Wisconsin

Prisons make headlines for abhorrent conditions. Where’s the will to fix them? | Opinion

Published

2 years ago

February 19, 2024

Press Room

Prisons make headlines for abhorrent conditions. Where’s the will to fix them? | Opinion

Inmates can still be shackled while giving birth in Wisconsin prisons

Wisconsin prisons have been in the headlines a lot lately. The stories have exposed abhorrent conditions for inmates and documented long-festering problems. While the crisis has generated months of headlines, it hasn’t produced much will to tackle the issues.

At the beginning of this month, the New York Times and Wisconsin Watch published a joint investigation on the extreme shortage of correctional officers. The story outlined the extent of how significant the shortage is and how little had been done prior to last year, despite a decade of warning signs.

Ever since Act 10 passed, there has been an increasing exodus of correctional officers who no longer could collectively bargain. As of today, almost half of the guard jobs in Wisconsin’s prison have been unfilled.

The story goes on to highlight what the effects of this shortage has led to: shortcuts in how prison officials run facilities, two men escaped from Columbia Correctional Institution in 2020 when four out of the five guard towers were unmanned, and two of the state’s prisons have been in lockdown, or what Department of Corrections Secretary Kevin Carr called “modified movement”, for 10 months due to not enough staff to handle the number of inmates.

Rodents, lockdowns, shackles, suicides happening under state’s care

Multiple Wisconsin publications have been reporting on limitations being imposed on inmates due to the lockdowns despite Governor Tony Evers declaring in November that restrictions would be lifted. The Journal Sentinel reported last month that, “limitations on recreations, visitation, meals, showers programming and more persist without a clear end in sight”.

There has also been reports of the horrendous condition of some of the prisons are in, including a ongoing rodent problem.

All of this is also happening while an ongoing investigation and lawsuit against the DOC is playing out in the aftermath of a Waupun prison suicide, where staff allegedly failed to give the inmate his bipolar and antidepressant medications as prescribed in the months leading up to his death.

In addition to these current conditions, investigations and lawsuits, there are further conversations happening at the Capitol regarding sentencing and protocol for pregnant incarcerated women.

There are dual bills circulating in the Legislature that would end life sentences for children. Under Wisconsin statute, children as young as 10 are subject to adult treatment for first-degree intentional homicide with a life sentence without parole.

There is also a bill that would ban shackling pregnant inmates during childbirth, since that is still allowed under Wisconsin law and left up to the discretion of staff.

There are reports. There are lawsuits. There are noncommital suggestions of independent investigations. There are Senate committee questions. But, after months of journalists informing the public about the conditions incarcerated people in Wisconsin are living under, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of urgency to fix it.

Kristin Brey is the “My Take” columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

Source link

Click to comment

Wisconsin

Suspected human bones found in northern Wisconsin

Published

2 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Suspected human bones found in northern Wisconsin

(WFRV) – Authorities in northern Wisconsin are investigating after suspected human bones may have been found by a forester.

According to a release from the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office, a forester marking trees on Friday, May 8, notified officials that he may have found human bones.

Rusk County deputies, DNR officials, and officials with the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigations responded to the scene and were led through the woods and recovered the suspected human bones.

Authorities say they are working with the Rusk County Medical Examiner’s office and a forensic anthropologist to confirm the identity.

Positive identification has not yet been made, but officials say a positive identification is expected to be made based off of medical records.

No other information is available at this time.

Source link

Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for May 10, 2026

Published

15 hours ago

May 11, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for May 10, 2026

The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 4-5-6

Evening: 6-9-4

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 3-8-0-8

Evening: 5-0-5-0

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from May 10 drawing

Midday: 07-08-09-11-12-15-16-17-20-21-22

Evening: 02-05-06-07-11-13-17-18-19-20-22

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from May 10 drawing

17-19-23-28-29

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from May 10 drawing

05-09-10-14-33-39, 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.

Source link

Wisconsin

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

Published

1 day ago

May 10, 2026

Press Room

How many homes could be built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026?

(Stacker) – Homebuilding plays a critical role in maintaining a steady housing supply and keeping prices at sustainable levels. As the U.S. population grows, more housing is needed to meet demand. Since the Great Recession, construction has lagged well behind what is needed, which is one of the main reasons home prices are so high today.

Supply has slowly increased over the past few years but is still below what is needed for the market to balance out. Until that gap closes, prices are likely to remain elevated, and many buyers will likely struggle to afford a home.

So, how many homes are getting built in Northeast Wisconsin in 2026? Is construction increasing or decreasing?

Redfin Real Estate analyzed the rate of housing permits issued in the cities of Appleton, Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Oshkosh and Sheboygan over the past 13 months to find out.

Appleton

Appleton housing permits January 2025-January 2026(WBAY)

2026

January – Building permits: 29 (1.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 57 (2.3 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 52 (2.1 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 46 (1.9 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 74 (3.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 60 (2.5 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 183 (7.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 53 (2.2 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 128 (5.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 139 (5.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 86 (3.5 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 246 (10.1 per 10k)

Fond du Lac

2026

January – Building permits: 10 (1.0 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 12 (1.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 15 (1.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 17 (1.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 16 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 21 (2.0 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 19 (1.8 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 11 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 20 (1.9 per 10k)

Green Bay

2026

January – Building permits: 304 (9.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 84 (2.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 67 (2.0 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 97 (3.0 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 166 (5.1 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 141 (4.3 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 93 (2.8 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 185 (5.6 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 120 (3.7 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 88 (2.7 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 155 (4.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 156 (4.8 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 62 (1.9 per 10k)

Oshkosh

2026

January – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 15 (0.9 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 23 (1.3 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 22 (1.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 46 (2.7 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 61 (3.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 54 (3.1 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 77 (4.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 26 (1.5 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 87 (5.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 125 (7.3 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 16 (0.9 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 79 (4.6 per 10k)

Sheboygan

2026

January – Building permits: 3 (0.3 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 31 (2.6 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 27 (2.3 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 9 (0.8 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 19 (1.6 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 22 (1.9 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 11 (0.9 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 15 (1.3 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 174 (14.7 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 13 (1.1 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 38 (3.2 per 10k)

Nationally

2026

January – Building permits: 1,386,000 (44.2 per 10,000 population)

2025

January – Building permits: 1,460,000 (46.6 per 10,000 population)
February – Building permits: 1,454,000 (44.2 per 10k)
March – Building permits: 1,481,000 (47.2 per 10k)
April – Building permits: 1,422,000 (45.4 per 10k)
May – Building permits: 1,394,000 (44.5 per 10k)
June – Building permits: 1,393,000 (44.4 per 10k)
July – Building permits: 1,362,000 (43.5 per 10k)
August – Building permits: 1,330,000 (42.4 per 10k)
September – Building permits: 1,425,000 (45.1 per 10k)
October – Building permits: 1,411,000 (45.0 per 10k)
November – Building permits: 1,388,000 (44.3 per 10k)
December – Building permits: 1,455,000 (46.4 per 10k)

National permit data is a seasonally adjusted annual rate; metro-level permit data is the non-seasonally adjusted total number of permits issued per month.

Source link