The Northwoods River News

$50,000 cash bond set on Bangstad supporter accused of making threats

Oneida County circuit judge Mary Sowinski imposed this week a $50,000 cash bond on a Michigan man who has been arrested and jailed in Oneida County for allegedly threatening Oneida County circuit judge Michael Schiek and Gregg Walker, publisher of both The Lakeland Times and The Northwoods River News.

Bangstad files notice of claim against Oneida County

MBC owner wants $10.75 million for violation of constitutional rights

Minocqua Brewing Company (MBC) owner Kirk Bangstad has filed a combined notice of injury and notice of claim against Oneida County, meaning Bangstad has formally notified the county of an alleged injury or incident by the county as a legal precursor of filing a lawsuit.

Tribe, environmental groups challenge Line 5 permits

MEA: Permits can’t meet state water quality standards

The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa in northern Wisconsin and various environmental groups have filed separate legal challenges to wetland and waterway permits the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) granted last month to Enbridge Energy to build a 41-mile segment of its Line 5 pipeline near the Bad River Reservation.

A closer look at the Dane County Act 10 ruling

A Dane County judge has overturned the state’s landmark law prohibiting most public employees from engaging in collective bargaining, saying a key employee definition treated some public workers differently from others without any rational basis to do so.

Michigan man arrested, detained for threatening Walker, Schiek

Detective: Evidence shows ‘direct correlation’ between Bangstad, suspect

A man accused of making threats to an Oneida County judge and to a newspaper publisher has been arrested and jailed in Michigan, according to court records and the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office.

County ‘updates’ Paid Time Off handbook

The agenda for a recent Oneida County executive committee meeting referred to an “employee handbook update,” which was less an update and more of a proposal to modify county policy concerning Paid Time Off (PTO) pay-outs and how county employees can cash in their accumulated PTO banks.

Circuit judge allows lawsuit challenging wedding barn law to continue

Plaintiffs say new law deprives them of equal protection, ability to earn a living

Two small business owners scored a pre-Thanksgiving win in circuit court in their challenge to the state’s new “wedding barn” law, with a Trempeleau County circuit judge ruling that their lawsuit against the state can proceed.

Trump lays out aggressive free speech agenda

Digital bill of rights, ban on federal disinformation activities included

News analysis President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team have looked like rockets launched from Cape Canaveral since election day, with Trump announcing a flurry of major appointments for his new administration, but perhaps the most important announcement made so far has not involved personnel.

County looks to tighten control of staff out-of-state travel

Easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission?

The Oneida County executive committee recently approved an after-the-fact request for out-of-state staff travel, citing an oversight, but committee members made clear they wanted such travel to follow established procedures.

Wisconsin Policy Forum: Wisconsin tax burden reaches historic low

A billion-dollar income tax cut, property tax levy limits, and wage growth have combined to reduce Wisconsin’s overall tax burden on residents to a record low, according to a new study released by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.