As drug overdose deaths soar, Milwaukee County considers use of opioid settlement funds
Milwaukee County is on pace this year to surpass last year’s record-high total of 643 drug overdose deaths.
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Fact Briefs
Does the Evers administration refer to the Wisconsin state Capitol tree as a ‘Holiday Tree’?
Yes. In 2019, Gov. Tony Evers began referring to the tree on display in the Capitol Rotunda as the “State Capitol Holiday Tree,” dropping the “Christmas ” title. The state began using the “holiday” title in 1985 to avoid perceptions that it was endorsing any religion, the Associated Press reported.
Are average gas prices in Wisconsin below $3?
Yes. On Dec. 7, the average price of gas in Wisconsin was $2.97/gallon, according to AAA. On the same day, the national average was around $3.36/gallon. Gas prices are falling nationwide and are closer to the prices before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Wisconsin Watch is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. Browse our fact briefs and submit a claim for us to investigate.
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Opinion
Your Right to Know: Prehn records fight seeks accountability
More than a year and a half after the expiration of his term, Dr. Frederick Prehn continues to occupy a seat on the Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Your Right to Know: Don’t pay too much for that photocopy!
If you request paper records and a government custodian tries to charge you 25 cents per page, push back.
Opinion: Absentee ballots don’t give enough space for witness address
Frank Lowry writes that absentee ballots do not provide enough room for the witness to record their complete address.
News about Wisconsin Watch
Wisconsin Watch joins Gigafact pilot to counter election misinformation
Gigafact, a new project, offers funding and tools to three nonprofit newsrooms to intercept unsupported claims and impact social media discourse.
Audience Director opening at Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is seeking an Audience Director to lead audience development and digital marketing initiatives.
Wisconsin Watch Starkweather Creek photo essay wins national honors
Former Wisconsin Watch intern Isaac Wasserman’s photo essay and story of life along Madison’s Starkweather Creek — one of the most polluted waterways in Wisconsin — received an honorable mention in the 2022 Nonprofit News Awards.
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