news Archives - Wisconsin Watch

People sit at desks inside an ornate room beneath a domed ceiling, with U.S. and state flags, a large mural and an electronic board visible above the floor.

Forward, Government

Conservative group’s ad campaign pits vulnerable Wisconsin Republicans against their own party leadership

by Brittany Carloni / Wisconsin Watch May 4, 2026May 1, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

The ads suggest Republicans are reading the national mood and emphasizing bipartisan legislation.

A person in a red shirt and visor hands a form to another person next to a table covered with papers and other items, with another person, voting booths and a bulletin board visible.

Forward, Government

Wisconsin will likely see limited, local effects from Voting Rights Act ruling — at least for now

by Alexander Shur / Votebeat May 2, 2026May 1, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Ballots on table next to blue bin and red sign that says "REJECTED ABSENTEES"

Forward, Government

Wisconsin Elections Commission overrules ballot-counting decisions in Madison and Mequon

by Alexander Shur / Votebeat May 1, 2026May 1, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

A billboard reads "TOGETHER WE WILL SAVE LIVES," "In Loving Memory" and "www.1pillkills.org," alongside a photo of a person on the right.

Health & Welfare

‘One pill can kill’: A Milwaukee father turns grief into a warning about fentanyl

by Edgar Mendez / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service May 1, 2026April 30, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

A person stands in shadows at a voting booth in a line of several booths next to a window, with the booth closest to the camera marked with a U.S. flag and the word "VOTE" and sunlight streaming in.

Forward, Government

Wisconsin clerk rejects five absentee ballots over address info, raising legal questions

by Alexander Shur / Votebeat April 30, 2026April 29, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

A person in a yellow safety suit stands in floodwater up to the knees holding a tool on a residential street near a stop sign, with a yellow truck, a traffic barrel and parked cars nearby.

Community, Government

Federal flood assistance unlikely in Milwaukee: Officials discuss next steps

by Meredith Melland / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service April 29, 2026April 29, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

People walk in a line on a sidewalk next to a street, carrying papers, with the Wisconsin State Capitol dome centered in the background between downtown buildings.

News about Wisconsin Watch, Opinion

No shortage of opinions: Readers fuel the WisConversation

by Jim Malewitz / Wisconsin Watch April 29, 2026April 28, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

People sit in rows of chairs facing three people standing and one person sitting near a brick wall, with large equipment, tools and an American flag visible.

Ag & Water, Data Centers Watch

In rural Wisconsin, a town rejects a plan to build a massive data center

by Bennet Goldstein / Wisconsin Watch April 29, 2026April 28, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

A building labeled "SAUK PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL" stands behind a parking lot filled with cars, with an American flag on a pole and rain falling.

Education, Pathways to success

Failed referendums trigger school cuts, closures and new funding pushes across Wisconsin

by Miranda Dunlap / Wisconsin Watch April 28, 2026April 27, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Metal fence in foreground with view of a tan brick building topped with guard towers, barred windows and fencing lined with razor wire under an overcast sky

Forward, Justice & Safety

Tony Evers revived commutations, but what will Wisconsin’s next governor do?

by Brittany Carloni / Wisconsin Watch April 27, 2026April 28, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

Two people ride scooters along a wet street toward a bridge, with parked and moving cars, scattered debris, and buildings and utility poles in the background.

Government, Health & Welfare

Data shows stark difference in Milwaukee parking enforcement between August and April floods

by Devin Blake / Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service April 25, 2026April 24, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch

A chain-link fence topped with barbed wire surrounds electrical equipment, with security cameras and a sign reading “PRIVATE PROPERTY No Trespassing Violators will be prosecuted”

Data Centers Watch, Forward

Wisconsin regulators: Data centers must cover full cost of their energy needs

by Paul Kiefer / Wisconsin Watch April 24, 2026April 24, 2026 Why you can trust Wisconsin Watch