Wisconsin navigates tense politics and booming economic prospects amid regional unrest. Top headlines include sharp reactions to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis, with U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Prairie du Chien, blaming Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on social media for escalating tensions, while Democrats denounced the killing. Protests erupted across Wisconsin in Madison, Superior, Green Bay, La Crosse, and West Allis, drawing hundreds in solidarity with Minnesota amid ongoing ICE operations, according to Wisconsin Public Radio reports.

In government and politics, the state legislature advanced two constitutional amendments for the November 2026 ballot: one barring closures of places of worship during emergencies, passing 56-43 in the Assembly and 18-15 in the Senate, and another prohibiting preferential treatment based on race, sex, or ethnicity in public sectors, approved on party lines. A third targeting gubernatorial vetoes on taxes nears final passage, Ballotpedia notes. The Assembly also passed stewardship reforms for the Knowles-Nelson program by 53-44, curbing land acquisitions.

Business and economy shine with Microsoft's $13 billion push for 15 new data centers in Mount Pleasant on the former Foxconn site, totaling over $20 billion investment and 900 megawatts of power needs, as reported by Introl and W Media. New Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation head John W. Miller eyes manufacturing and tech amid inflation worries. Federal funds secured $12.4 million for northeast Wisconsin projects like Green Bay's fire station and airport upgrades, per Rep. Tony Wied's office. Gov. Tony Evers and Republicans near a deal to release $132 million for PFAS cleanup.

Community news highlights education maintenance from Westfield's 2024 referendum success and infrastructure boosts. No major recent weather events reported.

Looking Ahead: Watch village board votes on Microsoft expansions in Q1 2026, data center regulations in legislature, more ICE protests, and November ballot amendments shaping policy.

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Wisconsin faces significant developments across multiple sectors as the state heads toward critical decisions on data center expansion, legislative priorities, and economic growth strategies.

The most pressing story involves Microsoft's ambitious $13 billion investment proposal for Mount Pleasant. According to reporting from January 21, 2026, the technology giant submitted plans for 15 additional data centers across nearly 9 million square feet on the abandoned Foxconn site. This expansion would bring Microsoft's total Wisconsin investment to over $20 billion and require approximately 900 megawatts of electricity. The proposal comes just two months after residents in neighboring Caledonia forced Microsoft to withdraw a separate data center project, demonstrating growing community concerns over electricity rates and water consumption. The Mount Pleasant village board will vote on the proposal in the coming months, with construction potentially beginning in 2026.

On the legislative front, Wisconsin's Republican-controlled state Senate has advanced multiple constitutional amendments toward the November ballot. According to reporting from recent weeks, the Senate passed proposed amendments addressing diversity, equity and inclusion programs in government, public health order restrictions, and gubernatorial veto power. The DEI amendment passed on an 18-15 party-line vote, continuing a debate that has now spanned two legislative sessions.

Economic development priorities are shifting under new leadership. John W. Miller, the newly appointed Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation head, brings manufacturing and venture capital experience to the role, signaling the governor's focus on both large-scale projects and tech investment. Industry leaders emphasize that data center development is creating demand for supporting infrastructure including energy, water, fiber-optic networks, and transportation.

Education and workforce development remain central to governor's race discussions. Dairy industry leader and former economic development secretary Missy Hughes announced her economic plan, proposing high-skilled training for up to 100,000 additional workers annually and construction of 200,000 new homes throughout Wisconsin by the end of her first term.

On the federal level, Representative Tony Wied secured $12.4 million in community funding for Northeast Wisconsin through the final appropriations bills, including $5 million for a new Green Bay fire station, $4 million for Austin Straubel Airport improvements, and $1 million each for water infrastructure projects in Suamico and Kaukauna.

Looking ahead, Wisconsin residents should monitor village board decisions on Microsoft's Mount Pleasant expansion, continued legislative debate over data center regulation, and November's constitutional amendment ballot measures. The state's ability to balance rapid technological development with community concerns will shape its economic trajectory significantly.

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Wisconsin braces for a fierce Arctic blast this weekend, with temperatures plunging to highs below zero and wind chills near minus 40 in the northeast, marking the coldest air in years according to FOX 11 meteorologists. Southern regions already saw snow showers earlier this week, with more expected Sunday, as reported by News 3 Now on Channel 3000. Amid the chill, the state legislature kicked off 2026 energetically, passing a Republican-led bill requiring data centers to fund power grid upgrades, which cleared the Assembly 53-44 along party lines despite Democratic concerns over emissions and rushed development, per Urban Milwaukee and WPR. Other measures advanced include tax exemptions on tips, out-of-state telehealth access, and public safety bills on counterfeit airbags and school security, according to Hamilton Consulting.

In politics, EMILYs List targeted Wisconsin with part of a 15 million dollar investment to build Democratic majorities in 2026, eyeing flips in the Senate, Assembly, governor, and Supreme Court seats after fair maps were approved, as announced by the group. Economically, UW-Stout broke ground on a 144.3 million dollar Heritage Hall renovation to boost workforce training, alongside a 31.7 million dollar recreation complex upgrade and AI grants for manufacturers, highlighting education's role in growth. Community efforts shine too, with Westfield schools thanking voters for a 2024 referendum funding bus upgrades and infrastructure, while UW-Stout's veteran programs earned top rankings from Military Times.

Listeners, looking ahead, watch for that second snow round Sunday, ongoing legislative pushes before mid-March adjournment, and data center debates in local governments.

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Wisconsin is experiencing significant changes across education, infrastructure, and government priorities as the new year unfolds.

The state legislature returned to work this week with an ambitious agenda. Governor Tony Evers has urged lawmakers to pursue a massive one billion dollar property tax relief plan while increasing K-12 school funding, according to WisPolitics. The governor's letter also outlined priorities including capping insulin copay costs at 35 dollars, eliminating sales tax on household goods and over-the-counter medications, and streamlining affordable housing development. Last week, the Wisconsin State Assembly passed several measures during its first floor sessions, including legislation addressing public safety, criminal justice, and school safety, according to Hamilton Consulting.

Senate President Mary Felzkowski identified healthcare affordability as a top priority for 2026, focusing on cost transparency and prescription drug prices. The proposed legislation would allow the Wisconsin Department of Health Services to penalize hospitals that fail to follow federal transparency rules. Felzkowski also expressed support for expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers from 60 days to one year, a measure that has passed the Senate twice with bipartisan support but stalled in the Assembly, according to WPR.

Wisconsin's agricultural sector continues to face challenges. DrydenWire reported that dairy herds in Wisconsin have fallen to approximately 5,100 operations at the start of 2026, just over half the number from a decade ago and roughly one-third of farms licensed twenty years ago.

Major infrastructure and development projects are reshaping communities across the state. Madison Metropolitan School District continues steady progress on Phase 1 referendum projects, with formal groundbreakings scheduled for March 20, 2026, according to Madison Biz. The district has invested over 6.7 million dollars in referendum-related work across replacement buildings for Sherman Middle School, Malcolm Shabazz City High School, Samuel Gompers Elementary School, and Black Hawk Middle School. Shawano School District recently cut the ribbon on a new district office as part of its referendum projects, with facility work expected to conclude this fall, according to WTAQ.

Madison's cultural landscape is expanding significantly. According to Visit Madison, the Madison Public Market is set to open in early 2026 on the city's near-east side, featuring local merchants and serving as a business incubator. Additional attractions launching this year include the Center for Black Excellence and Culture opening in May 2026, the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park in September, and the Eastmorland Community Redevelopment opening in fall.

Looking ahead, listeners should watch for potential significant immigration enforcement operations. Forward Latino leader Darryl Morin warned that wide-scale ICE operations may come to Wisconsin unless priorities change sign

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Wisconsin enters 2026 with a bustling political landscape as Democrats eye a rare trifecta, controlling the governorship and both legislative chambers for the first time in 16 years, according to the Associated Press. The open governors race draws crowded fields, with candidates like Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez prioritizing health care and child care subsidies, while U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany pushes education reform amid falling reading scores. PBS Wisconsin reports all hopefuls spotlight affordability, from Medicaid expansion pushed by Mandela Barnes to tax cuts favored by Republicans. The Assembly unanimously passed a bill renaming a highway segment the Tom Deal Memorial Highway, per News 3 Now, and advanced Assembly Bill 38 to eliminate state income tax on tips, now awaiting Senate action on January 21, as FOX11 reports.

Economically, the state boasts a projected $2.5 billion budget surplus, up sharply and fueling debates over property tax relief, Wisconsin Public Radio notes. Construction booms with data centers leading, including Vantage Data Centers $15 billion Lighthouse project in Port Washington and Microsofts $7 billion Mount Pleasant campuses, where President Brad Smith backs new regulations to curb energy and water demands. The Wisconsin Bankers Association highlights low unemployment and infrastructure investments cushioning traditional sectors.

Communities see education advances, with Madison Metropolitan School District on track for Phase 1 referendum projects like new middle and elementary schools, investing $6.7 million so far, Madison Business News details. Shawano School District ribbon-cut its new office amid $51 million upgrades for security and tech, FOX11 adds. Senate President Mary Felzkowski targets health care transparency and extended postpartum Medicaid, finding bipartisan nods.

No major weather events disrupt the scene lately.

Looking Ahead, watch the April Supreme Court race, November legislative battles under new maps, and data center policies amid local concerns. Phase 2 school input sessions start January 28 in Madison.

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Wisconsin Public Radio reports the state Assembly advanced two constitutional amendments this week, potentially heading to voters in November. One would prohibit government discrimination or preferential treatment in public education and employment, while the other bars closing houses of worship during emergencies. Lawmakers also passed a bill defining grooming as a felony and responded to the Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan case by halting pay for suspended judges.

Governor Tony Evers urged bipartisan action on his 2026 agenda in a letter to legislators, calling for one billion dollars in property tax relief, increased K-12 funding, lower costs for families and seniors, affordable housing reforms, and PFAS cleanup, according to WisPolitics. With nearly four billion dollars in the general fund, Evers highlighted past bipartisan wins like the 2025 budget amid Republican control.

The economy shows strength through booming data center construction. Vantage Data Centers broke ground on a 902-megawatt Lighthouse campus in Port Washington with a 15-billion-dollar investment, per Data Center Knowledge, while a 3.3-billion-dollar project near Mount Pleasant employs thousands. Microsofts president voiced support for regulations preventing cost pass-throughs to consumers, as noted by DrydenWire, amid GOP pushes like Assembly Bill 840. Construction leaders, via the Construction Business Group, forecast growth in infrastructure and clean energy despite commercial slowdowns.

In education, four northeast districts—Appleton, Fond du Lac, Menasha, and Howard-Suamico—approved spring referendums to address deficits, hire staff, and maintain programs, FOX 11 reports. Public safety saw Childrens Wisconsin halt gender-affirming care due to legal risks.

No major recent weather events disrupted the state.

Looking Ahead: Watch for legislative sessions through March on Evers priorities, spring school referendums, data center regulations, and PFAS funding deals.

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Wisconsin listeners are navigating a mix of legal challenges, economic shifts, and political tensions as 2026 unfolds. Federal prosecutors indicted Martin M. Muniz-Lara of Greenville for the armed robbery of a Bear Creek bank last October, where he allegedly brandished a firearm, facing up to life in prison according to United States Attorney Brad D. Schimel via DrydenWire[1]. THC businesses brace for a November ban after Congress closed a federal loophole, scrambling to adapt in one of ten states without legal marijuana[1]. Dairy farmers cheered new federal guidelines promoting more milk and cheese consumption, with Edge Dairy Cooperative President Heidi Fischer praising their nutritional value[1]. Republicans enforced longstanding rules banning public recordings of committee hearings, drawing criticism from Democrats as a transparency curb, per Assembly Speaker Robin Vos spokesperson Luke Wolff[1].

In politics, GOP leaders like Rep. Shae Sortwell push bills to incentivize nuclear power, positioning Wisconsin to lead U.S. development, as discussed on WisPolitics Capitol Chats[6]. State government shrinks under Vision 2030, with sales planned for Madison buildings like GEF 2 and 3, continuing under Gov. Tony Evers despite vetoes of remote work mandates, reports Wisconsin Watch[9]. The 2026 governors race heats up with crowded Democratic primaries and Republicans like Tom Tiffany eyeing the seat, amid debates on housing, vouchers, and school funding from Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez on PBS Wisconsin[8][15].

Economically, Cascades invests six million dollars in its Eau Claire plant, creating 36 jobs with Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. support, per Volume One[3]. Vantage Data Centers broke ground on the 902-megawatt Lighthouse project in Port Washington for OpenAI and Oracle, a 15-billion-dollar Stargate initiative, though cities like Menomonie and Caledonia impose restrictions amid local opposition over resources, according to Data Center Knowledge and WPR[11][12][7].

Community efforts advance with UW-Green Bays topping-out ceremony for the 101-million-dollar Cofrin Technology and Education Center, set for 2027 opening to modernize learning, as Chancellor Michael Alexander noted to FOX11[4]. No major recent weather events reported.

Looking Ahead, watch the Wisconsin Supreme Court race between judges Chris Taylor and Maria Lazar, local housing battles in Dane County, data center regulations, and the governors primaries ramping up through legislative sessions starting soon, per Tone Madison and Wisconsin Watch[2][9].

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Wisconsin listeners are waking up to a state in motion, where policy debates, economic investments and unusual January weather are all shaping the week ahead. DrydenWire reports that state lawmakers are advancing a bipartisan plan to expand PTSD coverage for first responders, with an Assembly committee unanimously backing a measure to include EMS personnel, volunteer firefighters, correctional officers, dispatchers, coroners and medical examiners under existing mental health protections, signaling broad concern for public safety workers’ well-being. DrydenWire also notes a controversial proposal, Assembly Bill 311, that would prevent sex changes from being reflected on birth certificates, intensifying culture-war debates at the Capitol.

According to Wisconsin Watch, new legislative maps and the 2026 midterm environment are fueling predictions that Democrats could flip at least one chamber of the Legislature for the first time in nearly two decades, setting up a high-stakes battle over education funding, tax policy and regulation in the coming months. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that local control is front and center in Menomonie, where city officials, reacting to a proposed 1.6 billion dollar data center that drew heavy pushback, unanimously approved new zoning rules that restrict where and how future data centers can be built, even as Republicans and Democrats at the state level float competing frameworks for regulating the fast-growing sector.

On the economic front, Volume One highlights a 6 million dollar expansion at Cascades’ Eau Claire tissue plant, a project expected to create 36 new jobs and supported by up to 200,000 dollars in performance-based state tax credits from the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, underscoring steady manufacturing and employment growth in the Chippewa Valley. Finance & Commerce reports that in Waukesha County, Big Bend officials are reviewing a proposed 170 million dollar Breck Athletic Complex with fields, hotel and retail components, a development that could reshape youth sports tourism and local infrastructure if approved.

Infrastructure and education are also on the move. The Press Times reports that the State Building Commission approved about 185 million dollars in projects statewide, including a second Type 1 juvenile correctional facility in Fitchburg and upgrades across multiple agencies and UW campuses, part of Governor Tony Evers’ broader corrections and capital plan. WLUK notes that UW–Green Bay celebrated a milestone “topping out” ceremony for its new 101 million dollar Cofrin Technology and Education Center, a next-generation library and learning hub.

Weather-wise, the National Weather Service says an unusually warm and moist system on January 8–9 brought over two inches of rain to parts of southwest Wisconsin, setting all-time January 24-hour rainfall records at several stations and causing river rises on the Kickapoo River, though widespread flooding was limited.

Looking ahead, W

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Wisconsin is starting the new year with politics, infrastructure, education, and winter weather all shaping life across the state. DrydenWire reports that the 2026 race for governor is already underway after Gov. Tony Evers announced he will not seek a third term, prompting Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez, former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, and several others to jump into what could be one of the largest primary fields in recent memory. According to PBS Wisconsin, Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany is highlighting education performance, energy costs, and tax policy as central issues in the emerging governor’s race. Wisconsin Watch adds that new legislative maps and a midterm environment could give Democrats a realistic chance to flip at least one chamber of the Legislature for the first time in nearly two decades.

At the Capitol, Wisconsin Public Radio reports that Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expects the remaining weeks of the legislative session to focus on property tax relief, changes to the state’s administration of SNAP food benefits, and a constitutional response to Gov. Evers’ 2023 “400-year” school funding veto, which the Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld in April. Vos says Republicans will pursue amendments limiting the governor’s partial veto power and proposals to eliminate state income tax on tips and overtime pay.

On the economic front, health and human services spending is drawing attention. Wisconsin Public Radio reports that the state Medicaid program is now projected to run about 213 million dollars over its budget due to higher enrollment in long-term care for seniors and adults with disabilities, pressure that could influence future budget negotiations and tax debates.

Communities are also seeing tangible investment in education and infrastructure. Fox 11 News in Green Bay reports that UW–Green Bay held a topping-out ceremony for its new five-story, 101 million dollar Cofrin Technology and Education Center, which will replace the 52-year-old Cofrin Library and serve as a modern hub for technology and teacher education. Gov. Evers recently announced that the State Building Commission has approved roughly 185 million dollars in construction projects statewide, according to the Green Bay Press Times, including a new Type 1 juvenile correctional facility near Fitchburg, upgrades at military readiness centers, and maintenance projects across University of Wisconsin campuses and state agencies aimed at modernizing infrastructure and public safety.

Weather is living up to Wisconsin’s winter reputation. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office at UW–Madison reports that January is typically the state’s coldest month, and NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center is calling for a higher chance of below-average temperatures to start the year, with many areas likely to see repeated blasts of Arctic air and frequent subzero wind chills.

Looking Ahead, listeners can watch for Gov. Evers’ State of the State address on February 17, 2026, new legislative battles ov

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consin enters 2026 amid robust construction growth and political maneuvering, as major projects signal economic promise while federal uncertainties loom. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos expressed optimism for a Republican gubernatorial win next year, telling Wisconsin Public Radio there is a good chance, while the legislature plans to tackle property tax relief and bipartisan food stamp administration through March. According to Urban Milwaukee, a Trump administration freeze on federal child care funds, prompted by unverified fraud allegations in Minnesota, leaves Wisconsin providers uncertain about future operations.

Business developments dominate, with Microsoft advancing its $7.3 billion data center investments in Racine County, including a new $4 billion AI-focused facility, as reported by the Daily Reporter. Eli Lillys $3 billion expansion in Kenosha County will create 750 jobs, and Metas $1 billion Beaver Dam campus targets LEED Gold certification. The State Building Commission approved $185 million for projects, including a second Type 1 juvenile facility in Fitchburg to replace Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake schools, advancing Governor Evers corrections reform, per WisPolitics and GOPress Times. University infrastructure advances too, with over $250 million for the UW System and $89 million for UW-Madisons Phillip A. Levy Engineering Hall.

Community efforts focus on education and safety, with Evers highlighting 2025s $1.2 billion capital budget for UW campuses statewide. Public safety improves through the domino series of DOC realignments, aiming to close distant youth facilities and build regional ones closer to home.

No major recent weather events have disrupted the state.

Looking Ahead, eyes turn to the 2026 elections for governor, attorney general, and legislative seats, plus Evers State of the State address on February 17.

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