Environment
Bipartisan group of legislators discuss supporting Wisconsin agriculture at dairy event
A group of four legislators from both sides of the aisle discussed how state policies can support Wisconsin agriculture and the dairy industry at an event hosted by the Dairy Business Association (DBA) on Tuesday. Sens. Brad Pfaff (D-Onalaska) and Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) and Reps. Travis Tranel (R-Cuba City) and Don Vruwink (D-Milton), spoke […]
To attract young workers, address climate change
There is little dispute that Wisconsin businesses are grappling with a worker shortage, but there’s growing debate about how to solve it. One major Wisconsin business group recently suggested that lowering the tax rate on the state’s top income bracket (individual incomes above $263,000) would help address the worker shortage. Since the average Wisconsin income […]
Wisconsinites urged to brace for arctic cold
The Department of Military Affairs is sounding the alarm about extreme cold conditions which are due to persist into the early part of Saturday. The National Weather Service is warning of arctic air which may cause temperatures to plummet into the double digits below zero in some areas. A wind chill of negative 20 degrees […]
Some Democrats push to rescue climate plan in Biden spending package
A group of congressional Democrats on Tuesday called for preserving the climate portions of President Joe Biden’s stalled domestic spending bill as Democrats in the U.S. Senate rewrite the measure. U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, Martin Heinrich of New Mexico, Tina Smith of Minnesota and John Hickenlooper of Colorado, along with Reps. Kathy Castor […]
Midwest lags, though Madison and Minneapolis shine in national clean energy policy ranking
Madison, Wisconsin’s clean transportation investments helped propel it ahead in an annual ranking of clean energy and energy efficiency plans. The analysis of 100 major cities by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) revealed that nationwide, cities are largely not on track to meet their own greenhouse gas reduction goals, and/or they don’t […]
Is Santa’s sleigh zero carbon? The answer lies in reindeer poo
Santa’s sleigh is famously pulled by eight reindeer, nine if you include the luminous Rudolf who pitches in when it’s foggy. The classic eight are Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Vixen and Blitzen. Those last two are an easy-on-the-ear translation of Dutch, but the whole eight sound like a fun [bachelor] party. The consequences […]
Wolf advocates build momentum with court ruling, reward offers
Advocates continue pushing for accountability in Wisconsin’s wolf hunts, one of which was held in February. Two groups, Hunters for Wolves and Animal Wellness Action, have offered cash rewards for information regarding illegal poaching of wolves in Wisconsin. Legal actions also continue in the courts, which recently resulted in another hunt being blocked for the […]
Court upholds decision to deny permit to fill rare wetland by timber company
An appeals court decision Thursday on the fate of a 16.5 acre area of untouched, rare Wisconsin wetland affirms a previous court’s ruling invalidating a wetland-fill permit, issued to the company Meteor Timber. The particular area of wetland in question has been designated by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) as an “imperiled” white pine […]
USDA chief announces funds to help local water, sewer and power systems on Wisconsin visit
Rural Wisconsin will get $114.5 million in investments for water and electric power, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced on a visit to the state Thursday. The funds come from the USDA’s Rural Development programs through the recently enacted Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Projects include $27.6 million for the city of Bloomer to replace lead service […]
Wisconsin braces for severe weather
On Wednesday, in mid-December, the temperature in Milwaukee was about 61 degrees. In Madison, it was slightly warmer at 64 degrees, and with an accompanying warning of high winds. In fact, the temperatures in Milwaukee and Madison are some of the highest ever recorded during the month of December in the two cities. Meanwhile, snow […]
Feeding and baiting ban for deer enacted in Eau Claire, Jackson, Clark counties
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has been notified that a farm-raised deer in Eau Claire County has tested positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). The notification came from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. As a result, a ban on feeding and baiting of deer has been placed over a 10 […]
$10,000 reward offered for information on wolf poaching
Animal Wellness Action is offering a $10,000 reward for information which leads to the successful prosecution of people who’ve illegally poached wolves in Wisconsin. The group says it is, “alarmed by internet chatter for self-described wolf hunters boasting that they will take matters into their own hands and kill wolves, absent any state authorization to […]