Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, financial strains were a reality for many childcare centers struggling with low pay, tight margins and high staff turnover. As more Wisconsin parents return to work, these businesses are trying to balance the threat of spreading the virus while also making ends meet.

The announcement that the Wisconsin State Fair was canceled amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic highlights the same dilemma confronting smaller county fairs and annual gatherings throughout the rest of the state. In many cases, those events are also being called off or shifted online.

Marches and gatherings over the killing of George Floyd continued for a third consecutive day across Wisconsin — including in Madison and Milwaukee, where hundreds defied curfews to protest into the evening.

Hundreds of volunteers and business owners were out early on May 31 in downtown Madison to clean up and repair storefronts after an evening of violence, looting and property damage following demonstrations over the death of George Floyd.