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The ACLU of Wisconsin wants answers about the requests to ban books in a half-dozen school districts across the state. The ACLU yesterday filed an open records request with schools Menomonee Falls, Howard-Suamico, Waukesha, Elmbrook, Elkhorn, and Kenosha, asking to see who wants certain books pulled off the shelves. The ACLU also wants to know how the school districts are handling the requests. Schools have been busy this year with requests from parents to pull what they call ‘objectionable’ materials

The plan from Wisconsin’s Northwoods’ congressman to protect chocolate milk in school is moving ahead on Capitol Hill. Congressman Tom Tiffany yesterday said his milk protection act was included in a House resolution this week. Tiffany’s plan would stop the Biden Administration from banning chocolate milk from the nation’s school lunch program. The USDA is considering a ban on chocolate and other flavored milks to keep kids from having too much sugar. Tiffany says banning chocolate milk would likely end

The effort to dredge Lake Altoona is showing some signs of success. Crews expect to take 60 thousand cubic-yards of sediment out of the lake during this latest dredge. That’s enough dirt and sand to fill a three-story building. That’s also twice what crews would normally take. Lake Altoona district secretary Margaret Higley says the lake has gotten deeper, and Eau Claire continues to be protected from flooding because of the dredging effort. This latest round should wrap-up in a

Democrats at the Wisconsin Capitol want the state to be more open about lockdowns and conditions in the state’s prisons. A handful of lawmakers yesterday introduced a proposal that would require more transparency about when, and how inmates are being confined to their cells. Madison State Senator Kelda Roys says the idea is to make sure Wisconsin’s prisons are treating inmates in the most humane way possible. Lockdowns have been an issue in Wisconsin prisons. Inmates in both Green Bay

Whole milk could soon be headed back to school lunchrooms. House lawmakers on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted for the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, which would allow the National School Lunch Program to serve whole milk. Whole milk was phased out more than a decade ago as part of a push to combat childhood obesity, leaving only low-fat options. The measure now heads to the Senate.

A corn milling company in Cambria has agreed to pay the US Department of Labor a one-point-eight million dollar settlement. Didion Milling has agreed to pay the settlement after a 2017 explosion at a corn mill plant north-east of Madison. The explosion killed five people and injured twelve others. The company pleaded guilty to falsifying cleaning and other logs in September of this year. Didion’s vice president and former food safety superintendent have both been convicted – other company officials

Wisconsin will be getting 414-million dollars to improve wastewater and storm water infrastructure. State Governor Tony Evers and the Department of Natural Resources are giving the money to smaller and more disadvantaged Wisconsin communities. The DNR is giving 56-million of the money in principal forgiveness, with the remainder being given with reduced-interest-rate loans. Evers says hope is that funded projects will reduce phosphorous discharges and replace outdated equipment.

There will be more Wisconsin troopers on the road starting tomorrow (Fri.) until New Year’s Day. State Patrol says it puts more law enforcement on the road during the holiday season since they see more impaired driving. They reported 470 crashes involving drunk drivers in the last two weeks of 2022. State Patrol says these accidents killed five people and injured 178. They encourage finding designated sober drivers or other rideshare methods if celebrating with alcohol over the holidays.

Free tele-health services for COVID-19 treatment have been extended through April 10 of next year. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services says an expected continued increase in COVID cases was a factor in the decision. Wisconsin DHS introduced the service in November of last year and says they completed more than 6-thousand consults since. Nearly half of those patients reported being age 60 and older. After free COVID tele-health resources expire, those without insurance will still have free or low-cost

Building projects in Wisconsin are getting 589-million in funding. State Governor Tony Evers says the Wisconsin Building Commission approved the projects. Projects getting money include renovating UW-Stout’s Heritage Hall, facility renewal projects at UW-Madison, and replacing campground toilets at Hartman Creek State Park. The commission is made up of Governor Evers, six State Representatives and Senators, and one citizen.