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On the eve of a grim anniversary, Michael Bell renews demand for bullet that killed his son
A libel lawsuit Michael M. Bell filed against the former Kenosha Police officer who shot and killed his son nearly two decades ago was dealt a setback Wednesday as a state appeals court upheld a circuit judge’s ruling that dismissed Bell’s claim. The opinion comes a day before the 19th anniversary of the night that […]
Parties split as election-related constitutional amendments pass Senate
Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate advanced four proposed constitutional amendments Tuesday, including one to ban private grants to local communities for administering elections and another to ban non-citizens from voting in any elections in the state. A third would write the state’s photo ID requirement for voters into the Wisconsin Constitution. The fourth measure would […]
Tax deduction for the unborn passes Senate in bill destined to be vetoed
The state Senate passed legislation Tuesday declaring that expectant parents can take a deduction on their state income taxes months before the birth of a child. Debate on the measure, SB-344, was one-sided during the eight minutes it was up for a vote. The only lawmaker to speak about it was a Democratic opponent. Gov. […]
UW enlists business leaders to push for new engineering building funds
The University of Wisconsin-Madison kicked efforts to persuade the Legislature to come up with nearly $200 million for a new engineering building into higher gear Monday. The UW announced a campaign including digital and newspaper advertising, social media and a video spot to reverse the Republican legislative majority’s decision in June against funding the building […]
Wisconsin Watch voluntarily recognizes NewsGuild union
Two weeks after employees sought union representation at the nonprofit investigative news outlet Wisconsin Watch, the organization’s board of directors has voluntarily recognized the Wisconsin Watch Union. The board and Wisconsin Watch Executive Director George Stanley agreed Friday to extend voluntary recognition to the union, which is affiliated with The NewsGuild-CWA, the union said in […]
Report ranks Wisconsin high among states with violations at licensed dog kennels
Federal inspectors found 51 violations at 18 Wisconsin dog breeders during visits in July, August and September, according to an Iowa organization that monitors the enforcement of federal and state animal welfare laws. Only Virginia, with 52 violations, had more than Wisconsin during U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspections of dog breeders conducted in the […]
PSC reduces MG&E electric rate increase, won’t change how home solar users are compensated
In the first of a series of rate decisions that state regulators are issuing over the next several weeks, the Wisconsin Public Service Commission (PSC) agreed Friday to raise electricity rates for Madison Gas and Electric 5.7% over the next two years — undercutting the utility’s original petition. The PSC also rejected the MG&E’s petition […]
Vos advances Wolfe impeachment resolution two days after start of attack ads targeting him
Two days after the launch of a pressure campaign directed at Assembly Speaker Robin Vos by activists seeking to impeach the Wisconsin elections administrator, Vos formally advanced the impeachment resolution Thursday. Vos is the target of a radio and television campaign in Milwaukee media accusing him of “standing in the way” of efforts to impeach […]
Public Service Commission to start announcing electric rate increases this week
State regulators are about to decide how much Wisconsin electric power companies can raise their rates in 2024. Between now and the end of the year, the Public Service Commission (PSC) is expected to act on rate increase petitions from five electric power companies. Two requests include proposals to charge ratepayers for the cost of […]
Power line construction legislation advances in Assembly
Legislation that would give Wisconsin power transmission companies first dibs on building interstate power line systems in the state handily passed an Assembly committee Wednesday. The bill, AB-470,is backed by major utilities in Wisconsin and by the American Transmission Co., which operates much of the state’s electric power transmission lines. It is opposed by a […]
Evers sues GOP leaders in the Legislature over ‘legislative vetoes’
This story has been updated. Responding to a series of roadblocks thrown by three powerful committees in the state Legislature, Gov. Tony Evers sued a half-dozen Republican lawmakers Tuesday, charging that the “legislative vetoes” amount to a violation of the Wisconsin Constitution’s separation of powers. “Through statutes that allow legislative committees to veto executive branch […]
Temporary injunction blocks lawmakers from trying to replace elections administrator
A Dane County judge has blocked Republican leaders in the Legislature from taking any actions to replace Meagan Wolfe as administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC). In a ruling granting a temporary injunction, Dane County Circuit Court Judge Ann Peacock also declared that the state Senate vote in September to fire Wolfe had no […]