Suburban Milwaukee County 'Safer at Home' orders prohibit opening of bars, restaurants

MILWAUKEE -- The 18 municipalities in suburban Milwaukee County and their 10 public health officials came together to sign an order that provides guidelines on how local businesses can move forward after the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state's coronavirus stay-at-home order Wednesday, May 13, ruling that Governor Tony Evers' administration overstepped its authority when the order was extended for another month without consulting legislators.The suburban Milwaukee County order runs through May 21.The SCOWIS 4-3 ruling Wednesday essentially reopened the state -- lifting caps on the size of gatherings, allowing people to travel as they please and allowing shuttered businesses to reopen, including bars and restaurants, however, local governments can still impose their own health restrictions.Some Milwaukee area business owners said Thursday they were scrambling to make sense of it all.

Supreme Court ruling opening Wisconsin brings concern, President Trump praise

MADISON — A court ruling tossing Wisconsin's stay-at-home order threw communities into chaos Thursday as local leaders were forced to decide whether to issue their own restrictions or allow bars and restaurants to reopen amid the coronavirus pandemic.The conservative majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court late Wednesday afternoon ruled that the “safer at home” order from Democratic Gov.

GOP in power grab to rein in Dem governors on virus response

MADISON, Wis. — Republican-controlled legislatures are increasingly trying to strip Democratic governors of their executive authority to close businesses and schools, a power grab by lawmakers that channels frustration over the economic toll of the coronavirus pandemic but could come with long-term consequences for how their states fight disease.The efforts to undermine Democratic governors who invoked stay-at-home orders are most pronounced in states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, all three of which have divided government and are key to President Donald Trump's path to reelection.