AGP Executive Report

UW System Tuition Deal: After Jay Rothman’s departure, Universities of Wisconsin is pitching a tuition-freeze bargain—more state aid plus predictable tuition growth tied to inflation. Higher Ed & Immigration: New visa limits are already hitting colleges, with international enrollment drops showing up in court filings before the rule fully starts. Capitol Politics: Ben Wikler predicts a Democratic wave in November, pointing to strong turnout signals from Wisconsin’s Aug. 11 governor primary. Public Safety: Wisconsin State Patrol is teaming up statewide for “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” through Labor Day. Health & Food Safety: Alfalfa sprout recalls expand as E. coli and salmonella cases rise across multiple states, including Wisconsin. Culture & Community: La Alternativa keeps the Latin music momentum going, while Ex Fabula launches a new StorySlam season in Milwaukee. Business & Tech: WisconsinCIO’s ORBIE Awards spotlight top Wisconsin CIOs, from City Brewing to Plexus. Sports & Local Pride: IndyCar’s Milwaukee Mile weekend includes a UW-Madison grad now working with McLaren. Religion & Justice: A former Madison priest faces new grooming charges and bail jumping.

IndyCar in Wisconsin spotlight: Kyle Kirkwood won the Freedom 250 on D.C.’s streets, leading 128 of 147 laps and cutting Alex Palou’s championship lead to 91 points with three races left—next up is a doubleheader at the Milwaukee Mile. Baseball, local energy: Kyle Schwarber’s 459-foot walk-off homer capped a Phillies comeback to beat the Cardinals 6-4, extending Philadelphia’s hot streak. Milwaukee public safety: Police investigated four weekend shootings, including a road-rage incident that injured a 1-year-old, the third recent case of drivers firing on city streets. Community & culture: Beloit’s Rock the Pride returned with games, music, and LGBTQ+ resources, while Sun Prairie families got free back-to-school haircuts. Health & food safety: A recall hit alfalfa sprouts tied to E. coli and Salmonella outbreaks across 15 states, including Wisconsin. Politics & identity: A Best Buy “ma’am” confrontation sparked fresh debate over gender language and the “Woke 1” era. Local spotlight: A Madison teen, Meredith Rosemurgy, earned Miss Wisconsin Teen 2026 and heads to Miss America’s Teen.

Local Governance & Community Resilience: A Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service look at Sherman Park’s 2016 uprising finds how post-crisis grant money and public-safety trust still shape everyday life a decade later. Elections & Accountability: Milwaukee’s top election official, Paulina Gutierrez, says “buck stops with me” after delayed primary results from a central count “human error,” stressing accuracy wasn’t affected. Back to School (Family Life): Milwaukee Ald. Mark Chambers Jr. is pushing online registration for the Aug. 30 Back to School Festival at Indigenous Peoples’ Park, with free bookbags and kid-focused giveaways. Public Health: The FDA/CDC report a multi-state alfalfa sprout outbreak tied to Everything Sprouts, with 55 sickened across 15 states and Wisconsin among the hardest hit. Culture & Learning: The Milwaukee Public Museum is preparing to move into a new Nature and Culture Museum of Wisconsin in 2027, with visitors weighing excitement against nostalgia. Local Safety: Wisconsin DNR data shows many fatal ATV/UTV crashes involve riders who never took safety courses, often with alcohol and no seat belts or helmets. Sports (Wisconsin): The Brewers keep rolling as they wrap up a series, while the wider sports calendar highlights what’s on TV Monday. IndyCar in D.C.: The Freedom 250 Grand Prix brings a major street-racing spectacle to Washington, with Wisconsin’s own IndyCar fans getting a clear watch guide.

Measles Watch: Wisconsin health officials say the southwest outbreak is surging, with 48 cases and one hospitalization reported as the virus spreads fastest among unvaccinated pockets. Governor Race Flashpoint: PBS Wisconsin’s “Inside Wisconsin Politics” spotlights how data centers are becoming a wedge issue, with candidates trading attacks over tax incentives and local control. Public Health Recall: Everything Sprouts is recalling alfalfa sprouts tied to a multi-state E. coli/Salmonella outbreak; Wisconsin is among the hardest-hit states with 17 reported illnesses. Trade & Local Costs: U.S.-Canada talks collapsed, triggering new tariffs and possible ripple effects for Western Wisconsin dairy and manufacturing. Milwaukee Community Life: A “Behind the Gun” summit focused on prevention and safe storage, giving out free lock boxes and safety plans. Culture & Community: Milwaukee’s Black Business Market in Bronzeville highlighted local entrepreneurs, while an event honoring slain rapper OG Tweezy gave kids free flights and school supplies. Sports: Wisconsin volleyball opened with a sweep over Louisville, and the Brewers’ Brandon Woodruff said his shoulder injury may not require surgery.

Food Safety: Wisconsin health officials say 17 residents are sick with E. coli and/or Salmonella after eating recalled alfalfa sprouts from Everything Sprouts LLC; one person is hospitalized, and the multistate outbreak now totals 55 cases across 15 states. Public Health: The same week, DHS reports a growing measles outbreak in southwest Wisconsin, with most cases among people who are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated—prompting renewed calls for MMR shots. Local Economy & Community: Waupun was accepted into WEDC’s Main Street Program, unlocking technical help and grant access aimed at revitalizing its historic downtown. Arts & Culture: Film Wisconsin’s first round of tax credits awarded over $1 million to six Wisconsin productions, with casting calls bringing more film and TV activity to the state. Civic Life: Milwaukee’s summer beer gardens keep drawing crowds for live music and community hangouts, with locals saying the vibe is “feel-good” and politics stays off the table. Education & Youth: A Wisconsin youth vaping and mental health report links rising daily vaping to stress and anxiety, warning of addiction and worsening mental health.

Brewers Baseball: Jacob Misiorowski fired six shutout innings and William Contreras went 4-for-4 as Milwaukee edged the Braves 2-1, a big Cy Young-style statement in a matchup of top contenders. Wisconsin Justice & Public Safety: The state’s Commutation Advisory Board held its first commutation hearings in decades, including Natalie Murphy asking Gov. Tony Evers for early release after serving time for a fatal 2015 case. Local Philanthropy: A new Shawano County chapter of 100+ Men Who Care is raising money for local nonprofits, keeping donations in the county through quarterly meetings and member votes. Milwaukee Crime Update: An 18-year-old is charged in a fatal Milwaukee road-rage shooting, with prosecutors alleging threats involving ICE before the shooting. Health Alert: Alfalfa sprouts tied to a multistate E. coli and salmonella outbreak have sickened dozens, including Wisconsin cases—health officials urge people to check for affected brands and toss them. Child Safety in the Courts: A former Wisconsin priest facing child sex crimes charges now faces new allegations in Marathon County tied to an undercover grooming investigation. School Support: Wauwatosa is expanding Blue Door Academy before- and after-school care to 10 schools for 2026-27. Culture & Arts: Film Wisconsin tax credits are helping grow local production, including a Green Bay horror-comedy crew preparing to debut. Weather: Storm chances fade Saturday night, with pleasant, seasonal conditions expected through the weekend.

School & Community Civic Life: Milwaukee’s Fourth Annual Future Voters Fest brought about 100 south side students together to cast “first-ever” mock ballots, with the League of Women Voters and local partners using kids as ambassadors to spark family voting conversations. Education & Equity: The U.S. Department of Education opened a civil rights investigation into Milwaukee Public Schools’ discipline practices, questioning whether race is considered in ways that could violate Title VI. Local Learning & Workforce: Madison College expanded paramedic training at its Reedsburg campus to help rural EMS recruitment, while NWTC and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections celebrated industrial maintenance certificate graduates as part of reentry pathways. Culture & Outdoors: Trees for Tomorrow is expanding its SOLE outdoor learning scholarships, aiming to get more K-12 students into hands-on environmental education. Higher Ed & Jobs: UW System proposed new initiatives to speed tech from labs to entrepreneurs, and UW-Milwaukee earned a Forbes “best employer” nod. Sports & Fun: Packers return to Denver for a preseason matchup vs. the Broncos, and Milwaukee’s summer festival calendar keeps rolling with Serbian Days and Mexican Fiesta.

Data Centers in the Governor Race: Wisconsin’s 2026 showdown is getting louder over AI and data-center policy, with Tom Tiffany attacking subsidies and pushing for more transparency and protections for farmland and water, while David Crowley frames the state as a global AI hub. Public Health Alert: Wisconsin DHS confirmed 17 E. coli and Salmonella cases tied to alfalfa sprouts sold by Everything Sprouts (Calco and Everything Sprouts brands), urging people to check, throw out, and watch for symptoms. Measles Watch: Southwestern Wisconsin’s measles outbreak keeps climbing, with reports up to about three dozen cases and most among unvaccinated children. Rural Veterinary Shortage: A Dodgeville veterinarian says rural farm-animal care is increasingly hard to staff, with long on-call demands making recruiting the next generation tougher. Milwaukee Transit Upgrade: Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced nearly $13.9M to modernize the bus fleet and improve travel times on major county trunk highways. Community & Culture: Mexican Fiesta returns to Milwaukee’s lakefront with music, food, and family-friendly activities, while ArtBlaze keeps turning the shoreline into a free, interactive art scene. Health Research: UW–Madison researchers report mindfulness-based cognitive therapy doesn’t worsen depression symptoms in people with recurrent depression. Sports: WIAC women’s soccer previews pick UW–La Crosse as the regular-season favorite, and Milwaukee’s south side welcomes a new pharmacy after chain closures.

Data Center & Energy Politics: Oracle voluntarily drops its Wisconsin legal fight over PSC review tied to the Lighthouse AI data center in Port Washington, a move that keeps the project’s electricity-rate debate in the spotlight. Local Culture & Community: EAA Chapter 320’s Food Fest Fly-In in Watertown drew pilots and families for a classic Wisconsin mix of aviation, food, and neighborly hangouts. Sports & Local Pride: The Milwaukee Brewers keep their momentum after a big win over the Mariners, holding the NL’s top spot as the playoff chase tightens. Education & Workforce: UW-Platteville summer scholars are using stipends to dig into research from history to sports betting—showing how Wisconsin students are turning summer into career-building. Health & Kids: DPI says a $10.5M federal grant aims to reduce Wisconsin’s special education teacher shortage by boosting apprenticeships and retention. Safety & Travel: A head-on crash in the I-41 interchange construction zone sent two women to the hospital with non-critical injuries and shut down Highway 60 westbound for about an hour. Outdoors & Tourism: Bayfield-area residents and visitors weigh the idea of making the Apostle Islands a national park—hoping for economic lift while worrying about crowding and infrastructure strain.

Health & Schools: UW Health Kids hosted its first diabetes education day for school nurses in Dane County, as Type 1 and Type 2 cases rise among children and nurses become key daily care partners. Community Safety: Wisconsin State Patrol kicked off its Labor Day “Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over” push, urging designated sober drivers and rideshare/public transit planning. Public Health Watch: Wisconsin measles keeps spreading—Grant County confirmed two new cases, bringing the southwestern outbreak to 36 confirmed and 3 probable. Local Culture & Faith: A new video series from the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse spotlights the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, featuring Cardinal Raymond Burke and Father Chad Ripperger. Disability & Care: Children’s Wisconsin says it became the first FDA-approved Otarmeni gene therapy provider outside a clinical trial, delivering treatment to two children. Civic Life & Learning: Aspiro in Green Bay completed renovations to expand programs for more than 1,600 clients with disabilities, adding classrooms, therapy spaces, and employment support. Power & Planning: A Janesville open house will gather feedback on a major 765-kilovolt transmission line project that could bring 175-foot towers through Rock County. Sports (Wisconsin): The Badgers open volleyball season at Fiserv Forum against Kentucky, with a new roster blend and high expectations for transfers.

Fake Poll Fallout: A polling firm, Median Strategies, shut down after admitting widely shared Los Angeles mayoral and Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial surveys were fabricated as a “social experiment,” raising fresh questions about how misinformation spreads and gets amplified. Civic Privacy Clash: In Chetek, residents renewed pushback against Flock Safety license plate readers, citing privacy, data security, and government oversight concerns. Senior Services: Gov. Evers and Milwaukee County Executive Crowley marked the official reopening of the Clinton & Bernice Rose Senior Center after nearly $4M in state support, adding tech and expanded programming for 700+ seniors. Domestic Violence Safety: Kalico Forest partnered with Women’s Health Specialists to expand the Red Signal Program, letting patients silently disclose intimate partner violence during routine visits. Public Health Watch: Wisconsin’s measles outbreak continues to grow, with new cases reported in Grant County and dozens confirmed across southwest Wisconsin, mostly among unvaccinated people. Road Safety Push: Wisconsin State Patrol is ramping up Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement for Labor Day, targeting alcohol and drug impairment. Local Culture & Community: Manitowoc’s Sputnikfest returns Sept. 12 with a family-friendly 5K Art Walk & Run supporting the Rahr-West Art Museum. Business/Industry: Generac’s AI-driven data center boom is fueling major manufacturing demand, including generator upgrades and new factory investment in Wisconsin.

Transmission Line Backlash: Southern Wisconsin landowners are raising alarms over the proposed 190-mile, 765-kV BECI power line, saying early mapping could threaten farms, property, and long-term community life. Public Health: Wisconsin measles cases keep climbing, reaching 36 confirmed across southwest counties, with officials urging vaccination as the school season approaches. Education & Equity: The U.S. Department of Education is investigating Milwaukee Public Schools over whether race is being used in student discipline, after new guidance warns against race-based treatment. Local Food Security: Wisconsin Rapids Family Center is shifting its pantry to a client-choice model, and it’s asking the community to stock shelves via a drive-through food drive. Community & Culture: Alderwoman Milele Coggs announced winners for the Bronzeville Art Walk, spotlighting local artists and businesses. Science & Tech: Penn State researchers are laying groundwork to 3D print cell spheroids that could help regenerate bone tissue and support new blood vessel growth. Sports (Milwaukee): The Brewers matched a modern-era record with a 22-0 shutout over the Mariners, while Brice Turang returned to the lineup with knee workload management ongoing. Animal Welfare: A Wisconsin beagle-breeding facility faced years of regulatory scrutiny before activists raided it earlier this year, removing the remaining dogs.

Education & Faith: Two Milwaukee Catholic school communities, St. Rafael the Archangel and Prince of Peace, open new $27M Seton Catholic Schools buildings—bringing students into unified campuses with updated tech and security. Hands-On Learning: Pius XI Catholic High School debuts an Applied Learning Lab with 3D printers and a CNC router to connect classroom lessons to real-world skills. Campus Environment: UW-Oshkosh students and faculty push back on replacing native plants with sod, collecting 2,000 signatures and calling for better communication. Higher Ed Costs: UW System proposes a four-year tuition pledge—two years frozen starting fall 2027, then increases capped at inflation—if lawmakers add $190M. Public Health & Schools: CDC data shows kindergarten vaccination rates slipping as exemptions hit a record high, while Wisconsin also sees rising measles concerns. Culture & Community: Fantastic Fest 2026 unveils a genre-heavy lineup (including “Resident Evil” and “Carrie”). Local Lifestyle Picks: Port Washington day-trip guide spotlights Lion’s Den Gorge, farmers market stops, and downtown murals. Safety & Accountability: AB1004 would bar schools from hiding alleged immoral conduct and adds civil immunity rules for information shared with prospective employers. Tech & Privacy: Wisconsin’s police camera network faces scrutiny as cities exit Flock Safety. Politics & Trust: A polling firm admitted fake “social experiment” results after showing a huge Francesca Hong lead—then shutting down.

Education Watch: U.S. News released its 2026-2027 Best High Schools rankings, with Milwaukee-Waukesha topping metro-area performance (56% of ranked schools in the top quarter) and charter schools dominating national STEM standouts. Local Government & Infrastructure: MMSD’s panel has recommended Jacobs Solutions over Veolia for the next wastewater operator contract, a decision that could shape Milwaukee-area water quality and costs starting in 2028. Public Safety & Community Life: The Wisconsin State Fair saw police attacked during a “teen brawl,” while a separate Milwaukee case moves forward with $1M bail for a man accused in a triple homicide. Politics & Kids/Schools: Wisconsin lawmakers backed bills on Internet crimes against children enforcement (AB957) and limits on confidentiality agreements in education employment (AB1004), as the governor’s race remains tight in early polling. Culture & Sports: Brewers unveiled a new Fitchburg mural celebrating ballpark traditions, and UW-Stevens Point announced a two-year tuition freeze plan tied to state investment. Health & Environment: Western Wisconsin drought concerns are rising for farmers, homeowners, and shoppers.

Education & Accountability: Wisconsin lawmakers advanced AB1004, limiting school employers’ ability to hide or erase alleged “immoral conduct” records and adding civil immunity rules for what gets shared with prospective employers. Public Schools & Funding: DPI announced a five-year, $10.5M federal grant to tackle the special education teacher shortage, backing STAIRS-WI “earn while you learn” apprenticeships and retention efforts. Child Safety Online: The state Senate backed AB957 with added DOJ funding to expand Internet crimes against children enforcement. Local Governance & Schools: A judge sided with the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty to end Milwaukee County’s budget “carve out” that withheld money from the Common School Fund. Politics Watch: A Badger Battleground Poll shows Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley leading Tom Tiffany 48%–44% early in the governor’s race. Community & Culture: OutReach LGBTQ+ Community Center announced a move to the Williamson-Marquette neighborhood, and Supermoon Beer closed its Bay View taproom while continuing distribution. Outdoor & Heritage: DNR is recruiting volunteers to teach hunter education and outdoor skills statewide.

AI & Tech Supply: A Guardian investigation says Microsoft’s AI chip rollout may lag its own targets, raising questions about whether new data centers are fully operational. Sports Betting & Pop Culture: Polymarket launched a $20 referral code “OREGON,” boosting sign-up funds across MLB and even politics markets. Wisconsin Politics: PBS Wisconsin’s “Here & Now” recaps how David Crowley narrowly beat Francesca Hong for the Democratic governor nod, setting up a Crowley vs. Tom Tiffany general election. Milwaukee & Justice: The state DOJ released details on the officer involved in the fatal shooting of Corey Ruiz; his funeral drew Al Sharpton and Ben Crump. Education Policy: Wisconsin lawmakers advanced AB1004 and AB996, including rules aimed at school staff misconduct record handling and a pilot matching federal contributions to “Trump accounts” for eligible children. Community & Faith: Sherman Park faith leaders look back on the 10-year legacy of the uprising, describing it as a “scar” that pushed growth. Local Life: Heritage Hen Collective is restoring the 1938 Trimborn Farm chicken coop in Greendale, aiming to bring back community chickens.