One advocate calls Wisconsin the ‘darkest of dark money states’ as millions in secret spending flows into races for governor, Legislature and state Supreme Court
Money & Politics
Secret corporate cash funded posh convention hideaway for Paul Ryan, GOP lawmakers
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Bank records: Comcast, Microsoft, Koch among bankrollers of nearly $1 million ‘cloakroom’ at Republican National Convention in Cleveland
Broken Whistle
Wisconsin’s attack on waste and fraud leaves some whistleblowers, vulnerable residents behind
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Wisconsin ‘one of the worst states for whistleblowing,’ national expert says. Anti-fraud effort helps bottom line but falls mostly on programs for the poor.
Broken Whistle
DOJ agent who blew the whistle in 2012 says experience ruined him
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Dan Bethards lost his career, his house and many of his friends in law enforcement after he reported his boss for selling and making guns without a license
Broken Whistle
Wisconsin’s congressional delegation seeks to both protect, curb whistleblowing
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While President Donald Trump stews about leakers, members of Congress from the state sponsor various measures that could either boost or sideline federal tipsters
Immigration
How undocumented immigrants became the backbone of dairies — and how to keep the milk flowing in America’s Dairyland
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Farmers, experts say reliance on immigrant workers, many of them in the U.S. illegally, will continue unless dairies — and Congress — make significant changes.
Economy
No sanctuary, fewer farmhands: Coping with the Trump agenda in America’s Dairyland
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In Milwaukee County, the debate over ‘sanctuary cities’ continues, while in rural Wisconsin, informal networks form to help immigrants avoid deportation
Failure at the Faucet
Water woes emerge as major issue in Wisconsin elections
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Residents concerned about contaminated wells and disappearing lakes are making water a major campaign issue for some Wisconsin candidates this fall.
Campaign Finance
Casino magnate Sheldon Adelson gives $650,000 to Wisconsin GOP as election draws near
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The Wisconsin Republican Party can use the funds from Adelson to benefit a single candidate like Republican Gov. Scott Walker, to whom individual contribution limits still apply.
Reports illuminate lobby efforts; Wisconsin Property Taxpayers again top spender
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In the first six months of this year, Wisconsin’s 700-plus registered lobby groups collectively invested $14.1 million trying to shape state law or policy, according to new filings with the state Government Accountability Board.
wisconsin supreme court
Wisconsin Supreme Court justices tend to favor attorney donors
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Justice Shirley Abrahamson was the top recipient of support from attorneys whose cases reached the Supreme Court, pulling in $188,650 over the past 11 years, a Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism analysis shows. Overall, justices tended to rule in favor of clients whose attorneys contributed to the justices’ election campaigns.
Campaign Finance
Supreme Court justices and their attorney donors: About the analysis
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How the Center analyzed the relationship between campaign finance data and Wisconsin Supreme Court case outcomes, and a summary of the main findings showing that justices tended to favor their attorney donors.
eviction attempt
Center’s possible eviction from UW: Summary and resources
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A summary of what happened, news coverage and the Center’s response to the budget provision that would have evicted the Center from the University of Wisconsin.