(The Center Square) – A new report says Wisconsin is among the best states in the country when it comes to social connections, mental health and social capital. The Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty on Thursday released its report on social capital and societal implications. “Wisconsin ranks 3rd in social capital, behind only Minnesota (2nd) and Utah (1st) and far above other Midwestern states like Illinois, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana,” the report states. “Loneliness and mental health issues have radically increased in American society and declining social capital is a root cause,” WILL ..read more

(The Center Square) – A Northwoods’ congressman says he has the science on his side in the debate over what to do about the gray wolf. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany got his plan to take the gray wolf off the endangered species list through the House. It was a close vote, just 209 to 205, and the plan faces a dim future in the U.S. Senate. Still, Tiffany said there’s more than enough evidence that the gray wolf population is large enough to remove it from the protected list. “The science is clear; the gray wolf has met and exceeded recovery goals,” Tiffany said in a statement. “[This vote ..read more

(The Center Square) – The University of Wisconsin says protesters are more than welcome to continue their pro-Palestinain demonstrations, but they will do so without their tents. UW-Madison Police removed dozens of tents from the University’s Library Mall early Wednesday morning. Officers also arrested about a dozen people. UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin told the university in a letter Wednesday that protesters were reminded for days that camping on campus is illegal. Mnookin said protesters were also warned before police moved in. “Every individual was given the opportunity to move aw ..read more

(The Center Square) – Former President Trump isn’t saying much about his Wisconsin strategy, but he is talking about one potential rival. Trump appeared on News Talk 1130 WISN’s Jay Weber show Wednesday morning to talk about Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “He is the most liberal person running. He's worse than the green party. He's worse than the green new scam. I mean the green new scam isn't good enough for him,” Trump said. The former president said some Republicans see Kennedy as a possible alternative because of his stance on the COVID vaccine. Trump said that’s a mistake. “By the way, he's agains ..read more

(The Center Square) – Dane County is asking Wisconsin’s attorney general to give them a definition of who is, and who is not, an “election official.” The county’s lawyer filed a request with Attorney General Josh Kaul for an official opinion about Wisconsin’s recently enacted constitutional amendment that bans outside influence in the state’s elections. Dane County’s question, in essence, is which election law are election clerks supposed to use. “[One election law] defines an ‘election official’ as an individual who was charged with any duties relating to the conduct of an ‘election.’ [Anothe ..read more

(The Center Square) – No one is sure if there is an ‘or else’ attached to the statement from UW-Madison leaders to pro-Palestinian protesters who are camping on campus. Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin issued a statement that says the university is willing to speak with protesters about their demands. But Mnookin said protesters must first dismantle their tents. “Several tents were erected throughout the day in clear violation of Chapter 18 of the UW System Administrative Code. This provision of state law was enacted by the legislature and includes limits on the types of activities permitte ..read more

(The Center Square)– Add the University of Wisconsin to the list of schools experiencing anti-Israel protests. Groups of students began to gather Monday on the campuses in Madison and Milwaukee, joining pro-Hamas groups on campuses across the country after the terrorist organization invaded Israel in October, killing more than 1,000 men, women and children and taking hundreds hostage. Reports from the protest in Madison say the crowd chanted “From the river to the sea,” a mantra that essentially means eliminating Israel. Some in the crowd carried signs that read “Divest from genocide” and “Be ..read more

(The Center Square) – Milwaukee Public Schools are proposing a new budget that would cut nearly 300 positions and spend hundreds of millions of dollars less. MPS’s superintendent unveiled his budget for the 2024-2025 school year recently. “This budget positions MPS for long-term success. We are maximizing resources to enhance student achievement; providing more direct support to schools through increased per-pupil funding; reorganizing district offices to place more staff in schools; and reducing spending to close a budget gap,” Superintendent Keith Posley said in a statement. The proposed 288 ..read more

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin’s pro-life groups are unified in telling the Wisconsin Supreme Court it is not the court’s job to create a right to abortion. Wisconsin Right to Life, Wisconsin Family Action and Pro-Life Wisconsin all filed a joint brief with the court that argues there is no right to abortion and add that if there is to be one, that decision is up to lawmakers. “The Supreme Court is not the proper venue to create health and safety law nor the proper mechanism to add a constitutional amendment. The legislature is the proper body to weigh the policy considerations and create law ..read more

(The Center Square) – Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol are laying the blame for the end of the UW-Platteville Richland campus on statehouse Republicans but aren’t acknowledging the school’s drop in enrollment. A handful of Senate Democrats on Thursday told reporters that years of underfunding are to blame for this week’s decision to fully close the UW-PLatteville campus in Richland Center. “It is not lost on me, and it should not be lost on the people in the state of Wisconsin that there is a direct line from what we're seeing happening in Richland County to the continued underfunding of our ..read more