Candidates for governor address affordability and state budget surplus (UNDATED)
Candidates for Wisconsin governor are campaigning around the state. In Green Bay on Thursday, Republican congressman Tom Tiffany said everywhere he goes people ask the same thing — why are property taxes, utility rates and gas prices rising so much? Tiffany said families “are stretched so thin at this point.” Tiffany has previously said he’d like all the state surplus returned to taxpayers. In Wausau on Thursday, Milwaukee County Executive and former state lawmaker David Crowley said he’d like to see some of that growing budget surplus go back taxpayers, but knows the final decision isn’t his to make. The former state lawmaker said he’ll work with legislators, community members and local municipalities “to make sure that we’re making the best decision.” New Wisconsin Department of Revenue figures for 2025-26 show state tax collections came in more than $450 million higher than expected. That grows the state’s projected surplus to nearly $3 billion by the end of the budget cycle. In a statement, Tiffany said “A bigger projected surplus is more proof that Wisconsinites are overtaxed. It’s not a green light for Madison and David Crowley to spend more of your money. It’s a sign that government is taking too much of it. As governor, I’ll return the entire surplus to taxpayers and deliver lasting tax relief for working families.” A new Marquette Law School Poll found likely voters favor Crowley 49 to 44 percent, but a dead heat at 44% among registered voters.
DNR asks Enbridge to halt Line 5 reroute work (IRON COUNTY)
Enbridge is asked to halt work on its Line 5 pipeline reroute. A letter to the Canadian firm from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources requests the halt in response to a gas leak that began Tuesday in Iron County. Enbridge has said a parked, unoccupied semi truck rolled into an excavation site, striking the existing pipe and releasing natural gas liquids. No one was injured, but a nearby home was evacuated as a precaution. Line 5 remains shut down. DNR Secretary Karen Hyun (he-un) said the agency requests a halt the reroute project until the incident is sufficiently resolved and Enbridge “has demonstrated that measures are in place to prevent future spill events related to all pipeline work.” Late Wednesday, Enbridge said in a statement that it anticipated returning the pipeline to service between August 31 and September 5.
Green Buy Packer Josh Jacobs charged (GREEN BAY)
Green Bay Packer Josh Jacobs is charged in connection to an alleged domestic incident. Brown County prosecutors charged the 28-year-old Packers running back with misdemeanor battery and misdemeanor criminal damage to property more than three months after his arrest following the incident at his Green Bay area home. A criminal complaint states a woman identified as Jacobs’ girlfriend told officers that she had been looking through Jacobs’ phone and saw that he was talking to other women. She became upset and threw his phone. She told Jacobs he could look through her phone and when she tried to retrieve it Jacobs grabbed her arm. A physical struggle that lasted several minutes. The complaint states that the woman was later trying to leave when Jacobs “grabbed her and threw her to the ground and she struck her head, suffering an injury.” Each charge is subject to a fine of not more than $10,000 or not more than nine months in jail or both if convicted. Jacobs has an initial appearance set for November in Brown County Court.
Romo charged in July OWI stop (MILWAUKEE)
More charges for Tony Romo. Romo is charged with three new citations in connection to his July 23 traffic stop and arrest in Milwaukee on suspicion of OWI. He’s charged OWI 1st offense, possession of open intoxicants in a motor vehicle-driver, and unsafe passing on the right. Romo is due to appear in court on September 21. The 46-year-old former Dallas Cowboys quarterback was pulled over by a sheriff’s deputy on a bridge while driving on I-43. Romo was handcuffed and because of the amount of traffic, taken to the station for field sobriety tests which he performed poorly on. He refused to take a breathalyzer test. Romo remains on leave from his broadcast role with CBS Sports.
Human remains, Ed Gein memorabilia found at home of accused stalker (FOND DU LAC)
Human remains are found at the home of a man accused of stalking. Fond du Lac County deputies report the remains were located while searching the home of 47-year-old Ben Larson, alongside memorabilia and items related to notorious grave robber Ed Gein. Experts from the Wisconsin Crime Lab, Wisconsin Historical Society and Wisconsin Intertribal Repatriation Committee are helping investigators determine how many of the items found in Larson’s Fond du Lac home are in fact human remains. Larson is free on bond for stalking charges in Dane County where he is accused of harassing and threatening a woman he dated over a decade ago.
Rep Born says he’s ready to return to vote on budget surplus deal (MADISON)
A legislative leader says he’s open to voting on a tax relief deal. The message from Republican Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair Representative Mark Born comes as Wisconsin’s estimated budget surplus reaches 3 billion dollars. Born says he’s ready to return to Madison and vote on a deal “that delivers meaningful tax relief.” A previous tax relief deal earned endorsement from Democratic Governor Tony Evers but fell through earlier this year. Republican candidate for Governor Tom Tiffany lobbied against the measure at the time, and three Republican senators joined all Democrats in voting against it.