Marti Mikkelson

Investigators are looking into whether the SUV driver who plowed through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee, killing at least five people and injuring more than 40, was fleeing from a crime, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

The jury at Kyle Rittenhouse’s murder trial deliberated a full day on Tuesday without reaching a verdict over whether he was the instigator in a night of bloodshed in Kenosha or a concerned citizen who came under attack while trying to protect property.

In this week’s Capitol Notes conversation, WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson asked JR Ross of wispolitics.com why U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson could announce a decision to run for a third term earlier than in the past.

Attorneys in Kyle Rittenhouse's murder trial sparred for the last time Monday during closing arguments, with prosecutors painting Rittenhouse as an inexperienced instigator and defense lawyers insisting the Illinois man fired in self-defense.

The latest Marquette Law School Poll shows the incumbents in Wisconsin’s most high-profile elections next year are losing support. According to the survey of about 800 registered voters, Democratic Governor Tony Evers’ approval rating slid from 50% in August to 45%. Meanwhile, Republican U.S. Senator Ron Johnson’s approval numbers remained at 36% from August.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett got his first chance Tuesday to convince the Senate Foreign Relations committee he’s the right one for the job of U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg.

While jury selection got underway Monday in the trial of 18-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse, a small group of people demonstrated on the steps of the Kenosha County courthouse.

Former Republican Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who has formally announced she is running, called on Republicans to “hire mercenaries” and practice “ballot harvesting” in the same aggressive way she believes Democrats did in the 2020 presidential race. That prompted Republican Kevin Nicholson, who is considering getting into the race, to slam the idea, saying anyone who supports it is “dumb as a bag of hammers.”

A WUWM listener, Erin Christie, enjoys the company of friends at her basement bar, so she requested an appreciation segment on the prevalence of basement bars in Milwaukee.

Opponents of Wisconsin redistricting plans that would keep solid GOP majorities in place for another decade railed against the proposals Thursday, promising to fight the maps in the Legislature and beyond.