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A4 U.S. NEWS
Tuesday 20 OcTOber 2020
Judge puts Wisconsin capacity limit order back into effect

By SCOTT BAUER bying group for the state's
Associated Press 5,000 bars, restaurants and
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A taverns, argued that Palm
Wisconsin judge on Mon- doesn't have the legal au-
day reimposed an order thority to issue the order,
from Gov. Tony Evers' ad- which instead should have
ministration limiting the gone through the Repub-
number of people who can lican-led Legislature's rule-
gather in bars, restaurants making process. It pointed
and other indoor venues to to a Wisconsin Supreme
25% of capacity. Court ruling from May un-
The capacity limits order doing Evers' "safer at home"
was issued Oct. 6 by An- order, which also said that
drea Palm, secretary of should have been issued
the state Department of as a rule approved by the
Health Services, in the face Legislature.
of surging coronavirus cas- A GOP-controlled legisla-
es in Wisconsin. A judge tive committee met last
blocked the order on Oct. week to begin the process
14 after it was challenged of creating the rule, which
by the Tavern League of would then allow the Legis-
Wisconsin, which argued it lature to strike it down.
amounted to a "de facto In this May 13, 2020 file photo, The Dairyland Brew Pub opens to patrons in Appleton, Wis. A Wis- Colin Hector, an assistant
consin judge on Monday, Oct. 19, 2020 reimposed an order from Gov. Tony Evers’ administration
closure" order for the bars limiting the number of people who can gather in bars, restaurants and other indoor venues to 25% attorney general defend-
and restaurants it repre- of capacity. ing the order, said Wiscon-
sents. Associated Press sin was in a "terrible place
But Barron County Judge when it comes to COVID-19
James Babler on Monday date, the state has more Up bar in Amery, said it suf- include five customers and right now." He argued that
put the capacity limits than 173,000 positive cases fered a 50% drop in sales the five employees needed the order was legal and
back into effect. He de- and 1,600 deaths. after the order was issued. to operate the restaurant. necessary for the long-term
clined a request from the In denying the request to But the judge said there Tavern League attorney good of the state.
Tavern League to keep the put the capacity limits or- was no evidence that the Josh Johanningmeier said "The only way to bring Wis-
capacity limit order on hold der on hold, the judge said loss of customers was due the harm to bars and res- consin's economy back
while the lawsuit is pend- the Tavern League and to the order limiting capac- taurants from the capacity is to bring this virus under
ing and declined to stay others fighting the order ity. limits may not be immedi- control," Hector said.
his ruling while the Tavern did not have a reasonable "How do I know it's not just ately clear. While the virus is a threat,
League and others appeal probability of succeeding. general news reports or "Some will fail tomorrow, efforts to control it must
his decision. He said no one had shown just word of mouth that 'I some will fail on day seven, follow the law, the Tavern
"This critically important rul- they would be harmed by shouldn't go anywhere be- some will fail on day 20," he League's attorney Johan-
ing will help us prevent the following the order. cause I don't want to catch said. ningmeier argued.
spread of this virus by restor- "I merely have the theoreti- COVID?'" the judge said. Pro-Life Wisconsin and The Under the order, the num-
ing limits on public gather- cal issue that if they were to The Tavern League, the Mix Up bar joined the law- ber of customers at any
ings," Evers said in a state- comply, they would suffer Sawyer County Tavern suit after it was initially filed. indoor venue is limited to
ment, while encouraging harm," Babler said. "I don't League and the Flambeau Pro-Life Wisconsin argued 25% of capacity or no more
people to stay at home, see how anyone has been Forest Inn in the village of that the capacity limits than 10 people for places
limit gatherings and wear a harmed by the order ... be- Winter brought the lawsuit. made it impossible for the without an occupancy
mask when in public. cause no one has told me They argued that the Flam- group to hold fundraisers limit. The order does not
Wisconsin last week set new they changed their behav- beau Forest Inn would be at bars and restaurants as apply to colleges, schools,
daily records for positive ior,." forced to limit its capac- planned. churches, polling locations,
coronavirus cases, deaths Attorney Misha Tseytlin, ity to 10 people under the The Tavern League of Wis- political rallies and outdoor
and hospitalizations. To who represented The Mix state order, which would consin, the powerful lob- venues.q

Florida agency: Flying squirrels illegally shipped to Asia

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON animals. The international retail value of the poached flying squirrels is
Associated Press estimated to be more than $1 million.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Flying squirrels were being trapped in Florida, The agency began the investigation in January 2019 after receiving a
driven to Chicago and shipped to South Korea, Florida wildlife officials complaint about illegally trapped squirrels.
said Monday while announcing charges against seven people they say As the operation expanded, a courier from Georgia began flying to Or-
ran an illegal wildlife trafficking operation. lando to pick up the animals and drive them to Atlanta, where a second
Poachers set as many as 10,000 squirrel traps in central Florida and cap- courier would then drive them to Chicago.
tured as many as 3,600 flying squirrels over a three-year period. They sold The seven people charged face a total of 25 felonies, including racke-
the squirrels to a licensed wildlife dealer who claimed they were bred in teering, money laundering and scheming to defraud. Six of the suspects
captivity and not wild, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commis- have been arrested and a seventh remains a fugitive. The agency said
sion said in a press release. Flying squirrels are a protected species. more arrests are expected.
"Buyers from South Korea would travel to the United States and purchase The Florida suspects also illegally shipped protected freshwater turtles
the flying squirrels from the wildlife dealer in Bushnell. The animals were and alligators from Tampa to Los Angeles, where California authorities
then driven in rental cars to Chicago, where the source of the animals intercepted the reptiles, the agency said.
was further concealed, and the animals were exported to Asia by an "These poachers could have severely damaged Florida's wildlife popula-
unwitting international wildlife exporter," the agency said. tions," said Maj. Grant Burton, who leads the Florida wildlife commission's
The agency said the Florida dealer received more than $213,000 for the investigation section.q