Wisconsin’s House delegation now evenly split after Democrats flip 2 seats
Wisconsin's congressional delegation will be split 4-4 next year after Democrats flipped two U.S. House seats.
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Voters give split decision on constitutional amendments to limit governor’s powers, DEI
Wisconsin voters approved two new constitutional amendments and rejected a third put on the ballot by the Republican-controlled Legislature.
Democrats flip Wisconsin Legislature, setting up single-party control
Democrats have won both houses of the Wisconsin Legislature for the first time in 18 years, setting up single-party control of state government.
Democrats win state treasurer, secretary of state
Democrat Yee Leng Xiong will be the first Hmong American in the nation to serve in a statewide office after winning the race for Wisconsin State Treasurer.
Democrat Mitchell Berman defeats US Rep. Bryan Steil to flip Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District
Democrat Mitchell Berman has defeated incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil to win Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District.
Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeats GOP Rep. Derrick Van Orden in key congressional race
Eau Claire Democrat Rebecca Cooke defeated Republican incumbent Derrick Van Orden in one of the nation's most closely watched congressional races.
Republican Michael Alfonso wins northern Wisconsin district, will be youngest House rep
Michael Alfonso, a political newcomer and son-in-law of a Trump Administration secretary, has won Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District seat. He will be the youngest member of Congress in the nation.
Josh Kaul wins third term as Wisconsin attorney general
Lawsuits against the Trump administration were a dominant issue in a rematch race for Wisconsin attorney general.
Democrat David Crowley makes history, defeats Tom Tiffany in Wisconsin governor’s race
Democrat David Crowley, the Milwaukee County executive, will be Wisconsin's next governor, making history as the first Black person to hold the office in the history of the state.
A ‘bathtub’ along Lake Michigan opens to hold tons of toxic sediment
The Dredged Material Management Facility opened in October 2026 to hold tons of contaminated sediment dredged up from rivers in southeast Wisconsin.
Federal DOJ is sending election observers to Wisconsin. State election officials say that’s nothing unusual.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Tuesday it would be monitoring elections in all 50 states, including Wisconsin, with federal election monitors deployed in Milwaukee and Madison.
With Wisconsin’s leadership on the line, voters head to the polls
It's Election Day, and voters in Wisconsin will choose Wisconsin's next governor. Their votes also could shift control in the state Legislature, where Republicans have held control for two decades.
Superior author Jeff Esterholm turns local color into dark comedy
Writer’s second short story collection blends Northland settings, eccentric characters with a healthy dose of mayhem and mischief. His newest offering continues a literary journey nearly 40 years in the making.
The surprisingly complicated science of perfect curling ice in Wisconsin
At the Wausau Curling Club in Wisconsin, ice maker Pete Susens reveals the surprising science, precision and daily work behind perfect curling ice, where even a single human hair can ruin a shot.
Universities of Wisconsin enrollment decreases slightly this fall
Direct admission and high school dual enrollment programs kept overall enrollment figures from dropping significantly this year across at the state’s four-year public universities, despite a drop in international students.
Alliant Energy to receive $5.1B in federal loans for natural gas, energy storage projects
Alliant Energy will receive more than $5 billion in federal loans to help the company modernize and build natural gas and energy storage infrastructure.
How to vote in Wisconsin’s Nov. 3 election
Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. as Wisconsinites choose their next governor.
Outside Amazon warehouse, lawmakers reiterate time off rights for voters
In the final hours of their campaigns, Democrats running for governor and Congress spoke outside of an Amazon warehouse in Kenosha about workers’ rights to take time off work to vote.
Crowley and Tiffany crisscross state, making final pitches in race for governor
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany and Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley made their final pitches to voters on why they should be governor during their final day of dueling bus tours ahead of Tuesday's election.
No charges for 2 fraternity members after Madison hazing investigation
The two fraternity members arrested at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house in Madison after an alleged hazing incident in September will not face charges.
Report: More care is going unpaid at Wisconsin hospitals
More than 2 million patient visits at Wisconsin hospitals last year involved unpaid care, according to an annual survey of Wisconsin hospitals.
Big Top Chautauqua faces uncertain future as nonprofit navigates financial shortfall
Musicians have been performing at Lake Superior Big Top Chautauqua in Bayfield for 40 years, but it faces uncertainty as the nonprofit group that runs the venue grapples with a nearly $1 million shortfall.
Paying farmers by how much they reduce runoff saves money and supports conservation, study finds
A study found a Wisconsin program that pays producers for measured reductions in phosphorus runoff was more cost-effective than a popular federal conservation program.
The long history of humans and wolves
Before the advent of agriculture and monotheistic religions, humans around the world had a less adversarial relationship to wolves according to scholar Renée Worringer.
Appleton channels the spirit of Houdini, 100 years after his death on Halloween
Every October, Houdini fans honor the legendary escape artist, whose death remains a mystery, even a century later.
As Election Day nears, Wisconsin’s in-person absentee ballots have surged
With only a few days to go until Election Day, hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites have already turned in their absentee ballots — and overwhelmingly, they’re doing it in-person.
Campaign committees spend millions in fight for Wisconsin Legislature
Democratic committees hoping to flip the state Legislature raised more money than their GOP counterparts in the closing weeks of the campaign. But, thanks to major cash cushions, the GOP groups outspent them.
Alabama vice chancellor will lead UW system
Tonja Johnson, a senior vice chancellor in the University of Alabama System, will become the next president of the Universities of Wisconsin.
Who will hold control of the Wisconsin Legislature in 2027?
Wisconsin’s 17th Senate District race reflects a wider fight over the state Legislature. Transcript Frederica Freyberg: As to the state
Charles Franklin on his final 2026 poll of Wisconsin voters
Charles Franklin on polling in the final weeks before the November 2026 election. Transcript Frederica Freyberg: What will turnout look
Hundreds of thousands of Brewers fans line streets of Milwaukee for World Series parade
Milwaukee's downtown streets are packed with Brewers fans ahead of Friday morning's World Series victory parade and rally.
Have you heard of these monsters that call Wisconsin home?
Artist Mike Bass has worked his way through the well-known Wisconsin cryptids. Now, he seeks out the state’s more obscure legends, from the many monsters that live in Wisconsin’s lakes, down to a phantom flock of chickens haunting a country road west of Green Bay.
Wisconsin’s lieutenant governor candidates are top of the ticket. But maybe not top of mind.
Wisconsin residents may have put a lot of thought into who they plan to vote for in the race for governor. And when they cast that vote, they’ll also be selecting a second person, for a role they may not have thought about at all.
Proposed change would make it illegal to operate UTVs/ATVs with open alcohol containers
It would be illegal to operate all-terrain and utility-terrain vehicles while intoxicated under a proposed addition to state regulations.
More than 70 Wisconsin school districts seek $1.6B total in referendums Nov. 3
Many Wisconsin voters will again be asked to approve tax increases for their local public schools on Tuesday's ballot.
Who will Wisconsin’s Hispanic voters turn out for in 2026?
Political parties believe the support of Hispanic voters is up for grabs once again. Transcript Frederica Freyberg: We are just
Democrat Paul Johnson cites affordability as top priority in bid for 74th District Assembly seat
Stretching from the Minnesota border just south of the Twin Ports to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin’s 74th Assembly District seat flipped to the GOP after the retirement of Democratic Rep.
Lake trout harvest in Lake Superior scaled back as invasive species causes population decline
Anglers won’t be able to catch as many lake trout around the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior after the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board approved a 15 percent cut as the lake trout population has declined.
Meet the clerks who steward Wisconsin’s elections
Learn about the election administrators who work behind the scenes to keep our votes safe and secure in Wisconsin.
‘Who are you when you don’t have all your achievements?’ A Madison Latina reflects on the American Dream
WPR’s Lee Rayburn recently spoke with Liliana Espejel, a soon-to-be graduate of the Voices and Dreams Academy. Espejel said the Voices and Dreams Academy gives her a community. It’s also driven her to search for spaces where other women can speak up, share their stories and inspire others.
Some Wisconsin churches turn old buildings into housing and rethink community spaces
As many communities struggle to meet demand for housing, some Wisconsin congregations are redeveloping their old properties into new community centers, complete with apartments.
Where do Tiffany and Crowley stand on closing the Green Bay and Waupun prisons?
Wisconsin's next governor will oversee Wisconsin's Department of Corrections, one of the state's largest agencies with more than 10,000 employees and an annual budget or roughly $1.8 billion.
‘She’s in exile right now’: Husband of deported Oshkosh teacher speaks out
Richard Godfrey says his wife, Wendy Mendez, is safe in Costa Rica after ICE detention.
Milwaukee Brewers win first-ever World Series title
For the first time in franchise history, the Milwaukee Brewers are World Series champions.
WPR Music Album of the Week: ‘Endeavor,’ from the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra
“Endeavor” is the latest release in a planned five-part series from the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra.
Owners pull the plug on proposed $1B natural gas plant in northern Wisconsin
The owners of a proposed $1 billion gas-fired power plant in northern Wisconsin are officially calling it quits on the Nemadji Trail Energy Center in Superior.
Antigo pool will stay open, after public outcry and board resignations
The Antigo School Board this week voted 5-2 to fund operations for the pool. The vote came after hours of budget discussion at multiple board meetings, the resignation of the former school board president and the election of new officers to the board.
‘It was electric’: Brewers documentarian and superfan on watching World Series with his son
Sean Hanish is the director and producer of the documentary “Just a Bit Outside: The Story of the 1982 Milwaukee Brewers.” He told WPR about the moment the Brewers made it to the World Series and seeing Games 1 and 2 with his son.
The end of allergy ‘seasons’: Why more of us suffer year-round
Warming temperatures have blurred, lengthened and worsened pollen seasons here in Wisconsin. The result is more people — including those who haven’t previously experienced bad bouts of hay fever and sinus pressure — sharing in the misery.
David Crowley leads Tom Tiffany in final Marquette poll before Election Day
The final Marquette University Law School poll ahead of Wisconsin's Nov. 3 election shows Democrat David Crowley leading Republican Tom Tiffany by 7 percentage points in the race for Wisconsin governor.
Wisconsin Rapids alder loses recall election after email over data center signs
Voters in Wisconsin Rapids have elected a new alder to their local board, after the former District 7 representative sent a personal email to a local business over anti-data center signs.
Wisconsin Rapids alderman loses recall election after email over data center signs
Voters in Wisconsin Rapids have elected a new alderman to their local board, after the former District 7 representative sent a personal email to a local business over anti-data center signs.
After failed attempts, groundwater standards for PFAS advance in Wisconsin
Wisconsin has passed groundwater standards for so-called forever chemicals known as PFAS.
Board to vote on whether Wisconsin DNR can craft new pesticide regulations
The policy-setting board for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is set to vote Wednesday on whether the agency can begin crafting groundwater standards for roughly two dozen pesticides.
How Wisconsin’s governor candidates would address criminal justice decisions
From prisons to funding for police, Wisconsin’s next governor will face a lot of decisions related to criminal justice. WPR's Sarah Lehr explains how the candidates plan to address crime and punishment.
Wisconsin author celebrates ‘treasure trove’ of natural beauty
Author Lily Comp celebrates Wisconsin's treasure trove of outdoor spaces in her new book, “Scenic Natural Wonders of Wisconsin.”
Menasha residents continue to lift up neighbors in need
The powerful tornado that tore through Menasha in July damaged hundreds of homes. But informal community resource hubs emerged from the rubble. Menasha residents continue to support each other through the community-driven resource hub, Hope Fridge.
Conservationists sound the alarm on Trump’s Endangered Species Act changes
The Trump administration is narrowing longstanding interpretations of what it means to harm plants and animals protected under the Endangered Species Act.
Trek CEO regrets decisions from COVID bike boom — but has confidence in the future
The demand for bikes during the pandemic gave Trek the best years in the company’s history. But after COVID, the bike bubble popped, leaving sales in the red. The Waterloo-based company had its most recent round of layoffs in October.
Oshkosh teacher, former ‘employee of the year,’ detained by ICE
An Oshkosh middle school teacher has been detained by federal immigration authorities after being ordered to leave the country.
Crowley reports late fundraising edge over Tiffany in governor’s race
The latest numbers stand out because Tiffany had previously outraised Crowley nearly 2-1 throughout the campaign.
Milwaukee Art Museum puts its Monet where its mouth is for the World Series
As sports bettors are putting money on the line for the world series, two art museums are using a different currency — Claude Monet paintings.
Some rural school districts face dissolution if November referendums don’t pass
Siren, Dodgeville, Gillett and Winter school districts could all dissolve without increasing operational revenue.
Wausau’s mayor wants a city administrator. Here’s how it could change city government.
Under the model Diny favors, the mayor would remain the elected chief executive but delegate much of the daily management to an appointed administrator. That person could oversee department heads, coordinate operations and carry out priorities established by elected officials.
Dairyland Power considers bringing nuclear back to former Genoa site
Dairyland Power Cooperative announced a collaboration with Applied Atomics, a company that builds and operates small modular nuclear reactors.
Kamala Harris stumps for David Crowley in final week of governor’s race
Former Vice President Kamala Harris made a brief return to Wisconsin Monday, campaigning in Milwaukee for David Crowley, the Democratic candidate for governor.
Janesville voters face referendum on future of vacant former GM plant
When casting their ballots for governor next week, voters in the city of Janesville will also decide whether residents should have more of a say over the future of the long vacant site of a General Motors plant.
Governor candidate David Crowley on data centers, budget surplus and elections
WPR invited both candidates for governor to sit down for interviews. Republican Tom Tiffany’s campaign declined.
Milwaukee Archbishop apologizes for White House visit, says permission for posting of video was ‘not given by the bishops’
The archbishop of Milwaukee is apologizing after a video of him and other bishops praying over President Donald Trump was recently posted on social media.
Wisconsin’s state Senate is up for grabs in 2026
Headed into the Nov. 3 election, Republicans hold an 18-15 edge in the Wisconsin Senate. If Democrats flip two seats, and defend their own, they would capture a majority in the chamber.
Alverno College doubles down on women’s sports to boost enrollment
After years of struggling with declining enrollment, Alverno College changed its recruitment strategy with a renewed focus on athletics — and it’s starting to work.
Toll roads come up as an issue in Wisconsin’s race for governor
During the only debate in the race for governor, Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said the state should be open to tolling. The issue has come up for years at the state Capitol, and was once supported by the Republican candidate for governor, U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany.
The secret to fuel-efficient driving starts before you turn the key
The nonprofit Drive $mart Wisconsin’s evidence-based driving training program offers practical tips and skills for getting the most out of a tank of gas.
Annual Wisconsin bat count shows some species remain threatened
Results from the DNR’s Great Wisconsin Bat Count show that populations of the state’s four cave bat species haven’t fully rebounded from white-nose syndrome.
Intertribal Manoomin camp brings communities closer through traditional teachings
Participants learn traditional techniques and build community surrounding the relationship between humans and Manoomin.
Milwaukee exhibition explores the many feelings, experiences of infertility
An exhibition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's Frederick Layton Gallery showcases art that delves into the spectrum of experiences with infertility, from navigating diagnosis to miscarriage and in vitro fertilization.
Milwaukee exhibition explores the many feelings, experiences of infertility
An exhibition at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design's Frederick Layton Gallery showcases art that delves into the spectrum of experiences with infertility, from navigating diagnosis to miscarriage and in vitro fertilization.
Appleton expected to lose $310K in state aid after missing audit deadline
The city of Appleton is expected to lose more than $300,000 in state aid in its upcoming budget after missing a summer deadline to file audit paperwork with the state.
Wisconsin domestic violence deaths show slight decline after record highs
The number of domestic violence-related deaths in Wisconsin last year decreased by 9 but remains high.
‘Price of serving has become too high’: Madison mayor ends reelection bid
Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway made the announcement in a letter released Friday.
Mordecai Lee on politics and the Brewers in the World Series
Mordecai Lee on how the World Series intersects with the end of the 2026 election cycle.
Hull firefighters say ‘so long’ to 1963 firetruck ‘Big Louie’
Firefighters in the small town of Hull are getting ready to say goodbye to one of their long-serving members — a 1963 firetruck called “Big Louie."
Tiffany floats expansion of Wisconsin’s oil refinery to reduce reliance on Middle East
Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany is encouraging expansion of Wisconsin’s only oil refinery to reduce reliance on the Middle East, but energy experts say it would have little effect on bringing down local gas prices.
Wisconsin no longer reports who owns the state’s nursing homes
Advocacy group Small Town and Rural Seniors sent a letter to DHS in August demanding the agency restore the information on the directory.
‘Dream come true’: Milwaukee Brewers set to play in first World Series games since 1982
Game 1 of the World Series is Friday night at American Family Field. Brewers ace, and likely National League Cy Young award winner Jacob Misiorowski, is expected to start the game.
Eliminating state income tax on tips, overtime could cost Wisconsin $2.7B over a decade
Eliminating state income tax on tips and overtime could cost Wisconsin $2.7 billion in revenue over the next decade, with eligible workers seeing an equal savings over the same period.
Tribal literacy program in northeast Wisconsin receives national award
The Oneida Nation is being honored by the Library of Congress for its Oneida Reads program to boost 3rd-grade reading proficiency among tribal students.
Tiffany announces parental ‘Bill of Rights’ to ban transgender sports, pronoun changes
Republican candidate for governor Tom Tiffany says he’ll make Wisconsin schools more accountable by giving parents and teachers more rights.
A ‘cyberstalking cult’ swatted this Milwaukee couple 55 times
Patrick Tomlinson and Niki Robinson were recently awarded a $575,000 settlement after suing the city of Milwaukee for sending heavily-armed police officers to search their home with guns drawn — despite knowing that it was an ongoing pattern of online harassment.
UW-Madison’s $62M cyclotron lab expansion will explore promising cancer treatments
The cyclotron lab creates atoms called radionuclides that can help clinicians diagnose and treat different types of cancers as well as image different diseases
2 Wisconsin sisters are among first in nation for groundbreaking therapy on hearing impairment
Two toddlers in northeast Wisconsin with a rare hearing condition are responding to sounds like never before after receiving a newly approved gene therapy.
A rural school district lost nearly $100K in ‘cybercrime,’ 1 of dozens of attacks on Wisconsin schools this year
Hackers appear to have stolen about $92,000 from the rural Adams-Friendship Area School District, according to a letter sent to parents.
Republicans have held Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District for decades. Could this be the year it flips?
Republican U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil of Janesville easily won his previous elections for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District. But challenger Mitchell Berman is hoping a Democratic wave could change that.
Republican Frank Kostka cites tax relief as top priority in Assembly rematch
“The biggest priority (facing the Legislature) is high taxes. There were bills that should have addressed some of that, but they either were voted down or vetoed,” said Republican Frank Kostka, who is challenging Rep. Angela Stroud for the 73rd Assembly District seat.
Democrat Angela Stroud focuses on state school funding for property tax relief in Assembly race
Democratic Rep. Angela Stroud is running for re-election this year, again facing Republican Frank Kostka.
Defense company to buy Wisconsin shipyard with plans to invest $350M
Fraser Industries announced the sale Wednesday of its Superior shipyard to Wildcat Defense, part of Miami-based Wildcat Equity Partners, in a $350 million investment as part of plans to modernize the nation’s shipbuilding industry and industrial defense.
Crowley, Tiffany spar over taxes, data centers and abortion in only debate of governor’s race
Over the course of a sometimes contentious, sometimes awkward hour, the two candidates for Wisconsin governor sparred over taxes, data centers and abortion in the only debate of their general election campaign Wednesday night.
WPR Music Album of the Week: Emilie Mayer’s ‘Symphonic Works, Vol. 1’
This is the first in a projected three-volume set that will collect all of Emilie Mayer’s surviving orchestral works.
In-person absentee voting surges amid declines in ballots arriving by mail
The number of Wisconsinites casting in-person absentee ballots on the first day of early voting surged by 65 percent compared to figures ahead of the 2022 midterm election.
Judge dismisses lawsuit challenging Port Washington ordinance giving residents more power over development
Going forward, voters in the city of Port Washington will have to approve local development incentives over a certain threshold through a public referendum.