Wednesday, June 15
Gov. Scott Walker blocks the state Department of Public Instruction from seeking outside counsel in a federal lawsuit, the Wisconsin State Journal reports. This decision comes after the state Department of Justice dropped their representation of DPI as a client in the suit — a move that DPI Secretary Tony Evers calls “beyond the pale.” The department is being sued by a religious school in Washington County that wants the state to provide students transportation to the school.
Saturday, June 18
State Department of Health Services Secretary Kitty Rhoades dies unexpectedly after a brief illness. Rhoades was named deputy secretary of DHS in 2011 and took over as secretary in 2013. She served in the state Assembly from 1999 to 2011.
Monday, June 20
State officials launch a $5 million program to support homeless veterans. With cooperation between the state departments of Administration and Veterans Affairs, the Welcome Home Veterans Initiative will provide funds for rent, security deposits and utility bills.
Tuesday, June 21
A report from conservative legal group Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty shows full-time teacher salaries declined by an average of about $2,000 after Gov. Walker signed Act 10.
Wisconsin’s income gap is widening, according to a study from the Wisconsin Budget Project and the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. From 1979 to 2013 the average income of the top 1% grew by almost 120%, while the average income of the remaining 99% grew by only 4%.
A viral cellphone video showing the arrest of Genele Laird, 18, in a disturbance at East Towne Mall prompts outrage over the aggressive tactics police use to subdue her. See story here.
