Briefs
WEC chair certifies 2022 election
Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) Chair Don Millis, a Republican, certified the results of the 2022 midterm elections on Wednesday — marking the quiet end to an election season that went much more smoothly, and with less interference, than 2020. The certification of the election is a normal ministerial function of the WEC’s chair. After the […]
Waukesha Co. judge announces run for state Supreme Court
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow announced on Wednesday she’s joining the race for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dorow recently gained attention for presiding over the trial of the man who drove through the Waukesha Christmas Parade last year and killed six people. That attention from the high profile case […]
Ramthun not ruling out future run for governor
State Rep. Timothy Ramthun (R-Campbellsport) — reflecting on his time in the Legislature — told an interviewer Monday that he felt like he didn’t have a choice in launching his failed campaign for governor. He also didn’t rule out a future run for Wisconsin’s executive office. “I might,” Ramthun said about running for governor in […]
U.S. House to intervene in rail workers strike, heeding Biden call
WASHINGTON — U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Monday said the House will take up legislation to ratify an agreement between rail workers and operators in order to avert a nationwide rail strike. “This week, the House will take up a bill adopting the Tentative Agreement — with no poison pills or changes to the […]
One year since Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy
One year after the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, residents gathered to remember and pay their respects. The memories are still raw for many Waukesha residents, still haunted by the actions of then-39 year old Darrell Brooks, who was convicted of driving an SUV through the parade on Nov. 21, 2021. Six people lost their lives, […]
Wisconsin National Guard deployed to Horn of Africa
The Wisconsin National Guard’s 157 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade has “assumed responsibility” of the headquarters staff for the Combined Joint Task Force- Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA). Wisconsin’s Guard soldiers will be taking over from the Illinois National Guard’s 404 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, with the change of hands culminating in a ceremony at Camp Lemonnier in the […]
Deaths of unhoused people in Milwaukee rising
Deaths among unhoused Milwaukeeans are rising, according to the Milwaukee Medical Examiner’s Office. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the medical examiner’s office has recorded 52 deaths of unhoused people in 2021, up from 21 in 2018. The Sentinel references data obtained by the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service. Data for January and February suggest that […]
DNR: 11 year old killed during hunting accident
An 11-year-old boy was fatally shot in the Township of Seneca in Green Lake County on Sunday during a hunting accident. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), Green Lake County Sheriff’s Office, and emergency medical services responded to the fatal incident. The boy had been deer hunting with a 41-year-old man and others. A […]
State’s school libraries to reap record payout from public lands investments
Wisconsin public school libraries will share in $52 million next year from the state’s Common School Fund, paid for with investments by the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands. State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski, who leaves office at the end of this year, and State Superintendent Jill Underly announced the record payout to the fund for […]
Growth in jobs, employment takes a break in October for Wisconsin
Wisconsin had almost 59,000 more jobs in October than a year earlier, according to the state labor department, but job numbers crept down slightly from September. The state’s unemployment rate inched up for the month, while labor force participation inched down, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) reported. Department labor economists said they couldn’t […]
Secretary Preston Cole retiring from DNR
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole is retiring from his position after a 35 year career in public service and four years at the helm of the state’s conservation agency, Gov. Tony Evers announced in a news release Friday. Cole is set to retire on Wednesday, giving Evers a chance to nominate a […]
Brandtjen responds to Republicans barring her from caucus meetings
Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R – Menomonee Falls) addressed Assembly Republicans’ vote to bar her from closed caucus meetings in a statement Wednesday. A letter — first obtained by WisPolitics — dated Nov. 11 and written by majority caucus chair Rob Summerfield (R – Bloomer), offered few specifics but said the caucus took the vote because […]