
James N. Fitzhenry: Mayor Ted Neitzke says data center will be transformational
Deadline for mayor recall brings data center debate to head.
Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
Submit columns for consideration to wisopinion@wispolitics.com

Deadline for mayor recall brings data center debate to head.

Tech companies have hidden their identity and environmental impacts with anonymous LLCs, non-disclosure agreements and claims of trade secrecy. This secrecy has eroded public trust and undermined democratic decision-making.

What happens next will be determined less by national rhetoric and more by decisions made at the Public Service Commission, in county zoning hearings and in legislative debates at the Capitol. The federal rollback raises real risks, but it also clarifies where leadership is needed most: here at home.

New polling shows Wisconsinites are skeptical of the Legislature’s current plan, and for good reason.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay wages based on an individual’s productivity when a disability significantly limits the ability to perform job tasks at a typical pace. The point of 14(c) isn’t the wage — it’s the opportunity. It opens the door to work for people who would otherwise be shut out entirely.

The suffering of women and girls, from across the globe, can never be dismissed as a mere “distraction.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” But the Republican from Oshkosh shows few signs that he takes seriously what is supposed to be a solemn commitment.

Gov. Tony Evers and our state legislators should not be afraid of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. It’s high time that our state joins most other states in adopting it.

Before you can do anything, help anyone, you have to, you know, actually win elections. Sounding more like Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff might help.

The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss how the 2026 legislative elections will shape plans to spend Wisconsin’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.

Bills being proposed in the Wisconsin State Legislature would have far-reaching impact on the right to free speech.

In Wisconsin, we took power out of the hands of big government special interests and returned it to the hardworking taxpayers and the people they elected to run their schools and local governments.

The latest version of the Legislature’s PFAS legislation exempts certain local governmental entities while leaving manufacturers and other private businesses fully subject to strict liability, raising serious equal protection concerns.

Bill that impacts FoodShare raises concerns about food access and may even expand growing food deserts in our area.

The longer we pretend this city is a progressive haven, the more people will be harmed.

Envious Madison is determined to stumble in the footsteps of Jacob Frey, the preening mayor of Minneapolis.

The social issues that hurt Democrats are on a cold back burner. Try as they might to change the subject, there’s no reason to think the Republicans can do much of anything to save themselves this November.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth believes he is fighting old warrior wars — no need for those who have more brains than brawn.

Does stunning change in voters’ preferences foretell fall election results?

Electing a statewide schools chief may have reflected good governance a century ago. Today it looks more like a constitutional artifact.

Deadline for mayor recall brings data center debate to head.

Tech companies have hidden their identity and environmental impacts with anonymous LLCs, non-disclosure agreements and claims of trade secrecy. This secrecy has eroded public trust and undermined democratic decision-making.

What happens next will be determined less by national rhetoric and more by decisions made at the Public Service Commission, in county zoning hearings and in legislative debates at the Capitol. The federal rollback raises real risks, but it also clarifies where leadership is needed most: here at home.

New polling shows Wisconsinites are skeptical of the Legislature’s current plan, and for good reason.

Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act allows employers to pay wages based on an individual’s productivity when a disability significantly limits the ability to perform job tasks at a typical pace. The point of 14(c) isn’t the wage — it’s the opportunity. It opens the door to work for people who would otherwise be shut out entirely.

The suffering of women and girls, from across the globe, can never be dismissed as a mere “distraction.”

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” But the Republican from Oshkosh shows few signs that he takes seriously what is supposed to be a solemn commitment.

Gov. Tony Evers and our state legislators should not be afraid of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance working definition of antisemitism. It’s high time that our state joins most other states in adopting it.

Before you can do anything, help anyone, you have to, you know, actually win elections. Sounding more like Georgia Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff might help.

The WisOpinion Insiders, Chvala and Jensen, discuss how the 2026 legislative elections will shape plans to spend Wisconsin’s $2.5 billion budget surplus. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Counties Association and the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership.

Bills being proposed in the Wisconsin State Legislature would have far-reaching impact on the right to free speech.

In Wisconsin, we took power out of the hands of big government special interests and returned it to the hardworking taxpayers and the people they elected to run their schools and local governments.

The latest version of the Legislature’s PFAS legislation exempts certain local governmental entities while leaving manufacturers and other private businesses fully subject to strict liability, raising serious equal protection concerns.

Bill that impacts FoodShare raises concerns about food access and may even expand growing food deserts in our area.

The longer we pretend this city is a progressive haven, the more people will be harmed.

Envious Madison is determined to stumble in the footsteps of Jacob Frey, the preening mayor of Minneapolis.

The social issues that hurt Democrats are on a cold back burner. Try as they might to change the subject, there’s no reason to think the Republicans can do much of anything to save themselves this November.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth believes he is fighting old warrior wars — no need for those who have more brains than brawn.

Does stunning change in voters’ preferences foretell fall election results?

Electing a statewide schools chief may have reflected good governance a century ago. Today it looks more like a constitutional artifact.