Day: May 31, 2017

DARLINGTON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge has overturned a ban on selling homemade baked goods in the state.   LaFayette County Judge Duane Jorgenson ruled Wednesday afternoon in favor of three women who'd challenged a state law they say made it impossible for home bakers to legally sell their treats.  Jorgenson said in his oral ruling the ban primarily serves business interests.  The Institute for Justice, a libertarian law […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The leaders of the Legislature's finance committee say they'll ask auditors to look into why the state's health insurance programs reserves grew by $63 million last year.  The Legislative Fiscal Bureau released a memo Wednesday showing reserves grew from $81.5 million in 2015 to $144.4 million last year.  The memo notes the state's actuary recommended not spending the reserves in 2016 and 2017 to help cushion […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A National Rifle Association lobbyist is telling a legislative committee that guns were a great equalizer for "the blacks."   Scott Meyer appeared before the Senate's judiciary committee during a public hearing on a GOP bill that would allow people to carry concealed weapons without permits or training. The NRA supports the measure.  Meyer told the committee that the cost of training can prevent minorities from […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Public defenders would get a pay increase but not as much as Gov. Scott Walker proposed under a vote by the Legislature's budget committee.  The Joint Finance Committee voted Wednesday to approve a nearly $2 an hour increase in pay for district attorneys, in line with what Walker proposed. That amounts to about $4,100 a year.  But public defenders would see just a 1.83 percent salary […]

Fond du Lac School superintendent Dr. Jim Sebert announced several administrative changes on Wednesday that will go into effect next school year. Matthew Steinbarth will serve as the next Principal of Fond du Lac High School.  Mr. Steinbarth, currently Lakeshore Elementary School’s Principal, has a Master’s degree in Education from Marian University in August 2003, and received his Administrator license from Concordia University in May 2013. He has been with […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's transportation budget picture has improved by $93 million.  The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau on Tuesday told lawmakers that that roads fund will end the two-year budget cycle with nearly $102 million due to higher gas tax collections and lower debt service costs. The fund was originally projected to be just $8.4 million.   The positive re-estimate comes as Gov. Scott Walker and Republicans who control […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Republican legislator is joining three Democrats in a longshot effort to loosen penalties for possessing small amounts of marijuana in Wisconsin.  Rep. Adam Jarchow said at a Tuesday news conference he realized the need for the proposal after voters in his rural, conservative district urged him to reconsider the state's approach to marijuana.  The measure from Jarchow, Sen. Fred Risser and Reps. Evan Goyke and […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The state Assembly's universities committee has signed off on a Republican bill designed to clamp down on protesters that disrupt campus speakers.  The bill would subject University of Wisconsin System students who engage or violence or other forms of disorderly conduct that disrupt free speech twice to suspension. A third offense would lead to expulsion.  Supports say the bill would give conservative organizations the chance to […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A federal appeals court says a transgender student who identifies as a male should be able to use the boys' bathroom at his Wisconsin high school.  In September, U.S. District Judge Pamela Pepper granted 17-year-old high school senior Ashton Whitaker permission to use the boys' bathroom at Kenosha's Tremper High School. Kenosha Unified School District appealed the ruling, arguing that the harm to other students, particularly […]