Wisconsin Watch

@wisconsinwatch

A nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom working to provide journalism that keeps Wisconsin's communities strong, informed and connected. 👉 Visit us at 💸 Support us at

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Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 25d

ICYMI: Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez has dropped out of the Democratic primary for governor. Rodriguez said she made the decision after discovering financial issues within her campaign. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez quits Democratic governor’s race over campaign finance problems

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 25d

Wisconsin just experienced the highest air pollution levels on record. We analyzed 16 years of air quality data and found that Thursday's wildfire smoke surpassed the record-setting pollution event of July 2023 at many Wisconsin monitoring stations. Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

DataWatch: Wisconsin air pollution reached record highs as wildfire smoke engulfed the state
Wildfire smoke drove Wisconsin’s highest Air Quality Index readings in at least 16 years, surpassing the unprecedented pollution levels recorded in 2023.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 25d

On Milwaukee’s North Side, women 40 and up are coming together to jump double Dutch. Beyond the ropes they are building a sisterhood, strengthening their health and becoming confident in aging. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/milw...

‘You can see God’s hand in it’: How Milwaukee women are building a double Dutch community through sisterhood and fitness

Milwaukee’s 40+ Double Dutch Club is still in its infancy, but members are already seeing life changes.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 25d

Wildfire smoke is causing hazardous air quality in Wisconsin. @astridcode explains how to track air quality in your area and stay safe. Learn more at WisconsinWatch.org.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 25d

Wildfire smoke has created some of the worst air quality Wisconsin has ever recorded. 😷 Here's what the Air Quality Index means, how to protect yourself and what forecasters expect next. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Wildfire smoke brings hazardous air quality in Wisconsin. Here’s how to stay safe
A statewide air quality advisory due to fine particulate matter from smoke will last until noon on Friday, July 17, with the potential of being extended in some areas.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 26d

For decades, the anti-poverty nonprofit Newcap provided shelter and supportive services in 10 northeast Wisconsin counties. Newcap's abrupt closure in March left other nonprofit organizations scrambling to prevent their clients from becoming homeless again. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/nort...

‘There’s nowhere for them to go’: Newcap closure leaves northeast Wisconsin counties scrambling to prevent more homelessness

The nonprofit’s closure reveals how the loss of a single agency can have a staggering effect, especially in rural areas where resources for the unhoused are already few and far between.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 26d

Oracle's credit rating fell to BBB- just weeks after it sued Wisconsin regulators over data center credit rules. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Oracle credit rating drops amid Wisconsin fight over data center credit rules

The downgrade comes as Oracle challenges state regulators’ decision to require companies with lower credit ratings to post millions in collateral for new data centers.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 26d

Elon Musk likely violated Wisconsin's election bribery law when he promised $1 million checks to voters during the 2025 state Supreme Court race, the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission found. The case has been referred to the Brown County district attorney. wisconsinwatch.org

Elon Musk likely broke law by promising voters $1 million payouts, Wisconsin Elections Commission says

The commission referred two complaints to the Brown County district attorney’s office, which can choose to bring criminal charges over violating the state law against election bribery.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 26d

Who gets to build Wisconsin's power grid — and profit from it? ⚡ A fight over a major transmission project has moved to Washington, where federal regulators will decide whether Wisconsin's largest transmission utility deserves another shot at the work. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Two people wearing hard hats and high-visibility clothing stand beside a steel transmission tower section on a dirt construction site. Visible text includes "Wisconsin Watch," "Fight over who expands Wisconsin’s power grid heads to Washington," and "After losing a major transmission project to a startup, American Transmission Company asks federal regulators to reopen the bidding, escalating a fight over who will build — and profit from — Wisconsin’s grid expansion as data centers drive demand."

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 28d

"You get more from SAIL when you give more." Learn about Sharing Active Independent Lives, a Dane County network where older adults help one another with everything from rides to gardening while redefining what it means to age in place. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

It takes a village: This Dane County community helped pioneer a national movement for aging together
One of the country’s earliest village organizations, SAIL has inspired a movement that helps older adults support one another while aging in their communities.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 29d

Some property owners near the proposed Port Washington data center campus became millionaires. But not everyone is happy. Read more from @tomkertschernews.bsky.social and Paul Kiefer: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 29d

How does one love thy neighbor in 2026? For the interfaith community in Milwaukee, sharing stories over a communal meal makes the process easy. Read more from Jake Dale of @Milwaukeenns.org: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/milw...

Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue sparks interfaith connection The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee hosted its Amazing Faiths Dinner Dialogue where people share their faith over a meal.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· 29d

Where is your community's opioid settlement money going? 💰 We dug through more than 1,000 pages of documents to build a searchable database so you can see what your county or municipality is doing with its share. Check your community and tell us what you find: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 12

Public data can be powerful — if it's actually accessible. That's why we built the Wisconsin Watch Immigration Court Data Tracker, which makea it easier to explore millions of immigration court records from across the country. Try it out here: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/04/wisc...

Interactive map of Wisconsin counties shaded by cases per 100k residents, with a sidebar listing statewide case totals, rates, average decision time and yearly new case counts.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 11

More Wisconsinites are riding ATVs and UTVs than ever before — and deadly crashes are rising. Alcohol is often a factor, but efforts to strengthen Wisconsin's impaired-driving laws have repeatedly stalled. More from @thebadgerproject.org wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

With ATV crashes up in Wisconsin, some legislators want to strengthen OWI laws. The Tavern League stands in the way. Alcohol is a common factor in the rising number of off-road vehicle crashes and fatalities reported in Wisconsin. Legislators from both sides want to beef up state OWI laws, arguing that will make the vehicles safer.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 10

What does it take to help young people feel like they belong? In Brown County, the nonprofit Lovin' the Skin I'm In is creating a space where Black girls can build confidence, develop leadership skills and find community. Read more from Astrid Code: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

‘I feel safe for the first time’: Brown County nonprofit uplifts girls of color
A De Pere resident created a space for Black girls to feel less alone. Years later, the nonprofit organization hosts monthly meetings in local schools, offers presentations from guest speakers and plans field trips in the region and across the nation.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 10

The Wisconsin Public Service Commission appears unwilling to reconsider We Energies' request to loosen new credit rating rules for data center developers. The PSC has until Friday to act but hasn't scheduled a meeting. Read about the stakes and what's next. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Wisconsin regulators refuse to loosen data center credit rules, setting up Oracle court fight We Energies argued the rule could discourage future data center investment in Wisconsin, while Oracle is challenging it in court.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 9

Amanda Watzka says a trusted high school teacher groomed her before sexually assaulting her. She's now among former students, teachers and parents alleging Oconto Falls School District showed "deliberate indifference" to abuse spanning 35 years. More from WPR: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Accusers in Oconto Falls case say school had ‘deliberate indifference’ to abuse for decades
Lawsuit against district is one of the largest cases dealing with student sexual assault in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 9

Researchers from Children’s Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin found an association between motor vehicle crash injuries and firearm injuries among children and adolescents. Read more from @milwaukeenns.org: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Photo of car having crashed through a house and text:

Researchers say car crashes could help identify youth at risk of gun violence

Researchers found a significant association between prior motor vehicle crash injuries and later firearm injuries. It could inform violence prevention efforts.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 8

U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman: “I think this is a situation where an otherwise good person, upset by immigration policies in this country, made a bad decision in the moment." Read more from the Associated Press: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan spared prison for obstructing ICE arrest

Former Wisconsin judge Hannah Dugan was spared from prison for ushering a Mexican defendant out of her courtroom to evade U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 7

Our partners at @Votebeat examined how decisions to reject absentee ballots over witness-address requirements in Mequon may have disenfranchised voters, raising questions about election administration and consistency with state guidance. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

How inconsistent standards led to dozens of disenfranchised voters in Mequon

Records show the Mequon city attorney appeared at least partially behind a city policy that the Wisconsin Elections Commission said was illegal.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 2

Juan went to work repairing a roof in Madison. After a 2023 fall left him paralyzed, the undocumented construction worker spent two years waiting for officials to determine who would cover his costs. His story reveals gaps in workplace protections. Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Illustration of man in hospital bed, with text:

A roofing accident left a new immigrant paralyzed. Tracking down his employer took ‘detective’ work.

A Madison employer lacked worker’s compensation coverage in Wisconsin, forcing the state to step in. Records also show the incident never triggered federal workplace safety scrutiny.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 2

Grief is complex. In the same way that there is no one cause, there is no one cure. On a Friday night on Milwaukee’s South Side, local Indigenous community members gathered to grieve and try to find healing together. Read more from @milwaukeenns.org: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/06/milw...

Indian Health Center’s grief vigil offers space for remembrance in Milwaukee

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 2

Federal Pell Grants are expanding to cover some short-term career training under the new Workforce Pell program. But only programs that meet new federal requirements will qualify, and Wisconsin officials say it could take years to approve eligible programs. More: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

Federal financial aid for career training is here. When will Wisconsinites benefit?

State officials say it could take years for students to access Workforce Pell grants, with aid initially available only to students in a handful of carefully scrutinized programs.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 1

As child care costs surge across Wisconsin, we want to hear from you. 💬 How much are you paying for child care, and how does it affect your family? To help shape our reporting, contact Natalie Yahr at nyahr@wisconsinwatch.org. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/07/wisc...

How much are you paying for child care?
Help shape Wisconsin Watch reporting on the broken child care market as rates soar.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jul 1

Starting today, Wisconsin is enforcing new federal rules from President Trump's spending law that end FoodShare eligibility for thousands of refugees, asylees and trafficking survivors. New federal Medicaid eligibility restrictions will kick in on Oct. 1. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/06/wisc...

Wisconsin to cut FoodShare, Medicaid for thousands of refugees under new federal rules

Wisconsin will begin enforcing new federal eligibility rules that cut FoodShare and Medicaid for an estimated 7,200 refugees and other legally present immigrants.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jun 30

Rising property taxes can put a strain on older adults living on fixed incomes. In her latest edition of Q&Aging, Addie Costello highlights statewide programs and local resources that may help older Wisconsinites reduce, defer or pay their property tax bills.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jun 29

Backed by state funding, Milwaukee-area organizations are expanding collaboration on violence prevention through outreach, housing, employment, mental health services and other community-based efforts. Devin Blake has the story. Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/06/back...

Photo of Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley speaking and this text:

State funding strengthens collaboration among Milwaukee violence prevention organizations

County officials say $1.5 million in state funding will expand violence prevention programs and connect residents with jobs, housing assistance, mental health support and other services.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jun 29

When Kimberly Johnson mustered the courage to leave her abuser, she hoped the Christine Ann shelter in Winnebago County would be a refuge. What she didn’t expect was to be turned away. Read more: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/06/wisc...

Photo of a woman sitting along a lakeshore, and this text:

An Oshkosh domestic abuse shelter has been panned online. Survivors describe what they experienced.

Christine Ann shelter officials declined to comment on several negative accounts that highlight system weaknesses.

Wisconsin Watch@wisconsinwatch· Jun 26

Door County is a retirement destination, home to one of Wisconsin’s oldest populations. But for many older adults, retirement no longer means leaving work behind. Read about what drives them to keep punching the clock: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/06/wisc...