Wisconsin

Union events honor MLK’s legacy

Published

5 days ago

January 30, 2026

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Student leaders from the Wisconsin Union Directorate developed programming to celebrate and reflect on King’s teaching.

UW–Madison celebrated the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. with a series of events focused on King’s legacy. Wisconsin Union student leaders worked with staff to create activities designed to connect history with contemporary issues through art and meaningful dialogue.

This year’s programming was organized by the Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) with support from Student Affairs and the Office of the Chancellor.

Through Feb. 27, 2026, the WUD Art Committee presents A Curation of Artworks Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Event attendees line a buffet table as event hosts serve them food. — At center, Jose Sanz, a fellow in mechanical engineering, engages in conversation as more than 150 people participate in Community Dinner: Food Security is a Civil Right. The event, held on Jan. 28, was sponsored by WUD Cuisine and WUD Volunteer Action, both student-led committees. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison

Panelists who at the community dinner event sit at a head table in front of the room and speak to the audience. — At center, Jose Sanz, a fellow in mechanical engineering, engages in conversation as more than 150 people participate in Community Dinner: Food Security is a Civil Right. The event, held on Jan. 28, was sponsored by WUD Cuisine and WUD Volunteer Action, both student-led committees. Photo: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison

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Wisconsin

Florida man sentenced in Wisconsin for selling fake Indigenous jewelry

Published

10 hours ago

February 4, 2026

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Florida man sentenced in Wisconsin for selling fake Indigenous jewelry

A Florida man has been sentenced in Wisconsin to three years of probation and to pay a $25,000 fine for selling fake Native American jewelry across the country.

Investigators with U.S. Fish and Wildlife said Jose Farinango Muenala, 47, of Casselberry, Florida, had attended dozens of art shows as a vendor in the U.S. since 2012, including the 2023 Loon Day Festival in Mercer, Wisconsin, posing as a Pueblo tribal member.

Prosecutors said he told customers the jewelry he sold was handmade by himself or other Pueblo members. It was actually mass produced and imported from the Philippines. Muenala made nearly 41,000 sales, which grossed more than $2.6 million.

The Indian Arts and Crafts Board starting receiving complaints about Muenala’s Southwest Expressions business misrepresenting the jewelry in 2023. That led to an investigation.

Muenala was arrested in 2024 for violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, a truth-in-marketing law.

“The Act is intended to rid the Indian arts and crafts marketplace of fakes to protect economic livelihoods and cultural heritage of Indian artists, craftspeople and their tribes, as well as the buying public,” said Meridith Stanton, director of the Indian Arts and Crafts Board, in a statement. “Authentic Indian art and craftwork is an important tool for passing down cultural traditions, traditional knowledge and artistic skills from one generation to the next.”

Muenala was prosecuted by the Department of Justice’s Western District of Wisconsin. He was sentenced Jan. 28.

“This kind of thing does incredible harm,” said Karen Ann Hoffman, a renowned Oneida Nation beadwork artist from Wisconsin. “I’m glad to see every effort made to protect and preserve our authentic Native art and artists.”

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Wisconsin

Supplements have led to 12 salmonella cases, 2 hospitalizations in Wisconsin, FDA says

Published

22 hours ago

February 3, 2026

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Supplements have led to 12 salmonella cases, 2 hospitalizations in Wisconsin, FDA says

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has expanded a recall of superfood supplements that has already sickened dozens of people nationwide, with Wisconsin logging the highest number of cases.

As of Jan. 29, the two recalled dietary supplements have been linked to salmonella infections in 65 people across 28 states, according to the FDA. The recall was initially only issued for a dietary supplement powder by the brand Live It Up, but the FDA added capsules from the brand Why Not Natural last week.

The first Wisconsin resident to become ill reported symptoms starting Oct. 1, 2025, according to a Jan. 15 news release from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Here’s what to know about the recall, including what to do if you’ve purchased the products:

Which products are being recalled?

The following products are being recalled, per the FDA:

Live it Up-brand Super Greens dietary supplement powder with lot numbers beginning with “A,” including both original and wild berry flavors. All stick pack products with 08/2026 to 01/2028 have also been recalled.
Why Not Natural Pure Organic Moringa Green Superfood capsules with lot number A25G051 and an expiration date of 07/2028 marked on the bottom of the bottle. The product comes in 120-capsule bottles.

Both products were sold nationwide, primarily online through their company websites, as well as through Amazon, eBay and Walmart.

How many people have gotten sick in Wisconsin?

As of Feb. 2, Wisconsin has 12 cases linked to the outbreak, including two hospitalizations, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Wisconsin is the only state to report more than five cases, per the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions.

Nationwide, there have been 14 hospitalizations. No deaths have been reported.

What to do if you purchased recalled supplements

Here’s what you should do if you own any of the recalled products, according to the Wisconsin DHS:

Do not consume the product, and throw it away or return it.
Use hot soapy water or a dishwasher to wash any items and surfaces that may have come into the contact with the product.
If you have consumed either of the products and are experiencing severe symptoms of salmonella infection, contact your heath care provider.

Symptoms of salmonella

Symptoms of salmonella usually start between 12 to 72 hours after swallowing the contaminated food, typically presenting as diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps, according to the FDA.

Most people will recover without treatment after four to seven days, but some are at increased risk of severe symptoms and hospitalization. This includes people with weakened immune systems, children younger than 5 years old and adults 65 or older.

Per the Wisconsin DHS, severe symptoms include:

Diarrhea and a fever higher than 102 degrees
Diarrhea for more than 3 days that is not improving
Bloody diarrhea
Vomiting to the point you cannot keep liquids down
Signs of dehydration, including dizziness, less peeing, and dry mouth and throat

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Wisconsin

New work requirements are officially in place for FoodShare. What to know

Published

1 day ago

February 3, 2026

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New work requirements are officially in place for FoodShare. What to know

More than 600,000 Wisconsinites are under new work requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program starting in February.

The new work requirements are part of several changes to SNAP, known as FoodShare in Wisconsin, that were implemented as part of President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” passed last summer.

Between confusing federal guidance and a record-long government shutdown, state and county workers have struggled to implement the new rules within the tight timeline outlined in the bill. Last fall, Wisconsin was among 20 states that sued the Trump administration over the new SNAP eligibility guidelines related to non-citizens, arguing the timeline for implementation was unrealistic and inadequate.

The “One Big Beautiful Bill” also shifted more of the administrative costs of SNAP onto states – a provision which is expected to cost the state Wisconsin more than $32 million in its next fiscal year. Overall, Trump’s massive spending bill cut an estimated $186 billion from SNAP funding through 2034, according to the Congressional Budget Office.

Here’s what to know about the new FoodShare work requirements in Wisconsin:

When did the new FoodShare work requirements go into effect?

The new work requirements for SNAP, or FoodShare, went into effect Sunday, Feb 1.

Who has to meet the new FoodShare work requirements?

The new work requirements apply to FoodShare members who are ages 18 to 64, able to work and who do not have children 14 or under living in their home, according to the U.S Department of Agriculture.

Previously, the top age for the work requirement was 55, and people with children under 18 were exempt, per USA TODAY. Veterans, unhoused people and people 24 and younger who recently aged out of foster care are also no longer exempt from the work requirements.

What are the FoodShare work requirements?

FoodShare recipients can meet the work requirements in three main ways, per the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Who is exempt from the FoodShare work requirements?

Though the the U.S. Department of Agriculture hasn’t updated its guidance after the implementation of the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” the following groups are generally exempt from SNAP work requirements:

People who are under 18 or over 64
People who have children under 14 or under living in the home
People unable to work due to a physical or mental limitation
People enrolled in a school, training program, or college at least half-time.
People participating in an alcohol or other drug abuse treatment program
People who are getting or applied for unemployment compensation
Pregnant people
Tribal members

What happens if you do not meet the new FoodShare work requirement?

If you cannot meet the 80-hour requirement in a certain month, you should contact your local agency and explain why you were unable to meet the requirement. If your reasons fall under the approved “good causes” for missing hours, then you can still get benefits for the month, per DHS.

Approved good causes include:

Personal health problems or the health problems of others
Poor weather
A lack of reliable transportation to your job
Legal issues or a court appearance
Observing a religious holiday
Your workplace closing due to a site-specific holiday
Discrimination or unreasonable demands at a job
Another type of crisis or emergency, such as death, domestic violence or a temporary workplace shutdown

Is Wisconsin one of the states implementing SNAP food purchase restrictions in 2026?

Along with the new work requirements, 18 states are placing restrictions on which foods can be purchased with SNAP benefits starting in 2026. Some of banned items include soda, candy, energy drinks and prepared desserts.

Wisconsin is not one of the states with an approved SNAP Food Restriction Waiver as of Feb. 2, according to the USDA’s website.

The state does, however, ban the purchase of alcohol, tobacco products, vitamins, medicines and hot foods with FoodShare benefits, among other items. You can find a full list on the state DHS website at www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/foodshare/spending.htm.

How many Wisconsin residents rely on FoodShare benefits?

As of May 2025, more than 689,000 Wisconsinites, or about 12% of the state’s population, rely on FoodShare benefits.

About 60% of SNAP, or FoodShare, participants in Wisconsin are in families with children, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. More than 36% of participants are in families with disabled or elderly adults, and more than 45% are in working families.

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