Wisconsin

Wisconsin GOP congressmen call for Protasiewicz recusal in new maps case

Published

2 years ago

January 30, 2024

Wisconsin GOP congressmen call for Protasiewicz recusal in new maps case

Five Republican members of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation are calling on Justice Janet Protasiewicz to recuse herself from hearing a case that seeks to redraw the state’s congressional districts.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has not yet said whether it will hear the case, which was filed earlier this month and draws upon an earlier court ruling that overturned Wisconsin’s state legislative maps.

When the high court ruled the legislative maps unconstitutional, it changed the standard by which the court evaluates redistricting. The lawsuit challenging the congressional maps argues that they must be redrawn according to that changed standard, too.

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In a court filing Monday, five of the six Wisconsin Republicans who sit in the U.S. House of Representatives intervened in a motion calling on Protasiewicz to recuse herself from hearing the case if it comes before the state Supreme Court.

The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, or WILL, and the GOP-held state Legislature also signed onto the call for recusal.

The petitioners argue that Protasiewicz pre-judged the case while on the campaign trail and has a personal interest in its outcome because the Democratic Party of Wisconsin donated $10 million to her campaign.

In particular, they point to comments she made when campaigning for office last spring criticizing the makeup of Wisconsin’s delegation in Washington, where six of eight seats are held by Republicans.

They also argue that the Democratic Party dollars backing her candidacy incentivized Protasiewicz to rule in favor of new maps, which would likely decrease the number of Republican districts.

“A justice cannot decide a case she has prejudged or when her participation otherwise creates a serious risk of actual bias,” the filing argues. “Justice Protasiewicz’s public campaign statements establish a constitutionally intolerable risk that she has prejudged the merits of this case.”

These same arguments were levied against Protasiewicz during the court case that resulted in the state legislative maps being overturned. Protasiewicz declined to recuse, and that case was ultimately decided 4-3, with the liberal majority — Protasiewicz included — finding those maps unconstitutional.

While those districts are in the process of being redrawn, it is expected that any outcome will decrease Republican representation in the state Senate and Assembly.

The congressional lawsuit could likewise change Wisconsin’s national representation. Six of the state’s eight congressional districts are currently held by Republicans, and only two are seen as competitive.

The lawsuit contends that new congressional maps would offer voters more fair representation in a purple state.

One of Wisconsin’s Republican members of Congress — U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden — did not sign onto the petition for recusal. Van Orden’s 3rd Congressional District, which comprises much of western Wisconsin and the cities of Eau Claire, La Crosse and Stevens Point, is seen as the state’s most competitive U.S. House seat.

Those who did sign on include U.S. Reps. Bryan Steil, Glenn Grothman, Mike Gallagher, Tom Tiffany and Scott Fitzgerald.

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Wisconsin

Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Published

9 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Sister Bay, Wisconsin: 2026 USA TODAY 10BEST Readers’ Choice Awards

Located in scenic Door County, Wisconsin, the town of Sister Bay is a waterfront town directly on Green Bay. Outdoor enthusiasts head to Sister Bay for its access to hiking trails, nature preserves, and water pursuits such as boating, fishing, and ice-skating during winter. The town hosts a number of seasonal festivals including a film fest, marina fest, outdoor concert series, and the Door County Festival of Fine Arts. The annual Roofing of the Goats Parade is a popular event tied to Al Johnson’s, a local restaurant known for goats that graze on its rooftop during summer months.

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Wisconsin

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

Published

21 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Vote: Who is Wisconsin High School Boys Basketball’s Top Guard of 2025-26?

With the action-packed Wisconsin high school boys basketball regular season completed and March Madness beginning, it’s time to take a look at some of the outstanding players and cast your vote for the best.

We began by looking at the most prolific individual scoring threats, talented 3-point shooters,strong rebounders, and top free-throw shooters so now it’s time to take a look at the high-caliber guards from throughout the state.

There are hundreds of high-caliber boys basketball players in Wisconsin, and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

Voting remains open until March 9 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

(Players are listed in alphabetical order and all nominees are leaders from the 2025-26 season as compiled by Bound.com, and WIAA; the poll is below the list of athletes)

Castillo is averaging 25.4 points per game with 5.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals for Greendale (18-6 overall record).

Collien is averaging 15 points per game with 4.1 rebounds and 2.0 assists for Oakfield (21-3 overall record).

Edwards is averaging 14.1 points per game with 7.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists for D.C. Everest (21-3 overall record).

Gray Jr. was averaging 24.3 points per game with 6.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.1 steals prior for West Allis Central (22-2 overall record).

Hereford is averaging 36.4 points per game with 9.0 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 4.1 steals for Beloit Memorial (22-2 overall record).

Johnson is averaging 27.3 points per game with 8.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 3.6 steals for Milwaukee Juneau (22-1 overall record).

Jones is averaging 23.3 points per game with 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals for Germantown (15-9 overall record).

Kern is averaging 16 points per game with 6.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for New Berlin West (21-3 overall record).

Kilgore is averaging 14.6 points per game with 7.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 steals for Kewaunee (24-0 overall record).

Kohnen is averaging 16.3 points per game with 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.3 steals for Slinger (20-4 overall record).

Knueppel is averaging 17.4 points per game with 7.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, and 1.4 steals for Wisconsin Lutheran (24-0 overall record).

Loose is averaging 18.2 points per game with 5.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.3 steals for Port Washington (23-1 overall).

Manchester is averaging 35.8 points per game for Mount Horeb (19-5 overall record).

Platz is averaging 19.5 points per game with 7.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists, and 1.4 steals for Brookfield East (19-5 overall record).

Prochnow is averaging 21.3 points per game with 11.1 assists, 4.8 assists, and 3.2 steals for Reedsville (21-3 overall record).

Resch is averaging 21.3 points per game with 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals for Arrowhead (18-6 overall record).

Schultz is averaging 27.4 points per game with 6.5 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 2.0 steals for Plymouth (17-7 overall record).

Schwalbach is averaging 15 points per game with 4.7 assists and 3.3 rebounds, and 1.7 steals for Kaukauna (21-3 overall).

Sweeney is averaging 15.5 points per game for Appleton North (20-4 overall record).

Vandenberg is averaging 13 points per game with 2.3 assists and 2.0 rebounds for Freedom (23-1 overall).

About Our Player Poll Voting
High School on SI voting polls are meant to be a fun, lighthearted way for fans to show support for their favorite athletes and teams. Our goal is to celebrate all of the players featured, regardless of the vote totals. Sometimes one athlete will receive a very large number of votes — even thousands — and that’s okay! The polls are open to everyone and are simply a way to build excitement and community around high school sports. Unless we specifically announce otherwise, there are no prizes or official awards for winning. The real purpose is to highlight the great performances of every athlete included in the poll.

— Jeff Hagenau | jeffreyhagenau@gmail.com

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