Fewer than 1% of calls from Wisconsin residents who lost their jobs during the pandemic were answered by state officials overseeing unemployment benefits, and the Evers administration did not report important information to lawmakers showing the full scope of the problem, a new state audit shows.

Tagged with: Caleb Frostman Gov. Tony Evers Rob Cowles Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

An unknown number of unemployed people in Wisconsin received too much, or not enough, in benefits from the state Department of Workforce in late April as it worked to process additional money in federal aid to help those suddenly out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic, an audit released Wednesday found.

Tagged with: Caleb Frostman Legislative Audit Bureau Rob Cowles unemployment benefits Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

isconsin lawmakers are looking to ban the use of coal-tar-based asphalt sealants, a material that’s often employed in pavement projects but is also blamed linked to cancer and pollution. Recently introduced legislation, Senate Bill 716 and Assembly Bill 797, calls for a statewide ban on the use and sale of coal-tar-based sealants and other materials containing high levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, or PAHs. PAHs are known to cause health troubles and environmental damage.

Tagged with: asphalt coal tar coal-tar sealants Joel Kitchens pollution Rob Cowles

A bill that would compel Wisconsin school districts to find and remove lead contamination earned approval from a state Senate committee on Wednesday.

Tagged with: lead Rob Cowles

A pair of bills meant to force schools and child-care centers to rid buildings of lead pipes and other infrastructure could see changes after concerns were aired Wednesday about how burdensome the new proposed mandate could prove for schools.

Tagged with: Dan Rossmiller Department of Public Instruction Jeremy Thiesfeldt lead lead abatement lead pipes Rob Cowles Wisconsin Association of School Boards

Two influential Republican senators on Wednesday were pronouncing dead a proposal the Assembly passed quickly to allow a Georgia mining company to destroy wetlands containing rare hardwoods in western Wisconsin.

Tagged with: Alberta Darling frac sand mining Rob Cowles Scott Fitzgerald

It looks as if legislation that would clear the way for a $70 million frac-sand processing plant in western Wisconsin is dead.

Tagged with: frac sand frac sand mining Rob Cowles sand mining state senate

The fight over a proposed $70 million sand-processing center in western Wisconsin was to go on Wednesday before a state Senate committee, which was scheduled to hear public comments on a bill the Assembly has amended to include environmental exemptions for the project.

Tagged with: frac sand mining Mark Miller Rob Cowles state assembly state senate Van Wanggaard wetlands

Wisconsin Republicans released more tweaks on Wednesday to their bill that would allow developers to fill state wetlands without permits, defusing opposition from at least two powerful conservation groups.

Tagged with: Ducks Unlimited home construction Jim Steineke Rob Cowles Roger Roth Scott Fitzgerald wetlands Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources

State Fair Park officials have kept shoddy contract records and have no plan for the underused Milwaukee Mile race track, according to an audit released Friday.

Tagged with: Legislative Audit Bureau Rob Cowles Samantha Kerkman State Fair Park