iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Oracle wants to power its massive Ozaukee County data center with electricity from Wisconsin's only operating nuclear plant. ⚡ We Energies says the proposal to tap electricity from the Point Beach nuclear plant could save other customers millions in fuel costs. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/10/wisc...

Wisconsin Watch graphic showing the Point Beach nuclear plant on Lake Michigan, announcing We Energies struck a deal to power Oracle's data center with nuclear energy and saying the proposal could save customers millions in fuel costs.

021

What role should sheriffs play in federal immigration enforcement? That question is central to sheriff's races in Sauk and Winnebago counties, where Democrats are campaigning to end participation in the federal 287(g) program. Read our collab with @BoltsMag.org wisconsinwatch.org/2026/10/wisc...

News graphic showing two sheriff candidates seated at a City of Oshkosh council dais, with headline "Two Wisconsin sheriff races test the future of local ICE cooperation" about competing visions for local law enforcement.

032

Teamwork makes the dream work!

040

Russian ties raise questions about this Wisconsin data center

Wisconsin Rapids residents voiced familiar concerns about proposed data centers, including energy costs and water use. They also raised a less familiar one: the potential influence of Russians. @tomkertschernews.bsky.social explains. www.youtube.com/shorts/nZICE...

youtube.com

YouTube video by Wisconsin Watch

0710

Tom Kertscher @tomkertschernews.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

If you plan to join us in-person on Tuesday for the New Pathways Shaping Wisconsin's Workforce, 🚨 today is the last day to register. 🚨 Click here to reserve your seat: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

000

Reposted by Wisconsin Watch

@wisconsinwatch.org Fact Brief in the Wisconsin governor's race on Tom Tiffany's claim about David Crowley releasing prison inmates.

115

The NEW News Lab's latest story dives into on how the state’s public schools are funded, what the funding formula allows for, what it doesn’t and how other states fund their public schools: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/10/wisc...

001

Just a few days left until our workforce development event in partnership with Open Campus. Here are all the details, including registration info: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa... See you there!

000

Just a reminder: Guest commentaries reflect the views of their authors and are independent of the nonpartisan, in-depth reporting produced by Wisconsin Watch’s newsroom staff. See our guidelines for submissions: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/wisc...

We want to hear from a diversity of voices across Wisconsin. Join the conversation by submitting a guest commentary.

000

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 30/09/2026

What happens to entry-level workers if AI takes over the tasks that once helped them learn the job? Wisconsin should turn AI productivity gains into structured learning opportunities, Gleb Tsipursky argues in this guest opinion column. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Silhouetted worker standing before a glowing AI doorway, evoking workers entering an AI-driven workplace and illustrating a guest opinion urging Wisconsin to create an AI productivity apprenticeship fund.

130

A new Wisconsin Policy Forum report tries to add context to the heated debates surrounding data centers in Wisconsin. And the findings are a bit of a mixed bag. Read more from WPR: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Aerial view of a data center campus at sunset with headline: "Report: Wisconsin could make up taxes lost to data center incentives," summarizing a Wisconsin Policy Forum finding that electricity use may be a bigger challenge than water; includes Wisconsin Watch and Wisconsin Public Radio logos.

031

Reposted by Wisconsin Watch

Tom Kertscher @tomkertschernews.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

@wisconsinwatch.org asked Democrat David Crowley and Republican Tom Tiffany, the candidates for Wisconsin governor, about local control on data center proposals. Neither articulated what they would do differently.

132

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 30/09/2026

What are other states doing with short-term credentials and how does Wisconsin compare? Kermit Kaleba of the Lumina Foundation will share how Wisconsin fits into the national context on Oct. 6 in Madison. Register here: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

000

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 29/09/2026

Judges and prosecutors say underinvestment may be causing Wisconsin’s courts to fall short in delivering justice. Calls to increase funding for the judiciary have grown ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. Read the latest from the NEW News Lab: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

033

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 29/09/2026

What do Wisconsin's secretary of state and state treasurer actually do? And what do the candidates want to change? Get to know the five candidates running for two statewide offices that often fly under the radar. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

042

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 29/09/2026

✨️ One week until our free event, the New Pathways Shaping Wisconsin's Workforce ✨️ Hear from employers, education leaders and more about the short-term credentials shaping workforce pathways in the state. Register here: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

010

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 28/09/2026

Crypto ATM scams have cost Wisconsin residents big bucks. A new law caps daily transactions at $1,000, requires IDs/receipts and mandates refunds in qualifying cases. Scam reports are down, but lawmakers stopped short of banning the ATMs like other states. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

124

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 28/09/2026

Nathan Roberts, owner of G.D. Roberts and Co. Inc., will share what he looks for in new hires, as well as the journey his company has taken with high school apprentices on Oct. 6. Register for our free event on Wisconsin's workforce here: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

010

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 27/09/2026

Becky Kikkert of Workforce Development Board of South Central Wisconsin is one of the panelists at our Oct. 6 event. Register today and join us for an important discussion about the short-term credentials shaping Wisconsin's workforce landscape: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

000

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 27/09/2026

Enbridge estimates an August gas leak on its Line 5 pipeline in northern Wisconsin will cost at least $15.1 million, according to a newly filed federal accident report. Read more from WPR: wisconsinwatch.org?p=1320957

Aerial view of an emergency response site with a foam‑covered containment area, trucks and heavy equipment beside forest and farm fields, accompanied by a headline reporting Enbridge estimates the northern Wisconsin Line 5 gas leak will cost $15M.

1713

The Milwaukee Police Department isn't using generative AI today — but it has already adopted rules for doing so As police and prosecutors weigh AI tools that could help draft reports, defense some are raising questions about accuracy, bias and accountability: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Milwaukee Police Department headquarters with a headline saying the department is considering use of generative AI — it has rules but isn’t currently using it, and observers question implications for criminal cases; Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service logos visible.

175

The alternatives to a four-year degree are multiplying faster than anyone can evaluate them. Register today for a free event focused on how Wisconsin is doing in this new landscape: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

020

As Milwaukee develops a new community policing plan, city leaders are looking to Baltimore for lessons on what works — and where the approach can fall short. Read more from @Milwaukeenns.org: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Baltimore police SUV with lights parked under string lights at night alongside a headline saying Milwaukee can learn from Baltimore’s community policing plan, promoting a Wisconsin Watch and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service article about policing lessons.

060

Guest commentaries reflect the views of their authors and are independent of the nonpartisan, in-depth reporting produced by Wisconsin Watch’s newsroom staff. See our guidelines for submissions: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/01/wisc...

We want to hear from a diversity of voices across Wisconsin. Join the conversation by submitting a guest commentary.

000

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 25/09/2026

President Trump's promise of a $5,000 "Trump dividend" if his preferred candidates win the mid-terms violates Wisconsin's election bribery law, Jeff Mandell of @lawfwd.bsky.social argues. He says Trump is unlikely to face legal consequences, so it falls on voters to decide what they will tolerate.

232

Layla Merrifield, president of Wisconsin's Technical Colleges, will join us to discuss the New Pathways Shaping Wisconsin's Workforce on Oct. 6 in Madison. Register today: events.wiscotix.com/e/the-new-pa...

020

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 25/09/2026

A federal judges's ruling this week means millions of Wisconsinites — immigrant and native-born — won’t have to jump through hoops to prove their legal status before attending classes, seeing a doctor or receiving assistance at a food pantry. Read the story: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

0114

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 24/09/2026

Literacy Green Bay, a nonprofit that teaches immigrants and refugees English as a second language, took a major blow recently when the Trump administration gutted refugee resettlement programs. They reduced from 15 classes to eight, stopped offering free child care and have a 300-person waitlist.

155

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 23/09/2026

Nursing homes and home health agencies are already experiencing staff shortages, leading them to turn people seeking care away. They say changes to federal immigration policy have made it even harder to fill workforce gaps. Read the latest from the NEW News Lab: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

292

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 22/09/2026

Extreme weather events have real costs, according to local elected officials, researchers and community members. Read the latest from the NEW News Lab here: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

141

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 22/09/2026

🚨 Help us fight election misinformation. We're testing a new tool called Truth Sleuth that lets you send suspicious claims directly to our fact-checking team. If you spot something that doesn't seem right we'd love to take a look. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

A call to action: become a "Truth Sleuth" by sending suspected election misinformation to Wisconsin Watch, illustrated by a hand dropping a marked ballot into a box and noting Wisconsin Watch’s partnership with the Center for Media Engagement to fact‑check falsehoods.

082

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 21/09/2026

It's a rematch. Democratic AG Josh Kaul and GOP challenger Eric Toney are facing off in a rematch of 2022. They offer contrasting visions of what the attorney general should prioritize. We asked both candidates the same set of questions. Here's what they said: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

163

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 20/09/2026

A firearm recently discovered in the Langlade County Courthouse is highlighting the lack of security in rural public buildings. But local officials are reluctant to pass the high cost of upgrades on to taxpayers. More from @thebadgerproject.org: wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/many...

Courthouse entrance showing security signs — "All bags & persons subject to search" and a crossed-out gun with "No firearms or weapons allowed" — illustrating concerns about weapon screening at rural Wisconsin courthouses.

032

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 20/09/2026

We want to hear from a diversity of voices across Wisconsin. Join the conversation by submitting a guest commentary.

062

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 20/09/2026

An MKE County jail tablet was allegedly used to intimidate witnesses, sparking calls to stop issuing them. In this guest opinion, Shannon Ross argues the incident should lead to better security, not the elimination of tools that support connection and learning. wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

People in a jail setting seated around a table using secured tablets, paired with the headline "Guest opinion: The debate over jail tablets is missing the point" about tablets' role in supporting communication, education and successful reentry.

1113

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 19/09/2026

The “Wisconsin Guarantee” was designed to ease the college-admissions process by automatically admitting top students to UW campuses. But early evidence suggests the law has had little effect on who applies to or enrolls at UW-Madison. More from @captimes.com wisconsinwatch.org/2026/09/wisc...

Two people arranging shelving and bedding in a crowded college dorm room during move‑in, illustrating a story about Wisconsin’s college admissions law and its unintended consequences.

040

Wisconsin Watch @wisconsinwatch.org · 19/09/2026