Tiffany supporters plan event this week (WAUSAU)
Supporters of a potential Republican candidate for governor plan an event this week. A digital flyer features a picture of 7th District US Representative Tom Tiffany with his fist in the air as he overlooks boats on Minocqua Lake. The flyer is paid for by Tiffany for Wisconsin and encourages people to save the date for 6 p.m. Wednesday at an event barn in Wausau. Tiffany has said he expects to make an announcement on a run for governor by the end of September. Milwaukee area business owner Bill Berrien and Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann are in the race for the Republican nomination.
Bill would restrict legal THC product sales (MADISON)
Republican lawmakers seek to close a legal loophole allowing sale of hemp-derived THC products. Numerous businesses have sprouted in Madison and elsewhere, offering sale of legal hemp-derived THC products like delta-8 and delta-10. Hemp, in the same plant family as marijuana, is not considered a controlled substance if the THC concentration is less than 0.3%. The bill would add hemp to the definition of THC and would specify that only hemp grown for industrial or research purposes qualifies as “industrial hemp.” The authors cite last October’s accidental delta-9 THC oil contamination at a Dane County pizza parlor in which dozens of people sought medical attention as an example of why the law change is needed.
UPFRONT: Krug hopes GOP elections package will pass the Legislature (MILWAUKEE)
At the Capitol, Assembly Republicans are planning to introduce a swath of changes to Wisconsin elections. Assembly elections committee vice chair Scott Krug (KROOG) tells W I S N’s UPFRONT he hopes the package will be able to make it through the Legislature. The bill would allow for early counts of absentee ballots, but would place restrictions on dropboxes including 24/7 surveillance streamed online and requiring law enforcement to be present when ballots are moved. The bill would also make it a fine for election workers to correct information on an absentee ballot.
Mass timber tower project paused (MILWAUKEE)
A downtown Milwaukee construction site is quiet. Neutral, a Madison developer, announced it’s paused work on Neutral.Edison, a 350-unit, 31-story mass timber tower in Milwaukee. That’s according to The Daily Reporter, which covers construction news for industry professionals in Wisconsin. The developer said tariffs and inflation raised key costs, halting construction. It’s not clear when work will resume, crews had completed the foundation and started placement of structural steel before leaving. The project broke ground in June 2025 and was on track to be the tallest mass timber building in North America in 2027.
Jordanian man’s sexual assault trial begins Monday (WAUSAU)
Trial begins today in Marathon County Court for a Jordanian man accused of sexual assault in Wausau. Mohammad Alsyouri (AL-see-OR-ee) is accused of forcing himself on a Wausau woman after she turned down his advances, allegedly telling her in Islam, you can’t rape your wife. The two were said to be married under Sharia law, though no record of the marriage exists in government records. According to the victim she also discovered that the 37-year-old had a wife and children in his home country, despite his claims that he was single and childless, and had been trying to marry a woman in Canada as well. He faces up to 120 years in prison if found guilty at the end of the trial. Alsyouri is also accused of entering the US illegally through the border with Mexico.
Know the difference between elk and deer when out hunting (UNDATED)
The Wisconsin Department of Natural resources stresses hunters knowing their target the deer bow hunting season. Elk Zone Biologist Christina Kizewski says keep any eye out for elk. Kizewski says elk will typically be much larger than deer and have a different coloration. Kizewski says antlers are another indicator, as elk antlers sweep backwards away from its head towards its rear end, whereas white tail bucks typically have more of a rounded forward curvature to their antlers. More info can be found on the DNR’s website.
Bill would ensure all Wisconsin residents get to watch Packers (UNDATED)
A federal bill would spare Wisconsinites from watching Packers’ rival football games. Democratic U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin and Republican Representative Tony Wied have introduced legislation that would require cable and satellite carriers to carry the Packers’ week nine game for more than 400,000 Wisconsinites in 13 counties near Minnesota and Michigan. Those Wisconsin residents live in TV markets originating out of Minnesota and Michigan, which would force them to watch either the Detroit Lions or Minnesota Vikings games on Fox instead of the Packers. The bill would also require providers with Wisconsin subscribers to carry Wisconsin channels, so Wisconsinites have access to news and events relevant to their state and region.
Voting open for this year’s “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin” contest (UNDATED)
Nearly 150 nominees will compete to be this year’s “Coolest Thing Made In Wisconsin”. Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce says 148 products will compete in the tenth installment of the contest. Nominees will compete in a Popular Vote Round and the top 16 vote getters will then move on to compete in rounds of head-to-head matchups until a winner is decided. WMC President Kurt Bauer says the contest is really about showcasing the state’s thriving manufacturing sector. Voting for the contest is now open and can be done at MadeInWis.com.
IRS offering tax extensions to those affected by summer flooding (MILWAUKEE)
People affected by this summer’s flooding in Southeast Wisconsin will have more time to complete their taxes. I R S spokeswoman Stacy Engle says the agency is giving people Milwaukee, Washington and Waukesha counties have February 2nd to complete their 1040 forms, if they haven’t already. Engle reminds people that they should still get their taxes filed as soon as possible in order to get any refunds they are due. Find out more online at I R S dot Gov.
UW-Madison police arrest man suspected of attack outside Camp Randall (MADISON)
UW-Madison Police have arrested a suspect in an unprovoked attack near Camp Randall. 33 year old Keith Jones was arrested on Saturday on charges of aggravated battery and robbery. Police issued a warrant for his arrest after Jones allegedly assaulted and seriously injured another person in the south side parking lot early Saturday morning. The victim is in critical condition, and may have been targeted in the attack. Jones will likely make his initial appearance Monday in Dane County Court.