In the Democratic governor’s fourth budget, many proposals were previously rejected by Republicans.
Author Archives: Hallie Claflin / Wisconsin Watch
Hallie Claflin joined Wisconsin Watch as a statehouse reporting intern in June 2024. She recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with degrees in journalism and political science. In Washington, D.C., she created visual news content as an intern at Voice of America. In Wisconsin, she aided in investigations of government, politics and law enforcement as an intern at The Badger Project. She also worked as a local beat reporter, covering race, social justice and education for Madison Commons. She is passionate about political investigations as well as solutions journalism.
Posted inBudget Bites
Here’s how Wisconsin’s state budget process works
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled his 2025-27 biennial state budget proposal. The nearly year-long process is now picking up speed, but the next two-year budget is still far from being finalized.
Posted inForward, Government, Justice & Safety
Tony Evers to propose $500 million prison overhaul, closing Green Bay facility by 2029
The plan would complete a Dane County youth facility, convert Lincoln Hills from juveniles to adults and renovate Waupun’s troubled prison
Posted inNews about Wisconsin Watch
We observed the annual homeless count in a rural county. Here’s what we saw.
Wisconsin Watch reporter Hallie Claflin and photojournalist Joe Timmerman joined a group of volunteers in Jefferson County overnight to observe the annual “point in time” count of the homeless population. Here’s what they saw.
Posted inGovernment, Health & Welfare
Wisconsin’s ‘point in time’ homeless count: Who gets counted, who doesn’t?
Homelessness has been increasing statewide, according to the annual PIT count conducted by volunteers. But these counts struggle to accurately capture the homeless population, especially in rural areas.
Posted inForward, Government
Trump policies come to Wisconsin in first weeks of new session
The first few weeks of the Legislature’s new session have been dominated by ideas inspired, at least in part, by President Donald Trump, as Wisconsin Republicans bring ideas pushed in Washington to Madison.
Posted inBudget Bites
Republicans and Democrats agree on postpartum Medicaid expansion — Robin Vos says it’s unlikely
The fate of postpartum Medicaid expansion, a bipartisan effort in the Wisconsin Legislature, yet again falls in the hands of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who said it’s “unlikely” his chamber will get to vote on it.
Posted inAsk Wisconsin Watch
How many undocumented people live and work in Wisconsin?
In Wisconsin, undocumented immigrant workers contribute significantly to the workforce, performing labor that often goes unseen. But the exact number has proven difficult to determine.
Posted inBudget Bites
Here’s what we’re watching for in this year’s Wisconsin budget debate
Major funding decisions for health care, public schools and universities, the environment, roads and more will be made in the 2025-27 biennial budget.
Posted inForward, Health & Welfare
Wisconsin’s rural homelessness crisis and the fight to do ‘more with less’
Homelessness in rural Wisconsin, while often unseen, is increasing. Yet a grueling funding landscape, among other challenges, poses obstacles for local shelters and rural providers.
Posted inForward, Government
State budget, Supreme Court race top 2025’s political calendar
Here are four storylines we predict that Wisconsin Watch’s statehouse team will be following in the new year.
Posted inForward, Government
Forward: Our picks for favorite politics stories of the year
As the year winds down, we gave each state team reporter the assignment of picking a favorite story written by another member of the team. Here were their picks.