Wisconsin Today

Members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation reacted to U.S. and Israeli bombing in Iran. State regulators said a utility's application for special data center rates hid key information from the public And, former presidential candidate Kamala Harris was back in Wisconsin for a book event.

Vice President JD Vance told a crowd in central Wisconsin to re-elect Republican Derrick Van Orden. The state's 3rd Congressional District is a top target for Democrats. Wisconsin voters tell a pollster they're unlikely to support new school referendums.  And, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says negotiations with the governor on a tax deal are still in the early stages. But he's optimistic.

A new vaccine introduced two years ago may be reducing childhood respiratory illnesses in Wisconsin. Health officials say they're optimistic. A new poll shows the Democratic primary for governor is wide open. And, a new state rule would ban people from adopting wild reptiles.

Parents in a new lawsuit say a lack of school funding by the state is a violation of the law. A Green Bay housing nonprofit faces an investigation into its CEO's spending. And, a GOP bill proposes to bring the death penalty back to Wisconsin.

Four candidates for a northern Wisconsin congressional district changed their voter registration in recent months. Two had been living out of state. The state Assembly ended its session about passing new public school funding. And, we hear from a Wisconsin Olympian who had a run-in with a leaf blower.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi may be getting involved in the dispute over road access on tribal land in Wisconsin. That's at the request of GOP Congressman Tom Tiffany. Plus, Wisconsin farmers have mixed reactions to the federal strike down of President Donald Trump's tariffs. And, businesses and sports that depend on wintry weather faces challenges with climate changes.

The longest-serving Speaker in the history of the Wisconsin Assembly says he's retiring from the Legislature. Robin Vos, the powerful Republican from Rochester, announced his plans during an emotional speech from the Assembly floor.

The Apostle Islands ice caves opened on Monday, but shut down after just one day. Meanwhile, a study is underway to find potential sites to build nuclear power plants in Wisconsin. And, the state Assembly plans to wrap up its work for the year. That includes votes on two high profile women's health bills that have been blocked for years.

In his final State of the State address, Gov. Tony Evers highlighted the accomplishments of the last eight years but said there is more work to be done. A Wisconsin bill would create a path for victims of sexual extortion to sue in state courts. And, the state's top GOP leaders have agreed on a plan to spend down the state's $2.5 billion dollar budget surplus. 

For the first time in more than a decade, the Ice Caves are open at the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. And, a national study named Marquette University as one of 41 colleges with large percentages of low income students taking out high-interest loans. Then, we hear from two 70-plus athletes who have been skiing in the American Berkebeiner every year for decades.

A dramatic move by the Trump administration to undo regulations of greenhouse gases could cost Wisconsin billions. A judge's ruling upholds state permits for a controversial oil and gas pipeline. And, we hear from a high school student who says Wisconsin should do more to foster youth entrepreneurship.

A Republican candidate for Congress in Wisconsin was legal counsel for a company alleged to have run a Ponzi scheme. Community members are rallying behind a Madison restaurant owner now in ICE detention. And, WPR's Danielle Kaeding tells us about a Wisconsin native on a year-long quest to eat only what he can forage from the land.

Will Wisconsin's leaders strike a deal to reduce property taxes? Republican leaders in the Senate and the Assembly have different ideas. The state Supreme Court hears arguments about a race-based student retention program. And, state lawmakers have introduced bills to legalize marijuana for the past 13 years, including this year.

A Wisconsin utility is seeking custom electric rates for a data center project. The application hides key details from the public. A Republican leader says a deal on property taxes […]

A judge had harsh words for the Kenosha County District Attorney after he failed to disclose the use of artificial intelligence in court filings.  The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison said the university has lost nearly $30 million dollars in federal funds in Donald Trump's second term. And, team USA women's hockey includes six current or former Badgers.

A community group in La Crosse is getting care packages to local Hmong elders who are fearful of immigration enforcement agents. Dual enrollment has been growing in Wisconsin but remains low in Milwaukee. And an Eau Claire native is representing Team USA in three Nordic combined skiing events at the Winter Olympics.

Bills advancing at the state Capitol would impose age-related restrictions on digital apps and social media platforms. A new study shows PFAS are down in the Great Lakes. And, the search for the owner of an antique photo album that was left at the airport.

A panel of GOP lawmakers has blocked a million dollar payment to the Department of Public Instruction following news of four day "junket" to the Wisconsin Dells. A proposal at the state capitol would put guardrails on A-I chatbots when kids are using them. And, we hear from a Wisconsin native who's the premier American athlete in the Olympic biathlon.

A mining company is one step closer to drilling for copper, gold and other metals in Northern Wisconsin.Republican Senator Ron Johnson says he's not onboard with President Donald Trump's call for Republicans to "take over" elections in some states. And, a Madison author explores the question of why we write.

Milwaukee County officials say they were caught off guard when they found out their health insurance contract had lapsed. Democrats introduce a new bill that would legalize marijuana, but it's likely doomed in the state Legislature. And, former Judge Hannah Dugan's lawyers are raising constitutional questions as they look to get her felony conviction overturned.

Plans to bring new nuclear energy to the site of a shuttered nuclear plant in Kewaunee County are moving forward. Meanwhile, a Shorewood man's legal battle over a trespassing citation could decide the future of beach access on the Great Lakes in Wisconsin. And, the two candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court explain whether state courts should get involved with investigations involving federal immigration agents.

There's about six months until Wisconsin's primary and Republicans are coalescing around a single candidate for governor. But things are looking much different on the Democratic side of that race. Wisconsin's flagship university will be searching for a new chancellor for the second time in four years.  And, with fatal crashes on all-terrain and utility terrain vehicles hitting near-record highs in Wisconsin last year, the state is updating safety regulations.

Wisconsin gun rights advocates are disputing recent comments from President Donald Trump and his administration following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minnesota. Sen. Ron Johnson is calling for a full investigation into Pretti's death but is blaming Democrats for chaos in Minneapolis. And, a federal judge is ending court monitoring of a youth prison in Wisconsin eight years after ordering reforms there.

President Donald Trump has endorsed Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany in the GOP primary for governor. Senator Tammy Baldwin says Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should be fired following "chaos" caused be federal agents in Minneapolis. And, a new EPA rule would give Wisconsin and tribes in the state less power to protect waterways under the Clean Water Act.

Green Bay residents are remembering former resident Alex Pretti, the Veterans Administration nurse who was killed by federal immigration agents in Minnesota. Congressman Tom Tiffany, the leading Republican candidate for governor, told reporters he has not watched video of the shooting. And, leaders of Wisconsin's largest school districts say state leaders are failing to adequately fund public education.

Protesters across Wisconsin are taking to the streets after a former Green Bay resident was shot and killed by an immigration agent in Minnesota. And a Rhinelander paper mill will […]

A Dane County village plans to reverse its decision to remove fluoride from its water. That's after one of the policy's advocates lost his seat in a recall election. we'll hear from our politics team on a busy week at the state Capitol. And, in his first year back in office, President Trump has shaken up America's education system. His push to end diversity initiatives has won praise from many conservatives in Wisconsin.

The seven Democratic candidates for governor squared off in a forum in Milwaukee. They had tough words for Trump's immigration crackdowns. Gov. Tony Evers and GOP lawmakers say they have a deal on PFAS.And, President Trump campaigned on a promise of ending inflation and lowering prices. One year into his term, some Wisconsin residents say they're still waiting.

Microsoft is proposing a multi-billion-dollar expansion of its Mount Pleasant data center project. It would involve two new campuses and 15 new data centers. Wisconsin College Republicans boast a million-dollars raised from just two sources. And, we look at how President Trump's deep cuts to the federal workforce are being felt in Wisconsin.

Republicans in the state Capitol are enforcing a ban on recording public hearings there. The crackdown comes after a nonprofit Capitol broadcasting service also shut down. A new lawsuit says a central Wisconsin school district sent police to a parent's home over a social media post. And, we'll take a look at how immigrants living in Wisconsin are feeling, one year into Trump's second term.

Tribes in Wisconsin are opposing efforts to end protections for millions of acres of national forest land. a look at the declining number of dairy farms over the past 20 years. And, what people should know about the GLP-1 pill for weight loss.

More drilling for copper and gold in northern Wisconsin could begin next month under a mining company's plans. State revenue projections released yesterday are substantially higher than expected. And, how Wisconsin's humble taverns shaped our history and built community.

Milwaukee police say members of the LGBTQ community have been victims of a recent string of robberies. And they're tied to online dating apps. State lawmakers hear emotional testimony on bills that would restrict transgender rights in Wisconsin. And, a new novel from a Milwaukee film professor has fans of horror movies in mind.

 Assembly Republicans are rejecting Governor Tony Evers’ plan to cut property taxes, saying he needs to undo his so-called 400-year veto before the two sides can talk. The state Assembly […]

Gov. Tony Evers is laying out his agenda for his last year in office, but he'll have his work cut out with Republicans in the state Legislature. Two Wisconsin hospitals say they're ending gender affirming care treatments for minors, citing federal changes. And, what Wisconsin experts are saying about new federal guidelines for alcohol use.

Protests popped up in communities around Wisconsin over the weekend in response to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by a federal immigration agent. The largest were in Madison and Milwaukee. A former principal is facing a criminal charge for failing to report sexual misconduct by a school staff member in Sun Prairie. And, with flu activity high in the state, some counties are stocking vending machines with free flu tests.

Wisconsin politicians' response to the fatal shooting of a woman in Minneapolis by a federal immigration agent are sharply divided by partisan lines. Wisconsin health officials are rejecting recent federal guidance to reduce routine childhood vaccinations. And, residents of a rural community in Brown County are worried that a sudden flurry of big-dollar real estate purchase offers means a data center could be coming to town.

Wisconsin lawmakers are considering proposals that would expand access to guns in the state, including allowing concealed carry without a permit. There's a push to expand recess time for kids in public schools. And, a new study takes a look at the potential impact of data centers on Wisconsin's water and energy utilities.

Last year, one mayor blocked a data center development in town. Now, the Menomonie City Council has created new restrictions to regulate the industry in their community. the federal government may soon begin garnishing the wages of thousands of Wisconsin residents who are in default on their student loans. And, researchers say young bald eagles in Wisconsin are facing possible health effects from PFAS contamination.

A small community in western Wisconsin may finally be getting PFAS-free water after getting a federal loan to build a municipal water system. Health officials are warning the flu and other respiratory illnesses are spreading quickly in Wisconsin. And, the data center industry's demand for big backup generators is helping a Waukesha-based manufacturer expand.

Child care providers in Wisconsin are waiting on next steps after the Trump administration said it freeze federal child care funding. Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan has resigned after she was convicted of a felony. And, Wisconsin lawmakers share reaction to the capture of the Venezuela president and his wife.

What are the big stories in Wisconsin politics likely to be in 2026? We'll break it down for you. And, Milwaukee singer-songwriter Trapper Schoepp reflects on a deeply personal new album.