Dear Friends,

I am disappointed and saddened by the mob actions in Washington, D.C. I condemn the violence at the U.S. Capitol in the strongest possible terms. It is unacceptable and it is un-American. We cannot abide by this assault on our republic. Violence, no matter the political affiliation or motive, has no place in our system of government and should not be tolerated.

Please be careful and continue to follow CDC guidelines, wear a mask, social distance, and wash your hands. It’s important to avoid lockdowns that create their own health crises in delayed medical care, mental health stresses, and the loss of businesses and jobs.

As always, if you have any concerns or ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by phone at 608-266-5830 or by email at Sen.Darling@legis.wisconsin.gov.

On, Wisconsin!
When Can You Expect to be Vaccinated?
Many of you have contacted me about when you can expect to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, I wish I could tell you. Governor Evers is not giving Wisconsin residents any clue on when they will get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Governor Evers is on the verge of yet another disaster from his administration. The governor had months to prepare for this. We all knew the vaccines were on their way. Without a transparent and efficient plan, the governor is repeating the mistakes he made with unemployment insurance. Wisconsin residents deserve and need to know when they can expect to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

On Tuesday, media called the Governor’s vaccine rollout “bizarre and disorganized” and asking if bureaucracy is slowing the distribution. According to those reports, our state is near the bottom in the Midwest for getting the vaccine to health care workers. That's why I sent the following questions to the Evers' Administration demanding answers.

  • Why is Wisconsin lagging behind other Midwest states in terms of vaccine distribution?
  • Does DHS plan to release an updated vaccine plan on their website?
  • Is it possible for the vaccination data to be released more frequently than on a weekly basis?
  • Based on the daily data, it’s clear that there is a widely variable number of vaccines being given to patients each day.  
  • What targets have been given to hospitals/hubs on how many vaccines are to be administered per day?
  • How is DHS determining the quantities for distribution at individual locations? Specifically, how has DHS prioritized the order in which hospitals, providers, nursing homes, & first responders will receive the vaccine?
  • Is there a timeline for vaccinating all of phase 1a?
  • How is DHS communicating information to the hubs, hospitals, providers, first responders, & nursing homes relating to the timing of their vaccinations?
  • When will there be a determination for who qualifies for phase 1b?
  • What is DHS’s strategy for prioritizing the order & communicating to those in phase 1b (once officially determined)?

Governor Evers’ administration must provide the answers to these questions. The faster and more efficiently the vaccines are distributed, the quicker we can get back to normal in our society.
Inauguration Day
This week, I took the oath of office in the Wisconsin State Senate.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of representing you!
Wisconsin is Growing
After years of needing more workers, Wisconsin is getting an influx of new residents.

According to U-Haul, our state saw the second-largest jump in growth in the country. By tracking one-way rentals, the moving company can get a pretty good estimate on migration.

For 2020, Wisconsin jumped from 41st in the nation to 13th. Only Colorado had a larger growth in migration. That should mean good news for our economy in the future.
Nominate a Superstar!
Celebrate School Choice Week by nominating a talented student for a virtual talent show!

Students can participate in music, art, design, athletics, and science.

Click on the picture for more information.
Please Donate Blood, Plasma
Our hospitals are being overwhelmed by the pandemic. One way you can help is by donating blood. If you have recovered from COVID-19, please consider donating your plasma.

You can find out where to donate here and here.
Stop the COVID Spread
We are still seeing new cases, and that is a major concern, especially for our front-line health care workers and hospitals. It’s more important than ever that we do what we can to stop the spread of COVID-19.

It is vital to keep the stress off our health care system and businesses so we can get through this pandemic as quick and as safely as possible.

Click on the video above to see how you can keep you and your loved ones safe from COVID-19.
COVID-19 Cases in Our Area
The table above contains data reported on January 6, 2021 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on coronavirus cases in our area.
Emergency Room Visits with COVID Symptoms
COVID-19 Testing Available
Around the 8th...