2020 continues to deliver revelations, challenges, and opportunities for each and every one of us. Revelations we are still processing from last week’s presidential election, the structural inequities exacerbated by health, economic, and racial justice crises, and the opportunities to alleviate the systemic inequities that continue to leave people of color behind. We know policy matters, now more than ever. Last week Wisconsinites spoke with our votes, our voices. Many of those votes revealed that we have a lot of work ahead of us. Kids Forward is working every single day for racial equity in Wisconsin’s systems and we are

Madison – Rep. Shae Sortwell (R-Gibson), as a member of the Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee and as part of the investigation called for by Speaker Vos, is investigating a pattern of concerns stemming from the City of Green Bay’s handling of the April 7th and November 3rd, 2020 elections. “The Brown County Clerk’s office has raised some serious concerns on how the City of Green Bay has conducted recent elections in a seemingly highly-partisan fashion to the detriment of the democratic system. The citizens of Wisconsin deserve to know what happened, and have a right to free, fair, and

Madison—State Representative Tyler Vorpagel (R-Plymouth) was elected yesterday by his Assembly Republican colleagues to serve as the Assembly Majority Caucus Chair of the Wisconsin State Assembly for the 2021-2022 legislative session.  He released the following statement:   “I’m thankful that my colleagues have put their trust in me and elected me Majority Caucus Chair for the 2021-2022 legislative session.  I’m humbled and look forward to leading our caucus to many successes in the upcoming session.”  

Madison- Senator Bob Wirch (D-Somers) issued the following statement in observance of Veterans Day: “As a veteran of the Army Reserves, I find it important today – and everyday – to honor all of the men and women who have put on a uniform in service of our country, to protect our freedoms and way of life.  Their sacrifices should never be taken for granted, and we owe them a debt of gratitude that can never be fully repaid.”

MADISON– Today, Rep. Melissa Agard Sargent responded with her support for Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide address regarding the COVID-19 pandemic in Wisconsin this evening: “These last several months have been a tumultuous and demanding time for all folks in Wisconsin. As a state, we have faced a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, economic uncertainty, and another election season. These hurdles have no doubt tested our optimism, compassion, and empathy, especially as it relates to fellow Wisconsinites.  “However, as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic continues to surge in our state, we must band together to mitigate the spread of this deadly virus. We all want

Youth sports are not just about fun. Youth sports are important for mental, physical, emotional and social health of our kids. OPEN DANE COUNTY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SCHOOLS Medical Advisory Board recently commented on the state of our kids’ mental health—it is in trouble. One member of our Medical Advisory Board commented that she has diagnosed more Type 2 diabetes in kids this year than in the previous ten years of her practice. School district administrators from around Dane County recently huddled with the County Executive to bemoan the mental health of kids in our County. This is crisis level.

While broadband is nearly universal in Wisconsin cities and villages, there are major disparities in the rural parts of the state, according to a new Forward Analytics report, Broadband in Rural Wisconsin: Identifying Gaps, Highlighting Successes. “Without a doubt broadband access in all corners of our state is crucial for the success of Wisconsin. Over the past two decades, the growing importance of broadband for business, farming, school, and governments has been obvious,” said WCA Forward Analytics Director Dale Knapp. “The COVID-19 pandemic has put an even brighter spotlight on this issue and re-emphasized its critical nature as we face

Horicon Mayor James Grigg was appointed to the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Board of Directors bringing his experience to the statewide governing body. The League serves Wisconsin’s cities and villages, providing advocacy, training and legal services. “Wisconsin villages and cities need an advocate. The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is our advocacy voice.” Grigg joins peers from across the state on the 16-member League Board whose members represent cities and villages both large and small. The League is a membership organization.  Board members are drawn from the 189 cities and 405 villages who belong to the League.  The League’s governing body

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary Mary Kolar invites the people of Wisconsin to join Governor Tony Evers and WDVA in honoring our state’s veterans by participating in Wisconsin’s virtual Veterans Day celebration at www.WisVetsVeteransDay.com. “Each and every one of our heroes who donned the uniform of a Soldier, Marine, Sailor, Airman or Coast Guardsman – whether they served on the beaches of Europe, in the jungles of Asia, in the deserts of the Middle East, or here at home – deserve our gratitude on Veterans Day and every day,” said Sec. Kolar. “While we cannot gather in person this

The third closest Presidential election in Wisconsin in the last twenty years was concluded within about 15 hours of the polls closing on November 3rd. Unofficial results show former Vice President Joe Biden defeating President Donald Trump by 20,539 votes. The official statewide canvass of the votes is currently taking place and must be concluded by November 17th. Then, the Trump campaign can formally request a recount of the votes. Voter turnout in Wisconsin for this election was the highest it has been since 2004 at just over 72 percent. More than 3.2 million of Wisconsin’s 3.6 million registered voters cast

Madison, WI – Following his election to the position of Assistant Majority Leader for the 2021-2022 Legislative Session, Representative Kevin Petersen (R-Waupaca) expressed his utmost appreciation to the Assembly Republican Caucus: “I am humbled and honored for the trust my fellow caucus members have placed in me. I will work alongside each member while advocating on behalf of our caucus.”

By this date in 1990, nearly 220 Wisconsin Army National Guard members had deployed to Saudi Arabia in support of Operation Desert Shield, while as many as 70 Airmen from the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling Wing had been refueling aircraft at home and overseas on a volunteer, rotational basis since early August. Desert Shield was the U.S.-led response to Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait in August 1990. It was also the first time that the National Guard was called to federal service since the Defense Department adopted the Total Force Concept in the early 1970s — and the

Madison – On Tuesday, Representative Beth Meyers (D-Bayfield) was re-elected unanimously by her colleagues to the position of Assembly Democratic Caucus Secretary. Rep. Meyers issued the following statement: “I’m grateful that my colleagues have once again elected me to this position. Throughout my time at the Assembly, I have become a better and more engaged legislator thanks to the faith and support of my fellow Assembly Democrats. I will continue to serve in my role with professionalism and thoughtfulness, and I’m grateful that Northern Wisconsin will be represented on the leadership team. “It has been a tough election season, and