Wisconsin
Requiring Competitive Bids On Wisconsin School Construction Projects Is Long Overdue [WRN Voices]
![Requiring Competitive Bids On Wisconsin School Construction Projects Is Long Overdue [WRN Voices]](https://i1.wp.com/www.wisconsinrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/MixCollage-25-Jan-2024-06-17-PM-5595.jpg?ssl=1 "Requiring Competitive Bids On Wisconsin School Construction Projects Is Long Overdue [WRN Voices]")
When was the last time the government did less of something?
We’re used to nothing but more—more inflation, more debt, and more spending, particularly under President Biden. From trillions of dollars spent during COVID to hundreds of billions for “Green New Deal” policies, to the “omnibus” bill giving a six percent spending hike across the board, Biden’s spending spree is going to be felt for generations.
Thankfully, some in Wisconsin are doing the opposite.
Sen. Duey Stroebel has a smart idea that’s working its way through the legislature as we speak. His bill, SB 688, would force local governments to actually spend less on one of their biggest ticket items: school construction.
Wisconsin is one of only three states that currently don’t require school boards to bid out school construction projects. The other 47 states have requirements for projects of different sizes (depending on the state) but one requirement is common—a public bidding process. Even Illinois—the land of corruption and backroom deals—has this law on the books, so surely we can as well.
This isn’t some small-potatoes change. According to Sen. Stroebel, in the past three elections, a total of 103 capital referenda were included on local ballots throughout the state. The vast majority (75) of them passed, costing taxpayers a combined $2.4 billion.
Compare that to the entire sum of Wisconsin’s capital budget and transportation borrowing, about $1.6 billion, and you can see the problem. Billions of dollars in taxpayer spending, and the largest single form of public construction in our state, has no requirement for competitive bidding.
These conditions have even created a cottage industry in Wisconsin of construction companies that don’t just do estimates or construction—they pitch projects to school districts, provide the estimate, run the referendum campaigns, and then get paid to deliver their own single-bid projects.
There are examples here, and here, and it quickly begins to look like single-source construction firms are leading the charge for large project referenda instead of parents, school boards, and administrators.
When you see the resulting property tax increases, you wonder if someone else could have done it for cheaper. But the truth is, it’s too late because nobody ever had to ask in the first place!
That’s been the problem with school construction for years now. There’s no real incentive to save money or watch out for the taxpayers. There’s always the ability to just run another referendum—particularly if they may not even be running it themselves!
Sen. Stroebel’s bill also sets a requirement to bid out the cost of purchasing supplies and equipment as well; Wisconsin is also one of only nine states that have no requirement to do so. Finally, the minimum standard for projects subject to this requirement is a reasonable $150,000. That would make Wisconsin still one of the 12 most lenient states for requiring competitive bids, and fourth most lenient for bidding for supplies and equipment.
Again, it shouldn’t be such a heavy lift to force the government to put the taxpayers where they belong—at the start of the conversation, rather than an afterthought. There will undoubtedly be critics who enjoy some personal incentive to defend the status quo, but education resources needlessly wasted are resources that can’t make it to teachers or classrooms.
Wisconsin should not be one of only three states with zero accountability to ensure these massive projects are done as affordably as possible. This bill is a smart move for taxpayers, school boards, and most importantly, students.
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 June 2, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Mega Millions numbers from June 2 drawing
15-26-43-48-60, Mega Ball: 12
Check Mega Millions payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 0-7-8
Evening: 8-5-8
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 7-9-8-3
Evening: 4-4-7-5
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from June 2 drawing
Midday: 01-02-03-05-06-10-11-13-16-21-22
Evening: 02-05-06-09-10-14-16-18-19-20-21
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from June 2 drawing
06-13-26-28-30
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from June 2 drawing
10-14-15-18-34-38, 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.
How to milk a cow as seen at the Wisconsin State Fair
There’s more to milking a cow than you might think. In this archived video at the Wisconsin State Fair, a Journal Sentinel reporter gave it a try.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel files
Wisconsin Republicans had a field day when the state Democratic Party celebrated the start of National Dairy Month with a post featuring male cattle that don’t produce milk.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin initially posted a “Happy Dairy Month” graphic on Facebook, Instagram and X showing two brown and white cattle with horns and no visible udders.
The party later posted a corrected version, featuring two black-and-white spotted Holstein cows. T-bone steaks with halos and wings floated above them – presumably, where the male cattle had gone.
“We regret that our Dairy Month tweet contained an error. We have ‘taken care’ of the issue, if you catch our drift,” the party wrote June 1.
Side note: Many dairy cattle, including females, naturally have horns. In most cases, they’re removed to prevent injuries to farmers and cattle themselves. But udders are visible only on female cattle, a.k.a. cows.
Tom Tiffany, the leading Republican candidate for governor, jumped on the mistake, posting a video touting his experience growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm.
Tiffany and other Republicans also criticized Democrats for celebrating the start of Pride Month, which recognizes LGBTQ+ communities and begins June 1 alongside National Dairy Month.
“I regret to inform [Wisconsin Democrats] that you cannot milk a bull. But considering they think men can get pregnant, I guess thinking you can milk a bull tracks too,” Tiffany wrote on X.
Tiffany also said June 1 that, if elected governor, he would no longer fly the Pride flag over the state Capitol in June – a practice started by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in 2019.
Evers also celebrated June Dairy Month with a video message, in part criticizing President Donald Trump’s tariff policies and cuts to federal programs supporting farmers.
Wisconsin is home to about 5,000 dairy farms – more than any other state – and has about 1.27 million cows. National Dairy Month originally started in 1937 as National Milk Month.
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@usatodayco.com.
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 June 1, 2026, results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 1 drawing
02-42-47-57-58, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 3 numbers from June 1 drawing
Midday: 3-8-8
Evening: 0-9-5
Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Pick 4 numbers from June 1 drawing
Midday: 6-2-9-1
Evening: 3-2-0-6
Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning All or Nothing numbers from June 1 drawing
Midday: 01-02-03-04-06-09-10-14-19-21-22
Evening: 03-05-08-10-12-13-14-15-17-18-22
Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Badger 5 numbers from June 1 drawing
02-18-23-24-26
Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning SuperCash numbers from June 1 drawing
07-08-11-15-17-33, 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.
-
Hawaii4 minutes agoHawaii weather: USGS revised 4.6 magnitude earthquake off Kona coast, south swell, passing showers
-
Idaho7 minutes agoIdaho state troopers identify Billings man missing in traffic accident
-
Illinois12 minutes agoHistorical Corn versus Soybean Returns in Illinois – farmdoc daily
-
Indiana19 minutes agoIndiana football has top-rated transfer in ESPN rankings, and 3 in top 20
-
Iowa22 minutes agoZach Lahn projected to win Iowa GOP governor primary, upsetting Trump’s pick in a state Democrats hope to flip
-
Kansas27 minutes agoBat Cats defeat Kansas Cannons, 4-1
-
Kentucky34 minutes agoUK Healthcare prepares to become Kentucky’s only Level 2 special pathogen treatment center
-
Louisiana37 minutes agoHeart of Louisiana: Civilian Conservation Corps
