WisDOT: Fourth of July holiday travelers asked to plan ahead, be patient, alert and safe

For more information, contact: Wayne Chase (608) 267-7774, [email protected] David Pabst (608) 709-0055 [email protected] WisDOT to suspend work on most construction projects to help ease expected heavy traffic volumes To accommodate heavy traffic expected during the Fourth of July holiday period, construction on most Wisconsin highway projects will be suspended at noon on Friday, June 30 and will not resume until Wednesday, July 5. However, officials with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) say motorists should still expect to encounter work zones, reduced speeds and potential delays. “To ease traffic congestion, we’re asking our private contractors to halt work on

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Rep. Rodriguez: Appointed to Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care

Contact: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (608) 266-0610 MADISON – At a Capitol press conference Wednesday afternoon, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) was appointed to the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care. The bipartisan group, assigned by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), will investigate foster care issues in Wisconsin. “Through this task force we’ll be able to take an in-depth look at some of the existing concerns and hopefully offer solutions that will improve the lives of foster children throughout Wisconsin,” said Rodriguez. “I’m excited to be part of this task force.” Back in April, foster care advocacy groups from around the state

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Three directors re-elected to WI Potato Board

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s potato growers have re-elected three directors to the industry’s market order board. Re-elected in District 1 is Tom Wild, Antigo; District 2, Bill Wysocki, Plover; and District 3, Heidi Randall, Cambria. The three directors will serve three-year terms starting July 1. The three districts involved in the election represent the following counties: District 1 – Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Forest, Iron, Kewaunee, Langlade, Lincoln, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto, Oneida, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, St.

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WED PM Update: Budget negotiations ‘back on track’; Marquette Law School poll

Exclusively for WisPolitics Subscribers From WisPolitics.com … — The two top GOP legislative leaders today struck an optimistic tone on budget talks, much different than yesterday’s public dispute. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters today that’s perhaps due to “a good night’s sleep.” Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald met today with the guv as part of their w… Please log in to access subscriber content. If you don’t have a subscription, click here for a WisPolitics free trial and to view the different subscription options. Username or E-mail Password * Remember Me     Forgot Password

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Director re-elected to Wisconsin Cherry Board

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s cherry producers have re-elected one director, Lee Petrina of Algoma, to the industry’s market orders board. He will serve a three-year term, starting July 1. The five-member Wisconsin Cherry Board is responsible for overseeing the collection and use of about $65,000 in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin cherry producers. The money is used to support the industry through research, market development and consumer education. The Cherry Board was reconstituted in 2016, following a 2015 Referendum which changed board representation from districts to at-large directors.

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Ginseng producers re-elect two board directors

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s ginseng producers have re-elected two directors, Robert Kaldunski and Aaron Kaiser, both of Edgar, to the industry’s market orders board. The directors will serve a three-year term, starting July 1. The seven-member Ginseng Board of Wisconsin is responsible for overseeing the collection and use of about $225,000 in assessment fees paid by Wisconsin ginseng producers. The money is used to support the industry through research, market development and consumer education. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) administers elections for the

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Rep. Novak: Named to Assembly foster care task force

Contact:  Rep. Todd Novak (608) 266-7502 Madison – Rep. Todd Novak (Dodgeville) was named to the Assembly Foster Care Task Force today along with Co-Chairman Rep. Pat Snyder (Schofield), Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (Oak Creek), Rep. Terry Katsma (Oostburg), Rep. Joan Ballweg (Markesan), Rep. Treig Pronschinske (Mondovi), Rep. Joel Kitchens (Sturgeon Bay), and Rep. Adam Neylon (Pewaukee). There are still five democrats, including an additional co-chair, who will be named to the committee. This committee will be tasked with evaluating Wisconsin’s current foster care system and looking for ways the state can improve the lives of those involved. “It is my

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Voces de la Frontera: Immigrant families and supporters urge Gov. Walker and GOP to stop AB190

Contact: Sam Singleton-Freeman | [email protected] | 414.469.9206 AB190 would have local law enforcement act like Immigration agents Photos here  MADISON, WI – On Wednesday, hundreds of immigrant families and supporters lobbied and protested against AB190/SB275, a bill introduced by Wisconsin Republicans to have local law enforcement act like immigration agents. Wisconsin Republicans have introduced the bills, which are a copycat of Texas’ new anti-immigrant law SB4, and are very similar to AB450, which was defeated through the Day without Latinxs & Immigrants general strike of February 2016. Community members visited the offices of Governor Walker and every legislator to deliver milk cartons saying “Got Milk? Not without Immigrants /

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Rep. Allen: Budget Transparency Act will help prevent ‘un-leaked’ proposals

Contact: Rep. Scott Allen  (608) 266-8580 Craft brewers were fortunate to discover potential budget proposal. Recently a leaked proposal has found its way into the public sphere. The proposal would make changes to Wisconsin Chapter 125 of state statute regarding the three-tier system for alcohol sales. This leaked proposal was not introduced as a bill, and until it was leaked, did not received any legislative or public feedback. Representative Scott Allen is circulating the Budget Transparency Act for co-sponsorship has received bipartisan support.   The bill requires that all finance committee proposals be distributed to members of the Joint Committee on

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Milwaukee Public Schools: Superintendent chosen to lead National Coalition of Urban School Systems 

Dr. Darienne Driver elected as chair of the Council of Great City Schools Board of Directors, a policymaking body of the nation’s primary coalition of large urban public school systems Dr. Darienne Driver, Superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools, becomes chair of the Council of the Great City Schools‘ Board of Directors for a one-year term effective July 1. She will preside over the policymaking body of the nation’s primary coalition of large urban public school systems, succeeding Felton Williams, a school board member of California’s Long Beach Unified School District. “I am humbled to take on this leadership position to

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One Wisconsin Now: MEMO: MU Law poll

Opinions haven’t changed of Scott Walker. The poll included more Republicans. The sample is five points net more Republican than their last poll and five points more than their long term average. Have you seen anything in other polls or the political environment that suggests a shift of that size to the Republicans? In fact the national polling suggests the opposite if anything. Walker’s numbers are the same between polls once you account for the partisan difference. Walker is “more popular” only because the Marquette Poll interviewed more Republicans. Consider the partisan breakdown being identical compared to previous polls: Walker

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Gov. Walker: Announces 35 municipalities to receive a total of $13.8 million to remove lead service lines

Contact: Tom Evenson, (608) 266-2839 MADISON – Governor Scott Walker announced today that 35 municipalities have now completed financial assistance agreements with the state that will allow those communities to assist homeowners, schools, and day cares in providing safe drinking water by replacing old lead service lines. These aging lead service lines extend from the main street pipes owned by local utilities onto private property and into homes, schools, and day care centers. The lines are the responsibility of the property owner who typically would have to pay for full lead service line removal. With this fiscal year’s funding package

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Speaker Vos: Creates Task Force on Foster Care

Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-3387 Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is announcing the formation of the Task Force on Foster Care. The bipartisan group of legislators is tasked with developing ideas to improve the child welfare system that provides out-of-home care for more than seven thousand children in Wisconsin. The goal is to help end the multi-generational cycle of government dependence by strengthening community partnerships, reducing barriers within the system, and updating programs to meet the changing needs of parents, children and communities involved. “We need to find ways to better serve our most vulnerable citizens who, at no fault of

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Rep. Rodriguez: Appointed to Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care

Contact: Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (608) 266-0610 MADISON – At a Capitol press conference Wednesday afternoon, Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (R-Oak Creek) was appointed to the Speaker’s Task Force on Foster Care. The bipartisan group, assigned by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), will investigate foster care issues in Wisconsin. “Through this task force

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Three directors re-elected to WI Potato Board

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s potato growers have re-elected three directors to the industry’s market order board. Re-elected in District 1 is Tom Wild, Antigo; District 2, Bill Wysocki, Plover; and District 3, Heidi Randall, Cambria. The three directors

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Director re-elected to Wisconsin Cherry Board

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s cherry producers have re-elected one director, Lee Petrina of Algoma, to the industry’s market orders board. He will serve a three-year term, starting July 1. The five-member Wisconsin Cherry Board is responsible for overseeing

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Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection: Ginseng producers re-elect two board directors

Media Contacts: Rick Hummell, 608-224-5041 [email protected] or Bill Cosh, Communications Director, 608-224-5020 [email protected] MADISON – Wisconsin’s ginseng producers have re-elected two directors, Robert Kaldunski and Aaron Kaiser, both of Edgar, to the industry’s market orders board. The directors will serve a three-year term, starting July 1. The seven-member Ginseng Board

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Rep. Novak: Named to Assembly foster care task force

Contact:  Rep. Todd Novak (608) 266-7502 Madison – Rep. Todd Novak (Dodgeville) was named to the Assembly Foster Care Task Force today along with Co-Chairman Rep. Pat Snyder (Schofield), Rep. Jessie Rodriguez (Oak Creek), Rep. Terry Katsma (Oostburg), Rep. Joan Ballweg (Markesan), Rep. Treig Pronschinske (Mondovi), Rep. Joel Kitchens (Sturgeon

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Voces de la Frontera: Immigrant families and supporters urge Gov. Walker and GOP to stop AB190

Contact: Sam Singleton-Freeman | [email protected] | 414.469.9206 AB190 would have local law enforcement act like Immigration agents Photos here  MADISON, WI – On Wednesday, hundreds of immigrant families and supporters lobbied and protested against AB190/SB275, a bill introduced by Wisconsin Republicans to have local law enforcement act like immigration agents. Wisconsin Republicans have introduced the bills, which

Read More »

One Wisconsin Now: MEMO: MU Law poll

Opinions haven’t changed of Scott Walker. The poll included more Republicans. The sample is five points net more Republican than their last poll and five points more than their long term average. Have you seen anything in other polls or the political environment that suggests a shift of that size

Read More »

Speaker Vos: Creates Task Force on Foster Care

Speaker Robin Vos (608) 266-3387 Madison…Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) is announcing the formation of the Task Force on Foster Care. The bipartisan group of legislators is tasked with developing ideas to improve the child welfare system that provides out-of-home care for more than seven thousand children in Wisconsin. The goal

Read More »