TODD RICHMOND

Richmond covers Wisconsin government and breaking news.

Appeals court makes it harder to disqualify absentee ballots in battleground Wisconsin

A Wisconsin appeals court says absentee voters’ witnesses don’t need to supply their complete addresses for election officials.

Devastated by record flooding and tornadoes, Iowa tallies over $130 million in storm damage

Iowa officials say record flooding and powerful tornadoes in the spring caused $130 million in infrastructure damage.

UW regents approve raises for 8 chancellors, set up bonuses for retaining freshmen students

Universities of Wisconsin leaders have approved pay raises for eight of the system’s 13 chancellors as well as bonuses for chancellors that retain freshmen students.

Wisconsin Supreme Court changes course, will allow expanded use of ballot drop boxes this fall

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is changing course and will allow officials to place ballot drop boxes around their communities in this fall’s elections in the presidential swing state.

Wisconsin Republicans are improperly blocking conservation work, court says

The Wisconsin Supreme Court says Republican legislators are improperly blocking conservation projects. The 6-1 ruling Friday marks a victory for Democratic Gov.

UW-Milwaukee chancellor will step down next year, return to teaching

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Mark Mone says he’ll step down from his post next year and return to teaching.

Wisconsin Supreme Court to consider whether 175-year-old law bans abortion

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will consider two challenges to a 175-year-old law that conservatives have interpreted as an abortion ban.

GOP lawmakers in Wisconsin appeal ruling allowing disabled people to obtain ballots electronically

Republican legislators in battleground state Wisconsin are appealing a ruling allowing disabled people to download absentee ballots at home.

Environmentalists appeal Michigan regulators’ approval of pipeline tunnel project

Environmentalists are challenging Michigan regulators’ approval of plans to encase a portion of an aging oil pipeline that runs beneath a channel connecting two Great Lakes.

Prosecutors charge second inmate in assault that left Wisconsin youth prison counselor brain-dead

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Prosecutors charged a second inmate Thursday in connection with a fight that left a counselor at Wisconsin’s youth prison brain-dead.

Officials evacuate area after train derails in suburban Chicago

Emergency officials have ordered a brief evacuation after a freight train derailed in suburban Chicago.

Wisconsin youth prison counselor is declared brain-dead after inmate assault

A county coroner says a counselor at Wisconsin’s youth prison has been declared brain-dead following a fight with an inmate.

Judge allows disabled voters in Wisconsin to electronically vote from home

A Wisconsin judge is allowing disabled voters in the crucial swing state to vote electronically from home this fall.

Wisconsin AG argues letting disabled people vote electronically at home would create confusion

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul is pushing back against a request to let disabled people cast absentee ballots electronically from home in this November’s presidential election.

GOP Convention security will allow guns within outer perimeter, sets parade route for demonstrators

Local and federal law enforcement agencies have released a security plan for next month’s Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that allows people to carry guns inside an outer perimeter and gives protesters a view of the arena.

Federal appellate panel sends Michigan pipeline challenge to state court

A federal appellate panel says a Michigan state judge will have to decide whether to shut down a portion of an aging petroleum pipeline running beneath the Straits of Mackinac.

Armed man who demanded to see Wisconsin governor pleads guilty to misdemeanor

A man who twice brought guns to the Wisconsin state Capitol building looking for Gov. Tony Evers has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor.

UW-Oshkosh to shut down Fox Cities campus amid enrollment plunge

Universities of Wisconsin officials plan to close another two-year campus, this time in the Fox Cities.

Charges against warden and guards at Wisconsin’s Shawshank-like prison renew calls to close it

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — With a “Shawshank Redemption”-style stone exterior and high castle-like guard towers, Wisconsin’s oldest prison, built in the 1850s, has long been a target for closure amid concerns about deterioration, extended lockdowns and staffing shortfalls.

Wisconsin warden and 8 staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths

The warden of a maximum-security Wisconsin prison and eight members of his staff have been charged following investigations into the deaths of four inmates at the troubled facility over the past year.

With GOP maps out, Democrats hope for more legislative power in battleground Wisconsin

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers’ new legislative maps have given Democrats hope of regaining the majority in the state Assembly for the first time in 14 years.

Dozens more former youth inmates sue over alleged sexual abuse at Illinois detention centers

Dozens more former youth inmates are suing over alleged sexual abuse they endured at Illinois detention centers.

Evers appoints replacement for University of Wisconsin regent who refuses to step down

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has appointed a replacement for a conservative-leaning Universities of Wisconsin regent who is refusing to step down.

Journalism groups sue Wisconsin Justice Department for names of every police officer in state

Two groups of investigative journalists have filed a lawsuit in the hopes of forcing the Wisconsin Department of Justice to divulge names, birth dates and disciplinary records of every police officer in the state.

Globe-trotting anthropologist who drew comparisons to Indiana Jones dies at age 94

Schuyler Jones, a globe-trotting American adventurer who went on to run an Oxford University museum, has died. He was 94. Jones grew up around Wichita, Kansas.

Republican-appointed University of Wisconsin regent refuses to step down when term ends

A conservative University of Wisconsin regent says he won’t step down when his term ends this month. Then-Gov.

Explorers find what they believe is World War II ace Richard Bong’s downed plane in South Pacific

Searchers have discovered what they believe is the wreckage of World War II ace Richard Bong’s plane in the South Pacific. The Richard I.

Up in smoke: Workers remove dozens of apparent marijuana plants from Wisconsin Capitol tulip garden

Someone’s plans to harvest dozens of apparent marijuana plants grown on the Wisconsin state Capitol grounds have gone up in smoke.

Canadian wildfire smoke chokes Upper Midwest for second straight year

Smoke from Canadian wildfires has prompted health warnings across the Upper Midwest for a second straight year.

Utilities complete contentious land swap to clear way for power line in Mississippi River refuge

Utilities looking to finish building a high-voltage power line linking Iowa and Wisconsin have completed a contentious land deal allowing them to cross a Mississippi River federal wildlife refuge.