A new AAA survey show travel bookings for 2023 are off to a strong start, and a big jump in travel is expected for spring break. According to AAA 83-percent of Wisconsinites plan to travel this year, up from 62 percent last year. State AAA spokesman Nick Jarmusz says 31 percent of Wisconsinites are planning a spring break vacation, up from 21 percent last year. AAA recommends people who are planning […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A perk that allows Wisconsin state lawmakers to apply the value of unused sick days to pay for health insurance premiums upon retirement is being targeted for elimination under a new bill. The proposal circulated Wednesday by three Republicans would end the benefit going forward, but not take away accrued time for current lawmakers. Members of the state Senate and Assembly currently receive about 10.5 sick […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly has overwhelmingly approved a Republican-authored bill that would force the state's parole commission to meet in public and post its decisions online. Republicans have heaped criticism on the commission after it decided to parole Douglas Balsewicz last May. He was convicted of fatally stabbing his wife. Her family insisted they weren't notified of the decision until only a few days before he would've […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Anyone who encourages a riot or participates in violence during a riot would face felony charges under a bill Wisconsin's Assembly has approved. The Republican-backed measure would make urging, promoting and encouraging a riot a felony. That would be punishable by up to three years and six months in prison. Engaging in violence during a riot could bring up to six years in prison. The bill […]
The Department of Workforce Development reports Wisconsin's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in February dropped to a record low of 2.7%. In addition, the state added 7,500 jobs over the month and 50,300 year-over-year to hit a new record high of 2,997,400. The total jobs number puts the state 3,400 jobs above pre-COVID-19 peaks. Wisconsin's record low unemployment rate of 2.7% for February is down 0.2 percentage points from January's rate of 2.9% […]
The Fond du Lac County Sheriff's Office is warning people to stay off the ice after a Fond du Lac area man was rescued after falling through thin ice on a pond. The incident happened Monday evening on a pond along Deadwood Point Road near Lake Winnebago. Sheriff's captain Bill Tadych says the 21 year old man fell through the ice while trying to rescue a pet dog, but was able to get back to […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Legislature has taken the final step needed to stop Gov. Tony Evers’ administration from enacting a ban on the discredited practice known as conversion therapy. Republicans who control the state Senate voted over the objections of Democrats Wednesday to effectively allow therapists and others to attempt to change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Republicans used a procedural move to freeze any future […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature is moving to clarify when a proposed constitutional amendment to make it harder for people to go free on bail before trial would apply. The proposed amendment on the April ballot would let judges consider the criminal histories of people accused of violent crimes when setting bail. Both chambers of the Legislature passed a bill on Wednesday that would define more than […]
An ad hoc committee is making a number of recommendations designed to improve the longterm financial outlook at the Fond du Lac County-owned Rolling Meadows Golf Course. The committee was formed last year after concerns that the course had been losing money over several years, and presented it's report and recommendations at Tuesday night's county board meeting. County executive Sam Kaufman says the committee recommends the county continue to run the course, with […]