Two transgender residents sue Wisconsin over discriminatory Medicaid rule

Photo of Sara Ann Makenzie, one of two transgender Wisconsin residents challenging a state regulation that prohibits low-income Medicaid beneficiaries from obtaining medically necessary treatments for gender dysphoria. Credit: Spencer Micka Photography Top surgery, a common reference for chest reconstruction surgery for transgender patients, is a widely accepted and effective surgical procedure for treating gender dysphoria.

Democrats see Wisconsin as proving ground for party revival

Margo Miller thanked her hosts, covered herself in a blue plastic poncho and headed back into the driving sleet Saturday morning, with more doors to knock on in this rural subdivision but with another new volunteer's name on her clipboard.

Weather temporarily closes Merrimac Ferry in Sauk, Columbia Counties

The ferry, which is usually open to traffic 24-hours a day, crosses the Wisconsin River between Sauk and Columbia counties and is accessed by Wisconsin State Road 113. County highway department officials say, ordinarily, it closes for the season only until ice forms on the river.

10 minutes at Supreme Court cost Wisconsin $60K

Wisconsin taxpayers footed a previously unknown $60,000 bill for an attorney to argue for 10 minutes before the U.S. Supreme Court in the state's defence of a redistricting lawsuit. A summary of bills that The Associated Press obtained through an open records request shows the law firm of Kirkland and Ellis was paid $60,000 to make the arguments.

As Ryan steps aside, Democrat “IronStache” feels a tailwind

Democrats already enthusiastic about hard-hat-wearing Randy Bryce's challenge of Republican Paul Ryan got a gust of optimism Thursday with the House speaker's decision against seeking re-election. Bryce's "Iron Stache" persona had earned the 53-year-old Army veteran and ironworker the support of national Democratic donors after a cheeky campaign launch in which he offered to trade jobs with Ryan.

Rebecca Dallet beats Michael Screnock in race for Wisconsin Supreme Court

Rebecca Dallet trounced Michael Screnock on Tuesday for a seat on the state Supreme Court, shrinking the court's conservative majority and giving Democrats a jolt of energy heading into the fall election. Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Judge Rebecca Dallet greets supporters as they watch returns on election night at Good City Brewing in Milwaukee.

POLITICSWisconsina s Cage-Match Supreme Court ElectionA November tune-up. Ed Kilgore

Center-left candidate Rebecca Dallet and conservative Michael Screnock will face off next week in a technically nonpartisan election for a Wisconsin Supreme Court seat. Scott Walker's fight with his state's judiciary over his efforts to avoid two state legislative special elections - which he has now abandoned - hasn't been the only Wisconsin news involving judges or elections.

Speaker Ryan is expected to seek re-election; will he stay?

In this March 20,2018, file photo, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wis., pauses as he speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington. Ryan's political future as House speaker has been such a topic of speculation that even the simple question of whether he will seek re-election to his Wisconsin seat remains secret.

Redistricting a thorn for justices

Keegan Herrod, 6, of Denver , dressed as Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, waits in line while hoping to see the justices with her mother, Maeve Felle , Wednesday outside the Supreme Court building in Washington where the justices heard arguments in a gerrymandering case. WASHINGTON -- Supreme Court justices wrestled Wednesday with how far states may go to craft electoral districts that give the majority party a significant political advantage, delving into an issue that affects elections across the country.

Numerous redistricting challenges pending in courts

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on a lawsuit alleging partisan gerrymandering in the drawing of a Maryland congressional district. Eight years after the 2010 Census provided the basis for legislative redistricting, several other cases alleging unconstitutional gerrymandering in various states also are still working their way through the court system.

Courts weighing numerous challenges to political boundaries

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday on a lawsuit alleging partisan gerrymandering in the drawing of a Maryland congressional district. Eight years after the 2010 Census provided the basis for legislative redistricting, several other cases alleging unconstitutional gerrymandering in various states also are still working their way through the court system.

Cambridge Analytica whistleblower: Firm sent foreigners to advise US campaigns

Cambridge Analytica assigned dozens of non-U.S. citizens to provide campaign strategy and messaging advice to Republican candidates in 2014, according to three former workers for the data firm, even as an attorney warned executives to abide by U.S. laws limiting foreign involvement in elections. The effort was designed to present the newly created company, whose parent, SCL Group, was based in London, as "an American brand" that would appeal to U.S. political clients, according to former Cambridge Analytica research director Christopher Wylie.

Baldwin searches for right path to keep key Senate seat

In this Feb. 22, 2018 file photo, Republican Senate candidate Leah Vukmir, standing, asks a question of Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin during a luncheon on in Madison, Wis. Vukmir is one of two Republicans running in the primary for a chance to take on Baldwin in the fall.