Madison attorney will bring a much needed perspective to the bench, as an individual with a physical disability and an advocate for folks with disabilities.

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers announced today his appointment of Jacob Frost as Dane County Circuit Court judge. The appointment fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge Richard Niess.

“Frost is an excellent attorney and I am confident he will serve Dane County well as a fair and impartial judge,” said Gov. Evers. “He will also bring a unique and much needed perspective to the bench, as an individual with a physical disability and an advocate for folks with disabilities, on how we can work to ensure our courts are accessible and just for all.”

Frost is currently a partner at Boardman & Clark LLP in Madison, where he specializes in civil litigation and family law. He is a member of the firm’s ethics committee. Frost is also the treasurer of the Dane County Bar Association. He previously served as board president of Access to Independence, a nonprofit organization which provides resources, services, and advocacy for people with any type of disability.

“I heartily welcome Jacob Frost to the Dane County Circuit Court,” said Judge Niess. “Frost has appeared repeatedly in Branch 9 over the years on civil and family cases. He is always prepared, efficient, cheerful, helpful, prompt, and respectful to all. His work is thorough, his arguments on point, his command of the applicable law evident, and his demeanor unfailingly pleasant. He will be an asset to the judiciary.”

“I want to thank Governor Evers for his leadership and for providing me the opportunity to serve the great people of Dane County,” said Frost. “I look forward to working with my fellow judges and most importantly with the people of Dane County to ensure that our courts remain fair and impartial, as well as to improve access to the courts for all, regardless of means or background.”

Frost earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison and his law degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School.

Economy has begun to improve as the government pumped in trillions of dollars and states have moved to lift some virus-related restrictions.

WASHINGTON, DC - Initial unemployment claims for the last week of May fell to 1.9 million, extending one of the worst unemployment crises in the nation's history.

The figure, while staggering, represented a continued downward trend in weekly claims from an April peak of 6.9 million, giving some economists hope that the worst part of the coronavirus-sparked crisis is in the rearview mirror.

Read the developing report here

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/obama-speaks-6.3.20-s5.pngThe town hall event is the first time Obama has made public remarks about the protests that have swept the nation in response to the death of George Floyd.

White is humbled and honored to be appointed to the Dane County bench by Governor Evers. Says the need for a compassionate, impartial, and independent judiciary has never been greater.

MADISON – Gov. Tony Evers announced today his appointment of Mario White as Dane County Circuit Court judge. The appointment fills a vacancy created by Judge William Hanrahan’s resignation.

“As the last week has shown, we need top-to-bottom change in our criminal justice system to address its systemic racism,” said Gov. Evers. “One of the ways we can do this is ensuring we have judges who understand and reflect the communities they serve. As a former teacher and highly accomplished public defender, Mario White will do just that.”

White is currently a Dane County Court Commissioner, where he handles family, criminal, and other proceedings. Between 2008 and 2018, White was an assistant state public defender, representing individuals accused of crimes in Dane County. White also is an adjunct professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he teaches courses on trial advocacy and coaches mock trial.

“Mario White is a superb addition to the Dane County judiciary. White understands the role of a judge and understands the need for all who come before the court to be heard. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and integrity to the bench. We are confident that he will ensure justice for all,” said Judges Rhonda L. Lanford and Ellen K. Berz.

“I am humbled and honored to be appointed to the Dane County bench by Governor Evers. The need for a compassionate, impartial, and independent judiciary has never been greater. I look forward to bringing my perspective and experiences to the bench to ensure equal justice for all,” said White.

White graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2008. He earned his undergraduate degree from the Oklahoma State University. Prior to law school, White was a high school math teacher for three years in Dallas, Texas.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/tony-evers-address-6.2-s5.pngWe need systemic change to address the racism in our state and our country. We must be willing to face it, with clear eyes and open hearts, says the Governor.

Lawyer, student, and businessman replace three former appointees whose terms expired on May 1 of this year.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday three new appointments to the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents. The governor has appointed Amy Bogost, Corey Saffold, and Kyle Weatherly. These appointments are effective immediately and replace three former appointees whose terms expired on May 1 of this year. 

“Just like the rest of our state, the UW System is facing some unprecedented challenges as we navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and it's financial and academic impacts on our campuses,” said Gov. Evers. “I am confident in these three regents and their ability to tackle the challenges ahead of us and ensure the continued success of not only the System, but of the Wisconsin Idea.”

Regent Bogost received her undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin— Madison before continuing on to earn her law degree. Bogost has most recently focused her practice on ensuring justice for survivors of sexual violence, establishing trainings for attorneys to help aid survivors of sexual assault on campuses and has worked with high schools, colleges, and tribal colleges on the implementation of Title IX procedures.

Regent Saffold is one of two UW System students on the Board of Regents, serving as the non-traditional student representation. In addition to attending the University of Wisconsin—Whitewater, where he studies Criminology, Saffold serves as a Security Coordinator in the Verona Area School District.

Regent Weatherly is the CEO and Co-Founder of Frontdesk, one of the largest and fastest-growing home-sharing companies in the United States, and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin— Madison where he received his MPA in Public Management.

MADISON — Gov. Tony Evers appointed Randy Romanski on Monday to serve as Secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection (DATCP). Romanski has served as Interim Secretary of the agency since November 2019.

“Wisconsin’s agricultural community has dealt with challenges for years, from low prices to trade wars to a global pandemic,” Gov. Evers said. “Randy has done an outstanding job leading DATCP through these challenging times, and I believe he’ll continue to do great work as secretary.”

Across his 30-year career in public service, Romanski has held leadership roles across various Wisconsin state agencies. He previously served as both the deputy secretary and secretary at DATCP under former Gov. Jim Doyle.

“I appreciate Governor Evers’ confidence and trust in me,” added Romanski. “I have been honored to work with the team at DATCP to serve the citizens of the state.  I look forward to continuing that work as we serve as a resource to Wisconsin’s diverse agriculture and consumer communities.”

Gov. Evers' letter appointing interim Secretary Romanski can be found here.

http://newiprogressive.com/images/stories/S5/george-floyd-protest-mdsn-s5.jpgFew bad actors commit acts of vandalism and violence that put people at risk in Wisconsin capitol protests.

"This was not an anomaly," says the Governor. "We must see the trauma, fear, and exhaustion of being Black in our state and our country."

MADISON — On Friday, Gov. Tony Evers released the following statement on the death of George Floyd:

“Earlier this week, another Black life was extinguished before our eyes. His name was George Floyd. He was 46. His life matters and his family deserves justice.

There was no empathy or humanity in his death. This was not an anomaly. We hear the echo of the words of Eric Garner. We relive the pain of the death of Black Wisconsinites like Dontre Hamilton, Ernest Lacy, and Sylville Smith. Frustration and anger about systemic injustices are always justified.

Folks in Wisconsin should be able to protest peacefully and to report on these events without the fear of being unsafe or arrested. And if you’re exercising that right, please wear your masks and keep social distance as best as you can.

We must see the trauma, fear, and exhaustion of being Black in our state and our country. We must offer our empathy, we must offer our support, but most of all we must offer our action. The solution isn’t in one person, it’s in all of us, together. We must confront our comfortability with racism. We must reestablish trust with communities of color. We must be willing to listen, we must be willing to be uncomfortable, we must be willing to do the work.”

WEA Trust Gift Will Help Club Kids Cope with New Challenges of Pandemic.

Madison, WI — Boys and Girls from across the state will benefit from a $20,000 donation made by the WEA Trust and intended to combat learning loss from school closings, provide more access to online learning and address youth mental health issues related to COVID-19.  The WEA Trust, which provides group health insurance to public schools and employees throughout Wisconsin, made the donation in connection with its annual Trustee election.  By pledging a per vote donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Wisconsin, the WEA Trust experienced its highest ever vote total in its 50 year history.  

“We are proud to partner with clubs to help children across Wisconsin when they need it most,” said Mike Quist, President & CEO of WEA Trust. “We know clubs have continued to serve the community during the pandemic, and we are here side by side to support them in our local communities.” Clubs work with 144,800 youth across 154 sites in 58 Wisconsin cities, more than any organization outside of our public school system. They also serve two million meals and snacks to youth every year at no cost.  

In areas including Appleton, Oshkosh and Berlin, local clubs stepped up to offer childcare for medical staff and first responders. In dozens of locations, from Madison and Milwaukee to Baraboo and Door County, staff distributed food to local families. "Our clubs are dependent upon generous contributions from organizations like WEA Trust," said Andy Gussert, State Alliance Director. "We've had to cancel over a dozen fundraising events across the state this spring, and will postpone more this summer. This leaves a financial gap of millions dollars across our organizations. We appreciate WEA Trust stepping up to fill that gap."

Wisconsin clubs serve more youth per person than any other state in the country. Seven out of every ten kids are from a racial or ethnic minority, two of every five are from a single parent household, and two of every three are on reduced school lunch programs. "These are the kids who most need us most during the pandemic," said Gussert.

The WEA Trust provides group health insurance and administrative services to public employers throughout Wisconsin. The not-for-profit WEA Trust was created in 1970 to serve Wisconsin school district employees. Today, the WEA Trust offers its top-rated service and quality benefits to all state, county, and municipal groups. Learn more by visiting www.WEAtrust.com/AboutUs

Over half of Wisconsin Boys & Girls Club sites will reopen in June. They started a statewide COVID-19 Relief Fund at www.bgcwisconsin.org that will be directed towards purchasing food, acquiring supplies, paying staff, and addressing needs directly related to the coronavirus pandemic.