Briefs
New synthetic opioid “iso” hitting Wisconsin communities
A new synthetic opioid has arrived on the streets of Milwaukee County and health officials say is as powerful as fentanyl. Isotonitazene, nicknamed “iso,” is a synthetic version of etonitazene, an opioid that was first reported in 1957. Despite it’s highly addictive qualities, and long history, the drug is not yet on the Drug Enforcement […]
Sen. Larson launches petition drive for state mask mandate
A Milwaukee state senator’s petition for a statewide mask mandate has garnered more than 8,000 signatures — and a torrent of abuse on social media. Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) is spreading word of the petition on his official Facebook page. The petition, in the form of a letter addressed to Gov. Tony Evers, the state […]
DNR monitoring cleanup of JCI/Tyco contaminated water spill
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that it’s monitoring the clean-up of an accidental release of contaminated ground water into storm drains, which flow back to the Menominee River. The contaminated water, which was mixed with river water, came from Johnson Controls/Tyco facility at Stanton Street, in Marinette. The incident was first reported […]
Guard continues COVID-19 test assistance; federal support in limbo
While the Wisconsin National Guard continues to aid with testing state residents for the virus responsible for COVID-19, officials in Wisconsin and other states are urging the federal government to extend funding for the testing deployment through the end of the year. National Guard members are collecting specimens this week at locations in 15 Wisconsin […]
Sen. Tammy Baldwin and colleagues introduce the John Lewis Voting Rights Act
If anything drove home the need to bring back the Voting Rights Act, it was the coverage of the life work of Congressman John Lewis, a civil rights icon who passed away on July 17 after a battle with cancer. That is according to bipartisan senators who introduced a bill to restore the Voting Rights […]
Small farms get most of first round of COVID-19 aid; 2nd round planned
Nearly 12,000 Wisconsin farmers shared in the first round of aid from a special state program to support farmers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, state officials said Monday. So far $41.6 million has been distributed to 11,884 farms from the $50 million program, funded from the state’s allotment under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relieve and […]
The summer of Glenn Grothman continues with request for conspiracy theorist to speak to Congress
This summer, U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothmann has espoused the benefits of vitamin D as a treatment against COVID-19; suggested Wisconsin schools — which have the widest achievement gap between Black and white students in the nation — don’t have problems with racial inequities; invoked the name of a far-right martyr on the House floor; had […]
Karofsky to be sworn in during 100-mile run
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Jill Karofsky is set to be sworn into office Saturday 35 miles into a 100 mile ultramarathon. Karofsky will start her run at 6 a.m. and seven hours later will arrive at an outdoor, socially distanced swearing in ceremony with Justice Rebecca Dallet, former Gov. Jim Doyle and Lt. Gov. Mandela […]
PSC halts plan to let power companies disconnect customers behind on their bills
A month and a half after announcing it would let utility companies go back to cutting off service to people behind on their bills starting this weekend, the state Public Service Commission (PSC) voted 2-1 Thursday to reverse that decision. Instead, the PSC extended a moratorium on disconnections that was first imposed March 24 until […]
DOC completes investigation into escape at Columbia Correctional Institution
On July 16, the Department of Corrections (DOC) announced that its Office of Internal Affairs had completed 13 personnel investigations involving several staff. The investigations came in the wake of an escape incident in April at Columbia Correctional Institution (CCI) in Portage, Wisconsin. As a result of the investigation, seven staff members were terminated, and […]
Evers ‘considering’ state mask order, but wary that Supreme Court would undermine it
Once again imploring Wisconsin to return to the restraint it showed during the Safer at Home order in late March through early May, Gov. Tony Evers stressed Thursday the importance of wearing face coverings to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and said he’d like to be able to institute a statewide mask order. A statewide […]
Gov. Evers announces $46.6 million for schools
Gov. Tony Evers announced on Thursday that 155 local education agencies are eligible to apply for $46.6 million in federal funds Wisconsin received through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund (GEER Fund), established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. “It’s vital to ensure the schools across Wisconsin that are most significantly […]