Friday, October 31, 2025
Gov. Tony Evers signs law banning cellphones in public schools. 'Our kids are struggling.'
Jessie Opoien
MADISON – Public school students will largely be banned from using cell phones in classrooms under a bipartisan bill Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed into law Oct. 31.
The law will require public school boards to develop a policy by July that generally bars students from using cell phones during the school day.
The legislation, which passed the state Senate 29-4 on Oct. 14 and was approved by the state Assembly in February, allows school boards to create exemptions for certain reasons, like emergency situations and to manage a student's health care. The law also allows for the use of school district-issued electronic devices.
Evers said he continues to believe it's best to leave such decisions to local school boards in cooperation with their communities, and he wishes the Legislature would have taken a different approach with the legislation.
"Nevertheless, my promise to the people of Wisconsin is to always do what’s best for our kids, and that obligation weighs heavily on me in considering this bill, as it does every bill affecting kids that reaches my desk," Evers, a former educator and state Superintendent of Public Instruction, said in a statement.
The governor, who declared 2025 the "Year of the Kid" in his January State of the State address, said he is "deeply concerned about the impacts cell phone and social media use are having on our kids and their mental health, school outcomes, and how our kids engage and interact with each other and the world around us."
"Our kids are struggling today, perhaps now more than ever. It’s really tough to be a kid these days, and we know that cellphones can be a major distraction from learning, a source of bullying, and a barrier to our kids’ important work of just being a kid," Evers said.
While schools must prepare students for a "21st-century world, economy, and future," Evers said educators must also evolve along with technology — including "taking pragmatic steps to keep our kids safe and protect them from the harmful impacts of new and emerging technology."
As the state Senate debated the bill earlier this month, Sen. Melissa Ratcliff, D-Cottage Grove, suggested lawmakers should pass legislation addressing the prevalence of firearms and the scourge of school shootings instead of regulating cell phone use, noting her daughter alerted her to a school shooting nearby because she had access to a cell phone.
Bill author Sen. Rachael Cabral-Guevera, R-Appleton, said the bill allows for exceptions and should help students listen in class and would keep communication lines from being clogged during a threat at the school.
The vast majority of public school districts — 90% — already report having a policy similar to what is prescribed in the bill, according to a survey conducted by the state Department of Public Instruction.
Research compiled by the state Office of Children's Mental Health points to concerns with smartphone use among children impairing development of social skills, contributing to mental health issues, disrupting ability to focus and exposing kids to inappropriate content and cyberbullying.
Some school administrators told lawmakers earlier this year that they oppose the bill because it is written too broadly to be effective.
"Limiting cell phones, gaming devices etc. to maintain an effective learning environment is essential in the classroom," Greg Kabara, Nicolet Union High School District superintendent, wrote in a letter to lawmakers.
"While I understand the overall intent of the bill it seems too broad and less effective than allowing schools local control in regards to wireless devices during the school day."
Rep. Joel Kitchens, R-Sturgeon Bay, said in February that the bill would help school officials maintain their existing policies.
"We are saying to the school districts that we’re standing with you on this, because everyone agrees this is a problem," he said ahead of the Assembly vote.
In recent years, a growing number of states have adopted statewide bans or policies for cell phone use in schools, and such policies are generally popular with voters across the political spectrum, according to a recent report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
Thursday, October 30, 2025
Florida Teen Busted at 106 MPH, Blames His Mom
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
Israeli strikes overnight in Gaza in the most serious challenge yet to the truce • FRANCE 24
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
'I'm glad people haven't forgotten about us': Brewery reopens in downtown Racine
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Nine months after its closure, a beloved downtown brewery has made its comeback.
Littleport Brewing Company, 214 Third St., reopened Oct. 13, according to Mark Flynn, who co-owns the brewery with his wife, Chris Flynn.
The brewery will be open 5-9 p.m. Mondays through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays, “or until the Packers game is over” on Sunday nights when Green Bay plays, Flynn said.
The Flynns’ first opened Littleport in April 2021.
Littleport closed in January after original investors “decided they wanted their investment back in their entirety,” leading the brewery to put the building up for sale, the Flynns’ wrote in a Facebook post at the time.
The couple also said in the post that they were hopeful they would reopen in another location in six to 12 months.
Mark Flynn said he and Chris were “shocked” when investors turned the building back over to them, not having found success in selling it after six months.
“It’s nice that we didn’t lose the building,” he said. “Had we lost it, that would have been a loss we’d be carrying the rest of our lives.”
The feel of Littleport is largely the same as it was nine months ago, but Flynn said they will likely host more events. The brewery was just ramping up live music and open mic nights when it closed, and now, Flynn said, they’ve received inquiries about hosting dance classes or yoga classes in the space.
The brewery’s new equipment takes up half the space of their original equipment, leaving room for about 40-50 more people inside, according to Flynn. Support from the community has allowed the brewery to restock and reopen that much quicker, Flynn said.
“Customers’ reaction has been fantastic,” he said. “I’m glad people haven’t forgotten about us.”
The Flynns’ haven’t asked for donations, but customers have been giving them — including donations from a GoFundMe page that has so far raised $5,300 for the brewery.
“It was a friend of ours who set it up and I didn’t know she was doing it,” Flynn said. “It’s nice to see the community rallying around us.”
From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/business/article_dca79299-e392-4035-85dd-ec7f95275afa.html
Amazon Announces Massive Job Cuts: What’s Behind the Layoffs?
Monday, October 27, 2025
UK Home Office spent billions on asylum hotels, MPs say | BBC News
Sunday, October 26, 2025
Saturday, October 25, 2025
Department of Corrections to conduct Halloween home visits of sex offenders
MADISON — Local law enforcement agencies across the state will work with Wisconsin Department of Corrections this Halloween to monitor sex offenders on probation or parole.
As part of an annual partnership, the DOC Division of Community Corrections probation and parole agents along with local agencies will conduct random home visits on high-risk sex offenders during trick-or-treat hours.
Individuals on the sex offender registry who are on probation or parole are prohibited from having Halloween decorations inside or outside of their homes. They also may not distribute candy, participate in other trick-or-treating activities and must keep their porch lights off during trick-or-treating.
“Trick-or-treating is a fun Halloween tradition, but it’s also a time to remind children of safe practices while walking their neighborhoods," DOC director of Sex Offender Programs Grace Knutson said in a news release. “As a group, plan your route and stick to neighborhoods with well-lit streets. Younger children should always be accompanied by an adult, and older children should stay in a group. Cell phones are a great way to communicate and track the child’s location."
Wisconsin DOC encourages parents and guardians to get to know their neighborhoods by accessing the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registry website at wistaysafe.gov. Users can search by ZIP code or view offenders within a geographic radius.
Anyone who sees a potential violation can call in the tip line at 877-234-0085. The DOC recommends that the public contact local law enforcement in emergency situations.
Friday, October 24, 2025
Thursday, October 23, 2025
FBI multi-year drug investigation in Milwaukee and Racine leads to 22 arrests, drugs confiscated
Kelli Arseneau
The FBI announced Oct. 22 that a multi-year investigation has led to the arrest of 22 people it says are connected to an international drug cartel operating in Milwaukee and Racine.
According to a news release from the FBI's Milwaukee office, an investigation named "Operation Chalkline" resulted in the seizure of more than 260 grams of fentanyl, 4 kilograms of cocaine, 1.5 pounds of methamphetamines, 6 pounds of marijuana, 23 firearms and three vehicles.
The investigation was led by a Mount Pleasant Police Department officer as part of the FBI Milwaukee Area Safe Streets Task Force. The task force includes officers from the Mount Pleasant, Caledonia and Racine police departments, and the Racine County Sheriff's Office, according to the news release.
Other local, state and federal law enforcement assisted in the operation, which included 14 SWAT teams, according to the FBI.
The 22 suspects were arrested on federal charges, according to the FBI. The FBI did not specify when the arrests were made, or the names and specific charges.
Contact Kelli Arseneau at (920) 213-3721 or karseneau@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @ArseneauKelli.
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
Wisconsin medical marijuana bill draws impassioned support but faces obstacles
Laura Schulte
MADISON – Dozens of people convened on the state Capitol on Wednesday to testify in support of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes, sharing personal stories about how access could improve their management of chronic health issues, cancer and other medical issues.
Lawmakers on Oct. 22 debated whether the provisions in a bill before the Senate Committee on Health were strict enough to gain the support of a majority of Republicans in both the Assembly and the Senate who have been wary of legalizing cannabis.
According to a co-sponsorship memo in September, the bill will "tightly regulate the cultivation, processing, testing and dispensing of medical cannabis to ensure patients have legal, safe and reliable access to a consistent product without breaking the law to obtain it."
Under the legislation, an Office of Medical Cannabis Regulation would be created to oversee the patient and caregiver registry and the dispensaries. Licenses would be required for growers, processors and testing laboratories. The legislation calls for a seed-to-sale database and an inventory tracking system. The legislation would also prohibit dispensaries from advertising to the general public, among other guidelines.
Republicans, including Senate President Mary Felzkowski of Tomahawk, introduced the measure.
But even with support from some Republicans, the bill is unlikely to move forward. Earlier this year, Republicans struck provisions that would legalize marijuana from Gov. Tony Evers' budget, and some leaders have indicated they will not support legalization without the establishment of a state-run program.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said earlier this month the bill is "way too broad" to pass his chamber.
“I have tried for five or six years to find a way to get to yes,” Vos said in an interview with WISN-TV. “The idea that we are going to have medical marijuana dispensaries in every city around the state, I don’t know that’s where most people are.”
He said there are concerns that the bill could create a pathway to legal recreational marijuana, which he opposes.
Marijuana legalization shows strong support with the public in Wisconsin.
In Marquette University Law School polling earlier this year, two-thirds of the 873 people surveyed said the drug should be legalized.
Sen. Patrick Testin, R-Stevens Point, said at the hearing it's time to allow medical marijuana in Wisconsin, as many other states already have.
He also shared an emotional story about how his family went outside state law to provide marijuana to his grandfather after he was diagnosed with lung cancer that had metastasized to bone cancer.
"It gave him his appetite back and it gave him time that he probably otherwise would not have had," he said. "That story is not unique to my family. We've heard this from countless families across the state, which is why I believe it's time for us to enact a sensible medical marijuana cannabis program here in the state."
Felzkowski said while she was fighting breast cancer for the second time 14 years ago, she was taking opioids to deal with the pain. But her doctor said that marijuana could have helped her avoid the opioid symptoms.
She wants others to have access to medical marijuana to help them avoid opioids in similar situations.
"Someone who suffers from a serious health condition should not have to make the choice to travel to another state or break the law so that they can try an alternative medicine for relief," she said. "Unfortunately, this is a position in which we put many Wisconsinites."
In addition to the tracking requirements, the bill would require marijuana sales to be conducted by pharmacists, like any other drug. Pharmacists would not be required to prescribe marijuana if they are uncomfortable.
"It is time to give our friends, family members and neighbors suffering from chronic illnesses the freedom to use medical cannabis," Felzkowski said. "Our hope is that this is a starting point in the conversation to get us to a point where we can get individuals comfortable with the concept."
Nora Lowe, a 17-year-old Merrimac resident who has Rhett Syndrome, encouraged lawmakers to support the bill, speaking via text-to-voice technology as she sat between her parents, Megan and Josh Lowe, in a wheelchair.
"I have many friends with Rett Syndrome, and they have access to medical cannabis. My friends with Rett syndrome who use medical cannabis actually sleep through the night and see extensive relief from painful muscle spasms," she said. "Why can't I get relief from mine?"
She said cannabis could also help improve her communication skills and help stop the frequency of episodes where she cannot breathe. Rhett Syndrome is a genetic neurological disorder that primarily affects girls.
"It is weird that every lawmaker I meet with, Democrat or Republican, they all agree that people like me deserve access to medical cannabis, yet we are still in the same place we were when I was 10 years old," she said.
Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X @SchulteLaura.
Racine man charged with stalking Wisconsin Supreme Court chief justice
CHRIS RICKERT
A Racine man has been charged with felony stalking for sending a number of increasingly aggressive emails to Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Jill Karofsky.
The nine emails Ryan T. Thornton, 37, of Racine, sent Karofsky between Aug. 2 and Oct. 1 refer to her as a derogatory term for a person with intellectual disabilities, advise her to “eject yourself from office” and threaten to make her home address public, among other things, according to a criminal complaint filed Monday.
They were sent in conjunction with about 15 emails and 70-plus threatening calls to the state’s Office of Lawyer Regulation, which handles complaints about Wisconsin lawyers and judges and whose decisions are ultimately subject to the approval of the state Supreme Court, the complaint says.
Investigators found that Thornton was upset with a lawyer who represented him in a 2019 criminal case and unhappy that the OLR had not taken action against him.
According to the complaint:
State Capitol Police talked to Thornton in August, when they asked him to stop contacting the OLR and Karofsky, and Thornton agreed to do so.
He didn’t, and Karofsky told police that she felt intimidated by the emails to the extent that she was sometimes afraid to get her mail from her front door. She said that she asked for police escorts to her seats at recent Milwaukee Brewers and Wisconsin Badgers games.
Karofsky told police that she’d received numerous threats since first becoming a Dane County Circuit Judge in 2017, but “that she had never had someone continuously send emails to her after being told to stop by police.”
In a difficult-to-follow interview with Capitol Police at the Racine County Jail on Oct. 9, Thornton said the OLR was staffed by a “bunch of criminals,” complained that his former attorney had an 11-page manifesto concerning him, and complained that OLR Director Timothy Samuelson and Karofsky have a 250-page appendix related to his case.
He also said he believes there is a state conspiracy to drive up property taxes and that hospitals and probate courts are “getting paid for people to die.”
“‘Tell Jill, man, she better start running or something for the hills of the feds because it’s a conspiracy,’” he told police.
Online court records show Thornton’s only past felony conviction was for strangulation and suffocation in a domestic abuse case from 2019 in Racine County. His bail in the stalking case was set at $85,000 on Monday.
Posts
