Saturday, January 3, 2026
Wisconsin flu activity surges over holidays, following national trend
Madeline Heim
Flu activity spiked across Wisconsin over the holidays, with nearly 1 in 10 people visiting an emergency room the week of Dec. 21-27 having an influenza diagnosis, almost double the week prior.
New respiratory illness data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services show flu activity in the state was classified as "very high" that week, up from "moderate" the week before.
Such an increase is typical as people travel and gather together for the holidays. But it's a warning sign of what could be a tough flu season ahead, driven largely by a new variant of the influenza A virus known as H3N2 subclade K.
Over 620 people were hospitalized across Wisconsin with the flu the week ending Dec. 27, data show, more than a two-fold increase from the week prior. The majority were residents ages 65 and older.
Wisconsin is not alone. Flu cases are surging around the U.S., with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating at least 7.5 million illnesses, 81,000 hospitalizations and 3,100 deaths from the flu so far this season as of Dec. 20. The number of illnesses recorded grew 63% from the week prior.
The 2025-2026 U.S. flu season's severity level is still classified as low, according to the CDC, and health experts caution that it's too early to tell the impact of the new variant. The CDC does predict that influenza activity will continue for several weeks.
In the Milwaukee area, sharply rising levels of influenza A in wastewater – one way health officials measure the spread of respiratory disease – indicate sustained activity.
Last year's flu season was particularly intense in Wisconsin, peaking later in the season with more than 860 people hospitalized with the flu the week of Feb. 8, 2025.
State health officials say the best way to avoid the flu is to wash your hands, stay home if you are sick and get the flu vaccine, available to anyone 6 months and older.
To get vaccinated, residents can check with their doctor, health department, pharmacy or other community clinic. People who do not have health insurance can use programs such as the Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program.
Friday, January 2, 2026
Thursday, January 1, 2026
Wednesday, December 31, 2025
New bill would pave the way for autonomous vehicles on Wisconsin roads
Laura Schulte
MADISON - State legislators are hoping to allow driverless cars on Wisconsin roadways, with proper permitting.
A group of Republican lawmakers circulated a bill for co-sponsorship in December that would allow autonomous cars to hit the roads, and create an oversight body to license the vehicles and ensure safety for other drivers and pedestrians.
According to the co-sponsorship memo, Wisconsin does not allow driverless cars on roadways, though there are pilot programs being run at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and in Racine.
The bill, authored by Reps. Dave Maxey, R-New Berlin, and Nate Gustafson, R-Omro, as well as Sen. Rachel Cabral-Guevara, R-Fox Crossing, would create an Autonomous Driving Safety Board and a permitting process for the vehicles, which would also allow the state to hold public hearings and get the thoughts of other drivers.
The legislation would also establish safeguards for financial responsibility in the case of accidents, and require low alcohol thresholds for any human operators, along with the ability of the board to suspend permits if safety concerns arise.
The state already has an Automated Vehicle External Advisory Committee within the Department of Transportation, which has discovered that driverless cars could be helpful, particularly during inclement weather.
"Economically, the bill seeks to position Wisconsin as a competitive player in the growing autonomous vehicle industry, which could attract investments, create jobs in manufacturing, software development, and logistics, and boost related sectors like supply chain automation," the memo says.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said in a Dec. 30 interview that he's open to self-driving cars hitting the roads. He's never tested one, he said, but has heard from friends that "it's fantastic."
"I would rather have a regulated system in Wisconsin, so we know exactly what we're getting," he said. "So if there's a bill that does that, I'm certainly open to it."
Other states have permitted driverless cars on roadways, such as Texas, which allows driverless trucking operations, and California and Nevada, which have been testing Waymo cars, the memo says.
But those states have experienced issues, too.
On Dec. 21, a widespread power outage in San Francisco led Waymo cars to shut down, blocking traffic and angering other drivers, according to the New York Times.
Driverless cars have been spotted making illegal U-turns, while others have struck and killed pets.
But researchers have noted that the driverless cars are involved in fewer car crashes, potentially making roadways safer the more they are deployed.
Researchers with the nonpartisan Badger Institute encouraged lawmakers to take a look at the autonomous car laws in Wisconsin in July, saying that self-driving cars or shuttles could help bridge gaps in infrastructure, especially in rural areas where rideshares or taxis are expensive and hard to access.
"The time is now for officials and lawmakers to consider what self-driving vehicles can do for mobility," the July 2025 report said.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.
Posts
