http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/voting-2020-538-s5.jpgThursday's action bakes in the 2011 Republican Gerrymander, lacks transparency, dilutes the voices of populous urban areas and communities of color, says former Attorney General.

NECEDAH — Gov. Tony Evers today signed Senate Bill 345, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 91. This bill designates State Highway 21 between Sparta and Oshkosh as a Purple Heart Memorial Highway. 

“Throughout history, our Purple Heart recipients have put their lives on the line in defense of the liberties we hold dear, so I am glad to sign this bill into law today, designating the entirety of State Highway 21 as a Purple Heart Memorial Highway,” said Gov. Evers. “I am also proud to take this action on Veterans Day as we celebrate and recognize our state and nation’s veterans. My hope is that this Purple Heart Memorial Highway serves as a reminder of the incredible sacrifices made by our service members who know the true cost of freedom.”

The governor took action on Senate Bill 345 on Veterans Day in Necedah at the Necedah Veterans Memorial Hall where we was joined by local veterans and community members. The Purple Heart Memorial Highway is meant to honor all recipients of the Purple Heart, which is the nation’s oldest military award and recognizes those who are injured or killed by enemy action.

Senate Bill 345, now 2021 Wisconsin Act 91:

• Requires the entire route of State Highway 21 to be designated a Purple Heart Memorial Highway.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/assembly-wi-robin-vos-s450.jpgVote for another ten years of rigged maps is the epitome of cowardice, says Hintz.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/veterans-memorial-day-2020-s5.jpgWhile we can never truly thank our veterans enough, we can honor them by continuing to fight for the rights that veterans have risked so much for, say Democrats.

The 2021 Capitol Holiday Tree that will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda is a 32-foot balsam fir donated to the people of Wisconsin from the Menominee Nation.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers, in a letter to educators and students, announced “Hometown for the Holidays” as the theme for the 2021 Capitol Holiday Tree that is displayed in the rotunda of the Wisconsin State Capitol and serves as a centerpiece of festivity for those visiting and working at the Capitol building. Each year, the Capitol Holiday Tree is filled with handmade ornaments from kids, students, and families from every corner of the state. This year, students are invited to contribute handmade ornaments showcasing their hometown, neighborhood, or local area, the strength of neighbors and community, or what their hometown or our home state mean to them. 

“The past two years have challenged our state and our country more than we ever could have imagined, but Wisconsinites have displayed incredible resilience and we have worked together to face some of these challenges head-on,” said Gov. Evers. “When we were facing some of our toughest days, one thing remained the same—the grit and tenacity of us as people and the strength we find in community and the place we call home. Home means different things to all of us, and we hope this theme will help us celebrate the strength, diversity, and beauty of communities right here in Wisconsin.” 

The 2021 Capitol Holiday Tree that will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda is a 32-foot balsam fir that was donated to the people of Wisconsin from the Menominee Nation. The tree was harvested from the grounds of the Menomonie Tribal Enterprise Forestry Center in Keshena, Wisconsin. 

“Hometown for the Holidays” theme ornaments should be sent by Fri., Nov. 19, 2021 to: 

Emily Gorman
Wisconsin Department of Administration
Division of Facilities and Transportation Services
17 West Main Street, Suite 119
Madison, WI 53703

The letter sent to Wisconsin educators with additional information and instructions regarding the 2021 State Capitol Holiday Tree can be found here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/opioid-overdose-s5.jpgBloomberg Philanthropies expands initiative to five new states, commits additional $120 million to reduce overdose deaths in U.S.

The Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program was designed to assist tourism, convention and events organizations that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

RICHLAND CENTER — Gov. Tony Evers awarded $15 million in grants on Wednesday for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) throughout the state. Today's investment is a part of the governor's more than $140 million American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund investment in Wisconsin's tourism and entertainment industries.

“Wisconsin's tourism industry was one of the first and hardest hit industries of the COVID-19 pandemic, but our local folks at DMOs statewide have been innovative, dedicated, and resilient, and it's because of them that this industry is bouncing back and better,” said Gov. Evers. “I am glad to be using these funds to support their good work, along with our more than $200 million investment in Wisconsin's tourism industry. From the largest convention and visitor bureaus in Milwaukee and Wisconsin Dells to the smallest chambers of commerce in Pepin and Cassville, the $15 million investment awarded today will help continue to fuel our local recovery efforts and ensure those rebounds are felt statewide.”

The Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program will help 120 local DMO organizations across the state expand on their work to attract regional, national, and international visitors to explore all that Wisconsin has to offer. 

“Together with our local Destination Marketing Organizations, we are at a critical moment in the tourism recovery, and these funds will jumpstart Wisconsin’s tourism recovery that will uplift local economies and hospitality workers,” said Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary-designee Anne Sayers. “Wisconsin's $17.3 billion tourism industry is not just big fun, it’s also big business.”

Funded by the ARPA and administered by the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) with guidance from the Wisconsin Department of Tourism, the Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program was designed to assist tourism, convention and events organizations that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In total, 120 organizations received grants ranging from $2,000 to $1 million based on expenses incurred by eligible tourism-promotion and tourism development organizations.

“Destination Marketing Organizations are at the heart of the tourism industry, and by supporting them, we’re able to help local communities bring more visitors to our beautiful state,” said DOA Secretary Joel Brennan.    

Applications for the DMO grant program opened on Aug. 25, 2021, and closed Sept. 29, 2021. Full list of grant awardees is here.

For updates on other recovery-related grant opportunities, sign up for the Badger Bounceback update list.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/grocery-store-checkout-s5.jpgThe sharp jump in the inflation rate is a dismal sign for President Biden and Democrats as they face growing pressure over rising prices.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/mccabe-talks-people1-s5.jpgSen. Smith writes about why it’s important for Wisconsin to have a non-partisan redistricting process.

Politicians in Madison push their legislative redistricting plan despite overwhelming opposition from citizens.

MADISON – Monday afternoon, as predicted, the Republican majority jammed through Senate Bill 621. Their legislative redistricting plan was opposed by over 150 citizens during the public hearing held last week. The only support came from the authors of the maps, Senator LeMehieu and Speaker Vos.

Wisconsin is famously purple - equally divided along partisan lines - and the State Legislature should represent that fifty-fifty split. But the maps passed today cement and build upon the maps drawn in secret in 2010/11, and continue to make Wisconsin one of the worst gerrymandered states in the nation. A map that hands Republicans 22 of the 33 Senate seats is not a map that is fair for our neighbors.

Senator LeMehieu and the Republican majority can say whatever they want: the maps passed today do not represent Wisconsin, are not what the people of this state have asked for, and should not be confused with the fair maps that our Democracy deserves.