Rob Cowles

Sep 25, 2020

Less than 1% of calls to state unemployment call centers were answered, audit shows

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.

Jul 15, 2020

Audit: Too much, not enough sent to Wisconsin unemployed

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.

Jan 30, 2020

Bill would ban use of coal-tar asphalt coatings

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[...]

Jan 23, 2020

Bill aims to rid schools of lead contamination

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

Oct 1, 2019

Bills to force lead out of schools, child-care centers, draw scrutiny

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.

Mar 28, 2018

Republican senators say bill to benefit mining company dead (UPDATE)

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.

Mar 21, 2018

Senate adjourns without taking up frac-sand exemptions

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

Feb 28, 2018

Wetlands bill hits snag in 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.

Feb 8, 2018