Analysis: The NBA seems on the cusp of a comeback plan

MILWAUKEE -- Something is finally clear in the uncertain NBA: Players believe they’re going to play games again this season.The obvious questions — How?

'Ms. Jennifer' the 53-year-old tortoise seeks new home after owner died of COVID-19

BOSTON -- She loves fruit salad and dandelions, attention from people and time outside -- and at 53, she may just be the oldest animal that the MSPCA-Angell has ever been charged with adopting into a new home.

Jewish Community Center announces ‘Return to Spaces’ plan for select programs

MILWAUKEE -- The Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center (JCC) announced on Thursday, May 21 its plan for returning select programs and services to its physical spaces.A news release indicates the JCC will begin offering onsite fitness, aquatics, early childhood education, and youth summer programming in spaces throughout its statewide footprint in a phased approach.In partnership with government leaders and field experts, the JCC says it is prepared to safely welcome members to physical spaces for the following services:

Wisconsin unemployment rate hits 14.1% in April, DWD reports

MADISON — Wisconsin's unemployment rate hit 14.1% in April, a level not seen since the Great Depression, the state Department of Workforce Development reported Thursday.The rate more than quadrupled from 3.1% in March, mirroring national trends due to the coronavirus pandemic, and was just below the national unemployment rate of 14.7%.

Wisconsinites with FoodShare can now shop for groceries online

MADISON -- As of Thursday, May 21, Wisconsin households that use FoodShare are able to shop online at two grocery retailers currently set up at the national level to accept online payment (Amazon and Walmart), officials with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services said in a news release.DHS officials said FoodShare, the state’s program that helps Wisconsinites with limited resources buy the food they need for good health, has seen an increase in applications since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amazon reportedly delays Prime Day event until September

SEATTLE -- Amazon may postpone its annual Prime Day event until September as the company works to regain its footing amid an unexpected spike in online orders due to the coronavirus pandemic.The two-day shopping event is typically held in July, but keeping up with customer demand and a strain on the company’s warehouses have led to it being postponed, according to the Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.Prime Day, launched in 2015, was created to drum up sales during sluggish summer months and to secure new Prime members.

Open Record Special Edition: 'New normal' for local businesses

MILWAUKEE -- When the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the state's 'Safer at Home' order, the state was left with a variety of rules for how businesses should operate.

'A challenging decision:' 24th season of Milwaukee's River Rhythms canceled

MILWAUKEE -- Westown Association officials announced on Thursday, May 21 that they have made the decision to cancel the 2020 season of the River Rhythms concert series based on the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control, Milwaukee Health Department and Milwaukee County Parks.Under the City of Milwaukee’s current Stay-At-Home order, large public gatherings are not permitted.

Great-great-grandmother, 100, beats coronavirus: ‘She’s our little boomerang’

UNITED KINGDOM -- A 100-year-old great-great-grandmother in the United Kingdom isn't letting the novel coronavirus take her down, overcoming her battle with COVID-19 after a more than two-week hospital stay, her family says.Rose Heeley, of Sheffield, fell ill with the virus in recent weeks and was hospitalized for 18 days.

Wilderness Resort in Wisconsin Dells to reopen on June 4: 'Want to provide a fun and safe place'

WISCONSIN DELLS -- Wilderness Resort officials announced on Thursday, May 21 that their resort will be reopening on Thursday, June 4.In a news release, the resort indicated it has been working with the WEDC, state and county guidelines to create a Safer at Play Program that outlines in detail all of the safety precautions in place at the resort.

Kohl’s reopening 34 stores in Wisconsin on Friday, 7 stores will remain closed until May 26

MENOMONEE FALLS -- Kohl’s will reopen 34 of its stores in Wisconsin beginning Friday, May 22 at 11 a.m.Seven stores -- Madison East, Madison West, Madison South, Appleton North, Darboy, Racine and Janesville -- will remain closed until Tuesday, May 26, in accordance with local guidelines."In preparation for reopening, we’ve made significant enhancements to the store environment and staff operations to prioritize the health and safety of Kohl’s customers and associates," said Kohl's. "We will also continue our limited-contact Drive Up service offering customers the opportunity to order on Kohls.com and pick up items at their local store for free - without having to leave their car."For Our CustomersKohl's customers can expect to see the following changes at Kohl's stores, to support ongoing health and safety precautionary measures:

Colleges plan fall opening, but campuses won't look the same

NEW YORK -- Growing numbers of U.S. colleges are pledging to reopen this fall, with dramatic changes to campus life to keep the coronavirus at bay.

Nearly 39 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit

WASHINGTON — More than 2.4 million people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week in the latest wave of layoffs from the viral outbreak that triggered widespread business shutdowns two months ago and sent the economy into a deep recession.Roughly 38.6 million people have now filed for jobless aid since the coronavirus forced millions of businesses to close their doors and shrink their workforces, the Labor Department said Thursday.An additional 2.2 million people sought aid under a new federal program for self-employed, contractor and gig workers, who are now eligible for jobless aid for the first time.

'Health and safety:' TSA prepared for summer travelers with updated security procedures

WASHINGTON -- With the Memorial Day holiday weekend kicking off the start of summer, the Transportation Security Administration is preparing a very different travel season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “In the interest of TSA frontline workers and traveler health, TSA is committed to making prudent changes to our screening processes to limit physical contact and increase physical distance as much as possible,” said TSA Administrator David Pekoske. “We continue to evaluate our security measures with an eye towards making smart, timely decisions benefiting health and safety, as well as the traveler experience.”As procedure changes begin to rollout in the coming weeks, travelers should expect to:Keep possession of their boarding passes.

First-of-its-kind bobblehead series honoring the world’s essential heroes unveiled

MILWAUKEE – The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum unveiled Thursday, May 21 a first-of-its-kind bobblehead series honoring the world’s essential heroes.The series includes 35 different frontline professions and highlights the often unheralded and underappreciated workers that the nation has come to appreciate more than ever during the coronavirus pandemic.

CDC releases guidelines for returning to school in the fall

ATLANTA -- The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has released considerations for how schools across the country should reopen.The new recommendations released by the CDC this week are ways in which schools can help protect students, teachers, administrators, and staff and slow the spread of COVID-19."The more people a student or staff member interacts with, and the longer that interaction, the higher the risk of COVID-19 spread," the CDC says.Students and staffs' return to school has been classified in three different levels.