Latest news with #Neubauer
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer joins DLCC's board as Dems looks to win majorities in 2026
Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer is joining the DLCC board. Neubauer takes questions from reporters alongside Senate Minority Leader Dianne Hesselbein in Jan. 2025. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) Wisconsin Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer is joining the Board of Directors for the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (DLCC) — the national organization dedicated to electing Democrats to state legislatures. The Racine Democrat, who has been in the Legislature since 2018 and has led Assembly Democrats since 2021, joins the board as Wisconsin Democrats seek majorities in both chambers for the first time in many years in 2026. Neubauer said DLCC President Heather Williams asked her to join the board and it's a sign of the organization's 'deep commitment' to Wisconsin and understanding that a trifecta could be possible in 2026. 'They want to be a part of helping us flip this state blue,' Neubauer said. 'DLCC of course is focused on the national strategy of supporting democratic legislatures to win majorities in legislative chambers. They have had great success in the last few years… so I'm excited to be part of that national strategy work.' Williams said in a statement that 'all eyes should be on the states in 2025' and Neubauer is a leader to watch. 'As state Democrats continue to overperform in special elections and counter the chaos in Washington, we are laying the foundation for Democratic success up and down the ticket,' Williams said. 'Our board members represent some of the sharpest minds in politics, and I'm excited to partner with them to build our plan for victory for cycles to come.' In the past, the DLCC has invested in helping Wisconsin Democrats win and outlined strategies for winning targeted seats. Neubauer said it has been helpful getting to know leaders in other states where Democrats have successfully flipped control of their legislative chambers including Michigan, Minnesota, Pennsylvania. She said she has learned a lot from those leaders and is trying to bring those lessons back to Democrats in Wisconsin, especially when it comes to preparing to be in the majority. 'When we do win, we want to take advantage of the opportunity and pass policy that is going to materially improve people's lives very quickly, so that's been really helpful to me to speak with them about how they prepared to govern, how they worked with their caucuses,' Neubauer said, adding that Democrats have 10 new Assembly members this year and hope to grow that number now that the Legislature has passed new maps that no longer overwhelmingly favor Republicans. 'The level of program that we run during the campaign cycle, the amount of money we need to raise and candidates we're supporting has grown significantly since we got the fair maps. I'm getting all sorts of advice from those leaders both about governing and about effectively campaigning, winning majorities.' When it comes to its targets for 2025-26, Wisconsin is one of five of the DLCC's 'battleground' states where legislative majorities are determined by the slimmest of margins. New legislative maps were put in place last year by the state Legislature and Gov. Tony Evers after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled the old maps were an unconstitutional gerrymander. Democrats in Wisconsin haven't held a legislative majority in the Senate or Assembly since 2010, and under the old maps, Senate Republicans were able to win two-thirds of the seats, while Republicans held a 64-35 majority. Under the new maps, Democrats in 2024 were able to pick up 10 Assembly seats and now hold 45 of 99 seats. They also added four Senate seats and now hold 15 seats out of 33 in that chamber. Wisconsin's 2026 elections will be the first time that control of the Senate will be in play as only half of the body was up in the last election and Assembly Democrats will again be working to try to win a majority. 'It is absolutely doable, but it is going to take quite a bit of work,' Neubauer said. Democratic lawmakers, she said, are taking a few approaches to getting things done for voters ahead of the next elections. This includes working across the aisle in the budget process to get investment into programs that Wisconsinites rely on, including child care and public schools and ensuring 'Republican attacks on our rights and freedoms are not successful' by upholding the governor's veto. Neubauer said her party is also 'focused on that long-term vision and communicating what we will do when we have a Democratic trifecta — how we will change the state, how we will make Wisconsin a place where everyone has the ability to thrive, wants to live, raise a family, retire.' She noted that Democrats introduced a package of bills in January to address prescription drug access, ensure students have access to food in school and help improve housing, but Republicans haven't shown interest in them. 'We have a big and deep policy agenda that we've been working on for over a decade that we are ready to implement, and so we just have to get out and communicate about it,' Neubauer said. 'And that of course looks like fanning out across the state, both in districts we represent and other communities, and talking about the work that we need to get done.' Neubauer said they are going to continue to work to lower costs, especially as 'Trump engages in reckless, irresponsible trade wars and weakens the economy for no good reason.' She said state legislatures are essential in pushing back on his agenda. The first part of Trump's term in office could have an effect on Wisconsin Democrats' chances as well, Neubauer said. 'We have a number of Republican legislators who have really tried to position themselves as being moderate. They go home to their districts and they emphasize the bipartisan proposals that they've signed on to or tried to get passed, but what they don't talk about is their voting record being in line with Republican leadership almost 100% of the time,' Neubauer said. Neubauer said that Wisconsin Republicans haven't distanced themselves from Trump's agenda. 'The first several months of the legislative session here in Wisconsin, we saw Republicans focused on culture wars rather than lowering costs for working families, making their lives easier, investing in our schools — the things that we all hear about when we run into our constituents at the grocery store,' Neubauer said. 'Republicans are going to have to answer for Donald Trump and his attacks on Wisconsin families next year, and that is going to be difficult for them to do in extremely purple districts.' Wisconsin's gubernatorial election is also coming up in November 2026. Evers hasn't said whether he'll run for a third term, saying he'll likely decide after the next budget is done. Republican Josh Schoemann, who serves as the county executive of Washington, is the first candidate to announce his campaign. 'We're all eagerly awaiting that decision,' Neubauer said of Evers' choice whether to make a re-election bid. '[I] always look forward to working with the governor.' Neubauer is one of seven legislative leaders joining the DLCC board alongside California Speaker of the Assembly Robert Rivas, Colorado Senate President James Coleman, Illinois Speaker Pro Tempore Kam Buckner, Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks, Oregon Speaker of the House Julie Fahey and Virginia Speaker of the House Don Scott. New York Senate President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, who also serves as the DLCC chair, said in a statement that she is thrilled Neubauer is joining. 'There has never been a more important time to ensure we have battle-tested, experienced leaders at the helm of Democratic strategy in the states as Donald Trump upends Washington and our economy,' Stewart-Cousins said, adding that Neubauer 'embodies the diverse expertise needed to drive and elevate our strategy to build durable state power through the end of the decade.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Business Journals
24-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
GE Aerospace to invest $16M in Durham despite tariff impacts
GE Aerospace has hundreds of workers in Durham an thousands across North Carolina. Story Highlights GE Aerospace plans $1 billion investment despite tariff impacts. Durham facility to receive $16 million for increased engine production. GE Aerospace employs 2,000 people across North Carolina. Despite significant impacts expected from tariffs, GE Aerospace still plans to invest $1 billion into its manufacturing operation, including in Durham. Tucked away near Research Triangle Park, GE Aerospace operates an airline engine manufacturing facility with 400 employees. It's one of just three GE Aerospace commercial engine assembly lines in the United States. And of that $1 billion planned investment, $16 million has been earmarked for the Durham site. Tariffs, however, are taking a toll on the bottom line. On an earnings call this week, H. Lawrence Culp, CEO of GE Aerospace, reiterated the company's commitment to investing in manufacturing. But he also told analysts tariff policy would 'result in additional costs for us and our supply chain.' The company, based in Cincinnati, will seek to save $500 million this year by cutting costs and raising prices. But GE Aerospace does not plan to pull back in Durham. Kristen Neubauer, Durham plant leader said in an email that, 'as demand grows, we'll continue to build capacity into our shop to meet that ramp for our customers.' The firm doesn't provide site specific numbers, but said it delivered a total of 1,900 engines last year. In Durham, that includes engine models for regional aircraft (CF34), narrow body aircraft (CFM56, LEAP) and wide body aircraft (CF8, GE90, GE9X, GEnx). The company recently confirmed plans to make major investments at the site, including new assembly systems that will increase capacity. Neubauer said the focus is on creating 'world class processes' to be ready to ramp up the LEAP engine and wide body 9X engine. The LEAP will power planes such as the Boeing 737 Max and the Airbus A320neo. The GE9X will power massive Boeing 777Xs. 'We have done a lot of work focused on improving safety, quality and delivery,' Neubauer said. GE Aerospace has 2,000 employees across the state. GE Aerospace's investment in Durham is part of a $100 million commitment across the company's entire North Carolina operation that also includes $13 million at its West Jefferson site and $20 million at a facility in Asheville that produces engine parts. The company also has operations in Wilmington. GE Aerospace is a collaborator in Honda Aero, which has a facility in Burlington that makes the engine for the HondaJet manufactured by Honda Aircraft Co. in Greensboro. North Carolina is getting a lot of attention in the aerospace sector, including from JetZero, a next-generation jet maker considering the Greensboro area for a 10,000-job manufacturing plant.
USA Today
22-03-2025
- Automotive
- USA Today
BMW M5 Touring sales surpass expectations with equal demand for wagons and sedans
BMW M5 Touring sales surpass expectations with equal demand for wagons and sedans While it seems like there's always another new SUV coming out, wagons still hold a cherished, if shrunken place in the automotive world. BMW recently learned (to its surprise) that maybe that space isn't so tiny after all, as revealed in an interview of Sylvia Neubauer — vice president of customer, brand and sales at BMW M — with BMW Blog, where the VP dropped the news that the new M5 Touring (BMW-speak for wagon) is proving to be a sleeper hit with customers. When asked about the high-performance M5's production rollout, Neubauer admitted to BMW Blog that the original plan was to build more sedans than wagons. The split? About two-thirds of M5s would be four-doors and only a third would be Touring wagons. Turns out that the M5 Touring is far more popular than BMW M anticipated, with early orders skewing the mix to an even 50-50 split between the two body styles. Partly, this could be enthusiasm for the first-ever M5 Touring to make it to America; partly it's because historically, BMW hasn't built that many M5 Tourings for anywhere. 2025 Acura ADX: Pricing and features of Acura's new entry-level SUV Affluence made affordable: Our picks for the cheapest luxury SUVs of 2025 The M5 (Touring) is on sale now at over $125,000 If a long-roof take on the newest M5 tickles your tailgate, the 2025 BMW M5 Touring is available now starting at $125,275. If you want maximal handling upgrades, the optional M Driver's Package adds another $2,500 and includes a one-day high-performance driving class while M Drive Professional adds M Boost, M Laptimer, and the ten-stage M Traction Control is another $900 to the base price. You can also have your calipers in either black or red for no extra cost, but a set of M Carbon Ceramic Brakes will set you back another $8,500. If you want a few creature comforts in your ultimate driving wagon, there are some options to add to your 2025 BMW M5 Touring order. If you just want Active Driving Assist — BMWs radar-based cruise control — you'll need to add around $650, but a separate Driving Assistance Professional package adds in additional ADAS features for partial autonomous driving for $1,700. Glowing kidney grilles will add another $500 to your MSRP, but it's included as part of the $1,600 Executive Package that adds front and rear heated seats, interior camera, ventilated front seats, manual rear window shades and Parking Assistant Plus. Of course, if you want the M5 sedan, because traditional trunks and a mere four doors is your thing, the 2025 BMW M5 sedan is still on offer for $123,275 to start. C'mon, you know you want to spend the extra $2,000 for the Touring... Photos by MotorTrend Staff, Manufacturer
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Extraordinary activist shares 4 must-have ingredients for change: 'Cynicism is unrealistic'
Luisa Neubauer stands at the forefront of Germany's youth-led push for a cooler future. As the lead organizer of Fridays for Future Germany, she transforms scientific findings into steps people can actually take, bringing hundreds of thousands to the streets for more than five years. Her path to becoming a leading voice began at university. Feeling frustrated by how climate science was taught, she found it "disrespectful to highlight problems without providing young people with the tools to take action," according to the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. After meeting Greta Thunberg at a United Nations conference in 2018, she helped launch the movement in Germany. Now a John F. Kennedy Memorial Policy Fellow at Harvard and author of three bestselling books, Neubauer tackles a core problem in environmental advocacy: making complex science accessible and actionable. She won a landmark court case ("Neubauer vs. Germany") that forced the German government to strengthen its climate laws in 2021 and is currently suing them again for stronger action. By focusing on practical steps over statistics, she connects with communities through shared experiences rather than technical data. "When asked about how to communicate climate change with people from diverse backgrounds, Luisa notes the importance of not relying on the statistics, but on experiences and feelings," per the Yale program. Her approach makes saving the planet feel personal and possible for everyone. Named to Time Magazine's "100 Next" list in 2022, Neubauer believes that effective climate campaigns need four key ingredients: "hope, anger, something concrete to do," and, importantly, "bring snacks," per Yale. This simple formula helps ordinary people feel they can make a difference. Born in Hamburg in 1996, Neubauer is completing her master's degree in geography while hosting the award-winning podcast "1.5 Degrees." She stresses that stepping into environmental action might feel uncomfortable at first, but she told the Yale audience that's exactly the point: "We will not solve the climate crisis inside our comfort zone." How often do you feel hopeful about the future of the planet when you read news stories or watch entertainment content? Often Sometimes Rarely Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. "We need a million very normal people doing one thing rather than superheroes," Neubauer stated, making it clear that everyday actions add up to meaningful change. Her most powerful message offered a refreshing perspective on our future: "Cynicism is unrealistic. Hope isn't." Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
20-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Assembly passes bills to regulate test scores, school spending, cell phone policies
Rep. Benjamin Franklin speaks about his bill to require 70% of funding in schools go towards "classroom" expenses. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner) Wisconsin Republicans in the state Assembly passed a package of education bills Wednesday to implement new standards for standardized test scores, school funding allocations, responding to curriculum inspection requests and for keeping cell phones out of schools. Republicans argued that the state needs to ensure that schools are meeting certain standards, especially as they've provided some state funding increases in recent years and as school enrollments have declined. While Wisconsin schools did receive an increase in the last state budget, many schools continue to struggle to meet costs as funding has failed to match the rate of inflation. 'We need to make sure that, as we are increasing funding for education, we are also doing a better job, ensuring that the standards and the expectations that parents and taxpayers have across the state are being met,' Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said at a press conference. Vos called some school districts 'disappointing' and named Milwaukee Public Schools as an example. The district, which was an ongoing target of Republican lawmakers throughout the debate, has experienced turmoil over the last few years with turnover in staff, a financial crisis after delays in delivering required documents to DPI and reading and math scores that show continued disparities between Black and white students. 'I'm a huge supporter of local control. There are some districts that are so broken and expect us to have to pay for it as taxpayers, either on the front end through funding the school district or on the back end with the bad decisions that are made where people make bad choices,' Vos said. 'Having that statewide standards is good for Wisconsin while still maintaining the flexibility to try to get there.' Democrats said Republicans' focus was in the wrong place and that the proposed solutions would not help address the real challenges that schools are facing. Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) criticized Republicans for rejecting Gov. Tony Evers' budget proposal that would invest heavily in Wisconsin K-12 education. Evers unveiled his complete state budget proposal Tuesday evening, calling for more than $3 billion in additional funding for K-12 schools, including to support operational costs, special education and mental health supports. 'The level of investment from the Legislature is just not enough to provide these essential investments in our schools,' Neubauer said. 'Here in the Capitol, the Legislature has failed our students … we just have not kept up our end of the bargain.' 'Instead of bringing legislation to the floor to support our schools, teachers and students, the best the majority party can do is to fast-track a bill that would require cursive instruction,' Neubauer said. That bill — AB 4 — passed 51-46 with Reps. Joy Goeben (R-Hobart), Shae Sortwell (R-Two Rivers) and David Steffen (R-Howard) joining Democrats to vote against it. Another bill focused on reversing changes to standards on state tests that were approved by the DPI last year. GOP lawmakers slammed State Superintendent Jill Underly, who is running for reelection against Republican-backed education consultant Brittany Kinser, for approving the changes in the first place. 'Something is wrong in our communication system. It is not a lack of resources. It's a lack of willpower to do something about the problems that we know are obvious because it is the fact that we have kids who can't read,' Vos said. He added that only lawmakers should be allowed to 'dumb down' the state's standards. Vos said there was only one person — referencing Underly — that 'needs to pay a price' and 'hopefully she will in April.' Wisconsin students take standardized tests each year including the Forward Exam for third graders through eighth graders and the ACT and PreACT Secure for high school students. Underly approved changes to the standards last year that included new terms — 'developing,' 'approaching,' 'meeting' and 'advanced' — to describe student achievement. Previously, the terms were 'below basic,' 'basic,' 'proficient' and 'advanced.' The changes also included new cut scores — which are the test scores cutoffs needed to qualify to be placed in each performance level. Underly and DPI have defended the changes, saying they were necessary to more accurately measure achievement; that educators and other stakeholders worked together to create the new measures with Underly signing off; and that it's too late to take the state back to 2019-20 standards. Republican lawmakers said the changes 'lowered' state standards and were an attempt to 'cook the books.' AB 1 directs DPI to use score ranges and qualitative terms used on school report cards for the 2019-2020 school year and to tie the Forward exam score ranges and pupil performance categories to those set by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). 'There's no legislative oversight on the scoring and assessment of our kids, so this bill will establish that,' bill coauthor Rep. Robert Wittke (R-Caledonia) said at a press conference. 'We will be once again allowed to compare ourselves to other states — let us know who's doing well, are we on pace with them or not,' Wittke said. 'Then it provides legislative oversight, so the only time these scores can be adjusted or changed is when we actually legislate.' Rep. Angelina M. Cruz (D-Racine), who has worked as an educator for the last 20 years, said during floor debate that a variety of student assessments are used to measure students' learning with each serving a 'unique purpose' and reflecting the 'expertise of professional educators.' She said that goes for the state tests as well and said the updates to standards weren't made in a 'vacuum,' noting that this isn't the first time DPI has made changes and it shouldn't be the last. 'Education is dynamic,' Cruz said. 'The disconnect between the reality of classroom teaching and this body and the understanding of assessments has never been more clear… This bill is not about improving education. This bill is about playing political games.' Cruz said lawmakers would be better served fully funding the state's public schools. During floor debate, Wittke said that Democrats were repeating political talking points by talking about increasing funding for public schools. The bill passed 55-44 along party lines with Republicans for and Democrats against it. Lawmakers also passed a bill that would mandate cell phone bans in schools statewide. Under AB 3, school boards must require districts to adopt cell phone ban policies in their schools during instructional time. Policies would need to be implemented by July 2026 and would need to include certain exceptions in emergencies, cases involving student's health care, individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan and for educational purposes. Kitchens said it was a 'modest' proposal and would help schools enforce policies if they already have them and get other school districts on the same page. 'Part of that is putting them away when it's time to do work,' Kitchens said, adding that the bill would provide a 'unified' approach for the state. During the 40 minutes of debate on the bill, some lawmakers in the Assembly chamber could be seen with their phones out. Of the 320 school districts that participated in DPI's 2024-25 State Digital Learning survey approximately 90% of districts reported already having some sort of restrictive cell phone policy in place. Rep. Robyn Vining (D-Wauwautosa) said she thinks the original intent of the bill was genuine in trying to address challenges posed by phones in classrooms. However, she noted that it wouldn't apply to the state's private and charter schools that participate in voucher programs. Vining said the bill was modeled after legislation in Indiana, but Wisconsin Republicans intentionally carved out the voucher schools. 'It's not fair when the concerns of voucher lobbyists are considered valid by Republicans in the Legislature that while the same concerns are ignored when they come from public schools,' Vining said. Kitchens said the issue shouldn't be partisan and noted that Louisiana, a red state, and New York, a blue state, both have strict statewide cell phone ban policies. The bill passed 53-45 on a party-line vote, with Republicans for and Democrats against. AB 5, which would require school districts to comply with requests within 14 days, passed 54-43, also on a party-line vote, with Republicans for and Democrats against. Parents can already submit open records requests to school districts to receive school materials. The bill adds that entities should respond 'as soon as practicable and without delay.' Rep. Barbara Dittrich (R-Oconomowoc) said during the press conference that the bill seeks to help parents get information about materials more quickly. She noted that there are no time requirements included in state statute for responding to open records requests. 'I'm old enough to remember a time in our Wisconsin schools where our schools were begging parents to become engaged and then there came a huge fracture when COVID-19 hit,' Dittrich said. Some parents, she said, aren't having their requests fulfilled before their child is out of the class. '[The bill] works at bridging this gap between schools and families so they can work together for the benefit of our students.' This is the third time lawmakers have introduced a bill to implement a time frame for complying. In the 2021-23 session, the bill passed the Legislature and Evers vetoed it. Last session, the bill passed the Assembly and never received a vote in the Senate Other laws in Wisconsin include one that requires a list of textbooks be filed with the school board clerk every year on an annual basis. Another state statute requires school boards to provide the complete human growth and development curriculum and all instructional materials for inspection to parents who request it. Rep. Francesca Hong (D-Madison) said the bill is unnecessary given the current state laws. 'It's trying to solve a problem that doesn't exist,' Hong said. AB 6 would require school boards in Wisconsin to spend a minimum of 70% of operating money on direct classroom expenditures and limit annual compensation increases for school administrators to the average percent increase provided to teachers in the school district. An amendment to the bill would clarify that 'direct classroom expenditures' would not include costs for administration, food services, transportation, instructional support including media centers, teacher training and student support such as nurses and school counselors. Those costs would need to fall under the other 30% of spending. Rep. Benjamin Franklin (R-De Pere) said the state has 'a system that fails to put the money in the classroom where the education is happening' and said the bill would implement 'guardrails' for school districts to ensure money is going to classrooms and teachers. Rep. Joan Fitzgerald (D-Fort Atkinson) said she was voting against the bill — and others on the calendar — because they appeared to be written without 'meaningful input' from teachers, administrators, superintendents, parents, students or community members. 'I'm here to let you know that if you want support in the educational community for any education bill, you should do your homework,' Fitzgerald said, 'including having conversations with the public and reaching across the aisle.' Fitzgerald said Franklin's bill would take away local control from school districts and school boards and criticized the bill for including 'vague' wording and 'undefined terms,' saying the bills are unserious. 'What about all the additional staff needed to meet the special needs of my students — people like speech pathologists, nurses, counselors? People I could not have done my job without,' Fitzgerald said. 'That definition doesn't include athletic programs…. Does it include bus transportation to get to games because I've heard that actual bus transportation is not included as a direct class transmission? Although I'll admit I'm incredibly confused about that one, since I would not have had kids in my classroom in my rural district without bus transportation.' Rep. Christian Phelps (D-Eau Claire) called the proposal an 'arbitrary, one size fits all budget crackdown that limits our ability to meet moral and constitutional obligations.' The bill passed 53-44 with only Republican support. The Assembly also passed AB 4, which would require civics instruction in K-12 schools, in a 52-46 vote. Sortwell and Goeben voted against the bill with Democrats. 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