Wisconsin Weekly is a roundup of the week’s top headlines from around the state by Wisconsin Watch and other trusted news outlets.

• Gov. Tony Evers’s recent vetoes could still be overridden

• Oshkosh police use Marsy’s Law to shield officers who shot suspects

• Milwaukee interstate expansion raises flooding fears

• Harassment of state election officials under scrutiny

Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin Weekly roundup 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. 

Thanks for reading!

Legislature

Wisconsin Democrats on ‘veto watch’ after Tony Evers blocks 10 bills

Wisconsin Watch — Aug. 11, 2023

Republicans control 64 of 99 seats in the Assembly, not enough for a two-thirds veto-proof supermajority. But they could still override a gubernatorial veto if at least three Democratic members are absent due to illness or other reasons. Democrats are prepared to ensure that doesn’t happen.

More on Evers’ vetoes from The Associated Press: Evers vetoes GOP proposals on unemployment and gas engines but signs bills on crime

And welcome to our newest reporter: Wisconsin Watch hires Jack Kelly as new statehouse reporter

Law Enforcement

Oshkosh police cite ‘Marsy’s Law’ to withhold names of officers who shot suspects

Wisconsin Watch — Aug. 9, 2023

Police departments in other states that have adopted a constitutional amendment expanding victims’ rights have shielded names of officers involved in use of force incidents. Oshkosh is first reported department in Wisconsin to cite the law, though other departments have released names, some within 24 hours.

More from WTMJ4: Viral video of wrong suspect beat, arrested in Kenosha prompts calls for accountability

Environment

Milwaukee residents fear more flooding due to planned I-94 expansion

Wisconsin Watch/WPR — Aug. 10, 2023

Gov. Tony Evers has signed off on plans to expand a 3.5-mile stretch of interstate to improve traffic flow from downtown Milwaukee to the western suburbs. Area residents worry the extra pavement will cut into green space that absorbs local rainfall.

More from our partners:

• Ensia: Inundation and injustice: Flooding presents a formidable threat to the Great Lakes region
• Grist: South Side Chicago neighbors fight Lake Michigan’s erosion and flooding

Elections

Bullied by Her Own Party, a Wisconsin Election Official’s GOP Roots Mean Nothing in Volatile New Climate

ProPublica — Aug. 7, 2023

Wisconsin Elections Commission Republican appointee Marge Bostelmann has been exiled by her local GOP chapter, prompting a lawsuit from prominent election denier Peter Bernegger that she should be removed. The Department of Justice warned Bernegger in June that his belligerent communications with the commission could be grounds for arrest.

Cities and Towns

What will Popple River, Wisconsin’s second-smallest town, do with a 5,000% increase in state funding?

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — Aug. 8, 2023

A recent increase in shared revenue for local municipalities gave small towns some of the largest increases to address road, fire and EMS funding.

Health

Wisconsin residents endure long waits due to FoodShare and Medicaid changes

Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service — Aug. 7, 2023

Recent changes in public benefit programs have caused some to lose benefits entirely and others to face challenges getting their applications reviewed or renewed.

Did Florida decide that its middle school curriculum will include that some enslaved people benefited from slavery? (YES)

Did a Marquette University poll find that 50% of US Republicans don’t believe that Donald Trump had classified documents at Mar-a-Lago? (YES)

Wisconsin Weekly: Legislative Democrats now on ‘veto watch’ 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 is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup.

Wisconsin Watch is pleased to announce the hiring of Jack Kelly as its new statehouse reporter.

Kelly, 26, joins Wisconsin Watch after two years as a statehouse reporter for the Capital Times based in Madison. Before that he worked as a contributing reporter with Wisconsin Watch reporting on judicial and environmental issues. He has also covered Congress, keeping tabs on South Carolina’s congressional delegation for McClatchy.

In Wisconsin Kelly covered the driving forces behind state politics over the last two years. He wrote about the partisan investigation of the state’s 2020 presidential election and conducted an in-depth probe of a Republican effort to abolish the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission. He also profiled some of Wisconsin’s top policymakers, including Gov. Tony Evers and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu.

He has a bachelor’s degree from UW-Madison and a master’s degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. He was named the Wisconsin Newspaper Association’s 2022 Rookie Reporter of the Year. His reporting has also earned several other awards from the WNA and the Milwaukee Press Club.

“I am drawn to Wisconsin Watch’s commitment to fearless and fair journalism,” Kelly said. “Whether it’s thorough examinations of ‘election integrity’ proposals or a news-you-can-use guide to help formerly incarcerated people navigate voting, every story Wisconsin Watch publishes leaves readers better equipped to pursue meaningful change in their communities.”

Kelly, who starts Aug. 7, is based in Madison. He can be reached at jkelly@wisconsinwatch.org.

The Wisconsin Watch statehouse team focuses its nonpartisan investigative reporting on state government and political issues, including disinformation, governmental overreach, threats to Wisconsin’s democracy and issues affecting Wisconsin’s most vulnerable communities. The team works closely with the entire Wisconsin Watch staff and other news outlets to investigate government integrity and quality of life issues including environment, education, economy, racial and criminal justice, and health.

Other members of the statehouse team include:

— Matthew DeFour, the statehouse bureau chief, previously worked for 16 years at the Wisconsin State Journal as a local government, education and statehouse reporter and editor. DeFour is based in Madison and can be reached at mdefour@wisconsinwatch.org.

— Jacob Resneck, a Report for America corps member, previously worked in Juneau, Alaska as an editor and reporter for the nonprofit public media consortium CoastAlaska. Resneck is based in Oshkosh and can be reached at jresneck@wisconsinwatch.org.

— Phoebe Petrovic covers disinformation for Wisconsin Watch and previously worked with Kelly to produce Justice Deferred, a Wisconsin Watch and WPR investigation that examined the unusual sentencing practices of an Outagamie County judge. Elements of that reporting were included in Petrovic’s Open and Shut podcast, which has won several awards, including a regional Edward R. Murrow. Petrovic is based in Madison and can be reached at ppetrovic@wisconsinwatch.org.

Kelly emerged as the top choice from a very competitive application process. More than 30 journalists with varying levels of skill and experience applied.

“From insightful interviews with top political leaders to producing one of the state’s best political newsletters, Jack Kelly has quickly established himself as a major force in Wisconsin journalism,” DeFour said.

Wisconsin Watch’s mission is to increase the quality, quantity and understanding of investigative reporting in Wisconsin, while training current and future generations of investigative journalists. Our work fosters an informed citizenry and strengthens democracy. Wisconsin Watch distributes its content for free to newspapers, radio and TV stations, and news websites in Wisconsin and nationwide. In 2022, Wisconsin Watch produced 65 major stories that were picked up by more than 280 news outlets, reaching an estimated audience of more than 49.9 million readers.

To support the Center’s work, click here. All financial support is publicly acknowledged to protect the integrity of our journalism.

For more Wisconsin Watch news straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters.

Wisconsin Watch hires Jack Kelly as new statehouse reporter 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 is a roundup of the week’s top headlines from around the state by Wisconsin Watch and other trusted news outlets.

In this issue:

• New liberal Supreme Court majority fires conservative state courts director

• Lawsuit filed to overturn Republican-gerrymandered legislative maps

• Milwaukee police chases have increased 20-fold over past decade

• Unhealthy Wisconsin series explores rise in alcohol-related deaths

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin Weekly roundup 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. 

Public Safety

Hot pursuit: Milwaukee police chases now top 1,000 per year. Some prove deadly.

Wisconsin Watch — Aug. 2, 2023

Milwaukee police chases increased from 20 in 2012 to 1,028 in 2022 as restrictions on pursuits were loosened. The biggest increase came after the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission allowed pursuits in reckless driving and drug dealing cases.

Health

Wisconsin’s ‘death grip with alcohol’ is killing more residents

Wisconsin Watch — Aug. 3, 2023

Wisconsin’s alcohol-related death rate has tripled since 2000, and is now 25% higher than the national rate.

Read more from Wisconsin Watch’s Unhealthy Wisconsin series:

• How alcoholism derailed former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball’s football career
• ‘They die so quickly’: Fentanyl killing 1,000+ people in Wisconsin each year
• Here’s where to find Narcan in Wisconsin — and how to reverse an opioid overdose

Elections

Election disinformation campaigns targeted voters of color in 2020. Experts expect 2024 to be worse

The Associated Press — Aug. 1, 2023

A growing number of voters of color, especially in communities where English is not a first language, are questioning the integrity of elections based on disinformation seeded during and after the 2020 election.

Climate

Most of the Midwest is in drought – and there’s no simple way to get out of it

St. Louis Public Radio — July 31, 2023

Intense rainfall in late July isn’t helping address drought conditions throughout the Midwest as the rain more easily runs off and doesn’t soak into farmland. Climate change is part of the reason for the dry spring, record hot summer and sporadic rain.

Are Republican presidential candidates offering financial incentives to campaign donors in order to qualify for the Milwaukee debate? (YES)

Has Milwaukee Public Schools enrollment dropped 10% in three years? (YES)

Do Republican presidential candidates participating in the Milwaukee debate have to pledge not to participate in debates the GOP doesn’t sanction? (YES)

Wisconsin Weekly: New Wisconsin Supreme Court term starts with fireworks 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Milwaukee County Board approves 0.4% sales tax hike.
• Hundreds of families wait for child care, even in small counties.
• Artificial intelligence is here to disrupt elections. Wisconsin isn’t ready for it.
• Milwaukee judges try to cancel diversion program without explaining why.

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Milwaukee

Milwaukee County approves sales tax increase as part of plan to avoid bankruptcy

The Associated Press — July 27, 2023

The Milwaukee County Board approved a 0.4% sales tax after negotiating a deal with the Republican-controlled Legislature to cover ongoing pension costs without drastic service cuts. The city of Milwaukee recently passed a 2% sales tax as part of the same deal. Those come on top of Wisconsin’s 5% sales tax and the county’s previous 0.5% sales tax. Opponents worry the tax will hit low-income residents hardest.

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Child Care

Can’t find child care for your infant in Wisconsin? You’re not alone. Industry experts break down why it’s so difficult.

Appleton Post Crescent — July 25, 2023

Child care waiting lists are hundreds of names long in smaller communities around Wisconsin. Potential solutions include changes in state regulations as well as employers offering more paid family leave options.

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Supreme Court

Democrats eye Wisconsin high court’s new liberal majority to win abortion and redistricting rulings

The Associated Press — July 24, 2023

Next week Janet Protasiewicz will be sworn in as the newest Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, tipping control of the court from a 3-3 conservative/liberal split with one conservative-leaning swing justice to a 4-3 liberal majority. Abortion and redistricting are considered the most likely issues to come before the court, in addition to public sector union rights, election rules and the governor’s veto authority.

Previous coverage from Wisconsin Watch: Wisconsin Supreme Court’s ‘fractured opinions’ leave state without clear guidance

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Health

FDA Head Robert Califf battles misinformation — sometimes with fuzzy facts

KFF Health News — July 27, 2023

The head of the Food and Drug Administration has been telling people, without proof, that misinformation is the most common cause of death in the U.S. The FDA’s own efforts to combat misinformation may be drawing more attention than warranted to dangerous health fads that aren’t really fads.
More from Wisconsin Watch: Misinformation, Disinformation: A guide to sorting fiction from reality

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Stories from Wisconsin Watch

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Elections

AI is starting to affect our elections. Wisconsin has yet to take action.

Wisconsin Watch — July 28, 2023

Artificial intelligence could disrupt the 2024 election, but Wisconsin lawmakers have yet to take meaningful action to regulate it. The state of Washington, for example, requires political ads to disclose whether they use AI-generated images. The Republican chair of the Assembly elections committee says a Speaker’s Task Force on AI in Government could provide recommendations, but it’s unlikely it will be in place before the 2024 election cycle starts.

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Courts

JusticePoint offers incarceration alternatives in Milwaukee. Two judges tried to cancel its contract

Wisconsin Watch, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and The Appeal — July 27, 2023

A longtime program intended to prevent low-income people with unpaid fines from ending up in  jail is in jeopardy after Milwaukee tried to cancel a contract with the program’s vendor. The matter is being litigated and it’s unclear what the alternative would be.

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Do all state laws allow people to travel to get abortion access? (YES)

Is teaching the Bible in public school unconstitutional? (NO)

Wisconsin Weekly: Sales tax in Milwaukee upped to 7.9% 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Michigan’s fake electors charged, Wisconsin election officials testify
• Tony Evers signs phonics-based reading instruction bill
• PFAS poses threat to those eating freshwater fish
• A Wisconsin Watch guide to information disorder

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Elections

After Michigan charges against false electors, no word on Wisconsin investigation

Wisconsin Public Radio — July 19, 2023

The 16 Michigan Republicans who signed documents falsely declaring that Donald Trump had won the state’s 2020 election were charged with crimes under Michigan law. Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul has declined to say whether there is an investigation into Wisconsin’s 10 fake GOP electors, one of whom is a Wisconsin Elections Commission member, but his office said he “strongly believes that those who committed crimes in an effort to unlawfully subvert the outcome of an election should be held accountable.”

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Federal authorities interview Wisconsin’s top election official in 2020 probe

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — July 18, 2023

Wisconsin Elections Commission administrator Meagan Wolfe acknowledged this week she has been interviewed by the special prosecutor probing Donald Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election. The Madison city clerk and Milwaukee Election Commission executive director were also interviewed. Trump was alerted Sunday he is a target of the probe.

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Education

Wisconsin governor signs bill overhauling elementary reading education

The Associated Press — July 19, 2023

Wisconsin has joined at least 31 states and the District of Columbia in taking a phonics-based approach to reading instruction. Students in grades K-3 will be tested three times a year and those who fall behind will receive additional summer instruction.

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Environment

PFAS may pose the next big threat to fishing in Door County

Door County Knock — July 19, 2023

If proposed federal regulations of PFAS chemicals were applied by state and local regulators, fish taken from Green Bay could be deemed unsafe to eat. Environmental research shows those who regularly eat freshwater fish have higher levels in their bodies of the “forever chemicals” found in firefighting foam, nonstick cookware and other household products.

More on PFAS from the Wisconsin State Journal: Budget funds PFAS cleanup, but now Wisconsin lawmakers have to agree on how to spend the money.

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This week’s Wisconsin Watch headlines

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Disinformation

Misinformation, Disinformation: A guide to sorting fiction from reality

Wisconsin Watch — July 20, 2023

Wisconsin Watch disinformation reporter Phoebe Petrovic provides an explanation of “information disorder” — what it is, how to spot the different types and how to protect yourself.

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Economy

Walmart pulls Milwaukee Tool gloves allegedly made by Chinese prisoners

Wisconsin Watch — July 17, 2023

The country’s largest retailer has stopped selling Milwaukee Tool gloves allegedly made with Chinese prison labor. The news comes as Congress is probing the company’s supply chain practices in response to a Wisconsin Watch investigation.

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Did the government ‘help destroy’ the Bronzeville neighborhood of Milwaukee? (YES)

Must all money from Milwaukee’s new 2% sales tax be spent on police? (NO)

Did a Tony Evers veto allow Wisconsin children to choose gender reassignment surgery paid for by Medicaid? (NO)

Wisconsin Weekly: What role will Wisconsin play in 2020 prosecutions? 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Milwaukee City Council approves 2% sales tax to stave off bankruptcy, service cuts
• How billionaires court Wisconsin Republicans to pass legislation
• Milwaukee Tool story draws attention in Congress
• Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects diversity, equity and inclusion training for lawyers

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Milwaukee

Milwaukee council approves sales tax hike as part of plan to avoid bankruptcy

The Associated Press — July 11, 2023

Milwaukee agreed to raise a 2% sales tax as part of a deal between Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature to provide more funding to municipalities and allow the state’s largest city to honor its pension commitments. The city was projected to become insolvent by 2025 if nothing was done.

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Legislature

Wisconsin billionaires quietly bankroll effort to shrink state’s social safety net

Wisconsin Watch — July 11, 2023

The Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability and its lobbying arm, the Opportunity Solutions Project, has courted Republican lawmakers across the country to enact more barriers to voting and accessing social programs. Reporter Jacob Resneck reports on how that works in Wisconsin.

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Economy

Congress asks Milwaukee Tool for answers on human rights in China. Here are takeaways from a hearing Tuesday

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — July 11, 2023

A bipartisan congressional effort is underway to probe the production of Milwaukee Tool gloves using Chinese labor. Lawmakers cited Wisconsin Watch reporter Zhen Wang’s recent investigation into this issue saying, “We understand that Milwaukee Tool may have strongly worded policies against the use of forced labor … but the evidence in this case is very compelling.”

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Environment

Proposed PFAS rule would cost companies estimated $1B; lacks limits and cleanup requirement

Kaiser Health News — July 12, 2023

The Environmental Protection Agency has proposed a rule requiring companies to report whether their products contain toxic “forever” chemicals, known as PFAS. The rule excludes pesticides, foods and food additives, drugs, cosmetics, and medical devices, and accounts for only a tenth of the 12,000 types of PFAS chemicals.

Read previous PFAS coverage from Wisconsin Watch.

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Groups argue Wisconsin regulators can’t make factory farms obtain preemptive pollution permits

The Associated Press — July 13, 2023

Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, working with the Wisconsin Dairy Alliance and Venture Dairy Cooperative, are challenging the state’s ability to require large farming operations to monitor groundwater pollution and draw up manure management plans.

Read previous groundwater coverage from Wisconsin Watch.

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Courts

Wisconsin Supreme Court denies State Bar request to start DEI training

Wisconsin Examiner — July 14, 2023

The Wisconsin Supreme Court’s conservative majority denied a request from the Wisconsin State Bar to allow lawyers to use a diversity, equity, inclusion and access course as part of their continuing education requirement. Justice Rebecca Bradley wrote a concurring opinion in which she laid out the conservative case against DEI and said such courses would create a “goose-stepping brigade of attorneys.”

Read previous coverage from Wisconsin Watch: Who are the liberal and conservative members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court? 

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Judge grants temporary restraining order in Mukwonago bathroom lawsuit

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — July 10, 2023

Wisconsin Examiner — July 14, 2023

A federal judge ruled in favor of an 11-year-old transgender student whose family challenged Mukwonago School District’s policy requiring students to use bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender assigned at birth.

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Do many NATO countries meet their pledge to spend 2% of their GDP on defense? (NO)

Did Gov. Tony Evers veto tax cuts for people earning over $36,000 per year? (YES)

Wisconsin Weekly: Milwaukee adopts 2% sales tax 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Gov. Tony Evers extends school funding increases with 400-year veto
• Budget doesn’t include help for local communities to obtain federal grants
• Big ag probes small town opponents of CAFOs
• Teenager injured in Wisconsin sawmill as states consider loosening child labor laws
• Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling could free some ex-incarcerated people from lifetime electronic monitoring

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Education

Tony Evers scales back GOP tax cut, extends K-12 funding growth in Wisconsin budget

The Associated Press — July 5, 2023

Gov. Tony Evers issued 51 vetoes in signing the state budget this week. With one of the nation’s most powerful veto pens, he axed most of a $3.5 billion income tax cut that would have mostly benefited the wealthiest Wisconsinites. But the biggest surprise was trimming a hyphen and a few numbers to turn an annual $325 increase in K-12 funding authority from two years into 402 years.

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Local government

Republican lawmakers reject proposal to help Wisconsin communities access federal grant programs

Wisconsin Watch — July 7, 2023

Evers had proposed creating five grant-writing positions that would have helped small communities across the state obtain federal grants, but the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee removed those positions from the final budget.

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Environment

Wisconsin towns brace for next fight on local control over large farms

Wisconsin Watch — July 6, 2023

Small towns that have fought to keep large dairy operations in check are facing intense scrutiny from the big ag industry with future litigation possible.

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Workplace safety

Teen boy dies following industrial accident at northern Wisconsin sawmill

Wisconsin Public Radio — July 3, 2023

OSHA is investigating the incident at Florence Hardwoods logging company in Florence County. It comes as many states, including Wisconsin, are considering ways to loosen child labor laws to address a workforce shortage.

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Public safety

Wisconsin probes how 8 roller-coaster riders became trapped upside down for hours

The Associated Press — July 3, 2023

It took three-and-a-half hours to rescue all eight people trapped upside down on a roller coaster at a festival in Crandon.

Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling gives hope to offenders on lifetime GPS

The Cap Times — July 3, 2023

Former Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel opined that people convicted of multiple counts of a sexual offense, even if they happened in a single case, were repeat offenders who must face lifetime electronic monitoring. A Wisconsin Supreme Court decision shot down that rationale.

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Is annual funding for Wisconsin public school districts $16,000 per student? (YES)

Is Wisconsin’s income tax rate highest in the Midwest for residents with the highest incomes? (NO)

Wisconsin Weekly: Tony Evers signs budget with 400-year twist 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Foster parents hampered in getting mental health care for children 
• Shrinking population in Michigan prompts look to Wisconsin for answers
• Canadian wildfire smoke causes health risk across the state

Of note: This week we feature a story by Wisconsin Watch’s Bennet Goldstein, who examined the drought gripping much of the Midwest. Bennet interviewed Nick Stanek, part of a three-generation farm family in La Farge, Wisconsin. Stanek and his brother grow corn and soybeans across 400 acres, where the soil is now “bone dry” and grass crunches underfoot. “Of course, if we don’t get any rain,” Stanek said, “our crop will be a complete loss.”

Also – we are adding a new newsletter to our line up! The Wednesday Report will provide stories by Wisconsin Watch and our partners and offer exclusive access to behind-the-scenes insights on our investigations. Learn more and sign up here.

Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin Weekly roundup 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. 

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Weather

Midwest drought: Corn and soybeans suffer as forecasters expect no quick relief for farmers

Wisconsin Watch — June 23, 2023

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Mental health

Wisconsin foster children often need mental health care to thrive. Why is it hard to help them?

Green Bay Press-Gazette — June 26, 2023

Removed from home, deeply traumatized, foster children often need counseling. But even with activist foster parents, it can be hard to get.

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Population growth

As UP’s population shrinks, Wisconsin rural counties grow. Here’s why.

Bridge Michigan — June 29, 2023

Donald Domitrovich grew up in the small town where he still lives and works. Every day, it seems smaller. In Ontonagon, a Lake Superior shore village of about 1,500 and the surrounding county of the same name, there are now five funerals for every birth. Between 2010 and 2020, the county lost 14% of its population, as jobs dried up and people moved away. 

Related coverage: Report: Wisconsin near top in Midwest rural population growth

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Environment

Canadian wildfire smoke threatens Wisconsin air quality. Here’s how to check health numbers.

Associated Press/Wisconsin Watch — June 27, 2023

This week, Wisconsin faced a statewide Air Quality Advisory for fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke. State health and environmental officials recommended that people in all populations limit outdoor activities.

Related coverage:  Medical professionals weigh in on effects of poor air quality

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Are only 2% of students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Black? (Yes.)

Did Sen. Tammy Baldwin propose $25 million to train abortion providers? (Yes.)

Does Wisconsin rank among the states with the highest property taxes? (Yes.)

Can 18-year-olds in Wisconsin legally buy a handgun through a private sale? (Yes.)

Wisconsin Weekly: Drought hits Midwest  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 is a nonprofit and nonpartisan newsroom. Subscribe to our newsletter to get our investigative stories and Friday news roundup.

Wisconsin remains under a statewide Air Quality Advisory for fine particulate matter from wildfire smoke until noon Central Time on Thursday, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 

Canadian wildfire smoke is spreading north to south in what the DNR called a “highly dynamic” situation this week. The agency expects the worst impact noon Tuesday through noon Wednesday. 

“It is important to pay close attention to the air quality in your area and take action, especially if you don’t feel well,” the DNR said Tuesday in a news release.

The DNR and Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommend that people in all populations limit outdoor activities — and to take a break or move indoors if experiencing coughing and shortness of breath.

“Sensitive groups, which include people with heart or lung disease, older adults, children, those who are pregnant, and those who work outdoors – should consider moving all events inside,” the DNR said.

Tiny fine particulate matter, also known as PM2.5, a main pollutant released from wildfire smoke can “penetrate pretty deep into our lungs and get into our bloodstream,” Katelyn O’Dell, a researcher at George Washington University, previously told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and the Minneapolis Star Tribune. 

How can you check the air quality in your area and what do the numbers mean?

The Environmental Protection Agency monitors the air around the country and compiles an air quality index, or AQI.

Here’s what to know about the index and how to keep tabs on your area, especially in U.S. regions dealing with smoke from Canadian wildfires.

What does the air quality index measure? 

The index rates how clean or polluted the air is each day. The EPA uses this measure to keep tabs on five kinds of air pollutants. The main concern from the wildfire smoke is fine particle pollution. These particles are tiny enough to get deep into the lungs. They can cause short-term problems like coughing and itchy eyes, and in the long run, can affect the lungs and heart.

What do the numbers and colors mean? 

The index runs from zero to 500. The higher the number, the worse the air quality. That range is broken down into six color-coded categories. Green or yellow — in the zero to 100 range — the air is pretty clear. Once it gets up to orange, the air quality could be a concern for sensitive groups like kids, older adults or those with health conditions.

In the red and purple zones, the air quality is considered unhealthy for everyone.

At 10 a.m. on Tuesday, air at 16th Street in Milwaukee registered a purple 223, or “very unhealthy,” according to the EPA’s air quality index. 

And if the index gets to maroon — at 301 or above — pollution levels are hazardous.

At these high levels, take precautions to avoid breathing in the dangerous air. That can mean reducing your outdoor activities, running air purifiers inside and wearing a well-fitting mask like an N95 when you’re outside.

“If you have to exert yourself, exert yourself less. Hydrate more,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, who studies environmental health at New York University.

What’s the air like in my area? 

Check AirNow.gov, which updates every hour. The site shows a real-time map of the air quality across the country and also includes a forecast for the day ahead. The map pulls in measurements from a network of air monitoring stations across the country. States and cities may also offer more local guidance.

Canadian wildfire smoke threatens Wisconsin air quality. Here’s how to check health numbers.  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, a statewide nonprofit organization dedicated to producing high-quality, high-impact journalism across Wisconsin, is seeking a Chief Executive Officer to lead the organization’s next stage of growth. The successful candidate will have passion for independent journalism’s critical role in a healthy democracy, executive leadership experience, demonstrated fundraising ability for a mission-driven organization, and strong perspective on leading an organization committed to diversity, equity and inclusion.

‍Leading this organization will place the successful candidate at the forefront of a movement to further make journalism a foundational part of civic life across Wisconsin by strengthening the kind of reporting that holds power to account and truly addresses the information needs of communities.

Organization Overview

Wisconsin Watch is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that reports on government accountability and quality of life issues, including criminal and racial justice, education, health, the economy and environment.

We dig into under-covered issues, document inequitable and failing systems, do meaningful data analysis and put our findings into regional and national contexts and explore potential solutions. We aim to spark change that improves people’s lives and keeps the powerful accountable Every investigation is meticulously fact-checked to ensure that our reporting is accurate, fair and in context.

We also train the next generation of journalists and news entrepreneurs through workshops, internships, and fellowships. We collaborate with students, journalism classes and other newsrooms. And we share information about journalistic practices, ethics and impact with the public.

We believe in collaborating with rather than competing against other news outlets as we strive to build a better and more sustainable news ecosystem. We push the traditional boundaries of investigative reporting in search of better ways of connecting with and serving the public.

Wisconsin Watch approaches its work through these key strategies:

• Producing independent journalism that is supported by authentic documents and data and protects the vulnerable, exposes wrongdoing, and explores solutions.
  
• Supporting the news ecosystem by collaborating with others to close coverage gaps, share content, and make more local journalism available to all Wisconsinites who need it. Working closely and effectively with other media leaders is an essential component of this role.
  
• Building a movement to strengthen local news in partnership with civic and community leaders and universities and train the next generation of journalists.
  
• Embracing anti-racism, diversity, equity and inclusiveness in all of our journalism and operations.

Our most recent impact report can be found on our website.

News stories produced by Wisconsin Watch are free to access and are available for republishing with credit to Wisconsin Watch, which works in partnership with a growing list of outlets to increase the volume of relevant, original local reporting available to all residents.

The Role

The CEO will lead strategic planning, coordinate the organization’s fundraising efforts across a diverse mix of revenue streams, and oversee the financial, human resources, and administrative infrastructure to support fast-paced growth while cultivating an equitable organizational culture. As a champion of the editorial team (which will report to the CEO), the CEO will be an advocate for the newsroom. As director of the business team, the CEO will maintain relationships with funders and sponsors while protecting the independence of the editorial staff.

Responsibilities & Priorities

Strategic vision

• Work with the organization’s board, editorial, and business leaders to develop a multi-year strategic plan.
• Advocate relentlessly for the organization and its mission in venues across the state and nation.
• Initiate a brand strategy to bring awareness to the organization’s vision and increase its audience.
• Ensure that diversity, equity, and inclusion remain key parts of the organization’s framework, particular in the regarding hiring, retention, compensation, and editorial coverage.
• Expand on a culture of innovation and collaboration between internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead and inspire staff to meet the goals of the organization’s strategic vision while also supporting the needs of the communities they serve.
• Support editorial leaders in the implementation and management of daily newsroom operations that produce strong, community-oriented accountability journalism.
• Create an environment where editorial leaders are encouraged to produce culturally relevant narratives to amplify the voices and lived experiences of traditionally underserved and misrepresented communities.
• Lead editors to produce news coverage that centers on the perspectives and concerns of culturally diverse communities impacted by the subject matter.
• Work with editorial leaders to build new products that will enhance Wisconsin Watch’s role as the leading statewide nonprofit news organization.

General management

• Ensure the organization’s day-to-day operations and programs are professionally and efficiently administered, holding the organization to the highest levels of transparency, accountability, and consistency; set benchmarks for program spending and delivery without losing commitment to the communities being served.
• Develop, manage, and provide oversight of the organization’s operating budget; ensure that financial systems, budgets, and planning strategies accurately reflect the financial realities of the organization; achieve ambitious but realistic and attainable financial projections and ensure fiscal stability.
• Provide oversight of systems for measuring and evaluating the organization’s progress and success (as well as the progress and success of team members); track and disseminate information about impact internally, to funders and to partners.
• Provide oversight of core administrative functions including HR, finance, development and marketing.
• Manage compliance for all grants and contracts including public and private funders and regulatory bodies.
• Ensure the organization’s diversity, equity, and inclusion commitment and programming spans across all levels of program, staff development and operations.

Fundraising and revenue

• Develop and implement a long-term funding and sustainability plan for the organization.
• Manage the organization’s fundraising pipeline, including funding from foundations, major donors, underwriters, and corporate sponsors.
• Build and oversee a development team, and coordinate with the editorial team as necessary to galvanize funding support.
• Personally cultivate and solicit new donors and maintain active partnerships with all of the organization’s funders.
• Explore and strategically deploy opportunities for new revenue streams, including sponsorships, appropriate advertising, events, and membership, to diversify revenue and protect the independence of the newsroom.
• Implement best practices in growth management including the development of financial models for new initiatives and newsroom expansion plans.

Board relations and development

• Serve as a contact for the organization with its board of directors and be evaluated by benchmarks created by the board.
• Engage and update the board of directors on matters related to revenue and operations; in partnership with the editorial leadership, consistently update the board on relevant progress and impact.
• Partner with the board to recruit new board members, including members that reflect the diversity of the populations served.
• Partner with the editorial leadership and board on issues related to strategic planning.

You’re a good fit if…

• You’re passionate about independent, nonprofit investigative journalism and serving the information needs of Wisconsin residents.
• You have executive management experience, including managing revenue and expenses and reporting to and working with a strong board.
• You prioritize and have a track record of building an equitable and inclusive organizational culture.
• You have a proven track record of fundraising for fast-growing organizations or programs.
• You have a proven track record of attracting, retaining, and evaluating top talent.
• You are the kind of leader who brings teams together, fosters a collaborative, high-trust work environment, and motivates people to work toward a common goal.
• You believe that an independent free press is crucial to a local community’s civic engagement and you are deeply committed to journalism values and ethics.
• You’re committed to learning and inspiring others around you to do the same.

Location: Madison or Milwaukee

Salary: $115,000 – $135,000

Benefits: Generous vacation (five weeks) plus holiday time (six days of your choosing), paid sick days, 12 weeks paid family and caregiver leave, subsidized medical and dental premiums, vision coverage, short term & long term disability, on-demand telehealth, $300/year transportation allowance and self-funded 403(b) retirement plan.

To apply: Please submit a PDF of your resume and answer some brief questions in this application form.

Wisconsin Watch embraces anti-racism, diversity and inclusiveness in its journalism, training activities, hiring practices and workplace operations. The complex issues we face as a society require respect for different viewpoints. Race, class, generation, gender and geography all affect point of view. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.

Wisconsin Watch seeks Chief Executive Officer 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 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. 

In this issue:

• Wisconsin Watch launches “Unhealthy Wisconsin” series
• Budget committee wraps up work on the state budget
• Public officials pledge improvement to police language barriers

Of note: Two legends of Wisconsin investigative journalism are handing off the organization they started in their basement 14 years ago to the next generation of leaders. Andy and Dee J. Hall announced their plans to leave Wisconsin Watch by the end of the year. Since its founding Wisconsin Watch has produced hundreds of award-winning stories and trained scores of young journalists to protect the vulnerable, expose wrongdoing and explore solutions.

If you value this reporting, please consider becoming a member.

Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin Weekly roundup 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.

Thanks for reading!

Matthew DeFour

Statehouse Bureau Chief

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Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Watch co-founders, creators of one of the nation’s top nonprofit news outlets, leaving as leadership transition begins

Wisconsin Watch — June 16, 2023

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Health

Can Wisconsin heal itself? New series provides insights into state’s most vexing health problems

Wisconsin Watch — June 22, 2023

Wisconsin was once a national leader in public health. But now, statistics show, the state is falling behind other states in both public spending and certain health outcomes. In a new series, “Unhealthy Wisconsin,” reported by UW-Madison investigative journalism students and edited by Dee J. Hall, Wisconsin Watch examines many of the different ways Wisconsin has faltered from infant mortality rates and alcohol abuse to the response to the COVID-19 pandemic and suicide rates.

More from Wisconsin Watch:

• ‘They die so quickly’: Fentanyl killing 1,000+ people in Wisconsin each year
• Here’s where to find Narcan in Wisconsin — and how to reverse an opioid overdose

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Legislature

Republicans seek $3.5B tax cut favoring top earners, $32M reduction for UW System

The Associated Press — June 22, 2023

Republicans revealed the final pieces of their budget on Thursday, calling for $3.5 billion in income tax cuts that would heavily favor top earners. They also plan to cut the UW System budget by $32 million in an attempt to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) positions, which Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said are “burrowed in like a tick on every single college campus.” Gov. Tony Evers has been critical of both moves, setting up a potential veto.

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Police

Following the death of an 8-year-old on a Wisconsin dairy farm, officials look to bridge law enforcement language gap

ProPublica — June 21, 2023

Dane County officials hope to improve language barriers for law enforcement after a botched investigation into an 8-year-old boy’s death on a dairy farm. Deputies wrongly determined the boy’s father had accidentally run over the boy, even though the person who was driving the tractor remained on scene to be interviewed, but wasn’t. A wrongful death lawsuit over the 2019 incident was settled earlier this year after the original ProPublica story was published.

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Marijuana

Scent like marijuana enough to warrant police search, Wisconsin Supreme Court rules

The Associated Press — June 20, 2023

In a 4-3 ruling, the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that police who smell marijuana in a vehicle can search a person in that vehicle even though there are legal substances that have the same scent.

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Was a voting system used in multiple states including Wisconsin responsible for a vote-tally inaccuracy in Michigan during the 2020 election? (NO)

Are Milwaukee’s police and fire departments overseen by a part-time board? (YES)

Were downtown Madison Starbucks employees required to take down Pride month decor? (YES)

Wisconsin Weekly: End of an era at Wisconsin Watch 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 you passionate about ensuring access to fair, nonpartisan information for everyone? Do you believe that communities across our state deserve access to information about the issues that affect their lives?

Wisconsin Watch is excited to announce a search for a Director of Institutional Giving who is energized by our mission to drive positive change through investigative journalism and rebuilding local news. You can play a pivotal role in securing critical resources that support the goals of our growing newsroom. As an integral part of our team, you will leverage your expertise in cultivating relationships with foundations, corporations, and philanthropic organizations to generate sustainable funding that allows us to achieve our vision. Your strategic thinking, persuasive communication skills, and ability to articulate the transformative power of investigative journalism will enable you to forge strong partnerships and secure vital financial support. Together, we will empower the public with accurate, unbiased, and timely news, making a lasting difference in our changing world. Join us and become a catalyst for change in Wisconsin and beyond.

This role is funded by the American Journalism Project and is part of a multiyear partnership between Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service to reshape the local news ecosystem in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive institutional giving strategy aligned with Wisconsin Watch’s mission and funding needs.
• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective institutional donors through regular communication, meetings and networking events.
• Prepare compelling grant proposals, applications and reports in collaboration with program and development staff and ensure timely submission.
• Work with the Development Operations Manager to identify and research potential institutional donors that align with the organization’s goals.
• Collaborate with the finance and operations team to ensure compliance with grant requirements and reporting obligations.
• Manage a portfolio of institutional donors, tracking key deadlines, deliverables and stewardship activities.
• Assist in planning of special events designed to engage corporate and foundation program officers.
• Stay informed about trends, best practices and policies in institutional giving and incorporate them into fundraising strategies.
• Represent Wisconsin Watch at relevant industry conferences, events and meetings to enhance visibility and networking opportunities.

Qualifications:

• A strong commitment to the mission and values of Wisconsin Watch and a passion for nonprofit journalism.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in institutional fundraising, including grant writing, donor cultivation and relationship management.
• Proven track record of successfully securing grants from foundations and corporations.
• Exceptional written and oral communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex concepts clearly and compellingly.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong relationships with diverse stakeholders, including institutional funders and program staff.
• Familiarity with the Wisconsin philanthropic landscape and knowledge of relevant funding sources is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in using fundraising databases, CRM systems and other relevant software tools.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative and contribute to a collaborative team environment.

Location: The Director of Institutional Giving should be located in Wisconsin, preferably in the greater Madison or greater Milwaukee areas, and expect to travel to those cities at least twice a month and other Wisconsin locations as needed. 

Salary: Starts at $80,000

Benefits: Generous vacation (five weeks) plus holiday time (six days of your choosing), paid sick days, paid family and caregiver leave, subsidized medical and dental premiums, vision coverage, short term & long term disability, on-demand telehealth, $300/year transportation allowance and self-funded 403(b) retirement plan.

Deadline: Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

To apply: Please submit a PDF of your resume and answer some brief questions in this application form. If you’d like to chat about the job before applying, contact Lauren Fuhrmann, Associate Director, via email: lfuhrmann@wisconsinwatch.org 

Wisconsin Watch embraces anti-racism, diversity and inclusiveness in its journalism, training activities, hiring practices and workplace operations. The complex issues we face as a society require respect for different viewpoints. Race, class, generation, gender and geography all affect point of view. We especially encourage members of traditionally underrepresented communities to apply, including women, people of color, LGBTQ+ people and people with disabilities.

Wisconsin Watch seeks Director of Institutional Giving 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.