Wisconsin
UW experts weigh in on which issues could win Wisconsin in November
MADISON, Wis. — From political ads to national convention speeches, voters will hear a lot of messages between now and November. The question is: Will those voices impact voters?
If there is just a single issue that matters to most voters, it’s the economy. However, experts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison at Tuesday’s WisPolitics event said don’t count out what each party is pushing either.
UW-Madison Prof. Barry Burden discusses the demographic of independent voters. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
By now, it comes as no surprise that Democrats are focused on abortion rights. At the same time, Republicans have narrowed in on immigration and the border, and voters don’t need to look for examples further than how the two presumptive presidential nominees have already evolved their positions on those issues.
“Trump [is] saying on abortion, ‘it’s up to the states,’ so it’s really kind of softening up that position from where he’s been in the past,” Susan Webb Yackee, who serves as director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, explained. “Whereas, on immigration, I mean just last week President Biden issued this major executive order.”
However, with so many voters having made up their minds, a change in policy position is probably most influential among independent voters.
“They skew especially young, so it’s young people who are least likely to have attachments to either of the parties, who are not fond of either of the candidates and who have not bought into the traditional ways of doing politics and that I think is a worrisome sign for Biden,” UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said.
While young people have been especially vocal about President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war, experts said another less-talked about issue could have more of an impact come November.
Director of the La Follette School of Public Affairs Susan Webb Yackee explains why housing could be a significant voter issue in November. (Spectrum News 1/Mandy Hague)
“To me, it ties all back to the sleeper issue of housing,” Webb Yackee added. “Young folks not feeling like they can afford to buy a house. ‘I can’t afford the American Dream,’ and you’re trying to sell that to young folks in America, and sell your vision of tomorrow, and you can’t afford the American Dream.”
Though that issue, which stems from the economy, may be frustrating, for many people, so are the names on the ballot.
“Biden is doing better in polls that are of the most likely voters, but if you expand the universe a little bit to include people who are sometimes voters or are just registered voters but maybe haven’t voted in a while, Trump begins to do better,” Burden said. “So, keeping the electorate a little smaller, in terms of who participates, might help the Democrats.”
Burden added that it is probably best to pay attention to polls after Labor Day when Election Day is within 90 days.
GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Wisconsin native and American Idol contestant Genevieve Heyward is anxiously waiting to see if she makes it to the top 14.
Two Mondays ago, she sang “Pink Pony Club” by Chappell Roan, and the judges had nothing but good things to say.
We spoke with Genevieve about exceeding her own expectations as she waits for the results.
“I just think going into any of these, specifically American Idol, you kind of have to just go in, and you got to be grounded through it. But that’s the other thing I’ve learned. You just got to stay grounded and don’t have any expectations for what you think is going to happen. You almost have to ride the wave,” said Heyward.
Viewers will find out if she advances to the next round on Monday, March 30th, right here on WBAY-TV 2.
Copyright 2026 WBAY. All rights reserved.
Crews are starting to work on the new Pizza Ranch in Wisconsin Rapids. We have an updated timeline for the restaurant.
WISCONSIN RAPIDS – Crews are starting to work on building the new Pizza Ranch in Wisconsin Rapids.
Angie and Gary Hall from Kellner will be the owners and operators of Pizza Ranch when the restaurant with FunZone opens near Home Depot in Wisconsin Rapids.
Angie Hall told a Daily Tribune reporter March 24 crews started preparing and clearing the land Tuesday morning in advance of putting in the building footings next week.
Pizza Ranch also became members of the Heart of Wisconsin Chamber of Commerce Tuesday morning and will host a groundbreaking ceremony at 10 a.m. April 6 on the property, Hall said.
Construction is estimated to take about six months to complete, and Hall said they’re expecting to host a grand opening in September.
Hall said she and her husband can’t wait for this chapter to start, and they strive to live Pizza Ranch’s vision, “to glorify God by positively impacting the world,” Hall said.
Pizza Ranch is not just a restaurant and FunZone, Hall said, but will be here for the community, giving back to the community in any and every way possible, she said.
After years of rumors Pizza Ranch would open a Wisconsin Rapids location, plans have been in the works since city leaders approved initial parking plans for the site, naming the 8,137-square-foot restaurant in October.
Hall told a Daily Tribune reporter in January she and her husband would be the owners and operators of the new location. Gary Hall is currently the general manager of the Stevens Point area location, and Angie Hall is a district manager for multiple locations throughout the state.
For more information, visit pizzaranch.com.
Contact Caitlin at cshuda@usatodayco.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.
Mr Basketball Zavier Zens leads Wisconsin Lutheran back to state title
Wisconsin Lutheran coach Ryan Walz speaks on a late steal and dunk by Mr. Basketball Zavier Zens to help the Vikings advance to the state title game.
Wisconsin Lutheran senior Zavier Zens rounded out a week that already saw him named to the Naismith High School All-American list, receive the Mr. Basketball Award from the Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and win a third consecutive WIAA state title with his Vikings teammates by being named the 2025-26 Gatorade Wisconsin boys basketball player of the year.
In a release from March 20, Gatorade announced Zens as Wisconsin Lutheran’s second Gatorade player of the year in the past three seasons, joining his first cousin, Kon Knueppel. The 6-foot-7 Northern Iowa commit averaged 23.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists and shot 61.8% from the field, leading Wisconsin Lutheran’s second 30-0 season in the past three years.
In addition to his on-court impact, the Gatorade press release highlighted Zens’ community impact as a youth basketball coach, participation in community service through his church and a 3.38 weighted GPA in the classroom among the factors leading to his selection.
“Zavier is incredible,” Greendale coach Ryan Johnson said in the Gatorade release. “He has had an incredible season as the leader of not only the top-ranked team in the state, but one of the best teams in the country. He scores at all three levels, defends at a high level and is a true leader.”
Zens scored 21 points in a 68-61 WIAA Division 1 state semifinal win over Appleton North on March 20, before adding another team-best 20 points on 8-of-9 shooting to lead a 57-37 win in the D1 state title game over Madison Memorial on March 21.
He finishes his career as the No. 3 career scorer in school history (1,611 points), No. 7 in career rebounds (463), No. 2 in career threes (154) and single-season points (703), while holding the school record for converted field goals in a season (282).
Gatorade player of the year recognizes one state winner from each of the 50 states and Washington, D.C., in 12 sports, including: football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross-country, boys and girls basketball, baseball, softball, boys and girls soccer, as well as boys and girls track and field. In total, 610 high school athletes are recognized each year. From the pool of state winners, one national winner is selected in each of the 12 sports by a committee that leverages coaches, scouts, media and other sources to determine each sport’s winner.
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