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Evers goes big and bold with his Wisconsin budget
Gov. Tony Evers, in a speech outlining his 2021-23 budget proposal Tuesday night, argued for a renewed vision of a state government that can educate, support and invest in people and businesses across the state — a point of view that echoes President Joe Biden’s plan to “build back better” in his proposed American Rescue […]
Election Commissioner Bob Spindell can vote whether or not to investigate himself for election fraud
Republican elections commissioner Robert Spindell, who has been accused by Law Forward of fraudulently casting an Electoral College vote for former President Donald Trump, will have a say in the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) decision over whether or not he should be investigated, unless he recuses himself due to a conflict of interest. Spindell and […]
‘It’s not surprising’: How the Republican party lost control, from reopen rallies to insurrection
From the early days of the pandemic to the fever-pitched and riotous last days of the Trump presidency, Wisconsin’s conservative movement was swept up in conspiracies and extremism in 2020. Over the past year, online provocateurs, fringe lawyers, Republican lawmakers, wealthy donors, militias and right-wing media created a feedback loop that poisoned politics in Wisconsin […]
Evers proposes allowing local increases in sales tax
Community leaders and residents could soon choose to raise county and local sales taxes by 0.5%, if a budget proposal by Gov. Tony Evers is approved. Wisconsin’s sales tax is 5% and under current law counties have the ability to impose an extra 0.5% tax. 68 of 72 counties have enacted the sales tax increase. […]
Burnett County prosecutor faces felony charges for secretly recording sex with defendants
A Burnett County Assistant District Attorney is facing three felony charges for secretly recording sex acts with women his office was in the process of prosecuting. Daniel Steffen, 50, recorded himself having sex with two women in his Polk County home in 2018, according to the criminal complaint. On Friday, Steffen was charged in Polk […]
Where in Wisconsin are police interactions on video?
Less than half of Wisconsin law enforcement agencies equip officers with both body and dashboard cameras, according to survey data from the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ). Of the agencies that responded to the survey, nearly a quarter use only dash cams and 12% don’t use cameras at all. When mapped, the data reveals large […]
Evers proposes spending $43 million on Wisconsin agriculture
Gov. Tony Evers announced a $43 million budget proposal on Friday meant to invest in and support the Wisconsin agricultural industry through a number of grants and programs. The proposal for the 2021-23 biennium is targeted at expanding markets for Wisconsin farmers both locally and internationally, promoting innovation and conservation and supporting the mental health […]
Rittenhouse disappears, prosecutors seek to rearrest and increase bond
Kenosha County prosecutors sought an arrest warrant and filed to increase the bond of an Illinois teen accused of killing two and wounding another at protests in Kenosha last summer after he went off the radar. Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, had given an Antioch, Ill. address to the Kenosha County Circuit Court where he faces several […]
Wisconsin Elections Commission debates future of voter rolls while issue still before Supreme Court
The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) began a debate Wednesday over future ways to keep voter registration lists up-to-date — a controversial issue in the past, with a lawsuit over the matter currently pending before the state Supreme Court. States are required to keep their voter lists updated by removing voters who have died and updating […]
The thin blue line flag: symbol of police pride or violent insurrection?
In late October, then-President Donald Trump — in the midst of a scorched Earth re-election campaign that touted a pro-law enforcement message and painted him as the candidate of “law and order,” — appeared at a rally in Waukesha. Trump arrived in southern Wisconsin two months after a white Kenosha cop had shot Jacob Blake, […]
Shon Barnes sworn in as new Madison police chief
Dr. Shon Barnes was sworn in as Madison’s 30th police chief Monday morning, taking control of a department attempting to respond to a vocal activist community pushing for reforms and a recent increase in violent crime. Barnes takes over for acting chief Vic Wahl, who filled the position after chief Michael Koval abruptly retired in […]
Wisconsin billionaire Hendricks donated to Georgia’s QAnon congresswoman
Diane Hendricks, the Beloit billionaire who donates heavily to Republican causes and candidates across the country, contributed $2,800 to the primary campaign of Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, according to campaign finance records. Greene, a QAnon believer who was elected to her first term last year, has been the subject of multiple controversies in the […]