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DATCP quarantines two farms with positive CWD samples

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A deer farm in Dane County and an elk farm in Richland County have been quarantined. Those quarantines are due to chronic wasting disease at both facilities.

A release by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, says samples from a whitetail doe and elk cow tested positive for CWD.

The 10-acre Dane County farm has had 20 deer sampled for CWD since 2010. The 20-acre Richland County elk farm has had 25 elk sampled for the disease since 2007.

Wisconsin Democrats convention in Oshkosh this weekend

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It’s going to be an action packed agenda as Wisconsin Democrats convene in Oshkosh Friday night. The delegates will hear from ten candidates for governor. “We’re really excited to have them all in one place, and to be able to hear from them,” said Martha Laning, who chairs the Democratic Party of Wisconsin.

State schools Superintendent Tony Evers; attorney Matt Flynn; businessman Andy Gronik; state firefighters union President Mahlon Mitchell; activist Mike McCabe; former state Representative Kelda Roys; Madison Mayor Paul Soglin; state Senator Kathleen Vinehout; state Representative Dana Wachs, and attorney and activist Josh Pade will all make their cases.

“We have a lot of really great people who are from different backgrounds . . . that are stepping up, and they know that they can do a better job than Scott Walker,” said Laning. There will be a straw poll of delegates in Oshkosh, but the candidate who will face Governor Scott Walker in November will be determined by the August primary.

Governor Walker also noted the start of the convention, tweeting that Democrats are “driven by anger and hatred,” a phrase he’s used repeatedly in recent weeks.

Also speaking tonight, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, who Laning said is “doing a phenomenal job,” and “putting Wisconsin first.” Baldwin faces a tough reelection challenge, either from state Senator Leah Vukmir or businessman Kevin Nicholson.

Candidates turning in signatures on nomination papers

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Candidates for office in Wisconsin are turning in signatures on their nomination papers — and in a few cases, a lot more than required by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Governor Scott Walker’s campaign, for example, arrived at the Elections Board on Wednesday with 12,000 signatures, and

University if Wisconsin political scientist Barry Burden says prospective voters shouldn’t read too much into that. “It doesn’t mean a lot. The thresholds to get on the ballot in Wisconsin are relatively low, compared to other states,” said Burden.

For statewide offices that minimum is 2,000, with a maximum of 4,000. A check with the Elections Board found that the Walker campaign only actually submitted 4,000 signatures, and left with the rest. “It’s just a point of pride with a campaign, to deliver many thousand of signatures,” Burden said.

At least 10 Democrats hoping to run against Walker in November are expected to file by Friday’s deadline.

Abrahamson not running for reelection

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Marking the end of an era on the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice Shirley Abrahamson will not seek reelection. In a statement, the 84-year-old Abrahamson cited “a variety of reasons” for the decision.

Abrahamson has been on the court since 1976, the first woman to serve as a justice. She was Chief Justice from 1996 until 2015. The election to replace her will be next April, and Abrahamson says she’ll “encourage qualified candidates to run.”

Analysis finds legislators received $164,000 in 2017 travel and perks

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State lawmakers received $164,000 in travel and perks from outside groups in 2017. They had meals, lodging, airfare and other costs covered by outside groups, or got payments for speeches or other services, according to analysis by USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Jay Heck with Common Cause in Wisconsin contends the perks — given to members of both parties — come with expectations. “The special interest groups that pay for these trips expect something in return, and I don’t think there’s a citizen in Wisconsin that doesn’t think that’s the case.”

Heck said 30 years ago, paid junkets were almost unheard of. And he says state ethics rules that prohibit lawmakers from accepting “anything of value” need to be tightened up. “They should pay for out-out-state, out-of-country trips just like you and I do . . . . out of their own pocket.”

Barrett won’t run for governor

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The Democratic field of candidates for governor will not grow. The state Democratic convention is this weekend in Oshkosh, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has announced via Facebook that he’s not running for governor.

 

Ten other Democrats are running, the primary is in August. Barrett ran and lost in the 2002 Democratic primary, and lost to Governor Scott Walker in 2010 and in the 2012 recall.

Milwaukee police release Sterling Brown tazering video

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Morales did not take questions.Brown, in a statement on Twitter, said he would take legal action against the Milwaukee Police Department.”Black men shouldn’t have to have their guard up and instantly be on the defensive when seeing a police officer, but it’s our reality and a real problem. There must be mutual respect and both sides have to figure out how to accomplish this,” Brown wrote.The Milwaukee Bucks also issued a statement supporting Brown.

“The abuse and intimidation that Sterling experienced at the hands of Milwaukee Police was shameful and inexcusable. Sterling has our full support as he shares his story and takes action to provide accountability,” the statement read.

Brown was not charged.

 

Johnson’s ‘Right to Try’ bill ready for president’s signature

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“Right to try” legislation authored by U.S. Senator Ron Johnson is expected to become law.  The bill from the Wisconsin Republican makes it possible for terminally ill patients to try experimental drugs.

The House on Tuesday passed the bill, approved by the Senate last year. Johnson touted the vote as a win for patients and families.

But some patient advocacy groups warn it could give patients access to drugs that may end up shortening their lives. President Donald Trump is expected to sign the legislation into law.

Gun policy question gets few responses from Wisconsin House members

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A majority of Wisconsin’s House delegation did not respond, to a newspaper’s question about gun policy. A policy agenda promoted by survivors of the Parkland school shooting in Florida includes five items:

1. Dedicated funding for the CDC to research gun violence
2. Strengthening the ATF’s ability to track and record gun sales
3. Universal background checks for gun purchases
4. A ban on magazines capable of holding more than 10 rounds of ammunition
5. A ban on assault weapons, including a registration or buyback program for these weapons already in circulation

Before last week’s school shooting near Houston, The Washington Post contacted the office of every U.S. representative to gauge their support or opposition to the proposals. Five of Wisconsin’s House members, Republicans Sean Duffy, Mike Gallagher, Glenn Grothman and Jim Sensenbrenner, and Democrat Ron Kind did not respond. Republican Paul Ryan said no. Democrats Gwen Moore and Mark Pocan said yes.

‘Click It or Ticket’ underway in Wisconsin

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The annual “Click it or Ticket” effort is underway on Wisconsin highways. David Pabst, Director of the state DOT’s Bureau of Transportation Safety, said the ten percent of people who still don’t “buckle up” accounts for nearly half of driver and passenger traffic fatalities.

“We’ve done a good job, we’re at ninety percent usage rate,” Pabst said. “It’s just so important that last ten percent starts to buckle up.” Hence the annual stepped-up enforcement effort, for one week on either side of the Memorial Day holiday weekend.

“We don’t want to write more tickets, we just want voluntary compliance,” Pabst said. “That’s the simplest thing to do, just buckle up so you don’t get that ticket.”

Law enforcement agencies throughout the state team up for the annual safety belt enforcement campaign