Wisconsin News & Current Events | Public News Service

Moore says we should not make peace with the moral or fiscal cost of not addressing gun violence as a public health issue. A single homicide in Wisconsin costs taxpayers $2 million per incident and a single non-fatal shooting costs $644,000. (Adobe Stock)

Monday, February 3, 2025

Experts hope WI’s first state violence prevention office will save lives

Support for Governor Tony Evers's first statewide Office of Violence Prevention is gaining momentum, as some safety experts and advocates say they're …

Researchers in industries from food production to textiles to technology are using microbes to make products like bioplastics, biofuel, metals and animal feed. (Adobe Stock)

WI researchers use microbes to transform wastewater

By Carolyn Beans for the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reportin…

The Climate-Smart Program includes participating farmers from Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota and South Dakota. (Adobe Stock)

New program shows environmental impact of green farming

Some Wisconsin farmers are now able to see the environmental effects from their sustainable farming practices through a new conservation program that …

At Scenic Bluffs Community Health Centers, 45% of patients use Medicaid to cover their health care services. (Adobe Stock)<br />

New report: 1 in 3 kids in rural Wisconsin insured by Medicaid

As Congress considers cuts to Medicaid, a new report showed one in three children living in rural areas of Wisconsin are insured by the health …

Wisconsin is one of nine states where voters are required to present photo identification to vote. The current state law has been in place since 2011. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin voter ID law one step closer to state constitution

A proposal to make Wisconsin's strict Voter ID law a constitutional amendment passed Wisconsin's Republican-controlled Assembly on Tuesday. Voters …

Petitioners for the Delevan Lake Watershed Agricultural Enterprise Area hope to promote water quality to protect local surface water and build relationships between agricultural producers and watershed stakeholders. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin adds more protected ag lands to its count

Wisconsin has just added more than 30,000 acres across two counties to its protected agricultural lands, advancing its commitment to preserve the …

A crew helped Jim Hoffman build beaver dam analogs on his cranberry farm in central Wisconsin. (Jim Hoffman)

WI farmer uses 'mock beaver dams' to restore wetlands

By Bennet Goldstein for Wisconsin Watch.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for Wisconsin Watch-Public New…

In 1984, former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn started a tradition of volunteering one week a year to Habitat for Humanity. Carter had last volunteered at age 95, just five years before his passing on Dec. 29, 2024. (Milwaukee Habitat for Humanity)

Jimmy Carter’s lasting impact on Milwaukee

As the world continues to reflect on the life and legacy of former President Jimmy Carter during the nation's memorial observation, his influence has …

After realizing their limited capacity to implement statutory state conservation programs, Wisconsin replaced the district model in 1982 with a county-based model, which joined overlapping issues like parks and planning with conservation. (Adobe Stock)<br />

WI’s conservation model an 'untapped' resource

Wisconsin is the first state in the country to run its conservation programs by county rather than by district. One conservation advocate said …

Wisconsin's gun violence rate is near the national average, with more than 740 people dying from gun violence each year, according to the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence. (Adobe Stock)

Gun-safety advocates call on WI lawmakers to take action

As the new year begins, state lawmakers and officials will continue to grapple with how to prevent school shootings, like the one just two weeks ago …

Two large-scale Wisconsin clean energy projects, the Apple River Solar Project in Polk County and the Darien Solar Energy Center in Walworth and Rock counties, are scheduled for 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsin ends year on a high note in clean energy

Wisconsin is ending the year on a high note in the clean energy space, with some notables like a first-of-its-kind energy dome and approval for the …

Wisconsin municipal courts issued more than 27,000 arrest warrants and writs of commitment for people who failed to pay fines between Jan. 2023 and Aug. 2024, according to the ACLU of Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Report: Some WI courts jailing people for unpaid tickets

If you have any unpaid traffic or parking tickets, the latest report on Wisconsin's municipal courts said in some areas, you could go to jail if you …

The Farm Bill extension is in effect through Sept. 30, 2025, and includes nearly $31 billion in economic and disaster aid for farmers. (Adobe Stock)<br />

For WI farmers, Farm Bill extension brings relief, uncertainty

Farmers in Wisconsin may be breathing a sigh of relief going into the new year with the farm bill extension but it may be temporary, as experts said …

Many federal conservation programs received a boost in funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, one of the largest investments in climate Congress has made in the nation's history. (Adobe Stock)

Southwest WI farmer unfazed by weather due to conservation practices

A diverse group of Southwest Wisconsin farmers are using federally funded conservation programs to help improve their farms' soil health and resilienc…

Surveys by the National Alliance on Mental Illness have found 64% of people living with some form of mental illness say the holidays tend to make their conditions worse. (Adobe Stock)

Not in a festive mood this holiday season? You’re not alone

If you find yourself in a less than festive mood this holiday season, you are not alone. In Wisconsin, the recent school shooting tragedy in Madison …

As of 2023, Wisconsin is home to over 450,000 small businesses, employing nearly 1 million people.<br />(Adobe Stock)

An Eau Claire small business braces for Trump tariffs

As the new year quickly approaches, Wisconsin business owners and shoppers alike are bracing for the prospect of tariffs from a new administration …

Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline is currently routed as close as 11 feet to a riverbank caused by flooding and erosion. (Bad River: A Story of Defiance)

Documentary brings WI tribe's pipeline resistance to national stage

By Amy Felegy for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Servic…

American martens require very specific living parameters and are hyper sensitive to any changes in their habitat. (Adobe Stock)

WI receives federal funds to recover state’s only endangered mammal

The federal Department of the Interior has awarded the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission more than $800,000 for recovery efforts for Ame…

David Bintz' brother, Robert Bintz, was also released from prison this year and was represented by the Great North Innocence Project. (Adobe Stock)

WI Innocence Project victories point to systemic problem in justice system

The Wisconsin Innocence Project is ending the year with some key victories including helping with the release of two men who each spent decades in pri…

Nationwide, more than 9,700 abortions per month were provided via telehealth under shield law protections in the second quarter of 2024, a 5% increase since the first quarter of 2024, according to WeCount. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsinites seeking abortion telemedicine via shield laws face risks

Wisconsin law bans telemedicine abortion care, yet new data show an increasing number of Wisconsinites have been getting abortion pills through …

Currently, public sector workers in Wisconsin can only bargain over wages up to the cost of living. (Adobe Stock)

Act 10 ruling could increase stakes of WI Supreme Court election

A Wisconsin Circuit Court's ruling involving public sector bargaining rights has intensified the stakes for the state's Supreme Court election in 2025…

The United States has lost local newspapers this year at the rate of about two-and-a-half per week. (Adobe Stock)

More WI newspapers shutter, but people seem to trust them most

Wisconsin has lost almost one in five of its newspapers in the past year. The state of newspapers has been dismal for years, and the 2024 figures are …

The unpaid care provided by more than 580,000 Wisconsin caregivers is valued at $9.2 billion, according to AARP. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

More support needed for over half-million WI family caregivers

More than 580,000 Wisconsinites are unpaid family caregivers and they serve as the backbone of the state's long-term care system, and one …

By 2022, eight out of 10 people living with HIV in Wisconsin were virally suppressed and unable to transmit the virus, according to the Wisconsin Dept. of Human Services. (Adobe Stock) <br /><br />

World AIDS Day sheds light on prevalence in Wisconsin

This weekend, people around the world united for World AIDS Day - to show support for those living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In …

Of those surveyed, 82% said online retailers should include country-of-origin labels for the products they offer. (Adobe Stock) <br />

People want to buy American-made holiday gifts, new survey finds

With an expected record-breaking shopping weekend upon us, a new survey by the Alliance for American Manufacturing found almost eight in 10 Americans …

The U.S. Supreme Court hears on average 80 cases per session, out of the thousands of requests it receives. (Adobe Stock)

U.S. Supreme Court ponders review of WI gender-identity case

The U.S. Supreme Court is deciding whether to review a Wisconsin case over the issue of gender identity at school. The case Parents Protecting Our …

One megawatt (MW) of electricity generated by a wind turbine in Wisconsin can typically power around 350 typical Wisconsin homes, according to Renew Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Despite lag in WI wind energy, potential is high for takeoff

Wisconsin ranks 26th in the nation for wind energy, generating far less than neighboring states. Wisconsin has about 900 megawatts of installed …

Despite a 70% approval rate of all school referendums this year, the state saw a 10% decrease from 2022, making it the lowest passage rate in a midterm or presidential election year in the last decade. (Adobe Stock)

Wisconsinites passed record measures for public school funding

Wisconsinites overwhelmingly voted 'yes' on a record number of school funding measures, according to a new Wisconsin Policy Forum study. The appeals …

Built in 1953 and outlasting its original lifespan, Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline transports 22 million gallons of crude oil and natural gas liquids daily across 645 miles of terrain through Michigan and Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

Controversial Line 5 project faces more legal action in WI

A legal challenge is expected since the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has granted key permit approvals to a Canadian energy company to rer…

Wisconsin will receive $78 million over five years from the federal government to expand electric vehicle improvements. It plans to have all new charging stations up and running by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

WI makes innovative strides, but lags in EV adoption

Electric vehicles have seen a nationwide uptick, yet Wisconsin lags behind - with EVs making up only about 1% of all cars on the road. …

The FBI is investigating a nationwide wave of harassing texts with messages referencing slavery. In Wisconsin, Black residents of all ages have reported receiving them. (Adobe Stock)

WI wave of racist texts sparks concerns over data privacy

CORRECTION: The legislation mentioned in this story was passed by the Wisconsin State Assembly. It has not yet been voted on by the state Senate…

President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign the issue of abortion access should be left to states. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has said he hopes Trump sticks to his viewpoint. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court hears case on 1849 abortion law

It is now up to Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to decide the fate of an abortion law from the mid-1800s. A circuit court determined last year an 18…

Wisconsin Democrats think perhaps their wins this week could give them a chance to flip the state Senate in 2026. (Adobe Stock)

New political maps put local WI Democrats on the map

Wisconsin experienced its first election using the state's new competitive political maps, and experts said it made a significant difference in …

Some pro-Palestinian first-time student voters said they had a hard time grappling with casting a ballot for any candidate in the election given the U.S. military support for the war in Gaza. <br />(Adobe Stock)

WI protest on Gaza war planned in downtown Milwaukee

pro-Palestinian groups are hosting a demonstration today starting at Red Arrow Park in downtown Milwaukee. The groups Students for a Democratic …

Currently, election officials and voters in Wisconsin can challenge someone's eligibility to vote but claims based on a person's ethnicity, spoken language or accent are prohibited by the Wisconsin Elections Commission. (Adobe Stock)

Despite the hype, noncitizens aren't voting in Wisconsin

By Alexander Shur for Votebeat Wisconsin.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Rural News Network-Pu…

Analysts say while the U.S. economy is on solid ground, the farming sector is in a downturn. There are concerns that if a second Trump administration were to come into play, policies tied to the campaign would bring even more hardships to producers. (Adobe Stock)

What would Project 2025 mean for WI farmers?

The conservative blueprint Project 2025 has received attention for issues like civil rights. But advocates say it also includes potential funding …

The Wisconsin State Division of Hearings and Appeals has the power to modify permits issued by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources or require the agency to include stronger terms and conditions. (Adobe Stock)

Kewaunee County residents take legal action against dairy CAFO

Some northeast Wisconsin residents are challenging a wastewater permit issued by the state to a large dairy operation. The Wisconsin Department of …

Some experts predict the student vote in Wisconsin will be a determining factor in Tuesday's election. (Adobe Stock)

WI’s voter ID law can be a nightmare for student voters

Wisconsin law states a student ID can be used for voting, but only some schools issue state-compliant identification. On some campuses, students …

Conservation experts say less than 7% of the acreage within Wisconsin's Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has old-growth forest characteristics. (Adobe Stock)

Could WI forests see more towering old trees? Federal plan provides hope

CORRECTION: In the second paragraph, the term "mature forests" was replaced with language to more accurately describe the lands connected to the …

Many political pundits, voters and candidates themselves have said the outcome of the 2024 presidential election could have a dramatic effect on the future of democracy. (Adobe Stock)

Historian: Past U.S. events offer clues for leaders to confront today's division

Election Day is inching closer and the battleground state of Wisconsin will see more visits from the two main party presidential campaigns. It was …

Fewer U.S. House members have received an 'A' on the National Parks Action Fund Scorecard since 2022, and more have received failing grades for not voting to fund and preserve national parks. (Adobe Stock)

Sharp divides among WI reps in Congress over protecting national parks

A conservation group wants people heading to the polls to consider an issue that hasn't come up on the campaign trail - preserving and funding the nat…

Under the umbrella of misinformation about election integrity, some conservative-led states have tried to enact policies requiring hand-counting of ballots. But election administrators say machines and the protocols they use still ensure a safe and fair election. (Adobe Stock)

WI clerks allow public to see voting machines get a 'stress test'

This week, local election officials around Wisconsin will hold public stress testing of voting machines. It's a longstanding practice under state …

Some Wisconsin farmers were using their own money to feed tens of thousands of chickens after processor Pure Prairie alerted them they were no longer able to pay for feed for their flocks. (Adobe Stock)

WI farmers regroup after massive 'chicken giveaway' on Facebook

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the name of the poultry producer. (9:55 a.m. MDT, Oct. 28, 2924) Some …

Critics of Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations said the manure from sites is often kept in open-air lagoons, where it is stored until it is sprayed to fertilize farm fields. Any excess manure not soaked up by crops or grasses ends up in aquifers and waterways. (Adobe Stock)

Legal case highlights concern factory farms get a free pass from EPA

By Nina Elkadi for Sentient.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Collaboration …

During the 2022-2023 school year, 289 charter schools opened in the U.S. and in the same time period, 163 closed. (Adobe Stock)

Charter school longevity in WI isn't making the grade, report finds

Wisconsin has one of the higher closure rates in the U.S. for charter schools, according to a new report, which lays out the challenges of staying …

According to federal data, Wisconsin is home to 1,263,841 Medicare enrollees. (Adobe Stock)

Enrolling in Medicare or other plans? Experts say read the fine print

Medicare open enrollment is underway and it is also the time of year when other public health coverage programs and employer-sponsored plans carry out…

According to the USDA, there are 2,850 slaughterhouses in the U.S., not including facilities slaughtering poultry. (Adobe Stock)

Milwaukee group vigilant about WI slaughterhouse projects

By Grace Hussain for Sentient.Broadcast version by Judith Ruiz-Branch for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Sentient-Public News Service Col…

State law says students who live and attend college in Wisconsin can choose whether to register to vote with their school address or home address; and Wisconsin residents who attend college out-of-state may elect to vote absentee in Wisconsin. (Adobe Stock)

College voter outreach ramps up amid reports of 'intimidating' texts

Reports of intimidating text messages targeting Wisconsin college students and recent graduates are prompting more voting-rights outreach to young vot…

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