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Wisconsin Watch
Check out 10 of our recent data graphics from the Forward newsletter
Every week illuminating data flows through our mailbox from groups like the Wisconsin Policy Forum or the Legislative Fiscal Bureau without ever generating a story. That’s why when Wisconsin Watch earlier this year launched Forward, our weekly newsletter focused on the upcoming week in state government and politics, we wanted to include a regular way to feature that information.
Wisconsin hospitals have quietly rolled back COVID vaccine mandates
Manitowoc County resident Jeanette Deschene had been working remotely for Advocate Aurora Health for two years when the system ordered its employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19. She refused and was fired. “I really thought that this was a human right to be able to choose what you wanted to...
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes Republican election proposals, signs bill requiring disclosure of AI use in campaign ads
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed Republican proposals that would have allowed election observers to get closer to poll workers and required a new post-election audit. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoes Republican election proposals, signs bill requiring disclosure of AI use in campaign ads 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.
Former Milwaukee election official found guilty of obtaining fake absentee ballots
A jury found a former Milwaukee election official accused of obtaining fake absentee ballots guilty Wednesday of misconduct in office and fraud, rejecting her arguments that she was trying to expose vulnerabilities in the state’s election system. Prosecutors charged Kimberly Zapata in November 2022 with one felony count of...
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signs bills creating electric vehicle charging network
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday signed bipartisan bills designed to jump-start creation of an electric vehicle charging network along the state's interstate system and major highways. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signs bills creating electric vehicle charging network 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 the federal government spend more on debt payments than defense?
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. Interest payments on the federal debt will be $870 billion in 2024, exceeding $822 billion spent on defense, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office projected in February 2024.
Did the Biden administration end the China Initiative anti-espionage program?
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. Matthew Olsen, the U.S. Justice Department’s top national security official, announced Feb. 23, 2022, the end of the department’s China Initiative. The...
Waukesha middle school receives bomb threats after Libs of TikTok post
A grassroots advocacy group believes bomb threats are connected to political battles over LGBTQ issues in the Waukesha school district and a social media post on the controversial Libs of TikTok. Waukesha middle school receives bomb threats after Libs of TikTok post 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.
FlexRide Milwaukee’s ridership is surging, but its future remains unclear
FlexRide Milwaukee, an on-demand service that provides affordable transportation to and from work for inner-city residents, celebrated its 50,000th ride in January. FlexRide Milwaukee’s ridership is surging, but its future remains unclear 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 voters to decide on banning private money to help fund elections
Wisconsin voters are set to decide next month whether to make it unconstitutional to accept private grant money to help administer state elections, one of two Republican-backed ballot measures. Wisconsin voters to decide on banning private money to help fund elections 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.
Assembly Democrats line up for open state Senate seat
Despite a shot at winning a legislative majority for the first time in 14 years, a wave of Democrats will leave the state Assembly early next year, with several retiring and a handful of others running for different offices. In just one Madison-area Senate district all three Democratic representatives are...
Is ‘uncommitted’ an option for the Wisconsin Democratic primary?
Yes, though it won’t be listed on the ballot as “uncommitted.”. Instead, when Wisconsinites participating in April’s Democratic presidential primary go to cast their ballots, they’ll be presented with four options: Joe Biden, Dean Phillips, Uninstructed Delegation or to write in an unlisted name. Biden, the...
It’s prime eagle-watching time on the upper Mississippi River: Here’s how to get the best views
Many people might go their entire lives without seeing a bald eagle, our majestic American emblem, in the wild. But if you live within driving distance of the upper Mississippi River, that’s not a problem, especially this time of year. Each winter the upper Mississippi River plays host to...
Did Aaron Rodgers promote ivermectin for treating COVID-19?
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. NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers praised the antiparasitic drug ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19. Ivermectin is approved by the federal Food and Drug Administration...
Has TikTok increasingly become a news source for Americans under age 30?
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. TikTok, the social media platform known for video sharing, is used for news by an increasing number of Americans under age 30. About 32%...
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers promises to veto transgender athlete ban passed by Republican Legislature
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers renewed his promise Tuesday to veto a bill passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature that would ban high school transgender athletes competing on girls teams, saying he will be “damn proud to do it.” Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers promises to veto transgender athlete ban passed by Republican Legislature 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 Republicans fire 8 more Tony Evers appointees, including regents and judicial watchdogs
Republicans who control the state Senate fired eight more of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers' appointees Tuesday, including two Universities of Wisconsin regents who voted against a deal that limited campus diversity. Wisconsin Republicans fire 8 more Tony Evers appointees, including regents and judicial watchdogs 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.
PFAS is piling up in our trash. Can we keep it contained?
Toxic "forever chemicals" are sitting in landfills. Researchers are studying whether PFAS might escape from trash into the air. PFAS is piling up in our trash. Can we keep it contained? 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 the ballot question for Milwaukee Public Schools’ $252 million referendum tell voters the money would come from property tax increases?
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 Milwaukee Public Schools referendum question on the April 2 ballot doesn’t say the funding would come from property taxes. It asks:. “Shall...
Recall targeting Wisconsin GOP leader Robin Vos appears to fall short of signatures needed, review shows
An effort to recall Wisconsin’s top elected Republican did not gather enough signatures to trigger the recall election under one scenario reviewed by elections officials Tuesday, but it likely will be up to the state Supreme Court to ultimately decide the fate of the recall effort. Recall targeting Wisconsin GOP leader Robin Vos appears to fall short of signatures needed, review shows 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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