Latest news with #WisconsinInstituteforLawandLiberty
Chicago Tribune
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Chicago Tribune
Wisconsin dairy farmer sues Trump administration claiming discrimination against white farmers
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin dairy farmer alleged in a federal lawsuit filed Monday that the Trump administration is illegally denying financial assistance to white farmers by continuing programs that favor minorities. The conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in federal court in Wisconsin on behalf of a white dairy farmer, Adam Faust. Faust was among several farmers who successfully sued the Biden administration in 2021 for race discrimination in the USDA's Farmer Loan Forgiveness Plan. The new lawsuit alleges the government has continued to implement diversity, equity and inclusion programs that were instituted under former President Joe Biden. The Wisconsin Institute wrote to the USDA in April warning of legal action, and six Republican Wisconsin congressmen called on the USDA to investigate and end the programs. 'The USDA should honor the President's promise to the American people to end racial discrimination in the federal government,' Faust said in a written statement. 'After being ignored by a federal agency that's meant to support agriculture, I hope my lawsuit brings answers, accountability, and results from USDA.' Trump administration spokesperson Anna Kelly did not immediately respond to an email Monday seeking comment. John Boyd, president of the National Black Farmers Association, said the lawsuit is 'frustrating for me personally and as the leader of this movement.' 'The farmers that are hurting now are clearly the Black farmers out here,' he said. 'You can couch it any way you want.' The lawsuit contends that Faust is one of 2 million white male American farmers who are subject to discriminatory race-based policies at the USDA. The lawsuit names three USDA programs and policies it says put white men at a disadvantage and violate the Constitution's guarantee of equal treatment by discriminating based on race and sex. Faust participates in one program designed to offset the gap between milk prices and the cost of feed, but the lawsuit alleges he is charged a $100 administrative fee that minority and female farmers do not have to pay. Faust also participates in a USDA program that guarantees 90% of the value of loans to white farmers, but 95% to women and racial minorities. That puts Faust at a disadvantage, the lawsuit alleges. Faust has also begun work on a new manure storage system that could qualify for reimbursement under a USDA environmental conservation program, but 75% of his costs are eligible while 90% of the costs of minority farmers qualify, the lawsuit contends. A federal court judge ruled in a similar 2021 case that granting loan forgiveness only to 'socially disadvantaged farmers' amounts to unconstitutional race discrimination. The Biden administration suspended the program and Congress repealed it in 2022. The Wisconsin Institute has filed dozens of such lawsuits in 25 states attacking DEI programs in government. In its April letter to the USDA, the law firm that has a long history of representing Republicans said it didn't want to sue 'but there is no excuse for this continued discrimination.' Trump has been aggressive in trying to end the government's DEI efforts to fulfill a campaign promise and bring about a profound cultural shift across the U.S. from promoting diversity to an exclusive focus on merit.
Newsweek
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Trump Administration Sued For 'Discriminating Against White Farmers'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Wisconsin dairy farmer is suing the Trump administration over allegations it is discriminating against white farmers by continuing programs that favor minorities. On Monday, the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty filed the lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture in federal court in Wisconsin on behalf of white dairy farmer Adam Faust. Despite President Donald Trump's crackdown on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs across the government, the federal lawsuit states that it has continued Biden-era DEI programs that it says discriminates against white farmers. This is a breaking news story, updates to follow.
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monday is the deadline for city of Milwaukee to prove action on putting police in schools
If all goes as a Milwaukee judge ordered, school police will walk the halls of Milwaukee Public Schools on Monday. If that happens, it would be the first time in over 14 months that MPS has complied with state law requiring the presence of 25 school resource officers in district schools. Noncompliance with the law known as Act 12 prompted a lawsuit against the MPS school board, and later the city, by a district parent and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Milwaukee Circuit Judge David Borowski set three separate deadlines for police to get into schools: Feb. 17, Feb. 27 and March 15. In issuing that third deadline, and growing increasingly frustrated, Borowski also found the city of Milwaukee liable for contempt in failing to get officers in place by his earlier deadlines. He ordered the city to be fined $1,000 per day for noncompliance. But Borowski also stayed those penalties until March 15, giving the city time to take certain steps to comply with Act 12. A hearing in the case is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday. To avoid penalties, the city must show the judge that: It has taken steps to implement a memorandum of understanding with MPS outlining the terms of the school resource officer program; School resource officers are either registered for, or have completed, training through the National Association of School Resource Officers, and; It can provide a list of the names of the 25 school resource officers, and the schools where they will work, to the judge. Since Feb. 27, both the city Common Council and Milwaukee Board of School Directors have taken formal action to approve a memorandum of understanding that contractually outlines the details of the school police program. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed the memorandum March 10, according to his spokesperson Jeff Fleming. Among other things, the agreement says school police should become involved only when a student breaks the law, and school discipline should be handled by MPS staff. Defining that line between police as law enforcement officials and school disciplinarians has been an issue in the past. Activists against SROs have argued that police too often entangle students with the legal system for behaviors that should otherwise be handled by school staff. Research has shown that students of color and students with disabilities are more likely to be arrested or suspended when police are present in schools. In creating the police-related requirements of Act 12, state lawmakers are forcing MPS to reverse course on a 2020 decision to terminate contracts with police. The district and school board took that action in the wake of national anti-police brutality protests and the murder of George Floyd. Borowski has made clear he wants police in schools as quickly as possible. But it still remains unclear exactly when that will happen. In a March 12 statement, the mayor's spokesperson, Jeff Fleming, said school police were expected to complete the required training by March 14. Fleming said he did not know specifics about when officers would be in schools or at which schools they would be stationed. A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Police Department declined to provide updates on Friday, citing ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for MPS also declined to provide updates Friday. Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@ or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Monday is the deadline for city to prove action on MPS police program
Yahoo
17-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Monday is the deadline for city of Milwaukee to prove action on putting police in schools
If all goes as a Milwaukee judge ordered, school police will walk the halls of Milwaukee Public Schools on Monday. If that happens, it would be the first time in over 14 months that MPS has complied with state law requiring the presence of 25 school resource officers in district schools. Noncompliance with the law known as Act 12 prompted a lawsuit against the MPS school board, and later the city, by a district parent and the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Milwaukee Circuit Judge David Borowski set three separate deadlines for police to get into schools: Feb. 17, Feb. 27 and March 15. In issuing that third deadline, and growing increasingly frustrated, Borowski also found the city of Milwaukee liable for contempt in failing to get officers in place by his earlier deadlines. He ordered the city to be fined $1,000 per day for noncompliance. But Borowski also stayed those penalties until March 15, giving the city time to take certain steps to comply with Act 12. A hearing in the case is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Monday. To avoid penalties, the city must show the judge that: It has taken steps to implement a memorandum of understanding with MPS outlining the terms of the school resource officer program; School resource officers are either registered for, or have completed, training through the National Association of School Resource Officers, and; It can provide a list of the names of the 25 school resource officers, and the schools where they will work, to the judge. Since Feb. 27, both the city Common Council and Milwaukee Board of School Directors have taken formal action to approve a memorandum of understanding that contractually outlines the details of the school police program. Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson signed the memorandum March 10, according to his spokesperson Jeff Fleming. Among other things, the agreement says school police should become involved only when a student breaks the law, and school discipline should be handled by MPS staff. Defining that line between police as law enforcement officials and school disciplinarians has been an issue in the past. Activists against SROs have argued that police too often entangle students with the legal system for behaviors that should otherwise be handled by school staff. Research has shown that students of color and students with disabilities are more likely to be arrested or suspended when police are present in schools. In creating the police-related requirements of Act 12, state lawmakers are forcing MPS to reverse course on a 2020 decision to terminate contracts with police. The district and school board took that action in the wake of national anti-police brutality protests and the murder of George Floyd. Borowski has made clear he wants police in schools as quickly as possible. But it still remains unclear exactly when that will happen. In a March 12 statement, the mayor's spokesperson, Jeff Fleming, said school police were expected to complete the required training by March 14. Fleming said he did not know specifics about when officers would be in schools or at which schools they would be stationed. A spokesperson for the Milwaukee Police Department declined to provide updates on Friday, citing ongoing litigation. A spokesperson for MPS also declined to provide updates Friday. Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@ or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Monday is the deadline for city to prove action on MPS police program
Yahoo
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
With a judge's Feb. 17 deadline approaching, MPS has an offer on the table for school police
With a judge's Feb. 17 deadline for compliance quickly approaching, Milwaukee Public Schools' board of directors and the city of Milwaukee are still negotiating on an agreement that would fulfill state law. The law requires the district to create a school-based police program. During a Tuesday night press conference about MPS' newly named superintendent, MPS board member Missy Zombor responded to a reporter's question with details about ongoing negotiations related to school resource officers. Zombor said MPS has an offer out to the city: for the district to pay for 33% of the cost of the school resource officer program, plus provide training for 25 officers and five alternates. "(Part of) the shared revenue sales tax deal, the city was the recipient of over $200 million. MPS was not a recipient of that money," Zombor told reporters Tuesday. She said the district had offered to conduct negotiations with the help of a mediator. Via email, the spokesperson for Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, Jeff Fleming, said MPS had agreed to maintain confidentiality about the status and terms of the ongoing negotiations about school resource officers. "It is highly disappointing MPS has broken that promise," Fleming said, declining to provide further details about the negotiations. "The city continues to act in good faith, and it is our hope we can resolve any differences through the mutually agreed upon process." Fleming also said the city had first offered mediation, not the district. Since Jan. 1, 2024, MPS has been required by a state law known as Act 12 to ensure 25 police officers are "present" in the district during school hours. MPS' lack of compliance with that law prompted a lawsuit by a district parent and the conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. More: Despite MPS missing deadline, debate heats up on police in Milwaukee schools On Jan. 23, Milwaukee County Circuit Judge David Borowski ordered that MPS have police in place by Feb. 17. That created a deadline of just over three weeks for MPS and the city to finalize their negotiations. On Wednesday, Zombor acknowledged that discussions took place about not pursuing media with updates about the negotiations. However, she said that when asked by a reporter during a news conference, she felt it was her responsibility "to answer honestly and transparently." "We remain committed to continuing the conversation to come to a resolution," she said. More: In Milwaukee, police respond to thousands of calls to MPS: 'Why do we call the police?' Act 12 provided no funding to implement the school resource officer program, which is estimated to cost at least $2 million annually. Instead, it required the MPS board and the city to agree to an "apportionment" of the costs. Deciding who pays for that mandate has been an issue ever since, with the school board and city disagreeing about which party should be responsible. The issue of school police is tense in Milwaukee: MPS previously cut ties with police in June 2020 amid calls from local activists about over-policing of people of color in the wake of national protests over the murder of George Floyd. In a statement Wednesday, Gov. Tony Evers said MPS has been working diligently in recent weeks to make progress. "I'm glad to see this good-faith effort to try and reach consensus. Let's get this done," Evers said. Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@ or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee schools make offer to fulfill Act 12 school police law
