Wisconsin Right Now

John Norman, the Town of Barton man accused of shooting at a West Bend DoorDash driver, was free on a signature bond and on $300 bail in two previous felony cases, Wisconsin Right Now has learned. The driver, who was delivering a pizza to the home, was not injured. In the second open felony case against Norman - for bail jumping on the first one - John Joseph Norman was released just a week before the DoorDash incident on $300 without having an initial appearance, which wasn't scheduled until March. Norman's Facebook page says he is from Cedarburg and is owner-operator at Norman Services. He also goes by the name Jack Norman. Bail reform has been a topic of interest in Wisconsin since the Waukesha parade attack. Much of that controversy has focused on Milwaukee County. The cases in this story are all from Washington County. Assembly Republicans voted just the day before to change the state Constitution because it limits judges to setting bail based on the amount neede

'Some of the changes would require people on unemployment in Wisconsin to look for work, actually go on interviews, and accept jobs that they’re offered in order to qualify for benefits.' The plan from Wisconsin Republicans to get people back to work took its first step forward at the Capitol Thursday. The Wisconsin Assembly approved new rules for people receiving Medicaid & unemployment benefits. “We are looking to build a stronger workforce,” Rep. Bob Petryk, R-Town of Washington, said Thursday, “It is the number one issue among employers in our state.” Petryk’s proposal, AB 883 , would make a series of changes to how unemployment benefits are managed in the state. “Instead of looking at an entitlement, what we want the Department [of Workforce Development] to do is change their focus to helping people get back to work,” Petryk said. Some of the changes would require people on unemployment in Wisconsin to look for work, actually go on interviews, and accept jo

Republican lawmakers are not expected to attend. One Republican lawmaker is offering to accept Gov. Tony Evers’ offer to provide tax relief for Wisconsin, and even add a little. The governor on Wednesday signed an order calling for a special session of the legislature on March 8 to consider his plan to provide $150 tax rebate checks for everyone in the state. “[The] Legislative Fiscal Bureau recently released new projections indicating the state general fund balance will have a $3.8 billion surplus at the end of the 2021-23 biennium – nearly $2.9 billion more than was previously projected in June 2021,” the governor wrote in his special session proclamation. “Nevertheless, these costs remain a top concern for working Wisconsinites and families in every corner of the state, many of whom are already working to try and make ends meet.” Most Republican lawmakers call Evers’ $150 rebate plan an election-year giveaway. The Republican-controlled Assembly and Senate are expected to ig

Former Governor Scott Walker announced his formal endorsement of Rebecca Kleefisch for Governor of Wisconsin in a video message. Walker will be at a rally for Kleefisch in Pewaukee this evening. Kleefisch, who was Walker's lieutenant governor, is running for the Republican nomination in an increasingly crowded field that also includes former U.S. Marine Kevin Nicholson, state Rep. Timothy Ramthun, and former Police Officer Adam Fischer . Business owner Jonathan Wichmann is now running for lieutenant governor instead. Here is what Walker said in the endorsement video: Hey, Scott Walker here. I’m going to tell you a little bit about my friend Rebecca Kleefisch. She’s a leader, she’s a conservative, and without a doubt, she’s a fighter. I first got to know Rebecca years ago when she was on TV exposing the waste, fraud, and abuse in government. Then a few years later, she stood up and was one of the first public figures to join the tea party movement in Wisconsin.  Not lo

The days of face masks are numbered at the University of Wisconsin. The UW System on Wednesday announced campuses across the state can begin to end mask mandates on March 1. “While we will continue to take prudent prevention measures when warranted, restrictions can be lifted as case counts drop,” UW President Tommy Thompson said in a statement. Wisconsin’s seven-day average for new cases is down to 239 cases , and the state’s positivity rate is down to 8.9%. Both of those numbers are just about where they were at the beginning of the school year when the university ordered students to mask-up for a return to class. “Our students have been terrific for the last two years in demonstrating a culture of responsibility,” Thompson said. “We have worked relentlessly to instill in them the need to protect themselves and those around them. Students should be able to cheer on sports teams, attend concerts and performances, and go to classes without masks when the conditions are right.”

“My question is simple: What are Robin Vos and Kathy Bernier afraid of?” - Rep. Janel Brandtjen No one is any closer to an agreement on just what happened during the 2020 election in Wisconsin after the latest election hearing at the Capitol. The Wisconsin Elections Commission testified before the Assembly’s Committee on Campaigns and Elections. “A lot of the concerns about the November 2020 presidential election are based on assumptions that lack full understanding of election policies, laws, and technologies. Other concerns expressed to this committee have alleged startling claims of fraud without evidence,” WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe told lawmakers. “Nearly all of these concerns can be easily explained and understood once placed in context of how our election systems work.” Wolfe said WEC has worked hard to answer questions about the state’s voter rolls, vote count, and allegedly fake voters. On Wednesday the Commission said one of those accused fake voters, a man by t

Republican lawmakers were quick to say that they are responsible for the tax cuts and the $4 billion surplus. Gov. Tony Evers covered a lot of ground during his fourth State of the State, ranging from such topics as farm aid to the internet to tourism. But Republican lawmakers say the governor ignored two of Wisconsin’s most pressing issues: crime and election reform. “While crime is skyrocketing across the state, [Gov. Evers] has no plans to make us feel safer in our homes,” Sen. Van Wanggaard , R-Racine, said after Tuesday night’s speech. “He lamented his inability to accomplish ’justice reform,’ another way of lamenting that Wisconsin isn’t more like Illinois, California and New York. The solution isn’t weaker criminal penalties, defunding the police, prosecuting fewer crimes, or eliminating cash bail.” The senator continued, noting the state's crime rate has spiked upward at 9%. "Milwaukee just recorded a record high in homicides. And people don’t feel safe in t