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After partisan crossfire, new bill revises aid to threatened paper mills
A plan for the state to revive shuttered paper mills in central and northern Wisconsin has taken a new, bipartisan turn after Democrats and Republicans each tried to use the issue as a bargaining chip earlier this year. New legislation, AB-682 in the state Assembly, would provide a $1 million grant to the Verso Paper […]
State prepares for next wave of vaccines as younger children become eligible
About half a million Wisconsin kids will be eligible for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine when it becomes available to children ages 5 to 11 in as little as one week, state health officials said Wednesday. Now that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have both given […]
Advocates launch campaign to help overwhelmed family caregivers
When the weekend hired caregiver for Christine Lidbury’s father quit earlier this year, she tried to find a replacement to no avail. Grateful that she still had a good weekday paid care provider, she took over the weekend duties. Her father is in his 80s and has advanced Parkinson’s disease and dementia. “And now Dad […]
What’s really behind a controversial tuition tax break bill
A proposed state tax break on tuition that apprentices pay is heading to Gov. Tony Evers’ desk. The legislation — SB-125 — passed both houses of the Legislature on near-party line votes. With almost uniform opposition from Democratic lawmakers as well as from labor unions, a veto seems likely. The bill has been advanced by […]
New reports: COVID-19 active, but easing slightly in Wisconsin
Reflecting the hope that the August-October COVID-19 surge may be easing, Dane County’s health director announced Monday that she expects to end the county’s mask mandate by the end of the month. Janel Heinrich, director of Public Health Madison & Dane County, said the county’s current mask order will be renewed Friday, Nov. 5, with a […]
Bell takes fight for new look at son’s death to DOJ, governor
The Kenosha man who has been crusading for a new investigation of his son’s death at the hands of police 17 years ago has launched a new complaint, this one directed at Attorney General Josh Kaul and the Wisconsin Department of Justice. Michael M. Bell’s complaint, delivered Friday morning to an aide for Gov. Tony Evers, […]
Union challenges postal service over moving Oshkosh truck building to South Carolina
The union that represents employees of a Wisconsin truck builder is invoking federal environmental regulations as it pressures the U.S. Postal Service — and indirectly the company — to assemble new postal vehicles in Wisconsin instead of South Carolina. A lawyer representing the United Auto Workers has submitted a comment on the draft environmental impact […]
Report: EMS operations across the state struggle with costs, personnel
Wisconsin’s emergency medical services agencies are battling a shrinking pool of potential employees and volunteers as they face growing fiscal strains, a report released Wednesday finds. The Wisconsin Policy Forum, which issued the report, suggests that local EMS departments may need to consolidate in order to address the challenges they face. It also concludes state […]
GOP lawmakers send abortion restrictions to Evers for expected veto
Assembly Republicans passed five bills restricting abortion rights Wednesday, setting the stage for what Democrats said were certain vetoes when they reach their next stop: the desk of Gov. Tony Evers. Democratic lawmakers voted against all five measures. At a pre-session meeting with reporters, Assembly Democrats dismissed the package of bills as a calculated ploy […]
‘We are already in a situation where the virus is endemic’
Following the announcement from the federal government that, in addition to booster shots for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots will be available for recipients of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines, Dr. Ryan Westergaard, chief medical officer in the Department of Health Services (DHS) Bureau of Communicable Diseases and Stephanie Schauer, Ph.D., immunization […]
Assembly passes seven housing bills, puts homeless camps on pause
After a divided committee vote a week ago, the Wisconsin Assembly passed seven bills Tuesday that Republicans had proposed to address Wisconsin’s affordable housing shortage. Six of the bills passed on voice votes with little or no audible dissent. A seventh passed with only Republican support. There was no debate on any of them. All […]
Apprentice tuition tax break gets cold shoulder from construction unions
Legislation that passed the state Senate on Monday and will be up for a vote Tuesday in the Assembly would give apprentices a tax break on required classes. But construction industry unions oppose the bill, because for their apprentices, tuition is already paid. SB-125 and its Assembly companion, AB-115, would allow apprentices to deduct tuition […]