Wisconsin

Biden-era student loan program to end. What Wisconsin borrowers should know

Published

1 day ago

April 1, 2026

Biden-era student loan program to end. What Wisconsin borrowers should know

More student loan borrowers are falling behind on payments than ever before. The Biden-era SAVE plan is dead. Collections are moving from one federal agency to another. New loan limits will take effect this summer.

Carol Trone can barely keep up with all of the student loan news, and she’s the executive director of the Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt, a nonprofit that helps borrowers.

“I check headlines every day,” she said. “These are crazy times.”

Wisconsin has about 720,000 borrowers who hold $24 billion in federal student loan debt, according to the latest federal education data. Nearly 125,000 of them are in default, including more than 50,000 who are newly in default as of last year.

Many have questions about repayment, loan consolidation and more.

“You’re not alone,” Trone said. “The stories we hear are of frustration, confusion, loan servicers changing – it’s a lot.”

Trone encouraged borrowers to contact the coalition’s free, confidential helpline. She also broke down some of the biggest changes for 2026:

More borrowers in default

Student loan payments were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments resumed in 2023, but borrowers did not face credit damage or default during a yearlong “on-ramp” period. That ended Sept. 30, 2024.

A borrower is considered delinquent when they haven’t made a payment in 30 days. They are in default when they haven’t made a payment in 270 days, though it may take two additional payment cycles to be reflected on credit reports.

More borrowers are falling behind on their payments. Nearly 8 million borrowers had defaulted on $181 billion in federal student loans by the end of last year, according to U.S. Education Department data. Another 3 million loan recipients were at least three months late on their payments.

It’s the highest combined rate of serious delinquency and default since the government began its data reporting system nearly a decade ago, the New York Times reported.

Biden’s SAVE plan is dead

Former President Joe Biden first proposed canceling up to $10,000 in federal student loan debt for borrowers earning less than $125,000 per year. After the U.S. Supreme Court knocked it down, he launched a new program that promised a lower monthly bill and a shorter path to loan forgiveness than other repayment plans.

About 135,000 Wisconsin borrowers enrolled in Biden’s Saving on a Valuable Education plan, also referred to as SAVE, Trone said. But several legal challenges have effectively killed the program.

SAVE borrowers need to apply to a different repayment plan, the federal education department said March 27. In July, loan servicers will begin notifying borrowers they have 90 days to switch plans or automatically be placed in the standard plan.

The new repayment options will be far less borrower-friendly, Trone said. A family of four making $84,000 would have paid $36 per month on the SAVE plan. That could jump to $440 per month.

The federal student aid website includes a loan calculator tool to get a sense of how much payments will increase and which plan will lead to the lowest payments.

Borrowers seeking Public Service Loan Forgiveness face more complications

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program offers a path for borrowers who work in public service – such as teaching, nursing and policing – to have their debt erased after 10 years on the job.

The Trump administration is trying to change the program’s rules. The federal education department said that, beginning July 1, it would deny loan forgiveness to workers whose government or nonprofit employers engage in activities with a “substantial illegal purpose.” It could include organizations, for example, that work with undocumented immigrants or provide gender-affirming care to children.

Several predominantly Democratic cities sued last fall. The case remains pending.

Borrowers seeking public service loan forgiveness who enrolled in SAVE are caught in legal limbo. Their payments were frozen because of the court cases. But that also means they can’t make any progress toward loan forgiveness.

“Their applications are going nowhere,” Trone said. “So there’s high frustration.”

Student loan oversight moving to different federal agency

The U.S. Education Department announced the Treasury Department will assume responsibility for collecting on defaulted student loans.

The transition of the office of Federal Student Aid is happening in phases, and it’s unclear when the first phase will begin, Trone said. A borrower’s terms and interest rate won’t change during the transition. The consequences of falling behind on payments won’t change either. The government can garnish your wages, and withhold Social Security payments and federal tax refunds.

New loans subject to new borrowing limits

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, President Donald Trump’s tax and spending bill signed into law last summer, sets new caps on direct federal loans: $50,000 annually and $200,000 over a lifetime. It also eliminates the Graduate PLUS loan program, which many professional-degree seeking students use to cover living expenses while in school.

Republicans say the changes are long overdue and will encourage schools to rein in rising tuition costs for pricy professional and graduate degree programs.

But some financial aid experts worry the new caps will price some students out of pursuing degrees in law, medicine, veterinary medicine and more, or push them to the private loan market. Private loans offer fewer protections, higher interest rates, less favorable repayment terms and may require a co-signer.

Wisconsin student loan borrowers can get free help from hotline

Borrowers in some states can get help and file complaints against servicers with student loan ombudsmans. In other states, there is a higher education agency to turn to for help. Wisconsin has neither.

The Wisconsin Coalition on Student Debt started up to fill the gap. The nonprofit group runs an anonymous and confidential hotline for borrowers.

Call 833-589-0750. There’s no wait time. No artificial intelligence-driven chatbots. Questions go directly to human student loan experts.

The hotline hasn’t taken off as much as you might think. Since its informal launch during the pandemic, Trone estimated the coalition has helped about 900 borrowers.

“We are pushing so hard to get the word out,” she said.

New incentives for employers to help workers with student loan debt

Employers can pay up to $5,250 per year per employee for qualified student loan payments, tax-free.

The incentive began in 2020 as a temporary provision, which deterred some employers from pursuing it, Trone said. But the measure now has permanent status.

The coalition is assessing which Wisconsin employers offer this perk to employees.

Kelly Meyerhofer has covered higher education in Wisconsin since 2018. Contact her at kmeyerhofer@gannett.com or 414-223-5168. Follow her on X (Twitter) at @KellyMeyerhofer.

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin police can now test saliva if they suspect drugged driving

Published

8 hours ago

April 2, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin police can now test saliva if they suspect drugged driving

A state law signed in March allows police to test a driver’s saliva for meth, cocaine, delta-9 THC and more if they suspect an OWI.
No police departments appear to be adopting the test right away, but several expressed interest depending on funding and resources.
Other states have similar programs, and the Dane and Manitowoc sheriff’s departments ran successful pilot programs in recent years.

A new state law allows police who suspect drugged driving to perform a rapid roadside test of the driver’s saliva to check for THC, opioids, meth and more, though police departments don’t appear ready to roll it out immediately.

State law already allows police to use breathalyzers to check blood-alcohol levels, but those devices don’t test for other intoxicating substances. The new law allows police to sample oral fluids – mainly saliva – when they suspect an OWI.

Law enforcement groups that advocated for the law change say drug impairment is more difficult to identify than alcohol intoxication. Plus, intoxication levels can decrease between the time police make a traffic stop and a blood sample is collected.

“Oral fluid screening would give officers an additional, objective tool to confirm the presence of drugs – much like a preliminary breath test does for alcohol – before making an arrest decision,” Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said at a December public hearing.

Wisconsin Act 99 became effective March 15, two days after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed it into law. The state Legislature passed it in February with bipartisan support.

Here’s what to know about the new law:

What does the law allow police to do when they suspect an impaired driver?

If police have probable cause to believe a driver is intoxicated, the officer can request a saliva or breath test, or both. That’s in addition to field sobriety tests.

The officer places a mouth swab inside the driver’s cheek or under the tongue and runs it through a handheld device, such as Abbott’s SoToxa or Alere DDS2.

The legislation was amended to allow the tests for suspected intoxicated operation of vehicles other than cars, such as boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs and more.

Are the oral drug tests admissible in court?

No. The test results aren’t admissible in court and must be destroyed or returned to the person after the test is completed.

The preliminary tests are used only to help police decide whether to make an arrest and pursue laboratory confirmation testing.

Have police in Wisconsin tried saliva drug tests before?

Yes. The Dane County and Manitowoc County sheriff’s offices piloted the program in 2016 and 2019, finding that oral fluid testing devices were accurate and consistent with blood tests.

Dane County conducted its study with the State Laboratory of Hygiene and published the results in an academic journal. The study found that 64% of participants arrested for an OWI also had one or more drugs in their blood, with THC the most common.

Manitowoc County worked with the State Laboratory of Hygiene and the Wisconsin State Patrol on its study, which collected 100 voluntary samples. Results showed 41% of OWI offenders were positive for THC, 20% for amphetamine and 14% for methamphetamine.

Which police agencies plan to use the new saliva drug test?

Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association President Danny Thompson said he wasn’t aware of any agencies immediately using the test.

“Although this roadside test will be very beneficial to arresting dangerous, impaired drivers, we have not heard of any agencies ready to implement this kind of testing right away,” Thompson said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

A Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson said the department isn’t using the tests “at this time and are still looking into it.” A Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson didn’t respond to a request for comment.

The two departments that piloted the program also don’t plan to bring it back right away.

Manitowoc County Sheriff Daniel Hartwig said his office is monitoring guidance related to the new law but doesn’t have plans to implement it at this point. A Dane County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson said the county would use it “given the appropriate funding and resources.”

How much would the program cost?

Each SoToxa device appears to cost around $4,500 to $5,000, according to news reports on programs in North Dakota and San Diego.

Law enforcement groups said agencies in Wisconsin would likely pursue funding for the devices through federal grants.

Do other states use saliva screening?

Yes. A state-by-state analysis from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving shows 10 states have statewide roadside oral fluid testing programs, and another eight have the program in some jurisdictions.

A 2021 report from the National Conference of State Legislatures found nearly half of states have the law, but few used it. One that does is Indiana, where over 200 handheld test devices are used across 110 law enforcement agencies.

Who authored and supported the law?

The bill was authored by Republicans, including Sen. Jesse James from Thorp and Rep. Barbara Dittrich from Oconomowoc. Several Democrats became cosponsors, including Rep. Lori Palmeri from Oshkosh and Rep. Ryan Spaude from Ashwaubenon.

Supporters of the bill included AAA Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. No groups registered in opposition to the bill.

What qualifies as operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin?

According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and state law, a driver is considered to be operating while intoxicated if:

The driver is under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance or other drug that impairs their ability to safely operate a vehicle, even if the vehicle isn’t in motion at the time of the traffic stop.
The driver has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in their blood. That includes cocaine, heroin, meth, delta-9 THC (if at a concentration of one or more nanograms per milliliter in a person’s blood) and more.
The driver has a BAC over what the law allows, such as above 0.08 for first-time offenders, 0.04 for commercial drivers or 0.02 for drivers with three or more prior OWIs.

Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.

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Wisconsin

These Wisconsin Rapids schools have announced closures for April 2

Published

20 hours ago

April 1, 2026

Press Room

These Wisconsin Rapids schools have announced closures for April 2

The following Wisconsin Rapids-area school districts have announced closures or other changes for Thursday, April 2 due to a predicted ice storm.

As another winter storm threatens to bring significant icing across central Wisconsin Thursday, April 2, many local school districts have canceled classes or adjusted to virtual learning.

The National Weather Service has also issued an Ice Storm Warning from 1 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday for Wood, Portage and Waupaca counties, including Wisconsin Rapids, Marshfield, Plover, Stevens Point and Waupaca.

The storm could bring total ice accumulations between one-quarter and one-half inch of ice and winds gusting as high as 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service. Power outages and tree damage are likely with the storm due to the ice.

Travel also could be hazardous due to the icy roads. The hazardous conditions will impact the Thursday morning commute. The National Weather Service “strongly discourages” people from traveling during the warning. For the latest road conditions, call 511.

Wisconsin Rapids-area school district closures

The following Wisconsin Rapids-area school districts have announced closures or other changes for Thursday, April 2.

Assumption Catholic Schools: Assumption Catholic Schools will be closed on Thursday, April 2, according to the district’s Facebook page. Students in grades 7-12 should refer to the email and instructions they received regarding remote learning day expectations.
Nekoosa School District: The Nekoosa School District has canceled classes for Thursday, April 2, according to an email from the district.
School District of Pittsville: The School District of Pittsville will have a virtual learning day on Thursday, April 2, according to the district’s Facebook page. The Pittsville Child Care Center also will be closed April 2. Students and staff already are scheduled to be off for Good Friday on April 3, so they will return on Monday, April 6.
Port Edwards School District: The Port Edwards School District will have a virtual learning on Thursday, April 2, according to the district’s Facebook page. The Student Council’s Red Carpet Semi-Formal Dance for middle-schoolers has been postponed to 5:30-7:30 p.m. Friday, April 10.
Tri-County Area School District: The Tri-County Area School District will have a virtual learning day on Thursday, April 2, according to the district’s Facebook page. Staff and students will participate in virtual education as planned by their building administration. There will be no after-school activities on April 2.
Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools: Wisconsin Rapids Public Schools will have a remote learning day for all students on Thursday, April 2. All elementary and middle school activities are canceled. The status of after-school activities will be determined by mid- to late-morning on April 2, depending on road conditions.

Editor Jamie Rokus can be reached at jrokus@usatodayco.com or follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @Jamie_Rokus.

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Wisconsin

Judge panel dismisses lawsuit seeking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps

Published

2 days ago

March 31, 2026

Press Room

Judge panel dismisses lawsuit seeking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional maps

article

Wisconsin Congressional Districts (2025)

MADISON, Wis. – A three-judge panel in Wisconsin on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit brought by Democratic voters that sought to redraw the battleground state’s Republican-friendly congressional boundary lines ahead of the November midterm election.

The decision can be appealed to the liberal-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court, but it’s unclear whether it could rule in time to affect the election this year. There is a second lawsuit pending that also seeks to redraw the state’s congressional districts, but it isn’t slated to go to trial until April 2027.

Both lawsuits were filed as President Donald Trump wages a national redistricting battle in an effort to preserve the Republicans’ slim House majority in November.

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Judge panel’s decision

What they’re saying:

The three-judge panel said in its ruling that it has “no basis to find the current congressional map invalid.” The case must be dismissed, the judges said, because only the Wisconsin Supreme Court can determine whether the maps should be redrawn.

But in dismissing the lawsuit, the panel made clear that it was “not endorsing the current congressional map.”

“Rather, we, as circuit court judges, do not have the authority to read into a Wisconsin Supreme Court case an analysis that it does not contain,” the judges ruled.

Wisconsin Capitol, Madison

However, the judges said they “stand ready” to engage in any fact-finding the state Supreme Court might order later.

Republicans praised the ruling.

“This is a significant win for Republicans and a yet another blow to desperate Democrats who wanted to reshape the electoral landscape,” said Zach Bannon, spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee. “By keeping Wisconsin’s current district lines in place for 2026, Republicans are in a strong position to build on our momentum to retain and grow our House majority.”

Lawsuit over maps

The backstory:

The Wisconsin Supreme Court in November ordered that the redistricting cases be first heard by the three-judge panel over objections from Republicans. It marked the first time that process has been used under a 2011 law enacted by Republicans.

The lawsuit that was dismissed argued that the current maps discriminate against Democrats. They do so by packing a substantial number of Democrats into two districts while breaking up other Democratic areas into six Republican-favorable districts, the lawsuit argued. They also argued that the Wisconsin Supreme Court violated the constitutional separation of powers provision when adopting the most recent map.

In 2010, the year before Republicans redrew the congressional maps, Democrats held five seats compared with three for Republicans. Republicans hold six of the state’s eight House seats, but only two are considered competitive.

The current congressional maps, which were based on the ones drawn in 2010, were approved by the state Supreme Court when it was controlled by conservative judges. The U.S. Supreme Court in March 2022 declined to block the maps from taking effect.

Election outlook

Big picture view:

A top target for Democrats is the western Wisconsin seat held by Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a vocal Trump supporter. He won in 2022 after longtime Democratic Rep. Ron Kind retired. Van Orden won reelection in the 3rd District in 2024.

The other seat Democrats hope to make more competitive is southeastern Wisconsin’s 1st District, which Republican Rep. Bryan Steil has held since 2019. The latest maps made that district more competitive while still favoring Republicans.

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What’s next:

The dismissed lawsuit was brought on behalf of 11 voters by Elias Law Group. Attorneys with the liberal law firm did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment. Attorneys for Wisconsin’s six Republican members of Congress who sought the dismissal had no immediate comment.

The lawsuit scheduled to go to trial next year was brought by a bipartisan coalition of business leaders. There is also a pending motion to dismiss that case.

The Wisconsin Business Leaders for Democracy argues in its lawsuit that Wisconsin’s congressional maps are unconstitutional because they are an anti-competitive gerrymander. The lawsuit notes that the median margin of victory for candidates in the eight districts since the maps were enacted is close to 30 percentage points.

The Source: The Associated Press provided this report.

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