Dane County

Gov. Evers Announces More Than $20 Million in Tourism Capital Investment Grants for Projects Across the State

Speaker Vos Struggles to Maintain Control

Assailed by GOP rebels. ‘Conspiracy theorists have taken over the party.’

Working Families Party Endorses Slate of Union Members, Community Organizers for Local Office

As state, federal pandemic relief stalls, WFP backs first-time candidates running to bring systemic change local

Rothman Must Re-Balance UW System

UW-Madison gets too much of state funding, campuses like UWM get too little.

State Supreme Court Rules For GOP In Redistricting Attorneys Suit

Republican lawmakers sued for hiring redistricting attorneys before process even began.

Boys & Girls Clubs Distribute 450,000 Cost Free N95 Masks Statewide

Clubs Offer Infrastructure to Collaborate with Emergency Management

Judge Presses Attorney for Vos on Election Probe Records

Attorney hasn’t seen records, doesn’t know where they are.

Is Rebecca Kleefisch a ‘Hypocrite’?

Her voting as “indefinitely confined” was something done in many Republican-leaning districts.

Voces de la Frontera Action Files Lawsuit Challenging Subpoena as Part of Sham Election Review

Voces De La Frontera Action Condemns Speaker Vos's Attempts to Intimidate and Silence the Political Voices of Communities of Color; Files Lawsuit Challenging Gableman's Subpoena as Part of Sham Election Review

Mandela Barnes Raises Over $1.23 Million in Q4 With Average Donation Under $50

Since Launching Mandela Has Raised Over $2.3 Million With Nearly 50,000 Individual Donations

Will 10 Wisconsin Republicans Who Tried to Hijack 2020 Election Be Punished?

They submitted imposter Electoral College ballots to Congress.

Wisconsin NRB Meeting Jan. 26

Deadline For Remote Appearance Requests And Written Comments 11 a.m. Jan. 19

BREAKING: Former Wis. Dem Assembly Leader Dave Travis Endorses Nelson:

“He's repeatedly won elections in areas that aren't very blue, which are necessary for any Democrat to carry in a statewide election.”

AG Kaul Announces $1.85 Billion Settlement with Student Loan Servicer Navient

Settlement includes $1.7 billion in debt cancellation and $95 million in restitution; Wisconsin borrowers will receive over $23.8 million in relief

Supreme Court Upholds Deposition Order for Robin Vos

Vos tried to avoid deposition in open records suit related to 2020 election investigation.

COVID-19 Cases Rising At State Universities

Largest universities see record cases among students and staff heading into spring semester.

Court Rejects Kaul Suit to Stop GOP Election Probe’s Subpoena

But judge warns she could reopen case if Gableman seek penalties against WEC leader.

Council Moving To Institute Mask Mandate With No Enforcement

Would apply to all publicly-accessible, indoor businesses and organizations in the City of Milwaukee.

Vos, Gableman Could Face Consequences for Election Probe

Court requires Vos to sit for deposition, lawyer demands public apologies by Gableman.

Police Will Monitor City’s Covid Testing Sites

Overcrowding, aggressive behavior lead to request for police presence.

Republicans Expand Election Probe

More subpoenas of local officials and “insanely broad” request of information from state elections commission, its chair charges.

AG Kaul Announces Judgment Including $90,000 Penalty for Alleged Hazardous Waste Violations

December 21, 2021

Pressure Builds on State’s Hospitals

More than 95% of ICU beds are full, one-third of them patients with COVID-19.

Wisconsin Supreme Court to Hear WILL Challenge to Dane County Health Orders

WILL is challenging authority of health officer to issue orders without legislative approval

State Unemployment Hits Three-Year Low

New report shows the unemployment rate fell to 3% in November.

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