Crowley drops out of governor race

QUOTE OF THE DAY
“Politics should not be about who talks the loudest. It’s about showing up, working with anyone who wants to solve the problem, and delivering results people can see in their own communities.“

– David Crowley, Milwaukee County executive, announcing his exit from the race for Wisconsin governor

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley announced Wednesday that he is dropping his bid to be governor, a decision that narrows the Democratic primary field for the second time in recent weeks. Crowley had pitched his campaign on his experience leading the county and as someone able to connect with Wisconsinites around the state. Baylor Spears has the story.

Amid frustration with rising energy bills, increasing skepticism about investor-owned utilities, anxiety over the growth of data centers and fears about the rising cost of living, Milwaukee city officials are debating whether local government should take over utility services. Henry Redman reports on early consideration of the possibility and the hurdles it could face.

Vice President JD Vance harped on allegations of fraud in Medicaid and food assistance during a visit to Wisconsin for a $10,000-per-couple fundraiser Wednesday. Editor Ruth Conniff writes in her commentary that the misleading claims are a distraction from the harmful policies that Republicans have instituted in the last year on top of billions of dollars of grifting by President Donald Trump.

A federal judge Wednesday fined former Milwaukee County Judge Hannah Dugan $5,000 for obstructing an immigration arrest outside her courtroom, declining to sentence her to prison or probation despite prosecution demands. Isiah Holmes reports on the outcome, some seven months after Dugan was convicted in a federal trial.

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