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It’s Primary Election Day in Wisconsin

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Primary elections are today in Wisconsin. Voters who choose to go to the polls will select one of eight Democrats who are running to oppose incumbent Republican Governor Scott Walker in November.

They are state Senator Kathleen Vinehout of Alma, state schools Superintendent Tony Evers, political activist Mike McCabe, former state party leader Matt Flynn, Attorney Josh Pade, former state Representative Kelda Roys of Madison, state firefighter union leader Mahlon Mitchell, and Madison Mayor Paul Soglin.

Walker is being challenged in the GOP primary by Sun Prairie businessman Robert Meyer.

Two Democrats are running for lieutenant governor: former state Representative Mandela Barnes, and Sheboygan businessman Kurt Kober.  The winner will face incumbent Republican Rebecca Kleefisch.

There are also Democratic and Republican primaries for the constitutional offices of Treasurer and Secretary of State.

Voters will also decide which of two Republican candidates will face incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin in November. They are state Senator Leah Vukmir, and Pewaukee businessman Kevin Nicholson.

Another high profile primary election is in the 1st Congressional District. where voters will pick candidates who will contest the seat being vacated by House Speaker Paul Ryan.

Two Democrats, union iron worker Randy Bryce and Janesville teacher and school board member Cathy Myers, are looking to advance to November’s general election. On the Republican side, corporate attorney and UW Regent Bryan Steil faces several lesser-known candidates.

In northwestern Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, Balsam Lake attorney Margaret Engebretson and Marshfield physician Brian Ewert are running to oppose incumbent Republican Congressman Sean Duffy in November.

There are also numerous primary elections for state legislative districts, and local elected offices. You can find out more about the upcoming elections at myvote.wi.gov.

Walker: ‘of course’ I don’t want Harley boycott

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Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker made it clear Monday — he doesn’t want a boycott of Harley-Davidson. President Donald Trump tweeted on Sunday that it was “great” that “many” Harley riders planned to boycott the Wisconsin-based company if it moves manufacturing overseas.

While there’s little evidence to support such a boycott actually occurring, Walker released a statement Sunday that he wants Harley to prosper in Wisconsin.

And Monday he tweeted that “of course” he doesn’t want a boycott — and one of the best ways for that to happen is to do what the President has called for — get to no tariffs as soon as possible.

Police marchers disinvited from Madison LGBT pride parade

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Organizers of Madison’s pride parade are not going to allow police to participate. The board of directors of the OutReach LGBT Community Center are withdrawing applications from the Madison Police Department, the UW-Madison Police Department, and Dane County Sheriff Dave Mahoney to march in the parade.

The action is in response to concerns among the LGBTQ community regarding police presence in the parade. Police will still be on hand for security. The parade is August 19.

WIBA

Allouez looks to close Green Bay Correctional Institute

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The village of Allouez is hoping to put a new development on the current site of the Green Bay Correctional Institute.

Village president Jim Rafter says the community is hurting for tax dollars, and the prison is a 50-acre property that generates nothing for their tax rolls. A fully developed mixed-use complex on the site would be just the tax boost his residents need.

“For the Village of Allouez, that would be a 100-million dollar property, it would be approximately 700-thousands dollars a year.”

Allouez is a landlocked community, with incorporated municipalities on all sides, and Rafter says that means they just can’t expand to create more property taxes.

So far, the proposal has broad support from inside the community. “We were hoping to get 1000 signatures from residents 100 businesses by sometime in October and we hit that mark last week.”

Any actual closure of the property would have to go through the state legislature, but State Representative David Steffen is already on board and looking to help move the project forward.

Former DOC Secretary Ed Wall blasts Walker in new book

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A book from a former state cabinet member has been released, days before the election. Former Corrections Secretary Ed Wall is highly critical of Republicans, Governor Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel.

Wall blasts their handling of the investigation into the state’s troubled Lincoln Hills School for Boys. A Walker spokeswoman says Wall was fired from the state Department of Justice in 2016 “for asking a state employee to break the law.”

In a statement to the Journal Sentinel, Schimel stood by his handling of Lincoln Hills, and stressed Wall was fired for “dishonesty.” He blamed Wall for the trouble at Lincoln Hills.

Early voting ends today for partisan primary

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Early voting is wrapping up across most of the state on Friday, and elections officials want you to be sure you know what to do at the polls.

This is a partisan primary election, and that means you’re only allowed to vote for one party. Elections Commission spokesman Reid Magney says you have to make a choice, even if there’s a local partisan race and a state partisan race you’re interested in.

“You have to make a choice about which primary is most important to you, where you think your vote is most important.”

When you’re heading to the polls, you should also be sure to have your photo ID. Magney says you’re probably already carrying something that works for you.

“Drivers license, state ID card, military ID, passport, veteran’s card, any of those will work.”

In person absentee voting ends Friday in most municipalities.

The Primary Election is on Tuesday.

Weak tornado hits Dane County Village of Deerfield

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A weak tornado hit Deerfield, in Dane County on Thursday. National Weather Service meteorologist Tim Halbach says the EF-0zero twister hit without warning just before 4:00 in the afternoon.

“These weaker ones that are shorter lived are very hard for us to pick up,” he said. “When we do get some kind of signature on radar, a lot of times by the time we get a warning out, the tornado’s already gone.”


The area had been under a severe thunderstorm warning, but Halbach says the tornado wasn’t part of that system, but rather storms that were moving through to the south. The tornado has been ranked EF-0 but still did significant damage to a business, International Machinery Exchange. No one was injured.

WIBA

Empty shoes highlight gun violence at Capitol

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WRN photo

At the Capitol Thursday, calls for action on gun violence. Riley Reed, a student intern with Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort, one of several people who spoke in front of hundreds of pairs of shoes arranged up the Capitol steps. “I see these shows and it compels me to do something,” she said.

Each pair of shoes represented a victim of gun violence, a “silent march” on the Capitol.

Pam Reed is Riley’s mother, and a teacher. “It’s terrible, that I have to live in a world where I’m worried about my son or daughter not coming home each day,” she said. “I’m tired of nothing being done.”

Chase Terrier is Public Policy Coordinator for End Abuse Wisconsin. “I’m tired of endless violence. I’m tired of guns proloferating in our communities. I’m tired of making the same points and listing the same facts, time and time again.”

A pro-gun rights group is planning an event at the Capitol on Saturday.

FBI raids hit Milwaukee area drug ring

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Some 200 FBI agents and other law enforcement personnel took part in simultaneous raids in Milwaukee and Ozaukee Counties Wednesday. Seven people were arrested.

The FBI’s Jason Soule said the raids targeted the top heroin distributors in southeast Wisconsin — the local subset of a national gang known as the Vice Lords.

“This particular group deals in heroin. We significantly disrupted them today. Did we stop it? No, but we’re going to continue to investigate this group,” Soule said. “Their levels of violence ranges from homicides to non-fatal shootings, carjackings, armed robberies.”

The raids followed a year-long investigation of the Vice Lords gang. Two more suspects are still being sought.

Marcus Theatres not showing ‘Slender Man’ movie at some Wisconsin locations

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Marcus Theatres locations in Madison and Sun Prairie do not plan to show the upcoming “Slender Man” movie, according to movie listings on its website.

Earlier this week a company spokesperson confirmed that the movie would not be shown at Marcus Theatres in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.

The movie is about girls driven to kill on behalf of the online ghoul and is set to open in select theaters this weekend.

Two girls from Waukesha, Anissa Weir, and Morgan Geyser, said the fictional character was behind their May 2014 attack of classmate Payton Leutner. Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times while Weier urged her on, according to investigators. A passing bicyclist found Leutner, who barely survived her wounds.

“Like many people across the United States, Marcus Theatres was deeply concerned and saddened when the Slender Man phenomenon touched Southeastern Wisconsin in such a profound way, changing the lives of many families forever,” a statement said. “After careful consideration, and out of respect for those who were impacted, we have decided not to play the upcoming Slender Man movie in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties. We will show the film at select other Marcus Theatres locations.”

Slender Man is a fictional character created by a then-28-year-old Floridian named Eric Knudsen. Slender Man first appeared on an Internet forum called “Something Awful” in 2009.

WIBA