Wisconsin
Wisconsin auto dealerships revert to paper and pen during ransomware attack
Ransomware attack against auto dealers software vendor could cost some dealerships sales.
Nearly 160 Wisconsin auto dealerships still face disruptions from the ransomware attack against software provider CDK Global which handles much of their paperwork.
Nationwide, around 15,000 dealers have been affected by the attack that’s believed to have originated in Eastern Europe. CDK, one of the largest providers of cloud-based software to dealers, helps them manage vehicle acquisitions, sales, financing, parts ordering and scheduling vehicle service.
A group that claims they hacked the suburban Chicago company has demanded tens of millions of dollars in ransom, Bloomberg Business News reported, citing a person familiar with the situation. CDK intended to pay the ransom, but discussions were subject to change, according to Bloomberg.
CDK shut down most of its systems “out of an abundance of caution” for dealerships, said spokesperson Lisa Finney.
In Wisconsin, 159 auto dealers have been affected by the CDK hack and shutdown, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. The shutdown has caused some of them to revert to old-fashioned paper sales forms and completing documents by hand.
“Ultimately, they’ll still have to input all that information to CDK once they’re back and running, so that all the accounting gets squared away,” said Jim Tolkan, president of the Automobile Dealers Association of Metro Milwaukee.
“They can still do business,” Tolkan said, provided that dealers can obtain the paper forms.
The attack against CDK began last Wednesday. Despite attempts to restore services, another attack that evening caused further disruptions. It’s still unknown when services will return to normal.
On its website, CDK says it provides a “three-tiered cybersecurity strategy to prevent, protect and respond to cyberattacks.”
June is one of the stronger months for vehicle sales. If there are delays handling paperwork, the CDK outage could cost some dealerships sales, or at the least, a paperwork headache.
Wisconsin’s Department of Motor Vehicles says it’s provided an alternative for dealers to continue processing title applications and issuing temporary plates.
“The customer impact is minimal. In situations where the dealer would normally provide a permanent plate at the time of sale, they may now only provide a temporary plate. The plate/registration will be mailed directly to the customer from DMV,” the agency said Monday in a statement to the Journal Sentinel.
The cybercriminals behind the attack are linked to a group called BlackSuit, according to Bloomberg.
In May, a cyberattack against Ascension hospitals and clinics in Wisconsin and across the country reportedly involved a type of ransomware called Black Basta, according to CNN, which cited four anonymous sources.
Black Basta is a type of ransomware used to encrypt victims’ computers, rendering them unusable. Hackers can then extort victims by demanding money in return for access to the computer systems.
USA Today contributed to this report.
About 1,000 animal welfare activists who tried to gain entry on Saturday to a beagle breeding and research facility in Wisconsin were turned back by police who fired rubber bullets and pepper spray into the crowd and arrested the group’s leader.
It was the second attempt in as many months by protesters to take beagles from the Ridglan Farms facility in Blue Mounds, a small town about 25 miles (about 40 kilometres) southwest of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison.
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said in a video statement that 300 to 400 protesters were “violently trying to break into the property” and assault officers. He said protesters have ignored designated areas for peaceful protest and blocked roads to prevent emergency vehicles from entering.
“This is not a peaceful protest,” Barrett said.
The sheriff’s department said a “significant” number of people were arrested out of about 1,000 protesters at the site but did not give an exact total as they were still being processed as of the afternoon.
Protesters tried to overcome barricades that included a manure-filled trench, hay bales and a barbed-wire fence. Some protesters did get through the fence but were unable to enter the facility, where an estimated 2,000 beagles are kept, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde reflects on early March Madness exit
Wisconsin guard Andrew Rohde said the Badgers ‘thought we could do so many things’ in the NCAA Tournament before it ended abrupty with an upset loss.
Wisconsin men’s basketball has added a sharpshooting wing via the transfer portal.
Miami (Ohio) transfer Eian Elmer has signed with the Badgers, the team announced April 18. The 6-foot-7 wing will join UW with one year of eligibility remaining.
Elmer averaged a career-high 12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds while shooting 49.8% from the field and 42.9% from 3-point range in 2025-26. His production helped the RedHawks go 32-2 and earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid.
“We are really excited to add another excellent addition to our spring signees,” UW coach Greg Gard said in a release. “Eian brings a wealth of experience and scoring punch as a 6-7 wing. … A terrific shooter, his skillset and production fit excellently into our plan as we build out next year’s team. Throughout our evaluation process, our staff loved his size, power and skill and truly believe he will thrive in our system.”
Elmer is Wisconsin’s third transfer portal addition since the end of the 2025-26 season, joining former George Washington guard Trey Autry and former Hofstra forward Victory Onuetu. UW also added Australian guard Owen Foxwell.
The additions of Autry, Onuetu and now Elmer leave Gard’s staff with three more roster spots to fill ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The Badgers are looking to replace much of their production from a 2025-26 team that went 24-11. Nolan Winter is expected to be the team’s only returning starter after John Blackwell and Aleksas Bieliauskas entered the transfer portal and Nick Boyd and Andrew Rohde exhausted their eligibility.
MILWAUKEE – Friday’s severe storms have passed. And with that, the threat of any severe weather has also passed for the immediate future as no storms or rain are expected for several days.
However, plenty of damage remains across southeastern Wisconsin as of Saturday morning, in addition to the ongoing flooding threat.
Several area rivers are at flood stage, and there are multiple river flood warnings in effect.
FOX6 Weekend WakeUp on Saturday begins at 6 a.m.
On the scene in the morning
What we know:
Farmstead damage in Franklin
FOX6’s Hayley Spitler is in Franklin on Saturday morning, April 18, getting a daylight look at the damage from last night’s storms.
Storm damage in Caledonia
Friday’s storms left quite the mark across southern and southeastern Wisconsin, including at L and L Farms and Greenhouse in Caledonia.
FOX6 Weather Extras
Local perspective:
Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:
FOX6 Storm Center app
FOX LOCAL Mobile app
FOX Weather app
Maps and radar
We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.
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School and business closings
When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.
FOX6 Weather Experts in social media
The Source: Information in this post was compiled by the FOX6 Weather Experts.
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