WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI) has demanded communications and records from accounting firm KPMG LLP regarding its audits of three failed banks—Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank. According to reports, KPMG issued clean audits for each bank in the weeks before the banks failed.   In a letter to KPMG CEO Paul Knopp, PSI Ranking Member Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and Chair Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn) noted that, in the days leading up to these banks’ failures, KPMG had “issued these audits without qualification” and that later, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Federal Reserve

Dr. William Wolf, assistant professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, received a five-year $526,813 CAREER grant from the National Science Foundation to work with undergraduate students on research. The prestigious NSF CAREER grant supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Beginning this summer, Wolf and three student researchers will use the NSF funds to study accreting white dwarf stars, a growing field of astrophysics research. Accreting white dwarfs are what most stars become

MADISON, Wis., – La Follette School of Public Affairs Assistant Professor Lauren Schmitz and her team of researchers were recently awarded a prestigious National Institute on Aging R01 grant for their work on the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health.  The project, “Adversity, Aging and ADRD Risk among the Global Poor: A Biosocial Lifecourse Approach,” is co-directed by Schmitz and Hans-Peter Kohler of the University of Pennsylvania and also includes researchers from the University of Malawi College of Medicine, the Invest In Knowledge Initiative, Princeton University, University of British Columbia, and Columbia University. The Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families

Madison – Representative Shae Sortwell (R-Gibson) released the following statement today regarding the circulation of bipartisan election reform legislation, co-authored with Representatives Ortiz-Velez (D-Milwaukee) and Goeben (R-Hobart) and Senators Cabral- Guevara (R-Appleton), Taylor (D-Milwaukee), and Jacque (R-De Pere): “There has been a lot of contention about elections from both sides for the last few years. To lower the temperature on this debate and offer rational solutions we can all agree on, my colleagues and I are introducing two election reform packages that are not intended to involve partisan politics to ensure that people can partake in fair and secure elections

Madison, WI — State Senator Eric Wimberger (R-Green Bay), issued the following statement after a unanimous Joint Committee on Finance vote to provide $7 million to support the next generation of Wisconsin’s mental health professionals: “I’m happy to have joined Senators Felzkowski and Testin in putting forward a real plan to tackle the mental health provider issue in the state of Wisconsin. The governor’s proposal spent lots of money on programs and services, but our proposal addresses the actual problem – we need more professionals to provide those services. The Medical College of Wisconsin’s program will be targeted at satisfying local community

WISCONSIN–MAY 4–Statement from Tanya Atkinson on hearing on AG lawsuit: “Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin is grateful to Attorney General Josh Kaul for his continued leadership in fighting for reproductive freedom. Wisconsin’s criminal abortion ban and legislative barriers to reproductive freedom harm the ability to provide and receive health care across the state. Today’s hearing is an important step in restoring abortion access. We support all legal and legislative options to restore abortion access in Wisconsin. PPAWI will continue to work with elected leaders who share our values on reproductive health, and PPWI is prepared to resume abortion care if

MADISON, Wis. – Today, Gov. Tony Evers announced four appointments to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) Board, effective May 1, 2023. Two of the appointments are current members of the board, and two are new appointees. Miranda Leis (Cashton) is currently serving as the Senior Director of Dairy Handling and Supply for CROPP Cooperative/Organic Valley. Ms. Leis has been involved in the Wisconsin Farm Bureau at the state and local levels since 2005. She is also involved in her family’s 350 cow dairy operation in Cashton, where she lives with her husband and three active children.​

Today, State Representative Scott Allen (R-Waukesha) and State Senator André Jacque (R-DePere) released LRB-4877, relating to filing a complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC). This bill came about after a constituent investigated and discovered that his 103 year old mother had voted in the November 2020 election despite having previously asked to no longer vote since she could not even recognize family members, much less candidates. After speaking with nursing home management, the constituent was referred to the WEC who then referred them to the Milwaukee District Attorney. At this point, the constituent was informed that they could not

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Pedro Colón announced his candidacy for Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 1. He aims to succeed Court of Appeals Judge Timothy Dugan, who declared he would not be running for re-election. “I am excited to announce my candidacy for the Wisconsin Court of Appeals,” said Judge Pedro Colón. “I have had the honor of serving this community for nearly 25 years as a legislator and a judge, and I am eager to take my experiences to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. I have presided over a broad range of legal matters, ensuring that

MADISON, Wis. – Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) released the following statement: “After several weeks of meetings and negotiations with all parties involved – Democrats, Republicans, towns, villages, cities and counties – we reached a shared revenue proposal we believe the public will support.” “It’s very disappointing to come so close to the finish line only to have the Governor publicly issue veto threats because he wants to spend more money. “The most pressing issue here is the bankruptcy Milwaukee will face if this bill does not pass. This is a disappointing move by Governor

MADISON – Senator Robert Cowles (R-Green Bay) is proud to join Representative Joy Goeben (R-Hobart) for two upcoming listening sessions on Monday, May 8th. The first event will occur at D2 Restaurant in Hobart (located at 530 Larsen Orchard Pkwy.) from 4 PM until 5 PM. The second discussion will be in the Kaukauna Public Library (located at 207 Thilmany Rd.) from 6 PM until 7 PM. Representative Goeben and Senator Cowles have previously held listening sessions in Seymour, Howard, and Little Chute. Representative Goeben and Senator Cowles encourage their constituents in the area to attend these discussions and share

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) joined Democratic and Republican colleagues in introducing the Kids Online Safety Act, comprehensive bipartisan legislation to protect children online and hold Big Tech accountable. “Big Tech has proven time and again that they will put profits ahead of the safety of our kids and we have seen the devastating toll it has taken on our children’s mental and physical well-being,” said Senator Baldwin. “Parents and families are demanding action, and I am proud to introduce this commonsense, bipartisan legislation to protect our kids from the harmful effects of online platforms and ensure parents have the tools

The Dane County Circuit Court heard oral arguments today in Attorney General Josh Kaul’s lawsuit against Wisconsin’s abortion ban. Sheboygan County District Attorney Joel Urmanski is seeking dismissal of the lawsuit on the grounds that the plaintiffs are not threatened by prosecution under the abortion ban; he also states that, contrary to Attorney General Kaul’s statements, the different abortion laws do not conflict. In his press briefing after the arguments were heard, Attorney General Kaul stated that his office is confident in their arguments in the suit. Outside the courthouse this afternoon, Heather Weininger, executive director of Wisconsin Right to