'Every aspect of our lives has been turned on its head': The COVID-19 pandemic one year on
A year into a once-in-a-century pandemic, Madison and Wisconsin continue to grapple with a virus that's killed thousands, destroyed businesses, upended school and changed nearly all aspects of everyday life.
It's been 12 months of grief, shutdowns, reopenings, protective measures, partisan fighting, lawsuits and loss. And now, hope.
(8) updates to this series since Updated
“Truly every aspect of our lives has been turned on its head,” said Malia Jones, a UW-Madison infectious disease epidemiologist.
"If you would have told me last March that we'd be virtual for a year, I'd never, ever would have believed it."
"We’re used to taking whatever comes through the door," said nurse Maria Hanson, who started journaling about the pandemic soon after treating the patient.
"It’s a risk vs. reward thing and I risk my life to save others," said Brandon Jones, who always worried about bringing the virus home to his wife and two kids.
“Usually a funeral is a major step in understanding that a life was lived and the person is now gone,” he said. “If families don’t get that, it’s just really hard.”
Rev. Marcus Allen knew what bringing everyone together could do for their spiritual and mental health. But each time he considered reopening the church, COVID-19 cases surged.
"I was getting my work done from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. every day," she said.
“Reporting the death counts out day after day was draining,” she said. “It felt like I was announcing a funeral every day.”
A year into a once-in-a-century pandemic, Madison and Wisconsin continue to grapple with a virus that's killed thousands, destroyed businesses…
COVID-19 changed nearly everything about our world, even how we see it. Here are some of the State Journal's top images of the pandemic.
The case alleged numerous aspects of the election were unlawful.
Bills supported by both Republicans and Democrats addressing vaccines, agriculture and professional licensure are advancing through the Legislature.
Stress from coronavirus infection can cause hair loss, a UW Health dermatologist said.
Two Republican lawmakers called on the Green Bay Mayor's resignation.
The Public Service Commission voted Thursday to open an investigation dubbed a “Roadmap to Zero Carbon” to explore the economic and environmental considerations contributing to the deployment of more clean energy technologies.
Republican lawmakers blocked a rule that would ban "conversion therapy," which seeks to make gay people straight.
Repeating a similar strategy used in the last budget session, Republicans declined to sign off on any part of Gov. Tony Evers' plan, first requesting no recommendation be made and later on voting down each of the 88 projects.
Deborah Kerr described the emails as "a few threads in tens of thousands."
Prison guard Dave Ruples called in sick late once in the past two years. Now — despite working in a prison with a massive COVID-19 outbreak — he's not getting a $1,500 bonus in recognition of the risks he took.
SEIU Healthcare Wisconsin said nurses alleged the hospital is "wasting resources on an intimidation campaign rather than addressing their urgent concerns" as contract negotiations continue.
Emails show Jill Underly used her district email address twice to contact a number of superintendents across the district to collect their contact information.
Deborah Kerr and Jill Underly not only differ on issues such as private school vouchers, they also come from different backgrounds.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers hasn’t announced whether he’s running for re-election in 2022, but on the Republican side, the race may already be heating up.
Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce says the sampling for PFAS is not allowed under state wastewater permits.
Andrea Palm was appointed in January to deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services — making her Biden’s No. 2 health official.
"I want to play against other biological women and girls," Kerr said. "I don't think it's fair to have competition that does otherwise."
Madison Metropolitan School District will receive about $71 million.
"I'm ready to get to work on day one and build a stronger more equitable public education system," Jill Underly said after winning the state superintendent election.
A bill in the state Legislature that proposes eliminating the state's Sept. 1 school start date rule faces pushback from Wisconsin's tourism and lodging industries.
State will receive $2.5B under the most recent federal stimulus package, rather than the $3.2B originally estimated.
The 75-year-old's death is a warning that immunocompromised people can still be at considerable risk, her sons said.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is now tracking the Delta variant as a "variant of concern" in the state because of its increased transmissibility and potential to be more resistant to vaccines than COVID-19.
The new policy does not force employees to get vaccinated, but requires them to upload documents verifying whether or not they've gotten the shot.
Afghan refugees at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin are getting vaccinated against COVID-19, among other services being provided to the evacuees.
A Wisconsin high school student on Friday won a federal lawsuit she brought against a sheriff who threatened her with jail time early in the COVID-19 pandemic if she didn't remove social media posts saying she had the virus.
The state has three more cases of the new omicron variant, suggesting in-state spread.
An urgent care clinic in Baraboo is temporarily closing because it has too many patients.
The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the suit on behalf of two county residents.
The Madison School District reopened its doors to kindergartners Tuesday after shutting down nearly one year ago due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agency's leader defended the awards, emphasizing that the money and ventilators were handed out during a public health emergency with the goal of keeping health care providers open.
