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
Hovde Calls Biden Student Loan Plan Unfair
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Eric Hovde disagrees with President Joe Biden's plan for student loan debt relief. Biden introduced it Monday in Madison. The Republican U.S. Senate candidate calls it unfair for the majority of Wisconsinites. "Why is it fair, for someone who never had the opportunity to go to college, ha...
Apr 09, 2024
$525 Million for Affordable Housing Grants Available
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- New grant funding is available for affordable housing in Wisconsin. The grants are offered by the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority. Working families are struggling to find places to live as property values continue to rise. $525 million is being made available for developer...
Apr 09, 2024
Prince Act Broadens Wisconsin's AMBER Alert Criteria Following Child Deaths
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- A bill that addresses the gaps in the Wisconsin AMBER Alert system was signed into law Tuesday. Gov. Tony Evers signed the bipartisan "Prince Act" at Hawley Environmental School in Milwaukee. The bill was inspired by the tragic disappearances of children Prince McCree in Milwaukee and Lily Pete...
Apr 09, 2024
Wisconsin DHS Ends Low/No-Cost COVID Treatment Program
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin is finally ending one of its last COVID health programs. Wisconsin's Department of Health says the COVID telehealth program will end on Wednesday. The program initially was supposed to end at the end of last year, but was extended until this month. Officials say since it was launched...
Apr 09, 2024
DNR Wants you to be "Bear Aware"
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Wisconsin DNR wants you to be "bear aware." It's the time of year when bears are emerging, and the Department of Natural Resources has recommendations to avoid attracting them to your home. Remove bird feeders even during daytime hours. Reduce smells from trash and recycling cont...
Apr 08, 2024
Evers Vetoes Bill Loosening Teen Work Permit Requirements
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers vetoes a bill that would have allowed younger teens to work without permits. The Republican-authored measure would've eliminated a requirement for 14-and-15 year olds to obtain work permits. In Madison on Monday Evers told the Wisconsin State Council of Machinists that it w...
Apr 08, 2024
President Biden Reveals New Student Loan Plan
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- President Joe Biden reveals a new student loan relief plan. During remarks Monday at Madison College, Biden said it will target those in most need of relief. "The ability for working, middle class folks to repay their student loans has become so burdensome, a lot can't repay it for even d...
Apr 08, 2024
Biden Wisconsin Visit Expected To Highlight School Debt Forgiveness
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) - President Joe Biden is expected to pitch a new student loan forgiveness plan in Madison today. Sources said a proposed rule that could benefit millions of borrowers may be close to being finalized. The Wall Street Journal first reported on the plan on Friday. The White House did not confirm det...
Apr 08, 2024
Phil Roeder / CC
UW System Regents Approve Tuition Increase
MENOMONIE, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- At UW-Stout, the UW System Board of Regents voted Thursday to raise in-state undergrad tuition. Increases will average about 5% and will mean hundreds of dollars in additional costs for students and families. UW System President Jay Rothman said earlier this month that a decade-long tuition ...
Apr 04, 2024
Evers Reacts to Tuesday's "Uninstructed" Biden Protest Votes
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- In Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary in Wisconsin, over 8% of ballots came in "uninstructed." It was a protest against President Biden's handling of the Gaza crisis. Governor Tony Evers thinks it's too soon to tell whether that will carry into November. "Whether those un...
Apr 04, 2024
Regents Approve UW System Tuition Increase
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- UW Regents sign off on a tuition increase. In-state students will again pay higher tuition next year to attend Universities of Wisconsin campuses. Meeting at UW Platteville on Thursday, the Board of Regents unanimously approved the 3.75% increase that UW System President Jay Rothman had propos...
Apr 04, 2024
Wisconsin Schools to Incorporate Hmong and Asian American Histories in Curriculum
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- Schools in Wisconsin will now be required to teach Hmong and Asian American histories. Governor Tony Evers marked Hmong Heritage Month by signing the bipartisan Assembly Bill 232, now 2023 Wisconsin Act 266. "The Hmong and Asian American communities are a critical part of our state's history, cultur...
Apr 04, 2024
Democrat Lyerly Kicks off Campaign for 8th Congressional District
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Democrat Kristin Lyerly is kicking off her campaign for the 8th Congressional District Thursday morning. Lyerly posted on Facebook that she will announce her campaign at a 10 a.m. news conference. Lyerly is the latest candidate to announce a run for the seat currently held by Republican M...
Apr 04, 2024
State Supreme Court Leaves Maps Questions Unclear
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Uncertainty remains about district maps for certain elections in Wisconsin. The state Supreme Court on Wednesday denied a request from the Wisconsin Elections Commission to clarify which maps should be used for any recall or special elections between now and this fall. That leaves things up in...
Apr 03, 2024
Regents Vote Today On UW-System Tuition Hikes
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The UW-System Board of Regents is set to act on tuition increases Thursday. Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman has announced a proposal to increase tuition for resident undergraduates by 3.75%. Segregated fees would increase on average $74 per year, and seven universities are prop...
Apr 03, 2024
If your Taxes Aren't Ready for Filing, it's Time to Get an Extension
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- You've got less than two weeks to file your taxes, and if you're not ready, you've got time to ask for an extension. IRS spokesman Christopher Miller says you don't need to have a reason to file for one. "Maybe you don't have some of the paperwork together, maybe life is just getting in t...
Apr 03, 2024
Wisconsin's Plan for $36 Million Opioid Funds Submitted for Legislative Review
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- State health officials submitted their plan on how they will distribute $36 million in opioid settlement funds. On April 1, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) submitted its plan for the annual share of $750 million of opioid settlement funds to the Legislature's Joint Committee on Finance ...
Apr 03, 2024