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County considering child care, housing, addiction treatment for $5.3 million in federal funding
The Door County government is considering projects to bolster child care, help fund the construction of new affordable housing and create a new long-term addiction recovery center as part of its use of the more than $5.3 million the county will receive through the federal American Rescue Plan.
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News
Public Health concerned about schools loosening Covid protocols
Door County Public Health has serious concerns about county school districts’ loosening of Covid-19 protocols in recent weeks, Public Health Officer Susan Powers said last week.
A UW analysis shows Door County has ‘child care deserts.’ That doesn’t fully reflect the county’s need.
Large areas of Door County are considered “child care deserts” based on an analysis by the University of Wisconsin. But according to a United Way coordinator, the analysis doesn’t show the extent of the county’s child care needs.
Child welfare reports in Door County are soaring. Meth addiction is a complicating factor.
Door County’s government this year is on pace to receive more child welfare referrals than it has during any year in history, far exceeding a previous record and alarming county leaders.
Powers confident in new CDC mask guidance, ‘cautiously optimistic’ about summer
After the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week announced that fully vaccinated people no longer need wear masks in most settings, Door County Public Health officer Susan Powers said Tuesday she is confident in the agency’s decision-making and cautiously optimistic about the summer tourism season when it comes to Covid-19.
Powers optimistic about vaccination progress, but urges caution as summer approaches
Door County has been among the leaders in vaccination speed among all Wisconsin counties, with almost half its population now fully vaccinated. It also has seen a relatively high number of Covid-19 cases in recent weeks.
Going Deeper: Door County’s vaccine rollout
In this episode of Going Deeper, we discuss updates on COVID-19 spread in Door County, the status of vaccine distribution and how the first mRNA vaccine actually works.
Longform
Door County families face limited child care options, affordability challenges
Door County parents face challenges including limited options for child care and limited space available at existing facilities; logistical and scheduling issues arising from the county’s tourism industry and unique geography; and the cost of child care itself. Child care providers also face difficulties in building a sustainable business model while meeting regulatory standards.
“Nobody had ever dealt with this”: As County Board again considers mask mandate, leaders defend their approach to COVID-19
Even as some of them now say the county should move forward with a mandate, county leaders have defended their approach this summer.
Door County schools prepare to reopen for fall instruction, with flexibility
With less than a month until classes resume, administrators and school boards in four of Door County’s five public school districts have indicated they will welcome at least some students back in-person for the first day of school.
As protesters call for defunding police, Sheriff calls for discourse
Amid concerns among local activists and residents about police use of force and racism in Door County, law enforcement leaders this week said they are open to having conversations with community leaders about policing.
Door County municipalities poised to spend more than $1 million on shoreline projects
Municipalities across Door County are poised to spend more than $1 million in total to protect and repair public shoreline this year amid record-high water levels in Lake Michigan and Green Bay.
Coronavirus could have long-term economic effects on low-income Door County residents
Low-income households – many of Door County’s workers, families and seniors – are among the most at risk of long-term economic harm from the coronavirus pandemic. Even if social distancing restrictions are lifted and businesses reopen relatively quickly, local service group leaders say, these residents could continue to struggle well into the summer.