Wisconsin in Focus

Wisconsin's election managers want to open a new multi-million-dollar office to focus solely on election transparency. The Wisconsin Elections Commission approved a $2 million budget request to open an Office of Election Transparency and Compliance. WEC chair Ann Jacobs said creating an Office of Election Transparency is “what we have to do.” The Elections Commission continues to deal with questions about how the state's elections are managed, following the 2020 election that saw two investigations into the commission.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_80a08708-712e-11ef-a3c2-cb2a8b6393c1.html

Two of Wisconsin's Republican congressmen want answers from Dane County's sheriff about how a wanted illegal immigrant was able to commit another crime in another part of the state. U.S. Reps. Tom Tiffany and Derrick Van Orden sent a letter this week to Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett asking about Alejandro Jose Coronel Zarate. Prairie du Chien police say Coronel Zarate is suspected of being a member of the Venezuelan street gang Tren de Aragua. He is accused of assaulting a woman and injuring a child.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_f556d78a-6f82-11ef-9991-bb568a4ace9f.html

The Wisconsin Supreme Court didn't ask about Racine's mobile voting van until the end of the hearing on whether it's legal or not. The court Tuesday instead focused on whether the voter challenging the van can actually sue and whether the van gave Democrats an advantage in the 2022 primary election. A Racine County judge ruled in January the van used by Racine's clerk in 2022 is illegal and cannot be used again. The Supreme Court ruled in June to keep that ruling in place temporarily. Tuesday's hearing will decide the case going forward.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_719f3afe-6faa-11ef-bf39-f31d0dd7cb77.html

 Former Independent party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Election Commission to remove his name from the state's ballot this November, part of his ongoing battle to exit from races in swing states. The case argues that, absent a compelling reason, different treatment for third party candidates violates the Equal Protection Clause and Kennedy's First Amendment rights. It claims the different deadlines for ballot withdrawal for Democrat and Republican candidates versus third-party candidates–September 3 for the former and August 6 for the latter–are unlawfully discriminatory.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_9c391ede-6ae5-11ef-8cea-4b6146bf6e44.html

A lot of students in Wisconsin are about to get far better grades on the state's standardized tests, but advocates say it's not because they are suddenly better at reading or math. Wisconsin's State Superintendent of Schools is defending the decision to change the standards for Wisconsin's Fordward Exam and the ACT. The Department of Public Instruction is both lowering the threshold for what is proficient, a 19 on the ACT will now count as proficient and changing the terms to measure student success. The most noticeable change is dropping the terms basic and below basic in exchange for approaching and developing.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_12f48fa2-6b0b-11ef-bc1d-a76b7758b0d8.html

There is more talk about releasing the University of Wisconsin-Madison from the University of Wisconsin System. The Legislative Study Committee on the Future of the UW System submitted a plan that would transition the UW-Madison campus into a new agency within state government, give the university borrowing power and spin the state's main campus away from the other 12. Supporters of the plan point to Madison's enrollment, which at more than 50,000 students is twice as large as the second largest school – UW-Milwaukee.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_cba6c1ce-6a29-11ef-9175-cba0a23895db.html

State Sen. John Jagler is frustrated Milwaukee Public Schools seems to be ignoring the state law that requires police officers in the city's schools. But, he doesn't expect any changes either. Jagler, R-Watertown, last week wrote a letter to the MPS board, asking when the city's schools plan to follow the law and return school resource officers to their buildings. Republican lawmakers included the school resource officer in 2023's shared revenue deal. It required MPS to add 25 officers by Jan. 1. That didn't happen.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_ec0c8246-64a2-11ef-b478-b7744e681750.html

A Wisconsin lawmaker wants this to be the last school year that begins with cellphones in the classroom. Sen. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, released a column that outlines what he says is the need for a cellphone ban. Currently, local schools set their own rules for cellphones in schools. Some school districts have district-wide policy, while others allow principals in individual schools to set their own rules.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_3d3cab8e-63d4-11ef-9152-9365750620b3.html

Voters in Wisconsin will see several names on their presidential ballots this fall. The state's Elections Commission on Tuesday approved Jill Stein, Robert F. Kennedy Jr, Cornel West and a handful of other independent candidates for the November ballot. Stein's place on the ballot was essentially sealed when the Wisconsin Supreme Court shot down a request from the Democratic National Committee to keep her off.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_d2e0638a-653f-11ef-beab-3b733f4201f7.html

The Wisconsin Elections Commission says there won't be a recall against any Milwaukee Public School board members. Now, Milwaukee's teachers' union wants answers. The Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association celebrated the Elections Commission declared MPS recall organizers failed to gather enough signatures to force a recall election against four Milwaukee School Board members. The MPS School Board Recall Collaborative wanted to force a new election against Board President Marva Herndon, Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi, member Erika Siemsen and at-large board member Missy Zombor because of MPS's financial problems and the secrecy surrounding them. The Wisconsin Elections Commission found the collaborative was short by thousands of valid signatures.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull Story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_2b753ace-5fbf-11ef-a53b-23eaf16233cd.html

The president of the University of Wisconsin wants nearly a $1 billion more from lawmakers in the next state budget. UW president Jay Rothman said he needs $914 million in order to avoid another tuition increase. Rothman said the University of Wisconsin ranks 43rd in terms of the percent of state dollars it receives. He said it will take $457 million in each year of Wisconsin's two-year state budget to bring the UW into line with other Big Ten schools.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_63f94ee4-5f1a-11ef-9290-870cfb79e69f.html

There is now a First Amendment challenge to Wisconsin's personalized license plate restrictions. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty wants a judge to strike down the state law that allows the Department of Motor Vehicles to ban license plates that are deemed “objectionable.” The case stems from a Wisconsin man who wanted a license plate that read RD RRAGE. The DMV allowed him to get the plate in 2003 but later denied his request to renew it.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_3d766930-5a3f-11ef-afc9-8b4b7fd6acb5.html

There are more than 100,000 more people enrolled in Medicaid in Wisconsin now than before COVID struck. Wisconsin Medicaid director Bill Hanna spoke at a Wisconsin Health News Newsmaker event Tuesday. He said while Wisconsin's Medicaid enrollments are down from their peak, more people are receiving government health care now than before the pandemic.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_a37819cc-599f-11ef-a3bc-a751a5d747f9.html

The outgoing state representative in the town of Summit is asking for legislative hearings into the mix up that had people there voting in the wrong statehouse race. Rep. Angie Sapik, R-Lake Nebagamon, on Wednesday called for an information hearing in front of the Assembly's Committee on Campaigns and Elections because some voters were given ballots with the wrong Assembly district. Sapik said the recent redistricting caused “confusion,” and had the clerk send the wrong ballots to some voters in the Assembly's 73rd and 74th districts.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_58c453f6-5a6b-11ef-a774-8fdfe19f6efe.html

Voters in Wisconsin haven't changed their minds in a while about their elected leaders in Madison. The latest Marquette Law School Poll shows the approval ratings for Gov. Tony Evers and the legislature are relatively unchanged. Pollsters say 51% of voters approve of Gov. Evers' job performance, while 44% disapprove. Those numbers are largely the same as they were in the Marquette Polls from June, April, January and even November.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_e88f8df2-557f-11ef-a223-635f785e6065.html

Local governments across Wisconsin may be looking to raise taxes now that their transportation fees are in legal limbo. The Wisconsin Supreme Court denied a petition from the Village of Pewaukee to hear its case that sought to save its transportation fee. Pewaukee, like many local governments across the state, turned to a transportation utility fee to raise money for local road projects. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce sued, arguing the fee is nothing more than a tax by another name, and Pewaukee exceeded its taxing authority by charging the fee.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_69c3ebc0-5355-11ef-92ca-db64382136f4.html

The Wisconsin state representative who got three fake military ballots in the mail two years ago is now getting mail for at least one of those same fake people. Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, on Tuesday said she recently got a letter for Holly Adams. Brandtjen made headlines in October of 2022 when she turned three fake military ballots over to investigators. It turned out, a former deputy clerk in Milwaukee's election office sent them to her house by registering fake voters. The clerk said she sent the ballots to expose a loophole in Wisconsin's MyVote system.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_81c69a0c-541c-11ef-b47d-679e1e06ce3d.html

Members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission are not worried about computer glitches or a shortage of ballots on Election Day in November. They're worried about outside agitation and election disruptions. Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs told WisPolitics her biggest fear on is an effort to freeze Wisconsin's votes. Republican Elections Commissioner Don Mills said he too is worried that someone, or a group, may try and derail the process this fall.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_109ee904-4f69-11ef-9037-6fc8f61ae02a.html

Most of Wisconsin's high school students say they are anxious or depressed, and that has the state's superintendent of schools asking for more money. Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction on Tuesday released the results from the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey. The survey is now a semi-annual thing, offered every other year. In the spring 2023, 1,882 Wisconsin students in 42 public, charter and alternative high schools took the test. There are nearly 850,000 school students in Wisconsin, meaning less than one-half of one-percent of children took the survey. Still, Underly said the results tell a tale of a mental health crisis.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_bc1364cc-4eab-11ef-b1d0-df38733fcf29.html

A consulting firm with former public school administrators will lead the audit into Milwaukee Public Schools' financial woes. Gov. Tony Evers on Monday named MGT of America Consulting to lead the probe. MGT will handle the audit into MPS' “operations, processes, and procedures.” That includes an examination of how Milwaukee's school district were being months late with key state financial reports, and how MPS wrongfully collected millions of dollars in federal money.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_01b26032-4ddf-11ef-96c3-1b2c5afcdb85.html

The rules will soon be changing for people who carry guns and go near the water in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on Wednesday announced the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has agreed to repeal its rule that essentially banned people from carrying a gun near any lake, river or stream in the state. The rule stated that no one can “[p]ossess or control any firearm, gun or similar device at any time while on the waters, banks or shores that might be used for the purpose of fishing.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_6a8781da-49e5-11ef-9dd6-eb9d3b99171b.html

A Western Wisconsin's Republican congressman is pushing Vice President Kamala Harris to replace President Biden, immediately. Congressman Derrick Van Orden said Harris should invoke the 25th Amendment and remove President Biden from office. Also on Monday, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey renewed his call for Harris to invoke the amendment and take over as president.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_73bf1c60-4916-11ef-8fb6-2b89d4fbb415.html

Public schools in Wisconsin are spending nearly $1,000 more per-student than a decade ago, despite falling enrollment and flat test scores. The latest spending information from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction shows public schools in the state spent $17,697 per-student in 2022. That's down from the $18,088 in 2020, but about $1,000 more than what schools were spending in 2011. Will Flanders with the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty say those are inflation-adjusted number and show most schools in Wisconsin have plenty of money to spend.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_413cb97c-48f9-11ef-8627-1f893b909b75.html

Nearly three-quarters of voters in Wisconsin say their incomes haven't kept up over the past four years and more than half say that's their top issue this fall. The Institute for Reforming Government is out with a new poll that says “kitchen table issues” dominate the minds of voters heading into November. IRG's poll said 47% of voters said the economy is their top issue for the election. Another 8% said their personal finances. The poll shows that 17% of voters say the border is their top issue. Overall, 71% of voters told pollsters their income has not kept pace with inflation.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_39fce8e6-446a-11ef-ba78-e7039588e467.html

Western Wisconsin's congressman says he was assaulted at Milwaukee's Republican National Convention, but a women's group disagrees. Republican Congressman Derrick Van Orden took social media Tuesday to say a protester with the group Code Pink assaulted him while he was standing in line at the RNC. Code Pink almost immediately said Van Orden was the one who bumped into who they called a “visibly Palestinian” woman.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_929cdea2-4438-11ef-ad08-33bb8ef9b81e.html

Wisconsin voters are being asked whether the state lawmakers who currently write the state budget should have any say in how billions of dollars in federal money are spent. There will be two constitutional amendments on the ballot in August, both look to give the legislature some say in how federal money is spent. A new report says it's a limited, and little-covered question that could have a big impact on Wisconsin's budget going forward.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_e3b8cab4-439b-11ef-bf9d-af78fcb7ad63.html

Declining high school graduates in the state, flat or decreasing enrollment, and reliance on student tuition dollars are chief concerns for a study committee on the University of Wisconsin System. With plans to meet through the year and into next, the 18-member panel is considering reform and the challenges the state's higher education public system faces. The Legislative Council Study Committee on the Future of the University of Wisconsin System's initial meeting Thursday included pouring over a 20-page brief that laid out the concerns.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_1c2bffca-3fcc-11ef-a2d0-df353eb5c690.html 

Through tears, people with loved ones inside Wisconsin's prisons told horror stories, and begged lawmakers for help at the Wisconsin Capitol on Tuesday. The Assembly Committee on Corrections held a hearing seeking answers about a string of recent inmate deaths, to find out more about the former warden at the prison in Waupun, and the eight others who were charged last month in two of those inmate deaths. But the most powerful testimony came from advocates and family members who said there need to be sweeping changes. Former Secretary Kevin Carr, who retired earlier this year, and Govs. Tony Evers and Scott Walker were names mentioned for fault.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_ccc87ee2-3e20-11ef-9e11-7f596aa2da4c.html 

Wisconsin has the most public drinking water systems in the entire country, and almost all passed the standards in the state's latest water report. The Department of Natural Resources this week released their Annual Drinking Water Report for 2023. The state has 11,206 systems statewide. The report said in part, “During 2023, more than 99% of Wisconsin's public water systems provided water that met all the health-based Maximum Contaminant Level standards for regulated contaminants. Only 70 systems experienced MCL exceedances. Exceeding a maximum contaminant level does not necessarily mean that consumers experienced adverse health effects from drinking the water, but it does require a water system to notify consumers and take action to correct the problem.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story:  https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_4f0ee476-3fb7-11ef-a4be-57c4b88eea6d.html 

The League of Women Voters is joining a host of groups in Wisconsin that are asking voters to reject a pair of constitutional amendments that would give state lawmakers some say in how Wisconsin spends billions-of-dollars in federal money. The League released an open letter that says the amendments are “purposefully confusing” and create “more red tape.” The proposed amendments will be on the August primary ballot.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_0595dd22-3562-11ef-9885-3752ca316855.html 

Nearly a third of Wisconsin's public schools are going to get less money from the state for the next school year. The state's Department of Public Instruction on Monday announced the general state aid estimates for July. “Estimated general school aids for 2024-25 total $5.58 billion, representing an increase of 4.2% from 2023-24,” DPI stated. “Payments to districts will increase an estimated $234.3 million because of two factors: 1) an increase of $224.9 million per the state budget as passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature; and 2) the decrease in the required Milwaukee Public Schools funding for the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program due to statutory changes.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_d0642e54-37d9-11ef-b05f-338380484a81.html 

 A new audit raises questions as to whether Wisconsin's attorney general will be able to meet a new state requirement to get sexual assault kits tested within six months. The Legislative Audit Bureau released its new report on the state's crime recently, saying there are fewer requests for sexual assault DNA kits at the crime labs, but it is taking the labs longer to process each kit. A state law, that went into effect Monday, requires the state's crime labs to be able to turn around those tests in no more than six months.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_d317cb2c-3876-11ef-8b26-cfcc49076806.html 

 There are questions about the plan from public schools in Madison to raise taxes by more than half-a-billion dollars this fall after the Madison Metropolitan School Board recently approved two tax increase questions for the fall. The $600 million requests come after MMSD got a $350 million tax increase in 2020. Will Flanders, an education expert at the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, said there's hardly any evidence Madison Metropolitan Schools deserve an extra half-billion dollars.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c8affaa8-33bf-11ef-89ad-a39491b4b8d5.html 

There aren't any fears about running short on money for Milwaukee's Republican National Convention. Former Wisconsin Republican Party Chairman, and current chairman of the RNC Host Committee, Reince Priebus said Tuesday the “money is solid” for next month's convention. Priebus did not say just how money has been raised, or just how much the 2024 RNC will cost. The last in-person convention, in Cleveland in 2016, cost an estimated $114 million. About $50 million of that came from the federal government for security and planning, and the other $64 million was raised by the Cleveland host committee.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_499cea3c-3324-11ef-8718-ef82d3cdaadc.html 

Most voters in Wisconsin say they are struggling or just getting by, and more than half don't think the state's economy is in great shape. The latest Marquette Law School Poll asked voters in the state about both the state's economy and their personal finances.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_9093d544-33f2-11ef-8976-373066cec9fe.html

One of Wisconsin's Republican congressmen who is in one of the state's competitive districts says Republicans have to be willing to go as far as Democrats to win the 2024 elections. Congressman Bryan Steil said on News Talk 1130 WISN that Republicans have to turn out their votes this November. To do that, he said, the party has to embrace every tool that's available. “You got to play by the rules as they're written. So, where Wisconsin law allows us to vote early, to vote absentee, to do other things to turn out the conservative vote, we got to play by the rules as they're written if you want to win,” Steil said.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_d4aaafce-2da2-11ef-b7ea-9706b85dc72a.html 

Wisconsin's public health managers don't want the bird flu to ruin fair season this summer. The state's Department of Health Services and Department of Agriculture announced plans to monitor fairs across the state this year for the bird flu. “Obviously it is a concern for us having had the avian flu going from mammals to people, and from poultry to mammals to people as well. Right now, the risk is still being said to be very low. We've only had three cases in the United States so far this year,” DHS epidemiologist Tom Haupt said.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_45905dea-2e68-11ef-a7ec-1727badb9755.html

Lawmakers at the Wisconsin Capitol say Milwaukee Public School's financial crisis will cost their schools as well. Republican Rep. Jerry O'Connor, R-Fond du Lac, said MPS' recently approved property tax increase will shift the way that state school aid dollars are spent. “Under Wisconsin's equalization aid formula, state tax dollars are distributed to school districts inversely based on property value per student, aiming to ‘equalize' aid. This formula is expenditure-based, meaning that as Milwaukee increases its expenditures, it receives a larger share of state aid regardless of property tax ‘wealth,'” O'Connor said.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_cfb0c772-2d77-11ef-a1d5-4f8f499df606.html

There are calls for hearings and action at the Wisconsin Capitol after the state's public school managers announced a plan to change student reading and math scores. The Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction recently updated the asset-based performance levels that are used to see how well students are reading, writing and doing math. Kids who are thriving in reading, writing and math will continue to be rated in the advanced category. But the other terms for performance are changing. That means the current proficient rating will change to meeting. The current basic rating will change to approaching. And the current below basic will change to developing.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c66fc760-242d-11ef-928a-df197039392d.html 

The new free speech lessons for the University of Wisconsin's next freshman class will not just be about speaking your mind. UW President Jay Rothman told regents during meeting in Milwaukee he is planning a new curriculum for new students about both sides of the right to freedom of speech. “This fall, all incoming freshmen students will learn more about freedom of expression and about the rights and responsibilities associated with the First Amendment,” Rothman said. “This provides the foundation for any subsequent discussion and debate on a number of possibly contentious topics.”Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_12dd39ce-2731-11ef-836a-47bd304892cb.html

There is now a recall effort to replace Milwaukee's school board. A group of parents and activists said they are looking to recall half of MPS' board of directors, including President Marva Herndon, Vice President Jilly Gokalgandhi, Erica Siemsen and Missy Zomber. Tamika Johnson, who spoke for the group, said those four mislead Milwaukee voters about April's quarter-billion dollar MPS referendum and failed to tell parents and taxpayers about the persistent financial problems inside Milwaukee's school district.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c2a0fb86-2982-11ef-9505-a7c52b9cf7f8.html

None of the Republicans who signed on as one of former President Donald Trump's Wisconsin electors is being charged in a new fraud case, but three former Trump advisers are. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced forgery charges Tuesday against attorneys Jim Troupis and Kenneth Chesebro. Kaul also filed charges against former Trump campaign aide Michael Roman, who was also indicted in Georgia.Support this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxxFull story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_fd2c75aa-2298-11ef-aa3d-c30cf3cc45ea.html

Wisconsin's former governor says Milwaukee Public Schools must be “saved” for the students. Former Republican Gov. Tommy Thompson told a crowd at the Milwaukee Press Club on Wednesday that there is a clear emergency in Milwaukee schools, and he said he's “damn serious” about solving it. Thompson said he pushed for school choice in Wisconsin in the 1990s because of the poor performance of Milwaukee Public Schools, and he said MPS is not much different today.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_3ab094ba-226c-11ef-8999-b7efcd938bb7.htmlhttps://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_19b180d2-2341-11ef-9830-afc6f3e4a264.htmlhttps://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_e81eb76c-2366-11ef-b381-97f78389c8a6.htmlSupport this podcast: https://secure.anedot.com/franklin-news-foundation/ce052532-b1e4-41c4-945c-d7ce2f52c38a?source_code=xxxxxx

The latest argument against Act 10 has been tried before, but some think this time it could work. Lawyers for the teachers' union in Abbotsford on Tuesday tried to once again make an equal protection claim in the latest effort to strike down Act 10. Specifically, Karabell says the public safety carve out creates two classes of public employees. But Jacob Curtis, an attorney with the Institute for Reforming Government, told The Center Square the argument has been tested in court once before to no avail.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_b6d4e776-1db7-11ef-a832-6bf0410c1fd1.html

 Wisconsin is putting $50 million towards startups and entrepreneurs in hopes that a lot more companies come to the state to grow. Gov. Tony Evers and WEDC CEO Missy Hughes announced the Wisconsin Investment Fund. Evers said the Wisconsin Investment Fund is using $50 million from the federal government's State Small Business Credit Initiative. Private investors are kicking in another $50 million, for a total of $100 million fund.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_8d411294-1dea-11ef-b026-e34accdab5be.html 

Milwaukee Public Schools are facing a second possible funding suspension, this time over missing state financial reports. MPS Superintendent Keith Posley said Wisconsin's Department of Public Instruction is threatening to withhold millions of dollars in general state aid and special education money because the city's school district has not yet turned in financial reports that were due as far back as September. Milwaukee's school board issued a statement Wednesday that said board members are aware of the threat from DPI and is working to avoid losing any money.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_142378e4-1e84-11ef-8444-fb27b0a91dad.html

 At least one Republican lawmaker wants changes after a new report exposed Wisconsin's attorney general hired an environmental prosecutor thanks to a grant from Michael Bloomberg's environmental non-profit. Rep. Jerry O'Connor, R-Fond du Lac, accused Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul of “selling the Department of Justice to the highest bidder.” The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel broke the story that Kaul hired special assistant attorney general Karen Heineman with a grant from the SEEIC. She's being paid $90,000 annually to handle environmental cases. O'Connor said Kaul needs to answer why he's using the grant to hire a new prosecutor, and whether the non-profit is driving the prosecutorial agenda here in Wisconsin.Full story: https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_42c2fe02-186e-11ef-bb27-fb0952edaf91.html

The Human Rights Campaign wants to spend millions of dollars to connect with equality voters in Wisconsin this election season. The Human Rights Campaign bills itself as the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.  It says equality voters are people who share their LGBTQ focus and agenda. In all, the Human Rights Campaign says it is planning to spend $15 million in Wisconsin, Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c518c330-1776-11ef-997c-df7567b2dbca.html

Wisconsin's uninstructed, or uncommitted, voters are out with a new poll that says they could keep President Joe Biden from winning the state in November. The Americans for Justice in Palestine-Action group commissioned the poll from YouGov. It says 1-in-5 Democrats and Independents in Wisconsin say they are less likely to vote for the president because of how he's handled the war in Gaza.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_ff96e478-1902-11ef-ba30-b38b6e73392a.html

Just days after University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's chancellor finalized an agreement with campus protesters, the head of the UW is expressing his disappointment in that deal. University of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman took to social media to explain how the university moves forward after weeks of campus protest camps. “Maintaining viewpoint neutrality on challenging public issues is critically important, especially in situations where students and other university stakeholders on multiple sides of an issue are in vehement disagreement. We also need to ensure that there is accountability and responsibility for actions taken on our campuses,” Rothman wrote on X. “I am disappointed by the course taken by UW-Milwaukee, and I am continuing to assess the decision-making process that led to this result.” UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone's agreement with campus protesters includes a promise to schedule a meeting with UWM Foundation money managers in exchange for a promise not to disrupt this weekend's graduation ceremony.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_c536dab0-12b6-11ef-b121-3b6587c6e93b.html

Most of the argument for again allowing ballot drop boxes in Wisconsin hinges on what the state's absentee voter law did and did not say. The new liberal-majority Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments Monday on whether it should overturn a 2022 decision from the then conservative-majority court that outlawed ballot drop boxes. “[The 2022 court] read a restriction into the statute that simply is not there and in doing so made it harder for municipal clerks to carry out their duties and for Wisconsin voters to return their ballots for no adequate legal reason,” David Fox, attorney for Priorities USA told the court Monday morning.Full story:https://www.thecentersquare.com/wisconsin/article_760fef88-115a-11ef-9c8c-cf3b1f86abc7.html