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.
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.
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.
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)
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 with Tamika Johnson: Managing trauma while teaching
In Focus with Tamika Johnson: Managing trauma while teaching

In Focus

In Focus with Tamika Johnson: Managing trauma while teaching

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

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

Politics

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Darin Von Ruden, Bridget Krause

Here's what guests on the March 20, 2026 episode said about price increases in fuel and fertilizer for farmers and a shortage of public defenders in Wisconsin.

March 23, 2026

A still image shows Darin Von Ruden seated in front of a window with flower-printed curtains, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Westby,' 'Darin Von Ruden' and 'Wisconsin Farmers Union.'
A still image shows Darin Von Ruden seated in front of a window with flower-printed curtains, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Westby,' 'Darin Von Ruden' and 'Wisconsin Farmers Union.'

Agriculture

Darin Von Ruden on fuel and fertilizer price shocks to farms

Wisconsin Farmers Union President Darin Von Ruden considers how rising prices of fuel and fertilizer imports caused by war in Iran and around the Middle East are affecting the spring planting season.

March 20, 2026

A still image show Bridget Krause seated at her desk in her office, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Milwaukee,' 'Bridget Krause' and 'Wisconsin State Public Defenders.'
A still image show Bridget Krause seated at her desk in her office, with a caption at the bottom that reads 'Milwaukee,' 'Bridget Krause' and 'Wisconsin State Public Defenders.'

Courts

Bridget Krause on Wisconsin’s public defender staff shortage

Wisconsin Deputy State Public Defender Bridget Krause discusses how the state's shortage of attorneys and support staff is leading to defendants waiting on representation and a criminal case backlog.

March 20, 2026

Abortion laws and Wisconsin’s 2026 candidates for governor
Abortion laws and Wisconsin’s 2026 candidates for governor

Elections

Abortion laws and Wisconsin’s 2026 candidates for governor

Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2026 race for governor of Wisconsin consider how the state regulates abortion and whether or not they would seek changes to laws concerning access or limits.

March 20, 2026