On November 12, 2025, the RENEW Wisconsin Board of Directors voted to appoint Ismaeel Chartier as the Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin. Ismaeel steps into this role after three months in the role of Interim Executive Director. Prior to his time leading the organization, he served RENEW as the Business Development Director, having started with the organization in 2023.
Ismaeel came to RENEW with a deep background in the nonprofit sector, having served at a handful of nonprofits over nearly two decades. Some highlights of his career include Executive Director of the Walworth County Alliance for Children and Executive Director of the Impact Advocacy Coalition of Cincinnati.
“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as Executive Director of RENEW Wisconsin,” Executive Director Ismaeel Chartier said. “This organization has walked through a season of change, and I’m honored by the trust placed in me to lead us into what comes next. The road ahead is demanding and full of big decisions, but I welcome that challenge. Wisconsin’s clean energy future will not build itself; it requires disciplined leadership, strong partnerships, and a team willing to push together. I’m committed to carrying this work forward with humility, resolve, and a steady focus on the long-term impact we can make for communities across our state.”
Ismaeel’s appointment to this position comes at a time of uncertainty for the renewable energy industry and marks the end of a transitional period for RENEW Wisconsin. During his tenure as interim, he steadied our organization and began charting a vision for RENEW’s future. In doing so, he secured the confidence of the organization’s staff and board members.
“Ismaeel’s appointment as Executive Director marks an exciting new chapter for RENEW Wisconsin,” RENEW Wisconsin Board Secretary Isaiah Ness said. “His leadership brings not only the steadiness and stability the organization needs, but also a clear and compelling vision for the future. We are honored to welcome him into this role at such a pivotal moment. Under his guidance, RENEW is poised to deliver greater value to its members, partners, and communities than ever before.”
Staff and board alike congratulate Ismaeel on the removal of interim from his title and are glad he agreed to take on the responsibility of leading our organization. Now, we look ahead to the future and all that we can build together.
Kia Niro EV, EV6, and EV9 are now offered with $10,000 discounts.
The discount equals a 24 percent saving on the 2025 Niro EV.
EV6 and EV9 sales dropped sharply during October’s slower market.
Kia’s EV sales in the US took a beating last month after the government pulled the $7,500 EV federal tax credit. But the brand isn’t sitting still. In a bid to get more of its battery-powered models into driveways, Kia is rolling out hefty discounts across its full EV range, hoping to rekindle demand in a market that’s proving tougher than expected.
The company revealed that the 2025 Niro EV now comes with $10,000 in customer cash, up from $8,500 previously. That bump translates to a 24 percent discount on the base model, trimming its price to a more approachable $31,045.
The savings don’t stop there. According to Cars Direct, the 2025 EV6 is also being offered with the same $10,000 discount, amounting to as much as 23 percent off. The newer 2026 EV9 joins the deal too, with the same dollar figure equating to an 18 percent price reduction.
Importantly, Kia notes that the deal is “subject to vehicle availability and dealer participation.” Additionally, customers must take delivery of their new vehicle by January 12.
Both the EV6 and EV9 were already eligible for $9,000 off before this round of incentives, so the extra $1,000 isn’t exactly a game changer, but for shoppers, it’s one more reason to consider going electric. Keeping an extra grand in the bank never hurts.
Kia also has some other very tempting EV deals on offer. For example, the 2025 EV6 and Niro EV are available at 0 percent APR for 72 months when financed and also come with a $2,500 incentive.
Similarly, the 2026 EV9 is available at the same 0 percent financing rate over a 60-month term. Certain EV6s, including the GT, are also available with up to $16,500 in lease cash.
Rolls-Royce offers a special lease credit on 2025–26 Spectres.
Incentive replaces the expired $7,500 federal EV tax credit.
Other luxury automakers are also rolling out similar discounts.
One would think Rolls-Royce would be the last carmaker on Earth to dabble in discounts, yet even it has waded into the current EV incentive wave. With federal tax credits now expired in the US – and yes, those applied to all leased EVs, foreign or not, the brand is dangling a $5,000 lease credit on the Spectre.
Given the car’s $422,000 starting price, the gesture borders on comic relief. The discount feels more like a voucher toward optional extras than any real saving.
According to Cars Direct, the incentive appeared in a recent dealer bulletin distributed by Rolls-Royce. It applies to 2025 and 2026 model-year Spectres leased through November 30.
The brand has quietly trimmed the lease offer from $7,500 to $5,000, with financing carrying an effective interest rate of about 4.6 percent APR.
Even with the credit, the U.S.-spec Spectre still costs more than it did during the now-ended $7,500 federal EV tax credit. That benefit, like the current lease credit, never extended to those who purchased the car outright.
The all-electric Rolls-Royce Spectre has been part of the lineup since 2023 and now comes in two versions. The base car produces 577 hp (430 kW / 584 PS), while the Black Badge version pushes output to 650 hp (485 kW / 659 PS), making it the most powerful model from Goodwood to date. Both use a 120 kWh battery, providing up to 266 miles (428 km) of range on 23-inch wheels.
Other Discounted EVs By High-End Brands
While a $5,000 reduction on a Rolls-Royce is unlikely to sway potential buyers, other luxury automakers are showing far more enthusiasm when it comes to incentives.
Aston Martin, meanwhile, is looking to clear excess inventory in the U.S., introducing a round of incentives across its lineup despite not having a single EV in showrooms.
The reductions are $15,000 for the Vanquish, $12,000 for the DBX 707, $10,000 for the DB12, and $7,000 for the Vantage. These offers apply to both purchases and leases.
A bipartisan bill in the Wisconsin Legislature would launch a pilot project to provide health care and substance abuse recovery services to incarcerated people before and after release.(Photo by Caspar Benson/Getty Images)
This story has been updated to reflect the fact that the proposed bill would cover general health care needs in addition to substance use disorders
“When people don’t receive support, they tend to go back to what they knew,” Tom Denk, who was released from state prison in 2022, told the Wisconsin Examiner.
The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
In an email, Denk said that he has experienced incarceration for a substance use issue and has had many friends who have had similar experiences.
“One of my best friends was in prison with me,” Denk said. “It was his tenth time in prison — all for substance use issues. However, after he was released, this last time, he died from an overdose.”
Denk said he would like to see wrap-around services extended to include all prisoners. However, he supports a bipartisan effort in the Wisconsin Legislature to request a specific type of waiver of federal Medicaid law for a state demonstration project to provide eligible incarcerated people with up to 90 days of prerelease health care coverage.
The coverage would include case management services, medication-assisted treatment for all types of substance use disorders and a 30-day supply of all prescription medications, which are the minimum benefits a state is expected to propose in its application. . There are 19 other states that have approved waivers, while nine, including D.C., are pending.
In 2023, the Biden administration put out guidance encouraging states to test strategies to support the re-entry of incarcerated people into communities, according to the health policy research organization KFF.
While Medicaid is prohibited from paying for non-inpatient services provided during incarceration, states can apply for a partial waiver of that policy.
A bill in the Wisconsin Legislature, AB 604, would require the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to request the waiver from the federal government. Incarcerated people who would receive coverage must be otherwise eligible for coverage under the Medical Assistance program. It will receive a hearing Tuesday afternoon in the Assembly Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse Prevention. Its senate counterpart, SB 598, has been referred to the Committee on Health.
In a press release, Sen. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi) said the bill would offer a way to reduce state and local health care costs for individuals with substance use disorders who are already eligible for Medicaid and are incarcerated in state prisons or county jails.
The 2023 guidance states that the goal is not to allow prison authorities to transfer costs of providing needed prisoner health care to the Medicaid program. States have to reinvest federal matching funds received for carceral health care services currently funded with state or local dollars, according to a KFF publication last year.
Reinvested money must go toward activities that increase access or improve the quality of health care services for people who are incarcerated or were recently released, or for health-related social services that may help divert people released from incarceration from involvement in the criminal justice system, according to KFF.
Keyeski said the bill would also enhance access to care after release.
“If we can initiate treatment for more individuals struggling with substance use disorders while they are incarcerated, we can both improve health outcomes once they are released back into their communities and lower rates of recidivism,” Keyeski said.
Denk said that upon release, he had to search for a new provider, which “got more and more difficult to do.” He said that “case management would help with this issue — and reduce stressors that cause people to use substances.”
Support from lawmakers of both parties, activists
Sen. Jesse James (R-Thorp) and Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) are among the bipartisan group of lawmakers who introduced or cosponsored AB 604.
James is the chair of the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, and Children and Families, while Moses is chair of the Assembly Committee on Health, Aging and Long-Term Care. Sen. Howard Marklein, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Finance, is another cosponsor.
“This bill is about saving lives and giving people coming out of the criminal justice system the best chance of recovery and reintegration into their communities,” James said in an emailed statement.
The statement cited a North Carolina study of opioid overdose death rates between 2000 and 2015, which concluded that people released from prison are highly vulnerable to opioids and need urgent prevention measures.
“When treatment begins pre-release and is maintained throughout reentry, we will see meaningful improvement in health outcomes,” James said.
Moses said in a statement that the bill will help give incarcerated individuals a positive start in a transitional phase in their lives, and would also reduce costs for local governments.
The criminal justice reform advocacy groups EX-Incarcarated People Organizing (EXPO) and WISDOM expressed support for the legislation in statements to the Examiner.
“For too long, people leaving incarceration have faced dangerous gaps in healthcare coverage — especially those living with substance use disorders,” EXPO stated.
The legislation “recognizes what we see every day in our work,” according to the organization, “that people returning home are far more likely to succeed when their health and basic needs are supported from the start.”
In an email to the Examiner, Mark Rice of WISDOM said that many formerly and currently incarcerated people are struggling with poverty, mental illness and addiction. He said that “far too many people” detained in prisons and jails are needlessly dying and suffering due to health issues that could be fixed through increased access to care during and after incarceration.
“The system must be fundamentally transformed so that health is prioritized over punishment,” Rice said.
Under the bill, the Department of Health Services would submit the request for a waiver by Jan. 1, 2027.
A Lucid Air lessee was charged thousands for small cosmetic damages.
Most expensive part needed was a new right taillight due to a tiny crack.
Bank of America reportedly uses third-party inspectors for lease returns.
It seems Lucid just can’t stop tripping over its own shoelaces when it comes to end-of-lease charges. What began as a few isolated complaints has grown into a steady chorus of frustration, as more customers share stories online about the surprisingly steep bills arriving when their leases wrap up.
The latest example might be the most egregious we’ve seen so far, and cases like this are already pushing some customers to abandon plans for leasing a Lucid altogether.
Mounting Lease Complaints
As we’ve seen in several recent instances, the first charge this customer faced was for a front bumper replacement. According to the inspector’s report, when the Air was returned, 10 small rock chips, a one-inch crack, and a one-inch scratch were deemed enough to justify replacing the entire bumper. The bill came in at $2,400.
However, this isn’t the most ridiculous charge. The owner notes that the right taillight had a small hairline crack along a glue line. They mentioned that the crack isn’t noticeable unless you zoom in, and that it’s so small it doesn’t even allow for any water ingress. Despite this, they’ve been charged $4,900 for a replacement.
The lessee was also billed $100 for minor damage to the left taillight, which seems inconsistent given the note that the entire unit would be replaced, something that can’t reasonably be done for that amount. Completing the tally was a $200 repair for a seven-inch scrape on the left front wheel.
The automaker’s leasing division, Lucid Financial Services, partners with Bank of America, which is believed to contract independent inspection firms to evaluate vehicles when leases conclude.
The Backlash Builds
Stories like this are taking a toll on Lucid’s image. On Reddit, one user said they had planned to switch from a Rivian to a Lucid when their current lease ended but changed their mind after seeing how these charges were handled. They added that they’d only reconsider “if Lucid get their act together.”
Another commenter said they canceled their Gravity order “100% because of” the excessive end-of-lease fees.
What Lucid Has To Say
It appears Lucid is aware of growing customer discontent. In an email recently sent to a leasing customer and shared to Carscoops, the car manufacturer acknowledged the issues and clarified what end-of-lease charges are appropriate:
“At Lucid Motors, we strive to deliver an exceptional experience at every stage of ownership, including the conclusion of your lease. We understand that some customers have encountered concerns or confusion during the lease-return process, and we want to acknowledge those experiences directly,” the letter reads.
“We sincerely apologize for any frustration or inconvenience you may have experienced. Your feedback has made it clear that, in some cases, our communication, inspection, and billing processes did not meet the standards of transparency and fairness that we hold ourselves to.
“Lucid is currently reviewing all recent lease-end charges to ensure they are accurate, appropriate, and consistent with our published policies. We are also working closely with our finance and inspection partners to improve clarity in inspection reports, final billing, and the overall return experience.
“In addition to these measures, please note that underbody plate scratches and any scratches smaller than 3.5 inches on the body of the vehicle are not subject to charges. We have also eliminated charges for wheel scrapes that are less than 3.5 inches, and reduced charges for wheel scrapes between 3.5 inches and 12 inches to $200. Additionally, there will be no charges for any interior stain that is less than 3.5 inches.
“If you believe that a charge you received may be inaccurate or would like to request a review, please contact Lucid Financial Services at 1-833-423-0369.
“Thank you for being part of the Lucid community and for giving us the opportunity to make this right. Your trust and satisfaction are of the utmost importance to us.”
While Lucid’s acknowledgment and policy adjustments suggest an attempt to regain trust, the lasting effect will likely depend on whether future lease customers see tangible change rather than another round of apologies.
In Wisconsin, the last time there was a commutation — a reduction of a criminal sentence by the governor’s authority to grant clemency — it was during Republican Tommy Thompson’s administration (1987-2001). Thompson issued seven commutations in addition to 202 pardons.
The Wisconsin Examiner’s Criminal Justice Reporting Project shines a light on incarceration, law enforcement and criminal justice issues with support from the Public Welfare Foundation.
Subsequently, with the exception of former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who served from 2011 to 2019, governors have offered hundreds of pardons.
Gov. Tony Evers set a record for the number of pardons he’s offered during his seven years in office at 1,640.
However, like his fellow Democratic Gov. James Doyle, who issued 326 pardons, Evers has not issued any commutations.
Members of WISDOM, a non-profit faith-based organization that works to end mass incarceration, say Evers told them in 2023 that he would begin issuing commutations.
However, Evers has never made an official statement on his position concerning commutations. He did not respond to a request for a comment on the matter from the Wisconsin Examiner.
Evers ran for office promising to reduce Wisconsin’s prison population. After a dip during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prison population is experiencing an upswing. There were 23,495 people in prison in Wisconsin as of Sept. 26, compared with 23,292 when Evers took office on Jan. 7, 2019. Nearly every prison in the state reports a population exceeding the facility’s official capacity.
Criminal justice advocacy groups like WISDOM and Ex-incarcerated People Organizing (EXPO) of Wisconsin have noted that one way Evers could address the prison population is by offering commutations, especially for those who have served long sentences and have proven to be low risks to return to society.
In 2023, Beverly Walker of WISDOM led a team that included legal scholars to study how commutations were conducted in neighboring states and prepared a proposal for how Wisconsin could begin implementing commutations again.
“We wanted to offer [Evers’] legal team something that could be advanced and not be a hindrance that they could move forward with and be implemented,” said Walker.
Walker said the proposal had two components:
The commutation would make the resident eligible for parole, with a parole board considering the application and making a recommendation.
The governor could issue a direct commutation resulting in a shortened sentence, including possible release from prison.
“We said if you are uncomfortable releasing people from prison, we ask that you just make them eligible for parole,” said Walker. “Allow them to go before the parole board, and the parole board make the decision on their eligibility based on what they see.”
“A lot of these people will never see the light of day without a commutation,” she said. “But a lot of these people have done college, gotten degrees, have been doing amazing work inside prison, and some have even been allowed to work outside of the fence and are just doing great, exhibiting great behaviour. They have transformative stories, and they have proved that they have put in the work.”
Walker’s team is asking Evers to consider commuting the sentences of people serving long-term sentences in prison whom the group identified for their good behavior and good prospects for release. In anticipation of release, Walker’s team also researched the availability of work opportunities, housing and even resources such as food pantries.
Commutation candidates
In response to a request from the Examiner for information on the candidates, Walker said her team decided not to release their names for fear of damaging their chances. WISDOM’s Sherry Reames, a retired University of Wisconsin-Madison English professor and volunteer on the commutations committee, offered a general description of all the present candidates for commutation.
According to Reames, most of the candidates were convicted of a serious crime, mostly first-degree intentional homicide (either alone as party to a crime) in the 1990s when they were young men, between 20 and 22.
Most the candidates were sentenced to decades in prison and will not be eligible for parole until the 2040s.
“Historically a life sentence in Wisconsin had allowed for the possibility of parole after about 15 years, a length of time which the Sentencing Project and other authorities have determined is about long enough to punish most crimes, especially by young offenders,” said Reames, “but it was the ‘tough on crime’ 1990s when our commutation candidates were convicted.”
Walker also said the candidates have used their years in prison to change their lives.
“Some of them initially had a hard time adjusting to the prison rules, but they have matured into model citizens, who lead and train other workers and earn positive reviews from staff,” said Reames. “Some have been continuously employed by Badger State Industries (now BSE) for a decade or more at a time, while others have rotated through the whole gamut of prison jobs (kitchen, laundry, custodial, library, clerk, maintenance, tier tender, etc., etc.). What they all have in common, however, are their obvious work ethic and self-discipline.”
Reames also said some candidates have obtained their high school degrees in prison and then certification as electricians, barbers, carpenters, bakers or building-service managers.
Some have also earned college credits from four-year universities, she said.
“Several have completed Trinity International University’s whole four-year degree program in Biblical studies with a minor in psychology, laying the foundation for careers as pastors and counselors,” said Reames, “and others have completed the necessary training to assist younger prisoners as certified peer mentors and tutors.”
Some also participated in Restorative Justice and Victim Impact programs.
Post announcement
When Evers announced this summer that he wasn’t going to run for another term, advocates expressed renewed interest in pressing him for commutations before he leaves office.
Walker told the Wisconsin Examiner that her group is engaged in an ongoing dialogue with the governor’s legal staff. In September, while acknowledging gratitude for all the pardons Evers has issued, Walker also expressed frustration over the lack of action on commutations.
“I am challenging him (Evers) to uphold these things that he has said,” said Walker. “He made these campaign promises that he was going to reduce the prison population, that he was going to do all these things as it pertains to people incarcerated and that included commutations, and it has been over two years and I don’t want to be disappointed, and at what point will I be able to be proud of this man that I elected?”
At the end of October, however, Walker was more upbeat about the possibility of a commutation: “It does look promising,” she said.
Marianne Oleson, operations director for EXPO, said her advocacy group also sees a window of opportunity in Evers’ last year in office and has also discussed commutations with the governor’s office and with legislators and their aides.
“Whenever we have the opportunity, we put out eblast constantly; we put out social media, “ said Oleson.
“We have individuals who are currently incarcerated, who have been incarcerated for decades, who have zero infractions (disciplinary reports generated within prisons) that have gone over and beyond, done everything that has been asked of them to do,” she added. “ … they’re caught in this loop because of Truth in Sentencing. If they’re not going to be paroled, give them a commutation. And then there’s individuals who have life sentences that were really, quite frankly, only due to being party to a crime where these individuals were very young at the time, and their situations deserve at least to be considered and looked at.”
Truth in Sentencing is a tough-on-crime policy from the 1990s that, in Wisconsin, requires a mandatory period of prison time be served before release, with no discretion given to a parole board that in previous years had the authority to review the status of prisoners and could authorize early release.
The reality today for those sentenced after Dec. 31, 1999, when Truth in Sentencing took effect, is that the possibility of early release has become very remote.
A commutation by the governor would be one legal way to shorten the confinement and extended supervision for both those sentenced before and after Truth in Sentencing was implemented.
However, in Wisconsin, there is currently no process for applying for a commutation.
There is a process to apply for a pardon through the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board, but it requires that the sentence of confinement and extended supervision have been fulfilled, followed by a five-year period of a clear record. If one meets the condition for a pardon in Wisconsin, there is no need for a commutation because the sentence has been fully served.
“When I have approached the governor’s office to even discuss commutations, I’m automatically referred to the pardon application,” said Oleson. “You are comparing apples to oranges. A pardon eliminates the conviction, a blank slate; a commutation maintains the conviction, maintains the accountability, but says you’ve served enough time. You no longer should be serving decades or years longer. You have proven you have served enough time. You still hold the conviction, but you are not chained to the DOC.”
Other voices for commutation
The ACLU of Wisconsin is encouraging Evers to exercise his authority to offer commutations in Wisconsin.
“For decades, commutations have been vastly underutilized at the state level,” said David Gwidt, deputy communication director. “Commuting sentences has gone from a relatively routine practice historically to an exceedingly rare one since the rise of mass incarceration, as governors on both sides of the aisle are reluctant to commute sentences out of fear they will be labeled as ‘soft on crime’ for doing so. But that’s starting to change in other states.”
Governors in New Jersey, Oregon, California, Alabama, and Oklahoma, have all used their commutation authority in recent years, Gwidt added. “Commutation is a tool that can help decarcerate our overpopulated prisons, rectify unjust, wrongful or excessively long sentences, and offer incarcerated people a pathway to redemption,” he said. “We hope Gov. Evers uses his remaining time in office as an opportunity to grant commutation and clemency to those who earn a chance at freedom.”
Speaking as a member of a panel discussion on solitary confinement and conditions inside Wisconsin prisons, on Sunday, Oct. 12 in Madison, state Sen. Kelda Roys (D-Madison), a candidate for governor, said commutations should be used for those who have been incarcerated for decades and are no longer a threat to society.
“Just in general, I think the clemency powers have been very underutilized in Wisconsin,” she said. “We have people who have been incarcerated for decades and decades. People age out of crime… and now you have people, some of whom have terminal and chronic illnesses. They are in their 60s, their 70s, their 80s, and they could easily and very safely live back with their loved ones after many decades of incarceration. And yet they are being denied this and then state taxpayers are being asked to essentially fund their incarceration and their health care.”
National discussion
In a July 13, 2025 op-ed in the New York Times, “Governors, Use Your Clemency Power,” CUNY law professor Steven Zeidman wrote:
“President Trump is making shameless use of his constitutional clemency power, rewarding insurrectionists, cronies, campaign contributors and sundry others. But this is not the only problem. Mr. Trump’s acts of commission are paralleled by American governors’ acts of omission. Even though they control the bulk of the country’s prison population and typically have the power to grant clemency, many governors have consistently failed to exercise the power of forgiveness, to all of our detriment.”
Zeidman notes that of the two million people currently in confinement in the United States, most are in state prisons, under the authority of governors.
Zeidman, who has pursued over 100 commutations in New York and won 21, talked to the Wisconsin Examiner about the reluctance he sees in governors to exercise their constitutional authority.
Addressing the perception of being soft on crime, Zeidman said it might be easier for Republicans who have established a tough-on-crime posture to offer commutation. That might be why the last commutation in Wisconsin was under Thompson, a tough-on-crime Republican.
According to a 2023 report, “Executive Clemency Power in Wisconsin” by Jillian Slaight for the Legislative Reference Bureau, Thompson commuted the sentence of seven people serving parole, stating, “further supervision would serve no useful purpose.”
The same report found that Gov. Patrick Lucey, a Democrat who served from 1971 to 1977 issued 177 commutations, including one to a man who had failed to provide child support. Lucey stated that sending the man back to prison prevented him from working and providing support.
Democratic Gov. Gaylord Nelson, who served from 1959 to 1963, issued 27 commutations for people he considered “rehabilitated.”
Cautionary tales vs. data
Zeidman and others who advocate for commutations argue that those eligible for commutation should undergo rigorous screening, including having members of the victims’ families and the district attorney participate in the commutation process.
“There should be a real careful vetting process,” he says, adding, “I would say to Wisconsin, have a very careful vetting process, go over it with a fine-tooth comb, and at the end of the day, it’s not going to be none (who are eligible for commutation) and it’s not going to be thousands either.”
Zeidman and the advocates say reincarceration rates are low for those who have served long sentences.
The Wisconsin DOC’s data on reincarceration shows a notable decrease for those who have served five years or more in prison.
A study prepared for the New York City Council in 2023 called “Justice on Aging” also noted older residents in prison tend not to return: “Nationwide, 43.3 percent of all released individuals recidivate within three years, while only seven percent of those aged 50-64 and four percent over 65 return to prison for new convictions—the lowest rates among all incarcerated age demographics.”
“It’s a fact, people age out of crime,” Zeidman says.
Another argument for restoring the possibility of early release is that rewarding good behaviour with commutations motivates more good behavior in prison.
“Give people an incentive to improve themselves and get on with their lives,” says Tom Denk, an advocate for WISDOM who has served time in prison.
“It does seem that too many governors are thinking about clemency and commutation in particular as a political act instead of an act of mercy or grace,” says Jennifer Soble, executive director of the Illinois Prison Project, who represents clients in Illinois who have a case for early release. “And so they are shying away from commutations on the statistically very unlikely event that a commutation could end up harming them politically, and that’s a real tragedy, because we are talking about real human beings who are living their lives in prison, many of whom are doing so under the extraordinarily unjust circumstances.”
Soble says many in Illinois prisons received long sentences, even life sentences, under older laws, but if processed today, their sentences would not be as extreme.
As an example of how laws have changed in Illinois, she says, formerly, any death resulting during a pursuit of a crime by law enforcement, such as the police chasing a suspect and firing a weapon, killing an innocent person, could result in murder charges to the suspect being pursued, even if the suspect had not directly participated in the death.
“And the only way for those folks to get out is through clemency and there’s no other path,” she says, “and so although I understand political caution, especially in these very challenging times, that caution cannot come at the expense of a person’s entire life.”
Zeidman also notes there is movement across the country to take a second look at sentences. In Wisconsin, a bill that stalled in 2024 would review the life sentences without parole for those who were convicted while they were under 18 years of age but were prosecuted as adults.
“The prison system is intentionally sort of secreted away,” says Soble. “Incarcerated people are not visible on purpose. And so your average person walking down the street is not thinking about, you know, is there or is there not a reasonably plausible way for an incarcerated person who shouldn’t be in prison to come home?”
Before he left office, President Joe Biden issued one of the largest commutations of all time for 2,500 people in the federal Bureau of Prisons system who had committed non-violent crimes.
“The recidivism rate of that group has been extraordinarily low,” says Soble of the 2,500 Biden commuted. “That effort saved taxpayer dollars. It made good sense. It was a good policy decision. It was also a just and humane decision, but governors at the state level have been just pretty unwilling to follow suit, even in cases that feel very, very obvious.”
Criminal Justice Fellow Andrew Kennard contributed to this report.
Correction: This report has been updated to reflect that most, not all of the candidates WISDOM is advancing were convicted as young men and won’t be eligible for parole until 2040.
The Solar for Good grant program has awarded over $100,000 in grants and solar panel donations to Wisconsin nonprofit organizations for the Fall 2025 grant round. Thanks to a generous donation from the Couillard Solar Foundation, the 11 nonprofits will install 911 panels for nearly 500 kilowatts of solar electricity, leading to more than $1.87 million in renewable energy investments in Wisconsin.
The following organizations have been awarded Fall 2025 Solar for Good grants to install new solar energy systems:
The grant recipients from the Fall 2025 grant round are a diverse range of organizations, representing affordable housing organizations, schools, and houses of worship. Each organization’s solar project will have a significant impact on their budget and will allow them to focus more funds on their missions.
“We’re always excited to see the wide variety of grantees who are making the decision to use a clean energy resource like solar power,” said Jackie Harrison-Jewell, Executive Director of the Couillard Solar Foundation. “With the withdrawal of grant support for many clean energy projects and nonprofits this year, as well as the shuttering of tax credits for solar investment in the coming months, it’s especially heartening to see these Wisconsin nonprofits really commit to supporting their communities by reducing their energy use, reducing their utility bills, and helping to make Wisconsin a healthier place to live and work. We want to welcome all of our 2025 grant recipients to the growing community of solar-powered nonprofits we have in our state.”
Through the assistance from Solar for Good grants, these 10 projects will accelerate Wisconsin’s transition to solar energy, facilitating the expansion of environmental stewardship and energy savings. As Solar for Good looks ahead to future grant rounds, the program remains committed to supporting nonprofits and houses of worship across the state of Wisconsin by supporting organizations in their efforts to contribute to a positive environmental impact, enhance economic advancement in Wisconsin, and strengthen their ability to aid the communities they serve.
Lucid owner charged nearly $4,000 for minor scratches and a single wheel.
Charges increased the lease’s effective cost by roughly $200 each month.
Similar complaints accuse Lucid and Bank of America of unfair lease charges.
Lucid has come under fire in the past year for hitting customers with unexpected charges at the end of their leases, often for tiny areas of damage. What began as a few scattered complaints has grown into a avalanche, with more and more owners coming forward to share similar experiences online.
It’s worth noting that Lucid’s leasing arm, Lucid Financial Services, operates in partnership with Bank of America. The bank apparently employs independent inspection firms to assess vehicles when leases end, which adds another layer between Lucid and the customer.
Not too long after we brought you the story of one Lucid Air lessee being charged $2,400 for underbody damage, another lessee has taken to social media to describe their dismay after receiving an even heftier bill.
According to a post on Reddit, they scored a decent deal on an 18-month leases for an Air, but were shocked to be charged $3,800 at the end of the lease for what Lucid describes as “Excess Wear.”
The first charge, $300, makes sense because one of the key fobs was missing. Then came the single biggest of them all: $2,400 for a damaged front bumper. According to Lucid’s inspector, the bumper had two scratches, one six-inch and one five-inch.
Interestingly, the lower front bumper cover has a pair of 15-inch scratches but will be replaced free of charge. That’s the same part a separate lessee damaged recently and was charged $2,400 for.
Then there are the wheels. Lucid spotted a four-inch area of curb rash on the left front wheel and charged $200 to repair it. It then noticed 19 inches worth of curb rash on the right rear wheel, but rather than repairing it, charged $900 for a replacement.
Paint Chips Are Fine, But Not Curb Rash
On the bright side, the company appears to have accepted some areas of wear and tear on the cover. For example, there are some minor chips on the hood and front cowl and a small dent on the left front door that it hasn’t charged the customer for.
Lucid has offered some compelling leasing deals for the Air, but factoring in the end-of-lease charges, this customer saw their monthly costs effectively increase by $200.
Understandably, people on Reddit weren’t impressed by this incident. “Absolutely crazy! This is equivalent to going to a restaurant and charging for every salt grain added to the dish,” one person wrote.
Another chimed in with their own experience: “I’ve had three Maserati leases, one Ghibli, two GranTurismos that I know Ally/Chase lost a bunch of money from… scrapped them and curbed the wheel and even returned with a crack in the tail light, zero charge and even got my security deposit back on each one!”
If you’ve leased a Lucid yourself, we’d like to hear from you. Did your experience line up with these reports, or was the process smooth from start to finish? Share your story in the comments or reach out to us directly.
Slate Auto’s electric truck may lease for over $500 per month.
Removal of EV tax credits has pushed the truck’s price higher.
Competitors like Ford’s Maverick may offer cheaper leases.
The big selling point for Slate Auto’s electric pickup truck was always going to be its price, promising to start at under $20,000 in the United States. However, the removal of the federal EV tax credit has forced Slate to jack up the truck’s estimated starting price, and it may also be shockingly expensive to lease, considering how few features you get.
While the company has yet to confirm a final price for the model, Cars Direct speculates that it could cost upwards of $500 per month. The outlet has come to this conclusion by estimating a $27,500 price tag, which, over a typical 36-month lease with no money down, could work out to be $468.
Add in the first month’s payment and an estimated acquisition fee of $700, and this will effectively jump to near $500 per month, before taxes and fees. Had the EV tax credit still been around, the equivalent price would drop to $341 a month, a hefty difference of $127.
However, it’s worth noting that actual lease prices for the truck may be different. The publication based its estimate on a money factor of 0.00292 or 7 percent APR and assumes a residual value of 55 percent.
This or a Ford Maverick?
If Slate Auto wants the back-to-basics EV to be successful, it’ll have to convince many shoppers to buy it instead of a Ford Maverick. It’s currently possible to lease a 2025 Maverick XLT AWD with the EcoBoost engine for as little as $289 per month over 36 months with $3,709 due at signing.
Admittedly, leasing a hybrid version of the Maverick is more expensive. Depending on location, the hybrid Mavericks generally start at around the $430 per month mark, and that usually doesn’t account for a hefty $3,000+ payment due at signing, bringing effective monthly payments to over $500.
Lucid lessee reports charges months after turn-in despite promised fixes.
One driver was billed $2,400 for underbody scratches after vehicle return.
Some have filed DFPI complaints against Lucid and the Bank of America.
Lucid sometimes offers some pretty sweet lease deals, and on paper, they can look like a solid way to get behind the wheel of an Air without the long-term commitment. But as we’ve seen more than once, there’s usually a sting in the tail. If it’s not a hefty down payment, it’s what happens when the car goes back at the end of the term.
Back in August, we reported that Lucid itself acknowledged problems with its lease return program. The process, it admitted, wasn’t consistent. Damage assessments were all over the place, and some customers ended up with surprisingly high bills for barely noticeable issues.
Ongoing Frustrations
Two months on, the situation doesn’t appear to have improved. At least two owners have come forward with worrying stories, and one has even taken the matter to regulators.
Over a week ago, one owner posted a thread on Reddit titled “Just got my excess wear report and it’s ridiculous.” Plenty of folks are upset to pay extra cash after a lease ends, but this person seems to have a really good case.
Photos showing the underside of the Lucid Air, along with the digital invoice from the company, reveal that the $2,400 charge was issued for scratches found on the car’s underbody panel.
We’re not talking about a panel that is torn into several pieces, features a giant hole or two, or one that is somewhat missing. No, we’re referring to the kind of scratches that almost anyone with a low-to-the-ground car would have.
The owner claims that he never had an accident or drove over anything significant, but instead that these marks are from things as innocuous as speed bumps.
“Guess we’re supposed to only drive on perfectly flat roads with no speed bumps, and make sure to ‘research’ every driveway before entering,” the frustrated owner said. Interestingly, Lucid seems to have decided not to charge for the fact that the owner’s manual was missing from the car.
This isn’t the only recent example of Lucid’s lease troubles. Another customer, who was billed $585, may have an even more compelling case. According to the owner, the Lucid representative at the lease return appointment found no damage whatsoever.
Less than two weeks later, though, a third-party company carried out a “final inspection” and identified $785 worth of wear-and-tear damage. The owner says Lucid waived $200 for a wheel, but still demanded the remaining $585.
“I just filed a complaint with the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation (DFPI) against Lucid Financial Services and their collection agency over a bogus “excess wear & tear” charge,” they wrote in a Reddit thread.
It’s pretty clear that owners are losing faith in the brand’s lease policy. “If that’s what it’s going to be like, we’re all screwed. There’s no possible way that part doesn’t get scratched or gouged – that’s what it’s there for, to protect the rest of the undercarriage,” said one. “Up next, being charged for scratches on the inside of wheels,” said another.
For now, the ball is squarely in Lucid’s court to explain how it’s handling these lease-end assessments and what steps it plans to take to rebuild customer trust. If you’ve leased a Lucid yourself, drop your experience in the comments below, we’d like to hear how it went down.
February 4, 2025, Madison, Wis. — During its 14th annual Renewable Energy Summit, RENEW Wisconsin, with presenting sponsors Invenergy and Dimension Energy, will honor individuals and businesses who have made significant and lasting advances in clean energy development in Wisconsin. The Summit will take place Thursday, February 6, 2025, at Monona Terrace in Madison.
RENEW’s 2025 Summit, titled “Powering Tomorrow: Collaborative Innovations for Thriving Communities,” will convene stakeholders from across the state to discuss the latest advancements in clean energy technologies and collaborative strategies driving the transition to a sustainable future. More than 50 speakers made up of industry leaders and experts, like keynote speaker Erica Mackie co-founder of GRID Alternatives, are joining RENEW at this year’s Summit.
The awards are grouped under five categories:
Clean Energy Leadership Award:Maria Redmond – Advancing Wisconsin’s clean energy plan
Clean Energy Community Impact Award:Isaiah Ness – Helping disadvantaged communities transition away from fossil fuels
Clean Energy Advocate of the Year:Abby Novinska-Lois – Mobilizing health professionals as climate advocates
Clean Energy Catalyst of the Year:Doral – Developing Wisconsin’s largest solar project
Member of the Year:Midwest Solar Power – Supporting RENEW Wisconsin and increasing access to clean energy
The ceremony will conclude with the 2023 Clean Energy Honor Roll, in which RENEW will recognize 13 clean energy projects in Wisconsin that recently commenced operation. Whether on the basis of their productivity, innovativeness, attention to detail, scale, resourcefulness, or efficacy in reducing carbon emissions, these projects showcase the skills and know-how Wisconsin stakeholders bring to the clean energy marketplace.
Clean Energy Honor Roll:
Menominee Nation Elder Homes, Menominee Nation Solar and battery backup installations
Kwik Charge, Ashland, Menomonie, Chippewa Falls, West Salem DC fast-charging stations at four western Wisconsin locations
Grant County Solar, Potosi 200-megawatt utility-scale solar installation with battery storage
Charter Steel, Saukville Largest behind-the-meter solar project in Wisconsin
Paris Solar Farm, Kenosha County 200-megawatt utility-scale solar installation
The Sonnentag Events Center and Fieldhouse, Eau Claire Sustainable multi-use community complex
Dane County Humane Society Flight Pen, Madison 50-kilowatt flight pen for birds of prey
Holiday Ford Building and Collision Center, Fond du Lac 469-kilowatt solar array and EV charging station
Green Bay Area Public School District, Green Bay Solar generation on schools
Granite Ridge Elementary School, Cottage Grove Solar generation on schools
Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison Solar generation on schools
Nicolet High School, Glendale Solar generation on schools
Badger Hollow Solar Park, Iowa County 300-megawatt utility-scale solar installation
The award ceremonies will be held in two parts, with the first highlighting the individual awards and the second focusing on theClean Energy Honor Roll, in which RENEW will recognize both people and projects for their role in the clean energy transition. Whether on the basis of their productivity, innovativeness, attention to detail, scale, resourcefulness, or efficacy in reducing carbon emissions, these accomplishments highlight the skills and know-how that Wisconsin stakeholders bring to the clean energy marketplace in the Badger State.
Click here for more information on the 2025 Summit program agenda, speakers, and registration. For press passes, please email Alex Beld (abeld@renewwisconsin.org).
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