MADISON – The People’s Maps Commission is holding an online virtual public hearing on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2020 to seek input on the redrawing of legislative redistricting maps. The Commission will hear expert testimony from Keith Gaddie and Kenneth Mayer. Gaddie, a voting rights and redistricting expert, is the President’s Associates Presidential Professor at the University of Oklahoma. Mayer, a redistricting expert, is a professor of American politics at the University of Wisconsin – Madison. Gaddie and Mayer, both personally involved in Wisconsin’s 2011 redistricting process, will share their perspectives on what happened in 2011 that resulted in Wisconsin’s current maps. More information

MADISON, Wis. – Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced he is taking action to resolve antitrust concerns raised by the proposed $4.6 billion-dollar merger between Waste Management, Inc. and Advanced Disposal Services Inc.—two of the largest providers of waste disposal and collection services in Wisconsin and throughout the United States. Attorney General Kaul is joined by the U.S. Department of Justice and four other states in the agreement. “Wisconsin DOJ worked together with US DOJ and other states to prevent anticompetitive practices that would affect waste and recycling disposal. Fair competition will help protect consumers and municipalities in Wisconsin from

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway announced today that Reuben Sanon will join her staff as Deputy Mayor. Sanon most recently served as the Communications and Diversity Strategist in the City of Sun Prairie, working closely with neighborhood navigators to engage and empower underserved communities. Previously, he served as a Program Director at the Morgridge Center for Public Service, pairing students with community organizations, creating, managing and maintaining relationships with 90+ community partner organizations across Dane County and presenting at state and national conferences on civic engagement best practices. “Reuben will be a great addition to Team City,” said Mayor Rhodes Conway.

MADISON – For farmers struggling against economic forces and doing everything they can to keep afloat, grassland biodiversity may be the last thing they want to worry about. But expanding crops into grasslands to increase production could further jeopardize their operations’ profitability due to diminished yields, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. And these areas, while generally not well suited for growing crops, are important to the native biodiversity of the Midwest. “Croplands are continuing to expand into grasslands and other natural areas at high rates – over a million acres per year are being converted,” says Tyler Lark, an

MADISON, WI (October 29, 2020) — A multiyear campaign to raise much-needed funding for UW­–Madison priorities has been extended until December 31, 2021, Chancellor Rebecca Blank announced Thursday. The All Ways Forward campaign to benefit UW–Madison was announced publicly more than five years ago and was spearheaded by the Wisconsin Foundation and Alumni Association. The campaign was initially scheduled to come to a close at the end of 2020. Since the beginning of the campaign in 2013, more than 230,000 donors have generously given to UW–Madison, creating 4,487 new scholarships for students; endowing 240 new chairs and professorships; and providing support for

Audio file of address. MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers today delivered the Democratic Radio Address emphasizing the urgent crisis the state of Wisconsin is in with more than 200,000 positive COVID-19 cases and encouraging Wisconsinites to stay home except for essential errands like grocery shopping, picking up medications, and voting. Hello, Wisconsin. Governor Tony Evers here. Earlier this week we saw record daily rates of positive COVID-19 cases, with well over 5,000 new cases and 64 deaths in a single day. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, folks, we are facing an urgent crisis and there is a serious risk

MADISON – A new normal is taking shape as a warming planet is changing hurricane behaviors and patterns. Research over the last decade has shown alarming trends resulting in more destructive hurricanes. Global trends suggest hurricanes are getting stronger, moving more slowly over land, and deviating farther north and south of the equator. With these changes come stronger winds, increased flooding, and risks posed to cities that historically have not been hit by these types of storms. Also known as tropical cyclones or typhoons, hurricanes are low-pressure storm systems that form over warm ocean water and can strengthen to massive

PALMYRA, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), in collaboration with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office (JCSO), seeks the public’s help with information relating to an injury of a horse with a rider along a trail in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest during the afternoon of Wednesday, Oct. 28. During the ride, the rider discovered the horse had an arrow lodged in one of its legs, just above the hoof. The rider was not injured. This occurred south of Palmyra in Jefferson County on state forest land, near Viele Lane. Department staff received the call

Black History Month has been celebrated during the month of February annually since 1976. It is a disservice to not honor black history and culture every month of the year. Our regular K-12 curriculum should include contributions made by black Americans in all fields: business, literature, music, math, science, civics, and government, and not limit it to a single month. It is time to come together, celebrate American accomplishments, and appreciate the diversity of the American experience.   Black is beautiful. Let’s celebrate black culture, honor the black experience, and restore America. Restoration is the act of returning something to

They’re too young to vote but teens are finding a voice in this election! By partnering with Wisconsin Urban Leagues, young people are fueling a social media campaign challenging adults to vote. Diverse teens share their hopes and fears for the future in the #voteforme video series. They speak frankly about racism, gender discrimination and climate change, urging adults to vote on their behalf. All three Wisconsin Urban Leagues have joined forces to give teens a platform to inspire voting. “Now more than ever, it’s critical that we exercise our right to vote. We can’t afford to sit this one