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Wisconsin Watch
Are affirmative action policies still legal in admissions to military academies?
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. The U.S. Supreme Court’s June 29, 2023, ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions includes a footnote that exempts military academies. Alluding...
Wisconsin Weekly: Tony Evers signs budget with 400-year twist
Wisconsin Weekly is a roundup of the week’s top stories from around the state by Wisconsin Watch and trusted news outlets. Access to some stories may be limited to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to consider supporting these important news outlets by subscribing, and sign up to get our free newsletters here.
Wisconsin judge: lawsuit to repeal abortion ban can continue
A judge refused Friday to toss out a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's 174-year-old abortion ban, keeping the case inching toward the state Supreme Court in a state where debate over abortion rights has taken center stage. Wisconsin judge: lawsuit to repeal abortion ban can continue 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.
Republican lawmakers reject proposal to help Wisconsin communities access federal grant programs
Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup. Wisconsin’s small communities could obtain slices of the billions of federal dollars allocated for infrastructure and renewable energy projects, such as upgrading drinking water systems or purchasing electric buses.
Wisconsin governor’s 400-year veto angers opponents in state with long history of creative cuts
Wisconsin Watch is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup. This story is published in partnership with The Associated Press and includes localized reporting from Wisconsin Watch. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ partial veto that attempts to lock in a...
Wisconsin towns brace for next fight on local control over large farms
A proposed pig CAFO spurred five northwest Wisconsin towns to regulate big farms. After one rescinded its ordinance, others wonder if they’ll face lawsuits. Wisconsin towns brace for next fight on local control over large farms 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.
Tony Evers scales back GOP tax cut, extends K-12 funding growth in Wisconsin budget
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed off on a two-year spending plan Wednesday after dramatically scaling back the size of a Republican income tax cut that would have moved the state closer to a flat rate. Tony Evers scales back GOP tax cut, extends K-12 funding growth in Wisconsin budget 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.
Do income tax cuts proposed in the Wisconsin state budget benefit richer people the most?
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. The 2023-25 Wisconsin state budget would reduce income tax rates in all brackets and taxpayers with the largest incomes would get the largest share of the $3.5 billion reduction.
Is annual funding for Wisconsin public school districts $16,000 per student?
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. In 2021-22, the latest year for which data are available, Wisconsin’s K-12 public school districts received an average of $16,859 in revenue per student, according to the state Department of Public Instruction.
Is Wisconsin’s income tax rate highest in the Midwest for residents with the highest incomes?
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. Among Midwestern states, Minnesota has the highest income tax rate in the highest-income tax bracket — 9.85% for an individual with annual income over $183,340.
Is homicide a leading cause of death among pregnant women in the US?
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. Researchers have found that homicide is among the leading causes of death of pregnant women in the U.S. Women who are pregnant or have...
Is a Milwaukee suburb proposing a ‘transportation utility fee’ that would cost supermarkets $10,000 per year?
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. The city of Wauwatosa estimates that its proposed transportation utility would impose an annual fee of $10,143 on a 24,000-square-foot supermarket. Wauwatosa, a Milwaukee...
Did a Gallup poll find that nearly one in five members of Gen Z identify as LGBT?
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. In Gallup polling done in 2022, 19.7% of Gen Z respondents identified as LGBT, according to results released in February 2023. Bisexual identifications accounted...
Did more than 92,000 income tax filers leave Wisconsin for other states in 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. An estimated 92,146 income tax-filing individuals left Wisconsin in 2021 for other states. The conservative Institute for Reforming Government said “nearly 60%” of them moved to states with flat or no income taxes, arguing tax policy was a major factor.
Your Right to Know: Record delays are contrary to the law
In early April, I requested some records from the Madison Police Department regarding what it said was the sole disciplinary action taken against an MPD officer or employee in the first three months of this year. It was an exceedingly minor matter — a sergeant who got a one-day suspension...
Midwest states, often billed as climate havens, suffer summer of smoke, drought, heat
The lingering presence of wildfire smoke has made for an unusual start to summer across the Midwest. It also comes during a near-record drought crisping fields across the Corn Belt and the threat of hotter summers to come. Midwest states, often billed as climate havens, suffer summer of smoke, drought, heat 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 Weekly: Drought hits Midwest
Wisconsin Weekly is a roundup of the week’s top stories from around the state by Wisconsin Watch and trusted news outlets. Access to some stories may be limited to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to consider supporting these important news outlets by subscribing, and sign up to get our free newsletters here.
At rules hearing, U.S. EPA hears human toll of unaddressed coal ash pollution
“My husband and I had plans when I retired to travel; now he’s in the graveyard,” said the widow of a cleanup worker at the infamous 2008 Kingston, Tennessee, coal ash spill. At rules hearing, U.S. EPA hears human toll of unaddressed coal ash pollution 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.
Does Wisconsin rank among the states with the highest property taxes?
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. Several 2023 reports ranked Wisconsin among the states with the highest property taxes. GoBankingRates in June ranked Wisconsin seventh, with an average effective property...
Can 18-year-olds in Wisconsin legally buy a handgun through a private sale?
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. Private sales of handguns to individuals age 18 are allowed in Wisconsin, as long as the buyer and seller live in Wisconsin and the buyer is not otherwise prohibited from receiving or possessing firearms under federal law.
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