Contact: (608) 267-9649 MADISON – The non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released an audit of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King today, prompted by investigative reporting and legislative concerns about the conditions at King. The LAB audit found that while care needs of residents have increased dramatically, the Veterans Home at King has maintained a high staff vacancy rate, leading to a dramatic upturn in overtime hours worked in recent years. In an anonymous survey of King staff, 75.1% characterized employee morale as being “poor” or “very poor.” These findings are in stark contrast to the claims of DVA Secretary

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org Horicon, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Horicon State Bank (Horicon, Dodge County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 18, 2017. The Horicon State Bank is a fine Classical Revival style commercial building of brick and stone and having a prominent arched main entrance.  The Classical Revival style is differentiated by its monumentality, and typically having elaborate details with precedents in classical architecture.  The Horicon State Bank building was constructed in 1915 as the new home of the bank, which had been established in 1896.  Designed by the architect Herman W.

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org La Crosse, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Adolf and Helga Gundersen Cottage (La Crosse, La Crosse County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 18, 2017. Adoph Gundersen was a prominent Norwegian medical doctor who immigrated to La Crosse in 1891. Gundersen and his family played a large role in the establishment of the Gundersen Clinic – the Lutheran Hospital, and the advancement of modern medical practices and standards in La Crosse in the early-twentieth century. Dr. Gundersen was honored with the knighthood of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olaf

Contact: Kara O’Keeffe kara.okeeffe@wisconsinhistory.org Oconto, Wis. – The Wisconsin Historical Society placed the Farnsworth Public Library (Oconto, Oconto County) on the State Register of Historic Places on August 18, 2017. The Farnsworth Public Library, designed by prominent architect Henry Foeller was constructed in 1903. The Wisconsin Public Library Act of 1872 allowed villages and cities to establish a library through the support of municipal taxation. This laid the groundwork for the establishment of Oconto’s library.  In 1901, former resident and well-known Oconto lumberman and businessman, George W. Farnsworth, offered a gift of $15,000.00 for the construction of a library. Not

Contact: Tom Evenson (608) 266-2839 MADISON – Governor Scott Walker and First Lady Tonette Walker hosted nearly 300 family members representing 85 organ donors today at the Executive Residence for the 25th Annual Gift of Life Medal Ceremony. The ceremony honors citizens who generously gave the gift of life through organ, tissue, or eye donations. “Today we honor the lives of those who gave the most powerful gift; the gift of life,” Governor Walker said. “More than 800 lives were saved because these individuals chose to become organ donors. Wisconsin is among the nation’s most generous states when it comes

Contact: (608) 257-4765 [Madison, WI] — At the WisPolitics.com Luncheon on Thursday, out-of-touch con artist Andy Gronik’s evolution on the Foxconn Technology Group deal – which plans to bring 13,000 family-sustaining jobs to Wisconsin – was on full display. Listen to it all unfold here. Unbelievably, over the course of the event, Gronik’s position on the topic evolved from: “…of course you’re going to do that,” to, 8 minutes later:  “…not enough information,” to, 30 minutes later, “If I had to vote today, it would be no.” Gronik has grounded his campaign in vague platitudes and empty ideas, and it’s

MADISON, Wis. – Assistant Attorney General Duane Harlow has been appointed by Attorney General Brad Schimel to lead the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Consumer Protection & Antitrust Unit. Harlow was previously the deputy director of the Civil Litigation Unit. “Duane has earned a lot of respect from his colleagues and our partners outside of DOJ for his leadership and legal skills,” said Attorney General Schimel. “Duane’s experience will serve the state well as he leads a team of attorneys and investigators in enforcing the state’s consumer protection and antitrust laws.” Harlow, a Stoughton native, who graduated from the University

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Brad Schimel appointed Assistant Attorney General Francis “Frank” X. Sullivan to lead the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Medicaid Fraud Control & Elder Abuse Unit. Sullivan previously served as unit director for the Consumer Protection & Antitrust Unit, where he managed a 12-member team in enforcing Wisconsin’s consumer protection and antitrust laws and worked closely with the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade & Consumer Protection and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. “Frank’s experience leading consumer protection litigation for the state makes him perfect for the Medicaid Fraud Control and Elder Abuse Unit,” said Attorney

Contact: Tom McCarthy (608) 266-3559 MADISON — Each year, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service updates income eligibility guidelines for meals served at schools and day care programs based on federal poverty levels. The current income guidelines began July 1 and will remain in effect until June 30, 2018. The guidelines apply to student eligibility for free and reduced‑price school meals offered through the National School Lunch or School Breakfast programs and milk offered through the Special Milk Program as well as to reimbursement for meals served in day care centers and family child care homes participating

Contact: Britt Cudaback britt.cudaback@legis.wi.gov 308.440.2939 (MADISON) – Today State Representative Melissa Sargent (D-Madison), ranking Democratic Assembly member on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, expressed her optimism about the results of the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB)’s audit of the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King (“King”), which is operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA). The audit (report 17-14) is the second phase of the LAB’s evaluation of King, prompted by reports of gross mistreatment and mismanagement which surfaced last year. “Let’s not get too comfortable,” said Sargent. “While I’m cautiously optimistic about today’s performance audit results, there’s still plenty

Contact: Sen. Jon Erpenbach, 608.266.6670 Sen. Lena Taylor, 608.266.5810 Rep. Gordon Hintz, 608.266.2254 Rep. Katrina Shankland, 608.267.9649 MADISON –An interactive map released today shows how a Legislative Democratic plan increases funding for every school district in Wisconsin. Democrats on the Joint Finance Committee released the K-12 funding plan in June and asked that Republicans join them in restoring funding levels for schools that have seen deep budget cuts since Gov. Scott Walker took office in 2011. The map is available here. “Our public schools are struggling after losing $1 billion in state aid,” said Katrina Shankland (D – Stevens Point).