Wisconsin News and Sports
The State Supreme Court has ordered a group of Walker appointees to go back to work for state agencies and commissions.
In a 4-3 decision on Tuesday, the court’s conservative justices said that a Dane County judge should have stayed the section of his ruling that allowed Governor Evers to fire those appointees and put his own people before up for nominations.
The Court did not rule on the underlying cases against the lame duck sessions. Those cases are set for oral arguments in May.
A private prison company is rethinking its plans to build a immigrant detention center in Wisconsin after two attempts fell through.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Virginia-based Immigration Centers of America attempted to build private prisons in both New Richmond and Baldwin.
New Richmond city staff recommended against the zoning for a prison, and the Baldwin location was scrapped when infrastructure couldn’t be put into place. Protests against both plans was fierce, with both the ACLU and Voces de la Frontera calling the practice of jailing asylum seekers inhumane.
Congressman Ron Kind says the Mueller report continues to raise questions as congressional oversight committees start their own investigations.
He says the report is clear in its statements that Russian agents did their best to conspire with the White House to get President Trump elected.
“I mean there were over 137 contacts between Trump campaign people with Russian agents. And just because it didn’t rise to a level of criminal conspiracy should nonetheless worry all of us. And it should worry the White House too.”
He also says President Trump needs to take Russian interference in the elections more seriously. “He and all of us in Congress take a Constitutional oath to defend our country against enemies, foreign and domestic. And right now he’s refusing to live up to that responsibility to protect us from another foreign attack in our election system.”
Kind wants to see a full, unredacted version of the Report soon.
State Democrats are continuing their efforts towards various levels of marijuana legalization.
A new report from the UW Public Affairs center says Wisconsin could stand to see a windfall through marijuana legalization.
State representative David Bowen says the report shows that legalization would generate over 200 million dollars a year in benefits and revenue for the state.
“That would benefit the state of Wisconsin, benefits residents and taxpayers that are looking for more revenue to be there to take care of important services, but also to have some savings as well on top of that $1.1 billion.”
Bowen says it would also reduce costs on policing and jailing users. “It’s a benefit for our state coffers, it’s a benefit for a more just criminal justice system that can be more efficient as well.”
Legalization of medical marijuana is also part of Governor Evers’ budget. The Marquette Law School Poll showed that 83 percent of residents support medical marijuana.
Republican leaders in both the Senate and the Assembly remain opposed to the issue.
Wisconsin’s Republican senator is defending President Trump after he called former members of the FBI ‘scum’ at Saturday night’s rally in Green Bay.
On NBC’s Meet the Press, Senator Ron Johnson says he understands the president’s frustration at the Mueller investigation.
“I would use different words, but I certainly question the possibility, now that I think there’s a proven fact there was definitely corruption at the highest levels of the FBI, and that’s one thing that Senator Graham, Senator Grassley and myself, are going to try and uncover now that the Mueller investigation is over.”
Johnson says the firing of acting FBI director Andrew McCabe over allegations that he leaked information to the press shows there’s been an effort at the FBI to sabotage the President.
Johnson also says the Obama Administration told him not to worry about Russians hacking the vote totals.
“‘We have this covered. We want you to go out as members of Congress and say the election results will be legitimate.’ That’s what they wanted us to say, but then the wrong person got elected.”
Johnson says there’s no evidence that Russian agents actually changed vote totals in the 2016 election. He says that social media was influenced, but that’s much harder to police.
Weather forecasters say it’s possible — not likely — that the area of southern Wisconsin around Madison could receive three-to-eight inches of snow Saturday.
Forecast models suggest a 75 percent chance of at least two inches of snow.
Meteorologists say April 27th would be the latest date for significant snowfall in southern Wisconsin in the last five years. Madison got a little over seven inches of snow on April 18th last year, but Saturday will be nine days after that calendar date.
Winter Storm Warnings are now in effect through Saturday evening.
Young people looking to start a job this summer should be careful not to get caught by a scammy job offer.
State consumer protection Administrator Lara Sutherlin says that includes multi level marketing operations and fly by night ‘work from home’ jobs that want you to pay them money for supplies and training.
“Any time someone is asking you to pay them money to work for them, that should send up a red flag.”
Sutherlin says it’s also best to trust reputable businesses, and not fire off applications to places you’ve never heard of before. “You shouldn’t put any personal data information into an online application until you’re sure that it is an accurate and valid business.”
If you’re unsure about a business, do some research online before submitting information. The state also has a massive database of available jobs online at the Job Center of Wisconsin.
Protester guidelines have been released prior to President Donald Trump’s Saturday night visit to Ashwaubenon.
A designated protester area has been created on the south side of Armed Forces Drive, along the Don Hutson Center.
Ashwaubenon police say that they understand individuals and groups have a right to assemble and peacefully protest under the First Amendment, but they do ask those individuals and groups to do so peacefully.
Officers say that everyone and everything will be screened prior to entering the venue and they recommend anyone attending the rally should refrain from bringing large purses or backpacks.
Authorities will not be releasing the motorcade route to the public and more road closures should be expected during the president’s arrival and departure.
President Trump is expected to take the stage at 7 p.m. and doors to the Resch Center will open at 4 p.m.
WTAQ
Wisconsin based Culver’s got caught in the intersection of humor and the political season on Thursday, thanks to The Onion.
A phony editorial was posted to the satirical website on Thursday. In it, Culver’s CEO Craig Culver says he’ll crush the political career of any presidential candidate who doesn’t come to a Culver’s and get their picture taken. “With nearly 700 locations in 24 states, Culver’s makes kings, and it can crush them too.”
In a press release, the company says they’re happy that The Onion wants to share their passion for Butter Burgers and frozen custard.
The Onion was formerly based in Madison, and has a history of continuing to poke fun of Wisconsin tradtions.
A state legislator is pushing to put the state’s share of the Powerball winnings to road funding.
That tax windfall is 36 and a half million dollars, and state senator Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee) says cities and counties have projects that are ready to go, if they only had the funding.
“The state should go ahead and send it back to local units of government, because I know there’s a backlog of projects that need to be done.”)
Carpenter says sending lottery funds to the municipalities would mean some relief, even if it can’t fix all the problems.
“I would leave it at their discretion to go ahead and take care of their top projects, the biggest headaches out there.”)
He says that’s money that politicians can use, rather than arguing about where it came from.
