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
Woman Involved in 2014 Slenderman Stabbing Ruled Not Fit to Leave Mental Hospital
WAUKESHA, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The woman responsible for the Slenderman stabbing in 2014 won't be leaving a state mental hospital. In January, 21-year-old Morgan Geyser entered a petition in Waukesha County Court for conditional release from her confinement. Three doctors evaluated Geyser and two of them said she's not rea...
Apr 12, 2024
Crisis In The Classroom
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-METRO) - Wisconsin's state superintendent of schools is calling the latest look at the state's teacher shortage a crisis. The Department of Public Instruction released a report yesterday that says 40 percent of new teachers don't last six years in the classroom, and 30 percent of wanna-be teachers nev...
Apr 12, 2024
DWD to Host Youth Employment Webinar
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Department of Workforce Development wants to get parents and kids ready to navigate youth employment this summer. Equal rights investigator Matthew White says the issue of safety is paramount following several high profile youth fatalities in dangerous jobs. "This is a great opportuni...
Apr 11, 2024
Marriages in Wisconsin Returns to Pre-Pandemic Levels
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Marriage is making a slight comeback in Wisconsin. Data from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services shows that the state's marriage rate, which has been steadily declining since 1980, returning to a pre-pandemic level. Though COVID-19 intensified a decline, with marriage rates hitting 50-...
Apr 11, 2024
Psychiatrist Testifies as 'Slender Man' Stabber Seeks Release from Oshkosh-Area Facility
WAUKESHA, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- One of the women involved in the 2014 stabbing of a classmate in southern Wisconsin is once again seeking release from a psychiatric facility. Morgan Geyser, now 21 years old, appeared Wednesday in Waukesha County Court to petition for conditional release. In 2018, she was sentenced to 40 ye...
Apr 10, 2024
DOT Reminds Drivers, Farm Equipment Operators to Share Road During Planting Season
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation reminds drivers and farm vehicle operators to share the road during planting season. Over 2,000 crashes involving farm vehicles have been reported in Wisconsin over the past five years. The DOT asks drivers to slow down and provide extra room when enc...
Apr 10, 2024
Robert Taylor / CC
Evening Statewide Tornado Drill Canceled
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Tornado sirens and NOAA weather radios sounded this afternoon as Wisconsin held its annual tornado drill. A second drill set for tonight has been canceled because of the small threat of severe weather. It will not be rescheduled. The statewide drill was held at 1:45 p.m. Wisconsin emergency ma...
Apr 10, 2024
Evers Vetoes PFAs Bill & Calls JFC into Special Session
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers has made his move, in a months-long dispute with Republican lawmakers over how best to address PFAs contamination in Wisconsin. Evers on Tuesday vetoed a bill that would have required the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources get approval from the Legislature's budget c...
Apr 09, 2024