ELECTION 2020-AUDITS-WISCONSIN

Key Wisconsin Republican wants end to GOP-led election probe

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Republican who leads the Senate Elections Committee says the GOP-ordered review of the 2020 election is riling up people who don’t understand elections and it needs to end. State Sen. Kathy Bernier, of Lake Hallie, says the investigation led by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman contains “made-up things” meant to play to the Republican base. She says when Gableman holds a meeting in her county she will attend along with her concealed carry permit because the review keeps firing up people who don’t know what they’re talking about. 

JILL BIDEN-WISCONSIN

Jill Biden to meet with families, victims of parade crash

First lady Jill Biden is planning to meet with families of victims and others who were at a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee where where six people were killed and dozens were injured after an SUV plowed through the crowd. The White House says Biden will begin her day Wednesday by attending a Forbes 50 Over 50 and Know Your Value event in New York City. She will then travel to Milwaukee to visit Children’s Wisconsin hospital and meet with frontline health care workers who cared for victims of the parade crash in Waukesha. Biden’s final stop will be in Waukesha to talk with families and first responders from the parade tragedy. 

NOEM-SCHOOLS-SILENCE

Noem offers bill to create moment of silence in schools

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — Gov. Kristi Noem said Monday she has drafted legislation to create a moment of silence at the beginning of each day in South Dakota public schools, a move she said would restore protections for prayer in the classroom. A draft of the bill said it will provide students and teachers with a reprieve from the frenzy of daily life and set a tone of decorum conducive to learning. Students and teachers can can engage in voluntary prayer, reflection, meditation or other quiet, respectful activity during the minute of silence, the bill states. The bill’s draft said the moment of silence should not be construed as a religious exercise. 

WISCONSIN ASSEMBLY-LEADER

Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Leader Hintz leaving post

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Gordon Hintz is leaving his leadership position on Jan. 10. Hintz, of Oshkosh, has been leader of minority Democrats since September 2017. Democrats, who hold 38 of the Assembly’s 99 seats, will vote to elect a new leader. Hintz said Monday that he wanted to have more time for his family, including two children under age 5, and for his legislative district. Democrats have next-to-no power in the minority, unable to stop Republicans from passing whatever bills they want. One of the most powerful tools Democrats do have, if they remain united, is blocking Republicans from having the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.

AP-US-WISCONSIN-GOVERNOR-ACCESS-LAWSUIT

Supreme Court rejects appeal over press access in Wisconsin

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from a conservative think tank over Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ decision to exclude the group’s writers from press briefings. The justices acted without comment Monday. They left in place lower court rulings that said the decision is legal. The John K. MacIver Institute for Public Policy filed the lawsuit in 2019 alleging that Evers, a Democrat, violated its staffers’ constitutional rights to free speech, freedom of the press and equal access. Former Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, had joined in the institute’s bid for high-court review. Evers defeated Walker in 2018. Last year, a federal judge rejected the group’s arguments, saying MacIver can still report on Evers without being invited to his press briefings.

18TH OWI CONVICTION

Green Bay man gets 5 years in prison for 18th OWI conviction

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — A Green Bay man has been sentenced to five years in prison for his 18th drunken driving conviction. Seventy-four-year-old Wallace Bowers had a valid driver’s license when he was arrested last January after crashing into a power pole on Green Bay’s east side. Bowers pleaded no contest Friday to drunken driving, 10th or more offense. Two other counts were dismissed. Defense attorney Steven Johnson noted Bowers is a Vietnam veteran on full disability with post-traumatic stress disorder and other health issues. According to Johnson, the isolation and stress due to the pandemic exacerbated his situation. Bowers said the stress led to an alcohol relapse after he was sober for 10 years.

TUITION RECIPROCITY

Bill allows UW System to negotiate tuition reciprocity

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A bipartisan bill introduced in the state Assembly would give the University of Wisconsin System authority over tuition reciprocity with Minnesota. The legislation would also let UW campuses keep additional revenue from students paying Minnesota tuition rates, revenue that is currently deposited into Wisconsin’s state budget. The reciprocity agreements between Wisconsin and Minnesota have been in place since the 1970s and have allowed students to attend colleges in their neighboring states while paying in-state tuition. The agreements are currently negotiated by Wisconsin’s Higher Educational Aids Board. The Assembly bill introduced by Republican Rep. Shannon Zimmerman would give UW System officials authority to renegotiate reciprocity agreements with Minnesota.

SHOOTINGS-MILWAUKEE

Milwaukee shootings leave 1 dead, 1 in critical condition

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Milwaukee police are investigating a series of shootings that killed a woman and left a man in critical condition. The Milwaukee Police Department reported that early Saturday a man and woman arrived at a hospital for gunshot injuries. The 24-year-old woman died, while the man received non-fatal injuries. The police are also investigating two other Saturday shootings. In one shooting, a 30-year-old woman suffered serious injuries, but was reported to be in stable condition at a hospital. In the other shooting, two people were driving when they were shot. One of the victims, a 19-year-old man, was in critical condition.