Olivia Herken

Wisconsin schools, parents sue Legislature over school funding formula The lawsuit follows Madison public schools and more school districts around the state turning to referendums to increase funding.

A group of Wisconsin school districts, teachers, parents & students are suing the state Legislature over the state's funding formula, saying it's unconstitutional.

"The dire need for adequate funding has been made clear to lawmakers, but they have refused to hear our pleas," one dad/plaintiff said.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos not seeking reelection Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos not seeking reelection Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Breaking news: Republican Speaker Robin Vos, the state's longest-serving speaker, announced on Thursday that he is retiring and won't seek reelection in the fall.

He said he had a mild heart attack in November that pushed him to make the decision.

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Without WisconsinEye, just how 'dark' is Wisconsin's Capitol? Wisconsin's version of C-Span has been offline for six weeks. Lawmakers and advocates say its absence has hurt the public's access to their government.

It's been six weeks since WisconsinEye - Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN - went off the air. Here's a look at what it's been like inside the Capitol without the streaming service:
captimes.com/news/governm...

Data centers threaten Wisconsin's rural charm, residents say Sprawling centers that power AI and other internet applications are in plans for DeForest and elsewhere, but residents fear forever harm to their communities.

I published my first cover story for @captimes.com today!

The data center boom in Wisconsin has some residents worried the giant tech campuses will change the identity of their communities and transform Wisconsin from Dairyland to Dataland.

Read more here:

Wisconsin’s deadliest school shooting hasn't changed gun laws, yet In the wake of the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, advocates called for action to address gun violence and safety in schools.

'And nothing, again and again and again.'

Nearly one year after the Abundant Life school shooting, Wisconsin lawmakers have taken little action to address gun violence and school safety.

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How a marriage counselor is making an impression as a senator Democratic State Sen. Sarah Keyeski of Lodi is new to politics. She says she's staying true to herself, even if it means losing a future election.

Sarah Keyeski never wanted to be in politics.

But when she wound up in a newly competitive Senate district, Democratic leaders encouraged her to run.

"I said, 'I will only run if you don't try to change me,'" Keyeski told me.

My profile on @sarahkeyeski.bsky.social here:

Dane County schools expect changes under new law banning cell phones While most school districts in the Madison area already limit cell phone use by students, some, including MMSD, must enact changes to comply with a new Wisconsin law.

By next school year, every public school district in Wisconsin will have to ban cell phones in classrooms.

In my latest w/ @eringretzinger.bsky.social we take a look at how these bans have worked so far in districts around the state, and on how Dane County schools will need to respond.

What if citizens — not lawmakers — drew Wisconsin's legislative maps? The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is pushing to create an independent redistricting commission before legislative maps are redrawn following the 2030 census.

Before Wisconsin needs new legislative maps, the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is pushing to establish an independent redistricting commission that would put the job in the hands of residents, not lawmakers.

But what would that commission look like?

Here are the details:

Madison-area food pantries say they'll miss federal hunger report Dane County pantries like Second Harvest Food Bank used a now-canceled annual USDA report to track national trends in food insecurity.

Madison-area food banks will have one less way to forecast future changes in food insecurity while they deal with an increasing need among community members, their leaders say.

How Trump could deploy Wisconsin's National Guard, explained As President Donald Trump threatens to send National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities, here's what to know about who controls Wisconsin's military.

As Trump attempts to deploy National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities, including nearby Chicago, Wisconsinites may wonder if any of their cities could be next.

Here's an explainer on who controls Wisconsin's National Guard:

How cherries became part of Door County’s identity While tourists visit Door County for many reasons, from its rocky shores and lighthouses to its picturesque towns and wineries, the county’s rich cherry industry is just, well, the cherry on top.

Here's the story! 🍒

I spent a day in Door County cherry orchards last week to learn more about the area's history with the fruit.

And while the industry has changed a lot over the years, family farms & dedicated visitors are keeping cherries part of Door County's identity.

(link to story below!)

Child care received funding in WI state budget, but providers say it’s still not enough 'I don’t know of a single program that’s not raising rates, and many are doing between $20 and $50 a week across the state. That’s not lowering out-of-pocket costs for families,' said one provider.

A leading advocate for state child care funding is closing her in-home child care center after 18 years. She and other providers say the funding in the state budget is not enough.

"I don’t know of a single program that’s not raising rates," she said.

Nutrition education program cut by Trump was creating ‘magic’ in Wisconsin SNAP-Ed, a federally funded nutrition education program that accompanied SNAP benefits, was eliminated in President Donald Trump’s budget law.

SNAP-Ed, a federal nutrition education program, was creating 'magic' in Wisconsin: introducing kids to new fruits and veggies, helping families save on groceries, and encouraging more physical activity in residents old and young.

But that program has now been cut by Trump.

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WI Rep. Van Orden spreads misinformation online following Minnesota shootings In social media posts, Rep. Derrick Van Orden said the man who allegedly shot and killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband on June 14 was a liberal, despite reports to the contrary.

WI Rep. Van Orden spreads misinformation online following Minnesota shootings

Wisconsin mom says SNAP is more than a benefit; it’s also a need President Donald Trump’s federal spending bill would make cuts to food assistance programs.

I interviewed a Wisconsin mom who relies on SNAP and WIC to hear what it would mean for her if those programs were cut under Trump's spending bill.

She said they are more than just a benefit, but something she needs to survive.

More here:

Trump’s cuts to fresh food grants leave Wisconsin farmers, communities hanging The Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program was helping to provide locally grown food to food banks across the state.

Every spring, Wisconsin farmers are busy preparing for the summer harvesting months ahead. But after Trump cut funding for a program that connected local farmers with WI food pantries, they've spent this spring being advocates as well.

more here from me!

Sen. Ron Johnson calls Medicaid ‘money laundering’ and ‘fraud’ Johnson said the cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trump's budget bill don't go far enough.

As Sen. Ron Johnson calls for more federal spending cuts, he said on a conservative radio talk show last week that Medicaid was "money laundering" and "fraud."

Wisconsinites exhausted over back-and-forth in PFAS fight Advocates are exhausted and determined as state Republicans and the Trump Administration stymie efforts to fight the 'forever chemicals.'

Wisconsinites on the front lines of the PFAS crisis are exhausted and determined as state Republicans and the Trump Administration stymie efforts to fight the "forever chemicals."

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Madison community unites to mourn victims of Abundant Life Christian School shooting Three people died, including the shooter, and another six were injured in Wisconsin's deadliest school shooting on record.

This week, students at Abundant Life Christian School were supposed to have basketball games and an ugly Christmas sweater spirit day before winter break.

But a school shooting that left 3 dead and 6 injured has thrust the community into mourning.

Scenes from a candlelight vigil held tonight at the Wisconsin State Capitol following the Abundant Life school shooting.

Swans on Lake Monona!!!! 🦢⭐️🤍❄️

‘It’s about time:’ Wisconsin teachers celebrate judge’s Act 10 ruling The controversial legislation was passed more than a decade ago and stripped public workers in Wisconsin of most collective bargaining rights.

"My reaction was: It's about time."

After a Dane County Judge ruled parts of Act 10 unconstitutional on Monday, educators and teachers' unions are celebrating with cautious optimism.

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