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I was outside at dawn recently getting some chores done when I was hit with one of the smells of the country – a malodorous whiff left by a mammal in the mephitidae family. It was the … more
It has been my privilege to advocate on behalf of the people of the Chippewa Valley throughout this legislative session by supporting bills that will reduce taxes, fix our roads, invest in affordable … more
A typical week in our Madison office includes meetings with constituents who drive to Madison to advocate for organizations spanning all sorts of topics they are concerned about. In person meetings … more
Phone calls used to be private business. When I was a kid, my earliest memories that surrounded the telephone were that we had a party line. You’d pick up the phone and one of your neighbors … more
When I was a wee lad in 1939, I listened to WEAU radio and kept hearing the name Paavo Nurmi. Finally I asked my well-informed father who Nurmi was. Answer: “Paavo Nurmi (1897-1973) was the … more
Last week, the Assembly continued to support our youth's education and wellness by passing a package of bills aimed at combating childhood obesity and truancy. These bills, like the previous human … more
The announcement that HSHS was closing Both Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Hospitals by April 21 came as a surprise to everyone in the Chippewa Valley.  Thankfully, all of us have … more
What’s that saying, when it rains, it pours? I believe it is true. I had my third sinus surgery at Mayo in Rochester on Friday. It went well, according to my surgeon, and she hopes it will … more
As hurried and busy as life seems these days, we still spend plenty of time waiting. Estimates are that we can spend an average of six months of our life waiting. I thought about waiting … more
I am retiring. Not officially, but I think it’s time to “shut down” certain parts of my life. Like if there’s a crowd, I’m retired from being in it. I … more
Recently the Assembly and Senate passed legislation asking Wisconsin voters if they want to continue the practice of allowing one person in our state government to control and spend billions of … more
In the Wisconsin State Senate there is a program for high school juniors and seniors to learn more about how your Wisconsin State Senate operates. It’s called the Wisconsin Senate Scholars … more
Is it sad that I’m looking forward to having surgery because it means I’ll be forced to rest for a couple of days? Never mind the pain, but being able to rest thanks to doctor’s … more
A long, long time ago when I worked in newsrooms far, far away, I liked to tell aspiring journalists my definition of news: It’s what people are talking about. It was justification and … more
We have a couple of these security cameras mounted on the front of our house. It sends me an alert every time there’s an intruder. I get sent a video clip every time one of them is … more
When I was first elected to the State Assembly, one of my first responsibilities was to meet with law enforcement officials in the area.  One of their top issues, which they raised then and … more
The best way for anyone in power to hold onto power is to change laws and limit public participation. We have seen that strategy played out many times for over a decade in Wisconsin. Maybe the … more
We’re a bunch of spoiled brats if we complain about life in the 21st century. We’ve been blessed with a super active media and abundance: Have you seen the recent data on corn production … more
Some people in the River Falls School District have questioned the wisdom of spending money on leasing a new building for the Renaissance Charter Academy. They say it was done in secret, though it … more
My older son Kyle, who has always been rather direct, calls it “Crackbook.” Don’t get him started, or you’ll likely hear a rant about people walking around in a daze … more
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