The Associated Press
CABLE, Wis. (AP) The American Birkebeiner Ski Race in northern Wisconsin will look different this year because of coronavirus safety protocols.
Organizers of the event, promoted as North America’s largest and longest cross-country ski race, have stretched it from a single day to five days from Feb. 24-28.
Last year about 11,000 skiers participated in the race, which can draw as many 30,000 spectators. This year, organizers are expecting fewer than 5,000 skiers to race in person with no spectators allowed.
The race’s executive director, Ben Popp, says the event usually attracts skiers from across the globe, but this year the majority of participants will be coming from Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan.
Staffing shortage at Wisconsin prisons has cost taxpayers $60M in overtime pay journaltimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from journaltimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
15% of staff positions in state unfilled, up to 40% at Waupun prison. //end headline wrapper ?>Waupun Correctional Institute in Waupun, Wis. Lauren Fuhrmann/Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
Just under 690 jobs, or roughly 15 percent of corrections officer positions, are unfilled at Wisconsin’s prisons, according to data from the stateDepartment of Corrections. The problem is most severe at Waupun Correctional Institution where 40 percent of jobs are vacant.
The DOC announced in December it was closing a cell hall at Waupun to help relieve the staffing shortage. Figures from the agency show 119 out of 297 corrections officer positions were vacant at the prison as of Feb. 2.