Underly calls for changes to school funding formula during State of Education address (MADISON)
State Superintendent Jill Underly is calling for changes to the way Wisconsin funds public schools. In her annual State of Education address at the Capitol, Underly said the current formula focuses too much on enrollment, district spending, and property values instead of student needs. She argued school districts have become increasingly dependent on local referendums to cover operating costs, putting pressure on communities. Underly also said state leaders have failed to provide predictable funding that keeps pace with the cost of educating students, and she urged lawmakers to rethink the state’s approach to school finance.
Tiffany campaign bars “liberal activist” journalist from campaign event (MILWAUKEE)
Tom Tiffany bars a Wisconsin reporter from a campaign event. In a social media post following the event in Milwaukee on Thursday, Tiffany’s campaign for governor referred to Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reporter Mary Spicuzza as a “liberal activist,” and that she was informed the previous day that she wouldn’t be allowed inside. A Thursday statement from the campaign said “We expect journalists to be balanced, and when you write multiple negative headlines about our campaign and not a single negative headline about David Crowley, as Mary Spicuzza has done, that is not balanced reporting.” A brief video posted by another reporter showing a Tiffany staffer blocking Spicuzza from entering the event was widely shared on social media.
Plea deal in OWI crash that killed Minnesota restaurateur (HUDSON)
A plea deal in a fatal drunk driving crash in Western Wisconsin. Sentencing is scheduled for December 7th in St. Croix County Court for 34-year-old Andre Mathews. Online court records show the Brooklyn Park, Minnesota man pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a charge of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle for the April 2025 crash that killed Twin Cities restaurateur David Burley. Investigators determined that Matthews was attempting to overtake traffic on the right shoulder of I-94 East near Hudson when he struck Burley’s motorcycle. The 58-year-old died at a St. Paul hospital. According to the criminal complaint, a Wisconsin State Patrol trooper said that he could smell alcohol on Mathews, who “appeared to be disoriented and lethargic.”
Stay alert near railroad crossings (UNDATED)
Make sure you’re staying alert near railroad crossings. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin has seen 360 train-related crashes over the past 10 years. Drivers are reminded to never to go around lowered gates or stop on tracks, and pedestrians are urged to stay off rail property and use only designated crossings. Wisconsin is home to about 3,300 miles of active train tracks and nearly 4,000 public rail crossings. Officials say a moment of caution at a railroad crossing can help prevent tragedy.
Brown County judge refuses to seal evidence in Jacobs case (GREEN BAY)
A Brown County Judge has denied the victim’s request to permanently seal the video evidence of the altercation in the Josh Jacobs case. In making the decision, Judge Mark Hammer weighed Wisconsin’s open records law against Marsy’s Law, which protects victims’ rights. The Hobart-Lawrence Police Department will have 10 days to make decisions on weather or not certain records requests will actually be granted. Records requests may be made to the Village of Hobart starting Friday.
Oshkosh schools provide update on weapons situation at North High (OSHKOSH)
Oshkosh North students had today (Thursday) off of school after a student was arrested yesterday for having a gun in his backpack. Superintendent Bryan Davis discussed next steps following the incident. “We will be scheduling a meeting with our emergency response team and that’s where we’ll process what our processes were, what worked, what didn’t work, and then any recommendations that we have moving forward.” Davis says no changes are being made just yet. Students were already scheduled to have Friday off while staff has a professional development day.