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Politics Video

Johnson: Judge Dugan Should Face Maximum Penalty in ICE Case

Sen. Ron Johnson is squarely on the side of President Donald Trump in wanting to see a Milwaukee County judge put in prison for the way she handled efforts by federal immigration officers to disrupt her court.

Long before any kind of a trial is held to weigh the evidence, Johnson told WISN-TV he thinks Judge Hannah Dugan should be convicted and given the maximum prison sentence to “set an example.”

Dugan was indicted by a grand jury after sending an undocumented man out a different exit of her courtroom, having expressed to ICE officers her unhappiness that they had gathered outside her court to arrest a defendant in one of her cases.

The man was followed by officers down the hall and arrested outside after a brief foot chase.

Her legal team — and nearly 140 retired judges — are pushing to have the case dismissed, citing immunity for acts taken as an official, the same claim made by Trump in his felony cases last year.

Johnson said that defense is “outrageous” and accuses Dugan of obstructing justice.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

Will Legislators Save Wisconsin From Wakeboating Damage?

Two out-of-state residents with property on a lake up north are suing a Burnett County town over a ban on wake boats—vessels designed to make waves that are large enough to surf.

The pair say the town board in Scott rushed to pass a ban last November before they could make their case.

Wake boats are an unwelcome addition to some lake residents, who are concerned about the noise and the impact on shoreline erosion and the bottoms of shallow lakes.

Founding Editor Pat Kreitlow says small towns trying to protect their natural resources run the risk of large legal bills unless the state legislature steps in and puts rules in place to establish where and how these large-impact boats can operate.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

We Brought The People To The Capitol

A whole lot of Wisconsinites are cheesed off over how the state budget is coming together.

Here’s the deal:

The Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee — made up of the senators and representatives who will write a state budget bill — recently held four, day-long public hearings across Wisconsin.

The overwhelming amount of public comments supported funding for programs that have bipartisan support, but are not likely to be included by majority Republicans in the final bill.

In response, a coalition of groups sponsored a lobbying day at the Capitol to remind lawmakers of what they should be supporting and to ask Gov. Tony Evers to veto the full budget bill if the GOP version fails to provide adequate support for things like public schools, health care, child care, and more.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

Reminding Our Legislators: Supporting Our Schools Is Issue No. 1

“Stop playing political games” — that’s the message Heather DuBois Bourenane delivered to the Wisconsin Legislature on our radio show this week.

DuBois Bourenane spoke to us after a few hundred citizen-lobbyists roamed the state Capitol on Tuesday with messages of support for public schools, health care, child care, and other priorities that were repeatedly mentioned during last month’s public hearings before the Joint Finance Committee.

A coalition of groups organized the event, centered on a request of Gov. Tony Evers: If the Republican version of a state budget bill doesn’t adequately fund these important public services, veto the entire budget bill instead of trying to fix it with partial vetoes.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

The Conversation That Prompted Emily Berge to Run Against Derrick Van Orden

Eau Claire City Council President Emily Berge officially announced her candidacy for Congress this week, hoping to unseat 3rd District Republican US Rep. Derrick Van Orden in 2026.

Berge, who is also president of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities, told UpNorthNews about the meeting with Van Orden that solidified her decision to get into the race. Even though homelessness, especially among veterans, is a national crisis, Berge says Van Orden, a retired Navy SEAL, refused to provide help and blamed the city.

Rebecca Cooke, who lost to Van Orden last November, has already announced her candidacy. Cooke and Berge would face off in a primary, along with any other Democrats who get into the race, in August of next year.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

Chris Taylor Launches 2026 Campaign For WI 2026 State Supreme Court

Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Chris Taylor is running for a spot on the Wisconsin Supreme Court in the 2026 election. She’s planning to take on current Justice Rebecca Bradley, who is known for her conservative views and was appointed in 2015 by former Gov. Scott Walker.

Taylor, who used to serve in the state legislature and worked with Planned Parenthood, told WISN-TV’s, Upfront, that she’s jumping into the race because she believes Wisconsin deserves a fair and impartial court. She says judges should focus on protecting people’s rights—not pushing political agendas.

This race is important because it could shift the court further in a progressive direction. Right now, the court has a 4-3 liberal majority, and with another liberal justice (Susan Crawford) about to take office, Taylor’s win would make that a 5-2 split.

Taylor has been a strong voice on issues like abortion rights, gun safety, and labor protections.

Politics Video - UpNorthNews

The Biggest Cuts To Medicaid In History

It’s all about the billionaires. 💵

Democratic Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin says Republicans are putting health care further out of reach for everyday people, “because they need to give tax handouts to their rich friends.”

In a committee, Republicans voted last week to cut off Planned Parenthood from Medicaid funds—a longtime goal of the party—plus take away Medicaid health insurance from more than 13 million people.

✏️: Salina Heller

Politics Video - UpNorthNews