Contact:  Wisconsin National Guard Public Affairs Office Office: 608-245-4395 Camp Douglas, Wis. — Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center will host aircraft and personnel from multiple active duty Air Force, National Guard and Navy units as part of the annual Northern Lightning Counterland training exercise May 1-12. Northern Lightning is one of seven Air National Guard joint accrediated exercises held at a Combat Readiness Training Center. According to Col. Chad Milne, Wisconsin Air National Guard director of operations, the two-week long exercise will provide participating units a tactical level, joint training environment emphasizing user-defined objectives. “Northern Lightning’s strength and focus

Contact: Mike Browne, Deputy Director mike@OneWisconsinNow.org (608) 444-3483 Madison, Wisconsin — The 43 million plus student loan borrowers in the United States look to be in line for another attack from Donald Trump, according to the one page tax “plan” released yesterday. Under Trump’s scheme to slash corporate tax rates and provide a windfall to the wealthiest, including himself and his adult children, the federal tax deduction for interest paid on student loans would be eliminated. The move comes on the heels of the Trump administration seeking to strip borrowers of consumer protection from abuses by loan servicers. “There are 43 million Americans

Contact: Steven Theisen, WisDOT Project Communications Manager (608) 884-1230, steven.theisen@dot.wi.gov Starting Monday (May 1), Lake Drive Road under Interstate 39/90 near Edgerton will be closed to traffic for approximately two weeks. East Church Road, near the town of Sumner, under I-39/90 will also be closed during this time. Crews will remove the existing northbound Interstate bridges over the roadways.These operations are weather dependent and subject to change. Emergency access will be provided to police, fire and EMS. These roadways will close again in mid-June 2017 as crews set the new girders. Motorists are reminded to slow down, be alert for

Shell Lake, Wisconsin – Governor Scott Walker traveled to Shell Lake Elementary and High School today to discuss the historic K-12 and rural school investments included in his biennial budget proposal with students, teachers, and staff. The governor’s proposal lifts K-12 investment to $11.5 billion over two years, an all-time high, and includes $649 million in new state aids for all K-12 schools in the state. “Every single student in Wisconsin deserves equal access to a great education, regardless of their zip code,” Governor Walker said. “That’s why our state budget proposal makes targeted investments that support our rural schools,

Madison, WI – Rep. Jesse Kremer (R-Kewaskum) has circulated a bill that addresses policing technology as it relates to privacy and the 4th amendment.  With the assistance of Sen. Patrick Testin (R-Stevens Point) this minimal statewide body camera policy will balance public privacy with public safety. Under current law, and subject to a balancing test by the data custodian, most body camera footage may be released to the media or public.  Following discussions with local law enforcement officials, it was noted that nearly 95% of all video footage will be released if an open records request is received. While transparency

Contact: David Kolovson (Pocan) 202-225-2906 Washington, D.C.  – U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after House Republicans introduced an amendment to the Trumpcare plan, which failed to get a vote on the House Floor last month. The amendment allows states to opt-out of popular provisions in the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Protections for preexisting conditions and requirements that insurers cover basic services like maternity care, cancer screenings, and addiction treatment could be taken away. In addition, the Republicans’ amendment even exempts Members of Congress and their staff, ensuring they will keep these ACA protections. “House Republicans showed their