Wisconsin
‘Wanted to check out my future plane’: Vance tries to confront Harris at Wisconsin airport
Democrats think that drinking Mountain Dew to be “racist,” according to JD Vance.
Diet Mountain Dew somehow found itself in the middle of the U.S. presidential race this week.
Sen. JD Vance, the Republican vice presidential candidate, on Wednesday attempted to confront Vice President Kamala Harris after the two converged on the same Wisconsin airport at the same time.
“I just wanted to check out my future plane,” Vance, R-Ohio, told reporters traveling with him after walking towards Air Force Two. “But I also wanted to go say hello to the Vice President and ask her …why does she refuse to answer questions from the media?”
Vance and Harris were both in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, for dueling events.
Harris, and her newly minted running mate Gov. Tim Walz, held an outdoor rally where hundreds of supporters lined up for hours to see the Democratic duo. Vance spoke at Wollard International, an aviation equipment manufacturer, to an intimate crowd, where he also took questions.
More: How Tim Walz compares with JD Vance and his path to become Kamala Harris’ running mate
Although he walked towards Air Force Two, Vance said he did not speak or see Harris. Harris’ motorcade drove away as Vance walked over.
He took a jab at Harris, who is currently on a campaign swing to key battleground states after announcing Walz as her vice presidential pick, for “just giving another scripted speech.”
“I don’t think the Vice President waved at me as she drove away, but I’m glad to have done it,” Vance said.
More: A soda sip-off or an election? Tim Walz, JD Vance fight over the ‘Mountain Dew Belt’
Both Vance and Harris referenced the tarmac two-step on social media.
Vance on X, formerly Twitter, posted a photo of himself and members of his team walking away from Air Force Two. He captioned it: “This Entourage reboot is going to be awesome.”
The Harris campaign posted a video of Harris greeting young girls on the tarmac before panning to Vance’s plane taxiing on the tarmac.
The campaign used a viral audio clip of Dance Mom’s Abby Lee Miller saying: “And now I want to sit back and relax, and enjoy my evening. When all of a sudden, I hear this agitating, grating voice.” The sound is often used to depict an annoying interruption.
Wisconsin
Wisconsin man arrested in Colorado in connection with deadly hit-and-run in north suburbs
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
Wisconsin
TOUR KICKS OFF: Kids from Wisconsin begins 56th annual tour Thursday in Whitewater
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Wisconsin
Democrat Missy Hughes drops out of Wisconsin governor race
Marquette poll shows Wisconsin voters unfocused on governor race
A Marquette University Law School poll reveals Wisconsin voters lack focus on the governor’s race, with most undecided 5 months before the primary.
MADISON – Former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. CEO Missy Hughes is dropping out of the Democratic primary race for governor and endorsing Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez.
Hughes, who was the most moderate candidate in the Democratic field for governor, suspended her campaign days after placing last in a straw poll of party delegates at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention in Madison.
Her endorsement of Rodriguez comes as some Democrats are eyeing an alternative to state Rep. Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist, and former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who leans further left than current Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Hong and Barnes are considered frontrunners in the primary race.
In a statement, Hughes flicked at the approach of Hong and other candidates to her left who have proposed significant changes to state government.
“I believe there is great hope in these small efforts to find common ground. I wanted to make sure that Wisconsinites understand we have created something valuable and that investing in ourselves and our communities is well-deserved,” Hughes said. “We do not need to tear it all down, and there is real and important work to do to improve what we already have.”
Hughes suggested Rodriguez would make more reasonable decisions as governor than her primary opponents.
“This job is about running the state, and getting things done. As you consider what is important to you, I urge you to look beyond the talking points, social media posts, and gilded promises and consider what you think is essential to do the job,” she said. “Stop asking, ‘Who will win?’ and start asking who you trust to make big decisions that impact our families and the wellbeing of our loved ones, neighbors and communities.”
This developing story will be updated.
Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.
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