Bill Barth

Bill Barth to leave role as Beloit Daily News editor

Nov. 9, 2020

After more than 40 years with the newspaper, Bill Barth is leaving his role as editor of the Beloit Daily News next week. The Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Famer has been with the Daily News since 1976 and served as editor since 1994.

Sid Schwartz, longtime editor of The Gazette in Janesville, will now oversee newsrooms in both Janesville and Beloit in his role as regional editor for APG Media of Southern Wisconsin.

ryan urban, bob zientara, barron news-shield

Ryan Urban named Barron News-Shield editor

Nov. 9, 2020

Ryan Urban has been named editor of the Barron News-Shield, the newspaper announced Wednesday. He fills the position being vacated by Bob Zientara, who is transitioning to semi-retirement.

Urban joins the News-Shield after spending the last six years with The Chronotype in Rice Lake.

gavel, judge, court, open meetings, walking quorum, public records

Marsy’s Law remains in place for now following judge’s ruling that ballot question was improper

Nov. 9, 2020

A judge has determined the statewide ballot question on “Marsy’s Law” was improperly worded. However, the law will, for now, remain in effect.

Since Marsy’s Law has taken effect, at least one public records custodian has indicated that he believes Marsy’s Law restricts access to certain information about crime victims contained in public records. However, as WNA attorney James Friedman outlines in a statement from the WNA
, the law includes no reference whatsoever to records and “simply has no impact on the public’s right to access government records in Wisconsin.”

adam krebs

Adam Krebs named editor of The Monroe Times

Nov. 8, 2020

Adam Krebs, a Monroe native who has spent the last three years with the newspaper, has been named editor of The Monroe Times.

Krebs took over the role on an interim basis following the departure of Emily Massingill. After one month in the role, the interim designation was removed. He has spent the last three years with the Times.

Wisconsin reporters debunk election misinformation

Nov. 8, 2020

As misinformation spread like wildfire in the days after Election Day — from rumors about artificially inflated vote totals to claims of ballots being mysteriously found in the early hours of the morning — Wisconsin reporters took to Twitter and other platforms to debunk false claims being spread on social media. We’ve compiled a roundup of some of their efforts.

garden, propagation, plants

We embark on propagation campaigns

Nov. 5, 2020

Asexual plant propagation involves taking one part of a parent plant and causing it to regenerate itself into a new plant. We can do it through cuttings, layering, division, budding and grafting.

Wisconsin Policy Forum logo

In Jefferson County, a look at how service sharing might help communities

Nov. 3, 2020

As many local officials across Wisconsin face tight 2021 budgets in the wake of COVID-19, consolidation or enhanced service sharing with neighboring municipalities may offer an opportunity to spread the cost of certain services across multiple jurisdictions, while increasing efficiency and improving service levels in the long term.

covid, virus

Your Right to Know: DOC should be more open about COVID-19

Nov. 3, 2020

In the latest Your Right to Know column for November 2020, Gretchen Schuldt of the Wisconsin Justice Initiative writes about the Department of Corrections’ lack of transparency over COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin prisons.

The column is available for publication by WNA members.

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