Ellie here. Yesterday, I asked how you all spent your Fourth of July weekend. Here’s what you said:

“Traveled to Michigan from Milwaukee driving through epic storms. Spent Saturday enjoying reuniting with my 4 brothers and families, including Steve, the eldest, who is successfully (so far so good) recovering from major esophageal cancer surgery and post-chemo. It was a marvelous day, complete with family drama, delicious potluck food, and great laughter. Fell asleep while listening to the neighborhood’s fireworks rivalry. A blessed day! Amen!” — Mary D.

“Went to a friends to camp in their electrified back yard. Got together with a lot of friends. Ate, played games, put together puzzles and saw fireworks.” — Arlan B.

What great ways to spend the weekend! Thanks for sharing.

While on the topic of America, last night Team USA took on Belgium in the World Cup, where they lost 1-4. Unfortunately, this brings the team’s World Cup run to an end.

I am not much of a soccer fan, but I’ve enjoyed learning more about it and watching the sport! On Sunday, I watched Norway take on Brazil and Mexico against England. They were both great games.

Have you been keeping up with the World Cup? Let me know!

While monarch butterflies can be seen across Wisconsin for the next few months, here’s a sight you don’t see every day.

Our reader, Jeanette K., sent in this beautiful view from her front yard.

“Not a normal featured view. But an interesting one in my front yard. This is a monarch butterfly caterpillar on a common milkweed plant.”

Thanks for sharing Your Wisconsin View! Send in your view to have it featured.

Workers at the Old Country Cheese plant in Cashton, Wisconsin. (Courtesy of Library of Congress)

I’ve lived in Wisconsin my whole life, and one thing I haven’t yet experienced is a cheese tour.

We’re known as the Dairy State for a reason: our state continues to win more awards than any other for its cheese and hosts two major cheese contests: the United States Championship Cheese Contest and the World Championship Cheese Contest.

Check out these cheese tours where you can see (and even taste) some of our most famous cheeses!

Under Wisconsin’s voucher program, public tax dollars can leave a school district if the district doesn’t have a private school because the school funding formulas tie public tax dollars to the individual student rather than the physical school building. (Courtesy of Salina Heller)

Thanks for reading. This newsletter was written by Ellie Bourdo with stories from Kristine Hansen and Salina Heller. It was edited by Crystal Niforos.

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