News & Announcements | Page 189 of 379 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Mary McLoone, Lake Country Publications co-founder, dies at 91

Feb. 20, 2021

Mary Therese McLoone, who co-founded Lake Country Publications with her husband Jim McLoone, died Thursday, Feb. 4, at her home. She was 91.

The couple bought their first newspaper in Stewartville, Minn., and in 1960 relocated to Hartland, Wis., where they founded the Lake Country Reporter and its parent company, Lake Country Publications. The company went on to include four weeklies, one semi-monthly and two shoppers before they sold it in 1990.

Their son, John McLoone, publishes the Pierce County Journal in Prescott and the Stanley Republican.

The Gazette, News-Review named 2020 Newspapers of the Year

Feb. 19, 2021

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation on Friday honored the work of newspapers across the state, announcing the award winners and newspapers of the year in the 2020 WNAF Better Newspaper Contest.

Recipients of 2020 Newspaper of the Year Awards were The Gazette, Janesville, (Daily Division) and the Vilas County News-Review, Eagle River (Weekly Division).

Best of Division winners also included the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram, The (Rhinelander) Northwoods River News, The (Ironwood, Mich.) Daily Globe, The Monroe Times and The Valders Journal.

2020 WNAF Better Newspaper Contest Awards Tab

Feb. 19, 2021

The 2020 WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest included 2,051 entries from 103 newspapers. The contest was judged by members of the Texas Press Association.

See a list of all the winners, along with the judges’ comments, in our digital Better Newspaper Contest Awards Tab publication.

Watch: 2020 Better Newspaper Contest Awards program

Feb. 19, 2021

Did you miss the premiere of the 2020 WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest award ceremony? Don’t worry. You can still view a recording of the program.

This year's ceremony was held virtually due to gathering restrictions and other COVID-19 safety recommendations.

Order your duplicate awards by March14

Feb. 19, 2021

Did you win a 2020 WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest award and need a duplicate plaque or certificate? Place your order by March 14.

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

Wisconsin’s jobless pushed to brink as ideas swirl for mending torn safety net

Feb. 18, 2021

There is bipartisan consensus that Wisconsin should replace its outdated unemployment system, but questions loom about how and when the state will pay for it.

polco, coronavirus, voter registration, presidential debates, covid-19

Poll: Should marijuana be legalized in Wisconsin?

Feb. 18, 2021

A new poll question about whether marijuana use should be legalized in Wisconsin is available to be used by WNA members. We are asking the question in light of Gov. Tony Evers’ inclusion of marijuana legalization in his budget proposal.

Results from our previous poll question about face mask requirements are also available.

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 for their own dashboard.

Results available for mask mandate poll

Feb. 18, 2021

Readers visiting WNA member websites from Feb. 1 to 17 were asked whether face masks should be required in public places. Out of 960 verified respondents, 81% said they believed masks should be required in public, while 19% said it should be a personal choice.

Pandemic changes in travel patterns hammer state transportation revenues

Feb. 17, 2021

The surprise blow of COVID-19 has hammered key state transportation revenues in Wisconsin, leaving them short of projections for the current two-year budget cycle and raising questions about whether they will fully rebound after the pandemic.

Coulees abound with jumping Norwegians

Feb. 16, 2021

The Westby tournament is one of the last vestiges of what once was a series of ski jumps that ran from Prairie du Chien to Cameron, cutting a swathe through the heart of Norwegian settlements in western Wisconsin.