Saturday, April 4, 2026
We Energies delays Oak Creek coal plant closure again
Francesca Pica
We Energies will again delay the closure of its aging coal plant in Oak Creek.
The utility said in public filings to state regulators it's considering keeping two coal units at the Oak Creek Power Plant open into 2027. We Energies initially planned to shut down the plant in 2023 but delayed closure to 2025, then 2026, "to meet high energy demand periods."
The coal units first went online in the 1960s. They now run during periods of peak demand, typically the hottest and coldest days of the year, to help support the electric grid.
The utility says it wants to ensure grid reliability before shutting down the plant, referencing the extreme cold that hit southeast Wisconsin in January.
"Having available generation was incredibly important for reliability and also valuable for our customers," We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said.
We Energies is also waiting for new natural gas plants in Oak Creek and Kenosha County to go into service. The plants will help supplement new wind and solar projects as demand for electricity is expected to increase.
"How much [the coal plant] may run, even now through then, remains to be seen," Conway said. "But keeping it available will be super important for a really hot stretch or cold polar vortex."
Environmental groups say decision hurts public health
Environmental groups like Clean Wisconsin said extending the plant's life adds to damage the environment and the health of nearby residents.
"It's turning its back on the communities who are dealing with the pollution that comes from that plant every single day," Amy Barrilleaux, Clean Wisconsin communication director, told the Journal Sentinel.
Plant closure deadlines are set by utilities and don't have an enforcement mechanism – rendering them "meaningless," Barrilleaux said.
"To sit here and say, now it's going to be the end of 2027, I don't know who's going to believe that," she said.
Barrilleaux said the move keeps Wisconsin ratepayers on the hook longer for coal power, which is more expensive than renewable sources like wind and solar.
Conway said that because the plant runs only during periods of peak demand, when energy is at its most expensive, the electricity it supplies to the grid helps reduce overall costs.
The move comes as the Trump administration has ordered retiring coal plants to remain open, including in Michigan and Indiana. The Oak Creek extension is unrelated, Conway said.
Because the Michigan and Indiana plants operate on the same regional grid, Wisconsin residents pay costs associated with them in addition to the Oak Creek facility, Barrilleaux said.
"[The Trump administration's] desperate attempt to prop up what is a dying fuel source is just going to cost us a lot of money," Barrilleaux said.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
Wisconsin police can now test saliva if they suspect drugged driving
Hope Karnopp
A new state law allows police who suspect drugged driving to perform a rapid roadside test of the driver's saliva to check for THC, opioids, meth and more, though police departments don't appear ready to roll it out immediately.
State law already allows police to use breathalyzers to check blood-alcohol levels, but those devices don't test for other intoxicating substances. The new law allows police to sample oral fluids – mainly saliva – when they suspect an OWI.
Law enforcement groups that advocated for the law change say drug impairment is more difficult to identify than alcohol intoxication. Plus, intoxication levels can decrease between the time police make a traffic stop and a blood sample is collected.
"Oral fluid screening would give officers an additional, objective tool to confirm the presence of drugs – much like a preliminary breath test does for alcohol – before making an arrest decision," Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett said at a December public hearing.
Wisconsin Act 99 became effective March 15, two days after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed it into law. The state Legislature passed it in February with bipartisan support.
Here's what to know about the new law:
What does the law allow police to do when they suspect an impaired driver?
If police have probable cause to believe a driver is intoxicated, the officer can request a saliva or breath test, or both. That's in addition to field sobriety tests.
The officer places a mouth swab inside the driver's cheek or under the tongue and runs it through a handheld device, such as Abbott's SoToxa or Alere DDS2.
The legislation was amended to allow the tests for suspected intoxicated operation of vehicles other than cars, such as boats, snowmobiles, ATVs, UTVs and more.
Are the oral drug tests admissible in court?
No. The test results aren't admissible in court and must be destroyed or returned to the person after the test is completed.
The preliminary tests are used only to help police decide whether to make an arrest and pursue laboratory confirmation testing.
Have police in Wisconsin tried saliva drug tests before?
Yes. The Dane County and Manitowoc County sheriff's offices piloted the program in 2016 and 2019, finding that oral fluid testing devices were accurate and consistent with blood tests.
Dane County conducted its study with the State Laboratory of Hygiene and published the results in an academic journal. The study found that 64% of participants arrested for an OWI also had one or more drugs in their blood, with THC the most common.
Manitowoc County worked with the State Laboratory of Hygiene and the Wisconsin State Patrol on its study, which collected 100 voluntary samples. Results showed 41% of OWI offenders were positive for THC, 20% for amphetamine and 14% for methamphetamine.
Which police agencies plan to use the new saliva drug test?
Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association President Danny Thompson said he wasn't aware of any agencies immediately using the test.
"Although this roadside test will be very beneficial to arresting dangerous, impaired drivers, we have not heard of any agencies ready to implement this kind of testing right away," Thompson said in a statement to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
A Milwaukee Police Department spokesperson said the department isn't using the tests "at this time and are still looking into it." A Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment.
The two departments that piloted the program also don't plan to bring it back right away.
Manitowoc County Sheriff Daniel Hartwig said his office is monitoring guidance related to the new law but doesn't have plans to implement it at this point. A Dane County Sheriff's Office spokesperson said the county would use it "given the appropriate funding and resources."
How much would the program cost?
Each SoToxa device appears to cost around $4,500 to $5,000, according to news reports on programs in North Dakota and San Diego.
Law enforcement groups said agencies in Wisconsin would likely pursue funding for the devices through federal grants.
Do other states use saliva screening?
Yes. A state-by-state analysis from the National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving shows 10 states have statewide roadside oral fluid testing programs, and another eight have the program in some jurisdictions.
A 2021 report from the National Conference of State Legislatures found nearly half of states have the law, but few used it. One that does is Indiana, where over 200 handheld test devices are used across 110 law enforcement agencies.
Who authored and supported the law?
The bill was authored by Republicans, including Sen. Jesse James from Thorp and Rep. Barbara Dittrich from Oconomowoc. Several Democrats became cosponsors, including Rep. Lori Palmeri from Oshkosh and Rep. Ryan Spaude from Ashwaubenon.
Supporters of the bill included AAA Wisconsin, the Milwaukee Police Association, the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association and Mothers Against Drunk Driving. No groups registered in opposition to the bill.
What qualifies as operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin?
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and state law, a driver is considered to be operating while intoxicated if:
- The driver is under the influence of an intoxicant, controlled substance or other drug that impairs their ability to safely operate a vehicle, even if the vehicle isn't in motion at the time of the traffic stop.
- The driver has a detectable amount of a restricted controlled substance in their blood. That includes cocaine, heroin, meth, delta-9 THC (if at a concentration of one or more nanograms per milliliter in a person's blood) and more.
- The driver has a BAC over what the law allows, such as above 0.08 for first-time offenders, 0.04 for commercial drivers or 0.02 for drivers with three or more prior OWIs.
Friday, April 3, 2026
Thursday, April 2, 2026
SPECIAL REPORT: President Trump ousts Pam Bondi as attorney general
We Energies wants to raise residential rates 14%. What to know about the utility's plan.
Francesca Pica
We Energies customers will pay nearly 10% more for electricity by 2028 under the utility’s new rate proposal.
We Energies is seeking a 9.2% electric rate hike for non-data center customers through 2028, according to filings submitted to state regulators April 1. That’s an additional $175.8 million in 2027 and $179.6 million in 2028.
Residential rates will rise 14.75% by 2028. If approved, We Energies customers will have experienced six rate hikes since 2020.
The three-member state Public Service Commission sets utilities’ electric, natural gas and steam rates. It is expected to rule on the rate increases later this year.
Here’s what to know:
How much will my electric bill rise?
Residential We Energies customers will see a 9.25% increase in 2027, or around $13 added to their electric bill, under the utility's proposal. The typical monthly bill is expected to total $157.33, up from $148.22 in 2026, according to the proposal.
In 2028, rates would rise another 5.5%. That would add $8-$9 to electric bills for a typical total of $166.02.
The proposed increase follows another double-digit rate hike in the rate case for 2025 and 2026.
Wisconsin Electric-Gas rates would rise 0.1% in 2027, before jumping 4.5% in 2028. Wisconsin Gas customers would see a 6.8% increase in 2027 followed by a 4% increase in 2028.
Typical We Energies electric bill, 2006-2028
The average electric bill for a We Energies residential customer who uses 660 kilowatt-hours per month.
Marshmallow Peeps masterpieces take over Racine Art Museum
Adrienne Davis
Monster brides, camping trips, and even classic '90s cartoons − all made from Peeps marshmallow candy − each earned awards during the 17th edition of the candy-inspired art competition at the Racine Art Museum.
The annual exhibition at the Racine Art Museum showcases work from artists who incorporate or represent the iconic candy. The exhibition runs through April 18 at the museum, 441 Main St., in downtown Racine.
The Golden PEEPS Awards, held March 31, served as the exhibition’s opening reception, honoring artists as they walked an orange carpet.
“Each year, we are presented with truly exceptional artwork submissions, which makes selecting award winners incredibly difficult,” RAM Assistant Curator Katelyn Mitchell said in a news release. "It’s always wonderful to see artists transform this unusual material into something novel.”
Mitchell said judges consider creativity, presentation and the use of Peeps marshmallow candy as art media or inspiration.
Awards in multiple categories were presented to artists during the show, who demonstrated clever and skilled use of Peeps marshmallow candy.
Julie Palmer of Racine won first 'PEEP' in the adult division for the Happy Birthday, PEEP Jr. art display − a spring-colored piece featuring Peeps gathered inside a miniature tree house for a birthday celebration.
Among Milwaukee-area winners include Beatrix W. Leach of Milwaukee, who took home second 'PEEP' for Victorian Peeps, an elegant piece featuring miniature Peeps enclosed in an egg-shaped display set on a sophisticated saucer.
Connie Reeves of Wauwatosa received an honorable mention for Peep Mittens, a pair of mittens knitted in vivid Peeps decorations.
In the Young 'PEEPle's' under 13 division, Charlotte Barnes of Racine, won first 'PEEP' for the Peep Scouts Go Camping, a colorful display showing the marshmallow ducks gathered around a tropical campsite.
In the group division under 13, first 'PEEP' was given to Laura and Steve Grayson of Racine for The Peepeux Tapestry: An Epic Bunny Adventure, a tapestry-styled piece that shows Peeps as they travel through history.
Jon and Laura Leach, also from Wauwatosa, received an honorable mention for Spring Dance − colorful Peeps that appear to float in mid-air.
First-place winners and RAM Staff Choice recipients also received a golden glass PEEPS bunny sculpture handcrafted by Hot Shop Glass in downtown Racine.
Hours
Both campuses of the Racine Art Museum are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Admission rates for the Racine Art Museum can be found here.
For more information on the PEEPS Brand Art Exhibition, visit here.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
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