WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Ranking Member of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, sent a letter to Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), demanding information regarding the number of illegal immigrants released into American communities and how many illegal immigrants have been dispersed into the U.S. with a notices to appear, notices to report, and via parole. “Media reports indicate that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is not just releasing illegal aliens into border towns after CBP processing, but rather transporting illegal aliens from the border to cities within the interior of the United States,” the senator

The Wisconsin Board for People with Developmental Disabilities-Living Well project is grateful to the Wisconsin Senate for passing SB395 today.  We especially thank Senator Jacque for his leadership on this bill even during his recovery period.   Wisconsin is one of eight states to receive a five-year federal grant to improve community monitoring and prevent abuse, neglect, and exploitation.  Disability advocates–including the Waisman Center, Disability Rights Wisconsin, and The Arc Wisconsin—are working with Wisconsin Long-Term Care organizations, service providers, and the state to prevent abuse and neglect while also improving the response.  Incidents of abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) is partnering with Pearson Vue to offer the pesticide applicator certification exam online. The online exam includes a $45 convenience fee that is paid entirely to Pearson Vue. DATCP will continue to offer a paper exam at no charge. Commercial and private pesticide applicators can take the online exam either in-person at one of 54 testing centers and tech colleges in Wisconsin, or proctored through a personal computer that includes a web-enabled camera and broadband internet. Those who take the exam online will receive their results immediately, along with their

MADISON… To help train skilled workers desperately needed by Wisconsin employers, the State Senate today cleared a measure extending the deductibility of postsecondary tuition to apprenticeship instruction.  The bill is also expected to pass the Assembly tomorrow and may soon be on Gov. Evers’ desk. State Sen. André Jacque (R- De Pere), co-author of the Workforce and Education Fairness Act with State Rep. Shannon Zimmerman (R-River Falls), said the legislation levels the education playing field by addressing a significant financial barrier to these skilled trade careers. “In 2019, manufacturing workers averaged $74,252 in compensation, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM),” Sen.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Wisconsin Veterans Chamber of Commerce will welcome veterans and community groups from around Wisconsin to celebrate Veterans Day in downtown Milwaukee with the revival of the annual Veterans Day Parade and new Veterans Day Festival, the organization announced Monday. Wisconsin’s largest Veterans Day celebration will take to the streets of historic downtown Milwaukee on Saturday, November 6 at 11:00 AM. The return of the Veterans Day Parade will once again delight spectators with its signature mix of fantastic floats, displays of patriotism and military equipment, and the one-and-only Santa Claus. The inaugural Veterans Day Festival will follow the parade featuring

MADISON – Last week, the non-partisan Legislative Audit Bureau (LAB) released their comprehensive audit of the November 2020 election and election administration in Wisconsin. After a thorough review and conversations with colleagues, Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg), Senate President Chris Kapenga (R-Delafield), and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dan Feyen (R-Fond du Lac) issued the following statement: Since the start of this session, the State Senate resolved to take a deliberate and evidence-based approach to addressing allegations of problems within election administration in Wisconsin. In addition to passing numerous election reforms which were vetoed by Governor Evers, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee authorized a comprehensive

MADISON, WI – Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) issued the following statement in response to the Legislative Audit Bureau’s (LAB’s) release of audit results on “Election Administration.”  The results of this audit were released on Friday, October 22, 2021. “I am currently reviewing the audit report which made 30 recommendations, including 18 items that may involve legislation. We have taken action on a number of these items in legislation that has already been vetoed by Governor Tony Evers, but we will consider our options. The Joint Audit Committee, of which I am a member, will hold a hearing with the

JOHNSON CREEK, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the department awarded a Brownfields Grant to the Village of Johnson Creek. The financial award is from the DNR’s Wisconsin Assessment Monies program, which provides contractor services worth up to $35,000 for the environmental assessment and cleanup of eligible brownfields sites. Brownfields are abandoned, idle and underused commercial or industrial properties where reuse is stalled by potential contamination. Brownfields vary in size, location, age and past use; they can be anything from a 500-acre former automobile assembly plant to a small, abandoned gas station. The grant awarded to the Village

MILWAUKEE – County Supervisor Ryan Clancy has introduced 24 amendments to the 2022 Milwaukee County Recommended Budget, each of which moves funding from the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) into human needs and infrastructure. “Decades of data show that continuing to spend on policing instead of human needs does not make our community better or safer,” said Supervisor Clancy. “In committee meetings, surveys, and open houses, Milwaukee County residents have made clear that they support moving money away from ineffective, punitive measures and upstream into parks, housing, and economic equity. These amendments move our budget closer to that vision.” The package