Investigative Reporter
Recent Stories
Misconduct complaint filed against Frederick Melms
Allegations cite public remarks, baseless perjury allegation
Lakeland Times publisher Gregg Walker has filed an attorney-misconduct complaint with the state court system alleging that Frederick Melms (no association with Melms, Hogan & Francois law firm), an attorney for Minocqua Brewing Company owner Kirk Bangstad, has violated multiple provisions of the Supreme Court Rules of Professional Conduct.
Wisconsin Democrats back transgender athlete in key court case
Harassment claims surface as SCOTUS weighs Title IX lawsuits
More than 130 Democratic members of Congress, including three from Wisconsin, have signed an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reject state categorical bans on transgender students competing in girls’ sports, as allegations of sexual harassment emerge involving one of the cases’ transgender students.
Property taxes surge to highest levels in decades
Parties play the blame game heading into election year
Property taxes in Wisconsin this year are climbing by more than they have since 2007 — school taxes alone have posted their largest increase in more than three decades — causing taxpayers to fume, partisans to finger-point, and touching off a renewed debate about how the state funds public schools as another election cycle ramps up.
Dugan resigns following felony conviction
Republicans threatened impeachment if Milwaukee County judge stayed
Milwaukee County circuit judge Hannah Dugan stepped down from the bench this past week after being convicted of a felony for obstructing federal agents and before Republican legislative leaders could follow through on their threat to impeach her.
U.S. DOJ sues Wisconsin over voter roll records
WEC won’t provide personal information for audit
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the state of Wisconsin for failing to comply with a federal law that it says requires election officials to provide access to statewide voter registration records.
Legislative audit finds nearly $1B DOT accounting error
Lawmakers call for more auditors amid ongoing deficiencies
Wisconsin’s annual audit of state finances has revealed a nearly $1 billion accounting error at the Department of Transportation, as well as ongoing information technology security deficiencies and statutory noncompliance at the Department of Administration.
Federal jury convicts Dugan in immigration case
Milwaukee judge could get 5 years on felony conviction
A federal jury has convicted Milwaukee County circuit judge Hannah Dugan of felony obstruction of federal immigration agents. Authorities accused Dugan of interfering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents as they attempted to arrest an illegal immigrant, Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, at the Milwaukee County courthouse. Flores-Ruiz has since been deported.
Zoning committee votes to extend permits to three years
Supervisors would tighten rules on outstanding violations
The Oneida County planning and development committee has voted unanimously to change the county’s zoning ordinance to address practical delays faced by property owners during construction, as well as to tighten rules that enable zoning scofflaws to continue obtaining zoning permits.
Zoning committee votes to extend permits to three years
Supervisors would tighten rules on outstanding zoning violations
The Oneida County planning and development committee has voted unanimously to change the county’s zoning ordinance to address practical delays faced by property owners during construction, as well as to tighten rules that enable zoning scofflaws to continue obtaining zoning permits.
Evers vetoes bill to allow new cigar bars
Supporters: Ban on new lounges is a state-sanctioned monopoly
Gov. Tony Evers has vetoed a bill that would have allowed new cigar and pipe-smoking lounges to open in Wisconsin for the first time since the state’s indoor smoking ban took effect almost 17 years ago.