Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: Evers calls education leaders to ‘dare greatly’ for kids

State Superintendent Tony Evers delivered his State of Education address today before an audience of school superintendents and invited guests at the State Capitol in Madison. He used “The Man in the Arena” passage from President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 “Citizenship in a Republic” speech as a backdrop to the call for leadership in these challenging times. Links to excerpts from the address and the prepared text are below. Excerpts Full Address

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Sen. Roth fundraiser

Who: Senate President Roger Roth When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 4-6 p.m. Where: Home of Tim and Jonna Higgins 909 Cambridge Ct. Appleton, WI 54915 Special Guest: U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher All contributions gratefully accepted. PAC Accepted. RSVP to judi@rhodesstrategies.com or 608-257-8035 Please make checks payable to Roth for Wisconsin PO Box 2224 Appleton, WI  54912

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Citizens Utility Board: Governor Walker signs budget supporting utility customer advocacy

Contact: Tom Content, 608-251-3322 x. 12,  414-550-4712 (cell) Sept. 21, 2017 — With the state biennial budget signed into law, the Citizens Utility Board would like to express its appreciation for state government leaders who worked to restore funding for groups that intervene in utility cases at the state Public Service Commission. The budget restores in part a funding cut enacted by the Legislature in the 2015-17 budget. That cut led to cutbacks at the Citizens Utility Board, a residential customer advocacy group that has worked on behalf of millions of Wisconsin utility customers since 1979. The Legislature last week endorsed Gov. Scott

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Sen. Johnson: Statement on U.S. Attorney nomination for Eastern District of Wisconsin

  Contact: Ben Voelkel WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said this after the Trump administration announced its intention to nominate Matthew D. Kruger to serve as the United States attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin: “Mr. Krueger is an excellent choice to serve as the U.S. attorney for Wisconsin’s Eastern District. He has extensive legal experience and will do an admirable job of ensuring justice is done in Wisconsin.” Mr. Krueger was one of three individuals recommended for the post earlier this year by a bipartisan nominating commission established by Senators Johnson and Baldwin.  He has worked in

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Rep. Shankland: To hold office hours on Tuesday

Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland Office: (608) 267- 9649 Location will be Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse in Stevens Point STEVENS POINT – Representative Katrina Shankland (D–Stevens Point) is pleased to announce her upcoming office hours on Tuesday, September 26 in Stevens Point. Rep. Shankland hosts office hours every month around the 71st Assembly District to hear from her constituents. Members of the public are invited to join Rep. Shankland to share their questions and concerns about any matters facing state government. Tuesday, September 26 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse 624 Isadore Street Stevens Point, WI 54481

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Wisconsin Elections Commission: Wisconsin Notified of Unsuccessful Russian Hacking Attempt

CONTACT: Reid Magney, 608-267-7887 MADISON, WI – This afternoon, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified the Wisconsin Elections Commission for the first time that “Russian government cyber actors” unsuccessfully targeted the state’s voter registration system in 2016. WEC Administrator Michael Haas has informed WEC Chair Mark Thomsen, who directed Commission staff to investigate why election officials were not notified earlier and report to the Commission at its meeting Tuesday. “This scanning had no impact on Wisconsin’s systems or the election,” Haas said. “Internet security provided by the state successfully protected our systems. Homeland Security specifically confirmed there was no

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Campaign email: Vinehout will formally announce guv run Monday

State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, will formally announce Monday she plans to run for guv, according to an email sent to supporters today. Vinenout has been promoting a “special announcement” Monday in Black River Falls about her intentions for the guv’s race. Today’s email told supporters the campaign wanted them to know “that she will announce her plans to run for Governor at the event, and w… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember

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Budget’s tax changes would impact out-of-state income, Kwik Trip yogurt, beekeepers

High-income filers will pay more in Wisconsin income taxes, Kwik Trip-made yogurt will no longer be subject to state sales tax and beekeepers will get a break under the budget Gov. Scott Walker signed into law this week. For the most part, the focus on this budget when it comes to taxes has been on the push to ensure the property tax bill for a median-valued home will be lower in 2018 than it was … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the

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AARP Wisconsin: Launches campaign to root out social media scams & frauds

Contact: Jim Flaherty, AARP Wisconsin, 608-286-6308 Madison, Wisconsin – With scams and fraud schemes proliferating on social media, AARP Wisconsin has teamed with the AARP Fraud Watch Network for a campaign to educate Wisconsinites about social media hazards and provide information about how they can protect themselves. “Scammers have been using email and telephone calls to target unsuspecting victims for years. Now, with today’s boom in social media use, the con artists are just as likely to use Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms to execute their insidious scams to steal people’s money and identities,” said AARP Fraud Watch Network Ambassador Frank Abagnale. According

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Walker vetoes move to revamp Transportation Projects Commission

A legislative push to revamp a transportation commission that’s only met six times over the last 17 years was squashed this week by Gov. Scott Walker’s veto pen. The Transportation Projects Commission, which last met Dec. 1, 2014, still lists a former lawmaker among its 15 members. And two legislators who are part of the commission say they’ve never been able to attend a TPC meeting. So the Joint … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options.

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NFIB Wisconsin: Budget was worth the wait for small businesses in Wisconsin

(MADISON) September 21, 2017: In response to Governor Walker signing the 2017-19 state budget today, the following statement may be attributed to Bill G. Smith, National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Wisconsin State Director. The small business community is thrilled to see that some of our top priorities were included in this year’s budget by the legislature and signed today by the Governor. Expanding the elimination of the prevailing wage law to state-funded projects will save taxpayers over $310 million per year and promote fair competition between large and small contractors. Additionally, doing away with the state portion of property taxes

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Wisconsin Voices for Recovery: Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch and Attorney General Brad Schimel to speak at the Rally for Recovery Saturday Sept 23rd

Contact: Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Caroline Miller, Director, 608-977-0673 or cmmiller5@wisc.edu Recovery from mental health and substance use disorders is possible MADISON – Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, with support from Connections Counseling, Stop Heroin Now, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, will host its fourth annual Rally for Recovery September 23 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Wisconsin State Capitol. This is a free event. All are invited to attend. “There are tens of thousands of Wisconsin residents whose lives have been transformed through recovery,” said Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Director Caroline Miller. “They have reconnected with family and friends. They have built strong, healthy relationships in their

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Sen. Roth fundraiser

Who: Senate President Roger Roth When: Thursday, Nov. 16, 4-6 p.m. Where: Home of Tim and Jonna Higgins 909 Cambridge Ct. Appleton, WI 54915 Special Guest: U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher All contributions gratefully accepted. PAC Accepted. RSVP to judi@rhodesstrategies.com or 608-257-8035 Please make checks payable to Roth for Wisconsin PO Box 2224 Appleton, WI

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Rep. Shankland: To hold office hours on Tuesday

Contact: Rep. Katrina Shankland Office: (608) 267- 9649 Location will be Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse in Stevens Point STEVENS POINT – Representative Katrina Shankland (D–Stevens Point) is pleased to announce her upcoming office hours on Tuesday, September 26 in Stevens Point. Rep. Shankland hosts office hours every month around the 71st Assembly

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Campaign email: Vinehout will formally announce guv run Monday

State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, will formally announce Monday she plans to run for guv, according to an email sent to supporters today. Vinenout has been promoting a “special announcement” Monday in Black River Falls about her intentions for the guv’s race. Today’s email told supporters the campaign wanted them

Read More »

AARP Wisconsin: Launches campaign to root out social media scams & frauds

Contact: Jim Flaherty, AARP Wisconsin, 608-286-6308 Madison, Wisconsin – With scams and fraud schemes proliferating on social media, AARP Wisconsin has teamed with the AARP Fraud Watch Network for a campaign to educate Wisconsinites about social media hazards and provide information about how they can protect themselves. “Scammers have been using email and telephone calls

Read More »

Walker vetoes move to revamp Transportation Projects Commission

A legislative push to revamp a transportation commission that’s only met six times over the last 17 years was squashed this week by Gov. Scott Walker’s veto pen. The Transportation Projects Commission, which last met Dec. 1, 2014, still lists a former lawmaker among its 15 members. And two legislators

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Wisconsin Voices for Recovery: Lt. Gov Rebecca Kleefisch and Attorney General Brad Schimel to speak at the Rally for Recovery Saturday Sept 23rd

Contact: Wisconsin Voices for Recovery Caroline Miller, Director, 608-977-0673 or cmmiller5@wisc.edu Recovery from mental health and substance use disorders is possible MADISON – Wisconsin Voices for Recovery, with support from Connections Counseling, Stop Heroin Now, and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, will host its fourth annual Rally for Recovery September 23 from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Wisconsin

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