Sunday, June 15, 2025
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Sunday, June 15, 2025

Milwaukee Press Club 'Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism' 2020 & 2021 Award Winners

Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson Writes Open Letter Supporting Ryan Owens

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By Waukesha County Sheriff Eric Severson

For 36 years I have served as a law enforcement officer, the last seven as the Waukesha County Sheriff. It has been the honor of my life; I wake up every day with a fresh resolve to do my job—committed to upholding the safety and security of our community. That’s what it takes to lead. 

Our nation faces great challenges: civil unrest, charged politics, disregard for property and life, distrust of law enforcement—all these societal ailments are surging. We’ve seen it in Wisconsin. We’ve all felt it.

Yet, I remain optimistic because of the men and women I see stepping up to lead. From my vantage as Sheriff, I know what law enforcement needs to meet this moment: effective leadership.

Wisconsin needs new leadership and a renewed commitment to the rule of law—especially at the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

That’s why I strongly support Ryan Owens for Attorney General. He has my full endorsement and I’m going to do everything I can to ensure he is Wisconsin’s next Attorney General. I encourage you all to join me.

Ryan is a man of strong character and boundless energy. He is running on a simple, but powerful message of freedom, safety, and prosperity. As he travels to every corner of the state, speaking with anyone, going anywhere, he remains optimistic and focused.

You might have heard Ryan’s professional background is different than most candidates—that’s true. It’s also a significant strength. Ryan is not a politician. He’s never run for political office before, but he has an impressive career.

Ryan worked on the legal team for former Governor Tommy Thompson. He practiced complex telecommunications law. He represented Senators Ted Cruz and Mike Lee before the U.S. Supreme Court. He was the founding director of the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership at UW-Madison. And he is a conservative professor in the liberal lion’s den of Madison.

Most importantly, Ryan Owens is a man of his word, a principled and dedicated leader, and a proud constitutional conservative. 

Ryan is a friend and strong supporter of law enforcement. He listens; he reaches out often for input on key issues. He will defend qualified immunity; he will work to retain our law enforcement officers—to recruit the best and brightest. His career success highlights his ability to find creative solutions. Ryan will address our recruitment challenges and funding gaps head on.

I remain optimistic about the future of our community and state when leaders like Ryan Owens step up to serve. I know Ryan will always provide law enforcement a square deal and make Wisconsin proud.

Eric J. Severson was first elected Waukesha County Sheriff in 2014, and has served as a law enforcement officer for 36 years.

Editor’s note: Owens is running in the Republican primary against Fond du Lac County DA Eric Toney for the chance to unseat liberal AG Josh Kaul.

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Wisconsin Budget Negotiations Reach Impasse Between Evers, Legislature

(The Center Square) – Wisconsin budget negotiations have reached an impasse with both sides pointing fingers at the other in Wednesday afternoon statements.

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said Republican Legislative leaders backed out of negotiations after he agreed to “an income tax cut targeting Wisconsin’s middle-class and working families and eliminating income taxes for certain retirees.” He said Republican leaders would not agree to “meaningful increased investments in child care, K-12 schools, and the University of Wisconsin System.”

Republican Assembly leaders said the two sides were "far apart. Senate leaders say Evers’ desires “extend beyond what taxpayers can afford.”

“The Joint Committee on Finance will continue using our long-established practices of crafting a state budget that contains meaningful tax relief and responsible spending levels with the goal of finishing on time,” said a statement from Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, and Assembly Finance Co-Chairman Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam.

Evers said that there were meetings between the sides every day this week before the impasse.

“I told Republicans I’d support their half of the deal and their top tax priorities – even though they’re very similar to bills I previously vetoed – because I believe that’s how compromise is supposed to work, and I was ready to make that concession in order to get important things done for Wisconsin’s kids,” Evers said.

Senate Republican leadership said that good faith negotiations have occurred since April on a budget compromise.

“Both sides of these negotiations worked to find compromise and do what is best for the state of Wisconsin,” said a statement from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, R-Oostburg, and Senate Joint Finance Co-Chairman Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green.

In early May, the Joint Committee on Finance took 612 items out of Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal, including Medicaid expansion in the state, department creations and tax exemptions.

Born previously estimated that Evers’ budget proposal would lead to $3 billion in tax increases over the two-year span.

Wisconsin Policy Forum estimated that the proposal would spend down more than $4 billion of the state’s expected $4.3 billion surplus if it is enacted.

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The U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division announced it is investigating California for violating Title IX by allowing males to participate in female student sports.

“Title IX exists to protect women and girls in education,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, assistant attorney general for Civil Rights. “It is perverse to allow males to compete against girls, invade their private spaces, and take their trophies.”

In February, President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning males from participating in female student sports, and he has threatened to block California's federal funding for continuing to defy his order. With California facing deficits in the tens of billions of dollars each year, it's unclear how the state would offset any losses or pauses in federal funding.

Notably, California Gov. Gavin Newsom hosted conservative pundit Charlie Kirk on his podcast and told Kirk that he thinks it’s “deeply unfair” that boys are participating in girls’ sports.

When asked later at a press conference what this means for state policy, Newsom demurred, painting the matter as a marginal, non-issue not worth his time.

“You're talking about a very small number of people, a very small number of athletes, and my responsibility is to address the pressing issues of our time,” said Newsom.

The California Interscholastic Federation, which governs student sports in California, has since responded to Trump’s threat by announcing a new pilot program to allow girls who otherwise would have qualified for sports finals had the finalist spots in girls’ sports not been taken by transgender-identifying boys to participate in said finals.

Title IX was signed into law by President Richard Nixon in 1972 to ensure that schools could not discriminate against female students. It requires they be provided with equal opportunities to engage in athletics, extracurriculars and education.

DOJ’s letter of interest says it is investigating whether California’s Assembly Bill 1266, which requires transgender-identifying students to be allowed to participate in sports consistent with their gender identities, violates Title IX.

“As a result of CIF’s policy, California’s top-ranked girls’ triple jumper, and second-ranked girls’ long-jumper, is a boy,” wrote the DOJ. “As recently as May 17, this male athlete was allowed to take winning titles that rightfully belong to female athletes in both events.”

“This male athlete will now be allowed to compete against those female athletes again for a state title in long, triple, and high jump,” continued the DOJ. “Other high school female athletes have alleged that they were likewise robbed of podium positions and spots on their teams after they were forced to compete against males.”

Should the DOJ find California is in violation of Title IX, it says it will “take appropriate action to eliminate that discrimination, including seeking injunctive relief.”

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