Environmental groups seek to overturn DNR, DBA settlement Environmental groups have challenged a settlement the Department of Natural Resources and Dairy Business Association reached last month, arguing it was an “illegal” agreement that would hurt DNR’s authority to protect the
Rep. Todd Novak says the biennial budget “ate up a lot of time” but he’s optimistic his Marsy’s Law proposal to give crime victims more rights will pass the Legislature this fall even if the session is shorter than usual.
The “effects of extreme weather” are among the emerging challenges highlighted in a recent report on the state’s groundwater that was submitted to the Legislature last month. The annual report, from the Department of Natural Resources’ Groundwater Coordinating Council, also
A bill that would end the so-called sulfide mining moratorium was touted by backers today as an economic development opportunity for northern Wisconsin on the heels of the Foxconn announcement. But environmental activists argued it would come at the expense
A GOP bill looking to end the so-called moratorium on sulfide mining in the state is just the opportunity many mining interests have been waiting for. But various groups that support the bill say they haven’t heard of an operation
Citizens and environmental activists in southwestern and western Wisconsin are calling on the DNR to extend rules aimed at further protecting groundwater to their area, saying they don’t want to become “another Kewaunee County.” The DNR has been in the
Nearly three months after the Department of Natural Resources unveiled a bottled water program to help Kewaunee County families cope with contaminated wells, no one has signed up. But that’s no surprise to critics, who cite the program’s constraints and
In just three weeks, a state board that’s spent 27 years managing grants for environmental education will go away. That’s why two lawmakers of different parties, both members of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, are making a last-ditch effort to
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee say their caucuses are debating whether to sign off on the guv’s push to eliminate the forestry property tax. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Realtors Association has launched a paid broadcast and mail campaign pushing
High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by
Earth Day reminds us each year that we only have one environment, and that it is each of our responsibility as citizens to protect it.
The annual State of the Tribes Address this afternoon stressed united approaches to conservation initiatives and support for health care and education. Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, also repeatedly praised initiatives under Gov. Scott Walker, including his budget
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today defended a budget provision that nixes the agency’s magazine, saying that there’s a “tremendous opportunity for someone in the private sector to take this over.” The provision, which would cut the Wisconsin
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning
Backers and opponents of a bill that would remove DNR oversight of the replacement, reconstruction and transfer of high-capacity wells lined up at a packed public hearing today. Meanwhile, bill authors Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and GOP Rep. Gary
Environmental groups seek to overturn DNR, DBA settlement Environmental groups have challenged a settlement the Department of Natural Resources and Dairy Business Association reached last month, arguing it was an “illegal” agreement that would hurt DNR’s authority to protect the public and the environment. The lawsuit’s from Clean Water Action
Rep. Todd Novak says the biennial budget “ate up a lot of time” but he’s optimistic his Marsy’s Law proposal to give crime victims more rights will pass the Legislature this fall even if the session is shorter than usual. The state budget, which was finalized more than two months
The “effects of extreme weather” are among the emerging challenges highlighted in a recent report on the state’s groundwater that was submitted to the Legislature last month. The annual report, from the Department of Natural Resources’ Groundwater Coordinating Council, also highlighted a number of other areas to keep an eye
A bill that would end the so-called sulfide mining moratorium was touted by backers today as an economic development opportunity for northern Wisconsin on the heels of the Foxconn announcement. But environmental activists argued it would come at the expense of clean water and jeopardize the state’s other natural resources.
A GOP bill looking to end the so-called moratorium on sulfide mining in the state is just the opportunity many mining interests have been waiting for. But various groups that support the bill say they haven’t heard of an operation immediately waiting in the wings to exploit deposits in northern
Citizens and environmental activists in southwestern and western Wisconsin are calling on the DNR to extend rules aimed at further protecting groundwater to their area, saying they don’t want to become “another Kewaunee County.” The DNR has been in the process of drafting an administrative rule change to NR 151
Nearly three months after the Department of Natural Resources unveiled a bottled water program to help Kewaunee County families cope with contaminated wells, no one has signed up. But that’s no surprise to critics, who cite the program’s constraints and DNR’s limited outreach. Still, DNR spokesman Jim Dick says the
In just three weeks, a state board that’s spent 27 years managing grants for environmental education will go away. That’s why two lawmakers of different parties, both members of the Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, are making a last-ditch effort to save the board and the grants it gives out. The
The co-chairs of the Joint Finance Committee say their caucuses are debating whether to sign off on the guv’s push to eliminate the forestry property tax. Meanwhile, the Wisconsin Realtors Association has launched a paid broadcast and mail campaign pushing GOP lawmakers to back the proposal, and the conservative Americans
High-achieving Wisconsin students would get $5,000 scholarships each year to attend UW System schools under a new bill two GOP lawmakers laid out today. The bill, which has UW System President Ray Cross’ support, would pay for those scholarships by selling off the remaining lands held by the state’s oldest
Earth Day reminds us each year that we only have one environment, and that it is each of our responsibility as citizens to protect it.
The annual State of the Tribes Address this afternoon stressed united approaches to conservation initiatives and support for health care and education. Shannon Holsey, president of the Stockbridge-Munsee Community, also repeatedly praised initiatives under Gov. Scott Walker, including his budget provision to expand broadband access, which she said would “allow
Department of Natural Resources Secretary Cathy Stepp today defended a budget provision that nixes the agency’s magazine, saying that there’s a “tremendous opportunity for someone in the private sector to take this over.” The provision, which would cut the Wisconsin Natural Resources magazine in February 2018, has received a loud
A Senate committee voted 3-2 along party lines on a bill today that would roll back Department of Natural Resources oversight of high-capacity wells. The vote was done by paper ballot, rather than by holding an in-person executive session, meaning no discussion was held prior to the vote. The bill
Backers and opponents of a bill that would remove DNR oversight of the replacement, reconstruction and transfer of high-capacity wells lined up at a packed public hearing today. Meanwhile, bill authors Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and GOP Rep. Gary Tauchen maintained the legislation would bring certainty to farmers, municipalities