COVID-19

Less than one month after reopening its doors to the public in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, Steny's Tavern & Grill in Walker's Point has again closed temporarily.

After a near four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, The Bartolotta Restaurants is beginning to revive its Milwaukee-area restaurants in light of a new normal for the restaurant industry.

Fiserv Forum, Bartolotta Restaurants and Lowlands Group are among more than 70 businesses calling on Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Common Council president Cavalier Johnson to require patrons and workers to wear face masks in public spaces. 

Milwaukee-based The Marcus Corp. plans to lay off 397 workers at four Wisconsin hotels as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to hamstring the restaurant and hospitality industries.

Milwaukee officials announced Friday that city will move into phase 4 of its reopening plan on Wednesday, July 1, as restrictions continue to be slowly reduced from stay at home mandates earlier this year that were put in place to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus.

Chicago-based Levy Premium Food Service informed state and local officials this week that it plans to lay off dozens of its employees who work at Fiserv Forum and the Wisconsin Center District in downtown Milwaukee.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson plans to cut around 140 jobs at two plants in the U.S., a company spokesperson said.

The Democrats have reassured that Milwaukee will remain a centerpiece of what's been reduced to a mostly virtual convention this summer, but with only a fraction of the visitors coming to town and the threat of the coronavirus still looming, the once-promised national spotlight is looking pretty dim.

The DNC needs to come back to Milwaukee in 2024. Make that announcement ASAP.

As states begin to reopen and loosen restrictions on public gatherings and business closures in response to the COVID-19...