Oconomowoc community members gathered together for the No Kings rally on March 28, with a strong message. Residents shared their concerns and frustrations with the Trump administration, addressing issues ranging from ICE, the Epstein files, and more.
Municipal clerks, the backbone of small-town elections, are reaching retirement age—and younger generations need more support and better pay to take up the often thankless job.
Follow @upnorthnewswi for more.
When an eastern Wisconsin couple entered a crisis pregnancy center, they sought information and support. Instead, they left the clinic confused, having been provided with an ultrasound image that was purported to show the early stages of pregnancy in a uterus—but actually showed a bladder.
Crisis Pregnancy Centers (CPCs) are often religiously affiliated, non-medical, anti-abortion organizations that frequently use deceptive tactics—including providing false information and inaccurate ultrasounds performed by unqualified staff members—to discourage people from seeking abortion care.
There are more than 2,500 CPCs in the US, compared to about 750 clinics that provide abortion services. CPCs are sometimes located near abortion clinics to deliberately mislead.
In Wisconsin, there are between 50 and 70 CPCs compared to only five abortion clinics.. And some CPCs even receive indirect state funding through a so-called “Choose Life” license plate, which includes a $25 fee that benefits an anti-abortion group—bringing in more than $300,000 over the past eight years.
One Wisconsin OB-GYN is speaking out about the dangers of CPCs after helping the couple who received an image of a bladder, not a uterus, while seeking medical care.
✏️: Salina Heller
One small law center in Madison is rising to meet the needs of immigrant communities facing deportation.
Today, the Community Immigration Law Center is expanding their team of lawyers, paralegals, and even volunteers to help.
Follow @upnorthnewswi for more.
Energy prices are rising faster than inflation — and Congress is finally talking about it. The Energy Bills Relief Act could crack down on price gouging and lower costs. 👀
Among those who do have a preference, Rep. Francesca Hong leads the Democratic primary field of seven candidates. Perhaps more noteworthy is that 54% of Republicans say they’re undecided… even though there’s only one candidate, Congressman Tom Tiffany.
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.
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
