Dear Friends,

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: kids need to be in the classroom. This week, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) not only confirmed it is safe for students to be in the classroom, but they also say teachers don't need to be vaccinated first in order to safely re-open schools.

While many schools are at least offering a hybrid model, many districts throughout Wisconsin are not. If we don't get children back into the classrooms, the damage to their education and mental health may be irreversible. Students are falling behind and low-income, minorities, students with disabilities, and students learning English are suffering the most. We can't let our children's future be another victim of this pandemic.

Last July, I joined area school administrators and elected officials in supporting guidelines for re-opening area schools and getting children back into the classroom. To help share best practices and ideas, I coordinated meetings with area lawmakers and superintendents to create a better understanding of the challenges facing local schools. My goal was then, and remains now, to make sure children were back in the classroom. As the new chair of the Senate Education Committee, I will make it a priority to help schools reopen safely.

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!

My heart goes out to victims of sexual assault. That's why I am reintroducing legislation to empower victims as their case goes through the legal system.

My bill will create the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Tracking System. It will be a database for health care professionals, law enforcement, state crime laboratory personnel, and prosecutors to update information on the location and status of a sexual assault kit. The bill also enables victims to track or receive updates on the location and status of their kit. The bill provides $800,000 in funding to create the initial infrastructure for the data bank.

It’s time for Wisconsin to ensure that victims of sexual assault have access to information about their sexual assault kits. I’ve worked with members of both houses and both parties to ensure that Wisconsin statutes protect victims and prevent another backlog of cases.

Last session, the state Senate unanimously approved my bill. I'm hopeful it will become law this session.

February 5th is Wear Red Day. This week, I joined Senator Janet Bewley to raise awareness that heart disease remains the number one killer in the U.S. and the world.

About every 80 seconds a woman dies from cardiovascular disease in the U.S., but we can change that. Eighty percent of cardiac events can be prevented with education and lifestyle changes.

One of the most important steps you can take is to talk to your doctor about your numbers. blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and BMI (Body Mass Index) are crucial to heart health.

Click on the video above for more!

This week, the Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle featured

my bill to require all students in the state to learn about the Holocaust.

As the number of living Holocaust survivors and witnesses dwindle, it is up to us to ensure that the unforgivable events of the Holocaust are never forgotten and never repeated. My goal is to ensure that Wisconsin students understand the important lessons of the Holocaust and the dangerous consequences of rising anti-Semitism and religious bigotry. The need for Holocaust education is greater than ever.

Click on the picture to read the article.

One way you can help is by donating blood. If you have recovered from COVID-19, please especially consider donating your plasma.

You can find out where to donate here and here.

The table above contains data reported on February 4 2021 from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services on coronavirus cases in our area.

Source: CDC COVID Data Tracker

Without providing details on how to sign up to get a vaccine, Governor Evers announced Wisconsin residents 65 and older will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting January 25th. While I continue to press for a plan from Governor Evers, our local health departments are doing their best to keep you informed on the COVID-19 vaccine.

You can sign up for emails to stay updated on when you can be vaccinated by visiting our county health department websites. Click on your county's health department for more information.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services also recommends that you contact your healthcare provider to sign up to be vaccinated. You can also register with Meijer Pharmacy and they will notify you when the vaccine is available.

Starting Jan. 25, schools will move from a hybrid model to four days per week of in-person learning. Wednesday will be a virtual day. 

Hybrid model

All of its schools are in-person, five days a week.

Schools are virtual

Grafton School District 

All schools are in-person, five days a week.

All schools are in-person. 

Its K4-, K5 and first grade students are in-person four days a week. Students in grades 2-8 are in a hybrid model in which students attend school in-person two days a week and virtually three days a week. 

Grades 4K-5 are in person, five days a week.

North Middle School and Menomonee Falls High School are in-person five days a week.

All schools are in-person.

All schools are virtual

Students are in-person four days a week and virtual on Wednesdays.

The pre-K through 12 campus offers in-person learning. University School of Milwaukee students and employees need negative COVID-19 tests before they can return,

All of its schools are hybrid

The Germantown Police Department's K9 unit is looking for your help. Currently, the department has two K9 officers, Hatto and Arek.

Click on the picture to find out more on how Hatto and Arek are serving the Germantown community and how you can help them continue to serve.

The Thiensville Fire Department is looking to hire firefighters. Click on the picture for more information.