Latest news with #WisconsinPolicyForum
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wisconsin piling up costs from more floods, report finds. And that was before this deluge.
As southeastern Wisconsin reckons with the growing toll of extreme weather events − such as last weekend's 1,000-year flood − the region faces mounting costs to infrastructure, possible displacement, the loss of personal belongings and irreplaceable memories, as well a serious impacts to mental and physical health. A new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum outlines how Wisconsin has seen an increase in damage caused by flooding, in turn leading to dramatic spikes in flood insurance claims and payouts. In something of an astonishing fluke of timing, the report was in the works long before this month's flood. That made the conclusions all the more relevant. Climate change − which is caused by human use of fossil fuels − is warming the planet, allowing it to hold onto more water and leading to supercharged rain events. The devastating impact of these storms will continue to grow with inaction as climate change is warming the planet at a pace faster than ever before. Floods are Wisconsin's second-most frequent disaster declaration, resulting in $123.7 million in damages since 1999, the report says. People need to be ready, whether that means buying flood insurance as individuals or broadly making sure local and state leaders have plans in place to help communities respond and recover more quickly, said Tyler Byrnes, senior research associate at the Wisconsin Policy Forum and author on the report. Here are four takeaways from the new report. A dramatic increase in flood damage There has been a massive jump in Wisconsin flood damage in the last three decades, according to the new report. There has also been a series of massive flood events — in 1997, 1998, 2008, 2010 and 2018 — leading to spikes in claims that totaled nearly $114 million in damages. The largest was after a 2008 record rain event when 12 inches of rain fell over the course of two days in southern Wisconsin, which led to $49.0 million in damages claimed. The most recent in 2018 led to $24 million in damages, most within Dane and Sauk counties. And although this month's flood wasn't part of the report, based on the data, Byrnes estimates that the Aug. 9 and 10 flood event will likely be one of the highest set of claims Wisconsin has ever seen. Current projections show that over the next 20 years, most of the state will have a higher likelihood of heavy rains and, presumably floods, increasing the chance for spikes in property damage. More: Landmark study finds Great Lakes have entered a new era with climate change, extreme events Milwaukee leads the state in flood insurance claims Flood insurance claims are largely concentrated in southern Wisconsin due to topography, development and the fact that more people live in the southern part of the state with higher property values, Byrnes said. In southwestern Wisconsin, communities are situated in steep landscapes and within valleys, and clustered near rivers. Southeastern Wisconsin receives the most amount of rain and is more developed, leading to more runoff that can damage building and infrastructure. From 1978 to 2023, Milwaukee has had the most flood damage impact compared to other cities in the state at about $25 million, followed by Fort Atkinson at nearly $11 million and Fond Du Lac at about $9 million, the report said. More: Extreme heat. Warmer water. More ticks. Fewer fish. Climate change report brings grim news. Wisconsin flood insurance premiums just above national average Flood insurance policies are managed by FEMA and private companies with premiums subsidized by the federal government. Policy holders pay different premium amounts depending on flood risk and property value. As of 2023, the median flood insurance policy for a single-family home in Wisconsin cost $804 each year, just above the national average of $786, according to the report. Local, state leaders need to prepare The report acknowledged Milwaukee's strides in implementing green infrastructure and investing in improved stormwater infrastructure. Those tools will be key to warding off flood damages for communities throughout Wisconsin, Byrnes noted. He also said local governments need to be tougher on limiting the impacts of development and should require measures to prevent water runoff. This kind of preparation will also come with tradeoffs, Byrnes said. Limiting impacts of development can increase costs, which is a sensitive issue when housing costs already are skyrocketing in some areas. It can also stop places from being developed entirely — which is a problem when there is a need for more housing stock. But there has to be a balance, Byrnes said, making sure there is enough affordable housing while also protecting people from catastrophic flood events. Caitlin Looby covers the Great Lakes and the environment for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Reach her at clooby@ and follow her on X @caitlooby. Caitlin's work is supported by the Brico Fund, Fund for Lake Michigan, Barbara K. Frank, and individual contributions. Grants and donations help make this reporting possible. The Journal Sentinel maintains full editorial control. To learn more about our community-funded journalism initiatives, or to make a tax-deductible donation, visit Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation with 'JS Environment' in the memo, then mailed to: Local Media Foundation, P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Report: climate change increasing flood damage claims in Wisconsin Solve the daily Crossword
Chicago Tribune
07-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Column: Grass won't always be greener in Illinois
Lake County pot shops close to the Wisconsin border have had a monopoly on the sale of marijuana products to out-of-staters for years. But, that green edge may fade if some politicians in the Badger State have their way. From Antioch to Winthrop Harbor and into Waukegan, cannabis dispensaries operate, beckoning Wisconsinites to partake in what is illegal in America's Dairyland: Buds and edibles. If Illinoisans headed north last week to buy fireworks, a steady stream of Wisconsin plates reciprocated, heading to Lake County grass dispensaries. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers is confident if Democrats take control of the legislature next year, the state will legalize marijuana sales. At last month's annual party convention in the Wisconsin Dells, Evers told conventioneers, according to several media accounts, he believes next year with legislative redistricting and a Democrat majority in Madison, 'We could finally legalize marijuana so we can stop sending our revenue down to my good friend down in Illinois.' That was a reference to fellow Democrat governor JB Pritzker, as Evers acknowledged residents of his state do journey to Illinois for their stash. In 2024, the Illinois Department of Revenue estimated more than $385 million in adult-use cannabis products were purchased by out-of-state residents. Indeed, a separate legislative analysis requested by Wisconsin lawmakers estimated state residents spent more than $121 million on pot products at Illinois dispensaries in 2022, contributing some $36 million in tax revenue to its southern neighbor. Wisconsin lawmakers and elected officials have danced with Mary Jane before, but legislation never grew the way it did in Illinois. Republicans have been the ones stonewalling against legalizing recreational and medical marijuana sales in Wisconsin, despite several polls showing residents in favor of legalization. Evers may not just be blowing smoke in his assessment of Democrat gains in the off-presidential year election. The party gained legislative seats last November, narrowing the Republican majority in the state Senate by three seats. Wisconsin remains a pot prohibition island in the Midwest. Besides Illinois, Michigan has legal pot sales statewide. Just over the Wisconsin state line, there is an Upper Peninsula dispensary that offers the ease of a drive-thru option to buy ganja. Minnesota's marijuana market has had a slow roll-out since the state legalized recreational marijuana sales and usage in 2023. Pot shops in the state are still not up and running. Iowa offers medical marijuana sales. The Wisconsin Policy Forum maintains that more than half of state residents over the age of 21 live or will live within a 75-minute drive of a legal marijuana dispensary. A fiscal estimate of the economic impact of legal weed done by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue in 2023 found sales would generate at minimum $170 million annually in tax revenue through a proposed 15% wholesale excise tax, and a 10% retail excise tax. By comparison, Illinois, which is in its fifth year of legal reefer, has seen sales break records annually. Dispensaries reported that more than $2 billion in recreational and medical cannabis products were sold last year, a 2.5% increase from 2023, according to the state's Department of Revenue, which noted sales taxes on pot amounted to more than $490 million last year. That's some heady cash for Kush. Surely, if Wisconsin does legalize the herb, Illinois sales eventually will take a hit. It's not like Wisconsin needs more revenue. The state has about a $4.6 billion budget, enough to hand out $1.3 billion in income tax cuts this year for middle-class residents and getting rid of the state's tax on electricity usage. Even with record-breaking marijuana sales, Illinois residents continue to pay some of the highest taxes in the nation, including the second-highest tax on gasoline. However, sales numbers may be moot if more studies come out about the dangers of marijuana usage. In one of the largest studies to date, CNN reported last month that a new analysis of medical data involving 200 million people between 19 and 59 across the globe determined using pot doubles the risk of dying from heart disease. Compared to nonusers, those who used cannabis also had a 29% higher risk for heart attacks and a 20% higher risk for stroke, according to the study published in the medical journal, Heart. The information comes from studies conducted in the U.S., Australia, Egypt, Canada, France and Sweden between 2016 and 2023. One of the reasons researchers point to potentially higher cardiovascular disease among pot users is the potent strains of marijuana sold today compared to the illegal blends of the 1960s and '70s. Stronger weed, according to a 2022 study, also contributes to an increase in dependence, which may be a factor in sales at Illinois dispensaries. Regardless, marijuana sales are here to stay and have augmented Illinois revenues, just as fees on other vices. In the coming years, they may not stay higher.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Are cellphones banned in Wisconsin schools? District policies vary across the state
Most Wisconsin school districts have already restricted cell phone usage in the classroom in the fight for students' attention against digital distractions, says a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum. Districts across the nation are moving to restrict the use of cell phones in classrooms, although not all students and parents support that decision. In Wisconsin, about 90% of districts surveyed "already have some sort of restrictive cellphone policy in place," according to a Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction survey. Wisconsin school districts have implemented various cell phone usage policies, although most districts allow students to use cell phones in common areas, like cafeterias or hallways. Other districts are adopting much more restrictive policies and fully banning students from using their phone on school grounds. In a separate Pew Research survey, nearly three quarters of teachers surveyed said students being distracted by their cell phones is a "major problem in their classroom." Cell phone bans are mostly popular, depending on the level restriction, according to the Wisconsin Policy Forum report, which sited another Pew Research survey that found 68% of U.S. adults support a ban on middle and high school students using cell phones during instruction hours. Here's a breakdown of the latest report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum. RELATED: Republicans want to ban cell phones in classrooms. Do 90% of districts already do that? Researchers at the Wisconsin Policy Forum analyzed the results of a Digital Learning Survey by the state Department of Instruction. Among the more than 300 districts surveyed, about 43% of them said their policies permit cell phone use only in middle and high school common areas. Another 26% reported their polices only permit cell phones in high school common areas. About 20% of Wisconsin districts surveyed reported a full cell phone ban, and only about 10% had a non-restrictions policy. Smaller districts were more likely to report the strictest cell phone restrictions. About 36% of districts with 500 or fewer students had full cell phone bans. Districts in which students of color are a majority also reported more strict cell phone bans, according to the report. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, 19 states already have a statewide ban or restriction of cell phone use in K-12 schools, according to the report. Wisconsin law makers are currently under debate for a law that would adopt a policy prohibiting the use of cell phones during instructional time. The bill has moved quickly. The Assembly passed it in mid-February, just weeks after lawmakers returned to the Capitol. Nearly every Republican voted for the bill and all Democrats voted against it. The bill now awaits a vote on the Senate floor before it heads to Gov. Tony Evers. Other Midwest states, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law to ban cell phones for students during instructional time. Also, Illinois Gov. J.B. Prizker supports a ban of student cell phone usage in school. Hope Karnopp contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Cellphone bans in Wisconsin schools: What are district policies?
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisconsin export values have fallen billions in the past decade. Tariffs may make it worse
Rising prices and shrinking manufacturing jobs could be on the horizon for Wisconsin consumers and workers, as the state's exports industry continues declining billions of dollars in value, according to a new report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum. After a 2012 peak, the value of Wisconsin exports have been steadily decreasing for more than a decade, the report said.. Between 2012 and 2024, Wisconsin exports dropped from $32 billion to $27.5 billion, or more than 8%, in value. Adding further uncertainty to the industry are President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs against Wisconsin's top trading partners. The Trump administration has said boosting American manufacturing is a central goal of its tariffs. But, in the short term, the tariffs could take a further toll on the state's already-declining exports — and, by extension, a toll on Wisconsin's manufacturing industry, which relies heavily on exports and accounts for more than 18% of the state's private-sector jobs. Meanwhile, Wisconsin Republicans have largely praised the president's tariffs and dismissed questions about Congressional oversight over the policies. In March, Sen. Ron Johnson expressed concerns over how tariffs may impact Wisconsin industries, but he voted with the rest of the Wisconsin Republican delegation on April 30 to shoot down a resolution that would have pushed back against tariffs. Here's why the value of Wisconsin exports are dropping and which parts of the state have been most affected. Though Wisconsin export values have recovered from a pandemic drop, the industry has been steadily declining since the early 2010s, the report found. Between 2013 and 2024, Wisconsin's share of total U.S. exports fell from 1.5% to 1.3%. In the last two years alone, the value of state exports has slipped by $2 billion. "It's a continuation of this long-term shift in the United States, especially in the upper Midwest, away from manufacturing," Tyler Byrnes, a senior research associate for the Wisconsin Policy Forum, said of the decline. In the past few decades, American companies have steadily moved production overseas in search of cheaper labor — though there are some promising signs in Wisconsin of manufacturing returning home. In particular, high-skilled manufacturing has stuck around while other industries have declined, Byrnes said. "There's been a shift toward making more high-value things that take a lot of skill and highly skilled labor to produce, like agriculture and mining equipment," he said. In 2024, Wisconsin's two largest export industries were industrial and electrical machinery, and together comprised nearly $11 billion, or more than 39% of the state's total exports. Though the value of Milwaukee's exports have dipped significantly in the past decade, the city still remains Wisconsin's top exporting region by far. In 2023, Milwaukee exports were valued at $9.7 billion — a more than 19% decline from a decade earlier, when adjusted for inflation. Still, Milwaukee fared better than some of its peer metros, which saw even steeper declines: a 38% drop in Pittsburgh and 32% in Cleveland and the Twin Cities, according to the deport. Between 2008 and 2023, several smaller Wisconsin metro areas also saw steep export declines. In particular, Green Bay logged a drop in processed foods, paper, and machinery exports, and Appleton exported fewer computer and paper products. However, it's not the same story statewide. Madison and Racine have seen their export values grow 0.6% and 5.8%, respectively, over the past decade (in inflation-adjusted values). Between 2013 and 2023, the two cities have traded off taking the title of second-largest exporting region in the state. As of 2023, Racine's exports were valued at $3.7 billion and Madison's at $2.9 billion. In general, Byrnes said Wisconsin smaller export markets, like Sheboygan and Eau Claire, help stabilize the state even when major exporters close up shop in other cities. "Wisconsin tends to have a little bit more distribution of population and economic activity," he added. "Exports are definitely important in Milwaukee and Madison and Racine, but there are other communities across the state that are a little smaller but also depend on export markets." Wisconsin businesses export goods to nearly 200 countries, but the leading destinations of these exports have remained the same over the last decade: Canada, the European Union, Mexico and China. Together, those four regions import about two-thirds of all Wisconsin exports, according to the report. But the Trump administration's tariffs could shake up the longstanding stability of these trade relationships. As of May 1, the U.S. is tariffing all Chinese goods at 145%, certain Canadian and Mexican goods at 25%, and all EU goods at 10%. In turn, all these trading partners have implemented retaliatory tariffs on American goods. The retaliatory tariffs lead foreign importers to shift from buying Wisconsin-made products to a cheaper, non-tariffed alternative, Byrnes said. For exports like mining equipment, worth millions of dollars, a 20% tariffs is a significant price hike. Even the uncertainty of flip-flopping U.S. tariffs could scare importers away, Byrnes said. In April, Oconomowoc manufacturer Sentry Equipment Corp. lost a major order to a Chinese customer because of the country's retaliatory tax on American-made goods. "Imagine you're trying to make a multimillion dollar investment, and you're not sure what the price is going to look like in a few months because you don't know what the tariffs will look," he said. "That could directly impact Wisconsin's competitiveness on the international market." Tariffs also raise the cost of imports into the U.S., which means instability for domestic manufacturers that rely on parts from other countries, such as steel from Canada. Wisconsin-based ABC Supply Co., a roofing supplier, is the latest company to raise prices to make up for increased raw material costs from tariffs. Though the Trump administration has said bolstering American manufacturing is one of its key goals, the U.S.'s labor shortages make it difficult to ramp up production domestically, Byrnes said. And Wisconsin, like other states, relies heavily on immigrant labor, but the Trump administration has accelerated deportations and slashed migrant visas in recent months. Even if companies choose to move production back home, building new factories take significant time and money, so these effects of the tariffs will not be felt for years, Byrnes said. In fact, in 2018, Harley-Davidson actually began shifting production overseas in response to the first Trump administration's tariffs. "Over the long term, there may be benefits," Byrnes said, "but over the short term, there's disruption." More: China tariffs pose opportunities for Wisconsin manufacturers, but it's complicated. More: Sentry Equipment scrambles to recover from lost export order to Chinese customer This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How Trump tariffs will affect Wisconsin's declining export industry
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
On Hannah Dugan's arrest, Chief Judge says 'we're all concerned about how it transpired'
Chief Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Carl Ashley said he and his colleagues are "all concerned" about the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan. Dugan, 65, was charged April 25 with one felony and one misdemeanor linked to allegations that she tried to help an undocumented immigrant avoid arrest after he appeared in her courtroom. Dugan was led out of the courthouse in handcuffs. "We're all concerned about how it transpired," Ashley said following a Wisconsin Policy Forum event April 28 at Potawatomi Casino Hotel. "That's not a comfortable situation for any person to have an experience like that." He also questioned "whether that process was necessary or not." More: What to know about Eduardo Flores-Ruiz, the man who appeared in judge Hannah Dugan's Milwaukee courtroom In early April, Ashley signaled that he and other system partners would draft a policy to address concerns about safe access to the county's courthouse following two ICE arrests in March and April. Ashley told the Journal Sentinel on April 8 that the policy would be 'consistent with the law and consistent with allowing people access.' On April 24, the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution formally calling on county officials to ensure access to services at the Milwaukee County Courthouse complex and safeguard individuals' right to due process. The move would also push for educational materials about immigrants' rights to be displayed in the courthouse. Ashley said April 28 that he could not comment on the specifics of the case against Dugan, adding that he "didn't know exactly what occurred." He also said that the policy about ICE access to the courthouse was still in draft form. "Obviously, we always want to make sure people feel comfortable going to the courthouse," Ashley said. According to the criminal complaint against her, Dugan told an ICE officer that he needed a judicial warrant after learning they had only an administrative warrant. But Ashley on Monday said "we have our limitations on what we can do." "We also want to support our community," Ashley said. "The reality is, for my colleagues, we don't have control in the public hallways." He said that an administrative warrant can be used to make arrests in a public hallway, but added that "a judicial warrant has more authority in going into private areas." More: ICE officers use different types of warrants. Here's why that matters. Ashley said he and others are still working to draft a policy that can strike a balance and hopes to have it completed soon. "We're trying to work out a process where there can be respect for the courtroom, and what we're doing, but allow the immigration and customs enforcement to do what they need to do as well," he said. "We just want to stay in our lane. And we want to be transparent with the community about what we can do, and what we can't." On the morning April 28, County Executive David Crowley sent out an email to all county employees, addressing the arrest of Dugan. 'Like every person in our country, Judge Dugan is entitled to her constitutional right to due process,' Crowley wrote. 'However, it is clear that fear and hostility is being spread across our community to erode the public faith in our judicial process.' In the email, Crowley flagged that the courthouse is a public building and that he will continue 'active conversations' with law enforcement and the courts to ensure the courthouse is a 'safe, community-serving space for all.' 'We have an obligation to administer our courts in a safe, efficient manner that delivers due process for every single person,' he said. And it does not stop at the courthouse. When asked by the Journal Sentinel whether Crowley has concerns about ICE operations in other county-run facilities, he said: 'Oh, absolutely ... This became national news fairly quickly.' Crowley added: 'I don't think that this just affects us here in Milwaukee. I think this affects many people across this entire country.' This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Chief judge says 'we're all concerned' about Hannah Dugan arrest
