Schedule

Worsening conditions at one of the state’s oldest prisons have intensified calls to shut it down. Leaders from the Brown County area, correctional facility experts and prisoner advocates are holding an informational session in the capitol this week, in hopes of getting the attention of the Governor, and securing a plan for closure of the Green Bay Correctional Institution in the next biennial budget. Allouez Village President Jim Rafter and Representative Dave Steffen will be at that event and have been working on this issue for nearly a decade. On April 22, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Newsmakers Host Lisa Pugh will sit down with Rafter and Rep. Steffen to discuss. (Brought to you by Nicolet National Bank).

On April 23, 2024, the Village of Allouez will hold a roundtable discussion at the State Capitol next week to gather information on the closure of Green Bay Correctional Institution. Village President Jim Rafter, lawmakers, government officials, family members of inmates, reform advocates, and former guards have all been invited to attend.

On April 23, 2024, the Department of Children and Families will host the inaugural Secretary’s Putting Families First Awards. This awards ceremony will recognize and celebrate those who are doing exceptional, transformational work that Puts Families First.

On April 23, 2024, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation will hold their board of directors meeting on the following agenda:

• Call to Order and Roll Call
• Approval of Minutes from the March 26, 2024 meeting
• CEO Report
• AAC ReportApproval of CY24 Mid-Year Program Guideline Revisions
• Approval of Amendments Implementing EZ Statutory Changes
• Closed Session

On April 24, 2024, the Wisconsin Elections Commission will hold a public hearing on a permanent rule to create Wis. Admin Code Chapter EL 4 relating to the conduct, regulation, and accommodation of election observers.

The chairs are planning upcoming state conventions, and Republicans host the national convention in Milwaukee this July. They are also working on battle plans for legislative races following Dem Gov. Tony Evers’ signing of his redistricting plan. That’s in addition to nationally important presidential and U.S. Senate races. Join WisPolitics for a luncheon event at The Madison Club for an election year-discussion with the two major party chairs: State GOP Chair Brian Schimming and State Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Ben Wikler. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance).

On April 25, 2024, the Senate Committee on Utilities and Technology will hold an informational hearing to discuss community solar in Wisconsin. Testimony will be from invited speakers only including:

• Brandon Smithwood – Vice President of Policy, Dimension Renewable Energy
• JD Smith & John Schulze – Arch Electric & Associated Builders and Contractors of Wisconsin
• Zack Hill – Sr. Manager of Public Affairs, Alliant Energy
• Sarah Moon – Co-Founder & Principal, Fieldworks Power

On April 26, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Rewind Host and CBS 58 Capitol Reporter Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross review this week in state politics. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Realtors Association).

On April 26, 2024, UW-Madison’s Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership will host a panel discussion on public opinion surveys in 2024 featuring the following panelists:

• Michael Baselice – President and CEO of Baselice & Associates, Inc.
• Pete Brodnitz – Founder and President of Expedition Strategies
• Stefan Hankin – Founder and President of Lincoln Park Strategies
• Chris Perkins – Partner at Ragnar Research Partners
• Blake Reynolds – Chief Technology Officer at Murphy Nasica & Associates

On April 29, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Newsmakers Host Lisa Pugh will sit down with Danny Thompson, City of Waukesha Police Chief and Kelly Bakken, City of Altoona Police Chief to discuss crime and law enforcement as election issues. (Brought to you by Nicolet National Bank).

On April 30, 2024, the Senate Committee on Mental Health, Substance Abuse Prevention, Children and Families and Assembly Committee on Children and Families will hold a joint informational hearing with invited speakers from the Department of Children and Families on the following:

2022 Wisconsin Child Abuse and Neglect Report

• Received by the Legislature on 12/20/2023

90 Day and 6 Month Summary Reports of Incidents of Child Death, Serious Injury or Egregious Incident

• Submitted to the Legislature from 1/1/2023 – 12/31/2023

Quarterly and Annual Reports of Sexual Abuse of Children Placed in Out-of-Home Care

• Submitted to the Legislature on 4/26/2023, 7/28/2023, 10/30/2023, and 1/29/2024 (Reports for Quarter 1, 2023 through Quarter 4, 2023 and the Annual 2023 Report)

Patients across Wisconsin rely on innovative drug therapies for their health and well being. But, the rising cost of prescription drugs is threatening patient access and squeezing healthcare budgets. It’s also prompted finger pointing on who is to blame, preventing consensus on how to move forward. On April 30, 2024, Wisconsin Health News will host a virtual panel of experts to examine what more can be done to control costs and preserve access. 

Panelists:

• Kevin Mead, National Director of Market Access Strategic Accounts, Novo Nordisk
• Sean Stephenson, Director of State Affairs, PCMA 
• Nathan Houdek, Commissioner of Insurance, State of Wisconsin 
• Dr. Mark Huth, CEO, Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin

On May 2, 2024, the Assembly Committee on Corrections will hold a public hearing on Clearinghouse Rule 24-003: security in Type 1 secured correctional facilities.

On May 3, 2024, WisconsinEye’s Rewind Host and CBS 58 Capitol Reporter Emilee Fannon and WisPolitics.com Editor JR Ross review this week in state politics. (Brought to you by the Wisconsin Realtors Association).