Tag Archives: Capitol
Eau Claire man pleads guilty to charge in US Capitol breach
A Wisconsin man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a misdemeanor charge related to his role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol last January.
Read More »COVID-19 precautions ignored at state Capitol hearing
Dozens of people ignoring coronavirus protocols filled a state Capitol room for a hearing on legislation to limit the government's response to public health emergencies.
Read More »33 arrested Capitol singers request jury trials
More than 40 protesters arrested by Capitol Police during a crackdown on a daily sing-along conducted without permits have pleaded not guilty, and 33 have requested jury trials.
Read More »Judge blocks portion of Capitol access policy (UPDATE)
Groups of up to 20 people can gather in the state Capitol without a permit, a federal judge ruled, striking down portions of the current policy requiring permits for all activities as an unconstitutional infringement on free speech rights.
Read More »State pays protester $19K to settle lawsuit
The state of Wisconsin has paid a Capitol protester $19,000 to settle a lawsuit stemming from a 2011 altercation in which a state employee stabbed himself when popping her red heart-shaped balloon.
Read More »State may sue cleaning company over stained marble at Capitol
Wisconsin state officials said Monday they may consider legal action against a cleaning company blamed for damaging marble floors in the Capitol last year.
Read More »Protester sues Capitol worker who popped balloon
MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A woman is claiming a state Capitol worker violated her constitutional rights by popping a balloon and allegedly slamming her against a door. Leslie Peterson, of Madison, filed a lawsuit seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages from Ronald Blair, an assistant director in the Division of State Facilities. The 56-year-old Blair has been charged with disorderly ...
Read More »Capitol worker charged in balloon spat (UPDATE)
By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a state Capitol worker with disorderly conduct with a dangerous weapon for using a knife to pop a protester’s balloon and then slamming her into a bathroom door. Ron Blair, the state Department of Administration’s assistant facilities director, could face up to nine months in jail and $1,000 ...
Read More »Man arrested for punching pro-union demonstrator
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An altercation involving a pro-union demonstrator resulted in an arrest and citations at the state Capitol. State officials say two men draped a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag over the heads of some pro-union demonstrators participating in a sing-a-long in the Capitol rotunda Tuesday. One of the singers grabbed the flag and was punched in the ...
Read More »Protesters disrupt Senate budget debate
Minutes after starting the Senate’s budget hearing, members broke into recess after a group of shouting protesters halted any chance for debate. State troopers arrested more than a half-dozen protesters, a few of whom had locked themselves to portions of the gallery without a key. Members of the Senate tried to push through the protests by completing roll call and ...
Read More »THE DARK SIDE: Reflections on the protests at the Capitol
The Takings Clause provides that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.
Read More »Protesters in Madison haven’t yet paid fines
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Since the protests over Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal began in February, tens of thousands of people have demonstrated at the Capitol. Most of the protests have been civil. But, according to the Department of Administration, 41 people have been arrested a total of 59 times. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that protesters who have been ...
Read More »Group wants rally near Capitol to protest budget
Some community groups want to set up a temporary camp across from the Capitol to protest Gov. Scott Walker's budget proposals and efforts to recall Republican legislators.
Read More »Retired judge to serve as Capitol mediator
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A retired judge serving on the state elections board will mediate the dispute over Wisconsin Capitol access. Dane County Circuit Court Judge John Albert has appointed retired Court of Appeals Judge Gordon Myse as mediator. Myse is serving an extended term on the Government Accountability Board until a replacement is chosen by Gov. Scott Walker. The ...
Read More »Judge to order mediator for Capitol access case
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Dane County judge plans to order a mediator to assist the parties wrangling over access to the state Capitol, while moving ahead with the rest of the lawsuit. Judge John Albert said Friday the previous plan for a special master to resolve security issues was “unworkable.” He suggested appointing a mediator to work parallel to ...
Read More »Not guilty plea made for woman in threat case
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Not guilty pleas have been entered for a Wisconsin woman charged with making death threats to Republican state lawmakers. Twenty-six-year-old Katherine Windels stood mute Thursday in Dane County Circuit Court. A court commissioner entered the pleas for her to two misdemeanor counts of making threats over a computer. She has also been charged with two felony ...
Read More »Union: Lack of Capitol access is contempt
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Public employee unions have accused state officials of restricting access to the Wisconsin Capitol building despite a court order opening it to the public. Three unions filed a motion in Dane County Circuit Court on Thursday accusing the state Department of Administration of defying Judge John Albert’s order last week. The order came after DOA officials ...
Read More »Police arrest Capitol visitor at entrance
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin police have arrested a woman who attempted to charge past a Capitol security checkpoint. According to Capitol Police, Elizabeth Ringle of Madison was arrested Friday morning after she refused to submit to security checks for weapons or prohibited items. Police say Ringle ignored multiple requests to comply with the checks and then attempted to run ...
Read More »Judge orders protesters out of Capitol
By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin judge ordered the removal Thursday night of pro-union protesters who have camped out in the state Capitol for more than two weeks, but he also ruled that the state had violated the public’s free speech and assembly rights by restricting its access to the building. Dane County Circuit ...
Read More »Ammo found outside Wis. Capitol, site of protests
By DAVID A. LIEB Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Dozens of rounds of live rifle ammunition were found Thursday scattered around the grounds of the Wisconsin Capitol, where large crowds of people have been protesting Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to rescind nearly all collective bargaining rights for most public employee unions. State attorneys revealed the ammunition discovery during a ...
Read More »Judge nearly orders protesters out of Capitol
By TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A judge weighing whether state officials overstepped their bounds by restricting protesters’ access to the state Capitol nearly ordered all the demonstrators out on moments’ notice Wednesday evening before state and union attorneys talked him out of it. Dane County Circuit Judge John Albert has been listening to two days of ...
Read More »Court hearing: Wis. lawmakers say Capitol restrictions hurting jobs
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Two Wisconsin lawmakers say they can’t do their jobs because restrictions on protesters have dramatically curtailed movement in the state Capitol. Reps. Kelda Roys and Cory Mason, both Democrats, testified Wednesday at a court hearing on whether state officials overstepped their bounds when they decided to severely limit access to the Capitol on Monday. FOR THE ...
Read More »Judge orders Capitol open to general public (UPDATE)
A Dane County judge on Tuesday ordered Wisconsin officials to open the Capitol to the public during normal business hours, reversing a temporary policy that restricted access to people who had appointments or other specific business.
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