News: Jan. 1–19, 2019
Wisconsin GOP lawmakers seek to hire attorneys at taxpayer expense to defend lame-duck laws
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Jan. 17, 2019. Top lawmakers signed off Thursday on hiring lawyers without knowing what it would cost. Two GOP leaders—Assembly Speaker Robin Vos of Rochester and Senate President Roger Roth of Appleton—now will decide which attorneys to hire and how much to pay them to fend off a lawsuit filed last week.
Evers: Wisconsin should take action on climate change
WKOW, Jan. 17, 2019. Governor Tony Evers (D-WI) said Thursday that climate change is real, and that Wisconsin needs to take action to secure its future.
AG Kaul Announces Senior Counsel Appointee
Wis. DOJ Press Release. Jan. 17, 2019. Attorney General Josh Kaul today announced the appointment of Nate Zolik for senior counsel.
Ruling on Kinnard Farms will affect all Wisconsin state agencies, court of appeals says
Green Bay Press Gazette, Jan. 16, 2019. A legal battle over expansion of Kinnard Farms will have statewide implications and should be handled by the state Supreme Court, according to a request issued Wednesday by the state’s 2nd District Court of Appeals.
Wis. legislature making efforts to help people with contaminated well water
WSAW, Jan. 15, 2019. New efforts in the state legislature are looking to help people facing contaminated groundwater throughout Wisconsin. A local group is hoping to push those efforts even further, ensuring state leaders know it is a life-threatening problem in the central sands area.
Judge rules DNR can’t change law to suit big dairy farms Editor’s Pick
Wisconsin State Journal, Jan. 11, 2019. The judge’s ruling restores the DNR’s full authority to enforce water-quality standards by requiring large dairy operations to prevent pollutants from running into lakes and streams from areas where feed is stored and where calves are housed.
DNR Secretary Cole makes first appointments to leadership team
Wis. DNR Press Release. Jan. 11, 2019. Elizabeth Kluesner has been named deputy secretary. Cheryl Heilman has been appointed to the position of Chief Legal Counsel. Fred Souba will continue to serve as Administrator of the Division of Forestry and Wisconsin’s Chief Forester. Doug Haag will continue serving as Administrator for the Division of Internal Services.
Lawsuit filed, voluntary agreement reached after contaminated water found in central sands region
WSAW, Jan. 9, 2019. A lawsuit by people living in Wood and Juneau counties against large farms in the area led a voluntary agreement between the farms, one of the counties, and Department of Natural Resources.
AG-elect Kaul Announces Additional DOJ Appointees
Wis. DOJ Press Release. Jan 6 2019. Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul today announced two additional appointees. Kaul will promote two DOJ employees, Charlotte Gibson to lead Division of Legal Services and Tina Virgil to lead Division of Law Enforcement Services.
AG-elect Kaul Announces DOJ Appointees
Wis. DOJ Press Release. Jan 4 2019. Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul today announced five of his appointees. In addition to three new appointees, Kaul will retain two of the previous administration’s appointees.