Wisconsin
Nation's Report Card Wisconsin results show little growth made
Nation’s Report Card for Wisconsin
The Nation’s Report Card was released on Wednesday. It measures the academic performance of students throughout the country.
MILWAUKEE – The nation just dropped its newest report card for schools. It’s getting everything from compliments to concern when it comes to kids’ skill levels.
National Report Card
What we know:
The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often called The Nation’s Report Card, came out Wednesday, Jan. 29. It’s given every two years, measuring the academic performance of students throughout the country.
The results show Wisconsin fourth and eighth grade students are above the national average in reading, math, writing and science.
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But those scores are still below proficient as a whole.
The results show as a whole, Wisconsin students are nowhere near advanced in those four subjects and some are just barely inching above basic level.
Expert weighs in
What they’re saying:
Quinton Klabon is Senior Research Director at the Institute for Reforming Government.
“Things are not getting better, in some facets they’re actually getting worse,” he said. “Scores across Wisconsin are the lowest they’ve been in the last two decades.”
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However, he pointed to some discrepancies with the Nation’s Report Card and Wisconsin Forward Exam.
“The NAEP test says that only 31% of 4th graders in Wisconsin are proficient in reading, the Forward Exam said 52%.”
State response
Big picture view:
State Superintendent Dr. Jill Underly addressed the report on Wednesday.
“While the NAEP results highlight some successes, today’s release serves as an urgent wake-up call for our state – one that demands we act with greater urgency to support our children, educators, and schools,” Dr. Underly said. “We have the power to achieve lasting change, but it starts with a fundamental commitment to properly investing in our public schools, rather than continuing the cycle of underfunding them, as our legislature has chosen to do for far too long.”
What’s next:
Underly also called for additional investment in K-12 public schools after looking at the new data. She said that would help bring change.
The Source: The National Assessment of Educational Progress and the Institute for Reforming Government contributed to this report.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin warns of “sextortion,” online crimes against kids
MILWAUKEE – The FBI calls it an online crime against kids – perpetrators convincing kids to send sexual images of themselves and then blackmailing them.
Online crime against kids
The backstory:
The reality is settling in. This will be Brittney Bird’s first Christmas without her son, Bradyn Bohn, since he was born. That is because just nine months ago, the 15-year-old died by suicide, just hours after telling his family good night.
“This winter has been pretty heavy,” Bird said. “This will be a lot of first this year.”
Bird said Bradyn was the kind of kid who would always try to make you launch. The teen had a lot of friends, played sports, did well academically, and had big plans for the future.
“Definitely a kid who we were just so proud of,” Bird said. “Bradyn never struggled with or suffered from mental illness or depression or anything of that nature so immediately we knew, you know something’s wrong.”
Once police went through Bradyn’s phone, she said it came out he was the victim of the cyber crime, sextortion.
What is sextortion?
What we know:
“Sextortion is a form of online child exploitation where a child is coerced by a perpetrator to send compromising images,” said Jesse Crowe from the Wisconsin Department of Justice.
This week, the Wisconsin Department of Justice sent out a public service announcement on sextortion.
Officials say suspects often pose as someone else online. While exchanging messages, they convince a child to send images of themselves. Once they have explicit images of the child, they use the photos or videos to blackmail the child into sending even more images, money or ask for sexual favors.
FBI data, change in Wisconsin law
Dig deeper:
The FBI said victims are typically males between the ages of 14 and 17, but any child can be a target.
This crime led to at least 20 suicides between October 2021 and March 2023.
In the months after Bradyn’s death, change would come to Wisconsin. Earlier in December, Gov. Tony Evers signed Bradyn’s Law. It creates a new crime of sexual extortion in Wisconsin. It aims to ensure harsh penalties for those who exploit children online.
“It will bring, hopefully statewide, eventually nationwide attention to where every family is having this conversation with their kids,” Bird told FOX6 News.
Take action
What you can do:
The Department of Justice said the best thing to do if a child finds themselves in this situation is the following:
- Block the perpetrator
- Report the account, but do not delete the messages
- Tell a trusted adult
- Do not send any money
Resources available
The Source: Information in this post was produced by FOX6 News.
Wisconsin
Trump names Christmas Eve, Dec. 26 federal holidays. What does that mean for Wisconsin?
Holiday lights map
The City of Milwaukee Christmas Tree, Milwaukee Holiday Lights Festival and Candy Cane Lane holiday events make the season bright.
President Donald Trump declared Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 to be federal holidays this year.
The Dec. 18 executive order deems the days as work holidays for all federal departments and agencies, but adds some of them will remain open. Certain offices may stay open on one or both days for “national security, defense, or other public need,” the order reads.
But, what does this mean for other federal workers and services?
Here’s what to know in Wisconsin:
Are Christmas Eve, Dec. 26 official federal holidays?
Even though Christmas Eve and Dec. 26 have been declared federal holidays in 2025, they are not permanent additions to the holiday schedule.
Legislation must be passed by Congress and then signed into law by the president for a federal holiday declaration to be official.
Who gets Christmas Eve, Dec. 26 off in Wisconsin?
Only federal agencies are set to be closed on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26, according to USA TODAY.
Since these two days have not been designated permanent federal holidays, many businesses that follow the schedule will likely not give their employees a last-minute extended Christmas break.
Wisconsin state government and Milwaukee city offices are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but will be open on Dec. 26.
Will mail still be delivered on Christmas Eve, Dec. 26 in Wisconsin?
Yes. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver mail and post office locations will remain open on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26, according to its website. Mail will not be delivered and locations will be closed on Christmas.
Will banks be open on Christmas Eve, Dec. 26 in Wisconsin?
Yes. Banks will follow the typical schedule of being open on Christmas Eve and Dec. 26, according to the U.S. Federal Reserve. Banks will be closed on Christmas.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Dec. 21, 2025
Manuel Franco claims his $768 million Powerball jackpot
Manuel Franco, 24, of West Allis was revealed Tuesday as the winner of the $768.4 million Powerball jackpot.
Mark Hoffman, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Dec. 21, 2025, results for each game:
Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing
Midday: 0-7-9
Evening: 4-2-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing
Midday: 9-7-3-0
Evening: 7-7-5-4
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from Dec. 21 drawing
Midday: 03-06-08-09-10-14-15-16-19-20-22
Evening: 02-05-07-12-13-14-15-16-20-21-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from Dec. 21 drawing
03-08-19-25-28
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from Dec. 21 drawing
04-10-27-30-33-39, Doubler: N
Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize
- Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
- Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
- Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.
Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?
No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.
When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
- All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
- Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
That lucky feeling: Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.
Feeling lucky? WI man wins $768 million Powerball jackpot **
WI Lottery history: Top 10 Powerball and Mega Million jackpots
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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