The president of the Wisconsin State Senate says making health care more affordable is a priority for Senate Republicans before this legislative session wraps up in March.

That goal echoes statements from Gov. Tony Evers on Monday, who said at a press conference his legislative agenda for his final year in office is centered around “addressing rising costs” for Wisconsinites. 

Senate President Mary Felzkowski, who represents the 12th district in northern Wisconsin, authored multiple bills related to health care costs during this session. One aims to address cost transparency in health care.

Felzkowski told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” her bill would better enforce existing federal rules around how hospitals inform patients about the cost of procedures and health services. She wants Wisconsin law to have “more teeth” to make up for what she sees as the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ failure to enforce those rules. 

The bill would allow the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to take action and impose penalties against hospitals found not following federal transparency rules.

“The hospitals have fought us on this,” Felzkowski said. “They do not want that transparency, which is a little telling.”

A representative for the Wisconsin Hospital Association said at a legislative hearing that they oppose the “regulatory complexity” and “unlimited fines” on Wisconsin hospitals, “when robust federal regulation and enforcement already exists.” They also claimed no Wisconsin hospital had been fined for not following those federal rules since they were put in place.

During his press conference, Gov. Evers focused on insurance companies instead of hospitals. He called on the Legislature to pass laws that would audit insurance companies for denying claims at high rates, crack down on prior authorizations and expand the health care services that insurance companies are required to cover.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Flu cases continue to climb, sending more patients to doctors’ offices and hospitals.

Medical experts say knowing the warning signs and when to seek care can make a big difference.

Taking a look at the Respiratory Illness Dashboard on the Wisconsin Department of Health and Human Services’ website, the numbers across the state show very high flu activity based on emergency room visits.

However, that number is decreasing.

Looking specifically at the northeast Wisconsin region, we’re also seeing very high flu activity, but those numbers are going up.

Doctors say it’s still not too late to protect yourself and others.

While the holiday season is behind us, doctors say they continue to see the side effects of those large gatherings, with an increase in emergency room visits for cases of the flu, and one strain more than others.

“Influenza A has been the more aggressive and more prominent of the strains of Influenza, and that’s really geographically the same,” says Dr. Matthew Freeman, the chief medical officer at Green Bay ER & Hospital.

Dr. Freeman, along with other medical providers at Green Bay ER & Hospital, says they are seeing more cases in elders and children as they return to daycares and schools. “You’re having an exposure on a daily basis to people who are not always cognizant about washing their hands or covering their mouth and there’s such an easy spread of this particular disease during the winter that we’re all at risk,” says Dr. Freeman.

While flu symptoms can mirror those of a cold or COVID, the Influenza A strain has more severe side effects like vomiting, body aches, and a fever.

Dr. Freeman says, when in doubt:

“Seek help, seek out a professional, whether it’s calling our hospital, having a conversation with a nurse or a doctor, or just getting up so they can see you in person, take your vital signs, and assess you fully to make sure something more sinister isn’t going on with your body,” says Dr. Freeman.

Doctors say it’s not too late to get the flu shot and recommend washing your hands often, wearing a mask, and staying home if you feel sick to limit the spread of the illness.

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The 2026 Winter Olympics begin Feb. 6 (with some preliminary matches starting earlier), and Wisconsin will be well represented at the showcase in Milano/Cortina, Italy. That includes a powerhouse in speed skating, a 20-year-old luger from Brookfield and a laundry list of current and former Wisconsin Badgers in women’s hockey.

Here are the people to know:

BIATHLON

Deedra Irwin, 33, Pulaski

She started biathlon at age 25 after attending a camp and will now appear in her second Olympics after taking seventh in Beijing, the best finish for an American in an individual biathlon event. She attended Michigan Tech where she played three sports (cross-country skiing, cross country and track and field).

Paul Schommer, 33, Appleton

Also an Olympian in Beijing, the Kimberly High School alumnus Schommer took seventh in the 4x6k mixed relay. He attended The College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.

CROSS COUNTRY SKIING

Kevin Bolger, 32, Minocqua

At the Beijing Olympics, he took ninth in the 4x10k relay and 17th in the men’s sprint freestyle. He most recently took seventh in a relay at the 2025 world championships.