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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.

 

Cobb returning to Green Bay

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Randall Cobb (Photo Courtesy of Mike Clemens)

It would appear the Green Bay Packers are trying to keep Aaron Rodgers happy, at least for this season.  The Packers are bringing back Rodgers close friend Randall Cobb, who turns 31-years-old next month.

The Packers will send a 2022 sixth-round draft pick to the Houston Texans for Cobb.  To make the deal work, the Texans have agreed to pay roughly $3 million of Cobb’s guaranteed $8.25 million deal.

The Packers let Cobb walk after the 2018 season.  Cobb had 38 receptions for 383 yards and two touchdowns that season, but played in just nine games due to injury.  He signed as a free agent with Dallas and played in 2019 for the Cowboys and last year in Houston.

Cobb was the Packers second round pick in 2011 and has become a good friend with Rodgers.

Cobb’s return is questionable to those outside the organization after the Packers used a third-round draft pick on Clemson slot receiver Amari Rodgers.

Cobb does bring leadership to the locker room and is well respected by his former teammates.

Rodgers unloads after first day of training camp (AUDIO)

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Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers returned to Green Bay for the start of training camp on Wednesday and told reporters afterwards that he considered retirement as his standoff with the team dragged on.  But Rodgers said he still has a “big, competitive hole” in his body and is all-in for the upcoming season.

Rodgers elaborated on his dispute with the team that was the subject of much speculation this offseason and said he wanted to help the Packers learn from previous mistakes they made.  He said some of those mistakes had to do with the release of “high character guys” like Charles Woodson and Jordy Nelson.

Rodgers believes all his years of service, three MVPs and a Super Bowl ring has earned him the right to be in the conversation on personal matters, even if he couldn’t sway GM Brian Gutekunst’s decisions.  He wants to be a recruiter in free agency and he wants the Packers to commit to him beyond the 2021 season. [Read more…]

Packers set schedule for training camp

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The Green Bay Packers announced the schedule for their upcoming 2021 Training Camp, kicking things off with a morning practice (10:10 a.m.) on Wednesday, July 28.  It will be the first of four straight practices as part of the opening week (July 28-31).

The Packers will open the second week with three open practices (Aug. 2-3, 5), before Family Night takes place at Lambeau Field on Saturday, Aug. 7.  Green Bay will have three open practices (Aug 10-12) before the first preseason game on Aug. 14 against the Houston Texans at Lambeau Field.

The Packers will finish off the open sessions of training camp with two join practices (Aug. 18-19) with the New York Jets, before facing the Jets at Lambeau Field on Aug. 21. [Read more…]