Supreme Court race down to the wire
It’s Schimel v. Crawford … and Musk v. Soros
The way their names are being bandied about, one would think that Elon Musk and George Soros are on the ballot for Tuesday’s Supreme Court contest in Wisconsin, but they are not. Instead, voters must choose between former Republican attorney general and current Waukesha County circuit judge Brad Schimel and Dane County circuit judge Susan Crawford.
Swearingen set to introduce open government bill
Measure overturning Supreme Court decision failed last year
Rep. Rob Swearingen (R-Rhinelander), along with Rep. Todd Novak (R-Dodgeville) and Sen. Van Wanggaard (R-Racine), are preparing to introduce a bill that would reverse a Supreme Court decision requiring that a court act on an open records case before considering if attorney’s fees can be awarded to the requester.
WMC sues DNR for violating federal Clean Air Act
Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce (WMC) filed a lawsuit last month against the state Department of Natural Resources, alleging that the agency has stepped way out of its lane by illegally regulating certain mobile sources of air pollution while those sources are manufactured.
Public safety panel postpones closed session on deputy medical examiner paid time off
Johnson wanted meeting heard in public after panel denied PTO pay out
A clerical snafu caused Oneida County’s public safety committee to cancel a closed session last week about the compensation of former deputy medical examiner Lucas Johnson.
Reports: CDC will study vaccine-autism link
Advocates say major study needed to resolve dueling science
A week after President Donald Trump committed his administration — and Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., in particular — to tracking down the cause of what many call an autism epidemic in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that it would do exactly that, though it did not affirm that it would study possible links between childhood vaccination and autism, as news outlets were widely reporting.
River News wins General Excellence and Best in Division top awards
In repeat wins, newspaper scores a double-double
Scoring 17 total awards and four first-place awards, The Northwoods River News took home the coveted Best In Division and General Excellence awards for its division among weekly newspapers for 2024, announced at the annual Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) Foundation’s awards banquet in Madison last week.
Special counsel probes large Dane County dog research facility for abuse
Ridglan Farms could face criminal charges as well as regulatory consequences
A special prosecutor is investigating one of the nation’s only remaining dog breeding and medical research facilities for animal cruelty after a Dane County judge found probable cause for criminal conduct.
Evers’s gender language proposal sparks backlash
Same change in a different political time makes for national controversy
Despite the fact that it had been proposed before, Gov. Tony Evers’s proposed budget language, in which he seeks to wipe out terms like “mother” and “father” in certain sections of state law, drew local and national attention last week, drawing in everybody from Northwoods lawmakers to Elon Musk.
Governor’s budget would boost resident deer hunting license fee by 91 percent
Resident fishing licenses would cost 50 percent more
Faced with a deficit in the state Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Fish and Wildlife Account, Gov. Tony Evers has proposed in his 2025-27 budget to significantly boost the cost of hunting, fishing, and trapping licenses.
Walker, Holmes file invasion of privacy lawsuit against Bangstad
Complaint: Bangstad siphoned more than $1 million from PAC for personal use
The publisher and general manager of The Lakeland Times have filed a lawsuit against the owner of the Minocqua Brewing Company (MBC), alleging invasion of privacy by using their names and images for commercial purposes without their permission.
Underly cruises, despite cracks in establishment support
Incumbent superintendent will face Kinser in April
Nursery rhymes aren’t forever, at least in Wisconsin elections. In the 1882 English quatrain, Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall and had a great fall, and all the King’s horses and all the King’s men couldn’t put Humpty back together again.
County, Bug Tussel tussle over costs
Who will pay for fiber optic connections to government facilities?
There’s been some miscommunication between Oneida County and its chosen internet service provider over final project costs for connecting fiber optic lines to government facilities, which county officials believe will be ironed out in talks between the parties.
Report: Overregulation limits success of choice schools
WILL study cautions that overreach defeats purpose of school choice
A new report by the conservative group Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) contends that burdensome regulations hinder the ability of choice schools to open and expand in Wisconsin, and it warns policymakers that over-regulating those institutions limits opportunities for families seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.
Wisconsin joins lawsuit to seal treasury records from DOGE
Administration fights temporary injunction
The Trump administration has asked a federal judge to toss a temporary injunction blocking the administration from accessing what opponents say is sensitive personal data stored on the U.S. Treasury Department’s central payment system.
GOP would force sheriffs to work with ICE
Noncooperation could jeopardize state funds
State Rep. Jim Piwowarczyk and Republican colleagues have introduced legislation requiring county sheriffs to verify the citizenship status of individuals arrested for felonies and inquire with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement if the status is unclear.
Supreme Court conservatives erupt as Act 10 litigation unfolds
Hagedorn withdraws from case; Protasiewicz ponders
A divided state Supreme Court recently gave the state Legislature a mere three-day extension to respond to a petition asking the court to directly take up a challenge to the state’s law prohibiting most collective bargaining by public employees, with two justices sitting out any participation in the decision.
Oneida County forestry dept., committee clash on code
It hasn’t snowed much, and significant snow might or might not be on the way, but Oneida County snowmobile trails are open as of today, which is a big delight for snowmobilers and a big relief to many area businesses.
Tiffany reintroduces legislation to ban DEI in the federal government
Northwoods U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany (R-Wisconsin-7) has reintroduced his Fairness, Anti-Discrimination and Individual Rights (FAIR) Act, which would partially codify in statute President Trump’s executive order to end diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs within the federal government.
In State of the State, Evers declares the Year of the Kid
Governor again makes pitch for red flag laws
Republicans think the November elections heralded a rightward sea-change in politics, both nationally and in Wisconsin, but Gov. Tony Evers apparently didn’t get the memo, as he unveiled vintage Democratic spending proposals in his Jan. 22 State of the State address and repackaged some of the Democrats’ most controversial proposals, including red flag laws.
Wisconsin joins lawsuit opposing end to birthright citizenship
Coalition of states challenges Trump executive order
Wisconsin has joined a coalition of states challenging what they say is President Donald Trump’s unconstitutional executive order ending birthright citizenship, the Fourteenth Amendment doctrine that those born on American soil are automatically citizens of the United States, except in certain limited circumstances.
Bo-Boen Club received special permission to open its Oneida trails
Then voted ‘no’ on opening rest of the countywide trail system
In bombshell emails obtained by The Lakeland Times, the state Department of Natural Resources gave permission to the president of the Bo-Boen Snowmobile Club to open a three-mile stretch of snowmobile trail in Oneida County, despite that club’s deciding vote last week against opening the countywide trail system because of poor snow conditions.
Oneida board approves reclassifications, new positions for Human Service Department
Added staff likely won’t cost taxpayers
Oneida County’s new Human Service Department is off and running, and last week the Oneida County board of supervisors approved position reclassifications as well as new positions for the agency, which will now provide services in-house that were once provided by the now-defunct Human Service Center.
Oneida County launches study of ongoing HSC facility costs
The Oneida County executive committee has authorized county board chairman Scott Holewinski to execute a work agreement with the county’s municipal advisor to study costs associated with operating the building the now-defunct Human Service Center (HSC) used to provide its services.
Evers signs executive order creating Wisconsin Office of Violence Prevention
GOP blasts use of $10 million to create “useless” government office
Earlier this month, Gov. Tony Evers signed an executive order creating a new executive office within his administration to boost violence prevention efforts statewide, earning praise from Democrats and ridicule from Republicans as a political stunt and boondoggle.
In parting shot, Biden administration denies petitions to delist/downlist wolves
In one of a series of parting gifts, the Biden administration last week denied two petitions to downlist or delist gray wolves, saying the requests from the Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation and other sporting groups were not warranted.
State Senate passes ballot question to require voter ID
Evers: Voters should be able to propose their own constitutional amendments
Gov. Tony Evers may be pushing a dead-on-arrival proposal to let Wisconsinites pursue constitutional amendments without legislative approval, but in the meantime the legislature itself is making sure voters will have plenty of proposed amendments to vote upon.
Supreme Court refuses to hear Wisconsin case on parental rights
Eau Claire policy allows schools to hide gender identity transitions from parents
In December, the United States Supreme Court dismissed a petition to hear a parental rights case involving a Wisconsin school district, in which a parents group had challenged the Eau Claire school district’s gender identity policies.
Marshfield Clinic Health System completes merger with Sanford Health
Marshfield brand will survive as a region of Sanford Health
Marshfield Clinic Health System and Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the U.S., have completed their merger and will now operate as Sanford Health, the companies announced this past week. Sanford Health is headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Evers taps climate change activist to lead DNR
LeMahieu, Felzkowski express concerns
After letting the top spot at the state’s powerful natural resources agency sit vacant for more than a year, Gov. Tony Evers announced just before Christmas the appointment Dr. Karen Hyun to serve as its secretary.
GOP nixes reallocation of UW building funds
Swearingen blasts Evers administration for lack of transparency
Republicans on the state building commission shot down last week a bid by the Evers administration to redistribute tens of millions of dollars in University of Wisconsin building funds between projects, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to claim the GOP was yanking the rug from under the UW System and Republicans to counter that the governor was pulling an underhanded bait and switch.
Gruich remains jailed after hearing on $40,000 cash bond
After an adjourned initial appearance last Thursday, December 19, and as of press time, a Michigan man accused of threatening an Oneida County judge and a local newspaper publisher remained jailed in Oneida County as his spouse sought legal representation for him.
Legislature’s joint rules review committee suspends DNR gun rule
Agency had admitted rule was incompatible with state law
The Legislature’s Joint Committee for Review of Administrative Rules last week suspended a state Department of Natural Resources’ administrative rule that a conservative group said violated the Second Amendment and that the DNR itself conceded was inconsistent with state law.
$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.
Update raises questions about OC legal fees
The issue is how to fund outside counsel when needed
A small update recently to the Oneida County executive committee on the use of outside counsel by the county’s zoning department brought up larger questions about attorneys fees and how the county pays for them — and whether the county’s organization of legal services is efficient.
State projects revenue growth, $4 billion surplus
Evers administration also looks at record rainy day fund
New numbers released by the state Department of Administration (DOA) estimate that the state will close the current fiscal year with a general fund surplus of about $4 billion. In addition to the surplus, the state will have in its coffers another $1.9 billion in its budget stabilization fund, or Rainy Day account, a record-high level.
Trump taps Sean Duffy for transportation secretary
Former congressman represented Northwoods for almost 9 years
President-elect Donald Trump has been making cabinet appointments with lightning speed, and the latest bolt struck close to home as the president-elect has nominated former Northwoods U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy to serve as his next transportation secretary.
Oneida County board adopts budget with 4-percent tax levy cut
Tax rate to tumble by 20 cents per $1,000 equalized value
With two minor adjustments, the Oneida County Board of Supervisors at its November meeting approved the county’s 2025 budget and tax levy, adopting a property tax levy of $18.3 million to be collected next year, a decrease of 4 percent from last year’s levy of $19.1 million.
Progressives threaten the heart of the REINS Act
2017 law gave legislature active oversight of bureaucracy
In 2017, conservatives across the state cheered the passage of the so-called REINS Act (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny), a law that made administrative rule-making much harder and gave the legislature active oversight of executive branch rule promulgation.
County, DNR still don’t agree on boathouse stairways
County likely to stick with allowing them
It could boil down to a matter of agreeing to disagree, as the state Department of Natural Resources and Oneida County still don’t see eye-to-eye on having external stairways to access a boathouse rooftop deck — the county allows them; the DNR says they are illegal — but the county’s outside counsel said last week that the county is on solid legal ground.
DNR approves Line 5 permits for reroute
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has approved permits for relocating a proposed oil pipeline through part of northern Wisconsin. The permits would allow Enbridge Energy to circumvent the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians’ land. The tribe has vigorously opposed the pipeline.
Marquette researchers break down Wisconsin election results
A shift to the right, but not as much as in other states
Wisconsin truly split its ticket once again. That’s what John Johnson, a research fellow with the Marquette Law School Lubar Center for Public Policy Research, found in the wake of the Nov. 5 election — and of Donald Trump’s surprising sweep of seven battleground states, including Wisconsin.
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