Lawmaker travel saw sharp drop amid pandemic

Today’s Midday podcast covers only 15 state legislators, who last year reported attending conferences or speaking at seminars, a sharp drop from 2019 numbers. The decline in lawmaker travel during the pandemic year was detailed in the 2020 economic interest

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State begins local targeting of COVID-19 vaccinations

Today’s Midday podcast covers vaccinations starting to slow and local county health departments beginning “hand-to-hand combat” to reach herd immunity. For more of the most relevant news on the coronavirus outbreak, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin and links

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Tourism industry faces labor shortage

Today’s Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s tourism hubs, which are expecting a flood of visitors to enjoy the state’s recreation, food and event offerings. But businesses fear they won’t have the staff to accommodate them. wispolitics · Tourism industry faces labor

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New law requires school curriculums to cover Holocaust

Today’s Midday podcast covers Evers approving SB 69, creating Wisconsin Act 30, alongside Jewish community advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The law requires all schools to provide Holocaust instruction to students grades five through eight

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U.S. Senate candidates take aim at Ron Johnson’s seat

Today’s Midday podcast covers Democratic U.S. Senate candidates who want to take control of Johnson’s seat as he nears the end of his second term. At least five Dems have announced bids for the seat, but Johnson hasn’t said whether or not he will run again in 2022. wispolitics ·

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WEDC CEO Missy Hughes says workforce shortage is a complex issue

Today’s Midday podcast covers Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes acknowledging that some businesses are having a hard time finding help but said numbers don’t support the idea that extra unemployment benefits are keeping people out of the workforce. wispolitics · 210601 Final WEDC CEO Missy Hughes

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GOP lawmakers push to ban transgender girls from competing in girl sports

Assembly and Senate committees heard several mostly-Republican backed bills that would ban transgender girls from competing in girl sports in K-12 and collegiate competitions. Supporters say they would protect women athletes while opponents say they would hurt transgender kids. wispolitics · GOP lawmakers push to ban transgender girls from competing

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Republicans and business leaders push to end extended UI payments

Today’s Midday podcast covers Senate Republicans and business owners arguing a bill that would end a federal boost to unemployment benefits would help address the state’s worker shortage. Dems say the workforce shortage was apparent even before the $300 extra payments. wispolitics · Republicans and business leaders push to end

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Lawmaker travel saw sharp drop amid pandemic

Today’s Midday podcast covers only 15 state legislators, who last year reported attending conferences or speaking at seminars, a sharp drop from 2019 numbers. The decline in lawmaker travel during the pandemic year was detailed in the 2020 economic interest statements for all 131 lawmakers who were serving in the

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Congressional delegates divided on fighting in Israel and Palestine

Today’s Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s congressional delegation divisions on the escalating fighting in Israel and Palestine as U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin calls for a ceasefire. GOP U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says Israel has a right to defend itself from Hamas. wispolitics · Congressional delegates divided on fighting in Israel and

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Former Wisconsin congressman joins possible split from GOP

Today’s Midday podcast covers former 8th Congressional District Representative Reid Ribble announcing he will join a group of about 100 former and current elected officials if they create an official breakaway party. They say the new group aims to bring in ‘rational’ conservatives as opposed to the ‘radical’ conservatives who

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Bills advance through Assembly and Senate floor sessions

Today’s Midday podcast covers a sampling of bills making their way through the Legislature. The Senate advanced a series of police reform bills and the Assembly passed bills to make publicly funded sports venues play the national anthem before games and to expand school voucher eligibility. wispolitics · 210512 Final

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State begins local targeting of COVID-19 vaccinations

Today’s Midday podcast covers vaccinations starting to slow and local county health departments beginning “hand-to-hand combat” to reach herd immunity. For more of the most relevant news on the coronavirus outbreak, reports on groundbreaking health research in Wisconsin and links to top stories, sign up today for the free daily

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Tourism industry faces labor shortage

Today’s Midday podcast covers Wisconsin’s tourism hubs, which are expecting a flood of visitors to enjoy the state’s recreation, food and event offerings. But businesses fear they won’t have the staff to accommodate them. wispolitics · Tourism industry faces labor shortage

Read More »

New law requires school curriculums to cover Holocaust

Today’s Midday podcast covers Evers approving SB 69, creating Wisconsin Act 30, alongside Jewish community advocates and state lawmakers from both sides of the aisle. The law requires all schools to provide Holocaust instruction to students grades five through eight once and provide Holocaust instruction again at least once more

Read More »

Evers vetoes GOP’s 11-bill package on COVID relief spending

Today’s Midday podcast covers Gov. Tony Evers veto of 11 GOP-authored bills that would have directed how to spend federal money from the latest COVID-19 relief package, and how he plans to dole out another $420 million of the funds. wispolitics · Evers vetoes GOP’s 11-bill package on COVID relief

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