(The Center Square) – A Rock County judge ruled the School District of Beloit needs to release an email distribution list used to send emails promoting the district’s $33 million referendums.
The referendums failed, both in 2023 and 2024, and the district board recently voted to put $40.2 million on the April 1 ballot, according to WCLO radio.
Resident MaryAnn Sveom brought the lawsuit after her request for the emails was denied in April 2023. She cited a similar Mequon-Thiensville School District appeals court ruling in that request and, in the recent ruling, Rock County Circuit Court Judge Jeffrey S. Kuglitsch cited the Mequon-Thiensville decision.
The school district must now produce the records and pay attorney’s fees and court costs for the requester along with $100 in damages.
“The public deserves access to the same channels of communication that our representatives use our money to develop,” said Tom Kamenick, President and Founder of the Wisconsin Transparency Project, which represents Ms. Sveom. “Districts and other government agencies across the state should know by now that their distribution lists are public records and must be disclosed.”
Kuglitsch noted that, in both cases, the school districts used taxpayer resources to send one-sided referendum messages before denying public access to those lists.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s free winter fishing weekend is set to run on Saturday and Sunday.
Anglers can fish without a fishing license or either a trout or salmon stamp over the two days. The normal fishing regulations, including bag and size limits and species restrictions still apply.
Most of the state’s trout streams are open for catch and release this weekend, but some are closed. Only artificial lures are allowed for trout streams.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is urging ice safety this weekend and is asking anglers to dress appropriately for the cold weather, including warm layers, waterproof boots, extra hats and gloves, a rescue throw rope and ice claws.
“The DNR does not monitor ice conditions. However, local bait shops and fishing clubs are good sources for current conditions and fishing tips.

(The Center Square) – Neither of Wisconsin’s Democratic members of the U.S. House will be in the crowd for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Both Madison Congressman Mark Pocan and Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore this week said they plan to skip Monday’s ceremonies.
Pocan said he will instead spend the day “meeting with individuals and groups that may be targeted during the Trump presidency.”
Pocan said he also plans to have a day of service.
Moore said she too plans to spend inauguration day in Wisconsin.
“I will be in Milwaukee on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Our city has a long history of MLK celebrations, even before it was designated a national holiday,” Moore said in a statement. “I am excited to join vibrant celebrations of a man who truly made America greater through his commitment to human dignity and equality. I look forward to celebrating with my constituents and witnessing how their creative talents through spoken word, music, and dance carry Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy forward.”
Both Moore and Pocan have long been critics of Trump, during his first term, and the four years of President Joe Biden’s presidency.
Moore said she would not attend Trump’s second inaugural because of how he handled his loss back in 2020.
“While I attended the session of Congress to certify the 2024 election results on January 6th, I will not be attending President-elect Trump’s inauguration,” Moore added. “I normally attend ceremonies like inaugurations and State of the Union speeches; however, through his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, President-elect Trump has shown no respect for our democracy or the rule of law, so I do not feel compelled to attend the inauguration.”
Wisconsin’s Republican members of Congress are all expected to attend Trump’s inauguration.
Many of Wisconsin’s Republican Party leaders are also expected to be in Washington, D.C. on Monday to celebrate Trump’s return to the White House.

(The Center Square) – The Wisconsin Institute of Law and Liberty is vowing to take on diversity, equity and inclusion practices in government with a series of lawsuits and legal actions, including a federal complaint against the University of Wisconsin-Madison for awarding and promoting at least 60 race-based scholarships.
The Wisconsin legal group says that DEI programs represent at least $124 billion in federal spending. WILL’s Roadmap to Equality is aimed at identifying DEI programs that it believes should be eliminated.
“This year is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to address race discrimination by the federal government,” said WILL Deputy Counsel Dan Lennington. “The Biden Administration supercharged divisive DEI and affirmative action in federal agencies, wasting billions in tax dollars and impacting millions of Americans. In November, the voters spoke loud and clear: this discrimination must end.”
WILL also filed a federal complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on behalf of Do No Harm against Johns Hopkins claiming the medical school impose used race- and sex-based eligibility criteria for clinical clerkships and scholarship programs.
“America’s hospitals and medical training institutions face a reckoning,” said WILL Associate Counsel Cara Tolliver. “The healthcare system cannot function effectively when healthcare education opportunities and experiences are reserved for certain individuals based on race and factors other than merit.”
WILL said that the Office of Federal Procurement spends $113 billion annually with its 15% federal contracting commitment to businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals.
WILL also has pending lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Transportation’s affirmative action program and the Department of Education’s DEI program for graduate students.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ announcement that he plans to start an Office of Violence Prevention was met with plenty of Republican criticism that the office was redundant and a misuse of COVID-19 recovery funds.
Evers announced he planned to send $10 million to start the department and put more funding in his 2025-27 budget proposal but Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the funds could be better used if they were sent to the Department of Justice.
“Why do we need a “new office” when you could give $10m to WI DOJ/ @JoshKaulWI for grants to law enforcement?,” Vos wrote on social media. “He’s a liberal Democrat and they ALREADY give grants to law enforcement. Instead you will waste it on even more bureaucrats and DEI? We all know almost all of the money will never go to law enforcement…it’s just cover for another agenda.”
Vos’ comment was in response to Evers Communications Director Britt Cudaback claiming that the Republicans are “so out of touch and so deeply oppose anything @GovEvers does.”
Meanwhile, Sen. Cory Tomczyk, R-Mosinee, said that the $10 million in federal funding was a misuse of COVID-19 recovery funds.
“In 2024, the Governor was still sitting on top of nearly $300 million Federal COVID-19 funds,” Tomczyk said in a statement. “Money meant for COVID will be paying for the expansion of government instead of flowing to the people. The Governor has deliberately and knowingly withheld federal dollars from the people of Wisconsin and has ignored input from the State Legislature.
“The Governor has sole discretion over his slush fund. He doles out money to whatever partisan group or cause sticks their hand out. I demand to know why we still have COVID money? Why was it not spent on the COVID response? And since it wasn’t spent on COVID response, why wasn’t it returned to the federal government? Where is the accountability for this money?”
Meanwhile, Democrats across the state voiced support for Evers’ initiative.
“The Governor’s proposal addresses what Wisconsinites have been demanding: a substantive and collaborative solution to gun violence,” said Rep. Ann Roe, D-Janesville. “This initiative protects rights while at the same time providing a path to end gun violence. This program will keep communities safe and is supported by gun owners, law enforcement, and public health officials.”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s elected leaders are among the millions of baseball fans mourning the passing of Bob Uecker.
Uecker started his baseball career as a catcher for the Milwaukee Braves, and later spent 54 years calling Milwaukee Brewer baseball games on the radio. He died Thursday at the age of 90.
“Thanks for all the memories, Ueck. You sure will be missed,” Gov Tony Evers said on social media.
“For more than 50 years, Bob brought the magic of the ballpark to life for so many, and I am sure I speak for Brewer fans everywhere when I say we gladly would have had him for 50 more.,” Evers said in a statement. “He wasn’t just a comedian and a great announcer — Bob was a man of character and integrity. Throughout his career he made countless contributions to the history and culture of major league baseball, and he was active in giving back to our communities in our state. “
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of Bob Uecker. His presence extended beyond the broadcast booth; he was a symbol of Milwaukee’s spirit. His legacy will forever be intertwined with the Brewers and the city he loved so dearly.” Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore said on social media. “Rest in Peace, Mr. Baseball.”
“Summer won’t be the same without you, Mr. Baseball,” southern Wisconsin Congressman Bryan Steil added in a tweet of his own.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley echoed those same sentiments.
“Bob Uecker was a true Milwaukee icon. More than just the voice of the Milwaukee Brewers, Bob shared his heart, soul, and love of the game with Milwaukeeans for generations. For many, myself included, Bob has felt like an old friend,” Crowley said in a statement “Beyond the game, Bob was a pillar in our community. He left an indelible mark on Milwaukee through his charitable initiatives and gave back to our residents and fans with the same generosity that defined his career. On behalf of Milwaukee County, I extend my deepest condolences to Bob’s family, friends, colleagues, and the countless fans whose lives he touched. His legacy will echo forever in the hearts of the Milwaukee community.”
Uecker was far better known for his off the field life than his time in the major leagues.
In addition to calling baseball games on TV and radio, Uecker became world famous for his Miller Lite commercials, and his stint on the sitcom Mr. Belvidere. Uecker was also a frequent guest on Johnny Carson and other late-night shows.
He called his final game for the Brewers at the end of the last season.
His family says he passed away after a battle with cancer.
There were no immediate plans for a funeral or a public memorial.

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s Department of Transportation is sending $10 million in grants for maintenance and construction projects in ports at La Crosse, La Pointe, Marinette, Green Bay and Manitowoc.
The grants are part of the Harbor Assistance Program, created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1979 to help harbor communities with maintaining ports.
“The ripple effects of these grants will be felt statewide as we continue investing to strengthen Wisconsin’s maritime economy,” said WisDOT Secretary Kristina Boardman. “Supporting all modes of transportation is imperative to improving infrastructure and quality of life for residents and businesses across our state.”
The grants include $3 million to Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Marinette to dredge, repair dock walls, and install mooring bollards and fenders to maintain navigation and moor vessels, $2.3 million to Hanke Terminals in La Crosse to construct a commodity storage building used to expand import and export operations on the Mississippi River and $2 million for the Port of Green Bay and the Fox River Port Development Site to install a dock wall, dredge, fill behind a bulkhead, and regrade property to create a new transload facility at the mouth of the Fox River.
The projects also include $1.8 million for City Centre LLC, in Manitowoc – to construct a load-out pad on the Manitowoc River for assembling, testing, and shipping new portal jibs designed by Konecranes Inc. and $808,000 for the Town of La Pointe Harbor Commission and the Madeline Island Ferry to construct pile clusters, modify the ferry landing, and dredge harbors used by the ferry to transport people, vehicles, and goods from Bayfield to Madeline Island.
The grants came from applications from public or private harbor facilities for projects used for cargo transfer, shipbuilding, commercial fishing, vessel cruises or ferry service.
The projects must show an economic benefit over a 25-year period with selection based on economic impact, urgency and project type. The next round of grants are open until Aug. 1.

(The Center Square) – The rate of state and local taxes that Wisconsin residents pay dropped again in 2024, down to 9.62% of their income.
In 2023, that number was 9.92%. The 2024 rate was the lowest on record in more than half a century, according to a new report from Wisconsin Policy Forum.
Overall, Wisconsin state and local governments collected $36.9 billion in taxes in 2024 compared to $36.2 billion in 2023, a 1.9% tax collection increase that was below the rate of inflation and half of the growth rate of personal income in the state.
“Each year, the Wisconsin Policy Forum examines every local and state tax paid, from the fees paid by dry cleaners ($369,050 in 2024) to gross local property taxes ($13.09 billion),” the group said. “To these fiscal year 2024 figures, we compare state personal income data from the prior calendar year, in this case 2023, to calculate tax burdens.”
Personal income in Wisconsin grew 5.2% in 2023, below the 5.9% growth nationally.
Combined local government taxes grew 2.7% in 2024 to $12.28 billion, according to the report. Local property tax collections grew 4.6% in 2024, the most since 2008.
Lawmakers took notice of the report.
“WI state & local tax burden has dropped to its lowest level since at least 1970,” Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, wrote on social media. “Assembly Republicans have consistently worked to lower the tax burden on hardworking Wisconsinites-we will continue to fight to keep the tax burden low!”
Wisconsin state tax collections grew to $24.65 billion in fiscal year 2024 from $24.27 billion in fiscal 2023, a 1.6% increase.
Corporate income tax collections fell 1.7% from $2.75 billion in 2023 to $2.70 billion in 2024.

(The Center Square) – Leaders in Eau Claire want to know how to deal with western Wisconsin police departments that are dropping homeless people off in the city.
Both the city and county wrote a letter to Wisconsin’s attorney general this week asking for advice.
“The practice of transporting people experiencing homelessness to Eau Claire, absent a warm hand-off to services, is harmful and not in the best interest of the person facing hardship,” the city said in the six-page letter.
Eau Claire’s city attorney and the county’s corporation counsel both signed the letter.
They are asking Attorney General Josh Kaul for “advice on how best to offer the needed services in a manner that is meeting obligations to serve and protect our residents while avoiding civil and criminal liability for law enforcement officers that may attach for action taken outside his or her territorial jurisdiction.”
City attorney Stephen Nick added in the letter that Eau Claire is seeing a spike in crime because of the homeless drop-offs.
“Oftentimes these individuals commit crimes immediately after arriving, which victimizes Eau Claire residents,” the letter states. “Our Police Officers have been injured when the transported person becomes resistive and combative.”
The letter specifically names the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Office, Menomonie Police Department and Durand Police Department.
Eau Claire’s letter also cites three cases dating back to mid-October when out-of-town police departments brought homeless people to Eau Claire.
Two of those people, the letter says, had not committed any crimes, but all of them “had contact” with Eau Claire police after they were dropped-off.
“These are not transports to the county jail or a receiving medical or mental health facility but often only to the edge of a sidewalk, Kwik Trip or such location without choice, treatment, care or notice. Those who may soon encounter these individuals in need of care have no background on which to offer assistance or protection,” the letter adds. “In these cases, it also includes unwitting motel or convenience store clerks, wholly unprepared for the needs of this person who a law enforcement officer sworn to serve and protect just dropped off at their doorstep.”
Eau Claire and the county are asking for four answers from the AG’s office, including whether “law enforcement officers have legal authority to make unrequested, non-consensual, custodial transport of unhoused or other individuals who have created no crime to other jurisdictions?”
And “which county is financially responsible for costs incurred when services must be provided.”

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin voters will decide if there should be a state constitution requirement to produce valid photo identification for future elections.
The Wisconsin State Assembly voted to approve the resolution, passed a week earlier by the Senate. The measure will be on the April 1 ballot.
“Voter ID has been state law for over 10 years, and we cannot afford the chance for activist Supreme Court justices to strip away election integrity in Wisconsin,” said Rep. Alex Dallman, R-Markesan.
The measure passed 54-45. All Democrats voted against Senate Joint Resolution 2.
“Voter ID is a common-sense measure to protect the integrity of our elections, promote confidence in the electoral process, and, according to a recent Pew Research Center poll, is supported by 81% of Americans,” said Rep. Jerry O’Connor, R-Fond du Lac. “IDs are already required to purchase alcohol or cigarettes, open a bank account, get married, donate blood, and apply for FoodShare, Medicaid, BadgerCare, and Social Security.”
O’Connor said IDs are easy and free to obtain through the Department of Transportation website or the ID hotline at 844-588-1069.
Democrats voting against the measure said that it will disenfranchise Wisconsin voters.
“The only real purpose AJR1/SJR2 would serve is to make it more difficult for eligible citizens to exercise their fundamental right to vote,” said Rep. Renuka Mayadev, D-Madison. “Studies consistently show that people of color, people with disabilities, and people of modest means are less likely to have the government-issued ID that this law would require. This action is a naked attempt to suppress Wisconsin voters. The Wisconsin Constitution is there to protect the right to vote, not to deny it as this proposal will do.”

(The Center Square) – Just days after announcing record fundraising hauls, the spending has begun in Wisconsin’s race for Supreme Court.
Conservative Judge Brad Schimel announced his campaign is buying more than $1 million in ads.
“The seven-figure, statewide buy comes after the campaign raised a historic $2.2 million since Judge Schimel’s entrance into the race – a testament to the grassroots support and momentum behind Schimel’s campaign. In the past six months alone, the campaign raised $1.5 million – more than five times the amount of the previous conservative candidate during this period,” Schimel’s campaign said in a statement.
The new ad, titled Schimel for Justice, will air on TV in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Wausau and La Crosse.
It went up on YouTube Tuesday.
“I’m Brad Schimel, and justice is my life’s work,” Schimel said in the ad. “Justice. For me, it’s not a title. It’s my mission statement.”
Schimel’s $1.1 million ad buy is in addition to the $1.6 million in ads that Americans For Prosperity announced last week.
Those ads are set to run on places like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Liberal Judge Susan Crawford’s campaign has not yet announced any ad buys of their own.
Crawford reported a $2.8 million fundraising total for 2024.
A Better Wisconsin is running ads, saying it spent “mid-six-figures” on issue ads targeting Schimel.
A Better Wisonisn’s ad on abortion accuses Schimel of wanting “to take Wisconsin back to the 1800s.”
The ads are just the beginning of what could be a very expensive four-month race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The last race, in 2023, cost more than $50 million.
Some court watchers say there’s a potential for this race to get close to $100 million.
Schimel and Crawford are running to replace longtime liberal Justice Ann Walsh Bradley.