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Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation wants to offer health coverage. Critics say it undercuts Obamacare.

Proposed legislation would enable the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation to provide health care coverage to members outside traditional insurance regulations. Supporters say the measure fills a gap in options for a demographic of people who would otherwise go without coverage, while critics maintain it sells patients working in a high-risk profession an inferior health product that lacks federal protections.

Here’s what you need to know:

Dunn County Sheriff looking for information on bloody items

The Dunn County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for information regarding some bloody articles that were found near Colfax. In a press release from the sheriff's office:

Governor Evers vetoes GOP maps

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has vetoed the maps that were passed by the legislature on a non-partisan basis.. The GOP maps were based on the maps that Governor Evers submitted (one of the seven sets of maps that were under consideration) but the Republicans changed them slightly to remove several conflicts between districts that would match up two Republican incumbents. Since the legislative maps have been vetoed the most likely outcome is that the court will decide on the structure of the maps for the next election.

The governor sent out the following press release this morning. 

Wisconsin bill would limit local control over animal welfare
Truth Sandwich: Who’s behind Robin Vos’ DEI crusade? by Phoebe Petrovic / Wisconsin Watch, Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has waged a crusade against DEI — diversity, equity and inclusion — practices in higher education and state government, including withholding raises from Universities of Wisconsin employees until the system agreed to freeze DEI positions. Records obtained from Vos’ office show one of the groups that has informed his thinking on this topic is the right-wing Claremont Institute.

Evers lays out roadmap for advancing his workforce, environment and health agenda

by Baylor Spears, Wisconsin Examiner
January 23, 2024

Gov. Tony Evers laid out his one-two punch playbook to work towards some of his key policy priorities, including addressing workforce challenges, during his sixth State of the State address Tuesday evening: First, urge the Republican-led Legislature to take action on issues that they have continually rejected, and second, take action on the issue that won’t require legislative action. 

Menomonie School Board Meeting for 1/22/2024

DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA
NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER
215 PINE AVENUE E., Menomonie WISCONSIN
MONDAY, JANUARY 22, 2024, 5:45 P.M.

This meeting will be live-streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCq2Z68-Z717wExwN1mChOQ/streams

AGENDA

I. OPENING ITEMS

A. Call to Order

B. Roll Call and Quorum

C. Pledge of Allegiance and Reading of Mission Statement

D. Agenda Order and Approval/Revision

E. Community Communications

II. PERSONNEL CONSENT AGENDA

Final-Five Voting has bipartisan support across the country. But status quo thinking is entrenched. Here are the arguments on both sides.

By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

Across the country, Final-Five Voting – a system that bans partisan primary elections and voters rank their preferred candidates in general elections – is gaining traction. But opposition, largely from the hard right, is significant.

That’s the landscape Wisconsin lawmakers are navigating as they consider a bipartisan Final-Five Voting bill here. Its passage in the current session is a longshot, insiders say.

What is it?

Mabel Tainter announces fund to repair main entrance steps

Most of you who have visited the Mabel Tainter in Menomonie are aware that the front steps of the building have long been eroded, and are sometimes challenging, particularly in the winter. Today the Tainter announced a fund to raise money to replace the front entrance steps. The damage to the steps has also caused leakage of water and limestone into the original bathrooms in the building, which have been closed for some time. The restoration work on the building will also include repairs to the historic bathrooms so they can be used again.

Weekly News Quiz for 1/19/2024

The Conversation U.S. weekly news quiz

Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation
A new voting system in Alaska brought more choice, representation and civility, experts say. A bill in Wisconsin would launch the system here.

It’s called Final-Five Voting and it would eliminate partisan primaries and enact ranked-choice voting.

By Peter Cameron, THE BADGER PROJECT

When Alaska ran its elections in 2022, it used a totally new system to vote.

Voters had much more choice than the two candidates they usually get, and experts said the nastiness that has become so common in modern politics was much diminished.

Seven sets of legislative maps submitted to Supreme Court, most would reduce GOP advantage

by Henry Redman, Wisconsin Examiner
January 14, 2024

Republican control of the Legislature would likely be reduced under most of the proposed maps submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday, which tossed out the current — heavily gerrymandered — maps late last month. 

Latest Wisconsin GOP proposal giving access to experimental treatments excludes transgender care

One Republican bill in a “medical freedom” package seeks to ensure doctors can’t be punished for trying novel therapies, but it makes one notable exception that denies that freedom for all.

Here’s what you need to know:

Community Conversations School Referendum Forum

Forum held ad Menomonie Public Library on Saturday January 13, 2024. Note that the live stream has some serious audio issues --- The video has been replaced with one where the audio is functional, but approximately the first 16 minutes of the meeting are missing.

The slides from the presentation are attached below.

This is a summary by Lorene Vedder of Community Conversations:

“Shall the School District of the Menomonie Area, Dunn and St. Croix Counties, Wisconsin, be authorized to exceed the revenue limit specified in Section 121.91, Wisconsin Statutes, by $4,200,000 beginning with the 2024-2025 school year, for recurring purposes consisting of operating expenses.”

Weekly News Quiz for 1/12/2024 Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation
Gov. Evers Submits Fair Maps to Wisconsin Supreme Court in Redistricting Litigation

Note that today was the deadline in the lawsuit requiring new unbiased maps for the state. The Republican party will also have submitted maps today. In a further development today the State Supreme Court refused to reconsider their ruling on the state maps. The Republican party requested that the court reject their own previous ruling on the election maps for the state.

Governor’s proposed maps are responsive to the will of the people, avoid partisan bias, increase competitive legislative seats 

Menomonie School Board budget hearing and board meeting 1/8/2024 MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARING OF THE
SCHOOL DISTRICT OF THE MENOMONIE AREA
ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICE CENTER
215 PINE AVENUE E
MENOMONIE, WI 54751
5:00 P.M.
~
Please note that it is anticipated that one-half or more of the members of the school board will attend the mid-year budget hearing. No action will be taken by the board.
~
This agenda is also posted in the following locations: Menomonie Middle School, Menomonie High School, and all Menomonie Elementary School Sites when in session; the School District Administrative Service Center; and the Menomonie Public Library.

1. OPENING ITEMS

  • A. Call to Order - Rachel Henderson

2. MID-YEAR BUDGET HEARING

  • A. Review of District Budget

3. DISCUSSION

Weekly News Quiz for 1/5/2024 - Happy New Year! Fritz Holznagel, The Conversation
Three candidates running for school board in Menomonie

In the race for school board in Menomonie, all three of the imcumbent candidate (Angela Skillings, Mark Hillman, and Karl Palmer have filed papers to not run for re-election. All three of the seats up for election will be filled by new candidates. 

Only three prospective candidates have filed papers for election to the seats, so there will not be a primary election in February, but the candidates will be selected  in the April 2 election. The three seats are for a three-year term and the seats will be uncontested. The candidates are:

AI is here – and everywhere: 3 AI researchers look to the challenges ahead in 2024 AI has arrived. How will it change society in the year ahead? Pavel_Chag/iStock via Getty Images