Throughout a week characterized by extended partisan disagreement, one action was notably quick and to the point: rejecting Evers’ gun control measures.
“Anyone in the world who wants to affect the 2020 election is going to try to get into the minds of Wisconsin voters,” Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler said. “Wisconsin is the state most likely to be the tipping point in the electoral college.”
The Wisconsin Senate dismissed Brad Pfaff, the agriculture secretary appointed by Gov. Tony Evers in a 19 to 14 vote made in a floor session Tuesday — unanimous along respective party lines. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, who first raised awareness of Pfaff’s potential to not get confirmed during a phone call with Evers Friday, shared his reasoning for voting against Pfaff’s nomination.
Senate Republicans expected not to sanction governor-nominated Agricultural Secretary Brad Pfaff during the Nov. 5 floor session after a phone conversation between Gov. Tony Evers and the majority leader. Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, encouraged Gov. Tony Evers to remove Pfaff before the session, indicating Friday there were not enough votes in the caucus to confirm the Dept. of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection nominee.
Organizations and legislators band together to promote the importance of child caregivers’ roles across the state after Gov. Tony Evers declared November “Family Caregiver Month” in recognition of the current shortage.
A bipartisan group of lawmakers are set to introduce a bill similar to California’s “Fair Pay to Play” that would allow college athletes to profit from their status starting in 2023.
“Would you normally let your six-year old walk outside by themselves in the dark?” Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registration Program Director Grace Knutson asked. “No, so let’s use this as an opportunity. When we can all as adults keep kids safe, that lessens the opportunity of a sex offender having an opportunity to reoffend.”
Representatives from the Assembly Committee on Education unveiled a bill package from the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Funding during an executive session aiming to consolidate small school districts and increase efficiency.
Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced 277 local law enforcement officials participated in Drug Take Back Day on Oct. 26 — a day dedicated to supporting Wisconsinites dispose of excess opioid medications at various locations.
Two hundred fifty legal experts, state and federal prosecutors, exonerees, government officials and others affiliated with juvenile justice signed an open letter to Gov. Tony Evers Monday petitioning on behalf of Brendan Dassey’s request for clemency and pardon.
When looking for daycare options, parents across the state reported trouble finding options close to their home — or at all. “Everywhere we called had a two year waiting list."
Between the years 2000 and 2017, the Wisconsin suicide rate spiked by 40 percent — 50 percent of which are committed by firearm. These statistics influenced legislators to create Assembly Bill 527, which aims to combat suicide by firearm by supporting gun retailers in intervening with at-risk customers.
Addressing gun control and environmental issues, Gov. Tony Evers signed executive orders Monday, pushing his fundamental policy platforms over the course of a week. Evers, along with Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, announced the latest executive order, which initiates a special session to discuss gun control and focus on universal background checks Monday in Milwaukee, Wausau and Eau Claire.
Democrats expressed concerns regarding Republican efforts to expand K-12 school voucher programs rather than investing money toward Gov. Tony Evers’ budget plan to fully fund two-thirds of public schools.
Although DUIs in the state have fallen by 44.5 percent since 2007, a third of all traffic fatalities today include a drunk driver, according to data from safehome.org.
A report from the Lincoln Hills School for Boys detailed the events of five altercations involving 26 inmates which occurred over a two-day period at the end of September. The report shows evidence a guard was choked by one of the inmates, who is now facing charges for the incident, and other guards sustained knee, shoulder and nose injuries. At one point, five inmates climbed into the ceiling area and broke lights.
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett threatened to cut police positions if the sales tax increase for the city does not get passed within his budget at an Intergovernmental Cooperation Council meeting Monday.
Complaining that the actions of the White House are “embarrassing and not representative of this country,” U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., held a press conference at his Madison district office Monday to give updates on recent events in Washington.
The fourth annual “Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin,” competition presented its grand prize trophy to Henry Repeating Arm’s ‘Big Boy All Weather Rifle’ Tuesday in front of 500 of the state’s leading business influencers. With over 240,000 votes cast on over 160 products initially nominated, the Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce alongside Johnson Financial Group awarded the Rice Lake-based company the title after over two months of campaigning across the state.
Gov. Tony Evers granted pardons to four ex-convicted felons Monday, issuing Wisconsin’s first executive pardons in more than nine years. This action came less than a week after a convicted felon featured on a popular Netflix docu-series petitioned for clemency. After an eight-year drought under former Republican Gov. Scott Walker, Evers reinstated the pardon process in June and created a body that reviews clemency applications and makes recommendations at the governor’s instruction.
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