Month: April 2023

BIRMINGHAM, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Wednesday repealing Michigan's abortion ban from 1931 that made it a crime to assist in an abortion. The abortion ban, which fueled one of the largest ballot drives in state history, had been unenforceable after voters enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution last November. Whitmer and other Democratic leaders stressed that it was important to strike the law from […]

A Fond du Lac pediatrician says she is concerned about a continued drop in the kindergarten vaccination rate.  A new study shows vaccination rates for U.S. kindergartners dropped from about 95 percent before the pandemic to 93 percent in the 2021-22 school year.   SSM Health Fond du Lac Regional Clinic pediatrician, Dr. Nora Olson, says that decline is significant.  She notes that when it comes to measles for example,  health experts say a […]

Got milk?  You may have less if the U.S. Department of Agricuilture gets its way.  The USDA has proposed dropping by as much as 25 percent the amount of milk that mothers and children receive each month through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children.   Fond du Lac County Public Health Officer Kim Mueller says its not as drastic a cut as it may seems.  "If you have a […]

The Fond du Lac County Health Department says Tuesday, April 11, 2023 will be the final day for COVID-19 testing at the Fond du Lac County Fairgrounds.  The Fairgrounds has hosted COVID-19 community testing since October 2021.   You can still get a COVID-19 test  at Walgreens in Fond du Lac and surrounding areas,  purchasing self-tests through pharmacies, retail outlets, or online,  ordering free self-tests online with Department of Health Services,  or […]

Marshfield Medical Center-Beaver Dam and the YMCA of Dodge County have announced a managed services agreement that transitions management of Kids Care child care center  to the YMCA.   Under the agreement, effective May 1, the YMCA will oversee Kids Care operations while the medical center  will maintain ownership.   As part of the operational transition, Kids Care staff will become employees of the YMCA of Dodge County.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican state Rep. Dan Knodl has won an open Wisconsin Senate seat, creating a GOP supermajority in the chamber that could be used to impeach Gov. Tony Evers and other office holders. Knodl defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in the 8th Senate District special election race on Tuesday. The seat came open after longtime Republican incumbent Alberta Darling retired in November. Knodl’s victory gives Senate Republicans […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — It will be harder to get out of jail on bail before trial in Wisconsin under an amendment to the state constitution approved by voters on Tuesday. The measure, which appeared as two ballot questions that were approved by wide margins, will let judges consider more factors when setting bail and the conditions of release before trial. Its Republican sponsors say the amendment will keep communities […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Turnout in Wisconsin’s hotly contest Supreme Court race broke the previous record high set for spring elections that don’t coincide with a presidential primary. Turnout had already surpassed 36% of the voting-age population, with more than 10% of votes yet to be counted. The previous high was 34% set in the 2011 race won by Justice David Prosser that came in the heat of the Act […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Democratic-backed Milwaukee judge won the high stakes Wisconsin Supreme Court race Tuesday, ensuring liberals will take over majority control of the court for the first time in 15 years with the fate of the state’s abortion ban on the line.  Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Janet Protasiewicz, 60, defeated former Justice Dan Kelly, who previously worked for Republicans and had support from the state’s leading anti-abortion groups.  The victory speaks […]