WED PM Update: Kaul argues GOP-controlled Senate lacks authority to confirm or reject WEC administrator

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — Dem AG Josh Kaul opined the GOP-controlled state Senate has no authority to confirm or reject Meagan Wolfe as the state’s top elections officer, and it’s “not a close question under state law.” In a letter to the Leg Council director, Kaul wrote the Senate should drop plans for a Tuesday confirmation hearing on a new … Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me  

Read More »

UW–Milwaukee: UWM Research Foundation awards $180,000 in new Catalyst Grants

MILWAUKEE _ Advancements in electric vehicle battery packs, lithium extraction methods and cancer treatment are among the projects funded through the UWM Research Foundation’s Catalyst Grant program this year.   The program, supported by the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and Clarios, has awarded a total of $180,000 to promising research and development in areas where UWM has the greatest potential to impact the regional economy through commercialization activities. Now in its 16th year, the Catalyst Grant program has awarded over $5.76 million in seed funding for 109 projects. These projects have led to 62 issued patents, 30 license/option agreements

Read More »

Dept. of Natural Resources: Announces four new partnerships to promote hunting, trapping and shooting sports

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the addition of four new partnerships to a growing list of organizations working alongside the DNR to recruit, retain and reactivate (R3) participants in hunting, trapping and shooting sports across Wisconsin. The four new partnerships are with Pheasants Forever, National Deer Association, Raised At Full Draw and Pass it On – Outdoor Mentors. Pheasants Forever – Pheasants Forever’s mission is to conserve pheasants, quail and other wildlife through habitat improvements, public access, education and conservation advocacy. National Deer Association – The National Deer Association strives to provide reliable, science-based information for

Read More »

Wausau Pilot: Statement on anti-SLAPP legislation

Today, Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Sen. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) held a press conference introducing anti-SLAPP legislation they are proposing for Wisconsin. As you may have read in the New York Times and other publications, Wausau Pilot & Review is battling a defamation lawsuit filed in 2021 against the publication, its editor and a reporter for coverage stemming from a Marathon County Board meeting. A judge dismissed the case in April, but Sen. Cory Tomczyk (R-Mosinee) is appealing that decision. More than 30 states have legislation that provide a mechanism for defendants to challenge and dismiss lawsuits that lack substantive legal merit

Read More »

Citizens Utility Board: Heat warning: tips for saving energy while staying cool 

With some of the hottest temperatures to hit Wisconsin in years gripping the state, CUB wants you to be safe, check on your neighbors and try to use energy efficiently as you’re working to stay as cool as possible.  Cities and counties around Wisconsin announced that cooling centers will be open Wednesday to accommodate people who are suffering from the heat. More information is available here, and here, and here. ReadyWisconsin advises to head to a local library or cooling center to get some relief.  For parts of southern Wisconsin, the heat wave is expected to result in the highest temperatures and “feels-like” conditions in

Read More »

SCOWIS: Chief Judge Rossell selected to chair Committee of Chief Judges

Madison, Wisconsin (Aug. 23, 2023) – Second Judicial Administrative District Chief Judge Jason A. Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court, has been selected by his fellow chief judges to serve a one-year term as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges. Rossell replaces former committee chair, Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, Waukesha County Circuit Court. Dorow served the maximum of three two-year terms as a chief judge, including one year as committee chair. Rossell has served on the Kenosha County Circuit Court since first being appointed in 2011. He won election to the bench in 2012 and 2018. He has served as chief judge since

Read More »

Dept. of Workforce Development: July local employment and unemployment data released

MADISON – The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (DWD) today released the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates of unemployment and employment statistics for Wisconsin metropolitan areas, major cities and counties in Wisconsin for July 2023. In brief, the nonseasonally adjusted data for Wisconsin shows: The data included in today’s release can be accessed at WisConomy.com.

Read More »

Sen. Agard, Rep. Anderson: Introduce anti-SLAPP legislation

MADISON – More than 30 other states have enacted anti-SLAPP legislation in order to prevent baseless and frivolous lawsuits with the intention of silencing or intimidating critics, activists, journalists and others. Today, Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard introduced Anti-SLAPP legislation with Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) in light of recent events in Wisconsin. Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Representative Anderson released the following statements: Senator Agard:  “Today, my colleagues and I are introducing legislation that honors the First Amendment and protects the media’s ability to report on matters of public concern without undue legal pressure and extraordinary financial costs

Read More »

Farmers for Sustainable Food: Show water quality improvement from conservation

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Encouraging results from a three-year on-farm sustainability project show that implementation of conservation practices can have a lasting impact on the natural resources of the farm and surrounding areas. Most notable was that 91% of fields in the project have improved water quality by mitigating excess loss of subsurface nitrogen. The multi-farm project in Kewaunee and Door counties analyzed 5,400 acres to demonstrate the impact conservation practices can have on both natural resources and the overall farm productivity. The project includes members from Peninsula Pride Farms, a farmer-led conservation group committed to protecting, nurturing and sustaining

Read More »

Americans for Contraception ads push for codifying right to birth control

The Americans for Contraception Education Fund has launched a new ad campaign in Wisconsin advocating for codifying the right to birth control in federal law. The group said it’s a six-figure buy in Madison, Milwaukee and Green Bay that will run on multiple platforms, including TV and streaming services. The ads run through the end of August. The campaign includes one 15-second video that says debates over fresh vs. fried cheese curds, pitchers vs. pints of beer, and perch or walleye are debates worth having. “But when politicians debate our right to contraception, we have a problem,” the narrator says.

Read More »

Opportunity Wisconsin: President Biden’s economic agenda is already lowering costs and creating jobs for Wisconsinites

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – With national attention on Wisconsin today, Opportunity Wisconsin is highlighting the success of policies that are already supporting working families, growing the middle class, and making our state stronger.  Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation has tried to undermine Democrats’ investments for working families at every turn—from opposing bills like the Inflation Reduction Act to voting to cut IRS funding to crack down on wealthy tax cheats.  “There’s no debate about it, President Biden’s economic agenda is already delivering for Wisconsin. Today, more Wisconsinites are working than ever before, unemployment has reached record lows, and seniors have more money in

Read More »

U.S. Sen. Baldwin: Calls for investigation into energizer merger that paved the way for Wisconsin plant closures

WISCONSIN – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) called on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate and conduct a retrospective analysis of the 2018 Energizer-Spectrum Brands merger, which has led to price hikes for consumers and threatened hundreds of jobs in Wisconsin. Since the merger, Energizer has dominated the battery market, raising prices and announcing their plans to close two plants in Fennimore and Portage, laying off hundreds of Wisconsin union workers. “Following this merger, hundreds of Wisconsinites are now on the cusp of losing a good-paying, union job. Revisiting this merger, on behalf of these workers and the consumers

Read More »

Wausau Pilot: Statement on anti-SLAPP legislation

Today, Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) and Sen. Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) held a press conference introducing anti-SLAPP legislation they are proposing for Wisconsin. As you may have read in the New York Times and other publications, Wausau Pilot & Review is battling a defamation lawsuit filed in 2021 against the publication, its editor

Read More »

SCOWIS: Chief Judge Rossell selected to chair Committee of Chief Judges

Madison, Wisconsin (Aug. 23, 2023) – Second Judicial Administrative District Chief Judge Jason A. Rossell, Kenosha County Circuit Court, has been selected by his fellow chief judges to serve a one-year term as chair of the Committee of Chief Judges. Rossell replaces former committee chair, Judge Jennifer R. Dorow, Waukesha County Circuit Court.

Read More »

Sen. Agard, Rep. Anderson: Introduce anti-SLAPP legislation

MADISON – More than 30 other states have enacted anti-SLAPP legislation in order to prevent baseless and frivolous lawsuits with the intention of silencing or intimidating critics, activists, journalists and others. Today, Senate Democratic Leader Melissa Agard introduced Anti-SLAPP legislation with Representative Jimmy Anderson (D-Fitchburg) in light of recent events

Read More »

Opportunity Wisconsin: President Biden’s economic agenda is already lowering costs and creating jobs for Wisconsinites

MILWAUKEE, Wis. – With national attention on Wisconsin today, Opportunity Wisconsin is highlighting the success of policies that are already supporting working families, growing the middle class, and making our state stronger.  Wisconsin’s Republican congressional delegation has tried to undermine Democrats’ investments for working families at every turn—from opposing bills

Read More »