Wisconsin

How you can help educate the public about Wisconsin elections

Published

2 years ago

September 9, 2022

How you can help educate the public about Wisconsin elections

The next is a letter to members of the WNA and WBA from John Smalley, who not too long ago retired from the newspaper business and is now a public data officer for the Wisconsin Elections Fee. Smalley additionally serves on the board of the WNA Basis.

Heat greetings to members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Affiliation and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Affiliation.

By the use of introduction, I’m John Smalley, a longtime and now retired journalist from Wisconsin and former editor on the La Crosse Tribune (2002-2008) and the Wisconsin State Journal (2008-2020). Lately I’m working part-time for the Wisconsin Elections Fee within the Public Info Workplace. I’m additionally a previous member of the WNA Board of Administrators and a present member of the WNA Basis Board.

I’m writing right now to let of an essential alternative you’ll be able to participate in to assist educate the general public about how Wisconsin’s elections system works and construct confidence and belief in our democratic system.

As information suppliers, I don’t need to let you know that public confidence in our elections system has suffered over the previous a number of years. You see the results of this setting every single day in your reporting.

Right here on the Wisconsin Elections Fee, we see an absence of public understanding of the state’s elections system as a major contributor to the decline in public confidence, compounded by a social media age by which viral false data can usually take the place of correct data and correct context.

To assist fill the void of details about how the mechanics of our democracy actually work, the WEC’s public data workplace has spent this yr growing an training marketing campaign that can discover the varied elements of elections administration in Wisconsin in an easy and hopefully enjoyable and fascinating manner. The undertaking consists of a collection of 4 quick movies, about 6 minutes every.

The final week of September, the movies will probably be made obtainable for highschool social research lecturers to point out of their lecture rooms, producing an interesting civic-minded dialogue with college students.

We additionally hope to share the movies with most people through what we hope will probably be a profitable marketing campaign of home advertisements and radio PSAs statewide.

That’s the place you are available in.

Our particular ask is straightforward: we’d be very appreciative should you would start working print advertisements our companions have developed no less than as soon as per week for 4 weeks, beginning the final week in September. Extra frequency than that with the advertisements can be welcome, in fact. And to our broadcast associates, we’ll recognize any airtime we are able to get, ideally working a 30-second spot we’ve created a couple of occasions per week over those self same 4 weeks. Once more, any elevated frequency can be welcome and appreciated.

We now have labored with an ideal design workforce at Multi Media Channels within the Fox Valley to create two camera-ready home advertisements that will probably be made obtainable in numerous sizes by means of the traditional WNA channels. (Shout-out to Kim and Kris at MMC for his or her nice work on the advertisements!). On the similar time, we’ll create a ready-to-air 30-second spot that WBA management will make obtainable to all members.

Our video vendor is in post-production now, ending off remaining edits on the video collection, and we really feel excellent concerning the “tough reduce” variations we’ve seen up to now. In the meantime, our MMC associates are near finishing the very sharp wanting home advertisements. And the 30-second radio spot will probably be prepared quickly as nicely.

We are going to launch the content material the final week of September and encourage lecturers to begin utilizing the content material in lecture rooms then. Our aim is to make the video content material as accessible as attainable, and we’ll encourage media members and some other companions to publish the video hyperlinks on their web sites.

By mid-September we’ll ship the home advertisements and the radio spot to the 2 associations for additional distribution to their members.

We now have obtained help from many companions, together with the WNA and the WBA. The WNA Basis previously endorsed the undertaking at a gathering earlier this yr.

We now have additionally partnered with the Division of Public Instruction, and they are going to be serving to us get our video collection – full with lesson plans – into highschool lecture rooms throughout Wisconsin. We now have a younger girl serving because the host/narrator in every of the movies, and he or she brings a variety of power. We’ve tried to make the movies enjoyable, full of life, and fast-moving.

In closing, we need to level out that this elections training effort is particularly not a get-out-the-vote drive or a push to extend voter registrations in excessive faculties or elsewhere. Whereas we undoubtedly need individuals to register and to get out and vote, the purpose of this undertaking is to easily share factual details about how the elections course of actually works in Wisconsin. We search to tell and to offer helpful, fundamental details about voting in our state.

Our aim is to extend elections literacy and understanding amongst Wisconsin residents, together with soon-to-be voters at the highschool stage, together with members of most people. We consider a better-informed citizenry is an efficient factor in the case of elections, and serving to to teach the general public is a key a part of election safety and integrity. We hope you agree and can be part of us within the undertaking.

Please let me know you probably have any questions or want to be taught extra concerning the undertaking. And thanks prematurely for any help you’ll be able to present.

Greatest needs,

John Smalley, Public Info Workplace, Wisconsin Elections Fee

John.smalley@wisconsin.gov / 608-790-0336

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Wisconsin

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

Published

7 hours ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.

According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.

”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”

He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.

”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season(Marcus Aarsvold)

People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.

”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”

If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”

According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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Wisconsin

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

Published

15 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.

2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.

Running back

1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.

2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.

Receiver

1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.

2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.

Receiver

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.

Slot recever

1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.

Tight end

1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.

2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.

Left tackle

1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.

2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.

Left guard

1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.

2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.

Center

1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.

2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.

Right guard

1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.

2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.

Right tackle

1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.

2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.

DEFENSE

Line

1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.

2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.

Line

1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.

2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.

2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.

Inside linebacker

1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.

2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.

Inside linebacker

1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.

2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.

2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.

Cornerback

1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.

2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.

Strong safety

1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.

Free safety

1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.

2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

Cornerback

1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.

2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.

Nickel back

1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter

1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.

2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

Field goal kicker

1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.

Kickoffs

1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.

2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

Long snapper

1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.

2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.

Holder

1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.

Punt returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

Kickoff returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.

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Wisconsin

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Published

23 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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