Wisconsin Examiner

Activists protested outside the Wisconsin Department of Corrections headquarters over concerns about solitary confinement and inhumane prison conditions. The DOC disputed claims and highlighted rejected state budget proposals as a barrier to reform, while advocates called for reduced prison populations, improved living conditions, and independent oversight.

Wildfires in the Superior National Forest forced closures of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, stranding visitors and requiring rescues. Smoke from the fires affected Madison, Wisconsin, and prompted complaints from Republican officials to the Canadian embassy despite ongoing Canadian evacuations.

The Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, which supported Wisconsin's natural areas and parks, expired after 37 years due to legislative opposition. Republican legislators in northern Wisconsin opposed the program, citing concerns over property tax bases, while the state Supreme Court ruled against the Joint Finance Committee's process, leading to its expiration despite bipartisan support efforts.

Wisconsin advocates argue the Department of Corrections is not adequately implementing a 2013 law (Act 196) requiring short-term sanctions for minor violations of community corrections terms to avoid jail. A new policy starting July 1 allows up to 90-day jail sentences for high-level violations, contradicting the law’s intent to minimize disruption to employment and family.

Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian U.S. permanent resident and president of Milwaukee’s Islamic Society, is detained in an Indiana facility where his lawyers claim his health is deteriorating due to inadequate diabetes care and he is denied religious freedoms. His attorneys argue his treatment violates the First Amendment and seek his release.

A former prison guard at Oshkosh Correctional Institution was sentenced to two years in prison for sexually assaulting an incarcerated man. The victim reported non-consensual acts in a cell and laundry room, with DNA evidence linking the guard to the assault. The case involved a plea deal and highlighted concerns about power dynamics in incarceration.

Tracy Cole reflects on her six-year fight for justice after her 17-year-old son Alvin was killed by Wauwatosa police officer Joseph Mensah in 2020. The case led to federal civil lawsuits, two hung juries, and a confidential settlement, with conflicting testimonies about the shooting that resulted in Alvin's death during a foot chase at Mayfair Mall.