Wisconsin

Senate Republicans pass last-ditch effort to institute maps that protect incumbents – Wisconsin Examiner

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

Senate Republicans pass last-ditch effort to institute maps that protect incumbents – Wisconsin Examiner

In an attempt to bypass the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Republicans in the state Senate voted Tuesday to pass a bill that would install legislative maps aimed at protecting incumbent GOP lawmakers who were moved into new districts under maps proposed by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers.

The effort was announced Monday afternoon less than 24 hours before the session was scheduled. The Senate voted on a bill, which passed the Assembly in September without a public hearing, that Republicans claimed would create an “Iowa-style” redistricting commission to draw new legislative maps for the state every decade.

Democrats largely objected to the bill’s passage then due to complaints that it allowed for too much partisan influence on the process. A few Democrats voted for the proposal last year, saying at the time they hoped it would work to reduce the partisanship of map drawing in the state.

Senate Republicans on Tuesday amended the bill, AB 415, to include their proposed new maps. The amendment, released just as the Senate came into session around 3 p.m., includes 169 pages largely composed of long lists of census tracts. Democrats complained that with such short notice, neither they nor the general public had enough time to analyze what the proposal actually meant for the state.

The bill had sat in the Senate elections committee since its passage in the Assembly without receiving a public hearing and was pulled from committee as a vehicle for the amendment.

The Senate passed the amendment on an 18-13 party line vote and passed the bill in a 17-14 vote. Sen. Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) voted for the amendment but against the bill’s passage. Sens. Mary Felzkowski (R-Tomahawk) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison) were absent.

Tuesday’s vote came as the state Supreme Court continues to move forward with its process of choosing new maps after it tossed out the existing maps last month on the grounds that they included districts that were unconstitutionally non-contiguous. Those maps have also been one of the strongest partisan gerrymanders in the country, allowing Republicans to retain control of the Legislature since 2011, even as Wisconsin voters have elected Democrats in several statewide races.

Several groups have proposed maps that the Court, with the assistance of two consultants, will choose from.

Republicans have also been fiercely contesting that decision. On Monday, they filed a motion requesting that the Supreme Court reconsider its rejection of a motion asking the Court to reconsider its initial decision. GOP officials have also promised to bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Most of the proposed maps, with the exception of the ones drawn by Republican lawmakers, have been projected to reduce Republican control of the Legislature from its current near-supermajority status, though an analysis by Marquette University researcher John Johnson found that the party would still be favored to win control of both chambers.

Since the proposed maps were released, Republicans have complained that especially the maps proposed by Evers have moved many Republican incumbents into the same districts, forcing them to run primaries against each other.

“These maps make changes that protect Republican incumbents, they move Republican incumbents who might otherwise be paired together into separate districts or into adjacent districts that they think they could win instead of ones where they think they might not,” Sen. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) said on the Senate floor. “They do that in the Assembly. They do that in the Senate. That’s the one thing we know for certain about the amendment that’s in front of us is that it’s an incumbent protection map.”

Under the maps proposed by the Senate Republicans on Tuesday, Sens. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Andre Jacque (R-DePere) would be shielded, as would Reps. Amy Binsfeld (R-Sheboygan), Nate Gustafson (R-Fox Crossing), Bob Donovan (R-Greenfield), Robert Wittke (R-Racine), Pat Snyder (R-Schofield) and John Macco (R-Ledgeview).

Spreitzer said Republicans were “injecting partisan politics right back into the redistricting process at a time when we have heard loud and clear from the people of Wisconsin that they want anything but. That they want fair maps, that they want nonpartisan maps, that they don’t want incumbent legislators using their power to try to protect themselves.”

Republicans said they were only making “minor tweaks” to Evers’ proposals to defend against the governor’s “partisan attack.”

“This amendment is the governor’s submission to the Wisconsin Supreme Court with a handful of minor tweaks,” Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said. “Fair maps advocates and the governor himself have asserted that incumbency should not be considered during the redistricting process. But in the governor’s submission, it’s clear that he considered incumbency … It was accomplished by selecting individual wards to remove popular incumbents. Our map maintains the partisan makeup of the governor’s map, but it preserves incumbents who live close to the governor’s district boundaries.”

Evers spokesperson Britt Cudaback wrote on Twitter that the effort was only about Republicans trying to hold onto their gerrymandered majority and that Tuesday’s proposal was not Evers’ maps.

“Let’s be very clear: if Republicans today take up maps that are not the fair maps [Evers] submitted to the Wisconsin Supreme Court, then they aren’t the governor’s maps. Period,” she wrote. “This is about one thing: Republicans desperately trying to retain power. Full stop.”

The bill will now move back to the Assembly, where the amended version will need to be approved.

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Wisconsin

These Wisconsin Rapids restaurants are offering Easter specials

Published

1 hour ago

March 27, 2026

Press Room

These Wisconsin Rapids restaurants are offering Easter specials

If you’re looking to make reservations for an Easter meal, check out these Wisconsin Rapids-area restaurants.

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Calendars are quickly filling up with Easter services, egg hunts, photos with bunnies and brunch plans.

If cooking isn’t your thing, or you’ve been too busy to plan and cook this year, you have options in the Wisconsin Rapids area. Several local restaurants and businesses have you covered with all of your favorite Easter treats.

The following Wisconsin Rapids-area restaurants and businesses will be offering Easter breakfast, brunch or dinner.

Branding Iron Supper Club will offer an Easter Dinner from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. April 5 at 9721 State 13 S. in Saratoga. The Easter menu includes a ham dinner, a prime rib dinner, Branding Iron’s full menu, salad bar and a fresh fruit mimosa bar. The Easter Bunny will also visit from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Reservations are available at 715-325-8102.
Lake Arrowhead Association will host an Easter Brunch Buffet from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 5 at Lake Arrowhead, 1195 Apache Lane in Rome. The menu will include a variety of options including a carving station for prime rib and smoked ham, mahi mahi with a Korean glaze, sliced pork loin, chicken Alfredo, chicken tenders, mac & cheese, french fries, baby red potatoes, carrots, a build-your-own omelet station, biscuits and gravy, french toast sticks, pancakes, sausage, bacon, scrambled eggs, fruit, vegetables and more. Reservations are required, including a $25 non-refundable deposit to reserve a spot and can be made at 715-325-2915 or banquets@lakearrowheadgolf.com or events@lakearrowheadgolf.com.
Nekoosa Court will host an Easter Breakfast from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. April 4 at Nekoosa Court, 145 N. Cedar St. in Nekoosa. Breakfast will include all-you-can-eat eggs, sausage, pancakes and beverages with an Easter Egg Hunt to follow.
Olympic II will host Easter Weekend Specials from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 4 and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5 at 2520 Eighth St. S. in Wisconsin Rapids. The Easter specials include a breakfast special of an 8-ounce New York strip steak and eggs, hashbrowns and toast, as well as a tenderloin and jumbo shrimp dish, a roast turkey and ham combo, chicken breast and four shrimp, ham steak, roast chicken and roast turkey. Reservations and orders for takeout can be placed at 715-424-4744.
Quality Foods is offering a complete Heat & Serve Easter Dinner, including a ham dinner for eight people with off-the-bone ham, mashed potatoes and beef gravy or eight three-cheese twice-baked potatoes, homemade stuffing, Hawaiian rolls, green bean casserole and eight slices of cheesecake. The store also will offer an Easter prime rib dinner for four, including prime rib, four three-cheese twice-baked potatoes, Hawaiian rolls, green bean casserole and cheesecake while supplies last at 1021 W. Grand Ave. and 1811 Baker Drive in Wisconsin Rapids. Orders must be placed by April 1 at 715-423-8350 for Baker Drive and at 715-423-9750 for West Grand Avenue. Orders must be picked up by noon April 5.
Slice of Heaven Bakery will host a free Easter dinner from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 at 1158 Snow Pass in Rome. Guests can eat at the event or order for takeout. Reservations are not needed, but those who need a delivery should contact rebeccalacount@gmail.com or call 608-449-0702.
The Whitney will offer an Easter Breakfast Buffet from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 5 at Hotel Mead Resorts & Convention Centers, 451 E. Grand Ave. in Wisconsin Rapids. Hot dishes include pancakes, pumpkin spice pancakes, french toast casserole, cheesy hashbrown casserole, quiche, frittatas, breakfast burritos, scrambled eggs, poached eggs, bacon, sausage, ham, breakfast sandwiches, eggs Benedict, biscuits and gravy and chicken and wild rice soup. Cold dishes include a yogurt bar, fruit skewers, deviled eggs, muffins, cranberry bread, croissants, biscuits and an English muffin. Desserts include fruit pie, carrot cake, peach cobbler and coffee cake. The buffet is available by reservation only at 715-423-1500.

Want to add your business to the list? Please email cshuda@usatodayco.com with the name of your restaurant, your Easter hours, what your Easter menu will include, and whether reservations are required.

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Wisconsin

How to live stream Wisconsin vs Dartmouth: NCAA hockey, TV channel

Published

14 hours ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

How to live stream Wisconsin vs Dartmouth: NCAA hockey, TV channel

March continues on the ice as Dartmouth Big Green takes on Wisconsin Badgers in a regional semifinal matchup in the 2026 NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament.

MORE: How to live stream NCAA men’s hockey tournament 2026: TV channel, schedule

How to Watch Wisconsin vs Dartmouth

Date: Thursday, March 26, 2026

Wisconsin enters the tournament as one of the more complete teams in the field, combining strong defensive structure with high-end offensive talent. The Badgers have leaned on forward Cruz Lucius, a dynamic scorer capable of creating chances in transition, along with Kirsten Simms, who has been a consistent offensive presence throughout the season. On the blue line, Wisconsin’s physicality and ability to limit quality scoring chances have made it a difficult matchup.

Dartmouth arrives as a disciplined and well-coached group that thrives on structure and goaltending. The Big Green will look to slow the game down and rely on key contributors like John Fusco and Cade Webber to control play in their own zone while generating offense through efficient puck movement.

This matchup will likely come down to pace and execution. Wisconsin prefers to push tempo and create scoring opportunities off the rush, while Dartmouth will aim to keep things tight, limit mistakes, and capitalize on special teams opportunities.

Fans can watch the NCAA hockey tournament across the ESPN family of networks, with games airing on ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU, while select matchups stream exclusively on ESPN+.

Watch Wisconsin vs Dartmouth Live on Fubo

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Wisconsin

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for March 25, 2026

Published

1 day ago

March 26, 2026

Press Room

Wisconsin Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 results for March 25, 2026

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

Here’s a look at March 25, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from March 25 drawing

07-21-55-56-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 4

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 6-0-9

Evening: 8-8-8

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 2-3-0-0

Evening: 4-4-1-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from March 25 drawing

Midday: 01-02-04-08-09-10-11-12-19-20-21

Evening: 04-05-06-07-09-10-13-14-16-18-21

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from March 25 drawing

02-09-15-18-29

Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from March 25 drawing

02-06-15-18-24-26, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Megabucks numbers from March 25 drawing

09-13-18-28-37-38

Check Megabucks 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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