As Wisconsinites hit the beach this summer, a new report finds 77 percent of Great Lakes beaches in the state tested as potentially unsafe for swimming on at least one day last year.
The post Report: Most Wisconsin coastal beaches were unsafe for swimming for at least 1 day due to contamination appeared first on WPR.
The history of St. Marcus Lutheran Church provides a window into how Milwaukee has grown and the role that religious institutions have played in its neighborhoods.
The post History of 150-year-old church tells the story of Milwaukee’s growth and development appeared first on WPR.
"This is not an assisted living facility. It's not a group home. These are apartments where people with disabilities can live independently, but in a safe and supportive environment," says Couleecap Executive Director Hetti Brown.
The post Fundraising begins for affordable special needs housing project in western Wisconsin appeared first on WPR.
A 2022 survey conducted by an engineering consulting firm found that about 36 percent of hydro operators in the U.S. were actively thinking about decommissioning their facilities.
The post America depends on hydroelectric power, but regulatory hurdles could take plants offline appeared first on WPR.
Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield is hosting its 39th season as the region’s premier concert series. Held since 1986, its big blue tent has attracted dozens of national acts, as well as local performers — and some who fit both categories.
The post Northern Wisconsin concert series punches above its weight with national acts and local color appeared first on WPR.
The official app sponsored by Transfinder gives attendees of STN EXPO West in Reno, Nevada, all the event information they need, as well as a place to make connections.
1. Download the EventScribe App
Search for “Eventscribe” on the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Alternatively, scan the QR code below with your phone and it will automatically direct you.
Install and open the app. Find your event icon in the Upcoming Events (bottom row) or search for STN EXPO West.
2. Log in to the App
Once the event is selected, you will be prompted to log in. Enter your email address and password (the same credentials you used to register for the event – password is your Registrant ID).
3. Access the Event Features
After logging in, you can access event schedules, session details, speaker information, exhibitor lists, and more.
Browse the event information and create a personal schedule by tapping on the star next to presentation titles. If you pre-registered for a session, it will show up as a “Favorite” session.
Tips!
Download the app before you go! Wi-Fi connection onsite can affect the functionality of the app.
The four icons at the top of the home screen allow quick access to information on Schedules, Speakers, Exhibitors, and the Activity Feed. Also on the home screen are shortcuts to the Scavenger Hunt, Trade Show Floor Plan, list of Attendees, and Event Information.
Use the Schedule tab to see all the available sessions and select the star button next to your chosen ones to create personalized schedules for the week.
From the app homepage, access lists of Attendees and Trade Show Exhibitors. Send connection requests to other attendees and mark the star next to vendors who you meet and chat with to keep the conversations flowing even after the conference.
Share your thoughts! After each session, complete a quick three-question survey to provide feedback. Near the end of the conference, an overall evaluation will be available for your general impressions. Your input is greatly appreciated!
The Scavenger Hunt starts on Monday, March 24, the day of the Trade Show. Visit vendor booths to scan QR codes and unlock questions to answer. The more Trade Show booths you visit and correct answers you give, the faster you climb the leaderboard toward some slam-dunk prizes!
As always, stay tuned at stnonline.com and social media channels for extensive conference and trade show coverage, including articles, photo galleries, videos and more.
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The post Download App for 2025 STN EXPO West Conference appeared first on School Transportation News.
Rimac and world records go together like jelly and peanut butter. Two years after the Nevera set 23 performance records in a single day, the Croatian brand has outdone itself yet again, this time setting world records in 24 categories with the Nevera R. Th flagship version of the all-electric hypercar was unveiled last year with more power and aero and less weight.
Read: 1,989 HP Rimac Nevera R Is Harder, Faster, Lighter And Limited To 40 Units
Perhaps the most important record of all was the sprint to 0-400-0 km/h (0-249-0 mph). The original Nevera had held this record at 29.93 seconds, snatching it away from the Koenigsegg Agera RS that set a time of 31.49 seconds back in 2019. However, last year, the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut snatched this record away from the Nevera, setting a time of 27.83 seconds.
Nevera R Takes the Crown Back
Now, the Nevera R is the 0-400-0 km/h king with a blistering time of 25.79 seconds. That’s 2.04 seconds quicker than the Jesko and beats the standard Nevera by 4.14 seconds. Additionally, the R beat out the Nevera’s 0-60 mph (96 km/h) time of 1.74 seconds, completing the sprint in 1.66 seconds and 100 km/h (62 mph) in 1.72 seconds.
The records don’t stop there. The Nevera R ran from 0-100 mph (160 km/h) in 2.96 seconds, an improvement of 0.25 seconds, 0-200 km/h (124 mph) in 3.95 seconds, (0.47 seconds faster), and did the 0-300 km/h (0-186 mph) run in just 7.89 seconds, or 1.33 seconds quicker than before. It also takes the Nevera R just 17.35 seconds to run from 0-400 km/h (0-250 mph), which is a massive 3.96 seconds quicker than the standard car.
Rimac’s new Nevera R also set a new EV top speed record, hitting an impressive 268.2 mph or 431.45 km/h.
Where the Extra Speed Comes From
Whereas the standard model delivers 1,888 hp from its four electric motors, the Nevera R ups that to 1,989 hp. It also weighs 35 kg (77 lbs) less, comes standard with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, and produces 15 percent more downforce thanks in part to a large rear wing.
“When we first introduced Nevera it almost seemed like the pinnacle of hypercar performance had been reached,” Mate Rimac said. “In a single generation, we had created a performance jump that previously would have taken decades. But now, through relentless innovation, Nevera R goes even faster, while still maintaining much of the comfort and practicality that makes the Nevera a real, useable daily car.”
In a year that’s been tough on electric sedan sales, one model in particular has struggled to keep pace. The Taycan was Porsche’s slowest-selling model in the first half of 2025, trailing even the aging 718 sports car that’s about to be replaced. To boost its appeal, Porsche is rolling out a new Black Edition for the US market, offering sharper styling details and a more generous set of standard features, including the largest battery pack available in the lineup.
More: Porsche’s New Electric SUV Is Smashing Records Before It Even Reaches Showrooms
The EV sits on 21-inch alloy wheels, complete with full-color Porsche crest center caps, and sports matrix LED headlights and a seamless rear light bar featuring an illuminated black Porsche logo. Front door decals are included with the optional extended Black Edition package, adding a bit more visual flair.
While the name suggests otherwise, the Black Edition isn’t limited to a single shade. Standard paint options include Volcano Grey Metallic, Dolomite Silver Metallic, Ice Grey Metallic, and the Jet Black Metallic shown in press materials. Buyers looking for something different can select from the Legends, Dreams, or Contrast color collections, or go entirely bespoke via the Paint to Sample program.
Interior and Equipment Upgrades
Inside, the Black Edition carries over the monochrome theme with subtle black detailing and embossed leather trim. Illuminated black brushed aluminum scuff plates and a unique Black Edition badge on the center console add to the tailored look.
The trim also bundles in a well-rounded list of standard features, including multiple driver-assistance systems, the Storage Package, 14-way power comfort seats, a Bose Surround Sound System, and Porsche’s Electric Sport Sound.
For those seeking more personalization, the Sonderwunsch program from Porsche Exclusive Manufaktur offers expanded customization options specific to the Black Edition.
More: Porsche EV’s $56K Depreciation After 2 Years Gives Buyer A Steal
Underneath, all three Black Edition models come fitted with the Performance Battery Plus as standard. Usually an optional upgrade, this 105 kWh battery improves range and allows for stronger performance figures. That said, the electric powertrain remains unchanged, offering up to 429 hp (320 kW) in the base Taycan and topping out at 590 hp (440 kW) in the Taycan 4S.
Deliveries of the 2026 Taycan Black Edition are set to begin in fall 2025. Pricing details will be released closer to launch.
President Trump recently signed The One Big Beautiful Bill into law and it spells the end of the clean vehicle credit. The incentive is set to expire on September 30, 2025 instead of the originally planned date of December 31, 2032.
This promises to send shockwaves through the industry as vehicles will no longer get discounts of up to $7,500. Without the incentive, customers will pay more and this will likely make EVs far less appealing.
More: Slate’s Affordable Electric Truck Just Got A Whole Lot More Expensive
That brings us to our question of the day; will the elimination of the tax credit impact your next vehicle purchase? While some people are absolutely against electric vehicles and would never buy one, a number of people have been on the fence.
It’s not hard to understand why as the credit gives consumers up to $4,000 for a used vehicle and up to $7,500 for a new one. The latter makes the Equinox EV particularly appealing as it starts at $33,600 and offers 319 miles (513 km) of range. After factoring in the $7,500 credit and a $2,000 customer cash incentive, you’re looking at a starting price of $24,100 before a $1,395 destination fee.
That’s a stellar deal and it’s roughly on par with the 2025 Trailblazer, which costs $24,890 out the door. The Equinox EV is also only a few grand more than the Trax, which can be had for as little as $21,895.
Of course, when the tax credit expires, the situation will likely change. If Chevrolet holds firm on pricing, the model would set you back $34,995 before incentives. That’s still affordable, but it’s no longer a killer deal.
This could impact the model’s popularity, which has been off the charts. In the second quarter, Chevrolet sold 17,420 Equinox EVs. That made it GM’s best-selling electric vehicle by a considerable margin. In fact, it outsold the entire Cadillac EV lineup, which generated 11,795 sales across the Lyriq, Optiq, Vistiq, and Escalade IQ.
While only time will tell what happens, we don’t have to look far to see how the elimination of the credit could impact things. A number of models lost their eligibility due to production and sourcing requirements in recent years.
Some automakers responded by cutting prices or moving production to the United States. The latter move now appears to have been a costly misstep.
Lamborghini has been talking about electric vehicles for years, but it appears the company has finally discovered an unwelcome truth. Buyers of high-end exotics don’t want a fully electric powertrain.
Ferrari and Lotus have already discovered this, so it comes as little surprise that Lamborghini has also come to their senses. CEO Stephan Winkelmann alluded to this as he recently confirmed the Urus EV has been delayed.
More: Lamborghini Introduces Urus SE PHEV, Confirms Second-Gen Urus EV
Speaking to Autocar, the executive said “We want to have a new generation again as a plug-in hybrid. This is something very important for us and for the customers.” He added clients will be “very happy to hear about this.”
It’s unclear when the second-generation crossover will arrive, but Winkelmann implied it might come around 2029. That’s a ways off, but the company is still working on new variants of the current model including a plug-in hybrid version of the Urus Performante.
As for the Urus EV, it could land in 2035. However, that’s not a firm date as the executive noted the company has time on their side. This means they can see how regulations, infrastructure, and acceptance changes in the years ahead.
The Lanzador EV could also be pushed back and a decision is expected to be made early next year. However, Winkelmann signaled his support for a launch late this decade. Regardless of what happens, the model has already been delayed from 2028 to 2029.
As a refresher, the Lanzador concept was introduced at Monterey Car Week in 2023 and designed to preview the brand’s fourth series production model. It was a slick 2+2 crossover with a dual-motor all-wheel drive system and an interior made almost entirely out of sustainable materials.
The Trump administration recently signaled the end of the clean vehicle credit, which can save consumers up to $7,500. Its last day will be September 30, sending EV prices up and demand down.
That’s a disastrous combination and we’re already starting to see some fallout from the move. However, it can’t be blamed for Nissan’s reported decision to cut production of the redesigned Leaf.
More: Nissan Takes A Leaf From The Z For Its Mass Market EV
While the model hasn’t been launched yet, reports out of Japan suggest the automaker is scaling back production because of rare earth export restrictions imposed by China. Reuters cites Kyodo News as saying the restrictions have resulted in a parts shortage, although specifics are hazy.
Rare earths play an important role in a variety of industries and China’s export restrictions have impacted a number of automakers including Ford and Suzuki. Suppliers are also in a bind as they can’t always get the materials they need.
In fact, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers recently warned the supply chain is “experiencing significant disruption due to China’s recent export restrictions on rare earth elements and magnets.” They went on to say the move impacts “both combustion engine and electric vehicles,” which threatens “automotive production and thousands of jobs in the European Union.”
As for the Leaf, the third-generation model was fully revealed last month and will reach U.S. dealerships this fall. It adopts a crossover-inspired design as well as a modern and high-tech interior.
The model will be offered with two different powertrains including an entry-level version that combines a 52 kWh battery with a 174 hp (130 kW / 177 PS) electric motor. Customers can also get a 75 kWh battery that comes paired with a 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) motor.
BMW’s M division isn’t the only automaker injecting new energy into the performance wagon segment. So is its big rival from Affalterbach, Mercedes-AMG, as these shots of the new CLA 45 shooting brake show.
We’ve already spotted the sedan version of the AMG CLA 45 EV multiple times, plus wagon-bodied, non-AMG variants of the combustion CLA. But this is our first sighting of the hot EV with the long-roof body.
Related: The Baby AMG EV Just Got Real With Three Motors And A Secret Weapon
All of those cars, plus some SUV-shaped spin-offs our spy photo teams have yet to track down, are built on the same versatile platform that’s capable of handling combustion and electric powertrains. Hottest of the lot are the 45 EV versions of each body style, which are believed to get a triple-motor setup that delivers at least 500 hp (507 PS / 373 kW).
But it looks like the torque-vectoring motors aren’t the only thing the wagon has in common with its notchback brother. We’ve spied a deployable spoiler on CLA sedan prototypes, but now Mercedes has, ahem, extended the courtesy to the wagon.
The wing at the top of the load lugger’s rear hatch doesn’t look as big as the one on the sedan – which is rumoured to double as an airbrake – or appear to extend as far into the airflow, but there’s no doubt that it’s an active, rather than passive aero device.
We’d normally only expect to see the wing extended at freeway speeds, so perhaps the test driver has pressed a button to manually raise it in this case, or has a track-type mode selected where the wing is permanently poking above the roof.
Other giveaways that we’re looking at the AMG variant of the CLA wagon include the monobloc brake callipers behind the forged alloy wheels at the front. And the blanked grille and lack of tailpipes tell us it’s definitely an EV, though we expect AMG to deliver combustion versions of the CLA, too.
Exactly what engine will power those ICE models remains to be seen. A recent report claimed AMG was ditching the unpopular four-cylinder hybrid engine in the C63, and suggested the entire M139 2.0 engine family, including non-PHEV versions, would be phased out. That could mean the next ICE CLA 45 will get a warmed-over version of the 1.5-liter hybrid powertrain coming to non-AMG CLAs.
What a difference a couple of years can make. In 2023, Tesla was crushing it in Europe, the Model Y was on its way to becoming the first ever EV to top the continent’s year-end best sellers league table, and VW announced it was pausing production of the ID.3 and its Cupra Born electric twin due to slow sales. But just two years later, Volkswagen is reveling in a surge of EV demand that has helped it overtake its American rival.
Related: Tesla’s European Sales Bloodbath Continues, But One Country Is Over Hating Musk
According to the latest figures, the VW Group delivered 4.41 million vehicles of all energy types around the world in January-June, a 1.3 percent increase on 2024’s total. But global BEV sales were up a staggering 47 percent, reaching 465,000 (464,200 if you discount commercial trucks), and in Europe they rocketed by 89 percent to 347,900 deliveries.
Tesla Falls Behind in Europe
Though Tesla hasn’t broken out its European sales figures, it has confirmed that global sales fell 14 percent to 384,000 in the first half of the year. And Dataforce numbers revealed that Tesla had only sold 76,400 units in Europe between January and the end of May, a period in which the core VW brand alone shifted 122,600 EVs. The report says VW tied with Tesla in March’s sales race but trounced it in every other month, selling three times as many cars in April, for example.
Delivering more electric cars is important for VW’s image as it continues to put distance between itself and the Dieselgate scandal that keeps coming back to life via various ongoing court cases. And it’s also crucial if VW is to meet the EU’s draconian CO2 fleet limits.
| Region | Q2-25 | Q2-24 | Diff | YTD-25 | YTD-24 | Diff |
| Europe | 189,700 | 109,700 | +72.9 % | 347,900 | 184,100 | +89.0 % |
| USA | 11,400 | 12,000 | -5.2 % | 31,300 | 25,200 | +24.3 % |
| China | 33,400 | 49,600 | -32.6 % | 59,400 | 90,600 | -34.5 % |
| Rest of the world | 14,200 | 9,500 | +49.3 % | 27,000 | 17,300 | +55.8 % |
| World | 248,700 | 180,800 | +37.6 % | 465,500 | 317,200 | +46.7 % |
But VW’s sales success is the result of discount campaigns on cars like the ID.3 hatch, Handelsblatt cautions, and that is putting pressure on Wolfsburg’s bottom line. A senior VW exec told Handelsblatt the company is still making money on its EVs, but that the operating margin is below the 6.5 percent return target it has set for 2029.
VW is hoping its new range of affordable EVs on sale from next year, including the ID.2 and Cupra Raval, will help improve the health of those margins.
| Brand | Q2-25 | Q2-24 | Diff | YTD-25 | YTD-24 | Diff |
| Brand Group Core | 177,200 | 134,800 | 31.5 % | 328,700 | 230,900 | 42.3 % |
| VW Passenger Cars | 97,500 | 100,300 | -2.8 % | 192,600 | 168,500 | 14.3 % |
| Škoda | 46,000 | 15,500 | 197 % | 73,000 | 29,400 | 148 % |
| SEAT/CUPRA | 19,000 | 11,300 | 67.2 % | 37,600 | 18,300 | 105 % |
| VW Commercial | 14,800 | 7,600 | 94.2 % | 25,500 | 14,700 | 73.4 % |
| Brand Group Progressive | 55,000 | 41,000 | 34.1 % | 101,400 | 76,700 | 32.3 % |
| Audi | 55,000 | 41,000 | 34.1 % | 101,400 | 76,700 | 32.3 % |
| Bentley | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Lamborghini | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| Brand Group Sport Luxury | 15,800 | 4,700 | 236 % | 34,200 | 9,000 | 279 % |
| Porsche | 15,800 | 4,700 | 236 % | 34,200 | 9,000 | 279 % |
| Brand Group Trucks / TRATON | 700 | 300 | 124 % | 1,300 | 600 | 109 % |
| MAN | 440 | 100 | 330 % | 810 | 240 | 244 % |
| Volkswagen Truck & Bus | 0 | 10 | -87.5 % | 50 | 80 | -44 % |
| Scania | 120 | 60 | 88.7 % | 220 | 110 | 103 % |
| International | 90 | 120 | -21.2 % | 180 | 170 | 2.9 % |
| VW Group (total) | 248,700 | 180,800 | 37.6 % | 465,500 | 317,200 | +46.7 % |
Range anxiety and electric vehicles go together like peanut butter and jelly. However, the situation has been improving thanks to new battery technology and growing charging infrastructure
Those are welcome developments, but how far can an EV really take you? A whopping 748.8 miles (1,205 km) in the case of the Lucid Air Grand Touring.
More: Lucid Promised Luxury But All This Owner Got Was Regret And Nightmares
That’s a remarkable distance, and it recently set a new Guinness World Records title for the “longest journey by an electric car on a single charge.” The record-breaking feat was achieved last weekend when an Air traveled between St. Moritz, Switzerland, and Munich, Germany without stopping to recharge. That makes the record even more impressive as the trip included a mix of alpine passes, highways, and secondary roads.
Lucid beat the previous record by 99.4 miles (160 km), and the company’s chief engineer noted it’s a “significant milestone” and “another clear demonstration of the technological edge that defines Lucid.” Eric Bach went on to say, “Lucid products combine world class vehicle efficiency with the most advanced drive units, ultra-high voltage architecture, and battery management technology available today.”
Speaking of the powertrain, the Euro-spec Air Grand Touring has a dual-motor all-wheel drive system that produces 820 hp (611 kW / 831 PS) and 885 lb-ft (1,200 Nm) of torque. It enables the model to accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 3.2 seconds, before hitting a top speed of 168 mph (270 km/h).
Powering all that is a 117 kWh battery pack, which provides a WLTP range of 596.5 miles (960 km). This means the record-breaking car exceeded that figure by an impressive 152.2 miles (245 km).
While Buick’s presence in the US is now all about crossovers and SUVs, the brand is taking a different route in China, where the traditional sedan still has a place. A new all-electric model from Buick’s recently introduced Electra sub-brand is about to join the lineup, with a teaser image offering us a first look.
Electra is Buick’s sub-brand for new energy vehicles; it was formally announced in April 2025, with three concepts: a sedan, an SUV, and a minivan. The vehicle in this latest teaser is the production version of the sedan, which evolves from the 2024 Electra L concept shown the previous year.
More: Buick’s Electric Crossover Just Got A Lot Better In China
The new model retains much of the design language introduced in the concept, though a few features have been streamlined for production. The lighting signature at both ends has been reworked, with more practical LED graphics. The sleek, flush door handles and traditional side mirrors replace some of the show car’s more experimental elements, bringing it closer to real-world usability.
Inside, a Tech Showcase Awaits
While Buick hasn’t yet shown the cabin, it’s expected to include a total of eight screens, a massive 50-inch augmented reality head-up display, and an array of AI-driven features. All of this will run on Qualcomm’s 8775 chip, which supports high-end infotainment and connectivity. Advanced driver assistance will come from Chinese tech company Momenta, which has developed a suite of sophisticated ADAS capabilities.
This sedan is just one of six new energy models Buick plans to launch in the next year, likely alongside production versions of Electra’s SUV and minivan concepts. All three will be built on Buick’s Xiao Yao architecture, a flexible platform designed specifically for China.
More: Buick’s New Sedan Concept Rivals The S-Class In Size
The platform is compatible with fully electric, plug-in hybrid, and range-extender powertrains, with configurations that drive the front, rear, or all four wheels. Performance can reach up to 443 horsepower (330 kW), and the EV variants will be equipped with CATL-supplied battery packs capable of ultra-fast 640 kW charging.
Buick hasn’t announced a date for the full reveal of the Electra sedan, but it’s expected shortly. As with other Electra-branded models, this one is likely to stay exclusive to China, so a US launch doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
Among small electric vehicles, the Renault 5 stands out with one of the most distinctive designs on the market. Its sportier sibling, the Alpine A290, shares the same visual charm, but one tuning company had a different vision entirely. Delta 4×4 imagined the Renault 5 not as a city runabout, but as a rugged, rally-inspired off-roader.
More: Alpine’s New A290 Rallye Throws Mud And Sparks At $70K
Their goal was to reimagine the EV as a compact trail-ready machine, complete with off-road hardware and motorsport styling. The transformation begins with a set of 18-inch alloy wheels wrapped in chunky all-terrain tires. These provide improved grip on loose surfaces and, paired with a 100 mm (3.9-inch) suspension lift, raise the hatchback’s ground clearance significantly.
Off-Road Looks with a Rally Twist
The high-riding EV features four PIAA LED spotlights at the front, reminiscent of the original R5 Turbo rally car. While the bumpers have been carried over from the standard model, the pumped-up R5 gets wide fender extensions and leather straps mounted on the hood and the tailgate.
The Dakar-style roof rack holds dual LED bars for extra visibility, various kinds of containers, snow tracks, and a full-size spare tire. As a final touch, the model is wrapped in a colorful livery combining yellow, teal, pink, and black graphics on a white bodywork.
Despite its rugged stance, the donor vehicle is exclusively available with a single electric motor, meaning there is no AWD option. Its most powerful version makes 148 hp (110 kW / 150 PS), while the performance-focused Alpine A290 raises that significantly, to 217 hp (220 PS / 160 kW).
More: Renault’s Retro R4 EV Could Get A Whole Lot More Interesting Soon
High-spec versions of the R5 are fitted with a 52 kWh battery pack, offering a maximum WLTP range of 400 kilometers (249 miles) between charges. Still, the grippy tires, worse aerodynamics, and extra weight of the off-road built will most likely reduce that number – which shouldn’t be an issue, really, given the model’s mission.
For now, the lifted Renault 5 exists only as a digital concept. However, if there’s enough interest, delta 4×4 may offer a conversion kit for owners who want to turn their retro-styled EV into a mini off-roader. Renault 5 drivers curious about the transformation can reach out to the company for more information.
Former Madison Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl violated multiple state laws when her office failed to count nearly 200 absentee ballots in the 2024 presidential election, according to a draft report released Wednesday by the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
The commission cited a lack of leadership in the clerk’s office, referring both to Witzel-Behl and the deputy clerk who assumed control during her vacation shortly after the election.
Witzel-Behl, who was put on leave by the city after the error and then resigned, broke state law by failing to supervise absentee ballot handling, neglecting post-election processes, and by not training poll workers to check the bags used to transport ballots, the commission concluded.
“There is no evidence that the City Clerk took any steps to investigate the uncounted ballots once they were brought to her attention,” the commission wrote. “The evidence demonstrates that the City Clerk began her vacation on November 13 and then had little to do with the supervision of her office until almost a month later.”
The draft report follows a months-long investigation into the 193 ballots that went missing on Election Day. The ballots were found over the next several weeks — some of them before final certification of results — but were never counted. Commission Chair Ann Jacobs, a Democrat, jointly led the investigation alongside Republican commissioner and former Chair Don Millis.
For months, Madison election officials have been saying that the ballots that went uncounted were delivered to two polling sites but weren’t unopened. But the commission found no evidence the ballot bags were ever delivered. A chief inspector at one site testified he was confident there was no unopened bag in the supply cart sent to his ward.
The errors have already prompted significant changes in Madison’s election processes. Officials have overhauled ballot tracking procedures, which Madison and Dane County leaders say should prevent a repeat of the 2024 mistake.
Still, the commission emphasized “it is essential that the public understands what has occurred, so that municipalities throughout the state can review their own processes and make certain that they too do not find themselves in this very unfortunate situation.”
The commission’s sharp criticism extended beyond Witzel-Behl, noting that “the staff of the City Clerk’s office failed to take any action regarding those ballots.”
Deputy Clerk Jim Verbick said that his post-election involvement was “minimal” and that he didn’t think it was his job to do anything about the missing ballots, the commission’s findings state.
“However, he did not attempt to speak to the City Clerk about the matter,” the review continues. “There was nobody who took responsibility for these ballots. It was always someone else’s job.”
Madison Interim Clerk Mike Haas said in a statement that the city is reviewing WEC’s report and that he hopes that it can provide lessons that prevent similar errors in the future. He did not respond to a request for further comment.
The report focused on lapses in training by the clerk’s office. For example, it said, Witzel-Behl stored absentee ballots in green courier bags, but didn’t mention that in poll worker training, and the bags weren’t labeled as carrying absentee ballots. She also failed to train poll workers that absentee ballots could also be stored in red security carts, which the commission said contributed to the ballots going uncounted. That lack of training broke state law, the commission stated.
The commission also found that Witzel-Behl violated a law requiring her to supervise absentee ballot handling. In her deposition, she “could not answer basic questions about absentee ballot handling procedures in her office.”
The commission’s report highlights contradictions between Witzel-Behl’s actions in office and deposition testimony. Although she claimed not to know about the uncounted ballots until December, the commission said she messaged an election worker in late November with instructions on how to handle the first batch of uncounted ballots.
Upon learning of the missing ballots in November, the commission said, Witzel-Behl should have alerted the city attorney, the County Board of Canvassers and the commission and immediately investigated her office’s procedures — but she didn’t.
The commission also alleged she violated laws by printing pollbooks too early, failing to oversee poll workers and inadequately preparing for the city’s review of election results.
The report lists draft recommendations that the commissioners will vote on at their July 17 meeting. These include requiring the Madison Clerk’s Office to create a plan detailing which employee oversees which task; printing pollbooks no earlier than the Thursday before each election; clearly labeling and tracking the bags carrying absentee ballots; checking all ballot bags and drop boxes before the city finalizes election results; and explaining how it’s going to comply with each of the orders.
Witzel-Behl’s office printed pollbooks for the two affected wards on Oct. 23 — nearly two weeks before Election Day — despite state guidance to print them as close to the election as possible.
Had they been printed later, absentee voters whose ballots had already been returned would have been marked automatically, alerting poll workers that those ballots were in hand but not yet counted.
But printing pollbooks no earlier than the Thursday before an election could be challenging, said Claire Woodall, who was formerly Milwaukee’s top election official. Cities like Madison and Milwaukee must print tens of thousands of pollbook pages, often using private printers, and distribute them to chief inspectors.
“It seems like you’re rushing a process” with the Thursday requirement, Woodall said. “The last thing you want is for voters to show up at 7 a.m. and discover you don’t have the correct pollbook.”
Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Shur at ashur@votebeat.org.
Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Wisconsin’s free newsletter here.
Wisconsin Elections Commission alleges former Madison clerk broke laws 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.
If you live in northeast Wisconsin, I want to hear about your experience forging your path to meaningful, family-sustaining work.
But first, let me introduce myself. I’m Miranda Dunlap, and I’m Wisconsin Watch’s new reporter covering pathways to success in the region. That means I’ll write stories about how local people prepare themselves for their dream jobs and what roadblocks stand in the way.
I’m a native Michigander, and I previously spent two years reporting on community colleges and K-12 education for Houston Landing in Texas. I’ve spent countless hours learning about the experiences of people pursuing affordable education and training to change the trajectory of their life. That was after community college opened doors in my own career. Completing a year’s worth of credits at my local institution helped me afford enrolling at a university and shaved thousands of dollars off my total student debt.
I’m Wisconsin Watch’s second pathways to success reporter but the first journalist hired specifically to serve northeast Wisconsin. My colleague Natalie Yahr covers pathways from a statewide perspective, and I’m focused on reporting for Brown, Calumet, Door, Kewaunee, Manitowoc, Marinette, Oconto, Outagamie, Shawano and Winnebago counties. Based in Green Bay, I hope people will see me as more than a trusted source of information, but also their neighbor — someone who will ensure Wisconsin Watch’s work reflects the perspectives of local residents.
My goal is to produce journalism that confronts your challenges, highlights resources and opportunities for economic mobility and answers your burning questions.
You can expect my stories to explore barriers that prevent them from finding sustainable employment, and I’ll examine whether leaders and higher education institutions are investing in solutions and tools to overcome these obstacles. I’ll do it all with an eye toward the unique identities of northeast Wisconsin communities.
As I dig into this beat, I’m particularly interested in hearing from people with nontraditional routes to the workforce — or those who face added barriers to success. That might include incarcerated or formerly incarcerated people, those from low-income families, folks living in rural, under-resourced communities or workers returning to education to switch careers.
I hope you’ll point me in the right direction by answering some of my questions.
What do you think I need to know about northeast Wisconsin to understand the challenges that people and communities here face when it comes to economic stability and mobility?
What are your career dreams — to fulfill your own professional goals and support your family? What, if anything, is standing in the way?
Have you attended a community or technical college in the region, such as Northeast Wisconsin Technical College or Fox Valley Technical College? If so, what was your experience?
Are you a local employer struggling to find skilled workers to fill your jobs? What would help?
Do you know of an organization or institution successfully guiding people toward the skills and information they need to succeed?
Your insights and experiences will shape my reporting. You can share them with me by filling out this form.
Miranda covers pathways to success in northeast Wisconsin in partnership with Open Campus. Reach her via email at mdunlap@wisconsinwatch.org.
Help us report on local workforce challenges and opportunities in northeast Wisconsin 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.
This story was originally published by The 19th.
Yessenia Ruano’s home in Milwaukee is in a state of limbo. Some of the family’s belongings have been sold. Some were gifted, out of necessity, to friends and family, including plants Ruano offered to her coworkers. The most essential — clothing, her daughters’ American birth certificates — were packed into suitcases.
Ruano’s husband, Miguel, is now contending with the rest: two cars in their driveway waiting to be sold, travel documents for their dog, boxes with additional household items he promised to pack up and ship before he, too, departs for El Salvador in a few weeks.
In May, The 19th wrote about Ruano’s fight to remain in the country despite a pending order of deportation. Ruano, a teacher’s aide at a local public school and the mother of twin daughters who are U.S. citizens, argued that her deep roots in her community and her pending application for a visa should at the very least buy her more time.
Ruano was among the millions of immigrants living in the United States who lack permanent authorization. They now face the Trump administration’s intensifying efforts to drive up the number of immigrants deported or otherwise removed from the country. That includes many immigrants who, like Ruano, have been in the country for a decade or longer, who have no criminal record, and whose ties to the country include young children — some of them U.S. citizens — and also careers and community.
Before her first check-in with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following Trump’s inauguration, Ruano decided to make her struggle public, summoning the help of her local community to avoid deportation. A petition in her support gathered 2,800 signatures within its first 24 hours, and a fundraiser for the family had raised close to $16,000 as of the week of July 1, with the average donation hovering under $60.
The Trump administration’s message has been that the focus of its efforts is on people who have committed crimes and pose a threat to public safety. In order to reach their ambitious deportation goals, immigration officials have also targeted immigrants who are among the easiest to locate and remove: people like Ruano, who regularly attend check-ins with ICE.
As of last month, Ruano had attended 19 in-person check-ins with ICE over her 14 years in the United States, in addition to logging dozens of virtual check-ins and, for a time, submitting to 24-hour monitoring.
Ruano appeared for her last check-in at the end of May, holding a much-awaited “receipt number” from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agency showing that her visa application for victims of human trafficking was being processed. Before Trump, such an application would have likely paused deportation proceedings. Instead, Ruano was told she was expected to depart the country within days and given instructions for how to confirm she had arrived in El Salvador through ICE’s monitoring app. Failure to do so could lead to her immediate detention.
Ruano and her daughters, Eli and Paola, 10, boarded a United Airlines flight scheduled to leave Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport on June 17 at 11:35 a.m. local time. The girls’ first time on an airplane was with a one-way ticket out of their first and only home.
Ruano, who by the time of her departure had captured the attention of many people in Milwaukee and elsewhere in the country, spoke to news cameras and a group of supporters in the hall of the airport. She pleaded for a fix to the nation’s immigration system for herself and millions of immigrants in a similar situation.
“For the good of the United States, given this ongoing chaos, our political parties need to have serious conversations about our immigration system — and stop treating it like political soccer,” Ruano said.
As Ruano started to speak, she was interrupted by an automated message from the mayor that rang over the intercom, reminding travelers that in Milwaukee, “there’s so many opportunities to live, work and have fun.”
Ruano continued, thanking her school community and her broader community in Milwaukee for their support.
“To my immigrant community, I want to say that we cannot live in fear. We need to keep working for our children’s futures. … Our love and our togetherness is what will get us through.”
Ruano exchanged hugs with many of the people gathered: relatives, colleagues, supporters. Then, she joined her daughters to go through airport security.
Hours before their scheduled flight, Ruano said that the girls were experiencing a convoluted mix of emotions. They vacillated between afraid and sad, and somewhat excited, “as if they were going on vacation.” Ruano chalked it up to their age and the fact that the flight coincided with the end of the school year and the start of summer.
At the terminal, Ruano sat between her two daughters, chatting and sending messages to loved ones until it was time to board.
The family’s departure bore a hole in the community they had built in Milwaukee.
With most of their relatives in El Salvador, Miguel, Yessenia and their twin girls came to lean on his sister and her family, who in turn, leaned on them. They would trade rides to school, handiwork around their homes when something broke and child care — all of the normal beats of extended families.
“We were there for each other for anything the other needed, a tool, a favor,” Miguel said. “It was just the two of us.”
Days before Ruano and the girls boarded their flight, the family got together for what was supposed to be a 10th birthday celebration for the twins. It was the last occasion they got to mark together, and with Ruano’s departure imminent, the focus shifted in part to goodbyes.
Miguel said he and his sister will continue to lean on each other during his final days in the United States. Her close circle of support will be permanently altered once he leaves.
Arriving home from the airport without his family to an empty house, Miguel said, was one of the hardest moments of his life.
“It’s an ugly feeling. I’ve never been alone without them,” Miguel said.
Before he joins them later in the summer, Miguel is packing up boxes to ship to El Salvador. Each box costs $450 to ship. Some boxes hold his tools. Others hold extra clothes and shoes for his daughters, along with some of their toys and trinkets. Miguel is packing pots, pans and other kitchen items for Ruano, “so she can feel like she has her things, like she’s home.”
The first box to be packed and ready is covered in a criss-cross of duct tape. “One of three boxes holding 14 years of dreams and hard work,” Miguel said. “Sometimes I think this was all just a nice dream that now we have to wake up from, but it’s not fair, not for my girls.”
The heart of Ruano’s support was her school community at ALBA School, a bilingual public school in Milwaukee known in Spanish as Academia de Lenguaje y Bellas Artes. Sarah Weintraub, a middle school teacher at ALBA, said she became invested in Ruano’s plight, and in the lead-up to Ruano’s February appointment with ICE, began rallying community support from organizations like the local teachers’ union.
Weintraub and Ruano had worked together over the years and connected over the looming threats and challenges facing immigrants in the United States. Weintraub said she has loved ones in a similar situation. Weintraub’s daughter also attends ALBA and bonded with Ruano even though she was never her student.
Weintraub described ALBA as “a very tight-knit school.” Ruano’s absence will be sorely felt.
“Many of us have our own kids at the school. I have my kids there. Her kids are there. So, much of the staff is just very close in general,” Weintraub said. “My daughter loves her so much and has never been in any of her classes, just knows her from the school and the cafeteria.”
Weintraub said Ruano’s absence is a significant loss for the school as a workplace.
“Right now, it’s summer break, so we’re not in our usual routine. But I know already, just thinking about going back and her not being there will be — her absence will be very felt.”
Ruano, she said, was the type of colleague who “jumps in right away” when there’s a need, and “you don’t just find the energy every day.” The school district, like the rest of the country, is struggling with a shortage of teachers — especially bilingual educators. “I don’t even know if her position will be filled right away,” Weintraub said.
Voces de la Frontera, an immigrant advocacy group, worked closely with Ruano and her colleagues at ALBA to elevate Ruano’s story as they worked to avert her deportation. Through events, news releases and outreach to elected officials, her story reached many people who didn’t know her, but saw themselves in her situation.
For Milwaukee’s immigrant community, Ruano’s departure brought home the reality of life under the new administration, said Christine Neumann-Ortiz, co-founder and executive director of Voces de la Frontera. “It definitely highlights that we’re in a new time,” she said, adding that there’s a “cruelty” and “senselessness” to the way the administration is handling immigration enforcement.
For the members of Voces de la Frontera, Neumann-Ortiz said, “there’s a feeling of sadness because it’s not what people want, or fought for.” During a meeting following Ruano’s departure, many members said they wanted to find ways to stay in touch with immigrants who are removed and deported, including Ruano.
Ruano also left behind her church community at Nuestra Señora de la Paz, where she was an active member of the prayer group and a mentor for a group of children preparing for their First Communion.
Blanca Cisneros, 70, said Ruano was a constant presence at the church’s community activities, always willing to volunteer when help was needed. “She’s really special: She’s both really humble and really strong,” Cisneros said. “Her situation just breaks my heart. It will be a big loss for our group because she has a strong desire to serve.”
On a recent Monday, Ruano woke up early to help her sister prepare grains of corn for milling, setting a large pot over a wood fire on the patio that was still glowing red hours later. In a video call from a rural community in Comasagua, El Salvador, where they’re living, Ruano said her family is slowly adjusting to their new life.
Ruano and her daughters were reunited with her mom, a grandmother whom the girls had only met through video calls. They’re also spending time with aunts, uncles and cousins; Ruano’s sister lives next door, and they take turns cooking for the entire family. There are no playgrounds or parks nearby, and shopping options are very limited. But recently, Ruano took the girls on a hike near the vast mountain range she grew up calling home. They picked guavas right from tree branches, a highlight of the last few weeks for the girls, and, Ruano said, “a lesson in living more with Mother Nature and less with things that are artificial.”
In many ways, the adjustment has been hard for all of them.
Ruano says she feels blessed to have been able to purchase a small, modest home for her mother last year, a home with a bright blue door that they now all share. But the roof leaks when it rains — which is nearly every day — so at night, Ruano and her girls move their bed from one end of their room to another to avoid the largest drips. They have to walk across the yard at night to use the nearest bathroom, which Ruano says no one has gotten used to.
“They got here happy, telling me they were relieved I wouldn’t be sad anymore and that we were all together,” Ruano said. “But after a few days, seeing how life is — it’s nothing like Milwaukee — they started to cry. And that breaks my heart.”
As for Ruano, a huge weight was lifted off her shoulders as soon as she boarded their plane out of Milwaukee, having shed the worry of being detained by ICE.
“I traded one burden for another,” she said.
Now, she and Miguel have some difficult decisions to make: where to send the girls to school, how to find gainful work. “I’ve already felt that feeling again that I felt when I was young, the feeling of wanting to flee,” Ruano added.
In a video recorded shortly after taking off in Milwaukee, one of Ruano’s daughters says in the background, “Las casas parecen casas de muñecas” — the houses look just like doll houses — while the camera points to the city’s skyline.
“Adiós, Milwaukee,” Ruano then says, popping into the frame. “Es mi segunda casa, donde vine a madurar, donde vine a aprender más, a realizar mis sueños económicos y familiares.”
Goodbye, Milwaukee. This is my second home, where I came to mature, to learn, to realize my dreams financially and for my family.
This story was originally reported by Mel Leonor Barclay of The 19th. Meet Mel and read more of her reporting on gender, politics and policy.
Photos and additional reporting from Milwaukee by Jamie Kelter Davis.
‘Adiós, Milwaukee’: A family uprooted, a hole left behind 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.
A Madison clerk committed “profound failure” that resulted in nearly 200 ballots going uncounted in last November’s election, and she displayed an “astonishing” lack of urgency in reporting and rectifying her mistakes, an investigation by the Wisconsin Elections Commission has found.
The post Missing Madison ballots ‘unconscionable’ and a ‘profound failure,’ Wisconsin Elections Commission finds appeared first on WPR.
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