News & Announcements | Page 154 of 380 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Former Racine, Milwaukee reporter Sandy Cota dies at 89

Oct. 22, 2021

Sandra A. "Sandy" Cota, who spent her career as a newspaper reporter in Iowa and Wisconsin, died Friday, Oct. 8. She was 89.

After graduating from Gillett High School in northeastern Wisconsin, she went on to earn her college degree in journalism. Cota started her career in newspapers with the (Dubuque, Iowa) Telegraph Herald, where she worked as a reporter, before moving on to work in the newsrooms of The (Racine) Journal Times and The Milwaukee Journal.

Shuda named Fond du Lac editor as Kern moves to new role

Oct. 22, 2021

Nathaniel Shuda, editor of the Oshkosh Northwestern since 2017, has been named editor of The (Fond du Lac) Reporter. He will oversee both newsrooms as former editor Taima Kern moves to a new role with The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, where she will lead a team of regional business reporters.

A UW-Eau Claire graduate and veteran journalist of 13 years with USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, Shuda started as a reporter for his hometown (Wisconsin Rapids) Daily Tribune before joining the Northwestern as a reporter in 2014.

In a third staffing change, the network also announced that Kevin Dittman will take on a new role overseeing the group's night news operations and non-daily publications. Dittman, a UW-Oshkosh graduate, has been with the newspaper group for nearly 30 years.

Trevor Greene, Kelly Holm join The Lakeland Times newsroom

Oct. 22, 2021

Trevor Greene and Kelly Holm are the two newest reporters in The Lakeland Times newsroom.

Born and raised in the Milwaukee area, Greene graduated from Pewaukee High School before earning his bachelor's degree in English from UW-Milwaukee. The job is his first in newspapers.

Holm, also a Wisconsin native, earned her bachelor's degree from Hamline University in St. Paul, Minn., where she studied English and creative writing. While in college, she also wrote for the school's student newspaper, The Oracle. She previously served as an intern for The (Osceola) Sun.

Jim Johnson named managing editor for O’Rourke papers

Oct. 22, 2021

Jim Johnson, a longtime Iowa newspaper manager, has joined O'Rourke Media Group.

Johnson will serve as managing editor for five publications, two of which are online-only. They include the (Hudson) Star-Observer and River Falls Journal in Wisconsin and the Cannon Falls Beacon, Hastings Star Gazette and (Red Wing) Republican Eagle in Minnesota. The Republican Eagle also serves Ellsworth across the border in Wisconsin.

He fills the role vacated by Anne Jacobson, who left in September to become communications manager for Red Wing Public Schools. Jacobson had been with the company for 20 years, serving as editor of the Republican Eagle and later as news director.

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Court orders release of former deputy’s disciplinary records

Oct. 22, 2021

A three-judge appeals court panel last week ruled that disciplinary records for a former Milwaukee County sheriff's deputy must be released, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports.

"The denial of public access generally is contrary to the public interest, and only in an exceptional case may access be denied," the court wrote in its decision. "This policy of disclosure is one of the strongest declarations of policy in the Wisconsin statutes."

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Several APG weeklies move to Friday publication, delivery

Oct. 22, 2021

Several Adams Publishing Group weekly newspapers in southern Wisconsin moved to new publication schedules this week, publishing and delivering on Friday instead of Thursday.

Among those making the switch were the DeForest Times-Tribune, Lodi Enterprise and Poynette Press, Milton Courier, and The Waunakee Tribune. Jonathan Stefonek, editor of the Times-Tribune, explained readers are expected to benefit from additional midweek coverage, as well as more reliable delivery.

Federal funds delay hard decisions in Milwaukee city budget

Oct. 20, 2021

An unprecedented infusion of federal pandemic aid should provide substantial but temporary relief for the city of Milwaukee’s budget imbalance for the next three years, starting with its 2022 budget.

Poll indicates strong support for civics education in schools

Oct. 20, 2021

Polco users and readers visiting WNA member websites from Oct. 5 to 19 were asked whether they believed civics education should be required in Wisconsin schools. Out of 556 respondents, 89% said they supported requiring civics education in all Wisconsin schools, while 6% said local schools should determine their own curriculum.

Poll questions are available through a WNA partnership with Polco aimed at helping newspapers better engage readers and access enhanced data and insights. WNA members who have signed up for an account with Polco can access their local version of the new question, as well as local poll results, on their dashboards. Those who have not signed up can do so here.

Spooky tales of Sasquatch sightings

Oct. 20, 2021

Halloween is the season for ghost stories and hauntings, but are there even bigger creatures that go bump in the night?

Fundraising heats up for U.S. Senate race in Wisconsin

Oct. 19, 2021

Wisconsin’s primary doesn’t happen until August of next year. But the major Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate are busy gathering resources for the primary and general election fight ahead.