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Many ATV/UTV fatalities are older operators without training

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There have been 16 deaths of ATV & UTV riders in Wisconsin this year. DNR Off-Highway Vehicle Administrator Lieutenant Jake Holsclaw says many UTV deaths are preventable if riders were the seatbelts the vehicles are equipped with.

In addition, many of those killed were not wearing helmets. Holsclaw says many victims are older adults who did not complete the certified safety course which is required for operators born after 1988. Holsclaw notes alcohol is also a factor in many ATV/UTV fatalities.

DHS seeks input on $15 million JUUL labs settlement

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The Wisconsin Department of Health Services is seeking input on how to allocate millions of dollars from a legal settlement involving vaping. The $15 million is from a multi state settlement with JUUL Labs, a leading maker of vaping devices.

DHS will hold three virtual listening sessions and offer an online survey to get ideas from the public and partners about how to use that money over the next five to nine years to reverse the harm caused by the devices also known as E-cigarettes. Find a schedule of the virtual listening sessions on the DHS website.

F-35 opponents show up at Evers Capitol office

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People opposed to F-35 fighter jets at Madison’s Truax Field were outside Governor Tony Evers Capitol office on Monday morning. Tom Boswell is an organizer with the group Safe Skies Clean Water.

“We have a delegation of people, including some of our local public officials, ready and willing to meet,” Boswell said. “We want him to negotiate with the Air Force.”

“For the last couple of months he’s been constantly saying how he cares about our children. About (how) he cares about their education and he cares about their mental health. And we’re saying the time is now governor to make your actions match your words.”

They’re asking the Air Force to “change the mission of Truax,” where WKOW 27 News reported the group began the day on Monday. The F-35 are scheduled to deploy with the Wisconsin National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing in May, replacing the F-16.

(Photo: US Air Force)

Opponents say the jets will be detrimental to the environment and the mental health of residents around the base, especially kids. “We have 59 schools and daycares within three miles of the base, and everybody knows this is going to be very very harmful for their education and their mental health” said Boswell.

Proponents of F-35 cite benefits to the area’s economy, including jobs at the base. Evers’ office did not respond to a request for comment on Monday. Opponents have said U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin has been similarly unresponsive to their concerns.

Vos taps tax attorney to fill WEC vacancy

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Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has filled a vacancy on the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. Tax attorney Don Millis of Sun Prairie will fill the vacancy caused by last month’s resignation of Republican Commissioner Dean Knudson. Knudson’s abrupt departure delayed a vote on the next WEC chair, who by law must be a Republican commissioner to succeed current chair Anne Jacobs, a Democrat.

There had been speculation that Vos would tap Micheal Gableman, the former state Supreme Court Justice overseeing Vos’ partisan probe into Wisconsin’s 2020 election. While that didn’t happen, Vos’ Wednesday press release included an endorsement from Gableman, who said Mills “ will bring with him both the intellectual firepower and courageous resolve . . . necessary to . . . . help put a stop to the lawless actions of the leftist members of WEC.”

Millis previously served as one of the first members of WEC in 2016, following its’ creation by the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature. The commission is scheduled to meet Friday to select a new chair.

Also Wednesday, Dane County judge Frank Remington called on Gableman to testify in public on Friday. Gableman’s office is being sued for handling of open records requests in the ongoing taxpayer funded review of the 2020 election.

The group American Oversight contends that emails and other documents from the office of special prosecutor should be public record, since Gableman’s review has cost Wisconsin taxpayers almost $900,000.

Gableman’s attorney argued this week that there’s a staff member who’s job it is to testify in legal challenges, and that Gableman’s testimony is unnecessary. Gableman has so far refused to testify, or to turn over the requested records.
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SCOTUS stops Biden administration vaccine mandate for large employers

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The U.S. Supreme Court has halted the Biden administration’s vaccination-or-testing requirement on large employers. Conservative Justices expressed doubt that there’s legal authority for such a broad mandate.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers wasn’t surprised by Thursday’s decision. “We have to make sure that businesses aren’t burdened by this. But going forward, people can still get vaccinated, that’s the easy answer to that,” Evers said.

“Wisconsin businesses can breathe a sigh of relief that the Supreme Court has stayed this unlawful and unworkable mandate,” said Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce President & CEO Kurt R. Bauer. “If enacted, employers would face untold financial costs to comply with this ETS and an unprecedented number of workers would walk off the job in the middle of a historic workforce shortage.”

Wisconsin Health Services Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake says DHS continues to partner with businesses, to combat COVID-19.

“We have had many great partnerships with private sector employers, who have been offering on-site vaccination clinics, who are offering on-site testing, who are making it possible for their employees to take time off when they are sick, and need to be out of the workforce,” she said.

The high court did allow a separate policy to stand, which requires vaccinations for most health-care workers at facilities receiving federal Medicaid and Medicare funding.

 

Packers releasing TE Jace Sternberger

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According to reports, the Green Bay Packers, fresh off their 35-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Monday night, are releasing 2019 third-round draft pick Jace Sternberger.

Sternberger’s two-game suspension ended following the Packers win over the Lions on Monday night and they had until 3 p.m. Tursday afternoon to either add him to the roster or release him by 3 p.m. Tuesday.

The Packers were tired of waiting for Sternberger to show enough progress to warrant his remaining on the roster following the two-game suspension.

Robert Tonyan, Marcedes Lewis, Josiah Deguara and Dominique Dafney all were all higher on the depth chart than Sternberger.

Packers get roster to 53, ready to start the season against the Saints

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The Green Bay Packers trimmed their roster to 52 players on Tuesday and will officially add punter Corey Bojorquez to bring the roster to 53-players on Wednesday.  The Packers used a fifth round draft pick on J.K. Scott in 2019 but his inconsistency cost him his job.  The Packers sent a sixth round pick to the Rams for Bojorquez and get a 2023 7th round pick in return.

The Packers kept nine offensive lineman, but not one of them was Ben Braden.  Braden had been competing for a guard spot during training camp and saw time at tackle as well.  The Packers decided to keep tackles Dennis Kelly and Josh Nijman instead.

On the defensive side, the Packers kept undrafted rookie defensive lineman Jack Heflin.  The Packers have now kept at least one undrafted rookie on the week one roster for 20 straight years. [Read more…]

Crosby wants to keep going (AUDIO)

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Mason Crosby – WRN File Photo

Mason Crosby is about to enter his 15th NFL season, turning 37-years-old in September.  He ranks 20th all-time in scoring (1,682 points) and he has no plans to call it a career anytime soon.

Crosby’s current contract runs through the 2022 season and didn’t offer any ideas on how much longer he wants to keep playing, but he admitted how he feels mentally and physically will help him make his decision.

Crosby has hit 38 of 40 field goals over the last two seasons, including a perfect 16 for 16 mark last season alone.  After missing four field goals in a game against Detroit in 2018, Crosby has gone on to miss just four times in the last 47 games. [Read more…]

Rodgers signs reworked deal

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Aaron Rodgers – WRN Photo

Green Bay Packers MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers is signing his reworked deal, allowing him to leave after the 2022 season if he so chooses.

The new contract voids the 2023 year in his original deal and saves the Packers around $10 million in 2021 cap space.

Rodgers counts #37.2 million against the cap and  by guaranteeing his $14.7 million base salary, the Packers gained the extra cap space.

Rodgers voiced his displeasure with the Packers front office this offseason and considered retiring amid his standoff.

It means Rodgers current deal expires after 2022.

Adams says there’ll be no home town discount

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Davante Adams (WRN Photo)

Contract talks have stalled between wide receiver Davante Adams and the Green Bay Packers but he made it clear on day one of training camp that there’ll be no discount for the home team.

Adams told reporters on Wednesday that he expects to be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver after being named first-team All-Pro last season.  Adams set a Packers franchise record with 115 receptions and tied another with 18 touchdowns.

“That’s not going to happen,” Adams said about accepting a discount.  “It’s not about being a baby, but what other profession do you take less than what you have earned?  It’s not how it goes.

‘I’ve earned the right to be paid highest in the league.’

Four receivers in the NFL average at least $20 million a year.  That group consists of DeAndre Hopkins, Amari Cooper, Keenan Allen.  Hopkins deal is worth $27.25 million a year.

Adams said they had all offseason to get a deal done and now that training camp has started, he’s ready to put his focus on football.  It is possible the two sides could reach a deal during the season.  The Packers made David Bakhtiari the highest paid offensive tackle back in November.