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Joe Schulz

@joeschulz97.bsky.social
299 followers 276 following 270 posts

Northeast Wisconsin reporter for Wisconsin Public Radio. Covering statewide business and energy, as well as general news in the Fox Valley and Green Bay. Story ideas? Email: joe.schulz@wpr.org

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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
The construction industry accounted for around half of the non-farm job growth in Wisconsin over the last year, as a few high-profile data center projects moved forward in the state.
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Construction industry drives Wisconsin job growth amid data center developments
The construction industry accounted for around half of the non-farm job growth in Wisconsin over the last year, as a few high-profile data center projects moved forward in the state.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
After regulators told them to go back to the drawing board last month, American Transmission Co. has reapplied to build a more than $2 billion transmission project that will serve the data center being built in Port Washington.
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ATC reapplies to build a more than $2B transmission project serving Port Washington data center
After regulators told them to go back to the drawing board last month, American Transmission Co. has reapplied to build a more than $2 billion transmission project that will serve the data center bein...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Tribal nations and environmental groups say the state of Wisconsin is not doing enough to hold Enbridge accountable following the largest oil and gas pipeline spill ever reported in Wisconsin.
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Tribes, environmentalists call for state action in response to Enbridge spill in Iron County
Tribal nations and environmental groups are urging state officials to take stronger action against Enbridge.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative plans to spend $700 million to build a new soybean processing plant in Rock County, Wisconsin. The plant could bring with it more than 80 permanent jobs. www.wpr.org/news/minneso...
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Minnesota-based cooperative to spend $700M to build soybean processing plant in Evansville
The nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative plans to spend $700 million to build a new soybean processing plant in Evansville.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously found that the former Green Bay city clerk likely broke state law by issuing duplicate ballots in two elections this year.
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Former Green Bay clerk likely violated state law by issuing duplicate ballots
The Wisconsin Elections Commission unanimously found that the former Green Bay city clerk likely broke state law by issuing duplicate ballots in two elections this year.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison say the health system violated federal labor law in its opposition to their unionization effort.
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SSM St. Mary's nurses in Madison file federal labor complaint against health system
Nurses at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Madison say the health system violated federal labor law in its opposition to their unionization effort.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
EF-3 tornado that destroyed homes and businesses in the Fox Valley also reshaped a race that could help decide control of the Wisconsin State Legislature this November. www.wpr.org/news/fox-val...
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The Fox Valley's massive tornado upended a key Assembly race
The EF-3 tornado that destroyed Fox Valley homes and businesses also reshaped a race that could help decide control of the state Legislature this November.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Microsoft, state regulators and customer advocates are raising concerns about a utility proposal meant to shield existing customers from transmission costs associated with data centers.
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Wisconsin regulators, Microsoft question utility plan for data center transmission costs
Microsoft, state regulators and customer advocates are raising concerns about a utility proposal meant to shield existing customers from transmission costs associated with data centers.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs is facing misdemeanor criminal charges related to a domestic violence arrest in May.
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Green Bay Packers running back Josh Jacobs charged with battery following May arrest
Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs is facing misdemeanor criminal charges related to a domestic violence arrest in May.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Billionaire Elon Musk will not face criminal charges related to a social media post he made offering $1 million to people who voted in the 2025 state Supreme Court race, the La Crosse County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
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La Crosse County DA will not charge Elon Musk, saying he doesn't think he could get a conviction
Billionaire Elon Musk will not face criminal charges related to a social media post he made offering $1 million to people who voted in the 2025 state Supreme Court race, the La Crosse County District ...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
In the midst of an armed conflict in the Middle East, the nation’s top defense official visited the Fox Valley on Monday.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visits Oshkosh to promote defense manufacturing
In the midst of an armed conflict in the Middle East, the nation’s top defense official visited the Fox Valley on Monday.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
The financial collapse of a northeast Wisconsin anti-poverty nonprofit earlier this year could lead to an audit of similar agencies across the state along with the state agencies that help fund them.
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Newcap's financial collapse could prompt audit into other anti-poverty agencies
Federal court records show the state has been working to recover assets from Newcap, including grant-funded vehicles, through the nonprofit’s bankruptcy proceeding.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
City officials in Green Bay say “human error” by former Clerk Celestine Jeffreys led to hundreds of voters receiving duplicate absentee ballots across two elections this year.
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Former Green Bay clerk's 'human error' led to duplicate ballot issues, reports say
City officials in Green Bay say "human error" by former Clerk Celestine Jeffreys led to hundreds of voters receiving duplicate absentee ballots across two elections this year.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
In the early days of the general election campaign for Wisconsin governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has tried to paint Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as too supportive of the data center industry. Crowley says Tiffany is leaving out key facts.
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Tom Tiffany attacks David Crowley on data centers as campaign for governor ramps up
In the early days of the general election campaign for Wisconsin governor, Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany has tried to paint Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley as too supportive of ...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
A Winnebago County judge previously suspended for using a gun as a prop in court is facing new misconduct allegations. In 2023, Scott Woldt allegedly began swearing at local attorneys in a downtown Oshkosh taproom for supporting a recent campaign opponent. www.wpr.org/news/state-c...
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State commission files misconduct complaint against Winnebago County judge
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission says a circuit court judge in Winnebago County likely committed judicial misconduct in 2023.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 11/08/2026
In the most closely-watched contest in Wisconsin's primary election, voters will decide who will move on to the general election for governor this fall. WPR spoke with voters across the state about who they voted for and why.
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Wisconsin voters cast ballots in primary as race for governor heats up
Democratic voters are split as Republican voters frame the race as a battle between capitalism and socialism.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Gov. Tony Evers is asking for federal help conducting damage assessments required to obtain federal aid in response to the EF-3 tornado that ripped through the Fox Valley late last month.
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Evers asks for FEMA's help with damage assessments after Fox Valley tornado
Gov. Evers said the storm left families, businesses and whole neighborhoods “hurting,” and said there’s still a “long road to recovery ahead.”
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Some Democrats have called for the party to unify around defeating Republican Tom Tiffany, regardless of who emerges from the primary. Meanwhile, Tiffany on Monday linked the remaining Democrats in the field to frontrunner Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist. www.wpr.org/news/candida...
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Candidates make closing pitches ahead of Wisconsin primary for governor
Candidates running for Wisconsin governor made their final pitches to voters Monday in the run-up to Wisconsin's primary election.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
State utility regulators have dealt a major setback to a more than $1 billion transmission project that would serve the hyperscale data center campus being built in Port Washington.
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PSC deals major blow to transmission project supporting Port Washington data center
State utility regulators dealt a major setback to a more than $1 billion transmission project that would serve the hyperscale data center campus being built in Port Washington.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
The Green Bay city clerk is stepping down amid an investigation into how her office mailed out duplicate absentee ballots in back-to-back elections this year.
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Green Bay City Clerk Celestine Jeffreys to step down amid duplicate ballots scandal
The Green Bay city clerk is stepping down amid an investigation into how her office mailed out duplicate absentee ballots in back-to-back elections this year.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
Gov. Tony Evers on why he's supporting Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley's bid to replace him: “David’s running on his record, and he has expertise to get stuff done.” www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...
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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers rallies with Milwaukee Co. Exec David Crowley in Appleton
During the campaign rally at a local brewery in Appleton, Gov. Tony Evers said he chose to endorse Crowley because he was the candidate in the race most focused on issues.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
During a briefing Wednesday morning, Dan Wiechman, community liaison officer for the Fox Crossing Police Department, said officials still did not have an estimate on the number of buildings destroyed or the number of people displaced.
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Fox Valley leaders still determining scale of tornado destruction
Local leaders are still trying to determine the full scale of destruction that a tornado left in its wake when it hit the Fox Valley area Monday.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 28/07/2026
As Gary Liebhauser looked at his damaged home in Menasha Tuesday, he said the day after a devastating tornado hit the community was even harder than the day of. “Yesterday it was, ‘OK, just deal with it.’ Today, you wake up and it’s still here,” he said. www.wpr.org/news/cleanup...
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Cleanup underway in Menasha after tornado hits Appleton area
National Weather Service says the tornado travelled 12 miles across communities with wind speeds of up to 140 mph.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 27/07/2026
At a pair of public hearings last week, residents overwhelmingly opposed a planned natural gas plant in Kenosha County.
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Residents speak out against planned Kenosha County natural gas plant
Red Oak Ridge would be the second-largest of Wisconsin’s 29 existing natural gas power plants, according to a report from the University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers. Invenergy has said the plant ...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
Economic development leaders in Wisconsin are worried the Trump administration’s latest round of tariffs will make it harder to do business with the state’s biggest trading partner. www.wpr.org/news/wiscons...
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Wisconsin economic development leaders worried about new Trump tariffs on Canada
This week, the administration announced new 50 percent tariffs on certain products from Canada, ranging from wine and dairy products to hockey sticks and cement. They are set to take effect on Aug. 19...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
State Rep. Francesca Hong, a Democratic Socialist, supports a statewide moratorium on new construction for AI data centers. But business groups say a statewide data center moratorium would 'put a moratorium on economic growth.'
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What would Francesca Hong's proposed data center moratorium mean for Wisconsin?
While the Democratic primary field has narrowed in recent weeks, Hong has remained the only Democrat who supports a statewide moratorium on new construction for AI data centers.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
“When the district attorney’s office believed local organizations may have crossed a legal line, it acted quickly,” said community organizer Christina Thor. “Our community deserves to see that same standard applied today."
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Wisconsin lawmakers, activists urge Brown County DA to act on Elon Musk election case
Two Democratic state lawmakers are urging the Brown County district attorney to take action after a state commission found billionaire Elon Musk likely violated elections law last year.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
After a multi-state search, Realta Fusion selected OM Station, the site of Madison's former Oscar Mayer plant and headquarters, to be its new corporate headquarters and research and development facility.
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Realta Fusion will develop former Oscar Mayer site in Madison, add 600 jobs
A site that represents Madison’s industrial past will get new life as the host of a new research and development facility aimed at helping power the future.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 13/07/2026
Property owners are suing the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for allegedly restricting their access to a boat launch on private property.
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Lac du Flambeau tribe sued for restricting access to private boat launch
Property owners are suing the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa for allegedly restricting their access to a boat launch on private property.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
Tableware manufacturer Hoffmaster Group is expanding, with plans to add 100 jobs in rural Clintonville.
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Oshkosh-based paper plate maker to add 100 manufacturing jobs in Clintonville
The Fox Valley-based company is planning a $65 million expansion of its manufacturing plant there, expected to create more than 100 manufacturing jobs.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
The Green Bay City Clerk is on administrative leave, pending an internal review from the city and a state investigation into how her office issued duplicate ballots in two elections this year.
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Green Bay city clerk on leave after state calls for investigation into duplicate ballots
The Wisconsin Elections Commission will investigate how the city of Green Bay mailed out duplicate ballots in two elections this year.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
Wisconsin Elections Commission staff believe there is evidence that Green Bay violated state law when the city mailed duplicate ballots to more than 150 voters ahead of the spring election.
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Wisconsin Elections Commission review finds probable cause Green Bay violated elections law
Wisconsin Elections Commission staff believe there is evidence that Green Bay violated state law when the city mailed duplicate ballots to more than 150 voters ahead of the spring election.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Wisconsin native Shawn Eichorst has been appointed to serve as UW-Madison’s new athletic director. He will lead the university through a new era of college sports, where athletes can be paid and transfer more freely. And rebuilding Wisconsin's football program may be one of his biggest tasks.
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UW-Madison names Wisconsin native as new athletic director
Wisconsin native Shawn Eichorst has been appointed to serve as the university’s new athletic director, interim Chancellor Eric Wilcots announced Wednesday.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
The city of Green Bay says it may have issued duplicate absentee ballots in a second election this year.
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Green Bay says it may have issued duplicate ballots in a second election this year
The city of Green Bay says it may have issued duplicate absentee ballots in a second election this year. Over the weekend, city staff “became aware” that some voters in seven wards, and part of an eig...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
We Energies and a pair of data center developers are asking state regulators to loosen financial protections included in a new special rate structure for data centers.
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We Energies, Oracle ask state regulators to loosen financial protections for data centers
We Energies and a pair of data center developers are asking state regulators to loosen financial protections included in a new special rate structure for data centers.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 12/06/2026
Wisconsin saw a surge of new small businesses coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many have struggled to grow into larger companies.
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Wisconsin saw small business surge after pandemic, but many have struggled to grow
Wisconsin saw a surge of new small businesses coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many have struggled to grow into larger companies.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
Harley-Davidson is bringing some motorcycle production back to Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, saying the move supports dozens of manufacturing and union jobs.
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Harley-Davidson to bring some motorcycle production back to Wisconsin, Pennsylvania
Harley-Davidson is bringing some motorcycle production back to Wisconsin.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 10/06/2026
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has denied Minocqua Brewing Co. owner Kirk Bangstad a spot on the ballot for the upcoming primary in the governor’s race.
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Controversial liberal Kirk Bangstad denied ballot access in bid for Wisconsin governor
The Wisconsin Elections Commission has denied Minocqua Brewing Co. owner Kirk Bangstad a spot on the ballot for the upcoming primary in the governor’s race.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 05/06/2026
A coal plant in southcentral Wisconsin is expected to receive $19 million in federal funding for a modernization project after the plant was originally scheduled to retire almost two years ago.
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Trump administration announces $19M in funding to southcentral Wisconsin coal plant
A coal plant in southcentral Wisconsin is expected to receive $19 million in federal funding for a modernization project after the plant was originally scheduled to retire almost two years ago.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 02/06/2026
The expiration of pandemic-era childcare funding at the end of the month could force about one-quarter of Wisconsin providers to either close or significantly reduce services, according to a new report.
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Report: Loss of childcare funding could shut down 25 percent of Wisconsin providers
The state launched the Child Care Bridge Payments program in 2025 to provide roughly $110 million to providers through June 2026 to help with the wind-down of Child Care Counts.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
The median home cost in Wisconsin’s two biggest metro areas is at least five times the median household income in those communities, among the highest in the Midwest.
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Homes in Wisconsin’s largest metros among least affordable in Midwest, analysis finds
The median home cost in Wisconsin’s two biggest metro areas is at least five times the median household income in those communities, among the highest in the Midwest.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Brown County District Attorney David Lasee said his office was not prepared to make a formal charging decision after Green Bay Packers Running Back Josh Jacobs was arrested Tuesday. He's asking for additional investigation.
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Brown County DA not ready to make charging decision on Packers running back Josh Jacobs
Green Bay Packers star running back Josh Jacobs will be released from custody Wednesday following an arrest in Brown County on suspected domestic violence charges.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Gov. Tony Evers is asking President Donald Trump to give Wisconsin a disaster declaration related to severe storms and flooding that ripped through the state in April, causing more than $27 million in damages.
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Gov. Evers asks Trump for disaster declaration after spring storms cause $27M in damage
Gov. Tony Evers is asking President Donald Trump to give Wisconsin a disaster declaration related to severe storms and flooding that ripped through the state in April, causing more than $27 million in...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 22/05/2026
Wisconsin’s labor market has slowed down over the last year, though unemployment has remained near historic lows, according to preliminary data released Thursday by the state Department of Workforce Development.
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Wisconsin's labor market has cooled, but unemployment remains near historic lows
Wisconsin’s labor market has slowed down over the last year, though unemployment has remained near historic lows, according to preliminary data released by the state Department of Workforce Developmen...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
While local leaders in the northeast Wisconsin village of Wrightstown say they haven’t received a formal development proposal, some local residents are making their feelings known in advance — they don’t want a data center in town.
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Residents speak out against possible data center in northeast Wisconsin's village of Wrightstown
While local leaders in the northeast Wisconsin village of Wrightstown say they haven't received a formal development proposal, some local residents are making their feelings known in advance — they do...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 19/05/2026
Two former executives of a defunct solar energy company are facing criminal theft by contractor charges tied to work that was paid for but never completed.
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Former Sun Badger Solar executives face felony theft by contractor charges in Dane County
Two former executives of a defunct solar energy company are facing criminal theft by contractor charges tied to work that was paid for but never completed.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Oshkosh is taking steps toward potentially buying a former downtown shopping mall. The city is considering converting the site into a mixed-use redevelopment that could include retail, housing and restaurants.
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Oshkosh takes step toward buying former downtown shopping mall property
Oshkosh is taking steps toward potentially buying a former downtown shopping mall. The city is considering converting the site into a mixed-use redevelopment that could include retail, housing and res...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 13/05/2026
Pleasant Prairie-based Uline is looking to pause its development of a more than 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Kenosha due to economic uncertainty.
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Citing economic uncertainty, Uline looks to pause construction plan in Kenosha County
Wisconsin's Uline is looking to pause the development of a more than 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Kenosha due to economic uncertainty.
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Microsoft has hired around 375 people for full-time positions in Wisconsin and that number could grow to 800 by the time the company finishes its second data center in Racine County.
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Microsoft says it has hired around 375 people for its Mount Pleasant data center
Microsoft has hired around 375 people for full-time positions in Wisconsin and that number could grow to 800 by the time the company finishes its second data center in Racine County, according to a co...
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Joe Schulz @joeschulz97.bsky.social · 30/04/2026
In response to concerns from three northeast Wisconsin towns, the Manitowoc County Board unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on data center permitting Tuesday night.
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Manitowoc County Board approves 18-month data center moratorium
In response to concerns from three northeast Wisconsin towns, the Manitowoc County Board unanimously approved an 18-month moratorium on data center permitting.
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