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Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wisconsin bill would give state income tax deduction to educators for classroom expenses
MADISON – Teachers in Wisconsin schools would be able to deduct classroom materials from income tax filings under a new bill. Under the proposal, teachers may claim up to a $300 deduction on their state income tax return for eligible expenses such as professional development courses, books and other classroom supplies. Bill co-author Rep. David Armstrong, R-Rice Lake, told the Journal Sentinel that two of his daughters are teachers so this is an issue close to home for him. "I think it's ludacris that teachers have to buy their own supplies. I get that maybe that's just normal practice now so I want to help as much as I can," Armstrong said. The bill mirrors current federal policy that allows educators to claim a $300 deduction on federal income tax returns for the same expenses. Teachers spend a significant amount of their own money on classroom supplies, averaging between $500 and $800 annually on classroom supplies that are not reimbursed by the school, according to the National Education Association. Over 90% of teachers in the U.S. have spent money out of pocket on classroom supplies, a 2023 study found. Armstrong said that while the bill has been well received by educators who have attended listening sessions in his district, he wishes there was more he could do. "I wish I could've done more, but I think with the reality of where we are at right now with the budget, this is the best I could get through right now," Armstrong said. Armstrong said that there has been a good response from Democratic lawmakers, and he believes it's likely the bill will get a unanimous vote in the Assembly. Several Democratic lawmakers have signed onto the bill, including Rep. Lisa Subeck, who told the Journal Sentinel that "frankly, the bill just makes good sense." "The reality is that we should be doing a better job of funding our schools to ensure that classroom needs are met so teachers would not feel like they have to purchase things out-of-pocket," Subeck said. "Until we do that, I think this is the least we could do." Subeck said teachers have been spending money out of pocket for a long time, noting that she remembers spending her own money on classroom materials when she was a preschool teacher for Head Start. But that strain has become greater in recent years as rising inflation drives up supply costs. While Subeck could not speak to whether Gov. Tony Evers would support the bill, she pointed to Evers' time as state superintendent and his work through the budget process to provide more funding to Wisconsin's schools as showing his commitment to uplifting educators. "I think that he knows well the strain the teachers in our classrooms feel," Subeck said. A spokeswoman from the governor did not respond to a request for comment. Anna Kleiber can be reached at akleiber@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Wisconsin bill would provide state income tax deduction for teachers
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House budget provision exempts executive branch from following court orders
A two legged stool cannot stand. Neither can a democracy with only two branches. I read with horror the Journal Sentinel article, 'House bill could neutralize court orders' (June 2). In the 1,000+ page 'big beautiful bill' is a provision that would exempt the executive branch from following a court's orders. This means they would be above the law! The courts would live out a Shakespeare quote 'being full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.' There would be no guardrails or accountability for the executive branch; one leg on our stool of democracy would be gone. Regardless of your political affiliation, this should concern you. I'm troubled that another leg of our democratic stool, the legislative branch, are not up in arms about this provision, but though their timidity, ignorance or fear have not stood up and provided a strong statement that this shall not pass. Letters: Real issue behind need for retail lockboxes ignored. Don't make excuses. We the people need to demand that our elected representatives do what is right for all Americans. We can disagree and debate, but we all live here. When it is no longer 'we the people' but an elite group of self interested people making the rules, America as we and the whole world know it will be gone. Glenn Luedtke, Franklin Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Congress is absent, guided by timidity, ignorance and fear | Letters
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
House budget provision exempts executive branch from following court orders
A two legged stool cannot stand. Neither can a democracy with only two branches. I read with horror the Journal Sentinel article, 'House bill could neutralize court orders' (June 2). In the 1,000+ page 'big beautiful bill' is a provision that would exempt the executive branch from following a court's orders. This means they would be above the law! The courts would live out a Shakespeare quote 'being full of sound and fury but signifying nothing.' There would be no guardrails or accountability for the executive branch; one leg on our stool of democracy would be gone. Regardless of your political affiliation, this should concern you. I'm troubled that another leg of our democratic stool, the legislative branch, are not up in arms about this provision, but though their timidity, ignorance or fear have not stood up and provided a strong statement that this shall not pass. Letters: Real issue behind need for retail lockboxes ignored. Don't make excuses. We the people need to demand that our elected representatives do what is right for all Americans. We can disagree and debate, but we all live here. When it is no longer 'we the people' but an elite group of self interested people making the rules, America as we and the whole world know it will be gone. Glenn Luedtke, Franklin Here are some tips to get your views shared with your friends, family, neighbors and across our state: Please include your name, street address and daytime phone. Generally, we limit letters to 200 words. Cite sources of where you found information or the article that prompted your letter. Be civil and constructive, especially when criticizing. Avoid ad hominem attacks, take issue with a position, not a person. We cannot acknowledge receipt of submissions. We don't publish poetry, anonymous or open letters. Each writer is limited to one published letter every two months. All letters are subject to editing. Write: Letters to the editor, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 330 E. Kilbourn Avenue, Suite 500, Milwaukee, WI, 53202. Fax: (414)-223-5444. E-mail: jsedit@ or submit using the form that can be found on the on the bottom of this page. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Congress is absent, guided by timidity, ignorance and fear | Letters
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Comedian Charlie Berens warns of scammers pretending to be him on Facebook, Instagram
If a Facebook or Instagram account claiming to be Charlie Berens messages you out of the blue, odds are it's not actually the Wisconsin comedian. It's probably an imposter who may try to scam you. "When it happens, you think: This person that I follow, I enjoy their content. Now they're privately messaging me," Berens explained to the Journal Sentinel in a recent phone interview. "You kind of allow the excitement to maybe take over a little bit." "Before you know it," he said, the scammer tries to get gift cards or personal information out of you. While this problem has popped up over the years, it's going on increasingly more often, Berens said. He's noticed that it's happening on Facebook and Instagram the most, especially with older adults who are newer to social media and often the target of scams. But, other platforms and people aren't immune. When Berens' name is searched for on a social media site, his real account isn't the only one to pop up. While we were on the phone with Berens, he looked up his name on Instagram and found a handful of phonies on the spot. "It's kind of a game of Whack-a-Mole," Berens said. "You can report an account and then it can get removed. But then someone else can just do the same thing. There's not really a great system to combat that stuff." At one of Berens' comedy shows in California, a fan brought him a gift she said they had previously discussed and informed him that they had been messaging each other online for months, the comedian said. This was news to Berens. The person the woman had been talking to? Not him. The imposter even went as far as to mail the woman a photo of Berens with a forged autograph on it, Berens said. Scammers often "do something that builds trust with people," he said, which can be "a dangerous game." "As an entertainer or public figure in whatever case, you try to build a lot of trust with your audience," he said. "Then, you have these people eroding that trust just because they want to make a quick buck. It's sad." "Be very suspicious of any interaction with anybody online. Period," Berens said, especially when it's with someone claiming to be a public figure without being verified. If there isn't a blue checkmark next to Berens' username on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok — the checkmark indicates that the account has been verified by the platform — that's a red flag. In case you ever need to double-check, Berens' real accounts on those platforms, as well as his Patreon — where he sometimes does giveaways — are: Facebook: Charlie Berens, found at Instagram: charlieberens, found at TikTok: charlieberens, found at Patreon: Berens noted that with X, formerly Twitter, people can get a blue checkmark by simply purchasing an active subscription to X Premium. While he doesn't do that, his main account on there is: @CharlieBerens. Berens also has social media accounts for several of his ventures, including his comedic news report series, his podcast and his brandy. Official accounts for those, include: "Manitowoc Minute": Facebook, Instagram and X. "The Cripes Podcast": Facebook, Instagram and X. Berens Old Fashioned Brandy: Facebook and Instagram. If Berens ever uses social media to give away tickets or discuss a donation request, he or someone from his team will converse strictly through his official accounts. During those conversations, Berens or his team may provide an email address for further correspondence if necessary. If someone thinks a Berens imposter is reaching out to them, the comedian's advice: "Don't reply" — just like you'd hang up if you got a robocall. "The more time we can spend away from our phones, the better. And, I say that as somebody who obviously would benefit with people spending more time on their phones," Berens said. "It's very easy to get sucked in and lost in an algorithm. And, that can lead you to sort of think something is real when it's not. I think just enjoying life in the real world is kind of a thing we can all — myself included — try to do more of." A USA TODAY report shared these tips from Chase to help people identity potential scams or fraud: Demands for urgent action and sharing of personal information. Scammers will usually have a sense of urgency, and you may be threatened with losing money or access to your accounts or even arrest if you don't comply. New, sudden relationships that take an interest in your money. Financial abuse often happens from a person known to the victim. It might be a caretaker or a newly found friendship. Be careful of any new friends who approach you with investment opportunities or take an interest in your finances. Unusual financial activity. If you see withdrawals or changes to your accounts, or if you see your loved one suddenly making changes to financial accounts, contact the financial institution. Wrong number. Some scammers will text or call someone, hoping you'll answer, saying it's the wrong number. Then they'll try to get friendly with you to get your defenses down. Contact authorities and your financial institutions as soon as possible. Don't be ashamed about what happened and seek help. The quicker a financial institution knows there is a problem, the better the chances are that some of the lost money might be recoverable. But liability for the fraud does vary for each case and often if the consumer has willingly transferred the money to a scammer, it could prove difficult to recover. If you realize you're in the middle of being scammed, disengage from contact. Berens, who grew up in Elm Grove and New Berlin, is a comedian, New York Times best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning journalist. He's well-known for his hilarious videos about all things life in the Midwest. He also wrote "The Midwest Survival Guide: How We Talk, Love, Work, Drink and Eat ... Everything with Ranch," hosts "The Cripescast Podcast" and has several other endeavors, including Berens Old Fashioned Brandy. In the "Green and Gold" movie, which played in theaters earlier this year, Berens portrayed a radio host on a Door County station. In our recent interview, Berens shared that he recently filmed a standup special. He has a slew of shows coming up in Wisconsin in September. And, in November, he'll be hitting the road for "The Lost & Found Tour." More information, including dates and locations can be found here. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Charlie Berens warns of Facebook, Instagram scammers impersonating him
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Strong support for Milwaukee police chief's reappointment signaled from hiring body
As his contract comes up for renewal, Milwaukee's police chief received strong signals of support early in his rehiring process. Almost all of the city's Fire and Police Commission, the oversight body that handles hiring of the police chief, signaled they were in support of Police Chief Jeffrey Norman's rehiring. The commission is slated to make its final decision on Norman's reappointment June 26. "He's one of the best qualified chiefs I've ever known," said Miriam Horwitz, the commission's chair. With seven of the commission's nine members in attendance at the meeting, six said they were in support of rehiring Norman, who did not attend the commission meeting. Norman's current contract expires Nov. 15. Norman previously told the Journal Sentinel he would take an offer, if the commission extended it to him. "I believe our department has made great strides," Norman said at the time. "I desire to continue to build upon that." The commission's support follows Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson saying he was in support of rehiring the chief as well. At the June 5 meeting, activist Vaun Mayes and Levi Stein, president of the Friendship Circle of Wisconsin, said they were in support of Norman's rehiring as well. Mayes, who leads the organization Community Task Force, said a past police chief indicated he would talk with community groups, regardless of their support, and that did not happen. Norman has done that consistently, he said. With the Fire and Police Commission no longer having policymaking power for the city's police department due to a 2023 state law, Mayes said it was important to maintain Norman's place in Milwaukee's department. After that law, called Act 12, was passed, Norman elected to move a new bodycam footage release policy forward, despite opposition from the city's police union. "I am very afraid of the wrong person coming in with that kind of power and what they could and couldn't do," Mayes said. Norman, who is in his 29th year in law enforcement, has spent his entire policing career with the city's department. He was hired as acting chief of the department in 2020 and named police chief the following year, following the retirement of another acting chief and the controversial removal of former chief Alfonso Morales in 2020. The Milwaukee native was first hired in 1996 and served as a lieutenant in the homicide unit and captain of District 3, which includes parts of the central city and west side. Norman was hired as chief, in part, due to his track record of community engagement. Since being named chief, Norman has led the department through the crime spikes amid the COVID-19 pandemic, heavy local and state policy change after George Floyd's murder prompted national outrage and policing during the Republican National Convention. Rocky periods have occurred during his tenure. During the Republican National Convention, he and the department came under scrutiny after Columbus, Ohio, police officers shot and killed Sam Sharpe Jr. The officers, who did not face charges in the shooting, shot him about a mile from the convention's perimeter after the officers saw Sharpe appear to move toward another man while wielding knives. The officers were not accompanied by local police, which top department officials previously indicated any out-of-state officers would be in the lead-up to the convention. After the shooting, Norman later acknowledged local officers should have been with the Ohio police officers. The department also came under scrutiny for its handling of events in the lead-up to the homicide of Bobbie Lou Schoeffling. Schoeffling, a 31-year-old mother of two, had been reporting abuse and threats from her ex-boyfriend. Schoeffling was found shot to death on July 26, 2022. Her ex-boyfriend, Nicholas Howell, was convicted of killing Schoeffling last year and sentenced to life in prison. Norman initially declined an interview with the Journal Sentinel into the department's handling of the case but after the new organization published an investigation into her death, he ordered a review of every contact the department had with Schoeffling. The review led to the suspension of four officers. 'We have recognized our shortcomings and we, I believe, have a proven track record of … being open to feedback and working with the communities,' Norman said at the time he opened the review. In 2024, Norman was a finalist for the police chief position in Austin, Texas, but was ultimately passed on for the role. At that time, a department spokesperson said Norman remained "steadfast" in his commitment to Milwaukee. The chief previously declined to tell the Journal Sentinel in May whether he has applied for other jobs as his term approaches its end in Milwaukee. He said he was focused on reappointment locally. Norman's pay appears to have been negotiated in the months leading up to his reappointment discussions. The Fire and Police Commission's executive committee has met in closed session four times regarding senior law enforcement pay. While the city of Milwaukee's Common Council sets the pay range for the chief of police position, the Fire and Police Commission ultimately selects what the salary is in that range. Leon Todd, the commission's executive director, said he could not address what was discussed in those meetings. Norman made a gross salary of $177,112.44 in 2024, according to the city's online pay databases. The Fire and Police Commission will hold two public comment sessions for Norman's rehiring before the June 26 vote. David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@ This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee commission has strong support for police chief's reappointment
