Wisconsin
Wisconsin Supreme Court OKs releasing COVID data on businesses
Greater than a 12 months after Wisconsin’s largest enterprise foyer sued to cease the state from releasing information on firms with COVID outbreaks, a narrowly divided Wisconsin Supreme Court docket on Tuesday dominated in favor of releasing the information.
The bulk opinion, written by Justice Rebecca Dallet, asserts that Wisconsin Producers & Commerce didn’t have the correct to problem the state well being division’s authority to launch public information.
The state legislature in 2003 restricted when individuals can problem the discharge of public information to some clearly outlined circumstances after various excessive profile instances wherein academics accused of getting intercourse with college students tried to cease the discharge of their personnel information. The slew of subsequent lawsuits slowed down the open information course of in native authorities a lot that it basically defeated the intent of the open information regulation.
“WMC’s place would undo the legislature’s option to preclude pre-release judicial evaluation in most circumstances,” Dallet wrote.
The ruling was 4-3, with conservative Justice Brian Hagedorn siding with liberal Justices Dallet, Ann Walsh Bradley and Jill Karofsky.
The info in query, which was requested by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel from the state well being division in June 2020, is now two years outdated. The courtroom battle has held up the discharge of the information for greater than a 12 months, a scenario which attorneys for the state referred to as “absurd.”
The newspaper filed the information request after meatpacking staff and nursing residence residents instructed reporters that employers had left them in the dead of night about outbreaks at their amenities, placing them and their households in danger.
WMC sued to cease the state well being division from releasing the information in October 2020, arguing that it could “irreparably hurt” the reputations of their members. The Wisconsin Supreme Court docket agreed to choose up the case in August.
In a strongly worded dissent, Chief Justice Annette Ziegler mentioned the bulk opinion had “short-circuited the usual judicial course of” and “permitted the weaponization of personal well being data, as long as the federal government has gathered that data.”
Her dissent, which was joined by Justices Rebecca Bradley and Endurance Roggensack, claimed the appeals courtroom improperly intervened within the case whereas the enterprise foyer was nonetheless attempting to amend their grievance to add two people who believed the the discharge of the information would violate their privateness.
In a press release, WMC president and CEO Kurt Bauer echoed the dissenting judges, stating the choice “has opened the door to huge public intrusion into personal medical information.”
“The governor’s try and disgrace and embarrass Wisconsin companies is incorrect, and the Supreme Court docket is equally incorrect to permit it,” Bauer mentioned.
Wisconsin Transparency Venture legal professional Tom Kamenick, representing the Journal Sentinel, pushed again on the concept that the information would hurt the reputations of companies or people.
The information in query comprise the names of roughly 1,000 companies that noticed two or extra staff both check constructive or determine as shut contacts. The state Division of Well being Companies has emphasised that it selected to restrict the information to firms with 25 or extra staff to make it implausible for any people to be recognized.
“No private medical data is being launched,” Kamenick mentioned. “All that is being launched is a listing of enormous companies the place two staff both had COVID or have been recognized as shut contacts. It does not even point out that anyone at that enterprise ever had COVID.”
Invoice Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Data Council, mentioned the dissenting opinion irresponsibly stokes unfounded fears.
The choice “merely affirms that statistical data gathered by the state about outbreaks at companies is public data,” Lueders mentioned.
The Journal Sentinel requested the COVID-19 information to attempt to perceive whether or not the individuals most susceptible to the illness have been being correctly protected by employers.
A Journal Sentinel investigation printed in July 2020 confirmed how meatpacking firms didn’t take satisfactory security measures because the virus unfold to lots of of staff, largely Latino immigrants. Outbreak information later launched by Brown County’s native well being division proved that Wisconsin meals processing crops have been linked to extra COVID-19 instances than beforehand disclosed, together with 4 deaths.
“We didn’t request and the state wouldn’t present names or private well being data,” mentioned Journal Sentinel Editor George Stanley. “Those that declare in any other case are simply elevating pink herrings.
“We have been merely on the lookout for the place individuals have been doing a great job at holding important staff protected throughout the pandemic, and the place they weren’t,” Stanley mentioned. “For instance, we discovered that at the very least 11 staff died at one inexperienced bean plant operated by Seneca Meals — one of many deadliest coronavirus outbreaks within the U.S. meals processing business.”
The Journal Sentinel additionally revealed how nursing houses in Milwaukee County didn’t disclose lethal coronavirus outbreaks to residents and members of the family. Native well being departments additionally refused to launch the information, backtracking months later when the federal authorities started requiring expert nursing amenities to publicly report instances and deaths.
One of many fundamental roles of public well being departments is to collect well being details about communicable illnesses and convey that data to the general public in order that outbreaks don’t unfold additional. Medical suppliers are legally required to report the invention of illnesses like E. coli, measles and SARS to public well being officers.
Dr. Georges Benjamin, govt director of the American Public Well being Affiliation, mentioned transparency about outbreaks additionally allows individuals to evaluate and handle their very own well being.
“They will determine, if they’ve signs, to observe themselves. Some individuals get vaccinated. If they’ve somebody who’s immunocompromised at residence, they could behave in another way. It overwhelmingly advantages the general public,” Benjamin mentioned.
Benjamin mentioned the data gathered over the course of the pandemic has solely additional supported that place, now that scientists know the way a lot asymptomatic unfold drives COVID-19.
It’s unclear whether or not WMC will attraction or how quickly the information will probably be launched. It’s unlikely that the case would make it to the U.S. Supreme Court docket.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court docket’s determination marks one more case wherein Hagedorn, elected in 2019, has joined liberal justices to type a 4-3 majority.
In contrast to his conservative friends on the courtroom, the WMC didn’t pour tens of millions into his 2019 marketing campaign for Supreme Court docket.
Extra:Ex-Justice Daniel Kelly calls Brian Hagedorn ‘supremely unreliable’ as he considers pursuing a return to Wisconsin’s excessive courtroom
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel political reporter Molly Beck contributed to this text.
Contact Daphne Chen at dchen@gannett.com. Observe her on Twitter at @daphnechen_.
The Nebraska football team got their sixth win on Saturday night, clinching bowl eligibility for the first time since 2016. They did so by beating Wisconsin for the first time since 2012. The jubilation, relief, and joy could be felt far and wide across the windswept plains. The win resets the entire narrative of year 2 under Matt Rhule, and gives the Huskers a chance at their first winning record in eight years.
We cover it all in the topline takeaways.
CHEERS TO THAT
FINALLY!!! They finally did it. Finally beat Wisconsin. Finally clinched a bowl game. Finally got over the hump, after so much heartbreak and so many close losses over the last eight years. You could feel the collective sigh of relief across the entire fan base, combined with the elation that came with the moment. It felt like we were exorcizing so many demons from the last decade of Nebraska football. Fans stormed the field. Social media went nuts. Friends and family members shared in the moment as if the Berlin wall had just come down. I’m not exaggerating or lying when I say, I actually cried.
It’s a sign of how low the program has fallen that simply getting to bowl eligibility elicited such a response from the fan base, but that’s where we are. I’m glad Matt Rhule addressed that point in the post game press conference. I loved how he made the point that the Huskers are building something bigger, and this will be the only time they celebrate six wins. But they had to get this done first. Before you can win the conference, before you can get to the college football playoff, before you can dream bigger dreams, you have to get back to a bowl game. Mission accomplished.
Dana Holgorsen’s Offense. I don’t care that this is not your traditional, stifling Wisconsin defense. The Badgers held #1 Oregon to 16 points just one week ago. And the Nebraska offense had their way with that defense, all game long. Dylan Raiola looked like the five star quarterback we’ve been waiting for. Emmett Johnson ran like a bat out of hell, leading the team in both rushing yards (113) and receiving yards (85). Jacorey Barney did what he’s been doing all season long, making plays and making defenders miss. Dante Dowdell ran like the Big Ten bruiser we saw earlier in the season. The offensive line had arguably their best game of this decade.
Huge props to Rhule for making the bold decision to bring Holgorsen in as the offensive coordinator with just three games to go. Some panned the decision as desperate, and there was no guarantee it would work. He’s had a clear and immediate impact on this offense. Now Nebraska needs to do whatever is necessary to keep him in Lincoln for next season (and hopefully, beyond).
Husker Nation. Hats off to you, fellow Common Fans. Hats off to all of us. Nebraska has had one winning season and two bowl games since 2015. The team has suffered through too many painful, inexplicable, gut punch losses to count. Our team, still in the top ten in all-time wins, has had one of the worst stretches of football in its long, glorious history. And we never left. We kept showing up, kept filling up that beautiful stadium, kept believing things would turn around. Nebraska football truly has the greatest fan base in all of sports. Hopefully, this is just the beginning.
DIDN’T LIKE THAT
Defensive Struggles. I contemplated not having anything in this category this week, because this is a time of celebration for all Husker fans. But it’s a bit concerning as we head into Iowa week that the Husker defense hasn’t been as dominant as we’re used to seeing over the last two weeks. USC scored 28 points on the Blackshirts, and Wisconsin scored 25. Both teams had missed or blocked field goals that would have made those totals even higher. Both teams put up over 400 yards. The defensive backfield in particular has been a concern, with opposing receivers seemingly wide open way too often. And there have been way too many missed tackles in recent games.
Hopefully, the Huskers can clean up the defensive issues for the Iowa game. The Hawkeyes are a run-heavy team, having completed only 10 out 14 passes for 76 yards in their game against Maryland this weekend. That should play to Nebraska’s strengths, but it’s Iowa, so we should assume the Blackshirts will need their absolute best possible performance in order for the Huskers to come out of there with a win.
FINAL THOUGHT
Happy Thanksgiving week, Common Fans. I’m thankful for each of you who read these columns, as well as those who listen to the Common Fan Podcast. It’s such a joy to play some small part in helping fans enjoy and engage with this thing we all love so much. I wish each of you a wonderful holiday filled with family and friends. Enjoy it, celebrate the big win over Wisconsin, and then get ready to strap in and take the fight to the Hawkeyes on Friday.
As always, GBR for LIFE.
MORE: Iowa Football Opens as Home Favorite Over Nebraska in Black Friday Matchup
MORE: Five Big Ten Teams Remain in Associated Press, Coaches Top 25 Polls
MORE: Husker Doc Talk: Nebraska Football Is Going Bowling!
MORE: LOOK: Photos From Nebraska Football’s Badger Beatdown
MORE: Holgorsen Helps Huskers Bash the Beleaguered Badgers and Become Bowl-Bound
Stay up to date on all things Huskers by bookmarking Nebraska Cornhuskers On SI, subscribing to HuskerMax on YouTube, and visiting HuskerMax.com daily.
The Wisconsin Badgers started the week 5-5 and hoped to become bowl-eligible for the 23rd straight season. They also hoped to continue their dominance over the Nebraska Cornhuskers, who haven’t beaten the Badgers since 2012.
Well, Wisconsin lost to Nebraska 44-25 in what was yet another disappointing loss this season.
Here’s what went wrong for Wisconsin in the 44-25 loss to Nebraska.
Special teams
Wisconsin played surprisingly well in the first half, with Braedyn Locke connecting on multiple long pass attempts.
However, they still couldn’t find a way to make it into the endzone which forced Nathanial Vakos to attempt three crucial field goals. He missed two of them.
That killed Wisconsin’s momentum and definitely was a key factor in the Badgers’ loss. Head coach Luke Fickell’s team has had their fair share of special teams blunders, with a couple of dropped punts early in the season and now these missed kicks.
He needs to fix these small issues as he approaches a very important third season as Wisconsin’s head coach.
Coaching blunders
There were some small blunders that led to huge mistakes by this Badgers coaching staff. For example, attempting a run instead of kneeling at the end of the first half which led to a fumble and Nebraska field goal is inexcusable.
What also doesn’t make sense is how many penalties the Badgers’ defense received in the red zone, whether it be pass interference, roughing the passer, or a facemask. Those penalties killed any chances at a Wisconsin comeback as the offense had one of their better outings in recent memory.
Overall, Coach Fickell needs to continue to preach his philosophy of being disciplined in tight games like these or else they will continue to drop them. They have the recruits coming in and ability, they need to limit silly mistakes that hurt them in the long run.
Wisconsin takes on Minnesota next Saturday in a game that will make or break the Badgers’ season. There is a small chance that the Badgers make a bowl game even at 5-7 due to APR, but it would be a terrible end to a disappointing season.
Expect Fickell to prepare extensively for their senior day game, hoping to salvage the season by keeping Paul Bunyan’s axe in Madison.
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