MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Workforce is reporting that nearly 512,000 people have filed for unemployment since the coronavirus outbreak began in March. The latest figures track filings made through Monday. Thirty-six members of the Republican state Assembly sent DWD Secretary Caleb Frostman a letter on Monday calling for the department to look at all possible options to process unemployment claims more quickly. A preliminary analysis by DWD said the state’s unemployment rate could hit 27%, a level not seen since the Great Depression. Unemployment figures for April aren’t available yet, but a year ago the state rate was 2.8%.
