Jan 27 2025 3 mins
Wisconsin is poised for a year of significant transitions in 2025, with developments across various sectors. Here’s a summary of the latest news:
Top headlines include Elon Musk’s recent post on X, where he urged voters to support Republican candidates in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race to prevent voter fraud, drawing millions of views and sparking Democratic responses[1]. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Instruction has halted hiring until June due to a $2.3 million cut in the current state budget[1].
In government and politics, the Wisconsin legislature has introduced several bills, including measures to expand veterans benefits, require local approval for certain wind and solar projects, and create agreements for direct primary care[2]. Notably, proposals like AJR1 and SJR2 aim to require photographic identification to vote in any election, which are currently under consideration[2].
On the economic front, Wisconsin is expected to see modest growth in 2025, with personal income projected to rise by 4.6% nominally and 2.5% in real terms after adjusting for inflation. However, GDP growth is expected to slow to 1.6%, and employment growth is forecasted at just 0.4%, with 82,867 new jobs created between 2023 and 2025[3]. Key sectors like education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, are set to undergo significant changes, with the latter adding over 15,000 jobs[3].
In community news, the city of Middleton is swearing in a new police chief, Stephen Thompson, who previously served in various roles in the New Berlin Police Department[1]. Plans for a new Buc-ee’s in DeForest are stalled due to negotiations over paying for highway improvements, while another location is slated to open in Oak Creek in early 2027[1].
Environmental and weather updates indicate that Wisconsin is likely to become a much warmer state over the next few decades, with average temperatures more like those currently experienced in states hundreds of miles to the south. The state is also expected to become somewhat wetter, with a modest increase in total precipitation and in the number of intense rainfall events[4].
Looking Ahead:
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court race is set for April 1st, with candidates Brad Shimmel and Susan Crawford vying for the seat.
- The governor’s budget proposal is expected to be released shortly, which could address the current state budget cuts affecting the Department of Public Instruction.
- The development of the new Buc-ee’s in DeForest remains uncertain, pending resolution of highway improvement negotiations.
- Wisconsin’s climate projections suggest a need for continued focus on environmental policies to address the expected changes in temperature and precipitation.
Top headlines include Elon Musk’s recent post on X, where he urged voters to support Republican candidates in the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court race to prevent voter fraud, drawing millions of views and sparking Democratic responses[1]. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Instruction has halted hiring until June due to a $2.3 million cut in the current state budget[1].
In government and politics, the Wisconsin legislature has introduced several bills, including measures to expand veterans benefits, require local approval for certain wind and solar projects, and create agreements for direct primary care[2]. Notably, proposals like AJR1 and SJR2 aim to require photographic identification to vote in any election, which are currently under consideration[2].
On the economic front, Wisconsin is expected to see modest growth in 2025, with personal income projected to rise by 4.6% nominally and 2.5% in real terms after adjusting for inflation. However, GDP growth is expected to slow to 1.6%, and employment growth is forecasted at just 0.4%, with 82,867 new jobs created between 2023 and 2025[3]. Key sectors like education and health services, and leisure and hospitality, are set to undergo significant changes, with the latter adding over 15,000 jobs[3].
In community news, the city of Middleton is swearing in a new police chief, Stephen Thompson, who previously served in various roles in the New Berlin Police Department[1]. Plans for a new Buc-ee’s in DeForest are stalled due to negotiations over paying for highway improvements, while another location is slated to open in Oak Creek in early 2027[1].
Environmental and weather updates indicate that Wisconsin is likely to become a much warmer state over the next few decades, with average temperatures more like those currently experienced in states hundreds of miles to the south. The state is also expected to become somewhat wetter, with a modest increase in total precipitation and in the number of intense rainfall events[4].
Looking Ahead:
- The Wisconsin Supreme Court race is set for April 1st, with candidates Brad Shimmel and Susan Crawford vying for the seat.
- The governor’s budget proposal is expected to be released shortly, which could address the current state budget cuts affecting the Department of Public Instruction.
- The development of the new Buc-ee’s in DeForest remains uncertain, pending resolution of highway improvement negotiations.
- Wisconsin’s climate projections suggest a need for continued focus on environmental policies to address the expected changes in temperature and precipitation.