Latest news with #Knowles-NelsonStewardshipProgram
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Have a question about Wisconsin's state budget? Ask us
It's budget season in the state Capitol — a process that happens every two years as lawmakers decide how much funding should go to government services, from education to environmental protection and more. Right now, Republicans who control the budget-writing committee are reworking what Democratic Gov. Tony Evers recommended in his sweeping proposal. Likely near the end of June, the budget will go back to Evers for his approval and partial vetoes. The spending approved in the budget affects hundreds of programs throughout Wisconsin, from driver's education grants to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program to employment services in prisons to reduce recidivism. The budget also covers how much money the state takes in, including through income taxes. Existing tax credits for veterans could be expanded, and a "no tax on tips" policy could be included. All in all, the state budget is a big deal — and you might have some questions about it. If you have a specific question about what could be included or left out of the budget, you can submit it in the form below and we'll answer a selection of the questions we get: This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin's state budget can lead to questions. But you can ask us
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Audubon Society pushes lawmakers to protect stewardship funds
Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) speaks about how advocates can convince Republicans to fund the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program at the Great Lakes Audubon Society's 2025 advocacy day. (Photo by Henry Redman/Wisconsin Examiner) Wisconsin Rep. Tony Kurtz (R-Wonewoc) said Wednesday the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program is 'on life support,' adding that some of his Republican colleagues give it a 20% chance of being extended in this year's budget debate before its expiration next year. Kurtz, Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine), Sen. Jodi Habush Sinykin (D-Whitefish Bay) and Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Karen Hyun spoke Wednesday to a gathering of members of local Audubon Society chapters and staff of Audubon Great Lakes ahead of the organization's advocacy day to lobby legislators to support conservation funding. The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program was established in 1989 to help preserve local natural environments. Throughout its history, the program has enjoyed mostly bipartisan support as it has provided grants through the DNR to help local governments and nonprofits fund the acquisition, restoration and maintenance of public land, parks and wildlife habitats. In recent years, the program has become a flashpoint in the fight over the boundary between the executive and legislative branches of state government. Until a decision by the state Supreme Court last year, any member of the Legislature's powerful Joint Committee on Finance had the authority to hold up a project funded through the stewardship program by placing an anonymous hold on that spending. The Court's decision entirely removed the Legislature's oversight of the program, a change that further turned Republicans against its continued existence. 'We could make that process better, where it was not just one individual not liking something and being able to kill a project. I agree with that,' Kurtz said. 'When the court case came in and basically took that entire process away, that was not good either, because there was no oversight. And I understand some of you believe whatever the DNR does is fine. That's great. Some of my colleagues don't believe that.' Especially in the northern part of the state, Republicans have objected to stewardship funds being used to conserve land that then gets taken off of local property tax rolls — taking money away from already struggling small local governments. In other cases, Republicans have complained that proposals for projects under the grants rely too heavily on the state funds without the local governments providing enough of their own money. In his proposed 2025-26 budget, Gov. Tony Evers has requested the stewardship program be increased from its current funding of $33 million per year to $100 million per year for 10 years. Kurtz said he's working on a bill that would return some oversight authority over the program to the Legislature without the anonymous objection provision. He added, though, that if the Audubon members went to Republicans Wednesday saying, ''It's the governor's budget or nothing,' you already lost.' 'I don't need you to do that, because, I'm being very sincere, I'm trying to keep this alive, and if you go over there [saying that], there's a good chance it'll die,' he said. 'So don't do that. Let them, especially when you're meeting with my colleagues, ask them what [their] concerns are. 'Why don't you like this? What is it about the program that we can do better so we can have another day to make sure we protect all our wonderful birds and animals.'' Habush Sinykin noted that 93% of Wisconsinites support the program and said that in her purple district covering Milwaukee's northwest suburbs, the stewardship program is hugely popular. She said the anonymous hold of a project in the district drew the ire of community members of both parties. 'There's a lot of understanding at the legislative level that in these uncertain times, with these newer maps, that our state representatives and senators, including those on the Joint Finance Committee, have to be wary and strategic about issues like this that are bipartisan,' she said. 'They're actually non-partisan. They are successful community building issues. So I think that's a little bit where your leverage is to lean in hard. How popular these are.' Aside from the stewardship program, the society members lobbying in the Capitol Wednesday were pushing for the state to increase protections for wetlands and grasslands, advance sustainable practices in the state's agriculture and forestry industries and grow renewable energy production. On Wednesday morning, the administration of President Donald Trump announced a proposed rule that would rescind habitat protections for endangered species across the country. Marnie Urso, Audubon Great Lakes' senior director of policy, said that with the federal government retreating from conservation efforts, state level efforts have become more important. 'With that uncertainty, this kind of work is even more important, for state lawmakers to be on the path to conserving our natural resources,' Urso said. 'The Knowles Nelson project program is bipartisan. It always has been a permanent foundation. So we know it has wide, widespread bipartisan support.' Urso said leaning into that popularity could help advance the group's priorities. 'Even Trump voters like the Knowles Nelson Conservation Fund,' she said. 'So we're confident that by coming and talking, telling our story and getting to understand what's important to our lawmakers, we can inform those decisions. And now it's more important than ever to have state conservation programs continue.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Property on the Ahnapee River is newly protected by the Door County Land Trust
TOWN OF FORESTVILLE – An ecologically significant property of more than 47 acres along the Ahnapee River was acquired and is now permanently protected by the Door County Land Trust. The trust completed its purchase of the property Feb. 5, saying in a press release the previous owner "expressed appreciation that the land will remain in its natural state, ensuring its ecological integrity for future generations." According to the release, the property is important because it supports a wide variety of bird and fish species, supports watershed health and provides a migration corridor for wildlife. Another important part of the acquisition by the land trust is that access to the property is enhanced from the Ahnapee State Trail, a portion of which is part of the statewide Ice Age Trail. The newly protected property is comprised mostly of emergent marsh and includes part of the river and streambank, wetlands and a small former hayfield. Birds such as yellow warblers, soras and green herons can be found there, along with fish like pike and rainbow and brown trout. As part of the Ahnapee River Wildlife Corridor, a vital habitat of wetlands and riverbank that follows the river from its headwaters near the hill in Brussels to its mouth on Lake Michigan, the area supports migrating and nesting birds, fish habitats and diverse plant life. The press release from the land trust says conservation efforts along the river help ensure its critical wildlife passageways remain intact. The land trust also will monitor water quality and restore wetland habitats within the property in its efforts to sustain and enhance the health of its watershed. With the Ahnapee State Trail running alongside, the property can be accessed from the trail and a nearby road, but a parking lot is not available. The acquisition allows outdoor enthusiasts, including hikers and hunters, to continue to check out the scenic views of the wetland habitat. Funds for the purchase of the land were awarded by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource's Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program with anticipated support from the federal North American Wetlands Conservation Act, along with private donations. Donations from land trust members and a grant through the Door County Community Foundation will go toward long-term protection and stewardship of the property. The Door County Land Trust protects more than 9,100 acres of land, with 15 featured nature preserves open for hiking and other low-impact, nonmotorized recreational activities, all at no charge. For more information, including trail maps, donations or memberships, visit Contact Christopher Clough at 920-562-8900 or cclough@ MORE: Unique sunrise image at Door County state park wins statewide nature photo contest MORE: Learn all about owls when The Ridges Sanctuary holds its annual Owl-O-Rama MORE: Door County Polish restaurant to open second, much larger location FOR MORE DOOR COUNTY NEWS: Check out our website This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Door County Land Trust adds property next to the Ahnapee River
