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New Regent chair names search committee for next UW System president
After the initial search for a new president of the University of Wisconsin System failed last year, newly elected chair of the Board of Regents Ed Manydeeds appointed a 19-member committee to try again. The new committee includes regents, university chancellors and provosts but also students and faculty members — a departure from the original […]
In win for environmental groups, Supreme Court says DNR can limit animals, wells
In two decisions that could have far reaching effects on state agencies, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) does in fact have the authority to take certain actions to protect public resources without those actions being exactly described in state statutes. Both cases revolved around the DNR’s […]
WILL launches national effort to protect white people from discrimination and restrict speech in schools
Rick Esenberg and Dan Lennington, general counsel and deputy counsel at the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), said in a virtual webinar Wednesday that because they both witnessed incidents of racism as young children, they’re uniquely qualified to say that discrimination is no longer a problem in America. The conservative legal outfit, while […]
Texts show Kenosha officers called armed civilians ‘very friendly’ hours before shooting
Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2020, teenager Kyle Rittenhouse was standing outside a dealership in Kenosha with a group of other armed men who said they were protecting the business on 59th Street and Sheridan Road from protesters. The city was in the midst of a multi-day eruption of demonstrations against police violence following […]
Republican bill brings National Anthem to youth sports fields across Wisconsin
Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison) is struck by the absurdity that under a bill currently pending in the Senate, her three-year-old’s T-ball team will need to play the National Anthem before every game. The bill, authored by Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point), would require the Star Spangled Banner be played before any sporting event taking place […]
Evers signs opioid lawsuit settlement bill he says is unconstitutional
Gov. Tony Evers signed a Republican bill that guides how a potential opioid settlement would be disbursed to the state’s counties on Thursday. But the bill also continues a GOP effort to move executive powers to the Legislature. Evers called the bill unconstitutional even as he signed it over the objections of Democratic Attorney General […]
Evers, Oneida Nation agree to bring sports betting to Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers and the chairman of the Oneida Nation opened the door to legal sports betting in Wisconsin on Thursday by signing an agreement to allow the tribe to take bets on events at its casino. The agreement comes after months of negotiations between the tribe and the state Department of Administration, according to […]
Biden tries to sell infrastructure deal in trip to La Crosse
In a trip to the swingiest congressional district in the swing state of Wisconsin, President Joe Biden detailed a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, focusing on how it would help families and workers across Wisconsin and the country. Speaking from the municipal transit utility in La Crosse, Biden discussed the ways the infrastructure deal will help […]
Derrick Van Orden called COVID-19 relief a ‘disaster,’ but the group he works with got $170k in aid
Republican Derrick Van Orden was outspoken in his opposition of federal COVID-19 relief passed into law earlier this year. Yet that opposition did not extend to federal aid of more than $170,000 that a nonprofit organization he works with received in May 2020. Van Orden, who is running for the second time to unseat Democratic […]
Newly public federal data shows Wisconsin’s internet disparities
In two Wisconsin counties, Clark and Menominee, more than 20% of households don’t have a computer, smartphone or tablet. In eight counties, more than 20% of households don’t have internet access at all. This data from a newly public map created by the U.S. Department of Commerce shows just how far behind Wisconsin’s rural and […]
Walker appointee clings to post at Natural Resources Board despite protests
Fred Prehn, the chair of the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board and appointee of former Gov. Scott Walker, has remained in his post for two monthly meetings of the body even though his term expired May 1 and Gov. Tony Evers’ new appointee has been waiting in the wings. The move by Prehn, which allows him […]
St. Croix Co. DA delays giving evidence to defense lawyers
Update 12/6/22: Court documents show that the St. Croix County District Attorney’s Office had provided nearly all of the requested evidence to attorney Sarah Yacoub by June 6, 2021. The St. Croix County District Attorney keeps certain, potentially exculpatory evidence from defendants and their lawyers for much of the pretrial process as “standard practice,” emails […]