Wisconsin voters will decide the state’s future direction in pivotal elections next year. Here are storylines Wisconsin Watch is following heading into 2026.
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Posted inCriminal justice
ICE arrests of asylum seekers in Milwaukee show shifting tactics
A Venezuelan couple arrested during a routine immigration check will try to continue their asylum cases while detained hundreds of miles away from each other.
Posted inCommunity, Government
After court ruling, some 13,000 disabled Wisconsin workers notified they may be eligible for backpay
Wisconsin residents who were previously denied unemployment benefits while receiving Social Security Disability Insurance could be eligible for financial compensation for past benefits. Here’s what you need to know.
Posted inCriminal justice, Government
Wisconsin Republicans mum on prison plans heading into key vote on moving projects forward
The GOP rejected Gov. Tony Evers’ $325 million budget proposal, but Republicans have yet to detail their own vision for fixing a broken system.
Posted inCriminal justice
Rapid deportation push leaves immigrant families in the dark
The pace of the Trump administration’s crackdown and lack of transparency have disoriented affected families and overwhelmed immigration attorneys.
Posted inCriminal justice
Wisconsin rarely grants compassionate release as aging, ailing prisoners stress systems
Increased use of compassionate release could ease costs and crowding with minimal risks to public safety, experts say. But it remains off limits to many prisoners.
Posted inGovernment, Health and Wellness
Legal loopholes in Wisconsin cannabis laws leave consumers vulnerable
A year after the Famous Yeti’s THC pizza incident, the state doesn’t have laws regulating THC in food preparation.
Posted inCommunity, Government
What you need to know about immigration trends in Wisconsin
Immigration hearing and arrest data illustrate where new immigrants to Wisconsin originated, where they settled and how they’ve fared in immigration court.
Posted inCommunity, Inside the NNS Newsroom
Help shape our immigration reporting
Introducing Paul Kiefer, who will report on immigration issues during a yearlong fellowship.
Posted inEducation
Wisconsin colleges vow to keep supporting Hispanic students despite federal funding cuts
The Department of Education announced it’s ending grant programs that help fund minority-serving colleges, including 600-plus Hispanic-serving institutions.