MADISON, Wis. — While the far-right candidates in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court have been careful about getting too specific on the issues, new reporting this month provided some clarity into how the two Republican-backed candidates might come down on critical issues before the Court, including Wisconsin’s 1849 criminal abortion ban and common sense gun safety reforms. Both Jennifer Dorow and Dan Kelly are unabashed in their allegiances to the extreme right. On her judicial application to Scott Walker in 2011, Dorow boasted of her “strong conservative values” and named Lawrence v. Texas, the United State Supreme Court decision that decriminalized

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman Glenn Grothman (WI-06) has introduced the Workplace Choice and Flexibility for Individuals with Disabilities Act, a bill that will significantly increase career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. This legislation is endorsed by A-Team USA, a grassroots organization that advocates for individuals with disabilities. “With this legislation, individuals with disabilities will once again be able to go to their state vocational rehabilitation agency and be referred to a job or vocational training opportunity that fits their needs,” said Grothman. “Yael Kerzan is a young woman from my district who was helped by this referral program before Congress changed the rules.

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – Judge Janet Protasiewicz’s campaign for Wisconsin Supreme Court announced today that she has earned the endorsement of AFSCME Wisconsin. “AFSCME Wisconsin members go to work every single day to serve the public. We depend upon a political and judicial system that works with integrity and fairness so that our communities can depend upon us when they are in need,” said Paul Spink, AFSCME Wisconsin President. “Judge Janet is clearly the best choice to help restore those qualities to a dysfunctional Supreme Court and we are honored to support her in this race.” Judge Protasiewicz has consolidated support

CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. — At least one Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldier is a fan of the winter weather at Northern Strike, the country’s largest National Guard Bureau-sponsored military exercise. “I like Michigan a lot,” said 1st Lt. Andrew Henderson, a fire support officer with the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment. “Being from Wisconsin, I am more inclined to the northern weather. I enjoy training up here rather than the warmer climate.” And the cold weather is the point. This iteration of Northern Strike 23-1 — the exercise is conducted in both winter and summer at Northern Michigan’s National All-Domain

WASHINGTON – On Monday, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) joined U.S. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and eight of their colleagues in reintroducing the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act of 2023, which would take government shutdowns off the table and force Congress to stay in town until their work is complete. Background First introduced in February 2019, the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act requires all Members of Congress to stay in Washington, DC and work until the spending bills are complete. This will prevent a government-wide shutdown, continue critical services and operations for Americans, and limit harm to federal workers

MADISON – The Department of Workforce Development (DWD) is reminding state residents who received Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits last year that they must report UI benefits as taxable income on their 2022 tax returns, and that their 1099-G income tax statements for the year are easily accessible through UI’s secure and confidential online system. Unemployment benefits including Federal Pandemic Unemployment Compensation, Pandemic Unemployment Assistance, Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation, Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation, Lost Wages Assistance, and Extended Benefits are considered taxable income for both federal and state income taxes. The 1099-G form shows the amount of UI benefits a claimant

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) today announced it has entered into a consent order with Nexo Inc. and Nexo Capital Inc. (Nexo) to resolve the DFI’s November 3, 2022, securities enforcement action in connection with Nexo’s Earn Interest Product program. Nexo, formed in 2018 in the Cayman Islands, provides crypto-asset-related financial services, including investing, trading, borrowing, and lending, to retail and institutional customers in the United States. The Earn Interest Product program offered investors interest-bearing crypto asset accounts commonly referred to as “crypto interest accounts.” A North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) working group—composed of the DFI and state

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced the appointment of Lara Sutherlin to lead the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) Division of Legal Services (DLS) and Shira Phelps to lead DOJ’s Office of Crime Victim Services (OCVS). “Administrator Sutherlin and Director-designee Phelps will be outstanding leaders of DOJ’s Division of Legal Services and Office of Crime Victim Services,” said Attorney General Kaul. “I’m thankful they are rejoining DOJ to serve in these important roles as we continue working to protect the public and ensure that justice is done.” New OCVS Executive Director Shira Phelps has spent over

The Dane County Regional Housing Strategy is asking residents across Dane County to participate in its Community Housing Survey between now and February 9 to share their thoughts on housing access and affordability. “By completing this survey, residents can let their voice be heard and help the Dane County Regional Housing Strategy gather the information it needs to help improve housing access and affordability in our community. We encourage everyone to participate,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. A significant shortfall of housing units available within the Dane County area has resulted in an unhealthy housing market—a challenge compounded by

MADISON – Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) Secretary Emilie Amundson today announced new appointments to her leadership team. Priya Bhatia has been named the administrator of the Division of Early Care and Education. Bhatia has served as the policy initiatives advisor in DCF’s Division of Early Care and Education since 2020. Since joining DCF, she has played a key role in furthering the division’s vision of expanding access to affordable, quality early care and education that meets the needs of all Wisconsin families. She also has led policy and programs for numerous initiatives funded through pandemic relief dollars, including