Wisconsin stay-at-home order overturned

Wisconsinites dropped in for drinks at their local bars for the first time since March. The state’s order closing restaurants and limiting gatherings abruptly ended on Wednesday when the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ coronavirus stay-at-home order in a 4-3 ruling. The judges said Evers’ administration overstepped its authority when it extended the order for another month without consulting legislators. The state had recorded more than 10,900 confirmed coronavirus cases, 421 deaths, and more than 5,600 recoveries as of Thursday morning.

Does this mean Wisconsin is going back to normal? The court did not overturn the part of the order that closed schools. Local governments can still impose their own rules, and several areas of the state—including the cities of Madison and Milwaukee—are still under health restrictions.

Dig deeper: Read Katie Gaultney’s report about the confusion over which businesses count as essential under stay-at-home orders.