No NIL Money for High School Students
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- No outside money for Wisconsin high school athletes. The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association voted on Wednesday to reject a plan that would have allowed students to get endorsements based on their name, image or likeness; similar NIL programs have been allowed in other states and at...
Apr 25, 2024
Donald Trump Returns To Wisconsin
WAUKESHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Former President Donald Trump is returning to Wisconsin next week. In a news release Wednesday, officials said Trump will deliver remarks May 1 at the Waukesha County Expo Center at 2 p.m. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Trump will reportedly "contrast the peace, prosperity, and security of ...
Apr 24, 2024
Ukraine Can't Win - Johnson on his No Vote for $95 Billion War Aid Package
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- President Joe Biden has signed a $95 billion war aid measure that includes billions for Ukraine to battle Russia. Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson opposed that money, saying Ukraine can't win. "It's going to be a negotiated settlement. I'm not going to like the settlement. The Ukrainian...
Apr 24, 2024
Kewaskum Officer Charged with Sexual Misconduct now Faces Bestiality Charges
KEWASKUM, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A school resource officer charged with sexual misconduct with a student now faces multiple charges for molesting animals. Former Kewaskum school resources officer Steven Rosales is now facing three counts of bestiality in Fond du Lac County. The Fond du Lac County District Attorney's office c...
Apr 24, 2024
Restraint Incidents Down In Wisconsin Schools
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-METRO) - The number of kids in Wisconsin who had to be physically separated or restrained in school is down from a year ago. The state's Department of Public Instruction yesterday released its annual report on seclusion and restraint. The report shows schools used seclusion over five thousand times du...
Apr 24, 2024
Maxwell Anderson Pleads Not Guilty in Sade Robinson Case
MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- In Milwaukee County Court on Monday, 33-year-old Maxwell Anderson pleads not guilty for the murder of Sade Robinson. Court Commissioner Barry Phillips granted Anderson's request to waive his preliminary hearing and proceed to trial. Monday's court appearance was Anderson's first since body p...
Apr 23, 2024
Evers on State's Trillion Trees Pledge
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- 100 million trees planted by 2030. That's the ambitious goal announced on Earth Day by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and Governor Tony Evers. "The stuff that the trees do is right on right on target, they take heart carbon dioxide in and release oxygen to the air and seque...
Apr 23, 2024
Evers Discusses Security for WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers isn't ruling out stepped up security for Wisconsin's Elections Administrator. At an Earth Day event near Madison, Evers was asked about that, as Donald Trump has spread falsehoods about Meagan Wolfe "f it gets bad enough, certainly we must," said Evers. "I me...
Apr 23, 2024
VP Harris Announces new Federal Rules for Nursing Homes During Stop in La Crosse
LA CROSSE, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Biden administration announces new minimum staffing levels for federally funded nursing homes. Vice President Kamala Harris in La Crosse on Monday said: "75% of those nursing homes are understaffed," said Vice President Kamala Harris. "That means that there may be no one ...
Apr 22, 2024
House Advances Aid Bills for Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan
WASHINGTON, D.C. (WTAQ-WRN) -- On Capitol Hill, foreign aid bills for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan advance to likely House votes on Saturday. "Ukrainians are fighting for democracy, theirs and ours," said Massachusetts Democrat Jim McGovern. "And they have been set back as a result of Republican extremis...
Apr 19, 2024
Paulo O / CC
Wisconsin Residents Warned Against Outdoor Burning Due to Severe Wildfire Risk
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- As Wisconsin goes through another dry spell, officials are asking the public to avoid outdoor burning this weekend. Warm temperatures, low humidity and breezy conditions are in the forecast for this weekend and although recent rain has improved conditions in some areas, much of the state's vegetation is ...
Apr 19, 2024
Barca Enters Race in 1st Congressional District
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A long-time Wisconsin Democratic politician is running for Congress. Peter Barca is challenging Republican Congressman Bryan Steil in his bid for a fourth term representing the 1st Congressional District. Barca is a veteran of Wisconsin politics and his announcement was not unexpected, after h...
Apr 18, 2024
Body Parts Found Along Lake Michigan Beach 'Believed to Be' Those of Sade Robinson
MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Body parts that washed ashore along a remote stretch of a Lake Michigan beach in south Milwaukee are "believed to be" those of Sade Robinson. The remains, which included a torso and an arm, were found Thursday morning near 5th and Marina, police say. Robinson, 19, was killed and d...
Apr 18, 2024
Wisconsin General Fund to Drop Billions of Dollars
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum shows the state's general fund will be dropping significantly from record highs following the pandemic. Researcher Jason Stein says the fund will be dropping from over $6 billion to under $4 billion. "The state going forward does need to be cir...
Apr 17, 2024
Wisconsin Senators React to Dismissal of Mayorkas Impeachment
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- Wisconsin's U.S. senators are weighing in on the dismissal of articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Sen. Ron Johnson (R) Today Senate Democrats abdicated their constitutional duty and did great harm to the U.S. Senate by cavalierly dismissing the serious charges ...
Apr 17, 2024
Rain Drops Fire Danger to Low, Winds Rip Roof off Historic Beloit Building
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- All 72 Wisconsin counties have low wildfire danger. That follows rainfall Tuesday night into Wednesday. It's a significant improvement from earlier in the week, when all but 2 counties had high or very high fire danger. It's not all good news though. High winds from Tuesday night's severe weat...
Apr 17, 2024
Wisconsin Leads Nation for Fatal Wrong-Way Crashes
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin leads the nation when it comes to fatal crashes involving wrong-way drivers. From 2013 to 2022, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says just over 9% of fatal crashes in Wisconsin involved wrong way drivers. That compares to the national rate of 3.5%. A study a few yea...
Apr 17, 2024
Wisconsin Part of Initiative to Investigate Unfair Airline Practices
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin is partnering with 14 other states to investigate airlines and protect passengers. The U.S. Department of Transportation announced Tuesday the initiative will allow the Biden administration to give precedence to cases of misconduct if state attorneys general find that airlines or tic...
Apr 17, 2024
SCOWIS May Take up Abortion Rights Case Filed by Planned Parenthood
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court may take up an abortion rights case. The Court on Tuesday ordered parties named in a petition from Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin to file responses within the next 10 days. That's an indication that the court, with its 4-3 liberal majority, may consider the abortio...
Apr 16, 2024
Republicans are No Shows for Joint Finance Committee Special Session on PFAS
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- At the Capitol, another impasse on funding for PFAS contamination. Democratic Governor Tony Evers wants Republicans who control the Legislature to release $125 million in funding to remediate the harms from "forever chemicals." Earlier this month, he called the Joint Finance Committe...
Apr 16, 2024
Challenge of Governor Evers' 400-Year School Funding Partial Veto Filed in Wisconsin Supreme Court
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A challenge to the partial veto power of Wisconsin's governor. In July, Governor Tony Evers expanded a per-pupil funding increase for schools from two years to 400 years by crossing out some numbers. Monday, the business group Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce filed a suit before the stat...
Apr 16, 2024
Call 811 Before you Dig this Spring
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- If you're planning to dig in your yard this spring, make the call to 811 first. Alliant Energy spokesperson Chris Caporale says the call is free, and crews will respond within a couple of days to ensure your work can proceed safely "They'll come out, mark all your underground lines. And t...
Apr 15, 2024
State's Workforce Expected to See Continued Growth
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin's workforce is expected to continue significant growth. Recently published short-term employment projections show the state making a remarkable post pandemic recovery, with employment fully restored as of the second quarter of 2023. Projections by Department of Workforce Development ...
Apr 15, 2024
Evers Names David Casey next Wisconsin Revenue Secretary
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Gov. Tony Evers has named the next secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. David Casey will take over the department beginning April 29. Casey succeeds Pete Barca, who retired earlier this month. "We are excited David is returning to state service as secretary of the Wisconsin ...
Apr 15, 2024
Wisconsin Public Service Requests to Raise Rates in 2025 for Growth, Meeting EPA Rules
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- Wisconsin Public Service customers may see their electric bills go up $11-$12 a month in 2025. WPS filed its proposals with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW) Friday for regulatory reviews that will set customer rates for electricity and natural gas for 2025 and 2026. As part of the filed ...
Apr 12, 2024