Today’s Midday podcast covers a Waukesha businessman who co-founded the non-partisan group Democracy Found and why he thinks ranked-choice voting in Wisconsin could help restore a “functional democracy.” wispolitics · Advocates push for ranked choice voting in Wisconsin congressional elections

Today’s Midday podcast covers Association President and CEO Kristine Hillmer speaking as a panelist on the latest WisBusiness.com virtual luncheon “Hospitality industry stirs after year of COVID.” The lunch hour event featured Wisconsin’s eatery and alehouse leaders a year after the economy shut down as a result of the COVID-19

Today’s Midday podcast covers approval of a new Ho-Chunk casino in Beloit. Ho-Chunk Nation Vice President Karena Thundercloud said it was “almost surreal” to hear Gov. Tony Evers had signed off on the tribe’s proposal for a Beloit casino after dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic upending daily life for more

Today’s Midday podcast covers Assembly approved bills that would stop the state from requiring residents get vaccinated against the novel coronavirus and its mutations, ban health officials from prohibiting public gatherings in places of religious worship, prohibit employers from requiring workers to get vaccinated and require Gov. Tony Evers to

Today’s Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers saying better data on COVID-19 infections and deaths in nursing homes would not have changed precautions or vaccine rollout plans.

Today’s Midday podcast covers concerns from GOP congressmen over the delay in COVID-19 infection and death statistics from Wisconsin nursing homes, comparing the state’s nursing home situation to New York’s. Those congressmen also voiced concerns about nursing home residents receiving their second vaccine dose in a reasonable amount of time.

Today’s Midday podcast covers’ a DC Wrap interview with UW-Milwaukee political science Prof. Mordecai Lee where he talks about the divide within the GOP between those who support Donald Trump and those who oppose him likely dominating congressional politics in Wisconsin. wispolitics · Wisconsin Republicans in Congress will likely continue

Today’s Midday podcast covers the Assembly’s voice vote on allowing bars and restaurants to sell mixed drinks in to-go cups to be consumed off the premises. wispolitics · Assembly approves bill to allow to-go cups of alcohol from bars and restaurants, sends to Senate  

Today’s Midday podcast covers Wisconsin in 2020 shattering the record for most firearm background checks, an indicator the year of the COVID-19 pandemic also marked a huge year for gun sales. wispolitics · Spike in state background checks highlights 2020 boost in firearm interest  

Today’s Midday podcast covers new FEMA coordination of staffing support to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Wisconsin has committed to providing at least 7,000 weekly vaccine doses from the state’s allocation for the site. wispolitics · Mass vaccination site in Milwaukee gets a federal boost

Today’s Midday podcast covers Milwaukee Public Schools’ plan to reopen for in-person classes, teachers’ union president’s call for more safety measures and the City of Madison’s new violence prevention plan. wispolitics · Milwaukee teachers’ union president, Madison violence prevention plan on ‘UpFront’  

Today’s Midday podcast covers state superintendent candidates disagreeing during a forum on tying pandemic-related school funding to opening schools for in-person classes as well as politics in the race and a freeze on vouchers. wispolitics · Superintendent candidates disagree over tying increases in school funding to in-person instruction

Today’s Midday podcast covers the American Rescue Plan Act, which President Biden just signed into law, as well as the House 220-211 vote to pass it. Dems supported the bill while Republicans voted against it. wispolitics · Biden sign the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill after a House vote  

Today’s Midday podcast covers Republican lawmakers’ call for the Green Bay mayor to resign and an investigation into the November election because of concerns over how that election was handled in Green Bay and other municipalities. wispolitics · GOP lawmakers call for Green Bay mayor to resign, investigation November election

Today’s Midday podcast covers the U.S. Supreme Court today declining, without comment, to hear former President Trump’s appeal of a 7th Circuit ruling rejecting his attempt to overturn Wisconsin’s election results both on the merits and because it was filed too late. wispolitics · U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear

Today’s Midday podcast covers GOP legislation to change state election laws. A Republican senator says he’s trying to preserve integrity in elections, while a Dem senator calls it an attempt at voter suppression. wispolitics · Agard, Stroebel debate GOP election bills on ‘UpFront’  

Today’s Midday podcast covers the Legislature’s top Dem leaders in a WisPolitics.com luncheon who voiced support for Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposals to raise the minimum wage and allow for expanded local sales taxes. wispolitics · Dem leaders back sales tax options for locals, minimum wage hike

Today’s Midday podcast covers the arrival of a new single dose vaccine from Johnson & Johnson and what that means for Wisconsin’s vaccination effort and COVID-19 caseload. wispolitics · Johnson & Johnson vaccine brings more doses as COVID-19 cases fall  

Today’s Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers’ budget provision that doesn’t envision closing the state’s troubled youth prisons in northern Wisconsin until after a new juvenile facility in Milwaukee would be completed in early 2024. wispolitics · Lincoln Hills wouldn’t close until ‘24 under Evers budget

Today’s Midday podcast covers the candidates for state schools superintendent clash over voucher schools and their own district leadership during the pandemic In an “UpFront” TV appearance. wispolitics · State superintendent candidates butt heads on ‘UpFront’