Wisconsin
Assembly meets over investigation into DPI’s handling of educator misconduct
WISCONSIN — The Republican-controlled Assembly wants State Superintendent Jill Underly to address a recent report by The Capital Times.
The news outlet’s year-long investigation examined the Department of Public Instruction’s (DPI) handling of investigations into educator misconduct.
An Assembly committee is holding a hearing on Thursday in response to the paper’s investigation, and Underly is invited to testify.
The report looked at the numbers from 2018 to 2023. Through a series of open records requests, the investigation found that in that five-year period, DPI investigated 461 educators for all forms of misconduct, including sexual.
There was no probable cause found in 178 cases. A total of 161 educators voluntarily surrendered their licenses. DPI revoked 66 licenses.
The Cap Times report also states that DPI did not make the findings of these investigations readily available to the public.
Investigative Reporter Danielle DuClos conducted the investigation into DPI.
Her findings also showed that 204 educators, including teachers and administrators, were investigated by DPI for alleged sexual misconduct and grooming from 2018 to 2023.
In an interview about her report, DuClos told Spectrum News that her research showed 60 of those 204 educators kept their teaching licenses.
“The most surprising thing was the lack of data on how often teachers and educators are being investigated for allegations of grooming and sexual misconduct, and that’s really what prompted this reporting project, to look at how often that is happening,” DuClos said. “We asked that question and started digging into records and really trying to answer the prevalence question.”
DuClos said her research showed at least 44% of DPI’s investigations since 2018 had to do with allegations of educator sexual misconduct, or grooming.
“We say at least 44% because there are about one fifth of the cases we reviewed where we weren’t able to categorize the conduct, and that was about 100 of those cases,” DuClos added.
Of the 204 educators investigated on accusations of sexual misconduct, DuClos said her findings revealed that more than 80 of them voluntarily surrendered their teaching licenses, the most common way educators lose their teaching credentials in Wisconsin across all types of misconduct.
The year-long investigation yielded a mountain of documents. DuClos said this included requesting, via open records, DPI’s internal tracking sheet for how they monitor these investigations.
“We also got a document that had case note summaries going back to about 2019 through part of 2022 that had notes from the department about what the investigations were like,” she said.
DuClos conducted her investigation by also cross-referencing with media reports, school district records and court records to fill in any missing information, she said.
In July, The Cap Times asked for about 100 individual educator case files from DPI via another open records request. DuClos said that request has yet to be fulfilled.
State Superintendent Underly released the following statement last Friday, after The Cap Times published its investigation:
“Student safety is the foundation of everything that we do in education. Every allegation of educator misconduct is treated with the highest level of seriousness and is thoroughly investigated by the Department of Public Instruction.
“Any suggestion that the DPI withholds information from the public is categorically false. Records are released in accordance with open records laws, and educator license statuses are publicly available to anyone on the DPI’s website.
“Voluntary surrenders of licensure are not loopholes. They are permanent, legally binding agreements that remove harmful individuals from the classroom and prevent them from teaching. In many cases, they also protect victims from additional trauma.
“Journalism is the foundation of our democracy. But inaccurate reporting and sensationalism that ignores facts, distorts the truth, and omits key context has no place.
“This reporting failed to acknowledge critical facts and the legal boundaries in which the DPI operates. I urge The Capital Times to issue a prompt correction to restore public trust and ensure an accurate understanding of our work to protect students.”
Wisconsin
Tranfser Portal Predcition: Wisconsin trasnfer John Blackwell likely to land with contender
John Blackwell is one of the more sought-after players still available in the NCAA transfer portal. Big-time programs are coming after the former Wisconsin Badgers guard. And now, On3’s Joe Tipton is calling his shot on where Blackwell will end up.
Tipton has put in an RPM for Blackwell to commit and sign with the Duke Blue Devils. His level of confidence sits at 60%. If Duke head coach Jon Scheyer can get this one over the finish line, it could prove to be a massive addition.
“Wisconsin transfer John Blackwell is one of the most coveted players in the transfer portal,” Tipton said. “The 6-foot-4 shooting guard took an official visit to Duke on Monday and the Blue Devils are carrying the momentum in this recruitment. I’ve officially placed an RPM prediction in favor of Duke to ultimately land the star transfer.”
The On3 Industry Transfer Portal Rankings have Blackwell slotted as the No. 5 overall player to enter this cycle. Just looking at shooting guards, only one guy is ahead of him — Wake Forest‘s Juke Harris.
Blackwell spent three seasons in Madison before entering the transfer portal. He was in double figures over the last two years, averaging 19.1 points during the 2025-2026 campaign. Duke will enjoy his efficiency as well, shooting 43% from the field and 38.9% behind the three-point line.
There is more to what Blackwell can do than just shoot, though. He snagged just over five rebounds and dished out 2.3 assists per game.
To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire. The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.
Before the RPM pick from Tipton, the latest update on where things stood with Blackwell came on Saturday. Tipton laid out who else is still considered to be in the running, including a visit schedule for the Wisconsin transfer. You can check out the full piece of intel here.
Duke has turned into one of the more consistent programs in college basketball, playing at a high level under Scheyer. The last three seasons have resulted in at least an Elite Eight appearance, even making the Final Four in 2025. Still, the expectations in Durham are to win a national championship. Maybe Blackwell is the guy who can help them take the next step forward.
Wisconsin
Rubber bullet carnage as 1,000 animal welfare activists storm beagle breeding lab in Wisconsin | Fortune
About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett, said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
“I just feel defeated,” activist Julie Vrzeski told the newspaper about three hours into the operation after no dogs had been successfully seized.
Activists later moved from the Ridglan facility to protest outside the jail in downtown Madison.
The group Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs had publicized plans to seize the dogs Sunday but launched its operation a day earlier. The X account of the group’s leader, Wayne Hsiung, posted a picture of him being arrested.
The sheriff’s department said a person who “recklessly” drove a pickup through the front gate of the property was arrested, “preventing a potentially deadly outcome.”
Protesters broke into the facility in March and took 30 dogs. Twenty-seven people were arrested on trespassing and other charges.
Ridglan has denied mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 as part of a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website it says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
Wisconsin
Wisconsin authorities put total arrests from clashes at beagle breeding facility at about 25
MADISON (AP) — Around 25 protesters were arrested as around 1,000 animal welfare activists tried to gain entry to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin and were met by officers firing pepper spray and rubber bullets, authorities said Sunday.
Saturday’s protest was the second attempt in as many months by demonstrators to take beagles from Ridglan Farms in Blue Mounds, about 25 miles (about 40 kilometers) southwest of the capital, Madison. They were turned back by officers who arrested the group’s leader.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The Dane County Sheriff’s Office said the situation was “significantly calmer and more peaceful” on Sunday, when around 200 people assembled outside the farm. They dispersed after around two hours, it said.
“We’re pleased with the group’s cooperation today, and their willingness to remain peaceful, while still sending their message of concern for the dogs at Ridglan Farms,” Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a statement. “We are happy to support anyone who wants to exercise the right to protest, as long as they do so lawfully.”
Owen Ziliak/The Wisconsin State Journal via AP
The sheriff had said in a video statement Saturday that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property.” They tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence.
Owen Ziliak/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Some got through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Amber Arnold/Wisconsin State Journal via AP
Those arrested included the leader of the Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, Wayne Hsiung, 44, of New York, who was being held on a tentative felony charge of conspiracy to commit burglary. But most arrestees were just booked and released, the sheriff’s office said Sunday.
“No one should be assaulted for giving aid to a dog, even if damage to property is part of that rescue effort,” Hsuing said in a statement from jail Sunday that also accused authorities of using excessive force. “The animals of this Earth are not “things.” They’re sentient beings. And we have the right to rescue them from abuse,” he concluded.
Protesters took 30 dogs when they broke into the facility in March, when authorities arrested 27 people.
Ridglan denies mistreating animals but agreed in October to give up its state breeding license as of July 1 in a deal to avoid prosecution on animal mistreatment charges.
On its website, the company says “no credible evidence of animal abuse, cruelty, mistreatment or neglect at Ridglan Farms has ever been presented or substantiated.”
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