Friday, June 5: Mandela Barnes returns to the statewide stage, state settles Tyco PFAS lawsuit, Wisconsin Supreme Court recusal rules, Louisiana ICE inspection, Waupun prison death settlement
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“We must be extraordinarily careful not to penalize lawyers and litigants for being politically active. That's the heart of our democracy. It's what we want people to do.“
– Ann Jacobs, at a Wisconsin Supreme Court public hearing on a proposed new judicial recusal rule
Barnes, an avid runner and biker, told the Examiner in an interview that politics is an “endurance sport” and that “sometimes you face setbacks” — adding that he faced setbacks every day in the Assembly and views his w loss to Johnson as another setback. There is too much on the line, however, to give up and stop working toward his goals, he said. Barnes speaks to a bike shop owner in Madison. (Photo by Baylor Spears/Wisconsin Examiner)
The Examiner will be spending the summer profiling all seven candidates in the Democratic primary for governor. First up is former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, who is making the argument to primary voters that his one point loss against U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson in 2022 is proof he can compete on the statewide level in Wisconsin. Barnes speaks with Baylor Spears about his campaign for governor.
The state and Tyco Fire Products announced Thursday they’ve reached a settlement agreement in the Wisconsin DOJ’s lawsuit over the PFAS pollution the company caused in Marinette. Henry Redman reports on the agreement, which includes $10 million for Wisconsin’s PFAS remediation trust fund.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court held a public hearing and open conference Thursday to discuss a petition brought by retired circuit court justices to update the state’s recusal rules for judges and justices. Redman covers the hours of discussion, which ended with the Court voting to create a committee to further study the issue.
A lawyer for the family of a man who died of malnutrition and dehydration at Waupun Prison in 2024 announced a $3.75 million settlement Thursday with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. Criminal Justice Project Fellow Andrew Kennard reports on the details.
More from Washington:
ICYMI
A warning sign in Marinette, photographed in 2019, cautioning people not to drink surface water contaminated with PFAS chemicals. (Photo by Erik Gunn/Wisconsin Examiner)
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