Joe Schulz
@joeschulz97.bsky.social
Northeast Wisconsin reporter for Wisconsin Public Radio. Covering statewide business and energy, as well as general news in the Fox Valley and Green Bay. Story ideas? Email: joe.schulz@wpr.org
Alliant Energy hopes to build a new roughly $730 million wind farm in Columbia County that will provide enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes annually.
Alliant Energy plans to build $730M wind farm in Columbia County
The Columbia Wind project would be a 277-megawatt wind farm with more than 40 wind turbines.
www.wpr.org
January 16, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Alliant Energy hopes to build a new roughly $730 million wind farm in Columbia County that will provide enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes annually.
The federal government is suing a Milwaukee seafood restaurant and its owners, alleging they illegally allowed managers to collect tips from other workers.
Federal lawsuit says Milwaukee restaurant illegally let managers collect worker tips
The federal government is suing a Milwaukee seafood restaurant and its owners, alleging they illegally allowed managers to collect tips from other workers.
www.wpr.org
January 15, 2026 at 6:32 PM
The federal government is suing a Milwaukee seafood restaurant and its owners, alleging they illegally allowed managers to collect tips from other workers.
The Midwest electric grid operator selected a pair of out of state companies to build two major transmission line projects in Wisconsin.
Midwest grid operator selects out of state firms to build Wisconsin transmission projects
The Midwest electric grid operator selected a pair of out of state companies to build two major transmission line projects in Wisconsin.
www.wpr.org
January 15, 2026 at 3:59 PM
The Midwest electric grid operator selected a pair of out of state companies to build two major transmission line projects in Wisconsin.
A Texas-based developer is no longer pursuing a data center project in a rural Brown County village after the project faced pushback from the community.
Developer abandons data center plans in rural Brown County
The announcement comes after residents and a local business in Greenleaf raised concerns about the prospect of a data center in the community.
www.wpr.org
January 13, 2026 at 5:14 PM
A Texas-based developer is no longer pursuing a data center project in a rural Brown County village after the project faced pushback from the community.
Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health have stopped providing gender-affirming care treatments to minors, citing recent federal policy changes.
Children's Wisconsin, UW Health stop providing gender-affirming treatments for minors
Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health have stopped providing gender-affirming care treatments to minors, citing recent federal policy changes.
www.wpr.org
January 13, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Children’s Wisconsin and UW Health have stopped providing gender-affirming care treatments to minors, citing recent federal policy changes.
The NFL’s oldest rivals will face off on Saturday night in their most consequential game in 15 years. The Green Bay Packers will go on the road to take on the Chicago Bears in the NFL Playoffs for just the third time in the century-old rivalry.
The NFL's oldest rivalry is set for its most consequential matchup in over a decade
The Green Bay Packers will go on the road to take on the Chicago Bears in the NFL Playoffs for just the third time in the century-old rivalry.
www.wpr.org
January 9, 2026 at 8:29 PM
The NFL’s oldest rivals will face off on Saturday night in their most consequential game in 15 years. The Green Bay Packers will go on the road to take on the Chicago Bears in the NFL Playoffs for just the third time in the century-old rivalry.
Residents of a rural Brown County community have been receiving offers to purchase their property from a company working through an alias. That's led to concerns the offers are being made to support a possible data center.
Mysterious land offers in rural Brown County raise concerns about possible data center
A community in rural Brown County is raising the alarm on a possible data center development after several people received offers to purchase their property from a local realtor on behalf of a Delawar...
www.wpr.org
January 9, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Residents of a rural Brown County community have been receiving offers to purchase their property from a company working through an alias. That's led to concerns the offers are being made to support a possible data center.
Waukesha-based Generac is opening a new manufacturing plant in Sussex that will employ more than 100 factory workers, the company announced Monday.
Generac to add new manufacturing facility in Sussex, more than 100 jobs
Waukesha-based Generac is opening a new manufacturing plant in Sussex that will employ more than 100 factory workers, the company announced Monday.
www.wpr.org
January 5, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Waukesha-based Generac is opening a new manufacturing plant in Sussex that will employ more than 100 factory workers, the company announced Monday.
The U.S. women’s hockey team heading to the winter Olympics has deep ties to Wisconsin, with four current and two former Badgers on the roster and a Fox Valley-native serving as head coach.
2026 US Olympic women's hockey team features 6 Wisconsin Badgers, Fox Valley native coach
The U.S. women’s hockey team heading to the winter Olympics has deep ties to Wisconsin, with four current and two former Badgers on the roster and a Fox Valley-native serving as head coach.
www.wpr.org
January 2, 2026 at 6:30 PM
The U.S. women’s hockey team heading to the winter Olympics has deep ties to Wisconsin, with four current and two former Badgers on the roster and a Fox Valley-native serving as head coach.
The federal government is suing one of the largest health systems in Wisconsin, claiming that it discriminated against an employee by denying a nurse’s request for a religious exemption for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
Federal government sues Advocate Aurora Health over COVID-19 vaccine policy
The federal government is suing one of the largest health systems in Wisconsin, claiming that it discriminated against an employee by denying a nurse's request for a religious exemption for receiving ...
www.wpr.org
December 23, 2025 at 10:19 PM
The federal government is suing one of the largest health systems in Wisconsin, claiming that it discriminated against an employee by denying a nurse’s request for a religious exemption for receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
A broad majority of Wisconsin banking executives believe the state economy is strong, but enthusiasm is down compared to past surveys.
Broad majority of Wisconsin bank CEOs believe economy is 'good' — but none say it's 'excellent'
A broad majority of Wisconsin banking executives believe the state economy is strong, but enthusiasm is down compared to past surveys. That’s according to a new end-of-the-year survey from the […]
www.wpr.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
A broad majority of Wisconsin banking executives believe the state economy is strong, but enthusiasm is down compared to past surveys.
Early next year, the former chairperson of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will take a key leadership role with a utility she was once tasked with regulating.
Former PSC chair to become president of Alliant Energy's Wisconsin utility business
It’s the latest example of what utility watchdogs call a “revolving door” in Wisconsin and nationwide, where former regulators take jobs at companies they regulated during their time in public service...
www.wpr.org
December 22, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Early next year, the former chairperson of the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin will take a key leadership role with a utility she was once tasked with regulating.
A Fox Valley construction company is suing Green Bay and a contractor over concerns about the city’s bidding process for a park pavilion project.
Miron Construction sues Green Bay over park project bidding process
A Fox Valley construction company is suing Green Bay and a contractor over concerns about the city’s bidding process for a park pavilion project. Neenah-based Miron Construction filed the lawsuit […]
www.wpr.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A Fox Valley construction company is suing Green Bay and a contractor over concerns about the city’s bidding process for a park pavilion project.
A bill in the state Legislature would allow for community solar projects outside the control of utility companies and cooperatives, which are currently the only entities in Wisconsin allowed to offer community solar programs.
Bill would allow for community solar projects outside utility control
A bill in the state Legislature would allow for community solar projects outside the control of utility companies and cooperatives, which are currently the only entities in Wisconsin allowed to provid...
www.wpr.org
December 16, 2025 at 4:31 PM
A bill in the state Legislature would allow for community solar projects outside the control of utility companies and cooperatives, which are currently the only entities in Wisconsin allowed to offer community solar programs.
Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN officially came offline on Monday, almost a month after the nonprofit public affairs network announced it was in desperate need of funding.
Wisconsin's version of C-SPAN is offline, says it's in desperate need of funding
Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN officially came off the air on Monday, almost a month after the nonprofit public affairs network announced it was in desperate need of funding.
www.wpr.org
December 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Wisconsin’s version of C-SPAN officially came offline on Monday, almost a month after the nonprofit public affairs network announced it was in desperate need of funding.
The state of Texas in a new lawsuit claims Verona-based Epic Systems is running an illegal monopoly and restricting parents’ access to their children’s medical records.
Texas sues Wisconsin-based Epic Systems, accusing it of running a monopoly
The state of Texas in a new lawsuit claims Verona-based Epic Systems is running an illegal monopoly and restricting parents’ access to their children’s medical records.
www.wpr.org
December 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
The state of Texas in a new lawsuit claims Verona-based Epic Systems is running an illegal monopoly and restricting parents’ access to their children’s medical records.
An environmental group is trying to force state utility regulators to release records showing the expected energy demand from a data center campus being developed in Beaver Dam by social media giant Meta.
Lawsuit seeks release of expected energy demand from Meta data center in Beaver Dam
An environmental group is suing state utility regulators to release records showing the expected energy demand for a Meta data center campus in Beaver Dam.
www.wpr.org
December 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
An environmental group is trying to force state utility regulators to release records showing the expected energy demand from a data center campus being developed in Beaver Dam by social media giant Meta.
The City of Green Bay this month approved a series of zoning changes aimed at addressing what officials say is an affordable housing crisis.
Green Bay adjusts zoning code to address 'housing affordability crisis'
The city of Green Bay this month approved a series of zoning changes aimed at addressing what officials say is an affordable housing crisis.
www.wpr.org
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The City of Green Bay this month approved a series of zoning changes aimed at addressing what officials say is an affordable housing crisis.
A bill in the Wisconsin Legislature aims to incentivize the development of new nuclear power plants through state tax credits and would make nuclear power a high-priority energy source.
State bill would give tax credits to new nuclear power plants in Wisconsin
A bill in the Wisconsin Legislature aims to incentivize the development of new nuclear power plants through state tax credits and would make nuclear power a high-priority energy source.
www.wpr.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:46 PM
A bill in the Wisconsin Legislature aims to incentivize the development of new nuclear power plants through state tax credits and would make nuclear power a high-priority energy source.
Wisconsin’s state crime labs received fewer total cases in 2024 than in 2023, but took longer on average to turn around DNA casework and toxicology, according to a new report from the state Department of Justice.
State crime labs saw fewer cases in 2024, longer turnarounds for DNA and toxicology
Wisconsin’s state crime labs received fewer total cases in 2024 than in 2023, but took longer on average to turn around DNA casework and toxicology, according to a new report from the state Department...
www.wpr.org
December 8, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Wisconsin’s state crime labs received fewer total cases in 2024 than in 2023, but took longer on average to turn around DNA casework and toxicology, according to a new report from the state Department of Justice.
Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid off nearly 100 workers on Wednesday, about a week after the U.S. Navy announced it was canceling much of a multi-billion dollar order for ships that would have been built in Wisconsin.
Marinette Marine lays off almost 100 workers a week after the Navy canceled ship orders
Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid off nearly 100 workers on Wednesday, about a week after the U.S. Navy announced it was canceling much of a multi-billion dollar order for ships that would have been b...
www.wpr.org
December 4, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Fincantieri Marinette Marine laid off nearly 100 workers on Wednesday, about a week after the U.S. Navy announced it was canceling much of a multi-billion dollar order for ships that would have been built in Wisconsin.
A pair of bipartisan bills in the state Legislature would cap interest rates on payday and installment loans and implement new restrictions on short-term lending.
Bipartisan state bills would cap interest on payday loans, increase regulation
A pair of bipartisan bills in the state Legislature would cap interest rates on payday and installment loans, and implement new restrictions on short-term lending.
www.wpr.org
December 4, 2025 at 3:20 PM
A pair of bipartisan bills in the state Legislature would cap interest rates on payday and installment loans and implement new restrictions on short-term lending.
John W. Miller will become WEDC’s secretary and CEO beginning Dec. 15. He's a Marquette Law School grad who previously served as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C. for Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District.
Gov. Tony Evers appoints new leader for Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.
John W. Miller will become the agency's secretary and CEO beginning Dec. 15.
www.wpr.org
December 3, 2025 at 10:58 PM
John W. Miller will become WEDC’s secretary and CEO beginning Dec. 15. He's a Marquette Law School grad who previously served as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C. for Wisconsin’s 4th Congressional District.
The U.S. Navy canceled orders for four warships that would've been built in Wisconsin. Now, Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling on the Trump administration to bring more Navy work to Marinette Marine.
'No one necessarily knows what it means': Navy cancels ships planned in Marinette
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling on the U. S. Navy to "keep commitments made" by bringing more shipbuilding to Wisconsin after the cancellation of a multi-billion dollar contract with a Marinette sh...
www.wpr.org
December 3, 2025 at 3:14 PM
The U.S. Navy canceled orders for four warships that would've been built in Wisconsin. Now, Sen. Tammy Baldwin is calling on the Trump administration to bring more Navy work to Marinette Marine.
The parent company of Associated Bank will acquire Nebraska-based American National Bank’s parent company in a roughly $604 million all-stock deal, the companies announced Monday.
Green Bay-based Associated Bank to acquire American National Bank in $600M deal
The parent company of Associated Bank will acquire Nebraska-based American National Bank’s parent company in a roughly $604 million all-stock deal, the companies announced Monday.
www.wpr.org
December 1, 2025 at 10:09 PM
The parent company of Associated Bank will acquire Nebraska-based American National Bank’s parent company in a roughly $604 million all-stock deal, the companies announced Monday.