Public News Service

In a new poll from the group A Better Wisconsin Together, 66% of Wisconsin voters say they would rather see the Legislature prioritize education rather than seek the possible impeachment of a liberal state Supreme Court justice. (Adobe Stock)

New Poll: Most Voters Oppose Impeaching WI Supreme Court Justice

Following last spring's election, where Wisconsin voted in a liberal justice to the state Supreme Court, Republican leaders are further exploring a …

Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action in college admissions was in response to specific policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The ruling is expected to affect such programs at schools around the country. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Upends Consideration of Race in College Admissions

There's been widespread reaction to yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict affirmative action in college admissions. Wisconsin …

The U.S. saw an increase in Black-owned businesses between 2017 and 2019, but their supporters worry the pandemic may have derailed that progress. (Adobe Stock)

Holiday Season Perfect Time to Support WI Black Business Owners

The holiday shopping season is here, and people are being reminded about the importance of supporting Black-owned businesses, in Wisconsin and …

Milwaukee's city budget process typically begins in late winter or early spring, and then wraps up with a final vote in early November. (Adobe Stock)

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

The budget process for Wisconsin's largest city is ramping up, and there are concerns residents in underserved areas will not receive as much …

Latino workers are getting training in green-energy job skills through a pilot program, but some face roadblocks trying to balance a new career path with maintaining two or three other jobs to support themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Program Works to Bring 'Green' Construction Jobs to Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Latino community has been inundated with job opportunities in the "green" economy thanks to a new pilot program. Elevate, a climate-…

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, Wisconsin is one of ten states with full-time legislatures. Despite taking home an average annual salary of more than $50,000, Wisconsin's lawmakers are not scheduled to meet again until next year. (Adobe Stock)

WI Lawmakers Reintroduce 'Economic Justice Bill of Rights'

Wisconsin's legislative session has concluded, but Democrats still are pushing for a so-called "Economic Justice Bill of Rights." Among other things…

Researchers say the links between experiences of racial discrimination and negative health outcomes are more pronounced for Black Americans than for any other group. (Adobe Stock)

UW Expert: Rittenhouse Verdict Could Add to Pain From Bias

MADISON, Wis. - The Kyle Rittenhouse verdict continues to evoke a range of emotions from the public. A University of Wisconsin expert says the …

Racial justice advocates say there's no good outcome from the Kyle Rittenhouse case because they feel the legal system still enables white supremacy. (Adobe Stock)

Rittenhouse Case Viewed as Symptom of Uneven Democracy

Kenosha, WI - The jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial has announced not-guilty verdicts on all charges in the case. Ground-level activists say the …

Rittenhouse Case Viewed as Symptom of Uneven Democracy

KENOSHA, Wis. -- In a trial that drew worldwide attention, a Kenosha County jury on Friday acquitted Kyle Rittenhouse on all charges related to the …

In addition to George Floyd's murder, the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., last summer spurred widespread calls for police reforms. (Adobe Stock)

Evers Urged to Create Police Reform Commission

MILWAUKEE -- Community leaders from Milwaukee rally today to try to convince Gov. Tony Evers to hear their concerns about police accountability …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

MADISON, Wis. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

Every ten years, each state is required to redraw its legislative boundaries based on updated data from the U.S. Census Bureau. (Adobe Stock)

Renewed Push for Nonpartisan Redistricting in WI

MADISON, Wis. - As Wisconsin faces the divisive issue of redistricting, supporters of taking politics out of the process are making another attempt …

Next Tuesday, state and local elections will be held across Wisconsin. A voters' rights group says it should serve as another reminder that many people being held pre-trial in county jails face barriers to voting. (Adobe Stock)

Efforts Continue to Expand Voting Access in WI Jails

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin is one of many states where proposals have surfaced to restrict voting through new election policies. Voters' rights groups …

As in other states, Wisconsin is seeing data that show its Latinx population is being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

More Outreach Crucial to Help Protect WI Latinos from COVID

MADISON, Wis. - This week, Wisconsin health officials shared more sobering COVID-19 data, and the pandemic's effect has been devastating in Latino …

The Rev. Greg Lewis, pictured, heads the group Souls to the Polls-Milwaukee. The organization says its focus is to unite ministers and congregations to strengthen the voting power of the Black community. (Souls to the Polls)

WI Recount Stokes Anger About Perceptions of Black Voters

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- A partial recount of Wisconsin votes in the presidential race begins today. It comes amid repeated election-fraud claims from …

Nationally, turnout among Black voters was down about 7% in 2016, but a rebound is predicted in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Final Push is On to Reach WI Black Voters

MILWAUKEE - Political observers say Wisconsin's Black residents have consistently faced voter suppression in multiple forms. The pandemic adds …

Kenosha Protests: Activists Want Policy Change, Not Campaign Spin

KENOSHA, Wis. -- President Donald Trump is expected to visit Kenosha today in response to the tensions over the police shooting of Jacob Blake…

While many cities in states like Wisconsin don't have a reputation for policies deemed racist, areas of the Midwest have some of the worst outcomes for Black residents. (Adobe Stock)

Kenosha Tensions Stoked by Longstanding Racial Gaps in Midwest

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Demands for social justice in cities like Kenosha are linked to racial inequities deeply rooted in the nation's history. But …

Rabbi Bonnie Margulis is one of 57 faith leaders in Wisconsin to sign a letter organized by a national faith group, demanding the Trump administration end policies that are viewed as harmful to immigrant children. (Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice)

WI Faith Leaders Join Call for Changes to Immigration Policy

MADISON, Wis. -- Faith leaders from across the country say it's time for the U.S. to end what they call inhumane treatment of immigrants and their …

Both major parties in Wisconsin have been at odds over how to approach police-accountability policy. Those divisions remain following the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha. (Adobe Stock)

Kenosha Shooting Prompts Calls for Police Accountability Bills

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Protesters continue to demand justice over the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha over the weekend. And Democrats in the …

In Wisconsin, according to a new report, the gap between students and teachers of color rose from about 19 percentage points in 2009 to 25 points in 2019. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WI Woefully Lacking Teachers of Color

ARCADIA, Wis. -- Wisconsin's public school student population has become more racially diverse, but its teacher workforce still is mostly White…

In the past decade, Wisconsin's Republican-led Legislature has passed a series of election laws that activists say unfairly target poor and minority voters. They say upholding these laws is especially problematic in a key election year. (Adobe Stock)

Advocacy Group Says Voters Will Overcome Latest Obstacle in WI

MILWAUKEE -- Republican leaders in Wisconsin secured a victory ahead of the November election after an appeals court reinstated various voting restric…

In addition to Monday's school board vote, the Madison City Council is expected to formally endorse a decision to no longer have city police officers patrol school buildings. (Adobe Stock)

Madison District Joins Movement to Remove Police from Schools

MADISON, Wis. -- One of Wisconsin's largest school districts has decided to stop having police officers stationed inside its school buildings…

In Wisconsin, studies show that racial gaps in education and employment are especially concerning. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin Group: Time to Peel Off Band-Aid, Discuss Race Openly

MADISON, Wis. -- Demands for systemic change in the U.S. grow louder by the day following the police killing of George Floyd, an unarmed African-…

WI Supreme Court to Hear Controversial 'Voter Purge' Case

MADISON, Wis. -- The issue of whether nearly 130,000 Wisconsin residents should be removed from the voter rolls has resurfaced, as the state Supreme …

In Milwaukee County, black residents make up more than 40 of the area's nearly 60 COVID-19 deaths reported so far. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin Part of Higher Numbers of COVID-19 Cases in Black Communities

MILWAUKEE -- In a handful of states, including Wisconsin, racial data is being used as part of tracking of COVID-19 cases. The information shows …

The debate over whether Wisconsin should hold an in-person primary during a pandemic is prompting more calls for universal voting by mail. (Adobe Stock)

WI to Hold Tuesday Primary Amid Public Health Concerns

MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin still will hold its presidential primary today, despite late action by the governor to try to postpone it. Voting rights …

Just as in 2016, Wisconsin is viewed as key battleground state in the upcoming election. The state's primary is April 7. (DodgertonSkillhause/Morguefile)

WI Ensnared in 2020 Voter-Purge Debate

MADISON, Wis. - The legal wrangling continues over whether 200,000 Wisconsin voters should be removed from registration rolls - as one political …

In the past 20 years, Wisconsin has accepted roughly 17,000 refugees. (Fabio Penna/Flickr)

Federal Refugee Policy Creates Tension in the Midwest

MADISON, Wis. -- Tense debates have surfaced in the upper Midwest over whether to accept refugees at the local level. Local governments were given …

The Wisconsin Policy Forum is calling for more efforts to curb drug and alcohol abuse to stop recent trends impacting life expectancy in Wisconsin. (Pixabay)

Report: Life Expectancy Drops; Increased Mortality Among Black Wisconsinites

MADISON, Wis. — The life expectancy for people in Wisconsin has declined for a second straight year, according to a new report. The …

Wisconsin ranks 13th overall in the nation for children's well-being, and a new report says it's in desperate need of federal funds to help address the disparities faced by children of color. (cherylholt/Pixabay)

Progress for Wisconsin's Children Stalls, Worse for Kids of Color

MADISON, Wis. — The well-being of children in Wisconsin has gotten worse since 2010, according to the new 2019 Kids Count Data Book by the …

Through Roots to Glory Tours, American chefs traveled to Benin and Togo to explore their cuisine. (Devon Hamilton/Michael Fields Agricultural Institute)

Dinner Illuminates African Roots in American Cooking

MADISON, Wis. – There's a connection between African cooking and the United States. Devon Hamilton, associate policy director with the …

Sudden problems with balance, vision or speech, or sudden weakness in one arm, or paralysis in one part of the face may be a sign of a stroke. (Adobe Stock)

Take Care of the “Plumbing in Your Brain”

MADISON, Wis. – May is American Stroke Month, and the American Heart Association is urging folks to take the occasion to check the "brain's …

Sustain Dane's 10th annual summit this year is focused on lifting up historically marginalized voices in the sustainability movement. (Sustain Dane)

Young Leaders, Racial Justice Focus of WI Sustainability Summit

MADISON, Wis. – Sustainability advocates gather next week at the University of Wisconsin for their annual meeting. The organization Sustain …

Poverty affects an estimated 200,000 children in Wisconsin. (StockSnap)

Census Count: Report Warns WI Kids Could be Missed

MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin is doing well by its kids, ranked 12th overall in the new 2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released today. The Annie E…

This summer, kids at the Mellowhood Foundation will grow and sell their own line of hot pickles. (Mellowhood Foundation)

Introducing WI Youth of Color to Food Justice Movement

MADISON, Wis. – A program aimed at getting young people of color interested in food and agriculture is entering its second year with more …

Wisconsin's annual ceremony to honor the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. is the oldest state celebration in the nation. (Wikimedia Commons)

Wisconsin Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day

MADISON, Wis. – With speeches, music, and awards, Wisconsin's official state observation of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday will begin at …

A new Annie E. Casey Foundation report suggests ways states like Wisconsin can improve conditions for children of color and immigrant families. (AECF)

Report: Wisconsin Is Failing Its Children of Color

MADISON, Wis. – A just-released report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows the gap between the well-being of Wisconsin's white and African …

A newly developed partnership with tribal leaders in Wisconsin is helping the Native American Center for Health Professions attract new students and faculty. (UW Health/NACHP)

Helping Attract Wisconsin's Native American Students to Health Professions

MADISON, Wis. - Working in a newly developed relationship with tribal leaders from across Wisconsin, the Native American Center for Health …

High quality education for all children is part of the solution to increase the well being of children in Wisconsin, according to the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families. Credit: U.S. Navy

Wisconsin's Rank in Child Well-Being Survey May Be Deceptive

MADISON, Wis. – A just-released report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation regarding the well being of children ranks Wisconsin 13th in the …

PHOTO: Democratic State Representative Chris Taylor of Madison, co-author of Wisconsin's unique law that requires outside investigation when a police officer shoots and kills someone, is confident the new law will work in the recent incident in Madison where a police officer shot and killed an unarmed black man. But she says the state Division of Criminal Investigation needs funds to hire more investigators. (Photo courtesy of Rep. Taylor)

Wisconsin's New Police Shootings Law: Is It Working?

MADISON, Wis. - In the wake of the shooting incident in Ferguson, Missouri early this morning, more eyes may turn to Wisconsin and its similar …

PHOTO: Professor, author, and cultural critic Marc Lamont Hill will deliver the keynote address tomorrow in a celebration of Black History Month on the UW-Madison campus. The award-winning activist, journalist and TV host will talk about what he observed in Ferguson, Mo., several months ago. Photo credit: BET.

Prominent TV Host to Give Black History Month Keynote Speech in WI

MADISON, Wis. - Marc Lamont Hill, a host on HuffPost Live and BET news and a CNN political contributor, will give the keynote address Thursday at the …

PHOTO: Same-sex marriages are now legal in Wisconsin, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear appeals from Wisconsin and four other states regarding the matter. Some Wisconsin county clerks began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples immediately following the decision. Photo courtesy of Michael Sears, One Wisconsin Now.

Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. - Same-sex marriage is now legal in Wisconsin, following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear an appeal from Wisconsin and …

PHOTO: Attorney Tamara Packard says it will be very hard for the Wisconsin Legislature to

Can WI Legislature Really “Fix” Voter ID Law?

MADISON, Wis. - Although some Wisconsin Republican leaders say they'll try to "fix" the state's Voter ID law, which was struck down last week by U.S…

PHOTO: Ken Taylor of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families says a new reporting ranking Wisconsin as dead last in the status of African-American children is a call to take action for change. (Photo from WCCF)

New Report: Wisconsin Worst in the Nation for African-American Children

MADISON, Wis. - A new policy report from the Annie E. Casey Foundation shows that children of color face huge barriers in nearly every category of …

PHOTO: 90-year-old Wisconsin Civil Rights pioneer Vel Phillips is the keynote speaker at a daylong observation of the 50th anniversary of the 1964 Civil Rights act, at UW-Madison on Wednesday. (UW-Madison Law School photo)

UW-Madison to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

MADISON, Wis. - In the summer of 1964, the landmark Civil Rights Act was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson. On Wednesday, UW-Madison will …

ACLU Sues, Seeking Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex WI Couples

MADISON, Wis. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin has filed suit on behalf of four same-sex Wisconsin couples that want their …

PHOTO: Former Senator Russ Feingold warned of possible excesses when he voted against the Patriot Act. Photo courtesy U.S. Senate.

Patriot Act Anniversary Prompts Weekend Protest

MADISON, Wis. - When the Patriot Act was passed in 2001, former U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., was the only senator to vote against it. Revelations …

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WI: Human Rights/Racial Justice

New Poll: Most Voters Oppose Impeaching WI Supreme Court Justice

SCOTUS Upends Consideration of Race in College Admissions

Holiday Season Perfect Time to Support WI Black Business Owners

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

Program Works to Bring 'Green' Construction Jobs to Wisconsin

WI Lawmakers Reintroduce 'Economic Justice Bill of Rights'

UW Expert: Rittenhouse Verdict Could Add to Pain From Bias

Rittenhouse Case Viewed as Symptom of Uneven Democracy

Rittenhouse Case Viewed as Symptom of Uneven Democracy

Evers Urged to Create Police Reform Commission

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

Renewed Push for Nonpartisan Redistricting in WI

Efforts Continue to Expand Voting Access in WI Jails

More Outreach Crucial to Help Protect WI Latinos from COVID

WI Recount Stokes Anger About Perceptions of Black Voters

Final Push is On to Reach WI Black Voters

Kenosha Protests: Activists Want Policy Change, Not Campaign Spin

Kenosha Tensions Stoked by Longstanding Racial Gaps in Midwest

WI Faith Leaders Join Call for Changes to Immigration Policy

Kenosha Shooting Prompts Calls for Police Accountability Bills

Report: WI Woefully Lacking Teachers of Color

Advocacy Group Says Voters Will Overcome Latest Obstacle in WI

Madison District Joins Movement to Remove Police from Schools

Wisconsin Group: Time to Peel Off Band-Aid, Discuss Race Openly

WI Supreme Court to Hear Controversial 'Voter Purge' Case

Wisconsin Part of Higher Numbers of COVID-19 Cases in Black Communities

WI to Hold Tuesday Primary Amid Public Health Concerns

WI Ensnared in 2020 Voter-Purge Debate

Federal Refugee Policy Creates Tension in the Midwest

Report: Life Expectancy Drops; Increased Mortality Among Black Wisconsinites

Progress for Wisconsin's Children Stalls, Worse for Kids of Color

Dinner Illuminates African Roots in American Cooking

Take Care of the “Plumbing in Your Brain”

Young Leaders, Racial Justice Focus of WI Sustainability Summit

Census Count: Report Warns WI Kids Could be Missed

Introducing WI Youth of Color to Food Justice Movement

Wisconsin Observes Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Report: Wisconsin Is Failing Its Children of Color

Helping Attract Wisconsin's Native American Students to Health Professions

Wisconsin's Rank in Child Well-Being Survey May Be Deceptive

Wisconsin's New Police Shootings Law: Is It Working?

Prominent TV Host to Give Black History Month Keynote Speech in WI

Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in Wisconsin

Can WI Legislature Really “Fix” Voter ID Law?

New Report: Wisconsin Worst in the Nation for African-American Children

UW-Madison to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of the Civil Rights Act

ACLU Sues, Seeking Freedom to Marry for Same-Sex WI Couples

Patriot Act Anniversary Prompts Weekend Protest