A newly launched $1 million initiative aims to develop a cohesive strategy for Wisconsin’s forest products industry.  “We want to have a plan for the future, not just respond to what’s happening or what we think will happen,” Wisconsin Paper Council President Scott Suder said yesterday in an interview. “We

A recent survey of Appleton-area companies found access to talent was far and away the biggest challenge associated with doing business in the region.  The Fox Cities Chamber recently released the results of its 2026 Economic Outlook Survey, which revealed the business community in the northeastern Wisconsin region is “cautiously

A speaker from the Wisconsin Bankers Association defended the group’s opposition to digital asset staking legislation, challenging federal guidance on how the technology should be classified.  The bill, from Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevara, R-Fox Crossing, and Rep. Adam Neylon, R-Pewaukee, would specify that digital asset staking and services enabling staking are

A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum lays out options for putting additional funding into child care affordability, from new taxes to cost-sharing arrangements and more.  Most avenues for this support are at the state level, as local governments are relatively limited in their ability to raise additional revenue,

Realta Fusion is nearing a final decision in its site selection process for the planned “Realta Forge,” a dedicated R&D facility for fusion energy development.  The Madison-based startup company recently landed $9.5 million in new financing from a California bank, building on more than $45 million in venture capital investment

Vacancy rates for hospital jobs in Wisconsin have fallen from a recent peak in 2022 but remain well above pre-pandemic levels, a Wisconsin Hospital Association report shows.  The group today is releasing its 2026 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report, which shows the state’s hospital vacancy rate was 7.2% on Sept.

Organizations driving startup growth across Wisconsin are getting $3.5 million in newly announced state funding.  After Gov. Tony Evers referenced the new Ignite Wisconsin funding in his State of the State address Tuesday evening, WEDC yesterday rolled out details for the four consortiums getting support through the program.  The guv

Gov. Tony Evers announced a new state film office in his State of the State speech, along with a tax credit program aimed at boosting the industry in Wisconsin.  With less than 11 months left in office, Evers on Tuesday delivered his final State of the State, which referenced the

Circulating legislation would set new requirements for health insurers while creating a state office tasked with reviewing claim denials, among other responsibilities.  Sen. Dora Drake, D-Milwaukee, and Rep. Clinton Anderson, D-Beloit, recently sent a co-sponsorship memo on LRB-6396, which would establish the Office of the Public Intervenor under the state

Environmental and tribal advocates say they’re weighing next steps after a judge upheld a DNR permit for Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline reroute, while supporters say they’re ready to get to work on the project.  John Petoskey, senior associate attorney for the law firm Earthjustice, argues Wisconsin Administrative Law Judge Angela

— By Ethan Duran A minority contracting program connected to federally supported road projects is making a comeback in Wisconsin. But it may take months for contractors to certify again after a ruling by the U.S. Department of Transportation. And the process so far in Minnesota is spurring complaints that

The state’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund contained more than $2.1 billion at the end of 2025, well above the threshold to maintain the lowest employer tax rate schedule.  The state Department of Workforce Development yesterday issued a financial summary for the UI Trust Fund covering 2025. The fund is made

Wisconsin residents expressed widespread concerns about a proposal before the Public Service Commission creating a new rate class for hyperscale data centers.  Scores of individuals tuned in yesterday for a virtual public comment period on a We Energies’ proposal that would create a new class for so-called “Very Large Customers”

The director of Port Milwaukee says a new shipping industry study will explore ways to move cargo more efficiently and “strengthen our role” in the national freight network.  The American Great Lakes Ports Association recently announced a market analysis study focused on expanding cargo shipping between the Great Lakes and

Backers of an incentive package to draw a German aviation biofuel plant to northern Wisconsin have proposed paring it back to $120 million in state assistance from their original call of $210 million.  Bill sponsor and Senate President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, told WisPolitics that lawmakers dropped a proposed grant that

Legislation to regulate fully autonomous vehicles in Wisconsin came under fire during an Assembly committee hearing, as members of the public raised concerns around safety and reliability.  Meanwhile, authors of AB 848 said Wisconsin is falling behind the dozens of other states with similar regulations on the books.  Rep. Dave

The U.S. economy is at a “major transitional moment” shaped by rapid public policy change and a technological revolution around AI, a Wisconsin economist says.  Mike Knetter is the senior advisor for investments and business development at the Wisconsin Foundation & Alumni Association, and the former dean of the Wisconsin

Milwaukee was ranked near the bottom among 50 U.S. metro areas for the strength of its multifamily housing market, despite a growing renter pool and low vacancy rates.  The ranking comes from Marcus & Millichap’s ‘26 Multifamily National Investment Forecast, which was published yesterday by the national brokerage firm. The

The newly formed Wisconsin-Japan Strategic Investment Partnership aims to help companies in the state benefit from Japan’s pledge to invest $550 billion in the United States.  This commitment was made as part of a trade deal between Japan’s government and the Trump administration, which was struck last summer. Trade officials