Wisconsin

Wisconsin AG to AP: Election worker threats to be prosecuted

Published

2 years ago

August 26, 2022

Wisconsin AG to AP: Election worker threats to be prosecuted

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Legal professional Normal Josh Kaul vowed to aggressively prosecute anybody who assaults or harasses election staff in the important thing swing state this fall and proclaimed his religion within the state’s election system as clerks report rising considerations about potential threats resulting from misinformation about elections.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Related Press this week, Kaul additionally touted his work defending the outcomes of the 2020 election towards a bunch of authorized challenges that accompanied President Donald Trump’s lies about widespread election fraud.

Kaul, a Democrat looking for reelection in November towards Fond du Lac County District Legal professional Eric Toney, stated public belief in “the truth of our elections” is essential.

“We now have the world’s best democracy within the U.S. and it’s one thing we ought to be pleased with,” Kaul advised the AP on Wednesday. “We now have had that system examined again and again in Wisconsin by audits and recounts and opinions and constantly they present that our system works and the outcomes replicate the need of the voters.”

A few of Trump’s followers have lashed out as they refused to simply accept his loss to Joe Biden. The Brennan Heart for Justice, a nonprofit legislation and and public coverage institute, present in a March ballot that one in six election officers have been threatened due to their job, with greater than three-quarters saying they really feel threats have elevated lately.

In Wisconsin, a number of clerks have cited mistrust and hostility towards election staff as considerations going into the November election. At a gathering of the Nationwide Affiliation of State Elections Administrators in July, election officers and bureaucrats assembly in Madison raised considerations that federal legislation may not be updated with the threats they’ve confronted since 2020.

Kaul stated he’s planning a public relations marketing campaign informing those that intimidating, threatening or assaulting election staff is prohibited and telling them how they will rapidly report incidents. He stated the Justice Division is working with the Wisconsin Elections Fee to remain abreast of any potential instances.

“What folks ought to know is intimidating election officers is a criminal offense and one thing we take very critically,” Kaul stated. “Persevering with to get that message out is a proactive method to deter folks from participating in that exercise. And in the event that they do we are going to maintain them accountable.”

Kaul additionally questioned whether or not Toney would defend the 2024 election ends in court docket if Trump runs once more and loses Wisconsin. He famous that Toney has drawn assist from former state Supreme Courtroom Justice Michael Gableman, who known as for Biden’s win to be decertified as a part of an investigation into Wisconsin’s 2020 outcomes. The probe discovered discovered no proof of election fraud.

“If he had been to take that form of method it could create chaos,” Kaul stated. “I am proud to have defended the need of the voters and our system of presidency. Primarily based on what we have seen from (Toney), he hasn’t proven that kind of dedication.”

Toney rejected Kaul’s assault.

He advised AP that he believes Biden received the presidency, however stated state legal guidelines had been damaged throughout the election. He introduced fees in February towards 5 voters who allegedly used improper addresses and has known as for eradicating 5 state election commissioners who voted to maintain particular voting assistants out of nursing houses early within the COVID-19 pandemic.

Toney promised to evaluate any allegation of election fraud and prosecute “as a result of it is the job of district attorneys and the legal professional common to implement the rule of legislation.”

Different key points Kaul mentioned in his AP interview:

— Abortion. Kaul filed a lawsuit this summer season looking for to overturn Wisconsin’s 1849 ban on abortion, arguing partly that it is so previous it is now not legitimate. Kaul stated if that lawsuit is unsuccessful, he could file extra lawsuits based mostly on different authorized theories corresponding to equal safety and the elemental proper to liberty. He additionally maintained his pledge to not use state Justice Division assets to implement the ban and promised to foyer legislators to repeal the prohibition.

— Air pollution. Kaul sued 18 corporations in July seeking to maintain them answerable for polluting state waters with a gaggle of chemical compounds often known as PFAS, an abbreviation for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances. He promised to see that case by to its conclusion.

—Gun management. Kaul, like Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, has advocated for common background checks and a red-flag legislation that will enable relations and police to ask judges to grab weapons from individuals who may pose a risk. Republican leaders have refused to even debate these proposals. Kaul stated he plans to maintain pushing.

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Related Press author Hurt Venhuizen contributed to this report. Venhuizen is a corps member for the Related Press/Report for America Statehouse Information Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit nationwide service program that locations journalists in native newsrooms to report on undercovered points. Comply with Venhuizen on Twitter.

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Wisconsin

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

Published

54 mins ago

November 26, 2024

Press Room

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – Gas prices are the cheapest they’ve been since the pandemic, just as people prepare to travel for the holidays.

According to AAA Wisconsin, the average gas prices is $2.86 per gallon in the state, a new low since 2020.

”We’ve had so many disruptions in the last four to five years between Covid and then the Ukraine conflict that has sent prices either far down or bringing them to historic highs,” AAA Director of Public Affairs Nick Jarmusz said. “We kind of forget what normal is.”

He said the low cost at the pump is a result of peak summer travel season ending, an even supply and demand for fuel and fewer global crises.

”Right now we’re in a pretty favorable balance between lower demand and pretty plentiful supply and no real disruptions to speak of,” he said.

Gas prices drop lower during busy holiday travel season(Marcus Aarsvold)

People can save more money at the pump if they drive the speed limit.

”By sticking closer to the speed limit, avoiding aggressive driving in situations, you can actually increase your fuel efficiency by about 40% or up to 40%,” Jarmusz said. “Which can add up to pretty significant savings.”

If trends continue, he also said prices might drop even more. ”Really, I would not be surprised to see these prices continue to go down,” Jarmusz said. “I don’t think we’ve seen the lowest prices we’ll see this year yet.”

According to AAA the best times to travel before Thanksgiving on Thursday is in the morning hours on Tuesday and Wednesday. Roads will be busiest in the afternoons.

Click here to download the WMTV15 News app or our WMTV15 First Alert weather app.

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Wisconsin

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

Published

9 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Game 12 Wisconsin football two-deep for Minnesota Gophers game Nov. 29 at Camp Randall Stadium

MADISON – A look at the unofficial two-deep for the Wisconsin football team heading into its game against Minnesota at 11 a.m. Friday at Camp Randall Stadium.

OFFENSE

Quarterback

1 – Braedyn Locke, 6-1, 205, redshirt-soph.

2 – Mabrey Mettauer, 6-4, 230, fr.

Running back

1 – Tawee Walker, 5-9, 218, sr.

2 – Darrion Dupree, 5-10, 205, fr.

Receiver

1 – Bryson Green, 6-3, 213, sr.

2 – C.J. Williams, 6-2, 196, jr.

Receiver

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Quincy Burroughs, 6-2, 212, r-soph.

Slot recever

1 – Will Pauling, 5-10, 187, r-jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 187, r-fr.

Tight end

1 – Riley Nowakowski, 6-1, 243, r-sr.

2 – Tucker Ashcraft, 6-5, 255, soph.

Left tackle

1 – Jack Nelson, 6-7, 316, sr.

2 – Barrett Nelson, 6-6, 302, r-soph.

Left guard

1 – Joe Brunner, 6-5, 313- r-soph.

2. – James Durand, 6-5, 305, r-fr.

Center

1 – Jake Renfro, 6-3, 302, r-sr.

2. – Kerry Kodanko, 6-2, 308, r-sr.

Right guard

1 – Joe Huber, 6-5, 310, r-sr.

2 – JP Benzschawel, 6-6, 312, r-jr.

Right tackle

1 – Riley Mahlman, 6-8, 308, r-jr.

2 – Kevin Heywood, 6-8, 325, fr.

DEFENSE

Line

1 – Ben Barten, 6-5, 308, r-sr.

2 – Elijah Hills, 6-3, 282, sr.

Line

1 – Curt Neal, 6-0, 290, r-soph.

2 – Cade McDonald, 6-6, 285, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Darryl Peterson, 6-1, 248, r-jr.

2 – Aaron Witt, 6-6, 247, r-jr.

Inside linebacker

1 – Jake Chaney, 5-11, 233, sr.

2 – Tackett Curtis, 6-2, 228, soph.

Inside linebacker

1 – Christian Alliegro, 6-4, 240, soph.

2 – Jaheim Thomas, 6-4, 245, r-sr.

Outside linebacker

1 – Leon Lowery, 6-3, 252, r-sr.

2 – Sebastian Cheeks, 6-3, 230, r-soph., or John Pius, 6-4, 250, r-sr.

Cornerback

1 – Ricardo Hallman, 5-10, 185, r-jr.

2 – R.J. Delancy III, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Jonas Duclona, 5-10, 190, soph.

Strong safety

1 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

2 – Owen Arnett, 5-11, 210, r-jr.

Free safety

1 – Preston Zachman, 6-1, 212, r-sr.

2 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

Cornerback

1 – Nyzier Fourqurean, 6-1, 190, r-sr.

2 – R.J. Delancy, 5-11, 193, r-sr., or Xavier Lucas, 6-2, 198, fr.

Nickel back

1 – Austin Brown, 6-1, 210, jr.

2 – Max Lofy, 5-10, 188, r-sr.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Punter

1 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-3, 225, soph.

2 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

Field goal kicker

1 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

2 – Gavin Lahm, 6-0, 213, jr.

Kickoffs

1 – Gavin Lahm, 6-10, 213, jr.

2 – Nathanial Vakos, 6-1, 205, jr.

Long snapper

1 – Cayson Pfeiffer, 6-0, 205, sr.

2 – Duncan McKinley, 6-2, 222, r-sr.

Holder

1 – Gavin Meyers, 6-1, 198, r-sr.

2 – Atticus Bertrams, 6-2, 225, soph.

Punt returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Hunter Wohler, 6-2, 218, sr.

Kickoff returner

1 – Vinny Anthony II, 6-0, 188, jr.

2 – Trech Kekahuna, 5-10, 197, r-fr.

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Wisconsin

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Published

17 hours ago

November 25, 2024

Press Room

Where Wisconsin's class of 2025 ranks nationally after big-time addition of QB Carter Smith

Wisconsin football’s recruiting performance is far better than the current on-field product, to say the least.

Luke Fickell’s team has now lost four straight games after Saturday’s 44-25 defeat at Nebraska. It is just 5-6 on the season and 3-5 in Big Ten play, desperately needing a season-closing victory over Minnesota to clinch bowl eligibility.

There is more context behind that on-field performance, including the recent firing of offensive coordinator Phil Longo and historic blowout losses to rivals Iowa and Nebraska sandwiching hard-fought losses to top-ranked teams. That context doesn’t help the general trend of poor play.

But for those still optimistic about the Badgers’ future under Luke Fickell, the biggest calling card is his recruiting performance.

Wisconsin made headlines on Sunday when it landed a commitment from four-star class of 2025 quarterback Carter Smith. Smith is ranked as 247Sports’ No. 15 quarterback in the class and No. 164 overall player. Beating Florida State for his commitment was a statement for Fickell and his staff — even doing so after firing Longo just seven days earlier.

The addition of Smith brings Wisconsin’s class of 2025 to 25 total commitments — eight of which coming from blue-chip players. Notably, it rose the group four spots up to No. 21 in 247Sports’ national rankings.

The Badgers now boast the eighth-highest-rated class in the Big Ten, trailing just Ohio State (No. 2 overall), Oregon (No. 8), Michigan (No. 9), USC (No. 11), Penn State (No. 15), Washington (No. 18) and Nebraska (No. 20). The No. 21 ranking is an impressive follow-up after Luke Fickell finished the 2024 class with 247Sports’ No. 25 overall class and a Blue-Chip Ratio of 50%.

Smith’s addition continues a growing debate about how to weigh Wisconsin’s on-field struggles with its recruiting success. In reality, the 2025 football season will be somewhat defined by the performance of the 2024 recruiting class and another crop of transfers. If that strong recruiting doesn’t lead to improved on-field play, the clock may start ticking on his tenure.

Contact/Follow @TheBadgersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Wisconsin Badgers news, notes, and opinion.

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