Investigative Reporter
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Trump endorses Tiffany in high-stakes governor’s race
President also endorses Duffy’s son-in-law for Congress
That banging sound Wisconsin Republicans may be hearing this week could be nails being driven into several political coffins. President Donald Trump has formally endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin-07) in the race for Wisconsin governor, a move that instantly puts his opponent in the GOP primary, Washington County executive Josh Schoemann, on the critical list if history is any indication.
County board approves weekend rentals in residential zones
Change allows one short-term stay per week in single-family districts
Oneida County will allow weekend stays in residential and other zoning districts, voting 12-5 last week to amend its tourist rooming house ordinance to permit rentals of less than seven days. However, tourist rooming house (TRH) owners in the affected districts are still limited to no more than one rental per seven-day period.
DNR says no permits needed for major shoreland alterations
Agency clears trees, fails to put silt fence in sensitive area
A state Department of Natural Resources project to provide overflow parking at the Stack’s Bay boat landing in Woodruff is well underway, with approximately 100 trees cleared and at least 20,000 square feet of sensitive land inside the state’s heavily regulated shoreland zone subjected to unregulated grading and prep work.
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.