Court ruling kneecaps records law

Aug. 2, 2022

For four decades, courts have held that plaintiffs in open records lawsuits are entitled to costs and legal fees — whether they win the case or "voluntarily" turn over the records after being sued.

But last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upended the latter path to recovery — a move that open government advocates worry will be a blow to transparency. In the most recent "Your Right to Know" column from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Wisconsin Transparency Project president Tom Kamenick looks to what might be next in the case. 

Party lines weren’t that fun

Aug. 2, 2022

The world of communication is now in our pocket thanks to the marvels of technology. Our powerful smartphones have so many bells, whistles, gadgets and apps that the actual concept of being a telephone seems like an afterthought.

pat reilly at podium

Dodgeville publisher Pat Reilly elected WNA president

Jul. 29, 2022

J. Patrick "Pat" Reilly, co-owner of The Dodgeville Chronicle, has been named president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

WNA Past President Gregg Walker passed the gavel to Reilly during the Better Newspaper Contest awards banquet on Friday, June 24, in Madison, and the appointment became official on Thursday following a unanimous vote at the WNA annual meeting, which was held virtually. In addition to Reilly and Walker, who will serve a term as past president, the following members were elected to serve as officers on the WNA Board: George Stanley, editor and senior vice president of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kris O’Leary, publisher of The (Edgar) Record Review and Jeff Patterson, president of APG Media of Wisconsin.

Bill Howe at podium

Longtime Wisconsin newspaper publisher Bill Howe dies at 99

Jul. 29, 2022

William H. “Bill” Howe, publisher emeritus of the (Prairie du Chien) Courier Press and 2018 inductee to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, died Friday, July 22, at the age of 99.

As the third of five generations of Howes who owned and published the Courier Press, Howe joined the family business in 1946. He and his brother Lyman “Jack” Howe — also a Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame inductee — led the Courier until retiring in 1997. During his career, he also co-owned The Guttenberg (Iowa) Press and North Iowa Times in McGregor, Iowa.

Kayla Barnes headshot

Kayla Barnes named editor of Pecatonica Valley Leader

Jul. 29, 2022

Wisconsin journalist Kayla Barnes has been named editor of the Pecatonica Valley Leader following the retirement of longtime editor Gary McKenzie, the newspaper has announced.

Prior to joining the Leader, she served as editor of the (Darlington) Republican Journal for 6 1/2 years. Before that, she was a reporter for the Dodgeville Chronicle, which is published by Leader owned Pat and Mike Reilly.

Thomas Aaroen headshot

Former reporter Thomas Aaroen dies at 71

Jul. 29, 2022

Thomas Ray Aaroen, a former sports reporter for the McFarland Community Life newspaper, died on Wednesday, May 25, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 71.

Aaroen graduated from McFarland High School and attended two years of college at UW-Platteville, UW-Whitewater, and UW-Eau Claire. After reporting for the Community Life, he went on to a career with the U.S. Postal Service in Madison.

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