— Dem lawmakers are seeking cosponsors for legislation to ban the use of foam polystyrene packaging for food and beverages in certain situations.
Reps. Katrina Shankland of Stevens Point and Kristina Shelton of Green Bay, along with Sens. Chris Larson of Milwaukee and Jeff Smith of Brunswick, are circulating a cosponsorship memo for the bill. It would prohibit retail food businesses from serving food and beverages in foam polystyrene packaging with some exceptions, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau analysis.
The lawmakers reference an EPA estimate showing Americans throw away about 25 billion polystyrene foam coffee cups per year — or about 80 Styrofoam cups per person. Because this material isn’t biodegradable, it remains in the environment for hundreds of years. Plus, this foam also contains toxic chemicals including benzene and styrene, according to the CDC.
The bill’s goal is to phase out polystyrene foam products in Wisconsin within a year, the memo shows. If the effort is successful, the state would join eight others that have passed similar laws: Maryland, Maine, Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Colorado, Virginia, and Washington, per the memo.
“We need cleaner alternatives to help us reduce the total amount of polystyrene foam clogging up our landfills for centuries at a time … We’re not just what we eat, but what we eat out of. By reducing our state’s dependence on polystyrene foam, we can improve public health while protecting the environment,” the lawmakers wrote.
LRB highlights two exceptions in its analysis, noting the ban wouldn’t apply to food and beverage containers that were filled and sealed outside of Wisconsin, or to those used for packaging raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood for consumption elsewhere.
Plus, DATCP could grant a waiver for up to one year after the bill would take effect to a food retailer, LRB notes. That would only be allowed if “necessary to avoid an undue hardship or practical difficulty for a retail food business operator” that’s not common among similar businesses.
The cosponsorship deadline is 4 p.m. Friday.
— Under a new GOP proposal, Wisconsinites would have the youngest minimum age to serve alcohol in the country.
Sen. Rob Stafsholt, R-New Richmond, and Rep. Chanz Green, R-Grandview, are circulating a bill that would allow minors as young as 14 to serve alcohol to customers at bars and restaurants. In other states, the minimum age to serve alcohol ranges from 18 to 21 depending on the beverage, according to the Alcohol Policy Information System.
Under current law, bar or restaurant employees must be at least 18 and supervised by a licensed seller to serve alcohol. The measure would allow minors aged 14-17 to serve alcohol to seated customers. They wouldn’t be able to serve people sitting at a bar.
The bill aims to address workforce issues in the food and beverage industry, according to the co-sponsorship memo.
Rep. Robyn Vining slammed the bill in a tweet.
“NEXT UP: instead of expanding childcare, WI Republicans want to expand child labor. You really can’t make this up. It’s Monday in Wisconsin,” the Wauwatosa Dem said.
See the proposal:
See minimum age requirements for other states:
— Kohl’s is donating $3 million to Children’s Wisconsin to support three new mental health walk-in clinics in the state.
According to a release from the Menomonee Falls-based retailer, the funding will help Children’s Wisconsin open one new location per year over the next three years. Specific locations haven’t been chosen yet.
The new clinics will be modeled after the existing Craig Yabuki Mental Health Walk-In Clinic at the health care system’s Milwaukee campus, which provides services for patients aged 5-18. The clinic is staffed by licensed therapists and social workers, providing therapy sessions, safety evaluations and other resources.
In its release, Kohl’s references state health data showing rates of anxiety, depression and suicide are on the rise among Wisconsin students. The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health found 34 percent of students feel sad and hopeless “almost every day,” marking a 10 percent increase over the past decade.
Amy Herbst, vice president of mental and behavioral health at Children’s Wisconsin, describes this situation as a crisis.
“We are so grateful that Kohl’s recognizes the urgency in addressing this need and continues to support these efforts,” she said in a statement. “We know that more Wisconsin kids will begin a path to better health and healing because of their gift.”
<br><b><i>Top headlines from the Health Care Report…</b></i>
— Two Republican lawmakers are circulating a bill that would establish a new statewide mental health consultation program.
And LeadingAge Wisconsin, a statewide network of long-term care organizations, has announced Jim Orheim as its new president and CEO.
<i>For more of the most relevant news on COVID-19, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics.com and WisBusiness.com.</i>
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— UW-Madison has named Charles Lee Isbell Jr. as its next provost starting Aug. 1.
Isbell succeeds current provost Karl Scholz, who is leaving the position to become the president of the University of Oregon, UW-Madison announced yesterday. As provost, he will be the university’s chief academic officer and second-ranking leader after Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.
According to the release, Isbell is a computer science expert with research experience in machine learning and artificial intelligence. Most recently, he was the dean of Georgia Institute of Technology’s College of Computing.
“Throughout my academic career I have been focused on research and educational reform,” he said in the release. “I am a strong believer that higher education must play a vital role in creating opportunities for deep engagement in what it means to be an active and productive member of society.”
See more: https://news.wisc.edu/charles-lee-isbell-jr-named-uw-madison-provost/
— VISIT Milwaukee is hosting an event in Chicago later this month to promote vacations in Wisconsin.
The 2023 Wisconsin in Chicago Day will be held May 17 at Chicago’s Union Station in partnership with Amtrak Hiawatha and Travel Wisconsin.
Chicago residents made up 15.2 percent of all visitors to Milwaukee in 2022, according to a release from event organizers. And Illinois residents made up 19.3 percent of that number.
“Whether they came for our incredible cultural assets, a night on the town, a concert or a major sporting event, getting to and enjoying Milwaukee is easy and accessible for millions of Chicagoans,” said Peggy Williams-Smith, president and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee.
See more event details: https://www.wisbusiness.com/2023/visit-milwaukee-celebrates-wisconsin-in-chicago-day/
#TOP STORIES#
# Wisconsin’s Menominee Nation taps into sustainable roots with renewable energy training, solar installation
# Wisconsin GOP lawmaker wants wide youth social media limits
# Developer proposes $500M, 735-unit area subdivision, aims to boost homeownership
#TOPICS#
# AGRIBUSINESS
– Wisconsin Farm Bureau weighs in on milk labeling controversy
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=458&yr=2023
– How one Wisconsin tribe is using ‘circle of life’ farming techniques to feed its people.
# CONSTRUCTION
– Building blocks: F Street Development Group, Keller Inc. industrial spec building in Germantown
# ENTERTAINMENT & THE ARTS
– Knights on the Fox in De Pere named one of 10 best outdoor concert series in country
# ENVIRONMENT
– Mississippi River waters keep rising across Midwest
– No Mow May returns to Appleton, other Wisconsin cities to support pollinators
# HEALTH CARE
– New medical program will treat brain injuries, PTSD for veterans and first responders in southeastern Wisconsin
– Children’s Wisconsin to add three mental health clinics with $3M gift from Kohl’s
– Kohl’s donates $3 million to Children’s Wisconsin to support three additional mental health clinics
# LEGAL
– Trashed Asian market could take big step to restoration with court win
# POLITICS
– Bill would allow 14-year-olds to serve alcohol in Wisconsin
– Bill allows teens as young as 14 to serve alcohol in restaurants
– Hair discrimination isn’t banned in Wisconsin. This Tosa official wants that to change.
# REAL ESTATE
– Homebuilder buys piece of St. John’s site in Delafield for $2.6M
– Komatsu, Bucks’ hotel, Ascent brought new property value to Milwaukee in flat year
– City Tours MKE to open headquarters, event space in Walker’s Point
# REGULATION
– Department of Wis. Safety and Professional Services adds designers of engineering systems, architects to occupational licensing app
# RETAIL
– Kohl’s ups compensation of CFO Jill Timm
# SMALL BUSINESS
– Five businesses approved for Altoona container park
# SPORTS
– After quintuple bypass heart surgery, Wisconsin powerlifter eyes 500-pound record this year
# TRANSPORTATION
– Wisconsin’s agricultural roadways get a $150 million boost
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=456&yr=2023
– La Crosse County landfill processes 2.5 million pounds of debris from De Soto train derailment
# UTILITIES
– Fond du Lac water utility confidence report now available online
# PRESS RELEASES
<i>See these and other press releases:
https://www.wisbusiness.com/press-releases/ </i>
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria: Celebrates educators & their appreciation for teachers runs deep
UW-Madison: Chrales Lee Isbell Jr. named new UW-Madison provost
