12/10/2025

MARQUETTE - Prison staffing shortages continue to cause safety concerns for corrections officers and inmates in the U.P..  During the month of October, the Michigan Corrections Organization documented a surge in assault-related incidents at the Marquette, Baraga, Alger and Chippewa Prisons.  At the Baraga Max Correctional Facility. Between July 1 and July 17, 2024, 13 incidents involving assault or attempted assault were recorded.  The Baraga Max Facility and Marquette Branch Prison are each more than 50 corrections officers short.

12/10/2025

N. WISCONSIN - On Monday, Gov. Tony Evers signed Braydn’s Law, named after Braydn, increasing the penalties for sexual extortion.  Under Braydn’s Law, sextortion is now a standalone crime. If it leads to a child’s death, the crime is punishable up to a Class B felony murder, which carries up to 60 years in prison.  Victims and victims’ families are now also eligible for crime victim compensation through the Wisconsin Department of Justice.  The legislation received significant bipartisan support and takes effect immediately.  The law is named after 15-year-old Braydn Bohn was targeted with sexual extortion online earlier this year and died just hours later, by suicide.  Sextortion cyber tip reports in Wisconsin are up more than 80% since 2023, according to the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

12/10/2025

WISCONSIN - Gov. Tony Evers joined the DOT Tuesday afternoon to unveil Wisconsin’s newest state license plates, a Blackout design and a Retro butter yellow design.  The bipartisan 2025-27 Biennial Budget signed by Gov. Evers included $5.5 million in funding to support the introduction of these two new specialty license plates, which are estimated to generate more than $25 million for the state’s transportation fund in the first three years.  Both plates come with a one-time $15 issuance fee, plus a $25 annual registration fee. The income generated from the registration of these plates will help finance infrastructure improvement projects all across the state.