Wisconsin Watch

@wisconsinwatch.org

16980 Followers 331 Following

A nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom working to provide journalism that keeps Wisconsin's communities strong, informed and connected. 👉 Visit us at wisconsinwatch.org 💸 Support us at wisconsinwatch.org/support-wisconsin-watch/

Can Wisconsin’s health apprenticeships become a national model? UW Health thinks so To fill openings for nurses, surgical techs and more, UW Health pays staff to train for new health careers, on the clock. Now, as other states struggle to find enough health workers, the company wants to show them how it’s done.
Wisconsin Watch logo and headline inviting readers to find more Fact Briefs at wisconsinwatch.org, showing Wisconsin's outline with a magnifying-glass icon and the question "Want to read more?"
Fact Brief Is Wisconsin state government spending $2 billion on data centers?
Fact Brief Was a Wisconsin data centers tax break put in place solely by Gov. Tony Evers?
Scammers target injured Wisconsin workers with fake worker’s compensation hearings
Student loan defaults surge in Wisconsin, US after federal reprieve ends The pandemic grace period has ended, along with the most generous repayment plan. Now, borrowers across the state are struggling to repay, and those who attended Wisconsin’s for-profit colleges are twice as likely to be delinquent on their loans.
Here are four congressional races to watch in Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 primary Democrats are trying to flip two seats as they try to take back the U.S. House
As Democrats aim to retake the Wisconsin Legislature, here are the races we’re watching in the Aug. 11 primary Control of the Legislature won’t be known until the Nov. 3 general election, but the primary could offer clues about who has momentum
A person wearing a shirt reading "Menominee Nation" raises a fist while walking through shallow water as two people paddle a canoe behind them on a calm lake. ‘We made history’: Dugout launch first in recent memory A dugout canoe made its maiden voyage on Menominee River after a month-long effort to carve it.
Crowley returns to governor’s race in last-minute effort to win Democratic primary Crowley’s campaign gets a boost with endorsement from Gov. Tony Evers, who previously declined to back a primary candidate.
Homicides, shootings and carjackings fall as Milwaukee violence prevention efforts show progress Recent data shows violent crime is down in the city. Advocates say preventing violence depends on trust as well as community investment.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez quits Democratic governor’s race over campaign finance problems
DataWatch: Wisconsin air pollution reached record highs as wildfire smoke engulfed the state Wildfire smoke drove Wisconsin’s highest Air Quality Index readings in at least 16 years, surpassing the unprecedented pollution levels recorded in 2023.
‘You can see God’s hand in it’: How Milwaukee women are building a double Dutch community through sisterhood and fitness Milwaukee’s 40+ Double Dutch Club is still in its infancy, but members are already seeing life changes.
Wildfire smoke brings hazardous air quality in Wisconsin. Here’s how to stay safe A statewide air quality advisory due to fine particulate matter from smoke will last until noon on Friday, July 17, with the potential of being extended in some areas.
‘There’s nowhere for them to go’: Newcap closure leaves northeast Wisconsin counties scrambling to prevent more homelessness The nonprofit’s closure reveals how the loss of a single agency can have a staggering effect, especially in rural areas where resources for the unhoused are already few and far between.
Oracle credit rating drops amid Wisconsin fight over data center credit rules The downgrade comes as Oracle challenges state regulators’ decision to require companies with lower credit ratings to post millions in collateral for new data centers.
Elon Musk likely broke law by promising voters $1 million payouts, Wisconsin Elections Commission says The commission referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney’s office, which can choose to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery.
Two people wearing hard hats and high-visibility clothing stand beside a steel transmission tower section on a dirt construction site. Visible text includes "Wisconsin Watch," "Fight over who expands Wisconsin’s power grid heads to Washington," and "After losing a major transmission project to a startup, American Transmission Company asks federal regulators to reopen the bidding, escalating a fight over who will build — and profit from — Wisconsin’s grid expansion as data centers drive demand."
It takes a village: This Dane County community helped pioneer a national movement for aging together One of the country’s earliest village organizations, SAIL has inspired a movement that helps older adults support one another while aging in their communities.
Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue sparks interfaith connection The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee hosted its Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue where people share their faith over a meal.
Interactive map of Wisconsin counties shaded by cases per 100k residents, with a sidebar listing statewide case totals, rates, average decision time and yearly new case counts.
With ATV crashes up in Wisconsin, some legislators want to strengthen OWI laws. The Tavern League stands in the way. Alcohol is a common factor in the rising number of off-road vehicle crashes and fatalities reported in Wisconsin. Legislators from both sides want to beef up state OWI laws, arguing that will make the vehicles safer.
‘I feel safe for the first time’: Brown County nonprofit uplifts girls of color A De Pere resident created a space for Black girls to feel less alone. Years later, the nonprofit organization hosts monthly meetings in local schools, offers presentations from guest speakers and plans field trips in the region and across the nation.
Wisconsin regulators refuse to loosen data center credit rules, setting up Oracle court fight We Energies argued the rule could discourage future data center investment in Wisconsin, while Oracle is challenging it in court.
Accusers in Oconto Falls case say school had ‘deliberate indifference’ to abuse for decades Lawsuit against district is one of the largest cases dealing with student sexual assault in Wisconsin
Photo of car having crashed through a house and text: Researchers say car crashes could help identify youth at risk of gun violence Researchers found a significant association between prior motor vehicle crash injuries and later firearm injuries. It could inform violence prevention efforts.
Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan spared prison for obstructing ICE arrest Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
Four people stack their hands together. Matching bird-and-heart tattoos are visible on their forearms, along with bracelets and other tattoos.
How inconsistent standards led to dozens of disenfranchised voters in Mequon Records show the Mequon city attorney appeared at least partially behind a city policy that the Wisconsin Elections Commission said was illegal.
Illustration of man in hospital bed, with text: A roofing accident left a new immigrant paralyzed. Tracking down his employer took ‘detective’ work. A Madison employer lacked worker’s compensation coverage in Wisconsin, forcing the state to step in. Records also show the incident never triggered federal workplace safety scrutiny.
Indian Health Center’s grief vigil offers space for remembrance in Milwaukee
Federal financial aid for career training is here. When will Wisconsinites benefit? State officials say it could take years for students to access Workforce Pell grants, with aid initially available only to students in a handful of carefully scrutinized programs.
How much are you paying for child care? Help shape Wisconsin Watch reporting on the broken child care market as rates soar.
Wisconsin to cut FoodShare, Medicaid for thousands of refugees under new federal rules Wisconsin will begin enforcing new federal eligibility rules that cut FoodShare and Medicaid for an estimated 7,200 refugees and other legally present immigrants.
Photo of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley speaking and this text: State funding strengthens collaboration among Milwaukee violence prevention organizations County officials say $1.5 million in state funding will expand violence prevention programs and connect residents with jobs, housing assistance, mental health support and other services.
Photo of a woman sitting along a lakeshore, and this text: An Oshkosh domestic abuse shelter has been panned online. Survivors describe what they experienced. Christine Ann shelter officials declined to comment on several negative accounts that highlight system weaknesses.
A person carries a stack of wrapped pizzas beside doors labeled "IN." Text identifies James Carson and says, "Age: 72," "Job: Bartender," and "Why: Money."
Could Milwaukee create its own electric utility? Officials explore taking over We Energies infrastructure within city limits
How Wisconsin Watch uncovered a long-hidden suspect in a 1987 Northwoods disappearance What we learned in investigating Shelly Hansen’s disappearance — and the key questions that remain unanswered decades later.
Oracle sues Wisconsin regulators as it seeks relief from data center credit requirements The lawsuit escalates Oracle’s dispute over Public Service Commission requirements designed to shield utility ratepayers from data center financial risks.
After months of discussions, calls and emails stopped being returned. The proposal now appears to have fallen apart. Read the full story at WisconsinWatch.org
As news of the proposal spread, residents raised questions about its potential impact on the Driftless Area and sought more information. Opponents began mobilizing early in 2026, with interest peaking March 8, when hundreds attended a rally featuring comedian Charlie Berens.
But he didn't know everything. Brisbois agreed to keep the developer's identity confidential. He also says he was never told the exact property the company hoped to acquire.
While some data center negotiations elsewhere remained largely behind closed doors, Brisbois discussed the proposal with residents.
Brisbois believed the project, spanning 500 acres, could bring jobs, tax revenue and one of the largest investments in county history.
Ron Brisbois thought Grant County had landed a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The county's economic development director was approached about a proposed $2 billion data center in Wisconsin's Driftless Area.
A $2 billion proposal, then silence: How a Driftless Area data center deal fell apart Developers pitched a 500-acre project for rural Grant County but, as opposition mounted, they ‘ghosted’ the county’s point person. The potential deal appears to be dead.
A person with a beard faces the camera behind a placard reading “WISCONSIN DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS” with identification number 37878 and the date “AUG 25-89.”
Search warrant screenshot naming Michael D. Raskie
A brick building displays a sign reading “PRICE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE,” with a light blue water tower labeled “PHILLIPS” rising behind it.