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DHS seeks public input on opioid settlement spending

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The Department of Health Services will be getting another 8 million dollars in funding from a series of settlements from opioid drug manufacturers.

Director of Opioid Initiatives Paul Krupski says they’re asking for public input on how best to spend that funding. 

“We are really at the process right now of that data gathering, and making sure that we have everything we need to really look and determine what the best ways of using this funding would be or the best ways to propose that to the legislature for their consideration and approval.”

The department had over 30 million dollars to work with last year and used it to help the state’s tribes and to improve drug treatment facilities. Krupski says any choices that are made by DHS will have to be approved by the legislature’s Republican-controlled joint finance committee.

“Last year’s plan, they ended up approving about 85% of what the Department of Health Services proposed. And they made a few you know, a few alterations in there as well.”

You can find that survey online HERE: https://survey.alchemer.com/s3/7165956/Opioid-Litigation-Public-Input-2023

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.

Wisconsin DOJ offers school safety training

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The Wisconsin Department of Justice will offer school safety training to all Wisconsin schools. The training, which will be led by the Office of School Safety, will help school staff to put a plan in place for school crises and get kids back to their parents and guardians following an event, according to a media release.

Attorney General Josh Kaul calls the training part of an ongoing, proactive effort to give schools the tools they need to keep kids safe. The training, which can be used in a range of situations, will reduce stress during a crisis, according to DOJ.

More than $2 million in federal grants and more than $1.8 million from the American Rescue Plan Act has been set aside to fund the training.

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

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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Bail and benefits questions will be on Wisconsin’s April statewide ballot

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WRN photo

Wisconsin voters will be able to weigh in on a proposed constitutional amendment on bail reform as part of the April statewide ballot. In Assembly debate Thursday, Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) argued against the proposal, and for pretrial detention.

“I support pretrial detention.” Goyke said. “I support people that pose a public safety risk being held in custody. But when we make that decision and that measure solely about money, we allow a subgroup of people the opportunity to buy their way out of jail.”

The amendment’s author, Representative Cindi Duchow (R-Delafield), said pretrial detention has been on the books for decades in Wisconsin, but has never been used.

“Pretrial detention doesn’t work,” said Duchow. “It’s basically a mini trial before your trial. The victim has to come in and testify which can be traumatizing for a victim of violent crime. You have to have a whole little mini hearing. You have to have all your evidence. You have to have your DNA back. We don’t have the physical space to do it, nor do we have the finances to do it.”

Democrats argued that the proposed change will disproportionately impact low income Wisconsinites, while allowing those with the financial resources to pay higher bail amounts.

“If we’re serious about safety, there are other measures to do that,” said Representative Dora Drake (D-Milwaukee). She noted prosecutors and public defenders are understaffed and underfunded.

The measure will allow judges to consider past convictions of those charged with crimes, as well as “the need to protect the community from serious harm” and “prevent the intimidation of witnesses,” when setting bail. Judges are currently only allowed to set bail amounts to ensure an individual appears back in court.

Duchow said that will still leave judges and court commissioners with considerable discretion. “They’re gonna look back at their (defendants) past criminal convictions. They’re going to sort out the dangers to the community and then they’re going to set their bail. And if they want to set it for $10 they can do it, if they want to set it for 10 million. We are not handcuffing our judges.”

Ten Democrats voted to approve the amendment which passed 74-23, following state Senate approval on Tuesday. Passage by two consecutive legislative sessions is required before proposed constitutional amendments go to voters.

The Assembly also approved putting a nonbinding, advisory referendum on the ballot. Voters will be asked if childless, able bodied adults should be required to apply for work in order to receive state funded welfare benefits.

That’s something that’s already required under state law. “It is amazing to see the mental gymnastics that Wisconsin Republicans are actively pursuing to make sense of something that already is happening,” said Representative Christina Shelton (D-Green Bay.)

Republicans argue it’s not being enforced. This is something the state’s supposed to be doing,” said Representative Jon Plumer (R-Lodi). “It’s not the only instance in the state of Wisconsin where an agency is not following the letter of the law.”

It’s an advisory referendum, meaning no action is required if approved by voters.

Kaul announces Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force

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Wisconsin’s Attorney General has announced a new statewide, multi-agency task force to support survivors of human trafficking. Josh Kaul was in Milwaukee Wednesday to introduce the Wisconsin Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force, led by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, and Project Respect.

“This task force is designed to do is to improve our data collection so we have a clearer picture of the scope of trafficking,” Kaul said.

The AG said the collaboration will bring law enforcement and victim service providers together to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases at the federal and local levels. The effort is funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime.