News & Announcements | Page 184 of 384 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Bill would require legislators to stop deleting public records

Apr. 22, 2021

A bill introduced earlier this month seeks to eliminate the Wisconsin statute that excludes legislators and their staff from having to retain certain records, effectively allowing them to skirt the state’s public records law.

Senate Bill 289 was introduced on April 8 by Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison). The Wisconsin Newspaper Association has registered its support of the legislation with the Ethics Commission.

Federal aid boosts transit budgets in near term, but structural challenges remain

Apr. 21, 2021

Federal relief funds are providing a temporary life raft to Wisconsin transit systems amid the plunging ridership of the COVID-19 pandemic, likely allowing most to maintain existing services for at least the next two years.

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Poll: Do you agree with the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial?

Apr. 21, 2021

A new poll question about whether readers agree with the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trial is available to be used by WNA members. We are asking the question in light of Derek Chauvin on Tuesday, April 20, being found guilty on all three counts in the death of George Floyd.

Pat Simms’ family creates journalism scholarship fund

Apr. 20, 2021

The family of longtime Wisconsin State Journal reporter Pat Simms has created a journalism scholarship fund in her name. The fund will be used to support students "with a passion to study journalism."

Simms, who served as a journalism instructor and adviser after retiring from the State Journal in 2011, died Monday, April 5, after a fight with cancer. Those interested in contributing to the fund are directed to send donations to the M. Patricia Simms Journalism Scholarship Fund, c/o Meanwell Investment Group, 1 Erdman Place, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53717-2171.

As legalization stalls at state level, local governments tackle marijuana policy

Apr. 19, 2021

Nearly a decade after Colorado became the first state to legalize recreational marijuana, the debate has spiked in Wisconsin as more states join the pro-marijuana ranks. Some local units of government have made moves to decriminalize the drug as progress at the state level appears unlikely.

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Unified Newspaper Group consolidates newspaper offices in Oregon

Apr. 16, 2021

After a year of primarily remote work, Unified Newspaper Group is consolidating in-person operations into its downtown Oregon office.

The move will close the group’s longtime Verona headquarters and move all four newspapers to 156 N. Main St., Oregon. UNG publishes The Verona Press, The Oregon Observer, The Stoughton Courier Hub and the Fitchburg Star. UNG general manager Jim Ferolie said in the announcement that consolidating will reduce the group’s facility costs by about 90%.

Benjamin Pierce joins UNG as sports, community reporter

Apr. 16, 2021

Benjamin Pierce is the newest member of the Unified Newspaper Group reporting staff. He will cover sports and community news.

Pierce previously spent two years with The (Janesville) Gazette as an education reporter, while covering sports part-time. A La Crosse native, he was a sportswriter for nearby Lee Enterprises’ weekly newspapers while attending Western Technical College. He later attended UW-Whitewater, where he served as assistant news editor and managing editor of the Royal Purple student newspaper.

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Students: Order duplicate awards by May 2

Apr. 15, 2021

Are you a college or high school journalist who won a 2020 WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest award and needs a duplicate plaque or certificate? Place your order by May 2.

Certificates are $6 and plaques are $60. Shipping & handling is included. The typical turnaround is 3-4 weeks.

Hallie Chasensky joins Amery Free Press advertising staff

Apr. 15, 2021

Hallie Chasensky is joining the Amery Free Press advertising staff, the newspaper announced Tuesday.

Chasensky will serve as a multimedia sales consultant for the Free Press. She will succeed Pam Humpal, who plans to retire from the newspaper this summer. A native of St. Paul, Minn., Chasensky earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing communications from UW-River Falls.

Former journalist John Halverson re-elected to Lake Geneva city council

Apr. 15, 2021

John Halverson, a longtime journalist and former general manager of the Lake Geneva Regional News, last week won re-election to the Lake Geneva city council, the newspaper reported.

A journalist for more than 40 years, Halverson served as general manager of the Regional News from 2008 to 2014. He also was a member of the WNA Foundation Board from May 2016 to June 2017.