Baylor Spears

1 week ago | wisconsinexaminer.com | Baylor Spears

The budget process hit another roadblock as Assembly and Senate Republicans appeared to split over budget negotiations with Gov. Tony Evers — leading to the cancellation of the budget committee’s meeting Thursday and disappointment from child care advocates who had traveled to the Capitol that day. The June 30 deadline for the 2025-27 state budget is quickly approaching and lawmakers still have major portions of the bill to put together.

1 week ago | apg-wi.com | Baylor Spears

The playground at Learning Ladder Preschool and Childcare center, which closed in August 2024 after over 30 years in business. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei c__jQm%96 3F586E AC@46DD 9:E 2?@E96C C@253=@4< 2D pDD6>3=J 2?5 $6?2E6 #6AF3=:42?D 2AA62C65 E@ DA=:E @G6C 3F586E ?68@E:2E:@?D H:E9 v@G] %@?J tG6CD — =625:?8 E@ E96 42?46==2E:@?

1 week ago | wisconsinexaminer.com | Baylor Spears

Friction between Democrats and Republicans was on display Wednesday as the Senate passed several bills along party lines that create programs, grants and facilities without state funding attached. Republicans argued the bills need to be signed before funding is included in the budget to assure them there won’t be any changes made by Gov. Tony Evers using his partial veto, and Democrats said the funding needed to be included to assure them the bills don’t become unfunded mandates.

1 week ago | wisconsinexaminer.com | Baylor Spears

Wisconsin state leaders spent the week leading up to Juneteenth recognizing the holiday and calling for the fight for freedom and equality to continue. Juneteenth marks the official end of slavery in the United States on June 19, 1865. On that day, Union troops arrived in Galveston Bay, Texas, to announce to more than 250,000 enslaved Black people that they were free, about two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.

1 week ago | wisconsinexaminer.com | Baylor Spears

The Wisconsin Legislature held its first floor sessions after the assassination of a Minnesota state lawmaker and her husband and the near-fatal shootings of another state lawmaker and his wife. Leaders said that political violence is unacceptable and expressed willingness to discuss increasing security at the Capitol and for Wisconsin public officials.