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Wage increases for a large segment of the Wisconsin workforce mean a decline in income inequality in the state. A new report from the High Road Strategy Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found many workers' earnings are still falling behind. (Adobe Stock)

Report: WI economy rises on strength of workers' wage growth

A new report showed income inequality in Wisconsin is declining as lower-wage workers are seeing faster wage growth but Black, Latino and women …

Organizations tracking guaranteed income programs say there have been roughly 30 pilot initiatives tested across the country within the past few years. (Adobe Stock)

Checking pulse of guaranteed income programs

Wisconsin is among the states where guaranteed-income programs have been tested. A new report says, despite controversy, similar efforts are useful …

An installation view of the exhibition Art Against the Odds, is shown at the Neville Public Museum in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo courtesy of Kate Mothes)

'Art Against the Odds' shines light on artists in WI justice system

By Kate Mothes for Arts Midwest.Broadcast version by Mike Moen for Wisconsin News Connection reporting for the Arts Midwest-Public News Service Collab…

According to leading support organizations, autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the United States. (Adobe Stock)

Amid higher autism rates, calls grow for community acceptance

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported one in 36 children around the U.S. has autism spectrum disorder. Rates are much higher than a …

A recent survey showed 65% of Americans will likely trust 2024 election results, compared with 54% in April last year. (John Davis/Adobe Stock)

WI elections administrator: Feds need to help bolster voting infrastrucure

Americans are preparing to vote this year in what's described as a "high-stakes" presidential election. But those who oversee the voting process…

The Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce says Wisconsin ranks 14th in the nation when measuring the growth of college degree attainment between 2010 and 2020. (Adobe Stock)

More Americans 'learning and earning,' but college degree gaps persist

The U.S. has seen an increase in the percentage of adults with college degrees, which helps boost their lifetime earnings. But a new report shows …

According to services company Custody X Change, most Midwestern states don't provide judges with a clear formula for helping establish alimony payments. (Adobe Stock)

Report calls for more consistency in alimony laws

Wisconsin is among the states without a defined formula for deciding alimony payments through divorce court proceedings. A new report says without …

Wisconsin is one of 20 states still at the federal minimum wage level of $7.25 an hour. The other 30 have base levels ranging from $8.75 to $16. (Adobe Stock)

Peeling back the layers of WI minimum wage policy

Bills are pending in Congress to boost the federal minimum wage, which remains at $7.25 an hour. Separately, many states increased their wage …

As with previous presidential elections, Wisconsin is considered a swing state for the 2024 vote. (Adobe Stock)

As election season ramps up, WI moves into overhaul mode

In 2024 and beyond, Wisconsin could see big changes related to voting. New political boundaries are expected based on a state Supreme Court ruling…

Republican leaders in a number of states, including Wisconsin, have increasingly tried to cut or limit DEI programs at public colleges and universities. (Adobe Stock)

Deal limiting diversity work on WI campuses prompts calls for action

Campuses in Wisconsin's public university system now face hard limits on diversity, equity and inclusion efforts following a controversial budget …

If Wisconsin were to shift election oversight from an independent commission, and effectively give the Legislature the final say on such matters, the plan would take effect just before the 2024 presidential election, in which Wisconsin will once again be a swing state. (Adobe Stock)

Caution urged as WI sees more election policy proposals

Election oversight remains a controversial topic in Wisconsin. Ahead of the 2024 presidential vote, civic engagement leaders hope state lawmakers …

Conservative-linked groups such as Moms for Liberty have established local chapters in states such as Wisconsin in hopes of getting more supporters elected to school boards. But education observers say voters have had a lukewarm response to the movement. (Adobe Stock)

As other states mull results, recruiting starts for WI school board candidates

While many other states analyze school board races from this week, Wisconsin candidates will soon begin filing paperwork for elections next spring…

Some 80% of female Hispanic voters between ages 18 and 29 voted as Democrats in 2022, as did 89% of African American women in the same age range. (Adobe Stock)

WI Part of Push to Engage With Young Voters

Vice President Kamala Harris is embarking on a monthlong college tour, including the University of Wisconsin-Madison, to hear what students are …

In a new poll from the group A Better Wisconsin Together, 66% of Wisconsin voters say they would rather see the Legislature prioritize education rather than seek the possible impeachment of a liberal state Supreme Court justice. (Adobe Stock)

New Poll: Most Voters Oppose Impeaching WI Supreme Court Justice

Following last spring's election, where Wisconsin voted in a liberal justice to the state Supreme Court, Republican leaders are further exploring a …

Construction unions say contractors who have tax liens against them should draw more scrutiny over concerns they are mistreating workers. (Adobe Stock)

Labor Leaders: WI Tax Fraud Case Warrants More Scrutiny Over Trades

Construction union leaders in the Midwest hope law enforcement and other entities take notice of the outcome of a tax evasion case involving a Wiscons…

Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court decision ending affirmative action in college admissions was in response to specific policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina. The ruling is expected to affect such programs at schools around the country. (Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Upends Consideration of Race in College Admissions

There's been widespread reaction to yesterday's decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to restrict affirmative action in college admissions. Wisconsin …

In recent rulings, the U.S. Supreme Court has issued opinions limiting the scope of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But a new opinion, stemming from a redistricting issue, keeps a key provision of the law in place. (Adobe Stock)

WI Voter-Outreach Group Applauds SCOTUS Redistricting Ruling

Civic engagement groups around the country, including in Wisconsin, are cheering Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding a key provision of …

Consumer advocates say it's important for customers to read and understand a financial institution's terms and conditions to know what services are available. (AdobeStock)

Credit Unions Touted as Safe Alternative Amid Industry Concerns

The recent collapse of two banks has put the U.S. financial sector into focus. Customers in Wisconsin and elsewhere are being reminded that there are …

Wisconsin Republicans have weakened the powers of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and his attorney general. Advocates say that has made it harder for the state to pursue environmental cases in court. (Adobe Stock)

WI Supreme Court Race Outcome Also Linked to Climate Issues

As the state of Wisconsin analyzes the outcome of this week's state Supreme Court election, environmental advocates are hopeful about what it means …

Projections indicate that by 2030, nearly 40% of all Americans living with Alzheimer's will be Black or Latino. (Adobe Stock)

Black History Month: Shining a Light on Alzheimer's Disparities

With Black History Month underway, Wisconsin researchers and support groups are highlighting the disparities in cases of Alzheimer's disease…

In Wisconsin, polling places are open on Election Day from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Adobe Stock)

WI Voters Urged to Know Their Rights for Election Day

Heightened political tensions have hovered over this election season. For Wisconsinites headed to the polls tomorrow, voters' rights groups say …

Wisconsin is among a dozen states that election experts noted have strict voter ID laws. (Adobe Stock)

WI's Voter ID Law Remains a Focal Point for Pro-Democracy Groups

As policy analysts point out Wisconsin has one of the strictest voter ID laws in the country, a nonpartisan group is carrying out efforts to help …

Milwaukee's city budget process typically begins in late winter or early spring, and then wraps up with a final vote in early November. (Adobe Stock)

WI's Biggest City Has Representation Problem During Budget Planning

The budget process for Wisconsin's largest city is ramping up, and there are concerns residents in underserved areas will not receive as much …

Latino workers are getting training in green-energy job skills through a pilot program, but some face roadblocks trying to balance a new career path with maintaining two or three other jobs to support themselves. (Adobe Stock)

Program Works to Bring 'Green' Construction Jobs to Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Latino community has been inundated with job opportunities in the "green" economy thanks to a new pilot program. Elevate, a climate-…

Also included in the Inflation Reduction Act is an extension of expanded subsidies in the American Rescue Plan that help bring down costs of ACA insurance plans. These subsidies are seen as important to those ages 50 to 64, who pay up to three times more for their insurance. (Adobe Stock)

IRA Passage: Older Wisconsinites to See Prescription Drug Cost Relief

Sweeping legislation approved by Congress is designed to address a range of issues, including climate change and deficit reductions. Other components …

A January ruling from the Waukesha County Circuit Court held nearly all ballot drop boxes are illegal, with a narrow carve-out for boxes at clerks's offices and in other specific scenarios. (Adobe Stock)

Advocates Call on WI Supreme Court to 'Unlock the Drop Boxes'

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will soon hand down a decision on whether absentee ballot drop boxes are permitted under state law. Ahead of that …

A Marquette University Law School poll finds that those who expressed the greatest doubt about the accuracy of the November 2020 election are also the most excited to cast a ballot this year. (Adobe Stock)

Poll: Strong Majority of WI Voters Confident in Spring Election Accuracy

The debate over election integrity has been at the center of the battle for the ballot in Wisconsin since 2020. But new polling of Wisconsin voters …

Sen. Mary Felzkowski, R-Irma, said the hearing falling on

WI GOP, Dem Lawmakers Split on Path to Marijuana Legalization

Yesterday, April 20, was an unofficial holiday for marijuana enthusiasts across the country, and here in Wisconsin, lawmakers marked the day by …

Per Wisconsin Department of Corrections data, as of June 2021, about one-fifth of the people on community supervision in Wisconsin live in and around Milwaukee. (Adobe Stock)

WI Groups Push for Voting Rights for Formerly Incarcerated

Wisconsin's spring election is next week, but thousands of residents will be barred from casting their ballots. Wisconsin does not allow anyone …

The bill (SB 941) would also set new reporting categories for municipal clerks, including how many people voted absentee by mail, the total number of voters who cast ballots at the polling place and the number of registered voters in a municipality on Election Day. (Adobe Stock)

Bill Would Give WI Legislature Oversight of Election Funds

Wisconsin's Republican lawmakers are backing a series of bills to set new election administration policies, one of which would give a Republican-…

A 2020 report by the Kaiser Family Foundation found about seventy percent of lower-income adults couldn't afford an unexpected $500 medical bill. (Adobe Stock)

'No Surprises Act' Shields WI Residents From Surprise Medical Bills

CORRECTION: Sarah Smith is the director of public affairs with the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance. A previous version incorrectly …

Research has shown the average older American takes four to five prescription drugs each month. (Adobe Stock)

Analysis: WI Residents Priced Out of Prescription Drug Market

MADISON, Wis. - Prescription drug costs are climbing faster than wages for the average Wisconsin resident. That's according to a new analysis…

Armed with new census data, Wisconsin leaders are moving forward with redistricting. The new political maps are expected to result in a court fight, but fair-map advocates cite some optimistic signs this time around. (Adobe Stock)

Politics Aside, WI Residents Can Submit Redistricting Input

MADISON, Wis. - Going into the current redistricting cycle, Wisconsin was viewed as a state where political tension would underscore new legislative …

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Black farmers own just 0.52% of the nation's farmland. (Adobe Stock)

Lawsuit Over Federal Aid Underscores Barriers for BIPOC Farmers

EAST TROY, Wis. -- Wisconsin is at the center of a lawsuit targeting federal debt relief for farmers of color. The suit was filed this spring by a …

In addition to George Floyd's murder, the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wis., last summer spurred widespread calls for police reforms. (Adobe Stock)

Evers Urged to Create Police Reform Commission

MILWAUKEE -- Community leaders from Milwaukee rally today to try to convince Gov. Tony Evers to hear their concerns about police accountability …

A new Gallup survey shows more than 60% of Americans say they know

Juneteenth Declared National Holiday, Amidst Progress, Upheaval

MADISON, Wis. -- Juneteenth National Independence Day is now an official holiday, after President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday, approved by both …

The Governor's Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion is scheduled to hold its first meeting Feb. 19. (Adobe Stock)

Mixed Feelings for Members of New WI Equity Council

EAU CLAIRE, Wis. -- As Black History Month begins, 30 people have been appointed to a council, which will recommend diversity and inclusion practices …

As in other states, Wisconsin is seeing data that show its Latinx population is being disproportionately affected by the pandemic. (Adobe Stock)

More Outreach Crucial to Help Protect WI Latinos from COVID

MADISON, Wis. - This week, Wisconsin health officials shared more sobering COVID-19 data, and the pandemic's effect has been devastating in Latino …

The City of Milwaukee has more than a dozen absentee ballot drop boxes across the city. Wisconsin voters who have yet to turn in absentee ballots are urged to find a drop-off site rather than mail them. (urbanmilwaukee.com)

WI Elections Commission Addresses Gridlock, Ballot Urgency

MADISON, Wis. - Only a handful of days until the November 3 election, and Wisconsin officials have a simple message for absentee voters who haven't …

Nationally, turnout among Black voters was down about 7% in 2016, but a rebound is predicted in 2020. (Adobe Stock)

Final Push is On to Reach WI Black Voters

MILWAUKEE - Political observers say Wisconsin's Black residents have consistently faced voter suppression in multiple forms. The pandemic adds …

A report out this year suggests many of the more than 12,000 people in Wisconsin jails are eligible to vote but may be disenfranchised. Some volunteer groups are working to change that. (Adobe Stock)

Helping People in Jail or Homeless Vote in WI

UPDATED: To include The Marshall Project report. 10-26-2020 3:56pm MST. CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. - COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin are spiking again…

As COVID-19 cases spike again in states such as Wisconsin, those in charge of census outreach efforts are making a push through social media. (Adobe Stock)

Amid Legal Wrangling, Census Outreach in High Gear in WI

MILWAUKEE, Wis. -- Community groups and civic leaders are allowed to continue conducting the 2020 census through October, thanks to a ruling from a …

Kenosha Protests: Activists Want Policy Change, Not Campaign Spin

KENOSHA, Wis. -- President Donald Trump is expected to visit Kenosha today in response to the tensions over the police shooting of Jacob Blake…

While many cities in states like Wisconsin don't have a reputation for policies deemed racist, areas of the Midwest have some of the worst outcomes for Black residents. (Adobe Stock)

Kenosha Tensions Stoked by Longstanding Racial Gaps in Midwest

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Demands for social justice in cities like Kenosha are linked to racial inequities deeply rooted in the nation's history. But …

Both major parties in Wisconsin have been at odds over how to approach police-accountability policy. Those divisions remain following the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha. (Adobe Stock)

Kenosha Shooting Prompts Calls for Police Accountability Bills

KENOSHA, Wis. -- Protesters continue to demand justice over the police shooting of a Black man in Kenosha over the weekend. And Democrats in the …

In 1919, Wisconsin was the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment. In the next year, 35 other states followed that lead, paving the way for women's right to vote. (wisconsinhistory.org)

WI Role in 19th Amendment, Struggles that Still Exist

MADISON, Wis. -- Next week formally marks the 100th anniversary of women's right to vote in the United States. Wisconsin played an important role in …

Wisconsin leaders have a goal of seeing all residents have access to broadband internet by 2025. (Adobe Stock)

Broadband Advocates Worry WI Task Force Won't Be Effective

MADISON, Wis. - A task force is starting work on ways to further address broadband access issues in rural Wisconsin. But an advocacy group says the …

Wisconsin's governor has announced that three retired judges will review applications of people who want to serve on a nonpartisan commission to redraw the state's legislative districts. (Adobe Stock)

Nonpartisan Redistricting Panel Takes Shape in WI. Can it Work?

MADISON, Wis. - The State of Wisconsin is now accepting applications for people to serve on a nonpartisan redistricting panel, aimed at eliminating …

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WI: Social Justice