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Content referencing Dale Kooyenga
How Wisconsin Companies Are Benefitting From Data Center Boom
Orders stacking up for industrial companies.
Mar 5th, 2026 by Tom Kertscher
Business Groups Sue to Block Citizen Ordinance Limiting TIF Districts
Angered by data center deal, Port Washington voters support 'direct legislation.'
Feb 5th, 2026 by Joe Schulz
‘Make America Affordable Again’ Meets Reality in Checkout Lines
A year after Trump’s return, Wisconsin residents report higher food costs and fewer extras as tariffs push prices up.
Jan 23rd, 2026 by Joe Schulz
Key Streetcar Opponent Opposes Effort to Shut It Down
‘It’s now a $250 million city asset. You don’t throw that away.’
Nov 10th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
MMAC Wants State To Opt Into Federal Voucher School Program
Evers has said participating in the program would be “catastrophic” for public schools.
Oct 30th, 2025 by Corrinne Hess
Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Fee Raises Legal Questions, Could Negatively Impact Wisconsin Businesses
More than 350 employers in Wisconsin use program to hire skilled workers.
Oct 15th, 2025 by Beatrice Lawrence
Trump Tariffs Hurting Wisconsin Foreign Trade, Business Relationships
Tonnage through the Port of Milwaukee down 30% through early 2025.
Jul 22nd, 2025 by Joe Schulz
Microsoft, UWM Unveil New AI Lab
Lab aims to connect Wisconsin manufacturers with new automation technologies.
Jun 26th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
The Professors Are the Enemy
How and why Wisconsin Republican legislators are starving the UW system.
Jun 24th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
Trump’s Flip-Flop on Immigrants Impacts Wisconsin
His stop and start on ICE raids affects restaurants, dairy industry, hotels and more.
Jun 17th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
The Decline of The Water Council
The MMAC has basically taken over its financial management. Why?
Apr 9th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
Tariffs Will Hurt Business, Workers in Wisconsin
Local business, labor and university experts warn that tariffs will lead to a recession.
Apr 7th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
How Deportations Will Hurt Milwaukee
Most of its growth in population and workers in last 30 years has come from immigrants.
Mar 11th, 2025 by Bruce Murphy
Water Council CEO Retiring, Group Will Align With MMAC
New CEO will head organization that's now an 'affiliate' of leading business group.
Mar 10th, 2025 by Jeramey Jannene
Mayor Talks Education, Public Safety in 2025 State of the City
Upbeat speech also discusses Growing MKE plan, elections and safe streets.
Mar 3rd, 2025 by Jeramey Jannene
Airport Breaks Ground On Massive Cargo Facility
$75 million facility being developed by private real estate company Crow Holdings.
Feb 27th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Trump Freezes Federal Spending Critical to Milwaukee Projects
His executive order could kill spending for major projects by city, county and airport.
Jan 27th, 2025 by Graham Kilmer
Trump Tariffs a Threat to Wisconsin Manufacturing?
Report warns of possible trade war affecting state's $12 billion in annual exports.
Dec 4th, 2024 by Joe Schulz
Vining Win Reduces Republican Majority in Assembly
Robyn Vining defeats Tom Michalski in newly remapped district.
Nov 6th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
Bipartisan Coalition, Business Leaders Support New International Terminal
County pursuing federal grant to replace shuttered concourse with new international terminal at Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport.
Aug 30th, 2024 by Graham Kilmer
RNC Host Says Visitors, Locals Need To Spread Across Downtown
"It's quieter than I would like it to be," says host committee COO. MMAC encourages long-term view.
Jul 17th, 2024 by Jeramey Jannene
National Media Discovers Mayor Johnson
Gaining lots of positive press during RNC, now talking of running for governor.
Jul 16th, 2024 by Bruce Murphy
Streetcar Begins Daily Service To The Couture, BRT Will Soon Follow
Long-awaited milestone restores transit service to lakefront. Officials herald it as future of transit.
Apr 11th, 2024 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee Public Schools Referendum Narrowly Passes
Union touts passage as a win for Milwaukee's youth.
Apr 2nd, 2024 by Jeramey Jannene
85 School Districts Asking Voters for $1.4 Billion Funding
April ballot referendums driven by rising costs and inadequate state funding, officials say.
Mar 28th, 2024 by Baylor Spears
Kooyenga Will Take Over MMAC In 2024
Longtime leader Tim Sheehy will retire at year's end.
Oct 18th, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene
Milwaukee Sales Tax Deal Reached, Referendum Dropped
Deal at Capitol requires Common Council, County Board to pass new taxes with two-thirds votes. Includes substantial policy measures.
Jun 8th, 2023 by Jeramey Jannene
Republicans Seek Veto-Proof Legislature
GOP supermajority possible if they flip one senate district, five assembly seats now held by Democrats.
Nov 7th, 2022 by Shawn Johnson
Democrats Want Audit of Gableman’s 2020 Election Review
Request comes after Assembly Speaker Robin Vos called Gableman "an embarrassment."
Aug 11th, 2022 by Rich Kremer
Record Number of Legislators Retiring
At least 31 incumbents, one quarter of state Legislature retiring, highest since 1942.
Jun 20th, 2022 by Howard Hardee
State Democrats Push Gun Restrictions After Texas Shootings
Kaul calls for law requiring background checks and preventing sale of 'ghost guns.'
May 25th, 2022 by Rob Mentzer
Historic Turnover Will Change Legislature
Retirements, redistricting and members pursuing higher office could transform Legislature.
Mar 28th, 2022 by Steven Walters
Workers Seeking Raises Find Open Ears, Empty Pockets
Pension cliff and stagnant wages are pushing city toward a 'tipping point.'
Mar 17th, 2022 by Jeramey Jannene
City-County Sales Tax Proposal Dead
Push for state legislation will have to wait until 2023, MMAC leader says.
Mar 9th, 2022 by Bruce Murphy
GOP Legislators Reject Evers Tax Rebate, Approve MPS Breakup
Last day of session also passes parental bill of rights, expanded vouchers, replacing Lincoln Hills.
Mar 9th, 2022 by Shawn Johnson
Gableman, Vos Sign New Contract on Election Probe
Judge orders Gableman to release 700 pages of documents from probe.
Mar 9th, 2022 by Shawn Johnson
GOP Lawmakers Far Ahead in Campaign Cash
Four times more money than Democratic legislators going into 2022 year.
Feb 19th, 2022 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
State Approves $96 Million Harbor Cleanup Facility
Part of federally-backed effort to remove "area of concern" designation from Milwaukee's waterways.
Feb 4th, 2022 by Jeramey Jannene
GOP Lawmakers Seek Control of Federal Aid
Proposed constitutional amendment gives Legislature control over spending federal funds.
Feb 3rd, 2022 by Erik Gunn
GOP Lawmakers Try to Strip Evers Power Over Federal Aid
Republican controlled state Senate would change state law to place authority with legislature.
Jan 26th, 2022 by Erik Gunn
Absentee Ballot Boxes Helped Republicans, Too
Many of the 500 drop boxes in state were in districts voting heavily for Trump.
Jan 24th, 2022 by Steven Walters
Johnson Seeks ‘True Partnership’ With State Government
Council president, who could soon become acting mayor, says city’s future depends on this.
Nov 9th, 2021 by Isiah Holmes
Why Foxconn Jilted Wisconsin
Plans electric car plant in Ohio, which offered no state subsidy. Why?
Oct 27th, 2021 by Bruce Murphy
Redistricting Plan Seeks Republicans’ Gain Of Another Congressional Seat
The GOP uses Stevens Point "like a football,” non-partisan group complains.
Oct 25th, 2021 by Laurel White
College Grads Are Leaving Republican Party
While less educated voters ditch the Democratic Party. How is that changing the state?
Sep 22nd, 2021 by Bruce Murphy
Police Union Gets Change in Legislation
Milwaukee union, frequent donor to legislators, gets bill regulating police use of force weakened.
Jun 24th, 2021 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Surplus Leaves Evers, Legislators Even Further Divided
Unprecedented $4.4 billion surplus is huge opportunity. But for what?
Jun 14th, 2021 by Steven Walters
Assembly Leaders Accused of ‘Systemic Racism’
Republicans use racist retaliation, punish free speech, Democratic legislators charge.
Jun 12th, 2021 by Melanie Conklin
GOP Budget Lifts UW Tuition Freeze
Committee votes to end tuition freeze on undergraduate students maintained for 8 years.
May 27th, 2021 by Shawn Johnson
Republicans Gut Housing, Homeless Aid
Finance committee rejects Evers' proposals, legislator calls it “embarrassing.”
May 20th, 2021 by Henry Redman
Dems Object to GOP Slashing State Budget Provisions
Sen. LaTonya Johnson challenges cuts to Black History Museum.
May 14th, 2021 by Erik Gunn
Foxconn Shows Folly of Cheesehead Revolution
Walker, Ryan, Priebus pushed business-friendly policies. The result: an abysmal failure.
May 12th, 2021 by Dan Shafer
Are State’s Schools Rolling In Dough?
Republican legislators think Milwaukee Public Schools getting away with something.
Apr 28th, 2021 by Ruth Conniff
Republicans Miffed By MPS Pandemic Aid
MPS gets 16 times more per pupil than Wauwatosa schools under federal formula awarding more to low-income students.
Apr 12th, 2021 by Steven Walters
Legislators Pass Bill Blocking Vaccine Mandates
And giving Legislature oversight over federal stimulus funds. Veto by Evers likely.
Mar 23rd, 2021 by Laurel White and Shawn Johnson
Will State Judges Protect Voting Rights?
Expert at state forum suggests federal courts may be less important as state courts rule on election laws.
Mar 22nd, 2021 by Steven Walters
State Senate Beset by Culture Wars
Rush Limbaugh vs. Black history, LGBT protectors vs GOP objectors, the arguments get ugly.
Mar 17th, 2021 by Melanie Conklin
Where Are Act 10 Players Today?
Governor and three-fourths of legislators engaged in 2011 battle over law crushing public unions have moved on.
Mar 1st, 2021 by Steven Walters
11 Bills Would Change State Voting Laws
One is bipartisan. The others are not.
Feb 25th, 2021 by Laurel White
The Hammer of Student Testing
Republican legislators may use tests as a way to force schools to reopen.
Feb 19th, 2021 by Terry Falk
Why the War on Masks? Gerrymandering
Republicans legislators with safe seats needn’t worry about voter blowback.
Feb 7th, 2021 by Mel Barnes
Republicans End Mask Mandate, Evers Puts It Back In Place
Governor issues new health order after Republicans end his prior one.
Feb 4th, 2021 by Jeramey Jannene
Race and Income and ‘Back to School’
Republicans decry virtual schooling for Black students. But Black families more likely to support it.
Feb 3rd, 2021 by Erik Gunn
Vos ‘Behaving Like a Bully,’ Democrats Charge
After 10 months with no COVID-19 response bill, frustrated Democrats condemn their colleagues.
Jan 27th, 2021 by Erik Gunn and Melanie Conklin
Senate Votes to Kill State Mask Mandate
State Assembly will likely vote on repeal later this week.
Jan 26th, 2021 by Shawn Johnson
Right-Wing vs Left-Wing Lawyers
WILL has more funding, more staff, more Harvard. Can a new liberal law group compete?
Nov 18th, 2020 by Bruce Murphy
Milwaukee Suburbs Key To Controlling Assembly
Dems target suburban districts, Republicans try to gain a veto-proof majority in the Assembly
Sep 17th, 2020 by Shawn Johnson
Election Donors Operate in the Shadows
One third of all state campaign donations, some $12 million, from secretive outside groups.
Sep 15th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Non-Profit Didn’t Report Campaign Spending?
Jobs First Coalition spent $1 million to elect Republican legislators but left it off tax forms, complaint to IRS says.
Sep 8th, 2020 by Erik Gunn
Catholic School Tax Change Would Cost City
Archdiocese seeks legislation whereby schools leased for profit would still be tax exempt.
Feb 18th, 2020 by Jeramey Jannene
GOP Adds More “Tougher On Crime” Legislation
New bills increase penalties for offenses like car theft and reckless driving.
Feb 7th, 2020 by Isiah Holmes
Hot Debate, Limited Action by Senate
Limited bills on homeless, clean water passed, nothing on dark stores tax loophole.
Jan 22nd, 2020 by Erik Gunn
State Republican Lawmakers Oppose Barrett’s Budget
Seven Republicans take aim at proposal to reduce police staffing, but don't mention sales tax request.
Oct 7th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
$44 Million Soldiers Home Project Launched
Huge group of politicians, dignitaries, salute project to redevelop Civil War-era VA complex.
Sep 20th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
Bill Toughens Penalty for Assaulting a Nurse
Advocates note 1 in 4 nurses are assaulted on the job, a “silent epidemic.”
Sep 20th, 2019 by Laurel White
Betsy DeVos Comes to Town
U.S. Education Secretary visits St. Marcus Lutheran School, promotes $5 billion federal plan for private schools.
Sep 17th, 2019 by Corrinne Hess
Line Forming for Sensenbrenner’s Seat
8 Republicans (Vukmir, Nicholson, Fitzgerald, Farrow etc.) considering a run, along with one Democrat.
Sep 6th, 2019 by Laurel White
Bill Expands Minority Teacher Loan Program
Would bring more minority teachers to 20 additional school districts.
Sep 4th, 2019 by Laurel White
Legislators Use Fees to Keep Records Secret
Charging citizens making open records requests means less scrutiny of government.
Sep 3rd, 2019 by Jonathan Anderson
Requiem for the Commons
Mutilated Marcus Center grove is just one of county’s many public spaces threatened by actions leaving citizens out in the cold.
May 15th, 2019 by Virginia Small
Electric Scooters Could Return This Year
Bill working its way through state Legislature to legalize electric scooters.
May 8th, 2019 by Jeramey Jannene
Average UWM Student Debt Rose 194%
New study shows Wisconsin has more students in debt than 44 states. Any solution?
Apr 30th, 2019 by Bruce Murphy
Evers Wants Study of Student Loan Debt
Average grad has $30,000 in debt, state's total student debt is $24 billion.
Apr 17th, 2019 by Danielle Kaeding
$35.8 Million Spent on Legislative Races
New record set: 2018 spending was 27% more than in 2016, double that in 2014.
Mar 6th, 2019 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Secretive Fund Spent $715,480 On Democrats
High Ground Political Fund, connected to Nation Consulting, funded six state senate races.
Feb 1st, 2019 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Tony Evers Faces Tough Choices
With a structural deficit and transportation fund debt, delivering a “people’s budget” won’t be easy.
Dec 13th, 2018 by George Mitchell
Doomsday Headlines on State Budget Are Silly
State revenues are increasing, but spending requests are unrealistic.
Dec 2nd, 2018 by State Rep. Dale Kooyenga
Will Referendums Lead to Legal Pot?
Some legislators hope for change after medical or fully legai pot approved in 18 local referendums.
Nov 16th, 2018 by Edgar Mendez
GOP Legislative Candidates Have 3-1 Edge in Cash
But state’s Democratic legislative candidates raised nearly as much since January.
Oct 23rd, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Liberal Outside Groups Spend Big
More spending for Democrats in five of six key state senate races.
Oct 4th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Democratic Program Recruits Women Candidates
Emerge program’s training give women the confidence to run for office.
Sep 24th, 2018 by Steven Walters
Big Walker Donor Gets $250,000 Grant
Badger Meter donates $26,000 to governor, gets big state grant from WEDC.
Sep 19th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
Foxconn Deal Has Divided the State
Even Republicans disagree about the deal.
Jul 2nd, 2018 by Steven Walters
A State MPS Reform Proposal. Again
Scott Walker joins a list of governors and others who’ve proposed reforms.
May 21st, 2018 by Steven Walters
UW-Oshkosh Criminal Charges a Mistake
Smells of prosecutorial overreach, but shows need for tightening UW System rules.
May 1st, 2018 by John Torinus
Kooyenga and Freedom of Speech
Legislator taking down sign he disagreed with violates a bedrock American principle.
Apr 15th, 2018 by Casey Hoff
Legislators’ Donations Up 40% in 2017
Most of it to Republicans, who have 3.2 times more campaign cash than Democrats.
Mar 16th, 2018 by Wisconsin Democracy Campaign
GOP Legislators Push Harsher Bail Rules
State constitutional amendment opposed by defense lawyers, supported by City of Milwaukee.
Feb 1st, 2018 by Gretchen Schuldt
Republicans Heap Hate On Streetcar
Three different legislative changes to oppose the project; all will have no impact.
Sep 7th, 2017 by Jeramey Jannene
Richard Uihlein, GOP Kingmaker
Should one billionaire dictate the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate?
Aug 17th, 2017 by Bruce Murphy
