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Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch’s most-read fact briefs this year
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
Looking back at Wisconsin Watch’s investigations this year
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
Here’s how the locks and dams on the Mississippi River work — and why they exist
This story is a product of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk, an editorially independent reporting network based at the University of Missouri School of Journalism in partnership with Report For America and funded by the Walton Family Foundation. Wisconsin Watch is a member of the network. Sign up for our newsletter to get our news straight to your inbox.
The impact of Wisconsin Watch’s statehouse coverage
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
A ‘meaty’ year in environmental & agricultural reporting at Wisconsin Watch
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
Developers hope a balloon-like battery will aid Wisconsin renewable energy efforts
When Wisconsin’s largest coal plant, the Columbia Energy Center, closes in the next few years, a carbon dioxide-filled “battery” developed by the Italian company Energy Dome will take its place. Developers hope a balloon-like battery will aid Wisconsin renewable energy efforts 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.
How much trash does the Mississippi River funnel from Midwest to Gulf of Mexico?
How much trash does the Mississippi River take along with it? That's what a group of researchers and environmental advocates wanted to find out when they began a litter analysis. How much trash does the Mississippi River funnel from Midwest to Gulf of Mexico? 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.
Wisconsin Watch’s impact in 2023
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
Top 10 Wisconsin Watch stories of 2023
Welcome to Wisconsin Watch’s Year in Review series. In this series, we’re looking back on Wisconsin Watch’s reporting and impact in 2023. Throughout the week, you’ll be hearing directly from reporters and editors and get exclusive behind-the-scenes looks at our biggest investigations of the year, along with some sneak peeks at what we have planned for next year.
Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new legislative maps for 2024
The liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Republican-drawn legislative maps on Friday and ordered that new district boundary lines be drawn as Democrats had urged in a redistricting case they hope will weaken GOP majorities. Wisconsin Supreme Court orders new legislative maps for 2024 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.
Kohler Co. golf course plans along Lake Michigan dealt another setback. Here’s what to know.
The fate of Kohler Co.’s decade-long effort to build a championship golf course atop wetlands and forest in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, remains in question following a court ruling applauded by the project’s opponents. Kohler Co. golf course plans along Lake Michigan dealt another setback. Here’s what to know. 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.
Wisconsin Watch seeks reporting intern to serve northeast Wisconsin
Wisconsin Watch is seeking a 20-week intern to boost its editorial contributions to the multi-newsroom NEW News Lab collaboration that serves northeast Wisconsin. The opportunity comes through a partnership between the Scripps Howard Fund and Institute for Nonprofit News, which is supporting internships in seven additional newsrooms as well. The...
Votebeat seeks reporter to work with Wisconsin Watch
Civic News Company — parent company to Votebeat, the nonprofit news organization committed to reporting the nuanced truth about elections and voting; Chalkbeat, the nonprofit news organization telling the story of education in America; and Healthbeat, a launching newsroom covering health and health policy issues at the national and local level — is seeking a passionate journalist to join Votebeat as our Wisconsin Reporter as we expand coverage into a new state.
Wisconsin speaker: Medical weed bill coming soon, abortion should be voted on, impeachment unlikely
Wisconsin Republicans plan to unveil a proposal soon to legalize medical marijuana in the state and could vote on it sometime in 2024, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said. He also said abortion limits should go to a public referendum, and it’s “super unlikely” Republicans would impeach a Supreme Court justice over how she votes on […] Wisconsin speaker: Medical weed bill coming soon, abortion should be voted on, impeachment unlikely 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.
Wisconsin’s ‘Smart Growth’ law requires planning to meet housing needs, but enforcement is lax
News414 is a service journalism collaboration between Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service that addresses the specific issues, interests, perspectives and information needs identified by residents of central city Milwaukee neighborhoods. Learn more at our website or sign up for our texting service here. Robin Palm lives in Milwaukee...
Milwaukee County pushes for affordable housing in suburbs to narrow disparities
The Milwaukee metro region has a big mismatch between jobs and workforce housing. Most job growth is happening in the suburbs, while affordable housing is largely concentrated in the city of Milwaukee’s historically disinvested neighborhoods. Milwaukee County pushes for affordable housing in suburbs to narrow disparities 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.
Are Black people in Wisconsin concentrated in the southeastern part of the state?
Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims. Black residents of Wisconsin chiefly live in the southeastern part of the state, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Wisconsin’s population is...
Does the federal government prohibit whole milk from being served in schools?
Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims. Schools must offer fat-free and/or low-fat (1%) unflavored milk as part of school breakfasts and lunches and have the option to offer flavored versions of those beverages, according to the U.S. Agriculture Department.
Is inflation costing Wisconsinites $10,131 more per year compared with 2021?
Wisconsin Watch partners with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Read our methodology to learn how we check claims. A Facebook ad claimed that because of inflation, “Wisconsinites spend $10,131 more per year now than they did in 2021.” An analysis the ad relies on doesn’t support that.
Some Trump fake electors from Wisconsin and other states haven’t faded away, are involved in 2024 election
Nevada, Arizona, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania have Republicans who have been swept up in the fake electors scheme and continue to play roles in elections in their communities next year. Some Trump fake electors from Wisconsin and other states haven’t faded away, are involved in 2024 election 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.
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