goal of 85,000 tests per week, averaging roughly 12,000 tests per day. In addition to expanded testing, health officials will be expanding contact tracing in an effort to track the spread of the coronavirus. According to the release, every Wisconsinite who tests positive will be interviewed within 24 hours of receiving their test results. People they have been in contact with will be interviewed within 48 hours of test results coming back. Evers said once the state sees a 14-day downward trajectory of influenza-like illnesses and COVID-19 symptoms being reported, Wisconsin will be able to
resume in-person classes and bars and other nonessential businesses could reopen. Under the third phase, all business activity and gatherings would resume with minimal preventative measures.
gradually reopen. Evers directed Wisconsin Department of Health Services Secretary-designee Andrea Palm to issue Emergency Order #31 to establish the state’s plan for reopening. Under the first phase, gatherings of up to 10 people would be allowed, K-12 schools could resume in-person operations, child care settings could resume full operation and restaurants could reopen with social distancing requirements. Under the second phase, mass gatherings of up to 50 people would be allowed, colleges and universities could
Despite this announcement, Gov. Evers still stands by his original announcement on Thursday, April 16, 2020, of extending the "Safer at Home" order until 8:00 a.m., May 24, 2020 — or until a superseding order is issued. Evers stated that there had been a reduction in new cases, which shows that "Safer at Home" is working. However, we were not yet near where we need to be in order to lift the order all together. The Badger Bounce Back plan gives us a working outline of where we have to be and how to finally get back to normal. The announcement of the Badger Bounce Back comes after protests of locals demanding that stores open and the "Safer at Home" order be immediately lifted.
COMMUNITY LEADER GEORGE MATTHEWS PASSES - PAGE 2
PACKERS LEGEND WILLIE DAVIS DIES AT 85 - PAGE 5
COVID-19 DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES - PAGE 10
Former Journal Sentinel columnist Veteran WISN 12 journalist Mike Anderson passes away Eugene Kane dies at 63 Longtime Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Eugene Kane, who stirred the pot on race and its impact on Milwaukee’s African American community and the central city, was found dead in his east side apartment Thursday, April 16, 2020; he was 63. No foul play was suspected; the medical examiner conducted testing for COVID-19 over the weekend but the results returned negative Monday morning. Kane, who never married and didn’t have any children, graduated from Temple University and moved from Philadelphia to Milwaukee in September 1984 to work for the Milwaukee Journal, then the city’s evening newspaper. He covered a number of beats before becoming best known for his award-winning column "Raising Kane" in the Journal Sentinel. The col-
umn consistently challenged readers to deal with race as a force in politics, culture, business and the media. "Eugene was a passionate journalist and wonderful writer who cared deeply about justice. As a columnist, he encouraged the people of Milwaukee and America to listen to our better angels, to confront our failures and to not surrender to accepting racial injustices and inequities. He urged us all, including himself, to be better,"
An NCON Communications Publication
said George Stanley, editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and regional editor of USA TODAY-Wisconsin. Quiet, even shy, by nature, Kane was willing to tackle touchy subjects head-on, and wasn't afraid to make readers uncomfortable. He was known in the newsroom for talking and listening to even the most angry callers, and responding to emails and letters, even if they crossed the line of civility. For one column that demonstrated his commitment to try to understand people whose opinions differed from his own, Kane invited James Fendry, president of the Wisconsin Pro-Gun Movement, to watch "Bowling for Columbine" together. The movie explores the proliferation of guns in America leading up to the 1999 massacre (Continued on pg. 6)
It is with heavy hearts that WISN 12 News reports longtime journalist Mike Anderson has passed away. Mike died suddenly Tuesday, April 21, 2020 surrounded by family after suffering a fatal brain aneurysm. He was 67 years old. WISN 12 News Director Ben Hart shared the news with station staff Tuesday morning. Mike began his career at WISN in 1981. During his tenure at WISN, he covered countless news events, including the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which ravaged his hometown of New Orleans. Over the years, Mike produced breakthrough news reports about issues involving racial inequality, economic development, local governance, political upheaval, and inner-city violence. Mike was the recipient of many awards,
including for his work on the award-winning documentaries "Children in the Line of Fire" and "Solutions to Violence." He interviewed four U.S. presidents: Richard M. Nixon, George Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. Before joining WISN 12 News, Mike worked as a news anchor and reporter at KIRO-TV in Seattle. He began his professional career as a radio journalist, crossing into television news while working in Birmingham. Mike attended Louisiana State University and the Career Acad-
emy School of Broadcast Journalism. He was a member of the Wisconsin Black Media Association. Mike was also involved with the Milwaukee "Black Excellence Awards" for more than a decade. He emceed the annual awards ceremony and produced the video presentation the last few years. Mike retired from WISN 12 News in 2017. He enjoyed coming back to TV to share fun Milwaukee events like Summerfest and the Wisconsin State Fair. When he wasn't reporting the news, Mike liked playing a round of golf. He is survived by his wife and three children. Mike was remembered fondly by his family at WISN 12 News. (Continued on pg. 6)
www.milwaukeetimesnews.com