THU PM Update: WBA Foundation rescinds offer to host primary debates for guv, U.S. Senate

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The WBA Foundation this afternoon withdrew its offer to host debates featuring Dem guv hopefuls and GOP contenders for the U.S. Senate following an outcry over its decision to limit both to four candidates. The decision comes after the foundation faced backlash from Dem guv candidates and groups, among others, over the proposed … 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 Me     Forgot Password

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WBA drops plans for Dem guv, GOP U.S. Senate primary debates amid outcry over criteria

The WBA Foundation has withdrawn its offer to host debates featuring Dem guv hopefuls and GOP contenders for the U.S. Senate following an outcry over its decision to limit both to four candidates. The decision comes after the foundation faced backlash from Dem guv candidates and groups, among others, over the proposed criteria as well as limiting the field to four for the planned July 27 debate considering there are 10 people in the field. The GOP primary debate had been planned for July 21. The original criteria included using the Marquette University Law School Poll to winnow the field,

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WisDems: Voters focused on health care as Vukmir and Nicholson propose spiking consumer costs

Contact: Brad Bainum, bradb@wisdems.org Americans Rank Health Care as Top Issue, Oppose Vukmir and Nicholson Plans to Increase Premiums MADISON — A new poll finds that health care is Americans’ top issue heading into the 2018 election. That’s bad news for Republican U.S. Senate candidates Leah Vukmir and Kevin Nicholson, who are pushing extreme health care plans that would jack up premiums and strip care away from millions of Americans.  According to a newly-released NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 38 percent of voters say health care is either their first or second most important issue, heading into November’s election — while 22

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UW-Madison: UW spinoffs win awards, including top honor, at Governor’s Business Plan Contest

CONTACT: Mehrdad Arjmand, mehrdad@novomoto.net, 608-628-5068 DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: https://uwmadison.box.com/v/2018-gov-biz-plan MADISON – A University of Wisconsin-Madison spinoff won the grand prize and three others won top awards in their categories in the 15th annual Governor’s Business Plan Contest on Wednesday. The grand prize went to NovoMoto, a social enterprise company that packages and sells solar lighting systems under an innovative rent-to-own program in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The lights replace expensive kerosene lighting, said co-founder Mehrdad Arjmand in accepting the award. NovoMoto also snagged the business services category award. The contest was organized by the Wisconsin Technology Council and sponsored by a wide range

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Wisconsin Election Integrity: Citizens call on WEC: Bring election auditing to Wisconsin in 2018

Contact: Karen McKim, 608-212-5079 or Liz Whitlock, 262-705-5486 Waunakee, WI – A nonpartisan citizens’ group is asking the Wisconsin Elections Commission to require prompt voting-machine audits after this year’s elections. “Even if the WEC orders timely audits, Wisconsin’s election security will still lag many other states,” explained Karen McKim, the group’s spokesperson. “But would-be hackers will be put on notice that they might get caught before any winners are officially declared. That’s an improvement over what we have now.” Wisconsin has the paper ballots needed for audits, and state law has required that voting-machine audits follow November general elections since

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Speaker Ryan: Statement on White House initiative to fight youth opioid abuse

CONTACT  AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the following statement on the White House’s new initiative to combat the opioid epidemic with a focus on educating young Americans about the dangers of opioid use and addiction: “The opioid epidemic has no boundaries—it has brought harrowing losses to our communities and has cut short too many futures. We are resolute in the fight against this scourge, and with this new initiative to better educate young people about the realities and dangers of opioids, more lives can be saved. The measures the House will begin considering next week continue our

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UW System: Students applying to UW System two-year campuses have application fees waived

CONTACT:  Heather LaRoi, Interim Director of Communications universityrelations@uwsa.edu or 608-263-1700 One-time waiver is intended to encourage more students to apply to college  University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross announced today that application fees will be waived, effective immediately and through Sept. 7, for students applying to any of the 13 two-year UW Colleges campuses for the upcoming fall 2018 term. This is when the largest volume of applications to the UW Colleges are usually submitted. “Waiving the application fee demonstrates our continued commitment to the access and affordability mission of these campuses,” said President Cross. “During the transitional period of our

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Midwest Energy Research Consortium: Labs graduate NovoMoto wins Governor’s Business Plan Award

Contact: Joshua Morby 414.791.9120 jmorby@m-werc.org Rural electricity startup selected from among 12 finalists MILWAUKEE – Midwest Energy Research Consortium WERCBench Labs graduate NovoMoto was presented with the Governor’s Business Plan Contest award by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the 16th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference Wednesday in Madison. NovoMoto, a graduate of the WERCBench Labs program, provides clean electricity for off-grid rural communities and remote villages in sub-Saharan Africa. A for-profit social enterprise, NovoMoto’s stand-alone solar-powered systems are cheaper, more efficient, and cleaner than the kerosene and diesel currently used in these communities. “M-WERC congratulates NovoMoto for its innovative vision and entrepreneurial spirit and

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Speaker Ryan: Legislation to fight MS-13 heads to president’s desk

CONTACT  AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—A bill to help communities take on violent gangs like MS-13 heads to the president’s desk after being signed today by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Authored by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act makes more resources available to state and local law enforcement agencies working to curb the rise in gang activity and violence. The measure passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Rep. Comstock joined Speaker Ryan for today’s signing, along with House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA). Speaker Ryan: “This is about protecting our communities. These gangs prey on young people

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University Relations: Regents call for UW System to develop more robust policies to safeguard against sexual harassment

Changes to hiring, reference check policies will be considered MILWAUKEE – The Board of Regents unanimously approved a resolution today calling for University of Wisconsin System to develop or modify certain human resources policies to ensure more robust hiring and reference check processes related to sexual harassment be implemented at all UW System institutions. “The board has a paramount responsibility to ensure the safety of our students and our employees at every institution. We will work closely with Governor Walker – who has rightly called on us to take action – and his administration to find uniform standards in alignment

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UW-Madison: UW spinoffs win awards, including top honor, at Governor’s Business Plan Contest

CONTACT: Mehrdad Arjmand, mehrdad@novomoto.net, 608-628-5068 DOWNLOAD PHOTOS: https://uwmadison.box.com/v/2018-gov-biz-plan MADISON – A University of Wisconsin-Madison spinoff won the grand prize and three others won top awards in their categories in the 15th annual Governor’s Business Plan Contest on Wednesday. The grand prize went to NovoMoto, a social enterprise company that packages and sells solar

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Speaker Ryan: Statement on White House initiative to fight youth opioid abuse

CONTACT  AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) released the following statement on the White House’s new initiative to combat the opioid epidemic with a focus on educating young Americans about the dangers of opioid use and addiction: “The opioid epidemic has no boundaries—it has brought harrowing losses

Read More »

UW System: Students applying to UW System two-year campuses have application fees waived

CONTACT:  Heather LaRoi, Interim Director of Communications universityrelations@uwsa.edu or 608-263-1700 One-time waiver is intended to encourage more students to apply to college  University of Wisconsin System President Ray Cross announced today that application fees will be waived, effective immediately and through Sept. 7, for students applying to any of the 13 two-year

Read More »

Midwest Energy Research Consortium: Labs graduate NovoMoto wins Governor’s Business Plan Award

Contact: Joshua Morby 414.791.9120 jmorby@m-werc.org Rural electricity startup selected from among 12 finalists MILWAUKEE – Midwest Energy Research Consortium WERCBench Labs graduate NovoMoto was presented with the Governor’s Business Plan Contest award by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker at the 16th annual Wisconsin Entrepreneurs Conference Wednesday in Madison. NovoMoto, a graduate of the WERCBench

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Speaker Ryan: Legislation to fight MS-13 heads to president’s desk

CONTACT  AshLee Strong, Doug Andres 202-225-0600 WASHINGTON—A bill to help communities take on violent gangs like MS-13 heads to the president’s desk after being signed today by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI). Authored by Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-VA), the Project Safe Neighborhoods Grant Program Authorization Act makes more resources available to state and local law

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