State

With the 2026 primaries for governor less than a year away, the field is growing, shifting and gaining attention.

And why not?

This is the first open governor's race since 2010, when Dem Gov. Jim Doyle opted out of a reelection bid. This time, it’s Dem Gov. Tony Evers who has decided not to run for a third four-year term.

After spiking during the pandemic, the rate of alcohol-induced deaths has declined in Wisconsin and nationally. Still, rates of such deaths remain significantly elevated from pre-pandemic years, particularly in Wisconsin.

Student assessment scores have not yet recovered from their decline during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s newly updated School DataTool shows.

On the stormy night of Nov. 10, 1975, the Edmund Fitzgerald disappeared beneath the icy waves of Lake Superior. Half a century later, Wisconsin’s maritime communities are not only remembering the tragedy but also celebrating the deep, enduring ties the ship and its crew had to the state.

Gross property tax levies across Wisconsin increased 4.2 percent in 2024, the second largest increase since 2009. In the last 15 years, this increase in levies by all local governments was second only to the 4.6 percent annual increase in 2023.

Total operating spending across all Wisconsin cities and villages increased sharply in 2023 after a period of high inflation, the Wisconsin Policy Forum’s 2025 Municipal DataTool shows.

Participation in Wisconsin’s registered and youth apprenticeship programs soared to record high levels in 2024 – a welcome development at a time when many industries report shortages of qualified workers.

When the weather turns crisp and kickoff returns, so does one of Wisconsin’s most cherished traditions: The tailgate. For Wisconsinites, the real magic happens hours before the football game even starts.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) has released an updated report finding that emergency medical services (EMS) in Wisconsin responded to over 140,000 falls in 2024, representing 21 percent of all 911-related ambulance runs in 2024.

As schools across the state settle into another academic year, the Wisconsin State Patrol and Wisconsin School Bus Association (WSBA) are working together to keep students safe and encourage safe driving near buses.