Search Results for: public-affairs
January 30, 2025
Duffy confirmed as Transportation Secretary on bipartisan Senate vote
By Lane Kimble
The Senate confirmed former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy as the next Transportation Secretary on Tuesday. A bipartisan coalition voted 77-22 in favor of Duffy’s nomination. Both Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin) and Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin)…
Read MoreJanuary 30, 2025
Trump administration’s federal funding freeze thawed… for now
By Lane Kimble
A second straight week of confusion and concerns over President Donald Trump’s executive order freezing federal grant spending appears to have finally settled down. Wednesday, the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rescinded…
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January 24, 2025
Evers sets stage for busy 2025 session with focus on prioritizing children
By Lane Kimble
MADISON, Wis. -- Declaring 2025 the “Year of the Kid” in Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers laid out his vision for the state’s future Wednesday night. The governor only used the word “roads” once early on…
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January 23, 2025
Senate committee approves Duffy as Transportation Secretary on 28-0 vote
By Lane Kimble
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy easily cruised through a Senate committee vote this week, securing unanimous bipartisan approval to serve as the next Transportation Secretary. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee…
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January 22, 2025
Trump executive order causes concern, confusion over federal transportation funding
By Lane Kimble
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Billions of dollars in money committed for infrastructure projects is flowing again after a brief but nerve-racking pause this week. One of President Donald Trump’s many executive orders signed Tuesday–his first full…
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January 14, 2025
Monthly Work Zone Safe Wisconsin winner hopes to become computer code writer
By Lane Kimble
Devin Maconaghy will probably spend a lot of time in front of a computer in the future. The Reedsburg Area High School junior wants to graduate early and learn coding. But it’s the 45-minute online…
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January 3, 2025
Jan. 1 marks start of 3-cent EV tax for Transportation Fund
By Lane Kimble
The newest contributor to growing the state’s transportation fund kicked into gear this week. The 3-cent per kilowatt hour tax on public electric vehicle chargers, which began Jan. 1, likely won’t generate much money in…
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January 2, 2025
Dems name committee members, rounding out 2025-26 Legislative assignments
By Lane Kimble
Democrat leaders in the state Senate and Assembly announced their committee appointments late Thursday, concluding the process just ahead of Inauguration Day on Monday. Rep. Kalan Haywood (D-Milwaukee) returns to the Assembly Committee on Transportation.…
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December 27, 2024
Evers appoints Hyun as new DNR secretary
By Lane Kimble
After more than a year without a secretary, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has named his pick to fill the top spot of the state Department of Natural Resources. Evers announced Dr. Karen Hyun as his…
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December 20, 2024
VanderMeer returning as Transportation Committee chair
By Lane Kimble
State Rep. Nancy VanderMeer will once again lead the Assembly Committee on Transportation. Speaker Robin Vos announced his committee selections Wednesday for the upcoming legislative session. Alongside Chairwoman VanderMeer, State Rep. John Spiros (R-Marshfield) will…
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December 11, 2024
Vos reappoints Rep. Born as JFC co-chair
By Lane Kimble
There will be many new faces in the state Legislature this coming session, but the leaders of the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee (JFC) will remain familiar ones. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos named Rep. Mark Born…
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November 19, 2024
Former Wisconsin Congressman Sean Duffy set to become next Transportation Secretary
By Lane Kimble
President-elect Donald Trump aims to focus on building roads, bridges, and airports during his second administration and he believes a former Wisconsin Congressman is the man to lead that charge. Trump announced Sean Duffy as…
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November 13, 2024
State’s first major Design Build project produces “spectacular” Lone Rock bridges
By Lane Kimble
LONE ROCK, Wis. -- Two beautiful new bridges spanning a scenic stretch of the Wisconsin River in southwest Wisconsin are something of a dichotomy. They’re built to last a very long time. And yet, the…
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November 7, 2024
Wisconsin Republicans hold onto Senate, Assembly despite losses in redrawn districts
By Lane Kimble
A lawmaker from the Northwoods who prefers people just call her Mary–not “Senator”--will preside over the new state Senate. Thursday, Senate Republicans elected Sen. Mary Felzkowski (R-Irma) as president, replacing Sen. Chris Kapenga, who opted…
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October 9, 2024
Boosted infrastructure funding part of estimated $1.5 billion in shared revenue payments
By Lane Kimble
Communities across Wisconsin should receive a combined $281 million more to improve infrastructure and pay for essential public services. That’s a piece of an estimated $1.5 billion overall in shared revenue for 2025, which Gov.…
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September 25, 2024
Hoffman Construction Company, president honored as “Patriotic Employer”
By Lane Kimble
BLACK RIVER FALLS, Wis. -- A WTBA-member company’s commitment to supporting U.S. veterans earned it some special recognition this week. The Department of Defense honored Hoffman Construction and company president Chris Goss as a “Patriotic…
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September 13, 2024
Boardman lays out priorities as WisDOT’s new secretary
By Lane Kimble
WisDOT’s new leader intends to focus on transportation funding and embracing technology as she takes office. Kristina Boardman replaced former Secretary Craig Thompson, who left the department after more than five years for a job…
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September 6, 2024
‘The privilege of my lifetime’: Sec. Thompson thanks family, staff, industry at farewell party
By Lane Kimble
MADISON, Wis. -- Craig Thompson knew exactly where to start this time as he faced the crowd, even without a script. The outgoing WisDOT secretary retold the story of his introductory press conference in Madison…
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September 4, 2024
Record-setting $8.7 billion August Redistribution highlights growing federal funding headache
By Lane Kimble
Wisconsin is about to receive more than $200 million in federal Highway Trust Fund money, but it can’t go to traditional road and bridge projects and needs to be spent quickly. The state’s portion of…
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August 19, 2024
Thompson leaving WisDOT in Sept., Boardman to replace as secretary
By Lane Kimble
MADISON, Wis. -- After serving as a consistent and level-headed leader through nearly six years of progress, change, and challenges, WisDOT Secretary Craig Thompson is, himself, leaving the department. Thompson is taking the job of…
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