Wisconsin Right Now

The report said experts point to policy “missteps” as a key factor. President Joe Biden is expected to deliver the State of the Union address Tuesday evening, and economic and fiscal policy experts are raising the alarm about the fiscal state of the nation. The National Association for Business Economics (NABE) released its economic growth projections for the next quarter and downgraded their forecasts. "NABE panelists have downgraded their forecasts for economic growth in 2022,” the report said. “The median forecast for inflation-adjusted gross domestic product (real GDP) growth from the fourth quarter (Q4) 2021 to Q4 2022 is 2.9% – down from the 3.6% forecasted in the December 2021 Outlook Survey. In general, panelists anticipate further deceleration in GDP growth in 2023: the median forecast calls for GDP growth of 2.3%.” The report said experts point to policy “missteps” as a key factor. “Thirty percent of panelists identify monetary policy missteps as the greatest

With homicide exploding to unprecedented levels in his state's largest city, Gov. Tony Evers revealed that he can't remember whether he met in-person with any Milwaukee homicide victims' families. Looking like a proverbial "deer caught in the headlights," Evers blamed his "busy schedule" and then brought up meeting with victims of the Waukesha parade attack. We would state the obvious and note that the Waukesha Christmas Parade attack did not occur in Milwaukee. There have been 33 homicides in 2022 in Milwaukee year-to-date, according to the City’s crime dashboard , compared to 16 in 2021. That’s a 106% increase, and it comes after two-years of historic highs. Furthermore, Evers dodged a question about whether he supports eliminating cash bail, like his Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, a Democrat running for U.S. Senate against Sen. Ron Johnson. Here's the video of Evers' comments, which occurred under questioning by reporter A.J. Bayatpour, Capi

Support for educational freedom is strong in Wisconsin and could hurt Gov. Evers at the ballot box, a poll found. Most Wisconsinites favor the Wisconsin School Choice program, with more than half of independents and Republicans supporting it, a new poll shows. The poll also shows that Gov. Tony Evers' opposition to school choice is hurting him with the crucial independent voting base needed to win re-election. The poll shows that 56% of people favor the Wisconsin School Choice program. Only 26% oppose it. Even 36% of Democrats support it. Support is strong among independents, with 54% favoring it and 25% not favoring it. Among Republicans, 77% favor it, and 11% do not. Voters were asked, "As you may know, Governor Evers strongly opposes opening up Wisconsin’s School Choice program to every family in the state. Does this make you more or less likely to vote for Evers for re-election this fall?" In the poll, 46% said it would make them less likely to vote for Ever

Darreon Parker-Bell was previously convicted in the shooting of an 8-year-old girl but only got 40 days in the House of Correction from a judge appointed by Tony Evers. Darreon Parker-Bell, who says on Facebook that he's a family member of Keishon Thomas, is the suspect in the District 5 police shooting in Milwaukee, according to a law enforcement source and a social media post from a relative. WISN 1130 host Dan O'Donnell obtained a surveillance photo of the suspect; his facial tattoo matches Darreon Parker-Bell's. https://twitter.com/DanODonnellShow/status/1497363000310775813   Darreon Parker-Bell Sources tell Wisconsin Right Now that the suspect walked into the District 5 police station in Milwaukee and started shooting at police officers on Friday afternoon. He was then chased and shot by police. One of those sources said the suspect is Darreon Parker-Bell. Thomas died in police custody at district 5 earlier in the week. [caption id="attachment_48443

A man walked into the District 5 police station in Milwaukee and started shooting at police officers, according to three sources. All district stations are in lockdown on Feb. 25, 2022, as a result of the shooting, a source told WRN. "Someone shot up District 5 and the cops ran out of the district and killed him," one of the sources said. The sources told Wisconsin Right Now that officers were not injured; they gave chase and exchanged gunfire with the man, shooting him. There is conflicting information about whether the man is dead. The motive was not confirmed; however, district 5 is the station where another man, Keishon Thomas, died in police custody the other day. According to WISN-TV , three officers are now suspended in that death, with Police Chief Jeffrey Norman claiming there are "concerns" he did not specify. Police said they pulled Thomas over for a traffic violation and he had a warrant; police also said he had drugs in the car. There were m

By: Kevin Nicholson, Candidate for Governor of Wisconsin The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board recently highlighted the anger many Wisconsin conservatives feel about the illegal voting practices seen in the 2020 election in our state: ballot harvesting, ballot drop boxes, the inundation of private funds into our public elections, and the ineffective Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC). Recent pieces in Politico and the New York Times have also noted the concerns Wisconsinites have around the conduct of our elections. That said, the authors of these articles all largely missed the forest for the trees, and some have tried to turn our state into a punchline. They revel in the opportunity to paint any concerns about the conduct of the 2020 election as conspiratorial – which is especially rich following years of some of these same outlets trying to convince America that Russia won the 2016 election for President Trump (even as charges are still being filed for that actual consp

The City of Wauwatosa has found 58 unopened absentee ballots from the Feb. 15, 2022, primary, and that could change the results of an aldermanic race. In a news release, the clerk's office said that the uncounted ballots were legally cast. They weren't counted in the announced election results. A city error was blamed. They are: District 3: 26 unopened ballots. District 8: 32 unopened ballots. The top two primary candidates go on to the general election. In district 8, there aren't enough unopened ballots to change the results of the primary. However, that's not true in district 3, where the margin between the second and third-placed candidates was exceptionally close. In the election results previously released, Patricia A. Stone had 233 votes, Joseph Makhlouf II had 221, and Tim Hanson had 219. Now, 26 other ballots will be counted. "Our staff immediately contacted the Wisconsin Elections Commission and the city’s legal team. Per their counsel a

Rep. Rick Gundrum said the idea of reining in Critical Race Theory at UW schools simply means telling students they don’t have to subscribe to a teachers’ political philosophy. The head of the University of Wisconsin-Madison wants Gov. Evers to scuttle two plans aimed at Critical Race Theory and free speech on campus. UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said the two plans are bad for the university. “As a university, our aim is to graduate well-rounded, critical thinkers; to teach our students not what to think but how to think,” Blank said in a statement Wednesday. Both plans were up before the Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday. Rep. Clint Moses, R-Menomonie, said the idea of his legislation is to do just what the chancellor claims she wants. To teach people how to think, not what to think. “Our colleges and universities should be a place of higher learning where all schools of thought can come together,” Moses said Tuesday. “However, our campuses have become increasingly hos

While Republicans support the Bill of Rights, Democrats don’t. The bill passed the Wisconsin Assembly on Tuesday. The proposal to spell out just how involved parents can be in their children’s education continues to face opposition at the Wisconsin Capitol, even as it moves forward. A handful of parents turned out to support the Parents’ Bill of Rights during a hearing in the Senate Committee on Education on Wednesday. Mom Julie Zaccaria told lawmakers there needs to be a state structure to balance the relationship between parents and local schools that she says has shifted over the past few years. “The battle is against a system with what seems like endless financial, legal, and political backing” Zaccaria explained. “Children are being victimized and parents have no recourse. Zaccaria made headlines last year when she publicized a graphic sex survey in her child’s school in Brookfield. Mom Scarlett Johnson , who was one of the leaders of the Mequon-Thiensville school b

Wisconsin State Rep. Jodi Emerson , a Democrat from Eau Claire, falsely said law enforcement started as "slave catchers” and is a racist profession while speaking on the floor of State Assembly on Feb. 22. This comes on the heels of Representative Lee Snodgrass's tweet last week that parents should have no input in public education. Emerson said, “If a system is racist, and we have to admit that the history of law enforcement did have its roots in racism, when it starts out as slave catchers I’m sorry it is racist.” Reaction to Jodi Emerson's Comment State Representative Dave Murphy (R-Greenville) issued the following statement in response: “Representative Emerson’s claim that law enforcement is racist twists the facts, ignores Wisconsin history, and is a slap in the face to all those who serve or have served our communities by putting their lives on the line to make us safer. “Policing dates back thousands of years and began well before American chattel sl

It is another round of education changes from Assembly Republicans in Madison. Republicans on Tuesday moved ahead with a series of plans that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says focuses on learning and makes it clear that parents are in charge of their child’s education. “That’s really what the focus is,” Vos told reporters at the Capitol. “Making sure that parents have every single right to ensure what happens with their own kids. AB 995 Vos is pushing one plan, AB 995 , that would require an in-person option for all kids if schools ever decide to try remote learning again. The plan would also spell out that parents will decide on vaccinations for their kids. The plan that may get the most attention is AB 446 , which would begin early literacy screenings for kids in kindergarten. Rep. Bob Whitke , R-Racine, said the plan is unpopular because it comes with consequences for schools that don’t get kids reading at grade level by the third grade. “Generally, those schools that ha

  Newly uncovered federal grant documents show that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded roughly $2.5 million in taxpayer dollars to a Florida-based education program that trains education future teachers in, among other things, critical race theory . The funding came through two grants, one in 2017 and another in 2021 . Both grants went to faculty at Florida State University, which has partnered with Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. Grant documents from the federal Institute for Education Sciences database show that the DOE awarded $1,020,800 in the first grant and $1,498,620 in the second grant. The program offers participants 1-year fellowships. PURPOSE The program in question is called Partners United for Research Pathways Oriented to Social Justice in Education (PURPOSE). “The PURPOSE training program's P–20 theme focuses on researching social justice issues within educational contexts,” the grant says. “Throughout the year fellows will parti

Republicans at the Wisconsin Capitol are pointing to another report as proof their policies are working. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu on Wednesday released a memo from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau that shows Wisconsin’s tax burden has fallen by $22 billion since 2011. “In 2010, Wisconsin had the 5th highest tax burden in the nation. Residents were sending far too much of their earnings to Madison. On top of high taxes, the state had a $3.6 billion structural deficit, no Rainy Day Fund, and businesses were leaving in droves,” LeMahieu said. Wisconsin is headed toward a record $4 billion surplus , plus a $1.7 billion rainy day fund. “After twelve years of consistent tax cuts, fundamental reforms of government, and responsible budgeting, we’ve reduced the tax burden on Wisconsinites by $22 billion,” LeMahieu said. “As a result, our economy is more competitive and our state is attracting more people.” Wisconsin’s Tax Burden Wisconsin’s tax burden, according to the Wis

  The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to take up a challenge to Maine’s vaccine mandate for health care workers. The lawsuit, filed in August by the Florida-based Liberty Council on behalf of more than 2,000 Maine health care workers,  alleges  that the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention is violating federal law by requiring vaccinations for health care workers without allowing a religious exemption for those who object. On Tuesday, the justices rejected the group's motion to present oral arguments in the case without comment, per the high court's practice. The high court has rejected two previous requests for injunctions against the vaccine rules. Maine's Vaccine Mandate An executive order signed by Gov. Janet Mills, which went into effect in October, requires health care workers in the state to be fully vaccinated against the virus. The requirement includes health care workers in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, firefighters, emerge

Florida’s former governor and current U.S. senator, Rick Scott, and eight other Republican senators introduced the TRUCKERS Act bill to exempt all non-U.S. citizen commercial truck drivers from vaccination requirements as a condition to transport goods into the U.S. It was filed one month after the Department of Homeland Security’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all foreign travelers entering the U.S. became effective Jan. 22. Canada also began requiring proof of vaccination for all essential travelers, including truck drivers crossing the Canadian-U.S. border, on Jan. 15. “Starting on January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security will require that non-U.S. individuals entering the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals along our Northern and Southern borders be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show related proof of vaccination,” DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas said when announcing the mandate. “These updated travel requirements reflect th

At a time of record homicide numbers, the Milwaukee police chief is upset about the "thin blue line" being on signs for a religious service meant to give officers comfort. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman has ordered "blue line chapel" signs taken down from district stations because he thinks they're offensive. The signs, which contain a thin blue line, advertised a religious service for police officers. A source gave us a social media post that read, “Milwaukee Police Chief Norman yesterday ordered the removal of the ‘Blue Line Chapel’ signs advertising our members faith based support group church service from Milwaukee Police Facilities, citing it is ‘offensive.’ I ask for your prayers in this clear spiritual warfare attack on our police officers.” It’s not clear who wrote that post, but we asked Andrew Wagner, president of the Milwaukee Police Association, about the claims and he said, "Yes, I heard about it, and it is true." We asked

Support for school choice is robust in Wisconsin as the Great Parental Awakening grows. There's strong choice for expanding school choice among Wisconsin voters, and support for educational freedom crosses political lines, according to a new poll. "Wisconsin voters strongly support making all families eligible for the state’s school choice programs and favor ending funding inequities between choice, charter, and traditional public schools," according to a February 21, 2022, news release from School Choice Wisconsin. Although more than half of Republicans and Independents support school choice, more than one-third of Democrats did too, the poll found. It also found that 64.6% of voters want to see school choice expanded so that all parents can make their own decisions about where to send their children to school, regardless of income. SCW released the results on education issues "in a scientific, random sample poll conducted earlier this month by one of the n

"Administrators did not know what to tell their shaken staff because DPI did not make it clear when, or if, the crash would be resolved. Admins and staff had to attempt to ease their frustrated parents, who were also without answers." This year in Wisconsin, 49,000 students are enrolled in private schools through the Milwaukee, Racine, or Statewide Parental Choice Program. These are students in hard-working lower-income families who have been given a voucher to attend the school of their choice. The program is a blessing to families who could not otherwise afford the education that best meets their child’s needs. The only way parents can apply for the Parental Choice Program is through the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI)’s Online Application System (OAS) during the enrollment period for their program. OAS is also the only place where schools can access and verify families’ choice applications. If a parent or a school administrator logged on to OAS on Febru

It got physical. Video shows the ugly altercation that broke out at the Michigan-Badgers game when Michigan head coach Juwan Howard throws a punch or slap at a Wisconsin Badgers assistant coach. Wisconsin won the game 77-63. First, Howard and Wisconsin coach Greg Gard got into a verbal disagreement. According to Yahoo Sports s Howard "was upset that Gard called a timeout in the final minute of the game when Wisconsin held a big lead." At one point, Gard made physical contact with Howard. "Another Wisconsin assistant began yelling at Howard," Yahoo explains. Then, Howard slapped or struck Wisconsin assistant Joe Krabbenhoft. Juwan Howard Throws Punch or Slap Video https://twitter.com/GoodmanHoops/status/1495488585839095809 According to ESPN, "Howard put his finger in Gard's face and grabbed Gard's sweater before Krabbenhoft came over." In a statement, the Big Ten conference said, "The Big Ten Conference is aware of a physica

Lee Snodgrass's derogatory tweet fared poorly in a new poll, which showed strong support for Wisconsin's school choice programs. State Rep. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton, tweeted that parents should not "have a say" in their child's education unless they home school their kids or pay for private school tuition out of their "family budget." That arrogant attitude isn't sitting well with Wisconsin voters throughout the state, including in Democratic-leaning areas, according to a new poll. Snodgrass is the Vice Chair of the state Democratic Party. In a press release, School Choice Wisconsin, which commissioned the poll, wrote that Wisconsin voters "are sharply at odds with a Democratic party official and legislator who said parents who want 'to have a say in their child’s education' should home school or pay private school tuition." In the release, Nic Kelly, president of School Choice Wisconsin, said the survey (further results t

DA Mark Bensen doesn't want to talk about the low bail in two pending felony cases for the man accused of blasting a shotgun at a DoorDash delivery driver. Washington County District Attorney Mark Bensen is refusing to comment on the low bail that allowed the DoorDash shooting suspect John Norman to be free on two pending felony cases before the shooting. "No comment from District Attorney on prior bonds," Bensen's legal secretary responded to us after we requested comment from Bensen. DA Mark Bensen was initially named Washington County's top prosecutor by former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle in 2010. Wisconsin Right Now reached out to Bensen for comment after learning that suspect John Norman was released on a signature bond and then $300 bail in two serious pending felony cases, including one for a violent crime and one for bail jumping. In the second case, which occurred less than a week before he's accused of blasting a shotgun at a DoorDash driv