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DNR seeks public comment on updated wolf management plan

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The Department of Natural Resources will be taking public comments on the future of the state’s wolf management plan next month.

DNR Large Carnivore Specialist Randy Johnson says that while wolves are currently under federal protection, a plan should be in place.

“As long as they are federally protected, the state has no authority to implement a wolf season one way or the other. However, again, if history is our teacher here, that status is likely to change at some point in the future.”

Johnson says it’s important to have everyone’s views before moving forward. “Wolves are controversial. A lot of folks have strong opinions. And so it’s important that folks have every opportunity to share their thoughts with us.”

You’ll have until the end of February to add your comments, and that live hearing will be on February 7th. You can find out more online at https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/wolfmanagementplan

UW System bans TikTok on university issued devices

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The University of Wisconsin System has banned TikTok. The Associated Press initially reported the move, and Media Relations Director Mark Pitsch confirmed to WRN that the UW System will be restricting the TikTok application on System-owned devices.

That follows an executive order from Governor Tony Evers which bans use of the popular video sharing app on state issued devices.

Numerous states and public universities have made the decision to ban the app owned by the Chinese firm ByteDance, amid security concerns.

Evers delivers State of the State address

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Governor Tony Evers laid out his priorities for Wisconsin in his fifth State of the State address on Tuesday night. The Democratic governor noted that state government is in a great fiscal position, expected to end the current biennium with about a $6.5 billion surplus and over $1.7 billion in the rainy day fund.

WATCH: State of the State Address on WisconsinEye

Evers called for nearly $1.3 billion in new state spending on mental health initiatives, addressing PFAS contamination and supporting Wisconsin workers. Evers also called for a major increase in shared revenues to local governments to be funded with 20 percent of the sales tax. He rejected a Republican flat tax proposal, calling that a giveaway for the wealthiest in the state.

WATCH: Speaker Vos response on WisconsinEye

In the Republican response, Speaker Robin Vos pledged Wisconsin Republicans will not raise taxes and won’t pass a budget that doesn’t have significant tax reform.

Former Badger football player Marcus Randle El guilty on all counts

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A Rock County jury reached a verdict in less than two hours Tuesday, in the double homicide case against former Wisconsin Badger football player Marcus Randle El.

The 36-year-old Randle-El was accused of fatally shooting Seairaha sierra Winchester and Brittany McAdory in Janesville in February of 2020, in a dispute over drug money. Jurors returned guilty verdicts on two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and other charges. Judge Barbara McCrory set a sentencing date of May 8.

WCLO

Evers will deliver State of the State address on Tuesday

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Governor Tony Evers will deliver the annual State of the State address Tuesday night. State government has a budget surplus that’s projected to hit $6.6 billion, so Evers is likely to talk about the need to increase state shared revenue to local governments.

That’s one area where the Democratic governor and Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature appear to be in agreement.

Evers is also likely to call for repeal of the state’s 1849 law which all but bans abortion, and for legalization of cannabis, both of which are opposed by Republicans.

The State of the State address is scheduled for 7:00 PM in the Assembly chambers of the Capitol in Madison. The Republican response will follow. Both may be seen at WisconsinEye, and Wisconsin Public Television, and will be carried live on Wisconsin Public Radio.

Abortion rights rally highlights Wisconsin Supreme Court race

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Events took place around the nation including in Wisconsin, for Sunday’s 50th anniversary of the now overturned Roe versus Wade ruling. In Madison, protestors took part in a Bigger than Roe march on State Street before making their way to the State Capitol Rotunda. The Madison Area Reproductive Rights Coalition for Healthcare (MARRCH) helped organize the protest.

Speakers in the rotunda focused on the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election. There are two conservative candidates, Waukesha County Judge Jennifer Dorow and former Justice Daniel Kelly, and two liberal candidates, Dane County Judge Everett Mitchell and Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz.

“The candidate who is elected in April must reflect the wants and the needs of the people of Wisconsin,” said Amadi Ozier of MARRCH. “Over 70% of the people of Wisconsin support abortion.”

The spring primaries take place February 21st, and the general election to decide the next state Supreme Court Justice is on April 4th.

In addition to Madison, Wausau, Elkhorn and Minocqua also had events on Sunday.

Abortion rights events in Wisconsin and around the country follow the annual anti-abortion March for Life demonstration, which took place on Friday in Washington DC, where thousands of anti-abortion activists turned up to celebrate the movement’s success.

WIBA

High wholesale prices to blame for rise in egg prices, says WGA president

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High egg prices across the county are due to high wholesale prices from producers.

Large egg companies have more than doubled the wholesale price of eggs over the last year.  Wisconsin Grocers Association president Brandon Scholz says those prices aren’t something a local grocer can easily absorb. 

“Grocers margins, especially in something that’s perishable, like dairy, eggs, produce meat, those sorts of things, you know, you got to sell it. And if you don’t, you can’t get your money back.”

Scholz says you should shop around to see if you can’t find better deals on locally produced eggs. “You’re gonna find some that are maybe private label that is priced lower than what you might find from a national brand, or maybe an organic product.”

Agriculture advocacy group Farm Action is calling for an FTC investigation into possible price fixing after reports that the company behind Eggland’s Best and Land o Lakes saw a 600 percent increase in profits on egg sales last year.

Brittany Zimmerman’s mom speaks after life sentence imposed on her killer

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The man who murdered UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann in 2008 will spend the rest of his life in prison. Brittany’s mother, Jean Zimmerman, spoke after Friday’s sentencing of 56-year-old David Kahl.

“It’s extremely difficult to think about, that it’s taken this long to get to where we are today. If someone would have told me that I would be here 14 and a half, almost 15 years later; I’m not sure if I could have survived.” said Zimmerman.

Kahl, who was linked to the crime through a DNA match, pled guilty in October to first-degree intentional homicide. At his sentencing, Dane County Judge Chris Taylor denied Kahl the opportunity for extended supervision— at the recommendation of both the prosecution and Kahl’s defense attorney.

“What he did was unspeakable, and to not have the person responsible for that behind bars, it was unacceptable to us. So we were willing, and we did whatever we had to do,” Jean Zimmerman said.

Kahl offered apologies to the Zimmerman family for killing Brittany, who was 21-years-old at the time of her death. Jean Zimmerman said her daughter was working towards a career goal of working for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

WEC commissioner Bob Spindell staying put despite calls for his dismissal

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State Senate Democrats are calling for the removal of elections commissioner Bob Spindell, after revelations that Spindell bragged on Republican efforts to suppress Black and Hispanic voter turnout in Milwaukee last November.

Senator LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) spoke about that during a press conference at the Capitol on Wednesday. “He also said their presence on Black talk radio and negative Black radio commercials helped to decrease voter turnout.”

Senator Kelda Roys (D-Madison) said they want Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) to remove Spindell from the Wisconsin Elections Commission.

“I think it’s important for the press to try to get him on the record. I mean these comments have been out here since last week, and he did appoint Spindell.”

LeMahieu’s office did not have a response to share. Spindell, who has brushed off calls to resign, defended his remarks when speaking with WISN’s Matt Smith on Thursday. He said he “was proud that finally the Republican Party of Wisconsin and the Republican National Committee after all these years and pushing hard decided to finally put in the necessary resources to the City of Milwaukee.”

Responding to accusations of racism from Democrats, he said “I think they should take a look at my past experience over the many years in the black community. And I’ve said many times in open meetings that I will not stand for any suppression of the vote, especially in the black and Hispanic communities. Especially in Milwaukee.”

 

 

Dane County Board rejects voter referendum for new jail funding

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In a 21-14 vote, the Dane County Board of Supervisors on Thursday rejected a proposed ballot referendum to fund a new Dane County Jail project.

The resolution called for an April referendum on covering a $13.5 million funding shortfall for the project, which is expected to cost around $175 million.

District 14 Supervisor Anthony Grey opposed it, saying a new and larger jail would perpetuate racial inequities in the jail population. “It’s my belief that if we can find a way that we can knock down the place where we are the worst in the nation, which is with the racial disparities for black folks, that would take us a long way toward lowering the overall under-roof population.”

Thursday’s action by the county board followed a Wednesday press conference by Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, in which they urged the board to approve putting the funding referendum before voters.

 

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