In fight over voter rolls, Wisconsin’s top judges can’t agree on sensitive data
An unusual split in two Wisconsin Court of Appeals districts highlights growing partisan division in the judiciary. By Wisconsin Watch's Jack Kelly
Wisconsin Watch
The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism is an independent, nonpartisan and nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that reports on government accountability and quality of life issues, like education, the economy and the environment. It’s more important to us to get the story right than it is to be first and we believe in collaborating, not competing, with other news outlets. Not only can you find our stories on WisconsinWatch.org, but we give all of our reports away for free to hundreds of other news organizations.
We are excited to start sharing our reports in audio form and you can find them wherever you get your podcasts!
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Episodes (138)
10 guards, 900 inmates: Wisconsin prisons see dire results of ignored warnings
An extreme shortage of guards at Wisconsin’s prisons slowed basic operations to a crawl. Inmates escaped, prisons locked down and conditions deteriorated. By New York Times Local Investigations Fellow and Wisconsin Watch reporter Mario Koran and Justin Mayo of Big Local News. Originally published on Feb. 2, 2024.
Wisconsin Watch
en-usFebruary 12, 2024
Sheboygan recruit accused of sex assault had potential red flag
A Sheboygan police recruit involved in an alleged sexual assault had been flagged as a suspected gang member in high school, but that information was not provided to an oversight board before he was hired. By Wisconsin Watch's Jacob Resneck. This story was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab.
A Grand Chute police recruit alleged she was sexually assaulted. Days later she lost her job.
The Grand Chute police department didn’t seek an outside investigation for a case involving its own employee, yet invoked “victim rights” laws to resist disclosing details of the incident involving two other police recruits. By Wisconsin Watch's Jacob Resneck. Wisconsin Watch reporter Phoebe Petrovic contributed. This story was produced as part of the NEW (Northeast Wisconsin) News Lab.
PayPal shielded donors who gave to Wisconsin-based health misinformation outlet
The charitable arm of PayPal, one of the world’s largest digital payment companies, facilitated $141,194 in anonymous donations between 2019 and 2021 to groups trafficking in COVID-19 misinformation, anti-vaccine content and hate, tax records show. By Phoebe Petrovic of Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on Oct. 27, 2023.
Oshkosh police cite ‘Marsy’s Law’ to withhold names of officers who shot suspects
A Wisconsin police department used Marsy’s Law to block the release of the names of police officers involved in a shooting incident. By Jacob Resneck of Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on Aug. 8, 2023.
How alcoholism derailed former Wisconsin running back Montee Ball’s football career
Former Badger Montee Ball offers a cautionary tale to University of Wisconsin-Madison students about the dangers of booze. By Sarah Eichstadt and Anupras Mohapatra of Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on Aug. 3, 2023.
Wisconsin’s ‘death grip with alcohol’ is killing more residents
Excessive alcohol use is taking a heavy toll in a state that celebrates its drinking culture. By Sarah Eichstadt and Anupras Mohapatra of Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on Aug. 3, 2023.
AI is starting to affect our elections. Wisconsin has yet to take action.
Heading into the 2024 election, Wisconsin faces a new challenge state lawmakers here have so far failed to address: generative artificial intelligence. The state of Washington required political ads to disclose if they use artificial intelligence while others banned deepfake technology in the runup to an election. By Phoebe Petrovic of Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on July 28, 2023.
Wisconsin Watch
en-usSeptember 14, 2023
Hot pursuit: Milwaukee police chases now top 1,000 per year. Some prove deadly.
Milwaukee sees a surge in police pursuits in years since loosening policy to target reckless drivers. Critics say the trend makes streets more dangerous. By Jonah Chester, Wisconsin Public Radio's 2022-2023 Mike Simonson Memorial Investigative Reporting Fellow embedded in the Wisconsin Watch newsroom. Originally published on Aug. 2, 2023.
Wisconsin Watch
en-usSeptember 14, 2023
JusticePoint offers incarceration alternatives in Milwaukee. Two judges tried to cancel its contract.
Municipal Court officials refuse to comment on efforts to cancel JusticePoint’s contract without lining up an alternative provider. A legal ruling allows the services to continue — for now. Story by Wisconsin Watch’s Jonmaesha Beltran and Devin Blake of Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service, produced in collaboration with The Appeal. Originally published on July 27, 2023.
Misinformation, Disinformation: A guide to sorting fiction from reality
Social media and deceptive actors are allowing falsehood to spread even faster than the truth, but there are ways to inoculate yourself from information disorder. Story by Wisconsin Watch disinformation reporter Phoebe Petrovic. Originally published on July 20, 2023.
Walmart pulls Milwaukee Tool gloves allegedly made by Chinese prisoners
Walmart is no longer selling Milwaukee Tool-branded gloves on its online marketplace — responding to allegations that a subcontractor for the Brookfield, Wisconsin-based tool company relied on forced Chinese prison labor to manufacture certain models of gloves. Story by Wisconsin Watch's Zhen Wang. Originally published on July 17, 2023.
Wisconsin billionaires quietly bankroll effort to shrink state’s social safety net
A group funded by deep-pocketed GOP donors is pushing to make it harder to vote and to receive unemployment insurance and Medicaid. By Wisconsin Watch's Jacob Resneck. Originally published on July 11, 2023.
Republican lawmakers reject proposal to help Wisconsin communities access federal grant programs
Gov. Tony Evers signs a budget that excludes his plan to help staff-strapped local governments track and apply for federal infrastructure dollars. By Bennet Goldstein / Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on July 7, 2023.
Midwest drought: Corn and soybeans suffer as forecasters expect no quick relief for farmers
Arid conditions are expected to persist in eastern Iowa and Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin. River barges are affected, too. By Bennet Goldstein / Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on June 23, 2023.
Wisconsin Watch
en-usAugust 23, 2023
Wisconsin towns brace for next fight on local control over large farms
A proposed pig CAFO spurred five northwest Wisconsin towns to regulate big farms. After one rescinded its ordinance, others wonder if they’ll face lawsuits. By Bennet Goldstein / Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on July 6, 2023.
‘They die so quickly’: Fentanyl killing 1,000+ people in Wisconsin each year
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services in 2021 found synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, caused 91% of opioid overdose deaths, Grace Friedman and Max Stapleton report for Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on June 22, 2023.
Wisconsin law still refers to husband and wife, a reminder to LGBTQ+ families that their rights are at risk
The courts and Evers administration have stepped in, but bipartisan efforts to make state law neutral to reflect status of same-sex couples have stalled. By Matthew DeFour / Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on June 16, 2023.
Some Milwaukee County parents leaving workforce due to sky-high child care costs
Milwaukee County parents spend more of their income on child care than most Americans. Gov. Tony Evers wants to intervene as Wisconsin providers face a fiscal cliff. By Tyler Dedrick for Wisconsin Watch. Originally published on June 15, 2023.