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Jury rejects defamation claim made by Kenosha blogger Kevin Mathewson
This report is republished by agreement with the Racine County Eye, where it originally appeared. KENOSHA — A Kenosha jury determined comments made about former alder and controversial blogger Kevin Mathewson did not rise to the level of defamation following a four-day trial in Kenosha County Circuit Court. The jury delivered the verdict on Thursday […] The post Jury rejects defamation claim made by Kenosha blogger Kevin Mathewson appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Rainbows and safe spaces: A tale of two districts
On Wednesday, residents of Waukesha County went to bed having learned that Heyer Elementary School teacher Melissa Tempel had been terminated by the School District of Waukesha’s school board for expressing her criticism of the school administration’s decision not to allow the song “Rainbowland” to be sung by students at a school concert. They awoke […] The post Rainbows and safe spaces: A tale of two districts appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
U.S. House Republicans pass overhaul of federal elections system out of committee
WASHINGTON — On a party-line vote, the U.S. Committee on House Administration on Thursday night passed a bill that would enact strict new voting laws for states, such as requiring copies of IDs for voting by mail, and set penalties for states that allow voting by noncitizens in local elections. The 224-page bill, H.R. 4563, […] The post U.S. House Republicans pass overhaul of federal elections system out of committee appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
FEMA disaster relief fund faces August shortfall as feds scramble to find cash
WASHINGTON — The Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund is on track to run out of money as soon as next month, though the agency’s administrator told Congress on Thursday that she’s working with the White House to find a solution. “Our current projections on the disaster relief fund is that we will go […] The post FEMA disaster relief fund faces August shortfall as feds scramble to find cash appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wisconsin Supreme Court denies State Bar request to start DEI training
The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s conservative majority denied a request by the Wisconsin State Bar for the court to create a new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) credit under the state’s continuing legal education program. The proposal would allow lawyers licensed in Wisconsin to fulfill their 30 hours of required continuing legal education by taking […] The post Wisconsin Supreme Court denies State Bar request to start DEI training appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Senate committee considers bills to expand access to birth control and breast cancer screenings
The Senate Health Committee considered a bipartisan bill that would allow pharmacists in Wisconsin to prescribe birth control and another bipartisan bill that would require health insurance policies to cover supplemental screenings and exams for people at an increased risk of breast cancer. Senate Bill 211, co-authored by Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) and Rep. Joel […] The post Senate committee considers bills to expand access to birth control and breast cancer screenings appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
The Wisconsin state budget is done. Now what?
Wisconsin’s biennial budget battle effectively ended Tuesday when the Milwaukee Common Council voted to raise the city’s sales tax. Getting permission from the state to hike the tax to 2% without going to referendum was the cornerstone of the shared revenue deal struck by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, Republican legislative leaders and local officials in […] The post The Wisconsin state budget is done. Now what? appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wisconsin Republicans reintroduce bills to ban transgender girls and women from female athletics
Wisconsin Republican lawmakers re-introduced bills on Wednesday that would ban transgender girls and women from participating in women’s sports and would require student athletes to play on teams that correspond with the sex assigned to them at birth, unless a team is designated as co-ed. Co-authors Rep. Barbara Dittrich...
Evers’ budget veto gives DNR ability to use unspent bonding authority under stewardship program
Gov. Tony Evers used his partial veto power to give the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) access to roughly $20 million in unused borrowing authority through the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Because of the Legislature’s Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee’s (JFC) regular delays and denials of projects through the program — meant to fund land acquisitions […] The post Evers’ budget veto gives DNR ability to use unspent bonding authority under stewardship program appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Kenosha jury to decide if allegations of racism damaged Kevin Mathewson’s reputation
KENOSHA — A Kenosha County jury will decide this week if accusations of racism rise to the level of defamation. Kevin Mathewson, a former Kenosha city council member and controversial local blogger, filed the defamation suit claiming his reputation and standing in the community were damaged by Raymond Roberts, of Sturtevant, who repeatedly referred to […] The post Kenosha jury to decide if allegations of racism damaged Kevin Mathewson’s reputation appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wisconsin schools report almost 6,000 seclusion and 7,000 restraint incidents
Wisconsin schools reported almost 6,000 seclusion and 7,000 restraint incidents with a majority of the incidents involving students with disabilities during the 2021-2022 school year, according to a report by the state Department of Public Instruction. A total of 1,920 students were involved in 5,908 reported seclusion incidents and 2,856 students were involved in 6,916 […] The post Wisconsin schools report almost 6,000 seclusion and 7,000 restraint incidents appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Federal trial begins involving charge of ‘unlawful’ arrest by Milwaukee police
A jury of eight began hearing arguments and evidence in a federal trial on Monday, stemming from a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Wisconsin against the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD). In 2016, officers arrested Jarrett English while he was working as an ACLU legal observer, filming police interactions with residents […] The post Federal trial begins involving charge of ‘unlawful’ arrest by Milwaukee police appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Overuse of antibiotics leading to dangerous ‘superbugs’ examined by U.S. Senate panel
WASHINGTON — Experts on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections on Tuesday urged Congress to pass legislation that would address the issues that lead to so-called superbugs. Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall, the top Republican on the panel and an OB-GYN, said the issue is critically important for Congress because more than 3 million Americans will be diagnosed this […] The post Overuse of antibiotics leading to dangerous ‘superbugs’ examined by U.S. Senate panel appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Milwaukee Common Council approves additional 2% sales tax, avoiding financial crisis
The Milwaukee Common Council voted 12-3 on Tuesday to approve an additional 2% sales tax that will help the city avoid a financial crisis but that also came attached to several provisions that will limit local control. The revenue from the sales tax, which will go into effect on January 1, 2024, can be used […] The post Milwaukee Common Council approves additional 2% sales tax, avoiding financial crisis appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Wisconsin billionaires quietly bankroll effort to shrink state’s social safety net
This article first appeared on Wisconsin Watch and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Republican lawmakers held a day of back-to-back public hearings in mid-April for bills that would add restrictions to receiving unemployment insurance payouts, ban local guaranteed income programs and prevent state agencies from automatically renewing low-income health insurance. A lead […] The post Wisconsin billionaires quietly bankroll effort to shrink state’s social safety net appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
White House rolls out strategy to battle deadly drug mixture of fentanyl and xylazine
WASHINGTON — The White House is unveiling a plan to combat the growing threat of drug overdose deaths involving the combination of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and the powerful sedative xylazine, approved only for veterinary use. The plan comes ahead of Vice President Kamala Harris’s meeting with state attorneys general next week to discuss the staggering […] The post White House rolls out strategy to battle deadly drug mixture of fentanyl and xylazine appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Negotiations to start later this year on cutting pricey Medicare prescription costs
Patient advocates are watching to see which pharmaceutical products will be on the list of medications for federal officials to target when they open negotiations later this year with drug manufacturers over the price of prescriptions. A new federal law clearing the way for administrators of the federal Medicare program to negotiate the price of […] The post Negotiations to start later this year on cutting pricey Medicare prescription costs appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
U.S. House Dems want data on impact of Supreme Court ruling on wetlands protection
Top Democrats on the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee asked federal agencies Monday to track possible negative effects from a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that limited federal authority to regulate clean water. Washington’s Rick Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the committee, and Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee ranking member Grace Napolitano of California, […] The post U.S. House Dems want data on impact of Supreme Court ruling on wetlands protection appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Child care advocates will try again for state money to support providers
The operators of Big Oak Child Care in Madison are contemplating what’s next as child care providers face the loss of $20 million a month in federally funded state aid. In June, that support was cut in half. Early next year it will go away completely. “We have to raise our tuition rates,” says Sarah […] The post Child care advocates will try again for state money to support providers appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
Federal judge rules in favor of Mukwonago trans student
A federal judge has granted an emergency temporary restraining order in a case involving an 11-year-old transgender student in the Mukwonago Area School District. The student, who has identified as a girl since the age of three, has participated in girls’ school activities and used the girls’ bathroom since the third grade without issue. That […] The post Federal judge rules in favor of Mukwonago trans student appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
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The Wisconsin Examiner is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news site offering a fresh perspective on politics and policy in our state. As the largest news bureau covering state government, the Examiner will offer investigative reporting and daily coverage dedicated to the public interest. In Wisconsin’s great progressive tradition, we aim to hold the powerful accountable to the people, follow the money, and dig out the truth. Although we give you the inside scoop, we are not a publication for “insiders.” Instead, we cover stories and voices that too often go unheard. We take our inspiration from the motto emblazoned on a ceiling in our state Capitol: “The Will of the People Is the Law of the Land.” The Examiner is part of States Newsroom, a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit supported by grants and a coalition of donors and readers. We retain full editorial independence.
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