I would like to thank the overwhelming support that my staff and I have received from many in the public over the last few weeks. It is fantastic to hear so many positive statements showing support and standing behind us during these difficult times.
In 28 years as a country veterinarian, I have seen my mom’s dinner table doctrine confirmed on a daily basis.
We are currently experiencing and witnessing an important movement in our nation’s history. The recent senseless killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and other Black men and women symbolized the tipping point. This movement is important because the outcry for change in ou…
When the Safer at Home orders went into place at the end of March, I noticed a lot of people deciding to start cleaning out their garages and closets. I decided to hold off because I had a feeling that COVID-19 may keep us at home longer than a month or two based on what was happening in Cal…
Whether you’ve had to cancel your vacation or will be missing those delicious cream puffs at the Wisconsin State Fair, your summer plans probably look a little different this year. Thankfully, summer still has so much to offer, like hot afternoons playing in the sprinkler, eating ice cream c…
It’s finally happening – more places within Wisconsin are opening back up. It almost feels like the second coming of spring, when we are ready to leave home after the winter doldrums.
Assembly Democrats will face 22 more contested races this November than they did in 2018. Still, only a handful of those seats were even close to competitive in the 2016 presidential race, and only one is among Republicans’ top targets this fall.
In March, as Wisconsin enacted Safer at Home, state and local governments scrambled to build new ways to govern from remote locations while still complying with our open meeting laws. Even in the age of COVID-19, we still have the right to watch public bodies in action.
For the past couple weeks, I have been wondering if I should write anything in regard to the event which prompted protests around the country, including nearby Madison.
As the COVID-19 pandemic spurs Wisconsin schools to undertake an unprecedented exercise in virtual and distance learning, it also threatens to exacerbate the “digital divide” between students who have fast, reliable at-home internet access and those who do not. Data shows these children are …
As state superintendent, I congratulate Wisconsin’s class of 2020. I am so incredibly proud of Wisconsin’s students and educators for their compassion and resilience, which they have demonstrated through the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year.
At the previous newspaper I worked for, this would be the time of year when I’d try to offer some type of advice or list some choice words from people with more experience than myself to the soon-to-be high school graduates. But this year, it seems ridiculous to follow that tradition. As the…
It’s June in Wisconsin, and that means June Dairy Month. From my days working in a cheese plant, I’ve never missed the chance to support our state’s dairy industry, which now contributes $45.6 billion to Wisconsin’s economy. I know things have been hard for dairy farmers these past several y…
Recently, I was on patrol and I stopped at a local restaurant to get a meal. As I was about to pay, the employee said “You know your meals are free right now, right?” I smiled and said, “I know, but I am getting a paycheck while so many others are not. I appreciate the gesture but I need to …
When I’m buying something new, whether it’s a bike helmet or a laptop, I always check the reviews. Advertisers will tell me anything to get me to buy their product, but I want to hear from people who have actually used it. I also like to go to the store to compare options, prices, and qualit…
Despite a record-setting year for Wisconsin tourism in 2019, the industry was scrambling to adjust to the shock of coronavirus while hoping the Memorial Day weekend can start a comeback to mitigate millions of dollars in losses.
Candidates seeking to get their name on the fall ballot have gotten creative as they try to collect signatures on nomination papers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Staying home? Thank you for helping them live.
The COVID-19 pandemic began causing traffic on Wisconsin’s roads to plummet even before the governor’s Safer at Home order was issued on March 24. Traffic counts were dropping in all parts of the state, not just hard-hit areas. The decline has potential implications for public health, the ec…
Medical systems around the state have been cutting workers’ hours while at the same time ramping up to handle the coronavirus pandemic.
Fifty days; as of today, Wisconsin will have been under the Safer at Home restrictions for that long. This doesn’t include the number of days prior to March 24 when social gatherings were limited in size, schools were first closed and people began to hoard toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
It happened a bit more than a week ago when I received some very joyous news that area libraries, including my local book depository in Lake Mills, would be offering curbside pick-up. I admit I’ve adapted pretty well to Safer at Home, likely because I’m the type of person who enjoys staying …
While revenues for Wisconsin municipalities will likely be hit hard by the COVID-19 economic shutdown, compared to other states local governments here may see at least some benefits from their heavy reliance on property taxes and state aids to fund public services.
Halfway to the door of State Street Brats, a group of young men gathered in a semicircle. Slouching, heads buried in their devices, the only thing moving was their thumbs, furiously swiping, never long enough to read a word.
Wisconsin has fresh hope for an eventual “return to normal” with the most-recently issued emergency order to combat the coronavirus pandemic, but the “new normal” may temporarily look a little different.
Manufacturers in Wisconsin are ramping up their efforts to supply personal protective equipment such as face shields, as well as crucial parts for medical devices used in the pandemic response.
People have been referring to life during the coronavirus as the new normal. While I understand the phrasing, I have to disagree. This isn’t the new normal; it’s the temporary normal.
This spring has certainly brought a new normal to our lives that, in many ways, feels like anything but normal.
Lucy is really good at weighing fourteen-and-a-half pounds. Give or take.
A lot has changed in a month, hasn’t it? While it’s easy to focus on the negative that’s taking place around the globe, I find myself drawn to the stories of love, kindness, and generosity that are also being shared in the news. In the spirit of spreading good news, I thought I’d share some …
My social media feeds are filled with pictures of sourdough starters and assorted lumps of dough that have through the wonders of science transformed into plump loaves of bread. The posts often express disbelief at how the food turned out not only edible, but actually delicious and why hadn’…
No one could foresee a crippling global pandemic.
Aristotle, Gary Edmonds, Leonardo DaVinci, JFK, Thomas Edison, Winston Churchill, Albert Einstein, William E. Stork, and The Amazing Dick Bass... a short list of impressively productive, thoughtful, and influential people in history.
As I have been keeping a close eye on the conversations, social media posts and reactions to media reports and various governmental orders across our state and country, I am beginning to see increased frustration with the drastic changes we have all been forced to make because of the coronav…
The recent public health emergency has demonstrated Wisconsin’s strength and ability to work together to provide essential resources during a time of crisis.
For the last few weeks, I’ve been receiving notifications about cancellations – school events, alumni banquets, humane society clinics, church events, library programs, Easter egg hunts, and government meetings.
Today's farmers are continually innovating when it comes to new methods of growing and raising our food supply. Aquaponics, a process which allows producers to raise and grow both a protein and vegetable crop simultaneously, has seen an increase in popularity.
There were more heroes than villains in this year’s Openness Awards, or Opees, bestowed annually by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council. In fact, in two categories, there was more than one winner.
Last week, I attended a concert and played bar trivia. My friends and I are planning to see a movie as part of our Spooky Tuesday series (seeing a scary film one Tuesday a month). I’m even thinking about exploring a museum or animal sanctuary.
With the outbreak of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, most of us are staying inside to keep ourselves and others healthy. As the kids get bored and your list of things to do dwindles, it might be tempting to visit the library to check out some books or movies, or attend a program or storytime. …
The way we live our lives has rapidly changed in the last week. One day, we’re going about life as normal and the next, the store shelves are quickly being emptied of toilet paper and hand sanitizer is hoarded. Parents are scrambling to find childcare as schools close for an extended period …
The world has been moving pretty fast lately; events are unfolding rapidly, and that can be unsettling.
Recent trends in how Wisconsin local governments fund their local libraries suggest they remain a priority, even as the way in which libraries serve their communities is rapidly changing.
For generations, farmers have been caring for the land, the water, and their environmental resources. While many traditions run deep in the farming community, innovation and ingenuity are the keys to success in agriculture. Today, farmers across our state are leading the way when it comes to…
My thoughts and prayers go out to those who tragically lost their lives at the Molson-Coors Brewery. It will take time for the healing process to begin and for family, friends, and co-workers to return to a somewhat normal life. Also, we are all wondering that one question, Why?
When I go to my parent’s home to visit (or eat) they usually talk about how there is nothing on TV. Unless there’s a specific show they want to watch, they end up channel surfing for a movie, an episode of Law & Order: SVU they haven’t seen for a few months, or a house show on HGTV.
My parents took a five-day trip to Las Vegas last week – they flew out of Milwaukee Feb. 15 and returned home Feb. 19. I’ve never been, but according to my dad, visiting Sin City involves a lot of walking in roundabout ways where a destination that seems only a short walk away actually requi…
We walked up the steps of the Wisconsin State Capitol under February blue skies and sunshine last week, excited to talk with state leaders about Wisconsin’s public libraries. Librarians, library directors, and library board trustees from across the state of Wisconsin, including several libra…
When I was growing up, going to the mall always meant traveling to the east side of Madison. It was closer than West Towne, less upscale than Hilldale and at the time, the outlet mall in Johnson Creek wasn’t even a concept. Every shop was filled, there were water fountains where you could to…
South Main Street in Lake Mills, Wisconsin, had deteriorated into a tree-lined cattle path. When the Prius’ and mini-vans started to bottom out and we lost a Smart Car in a sink hole, it was time to repave.
As founder of We the Irrelevant, a website that tracks how well (or poorly) the actions of legislators match up with what the public has asked them to do, I have sent multiple open records requests to Wisconsin legislators on a variety of controversial initiatives. Each time, I’ve asked them for related citizen correspondence.
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