Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced he was reentering the Democratic primary for governor Saturday, reversing his recent decision to drop out of the race. “Wisconsin, we cannot afford four years of Tom Tiffany,” Crowley told dozens of excited supporters gathered to hear his announcement Saturday morning in downtown Milwaukee.

Crowley suspended his campaign just 10 days ago and endorsed Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez. But a crippling campaign finance mismanagement scandal forced Rodriguez to drop out of the race Friday. This left a four-person Democratic field consisting of Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison), Rep. Kelda Roys (D-Madison), former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and former secretary of the state Department of Administration Joel Brennan. Barnes has raised the most money among the Democratic contenders, while  Hong and Roys have the most cash on hand. 

Crowley started his campaign with the most money raised, but reports filed this week showed he had not kept up with his opponents still in the race. He started the year with $602,181 in the bank, raised $250,047 over six months and spent $537,050. He ended the last reporting period with $315,178 in cash on hand. 

Crowley had endorsed Rodriguez after suspending his own campaign last Wednesday — the same day Rodriguez said she learned about the financial troubles that ultimately sank her campaign. “I believed that I was supporting the strongest candidate at the moment,” he told the Examiner Saturday.

The crowd that came out to hear Crowley jump back in the race included a who’s who in Milwaukee politics and organizing. Among those in attendance were activist Vaun Mayes, former state legislator David Bowen who is now executive director of Wisconsin Voices, a statewide coalition of progressive advocacy groups, state Sen. Melissa Ratcliff and Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson as well as the mayors of Sheboygan, Waukesha and Wauwatosa, members of the Milwaukee County Board and Common Council and union leaders.

Crowley was also joined by his wife Ericka, introduced by the mayor  as “the next first lady.” She told the crowd that she wasn’t thrilled when “people were encouraging him to get back into this race.” The couple had closed that chapter, she said, and they were beginning to focus on spending more time with their family. “But the phone calls didn’t stop,” Ericka Crowley said. “Friends called, community leaders called, people from every corner of Wisconsin called, and they were like, ‘David, please reconsider,’ and still, the answer was no!” 

Ericka said the family relied on their Christian faith and prayed for a sign. She saw a cardinal, she said, a significant religious symbol to them. Then Rodriguez,  dropped out. “And in that moment, everything that we prayed about just felt different,” she said . “It was like the atmosphere shifted.” Crowley told reporters that both dropping out of the race and then reentering it were “very hard” decisions to make.

Evers’ endorsement and the ‘Democratic establishment’ 

Crowley returns to the primary race with departing Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ endorsement, a benefit none of the other candidates, including Rodriguez, Evers’ lieutenant governor, received. 

“I have indicated I did not plan to endorse anyone in the race for governor because I know each of the candidates and I wanted them to have the opportunity to make their case to Wisconsinistes first, just like I did,” Evers said in his statement endorsing Crowley Saturday. “I also believe that, in a race this close, Wisconsinites deserve to have the perspective of someone who’s done the job, who understands what it takes, and who’s had the benefit of spending years quietly watching how others in politics conduct themselves and treat people when they thought no one was paying attention.”

“David is not only the best candidate to beat Tom Tiffany,” Evers continued, “he’s the right candidate for the people of Wisconsin. He’s created thousands of new jobs, cut the county’s local carbon emissions in half, and passed a balanced budget, all while delivering the largest property tax cut in the county’s history, and I know he’ll continue to deliver results statewide.”

“It’s just an honor to receive his endorsement,” Crowley told the Examiner. He recounted Evers’ victory over former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, his leadership  guiding Wisconsin through the COVID-19 pandemic, and his tenure as “the best damn goalie that Democrats could have from stopping the Republican-controlled Legislature from having its way.” 

In addition to Evers’ endorsement, he said, he has received  “a groundswell of support from volunteers, from other elected leaders, as well as labor unions.” 

Responding to criticism that his re-entry into the race represents an effort by the Democratic party establishment to push forward someone to defeat Democratic Socialist candidate Francesca Hong, who had repeatedly finished at the top of public polls, Crowley said, “This isn’t about any of the other primary candidates.” Rather, he said, “this is about making sure that we have the best candidate that can defeat Tom Tiffany and his extreme MAGA agenda,” a goal he said he shares with all of the other Democratic candidates. 

Yet when he addressed the crowd of supporters in Milwaukee Saturday, Crowley took more direct aim at his opponents. He pointed to the Republican Governors Association’s recent $2 million ad blitz featuring Hong. The ads portray Hong, a self-described Democratic Socialist, as “too liberal for Wisconsin” and denounce her for wanting to return the state to its “progressive roots.” Barnes has called the ads “counterintuitive,” saying they appear to feature political attacks but are actually designed to increase Hong’s popularity among Democratic voters instead of hurting her chances. Many Democrats have concluded that the ads are designed to boost Hong, the Republicans’ preferred target in November, and that the Republicans are holding back stronger criticism they plan to deploy against her in the general election. 

Crowley seemed to endorse that theory at his campaign relaunch event, saying that the ads are meant “not to attack the Democratic party, but to boost one up.” He told  the crowd that Republicans are “deciding the Democratic nominee that they want to beat in November. They’re making an investment right now, and this should all be a five-alarm warning sign to all of us. We cannot allow the GOP to choose the Democratic nominee for governor of the great state of Wisconsin. Period.” 

Crowley told the Examiner  that people should be alarmed that Republican money is being used in a Democratic primary. “At the end of the day, there’s clearly an agenda there if they’re spending money in our primary,” he said. 

Democratic candidates respond

The Barnes campaign immediately blasted   Crowley’s reentry into the race in statements issued Friday and Saturday, claiming that Crowley’s campaign has ties to big corporations, that he’s trying to emerge as the “leading establishment Democrat” despite under-performing in multiple polls, and highlighting a county health insurance scandal earlier this year. 

A March Marquette Law School poll showed support for Crowley among voters at 3%, compared with 14% for Hong, 11% for Barnes and 3% for Rodriguez, with most respondents still undecided. 

Crowley discounted claims that he’s being hand-picked by the Democratic establishment, saying that “a 40-year-old Black man” isn’t what people think about when thinking about the “Democratic establishment.” He told the Examiner, “I know where my roots come from,” including  growing up in the impoverished 53026 zip code, “being the son of loving parents who struggled with mental health and drug addiction, who did everything that they could to make sure that their children were successful.” He added, “I look at my story as Wisconsin’s story.” He called the attacks by the  Barnes campaign “unfortunate,”  particularly because they are, by extension, also attacks on “a governor that he actually served alongside with during his first term.”

Hong took a less combative tone, welcoming  Crowley back into the race. “I look forward to the perspective he’ll bring as we each make our case to Wisconsinites over the next three weeks,” Hong said. “Competition is good for democracy, and voters deserve a substantive debate about the future of our state. Our campaign will remain focused on building the working-class coalition it will take to defeat Tom Tiffany and deliver permanent affordability for Wisconsin families.”

Brennan’s campaign released a statement saying, “Joel Brennan is in this race to win it. Wisconsin needs a candidate who can beat Tom Tiffany in November and get to work for Wisconsin families from day one. That was true yesterday, and it’s still true today — no matter who else is in or out.”

A spokesperson for the Roys campaign said, “We need to move forward and unite behind the strongest candidate to beat Tom Tiffany and deliver a Democratic legislature, which is Kelda Roys. We have been on TV statewide for over a month and still have more cash on hand than most of the field, the most endorsements by far, and the most momentum. We are laser-focused on winning August 11 and delivering a trifecta on November 3.”

The Republican Governor’s Association issued a statement mocking both the demise of the Rodriguez campaign and  Crowley’s decision to reenter the race: “Watching Wisconsin Democrats is like watching a clown car crash into a parked semi-truck,” RGA  communications director Kollin Crimpton said. “From financial scandals to re-launching failed campaigns, these Democrats shouldn’t be in charge of a lemonade stand let alone the state of Wisconsin…Tom Tiffany is fighting to lower property taxes, protect Wisconsin land, and require health care price transparency. The choice is clear for Wisconsinites: commonsense versus crazy.”

Beating Tiffany will require a focus on “policies that people care about,” Crowley told the Examiner Saturday, highlighting his campaign’s Badger Basics Plan to increase affordability, care and opportunity. “People care about making sure that we fully invest in our public schools,” he said, “that we increase the reimbursement rates for special education; that childcare and 4-K is affordable and accessible; that we expand Badger Care across every community across Wisconsin.” 

Repealing Act 10 and “enshrining workers’ rights directly into our Constitution” are also priorities, he said. “We have to speak directly to what people care about. And we can’t get caught up, you know, in the misinformation, in the disinformation, in the distractions quite frankly that Tom Tiffany, the Republican Party, as well as the Trump administration continue to throw our way.”

 Addressing voters across Wisconsin from the podium as he relaunched his campaign, Crowley declared, “Let’s ride, not just on Aug. 11 but in November.” He added,  “My goal is to get as many people to the table as possible,” so “if you see me out there, please don’t be afraid to come speak and spark up a conversation.”

Sarah Reece, a driver trainer for Barren County Schools, was named the Student Transportation Association of Kentucky (STAK) Driver Trainer of the Year, an honor recognizing her commitment to preparing school bus drivers and promoting safe student transportation.

Reece received the award during STAK’s annual conference. The association recognized her for her dedication to training new drivers and helping maintain high standards for school bus safety.

As Barren County’s driver-trainer, Reece mentors and prepares new school bus drivers as they earn their commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and develop the skills needed to safely transport students. District officials said her focus on thorough instruction has strengthened the transportation department while reinforcing a culture centered on safety.

“We’re proud to see Sarah recognized by her peers across the state,” Superintendent Amy Irwin said in a statement. “She approaches her work with professionalism and a genuine commitment to making sure our drivers are well prepared. This award is a reflection of the important role she plays in serving our students.”

Driver-trainers play a critical role in pupil transportation by preparing prospective school bus drivers through classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel coaching and evaluations before they begin transporting students.

Former Transportation Director Scott Chapman, who worked closely with Reece for many years, said her attention to detail and commitment to excellence have made her an effective trainer.

“Sarah cares deeply about doing the job the right way,” Chapman said. “She takes the time to make sure new drivers are ready before they ever get behind the wheel with students. She’s a great trainer and very deserving of this recognition.”

STAK is a professional organization that promotes excellence in pupil transportation through professional development, training and advocacy for school transportation professionals throughout the commonwealth. District officials said Reece’s recognition reflects not only her dedication to training future school bus drivers but also the district’s broader commitment to providing safe, reliable transportation for students each day.

Barren County Schools concluded its announcement by congratulating Reece on the statewide honor and thanking her for the care, professionalism and dedication she brings to the district’s transportation program.

---

Related: California School Bus Driver Honored by State for Commitment to Students
Related: ‘Hometown Hero’ Honored for Behind-the-Scenes Service, Dedication in West Virginia Student Transportation
Related: School Bus Driver Wins Inaugural Special Education Service from BusRight
Related: Innovation Choice Awards Open for STN EXPO West 2026

The post Kentucky School Bus Driver-Trainer Earns Statewide Recognition appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Wisconsin construction union is launching an organized peer support program for its members who need help with addiction, substance abuse or mental health challenges — only the third program of its kind in the U.S.

The program was announced Wednesday by the Wisconsin Laborers District Council and dubbed LEAN — short for Laborers Escaping Adversity Now.

People in construction say the nature of their jobs can make it hard to face up to serious problems.

“There’s this stigma that’s out there,” said Kent Miller, president and business manager of the union’s Wisconsin council. “It’s this physically challenging job, and you think that you’ve got to be tough with everything else, right?”

With LEAN, “we’re trying to break those barriers,” he said, “and make sure our members know that it’s OK to ask for help.”

Three union members have been selected and undergone training to work as the Wisconsin union’s first full-time peer support specialists.

“[They] are card-carrying Laborers that have first-hand experiences with recovery and working in the construction industry and with some of the challenges and stresses that working in the industry poses,” Miller said.

LEAN has established a round-the-clock hotline members can call if they need help, Miller said. The peer support specialists will be making the rounds of job sites and Laborers union halls to introduce themselves and distribute flyers explaining what they can offer.

The Wisconsin council represents 10,000 members of the Laborers International Union of North America — LIUNA. LEAN was started at a LIUNA chapter in Massachusetts, then replicated at the union’s St. Louis branch.

Laborers work in a variety of jobs alongside many other trades — building highways, working on pipelines, in landscaping and in asbestos removal, to name just some.

Some jobs are seasonal, with long layoffs during the offseason that can create financial uncertainty, giving workers the incentive “to get as much hours in as they can during the bulk of the construction season,” Miller said. Those long hours can take workers away from their families.

“Mental health and substance use challenges can affect anyone,” he said. He counts a half-dozen or more suicides among Wisconsin Laborers members in 2025 alone.

Wisconsin union members learned about LEAN at a union conference a couple of years ago. “When we heard about this program, we were just like, we’ve got to move forward with this,” Miller said

In 2024 the union arranged for people involved in the St. Louis program to give a presentation to the union and management trustees who jointly oversee Wisconsin Laborers Health Fund, which manages union members’ medical benefits.

“We as a fund really felt we needed this,” said Matt Marcellis, a management trustee for the Laborers Health Fund.

Marcellis is executive director of the Allied Construction Employers Association, which represents the construction employers who contract with building trades unions, including the Laborers.

“Construction workers — they’re kind of a unique breed,” Marcellis said. “They’re a group of people used to working hard and not accepting a lot of help.”

Since deciding to launch the program in Wisconsin, the union has spent more than a year laying the groundwork.

LEAN is supported through the union’s health fund. Its costs are covered by a 5-cent-per-hour contribution from each member’s pay that is part of the negotiated pay and benefits in the Laborers contracts.

The Laborers have an Employee Assistance Plan that provides counseling and other help for members. LEAN doesn’t replace those services, Miller said, but offers members a pathway to EAP services or an alternative for help.

Peer support specialists “can help point people in the right direction of the resources that we already have,” Miller said. “But if they’re not comfortable in going that direction yet, just talking with somebody, talking with our peer support specialist, will be a good first step.”

The first three peer specialists live in different parts of Wisconsin, giving the program coverage throughout the state. “Depending on how utilization is, and how the program takes off, if we need to put on another specialist, we will,” Miller said.

Conversations with the peer supporter are confidential and can go at the pace that the member is most comfortable with. “They’re going to give you the information, so people can feel more comfortable about making that informed decision on what that next step looks like,” Miller said.

LEAN has a webpage for union members with a map of Wisconsin’s 72 counties that members can use to find resources available in each, from hospitals and clinics to local 12-step group meetings, Miller said.

The peer support specialists have been visiting the state’s hospitals and clinics and assessing what they offer, so they can more easily refer people to the right providers based on the specific needs a member has when seeking help.

“To get into some of these programs there’s a waiting list, there’s a bunch of challenges, and there’s also concerns about the quality of outcomes,” Miller said. “We want to make sure that, if we’re steering our members to certain hospitals and clinics, that they’re the ones that are providing the best outcomes for our members and their families.”

The National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association and a family planning organization in Pennsylvania filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Health and Human Services agency on Thursday alleging that it is politicizing the Title X grant funding program and violating the intent of the law.

Attorneys from the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and the national organization are representing the national family planning association and the Family Health Council of Central Pennsylvania. The Family Health Council is a network of 19 service providers across 24 counties in central Pennsylvania that provide family planning services to more than 31,000 low-income residents every year, according to the complaint.

Clare Coleman, president and CEO of the National Family Planning and Reproductive Health Association, told Stateline on Thursday that the organization chose the Pennsylvania network to participate in the lawsuit in part because it has been a grantee of funds since the beginning of the Title X program in 1970 and serves a large number of people. 

“We’re very grateful that they were willing to stand with us,” Coleman said.

The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane, an appointee of former Democratic President Bill Clinton.

Title X, established by Congress and signed by former Republican President Richard Nixon, is a grant program prioritizing low-income or uninsured people, including those who make too much to qualify for Medicaid, who may not otherwise have access to family planning and reproductive health services. That includes services such as contraception, pregnancy tests, testing for sexually transmitted infections and wellness exams. Abortion services cannot be covered by Title X dollars.

The complaint takes issue with the 2027 Notice of Funding Opportunity for Title X, which was released in April. Potential awardees must submit applications by January for consideration in the next funding cycle.

The funding opportunity language states that all applicants must first meet an “alignment review” to determine their eligibility for a grant. That alignment is based on the priorities laid out by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health and the Office of Population Affairs. Those priorities include ending diversity, equity and inclusion efforts and gender-affirming care. The complaint notes that the decision regarding an applicant’s eligibility cannot be appealed.

Contraception services dropped after ‘defunding’ provision hit clinics

Coleman said those priorities directly conflict with the ones that were laid out in the last funding round under former President Joe Biden, whose administration emphasized the importance of health equity efforts and the inclusion of gender-affirming care for transgender patients. Coleman said that means it could be impossible for some applicants to be awarded funds, and that it would favor new applicants.

“We believe that the funding announcement is designed to favor the kind of providers the administration would rather see in the program,” Coleman said, which could include clinics with a religious mission, such as crisis pregnancy centers or major Catholic healthcare organizations.

The complaint also says those requirements directly conflict with the Title X statute, which mandates that HHS consider factors such as how many patients will be served, how much the services are needed locally and whether the applicant can make rapid and effective use of grant funds. The family planning organizations say the new application process is meant to further the Trump administration’s political agenda instead of fulfilling Congress’ mandate to “offer a broad range of acceptable and effective family planning methods and services” to patients.

The guidance associated with the funding notice also shifts the focus of the Title X grants from expanding access to services like contraception to strengthening “family formation” and assisting clients in “achieving healthy pregnancies.” Clinics are instructed to prioritize and promote natural methods of family planning, such as menstrual cycle tracking, which is less effective at preventing pregnancy than contraception, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

“The (funding notice) enables defendants to pick winners and losers based on political alignment, as opposed to merit and the ability to provide high-quality Title X services,” the complaint reads. “This is not how federal grants should be awarded, and, specifically, this is not how Congress instructed defendants to make Title X grants.”

A hearing for the case will likely be scheduled in the coming weeks.

Stateline reporter Kelcie Moseley-Morris can be reached at kmoseley@stateline.org.