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Does Milwaukee County have the highest sales tax in Wisconsin?You betcha. Read more in our latest Fact Brief.
08/29/2026

Does Milwaukee County have the highest sales tax in Wisconsin?

You betcha.

Read more in our latest Fact Brief.

Sheboygan officials have covered the city’s 15 Flock Safety cameras in plastic and could soon end the police department’...
08/29/2026

Sheboygan officials have covered the city’s 15 Flock Safety cameras in plastic and could soon end the police department’s contract with the license plate reader company.

The police chief and city administrator cited actions by Flock that they say violated the city’s expectations and eroded trust in how its data was being used. The Common Council could vote Sept. 8 to to terminate the contract.

Sheboygan would join several Wisconsin communities that have cut ties with Flock due to concerns about privacy, data sharing and misuse.

Reporting from our partners at WPR. Link in the comments.

Wisconsin’s prison population has reached a record high.The state held 23,854 people in custody as of Friday — nearly 6,...
08/29/2026

Wisconsin’s prison population has reached a record high.

The state held 23,854 people in custody as of Friday — nearly 6,000 more than its prisons were designed to house.

The crowding strains an adult prison system already short about 658 correctional officers and sergeants. It can also limit access to treatment, education and work programs intended to prepare people for release.

Women’s prisons are particularly overcrowded. Two hold more than twice as many people as they were designed for.

How did Wisconsin get here — and what might policymakers do about it? Read more at the link in the comments.

Reporting by Natalie Yahr, with contributions from Brittany Carloni.

You may have seen viral posts about stalled efforts to ban child marriage in Wisconsin.Here’s a closer look at the facts...
08/28/2026

You may have seen viral posts about stalled efforts to ban child marriage in Wisconsin.

Here’s a closer look at the facts.

Republicans haven’t voted against legislation to ban child marriage in the state. But that’s because Republican leaders in the Legislature haven’t brought the proposed legislation to a vote.

Swipe for more details.

A proposed 210-acre data center in Wisconsin Rapids is drawing usual concerns about water use, electricity costs, pollut...
08/28/2026

A proposed 210-acre data center in Wisconsin Rapids is drawing usual concerns about water use, electricity costs, pollution and noise.

But residents are also scrutinizing the backgrounds and business dealings of the men behind the project — including their Russian connections, work on a controversial Saudi development and allegations involving the owner of PNK Group. Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who was indicted on federal conspiracy charges that were later dismissed at the Justice Department’s request, is advising the development team.

The developers have disputed or sought to downplay those concerns. Meanwhile, city officials are waiting for more details before acting on the project’s permit application.

Swipe to learn more, then read Tom Kertscher’s full story at the link in the comments.

Photos by Drake White-Bergey for Wisconsin Watch.

An eyewitness says Milwaukee County Jail officials ignored repeated pleas for help before a 45-year-old man died in cust...
08/27/2026

An eyewitness says Milwaukee County Jail officials ignored repeated pleas for help before a 45-year-old man died in custody last week.

The death is at least the 10th in Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office custody since June 2022. Local jail reform advocates say it raises familiar concerns about whether people in custody receive timely medical attention.

Read the full story from Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service at the link in the comments.

Wisconsin could receive up to $313 million from a landmark settlement with Meta over claims involving youth mental healt...
08/26/2026

Wisconsin could receive up to $313 million from a landmark settlement with Meta over claims involving youth mental health and the design of Facebook and Instagram.

The $17 billion settlement with 47 states would require Meta to adopt stronger protections for children, including daily time limits and pauses, no push notifications during weekday school hours, stronger age-assurance measures, tighter content controls and limits on features such as “like” counts.

Wisconsin is guaranteed at least $219 million, with its share potentially reaching $313 million if conditions involving other social media companies are met.

What could Wisconsin do with the money? Attorney General Josh Kaul said potential uses include:

• Grants to school districts for mental health programs
• Youth crisis intervention
• After-school programs
• Digital wellness instruction
• Training medical providers on the effects of interactive media use and body dysmorphia

The settlement still requires court approval. It would resolve claims brought by states against Meta, while lawsuits from individuals and school districts remain.

Read the full story at the link in the comments.

What do you want Wisconsin’s candidates to answer before Election Day?Wisconsin Watch reporters are preparing to questio...
08/26/2026

What do you want Wisconsin’s candidates to answer before Election Day?

Wisconsin Watch reporters are preparing to question candidates about the issues that matter most to voters — and we want to hear from you.

Submit your questions in the comments or at the link below. We may put your question directly to the candidates as part of our 2026 election coverage.

Microsoft and Wisconsin ratepayer advocates don’t agree on everything. But both say a plan for covering data center tran...
08/26/2026

Microsoft and Wisconsin ratepayer advocates don’t agree on everything. But both say a plan for covering data center transmission costs could leave Wisconsinites footing part of the bill.

American Transmission Company expects to spend more than $500 million upgrading Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant data center connection to the electrical grid. ATC and We Energies say their proposal would protect existing customers. Microsoft and advocates say it still leaves gaps — and are asking federal regulators for more scrutiny.

Paul Kiefer explores what’s at stake for Wisconsin ratepayers.

Link in comments.

Elon Musk won’t face criminal charges for promising $1 million checks to Wisconsin voters during the 2025 state Supreme ...
08/26/2026

Elon Musk won’t face criminal charges for promising $1 million checks to Wisconsin voters during the 2025 state Supreme Court election.

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke, a Democrat appointed as special prosecutor, wrote that he did not believe a jury would convict Musk.

Without Musk’s famous name and the large sums involved, Gruenke wrote, it was “a simple case of a poorly worded statement that was corrected and brought into compliance with the law.”

Wisconsin law prohibits a person from offering, promising, giving or lending anything of value to someone to convince the person to go to the polls, vote or refrain from voting. The Wisconsin Elections Commission previously found that Musk likely broke state law. He still faces a civil lawsuit over the giveaways.

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, the Democratic nominee for governor, said during a campaign stop in Madison he was “befuddled” by the decision.

Read more at the link in the comments.

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