Wisconsin News & Current Events | Public News Service

Roughly 50% of small-business owners in the United States offer health insurance, but some worry about being able to keep it if costs continue to rise. (Adobe Stock)

Friday, September 23, 2022

Health-Care Subsidy Extension a Relief for WI Small Businesses

Average Affordable Care Act premiums in Wisconsin would have been 56% higher this year without temporary subsidies from the federal government…

This year, more than 70% of attempts to restrict library resources targeted multiple titles. (Adobe Stock)

Banned Books Week Observed in Wisconsin Libraries

Controversial books are nothing new, but the incidence of book challenges and bans has increased substantially in recent years. This week marks the …

Children ages 5 to 17 miss nearly two million school days in a single year due to dental-health problems, according to the Healthy Schools Campaign. (teeth.org.au)

Health Screenings Seen as Important Factor for Student Success

School students across Wisconsin are still getting settled as the new academic year unfolds. And experts say it's important to get them in for a …

Milwaukee's city budget process typically begins in late winter or early spring, and then wraps up with a final vote in early November. (Adobe Stock)

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

The budget process for Wisconsin's largest city is ramping up, and there are concerns residents in underserved areas will not receive as much …

Concerning levels of PFAS have been discovered in the environment, water and wildlife of the Great Lakes region. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Makes 'Forever Chemicals' a Priority With Latest Action

The federal government is taking new steps to protect people in Wisconsin and other states from "forever chemicals." PFOA and PFOS are two types of p…

Supporters of managed grazing say grass-based farms and ranches are an important strategy for introducing new farmers and ranchers to livestock, because they're better for an operation's bottom line. (Adobe Stock)

WI Farmers to Get New Support for 'Managed Grazing'

Managed grazing is one of several ways farmers can implement climate-friendly practices, and after a lengthy absence, a key source of federal aid has …

There are an estimated 700,000 federal student loan borrowers in Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Student Debt Forgiveness: WI Borrowers Urged to Monitor Taxes, Scams

In the coming weeks, applications could become available for student loan forgiveness under the new Biden administration plan. In states like …

Last year, Congress passed a $1.2 trillion infrastructure package. Smaller, rural communities want to be sure they aren't forgotten as those funds are allocated. They're hopeful an economic development provision in the CHIPS Act will even things out. (Adobe Stock)

Pilot Program Within CHIPS Act Could Help with Rural WI Development

A program approved by Congress aims to give rural communities a leg up when applying for federal dollars. Municipal leaders in Wisconsin say this …

Latino workers are getting training in green-energy job skills through a pilot program, but some face roadblocks trying to balance a new career path with maintaining two or three other jobs to support themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Program Works to Bring 'Green' Construction Jobs to Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Latino community has been inundated with job opportunities in the "green" economy thanks to a new pilot program. Elevate, a climate-…

Also included in the Inflation Reduction Act is an extension of expanded subsidies in the American Rescue Plan that help bring down costs of ACA insurance plans. These subsidies are seen as important to those ages 50 to 64, who pay up to three times more for their insurance. (Adobe Stock)

IRA Passage: Older Wisconsinites to See Prescription Drug Cost Relief

Sweeping legislation approved by Congress is designed to address a range of issues, including climate change and deficit reductions. Other components …

Mental health providers have reported a sharp rise in needs for services among children. And in states such as Wisconsin, analysts say it is even more pronounced among children of color. (Adobe Stock)

WI Child Well-Being Summary: Glaring Mental-Health Disparities

An annual summary ranks Wisconsin 10th in the nation for child well-being, and like many other parts of the country, mental health is a growing …

In addition to crumbling roads in rural areas, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation rates 980 bridges across the state as structurally deficient. (Adobe Stock)

In Rural WI, Local Economies Slip Through Crumbling Roads

By Julian Emerson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder C…

Wisconsin's new public information campaign about how elections work will launch in September, and run through October, concluding around the November election. (Adobe Stock)

WI Public Information Campaign to Teach Folks about Elections

In the next few months, the Wisconsin Elections Commission will roll out a new public information campaign aimed at teaching voters more about how …

According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, roughly one in five abortions performed in Illinois in 2020 was for a patient from out-of-state. (Adobe Stock)

Two Planned Parenthood Groups Collaborate to Ensure WI Abortion Access

Planned Parenthood of Illinois and Wisconsin are partnering to improve abortion access for Wisconsinites. Abortion in Wisconsin was functionally …

In a 4-3 ruling on July 8, the Wisconsin Supreme Court outlawed absentee-ballot drop boxes. (Adobe Stock)

WI Election Officials Reject New Absentee-Voting Rules

Wisconsin's election officials are trying to determine how a recent ruling from the Wisconsin Supreme Court outlawing absentee-ballot drop boxes will …

According to the Brennan Center for Justice, at least three Supreme Court justices already have endorsed the Independent State Legislature theory. (Adobe Stock)

Expert: Supreme Court Case Could Impact Wisconsin Elections Commission

In its next session, the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh a congressional gerrymandering case from North Carolina, and the court's ruling could have a …

According to the Wisconsin DNR, nearly 130,000 hunters applied for black-bear hunting licenses in 2021. (Adobe Stock)

WI Wildlife Advocate: Bear Hounding, Baiting Unethical

Over the next several weeks, Wisconsin's bear hunters will be training their hounds on free-roaming black bears in preparation for this fall's bear-…

Wisconsin's first abortion ban was passed in 1849, the year after it was granted statehood. (Adobe Stock)

WI Governor, AG Launch Lawsuit Against 1849 Abortion Ban

Wisconsin's 173-year-old abortion ban faces a legal test, as the state's Democratic leaders announced Tuesday they are suing to overturn it. The …

According to the Audubon Society, 34 states have passed measures regulating lead ammunition since the early 1990s. (Adobe Stock)

Wildlife Rehabilitator: Lead Ammo Poses Risks for WI Wildlife

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it is considering a ban on lead ammunition on several national wildlife refuges, a move some wildlife …

A recent Marquette University Law School poll finds 61% of Wisconsinites support access to abortion in

With Roe's Potential End, WI Faces Tangled Web of Abortion Laws

By Phoebe Petrovic for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Serv…

According to the Annie E. Casey Foundation, about 22,500 juveniles were arrested in Wisconsin in 2020, the lowest number in at least ten years. (Adobe Stock)

Report Debunks Claims of Increase in Juvenile Crime Rates

From Fox News to The New York Times, media coverage over the past few years has sounded the alarm about a purported increase in violent crime among …

The group Everytown for Gun Safety describes the gun-safety laws passed so far by Wisconsin lawmakers as

WI Protests to Push for Stronger Gun-Safety Laws

Just weeks after a mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, left 19 students and two teachers dead, Wisconsinites across the state will protest this weekend …

Gov. Tony Evers was one of 17 governors who last month issued a joint letter to Congress urging it to pass the Women's Health Protection Act. The measure would guarantee abortion access at the federal level. (Adobe Stock)

WI Governor Calls Special Session to Attempt Repeal of 1849 Abortion Ban

Gov. Tony Evers is calling the Legislature back to Madison this month to vote on repealing the state's 1849 abortion ban. The move comes as the U.S…

The Center for Tech and Civic Life distributed about $8.8 million in election administration funding to Wisconsin's five largest cities: Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine. (Adobe Stock)

WI Judge: Madison's Acceptance of Private Election Funding Legal

A Dane County judge has ruled the city of Madison did not violate election laws when it accepted a nearly $1.3 million election administration grant f…

A January ruling from the Waukesha County Circuit Court held nearly all ballot drop boxes are illegal, with a narrow carve-out for boxes at clerks's offices and in other specific scenarios. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Call on WI Supreme Court to 'Unlock the Drop Boxes'

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will soon hand down a decision on whether absentee ballot drop boxes are permitted under state law. Ahead of that …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin had 64,400 farms in 2020, down 500 from 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Help is Available for WI Farmers Facing Mental-Health Challenges

From inflation to climate change, Wisconsin farmers face numerous sources of stress that can't help but affect their health. And one program is …

According to city documents, Madison's new electric bus fleet will cost about $70 million. In its 2022 budget, the city set aside roughly $26 million in local funding for the project. (Jonah Chester)

WI Communities Prepare to Receive Federal Infrastructure Funding

Six months ago this week, President Joe Biden signed the bipartisan infrastructure law, and Wisconsin's towns and cities are planning how best to …

The planned reroute of Line 5 around the Bad River reservation will cost Enbridge, Inc. about $450 million, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (Adobe Stock)

WI Tribal Advocates: Pipeline Threatens Agricultural Traditions

Enbridge is seeking to reroute a portion of its Line 5 around the Bad River Band's territory in northern Wisconsin. The rerouting falls within the …

Thursday's march fell on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, who is widely considered to be the founder of modern nursing. (Adobe Stock)

WI Nurses Rally for Fairer Wages, Safe Staffing Ratios

Nurses from across Wisconsin converged on the state Capitol building Thursday, as part of a rally demanding fairer wages and safer staffing ratios as …

In an April 2021 Pew Research Center poll, more than 40% of parents said they thought their child was

Education Leaders, Kids' Health Advocates Want Social-Media Reform

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and some education leaders and medical experts are urging parents to take a more active role in monitoring …

The Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line is a nearly $500 million project. (Adobe Stock)

Environmental Groups Raise Concerns Over Cardinal-Hickory Creek Line

Earlier this year, a federal court struck down plans to drive the Cardinal-Hickory Creek power line through the Upper Mississippi River National …

An abortion ban was enacted in 1849 in Wisconsin, the year after it was granted statehood. (Adobe Stock)

WI Law Would Criminalize Abortions if SCOTUS Overturns Roe v. Wade

Wisconsin has a 173-year-old abortion ban that hasn't been enforced in decades. But if the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the decision in Roe v…

Report: Many WI Renters Struggle to Meet Housing Costs

Despite two years of government initiatives designed to provide financial aid and support to housing insecure residents, Wisconsin is still facing a …

According to the Department of Justice, drugs should never be flushed or poured down the drain, as they can contaminate rivers and lakes. (Adobe Stock)

Drug Take Back Day Offers Safe Path for Prescription Disposal

Saturday is National Drug Take Back Day, and there will be more than 135 events across Wisconsin where folks can dispose of both controlled and …

A Marquette University Law School poll finds that those who expressed the greatest doubt about the accuracy of the November 2020 election are also the most excited to cast a ballot this year. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Strong Majority of WI Voters Confident in Spring Election Accuracy

The debate over election integrity has been at the center of the battle for the ballot in Wisconsin since 2020. But new polling of Wisconsin voters …

The Office of Environmental Justice was one of dozens of recommendations made by the Governor's Task Force on Climate Change, a group Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers established in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Evers Touts New WI Office of Environmental Justice

Wisconsin has a new Office of Environmental Justice, which is tasked with centering equity and fairness as the state proceeds with a new clean-energy …

The Biden administration has set a goal of achieving a fifty percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 2030. (Adobe Stock)

Elected Officials to Feds: Accelerate Clean Energy Transition

As folks across America celebrate Earth Day, nearly 500 lawmakers have signed a petition calling on the President and Congress to develop a Climate …

Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, said the hearing falling on

WI GOP, Dem Lawmakers Split on Path to Marijuana Legalization

Yesterday, April 20, was an unofficial holiday for marijuana enthusiasts across the country, and here in Wisconsin, lawmakers marked the day by …

The Wisconsin Supreme Court's decision to select GOP-drawn voting maps come as political candidates begin picking up signatures to get on the ballot for the August primary. (Adobe Stock)

WI Proceeds with GOP Redistricting Plan

Wisconsin is pushing ahead with a Republican-drawn legislative redistricting plan, after a ruling Friday by the state Supreme Court held the GOP maps …

A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum finds Wisconsin spends about $541 per undergraduate student in financial aid, nearly half the national average of $980. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Financial Aid Lags Cost of Higher Ed for WI Students

Wisconsin offers dozens of financial aid programs for students looking to attend college, but a new report finds funding for those programs has …

An analysis by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found there were more than 500 absentee ballot drop boxes available to Wisconsin voters during the November 2020 election. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court Weighs Future of Ballot Drop Boxes, Absentee Mail Voting

After a lower court held they were not a valid way to cast a vote, Wisconsin's Supreme Court on Wednesday considered whether absentee ballot drop …

Doctors, judges, juries and law enforcement have rejected a dozen child abuse diagnoses made by former University of Wisconsin pediatrician Dr. Barbara Knox, a joint investigation by Wisconsin Watch and the Anchorage Daily News revealed. (Claire DeRosa/Wisconsin Watch and University of Wisconsin)

Investigation Reveals Numerous Wrongful Child-Abuse Allegations by WI Expert

By Brenda Wintrode for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Jonah Chester for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public News Serv…

According to a report from the University of California at Berkeley, 168,000 people are employed in Wisconsin's construction industry. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Wage Theft, Payroll Fraud Hurting WI Construction Workers

A new report finds declining wages in the construction industry, fueled by wage theft and payroll fraud, are pushing more construction workers into …

This week, Michael Gableman, the leader of Wisconsin's partisan election investigation, was among those invited to an event at former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. (Adobe Stock)

WI Assembly Speaker Turns Over Emails to Independent Watchdog Group

After a court order, Wisconsin State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has handed over more than 10,000 emails related to the partisan review of the state's …

Per Wisconsin Department of Corrections data, as of June 2021, about one-fifth of the people on community supervision in Wisconsin live in and around Milwaukee. (Adobe Stock)

WI Groups Push for Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated

Wisconsin's spring election is next week, but thousands of residents will be barred from casting their ballots. Wisconsin does not allow anyone …

The U.S. Supreme Court's decision will not affect who's on the ballot or how folks cast their vote in next week's spring election. (Adobe Stock)

WI Advocates: SCOTUS Decision to Have Major Impact on Black Communities

The U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Wisconsin's legislative redistricting plan, a move advocates said will have long-lasting impacts for the …

According to AARP Wisconsin, prescription drug prices have outpaced inflation in recent years. (Adobe Stock)

Petition Pushes Congress to Lower Prescription Drug Prices

More than 126,000 Wisconsinites have signed an AARP petition urging Congress to lower prescription drug prices. According to GoodRx, an American …

Wednesday's press conference commemorating the 12th anniversary of the Affordable Care Act was hosted by Opportunity Wisconsin, Protect Our Care Wisconsin, the Committee to Protect Health Care and For Our Future Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

On 12-Year Anniversary of ACA, Wisconsinites Discuss its Impacts

Wednesday marked the twelve-year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which currently extends health insurance coverage to roughly 224,000 …

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