Wisconsin Supreme Court race draws money from every county, state Liberal Judge Chris Taylor has continued to outraise conservative Judge Maria Lazar, but both have donations from all over the map and from billionaires.

Next week’s Wisconsin Supreme Court election has been sleepy compared to the previous two races.

But despite far less money being spent on the races, campaign $ reports show there really is no part of the state — or country — sitting this one out.
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Iran War reminds Sen. Tammy Baldwin of another conflict she opposed The Democratic senator from Madison was among a minority of U.S. House members who voted against the invasion of Iraq in 2002.

I spoke with @baldwin.senate.gov about how the war with Iran is reminding her of the start of the Iraq War more than two decades ago.

The similarities make her worried the U.S. is heading for another drawn-out war in the Middle East.
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Wisconsin Supreme Court race: Meet candidates Lazar and Taylor Appeals Court judges Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor are competing for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court on April 7.

There are 2 weeks until election day here in Wisconsin, and another Supreme Court race is on the ballot.

I sat down with both candidates last week to talk about judicial philosophy, politics, hockey, and a fear of heights.

Read about both judges here:
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Iran war: Dane County mom living abroad feels like 'collateral damage' A Dane County woman and her teen son live in Abu Dhabi as the Iran war rages. She says there was little thought for Americans caught in the middle.

A Wisconsin woman living in Abu Dhabi told me she feels like collateral damage in the U.S. war with Iran. Her daily life has been changed by missile alerts and evacuation worries.

"They’ve just left us behind. And nobody cares. They don’t give a shit if we just die here."

Read my latest here:

Younger veterans face different struggles, crave a new kind of help Post-9/11 veterans returned to Wisconsin with different damage than older generations, and are seeking out non-traditional forms of support.

Wisconsin's post-9/11 veteran population is younger and more diverse — and the support they're seeking when they return home is changing, too.

From equine therapy to guitar lessons, my latest cover story for @captimes.com explores how this new era of vets is finding purpose again.

Has the war in Iran directly affected you or loved ones? The Cap Times is looking to share stories of people from Dane County who are in the Middle East or who have loved ones there, as the conflict escalates and

As the war in Iran escalates, @captimes.com wants to talk with people in the Madison and Dane County area that have been affected.

If you or a loved one are stuck in the Middle East, or have been affected in other ways and want to share your story, contact me.

(info is in the link below!)

Gov. Evers calls Legislature to special session to ban gerrymandering The governor is asking the Legislature to ban partisan gerrymandering in the state’s constitution amid a nationwide redistricting push.

This morning, @govevers.wisconsin.gov officially called the WI state Legislature to a special session to take up a constitutional ban on gerrymandering.

While critical of the proposal as written, Speaker Vos said he supported the concept and was open to negotiating.

Wisconsin schools, parents sue Legislature over school funding formula The lawsuit follows Madison public schools and more school districts around the state turning to referendums to increase funding.

A group of Wisconsin school districts, teachers, parents & students are suing the state Legislature over the state's funding formula, saying it's unconstitutional.

"The dire need for adequate funding has been made clear to lawmakers, but they have refused to hear our pleas," one dad/plaintiff said.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos not seeking reelection Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos not seeking reelection Vos, Wisconsin's longest-serving Assembly leader, has been a powerful Republican force in Wisconsin for the last two decades.

Breaking news: Republican Speaker Robin Vos, the state's longest-serving speaker, announced on Thursday that he is retiring and won't seek reelection in the fall.

He said he had a mild heart attack in November that pushed him to make the decision.

More here from me:

Without WisconsinEye, just how 'dark' is Wisconsin's Capitol? Wisconsin's version of C-Span has been offline for six weeks. Lawmakers and advocates say its absence has hurt the public's access to their government.

It's been six weeks since WisconsinEye - Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN - went off the air. Here's a look at what it's been like inside the Capitol without the streaming service:
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Data centers threaten Wisconsin's rural charm, residents say Sprawling centers that power AI and other internet applications are in plans for DeForest and elsewhere, but residents fear forever harm to their communities.

I published my first cover story for @captimes.com today!

The data center boom in Wisconsin has some residents worried the giant tech campuses will change the identity of their communities and transform Wisconsin from Dairyland to Dataland.

Read more here:

Wisconsin’s deadliest school shooting hasn't changed gun laws, yet In the wake of the Abundant Life Christian School shooting in Madison, advocates called for action to address gun violence and safety in schools.

'And nothing, again and again and again.'

Nearly one year after the Abundant Life school shooting, Wisconsin lawmakers have taken little action to address gun violence and school safety.

More here from me:

How a marriage counselor is making an impression as a senator Democratic State Sen. Sarah Keyeski of Lodi is new to politics. She says she's staying true to herself, even if it means losing a future election.

Sarah Keyeski never wanted to be in politics.

But when she wound up in a newly competitive Senate district, Democratic leaders encouraged her to run.

"I said, 'I will only run if you don't try to change me,'" Keyeski told me.

My profile on @sarahkeyeski.bsky.social here:

Dane County schools expect changes under new law banning cell phones While most school districts in the Madison area already limit cell phone use by students, some, including MMSD, must enact changes to comply with a new Wisconsin law.

By next school year, every public school district in Wisconsin will have to ban cell phones in classrooms.

In my latest w/ @eringretzinger.bsky.social we take a look at how these bans have worked so far in districts around the state, and on how Dane County schools will need to respond.

What if citizens — not lawmakers — drew Wisconsin's legislative maps? The Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is pushing to create an independent redistricting commission before legislative maps are redrawn following the 2030 census.

Before Wisconsin needs new legislative maps, the Wisconsin Fair Maps Coalition is pushing to establish an independent redistricting commission that would put the job in the hands of residents, not lawmakers.

But what would that commission look like?

Here are the details:

Madison-area food pantries say they'll miss federal hunger report Dane County pantries like Second Harvest Food Bank used a now-canceled annual USDA report to track national trends in food insecurity.

Madison-area food banks will have one less way to forecast future changes in food insecurity while they deal with an increasing need among community members, their leaders say.

How Trump could deploy Wisconsin's National Guard, explained As President Donald Trump threatens to send National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities, here's what to know about who controls Wisconsin's military.

As Trump attempts to deploy National Guard troops into Democratic-led cities, including nearby Chicago, Wisconsinites may wonder if any of their cities could be next.

Here's an explainer on who controls Wisconsin's National Guard:

How cherries became part of Door County’s identity While tourists visit Door County for many reasons, from its rocky shores and lighthouses to its picturesque towns and wineries, the county’s rich cherry industry is just, well, the cherry on top.

Here's the story! 🍒

I spent a day in Door County cherry orchards last week to learn more about the area's history with the fruit.

And while the industry has changed a lot over the years, family farms & dedicated visitors are keeping cherries part of Door County's identity.

(link to story below!)

Child care received funding in WI state budget, but providers say it’s still not enough 'I don’t know of a single program that’s not raising rates, and many are doing between $20 and $50 a week across the state. That’s not lowering out-of-pocket costs for families,' said one provider.

A leading advocate for state child care funding is closing her in-home child care center after 18 years. She and other providers say the funding in the state budget is not enough.

"I don’t know of a single program that’s not raising rates," she said.

Nutrition education program cut by Trump was creating ‘magic’ in Wisconsin SNAP-Ed, a federally funded nutrition education program that accompanied SNAP benefits, was eliminated in President Donald Trump’s budget law.

SNAP-Ed, a federal nutrition education program, was creating 'magic' in Wisconsin: introducing kids to new fruits and veggies, helping families save on groceries, and encouraging more physical activity in residents old and young.

But that program has now been cut by Trump.

More here from me:

WI Rep. Van Orden spreads misinformation online following Minnesota shootings In social media posts, Rep. Derrick Van Orden said the man who allegedly shot and killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband on June 14 was a liberal, despite reports to the contrary.

WI Rep. Van Orden spreads misinformation online following Minnesota shootings

Wisconsin mom says SNAP is more than a benefit; it’s also a need President Donald Trump’s federal spending bill would make cuts to food assistance programs.

I interviewed a Wisconsin mom who relies on SNAP and WIC to hear what it would mean for her if those programs were cut under Trump's spending bill.

She said they are more than just a benefit, but something she needs to survive.

More here:

Trump’s cuts to fresh food grants leave Wisconsin farmers, communities hanging The Wisconsin Local Food Purchase Assistance Program was helping to provide locally grown food to food banks across the state.

Every spring, Wisconsin farmers are busy preparing for the summer harvesting months ahead. But after Trump cut funding for a program that connected local farmers with WI food pantries, they've spent this spring being advocates as well.

more here from me!

Sen. Ron Johnson calls Medicaid ‘money laundering’ and ‘fraud’ Johnson said the cuts to Medicaid in President Donald Trump's budget bill don't go far enough.

As Sen. Ron Johnson calls for more federal spending cuts, he said on a conservative radio talk show last week that Medicaid was "money laundering" and "fraud."

Wisconsinites exhausted over back-and-forth in PFAS fight Advocates are exhausted and determined as state Republicans and the Trump Administration stymie efforts to fight the 'forever chemicals.'

Wisconsinites on the front lines of the PFAS crisis are exhausted and determined as state Republicans and the Trump Administration stymie efforts to fight the "forever chemicals."

More here from me:

Madison community unites to mourn victims of Abundant Life Christian School shooting Three people died, including the shooter, and another six were injured in Wisconsin's deadliest school shooting on record.

This week, students at Abundant Life Christian School were supposed to have basketball games and an ugly Christmas sweater spirit day before winter break.

But a school shooting that left 3 dead and 6 injured has thrust the community into mourning.

Scenes from a candlelight vigil held tonight at the Wisconsin State Capitol following the Abundant Life school shooting.

Swans on Lake Monona!!!! 🦢⭐️🤍❄️