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The Brewers are staying in Milwaukee, and taxpayers are going to pay to fix their ballpark. Lawmakers yesterday approved the package that will spend about 500 million-dollars in public money on renovations and improvements to American Family Field. Half of the Republicans in the State Senate voted against the plan, they don’t want to see taxpayers pay so much for the stadium. The new plan includes some tweaks for the board that controls the stadium, and a new ticket tax

The new overhaul of Wisconsin’s liquor laws will change the “happily ever after” for some wedding barns. The legislature yesterday approved a rewrite of the state’s depression-era liquor code. In addition to changing some of the rules for breweries, wineries, and liquor distributors, the plan affects wedding barns by limiting them to six events per-year, or forcing them to get a liquor license. Supporters say the idea is to ensure safety at wedding barns that have been BYOB for years.

Despite test scores that show 60 percent of kids in Wisconsin schools cannot read or do math at grade level, just 21 school districts in the state fail to meet the state’s expectations. The Department of Public instruction yesterday released its school and school district report cards. Of the 378 public school districts in the state, 357 met or exceeded expectations. They track how schools across the state did on last year’s standardized tests. Locally, we see that Eau Claire

Wisconsin is a step closer to having a new baby box law.  The State Assembly yesterday unanimously approved a plan that would allow parents to surrender a baby within the first three days. State Rep. Ellen Schutt says the plan would allow cities to install a box at a fire station or other city building that is open and staffed 24/7, and allow parents to anonymously surrender a baby. Wisconsin allows parents to turn-over their babies in-person, but this would

Inmates at two of Wisconsin’s prisons will be getting out of their cells more, and some may be going home under a new push from the governor. Governor Tony Evers yesterday announced plans to move away from the lockdowns at the prisons in Waupun and Green Bay. Inmates have been confined to their cells for months because of safety worries and a lack of guards. The governor yesterday said inmates will soon be allowed access to more prison programs, and

There will be a local connection to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. Greendale High School’s marching band will be one of the several high school bands to march in this year’s parade. Greendale is the only Wisconsin school invited to this year’s parade. Band director Tom Reifenberg says it is a special invitation, and said there is something unique about the Macy’s parade.

The Wisconsin Senate has approved taxpayer funding for American Family Field renovations. It passed on a 19-14 vote, as well as a companion bill to fund the improvements. The bill will return to the Assembly for concurrence, where Speaker Robin Vos says it will be approved. Afterward, the bill will be sent to Governor Tony Evers, who has expressed support for the bill. The bill asks for 375-point-four million dollars from the state, 67-point-5 million each from Milwaukee County and

Funding for the Richard Dilley Tax Center got a 55-thousand dollar grant for the next year. This means it will stay open to help residents file their taxes for the twenty-third year in a row. The tax resource center, run by UW Extension, has helped low to moderate income residents file their taxes for more than two decades. More than 25-hundred returns were filed last year according to the tax center, giving residents nearly four-million dollars in refunds.

DECI will be kicking of the Holiday Season in style this year by celebrating Small Business Saturday in Downtown Eau Claire on Saturday, November 25, 2023 from 11 am to 3 pm at the Haymarket Plaza and the Pablo Center. CLICK HERE FOR MORE. At Haymarket Holiday you’ll have a chance to sit with Santa and Mrs. Claus for a holiday photo, enjoy hot chocolate provided by Olson’s Ice Cream, and take in the beautiful sights of the Downtown Holiday Tree. Visitors will also get to take a complimentary

Seventeen Wisconsin companies and individuals have been named as finalists for the 2023 MARKETPLACE Governor’s Awards, which honor Wisconsin businesses owned by minorities, women and service-disabled veterans, and their advocates. Winners will be announced at the Governor’s Awards Luncheon on Thursday, Dec. 7, at the 42nd annual MARKETPLACE: the Governor’s Conference on Diverse Business Development. The event will be held at the Baird Center in Milwaukee with the support of more than 20 sponsors. Awards are given to Wisconsin companies