Question of the Week: What are the most important issues of 2026?
Are there make-or-break issues that determine whether you'll support a candidate? It's our newsletter Question of the Week for March 29, 2026.
Are there make-or-break issues that determine whether you'll support a candidate? It's our newsletter Question of the Week for March 29, 2026.
What’s at Stake – How is it that this upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election is even more important than past elections where control of the court was at stake?
Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor says the stakes are even bigger this time because it’s not about progressive vs. conservative justices, it’s about a state and its people being able to stand up to big government at the federal level — one that is threatening voting rights, personal liberties, and even the right to control our own bodies and healthcare.
Taylor faces off on April 7 with conservative Appeals Court Judge Maria Lazar. Taylor took part in a live online event organized by UpNorthNews.
In less than two weeks, Wisconsin voters head back to the polls — and there will be more than 70 school referendums in districts across the state. The rising tide of referendums is happening because the Republican-controlled Legislature hasn’t kept the state’s share of school funding in line with inflation for 15 years. And it also refuses to fix some deception on property tax bills.
You might see a big dollar amount going to your local school district, but you don’t see how much of your tax dollars are actually siphoned off that amount and used for private school vouchers, making public school even more reliant on local property taxes.
Assembly Democrats introduce a bill for property tax relief through higher general state aid. Others want to wait until after the election. It's our newsletter Question of the Week for March 22, 2026.
its a role some experts argue is intentional.
Follow @upnorthnewswi to see how it plays out in Wisconsin.
But you shouldn’t hold your breath waiting on a rebate for the higher prices you’ve been paying.
Free breakfast and lunch in school. That’s what Democratic senators wanted for Wisconsin kids.
But the “Healthy School Meals for All” proposal was blocked by Assembly Republicans… again.
Democratic Sen. Sarah Keyeski of Lodi and others introduced the legislation to reduce family food costs, eliminate hunger-related stigma, and support local farmers by funding universal, nutritious meals amidst historic cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under President Trump’s so-called “Big Beautiful Bill” last summer.
Blockage of the legislation comes as the majority-Republican House Agriculture Committee advanced a new Farm Bill that doesn’t reverse those cuts.
As a result, millions more people could go hungry—many of them children.
SNAP cuts will also strip children of school food assistance. When families lose SNAP benefits now, their kids also lose automatic eligibility for free and reduced meals at school.
Having to apply directly for school meals increases the administrative burden on schools and forces families to tackle complex paperwork.
The Healthy School Meals for All act would have provided critical help, but this marks the third straight legislative session where Republicans refused to even bring it up for a vote.
✏️: Salina Heller
A new round of “No Kings” marches will take place on March 28 across Wisconsin and around the country. Here’s a look back at Eau Claire’s rally last October and a reminder of why people who love our country still have a lot to say about opposing leaders who put themselves above the Constitution.
Department of Homeland Security workers are missing a paycheck as part of a showdown between Democrats and President Trump. Should Democrats cave? It's our newsletter question of the week for March 15, 2026 Under a deal to end the last federal government shutdown,...
The April 7 Supreme Court election and the fall elections for the Legislature could have a lasting impact on Wisconsin's future for voting rights, women's health, education, the state economy.