Associated Press

A second Dane County judge has blocked a portion of Republican-backed laws limiting Gov. Tony Evers' and Attorney General Josh Kaul's powers. Judge Frank Remington Tuesday overturned language that requires Kaul to get legislative approval before settling cases. 

His order stems from a lawsuit brought by unions that argued the laws violate the separation of powers between the executive and legislative branches of government. Remington let stand portions of the laws that give the Legislature the right to intervene in cases.  

Foxconn says its manufacturing facility in Wisconsin will be producing LCD screens by the end of 2020, with construction set to begin later this year. 

The news comes after the Taiwanese electronics giant last year scaled back plans for its massive new factory in Racine County, then sent mixed signals about whether it planned to suspend work there altogether. The company cited shifting market demands for its hesitation to build a huge factory near the Illinois border.

Gov. Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency across Wisconsin, as heavy rain and melting snow flood roads, fields and communities. Evers issued the declaration as an executive order Friday afternoon. It directs all state agencies to assist with response and recovery. It also authorizes Major General Donald Dunbar to activate Wisconsin National Guard units as he deems necessary.

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales says a body found along a southern Minnesota highway is believed to be that of a missing 2-year-old girl, whose father is accused of killing her mother in Milwaukee. 

Morales says an off-duty public works employee saw something along Highway 218, north of Austin, Minn., as he was driving home Friday night. The chief says a child's body was found inside a blanket off the shoulder of the highway.  

Electronics giant Foxconn reversed course and announced Wednesday that the huge Wisconsin plant that was supposed to bring a bounty of blue-collar factory jobs back to the Midwest — and was lured with billions in tax incentives — will instead be primarily a research and development center staffed by scientists and engineers.

Updated 1:20 p.m.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency on Monday due to severe winter weather.

Due to severe winter weather, I have declared a State of Emergency throughout the State of Wisconsin. I want to make sure all state assets are available, including the Wisconsin National Guard if needed, to help communities across the state and keep people warm and safe. pic.twitter.com/U9fy4FPygh

A group of defendants from northern Wisconsin is suing over funding and staffing problems in the state Public Defender's Office, arguing the rights of indigent defendants in Wisconsin to competent attorneys and speedy trials have been violated.

A Wisconsin diocese has released the names of more than 40 clergy members with substantiated allegations they sexually abused a minor.

The Green Bay Diocese posted the names of 46 clergy on its website Thursday.

Bishop David Ricken apologized at a news conference to the 98 known victims of sexual abuse by the clergy in the diocese since 1906. Ricken called for any other victims to come forward.

Gov. Scott Walker told the Associated Press he would be interested in running for office again, possibly even governor of Wisconsin in four years. He also said he’s moving from the governor’s mansion in Madison to downtown Milwaukee.

Walker is going to be replaced by Democratic Gov.-elect Tony Evers on Monday, Jan. 7. Walker plans to hit the speaking circuit and be President Donald Trump’s chief advocate in Wisconsin.

Updated at 4:54 p.m.

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker has signed a sweeping package of lame-duck legislation that weakens the powers of incoming Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. Walker signed the bills without issuing any partial vetoes.

The bills prohibit Evers from withdrawing Wisconsin from a multistate lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act. The measures limit Evers’ control over the state’s job creation agency until September and restricts his ability to change Wisconsin’s voter ID law.

Republican state Rep. Rob Brooks has resigned his position as assistant majority leader in the Wisconsin Assembly amid a call from Gov. Scott Walker that he resign from office.

GOP assembly leaders issued a statement, saying Brooks decided to leave his leadership position and it will remain vacant until after the November election. No word on whether he will resign his seat in the assembly, as Walker has requested. Brooks is running for reelection in November.