Microsoft vows to end secret data center agreements with local governments

From JSOnline:

Ricardo Torres

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Microsoft is ending its policy of using non-disclosure agreements with local municipalities as it builds out its data centers, according to an announcement by the company on March 18.

A company statement said it "made the decision that being transparent with the communities where we operate or seek to operate is paramount. This shift is about strengthening public trust, enabling better dialogue, and ensuring that our growth is matched by meaningful engagement. "

Transparency, or lack there of, on data center projects by technology companies has been raised as a major criticism by local residents opposed to data center projects.

For those municipalities that already have an NDA in place with Microsoft, the company said it is reaching out to those local governments to "coordinate termination."

"Microsoft has sometimes used NDAs during early stages of data center development to help protect sensitive commercial information, address early security considerations, and ensure we can comply with local regulatory and permitting processes," the company said. "It is a common industry practice to seek NDAs to protect early information about development proposals."

However there are some parts of development that require proprietary information and Microsoft said it will "seek to protect such information from records disclosure to protect our business interests" where the law allows.

"We often work in close coordination with local governments to develop our designs to reflect local requirements and priorities," the company said. "Because of this coordination and the sequential nature of our development, we may not have all development details from the beginning, but we endeavor to share information transparently when it is available."

Rima Alaily, corporate vice president and general counsel for Microsoft, said in a LinkedIn post the company "will continue to use NDAs in connection with private transactions when  acquiring  land, and we will continue to rigorously protect our trade secrets and data center design information. But we will not use NDAs as a default mechanism in our engagement with local governments."

Bill Lueders, president of the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, applauded Microsoft for taking this step.

"It's important to note that it's happening only after their attempts to work with these work with these non-disclosure agreements blew up in their face," he said.

"When people found out there was an agreement with local officials and companies to change the character of their communities, they resented it bitterly and pushed back," Lueders said. "I think that it was pretty clear that the revelations about non-disclosure agreements was bad PR for the companies. It was not a good look and it's not a surprise that they're eager to move beyond that."

Lueders believes other companies could take similar action.

"It's likely that these efforts to work with local officials under secrecy agreements are counter productive and they need to take a different tact," Lueders said.

Peg Sheaffer, communications director for Midwest Environmental Advocates, said the Microsoft decision is "an indicator that public opposition is gaining real traction and that the data center developers are getting nervous."

"Companies typically don't make announcements about building community trust unless those communities are already pushing back pretty hard," Sheaffer said in a statement. "If you’re a community member who’s been showing up to meetings, asking tough questions, and asserting your right to open and transparent government—keep it up. You are making a difference."

NDAs part of reason Caledonia residents opposed Microsoft

In 2025, Microsoft planned to build a data center in Caledonia, but the project involved a level of secrecy in the beginning that caused residents to oppose the development.

After hearing the outcry from residents, Microsoft decided to change course and dropped its plans.

“It doesn’t make sense to go where people don’t want us," said Microsoft President Brad Smith said in an interview on Jan. 13. "But I do think it’s our opportunity to have the conversations in a variety of other places about what we would hope to bring to a community.” 

Microsoft is finishing its first data center on its campus in Mount Pleasant, and has began construction on a second data center. So far the company has committed to about $7.3 billion to build its data center campus in the village.

Patrick Brever, deputy village administrator for Mount Pleasant, said this policy changed does not impact its relationship with Mount Pleasant.

"The village did not enter into a non-disclosure agreement with Microsoft while negotiating their investment in Mount Pleasant," Brever said.

Microsoft has approval from Mount Pleasant to build 15 more data centers during the next 10 years.

Microsoft is on track to be Racine County's largest taxpayer when it pays its bills in 2026, based on 2025 assessments.

This story has been updated with additional information.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2026/03/18/microsoft-vows-to-end-secret-data-center-deals-with-local-government/89210439007/

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Wisconsin election officials recommend charges in Vos recall effort

From JSOnline:

Molly Beck

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

MADISON - Wisconsin's top election officials are recommending criminal charges against more than a dozen people who helped carry out a failed recall campaign against Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission on Feb. 27 notified 13 people that the six-member panel found probable cause they had violated election fraud laws while attempting to gather enough signatures to force a recall election against Vos.

Supporters of President Donald Trump sought to organize a recall election against Vos over the Assembly speaker's criticism of Trump and his unwillingness to break the law and undo the 2020 Wisconsin presidential election.

The commission said two recall volunteers likely violated state laws by listing false addresses on paperwork required to circulate petitions and 11 violated laws by submitting fraudulent signatures of voters in 2024.

The 13 people were notified Friday of the recommended charges that will be forwarded to the Racine County district attorney, according to the letter obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Most live out of state. Just one person has a Wisconsin address.

Wispolitics.com first reported on the letter.

Vos filed a complaint against the volunteers and recall campaign organizers, but the commission did not find sufficient evidence to show the recall leaders had violated state laws.

According to letter, Vos submitted "credible affidavits from several individuals who claim they did not sign the recall petition" but whose signature appeared on the petitions.

At the time, the recall committee blamed the forged signatures on "sabotage" and unidentified participants "recruiting individuals from outside Wisconsin."

The organizers ultimately were unsuccessful in triggering a recall election despite trying twice to do so.

Vos, 57, announced last week he would retire at the end of his current term representing Wisconsin's 63rd Assembly District.

Molly Beck can be reached at molly.beck@jrn.com.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/picture-gallery/news/politics/2024/11/25/robin-vos-has-been-speaker-of-the-wisconsin-state-assembly-for-more-than-a-decade/76568437007/

Robin Vos, state’s longest serving Assembly speaker, will not seek re-election

From The Journal Times.com:

MITCHELL SCHMIDT and KIMBERLY WETHAL Wisconsin State Journal

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Thursday he will not seek re-election next year, ending a more than decade-long career as one the the most influential Republicans in the state.

Vos, 57, the longest-serving Assembly speaker in state history, choked up as he addressed fellow lawmakers and staff on what is anticipated to be the Assembly’s final floor session of the year, saying his career has been “the greatest professional honor of my life.”

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

OWEN ZILIAK, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES

The Rochester Republican was first elected to the Assembly in 2004 and has represented portions of Racine and Walworth counties. He has led the chamber as speaker since 2013.

His tenure in the Assembly has spanned a plethora of notable moments in Wisconsin politics, including the passage of Republican then-Gov Scott Walker’s controversial Act 10, which dramatically limited collective bargaining powers in the state, and multiple high-stakes presidential elections.

Vos said the decision on whether to run again had been weighing on him for months, but having a mild heart attack in November was part of his decision. Vos is fine, he said, but it his doctor told him he needed to reduce his stress levels.

“Let me tell you, this job is stressful,” Vos said. “It was a sign from God that convinced me I needed to choose a different path.”

Vos told the Wisconsin State Journal at the end of December he would decide in February whether to pursue another term.

Vos’ retirement means that two of Wisconsin’s most influential politicians won’t be in the Capitol come January. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a longtime foil of Vos and his Republican agenda, announced his intent to retire in July, after this year’s budget was finalized.

Vos’ retirement means that two of Wisconsin’s most influential politicians won’t be in the Capitol come January. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, a longtime foil of Vos and his Republican agenda, announced his intent to retire in July, after this year’s budget was finalized.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said the decision to retire had been weighing on him for months, but a mild heart attack in November helped him make the decision.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL ARCHIVES

Evers said in a statement Vos’’ “retirement marks the end of an era in Wisconsin politics, and I’m grateful to have served as governor during Speaker Vos’ tenure.”

“Although we’ve disagreed more often than we didn’t, I respect his candor, his ability to navigate complex policies and conversations, and his unrivaled passion for politics,” Evers said.

“Being in public service is challenging and can be thankless work, most especially when you’re responsible for getting things done,” Evers added. “I understand that better than most. For your sacrifices and your service over the years, thank you, Mr. Speaker.”

Prior to joining the Assembly, Vos was a Racine County supervisor for 10 years. A graduate of UW-Whitewater, a relative powerhouse for churning out influential Wisconsin Republicans, Vos worked as a legislative assistant for Rep. Jim Ladwig, and his successor and wife, Bonnie Ladwig, as well as a district director for Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann.

Outside of state government, Vos owns both a food processing company and a real estate company that largely rents student housing in Whitewater.

Vos’ decision comes as state lawmakers head into the November elections under new, more Democratic-friendly maps signed in early 2024. Vos was a key player in the legislative redistricting fights that took place in 2010, when GOP lawmakers used their legislative majorities to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative maps to favor Republicans. There are currently two legal challenges before the state Supreme Court, which holds a 4-3 liberal majority, seeking to redraw Wisconsin’s congressional boundaries.

Under new legislative maps, liberals are feeling especially bullish on their chances to wrest control of the state Senate and Assembly away from their Republican colleagues.

Republicans say the measures they’ve been able to get across Evers’ desk, including more than $1 billion in tax cuts in the state’s two-year spending plan, should encourage voters to keep the party in control of the Legislature in 2027.

The election also hosts the first open race for Wisconsin’s executive office in 16 years. Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany is the frontrunner on the GOP side, while more than half a dozen Democratic candidates are running.

Vos has often been a thorn in the side of both Evers and his Democratic colleagues in the Legislature due to his ability to lead the Assembly Republican caucus as one of the most influential conservatives in the Capitol. But he’s also clashed with members of his own party at times, including President Donald Trump.

While Vos hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman in 2021 to lead a taxpayer-funded review of Wisconsin’s 2020 presidential election — following pressure from Trump to substantiate his baseless claims that the election had been “stolen.”

Trump lost to Joe Biden in Wisconsin by almost 21,000 votes that year, an outcome that has been substantiated through a recount, court decisions and multiple independent reviews.

The relationship between Gableman and Vos soured over the course of the seven-month review, with Vos ultimately firing Gableman in August 2022 and later calling him “an embarrassment to this state.

Vos closed out his speech saying he hopes the Legislature as an institution will remain strong, especially against the two other branches of government, and offered a reminder that the Legislature is not meant to be “fast, convenient, or easy.”

“I’ll miss the clowns, but not the circus,” Vos said, echoing Linda Upmeyer, former Speaker from Iowa, who said something similar upon her retirement in 2020.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_ed9c3052-2bc7-5e14-a242-88a0175195f4.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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Racine County secures $5 million in federal funds for mental health facility

From The Journal Times.com:

Holly Gilvary

Disclaimer: this video discusses sensitive topics such as self-harm, identity-based discrimination and harassment and suicide.Tristan Lorenz, 14, attempted suicide three times between 5th and 6th grade. His mother Christine had been struggling to find resources for Tristan in their rural are…

RACINE — Racine County has secured $5 million in federal funding to support the construction of its new mental health facility.

The funding was included in a bipartisan federal government funding package advanced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Racine County applied for congressionally directed spending as part of the federal appropriations process.

In a news release, the county said the new mental health facility, currently under construction at 1720 Taylor Ave. in Racine, has utilized federal, state and local resources "to build critical infrastructure while maintaining Racine County's long-term fiscal responsibility."

Along with the newly awarded funds, the project uses prior investments from the American Rescue Plan Act, opioid settlement funds dedicated to addressing the opioid crisis, and county bonding.

While Racine County currently provides mental health and substance abuse services, a "critical gap" remains in residential treatment and crisis stabilization, with no residential substance use treatment programs within a 40-mile radius of Racine County, according to the release.

The county said the new facility will "directly address this gap by centralizing crisis stabilization, residential substance use treatment, mobile crisis response, and protective services under one roof."

Construction on the facility began in May 2025 and it is expected to open by the end of 2026.

Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki said in the release that this project "reflects how Racine County approaches major investments: with strong partnerships and respect for our residents and taxpayers."

"Through careful planning and strategically aligned resources, we're bringing significant outside investment to Racine County and delivering a facility that will serve our residents for decades to come," he said.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/government-politics/article_f85f905c-889a-456e-8af7-88c31f11e1db.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

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Mount Pleasant leaders approve Microsoft lots allowing for up to 15 more data centers

Mount Pleasant approves Microsoft data center expansion plan | FOX6 News Milwaukee

Mount Pleasant advances Microsoft project | FOX6 News Milwaukee

Microsoft's Racine County data centers to equal 40 Walmart Supercenters

From JSOnline:

Ricardo Torres

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Microsoft Corp. is planning 15 more data centers and adding 8.7 million square feet to its operation in Racine County.

The Mount Pleasant Village Plan Commission unanimously approved the site plans for Microsoft's latest development on Jan. 21. The approval goes to the full village board.

Microsoft has had a presence in the area since it announced it was building its first data center in 2024.

This latest proposal, if approved by officials from the Village of Mount Pleasant, marks the biggest expansion the company has made since it came to Wisconsin.

Here's what to know about Microsoft's latest plans for Mount Pleasant.

What is the scope of the Racine County Microsoft projects?

Microsoft's biggest presence is in Mount Pleasant in Racine County. So far, the company has committed more than $7.3 billion in the first phase of its data center campus to support its efforts on artificial intelligence, and it's likely to grow as the demand for data centers increases.

What's the location of the planned Microsoft projects in Racine County?

There are two proposals being evaluated by Mount Pleasant officials. One is located on Durand Avenue and the other is on International Drive.

On Durand Avenue, the proposal is planning for up to nine data centers with additional office space, each up to 579,796 square feet. The proposal also includes a 96,000-square-foot office and storage building, and other accessory buildings.

On International Drive, the proposal is planning for six data centers and additional office space, each up to 568,103 square feet. The proposal includes a 74,000-square-foot office and storage building, and other accessory buildings.

Is there a timeline for all of this construction?

Short answer: No.

Longer answer: Microsoft has issued a statement saying "Microsoft has proposed an expansion in Mount Pleasant, with plans submitted for two additional datacenter campuses on land we purchased in 2024. These preliminary plans are the next step in our years-long development process and we look forward to sharing more about our specific plans as we go forward as we've done for our first two sites in May 2024 and September of 2025 respectively."

How many buildings has Microsoft constructed in Racine County?

The company is finishing up its first data center, which consists of multiple buildings. And Microsoft is planning on breaking ground on a second data center later this year.

What guidelines must Microsoft follow while building in Mount Pleasant?

Village staff has set conditions to the proposals which include meeting architectural, lighting, parking and other modifications.

Also, Microsoft must "comply with all Racine Water Utility, Mount Pleasant Sanitary Sewer Utility, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules and permissions regarding consuming and returning water to the applicable utility systems and watersheds," the staff report says.

How many buildings does Microsoft plan to construct in Racine County?

If what Microsoft is planning comes to fruition, then nearly 20 buildings are planned for the next several years. However businesses change course regularly, even on the plot of land Microsoft is building on. It was originally intended for a giant campus for Foxconn but the original plans fell apart, giving Microsoft an opportunity to build its data centers.

And in 2025 Microsoft paused construction on its first data center for a brief period of time as the company because it was "assessing demand overall for AI and the other was assessing what kind of data center would make the most sense to build here for the second phase," according to Brad Smith, Microsoft president.

How does the Microsoft data center square footage compare with a Walmart Supercenter?

Walmart Supercenters can range from 99,000 to 260,000 square feet. A Walmart Supercenter is about 200,000 square feet.

Each data center and office space Microsoft is proposing is more than 560,000 square feet, which is nearly three times the size of a Supercenter. With 15 proposed data centers being evaluated for Mount Pleasant, that's easily more than two Walmart Supercenters per data center.

So doing some quick back of the envelope math, that means this project is in the size range of roughly 40 Walmart Supercenters in Mount Pleasant.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2026/01/21/microsofts-wis-data-centers-would-equal-40-walmart-supercenters/88270910007/

Wisconsin data centers spark regulatory debate | FOX6 News Milwaukee

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Bitter wind chills to stay in Racine and Kenosha this week

From The Journal Times.com:

Milana Doné

Racine and Kenosha counties can expect frigid wind chills the rest of the week.

FILE PHOTO

RACINE — Racine and Kenosha counties can expect frigid wind chills the rest of the week.

According to meteorologist Benjamin Sheppard of the National Weather Service Milwaukee/Sullivan station, Wednesday will bring highs in the mid 20s and single digit lows. The wind chill will be around 10 degrees, falling into the single digits overnight.

Early Wednesday morning is supposed to bring three to four inches of snow. The winter weather advisory will end at 6 a.m. Wednesday, but the snow may still affect the morning commute.

Wednesday's temperatures will help the salt on the roads be more effective as the day goes in. Caution should still be taken on the evening commute.

There will be a lull during the day before the snow returns Wednesday evening shortly after 5 p.m. until around midnight. Sheppard said it will yield an additional half an inch to an inch and a half of snow.

This precipitation is not lake effect snow, he said.

“Based off of the wind’s direction that we’re getting with this, this will just a good old synoptically, system-driven snowfall. None of that snow will be lake effect or lake enhanced,” Sheppard said.

Thursday will have highs in the teens and lows from negative 7 to negative 12. The windchill Thursday night into Friday is slated to reach into the negative 20s.

Friday will see highs around zero or slightly below while lows are predicted to be between negative 7 to negative 14.

Sheppard said the worst cold will be Thursday night into Friday. The National Weather Service has not officially released an advisory as of Tuesday morning, but he expects there will at least be a cold weather advisory.

“Depending on how things trend in that time window, we are potentially considering an extreme cold watch which would then be upgraded into an extreme cold warning,” Sheppard said.

If there is an official advisory, he said those are often put in place at least 24 hours prior to the beginning of the extreme conditions.

Sheppard recommends taking precautions for the cold and snow this week.

Suggestions include budgeting plenty of travel time to reach destinations and even considering avoiding travel if it is not necessary.

Additionally, people in Racine and Kenosha counties should be bundling their winter clothes, dressing in layers, reducing time spent outdoors, keeping pets indoors and ensuring heaters and furnace exhaust outputs are unclogged to combat carbon monoxide risks.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/article_17946049-0a03-41cb-94e2-fe2729e0ef84.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Microsoft proposes adding 15 data centers to Mount Pleasant project

From JSOnline:

Ricardo Torres

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Developments have total estimated value of $13.3 billion

Microsoft Corp. is planning a massive expansion of its Mount Pleasant operations by adding 15 more data centers and other buildings – totaling over 8.7 million square feet and generating tens of millions of dollars in annual property tax revenue.

That's according to two new proposals filed with the village Plan Commission. It's scheduled to meet on Jan. 21 at 1 p.m.

Both developments would be on property initially planned for Foxconn Technology Group.

In a statement, a Microsoft spokesperson said:

"Microsoft has proposed an expansion in Mount Pleasant, with plans submitted for two additional datacenter campuses on land we purchased in 2024.

"These preliminary plans are the next step in our years-long development process and we look forward to sharing more about our specific plans as we go forward as we've done for our first two sites in May 2024 and September of 2025 respectively."

One development, planned for Durand Avenue, would build up to nine data centers with additional office space, each up to 579,796 square feet. The proposal also includes a 96,000-square-foot office and storage building, and other accessory buildings.

It brings that portion of the expansion to 5.2 million square feet on 791 acres, which village staff is recommending the Plan Commission approve.

That development is estimated to be worth more than $7.97 billion, the staff report says.

The project is occurring in a tax incremental financing district. That means its property tax revenue will help pay for roads, sewers and other public improvements within the district.

After that debt is paid off, the development could generate more than $45.2 million in annual property tax revenue for the village, the report says.

The other development is planned for International Drive and includes six data centers and additional office space, each up to 568,103 square feet. The proposal includes a 74,000-square-foot office and storage building, and other accessory buildings.

That proposal, also being recommended for approval, totals 3.5 million square feet on 530 acres.

The International Drive development has an estimated value of more than $5.33 billion.

It could generate up to $30.8 million in annual property tax revenue for the village after the tax financing district debt is paid off. Property tax revenue also would flow to Racine Unified School District, Racine County and other local governments.

Village staff does have conditions to the proposals which include meeting architectural, lighting, parking and other modifications.

Also, Microsoft must "comply with all Racine Water Utility, Mount Pleasant Sanitary Sewer Utility, and Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources rules and permissions regarding consuming and returning water to the applicable utility systems and watersheds," the staff report says.

There are also plans for three electrical substations planned for these developments to help power the facilities once the project is completed.

Microsoft continues momentum from 2025

Microsoft is finishing up its first data center in Mount Pleasant and is planning to break ground on a second data center this year.

The company is on track to be Racine County's largest taxpayer when it pays its bills in 2026, based on 2025 assessments.

Microsoft President Brad Smith is urging more transparency with data center and artificial intelligence developments in the technology sector in comments Smith made during a Jan. 13 visit to Milwaukee.

“I think we’re at a cultural pivot point because to bring people along, to get comfortable being more transparent, to be comfortable having conversations about questions to which we don’t yet know the answer – requires a different approach,” Smith said.

BizTimes was first to report about the Microsoft proposals.

(This story was updated to add new information.)

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2026/01/20/microsoft-proposes-adding-15-data-centers-to-mount-pleasant-project/88265336007/

Union Grove man facing federal charges in connection to alleged sex trafficking

From The Journal Times.com:

Milana Doné

UNION GROVE — A 35-year-old Union Grove man was charged Tuesday in connection to federal allegations of sex trafficking.

According to a news release from the U.S. Attorney Eastern District of Wisconsin, Hector Duarte was charged one count of sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion, and one count of interstate transportation for the purpose of prostitution.

If convicted, Duarte faces a minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life imprisonment for sex trafficking and up to 10 years in prison for interstate transportation. 

Duarte is accused of using force, threats of force and fraud to cause an adult to engage in commercial sex acts during June 2025 in eastern Wisconsin and northern Illinois.

The case was investigated by the FBI's Milwaukee Field Office and the Cudahy Police Department.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_91f8886c-8374-40cd-8ac0-fcc8f43fe577.html#tracking-source=home-top-story