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Evers asks Parole Commission to rescind release of convicted killer Douglas Balsewicz

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Governor Tony Evers is stepping in, to halt the release of a convicted killer. In a Friday letter to Wisconsin Parole Commission Chair John Tate, Evers asks for immediate reconsideration of next week’s scheduled release of Douglas Balsewicz.

The letter follows a meeting Evers had with the family of Johanna Balsewicz. Douglas Balsewicz was convicted in 1997 of stabbing his wife to death in front of their two young children.

“I had the opportunity to speak directly with them and heard firsthand about the weight of the grief, trauma, and anxiety they carry every day,” Evers wrote. “I also heard about their concerns throughout this recent parole process, including a lack of transparency, accountability, and notification, causing more trauma and pain for Johanna’s family.”

Douglas Balsewicz was sentenced to 80 years in prison, and the presiding judge told the parole commission at the time that the case was not appropriate for early release. Johanna’s family has been outraged by the decision to release Balsewicz after only 25 years.

 

Nurses group critical of Evers’ veto

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The organization representing Wisconsin nurses is not happy about a veto from Governor Tony Evers. The bill created a separate license for nurse practitioners and other nurses with advanced training. Several physicians groups were opposed.

“I guess what it says is, organized medicine does not want us here in Wisconsin. They do not want us to be able to practice, and take care of patients independently. And I think that’s a very sad state of affairs,” Wisconsin Nurses Association CEO Gina Dennik-Champion said during a Thursday press conference at the Capitol.

Rebecca Gilbertson is a family nurse practitioner and operates a family care clinic in Medford. “I am very disappointed with the governor’s veto, as this does perpetuate physicians groups maintaining power and control over my nursing practice,” Gilbertson said.

Nurses were joined at the Capitol by the legislation’s Senate author, Senator Pat Testin (R-Stevens Point).

“This bill is not going away.” Testin said. “It will come back next session in some form or fashion. And I am hopeful that there will be an administration that will sign this bill into law.”

About 8,000 Wisconsin nurses have advanced degrees.

Tiffany lone ‘nay’ from Wisconsin delegation as House approves more Ukraine aid

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All but one member of Wisconsin’s U.S. House delegation voted for an additional $40 billion in U.S. aid to Ukraine.

In a press release following Tuesday’s vote, Seventh District Republican Tom Tiffany said that while he has condemned Russia’s invasion, he couldn’t support the additional money “when working-class Americans are struggling to find baby formula at their local grocery store and their paychecks are being wiped out by record gas prices and the worst inflation in 40 years.”

Third District Democrat Ron Kind said the supplemental aid package will provide Ukraine the resources it needs to defend itself, as well as delivering humanitarian aid.

The House vote was 368-to-57 and the Senate is expected to approve the funding as well. Congress has already provided just over $13.5 billion in aid to Ukraine this year. The supplemental funding will push that total over $50 billion.

Baldwin: end the filibuster to protect abortion rights

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With the Supreme Court’s conservative majority set to overturn Roe versus Wade, the U.S. Senate will vote this week to protect abortion rights. Wisconsin Democrat Tammy Baldwin notes the vote is likely to fall short, and says Democrats should do more.

“I don’t know that we could get 60 votes, as would be required in the United States Senate, so we would to look at abolishing the filibuster,” she said, insisting that ending the filibuster is achievable .

“The Democrats, if all of us stick together, could do that. And it’s also possible that one or two Republicans might join us.”

Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that Wednesday’s vote to codify abortion rights is about putting Senators on the record. He’s given no indication there will be action on the filibuster.

The Women’s Health Protection Act on which Baldwin is a co-author passed the House of Representatives last September but has not yet passed the Senate.

Republicans in congress are focused on the leaked draft opinion that indicated the court’s conservative majority’s intent to overturn Roe.  “It’s really revealing to me that so many of my Republican colleagues in the Senate chose to criticize the leak, and didn’t really give any attention to the subject matter of the opinion,” Baldwin said.

If Roe is overturned, state legislatures would have control over regulating women’s reproductive choices. Wisconsin’s Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson said Friday that he’s comfortable with that, but told reporters he didn’t think Wisconsin’s 19th century abortion law ”will stand for long.”

The law, which prohibits abortion in nearly all cases, would be enforceable once Roe is overturned. Johnson said he thinks “the democratic process in Wisconsin will have something other than the 1849 law.” Republicans who control both chambers of the legislature have not given any indications on altering the law.

 

Arson attack on Madison pro-life group condemned by Evers

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Governor Tony Evers has a message regarding the weekend arson at to the Madison office of Wisconsin Family Action, apparently by someone angry about the Supreme Court moving to overturn Roe versus Wade

“They should be arrested and put in trial. This is unacceptable.”

Evers commented on Monday, at the same time local and federal law enforcement held a press conference. Madison police said two Molotov cocktails thrown into the office Sunday morning did not ignite, and a separate fire was started. There was also graffiti spray painted outside the building.

“If you’re thinking about doing something like that, I would recommend that you not, it doesn’t look good for your cause. It doesn’t look good for our community,” Chief of Police Shon Barnes said.

“The resolve around that is not violence, is not going to be solved by violence,” Evers said. “So the message is bad, bad mistake. You should be arrested and put in jail.”

Rebecca Kleefisch, one of the Republican candidates running to oppose Evers, also condemned the attack. “I condemn the disgusting and evil attack on Wisconsin Family Action, which is the good guy,” Kleefisch said on WSAU radio.

 

 

Event at Capitol raises awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls

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Across the U.S. and Canada on Thursday, commemorations took place for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Woman and Girls.

Rachel Fernandez, a member of the Menominee Nation and Wisconsin Women’s Council, helped to organize an event in Madison, with a focus on families and survivors. “Where their stories are coming from, what is happening to them, the aftereffects. There are so many things that are interconnected here,” Fernandez explained. “Our loss, our invisibleness in media.”

Native women and girls face disproportionate rates of violence. In Wisconsin, Attorney General Josh Kaul has formed a task force to examine the issue.

Thursday’s event took place at the Wisconsin state Capitol – Fernandez said that location was intentional. “This is how systems work. We’re in the western colonized world, and we have to walk in these two worlds. So this is how we’re going to push more for our voices to be heard.”

Fernandez said there’s room for allies to help address the issue. “I ask all the non-Native allies, can you please stand with us, be with us. Don’t take our space but be with us. Uplift, share what we’re doing, donate to the organizations that are doing the work, and just stand with us, not in front of us.”

 

Evers leads Dem governors coalition demanding action on Women’s Health Protection Act

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers is leading a coalition of Democratic governors demanding action to protect abortion rights.

A leaked U.S. Supreme Court draft opinion signals a willingness by the court’s conservative majority to overturn Roe versus Wade. In a joint letter to congressional leaders, the governors are calling for immediate passage of the Women’s Health Protection Act, to protect access to abortion, and for any additional or necessary steps to codify protections under Roe.

The Women’s Health Protection Act passed the House of Representatives last September but has not yet passed the Senate. Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that a vote to protect abortion rights will take place next week.

One million dollars bond set for juvenile suspect in Lily Peters homicide

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From Chippewa Falls PD

Horrific details emerged as the suspect in the murder of 10-year-old Iliana “Lily” Peters of Chippewa Falls made an initial court appearance.

District Attorney Wade Newell described the assault in Chippewa County Court on Wednesday.

The suspect “punched the victim in the stomach, knocked her to the ground, essentially strangled her with a stick, essentially strangling her to the point of death before he sexually assaulted her.” According to the DA, the juvenile also told police “that his intention was to rape and kill the victim from the get go.”

Judge James Lane approved a one million dollar cash bond for the 14-year-old suspect. The next court hearing in the case is scheduled for May 5.

The juvenile is charged in adult court with first-degree intentional homicide and sexual assault of a child.

Newell said Lily and the suspect are related but did not provide details. He said they left Lily’s aunt’s house together on Sunday. Her father reported her missing that night, and Lily’s body was found Monday.

Michels enters race for governor, La Follette gets Dem primary challenger

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Another Republican enters the race for Wisconsin governor. Wealthy Waukesha pipeline construction executive Tim Michels filed paperwork on Friday.

He’ll join former lieutenant governor Rebecca Kleefisch, consultant and Marine veteran Kevin Nicholson and state Representative Tim Ramthun in the August Republican primary. The winner will advance to oppose incumbent Democrat, Governor Tony Evers.

Michels’ sole previous electoral experience was a 2004 loss to then U.S. Senator Russ Feingold.

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette will have a primary opponent in August. Democratic Party of Dane County Chair Alexia Sabor announced her candidacy on Friday.

La Follette announced last month that he’ll seek a 12th term for the office, which has had its responsibilities gradually reduced over the decades. He won a primary challenge from another Dane County Democrat, Madison Common Council member Arvina Martin, in 2018.

Four Republicans are also running, including state Representative Amy Loudenbeck.

For Earth Day ‘No Mow May’ is taking root in Wisconsin

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The No Mow May movement continues to take root in Wisconsin communities. Ashland residents are being encouraged not to mow their yards in May to help feed early-arriving bugs and birds. City council members voted this week to suspend enforcement of mowing ordinances until June 3.

Allowing grass to grow in spring creates habitat and forage such as dandelion and clover blooms for early-season pollinators. Two years ago, Appleton became the first city in the U.S. to adopt No Mow May. Other cities that have embraced the voluntary program include Wausau, La Crosse, Fort Atkinson and Stevens Point.

“We have a strong conservation ethic here in Stevens Point,” said Mayor Mike Wiza. “We have constructed pollinator gardens around the community and have worked to allow honey bees to be kept in the city. “No Mow May” is just one more way people who choose to help can do so.”

Insects play a critical role in local ecosystems, pollination and food production, but a new study warns that extreme land use combined with warming temperatures are pushing insect ecosystems toward collapse in some parts of the world.