WUWM

Coronavirus is a respiratory virus, but a Milwaukee researcher is looking for signs of the virus somewhere you may not expect: human waste.

For years, scientist Sandra McLellan’s team has been tracking bacteria that can impact public health. McLellan is a professor at UWM’s School of Freshwater Sciences.

READ: South Shore Beach Goes Green For Science

We recently covered how the Oneida Nation Wisconsin is turning to indigenous agricultural practices to put food on the table during the coronavirus pandemic.

While the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Gov. Tony Evers' safer-at-home order last week, Milwaukee still has its own policy in effect. The order has no expiration date, and Mayor Tom Barrett hopes residents willingly comply with the restrictions.

A citizens group wants Wisconsin utilities to become more innovative in reducing emissions that contribute to climate change. Group members say getting more intellectual diversity on a utility's board of directors would help.

The discussion involves Madison Gas and Electric (MGE), which primarily serves southcentral Wisconsin, but is part owner of one of the WE Energies coal-fired power plants in Oak Creek. MGE still gets half of its electricity from coal generation. 

While there's no mandate, statewide or locally, requiring residents to wear face masks to protect against COVID-19, some Milwaukeeans have incorporated them into their daily lives.

The first semester of college under COVID-19 is over, and now schools have the difficult task of planning for the future. College leaders are deciding whether the benefits of holding in-person classes outweigh the risks of coronavirus exposure.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone says he will announce plans for the fall semester in June. Beyond the question of reopening campus, UWM is facing a projected $50 million to $100 million deficit by the end of the next school year.

Voters and advocacy groups are suing Wisconsin’s top election officials, charging they failed to take needed action to allow safe and accessible voting during the state’s April 7 election. The suit seeks to ensure the same problems don't occur when voters go to the polls in November.

The plaintiffs want mail-in ballot request forms sent to all voters, more polling places, and a comprehensive voter education campaign, among other changes.

There have been a lot of mysteries about COVID-19 since it first appeared in humans in late 2019. How does it spread? How does the coronavirus mutate? Which organs does it affect? Virologist Thomas Friedrich is one of the people tasked with answering these questions.

>>Latest WUWM & NPR Coronavirus Coverage

The coronavirus pandemic has a lot of us rethinking the ways we put food on the table. For the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin, that has meant a return to traditional farming practices.

Instead of tilling soil and planting seeds in rows the European way, many indigenous groups in the Milwaukee area planted native crops like corn, squash, and beans in a grid of soil mounds. Sometimes they bury fish in the mounds to act as a natural fertilizer.

If you're home with kids, you've probably been reading a lot of books together. A new book from a Madison-based children's author could be a good next read for everyone in your flock.

When state officials say they want to expand coronavirus testing in Wisconsin, they mean the diagnostic test that usually involves inserting a long cotton swab through the nose. The exam detects if you currently have the coronavirus.

But some health care organizations are also offering an antibody test. That involves taking a small blood sample to see if you previously had the virus and your immune system made protective proteins called antibodies to fight off the infection. 

We’re living in an era when more people need a helping hand due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We received several Bubbler Talk questions wondering how people needing help during the coronavirus pandemic can find resources. So, we spoke with three groups that are supporting people in the Milwaukee area — now and after the pandemic.

>>Latest WUWM & NPR Coronavirus Coverage

Hunger Task Force

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state’s safer-at-home order in a 4-3 decision, effectively removing most statewide orders concerning the coronavirus lockdown. The court met virtually as it delivered the ruling, which caused a lot of confusion. Some bars opened almost immediately after the ruling, despite some local safer-at-home orders already in place.