UP: Department of Natural Resources. The DNR recently hired 18 biologists to work in departments and regions around the state, filling positions that have been vacant for as long as two years.
DOWN: Low-income families. A report by the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families finds that a state program to help poor families pay for child care is not keeping pace with inflation because Wisconsin has frozen reimbursement rates to child-care centers for several years. The council's David Edie tells the Wisconsin State Journal: "For parents, it means they either are forced to pay much more than they can really afford or look for lower-cost care, which often isn't nearly as good."
