Latest news with #AndrewKennard
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Wisconsin Examiner wins 7 Milwaukee Press Club awards
Examiner staff members Baylor Spears, Henry Redman, Erik Gunn, Ruth Conniff and Criminal Justice Fellow Andrew Kennard with Milwaukee Press Club awards on May 9, 2025 | Wisconsin Examiner photo Wisconsin Examiner staff members were recognized for investigative reporting, public service reporting, explanatory reporting, and in several feature-writing categories in the Milwaukee Press Club annual Excellence in Journalism contest for work published in 2024. Henry Redman received the Bronze award for online investigative reporting for a series of stories that uncovered the influence of an out-of-state right-wing pro-development group on land use planning in Oneida County. Editor Ruth Conniff was recognized in the public service reporting category for a special report on human trafficking in Wisconsin agriculture. For the third year in a row, Conniff also received an award for the best online column for a selection of her work. Criminal Justice Project Fellow Andrew Kennard received a bronze award for explanatory reporting online for a story about problems with access to telephone communication for incarcerated people in Wisconsin prisons. Baylor Spears was honored with a bronze award for hard news feature writing for her story on how Democratic Party candidates were campaigning in parts of the state that they have been shut out from in the past by gerrymandering. Deputy Editor Erik Gunn was the recipient of a silver award for feature writing for his story on a project in La Crosse by college students and neighborhood activists to eliminate the use of mulched rubber as a playground surface. Gunn also received a bronze award for personal profile writing for his story on a mother who has campaigned for years to have meningitis vaccines required in Wisconsin after her son died of the illness in college. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate votes to restrict drivers' use of handheld devices, then raises speed limits
The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday to bar drivers' use of hand-held devices behind the wheel. (Photo by Andrew Kennard for Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state's 'default' speed limit from 55 mph to 60, a change that largely affects undivided paved highways. Senators approved Senate File 22 on a vote of 47-1 with Republican Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott as the only 'no' vote. The bill expands Iowa's current prohibition on texting while driving to any use of a handheld cell phone or other electronic device while driving. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State law enforcement officials have been asking for the change for years, arguing that the current law is difficult to enforce. While an officer may see a device in a driver's hand, they typically can't see whether it's being used for text messaging or some allowed use, like navigation. Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, proposed an amendment to eliminate an exemption in the bill for drivers of farm equipment, saying lawmakers should focus on safety for all Iowans on the roads. The amendment failed on a vote of 13-35, with opponents arguing in part that the bill would not pass the House if senators expanded the bill. Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said the bill needed to be narrowly crafted to make it through both chambers of the Legislature, and he said the legislation is focused on where there are problems. 'I don't think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They're not out there,' he said. The bill now moves to the House. Senators also passed Senate File 378 to raise the speed limit to 60 mph on roads where a limit is not otherwise designated. Gruenhagen, who led debate, said the change brings Iowa in line with other states. Gruenhagen cited the Department of Public Safety saying that the average speed on paved, undivided highways is 62 to 64 mph, exceeding the current limit. Opponents argued that drivers would go even faster if the limit were raised. 'It's easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills,' Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. 'I can feel the hypocrisy right now in this room,' added opponent Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, said, noting the focus on safety in approval of the previous bill. The bill generated more opposition than the cellphone legislation, but passed on a vote of 36-12. It also moves to the House for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Senate votes to restrict drivers' use of handheld devices, then raises speed limits
The Iowa Senate passed legislation Tuesday to bar drivers' use of hand-held devices behind the wheel. (Photo by Andrew Kennard for Iowa Capital Dispatch) The Iowa Senate voted Tuesday to ban the use of handheld cellphones and other devices behind the wheel, while turning down an effort to extend the ban to drivers of farm implements. A few minutes later, senators also voted to raise the state's 'default' speed limit from 55 mph to 60, a change that largely affects undivided paved highways. Senators approved Senate File 22 on a vote of 47-1 with Republican Sen. Kerry Gruenhagen of Walcott as the only 'no' vote. The bill expands Iowa's current prohibition on texting while driving to any use of a handheld cell phone or other electronic device while driving. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX State law enforcement officials have been asking for the change for years, arguing that the current law is difficult to enforce. While an officer may see a device in a driver's hand, they typically can't see whether it's being used for text messaging or some allowed use, like navigation. Sen. Tony Bisignano, D-Des Moines, proposed an amendment to eliminate an exemption in the bill for drivers of farm equipment, saying lawmakers should focus on safety for all Iowans on the roads. The amendment failed on a vote of 13-35, with opponents arguing in part that the bill would not pass the House if senators expanded the bill. Sen. Dan Zumbach, R-Ryan, said the bill needed to be narrowly crafted to make it through both chambers of the Legislature, and he said the legislation is focused on where there are problems. 'I don't think anyone has a statistic on distracted driving with a piece of farm equipment that created an accident. I tried to find those statistics. They're not out there,' he said. The bill now moves to the House. Senators also passed Senate File 378 to raise the speed limit to 60 mph on roads where a limit is not otherwise designated. Gruenhagen, who led debate, said the change brings Iowa in line with other states. Gruenhagen cited the Department of Public Safety saying that the average speed on paved, undivided highways is 62 to 64 mph, exceeding the current limit. Opponents argued that drivers would go even faster if the limit were raised. 'It's easy to state the reason for opposing this. Two words: speed kills,' Sen. Herman Quirmbach, D-Ames, said. 'I can feel the hypocrisy right now in this room,' added opponent Sen. Art Staed, D-Cedar Rapids, said, noting the focus on safety in approval of the previous bill. The bill generated more opposition than the cellphone legislation, but passed on a vote of 36-12. It also moves to the House for consideration. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
