capitol report, wispolitics

Gableman defends elections probe in video

The taxpayer-funded elections probe led by former conservative state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman has been under fire for weeks. Now Gableman is defending the probe via video.

cinnamon, shetland pony

Warm fall day sparks memories of cinnamon

Memories are strange things at times because you never know what triggers recollections from the aging gray matter. Recently, the warm weather triggered decades-old memories of a Shetland pony named Cinnamon.

Bill Lueders

Bill Lueders to be inducted into National FOIC’s Open Government Hall of Fame

Bill Lueders, editor of The Progressive and president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, will be inducted this month into the National Freedom of Information Coalition’s State Open Government Hall of Fame.

Lueders is one of four inductees who will be honored during a virtual ceremony on Thursday, Sept. 30. Joining Lueders in the Hall of Fame class are Barbara Petersen of Florida, Jane Briggs-Bunting of Michigan and Craig Staudenmaier of Pennsylvania.

alan goldsmith

Alan Goldsmith, whose family owned Boscobel Dial for decades, dies at 76

Alan Goldsmith, who worked in the family newspaper business at The Boscobel Dial, died Sunday, Sept. 12, at his home in Kenosha. He was 76.

While growing up, Goldsmith worked at The Dial, which his parents — both of whom are members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame — owned from 1956 to 1992. He went on to a career in education, teaching graphic design, web design, package design, typography, digital photography and computer illustration at UW-Richland, Mount Senario College and UW-Parkside.

ardith carlton

Ardith Carlton joins Iron County Miner newsroom

Ardith Carlton, a veteran journalist and “transplanted Michigander,” has joined the staff of the Iron County Miner, the Hurley newspaper announced this week.

Carlton will serve as a graphic designer and reporter for the Miner. Her past experience includes work in newspapers and magazines, teaching English in Japan, and co-writing a book, “Robotech Art 1.” Carlton started her journalism career in 1980 as a copy editor for the Battle Creek Enquirer in her home state of Michigan. 

Wisconsin Policy Forum logo

Alcohol tax revenues surge during pandemic

State excise tax revenues from the sale of alcoholic beverages rose nearly 17% in the 2021 fiscal year, an annual increase that tops any seen in nearly five decades in Wisconsin.

nan branen, nancy branen

Former Burlington newspaper publisher Nancy Branen dies at 91

Nancy “Nan” C. Branen, who with her family owned the Burlington Standard Press and Southern Lakes Media for many years, died Friday, Sept. 10, at her home in Burlington. She was 91.

A Milwaukee native, she married William E. “Bill” Branen on June 18, 1949, and five years later Bill bought the Standard Democrat, starting the family's 50-year run of newspaper ownership. Following her husband's death, Nan served as board chair for Southern Lakes Media, the parent company of the Standard Press and the family’s other weekly newspapers. She also handled accounting, ad layout and proofreading for the newsgroup and served as publisher of the Poynette Press and Evansville Leader.

summer end, fall colors

The sudden signs of summer’s end

And suddenly, summer is over. Another summer that began with such high hopes that we had turned the corner on the pandemic is fading just as we face another spike in COVID-19 cases.

brandon reid

Brandon Reid named Sheboygan Press editor as Matt Piper moves to new role

Brandon Reid, editor of the (Manitowoc) Herald Times Reporter since 2015, will now also serve in the same role for The Sheboygan Press.

Reid previously served as a content coach for watchdog reporters across the USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin, as interim editor of The Sheboygan Press, and as editor of The Rock River Times in Rockford, Ill.

Reid takes over the role from Matt Piper, who had served as editor of The Press since 2019. Piper is moving to a position in which he will oversee in-depth reporting projects for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin. 

Wisconsin Newspaper Association