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News

Republican candidate for governor Rep. Tom Tiffany speaks Saturday, May 16, 2026, during the Republican Party of Wisconsin State Convention at Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in Baraboo, Wis. Angela Major/WPR

Politics

Tom Tiffany swims to safety after plane makes emergency landing in a lake

Tiffany said his plane began to submerge after he made an emergency landing in Lake Wausau.

September 13, 2026

A still image shows Andrew Mercil seated in front of a turquoise wall decorated with certificates, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Menomonie,' 'Andrew Mercil' and 'Dunn County Clerk.'

Elections

Andrew Mercil on uncertainty over mail-in ballots

Absentee ballots have started to go out this week. Dunn County Clerk Andrew Mercil discusses how changing federal policy on mail-in voting might impact voters and how election officials are preparing.

September 11, 2026

A still image shows Tommy Thompson standing in front of a building with tall windows, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Madison,' 'Tommy Thompson' and 'Former Secretary of Health and Human Services.'

Social Issues

Tommy Thompson reflects on 9/11 attacks and response efforts

Former HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson shared memories of visiting Ground Zero days after 9/11 and newly released documents on city officials' knowledge of hazardous air quality from the wreckage.

September 11, 2026

GOP convention, decline of debates, ballot lawsuit

Inside Wisconsin Politics

GOP convention, decline of debates, ballot lawsuit

Republicans try to fire up the base with a rare midterm convention. Inside Wisconsin Politics looks at why some Wisconsin Republicans joined the party while others stayed home.

September 10, 2026

Eric Toney on running for Wisconsin Attorney General in 2026

Here and Now 2026

Eric Toney on running for Wisconsin Attorney General in 2026

Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney discusses his run as the Republican candidate for Wisconsin Attorney General in 2026 and significant issues facing the state Department of Justice.

September 10, 2026

Josh Kaul on running for Wisconsin Attorney General in 2026

Here and Now 2026

Josh Kaul on running for Wisconsin Attorney General in 2026

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul discusses his run for re-election as the incumbent and Democratic candidate for the office in 2026 and significant issues facing the state Department of Justice.

September 9, 2026

A room with an exam table, two wood arm chairs with padded seats and backs, and a padded stool under a table sit in a room with cabinets, a sink, and other items along a back wall, with an eye chart displayed on a cabinet door and a graphic showing a spinal column on a wall, with an open wood door and its frame in the foreground.

Policy

What can Wisconsin learn from other states starting work requirements for Medicaid?

Nebraska and Montana have put work requirements in place for Medicaid recipients that are required by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — their start ahead of federal deadlines could offer implementation lessons for other states, including in Wisconsin.

September 9, 2026

Laura Dresser on economic impacts of immigrants in Wisconsin

Economy

Laura Dresser on economic impacts of immigrants in Wisconsin

UW-Madison labor economist and High Road Strategy Center associate director Laura Dresser discusses Wisconsin's immigrant workers and effects of immigration enforcement raids on jobs and the economy.

September 8, 2026

Frederica Freyberg sits at a desk on the Here & Now set and faces a video monitor showing an image of Karen Hyun.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Philip Rocco, Sec. Karen Hyun, Laura Dresser

Here's what guests on the Sept. 4, 2026 episode said about sowing distrust in the midterm elections, a Line 5 pipeline leak in Iron and the state of Wisconsin's workers.

September 8, 2026

Hopes and tensions over renewable energy in rural Wisconsin

Rural Voices

Hopes and tensions over renewable energy in rural Wisconsin

Supporters and opponents of large-scale wind and solar energy development in rural communities wrangle over projects as the state's demand for electricity to grow significantly in the coming years.

September 4, 2026

A still image shows Laura Dresser seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Laura Dresser' and 'UW-Madison High Road Strategy Center'

Economy

Laura Dresser on the state of working in Wisconsin in 2026

UW-Madison labor economist and High Road Strategy Center associate director Laura Dresser discusses the State of Working Wisconsin 2026 report on job trends, wage growth, inflation and affordability.

September 4, 2026

A still image shows Philip Rocco seated in front of a very white bedroom, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Philip Rocco' and 'Marquette University Dept. of Political Science.'

Elections

Philip Rocco on noncitizen voting claims and mail-in ballots

Marquette University political science professor Philip Rocco discusses Trump administration moves before the 2026 election seeking to manage the mailing of ballots by alleging noncitizen voter fraud.

September 4, 2026

A still image shows Sec. Karen Hyun seated in front of a blurred background, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Madison,' 'Sec. Karen Hyun' and 'Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources.'

Environment

Sec. Karen Hyun on a natural gas leak in Line 5 in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Sec. Karen Hyun discusses Line 5 leaking natural gas in Iron County following a vehicle collision at an excavation site where the pipeline is being re-routed.

September 4, 2026 • Northern Region

A still image shows an aerial shot of a the clean up site of the natural gas leak spewing from Enbridge's Line 5 pipeline.

Indigenous

Ojibwe tribal group condemns Line 5 spill as ‘sloppy work’

The Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission denounced Enbridge after a contractor's truck struck the Line 5 pipeline at a construction site in northern Wisconsin and caused a natural gas spill.

September 4, 2026 • Northern Region

Flock cameras, election administration and Great Lakes names

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Flock cameras, election administration and Great Lakes names

Flock surveillance cameras become an issue, feds probe alleged noncitizen voting, and presidential place name proclamations — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers impacts on the 2026 governor's race.

September 3, 2026

An aerial photo shows a cluster of multi-story buildings along multiple blocks of a grid of streets next to a body of water, with tree-covered neighborhoods extending to the horizon under a hazy sky.

Environment

Wildfire smoke renews air pollution and asthma concerns in Rock County

Beloit was identified as the worst city in the nation for air pollution in 2023, but the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is not committing to expanding the monitoring system to assess air quality in the community, where asthma rates are among the highest in the state.

September 2, 2026 • South Central Region

Charles Franklin on polling Wisconsin voters on data centers

Politics

Charles Franklin on polling Wisconsin voters on data centers

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin discusses inflation and the cost of living as the top issue in 2026 for Wisconsin voters, who also hold broad opposition to data center development.

September 1, 2026

John Miller on export markets, tariffs and importing beef

Economy

John Miller on export markets, tariffs and importing beef

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO John Miller discusses exports to Canada by businesses in the state, objectives of tariffs, and a Trump administration plan to import beef.

September 1, 2026

Rich Barnhouse on debates over emerging digital technologies

Economy

Rich Barnhouse on debates over emerging digital technologies

Waukesha County Technical College President Rich Barnhouse discusses the expansion and acceleration of debates over new technology amid community-level controversies over data center development.

August 31, 2026

Charles Franklin on a fake poll of Wisconsin’s 2026 primary

Elections

Charles Franklin on a fake poll of Wisconsin’s 2026 primary

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin discusses fraudulent polling results promoted by an individual under the name "Median Strategies" and what it means for pollsters and the media.

August 31, 2026

Frederica Freyberg sits at a desk on the Here & Now set and faces a video monitor showing an image of John Miller.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: John Miller, Charles Franklin, Janine Geske

Here's what guests on the Aug. 28, 2026 episode said about trade war with Canada, polling support in the governor's race, and the process of commuting prison sentences in Wisconsin.

August 31, 2026

A still image shows Charles Franklin seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Charles Franklin' and 'Marquette Law School Poll.'

Elections

Charles Franklin on polling voters about Crowley and Tiffany

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin details what Wisconsin voters say about 2026 governor candidates David Crowley and Tom Tiffany along with who should control the state Legislature.

August 28, 2026

A still image shows John Miller seated in front of a brick wall, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Milwaukee,' 'CEO John Miller' and 'Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation.'

Economy

John Miller on how the US-Canada trade war affects Wisconsin

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO John Miller discusses how escalation of a trade war between the United States and Canada impacts consumers and businesses in the state.

August 28, 2026

A still image shows Janine Geske seated in front of a yellow wall, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Janine Geske' and 'former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice.'

Courts

Janine Geske on Wisconsin’s Commutation Advisory Board

Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janine Geske discusses the goals of restorative justice as Gov. Tony Evers restarts the state's process to commute criminal sentences of approved applicants.

August 28, 2026

Wisconsin’s economy, environment and fight over data centers

Politics

Wisconsin’s economy, environment and fight over data centers

Development of data centers has become a major community issue across Wisconsin, with proponents pointing to supply chain jobs and the tax base while opponents point to energy use and local control.

August 27, 2026

A comic strip-style iillustration shows a person sitting in a couch looking at the smart phone with the TikTok word mark on its back that is emanating thought bubbles showing illustrations of a hamburger and house marked with $$$ as well as the words Avg. Green Bay Rent $4K!! and Wisconsin Gas Prices Over $7/Gallon! with a potted snake plant to the side and a framed image of Lambeau Field on a wall in the background.

Politics

Inside the TikTok campaign insisting Green Bay is ‘more expensive’ than New York City

A series of more than 100 videos published to TikTok that make claims about the cost of living in Green Bay in 2026 fit a pattern of influences getting paid to create and post content about political topics, often without disclosures about the funding source.

August 27, 2026

A row of law enforcement officers wearing helmets with face shields and holding transparent riot shields with the words State Patrol across their center span stands and faces multiple people, with a building with glass-block windows in the background.

Courts

Wisconsin police agencies track use of force, but the numbers are hard to compare

State law requires law enforcement agencies in Wisconsin to report serious uses of force by officers, but inconsistent standards makes comparisons among departments in different places difficult to track.

August 26, 2026

Mail-in voting, commutations and crime, politics of tariffs

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Mail-in voting, commutations and crime, politics of tariffs

The Trump administration proceeds with mail-in voting limits, the Commutations Advisory Board meets and tariffs reemerge as an issue — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers impacts on the 2026 vote.

August 25, 2026

Elon Musk and Ekaterina Diestler stand and hold two ends of an oversized paper check with the words America PAC, pay to the order of Ekaterina Diestler and $1,000,000, with an illuminated screen in the background.

Courts

La Crosse County DA declines to pursue election bribery charges against Musk

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke, who was appointed as a special prosecutor, says he will not file election bribery charges against billionaire Elon Musk even though the Wisconsin Elections Commission said the billionaire likely broke state law.

August 25, 2026

Dr. Ryan Westergaard on a push to split up the MMR vaccine

Health

Dr. Ryan Westergaard on a push to split up the MMR vaccine

Wisconsin Department of Health Services state epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard discusses an executive order by President Donald Trump that calls to separate the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine.

August 24, 2026

Frederica Freyberg and Ryan Westergaard sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Dr. Ryan Westergaard, J. Michael Collins

Here's what guests on the Aug. 21, 2026 episode said about a measles outbreak in southwest Wisconsin and student loan defaults.

August 24, 2026

A still image shows a flock camera secured to a black pole with an American flag waving behind it.

Politics

The rise of and opposition to Flock cameras in Wisconsin

Widespread use of automated license plate readers by law enforcement agencies around the state has provoked a vocal surge of opposition at the local level to the use of these surveillance cameras.

August 21, 2026

A still image shows Dr. Ryan Westergaard seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Ryan Westergaard, M.D.' and 'Wisconsin Dept. of Health Services.'

Health

Dr. Ryan Westergaard on measles cases in southwest Wisconsin

Wisconsin Department of Health Services state epidemiologist Dr. Ryan Westergaard describes a measles outbreak in southwest areas of the state and the impacts of falling childhood vaccination rates.

August 21, 2026 • Southwest Region

A still image shows J. Michael Collins seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'J. Michael Collins' and 'UW La Follette School of Public Affairs.'

Economy

J. Michael Collins on student loan defaults and the economy

UW-Madison La Follette School of Public Affairs professor J. Michael Collins discusses the rising number of student loan borrowers who are in default and what it indicates about the overall economy.

August 21, 2026

Education

UW system pushes for tuition freeze in return for investment

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents announced a plan to freeze tuition for its schools in the 2027-29 budget cycle if the state Legislature agrees to invest $190 million in the system.

August 21, 2026

Two hands wearing nitrile gloves hold an agar plat with streaks of bacteria growth and an identification label.

Health

Alfalfa sprouts linked to food poisoning illnesses in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Health officials are warning consumers against eating alfalfa sprouts that are sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands, with 23 people in Minnesota reported as having fallen ill and investigators identifying another 18 cases in Wisconsin caused by food poisoning.

August 21, 2026

Donald Trump speaks into a mounted microphone with an out-of-focus painting in the background.

Elections

Trump continues to tout data centers, even as they become toxic in 2026 races

President Donald Trump is voicing strong support for data centers, while candidates running in midterm elections are far less accepting as their development has become a contentious issue around the nation.

August 20, 2026

Crowley, Tiffany and why data centers are a major 2026 issue

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Crowley, Tiffany and why data centers are a major 2026 issue

Tom Tiffany and David Crowley move to define themselves and how voters view their opponent in an opening salvo of campaign ads — Inside Wisconsin Politics digests the start of their race for governor.

August 20, 2026

A recreational vehicle with the words NorthEast Wisconsin Community Clinic, the URL www.newcc.health and different graphics is parked on the side of a road next to a sidewalk, with its open side awning providing shade to a folding table and chairs in place next to and open door, with trees and a building in the background.

Social Issues

A guide to homelessness resources in northeast Wisconsin

Despite limited funding, a group of regional agencies provide shelter, support and resources to homeless populations in northeast Wisconsin.

August 20, 2026 • Northeast Region

Three people walk along an asphalt-paved path toward the rear side of a corner of a building with stone masonry walls and a bronze plaque reading Lyons Park, with trees in the background and an out-of-focus plastic sandwich board sign with two illustrations of the U.S. flag and the words Vote Here / Aquí on its front face.

Elections

What to know about fake election poll numbers for shared and retracted by a mysterious company

A mysterious political firm named Median Strategies admitted to fabricating multiple election polls, including one purporting to evaluate support in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor in Wisconsin.

August 19, 2026

Light reflects off metal latch handles and rotary combination locks integrated into a row of metal school lockers.

Education

At ‘quasi-public’ private schools, 100% of students get tuition vouchers — there’s almost no accountability

Private schools, including those heavily dependent on taxpayer funding, often operate without the scrutiny public schools are subject to — following the money at one Milwaukee private school reveals an opaque world with little oversight.

August 18, 2026 • Southeast Region

Different poultry cuts and other meat products packaged in trays and encased in plastic wrap sit stacked in three adjacent open-topped coolers, with a cardboard container filled with a bakery product standing next to one, with an out-of-focus open-sided cooler displaying different food products in the background.

Economy

How to use an inflation calculator

With prices continuing to rise for groceries, gas and other consumer products, free online inflation tracking tools can compare changes in costs over time and show how much income is keeping up.

August 17, 2026

Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross sit next to each other and across from Zac Schultz at a desk on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Bill McCoshen & Scot Ross, Alexander Shur

Here's what guests on the Aug. 14, 2026 episode said about David Crowley's and Tom Tiffany's fundraising in the race for governor and Milwaukee's late-night ballot reporting in the primary election.

August 17, 2026

Three people, with two visibly holding paper ballots, stand in a line next to a double row of temporary voting booths with metal legs, plastic trays and cardboard privacy screens with graphics of the U.S. flag and the word Vote on each side, in which several people are facing, in a room with a tile floor and row of wood-trimmed windows and glass doors marked by three illuminated EXIT signs.

Elections

Democratic primary turnout soars in Wisconsin, other states in 2026

Democratic voters are turning out for 2026 primaries at levels not seen in more than 20 years, with Michigan and Wisconsin seeing midterm records, along with large numbers in Minnesota, Texas and Georgia, though turnout in primary elections is an imperfect predictor of general election results.

August 16, 2026

A still image shows Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling.

Elections

McCoshen & Ross on Wisconsin’s 2026 partisan primary winners

"Here & Now" political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss the outcome of Wisconsin's 2026 primary election deciding Democratic and Republican nominees for governor and seats in Congress.

August 14, 2026

A still image shows Alexander Shur standing in front of a bookcase with an ivy plant on top.

Elections

Alexander Shur on vote tabulation and reporting in Wisconsin

Votebeat reporter Alexander Shur discusses a delay in Milwaukee's vote tally for Wisconsin's 2026 primary election and ongoing conspiracy theories over how local officials process and report ballots.

August 14, 2026 • Southeast Region

Recapping Wisconsin’s 2026 primary election for governor

Elections

Recapping Wisconsin’s 2026 primary election for governor

David Crowley and Tom Tiffany — the Democratic and Republican nominees for governor of Wisconsin in 2026 — started their general election campaigns for the open seat after a tumultuous primary race.

August 14, 2026

A still image shows Rev. Al Sharpton giving a eulogy at a podium at Corey Ruiz's funeral, with Ben Crump behind him applauding.

Social Issues

Rev. Al Sharpton, Ben Crump attend Corey Ruiz’s funeral

Rev. Al Sharpton and civil rights attorney Ben Crump attend a funeral at Fountain of Life Church for Corey Ruiz, who was shot and killed by a Madison police officer during an arrest in July.

August 14, 2026 • South Central Region

How Crowley won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor

Inside Wisconsin Politics

How Crowley won Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor

Democratic candidate for governor David Crowley pulled off a comeback win in the primary and will face Republican Tom Tiffany — Inside Wisconsin Politics looks ahead to the 2026 general election race.

August 13, 2026

Michael Alfonso on his 2026 campaign for Congress and Trump

Elections

Michael Alfonso on his 2026 campaign for Congress and Trump

Michael Alfonso, who won the 2026 Republican primary for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District race, offers thanks to his supporters and to President Donald Trump for making a campaign endorsement.

August 13, 2026 • Northern Region

Torey Dolan on costs of the Lac du Flambeau Band’s lawsuits

Indigenous

Torey Dolan on costs of the Lac du Flambeau Band’s lawsuits

University of Wisconsin Law School professor Torey Dolan considers how land ownership patterns and costs of lawsuits affect efforts by the Lac du Flambeau Band tribal government to assert sovereignty.

August 13, 2026 • Northern Region

David Crowley on running in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor race

Elections

David Crowley on running in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor race

David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, shares his message to voters upon winning the 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin and heading into the general election facing Tom Tiffany.

August 12, 2026

US Rep. Bryan Steil on the 2026 race for Wisconsin governor

Elections

US Rep. Bryan Steil on the 2026 race for Wisconsin governor

U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-1st Congressional District, discusses the 2026 Democratic primary race for governor of Wisconsin and the potential influence of President Donald Trump in the general election.

August 12, 2026

Francesca Hong on her 2026 campaign for Wisconsin governor

Elections

Francesca Hong on her 2026 campaign for Wisconsin governor

Francesca Hong, the state representative for Wisconsin's 76th Assembly District, shares her thoughts on running in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor and seeking to mobilize the state's voters.

August 12, 2026

Tom Tiffany on his message in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor race

Elections

Tom Tiffany on his message in Wisconsin’s 2026 governor race

Tom Tiffany, the U.S. representative for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District and the 2026 Republican nominee for governor, shares his general election campaign stance on the state budget to voters.

August 12, 2026

David Crowley smiles while facing a two people who are facing him, one of whom is holding a smart phone in her left hand to record him, with other people standing in the background watching and taking photographs with cameras.

Elections

Crowley’s victory sets up a general election match with Tiffany in Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor

David Crowley’s razor-thin win over Francesca Hong in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin sets up a general election match against Tom Tiffany, a congressman who has voted with President Donald Trump 100% of the time.

August 12, 2026

Torey Dolan on non-Native people owning land in reservations

Indigenous

Torey Dolan on non-Native people owning land in reservations

University of Wisconsin Law School professor Torey Dolan describes how an 1887 law known as the Dawes Act established the practice of allotment in which tribal lands were sold to non-Native owners.

August 12, 2026

David Crowley speaks while standing in a room with out-of-focus political campaign signs on a wall in the background.

Elections

Crowley wins Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic primary for governor in a photo finish

David Crowley, who reentered the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin after securing the endorsement of Gov. Tony Evers, won the state's Democratic primary election by a narrow margin over Francesca Hong.

August 12, 2026

Three plastic wall panels of two voting booths are marked with Illustrations of the U.S. flag and the word Vote, with one obscured by the adjacent booth.

Elections

Crowley and Hong locked in a tight race as results are reported

Supporters of David Crowley and Francesca Hong were waiting on final voting results to be reported in the very close 2026 Democratic race for governor as the Aug. 11 primary election ended, with the winner to face Republican Tom Tiffany.

August 12, 2026

Torey Dolan on treaties, tribal sovereignty and the courts

Indigenous

Torey Dolan on treaties, tribal sovereignty and the courts

University of Wisconsin Law School professor Torey Dolan discusses the relevance of ceded territory to tribal sovereignty and the role of federal courts in disputes over tribes setting regulations.

August 11, 2026 • Northern Region

A sandwich board sign with an illustration of a U.S. flag and the words Vote Here stands on a polished vinyl floor reflecting light from windows and doors, with out-of-focus industrial doormats near an entrance in the background.

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary election arrives with high-profile races for governor, two congressional seats

The winners of Wisconsin's prominent 2026 primaries for governor, the 7th Congressional District and 3rd Congressional District on Aug. 11 will advance to the general election in November when control of state government and Congress will be on the line.

August 11, 2026

A multi-color partly cloudy sky casts shadows over a landscape of multiple low, large buildings surrounded by roads, retention ponds, power line poles and fields.

Economy

Mount Pleasant data center contract retains power plant provision struck down by Wisconsin regulators

A contract between We Energies and Microsoft states power plants serving the tech company's data center in Mount Pleasant must be located in eastern Wisconsin or Michigan's Upper Peninsula, even though the state Public Service Commission rejected the requirement.

August 10, 2026

Francesca Hong smiles while standing and facing an out-of-focus person in the foreground who is speaking to her, with to more out-of-focus people on either side in the foreground and more out-of-focus people standing in the background.

Elections

Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries next to feature clashes between progressive and establishment Democrats

Democratic candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of the Aug. 11 primary election, a week after a divisive and costly U.S. Senate primary in Michigan.

August 10, 2026

Veronica Ruiz holds her face in her hands and Sheila Stubbs holds Ruiz's left arm, next to a wood podium with multiple microphones with the flags of different media organizations affixed to its surface, in a room with wood wainscoting and toile wallpaper.

Courts

Investigators release name of Madison police officer who fatally shot Corey Ruiz

The Wisconsin Department of Justice has released the name of the Madison police officer who shot and killed Corey Ruiz on July 22 on the city's east side — all four officers who interacted with Ruiz that day have been placed on paid administrative leave while the state investigates the shooting.

August 10, 2026 • South Central Region

In Focus

In Focus with Noble Wray: Tech and the future of policing

Murv Seymour talks with former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray at the Black Business Hub about impacts of technology — from body cameras to AI to drones to license plate readers — on law enforcement.

August 10, 2026

Zac Schultz and Howard Schweber sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Howard Schweber

Here's what guests on the Aug. 7, 2026 episode said about First Amendment rights and a protest encampment in Madison.

August 10, 2026

A still image shows a lone fisherman on a boat on a lake, with tree branches flanking both sides of the image.

Indigenous

Tribal sovereignty is at issue in Lac du Flambeau’s lawsuits

Federal laws addressing tribal sovereignty and efforts in Indigenous communities to assert these rights are central to lawsuits over the Lac du Flambeau Band's moves to limit road and fishing access.

August 7, 2026 • Northern Region

A still image shows a group of Madison police officers wearing high visibility vests walking toward the encampment at the intersection of Baldwin and Williamson Street.

Politics

What’s next for Madison after the Ruiz shooting encampment?

The city of Madison cleared a protest encampment 13 days after Corey Ruiz was shot and killed, as activists and local officials acknowledge relationships between police and the community need repair.

August 7, 2026 • South Central Region

Howard Schweber on First Amendment rights and encampments

Politics

Howard Schweber on First Amendment rights and encampments

UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber considers protest encampments in Madison and responses by authorities given the breadth of and limits to freedom of speech and assembly.

August 7, 2026

Elections

A fight over the Democratic Party’s future shifts to Wisconsin

Wisconsin is the latest state where the battle over the direction of the Democratic Party will play out, with front-runners in the state's 2026 primary for governor featuring a democratic socialist against a candidate endorsed by Gov. Tony Evers.

August 7, 2026

National attention turns to Wisconsin’s 2026 governor’s race

Inside Wisconsin Politics

National attention turns to Wisconsin’s 2026 governor’s race

A nationwide showdown among establishment and insurgent candidates is defining the Democratic Party in 2026 — Inside Wisconsin Politics explores how this clash is playing out in the race for governor.

August 6, 2026

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor hits the home stretch

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor hits the home stretch

Four Democratic candidates — Francesca Hong, David Crowley, Joel Brennan and Kelda Roys — remain in the 2026 primary for governor, all vying to face Republican Tom Tiffany in the general election.

August 5, 2026

Violet LaClair attaches a blood pressure monitor cuff to the arm of a person seated in a high-backed exam chair, in a room with medical exam tables and cabinets along a wall in front of windows with light streaming through blinds.

Economy

UW Health moves to expand its health apprenticeships model around the nation

To fill openings for nurses, surgical techs and more, UW Health pays staff to train for new health careers, on the clock — as other states struggle to find enough health workers, the company has launched WorkForward to show how it's done.

August 4, 2026

Salah Sarsour holds the index finger of his left hand in the air while speaking into a wireless microphone held in his right hand while standing behind a wood podium with a laptop computer on its surface and multiple microphones with the flags of different media organizations affixed to its top, with out-of-focus children standing in the foreground to his side and out-of-focus adults standing behind him in a room with painted concrete block walls.

Courts

Witness testifies that US efforts to deport Salah Sarsour rely on coerced confessions

A former attorney says Israeli authorities coerced Salah Sarsour, the leader of Wisconsin's largest mosque, into confessing to crimes in the 1980s and '90s, and that the U.S. is wrongfully relying on those convictions in a move to deport him.

August 4, 2026 • Southeast Region

A stack of different sets of absentee ballots bound with rubber bands sits on a table, with out-of-focus people and a tray with absentee ballots arranged on their side in the background.

Courts

Dane County judge rules paper absentee ballots violate rights of disabled voters

Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell ruled that absentee voting practices in Wisconsin discriminates against disabled voters, setting up a trial in which groups are seeking to require elections officials to allow for electronic ballots.

August 4, 2026

David Crowley speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a podium with both of his hands holding papers on its surface, with a teleprompter mirror facing him and an out-of-focus projector screen in the background.

Elections

Mainstream Democrats pin hopes on David Crowley’s reboot campaign for governor

David Crowley suspended his campaign and then jumped back into the 2026 race for governor, receiving the backing of Gov. Tony Evers but with little time remaining to win over Democratic primary voters.

August 4, 2026

Donald Trump sits in a high-backed leather chair with out-of-focus torso of people standing behind him in the background.

Courts

Wisconsin, two dozen other states sue over Trump’s Section 301 tariffs

Wisconsin and 24 other states sued the Trump administration on Aug. 3 over double-digit tariffs issued under Section 301 of a 1974 law, calling them a pretext for replacing import taxes that the U.S. Supreme Court struck down in February.

August 3, 2026

Jazzman Brown on homelessness and the killing of Corey Ruiz

Social Issues

Jazzman Brown on homelessness and the killing of Corey Ruiz

Jazzman Brown, an organizer of a memorial to Corey Ruiz, describes how his experiences being homeless inform how activists are seeking to provide aid and services to others who are seeking community.

August 3, 2026 • South Central Region

Lorien Carter on maintaining a street memorial to Corey Ruiz

Social Issues

Lorien Carter on maintaining a street memorial to Corey Ruiz

Lorien Carter, an organizer of a memorial to Corey Ruiz, describes the goals of a protest encampment at the intersection of two streets in Madison where he was shot and killed by a police officer.

August 3, 2026 • South Central Region

Francesca Hong holds a phone up in her right hand and takes a selfie photo with two people standing behind her, with other people standing in the background of a room with an arched ceiling and a stage at one end with multiple overhead lights.

Elections

Francesca Hong has defined Wisconsin’s Democratic primary for governor

Francesca Hong, a 37-year-old chef, bartender, state lawmaker and democratic socialist, has campaigned in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor on her own terms, and polling suggests her approach might just work.

August 3, 2026

Frederica Freyberg sits at a desk on the Here & Now set and faces a video monitor showing an image of Anthony Chergosky.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Anthony Chergosky, Austin Hammond, Ann Jacobs

Here's what guests on the July 31, 2026 episode said about another shake-up in the race for governor, tornado recovery efforts in Menasha, and the illegality of putting a wager on election outcomes when voting.

August 3, 2026

Janesville becomes an AI data center battleground

Economy

Janesville becomes an AI data center battleground

Artificial intelligence is fueling stock market highs, economic growth and a construction boom across the country, but it is also igniting fierce local debates about the benefits, the costs and whether data centers that power AI should be built at all.

August 2, 2026 • South Central Region

A still image shows a young man speaking into a bull horn in the middle of a crowd of people at Corey Ruiz's memorial in Madison.

Social Issues

A Corey Ruiz street memorial expresses outrage, solidarity

In the wake of a police officer shooting and killing Corey Ruiz, activists in Madison gather around a makeshift memorial to offer condolences, seek accountability and help others who are down and out.

July 31, 2026 • South Central Region

A still image shows Anthony Chergosky seated in front of brown bookshelves lined with books with a graphic at bottom reading 'La Crosse,' 'Anthony Chergosky' and 'UW-La Crosse Dept. of Political Science.'

Elections

Anthony Chergosky on Wisconsin 2026 governor primary tumult

UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky considers the state of Wisconsin's 2026 Democratic primary race for governor as Mandela Barnes drops out and Francesca Hong leads in polls.

July 31, 2026

Ann Jacobs on prediction markets and Wisconsin election law

Elections

Ann Jacobs on prediction markets and Wisconsin election law

Wisconsin Elections Commission member Ann Jacobs discusses an agency advisory that buying and selling prediction market contracts on election outcomes violates state law on making bets and voting.

July 31, 2026

A still image shows Austin Hammond seated in front of a white wall with a brick wall to his left, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Menasha,' 'Austin Hammond' and 'Menasha Mayor.'

Economy

Mayor Austin Hammond on damage by a tornado hitting Menasha

Menasha Mayor Austin Hammond describes impacts of a tornado that struck multiple communities in Outagamie and Winnebago counties along with post-storm efforts to assess damage and provide resources.

July 31, 2026 • Northeast Region

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor gets shaken up again

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Wisconsin’s 2026 primary for governor gets shaken up again

Four candidates remain in the topsy-turvy 2026 Democratic primary for governor as Mandela Barnes ends his campaign — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers the state of the race in its closing days.

July 30, 2026

Mandela Barnes speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a podium, with the shadows of multiple people in the foreground.

Elections

Barnes drops out of Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic governor primary

Mandela Barnes, a former lieutenant governor of Wisconsin, dropped out of the 2026 Democratic primary for governor, leaving four candidates remaining in the race for the party's nomination with less than two weeks before Election Day.

July 30, 2026

Joel Brennan gestures with his left hand and holds a microphone in his right hand while standing in a room with a brick wall and stage curtain in the background.

Elections

Democrat Joel Brennan says he can win the governor’s race — if voters get to know him

Joel Brennan, who served as secretary for the Wisconsin Department of Administration under Gov. Tony Evers, has plenty of experience in state government but is making his first run for office in the 2026 Democratic primary for governor.

July 29, 2026

Mindy Lohff poses for a portrait while standing in a storage room with wood shelves filled with cases of toilet paper, facial tissue, sanitary napkins, soaps, shampoos and other personal toiletry items, with stacks of canned and dry food items in the foreground.

Social Issues

Newcap closure leaves northeast Wisconsin scrambling to prevent more homelessness

The closure of the anti-poverty nonprofit Newcap reveals how the loss of a single agency can have a staggering effect, especially in rural areas where resources for the unhoused are limited.

July 28, 2026 • Northeast Region

Kelda Roys gestures with both hands while speaking into a microphone mounted to the top of a lectern in a room with a wood door in the background and the out-of-focus heads of people facing her in the foreground.

Elections

Kelda Roys leans on experience, attention to detail in second bid for governor

In a crowded, chaotic 2026 Democratic primary for governor of Wisconsin, state Sen. Kelda Roys emphasizes the detail in her policy plans and says she's best equipped to work in the office on day one.

July 28, 2026

Bill Mihalski pointes with his right index finger toward a King piece on a wood chess board on a laminated wood table, with more than a half-dozen children seated around it in a room with a whiteboard with the letters ELA mounted on a painted concrete-block wall.

Education

Pulaski tried to make summer school fun — 2,600 of the district’s kids showed up

The Pulaski Community School District's summer school offerings provide academic help to students who need it, but they also cater to student interests, including horsemanship, cooking and swimming.

July 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

Siding, wall studs and other types of wood debris sits in piles on the ground among trees stripped of leaves and small branches and in front of a damaged two-story house with no roof, with other damaged houses in the background.

Economy

Widespread damage in Menasha and Appleton area after tornado

The National Weather Service reported a "confirmed tornado" over Lake Winnebago, as storms on July 27 caused widespread damage to homes and buildings in Appleton and neighboring Menasha.

July 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

Tom Tiffany speaks to a person facing him with two other people to his side while standing outside in front of other people standing and walking in front of a building with wood siding, multiple levels of corrugated metal roofs and a sign reading Tom Tiffany Governor.

Elections

As the Democratic primary heats up, Republican Tom Tiffany has campaigned for governor on his own terms

Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany has portrayed himself as a folksy everyman while campaigning around Wisconsin, while downplaying his partisan voting record and his ties to President Donald Trump.

July 27, 2026

Bryna Godar and Frederica Freyberg sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Charles Franklin, Bryna Godar, Ryan Graham

Here's what guests on the July 24, 2026 episode said about the polling on the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor, ongoing legal fights over how absentee ballots are handled when candidates drop out, and maintaining services for people experiencing homelessness.

July 27, 2026

A group of protestors march along a street at night while holding a fabric banner on two poles with the words Justice for Corey Ruiz, with buildings and trees on either side, and with an illuminated theater marquee sign reading New Orpheum and an illuminated dome of Beaux-Arts style building topped by a gilt statue in the background.

Politics

Madison grapples with Ruiz shooting as signature city events get canceled

The fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz by a Madison police officer has sparked renewed calls for policing reforms and is forcing the city to once again reckon with calls from community members to address racial justice.

July 26, 2026 • South Central Region

Ben Crump speaks and gestures with his right hand while standing behind a wood podium with multiple microphones with the flags of different media organizations affixed to its surface, with Veronica Ruiz standing to his side holding her face in her hands and Sheila Stubbs holding Ruiz's left arm, in a room with a carved fireplace lintel, the Wisconsin flag, an electric wall sconce and toile wallpaper.

Courts

Attorney for the Ruiz family says Madison police officer should be criminally charged

Civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who appeared with the family of Corey Ruiz at a news conference at the Wisconsin State Capitol, says a Madison police officer should face criminal charges after shooting and killing the 38-year-old man during a struggle with four officers on a busy city street.

July 26, 2026 • South Central Region

A still image shows a crowd of people marching on the steps of the state Capitol, with a woman wearing a black graphic t-shirt in the foreground holding a sign that reads 'Justice for COREY!!!

Social Issues

Fallout from fatal Madison police shooting of Corey Ruiz

A Madison police officer fatally shot Corey Ruiz, a 38-year-old Black man, on July 22, prompting a series of protests and vigils while reopening old wounds from previous police shootings in the city.

July 24, 2026 • South Central Region

Elections

Charles Franklin on 2026 Wisconsin governor primary matchups

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin discusses 2026 primary races for Wisconsin governor, from progressives supporting Francesca Hong to Democratic matchups with Republican Tom Tiffany.

July 24, 2026

A still image shows Bryna Godar seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Bryna Godar' and 'State Democracy Research Initiative.'

Elections

Bryna Godar on WEC’s ruling on ‘spoiling’ absentee ballots

University of Wisconsin Law School State Democracy Research Initiative attorney Bryna Godar discusses the state Elections Commission barring requests for new absentee ballots if a candidate drops out.

July 24, 2026

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