All Recent Articles - PBS Wisconsin

Alex Gee on The Center for Black Excellence and Culture

The Center for Black Excellence and Culture founder and CEO Alex Gee describes ideas, dreams and history that inspired the creation of the community space and the work necessary to achieve its goals.

May 12, 2026

Indigenous

Rachel Fernandez on Indigenous families speaking about abuse

Maeqtekuahkihkiw Metaemohsak Inc. Executive Director Rachel Fernandez, a member of the Menominee Nation, discusses how more Indigenous people are talking about issues of violence, abuse and trauma.

May 11, 2026

Frederica Freyberg and Tammy Baldwin sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: US Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Tim Gruenke, Alex Gee

Here's what guests on the May 8, 2026 episode said about negotiations to halt the Iran war, a settlement with a dog research lab, and the opening of The Black Center for Excellence and Culture.

May 11, 2026

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on the war and ceasefires with Iran

Policy

US Sen. Tammy Baldwin on the war and ceasefires with Iran

U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, discusses negotiations between the United States and Iran on ceasefires amid hostilities in the Strait of Hormuz as well as her priorities for a new Farm Bill.

May 8, 2026

One Menominee Nation family’s story of tragedy and advocacy

Indigenous

One Menominee Nation family’s story of tragedy and advocacy

Advocates and family gathered at an annual rally to honor missing and murdered Indigenous women — the murder of Linda Dickenson is one among many tragedies the movement hopes to prevent in the future.

May 8, 2026

Tim Gruenke on investigating animal welfare at Ridglan Farms

Courts

Tim Gruenke on investigating animal welfare at Ridglan Farms

La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke discusses findings of an investigation of Ridglan Farms, a dog breeding and research business, as it sells some 1,500 beagles after sustained protests.

May 8, 2026 • South Central Region

The calm waters of a lake are visible between two stands of trees on its banks, with a grass-covered hillside in the foreground and trees on the far shore in the background.

Courts

Wisconsin sues Lac Du Flambeau tribe over non-member fishing restrictions on 19 lakes

The state filed a lawsuit in federal court against the Lac Du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa over the tribe's restricting fishing of at-risk walleye and musky populations in 19 lakes on tribal lands to tribal citizens only — a judge issued a temporary restraining order against the tribe.

May 8, 2026 • Northern Region

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Ask Inside Wisconsin Politics: Polarization, ideology, money

What questions do Wisconsinites have about government, elections and candidates in the state? Inside Wisconsin Politics takes on queries from students in a political science class at UW-La Crosse.

May 7, 2026

Alex Gee on sustaining Madison’s Black community and culture

Social Issues

Alex Gee on sustaining Madison’s Black community and culture

The Center for Black Excellence and Culture founder and CEO Alex Gee discusses the opening of a new $32 million multi-purpose facility in Madison to celebrate African American communities and culture.

May 6, 2026 • South Central Region

A cardboard sign with the text Now Hiring! and an arrow pointing to the right stands in a lawn.

Economy

Fidelity bonds for hiring people with criminal records show promise, but almost no Wisconsin businesses use them

Wisconsin offers free insurance to companies that hire people with criminal records as a protection against fraud or theft, but employers in the state use very few of these "second chance" bonds, even though an estimated 1.4 million Wisconsinites have a criminal record.

May 6, 2026

Paul Hutson on psilocybin dosing as a clinical treatment

Science

Paul Hutson on psilocybin dosing as a clinical treatment

UW-Madison Center for Psychedelic Research professor Paul Hutson describes the efficacy of psilocybin to treat depression and substance abuse in research of psychedelics as a mental health therapy.

May 5, 2026

Mohamed Anwar looks at an item in his hand while standing inside an open wood door with another person facing him, with sunlight illuminating them from an open window in the background and a painted concrete-block wall with an appliance and wood pew on either side of the doorway in the foreground.

Education

In Milwaukee, a nonprofit races to keep Rohingya language from fading in exile

After ethnic repression in Myanmar scattered Rohingya communities, a grassroots effort in Milwaukee is testing whether teaching the language in written form can help it survive in a community of refugees — and whether families will choose to pass it on.

May 5, 2026 • Southeast Region

A beagle looks past the back of the head of a person holding the dog on their shoulder, with an out-of-focus truck parked on tarmac in the background.

Social Issues

About 1,500 beagles adjust to new lives after being released from Ridglan Farms

The first of 1,500 beagles that were purchased from the dog breeding and research business Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds are being moved to shelters by animal welfare groups in preparation for adoption.

May 4, 2026 • South Central Region

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Tom Content, Paul Hutson

Here's what guests on the May 1, 2026 episode said about energy use by data centers and treating mental health disorders with psychedelic medicines.

May 4, 2026

Paul Hutson on potential for psychedelics in mental health

Science

Paul Hutson on potential for psychedelics in mental health

UW-Madison Center for Psychedelic Research professor Paul Hutson details how psilocybin is used in controlled clinical settings to treat mental health issues from severe depression to substance abuse.

May 1, 2026

A still image shows Tom Content seated in a hotel room, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Tom Content' and 'Citizens Utility Board.'

Economy

Tom Content on data center energy use and utility ratepayers

Citizens Utility Board Executive Director Tom Content discusses the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin setting an electricity rate plan for We Energies to shield customers from data center costs.

May 1, 2026

A still image shows Wayne Pacelle standing in front of several microphones at a press conference with a wall depicting several logos of the Center for a Humane Economy.

Agriculture

Animal rights groups push to end biomedical testing on dogs

Two animal rights groups announce a deal to buy nearly 1,500 beagles from the biomedical testing facility Ridglan Farms, and hold a press conference calling for an end to their use in research.

May 1, 2026

How Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic primaries are taking shape

Inside Wisconsin Politics

How Wisconsin’s 2026 Democratic primaries are taking shape

The field of candidates in different Democratic primaries is growing, in races for Congress and the Legislature — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers how the 2026 election season is taking shape.

April 30, 2026

Economy

Failed spring 2026 school referendums around Wisconsin trigger scuts, closures and new funding pushes

A swift pace of budget priority shifts in the wake of the spring 2026 election highlights how school district leaders rely on referendums to keep their budgets balanced — and how, for many, the ask to voters was a final effort before resorting to making big cuts.

April 30, 2026

People stand in a group holding printed signs reading Free the Dogs and Save the Dogs as well as hand-drawn signs, in a space with a curved row of square pillars and ceiling-mounted globe light fixtures.

Agriculture

Animal rescue group says it bought nearly 1,500 research beagles from Ridglan Farms

Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy said that have entered into a confidential agreement with Ridglan Farms in the town of Blue Mounds to buy nearly 1,500 of the facility's roughly 2,000 research beagles for an undisclosed price.

April 30, 2026 • South Central Region

Steve Vavrus on climate change and impacts to tribal nations

Indigenous

Steve Vavrus on climate change and impacts to tribal nations

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts co-director Steve Vavrus describes how variations in weather patterns affect cultivation of manoomin — wild rice — on tribal lands around the state.

April 29, 2026

Milk fills a stainless steel tank with an open top and an attached rubber tube.

Agriculture

Push for raw milk accelerates across the US amid health warnings and illness outbreaks

Proponents of raw milk are pushing to make the unpasteurized product more widely available and easy to obtain with more than three dozen bills introduced in statehouses across the United States, while health officials continue warnings about potentially deadly germs.

April 29, 2026

U.S. flags are hang on two flagpoles on either side of a plaza in front of a a multi-wing stone masonry building with steps leading up to an entrance framed by a portico of columns upholding a pediment with sculptures of figures, with trees on both sides in the background and a masonry wall behind a lawn with landscape plants and circular area covered by mulch in the foreground.

Courts

US Supreme Court ruling voids Black majority congressional district in Louisiana, further weakening Voting Rights Act

In a 6-3 ruling, the conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana, a decision weakening the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that could open the door for Republican-controlled states to eliminate Black and Latino electoral districts.

April 29, 2026

Political violence and Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor

Elections

Political violence and Wisconsin’s 2026 race for governor

Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin share their thoughts on political violence and their own personal safety as they meet voters and hold campaign events.

April 28, 2026

A wolf wearing a tracking collar rests on its side in a grass-covered trackway with foliage and trees on either side.

Science

Isle Royale wolves are thriving as packs prey on moose

A team of researchers led by Michigan Tech University conducting research on Isle Royale in Lake Superior are finding that the island's population of wolves is growing while its moose population has declined in recent years.

April 28, 2026 • Northern Region

Multiple types of handguns with paper price tags attached to them sit on their sides on a table next to a metal case.

Courts

Prosecutors say Wisconsin police chief helped California gun dealers’ illegal scheme to import ammo

Federal prosecutors say a small-town Wisconsin police chief tried to help two brothers who run a gun dealership in California import nearly 500,000 rounds of illegal armor-piercing ammunition from an arms company based in Bosnia-Herzegovina.

April 28, 2026 • Southeast Region

Sec. Nathan Houdek on insurance policy claims after a storm

Economy

Sec. Nathan Houdek on insurance policy claims after a storm

Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance Sec. Nathan Houdek discusses appropriate coverage on home policies when there are natural disasters and filing complaints with the state over claims.

April 27, 2026

Multiple construction vehicles work among piles of gravel and dirt in front of a concrete wall, with a woven barrier fence and prairie grasses in the foreground.

Budgets

Wisconsin’s data center tax break costs state more than $2 billion in lost revenue

Designed as an incentive to lure the construction of data centers, a sales tax break in Wisconsin's 2023-25 state budget is drawing scrutiny — advocates and economic analysts say a development boom could boost other sources of revenue for the state.

April 27, 2026

Frederica Freyberg and Steve Vavrus sit facing each other on the Here & Now set.

Politics

Here & Now’ Highlights: Steve Vavrus, TJ Semanchin

Here's what guests on the April 24, 2026 episode said about Wisconsin's warmer and wetter weather, and applying for tariff refunds.

April 27, 2026

A still image shows a street in downtown Fremont flooded with knee-deep water.

Economy

Wolf River communities deal with flooding — and insurance

Residents who live near the Wolf River in east-central Wisconsin are dealing with the aftermath of historic floods, and questions about insurance coverage are at the forefront of cleanup efforts.

April 24, 2026 • Northeast Region

A still image shows Steve Vavrus seated at the 'Here & Now' set featuring wood paneling, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Steve Vavrus' and 'Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts.'

Science

Steve Vavrus on Wisconsin’s rising risk for extreme weather

Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts co-director Steve Vavrus describes a growing level of extreme weather conditions in the state and actions to mitigate costs and safeguard against risks.

April 24, 2026

A still image shows TJ Semanchin seated in front of a green and blue painting, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Viroqua,' 'TJ Semanchin' and 'Wonderstate Coffee.'

Economy

TJ Semanchin on importing coffee and pursuing tariff refunds

Wonderstate Coffee CEO TJ Semanchin discusses how tariffs on imported beans have affected the Wisconsin-based business and a court-ordered system to apply for refunds from the federal government.

April 24, 2026

A still image shows Josh Kaul standing in front of the Wisconsin and United States flags.

Courts

Wisconsin files suit against prediction market businesses

Wisconsin is suing Kalshi, Robinhood, Coinbase, Polymarket and Crypto.com, with state Attorney General Josh Kaul arguing such prediction market companies serve as platforms for illegal sports betting.

April 24, 2026

How much will endorsements matter in Wisconsin’s 2026 races?

Inside Wisconsin Politics

How much will endorsements matter in Wisconsin’s 2026 races?

What are the impacts of endorsements in the 2026 races for Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District and governor? Inside Wisconsin Politics takes a look at how they can influence campaigns and voters.

April 23, 2026

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates on the cost of housing

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 governor candidates on the cost of housing

Democratic and Republican candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin discuss what policies they would pursue to help address the high cost and limited supply of housing around the state.

April 22, 2026

Multiple groups of people stand on a plaza and two people sit on benches in front of a multi-wing stone masonry building with steps leading up to an entrance framed by a portico of columns upholding a pediment with sculptures of figures, with a building and trees to the side in the background and a water fountain in the center of a shallow circular pool in the foreground.

Politics

US Supreme Court rules for Michigan in the state’s lawsuit to shut down Line 5 section

The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous opining that found the energy company Enbridge waited too long in its effort to move to federal court a state lawsuit filed by the attorney general of Michigan seeking to revoke approval for an underwater span of the Line 5 pipeline.

April 22, 2026

What are next steps for online sports betting in Wisconsin?

Policy

What are next steps for online sports betting in Wisconsin?

Wisconsin's 11 tribal gaming commissioners will renegotiate compacts with the state as online sports betting is legalized — Potawatomi Casino Hotel CEO Dominic Ortiz discusses goals of this process.

April 21, 2026

Teagan Massey-Plamann, wearing a baseball uniform with the word Menasha and numeral 15 on the front of the jersey, stands on a sidewalk among other people, several with backpacks with stowed softball bats, with lawns, a road and sidewalk in the background.

Education

At UW-Oshkosh, nearly half the students are still in high school

UW-Oshkosh enrolls more dual enrollment students than any Wisconsin university through its Cooperative Academic Partnership Program, and this shift is changing the college's identity.

April 20, 2026 • Northeast Region

One woman lifts the hem of her skirt to show bruises on her legs and a man lifts the bottom of his shirt to show bruises on his torso, with other people standing in the background holding printed signs reading Free the Dogs and Save the Dogs as well as hand-drawn signs, in a space with a curved row of square pillars and ceiling-mounted globe light fixtures.

Politics

Protesters converge outside the Wisconsin governor’s office seeking release of beagles

Animal welfare activists converged outside of the office of Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on April 20, chanting "Free the dogs!" and demanding that the governor and state attorney general do what they can to shut down a dog breeding and research facility in rural Dane County.

April 20, 2026 • South Central Region

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Kurt Kotenberg, US Sen. Ron Johnson, Chairwoman Elizabeth Arbuckle

Here's what guests on the April 17, 2026 episode said about developments in the Iran war, early spring weather emergencies, and a challenge to the reroute of the Line 5 pipeline.

April 20, 2026

A group of people stand on one side of a chain-link fence topped by barbed wire, many wearing disposable coveralls with hoods, with one law enforcement officer standing on the other side of the fence using a can of pepper spray, and with clouds of tear gas streaming in the air, including one from an aloft canister.

Politics

Hundreds trying to enter Blue Mounds dog breeding facility met with rubber bullets, pepper spray

About 1,000 animal welfare protesters who tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in the town of Blue Mounds were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd, with authorities saying around 25 were arrested.

April 19, 2026 • South Central Region

A still image shows Ron Johnson seated in front of a brick fireplace, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Oshkosh,' 'U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson' and '(R) Wisconsin.'

Politics

US Sen. Ron Johnson on the US-Iran war and its future

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, discusses the ongoing U.S. war with Iran and how he sees the conflict ending with a ceasefire set to end in one week as both sides negotiate to end the hostilities.

April 17, 2026

A still image shows a photo taken by Tahereh Rahimi of the aftermath of a bomb dropped on the outskirts of Tehran, fire raises high into the sky above tree lines and a watch tower, black smoke fills the rest of the sky.

Politics

What war is like for a UW-Madison student in Iran

Via shaky online connections, UW-Madison grad student Tahereh Rahimi shares voice recordings of her experiences living through attacks by the U.S. and Israel while working on her dissertation in Iran.

April 17, 2026

A still image shows Liz Arbuckle seated in front of a green wall, the American flag and the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians flag, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Odanah,' 'Chairwoman Liz Arbuckle' and 'Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa.'

Indigenous

Bad River Band Chairwoman Liz Arbuckle on the Line 5 reroute

Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Chairwoman Liz Arbuckle discusses the tribe asking a judge to review a ruling that upheld permits for construction on the Enbridge Line 5 oil pipeline reroute.

April 17, 2026

A still image shows Kurt Kotenberg seated in front of two signs that say 'when thunder roars, go indoors' and a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Green Bay,' 'Kurt Kotenberg' and 'National Weather Service.'

Environment

Kurt Kotenberg on extreme weather hitting eastern Wisconsin

National Weather Service meteorologist Kurt Kotenberg discusses a series of early spring severe storms that stuck eastern areas of Wisconsin over several days, including hail, tornadoes and flooding.

April 17, 2026 • Southeast Region

Multiple vertical towers and horizontal bars form part of an electrical substation, with a line of trees in the background.

Economy

Utilities seek federal pause on grid bidding amid AI-driven power demand

A group that includes Xcel Energy and ATC is asking federal regulators to ease competitive bidding rules for electricity transmission projects, arguing delays threaten AI-related power infrastructure, while consumer advocates warn of higher costs from decreased competition.

April 17, 2026

Wisconsin special session intrigue, elections take shape

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Wisconsin special session intrigue, elections take shape

Inside Wisconsin Politics looks at the parties' strategies on a gerrymandering special session and discuss why so many Republican lawmakers are retiring. Plus, the governor’s race starts to take shape.

April 16, 2026

The dome of a Beaux-Arts-style building is illuminated by lighting at night, with out-of-focus leafless branches in the foreground.

Policy

Wisconsin takes millions of dollars from foster kids and their parents

Republican and Democratic state lawmakers want authorities to stop collecting child support and Social Security payments intended to support foster kids, but the Wisconsin Legislature didn't act on bills intended to address these practices as its 2026 session ended.

April 15, 2026

A marble SENATE sign in the Wisconsin State Legislature.

Politics

Republican Sen. Jesse James to retire from Wisconsin Legislature

James is third Republican from a battleground Senate district to step aside, complicating GOP efforts to hold their slim majority.

April 14, 2026 • West Central Region

One person crouches and another lays face-down on vinyl tile flooring, with a table covered by a tablecloth and items on its surface, folding metal chairs and a plastic trash container in the foreground, and radiators along walls in the background.

Social Issues

How a shrinking Dodgeville church became a growing community hub

Residents of Dodgeville transformed an underused and nearly empty church into Merrimac and Main, a community center and multigenerational gathering place that serves older adults, children and others around rural southwest Wisconsin who are seeking to make connections.

April 14, 2026 • South Central Region

In Focus

In Focus with Greg Doby and Menkhu Ara Maat: Hip-hop history

Murv Seymour talks with "Lead Between the Rhymes" curators Greg Doby and Menkhu Ara Maat at the Wisconsin Historical Society about the legacy of hip-hop in the state and impacts on music and culture.

April 13, 2026

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: US Rep. Mark Pocan, McCoshen & Ross

Here's what guests on the April 10, 2026 episode said about the war in Iran and election prospects for Wisconsin in November.

April 13, 2026

Elections

US Rep. Mark Pocan on voter intensity and the 2026 elections

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-2nd Congressional District, discusses the influence of voter intensity on Chris Taylor's 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court win and turnout expectations for the November election.

April 11, 2026

A still image shows Mark Pocan seated in front of his kitchen island and staircase, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Town of Vermont,' 'U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan' and '(D) 2nd Congressional District.'

Politics

US Rep. Mark Pocan on Trump’s conduct toward the war in Iran

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-2nd Congressional District, discusses President Donald Trump's threats to Iran and an ensuing ceasefire, calling to invoke the 25th Amendment and the war powers of Congress.

April 10, 2026

A still image shows Frederica Freyberg seated across from Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross on the Here & Now set featuring wood paneling.

Elections

McCoshen & Ross on political fortunes in 2026 election cycle

"Here & Now" political panelists Bill McCoshen and Scot Ross discuss a landslide vote in the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race and what it means for state and federal races going into fall elections.

April 10, 2026

A still image shows former, future and current justices posing at Chris Taylor's election victory, from left to right Rebecca Dallet, Chris Taylor, Janet Protasiewicz, Jill Karofsky, Ann Walsh Bradley and Susan Crawford.

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court vote cements liberal control

Justice-elect Chris Taylor's landslide win over Maria Lazar in the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race ensures liberal control for several years, and potential candidates are thinking about 2027.

April 10, 2026

A liberal landslide in the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court vote

Inside Wisconsin Politics

A liberal landslide in the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court vote

The 2026 state Supreme Court election was a landslide victory for liberal candidate Chris Taylor — Inside Wisconsin Politics considers what it means for the midterm vote and future of the high court.

April 9, 2026

Tony Evers speaks into a microphone mounted to the top of a wood podium while standing in front of a row of U.S. and Wisconsin flags in front of a large painting.

Policy

Evers signs law legalizing tribal run online sports betting in Wisconsin

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bill into law that legalizes online sports betting, and requires the state government to negotiate new deals with tribal nations that would operate this type of gaming and allow gamblers to legally place bets.

April 9, 2026

Amy Blumenfeld Bogost speaks while seated at a table and facing multiple mounted microphones and a video camera with a shotgun microphone, with Timothy Nixon seated to her side, in a room with wood trim on the wall and wood double doors with a brass doorknob and glazed glass windows, with a video graphic at bottom including the text Senate Committee on Universities & Technical Colleges, Amy Blumenfeld Bogost and To serve as a Congressional Dist. 2 Rep. on the UW Board of Regents for term ending 5/1/27.

Politics

Universities of Wisconsin regents cite disputes over AI and transparency practices in president’s firing

In a state Senate committee hearing, two members of the board of regents for the Universities of Wisconsin say that the fired president of the system was slow to address pressing issues like AI, limited public board discussions and open records, and feared upsetting policymakers and UW faculty.

April 9, 2026

Elections

Scott Walker on the Wisconsin Legislature elections in 2026

Former Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican, discusses the party's outlook in the November 2026 midterm election and whether or not control of the Assembly and state Senate may flip to Democrats.

April 9, 2026

Tom Tiffany speaks while standing outside in front of a masonry building with a staircase with a balustrades, with parked vehicles, leafless trees and other buildings on one side in the background.

Elections

Republicans react to Democratic election wins in Wisconsin ahead of the 2026 midterm vote

Republicans are assessing setbacks following victories by Democratic-backed candidates in votes for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and for the mayor's office in the conservative Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha seven months out from the 2026 midterm election.

April 9, 2026

A weathered wood sign with stylized images of hills and trees and the words Welcome Home to Wausau and City Hall stands in a mulched garden bed in front of a multi-story masonry building with large glass windows in front of small grass lawn, a concrete ramp and a flagpole with a U.S. flag, withe light poles, buildings and leafless trees in the background to the side.

Courts

Wausau’s mayor won’t face charges over removing a ballot drop box in 2024

Wausau Mayor Doug Diny posed for photos as he removed a drop box for absentee ballots from outside the city hall in September 2024, and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney announced that he was unable to prove criminal wrongdoing in an investigation of the incident.

April 8, 2026

Wisconsin’s wide-open 2026 Democratic primary for governor

Elections

Wisconsin’s wide-open 2026 Democratic primary for governor

Mandela Barnes, Joel Brennan, David Crowley, Francesca Hong, Missy Hughes, Sara Rodriguez and Kelda Roys are running in the 2026 Democratic primary for Wisconsin governor, and polls show a close race.

April 8, 2026

Maria Lazar on her 2026 election loss and judicial politics

Elections

Maria Lazar on her 2026 election loss and judicial politics

Wisconsin Court of Appeals District II Judge Maria Lazar discusses losing the 2026 race for the state Supreme Court, politics in judicial campaigns, and whether she would run again for the high court.

April 8, 2026

Justice-elect Chris Taylor on her 2026 election victory

Elections

Justice-elect Chris Taylor on her 2026 election victory

Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Chris Taylor discusses her perspective on the role of the judiciary and winning the 2026 race for a seat on the high court in an election night victory speech.

April 8, 2026

Education

Former Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman says he felt ‘blindsided’ by getting fired

Jay Rothman, who was fired as the president of the Universities of Wisconsin in a board of regents vote on April 7, said he has not been given a reason for the action and added he is unlikely to sue over the ouster.

April 8, 2026

Chris Taylor waves with both hands while standing behind a podium with a microphone affixed to its top, while other people stand behind her and facing her with a U.S. flag in the background.

Elections

Taylor wins the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election

Chris Taylor, the Democratic-backed candidate for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat, defeated the Republican-backed candidate Maria Lazar in the 2026 election, marking the fourth straight victory for liberal court candidates dating back to 2020.

April 7, 2026

Jay Rothman sits and speaks into a microphone in a room with wood chairs with upholstered backs, wood-paneled walls and a closed window shade in the background.

Education

UW Board of Regents votes to fire the system’s president

The board of regents for the Universities of Wisconsin voted unanimously to fire Jay Rothman, who has served as president of the 165,000-student, multicampus system since 2022.

April 7, 2026

Suzanne Morley on why more seniors suffer social isolation

Health

Suzanne Morley on why more seniors suffer social isolation

Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging health promotion program coordinator Suzanne Morley considers the problem of loneliness older adults face as they lose contact with friends and family members.

April 7, 2026

A sandwich board sign with an illustration of a U.S. flag and the words Vote Here stands on a concrete sidewalk in front of a building.

Elections

What to expect on the 2026 Spring Election Day in Wisconsin

The Associated Press will provide vote results and declare winners in the 2026 race for the Wisconsin Supreme Court and for mayor of Waukesha.

April 6, 2026

Jay Rothman speaks while seated and facing a mounted microphone, in a room with an out-of-focus wood shelf with the base of a light fixture on its surface, with a video graphic at bottom including the text Jay Rothman and President - Universities of Wisconsin System.

Education

UW Board of Regents to vote on firing the system’s president

The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents has scheduled an April 6 vote to consider firing the system's president Jay Rothman, who refused their call to resign and wrote in two letters sent to them that he would not do so without an explanation about the reason.

April 6, 2026

Paula Drew on how young children can learn from older adults

Education

Paula Drew on how young children can learn from older adults

Wisconsin Early Childhood Association Director of Policy and Research Paula Drew considers how activities and interactions with older adults are key to child brain development and ongoing learning.

April 6, 2026

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

Politics

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

Here's what guests on the April 3, 2026 episode said about a Trump executive order on voting and how Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates fared in a debate.

April 6, 2026

A still image shows a group of older adults and young children doing art and seated in the round at tables

Economy

A movement to connect generations takes on a crisis of care

Struggles for families to provide support for both older adults and young children is inspiring several communities in Wisconsin to create intergenerational care programs that benefit both age groups.

April 3, 2026

A still image shows Anthony Chergosky standing in front of a bookshelf, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'La Crosse,' 'Anthony Chergosky' and 'UW-La Crosse dept. of political science.'

Elections

Anthony Chergosky on the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court debate

UW-La Crosse political science professor Anthony Chergosky analyzes the importance and potential impact of the lone debate between 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor.

April 3, 2026

A still image shows Ann Jacobs seated in front of a desk with plants on it, with a graphic at the bottom that reads 'Milwaukee,' 'Ann Jacobs' and 'Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair.'

Elections

Ann Jacobs on a nationalized voter list and mail-in ballots

Wisconsin Elections Commission Chair Ann Jacobs discusses an executive order from President Donald Trump that seeks to create a national list of eligible voters and restrict use of mail-in ballots.

April 3, 2026

Sunlight reflects off the walls and windows of a tall, multi-story portion of a building standing next to a shorter wing, with leafless trees on one side.

Politics

Fight over UW system president’s job draws heat from Republican state lawmaker

State Rep. David Murphy, a Republican and chair of the Wisconsin Assembly's colleges and universities committee, said he is "troubled" that the board of regents for the Universities of Wisconsin is threatening to fire the system's President Jay Rothman without providing any explanation.

April 3, 2026

Side-by-side images show Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar speaking and gesturing with their hands while seated in a television studio.

Elections

The lone 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court debate highlights contrasts between the two candidates

Held just days before the 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court election, the only debate between Judge Maria Lazar and Judge Chris Taylor saw each candidate articulating their judicial philosophies while trying to paint their opponent as extreme.

April 3, 2026

Gerrymandering, mail-in ballots and the 2026 spring election

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Gerrymandering, mail-in ballots and the 2026 spring election

Judges reject a congressional redistricting case, the Trump administration seeks to block mail-in ballots and Wisconsin's 2026 Supreme Court election arrives — Inside Wisconsin Politics examines each.

April 2, 2026

Salah Sarsour poses for a portrait with sunlight illuminating his face while sitting outside on a deck, with a wood railing, building with windows and lawn in the background.

Courts

Elected leaders and clergy seek release of Islamic Society of Milwaukee president detained by ICE agents

Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident of the United States and president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was taken into custody by nearly a dozen federal immigration agents after he left his home on March 30.

April 2, 2026 • Southeast Region

Jay Rothman sits and speaks into a mounted microphone, with an the arm of another person to his side and out-of-focus stackable chairs in the background.

Education

UW Board of Regents looks to oust the system’s president

Jay Rothman, president of the Universities of Wisconsin, says in a letter to the head of the Board of Regents that he won’t step aside from leading the 165,000-student system after being told that he needed to resign or retire or be fired.

April 2, 2026

Economy

A microloan program in Madison inspires a similar effort in Appleton

St. Vincent de Paul-Madison launched a microloan program to offer an alternative people in need can turn to instead of payday lenders, and after hearing about the success of that effort, leaders of the St. Vincent de Paul-St. Thomas More Conference in Appleton created a similar program.

April 2, 2026 • South Central Region

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court candidates get out the vote

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court candidates get out the vote

The 2026 race between Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor for the Wisconsin Supreme Court will not determine its balance of power, but partisan efforts to turn out voters are considering long-term control.

April 1, 2026

Two gamblers stand and one sits in front of two rows of self-service sports betting kiosks in a room with multiple flatscreen televisions mounted to walls, a low-pile carpet and an out-of-focus sign with the title text Sportsbook Rules and other writing in the foreground.

Indigenous

Most Wisconsin tribes want Evers to approve an online gaming bill

A bill that would allow federally recognized tribal nations in Wisconsin to offer online sports betting was passed by the state Legislature but awaits a signature or a veto from Gov. Tony Evers — 8 of the state's 11 tribes support the legislation.

April 1, 2026

Robert Yablon on ideas to change recusal rules for Wisconsin

Courts

Robert Yablon on ideas to change recusal rules for Wisconsin

University of Wisconsin Law School professor Robert Yablon describes how state standards for recusal by judges and justices might be changed in terms of financial support and who makes the decision.

March 31, 2026

A portion of a map shows the outlines of Wisconsin Congressional districts, with labels marking their numbers alongside county names and the locations of some larger municipalities in central and eastern portions of the state.

Courts

A three-judge panel dismisses lawsuit from Democratic voters seeking to redraw Wisconisin’s congressional maps

A panel of three judges has dismissed a lawsuit brought on behalf of a group of Democratic voters to redraw the boundaries of Wisconsin's eight congressional districts ahead of the November 2026 midterm election.

March 31, 2026

Side-by-side images show portraits of Sean Duffy and Michael Alfonso.

Elections

Duffy funneled $1 million to son-in-law’s Republican primary campaign for Congress

With a donation of $1,000,000, U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is trying to help his son-in-law Michael Alfonso win a crowded 2026 Republican primary for the 7th Congressional District seat in northern Wisconsin that he previously held.

March 31, 2026 • Northern Region

Robert Yablon on judge recusal rules and a rise in requests

Courts

Robert Yablon on judge recusal rules and a rise in requests

University of Wisconsin Law School professor Robert Yablon describes standards of recusal for judges and justices as requests for the action increase in response to campaign donations and statements.

March 30, 2026

Sunlight reflects off one side of a metal utility pole with three tiers and electricity transmission lines running through each, with a clear sky in the background.

Economy

Competition intensifies over who builds Wisconsin’s electricity grid as data centers drive demand

The Midcontinent Independent System Operator, which coordinates electricity markets for much of the Midwest and Mississippi River valley, reversed course on a key project in eastern Wisconsin, marking a victory for the state's largest developer of transmission lines.

March 30, 2026

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Mayor Eric Genrich, William Casey Crump

Here's what guests on the March 27, 2026 episode said about listing private school costs on property tax bills and how state PFAS funding might be used in one contaminated community.

March 30, 2026

Mayor Eric Genrich on property tax bills and school vouchers

Education

Mayor Eric Genrich on property tax bills and school vouchers

Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich discusses why the city itemizes the cost of private school vouchers on property tax bills as more districts around Wisconsin hold voter referendums for education funding.

March 27, 2026 • Northeast Region

A still image shows William Casey Crump seated in front of a bookshelf, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Town of Stella,' 'William Casey Crump' and 'Town of Stella board chair.'

Environment

William Casey Crump on state funds to address PFAS pollution

State Town Board Chairperson William Casey Crump discusses how the northern Wisconsin community seeks to use its share of $125 million in state funding to remediate PFAS-contaminated water supplies.

March 27, 2026 • Northern Region

Why voters should follow Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court race

Inside Wisconsin Politics

Why voters should follow Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court race

The 2026 Wisconsin Supreme Court race has a lower profile than previous contests, but its outcome is still consequential — Inside Wisconsin Politics examines candidates Maria Lazar and Chris Taylor.

March 26, 2026

One worker uses a tape measure while standing next to another worker pointing with their right index finger as both face a metal cabinet in a room with concrete block walls and multiple electrical equipment items.

Economy

What a boom in building and operating data centers means for Wisconsin’s workforce

A trio of professors consider how many jobs and what types of work data centers bring to communities and the broader economic effects of data centers as more of these projects are in the works around Wisconsin.

March 26, 2026

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court race and the issue of recusal

Elections

Wisconsin’s 2026 Supreme Court race and the issue of recusal

Wisconsin Supreme Court justices are being asked to recuse themselves from cases more often — candidates in the state's 2026 high court race share how they consider this question about court rules.

March 25, 2026

A printed sign with the words Absentee Ballot Processing is attached to the edge of a table with a red-white-and-blue stripes and stars tablecloth, with a banker's box and smaller box on its surface alongside pieces of paper and a pen.

Courts

Racine County man who ordered ballots without consent found guilty of fraud and identity theft

A Racine County jury found Harry Wait guilty of two misdemeanor election fraud charges and one felony identity theft charge, and acquitted him on a second count of identity theft after requesting the ballots of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Racine Mayor Cory Mason.

March 25, 2026 • Southeast Region

Emma Carufel stands on a wood floor, with lines of people standing on either side of her, in a room with chairs, tables, a podium with a microphone and a whiteboard in the background along with a larger projector screen on a wall and a ceiling-mounted large dream catcher displayed in a corner.

Indigenous

Reconnecting with Indigenous culture through a jingle dress class in Milwaukee

The Movement is Tradition program at the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Center in Milwaukee offers a jingle dress class open to all community members to promote physical activities based in traditionally rooted tasks.

March 24, 2026 • Southeast Region

An aerial photo shows a crossroads in the midst of an expanse of partially snow-covered dirt fields with parked vehicles along construction equipment and materials in different locations, with a large building and multiple construction cranes at the far end, with farm fields and stands of trees extending to the horizon.

Policy

Wisconsin communities face scrutiny over data center secrecy beyond use of NDAs

At least five Wisconsin municipalities have signed nondisclosure agreements with data center developers, including for a project being considered in the town of Beloit, but even in communities without an NDA, there has been pushback against transparency.

March 24, 2026

A desk statue of Lady Justice is displayed in an office at the Waushara County Courthouse on Nov. 14, 2022, in Wautoma. (Credit: PBS Wisconsin)

Budgets

Lawmaker, Wisconsin State Public Defender office disappointed after court staffing bill doesn’t get vote

A proposal before the Wisconsin Legislature would have allowed the state hire more than 100 people to work in the local courts to speed up the application of justice, but the bill was not taken up in the state Senate before the chamber concluded its scheduled 2026 session.

March 23, 2026

In Focus

In Focus with Dr. Tamika L. Johnson: Traumas teachers endure

Murv Seymour talks with teacher, life coach and author Dr. Tamika L. Johnson at Vibe Milwaukee about her book "Teaching Through Trauma" and lessons on loss of life, angry parents and food insecurity.

March 23, 2026

Watch Shows

Explore Online

PBSPassport

Membership

Philanthropy

Sponsorship

More Ways to Support

News

Contact

Explore

Join Us

Support Us

Our Partners

Follow Us