Wisconsin Today

Wisconsin's groundwater can have upwards of 20 different pesticide compounds in it. State regulators say they don't fully understand the risks. Then, WPR's politics team looks at the lingering effects of the shutdown. And, a story about two Appleton sisters and their love of reading.

The deal signed into law Wednesday night to end the government shutdown could have devastating effects on Wisconsin's hemp and THC industries. Meta announces plans for a massive data center campus in Wisconsin. And, how some farmers are finding advantages in growing food under solar panels.

New state report cards show the vast majority of Wisconsin schools meet or exceed expectations. But critics say the grades leave parents guessing. A Republican bill to clean up PFAS could cost the state billions. And, a story about a new children's book about the SS Edmund Fitzgerald.

President Donald Trump pardoned more than 75 people involved in the effort to overturn his 2020 election loss. That includes some attorneys and false electors from Wisconsin. Republican Senator Ron Johnson says another government shutdown could be only months away. And, we hear from a former state archaeologist about Wisconsin's ancient effigy mounds.

Elections last week showed strong showings for Democrats in races around the country. What does that mean for Wisconsin? Gov. Tony Evers says Wisconsin will not claw back food assistance benefits despite a demand from the Trump administration over the weekend. And, a proposal from a Democratic state legislator aims to protect consumers from rising utility bills as data center development booms in the state.

Open enrollment is now underway for coverage under the Affordable Care Act, and Wisconsin residents using the program are getting a first look at their higher premiums. A farm family […]

Wisconsin's Ron Johnson says he's onboard with the idea of killed the Senate filibuster rule after President Donald Trump pushed for the idea. That's a change in course from Johnson's opposition when Democrats held the majority. We Energies is looking to add a nearly 3 gigawatts of new power generation in Wisconsin to meet the demands of data centers. Then, we hear insight on where to venture into fall recreation.

Wisconsin State Superintendent Jill Underly told legislators her office plans to create an online database so the public can see teacher licenses that have been revoked or surrendered. A Wisconsin family is suing Tesla over a fiery crash that left five people dead in suburban Madison last year. And, Republicans have revived a bill aimed at banning absentee ballot drop boxes.

The Trump administration says it will partially fund the SNAP program this month. Governor Tony Evers vetoed a bill that would have required state employees to work from the office most of the time. And, Wisconsin farmers say they are happy about a soybean trade agreement with China. But they say it's too late to help this year.

The U.S. Supreme Court found Wisconsin was wrong to charge Catholic Charities for unemployment insurance.Then, in northern Wisconsin the Catholic Church has signed over some of its land to the Lac du Flambeau trip. And, a look at how Republicans' Big Beautiful Bill changed the abortion landscape in Wisconsin, again.

Microsoft hopes a new collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison will help give the company an edge in artificial intelligence. Then, how partisanship and partisan media is affecting our perceptions of reality. And, our politics team looks at Wisconsin's response to the government shutdown.

The 2026 governor's race a year away, and Wisconsin's next Supreme Court race is even closer. A new poll finds most voters in Wisconsin haven't made up their minds. We talked to people who rely on federal food assistance. And, industrial and municipal sludge has spread on fields around the state.

Food pantries across the state are preparing for a spike in demand. That's because if the government shutdown continues, thousands will lose benefits.

After a monthlong hiatus, Wisconsin's largest provider of abortions will resume the procedures. Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin made the change in response to a new federal law.

Six Wisconsin counties will not get federal public assistance after a historic rainfall led to widespread flooding over the summer. And an in-depth look at young Republicans in Wisconsin following the assassination of conservative organizer Charlie Kirk.

State lawmakers want a legal opinion from Wisconsin’s Attorney General following a report about teacher misconduct.Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Susan Crawford won’t hear a disciplinary proceeding against former Supreme Court […]

Residents in southeastern Wisconsin say a proposed power line to fuel new data centers will disrupt their communities. They’re speaking out against it. Plus, how the government shutdown is affecting […]

There could be a rematch next year in the race for Wisconsin Attorney General. Health care experts say missing school can exacerbate a student's struggles with anxiety. And, a story about lilies of the valley and family connection.

A new audit finds many Wisconsin's school districts missed a deadline to file financial statements. An escalating trade war is making it harder for Wisconsin sawmills to sell their products overseas. And, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is looking to require thousands of Wisconsin first responders carry EpiPens.

Thousands of Wisconsinites turned out over the weekend to protest the Trump administration. The waters of the Great Lakes are at near-record warm temperatures this fall. And, campaign money is pouring into Wisconsin's pivotal 3rd Congressional District.

The ongoing federal shutdown is causing problems at the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. State officials say the shutdown has cut off funding and data the agency needs to do its work.

The number of international students arriving as freshman at the University of Wisconsin-Madison fell by more than 30 percent this fall. And, the U.S. Department of Energy is reportedly considering terminating 1.5 billion dollars in federal grants previously awarded for projects in Wisconsin.

The Wisconsin Senate approved a bill banning students from using cell phones in public schools. In a first for the tribe, the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin released lake sturgeon into a lake on their reservation. And, people gathered in Milwaukee County to honor slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Solar farms in three Wisconsin communities are facing pushback from residents. And some legislators want to give locals more power in siting green energy projects. A proposed bill could help more teens earn college credits while they are in high school. And, the Wisconsin Supreme Court heard arguments in a property dispute that could have ramifications for tribal sovereignty.

Listeners asked WPR for information about COVID vaccines for kids this year. A Wisconsin native fell and injured himself during a hike in Norway. We hear how he survived for six days. And, Wisconsin farmers are waiting on a promised bailout from the Trump administration. They say it's unlikely to make up for lost exports.

President Donald Trump’s nominee for a federal appeals court covering Wisconsin cleared a key hurdle in the U.S. Senate.  Milwaukee County is facing a lawsuit over a provision in the […]

Microsoft is pulling out of a proposed data center in southeastern Wisconsin after local opposition. Brewers fans are still optimistic about the team's postseason chances despite yesterday's loss. And, recovery efforts are continuing after historic flooding in southeastern Wisconsin. We hear from one resident outside a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center in Milwaukee.

Wisconsin's attorney general says he's running for a third term. That means he's out of the race for governor. U.S. Senator Ron Johnson reacts to news that the FBI reviewed his phone records in relation to January 6. And, lawmakers and the DNR clashed over a proposal to address PFAS contamination.

A Wisconsin judge has ordered the state to cross-reference voter registrations against records that show voters' citizenship status.  A large-scale dairy farm in southern Wisconsin wants to add thousands of cows. And, Halloween is big business across the state. We went to a haunted house to prove it.

The site of the old Kenosha Chrysler plant is home to a new innovation center. Meanwhile, the city of Ashland is studying what to do with the site of the shuttered Northland College. And ,Wisconsin Life visits Nelson Dewey State Park to look at thousands of bats.

A judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a former teacher who was fired after a dispute over a Dolly Parton song. WPR's politics team checks in on 2026 races for Supreme Court and governor. And, the Brewers get ready for their first playoff game.

Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin says the U.S. Senate could cut a deal to end the government shutdown, if the president and House would work with them. A conservative judge enters the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. And, a discussion with the Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra CEO about a residency that showcases string instruments played during the Holocaust. 

State regulators say a Rhinelander paper mill was responsible for PFAS contamination. Then, how a government shutdown could affect Wisconsin. And, a look at the state's closure of two homes to help veterans.

A plan for another Microsoft data center campus in Racine County took a step forward. State utility regulators approve Wisconsin's first large-scale wind farm in more than a decade. And, a look at what advocates say is lax regulation of manufactured homes.

Some Superior residents want the state to install air quality monitors near an oil refinery in the city. The former head of Wisconsin's economic development agency is joining the growing Democratic primary for governor. And, former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman could lose his law license for three years.

Planned Parenthood will stop providing abortions in Wisconsin, at least temporarily. Only about half of Wisconsin's third through eighth graders are performing at grade level in state tests on math and reading. And, our Capitol Bureau reporters catch us up on this week's news in state politics.

This year, Milwaukee Public Schools ended a program that hired international teachers because of uncertainty over visas. A small police department in Jefferson County has applied to work with ICE on immigration enforcement. And, Wisconsin lawmakers introduce a series of election-related bills.

Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany is entering the race to become Wisconsin's next governor. The mayor of the western Wisconsin city of Menomonie is putting the brakes on a data center plan in the community. And, a Racine-based manufacturer is expanding in the state.

A Canadian mining company says early test results of a site in Taylor County show promise for mining copper and gold. Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos talks about security at the State Capitol. And, Republican legislators want to change the way kids in Wisconsin are taught math.

The Trump administration has canceled a grant program that supported foreign language education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. That will cancel dozens of student fellowships.the American Civil Liberties Union is suing five Wisconsin sheriffs over immigration detentions. And, a national scenic trail gets new land in northern Wisconsin.

The next phase of Microsoft's data center development in southeastern Wisconsin will cost $4 billion and could eventually employ nearly 1,000 people. A health insurance provider drops out of Affordable Care Act exchanges in parts of Wisconsin. And, WPR's politics team looks at the week's news about next year's governor's race.

A state lawmaker says he's been targeted with death threats after false claims circulated online. He canceled a public hearing in Madison as a result. The city of Racine released information on water usage for a proposed data center after an environmental group sued. And, Wisconsin high schools are using a new technology to crack down on student vaping.