Wisconsin Right Now

Lena Taylor is leaving the Wisconsin Senate to a chorus of kind words. Gov. Tony Evers on Friday named Taylor as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge. “Sen. Taylor is a committed public servant who has dedicated her life to pursuing justice for her community and the people of Wisconsin,” Evers said. “I am confident that she will serve the people of Milwaukee County well as a circuit court judge.” Taylor was first elected to the State Assembly in 2003, and then to the State Senate two years later. Taylor resigned her Senate seat Friday and will start as a judge Tuesday. “It has been the honor of a lifetime to serve the people of the 4th Senate and the 18th Assembly Districts, over the course of my 20-year tenure with the Wisconsin State Legislature. It has, also, been a pleasure to work with my colleagues, staff, state employees and the dedicated Capitol employees, that made it possible for me to serve my constituents,” Taylor said in a statement. “As I prepare for the nex

Tommy Thompson is leaving the University of Wisconsin to a round of applause and congratulations. Thompson on Friday announced that he is leaving the UW System as interim president in March. "I was honored to be asked by the Board of Regents to serve as System President, particularly through what could have been its darkest time," Thompson said in the letter announcing his retirement. "While challenging on many fronts, we worked together to continue to provide the quality of education our students deserve and parents expect." Thompson took over the UW System in 2019, and immediately faced a crisis of confidence at the Capitol, then faced the coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers in Madison say he negotiated the school through both. “During his 18 months leading the organization, he faced challenges no president had experienced before. He tackled them head-on and continued to provide quality education, maximizing in-person learning for the students of the UW Sy