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Wisconsin Governor signs new legislative maps into law

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Wisconsin Governor signs new legislative maps into law


Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers signed 2023 Wisconsin Act 94 into law on Monday, remapping legislative districts and remedying some of the most gerrymandered maps in the US.

2023 Wisconsin Act 94 focuses on legislative redistricting and enacts maps that are responsive to the will of the people, avoid partisan bias, and increase the number of competitive legislative seats. The act directs the Legislative Reference Bureau (LRB) to draw redistricting plans and establishes a redistricting advisory commission to assist in the redistricting process.

Evers took to X (formerly Twitter) Monday to address the benefits of signing the new maps into law. He claims these maps are “fair, responsive, and reflect the will of the people.” Evers argues that the maps will allow each political party a fair opportunity to win legislative seats and better represent the preferences of the people. The legislature has previously used municipal wards to map legislative districts. Evers passionately spoke of the benefits of the new law, stating:

I will always try to do the right thing for our state. Wisconsinites want fair maps, and Wisconsinites deserve fair maps. So, today, I’m enacting fair maps for the great state of Wisconsin … When I promised I wanted fair maps—not maps that are better for one party or another—I damn well meant it. Wisconsin is not a red state or a blue state—we’re a purple state, and I believe our maps should reflect that basic fact.

Others joined Evers in celebration of the new law. State Representative Greta Neubauer praised the new law by saying:

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Thanks to the hard work of countless people over many years, Wisconsin will no longer be among the most gerrymandered states in the nation. Today’s victory belongs to those advocates, voters, and people across the state who continued to believe that our democracy is worth fighting for and never gave up in the struggle for fair maps. This is the beginning of a new era in Wisconsin — where the will of the people will once again be the law of the land.

There were no legislative maps in place for the 2024 election after the Wisconsin Supreme Court previously ruled that Wisconsin’s legislative maps violated the state’s constitution. This influenced the Republican-led House in its decision to pass the act as it believed the court redistricting the state would have better benefitted the Democratic party. House Speaker Robin Vos addressed the matter:

Today, Governor Evers signed the most Republican-leaning maps out of all the Democrat- gerrymandered maps being considered by the Wisconsin Supreme Court. We sent him those maps, not because they are fair, but becuase the people of Wisconsin deserve certainty in state government.

The maps enacted Monday will take effect immediately, and Evers has requested that the Supreme Court of Wisconsin retain jurisdiction over the act.





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President Trump endorses Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor

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President Trump endorses Tom Tiffany for Wisconsin governor


President Donald Trump has endorsed U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, in his bid to be the next governor of Wisconsin.

Trump announced the endorsement Tuesday night, writing on his social media platform Truth Social that Tiffany had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.”

“He will fight to advance Common Sense Values, and put WISCONSIN, AND AMERICA, FIRST,” Trump wrote.

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The endorsement puts to bed the questions of whether — and when — Trump would weigh in on the GOP primary for governor.

Tiffany, who has represented northern Wisconsin’s 7th District in Congress since 2020, was considered an early favorite to clinch the Republican nomination against Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann, but recent fundraising numbers suggested Schoemann could put up a fight.

The backing from Trump has proven critical in Republican primaries across the country, and it’s almost certain to give Tiffany a boost. Four years ago, Trump’s endorsement helped propel businessman Tim Michels over former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch in the 2022 GOP primary for governor.

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But whether the president’s nod is a help or a hindrance in the general election is an open question, especially in a cycle that polling suggests could favor Democrats. Four years ago, Michels lost to Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the general election. And almost immediately after Trump’s endorsement Tuesday, the Democratic Party of Wisconsin looked to seize on the president’s support of Tiffany as a condemnation.

“We agree with Donald Trump—Tom Tiffany has been by his side for all of it: ICE murdering Americans in the streets, the Big Ugly Bill, ending funding for the Affordable Care Act, invading Greenland, and raising every day costs,” read a statement from state Democratic Party Chair Devin Remiker. “Donald Trump just made Tom Tiffany the general election nominee, and we will stop him from bringing his chaotic and dangerous agenda in November.”

At least seven candidates are running in the Democratic primary for governor, where many of them have made attacking Trump central to their campaigns. The winner of the general election will replace Evers, who is not seeking a third term.

Trump’s announcement came as part of a slate of endorsements posted to his Truth Social platform late Tuesday evening. He also endorsed Michael Alfonso, who is running for Tiffany’s soon-to-be-vacant seat in Congress.

Alfonso is the 25-year-old son-in-law of U.S. Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy, who represented the 7th District before Tiffany. He’s one of four Republicans running to replace Tiffany.

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Trump called Alfonso “a young ‘STAR’.”

In a post on X, Alfonso wrote that it is his “greatest honor to accept this endorsement from President Donald J. Trump,” and pledged “to be a steadfast MAGA warrior.”



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Polaris to lay off 200 Wisconsin workers, close facility in Osceola

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Polaris to lay off 200 Wisconsin workers, close facility in Osceola



The move comes after Polaris announced it was separating from Indian Motorcycle.

Powersports company Polaris has announced it plans to wind down the operations at its facility in Osceola which specializes in manufacturing Indian Motorcycle.

The move impacts roughly 200 Wisconsin workers at the facility.

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On Jan. 27, during a fourth quarter and full year earnings call for 2025, Polaris said the company expects to sell Indian Motorcycle by the end of the first quarter of 2026 to Carolwood, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. However the company plans to maintain some stake in the company.

Polaris officials said called the sale of Indian Motorcycle was a “difficult decision” and added it was a “move that we believe is best for Polaris and Indian Motorcycle.”

In a post on X, Wisconsin Democrat Sen. Tammy Baldwin said:

“We have seen this story in Wisconsin too many times – a private equity firm buys a company, hollows it out, & fires its workers, all to pad their profits. It’s simply wrong.”



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Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case

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Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case





















Prison ordered in western Wisconsin child porn case | News | wqow.com

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