Wisconsin

Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear arguments in Democratic governor's suit against GOP-led Legislature

Published

2 years ago

April 17, 2024

Wisconsin Supreme Court to hear arguments in Democratic governor's suit against GOP-led Legislature

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court will hear a case on Wednesday that pits Democratic Gov. Tony Evers against the Republican-controlled Legislature in a fight that could have a broad impact on how state government functions.

The case marks the latest power struggle between the Legislature and Evers, who has issued more vetoes than any Wisconsin governor. A ruling in favor of Evers would upend decades-old practices in the Legislature and make it easier to approve projects in a land stewardship program. But Republicans warn that the dispute is about much more than that.

Evers argues that the Legislature’s powerful budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, controlled 12-4 by Republicans, is exceeding its constitutional lawmaking authority and acting as a fourth branch of government. The Legislature counters that the committee’s powers, including the approval of certain state conservation projects, are well established in state law and court precedent.

The Legislature’s attorneys argue in court filings that Evers is seeking a “fundamental shift” in the state’s governmental structure. If the court sides with Evers, then numerous other functions of the budget committee, the state building commission and other legislative committees would also be unconstitutional, the GOP attorneys contend.

Evers, speaking about the case on Tuesday, said the state Supreme Court needs to recognize that the Legislature’s budget committee has been acting as a fourth branch of government and should be reined in.

“The idea that somehow they have the ability to essentially work as a fourth arm of our state is just wrong,” Evers told reporters.

The lawsuit cites the committee’s rejection of dozens of conservation projects selected by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources under the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program.

The Legislature created the stewardship program in 1989. It provides funding primarily to local governments, conservation groups and the DNR to purchase blocks of land to preserve natural areas and wildlife habitat, protect water quality and fisheries, and expand outdoor recreational opportunities. Supporters herald it as a way to further protect natural areas from development.

Republicans have been trying for years to scale back stewardship purchases, complaining that they take too much land off the tax rolls, rob northern Wisconsin municipalities of revenue and drive up state debt.

Legislative oversight of the program increased as concerns grew about the scope and cost of the stewardship program.

The Legislature did its job when it passed laws creating and funding the program, attorneys for Evers argue in court filings. But the budget committee’s ability to block approval of stewardship projects, essentially vetoing decisions of the executive branch, is an unconstitutional separation of powers violation, they say.

Evers’ lawyers are calling for the court to “restore the constitutional balance of power to our state government.”

But the Legislature’s attorneys counter that it would be “a grave separation-of-powers insult” to “undercut these decades-long systems now, allowing agencies to have unchecked authority.”

The court will issue a ruling in the next several weeks or months.

Evers brought the case in October, two months after the court flipped to majority liberal control. The case is one of several high-profile lawsuits filed by Democrats since the court’s majority changed.

Most significantly, the court in December struck down Republican-drawn legislative maps, which led to the Legislature enacting maps drawn by Evers that are expected to result in more Democrats winning seats in November.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 12, 2026

Published

6 hours ago

January 13, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for Jan. 12, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 12, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

05-27-45-56-59, Powerball: 04, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

Midday: 1-6-6

Evening: 3-2-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

Midday: 2-2-8-3

Evening: 6-9-0-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

Midday: 06-09-10-12-13-15-17-18-20-21-22

Evening: 05-07-09-10-11-13-17-18-19-20-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

14-16-21-28-30

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Jan. 12 drawing

07-09-25-32-34-35, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **

WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Wisconsin

Here’s how you can buy one of the new Wisconsin license plates

Published

18 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how you can buy one of the new Wisconsin license plates

If you want to get one of the two new Wisconsin license plates, you can order them now.

The new plates – the blackout design and the “butter” yellow design – are available on the Division of Motor Vehicles’ new online portal. They’re also stocked at most DMV regional offices and participating car dealerships.

You’ll pay a $15 fee up-front, plus $25 annually. Personalizing the characters is an extra $15 each year.

Along with the new plates, you can order any of the other 60 specialty designs through the portal.

Customers who apply online and don’t want a personalized message could get their new plates within a week.

If you want to personalize the plate, you can see a preview online and check if the message is already taken. DMV staff then review the personalization requests, and delivery can take several weeks.

You can also renew vehicle registration at the same time and pay online, rather than mailing in a check or money order.

The new plates were approved in the state budget this summer, kicking off several months of design work at the state Department of Transportation. State officials unveiled the designs in December.

State officials anticipate the plates will generate more than $25 million for road projects in the first three years.

The “blackout” plate is a simple black-and-white theme, similar to the popular Road America plate. Lawmakers have considered creating the plates in Wisconsin for nearly two years, citing success in other states.

The “butter” plate isn’t pale yellow or shaped like a stick of margarine, but rather a throwback to the standard plate design of the 1970s and ’80s. Unlike the blackout plate, it includes “America’s Dairyland” text on the bottom.

Non-personalized blackout plates will begin with the combination “ZAA-1001,” and yellow plates will start with “YAA-1001.” There are seven characters available for personalized combinations.

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Wisconsin

College hoops roundup: No. 9 Michigan rolls past Wisconsin

Published

1 day ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

College hoops roundup: No. 9 Michigan rolls past Wisconsin

Ann Arbor — Olivia Olson scored 21 points and No. 9 Michigan never trailed while rolling to an 86-60 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday.

Te’Yala Delfosse made her first career start and had 18 points and 10 rebounds. Mila Holloway also had 18 points for the Wolverines (14-2, 5-1 Big Ten).

Kendall Dudley contributed 11 points with eight rebounds and Brooke Quarles Daniels surpassed the 1,000-point mark for her career while scoring eight points. Quarles Daniels also had eight rebounds, six assists and five steals.

Destiny Howell led Wisconsin (11-6, 3-3) with 12 points. Breauna Ware added 11 points and Laci Steele chipped in 10. The Badgers committed 23 turnovers, which the Wolverines converted into 25 points. Michigan also scored 19 points off 21 offensive rebounds.

The Wolverines’ Syla Swords, their second-leading scorer at 13.9 points per game, sat out due to an injury sustained in a 105-65 win over Penn State on Thursday.

Flustered by Michigan’s pressing and trapping defenses, the Badgers missed their first eight shots and committed eight fouls and seven turnovers before scoring their first points – Shay Bollin’s 3-pointer with 1:39 left in the first quarter. By then, the Wolverines had built a 16-point lead.

Olson finished the half with 17 points, including a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to give the Wolverines a 46-21 halftime advantage. Their lead never dipped below 20 points in the second half.

Former Michigan star Diane Dietz (1979-82) had her No. 21 jersey raised to the Crisler Center rafters during a pregame ceremony. Dietz, who was the program’s first 2,000-point scorer, is currently the deputy commissioner of the Big Ten Conference.

Michigan State 85, at Oregon 81

Rashunda Jones scored 23 points, and Michigan State rallied from a double-digit deficit in the first half to beat Oregon for the Spartans’ eighth straight win.

Ines Sotelo scored four points and Jones made a pair of free throws in a 6-0 spurt that gave Michigan State the lead for good, 78-75, with 2:46 remaining. The Spartans trailed by as many as 16 points early in the second quarter.

Jones finished 9-of-12 shooting that included two 3s for Michigan State (16-1, 5-1 Big Ten). Grace VanSlooten added 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kennedy Blair scored 11 points, and Emma Shumate and Jalyn Brown each had 10.

Katie Fiso scored 20 points on 9-of-17 shooting and had nine assists to lead Oregon (14-4, 2-3 Big Ten). Sofia Bell and Mia Jacobs added 18 points apiece for the Ducks. Ehis Etute chipped in with 11 points.

Sunday’s state men

(At) Detroit Mercy 94, Cleveland State 84: Tyler Spratt had 19 points in Detroit Mercy’s 94-84 victory against Cleveland State on Sunday.

Spratt shot 5 for 10 (4 for 8 from 3-point range) and 5 of 5 from the free-throw line for the Titans (7-9, 4-3 Horizon League). Orlando Lovejoy scored 18 points and added seven rebounds, nine assists, and eight steals. Lance Stone shot 3 of 7 from the field, including 1 for 3 from 3-point range, and went 4 for 4 from the line to finish with 11 points.

Jaidon Lipscomb finished with 30 points and four assists for the Vikings (5-13, 1-6). Cleveland State also got 19 points and six assists from Chevalier Emery. Dayan Nessah had 13 points, 10 rebounds, three steals and two blocks.

Wright State 94, at Oakland 84

Solomon Callaghan scored 27 points as Wright State beat Oakland 94-84 on Sunday.

Callaghan shot 8 of 11 from the field, including 6 for 9 from 3-point range, and went 5 for 5 from the line for the Raiders (11-7, 6-1 Horizon League). Kellen Pickett added 18 points while shooting 7 of 10 from the field and 4 for 4 from the line and also had 11 rebounds. TJ Burch went 7 of 16 from the field (2 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 18 points, while adding six assists. It was the sixth straight win for the Raiders.

Brody Robinson led the way for the Golden Grizzlies (9-9, 5-2) with 35 points and four steals. Oakland also got 15 points, six rebounds and two steals from Tuburu Niavalurua. Brett White II also recorded 11 points.

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