Dane County

High Court Considers Juvenile Shackling

Judges call for banning shackling in courts. State Supreme Court seeks public comments on issue.

WILL’s Report Short on Evidence

Conservative report asserts, with no evidence, that changes in election law needed.

On the passing of trailblazer Dick Wagner

Statement of Alderwoman JoCasta Zamarripa December 14, 2021

Erpenbach Won’t Run For Reelection

Democratic state senator and 22-year veteran was central figure during Act 10 protests.

‘Lucky to have survived’: Crashes involving State Patrol cruisers a reminder of Move Over laws

New state law strengthens protections for responders

How Republicans Are Killing Their Supporters

Right-wing anti-vaxxers help cause more deaths of Republicans nationally and in Wisconsin.

Infrastructure Funds Impact Entire State

Every person, every region in state helped. Yet package divided state's congressional delegation.

Pandemic Surging As Holidays Begin

Wisconsin sixth-worst in nation. Too many haven’t gotten COVID-19 vaccine, officials warn.

Real Estate Interests Back GOP Bill

Change in how assessments done will cut commercial property taxes and hike them for residents, opponents charge.

What Covid Did To The Courts

Huge backlog of cases could take years to clear. Big numbers in Milwaukee and biggest counties.

Groundswell Conservancy, Village Of Black Earth Seeks Urban Green Space Grant For Land Acquisition

Vos, Assembly Ordered To Release Election Probe’s Documents

Judge gives them 10 days to comply with state open records law.

Wheel Tax Revenues Tripled Over Last Four Years

Local governments statewide are relying on the tax for transportation costs.

Senator Agard Slams GOP Leaders for Continued Investigation of 2020 Election

Senate GOP leaders authorize Elections Committee to investigate Madison election data

Judge Temporarily Blocks Wisconsin’s Wolf Hunt

Orders the DNR to set wolf quota to zero until department follows it's own rules.

Judge Says State Wolf Hunt Law May Be Unconstitutional

Animal rights groups suing to overturn law allowing annual wolf hunt.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Sues To Stop Gableman’s Subpoenas

Suit says Gableman is overstepping authority in how subpoenas are structured.

Dane County Man Charged with Sexual Assault in Connection with Backlogged Kit

October 21, 2021

Environmental Group Sues Natural Resources Board Chair for Records

Chair Fred Prehn refused to step down from board after Gov. Evers appointed a successor.

Judge Orders Election Probe Records Released

Dane County judge orders Speaker Vos to make the records public.

Bill Lueders Inducted into Freedom of Information Hall of Fame

The editor of The Progressive, has been a champion for government transparency.

Walker’s Shadow Looms Over the Capitol

Walker's legacy is found in bitter partisanship, limits on the governor's power and appointee's that won't leave office.

Verona Man Charged with Alleged Sexual Assault After Backlogged Kit is Tested

October 1, 2021

It’s Johnson Vs. Dimitrijevic On Mask Mandate

Health commissioner and alderwoman at odds over whether city should have mask mandate.

Morales Named Fitchburg Police Chief

Former Milwaukee chief will lead suburban Madison department.

Suicide Prevention Program For Veterans Expands

Started by gun shop owner, now includes 18 firearms retailers, aims for all 72 counties.

House of Correction Starts Opioid Treatment Program

A new pilot program will provide inmates with medically assisted opioid treatment.

College Grads Are Leaving Republican Party

While less educated voters ditch the Democratic Party. How is that changing the state?

Court Backs Natural Resources Board Chair

Judge rejects Kaul lawsuit arguing Frederick Prehn should step aside for Evers appointee.

Gov. Evers Seeks Judicial Applicants To Replace Brett Blomme

Evers will appoint a replacement for short term, with election to follow.

Gableman Request For Election Data Questioned

County clerks concerned about breach of security, Gableman’s misinformed views.

College Students’ Pot Use At Historic High

Drinking less, smoking more. 44% reported using marijuana.

The Fight Against Voter Suppression

How the right to vote is being attacked and what you can do to fight it.

State Business Groups Oppose Vaccine Mandate

Biden order places “burden” on businesses, says leaders of WMC and MMAC.

DNR Won’t Meet With Natural Resources Board in September

The Walker appointed chair of the board refuses to step down for Evers' appointee.

Three Counties Push Nonpartisan Redistricting

Milwaukee, Dane and Brown counties seek to remove political bias from mapmaking.

Why Is State Supreme Court So Angry?

Justices’ strange interpretation of watershed 1803 decision becomes a right-wing battering ram.

Republicans Divided Over Election Audits

Are you with Team Vos or Team Brandtjen? Fish for unproven problems or overturn 2020 election?

State High Court Declines to Block Mask Mandate

Won’t bypass lower courts, as asked, to overrule Dane County mask order.

Conservation Groups Sue Wisconsin Natural Resources Board to Stop Illegal November Wolf Hunt

Property Values Up in Wisconsin Amid Pandemic, Aided by Residential Value Boost

Updated online interactive provides data for all Wisconsin counties, municipalities

Supervisor Pushes Vaccine Mandate

Ryan Clancy pushing County Executive Crowley to enact vaccine mandate for county workers.

Outreach Efforts Getting More Vaccinated

Health clinics, literacy centers reaching out to immigrants and low-income people.

AG Kaul Announces Sixth Conviction and Sentencing as a Result of the Wisconsin Sexual Assault Kit Initiative

August 24, 2021

Nearly 200 Officers Fired Or Forced Out Are Back On The Job

Hired again across the state after allegations including sexual harassment, drunken fights.

WILL Asks Wisconsin Supreme Court to Strike Down Dane County Universal Mask Order

Wisconsin Supreme Court recently made clear that public health officers do not have unlimited authority

Eighteen Milwaukee Local Elected Officials Endorse Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes for U.S. Senate

Kaul Lawsuit Seeks to Force Walker Appointee Off DNR Board

Fred Prehn’s six-year term expired May 1. AG argues governor can remove him.

WHEDA awards National Housing Trust Funds

$1.3 million to support creation of extremely low-income housing

Native Rights Trailblazer Ada Deer Endorses Mandela Barnes for United States Senate

Key Takeaways From 2020 Census Data

Dane County grew while Milwaukee shrank.

What Have Conservative-Backed Lawsuits Cost Taxpayers?

Non-profit law firm WILL has sued over ballot drop boxes, public health orders and building codes.

Madison, Dane County Mandate Vaccine For Workers

Public employees must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing.

Can Health Officials Act Against Delta Variant?

Court decisions, public resistance limit what state and local officials can do.

The Pandemic Changed Ideas About Incarceration

COVID-19 forced jails to deal with overcrowding.

42 Wisconsin State Patrol cadets become officers at graduation ceremony

Secret Messages Cast Doubt on Approval of Controversial Transmission Line

Regulators reject charges of bias, while the utility seeks a new application and decision.

State Lawmakers Want Records of Misconduct Hidden

Assembly members are fighting to keep personal misconduct records confidential.

Big Money Is Taking Over the Courts

Wealthy, right-wing interests are assaulting the integrity of the judiciary.

New Zealand Mudsnails Discovered In Two New Southern Wisconsin Streams

Wisconsinites Urged To Help Prevent Spread Of Invasive Species

SNAP Food Benefits Fall Short in State, Nation

In 27 counties and 40% of the nation benefits fall short of average cost of a meal.

West Allis Alderman Angelito Tenorio Announces Candidacy for Wisconsin State Treasurer

21 Wisconsin Leaders Endorse Sarah Godlewski for U.S. Senate

Coming on heels of pivotal EMILY’S List endorsement, strong support from communities across the state demonstrates Sarah is building the strongest coalition to defeat Ron Johnson

Legislature Is the Most Diverse in History

Many first served as local officials, many ran small businesses, some started as Capitol staffers.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Declares Racine School Closure Order Invalid

Racine health officer issued school closure order in November 2020

Federal Report Shows State’s Internet Disparities

More than 20% of households lack internet access in 8 counties, 20% lack computers in some counties.

Motorcycle Deaths Up 31% in State

Officials worry about 'risky behavior” on roads which started during low-traffic pandemic.

State Prison Population Expected To Surge

Report projects a rise to pre-pandemic levels, rising from 19,377 inmates to 23,471 by 2023.

Wisconsin Republicans Join Disgraced Ex-Governor On Conspiracy-Driven Trip to Arizona Audit Site

State High Court Blocks School Closures

Local health departments can’t order closures, 4-3 Supreme Court decision rules.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Strikes Down Dane County School Closure Order

WILL filed original action when Dane County health department tried to close all schools

Online Tool Can Clear Criminal, Evictions Records

Advocacy groups create Legal Tune Up to easily check if records can be removed from data bases.

Pocan Celebrates Approval of $18 Million in Wisconsin Infrastructure Investment

Rushed Redistricting Plan Criticized

Could a mysterious bill keep Republican gerrymandering in place until 2024?

Nearly $1.5 million in Program Grants Distributed on Behalf of the UW Credit Union Fund for Racial Equity

Grants target financial stability and the education achievement gap for BIPOC community members

Courts May Keep Some Proceedings Virtual

While most court functions return in person, some advocate for keeping some meetings virtual.

Children’s Vaccinations Vary By County

In Dane County, 29% of those aged 12 to 15 have had first dose, in Clark County just 1%.

State, Cities Can Start Spending Federal Money

Federal government releases guidelines on $350 billion in pandemic relief funds.

Officials Push To Vaccinate Kids 12 to 15

Could help get to herd immunity, officials across state sending consent forms to parents.

Senator Agard Welcomes New Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett

UW System campuses preparing for return of precollege and youth programs this summer

Proposed Changes in Election Law Illegal?

Republican legislators pushing changes that may violate numerous federal laws.

Utilities Spending $649 Million on State’s Largest Solar Project

WEC Energy Group and MGE buying 465-megawatt Koshkonong Solar project.

A History of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ Community

New book chronicles recent LGBTQ history from the 1960's to the present.

Jury Finds Officer Derek Chauvin Guilty

Minneapolis cop guilty on all charges, including second degree murder of George Floyd.

Gov. Evers Announces FEMA Support for COVID-19 Mass Vaccination Clinic Site in Madison Begins April 7

Mass vaccination clinic to serve thousands at Alliant Energy Center

Gov. Evers Appoints Kalvin D. Barrett as Dane County Sheriff

State Supreme Court Overrules Evers’ Emergency Powers

Decision says governor needs legislative approval to extend health emergency.

Assembly Legislators Show Their Priorities

Minutes to pass big expansion of voucher schools, hours debating home schools.

School Vouchers a Danger For Democrats

The issue could lose them enough voters in Milwaukee to lose the state.

U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Wisconsin ‘Kraken’ Suit

Election suit was by Trump Attorney, Sidney Powell, who vowed to 'release the Kraken.'

Dane County Drops Most Fines Against Dance Studio

Health department enlisted the wrong attorneys and filed far too many counts

Evers Budget Addresses ‘Forever Chemicals’

Several initiatives to continue state’s efforts against PFAS contamination.

The Debate Over Local Sales Taxes

Evers' budget allows local sales tax increases. Will Republican legislators agree?

False Electors Were GOP Campaign Donors

Republican insiders accused of election fraud gave $14,000 to state candidates.

Four Labs in State Tracking Coronavirus Variants

Processing several hundred samples per week as new strains of virus grow.

Baldwin, Moore Push Momnibus Act

Senator, congresswoman offer 12 bills to improve maternal and child health outcomes.

City of Madison receives $250,000 state grant to redevelop idle site

WEDC funding to help support Westgate Mall redevelopment

Dane County Health Department Relaxes Sports Restrictions After WILL Lawsuit

Legal challenge to authority of Dane County Health Department continues