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Most Wisconsinites set their AC thermostat to this temperature. Do you agree?

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Most Wisconsinites set their AC thermostat to this temperature. Do you agree?


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The results are in. A recent poll asked what temperature they set their air conditioner to during the summer months. As temperatures reach highest recorded levels of 2024 this week, keeping homes cool is a priority for many.

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The poll asked Wisconsinites what temperature they keep their homes at. There were over 1,200 responses in just 24 hours, as residents shared their temperature preferences and tips for keeping their homes cool.

Here are our findings on how Wisconsin locals use air conditioning-both a useful summer appliance and topic of debate.

At what temperature do most people set their AC in Milwaukee?

Most Wisconsinites like to keep their AC between 73 and 75 degrees, according to poll results. 457 responses, or about 37% prefer this temperature.

About 22% or 277 voters like to keep their AC between 71 and 72 degrees, making it the second most popular setting among residents, according to the poll.

The third most popular AC temperature, with 243 votes, is 76 to 78 degrees.

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Among the least popular poll results were temperatures of 68 or lower and 79 or higher.

A similar poll done in Arizona found that their ideal air conditioner temperature is 78 degrees, 3-5 degrees higher than Wisconsin’s preference.

Journal Sentinel readers share how they conserve energy while staying cool

Wisconsin residents reached out to the Sentinel with their own advice for keeping their home cold and conserving energy.

Many of the responses said to draw blinds, make use of fans and close windows during the day. Others have additional advice for their fellow residents.

Patti from Milwaukee said using a good humidifier and increasing AC temperature helps keep the heat out.

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Mike from West Allis recommends an eco-friendly trick of planting native, pest resistant trees to provide shade around your home.

Brant from Bay View said blackout curtains, wireless thermostat sensors and circulating cool air from your basement are all ways to cool off a warm home.

Amy from Port Washington has an edible solution: eating popsicles.

Getting advice from locals is a great way to go, but we also want to know what the experts are saying.

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What experts are saying

An HVAC specialist offered some tips and tricks for saving energy, cutting costs and keeping your home cool.

Jen Uttke, fourth generation owner of Uttke heating & cooling, said her best advice is regular maintenance.

“Don’t wait,” Uttke said. “Regular maintenance saves money. Don’t ignore your equipment because as time goes on, the repair can get worse because no one is looking at it.”

In addition to regular maintenance, Uttke recommends keeping your thermostat consistent. She said that it typically takes one degree per hour for temperatures to drop.

“Keeping a consistent temperature in your house saves on energy costs and keeps you comfortable,” Uttke said. “Consistency is key.”

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Another tip is to keep the windows closed and pull blinds down to keep the humidity out.



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Stepmom from hell accused of starving 35-pound teen daughter enters plea — could spend the rest of her life behind bars

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Stepmom from hell accused of starving 35-pound teen daughter enters plea — could spend the rest of her life behind bars


The Wisconsin stepmother from hell accused of abusing her 35-pound 14-year-old daughter by depriving her of food and water has entered a no-contest plea in the twisted case.

Melissa Goodman, 52, now faces up to 46 years in prison if she’s handed the maximum sentence for charges of chronic neglect causing great bodily harm, chronic neglect causing emotional damage and false imprisonment.

She’s set to be sentenced on July 1.

Goodman, along with husband Walter Goodman, have been accused of starving her autistic stepdaughter. Outagamie County Jail

Goodman, along with husband Walter Goodman, has been accused of starving her autistic stepdaughter.

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Goodman’s daughter Savanna Goodman and her girlfriend Kayla Stemler were also charged over the alleged abuse, People reported.

The family is accused of locking the teen in a bedroom without a mattress, restricting her to only her room for years and depriving her of food and water, according to Wisconsin prosecutors.

The mobile home they lived in became a house of horrors for the teenager, who was mistaken for a 6-year-old when she was found by cops in August 2025 and rushed to the hospital.

Walter Goodman, the victim’s father, called 911 to report that his daughter was lethargic and ill.

Responding officers found her weighing just 35 pounds; she was hospitalized with multi-organ dysfunction, including respiratory failure and pancreatitis.

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Melissa Goodman
Walter Goodman, the victim’s father, called 911 to report that his daughter was lethargic and ill. WBAY TV-2 | Green Bay, WI/YouTube

From 2020 until August 2025, the victim, whose name is not disclosed because she is a minor, was allegedly isolated in a trailer on Hattie Lane, in Oneida, Wisconsin.

Extended family members were told she was away on vacation or with other relatives to explain her absence.



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‘Song Sung Blue’ subject Claire Sardina playing Wisconsin State Fair

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‘Song Sung Blue’ subject Claire Sardina playing Wisconsin State Fair


When “Song Sung Blue” – the biopic about Milwaukee Neil Diamond tribute act Lightning & Thunder – had a premiere at the Oriental Theatre in Milwaukee last December, star Hugh Jackman gave Claire Sardina (played in the film by Kate Hudson) an engraved bench honoring Lighting & Thunder to be installed at Wisconsin State Fair Park.

In August, Sardina will get to have a seat on that bench – and sing again on a State Fair stage.

Sardina will perform with tribute act So Good: The Neil Diamond Experience Aug. 9 at the Bank Five Nine Amphitheater, the largest stage at the fair featuring free concerts with admission.

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For Sardina, it will be a return to a place central to Lighting & Thunder. The band performed in the Milwaukee area from 1989 until Mike Sardina, aka Lightning, passed away in 2006. The State Fair was one of their favorite places to play, and the couple got married there in 1994.

The couple’s wild story – from a performance at a Pearl Jam Summerfest concert to major health issues – was the subject of the documentary “Song Sung Blue” that inspired the biopic, and earned Hudson an Oscar nomination for portraying Claire Sardina.

Fair officials May 8 revealed the full headliner lineup for the stage, which includes:

  • Aug. 6: Sixteen Candles
  • Aug. 7 and 8: Here Come The Mummies
  • Aug. 10 and 11: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
  • Aug. 12: Hairbangers Ball
  • Aug. 13: Too Hype Crew
  • Aug. 14: The Gufs
  • Aug. 15: Let’s Sing Taylor – An Unofficial Live Tribute Show
  • Aug. 16: Pat McCurdy

All Bank Five Nine Amphitheater concerts are included with fair admission.

The lineup is also nearly complete for the Bank Five Nine Main Stage, with just a show on Aug. 11 to be announced.

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Tickets are on sale for these shows at wistatefair.com and include same-day fair admission:

  • Aug. 6: Hairball
  • Aug. 7: Nelly
  • Aug. 8: Bailey Zimmerman with Chandler Walters
  • Aug. 9: Wynonna Judd and Melissa Etheridge
  • Aug. 10: For King + Country with Rachel Lampa
  • Aug. 12: John Mulaney
  • Aug. 13: The All-American Rejects with Joyce Manor
  • Aug. 14: Lindsey Stirling with PVRIS
  • Aug. 15: AJR with Em Beihold
  • Aug. 16: The Beach Boys



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Wisconsin universities and schools impacted by Canvas data breach

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Wisconsin universities and schools impacted by Canvas data breach


WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW/GRAY NEWS) – A ransomware group has claimed to have breached the learning management system Canvas, possibly exposing the personal information of students, teachers and staff across the country.

According to a statement from the Universities of Wisconsin website, they were notified of a nationwide security breach experienced by Instructure, the provider of Canvas. Universities of Wisconsin schools use the cloud-based management system.

UW-Stevens Point tells NewsChannel 7 they have not confirmed UWSP was involved in the breach, but did send communication that Canvas was down and students should not perform any asked actions if prompted, as it may not be legitimate while Canvas is down.

Instructure, the parent company of Canvas, posted on May 1 about a cybersecurity incident that had been reported and was under investigation.

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The next day, Chief Information Security Officer Steve Proud wrote that the information involved in the attack included names, student ID numbers, messages between users and email addresses.

“At this time, we have found no evidence that passwords, dates of birth, government identifiers, or financial information were involved. If that changes, we will notify any impacted institutions,” he wrote.

The Wausau School District sent a letter to parents Wednesday regarding the cybersecurity incident. They said there is no evidence that passwords, single-sign-on credentials, financial information or social security numbers were impacted. They stressed that type of information is not stored in Canvas.

Wausau School District email to parents regarding Canvas data breach(WSAW)

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