UpNorthNews Radio with Pat Kreitlow

There’s a new key difference between the two candidates for Wisconsin Supreme Court. One just made a pledge to avoid potential conflicts of interest. The other already has a history of bulldozing right over concerns about conflicts of interest and a lack of impartiality.

Sarah Godlewski’s group Women Win Wisconsin is part of a large coalition with other organizations planning a series of at least half-a-dozen rallies across the state in the month of March—designed to give women and their allies a place to show their support for reclaiming the freedom to make their own choices about their bodies and their health care. She tells us the where and when of these rallies.

Wisconsin remains an outlier in the upper Midwest when it comes to legalizing marijuana, regulating its sale, and benefiting from the taxes it would generate. Michigan made the move four years ago, and we’ll talk to the leading journalist in that state about how things have gone and what lessons Wisconsin can take from it.

There’s a lot to love in Gov. Tony Evers’ budget proposal for Wisconsin’s rural economy—not just the investments in roads, bridges, broadband, and schools, but also targeted help for increasing exports, modernizing dairy processing plants, and helping food pantries stay stocked with fresh, Wisconsin-grown products. 

It was the US Supreme Court’s 2015 ruling in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges that led to national recognition for the legality of same-sex marriage. Jim Obergefell didn’t set out to be a civil rights pioneer; his partner was dying and he wanted their union to have the same respect and rights they deserved. We share excerpts from a recent interview.

It's Motherhood Monday—Kate and Nicole of Motherhood for Good will have information on what busy moms should know about April's school board races, especially the buzzwords you're likely to hear and what they really mean.

Middle-aged white guy host has some choice words for some other middle-aged white guys who seem to think it’s “racist” when they don’t get to be the boss of everything. 

This week on UpNorthNews Radio, Aaron brings us the results of Madison's snowplow name election. Afterwards, Pat provides an update on the far Right's new fearmongering alphabet soup a la CRT: ESG, or Environmental, Social, and Governance, a set of criteria used to help guide investments. Next is Hometown Health with Dr. Kristin Lyerly. Kim Shefchik and Dr. Sherri Hoyman speak about their efforts to improve adolescent care in Brown County and beyond. Finally, Dan Schumacher gives the rundown on sports and the latest nonsense from Aaron Rodgers after his darkness retreat.

Now that Roe v. Wade has been repealed, right wing politicians are going after other landmark cases that protect Americans. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking steps to throw out long-held legal protection for reporters who uncover corruption and threats against democracy. Mark Jacob, a former editor for the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times the danger of powerful politicians being able to intimidate or even silence a free press.

With apologies to Kristin Brey: As goes Wisconsin, so goes America’s 2024 presidential election. In 2020, three current conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court were willing to consider throwing out 221,000 legally-cast ballots, as requested by Donald Trump. If former justice Dan Kelly gets back on the court, as someone who was paid to advise Republicans on the fake electors scheme, could valid ballots be thrown out next time?