Wisconsin
Evers says he’s lowering the lead poisoning threshold in Wisconsin
WISCONSIN — Gov. Tony Evers announced on Tuesday he’s lowering the lead poisoning threshold in the state.
The emergency rule would lower it from 5 micrograms per deciliter to 3.5 micrograms per deciliter, according to the release.
It puts the state more in line with recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which states intervention in lead poisoning cases should be taken at 3.5 micrograms per deciliter.
By adjusting the threshold, it will also help more kids and families get access to services for lead poisoning.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, there were at least 3,272 kids between Nov. 2021 and Feb. 2024 who were affected by lead poisoning that didn’t receive intervention services. That’s because their exposure — between 3.5 and 4.9 micrograms per 100 milliliters of blood — did not meet the definitions of lead poisoning or exposure in the previous threshold.
Another 1,400 kids are expected to have this same level of lead in 2025, DHS estimates. Now, under the new rule, they’ll be able to get assistance.
Evers said he will also direct $6.2 million in his 2025-27 Executive Budget to support lead poisoning efforts through grants to local health departments.
Lead poisoning exposure can have long-term consequences for children, including on their ability to pay attention as well as their learning capacity, according to the CDC. A 2019 study revealed that even low levels of lead exposure during early childhood can affect reading and math scores, with additional schooling “not sufficient” enough to offset this damage.
“There is no safe level of lead exposure for kids,” Evers said in his State of the State address last week.
Evers also announced more funding to combat PFAS, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. He said he’ll direct another $5 million in federal funds to the expanded Well Compensation and Well Abandonment Grant Program, created in 2022 to support “replacement, reconstruction, treatment, or abandonment of contaminated private wells.”
The Department of Natural Resources has so far awarded over $9 million to 684 grantees. It has allowed the 393 contaminated wells to be replaced, another 106 to be treated, 182 unused and abandoned wells to be sealed and more.
Grant funding for the next $5 million will open up on Feb. 3, 2025. To find out if you’re eligible, you can take a questionnaire online, here. You can apply, here.
A study by the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health found that most Wisconsin residents have PFAS in their bodies. The substances can be found in fire-suppressing foam, nonstick pans and more.
“If we want our kids to bring their full and best selves to our classrooms, elected officials have to start acknowledging how policy decisions and investments—or lack thereof—here in this building affect kids, families, schools, and communities across Wisconsin every day. …” said Evers at his State of the State address.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
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School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
How Aleksas Bieliauskas has grown in first season with Wisconsin Badgers
Wisconsin coach Greg Gard has high praise for Aleksas Bieliauskas about a month into the Lithuania native’s freshman season.
MADISON – One of Wisconsin men’s basketball’s departing transfers is headed to an SEC program with some connections to the Badgers.
Ex-UW forward Aleksas Bieliauskas has committed to South Carolina, he announced on April 17.
Bieliauskas left the Badgers after appearing in all 35 games as a freshman and making 28 starts. He averaged 4.9 points and 4.4 points in 20.2 minutes, and highlights of his freshman year included his five 3-pointers in UW’s upset over eventual national champion Michigan.
He’ll join a program with plenty of Wisconsin ties. South Carolina head coach Lamont Paris was an assistant coach at Wisconsin from 2010-17 on Bo Ryan and Greg Gard’s staffs. South Carolina assistant coach Tanner Bronson and director of video services Roman DiPasquale also are UW alumni.
Bieliauskas is the second of UW’s four departing transfers to commit to a new school. Reserve forward Jack Robison committed to North Dakota State on April 15. Starting guard John Blackwell and reserve forward Riccardo Greppi have not announced their next schools yet.
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