Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers signs sweeping overhaul of Wisconsin alcohol industry
MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers on Wednesday signed into law a massive overhaul of Wisconsin’s alcohol industry, following years of negotiation and nearly a decade of infighting over what industry professionals said were confusing and unclear state laws governing beer, wine and spirits sales.
The measure passed the Senate in a bipartisan 21-11 vote last month, and the Assembly signed off on the Senate’s vote with a bipartisan 88-10 vote.
“Across the country, Wisconsin is best known not only for our world-champion dairy but also our world-class breweries, wineries and distilleries that employ thousands of workers statewide and play a significant role in our statewide economy,” Evers said in a statement. “Ensuring that our state’s regulations and policies are modernized and updated to meet this ever-evolving industry remains a priority for the safety of consumers, producers and Wisconsin as a whole.”
The law clarifies a host of alcohol regulations in the state, touching everything from who can invest in new alcohol businesses, to winery operations, to when bars close during the Republican National Convention next summer. Alcohol producers will be allowed to sell their products without a tap room or production facility on site, and winemakers can now stay open past 9 p.m. into the early morning hours, similar to most bars.
The measure creates a new division within the state Department of Revenue to oversee the alcohol industry. It also creates a new statewide bartending license, increases the driving while under the influence surcharge and funding for the Safe Ride program, and implements a variety of regulations on electronic vaping devices.
The bill fundamentally alters Wisconsin’s complicated system governing the making, distribution and sales of alcoholic beverages, known as the three-tier system. The system dates back to the 1930s and was intended to prevent monopolies on the sale of beer, wine and spirits by separating businesses involved in alcohol production, wholesale and retail sales.
The three-tier system can both limit the businesses of brewers, distributors and retailers and provide them with lucrative opportunities, so proposed changes to the law have often provoked intense legislative battles. Critics of the system said its rules were outdated and often arcane, hampering new and growing aspects of the state’s alcohol industry.
Supporters have praised the plan as a rare and historic compromise. It has received broad support from Kwik Trip, New Glarus Brewing Co. and other business groups in the alcohol industry, along with organizations representing law enforcement, hotels and restaurants.
But the changes haven’t sat well with owners of barns converted into wedding venues — better known as wedding barns — who have blasted what they fear would be an “extermination bill” for their businesses.
Under the new law, wedding barns and other private event venues planning to serve liquor will be required to get a new type of license to do so. The license, a “no sale event venue permit,” will allow those renting the barn to bring in their own alcohol but will limit wedding venue owners to rent or lease the property on no more than six days per year and one day per month. The requirement will not apply to campgrounds or parking lots where events occur, including tailgates.
Although some wedding barn owners already have a liquor license, others have said the law’s requirement is too expensive for their business model.
Elements of the law are set to take effect on a varied timeline. Some are effective the day after publication, while most others will take effect the first day of the fifth month beginning after the bill’s publication. The wedding barn provisions are set to take effect in two years.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
The Wisconsin Badgers fell just short in their pursuit of 2026 three-star defensive tackle King Liggins, who had been a priority target for nearly a year.
Liggins committed to a rival school on Wednesday, staying home to play for the Illinois Fighting Illini, while the Badgers came second in the recruitment.
The Badgers had been in need of a defensive tackle in their 2026 class, which the 6’4, 285-pound lineman would’ve been able to fill. They currently have seven commits in their recruiting class, with three-star defensive end Carmelow Reed being the lone defensive lineman thus far.
Wisconsin still has a few official visits scheduled for the rest of next month at the position, including three-stars Jermaine Polk, Arthur Scott, and Djidjou Bah.
Liggins became Illinois’s 16th commitment in the 2026 cycle, and the Fighting Illini now have the eighth-best class in the country, according to 247Sports.
The Badgers are just a week out from the start of their first major official visit wave. Next weekend will be crucial in bolstering their 2026 class, which has some good pieces already and needs to start filling out now.
This story discusses suicide. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Two female students have died in a suspected murder-suicide at a residence hall at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.
A spokesperson with the university confirmed with Fox News Digital that Kelsie Martin and Hallie Helms, both 22, were found with gunshot wounds at Wilgus Hall, a student residence hall, in what authorities believe to be a murder-suicide at approximately 4 p.m. local time on Monday, May 19.
Helms, an elementary education major, was pronounced dead at the scene. Martin, a psychology major and assistant resident director, was transported to Southwest Health, and then flown to UW Hospital, where she later died.
A preliminary autopsy found that Martin was determined to have died by gunshot wound, and Helms died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the school said, noting that “all indications at this time from the preliminary autopsy suggest a murder-suicide.”
IVY LEAGUE SUICIDES, PRINCETON’S 8TH STUDENT DEATH IN 4 YEARS EXPOSE CRISIS AT ELITE SCHOOLS
Students leave with their belongings from Wilgus Hall after a shooting at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Mark Hoffman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
The university’s police arrived at the scene following a call for a “disturbance.” Photos following the incident captured college students being escorted out of the residence halls as police investigated the incident.
The school said that “no other subjects are suspected to have been involved in the incident.”
The university canceled final exams for the remainder of the week. Counseling is being offered to the campus community, and a toll-free emotional support line is available at (844)602-6680 or (720)272-0004.
Personnel from the Wisconsin State Crime Lab are shown at Wilgus Hall after a shooting at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on Monday, May 19, 2025. (Mark Hoffman/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
Helms graduated magna cum laude with a degree in elementary education, and Martin graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology on Saturday, May 17, according to the university’s graduation program.
Helms was from Baraboo, Wisconsin, and transferred to UW-Plateville in the spring of 2023 after attending UW-Baraboo.
Martin was from Beloit, Wisconsin, and had served as an assistant resident director on campus for the past three years, according to a “Student Staff Spotlight” posted by the university residence life office on Facebook.
WISCONSIN SCHOOL SHOOTING BY FIRST-SEMESTER STUDENT LASTED 8 MINUTES: OFFICIAL
Students wait to be escorted to their dorms to gather their belongings from Wilgus Hall following an emergency incident at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville on May 19, 2025. (Julia Hansen/Iowa City Press-Citizen/USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
The university said in a Facebook message on Tuesday, “Thank you to all who have reached out to us through messages and offered to support in so many meaningful ways. We are overwhelmed by your kindness.”
“We are a close community, and this outpouring of care is a powerful reminder of who we are. We do not take it for granted. #PioneerStrong,” they added.
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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers wrote on Facebook, “I’ve been briefed on the situation at UW-Platteville, and we will continue to remain in close contact with university officials. As we await more information, please keep UW-Platteville students, faculty, staff, and the greater Platteville community in your thoughts.”
The UW-Platteville Police Department declined to comment on the incident, referring Fox News Digital to the university’s statement.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Efforts to reduce overdose deaths appear to be working, both here in the state and around the country.
A new report from the CDC shows that the number of deaths due to drug overdoses dropped 27% in 2024, the largest one-year decline ever, some 30,000 fewer deaths.
Zeroing in on Wisconsin, the decrease was even more dramatic, more than 36%. This marks the 2nd year in a row that overdose deaths have decreased in the state after a steady rise since the pandemic.
Abby Brezinski is CEO of the Jackie Nitschke Center, the only adult residential treatment center for substance addiction in Brown County. Brezinski discusses the latest overdose numbers in the video above.
Copyright 2025 WBAY. All rights reserved.
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