All Recent Articles - PBS Wisconsin

Maria Lazar on issues for Wisconsin Supreme Court iustices

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Judge Maria Lazar, a conservative running for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2026, discusses campaign donations, recusal and the roles of precedent and standing.

March 9, 2026

Steve Donohue on the geology of minerals in the Bend Deposit

Science

Steve Donohue on the geology of minerals in the Bend Deposit

GreenLight Metals independent director and mining consultant Steve Donohue describes the geological history of the Bend Deposit in northern Wisconsin and metals being sought in exploratory drilling.

March 9, 2026 • Northern Region

Annette Ziegler listens while sitting in a high-backed leather chair and facing a microphone mounted to a judicial dais with an open binder filled with papers on its surface, with other high-backed wood chairs in the background.

Elections

Ziegler announces she will not run in the 2027 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who was first elected in 2007, will not seek a third 10-year term in the 2027 election, giving liberals another chance to expand a majority on the high court.

March 9, 2026

Side-by-side images show Frederica Freyberg sitting at a desk on the Here & Now set and facing a video monitor showing images of Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, US Sen. Ron Johnson

Here's what guests on the March 6, 2026 episode said about a congressional resolution about the war in Iran.

March 9, 2026

Economy

Wisconsin study finds tax credit meant to help workers mostly helps big companies

Federal lawmakers want to expand the Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which for three decades has rewarded companies that hire people with barriers to employment, but research from UW-Madison shows it doesn't increase hiring among people who often struggle to find jobs.

March 6, 2026

Side-by-side images show Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson looking into the camera.

Policy

Wisconsin’s US senators split on war powers resolution over further attacks on Iran

Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin voted in favor of a resolution to block further attacks on Iran while Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson voted against the motion — both senators described their stances on the war and the Trump administration's aims in "Here & Now" interviews.

March 6, 2026

A semi-truck drives on a lane between a row of semi-trailers and numerous stacks of shipping containers positioned around multiple cranes.

Courts

Wisconsin and more than 20 other states sue Trump administration over global tariffs imposed after US Supreme Court decision

Wisconsin and more than 20 other states are challenging President Donald Trump's new global tariffs in court, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the U.S. Supreme Court, arguing Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world.

March 5, 2026

US Sen. Ron Johnson on the war with Iran and its mission

Policy

US Sen. Ron Johnson on the war with Iran and its mission

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, discusses the Trump administration launching strikes on Iran, the powers of Congress in waging war, and the military and political objectives of these actions.

March 5, 2026

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on the war with Iran and its mission

Policy

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on the war with Iran and its mission

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, discusses the Trump administration launching strikes on Iran, the powers of Congress in waging war, and the military and political objectives of these actions.

March 5, 2026

Angie From on her enthusiasm for teaching about mathematics

Education

Angie From on her enthusiasm for teaching about mathematics

Notre Dame School of Milwaukee teacher Angie From describes how experiences in teaching at different grade levels and at multiple schools influences her approach to promoting student interest in math.

March 4, 2026 • Southeast Region

Patrick Landry on fundamentals of teaching math in school

Education

Patrick Landry on fundamentals of teaching math in school

Notre Dame School of Milwaukee President Patrick Landry discusses focusing on providing stable environments at school and within classrooms when seeking to effectively teach mathematics to students.

March 4, 2026 • Southeast Region

Erik Thompson stands and holds his right hand up in the air pointed toward a shelf filled with switchboards encased in transparent plastic wrapping, with more wrapped stacks of packaged items in rows behind him and a row of wood crates, in a room with a metal ceiling.

Economy

Data centers have fueled at least $1 billion in growth for Wisconsin-based businesses

Wisconsin companies are doing big business in data centers even though none of the hyperscale facilities are yet operating in the state, but the long-term economic impact of these developments remains unclear.

March 4, 2026

The Bend Deposit and mining prospects for northern Wisconsin

Economy

The Bend Deposit and mining prospects for northern Wisconsin

GreenLight Metals is conducting exploratory drilling in Taylor County to assess whether the levels of copper and other minerals in the Bend Deposit would make mining profitable as global demand grows.

March 3, 2026 • Northern Region

Erika Bullock on considering factors that influence learning

Education

Erika Bullock on considering factors that influence learning

UW-Madison School of Education professor Erika Bullock describes how the daily necessities of life — from family and food to housing and health — can impact how children learn in classroom settings.

March 3, 2026

Mellisa Edwards holds multiple sheets of different colors of tissue paper in both hands over a cardboard box while standing behind a metal bench, with a wood pallet on the top of a metal bench behind her and another person standing next to a piece of industrial equipment in the background, in a room with metal shutters along two walls.

Economy

Work, recovery and second chances on a manufacturing floor in Appleton

Those recovering from addiction have a difficult time finding stable employment and keeping it – Apricity Contract Packaging in Appleton offers "a safe environment" where every person working at the operation is pursuing sobriety.

March 2, 2026 • Northeast Region

Frederica Freyberg and Jeff Wright sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Jeff Wright, Charles Franklin

Here's what guests on the Feb. 27, 2026 episode said about 2026 spring and fall elections polling and urgent calls from school districts for relief.

March 2, 2026

Charles Franklin on an early 2026 poll of Wisconsin voters

Elections

Charles Franklin on an early 2026 poll of Wisconsin voters

Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin describes results of polling voters about the 2026 candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court and governor along with high-profile issues in the state.

February 27, 2026

A still image shows Jeff Wright seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Jeff Wright' and 'Sauk Prairie Schools Superintendent.'

Education

Jeff Wright on school referendums causing property tax hikes

Sauk Prairie School District Superintendent Jeff Wright discusses how referendums for education funding are causing property taxes to rise and the changes districts are seeking from state government.

February 27, 2026

Everyday life plus constant decisions equals a need for math

Education

Everyday life plus constant decisions equals a need for math

Many Wisconsin students struggle to learn mathematics, as educators emphasize the importance of numeracy in daily life and point to examples of schools and teachers that find success with numbers.

February 26, 2026

A lawmaker stands and speaks into a microphone mounted to a wood podium at the center of a legislative dais, with multiple people seated in high-backed wood and leather chairs beside and behind him on the dais, faced by more people seated in multiple rows of wood desks, in a room with a large painting and taxidermy eagle on the rear wall, an electronic vote register on an adjacent wall, and marble pillars supporting a second-level seating gallery.

Courts

Prosecutors charge Milwaukee lawmaker with misdemeanor after dispute over Assembly resolutions

Milwaukee County prosecutors have charged Democratic state Rep. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez with disorderly conduct in connection with a 2025 feud among lawmakers over proposals for Wisconsin Assembly resolutions to honor Hispanic veterans and observe Hispanic Heritage Month.

February 26, 2026

Environment

After years of legal disputes, Enbridge starts Line 5 reroute around Bad River reservation

Energy company Enbridge began clearing trees to begin construction on a new 41-mile segment of the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline to circumvent the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa reservation in northern Wisconsin following years of litigation in federal court.

February 25, 2026 • Northern Region

Tamara Thomsen on researching Lake Mendota’s ancient canoes

Science

Tamara Thomsen on researching Lake Mendota’s ancient canoes

Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen details how researchers determined the age of multiple ancient Native canoes found in Lake Mendota and how two are being preserved.

February 25, 2026 • South Central Region

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates consider state prisons

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates consider state prisons

Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin respond to a plan by Gov. Tony Evers to overhaul the state's corrections system and how they would approach the issue.

February 25, 2026

The pillars of a dome of a Beaux-Arts-style building are illuminated by lighting at night, with the leafless branches of different trees in silhouette in the foreground.

Courts

A group of schools, teachers, parents and students file lawsuit over how the state of Wisconsin funds education

A coalition of Wisconsin school districts, teachers' unions, advocacy groups, parents, students and others has filed a lawsuit asking the courts to adopt a new education funding system that meets the needs of local districts unless the Legislature and governor enact one "in a timely fashion."

February 24, 2026

Lawrence Plucinski on Lake Mendota’s fleet of ancient canoes

Indigenous

Lawrence Plucinski on Lake Mendota’s fleet of ancient canoes

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa tribal historic preservation officer Lawrence Plucinski describes how ancient Indigenous peoples made use of the numerous dugout canoes found in Lake Mendota.

February 24, 2026 • South Central Region

A circular seal showing a stylized Lady Justice surrounded by two sets of three five-pointed stars and the words Wisconsin Court of Appeals is displayed on a frosted window in a wood frame.

Courts

A 2026 Wisconsin Appeals Court election was on track to break records until a candidate got kicked off the ballot

Races for state Court of Appeals judges in Wisconsin have gotten more expensive as conservatives and liberals clash in the Milwaukee suburbs, and a spring 2026 race for an open seat in District II was shaping up to exceed previous spending records until one candidate was disqualified.

February 24, 2026 • Southeast Region

Tamara Thomsen on spotting ancient canoes in Lake Mendota

Science

Tamara Thomsen on spotting ancient canoes in Lake Mendota

Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen explains how more than a dozen ancient Native canoes were identified in Lake Mendota and the possibility there are more to be found.

February 23, 2026 • South Central Region

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Zac Schultz, Grant Sovern

Here's what guests on the Feb. 20, 2026 episode said about Assembly Speaker Robin Vos not seeking reelection and an immigration system in turmoil.

February 23, 2026

A still image shows Zac Schultz standing in the state Capitol building with two large green stone pillars on either side.

Politics

Zac Schultz on Speaker Robin Vos retiring from the Assembly

PBS Wisconsin senior political reporter Zac Schultz discusses the significance of Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announcing that he will not run for another term in the 2026 election.

February 20, 2026

A still image shows Grant Sovern seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Grant Sovern' and 'Community Immigration Law Center.'

Social Issues

Grant Sovern on changes to the US immigration system’s rules

Community Immigration Law Center Board President and attorney Grant Sovern considers broad changes in how the U.S. immigration system operates and what that means for people applying for citizenship.

February 20, 2026

A still image shows Gov. Tony Evers standing at a podium in the legislature.

Politics

Evers, LeMahieu address schools, taxes at State of the State

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu speak to K-12 school funding and property taxes in Wisconsin's 2026 State of the State Address and official response.

February 20, 2026

A still image shows a map of the Bad River reservation, the existing Line 5 route and the proposed reroute.

Courts

Judge upholds permit to reroute Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline

A judge rejected a challenge by the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa to permits for rerouting the Line 5 oil and gas pipeline around their reservation over fears about water quality impacts.

February 20, 2026 • Northern Region

A still image shows archival footage of Rev. Jesse Jackson standing in front of a podium

Politics

The political legacy of Rev. Jesse Jackson in Wisconsin

Civil rights leader and presidential candidate Rev. Jesse Jackson died at 84 years old, and is remembered in Wisconsin for his 1988 run and advocacy for social and economic justice.

February 20, 2026

Several people stand on steps flanked by statues of two seated individuals outside an entrance to a multi-wing stone masonry building with a portico of columns upholding a pediment with sculptures of figures, with a street lamp, tree branches and grounds plants in the foreground.

Courts

US Supreme Court strikes down Trump’s sweeping global tariffs

The U.S. Supreme Court has struck down President Donald Trump's far-reaching global tariffs in a 6-3 decision that centers on those he unilaterally imposed under an emergency powers law, including the sweeping "reciprocal" tariffs levied on nearly every other country.

February 20, 2026

Greta Neubauer stands and speaks into multiple microphones with the flags of different media organizations mounted to the top of a wood podium, with multiple people standing behind her and to her side, in a room with a carved fireplace lintel, a lower portion of a painting, the U.S. and Wisconsin flags, electric wall sconces and toile wallpaper.

Policy

Wisconsin moves to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage

Republican state lawmakers who long blocked a bipartisan measure to expand postpartum Medicaid coverage for mothers in Wisconsin plan to pass the measure following pressure from Democratic lawmakers, with Gov. Tony Evers expected to sign it into law.

February 19, 2026

The epic history of ancient Native canoes in Lake Mendota

Indigenous

The epic history of ancient Native canoes in Lake Mendota

More than a dozen ancient canoes have been identified in the waters of Lake Mendota in southern Wisconsin, inspiring collaboration between scientists and Native nations to preserve Indigenous history.

February 19, 2026 • South Central Region

Robin Vos stands and listens while standing in front of multiple microphones with the flags of different media organizations, with a podium, multiple computer monitors and people standing on a legislative dais in the background.

Politics

Republican Wisconsin Speaker Robin Vos leaving office after reshaping the state

Republican lawmaker Robin Vos, who has served as the longest-serving Assembly speaker in Wisconsin's history and acted as a block on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, announced he isn't running in the 2026 election.

February 19, 2026

Data centers and Wisconsin’s 2026 candidates for governor

Elections

Data centers and Wisconsin’s 2026 candidates for governor

Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin share their perspective on the state's role in regulating the development of data centers and their demand for energy.

February 18, 2026

Environment

Ahlstrom launches free water program for Stella residents affected by PFAS

Residents of the town of Stella in Oneida County are eligible to sign up for a free bottled water program that is being offered by Ahlstrom, the company that owns a paper mill identified as a source of PFAS contamination in the area's groundwater.

February 18, 2026 • Northern Region

Chairwoman Nicole Boyd on tribal nations working with Evers

Indigenous

Chairwoman Nicole Boyd on tribal nations working with Evers

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairwoman Nicole Boyd discusses the relationship between tribal governments in Wisconsin and Gov. Tony Evers, who is completing his final year in office.

February 18, 2026

US Rep. Scott Fitzgerald on ICE activity and Wisconsin farms

Policy

US Rep. Scott Fitzgerald on ICE activity and Wisconsin farms

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-5th Congressional District, discusses the prospect of ICE enforcement actions at farms in Wisconsin and the system agricultural industries use to track immigrant workers.

February 17, 2026

Chairwoman Nicole Boyd on tribal responses to funding cuts

Indigenous

Chairwoman Nicole Boyd on tribal responses to funding cuts

Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairwoman Nicole Boyd discusses actions by tribal nations responding to moves by the federal government to cut funds for health, nutrition and other services.

February 17, 2026

The U.S. and Wisconsin flags fly from the top of a flagpole in front of a single-story building with brick and glass walls and a letter sign reading Dane County Job Center beneath Black Lives Matter and the rainbow Pride flag banners, with multiple vehicles parked in a parking lot in front of the building, and with snowbanks, leafless trees and evergreen landscape plants in the foreground, and the tops of leafless trees behind the building in the background.

Economy

Looking for work? Here’s how Wisconsin’s job centers seek to offer help

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development runs dozens of job centers across the state, each staffed with people trained to help jobseekers in their quest for employment — here's how they work.

February 16, 2026

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, Chris Taylor

Here's what guests on the Feb. 13, 2026 episode said about a partial government shutdown over Homeland Security funding and the judicial philosophy of one candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

February 16, 2026

A still image shows a procession of people carrying various Tribal flags walking down the aisle of the State legislature.

Indigenous

Wisconsin’s tribal nations assert reciprocity and resiliency

Chairwoman Nicole Boyd of the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa delivers the 2026 State of the Tribes Address, emphasizing how Indigenous voices can contribute to policymaking in Wisconsin.

February 13, 2026

US Rep. Scott Fitzgerald on de-escalation and funds for ICE

Budgets

US Rep. Scott Fitzgerald on de-escalation and funds for ICE

U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald, R-5th Congressional District, discusses debate in Congress over de-escalation practices by law enforcement officers and funding for the Department of Homeland Security.

February 13, 2026

A photo shows a website displayed on a Google Chrome browser with a URL bar reading medicaid.gov above lines of text reading An official website of the United States government, Medicaid.gov, Keeping America Healthy, Federal Policy Guidance and other partial phrases.

Policy

Can immigration officials access Medicaid data? What it means for Wisconsin patients

Wisconsin is suing to block federal immigration officials from accessing Medicaid records of patients in the state, and the dispute has sparked concerns over privacy and health care avoidance.

February 12, 2026

Chris Taylor on the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Elections

Chris Taylor on the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District IV Judge Chris Taylor, a liberal running for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, discusses her perspectives on law and the politics of judicial elections.

February 11, 2026

An aerial photo shows a riverfront parking lot with two docks in between a wooded area and open fields with an electrical substation connected to power lines spanning water, with two railroad lines and a landscape of roads and houses at the foot of wooded bluffs and more fields and wooded areas leading to the horizon.

Economy

Another billion-dollar Wisconsin data center is eyed for Cassville in Grant County

An unnamed company is scouting sites for what would be a $1 billion data center in the town of Cassville in southwestern Wisconsin, but Grant County officials aren't divulging the developer interested the site.

February 11, 2026 • Southwest Region

Passengers sit in multiple seats on either side of an aisle in a train car with an industrial carpet and two lines of overhead lighting.

Economy

Amtrak might open a station in Madison, but not until 2032

The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, or Amtrak, was granted federal funding for a station in Wisconsin's capital and second largest city, but even with rail lines already in place, it could take until the early 2030s for trains to start operating.

February 10, 2026 • South Central Region

Rep. Angela Stroud on expansion of data centers in Wisconsin

Economy

Rep. Angela Stroud on expansion of data centers in Wisconsin

State Rep. Angela Stroud, D-Ashland, discusses concerns about the economics of the artificial intelligence industry and how the increasing energy use of data centers can affect costs for ratepayers.

February 10, 2026

Rep. Mark Born on expansion of data centers in Wisconsin

Economy

Rep. Mark Born on expansion of data centers in Wisconsin

State Rep. Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, discusses seeking more information about Meta's construction of a hyperscale data center in his district and changes that come with adoption of new technologies.

February 10, 2026 • South Central Region

Sasha Druzhyna, Varya Mykhailova and Anna Mykhailova sit next to and face each other on a couch.

Economy

A pair of doctors who fled Ukraine for Wisconsin still try to pursue their careers

An anesthesiologist and a cardiologist gave up prestigious careers to save their daughter from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia — nearly four years after resettling in Wisconsin, they're still on the long road to practicing their professions.

February 9, 2026 • South Central Region

Tricia Braun on a push to build more and larger data centers

Economy

Tricia Braun on a push to build more and larger data centers

Wisconsin Data Center Coalition Executive Director Tricia Braun discusses motivations to build more data centers and how the tech industry is driving growth within the state and around the nation.

February 9, 2026

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, Maria Lazar

Here's what guests on the Feb. 6, 2026 episode said about demands from Democrats for new accountability measures for federal immigration agents, and the judicial philosophy of one candidate for the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

February 9, 2026

Multiple masked men wearing plate carrier vests with different removable patches reading Police ICE, Police Federal Officer and Police on top of different types and colors of apparel walk in a an uneven line down the middle of a street, with out-of-focus parked and driving vehicles in the background.

Courts

Hard hats and dummy plates: Reports of ICE deceptions add to fears in Minnesota

Legal observers and officials say they have received a growing number of reports of federal agents impersonating construction workers, delivery drivers and other methods to avoid detection in Minnesota, including an apparently made-up Wisconsin-based electrician business.

February 8, 2026

The local battles over data center developments in Wisconsin

Politics

The local battles over data center developments in Wisconsin

The rise and fall of a data center proposal in DeForest was one of many local-level debates around the state over these energy-intensive developments that are a backbone of AI and tech-based business.

February 6, 2026 • South Central Region

US Rep. Gwen Moore on ICE and funding for Homeland Security

Budgets

US Rep. Gwen Moore on ICE and funding for Homeland Security

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-4th Congressional District, discusses debate in Congress on funding the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and stronger conduct requirements for ICE and other federal agents.

February 6, 2026

Kimberly Solberg on due process in immigration enforcement

Courts

Kimberly Solberg on due process in immigration enforcement

Kimberly Solberg, a resident of Baldwin, discusses the manner in which federal agents are conducting immigration enforcement operations in Minnesota and seeking consistent application of the law.

February 5, 2026 • West Central Region

Howard Schweber on political pushback in Minnesota to ICE

Politics

Howard Schweber on political pushback in Minnesota to ICE

UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber considers responses from local elected officials and law enforcement officers to large-scale Homeland Security deployments in Minnesota.

February 5, 2026

Maria Lazar, Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate, speaking during an interview, with on-screen text “MARIA LAZAR” and “WISCONSIN SUPREME COURT CANDIDATE.

Elections

Maria Lazar on the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Judge Maria Lazar, a conservative running for an open Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, discusses her perspectives on law and the politics of judicial elections.

February 4, 2026

Anita Kirschling, Theresa Reiter, Judy Rogers and Linda Chapman knit while sitting on rolling office chairs around three sides of tables arranged in a square, with other chairs facing the tables and in the background in a room with an industrial carpet and an open wood door.

Education

UW-Green Bay courts more older learners as student enrollment numbers shrink

Leaders of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay hope efforts to attract older learners will bolster enrollment and keep the northeast Wisconsin's growing retirement-age population mentally sharp and socially engaged — and potentially in the workforce for longer.

February 3, 2026 • Northeast Region

Kimberly Solberg on the pace of ICE raids around Baldwin

Courts

Kimberly Solberg on the pace of ICE raids around Baldwin

Kimberly Solberg, a resident of Baldwin, discusses learning about Homeland Security agents conducting sweeps in the western Wisconsin community and the level of involvement by local law enforcement.

February 3, 2026 • West Central Region

Howard Schweber on training for and protocols of ICE agents

Courts

Howard Schweber on training for and protocols of ICE agents

UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber considers differences among immigration officers and other federal law enforcement in terms of their training and operational practices.

February 3, 2026

A sign with the title Advisory and lines reading This Water Contains PFAS, Keep Water Out of Mouth, Choose Lower Exposure Activities, Wash Skin and Follow Fish Consumption Advisories along with graphics, additional text and QR codes is attached to a post in a split-rail fence, with fallen leaves on the ground a building obscured by thick growth of trees in the background.

Environment

Takeaways from the AP’s reporting on PFAS pollution in private drinking water wells

While water utilities can typically treat contamination of PFAS "forever chemicals" in one place, restoring a safe supply for well owners must be done at the household level, which leaves some owners out as regulators, lawyers and companies strike deals over who gets help.

February 2, 2026

A blurred pickup truck drives on a snow-covered road past a metal-sided building with an door at an entry vestibule, two garage doors and other doors along with a wood sign reading Stella Town Hall and a Smokey the Bear fire danger sign standing in snow-covered ground, with another tuck and trees in the background under an overcast sky.

Environment

A crisis emerges across the US as PFAS ‘forever chemicals’ quietly contaminate drinking water wells

The roughly 40 million Americans who get drinking water from wells are at particular risk when harmful PFAS "forever chemicals" contaminate the supply — when a well is found to be tainted, it can take years to find a new source of clean water.

February 2, 2026

Frederica Freyberg and Howard Schweber sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Howard Schweber

Here's what the guest on the Jan. 30, 2026 episode said about the intersection of the First and Second Amendments in protests against ICE in Minnesota.

February 2, 2026

Marble pillars with Composite order capitals frame a doorway in a marble masonry wall with a carved sign reading Supreme Court above a metal filigree door, with additional doors on either side, a pediment above, and an illuminated brass pillar electric light fixture in the foreground.

Elections

Lazar and Taylor differ on role of state courts when it comes to federal agents

Following the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, the two 2026 candidates for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat — conservative Judge Maria Lazar and liberal Judge Chris Taylor — take different positions on whether state courts have a role in legal disputes over the actions of federal agents.

February 2, 2026

Indigenous

Fearing ICE, Native Americans rush to acquire tribal IDs and prove their right to belong in the US

Many of the people whose ancestors lived in the U.S. thousands of years before Europeans are carrying tribal identification for protection against the Trump administration's anti-immigration agenda, with the ID cards being widely used as proof of U.S. citizenship.

February 1, 2026

A still image shows a bridge over the St. Croix river, which forms the border between Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Social Issues

Witnessing — and fearing — ICE actions in St. Croix County

Immigration raids, protests and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minnesota are weighing upon communities in western Wisconsin, where federal agents are active as well.

January 30, 2026 • West Central Region

Howard Schweber on protesting ICE and constitutional rights

Politics

Howard Schweber on protesting ICE and constitutional rights

UW-Madison political science professor emeritus Howard Schweber considers what Homeland Security operations and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis mean for the Bill of Rights.

January 30, 2026

A still image shows a a portrait of Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson next to a statement he made regarding calls to defund ICE.

Budgets

Baldwin, Johnson react to Homeland Security funding fight

Wisconsin Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson respond to Congress debating Homeland Security funding given actions in Minneapolis after another protestor is killed.

January 30, 2026

A still image shows an elementary school math book opened on a desk and in front of the desk are children sitting in a classroom.

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates consider school funding

Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin offer their thoughts on how public schools in the state are funded and their plans for the school choice voucher system.

January 30, 2026

A letter sign reading Milwaukee County Courthouse is affixed to the façade of a building with granite masonry, exterior metal light fixtures, and a door and metal-framed windows set with in arches, with a street light with no parking signs on a sidewalk in front of the entrance.

Courts

Jury finds Milwaukee man guilty after forging threats against Trump to get immigrant witness deported

A Milwaukee County Circuit Court jury found Demetric Scott guilty on charges of identity theft and witness intimidation after sending multiple forged written threats against President Donald Trump in an attempt to get a witness against him deported to Mexico.

January 29, 2026

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court candidates on ICE and the law

Courts

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court candidates on ICE and the law

Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor — candidates for the Wisconsin Supreme Court in 2026 — discuss the role of courts and status of constitutional rights concerning Homeland Security actions in Minnesota.

January 29, 2026

Two men wearing neck gaiters covering the lower half of their faces and carrying long guns stand on a sidewalk, with other out-of-focus people standing among park benches, light poles and buildings in the background.

Policy

What are Wisconsin’s laws on open and concealed carry of guns in public spaces?

The White House's effort to blame Alex Pretti after Border Patrol agents shot and killed him in Minneapolis has renewed a national conversation about Second Amendment rights and carrying firearms in public.

January 29, 2026

Chris McIntosh on transparency in the NCAA’s policy for NIL

Economy

Chris McIntosh on transparency in the NCAA’s policy for NIL

UW-Madison Athletic Director Chris McIntosh discusses opportunities for college athletes to get paid through Name, Image and Likeness contracts and fan concerns over the transparency of NCAA policies.

January 28, 2026 • South Central Region

Elections

Trump endorses Tiffany in Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor, leading Schoemann to drop out of the race

President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin's open race for governor in 2026, prompting rival Republican candidate Washington County Exec. Josh Schoemann to end his candidacy.

January 28, 2026

A student wearing a welding mask uses a welding torch to work on a piece of metal on top of a welding table in a large room with other manufacturing equipment on tables and in cases on walls, with other students standing and working on different projects in different locations.

Education

Appleton Technical Academy prepares students for skilled trades — it’s not easy

ATECH students take hands-on classes, enroll in paid apprenticeships and earn free college credits, but the school has struggled to attract students, combat persistent stigma around technical education, and afford equipment and tools.

January 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

Chris McIntosh, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin on NCAA transfer

Education

Chris McIntosh, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin on NCAA transfer

UW-Madison Athletic Director Chris McIntosh and Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin discuss how the NCAA transfer portal affects educational experiences and financial goals of participating student athletes.

January 27, 2026 • South Central Region

A man wearing a parka and holding a sheet of paper in his left hand places a pine spray with his right hand on a ring-shaped makeshift memorial consisting of flower bouquets, wreaths, votive candles, sign and photos, and other items, with other people standing in the background behind a line of barrier tape strung around multiple traffic cones, with buildings, leafless trees and traffic signals in the background.

Politics

Killing of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis scrambles Second Amendment politics for Trump and Republicans

Prominent Republicans and gun rights advocates helped elicit a political turnabout after bristling over the Trump administration's characterization of Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by a federal agent in Minneapolis, as responsible for his own death because he lawfully possessed a weapon.

January 27, 2026

Multiple people sit behind a low legislative dais with multiple rows of people seated in rows of plastic and metal stacking chairs facing them, in a high-ceilinged room with the U.S. and Wisconsin flags in a corner next to a a door and a sign reading Village of DeForest, with two monitors mounted on walls and a digital clock reading 9:19:50 mounted in the middle of a row of cabinets.

Economy

At least four local governments in Wisconsin signed data center secrecy deals

Massive data center projects are often planned in secret, with multiple municipalities around Wisconsin entering into nondisclosure agreements with developers — lawmakers in several states are considering legislation to make these types of proposals more transparent.

January 26, 2026

Chris McIntosh on lower ticket sales for Wisconsin football

Education

Chris McIntosh on lower ticket sales for Wisconsin football

UW-Madison Athletic Director Chris McIntosh considers impacts of a decline in Wisconsin Badgers football season ticket sales for the 2025 season and the significance of that revenue to the university.

January 26, 2026 • South Central Region

Jennifer Mnookin speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a wood podium, with out-of-focus metal sculpture elements and seated people in the background.

Education

Columbia University taps UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to lead school

Seeking to move forward from two years of turmoil related to campus protests and cancellations of federal government funding, Columbia University in New York City has named University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin to serve as its next president starting in July.

January 26, 2026

Frederica Freyberg and Darryl Morin (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Darryl Morin, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and Chris McIntosh

Here's what guests on the Jan. 23, 2026 episode said about immigration enforcement surging in Wisconsin and the state of the Wisconsin Badgers football program.

January 26, 2026

A hand-painted sign in the shape of an ID card with a illustration of a portrait of Alex Pretti and the Red Cross symbol next to the words VA Hospital and above the words Alex Pretti, ICU Nurse, Neighbor and Friend rests on top of multiple bouquets of flowers and other foliage, and among multiple burning candles and illuminated electric candles on top of a snowbank, with out-of-focus flowers and candles in the background.

Social Issues

Alex Pretti, shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, grew up in Green Bay

Family members say Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old man who was shot and killed by federal agents in Minneapolis, was an intensive care nurse at a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs hospital who cared deeply about people and was upset by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown in the city.

January 25, 2026 • Northeast Region

Darryl Morin on anticipating ICE operations in Wisconsin

Politics

Darryl Morin on anticipating ICE operations in Wisconsin

Latino Forward National President Darryl Morin discusses the potential for deployment of ICE, Border Patrol and other Homeland Security agents to conduct large-scale immigration raids in Wisconsin.

January 23, 2026

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, Chris McIntosh on UW football

Education

Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, Chris McIntosh on UW football

UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin and Athletic Director Chris McIntosh consider the performance of and expectations for the Wisconsin Badgers football team in a changing college sports landscape.

January 23, 2026 • South Central Region

A still image shows a pier jeering out onto a frozen lake that is covered in snow.

Environment

Weather warnings issued as Wisconsin’s temperatures plummet

The National Weather Service issued an Extreme Cold Warning as an arctic front enters Wisconsin, with school districts cancelling classes amid dangerously low wind chill levels around the state.

January 23, 2026

A printed posterboard sign with the title Assembly Galleries Are Located on 3rd Floor West and the text Assembly Rules Prohibit: Cell Phones, Cameras, or Other Electronic Usage is displayed on a wood easel and next to a wood table with stacks of papers and a two-radio on its surface, with two people in the background walking toward a door in a hallway with masonry flooring and walls.

Politics

WisconsinEye shutdown leaves state lawmakers meetings outside of public view

The shutdown of WisconsinEye amid a shortfall of fundraising has left Wisconsin as perhaps the only state in the nation where legislative floor debates are not being broadcast — this absence has led to complaints from open government advocates and pressure on lawmakers to reach a deal.

January 23, 2026

Zabi Sahibzada sits with his hands folded on his lap behind a desk with multiple books stacked on its surface and in front of a metal filing cabinet and a wood bookcase filled with file folders and other items on its shelves.

Social Issues

Wisconsin refugee agencies try to remain open as Trump halts most new admissions

Organizations in Wisconsin that help refugee resettlement are navigating funding losses and layoffs after the Trump administration halted most admissions — some are resettling South African Afrikaners under a controversial program, out of principle and to preserve the system.

January 22, 2026

The Kewaunee Power Station stands decommissioned along Lake Michigan on Sept. 16, 2025, in Kewaunee. Cloverleaf Infrastructure approached property owners and town of Carlton officials to gauge their support for a data center near the former nuclear energy facility. The company is no longer pursuing the project, officials told Wisconsin Watch in January 2026. (Credit: Joe Timmerman / Wisconsin Watch)

Politics

Kewaunee County town staves off plan for a land purchase by a data center developer

Cloverleaf Infrastructure is no longer pursuing land to build a data center in the town of Carlton, located on the shore of Lake Michigan south of Kewaunee, as local opponents voice their concerns about such developments in the region.

January 21, 2026 • Northeast Region

How Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates view bipartisanship

Elections

How Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates view bipartisanship

Candidates in Wisconsin's Democratic and Republican primaries in the 2026 race for governor describe their perspective on and experiences working across the aisle with members of the opposing party.

January 21, 2026

Alex stands on a walkway between two rows of metal feeder panels with multiple cows eating from piles of feed on a concrete floor inside a large barn with metal support pillars and a metal roof.

Economy

Wisconsin employers and immigrant workers navigate hurdles under Trump

From a Manitowoc foundry to a dairy near Madison, immigrant workers and their employers around Wisconsin are grappling with visa changes, enforcement crackdowns and increasingly fragile labor pipelines.

January 20, 2026

Side-by-side images show Ron Johnson and Tammy Baldwin looking into the camera.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: US Sen. Ron Johnson, US Sen. Tammy Baldwin

Here's what guests on the Jan. 16, 2026 episode said about Homeland Security actions in Minnesota and whether this chaos will come to Wisconsin.

January 20, 2026

Ron Johnson listens while sitting in front of wood cabinet with multiple books and statues on a shelf in front of a wall with multiple framed items displayed on its surface.

Policy

Wisconsin’s US senators discuss options for compromise on ACA enhanced tax credits

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said he's willing to work on legislation to support ACA health insurance customers earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level, with Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin suggesting Congress should consider capping how much people pay.

January 17, 2026

What Wisconsin’s 2026 governor hopefuls want to pursue first

Elections

What Wisconsin’s 2026 governor hopefuls want to pursue first

Candidates in Wisconsin's Democratic and Republican primaries in the 2026 race for governor share what policies they would pursue first alongside the state Legislature if they are elected to office.

January 16, 2026

A still image shows Tony Evers in front of American and Wisconsin flags, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'state Capitol,' 'Gov. Tony Evers' and '(D) Wisconsin.'

Politics

Evers calls for property tax cut as his term comes to an end

Gov. Tony Evers has set priorities for his final year in office, calling for actions on affordability and a property tax cut before the Wisconsin Legislature ends its session before the 2026 election.

January 16, 2026

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on issues Congress faces as 2026 opens

Politics

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on issues Congress faces as 2026 opens

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, discusses issues facing lawmakers over ACA tax credits, deployment of federal agents in Minnesota and Trump administration actions toward Venezuela and Greenland.

January 15, 2026

US Sen. Ron Johnson on issues Congress faces as 2026 opens

Politics

US Sen. Ron Johnson on issues Congress faces as 2026 opens

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, discusses issues facing lawmakers over ACA tax credits, deployment of federal agents in Minnesota and Trump administration actions toward Venezuela and Greenland.

January 15, 2026

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