Investigative Reporter
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Democratic attorney Ginger Murray eyes congressional seat
Seventh district hopeful aims to move from family law to Congress
Ginger Murray, a Democratic candidate for the seventh congressional district in Wisconsin, is a longtime family-law attorney who says that her career protecting children, families, and vulnerable people has naturally led her into politics, and, from numerous perspectives, makes her the best candidate for the job.
Republican hopeful Hermening: Congress isn’t an entry-level job
Businessman says revenue isn’t the problem, spending is
Talk a little with long-time Wausau financial adviser Kevin Hermening, and you will quickly find out a lot about his background and journey through life — not because he is bragging about it but because he says it’s critical for the job he hopes to have next: that of U.S. representative for the seventh congressional district of Wisconsin.
E-filing dispute raises bigger questions about county staffing, budgeting
Executive committee discusses who should handle electronic zoning citations
A relatively minor clerical dispute has exposed larger questions about workload, budgeting, departmental responsibilities, and staffing pressures in Oneida County government. If discussions at the latest county executive committee are any indication, at least three different departments are facing significant staffing pressures.
Oneida County updates decade-old efficiency study
County aims for a more practical, realistic budget guide
After years of criticism that Oneida County’s efficiency study had become outdated since it was released in 2016, county officials have given it a retooling for the upcoming budget year. County administrative coordinator Tracy Hartman and human resources director Jenny Lueneburg did the re-imagination. Hartman told the executive committee at its July 29 meeting that the goal wasn’t to repeat the months-long process that produced the original study but to have department heads update existing information and provide financial details that the original assessment did not include.
Last call for Bangstad? State revokes brewer’s license
MBC owner has until August 4 to appeal
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue has revoked Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad’s brewer’s permit following a months-long investigation into alleged alcohol law violations. The revocation takes effect August 4 unless Bangstad appeals, which he indicated he would.
A home with a lake view, or two
OC zoning discusses relocating viewing corridors
At first blush, it might not seem much of a concern if a property owner wants to change the location of his or her lake access and viewing corridor to get a better view. On deeper reflection, though, there might be a problem indeed, especially if the property owner ends up effectively having two access and viewing corridors because of sparse revegetation of the original.
Tiffany leads Democratic frontrunner in governor’s race
Latest Marquette poll reflects Democratic chair in primary
With less than three weeks before Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 primary, the Democratic race for governor remains turbulent after one candidate crashed and burned and another re-entered with the governor’s endorsement, scrambling the field.
Oneida County supervisors call for budget realism in out-of-home placements
Foster care could reduce costs, but county lacks available homes
Oneida County has had a habit of treating a predictable expense as though it were an annual surprise, and finally someone called them out about the elephant in the room.
Court says Wisconsin’s ‘Right to Rent’ law preempts local bedroom cap
Overturning a Door County circuit court, a state court of appeals has ruled that the village of Sister Bay’s restrictions on short-term rentals are invalid because they conflict with Wisconsin’s Right to Rent law. Specifically, the Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled that the village’s four-bedroom cap for vacation rentals operates as an illegal “back-door prohibition on renting.”
Democrats scramble to stop Hong in Wisconsin governor’s race
But bid to stop socialist is splintered three ways
Multiple Democratic candidates for governor said this past week that their primary race has boiled down to just two candidates: themselves and one other. For all of them, that other one is the same foe: state Rep. Francesca Hong, an avowed socialist who is topping numerous polls.