Ellie here. There’s a lot happening in the news. Let’s jump in.
On Feb. 28, President Donald Trump attacked Iran alongside Israel, targeting and killing the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
During Trump’s presidential candidacy, he campaigned on an “America First,” and “no new wars,” platform. The White House also recently called him the “President of Peace.”
Involved in the ongoing war in the Middle East are Wisconsin National Guard Troops. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, acknowledged our state’s troops in a press conference on Monday.
“The integrated reserve and National Guard forces have continued to demonstrate the value of America’s reserve forces, including the Wisconsin Army National Guard operating in Kuwait and Iraq and Air National Guard units from Vermont and Virginia,” Caine said.
A recent poll by The Hill found that voters are split on whether the strikes were necessary.
I want to hear from you. What do you think of President Trump’s decision to strike Iran? Let me know.
Today, we’ve got another edition of Meet the Candidates, where we’re taking a look at Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez’s gubernatorial campaign, along with other Wisconsin news.
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“I found an old 35mm camera with old film and took these photos at our old barn in Waupaca!” (Courtesy of Don R.)
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Don R. from Waupaca sent in this great photo of a barn in the Wisconsin winter. What a unique and beautiful view, thanks for sharing!
Share your Wisconsin view for a chance to be featured.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out this week’s Badger State Buzz, keeping you up to date on some fun things happening around our state.
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On behalf of our parent company, COURIER, check out this March 12 virtual event:
Big national decisions can have real impacts close to home—especially when it comes to health care.
COURIER is hosting a live virtual event, MAHA & the Midterms, to help break down how recent political choices are shaping health care access, affordability, and what families should know moving forward.
The conversation features author Hank Green, psychologist Dr. Mary Trump, US Rep. Lauren Underwood (a registered nurse), Shaughnessy Naughton of 314 Action, and medical analyst Dr. Vin Gupta.
Join us for an informative discussion designed to help you better understand the issues—no policy background required.
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Staying informed without burning out
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Headlines have felt heavy lately. Between election cycles, global conflicts, and nonstop push alerts, the news can feel less like information and more like emotional overload. Staying engaged matters, but so does your well-being.
Here are some ways you can manage both.
➡️ Shift from constant to intentional consumption.
Instead of taking in breaking news all day, choose specific times to check updates. A morning read from a trusted source can keep you informed without the emotional whiplash.
➡️ Choose depth over volume.
A single well-reported explainer often provides more clarity than 25 scrolling headlines.
➡️ Balance national news with local connection.
National politics can oftentimes feel overwhelming. Local reporting, like your city council, school board, or state legislature, can reveal tangible ways to participate and make change.
➡️ Protect your nervous system.
It’s okay to pause and log off. Sustainable civic engagement is a marathon, not a sprint.
Civic engagement is just as important as your well-being.
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Democratic candidate Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez on Mornings with Pat Kreitlow. (Courtesy of Mornings with Pat Kreitlow)
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Sara Rodriguez is a Democratic candidate in Wisconsin’s 2026 gubernatorial race. She is Wisconsin’s current lieutenant governor, and previously served in the Wisconsin State Assembly, representing Assembly District 13. She also spent a large amount of her career working in healthcare.
On her campaign website, Rodriguez explains her priorities to be making health care less expensive, cutting property taxes, making child care affordable, keeping communities safe, and more.
“The Lieutenant governor seat became open and I decided to take that microphone and be able to talk even more broadly across the state about things that I care about, which are healthcare, affordability, and access. Making sure that families are able to afford not just the basics, but actually thrive within Wisconsin,” Rodriguez said in an interview with UpNorthNews’ Founding editor, Pat Kreitlow.
“I wanna make sure that families have what they need to thrive in Wisconsin, and I’m just really excited to talk to everybody across all 72 counties. I’ve done that every year as Lieutenant Governor, visited all 72 counties. I’m gonna continue to do that. Go out, listen, see what people want in their governor, see what people want in their state government.”
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Aliya Rahman is detained by federal agents on Jan. 13, 2026, near the scene where Renee Good was fatally shot by an ICE officer in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)
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By Pat Kreitlow
The violence and terror being spread by President Donald Trump’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) militia has led to a national conversation about whether the agency is engaged in activity designed to protect Americans or if they ironically need protection from ICE. Believing it’s the latter, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez is proposing that Wisconsin adopt limits on ICE actions in the state.
“We just need to have clear guidelines in Wisconsin,” Rodriguez told UpNorth News. “Other states are moving quickly to make sure they can protect their own community members. Let’s do this proactively before ICE has a large presence in Wisconsin.”
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Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Ellie Bourdo with stories from Pat Kreitlow. It was edited by Paula Solis.
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