Milwaukee Journal SentinelU.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said this week that his ongoing investigations into the Obama administration and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as Biden's son Hunter, could help President Donald Trump win reelection.His comments came as Democrats and left-leaning groups have stepped up their opposition to Johnson's probes, including in an ethics complaint filed by two left-leaning organizations on Thursday, as the presidential election nears.  "The more that we expose of the corruption of the transition process between Obama and Trump, the more...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelU.S. Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin said this week that his ongoing investigations into the Obama administration and Vice President Joe Biden, as well as Biden's son Hunter, could help President Donald Trump win reelection.His comments came as Democrats and left-leaning groups have stepped up their opposition to Johnson's probes, including in an ethics complaint filed by two left-leaning organizations on Thursday, as the presidential election nears.  "The more that we expose of the corruption of the transition process between Obama and Trump, the more...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe University of Wisconsin System will reduce central office spending by $10 million over the next two years in an effort to streamline administration and refocus resources on students, its leader announced Tuesday.UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson said the savings — which include $1.3 million in furloughs — will not affect UW campuses, where other cost reductions and cuts are underway.The system's cut includes reducing salaries by a total of $6 million over two years, a 10% reduction....…Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe University of Wisconsin System will reduce central office spending by $10 million over the next two years in an effort to streamline administration and refocus resources on students, its leader announced Tuesday.UW System Interim President Tommy Thompson said the savings — which include $1.3 million in furloughs — will not affect UW campuses, where other cost reductions and cuts are underway.The system's cut includes reducing salaries by a total of $6 million over two years, a 10% reduction....WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe fate of Kanye West's presidential campaign in Wisconsin may be coming down to a matter of crucial seconds. West's campaign is arguing he belongs on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin even if his campaign turned in his nomination signatures 14 seconds after the 5 p.m. deadline Aug. 4. The , filed Monday, says a state Elections Commission staffer told a West campaign aide that she turned in the nomination papers 14 seconds after the deadline. State law says the papers had to have been filed by "not later" than 5 p.m. "The statutory...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe fate of Kanye West's presidential campaign in Wisconsin may be coming down to a matter of crucial seconds. West's campaign is arguing he belongs on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin even if his campaign turned in his nomination signatures 14 seconds after the 5 p.m. deadline Aug. 4. The , filed Monday, says a state Elections Commission staffer told a West campaign aide that she turned in the nomination papers 14 seconds after the deadline. State law says the papers had to have been filed by "not later" than 5 p.m. "The statutory...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson would rather see no new coronavirus stimulus bill than one that includes new spending, the Oshkosh Republican said Friday.Johnson said in a  that he hopes negotiations stay broken down between the Trump administration and House Democratic leaders on a new pandemic relief package given the trillions Democratic leaders proposed in new spending."From my standpoint, the breakdown in the talks is very good news. It's very good news for future generations," Johnson said. "I hope the talks remain broken down."Johnson...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson would rather see no new coronavirus stimulus bill than one that includes new spending, the Oshkosh Republican said Friday.Johnson said in a  that he hopes negotiations stay broken down between the Trump administration and House Democratic leaders on a new pandemic relief package given the trillions Democratic leaders proposed in new spending."From my standpoint, the breakdown in the talks is very good news. It's very good news for future generations," Johnson said. "I hope the talks remain broken down."Johnson...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - The head of the Department of Natural Resources is telling employees to wear face masks on teleconferences — even when they’re not around others and at no risk of spreading the coronavirus.Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole reminded employees in a July 31 email that Gov. Tony Evers’ mask order was going into effect the next day. That means every DNR employee must wear a mask while in a DNR facility, noted Cole, an appointee of the Democratic governor.“Also, wear your mask, even if you are home, to participate in a virtual meeting that...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - The head of the Department of Natural Resources is telling employees to wear face masks on teleconferences — even when they’re not around others and at no risk of spreading the coronavirus.Natural Resources Secretary Preston Cole reminded employees in a July 31 email that Gov. Tony Evers’ mask order was going into effect the next day. That means every DNR employee must wear a mask while in a DNR facility, noted Cole, an appointee of the Democratic governor.“Also, wear your mask, even if you are home, to participate in a virtual meeting that...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelView CommentsEpic Systems told employees this past weekend that they would not be required to begin returning to its campus in Verona on Monday, backing off that drew national attention and spurred a backlash from some employees.The company — one of the two largest software companies for electronic health records — had planned to bring back most of its roughly 10,000 employees in phases by Sept. 21, despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the state. Only employees who had problems arranging child care or those with health conditions that would...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelView CommentsEpic Systems told employees this past weekend that they would not be required to begin returning to its campus in Verona on Monday, backing off that drew national attention and spurred a backlash from some employees.The company — one of the two largest software companies for electronic health records — had planned to bring back most of its roughly 10,000 employees in phases by Sept. 21, despite the recent increase in COVID-19 cases in the state. Only employees who had problems arranging child care or those with health conditions that would...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelSenate Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin released an 11-page “open letter” Monday defending his ongoing investigations of Joe Biden, his son and the Obama administration, and claiming that Democrats and the media are attacking his committee's work out of an “almost maniacal devotion to ending the Trump presidency.”The Wisconsin senator, who has been accused by Democrats of serving the interests of Russian propaganda, vowed to plow ahead in the face of what he called "despicably false" attacks and a “coordinated disinformation campaign”...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelSenate Republican Ron Johnson of Wisconsin released an 11-page “open letter” Monday defending his ongoing investigations of Joe Biden, his son and the Obama administration, and claiming that Democrats and the media are attacking his committee's work out of an “almost maniacal devotion to ending the Trump presidency.”The Wisconsin senator, who has been accused by Democrats of serving the interests of Russian propaganda, vowed to plow ahead in the face of what he called "despicably false" attacks and a “coordinated disinformation campaign”...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - Democrat Joe Biden led GOP President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and two other battleground states in a poll released Monday by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Biden was ahead of Trump 49% to 43% in Wisconsin, 47% to 43% in Michigan and 50% to 41% in Pennsylvania, according to the survey by UW-Madison’s Elections Research Center.Trump won all three states in 2016, when Democrats wrongly presumed they provided a “blue wall” that would go to Hillary Clinton.The poll came out just as one was released that showed similar results. In that survey, Biden...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelMADISON - Democrat Joe Biden led GOP President Donald Trump in Wisconsin and two other battleground states in a poll released Monday by the University of Wisconsin-Madison.Biden was ahead of Trump 49% to 43% in Wisconsin, 47% to 43% in Michigan and 50% to 41% in Pennsylvania, according to the survey by UW-Madison’s Elections Research Center.Trump won all three states in 2016, when Democrats wrongly presumed they provided a “blue wall” that would go to Hillary Clinton.The poll came out just as one was released that showed similar results. In that survey, Biden...WW…

Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe state Democratic Party filed a complaint Friday asking state officials to block rapper Kanye West from appearing on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin this November, saying his campaign was tardy submitting its signatures. The challenge also suggests there are numerous problems with West's nomination papers, including incorrect addresses for circulators and bogus signatures, such as "Mickey Mouse" and "Bernie Sanders." It also included affidavits from six individuals who said they were duped into putting their names on...…Milwaukee Journal SentinelThe state Democratic Party filed a complaint Friday asking state officials to block rapper Kanye West from appearing on the presidential ballot in Wisconsin this November, saying his campaign was tardy submitting its signatures. The challenge also suggests there are numerous problems with West's nomination papers, including incorrect addresses for circulators and bogus signatures, such as "Mickey Mouse" and "Bernie Sanders." It also included affidavits from six individuals who said they were duped into putting their names on...WW…

OPINIONJason SattlerOpinion columnistView Comments for the 2020 election was that it not turn out to be anything like the disaster that was 2016. Yet as we head into the Democratic National Convention, we’ve already seen almost everything that made our last presidential cycle a nightmare — and worse.There are the ceaseless Russian attacks on democracy on behalf of President Donald Trump. But this time, instead of WikiLeaks, the disinformation is being laundered into our political system through  and . There is Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns. But now...…OPINIONJason SattlerOpinion columnistView Comments for the 2020 election was that it not turn out to be anything like the disaster that was 2016. Yet as we head into the Democratic National Convention, we’ve already seen almost everything that made our last presidential cycle a nightmare — and worse.There are the ceaseless Russian attacks on democracy on behalf of President Donald Trump. But this time, instead of WikiLeaks, the disinformation is being laundered into our political system through  and . There is Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns. But now...WW…