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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Responds to President Trump's Lake Ontario Renaming with Sarcastic 'Lake Wisconsin' Order

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Responds to President Trump's Lake Ontario Renaming with Sarcastic 'Lake Wisconsin' Order

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers responded to President Trump's executive order to rename the U.S. side of Lake Ontario as 'Lake America' by sarcastically issuing his own 'executive order' to rename Lake Michigan as 'Lake Wisconsin.' President Trump signed his order in the Oval Office amidst ongoing trade disputes with Canada. Governor Evers posted his humorous response on social media, stating, 'And I just renamed Lake Michigan Lake Wisconsin. See, I can sign napkins that say things, too.' This playful jab followed a similar response from Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who announced he would 'rename' Trump Tower as 'Natalie Tower.' The original renaming of Lake Ontario by President Trump has been met with criticism from Canadian officials, including Prime Minister Mark Carney, who emphasized the lake's Indigenous roots and historical name.

Wisconsin Prison Population Reaches Record High, Exceeding Capacity and Straining Resources

Wisconsin Prison Population Reaches Record High, Exceeding Capacity and Straining Resources

Wisconsin's prison population has reached a new record high, with 23,854 individuals in custody, surpassing the 2019 record and nearly 6,000 beyond the prisons' intended capacity. This overcrowding has been a persistent issue for at least two decades, leading to measures such as adding bunk beds and increasing the number of people per cell. Women's prisons are particularly affected, with some holding more than double their design capacity, forcing staff to convert offices into dorms and set up beds in gyms. Governor Tony Evers, who previously vowed to address prison crowding and reduce the population, has faced legislative hurdles in implementing reforms. While the Department of Corrections (DOC) spokesperson Kevin Hoffman noted the department's limited statutory authority to reduce the population, Governor Evers recently signed executive orders in April allowing eligible prisoners to apply for sentence shortening, a first in 25 years. Overcrowding exacerbates staffing shortages, increases dangers, and lim...

Wisconsin Governor Evers Urges Release of $10 Million PFAS Settlement for Contaminated Wells

Wisconsin Governor Evers Urges Release of $10 Million PFAS Settlement for Contaminated Wells

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers and state regulators are intensifying calls for the Legislature's budget committee to release $10 million from the state's PFAS trust fund. This funding, derived from a June settlement with Tyco Fire Products, is intended to provide clean drinking water, private-well testing, and well replacement for households affected by PFAS contamination. Despite the settlement payment already being in the state's possession, residents in Marinette and the town of Peshtigo, where contamination is particularly severe, have not yet received the urgently needed assistance. The funds cannot be spent until approved by Republican leaders on the Joint Committee on Finance. The settlement with Tyco followed a state lawsuit alleging the company failed to promptly alert regulators to PFAS contamination near a Marinette fire training site. PFAS, or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are linked to significant health risks, including thyroid disease, fertility problems, and certain cancers, and persi...

A record 8 Black candidates for governor are running in 2026

A record 8 Black candidates for governor are running in 2026

There are Black candidates in both parties and in major swing states, while MD Gov. Wes Moore is running for reelection.

Canada fights back in US trade war, targeting specific states

Canada fights back in US trade war, targeting specific states

Canadian officials say they aim for 'political pressure' on US officials with retaliatory tariffs on imports.

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Mocks President Trump's Lake Renaming with 'Lake Wisconsin' Decree

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers Mocks President Trump's Lake Renaming with 'Lake Wisconsin' Decree

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers publicly ridiculed President Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario to 'Lake America.' In a video posted on X, Governor Evers was shown at a McDonald's restaurant, where he signed a fast-food napkin declaring Lake Michigan would now be called 'Lake Wisconsin.' This act was a direct jab at President Trump's decision, with Evers stating, 'See, I can sign napkins that say things, too.' The renaming of Lake Ontario by President Trump has drawn widespread criticism and mockery. Indigenous leaders have condemned the move, highlighting that the name 'Ontario' originates from the Wendat word 'Ontari:io,' meaning 'the lake is beautiful, the lake is big,' and predates the founding of both Canada and the United States. The city council in Rochester, NY, the largest American city on Lake Ontario, also unanimously passed a proclamation condemning President Trump's action and affirming their continued use of the Lake Ontario name. MapQuest, an American mapping company, also stated i...

Wisconsin Governor Requests Federal Aid After July EF-3 Tornado

Wisconsin Governor Requests Federal Aid After July EF-3 Tornado

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has formally requested a federal disaster declaration from President Donald Trump following severe storms and a confirmed EF-3 tornado that struck the state on July 27, 2026. The storm caused significant damage in Menasha and Appleton, as well as across Forest, Outagamie, Vilas, and Winnebago counties. High winds, hail, and power outages disrupted public water systems and caused widespread destruction. Joint assessments by Wisconsin Emergency Management and FEMA estimate $13.8 million in public infrastructure damage and $8.2 million in residential damage. The governor has requested federal assistance for individual aid, public infrastructure repairs, and hazard mitigation grants to strengthen the state’s resilience against future disasters. State recovery efforts are ongoing, including a state of emergency declaration and deployment of the Wisconsin National Guard.

Democrats and Republicans draw battle lines for November's general election with primaries ending

Democrats and Republicans draw battle lines for November's general election with primaries ending

A political transition is underway during the late days of summer

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany's Campaign for Wisconsin Governor Faces Scrutiny Over Past State Income Tax Records

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany's Campaign for Wisconsin Governor Faces Scrutiny Over Past State Income Tax Records

U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, a Republican candidate for Wisconsin governor, is facing scrutiny regarding his past state income tax payments. Tiffany's campaign highlights his 20 years as a small-business owner of Wilderness Cruises and 29 years as a dam tender. However, Department of Revenue records indicate that Tiffany and his businesses had zero net state income tax liability for several years. Specifically, Tiffany paid no personal state income taxes from 2006 through 2010, and again in 2019. His business, Willow Inc., paid no state income taxes for over a decade through 2016, and minimal amounts in subsequent years. Wisconsin River Cruises Inc. also paid no state income taxes between 2007 and 2013. Tiffany attributes these periods to tough economic times, particularly during the financial crisis and recession, which heavily impacted seasonal tourism businesses like his. He emphasized that his businesses prioritized employee wages and operational expenses before any personal income, and also paid significant...

Former Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy Donates Maximum to Rebecca Cooke's Congressional Campaign

Former Green Bay Packers President Mark Murphy Donates Maximum to Rebecca Cooke's Congressional Campaign

Mark Murphy, identified as the retired president and CEO of the Green Bay Packers, has made a maximum allowable donation to Rebecca Cooke, a Democratic candidate for the 3rd Congressional District in western Wisconsin. The maximum individual donation for a federal office in the 2026 election cycle is $7,000, split as $3,500 for the primary and $3,500 for the general election. Murphy, residing in De Pere, WI, is listed among a group of prominent donors who have contributed the maximum amount to Cooke's campaign. Cooke is challenging Republican Rep. Derrick Van Orden in a rematch for the seat, which is considered one of the most competitive in Wisconsin. Cooke has reported raising over $8.6 million by the July 22 deadline, surpassing Van Orden's reported $7.5 million.

Governor Evers Promotes Renewable Energy and Inspects Solar Panels at Omro Nonprofit

Governor Evers Promotes Renewable Energy and Inspects Solar Panels at Omro Nonprofit

Governor Tony Evers recently visited Casa Esther, a nonprofit organization in Omro, Wisconsin, to advocate for renewable energy initiatives. During his visit, Governor Evers inspected the newly installed solar panels on the nonprofit's roof, highlighting their potential to generate significant cost savings. This visit is part of a broader state effort to promote clean energy, which has seen over $3 million in grant money awarded this past spring to support 270 different solar investment projects across Wisconsin. Casa Esther itself received a $5,000 grant as part of the 'Renew Wisconsin' push, which distributed $30,000 among six organizations. Collectively, these six projects are expected to add more than 300 kilowatts of solar energy capacity.

Trump's support for data centers clashes with Republican midterm pivot

Trump's support for data centers clashes with Republican midterm pivot

President Donald Trump has stood firmly behind data center expansion while Republican candidates have started to criticize the facilities.