Visit WisPolitics-State Affairs for premium content,
keyword notifications, bill tracking and more
State utility regulators rejected a proposal that would have required ratepayers to share the cost of new power plants built for data centers. Data centers in We Energies’ coverage area will instead be expected to pay the whole cost of
A $30 million U.S. Navy contract recently awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine will lay the groundwork for building four or more new landing vessels at its shipyards in the state. The company last week announced the contract for materials procurement
Dane County’s housing market is facing slower inventory growth and faster price increases than expected, according to an analysis from Stark County Realtors CEO David Stark. “Only three months into the new year we’ve already had more curve balls thrown
The proposed Hiawatha West extension of Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison would result in more than $20 million in projected visitor spending based on ridership forecasts. That’s according to Arun Rao, senior director of network development for Amtrak, who
The co-chair of the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council is calling for a unified long-term approach to growing the state’s defense sector, arguing “we’ve got to prove ourselves” to improve Wisconsin’s standing. Maj. Gen. Ernie Litynski, who’s also president of RBP
The Wisconsin Policy Forum is proposing a new joint commission to assess property in Milwaukee County, which could lead to more “timely, accurate and uniform” assessments and other benefits with a trade-off of higher costs. That’s according to the group’s
A Wisconsin ratepayer advocacy group says We Energies’ proposed “very large customer” rate for data centers could shield other customers from cost increases, though it’s calling for several changes to the plan. Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Tom Content yesterday
Gov. Tony Evers has signed into law a bipartisan compromise to combat PFAS contamination, capping a yearslong standoff with the Legislature and opening the door for new aid for Wisconsinites tackling the “forever chemicals.” Evers and lawmakers have been working
This year’s spring cohort for the gBETA Madison startup accelerator includes companies developing at-home health tests, manufacturing technologies, health care operations software and more. Organizers for the program recently announced the five startup companies chosen for the free, seven-week experience,
By Larry Sandler For WisBusiness.com Jim Doyle still dreams of what might have been. The former Wisconsin Democratic governor backs a revived plan to extend Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison. But he bemoans the loss of the more extensive
While Wisconsin gas prices remain lower than the national average, they’ve jumped by nearly a third over the past month amid the conflict in Iran. The state Department of Revenue’s latest economic update report shows retail prices of gasoline in
More than 20,000 international cruise ship passengers are expected to visit Milwaukee this year as Great Lakes tourism continues to expand in the region. That’s according to the former head of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Adam
Gov. Tony Evers has signed into law dozens of changes to worker’s compensation in the state, from expanding PTSD coverage for some first responders to boosting certain disability benefit rates. The Dem guv yesterday signed AB 651 at the Wisconsin
Federal changes to wage rates under the H-2A migrant labor program are expected to lower costs for employers in Wisconsin and elsewhere, though advocates are raising concerns about the impact on workers whose pay will drop dramatically. Most of the
Milwaukee-based global staffing firm ManpowerGroup has issued a new challenge for startups, seeking AI-based tech that spurs cooperation with workers. The company recently launched its 2026 VivaTech Startup Challenge, called Human First, Digital Always: Redefining the Future of Work. It’s
Energy consumers are bearing the brunt of the economic impact from the war in Iran, a panel of experts agreed, while natural gas producers and oil-producing U.S. states are expected to see some benefit. Speaking yesterday during a WisPolitics-State Affairs
Dozens of B&G Foods workers in Stoughton have voted to strike as the employer is “refusing to agree to a fair deal” amid contract negotiations, a union spokesperson said. Teamsters Local 120 yesterday announced members voted to go on strike
Recent federal changes have expanded housing tax credit programs that drive low-income rental developments in Milwaukee, but rising costs are holding back affordable housing growth in Wisconsin’s largest city. That’s one conclusion from the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s latest report, which
Businesses in Wisconsin are “prioritizing efficiency and productivity” over hiring amid a tight labor market and tepid state-level economic growth. That’s according to a new state business outlook report released today by BMO Bank, featuring insights from Dave Anderson, head
By Brian E. Clark, for WisBusiness.com Brian Clark is a Madison-based writer and photographer who also contributes to the LA Times and Chicago Tribune. — For someone who savors plot twists, pro football player James Daniels couldn’t have predicted the
State utility regulators rejected a proposal that would have required ratepayers to share the cost of new power plants built for data centers. Data centers in We Energies’ coverage area will instead be expected to pay the whole cost of new “bespoke” power generation built to serve the energy-guzzling facilities,
A $30 million U.S. Navy contract recently awarded to Fincantieri Marinette Marine will lay the groundwork for building four or more new landing vessels at its shipyards in the state. The company last week announced the contract for materials procurement and engineering activities for these first four ships out of
Dane County’s housing market is facing slower inventory growth and faster price increases than expected, according to an analysis from Stark County Realtors CEO David Stark. “Only three months into the new year we’ve already had more curve balls thrown our way than we normally get in a full year,”
The proposed Hiawatha West extension of Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison would result in more than $20 million in projected visitor spending based on ridership forecasts. That’s according to Arun Rao, senior director of network development for Amtrak, who discussed the proposed project’s status during a recent public webinar.
The co-chair of the Wisconsin Defense Industry Council is calling for a unified long-term approach to growing the state’s defense sector, arguing “we’ve got to prove ourselves” to improve Wisconsin’s standing. Maj. Gen. Ernie Litynski, who’s also president of RBP Chemical Technology, spoke yesterday during a WisPolitics-State Affairs-UW-Milwaukee event in
The Wisconsin Policy Forum is proposing a new joint commission to assess property in Milwaukee County, which could lead to more “timely, accurate and uniform” assessments and other benefits with a trade-off of higher costs. That’s according to the group’s latest report on this topic, which notes Wisconsin is the
A Wisconsin ratepayer advocacy group says We Energies’ proposed “very large customer” rate for data centers could shield other customers from cost increases, though it’s calling for several changes to the plan. Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Tom Content yesterday weighed in on the utility company’s proposal during a panel
Gov. Tony Evers has signed into law a bipartisan compromise to combat PFAS contamination, capping a yearslong standoff with the Legislature and opening the door for new aid for Wisconsinites tackling the “forever chemicals.” Evers and lawmakers have been working toward a compromise on PFAS since the Legislature first set
This year’s spring cohort for the gBETA Madison startup accelerator includes companies developing at-home health tests, manufacturing technologies, health care operations software and more. Organizers for the program recently announced the five startup companies chosen for the free, seven-week experience, which aims to prepare entrepreneurs for participating in equity-based accelerators
By Larry Sandler For WisBusiness.com Jim Doyle still dreams of what might have been. The former Wisconsin Democratic governor backs a revived plan to extend Amtrak service from Milwaukee to Madison. But he bemoans the loss of the more extensive plan he championed 16 years ago. In January 2010, Doyle’s
While Wisconsin gas prices remain lower than the national average, they’ve jumped by nearly a third over the past month amid the conflict in Iran. The state Department of Revenue’s latest economic update report shows retail prices of gasoline in Wisconsin averaged $3.62 per gallon on Tuesday, below the national
More than 20,000 international cruise ship passengers are expected to visit Milwaukee this year as Great Lakes tourism continues to expand in the region. That’s according to the former head of the Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation, Adam Tindall-Schlicht, who addressed members of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee
Gov. Tony Evers has signed into law dozens of changes to worker’s compensation in the state, from expanding PTSD coverage for some first responders to boosting certain disability benefit rates. The Dem guv yesterday signed AB 651 at the Wisconsin State Council of Machinists Annual Conference, his office announced. The
Federal changes to wage rates under the H-2A migrant labor program are expected to lower costs for employers in Wisconsin and elsewhere, though advocates are raising concerns about the impact on workers whose pay will drop dramatically. Most of the workers coming to Wisconsin under the program could see their
Milwaukee-based global staffing firm ManpowerGroup has issued a new challenge for startups, seeking AI-based tech that spurs cooperation with workers. The company recently launched its 2026 VivaTech Startup Challenge, called Human First, Digital Always: Redefining the Future of Work. It’s seeking submissions in two categories, unified by the idea that
Energy consumers are bearing the brunt of the economic impact from the war in Iran, a panel of experts agreed, while natural gas producers and oil-producing U.S. states are expected to see some benefit. Speaking yesterday during a WisPolitics-State Affairs virtual luncheon, Customers First! Coalition Executive Director Kristin Gilkes noted
Dozens of B&G Foods workers in Stoughton have voted to strike as the employer is “refusing to agree to a fair deal” amid contract negotiations, a union spokesperson said. Teamsters Local 120 yesterday announced members voted to go on strike as they “fight for fair wages, affordable health care, and
Recent federal changes have expanded housing tax credit programs that drive low-income rental developments in Milwaukee, but rising costs are holding back affordable housing growth in Wisconsin’s largest city. That’s one conclusion from the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s latest report, which explores the impact of shifting federal housing policy on Milwaukee
Businesses in Wisconsin are “prioritizing efficiency and productivity” over hiring amid a tight labor market and tepid state-level economic growth. That’s according to a new state business outlook report released today by BMO Bank, featuring insights from Dave Anderson, head of Wisconsin and Minnesota commercial banking for the Chicago-based bank.
By Brian E. Clark, for WisBusiness.com Brian Clark is a Madison-based writer and photographer who also contributes to the LA Times and Chicago Tribune. — For someone who savors plot twists, pro football player James Daniels couldn’t have predicted the big change books would have in store for him. But