MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The head of Wisconsin's nonpartisan elections board is defending the agency from Republicans who want to do away with it. Government Accountability Board director Kevin Kennedy testified Thursday before the Legislature's Audit Committee. He says criticisms being made of the GAB are "outsized, unreasonable and uncivil." But Republican critics pointed to parts of an August audit that find problems with how the agency handled about 1,900 […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Governor Scott Walker's administration says Wisconsin finished the last fiscal year with a $135 million surplus. The Department of Administration released report on Thursday that found the state finished the fiscal year that ended June 30 with a balance of $135.6 million in its general fund, which includes taxes, gaming compact revenue and other revenue generated by state agencies. The report noted the state brought in […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican sponsor of a bill overhauling Wisconsin's civil service system affecting about 29,000 state workers says he's optimistic a deal can be reached to pass the measure. The proposal is stalled in the Senate because Republican Sen. Steve Nass objects to no longer requiring all applicants for state jobs to say whether they've been convicted of a crime. An Assembly Committee held a hearing on […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature's budget-writing committee has approved a bill that would give the panel the ability to sign off on changes to the state's health insurance program. The Group Health Insurance Program covers state and local public employees. A board that includes the governor and attorney general administers the program. Joint Finance Committee leaders have introduced a bill that would give the committee the power to approve […]
Less than half of Wisconsin's public school districts will receive more state aid this year than they did last year. The state Department of Public Instruction released the aid figures as required by law on Thursday. It reports that 44 percent, or 186, of the state's 424 public school districts will see an aid increase. The total amount of money for school aid did not increase this year compared to […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's nearly powerless state treasurer position would be eliminated under a proposal that has cleared an Assembly committee. The constitutional amendment would have to pass the full Legislature this session, and again in either 2017 or 2018, before being put to voters for final approval. The office would be eliminated in 2019. Republicans who control the Legislature have for years taken duties away from the treasurer's […]
Fifth graders at Chegwin Elementary School recently enjoyed a tour of the Capitol in Madison. Before the tour began, Chegwin students, teachers, and chaperones stopped to get their picture taken on the steps in front of the Assembly Chamber by a photographer from State Representative Jeremy Thiesfeld's office. The group then continued to tour the Assembly and Senate Chambers, the Supreme Court, and even got to sit in the Governor's […]
The Dodge County Sheriff’s Office is joining other area law enforcement agencies participating in a statewide Prescription Drug Take Back Event this weekend. Sheriff Dale Schmidt says on Saturday, residents may bring unwanted, unneeded, or expired medications to the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office between 9am and 3pm and dispose of them in the Drug Drop Box in the lower level of the Sheriff’s Office. Schmidt says the program disposes of […]
All the pancakes one can eat will be featured when Fond du Lac Noon Kiwanis holds its 56th Pancake Day on Thursday, Oct. 22, 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year’s event will again be held at the American Legion Fox Hole Bar & Hall, 500 Fond du Lac Ave., near the FDL County Fair Grounds. Proceeds are used to help fund a number of important community projects including the […]