(The Center Square) – Flooding in the Milwaukee area left cars and people stranded Saturday night into Sunday morning.
It led to an early closure to the State Fair on Saturday, and the fair did not open for its final day Sunday.
Nearby American Family Field was not directly impacted by flooding but several parking lots and routes to the Sunday afternoon game between the Brewers and New York Mets were flooded and closed.
The Brewers were going for their ninth consecutive win in the game.
Local meteorologists showed that some areas of the city saw more than 12 inches of rain in an 18-hour span with some showing more than 14 inches of the rain northwest of the city.
“More heavy rainfall is expected today,” the National Weather Service office in Milwaukee said. “An additional 1 to 2 inches of rainfall are expected today, with locally higher amounts where thunderstorms linger and train. A Flood Watch remains in effect until 7AM Monday.”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers vetoed a bill on Friday that would have allowed gig workers such as Uber, Lyft and DoorDash drivers to have portable benefits plans.
Evers said he is open to allowing portable benefits for drivers but the solution must clearly benefit workers.
“I am vetoing this bill in its entirety because I object to the bill’s definition of independent contractor status in the absence of any guaranteed benefit for workers,” Evers wrote. “App-based drivers are a growing segment of Wisconsin’s workforce and changes to independent contractor definitions are a serious endeavor— one that demands substantive conversations among several parties, including with both management and workers, in order to achieve an appropriate and balanced policy that all sides can support.”
The bill would have allowed gig workers to create portable benefits options such as health care and retirement accounts, though some groups including the Wisconsin AFL-CIO organized protests of it passing, saying they are concerned the bill would strip app-based transportation and delivery drivers of employee status and reclassify drivers as independent contractors.
Sen. Julian Bradley, R-New Berlin, and Rep. Alex Dallman, R-Markesan, sent a joint statement slamming Evers’ veto.
The two said the portable benefits would have applied to more than 100,000 Wisconsinites.
“Governor Evers just told over 100,000 Wisconsinites that they don’t matter,” Bradley said in a statement. “This veto blocks working parents, students, retirees, and entrepreneurs from building additional financial security – all because the Governor refuses to accept that work in the 21st century doesn’t look like it did when he was young.”
The pair said that 88% of drivers choose the work specifically for the freedom and independence.
“Governor Evers talks a lot about helping working families, but when it came time to act, he caved to outdated special interest politics,” Dallman said in a statement. “He vetoed innovation, he vetoed independence, and he vetoed hope for thousands of Wisconsinites who just want a fair shot.”
DoorDash said in a statement that pilot programs in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Georgia show that the portable benefits plans work.
“Dashers have spoken out for years overwhelmingly in favor of this bill, writing to their legislators and testifying before the legislature,” DoorDash said in a statement. “What they have asked for is simple and fair: access to benefits without sacrificing their independence. What they don’t need is more closed-door conversations or dialogue from groups who don’t speak for or represent them.”

(The Center Square) – Additional antlerless hunting tags will be available for purchase from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources beginning at 10 a.m. on Aug. 18.
The tags are limited to one per person per day until the allotment is sold out or the season ends.
Bonus tags cost $12 per resident, $20 per non-resident and $5 for those 11 and under.
The tags are divided into deer management units in the state with the Northern and Central Forest Zones available on Aug. 18, the Central Farmland Zone on Aug. 19, Southern Farmland Zone on Aug. 20 and all zones starting Aug. 21.
Those who logon to purchase the tags between 9:45 a.m. and 10 a.m. will be randomly assigned a number in a virtual queue to make the purchase, regardless of when they sign in.
A minimum of one farmland zone antlerless tag is included with each deer hunting license purchase in all farmland zones with some offering more than one antlerless tag.

(The Center Square) – Advanced practice registered nurses in Wisconsin are now able to perform medical tasks that previously required a doctor or doctor’s assistant, all without supervision.
A bipartisan bill signed into law Friday by Gov. Tony Evers allows APRNs to write prescription orders, diagnose conditions, sign commitment papers, discharge patients, and perform other tasks independently.
The law also gives already practicing registered nurses in APRN roles a one-time path to the new credential, given that they complete an APRN education program and meet other criteria.
“Nurses play a critical role in our healthcare workforce, and I’m proud of our work to expand opportunities for nurses to not only grow their career but create a system that allows for more advanced practitioners here in Wisconsin,” Evers said.
Also, the bill provides a transitional provision that automatically grants APRN licenses to those who, by 2026, are already licensed as an RN in Wisconsin and practicing in one of the four recognized APRN roles while meeting additionally Nursing Board-determined criteria.
Some estimates have indicated that about 8,000 RNs in Wisconsin could qualify as APRNs, about 80% of whom are nurse practitioners, according to the bill’s co-authors.
Additionally, already-licensed APRNs could practice independently under the new law so long as they meet the specified requirements, including a minimum of 3,840 hours of work experience under the supervision of a physician or dentist.
“This milestone is the result of years of tireless advocacy and collaboration by nurses across the state–and we couldn’t have done it without the commitment and support of our members,” Wisconsin Nurses Association said in a statement.
Evers vetoed a previous version of the legislation last year, despite passing with bipartisan support, stating that it did not address some issues raised by physician groups.
Evers wrote in the veto message that he objected to “altering current licensure standards for APRNs, allowing practices functionally equivalent to those of physicians or potentially omitting physicians from a patient’s care altogether notwithstanding significant differences in required education, training, and expertise.”
The new bill, however, eliminated those concerns by not lowering the bar on APRN education, satisfying both the governor and lawmakers.
“We all agree that we need better access to health care. We all agree that folks should have access to quality health care. And we all agree that nurses should be able to practice to the top of their scope,” Rep. Lisa Subek, D-Madison, previously said. “And this is a bill that, at the end of the day, ensures that we can expand access to health care without compromising quality and I think that’s really key.”

(The Center Square) – A U.S. District court ruled that four roads on the Lac du Flambeau reservation must remain open for public use and the use of approximately 50 non-tribal landowners to access their property.
The ruling came in three cases before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin after the Lac du Flambeau Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa Indians barricaded four roads on the reservation.
“Neither the United States nor the Tribe have attempted to impose reasonable restrictions on the Homeowners’ or Town’s access,” the ruling said. “Instead, to date, the Tribe has attempted to block access altogether and demanded that the Town pay an exorbitant, monthly fee to keep the Roads open or a one-time $20 million fee for permanent public access. Accordingly, the court concludes that the Town and Homeowners have an implied easement to use and access the Roads to reach their homes and properties.”
The decision cited the Homestead Act, which includes a right to access public lands to reach an otherwise landlocked property.
“I’m pleased that this federal ruling is putting an end to the chaos in Lac du Flambeau,” said Wisconsin Senate President, Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahak. “The tribe’s inflammatory actions were immature and failed to demonstrate any willingness to find a solution to their grievances. Instead, taxpayer dollars were wasted as the issue was resolved in the court system. Fortunately, the affected homeowners can now return to enjoying the peace of the Northwoods.”

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will move to claw back $62.4 million in rooftop solar energy funds previously awarded to Wisconsin.
The grants, awarded under the President Joe Biden-era “Solar for All” program, were effectively eliminated by President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cutting a total of $7 billion awarded to 49 states.
In a letter to EPA administrator Lee Zeldin asking not to rescind the grants, Gov. Tony Evers criticized the cuts, calling them “unnecessary – and potentially illegal.”
“Attempting to terminate Solar for All grants has no legitimate purpose or justification,” Evers wrote. “Beyond that, doing so will also negatively impact Wisconsinites and our state, causing increased energy bills for Wisconsinites and hurting efforts to improve air quality, boost resilience, and create good-paying jobs.”
Evers added that the $62.4 million program would support more than 7,400 households and save a household up to $500 a year.
Terminating the program, according to Evers, would mean preventing Wisconsinites from seeing lower costs and direct savings.
However, some conservatives in the state pushed back on the governor’s narrative.
“Grants for intermittent energy sources like solar don’t lower costs. They drive costs up for everyone else,” Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin state director Megan Novak said in a statement. “Dismantling these costly drivers ensures a level playing field for all energy sources so families can benefit from lower prices, not politically favored technologies.
“Instead of pushing top-down green energy mandates, we should be focused on expanding energy choice, unleashing reliable domestic production, and reforming regulatory barriers that make it harder to build the infrastructure we need.”
A July report by Wisconsin Policy Forum found that communities that have undertaken solar energy projects in the state have seldom succeeded in cost savings, with only 3 of 23 Wisconsin communities between 2011-2023 reporting savings through solar projects.
While the EPA seeks to reclassify the previous grants as “unobligated” and take them back, some officials and trade groups argued the EPA has no legal authority to do so since the funds were already congressionally approved, The Washington Post reported.
Although Evers questioned the legality of the cuts in his letter, a spokesperson for Evers did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether he is considering legal action to keep the program open.

(The Center Square) – Rockwell Automation is promising a $2 billion manufacturing investment in two states over the next five years.
The company made the announcement this week, with an eye toward expanding in Wisconsin and Ohio.
“The plants that are in both states will be beneficiaries of this investment,” Rockwell CEO Blake Moret told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
It’s not clear just how many new jobs the investment will bring, though it is likely that a lot of the investment will be in automation.
“We’ve returned to hiring, but it is with a continued close eye on managing our costs and doing it as efficiently as possible,” Moret said.
Company officials said the new investment will include new digital infrastructure and additional talent, which will allow the company to “grow share” and “expand margins.”
Rockwell also said some of the $2 billion will be used for “brick and mortar” investments.
Wisconsin’s economic development office has not yet said if the state is offering any tax benefits or incentives to Rockwell.
Wisconsin is offering $100 million to Eli Lilly for its manufacturing investment in the state.
Lilly this week said it’s now looking to spend $4 billion on a manufacturing and tech hub in Kenosha County. That project is expected to come with 750 new jobs.
Gov. Tony Evers said the Lilly plant highlights Wisconsin as a manufacturing state.
“Coupled with our state’s designation as a U.S. Regional Tech Hub, history of game-changing innovations, and world-class manufacturing, Wisconsin is proud to partner with Lilly as they make this historic investment in our communities. This is great news for Wisconsin,” the governor said.
Rockwell’s Moret said his company’s investment is a sign of support for making things in the U.S. again.
“We are very supportive of the renewed focus on increasing U.S. manufacturing. It’s important for Rockwell, and I personally think that manufacturing plays an absolutely critical role at the center of the U.S. economy,” Moret said.

(The Center Square) – Key infrastructure projects in Wisconsin will soon be receiving up to $110.2 million in state investments.
The funds, announced by Gov. Tony Evers and approved by him and members of the bipartisan Wisconsin State Building Commission, will support projects across state agencies, University of Wisconsin campuses, prisons and historic sites.
The money was, in part, approved in the recent 2025-27 Wisconsin state biennial budget.
“I’m proud we were able to approve these critically important projects, including making necessary improvements to our state agencies to help streamline government efficiency,” Evers said. “I look forward to seeing firsthand the impact these critical investments will have on communities and folks across our state.”
The approved projects include:
A new “multi-divisional” Department of Transportation facility in Spooner to consolidate state patrol, DMV, emergency management and transportation system development offices into one complex.Demolition projects at UW–Oshkosh, Platteville and Parkside.Renovations at UW–Stout’s library and learning center and installation of two water-cooled chillers at UW–Green Bay.Entrance and visitor center overhauls at Fox Lake Correctional Institution.Infrastructure upgrades at the Wisconsin state capitol involving stormwater system expansion and sidewalk reconstruction.State lighting and rigging upgrades at the historic AL. Ringling Theatre in Baraboo.
While some projects already have pre-approved and funded design phases, such as the UW campus projects, others will soon undergo bidding processes, design finalization or construction preparation before beginning construction.

(The Center Square) – One Wisconsin lawmaker is pushing back on the narrative from the state’s public health managers about who has not gotten all of their vaccines.
Rep. Lindee Brill, R-Sheboygan Falls, said she was bothered to hear Wisconsin’s top public health doctor dismiss questions about why some people may have opted out of the MMR shot.
“Throughout the conversation about the measles cases in Oconto County, Dr. [Ryan] Westergaard framed the narrative squarely around what he calls ‘low vaccination rates,’ linking these directly with Wisconsin parents’ right to obtain a waiver for their children from the school vaccine requirements for reasons of personal conviction, health concern, or religious belief,” Brill said. “However, there was little to no discussion of why a parent might choose to seek this waiver.”
Brill co-sponsored a piece of legislation that would have schools and daycare centers give parents forms to opt out of some vaccines based on religious or other objections.
Brill said parents need to know their rights, and the state needs to accept their decisions.
“The rights of parents are not negotiable and ought to be reinforced, not eroded,” she said. “If DHS is concerned about low vaccination rates, they should work diligently to remedy the root cause of parents’ concern regarding the vaccine, not treat their right to act in accord with that concern as an inconvenient obstacle.”
Brill said some parents object to the rubella vaccine because she said it is made with “cells from aborted children.”
Wisconsin this week reported that 86.4% of school children had all of their shots last school year. That’s down almost 3% from the year before, but mainly because there was a new meningitis vaccine added to last year’s list.
DHS also reported that 6.7% of Wisconsin children have opted out of one vaccine. That’s up from just more than 1% in 2000. Though, only just 1% or so of children, have opted-out of all of their vaccinations.

(The Center Square) – There is one year to go before voters will cast votes in the 2026 primary election for governor, but one of the candidates is already out with his second television ad of the campaign.
Bill Berrien, a former Navy SEAL and New Berlin businessman, on Wednesday launched his new ad called All In On Wisconsin.
Berrien is one of two Republicans officially running for governor in 2026. Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann was the first in the race.
Berrien told News Talk 1130’s Jay Weber that he is using these early months to get his name out.
“I think I ‘ve hit 12 or 14 [county] fairs,” Berrien said about his early campaign. “I haven’t doubled-down on the fair food yet. But I have loved the engagement.”
Berrien did say what his reception has been, or just what issues most voters want to chat about.
Berrien is leaning hard into a Trump style sales pitch for voters, focusing on his background as both a veteran and a manufacturer.
“We are going to reopen the state like it was under Scott Walker, and we’re going to extend it,” Berrin added. “We’re going to focus on helping businesses here do much better. It’s a very people-centered approach that is similar to President Trump’s. It’s about the people.”
In fact, Berrien’s new ad focuses on those Trump similarities.
“I’m Bill Berrien. At my manufacturing business, we hire American, build American, and take the fight to China. I’m an outsider and a businessman who puts America first, just like President Trump,” the ad states. “I’m running for governor to support his agenda. Cutting taxes, cutting waste, and increasing wages for American workers. Together, we will make Wisconsin manufacturing great again.”
Berrien and Schoemann are so far the only Republican candidates, but many people also expect Northwoods Congressman Tom Tiffany to jump-in as well.

(The Center Square) – The Milwaukee County Transit System announced several new bus route changes and service hour cuts coming Aug. 24.
The cuts will help Wisconsin’s largest public transit system offset a projected $10.9 million budget deficit that it says happened due to unexpected expenses and lower passenger revenue.
While 20,000 service hours will be cut by the end of the year, MCTS stated the cuts would affect the least busy times of transit usage.
“These adjustments will affect non-peak weekday high-frequency routes with the lowest ridership mid-day, and frequency levels on Saturdays,” MCTS said. “No routes will be cut.”
40 of the system’s 46 routes will experience service hour or route changes, and frequency cuts will come to 17 current bus routes.
While service changes occur four times a year, the changes were exacerbated by the surprise $10.9 million budget deficit discovered in June.
Even after these cuts, MCTS still faces a structural budget deficit between $12 million and $18 million and the end of federal stimulus funding by 2026.
Some top transit and transportation officials recently said the system is “too big for the current budget” and that further service cuts in 2026 remain possible, Urban Milwaukee reported.

(The Center Square) – The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty is asking the state’s Department of Public Instruction for more transparency in its school report card grading system.
The group says that it found one school with just 4.1% English language arts proficiency that was rated as “exceeds expectations” and 18 schools that were graded “exceeds expectations” that had less than 25% ELA proficiency.
DPI announced earlier this year that it formed a committee of more than two dozen educators and leaders from public, private, and charter schools that began meeting in June to create new state standards after prior changes to the report card grading system.
“Wisconsin is falling behind the rest of the country academically and changing standards only masks this decline,” said WILL Research Director Will Flanders. “Instead of raising the bar, we are simply putting our heads in the sand. It’s why WILL is encouraging DPI to follow through on its commitment to Wisconsin students and adopt report card standards that give true insight into school performance.”
WILL previously had pressured state leaders to act after it found that the state lowered school report card cut points in 2020-21, changed the labels on those in 2023-24 and lowered the cut points again that year as well.
WILL’s Wednesday letter to DPI and the committee warned against what it called DPI’s “track record of inflating ratings that masks a decades-long stagnation in student achievement.”
WILL instead encouraged a more rigorous grading system that blocks grade inflation, because it says the prior system was “too generous and overcompensates for poverty.”
“Families across Wisconsin deserve a report card that is clear, accurate, and consistent,” WILL wrote. “The recent changes to the Forward Exam last year have cost DPI public trust when it comes to accountability. By working with WILL to best support students and families, DPI has an opportunity to restore that trust.”

(The Center Square) – A series of challenges to permits and approvals for a new 41-mile section of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline will take place starting Aug. 12 and running through Oct. 3.
Enbridge has proposed the 41-mile section to replace a 12-mile section of the pipeline through the Bad River Reservation in northern Wisconsin. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians filed a 2019 lawsuit to have the pipeline moved and is challenging approvals to the reroute by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The challenge says that the reroute will be damaging to wetlands and waterways in the region.
Opening statements and public testimony begin at 9 a.m. on Aug. 12 at Northwood Technical College Conference Center in Ashland.
Public testimony will continue on Sept. 3 at Hill Farms State Office Building in Madison. Individuals must sign up to speak on Aug. 12.
Midwest Environmental Advocates and Clean Wisconsin will then present their case on from Sept. 4-12 in Madison at the same building before the Bad River Band presents its case Sept. 15-19 in Ashland.
“The construction project—which would stretch for more than 40 miles, cross nearly 200 waterbodies and impact over 100 wetlands—would cause significant long-term harm to the wetlands and waterways that will be impacted by trenching, drilling, and backfilling,” the groups challenging the permits said in a statement. “It will violate the Bad River Band’s water quality standards, and may damage downstream wild rice beds that are a cornerstone of the Band’s identity and culture.”
Enbridge will present its case Sept. 22-26 in Madison before the DNR presents its case Sept. 29-Oct. 3 in Madison.
“After five years of extensive public review and input, the 41-mile Line 5 Wisconsin Segment Relocation Project is already the most-studied pipeline project in state history,” Enbridge said in a statement. “The thorough Wisconsin permitting process resulted in a comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and allowed the WDNR to identify mitigation measures that ensure the project’s impacts are minimal.
“We believe the record provides ample evidence on which the administrative law judge (ALJ) can affirm the WDNR’s permit decisions.”