Weekly News Roundup, Wisconsin Love, SNL Celebrates 40 Years, Casino Protest

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From Governor Walker’s trip to London, to another Kenosha casino proposal, it was a big week in Wisconsin news. We explore the state’s top headlines. Then, we discuss Saturday Night Live’s legacy as the show celebrates its 40th anniversary, ask what you love about Wisconsin, and cover a Menominee protest march to Madison.

Featured in this Show

  • Weekly News Roundup: UW Prepares To Weather Budget Cuts

    Menominee Offer To Fund Bucks Arena In Return For Casino Approval

    After Gov. Scott Walker rejected the Menominee Indian tribe’s plans for a Kenosha casino last month, the tribe offered to pay $220 million dollars toward a new Milwaukee Bucks arena this if the governor reconsidered. However, the administration swiftly responded by saying that the governor’s decision remained the same.

    Walker had rejected the casino on the grounds that it would hurt the Potawatomi Casino in Milwaukee and the Ho Chunk casinos in the Wisconsin Dells and Madison. He was also concerned that it would contribute to a loss of jobs in Milwaukee County.

    A group of Menominee left the tribe’s reservation in Keshena on Friday morning for a 155-mile protest walk to Madison.


    Chatham House (CC-BY)

    Walker Faces Uncomfortable Questions In London

    Walker spent most of the week in London to promote trade between Wisconsin and the United Kingdom. He declined to answer a number of foreign policy questions asked by a BBC moderator during his visit to Chatham House, an international affairs think tank.

    When asked if he believed in evolution, he also declined to answer, saying it was a question a politician shouldn’t be involved in one way or another. Later in the day, the governor issued a response on Twitter, saying, “Both science and my faith dictate my belief that we are created by God. I believe faith & science are compatible, and go hand in hand.”


    Tom Fassbender (CC-BY-NC-ND)

    Walker Says He’s Open to Capping UW Tuition

    While in London, Walker also made news by saying he’s open to capping tuition in the University of Wisconsin System. Those remarks come after he promised to give the university more control over its own budget.

    Walker’s budget proposal currently calls for cutting funding by about $300 million and freezing tuition for two years. Some Republicans cited concerns that UW tuition could skyrocket when the freeze expires in 2017.

    Democratic Minority Leader Peter Barca said Walker’s proposal could destroy one of the country’s great university system. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said that if the state’s revenue numbers improve this spring, he’d like to see some of that money go toward reducing the size of the UW System cuts.


    Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy (CC-BY-ND).

    UW Prepares For Effect Of Proposed Budget Cuts

    The UW System is preparing to deal with the effects of over $300 million in cuts proposed by Governor Walker in his state budget proposal.

    This week, UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank held three open meetings on campus to talk about the effects of the proposed cuts. She said the cut will mean layoffs in Madison, with announcements going out as early as April. UW-Madison is considering raising tuition on out-of-state students and increasing the percentage of out-of-state students accepted to the university.

    UW System President Ray Cross has said they’re looking for efficiencies throughout the system to help absorb some of the cuts, though it’s not likely to be enough to avoid layoffs.

  • State News Roundup For Friday, February 13th, 2015

    News Director Michael Leland joins us for a look at Governor Walker’s trip to London, and other top news stories from around the state this week.

  • What Do You Love About Wisconsin?

    With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we’re asking: what do you LOVE about Wisconsin?

  • Saturday Night Live Celebrates Its 40th Anniversary

    This weekend, NBC will air its special celebrating the 40th anniversary of “Saturday Night Live.” An expert on media and comedy discusses the legacy of the show and how it changed the history of television forever.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Marika Suval Producer
  • Matt Oleson Producer
  • Chris Malina Producer
  • Amanda Magnus Producer
  • Michael Leland Guest
  • Nick Marx Guest