Wisconsin Sees a record $25 billion in Tourism Spending in 2023
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin has seen another record breaking year of tourism. Travel Wisconsin spokesperson Craig Trost says the state's tourism attractions, hotels and other related businesses brought in $25 billion in 2023. "We had growth in all 72 counties last year. That is pretty remarkable," sai...
Jun 11, 2024
DATCP Announces New Dairy Cattle Avian Influenza Testing Requirement
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A new requirement is aimed at checking the spread of avian influenza in dairy cattle. Acting on a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is requiring Influenza A testing prior to the movement of lactating dai...
Jun 11, 2024
State Supreme Court Race Likely to be Costly
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Another potentially expensive Wisconsin Supreme Court election is in the works. Seats on the state's seven member high court are officially non-partisan, but a conservative versus liberal narrative has driven up campaign spending. It totaled $45 million in last year's race in which liberal Jan...
Jun 11, 2024
Troupis Suspended from Judicial Advisory Committee
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- An indicted Madison attorney is off a committee which advises judges in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Supreme Court announced Tuesday that James Troupis is temporarily suspended from the Wisconsin Court System's Judicial Conduct Advisory Committee. Troupis, an attorney and former Dane County Circui...
Jun 11, 2024
Report Ranks Madison as Second Safest City for Pedestrians in U.S.
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Madison is ranked the second safest major city in America for pedestrians. The National Complete Streets Coalition's Dangerous by Design 2024 report put Madison behind Provo and Orem, Utah as the most pedestrian-friendly among 101 metro areas across the country. A release from the city pointin...
Jun 11, 2024
Democrat Ann Jacobs to Head Up Wisconsin Elections Commission
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A Democrat will keep the chair at the Wisconsin Elections Commission. Ann Jacobs was voted in unanimously on Monday. She previously served as the chair during the 2020 presidential election. The six member panel is made up of three Republicans and three Democrats, and handles oversight of the ...
Jun 10, 2024
Consumer Protection Says It's Time to Clean your Social Media Accounts
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- It's time to prune your social media friends lists. Wisconsin Consumer Protection wants you to be careful about who is seeing your social media activities. Administrator Michelle Reinen says crooks have been using people's videos to craft elaborate scams against their loved ones. "And wha...
Jun 10, 2024
Vos Says Recall Organizers have Again Come Up Short
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says the effort to recall him has again fallen short. The Speaker is up for reelection in November, but that fact hasn't dissuaded recall organizers. The Wisconsin Elections Commission has until June 28 to determine whether there are enough valid signatures on a seco...
Jun 10, 2024
Waupun Mayor Argues Against Prison Closing
WAUPUN, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Waupun's mayor argues there's no need to discuss closing Waupun Correctional Institution. Mayor Rohn Bishop believes four recent inmate deaths were due to staffing issues that politicians in Madison have done nothing to address. And Bishop doesn't believe the 176-year-old prison should be close...
Jun 10, 2024
Wied to Remain on Ballot after Elections Officials Dismiss Complaint over Signatures
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- Wisconsin elections officials decided not to throw out nomination signatures submitted by a candidate for the 8th Congressional District. A challenge was filed against more than 200 signatures collected by Republican Tony Wied. A complaint was filed by former Green Bay alderman Tony Theisen, ...
Jun 10, 2024
Wisconsin Democrats field candidate for all state senate races
MILWAUKEE, WI (WSAU) - Seeking the benefits of redistricting, Wisconsin democrats say they're recruited candidates to run in all 16 state senate races this fall. Many of the districts are likely to be more competitive because of new voting lines that were approved earlier this year. In the past, Democrats considered so...
Jun 09, 2024
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Nine Waupun Prison Staff Arrested After Inmate Deaths
WAUPUN, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Staff arrests are made in connection with inmate deaths at a troubled state prison. Sauk County Sheriff Dale Schmidt announcing the arrests of nine staff at Waupun Correctional, including Randall Happ, Waupun Correctional Institution warden. At a nearly hour long press conference Wednesday, Sch...
Jun 05, 2024
Original Smokey the Bear Artwork, Films to be Displayed in Rhinelander for National Forest Week
RHINELANDER, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Iconic forestry mascot Smokey The Bear is getting his own showcase in Wisconsin next month. Portraits and classic films reminding you to prevent forest fires will be on display at Pioneer Park in Rhinelander the first week in July. The collection of original artwork by Smokey's artist Rudo...
Jun 04, 2024
Attorney General Josh Kaul Charges Three in Fake Electors Scheme
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Charges are filed in the Wisconsin fake electors scheme. The Office of Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed felony forgery charges in Dane County court against Kenneth Chesbro, James Troupis, and Michael Roman. The Capitol Times reports all three are charged under a statute which crimina...
Jun 04, 2024
Family of Sade Robinson Files Civil Lawsuit Against Man Accused of Killing, Dismembering Her
MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The family of Sade Robinson has filed a civil lawsuit against the man accused of killing her. Maxwell Anderson has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree intentional homicide, mutilation of a corpse and arson in the April death of the 19-year-old Milwaukee woman. Robinson's remains ha...
Jun 04, 2024
UW Board Regent Bob Atwell Resigns after he Approves Governor Evers' Choice for his Successor
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The UW board regent who planned to stay beyond his term's expiration has stepped aside. According to WisPolitics, Bob Atwell has resigned, effective immediately. Atwell sent UW officials an email last month expressing his intent to remain on the board until his successor is appointed and confi...
Jun 04, 2024
Wisconsin Ag Department Distributes Grants to Farmers for Hunger Relief Efforts
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Wisconsin farmers get help to help the hungry. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection announced Friday a total of 125 grants have been given to farms and farmers to assist statewide hunger relief efforts. The agency says the 2024 Wisconsin Local Food Purchase As...
Jun 03, 2024
Evers Appoints 3 UW Regents, Including UWGB Alum, UWO Student
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) -- A University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh student and a UW-Green Bay alumnus are among three Universities of Wisconsin regents appointed Friday by Gov. Tony Evers. Tim Nixon Tim Nixon is a graduate of UWGB and UWGB, Manitowoc Campus, as well as earning a master's degree and a law degree at UW-Madison...
May 31, 2024
Wisconsin Adjutant General, Major General Paul W. Knapp Resigns
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers announces the resignation of Wisconsin Adjutant General, Major General Paul W. Knapp. Knapp was appointed Adjutant General of the Wisconsin National Guard by Governor Tony Evers in 2020. The position has a five year term and a promotion to Major General. Knapp took the comm...
May 30, 2024
First Lady Jill Biden Coming to Milwaukee
(WTAQ-WLUK) -- First Lady Jill Biden is coming to Wisconsin Friday. According to the White House, she will arrive in Milwaukee after 5 p.m. She will then deliver remarks at Festa Italiana, an Italian community center in Milwaukee. Afterwards, she will fly out to Erie, Pennsylvania to deliver a commencement speech at Er...
May 30, 2024
New Investment Fund is Largest in State History
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A new, $100 million public-private investment fund for Wisconsin aims to kick start companies and entrepreneurs. Missy Hughes is Secretary of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation; she says they want to support entrepreneurs who want to start here, to grow here, and to stay here. &quo...
May 29, 2024
DNR Seeks Sponsors for this Year's Hunters with Disabilities Deer Hunt
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- The Department of Natural Resources is looking for hosts for this year's disabled hunter deer hunt. That hunt runs from October 5 - 13, and is open to hunters with disabilities. The DNR says properties need to be at least 60 acres in size and have to be able to host three hunters. Around 400 p...
May 29, 2024
Evers Comments on Act 10 Lawsuit and Whether Judge should Recuse
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers weighs in on a lawsuit challenging provisions of Act 10. The Democratic Governor was asked Wednesday whether he thinks the Dane County judge who's considering the case should recuse himself. "I don't think so. Recusal is kind of a death knell of the judiciary," sa...
May 29, 2024
Evers Issues Executive Order Ahead of July's RNC in Milwaukee
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- Governor Tony Evers has issued an executive order in preparation for this summer's Republican National Convention. Evers' office said the executive order is at the request of the city of Milwaukee and Wisconsin Emergency Management. The governor issuing an executive order declaring an emergenc...
May 29, 2024
Walker Appointed UW Regent Whos Term has Ended Plans to Remain
MADISON, WI (WTAQ-WRN) -- A UW System Regent whose term has ended is refusing to vacate his position. Bob Atwell was appointed to the Board of Regents by former Republican Governor Scott Walker, and his term expired May 1. The Journal Sentinel reports that Atwell has informed UW System leaders that he plans to remain o...
May 29, 2024