We wrap up the week with some continuing coverage to stories we’ve been following. If you think this has been a slow news week, here’s a little secret. It’ s only been a slow news reporting week. A lot of things still happen, it’s just that a lot of reporters are on vacation either this week or next.
We still do the best to bring you the news you need to stay informed but not overwhelmed.
As a reminder, today is the last day for in-person absentee voting for the Spring Election. Election Day itself is next Tuesday.
Now, let’s get to today’s Key Reads.
Wisconsin was once home to the Great Circus Parade, an annual event which filled the streets of Milwaukee with exotic animals, talented performers and clowns of all types.
Now, apparently, we are home to the parade of recall circuses, which also feature clowns of all types.
From the you can’t make this stuff up department: Organizers of the attempt to recall Assembly Speaker Robin Vos are still awaiting rulings on the sufficiency of their petitions. They have also announced another recall effort just in case the Elections Commission and Courts acknowledge their current effort failed miserably.
But wait, there’s more: If successful, the second recall election would likely happen after this fall’s primary election where voters, you know, decide for whom they want to vote to represent them in the future.
Robin Vos recall organizer starts second effort after first one fails | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
An organizer of a recall effort against Wisconsin’s Assembly speaker has launched a second recall effort now that the first one is on pace to fail without enough signatures and allegations of widespread fraud.
Matthew Snorek of Burlington filed paperwork with the Wisconsin Elections Commission on Wednesday indicating his intention to circulate a new recall petition against Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester.
The new effort comes at a time when Snorek’s first recall effort is under investigation by the Racine County district attorney over allegations of fraudulent signatures committed by petition circulators, some of whom are felons, according to a review conducted by Vos.
The new recall petitions are due by May 28, according to the Wisconsin Elections Commission…
The recall committee has acknowledged the signatures the group submitted included forgeries but blamed the crime on “sabotage” and unidentified participants “recruiting individuals from outside Wisconsin.”
According to the paperwork for the new recall effort, Snorek is seeking to recall Vos over baseless allegations of Vos’ “tacit support for the Chinese Communist Party.”
Nothing screams concern about student loan debt quite like continuous tuition hikes.
UW to raise tuition again | The Center Square
The price tag for the University of Wisconsin is set to go up next year.
UW President Jay Rothman on Thursday said regents will vote next week on a plan to raise tuition for Wisconsin students by 3.75%.
“To maintain the excellent education our universities provide, I will be asking regents to approve a tuition increase similar to recent levels of inflation,” Rothman said.
The proposed tuition increase means in-state students in Wisconsin will pay $11,604 at UW-Madison, $10,398 at UW-Milwaukee and between $8,200 and $9,800 for the state’s other, smaller campuses.
The proposed tuition increase also comes after a 5% tuition increase at the beginning of the current school year.
Speaking of UW Madison, it looks like the men’s basketball coach, Greg Gard, will keep his job despite another early exit from the NCAA tournament and the sudden departure of three players via the ridiculous transfer portal.
Report: Greg Gard Will Return for a 10th Season at Wisconsin | Rivals.com
University of Wisconsin athletic director Chris McIntosh said Badgers men’s basketball coach Greg Gard will return for a 10th season, according to a report by the Wisconsin State Journal.
Speaking to columnist Jim Polzin, McIntosh said Gard puts the Wisconsin program, “in the best position to be successful in the future.”
Gard returning to the sideline is not a huge surprise for a variety of reasons. Since taking over for Hall-of-Fame coach Bo Ryan midway through the 2015-16 season, Gard is 186-107 (.635) and 104-70 (.598) in Big Ten play. A two-time conference coach of the year, Gard is one of 23 B1G coaches to win 100 conference games and the sixth-fastest to hit the century mark in the last 50 years.
Playing the nation’s third-toughest schedule this season, Wisconsin went 22-14 and made the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time in the last eight seasons. Gard-led teams have accounted for five of the 19 winningest seasons in school history.
Our last highlight today is a good life lesson for your kids. Start that coin collection early, and keep at it!
Wisconsin coin collection fetches almost $900,000 at auction | WKOW
An impressive coin collection from a central Wisconsin estate sold at auction Wednesday for a combined $895,371, according to a press release…
Among the collection was a very rare 1879 $4 Gold Stella that achieved $147,600 following bids by six collectors. One of only 425 minted, the Stella included authentication by the premiere Professional Coin Grading Service (PCGS) and boasted a grade of PR-63…
The collection was assembled by a private collector over a lifetime, according to the press release. It was sold by Leonard Auction, a Chicago-based auction house with offices in Madison and Milwaukee.
May you all have a wonderful weekend, and to those who celebrate, have a blessed Easter.
We’ll be back again Monday.
