Investigative Reporter
Recent Stories
County under fire for delayed plowing after holiday snow
Hegeman blames equipment failure, inexperience, scheduling decisions
A Thanksgiving snowfall that many area residents viewed initially as a “winter wonderland” quickly turned into countywide frustration and anger as many county roads remained unplowed well into Friday after a snowfall that dumped about 7.2 inches on the Minocqua area Wednesday evening and Thursday, Nov. 26 and 27.
Assembly advances school consolidation package
GOP says plan addresses declining enrollment
The state Assembly approved this week a package of bills aimed at incentivizing school district consolidation. In deliberations, Republican supporters argued that the measures give districts new tools to address long-term enrollment declines, while Democratic lawmakers criticized the bills as a push to close public schools.
Oneida County reports low turnover rates
Human Services gets help amid ongoing software problems
Oneida County’s personnel ledger has been steady as she goes in 2025, with a relatively high employee retention rate and a low turnover rate, even as the county’s Human Services Department sought approval for additional limited-term employee hours to address continuing problems with its electronic health records system.
Reports of card compromise spur local skimmer alert
Residents should be wary when buying gas, shopping retail
The Minocqua Police Department last week issued a fraud alert, cautioning local residents about possible credit card skimmers in the area, after receiving several complaints of compromised credit and debit cards.
Committee deadlock leaves Stewardship renewal uncertain
Under proposal, at least $8 million a year would go to land acquisition
A state Assembly committee last week deadlocked on a vote to renew the state’s Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, and, though the proposed bill still moves to the Assembly floor, it’s anything but a given what the final package will look like.
NFIB criticizes Evers for vetoing unemployment reform
Governor: Bills would place unnecessary burdens on job hunters
One of the state’s largest small-business associations is criticizing Gov. Tony Evers for vetoing four Republican-authored bills, including three aimed at changing Wisconsin’s unemployment insurance (UI) system and another meant to prevent state and local governments from restricting the use or sale of gas-powered vehicles and devices.
PFAS bill sparks debate over ‘innocent landowner’ protections
GOP lawmakers, WMC question scope of DNR authority
A Republican proposal aimed at shielding “innocent landowners” from PFAS cleanup liability while directing financial assistance to affected communities drew mixed reaction during a recent legislative hearing, as business groups and environmental advocates clashed over how Wisconsin should manage both chemical clean-up and responsibility for contamination.
Evers vetoes bill curbing plea deals
Hutton calls veto ‘a win for violent offenders’
Gov. Tony Evers vetoed legislation this week that would have required judicial approval before prosecutors could dismiss or amend charges in serious criminal cases, prompting the bill’s lead sponsor to call the veto “a win for violent offenders.”
Marquette Poll: 2026 races wide open
The 2026 campaign season isn’t officially here yet, and that’s a good thing for most candidates because the latest Marquette Law School Poll released this week shows little voter awareness, with overwhelming majorities of respondents reporting they have not formed opinions about candidates for governor or state Supreme Court.
Dems, GOP spar over shutdown as benefits set to run out
Game of chicken as November food stamp payments hang in the balance
Political tongues were wagging and fingers pointing this past week as Democrats and Republicans traded blame for the second-longest federal government shutdown in history — which, if it continues, could threaten federal food assistance for nearly 700,000 Wisconsinites.