☀️ Good morning!

It’s Sunday, March 8, 2026

⏰ If you want to know what time it is — right now — keep in mind we sprung ahead thanks to Daylight Saving Time overnight.

If you want to know what time it is in Wisconsin politics, you might want to check things out in Sauk County.

You can find a steady stream of stories over the past few years about how these 66,000 souls have had a knack for picking presidents and governors — not a bad record in such a closely divided state.

Whether it’s through convenient coincidences or savvy swing voters, Sauk County will get a little attention this year as a bellwether, partly because of the election for governor and partly as a way to weigh presidential popularity ahead of the midterms. 

This morning, we focus on the reports filed by our very own Salina Heller as part of a series I like to call “Sauk It To Me.” She might be too young for the pun, but every one of my fellow elders is chuckling at the thought of Rowan and Martin’s “Laugh In” of long ago — a time that was about as politically tumultuous as where we find ourselves right now. 

🗓️ Don’t forget to scroll down for our Question of the Week about whether you’d move the date of Wisconsin’s primary elections.

Have a great week — and remember to stay up to date with our social media posts

1️⃣ Not a ‘Big Beautiful’ Bill for Hungry Kids – The cuts made by President Trump and Republicans to SNAP (still derisively called “food stamps” by some) have a spillover effect in Wisconsin’s school cafeterias. The children of families eligible for nutrition assistance used to be automatically enrolled for free school lunches, but if their SNAP is cut, they have to apply separately and many families won’t, whether because of the stigma or a lack of time or ability. 

👉🏼 WATCH the superintendent in the Reedsburg School District talk about his students being among the 420,000 kids in Wisconsin who are being hurt because the funds for SNAP have been shifted to pay for tax cuts for corporations and for families who have no problem feeding their kids. 

2️⃣ Private Schools and Public Dollars – Many Wisconsin taxpayers are still unaware they are paying for two school systems as the so-called “school choice” voucher program has exploded in growth. State Sen. Sarah Keyeski (D-Lodi), whose district includes Sauk County, has co-sponsored a bill that would require property tax bills to show the amount of state aid being siphoned away from a taxpayer’s public school district in order to fund vouchers for private school students. 

👉🏼 WATCH the Reedsburg superintendent give a fitting analogy for the tax dollars that should go toward public schools in Sauk County and elsewhere in our state.

3️⃣ Culver’s Gets Spicy – Midwesterners are sometimes mistakenly tagged as having bland taste buds, but don’t tell that to Culver’s, the burger chain that got its start 40 years ago in Sauk City.

🧀 After a successful launch of jalapeño cheese curds last year, Culver’s has 2026 menu plans that include four new pub burgers that feature “inventive sauces, bold takes on flavor profiles, and fresh spins on the classic ButterBurger.” There will also be multiple pumpkin-inspired desserts rolled out later this year along with what it calls “a new take on a classic menu item inspired by Wisconsin supper club traditions.”

A Colorado congressman who was born and raised in Wisconsin returned to his home state recently to tell veterans and other voters why an Army Ranger like him is campaigning to unseat a Navy Seal like his colleague, Rep. Derrick Van Orden. 

A Colorado congressman who was born and raised in Wisconsin returned to his home state recently to tell veterans and other voters why an Army Ranger like him is campaigning to unseat a Navy Seal like his colleague, Rep. Derrick Van Orden. 

Rep. Jason Crow told an Eau Claire audience about Van Orden’s support for Trump’s tariffs that have raised consumer prices for voters in the 3rd Congressional District — and that was before President Trump’s decision to attack Iran caused gas prices to take off.

Crow said Van Orden voted for Trump’s budget bill that made massive cuts to programs affecting veterans and he also passed up a chance to help homeless veterans when Republicans in the Legislature defunded a program that led to the closure of a facility in Chippewa Falls. 

“There was actually a veterans home that was essential to this community,” Crow said. “Derrick Van Orden had the ability to apply for federal funds to keep that home open, and he refused to do it.”

WATCH Crow discuss affordability issues in Wisconsin in light of Van Orden’s support for Trump’s tariffs.

READ the full story on our website.

⏮️ Last Week: How to fund K-12 schools in Wisconsin

20% said 🄰  Two-thirds state funding and one-third local funding — with no state caps; let local school boards and voters set the bar for school spending as they see fit.

50% said 🄱  Two-thirds state funding but with some kind of cap to prevent big hikes in property taxes — but the cap would also move with inflation.

30% said 🄲  More than two-thirds state funding, since the legislature can distribute money from a statewide fund.

Almost nobody responded with 🄳  Much more local funding (property tax), making the level of educational support a local matter.

Your Comments

Earl J. answered 🄰 – “A majority of funding from the state provides the most equitable resources for students statewide.”

Kurt in Kaukauna answered 🄱  – “The state government needs to step in, and fund education. A cap should be held in place on property taxes. Being a senior on a fixed income, uncontrolled property taxes on schools has affected us. It’s time our state politicians step up, and start serving us the citizens. Partisan politics needs to end, and reason returned to Madison.”

KL has a typical 🄲 response – “I hate that property taxes fund schools. It creates too much of a gap in funding between richer neighborhoods and cities and poorer and rural schools. However we fund schools should come from one pot with even distribution. That way all children can benefit.”

⏭️ This Week: Our late primary election date

🗳️ The first primary contests for the November general election were held in three states this week, but Wisconsin voters won’t narrow their fields of fall candidates until August. Our primary is later than all but seven other states, four of those being in September. 

Why move it? Supporters say it gives parties a time to heal after sometimes-bruising primaries and allows the nominees enough time to fundraise and get their message out to voters before the general election. Where would you put Wisconsin’s primary?

Click the blue box (above) containing this week’s response options and you’ll be taken to a page on our website where you can press the specific option for your answer and leave more comments. 

If you get a pop-up window asking for your email address, go ahead and enter it even though you’re clearly already a subscriber. And please leave a comment, including first name and hometown. Or email me directly at pat@couriernewsroom.com. Thank you!

Here’s a small sample of what you need to know about next week.

Wednesday [Mar 11]

Columbia County Democrats: Aging & Disability Resource Center Information Event (Madison, 3-5:00pm)

Learn about ADRCs, a single source for information on issues and resources that impact older adults and people with disabilities, regardless of income. 

Friday [Mar 13]

Sawyer County Democrats: Candidate forum (Hayward, 4-8:00pm) Meet nonpartisan candidates running in the April elections along with the three Democratic candidates running in the August primary for the 7th Congressional District. 

Saturday [Mar 14]

Four County Democratic Coalition: Meet Chris Taylor (Wautoma, 12:30-2 pm) The Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate will discuss her 30-year career as an attorney, legislator, and judge who has dedicated her life to ensuring our courts are centered on the people.

📱 Remember, you can stay up to date all day with all of our team’s work through our social media feeds, including Instagram and TikTok.

🏁 Thanks for reading our update.

Have a great week!