by Andrew Beckett | Feb 28, 2018
Governor Scott Walker is coming our firmly against allowing teachers to carry guns in schools. While several Republicans, including Attorney General Brad Schimel, have come out in support of the idea in the wake of a school shooting in Florida last month that killed...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 28, 2018
Officials with the Wisconsin Elections Commission are disputing a national media report that the state’s election systems were among those compromised by Russians ahead of the 2016 elections. NBC reported Tuesday that Wisconsin was one of seven states that had...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 27, 2018
A Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate is challenging his primary opponent to six debates this spring. Marine Corps veteran Kevin Nicholson is asking state Senator Leah Vukmir to meet with him in debates in six cities over the next two months. Nicholson, a...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 27, 2018
The state’s top election official says he will no longer pursue efforts to keep his job. In a letter sent to members of the panel Monday, Wisconsin Elections Commission interim administrator Mike Haas said he plans to leave the agency to pursue other opportunities,...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 26, 2018
A national Democratic group has filed a lawsuit challenging Governor Scott Walker’s decision to leave two legislative seats empty until the November election. The vacancies in the 1st Senate District and 42nd Assembly District were created after the Republicans...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 26, 2018
The annual sturgeon spearing season on Lake Winnebago has come to a close. The season ran the full 16 days with spearers only taking 654 sturgeon from the big lake. That’s about 30 to 35 percent of the adult female harvest cap, according to DNR sturgeon...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 23, 2018
Kimberly-Clark would be able to take advantage of new tax incentives if it keeps two of its Wisconsin plants open, under a bill approved by the Assembly Thursday night. The proposal would offer the company benefits similar to those used to lure Foxconn to the state...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 22, 2018
The state Assembly has passed a bill that would make it easier to revoke the release of anyone on extended supervision, parole, or probation if they are charged with a crime – adding in language that would also fund new prosecutors and construction of a new prison....
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 22, 2018
The state Assembly has approved a bill that would give parents a tax rebate and offer a limited sales tax holiday. The proposal would give parents a $100 per child tax rebate and offer a sales tax holiday in early August for purchases of up to $100. Republican state...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 22, 2018
The state Assembly has kicked-off what could be its final session day of the year. Lawmakers are expected to take up dozens of bills, during a floor period that’s expected to stretch in to early Friday morning. Among the bills being taken up are a proposed $100 per...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 21, 2018
The state Assembly has passed legislation that would overhaul the state’s juvenile corrections system. The bill approved unanimously on Wednesday would close the state’s troubled Lincoln Hills youth prison by 2021, moving offenders to new state or...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 21, 2018
Several Wisconsin counties could see new prosecutors added to their District Attorney’s office. A proposal from state Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) and other Republicans would add about 54 new assistant district attorney positions in 40 counties by...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 21, 2018
Assembly Democrats unsuccessfully pushed for a vote Tuesday on legislation that would have required background checks on all gun purchases in Wisconsin. The effort got bogged down in a nearly four-hour procedural debate, after Republicans amended the bill to remove...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 20, 2018
April’s state Supreme Court race will be between Sauk County Judge Michael Screnock and Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet, after the two advanced out of a three-way primary Tuesday. Madison attorney Tim Burns, whose campaign focused heavily on his Democratic...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 20, 2018
Despite some bad weather in parts of the state, voting in today’s Supreme Court primary is expected to go on as planned. Outside of the governor postponing the election, Reid Magney with the Wisconsin Elections Commission says polling locations around the state...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 19, 2018
A Republican state lawmaker wants to allow concealed carry permit holders to have a guns with them in private schools. The bill from state Representative Jesse Kremer of Kewaskum comes just days after a shooting at a Florida high school that killed 17 people. The...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 19, 2018
Voters will head to the polls on Tuesday to decide which of the three candidates for the high court will advance to the spring election in April. If history is any guide, turnout at the polls could be relatively low. Milwaukee County Judge Rebecca Dallet, Sauk County...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 16, 2018
A state Senate committee will not vote on legislation creating an ‘alcohol czar’ to oversee state liquor laws – at least for the time being. Lawmakers held a lengthy hearing on the bill Thursday, during which several craft brewery owners turned out...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 15, 2018
The state Assembly has approved legislation that will allow developers to fill some wetland areas without a permit. The bill would apply to smaller wetland areas that are under state control – primarily those near urban areas that are under an acre in size and under...
by Andrew Beckett | Feb 15, 2018
While the Senate held a public hearing on a bill overhauling the enforcement of liquor laws, the chances of the bill passing in the Assembly remain uncertain. The so-called “alcohol czar” legislation would create a new office to enforce the state’s liquor laws, and...