Karen Hyun will be the state's next secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, a cabinet position that’s gone unfilled for more than a year.
The post Gov. Tony Evers appoints new DNR secretary after yearlong vacancy appeared first on WPR.
It's left tens of thousands of Wisconsinites wondering if they'll head into the holiday season without paychecks.
The post What’s at stake in Wisconsin amid government shutdown fights appeared first on WPR.
The Wisconsin Assembly will have a new committee next year that mirrors a government office created by President-elect Donald Trump.
The post Vos announces Wisconsin ‘GOAT’ committee aimed at government efficiency appeared first on WPR.
A Dane County judge who struck down the controversial Republican law known as Act 10 has put his ruling on hold, while Republican lawmakers appeal the order.
The post Ruling striking down Act 10 put on hold appeared first on WPR.
A plan to move coal piles out of downtown Green Bay is in jeopardy following a vote by the Brown County Board of Supervisors Wednesday night.
The post Plan to move Green Bay coal piles in jeopardy after county vote appeared first on WPR.
Wisconsin's 10 GOP electors formally cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump Tuesday, a ceremonial step that came under a spotlight four years ago when a different group of Republicans cast fake electoral ballots.
The post Wisconsin’s 10 GOP electors formally cast votes for Donald Trump, JD Vance appeared first on WPR.
Every year Wisconsin Watch produces some of the best investigative journalism in Wisconsin, and this year was no exception. We exposed a judge abusing his power to benefit a coworker, revealed how AI is helping the state catch illegal manure spreading, catalogued every book ban request in all 421 school districts and found state prisons hiring doctors with disciplinary histories.
But what made this year particularly special was the introduction of the Forward newsletter. Each week the Wisconsin Watch state team produces shorter stories about what we expect to be the big news and trends in the days, weeks and months ahead. It’s something our local media partners asked for and our state team reporters delivered.
As the year winds down, we gave each state team reporter the assignment of picking a favorite story written by another member of the team (Secret Santa style!). Here were their picks:
To some, radio is a source of entertainment and information from a bygone era. They’re mistaken. Hallie Claflin’s deeply reported, authoritative story illustrates the immense and continuing influence of talk radio — especially conservative talk radio — in Wisconsin politics. The rise of former Gov. Scott Walker, the toppling of a Democratic mayor in Wausau and the deaths of certain bills in the Legislature can all be tied, at least in part, to advocacy or opposition from conservative talk radio hosts. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, the state’s most powerful Republican, makes regular appearances on broadcasts and described talk radio as being “as powerful as it’s ever been.” This story is worth your time as you look ahead to 2025.
— Jack Kelly
Phoebe Petrovic’s profile of militant, anti-abortion Pastor Matthew Trewhella, her first investigation as Wisconsin’s first ProPublica local reporting network fellow, was an engaging read. But I especially liked the companion piece she wrote. It’s a reader service to do this kind of story when we do a large takeout on a person or subject unfamiliar to most readers. It also might drive readers to the main story when they learn more about why we did it. It puts the readers behind the scenes a bit and has the potential to make readers feel more connected to Wisconsin Watch.
— Tom Kertscher
Tom Kertscher does an amazing job with all of his fact briefs, but my favorite has to be a compilation that fact-checked presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump right before their September debate. Over the past few races, presidential campaigns have been full of misinformation. Debates are a vital time to show the reality of candidates and their beliefs. Tom’s story made sure people could accurately judge the claims both candidates were making. I learned about many new and important topics across party lines like Trump’s for-profit college, Harris’ claim about tracking miscarriages and accurate deportation statistics.
— Khushboo Rathore
Khushboo Rathore’s DataWatch report detailing that the state’s prison population was at nearly 130% capacity stood out as one of my favorite pieces this year. Not only did this short story shed light on severe deficiencies in Wisconsin’s prison system, it also presented the findings in a digestible format that helped readers understand overcrowding in prisons through striking data. It’s one thing to report that Wisconsin prisons are overwhelmed, and it’s another to have the numbers that show it. This piece has the power to reshape future conversations about statewide prison reform, which is what our work here at Wisconsin Watch is all about!
— Hallie Claflin
Jack Kelly has some of the best sourcing this newsroom has ever seen. He’s such an affable people-person, and it enables him to get coffee with anyone and everyone and build legitimate relationships that result in wild scoops, like this one. It’s a testament to his brilliance as a reporter.
— Phoebe Petrovic
Forward: Our picks for favorite politics stories of the year is a post from Wisconsin Watch, a non-profit investigative news site covering Wisconsin since 2009. Please consider making a contribution to support our journalism.
Senate Democratic Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein said she’s already had conversations with Republican leaders.
The post Hesselbein to revive medical marijuana bill as Senate Democrats weigh new power appeared first on WPR.
The Supreme Court on Friday said it would take up a new religious rights case over whether a Catholic charitable organization must pay Wisconsin's employment tax.
The post Supreme Court will hear Catholic charitable group’s plea to be free from Wisconsin unemployment tax appeared first on WPR.
David Crowley will walk across the stage at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena Sunday to receive his college diploma nearly 20 years after he dropped out of college.
The post After dropping out at 19, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley will graduate from college this weekend appeared first on WPR.
Madison's Common Council voted Tuesday night to formally rebuke Alder Charles Myadze who faces numerous allegations of domestic violence and sexual harassment.
The post Madison Common Council censures alder accused of domestic violence, harassment appeared first on WPR.
The new charges allege longtime Wisconsin GOP attorney Jim Troupis, Kenneth Chesebro and 2020 Donald Trump campaign official Mike Roman defrauded Republicans who cast alternate electoral ballots for Trump.
The post Kaul adds 10 felony counts to criminal case against GOP attorneys in false elector case appeared first on WPR.
Gov. Tony Evers won't sign the next state budget if it requires state workers to return to the office, he said in an interview that aired Sunday.
The post Evers would nix a return-to-work requirement for state employees appeared first on WPR.
Wisconsin's public defender's office argues reforms will cut down on the number of criminal charges in the system.
The post Wisconsin public defender budget request includes proposals to cut down criminal charges appeared first on WPR.
The Monday court ruling that overturned Wisconsin’s Act 10 collective bargaining law could have massive implications in Wisconsin, where it once sparked massive protests.
The post Wisconsin’s Act 10 is back in court. Here’s what to know about the controversial law. appeared first on WPR.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will decide whether Republican lawmakers violated the state Constitution by temporarily blocking an agency's conversion therapy ban over the past four years.
The post Wisconsin Supreme Court to consider GOP blockade of conversion therapy ban appeared first on WPR.
A recent report from the Badger Institute warned a trade war triggered by tariffs could harm Wisconsin’s manufacturing sector.
The post Trump’s proposed tariffs on trade partners pose risks to Wisconsin manufacturing appeared first on WPR.
School leaders and organized labor in Wisconsin say they’re cautiously optimistic following a lower court ruling Monday that would restore collective bargaining rights for many public employees. But they say […]
The post Educators, union leaders cautiously optimistic about Act 10 lower court ruling appeared first on WPR.
Ben Wikler announced Sunday he hopes to lead the national Democratic party by running for chair of the Democratic National Committee.
The post In Wikler DNC bid, allies see chance to nationalize Wisconsin-style campaigning appeared first on WPR.
Public employee collective bargaining rights have been restored by a Dane County judge, who ruled that several sections of Wisconsin's controversial law known as Act 10 are unconstitutional.
The post Dane County judge strikes down Act 10, restoring public employee union bargaining rights appeared first on WPR.
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