Each year seems to go by faster than the previous one. That feels especially true this year, when we at WPR look back at everything brought to us by the 2023 news cycle.
Here’s a rundown of WPR’s most read stories from Jan. 1 to Dec. 20, 2023, according to data from Chartbeat. See the full list of WPR’s top 10 below.
Of the top 10, we saw some common themes…
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Wisconsin quirky
When it comes to the odd and suitably Wisconsin-esque stories, there was no shortage of readers this past year, with the year’s most-read story coming directly from a question asked by one of our listeners.
Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner?
Off a highway in northwest Wisconsin’s Washburn County sits a long string of parked railcars of different shapes and sizes. A listener who regularly passes these railcars was curious about them. So, she reached out to WHYsconsin to figure out why they are here.
Wisconsin restaurant sees business spike after making national list of 50 most exciting restaurants
Birch, a farm-to-table restaurant in Milwaukee, has seen its shine get brighter after making a New York Times list of the 50 most exciting restaurants in the U.S.
After 100+ years, demolition of a Lake Geneva-based mansion is underway
The century-old Villa Hortensia mansion in Lake Geneva was razed just months after it was purchased by an Illinois businessman for $17 million.
Child labor
Industry and business was another big theme that appeared, with readers especially interested in stories involving child labor.
Teen boy dies following industrial accident at northern Wisconsin sawmill
A 16-year-old boy died in July from injuries sustained in an industrial accident at a sawmill in a northern Wisconsin County.
On Dec. 19, the U.S. Department of Labor announced the proposed penalties facing Florence Hardwoods. The sawmill is facing $1.4 million in new fines for workplace safety violations after an investigation into the accident that caused the death of Michael Schuls.
Wisconsin company pays $1.5M fine for illegally employing over 100 children
Grant County-based Packers Sanitation Services Inc. paid $1.5 million in financial penalties for illegally employing more than 100 children federal investigators say were exposed to dangerous conditions.
Wisconsin restaurant owner owes more than $270K in employee back pay, violated child labor laws
The owner of four Wisconsin restaurants allegedly shortchanged more than 100 employees more than $272,000 in wages and violated several federal regulations.
Money problems
Readers were also drawn to stories highlighting where tax dollars were, and weren’t, being spent.
Rural bridge collapse sparks calls for statewide inventory, safety assessment
The Wisconsin Towns Association said rural communities need more help paying for repair and maintenance of small crossings.
USS Milwaukee’s voyage ends, underscoring failures of costly Navy ships built in Wisconsin
The Navy decommissioned billions of dollars worth of ships long before their expected lifespans after numerous mechanical issues. Wisconsin shipyards helped build the troubled vessels.
A court ruling took tribal land off Wisconsin tax rolls. The victory for the tribes has blown a hole
In 2022, a federal court found Wisconsin couldn’t legally tax land owned by tribal members on the reservations of four northern Wisconsin tribes. It was a victory for tribal sovereignty, but that victory has created a budget crisis for some rural towns.
Politics and courts
It was another big year for Wisconsin’s purple politics.
The April election of Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protosiewicz garnered lots of views but not enough to cross over into the top 10. The top political story that made the list focuses on a win for a state Senate seat that tilted its makeup towards conservatives.
Conservative wins in Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District, securing GOP impeachment power
Top stories ranked
1. Why is there a long line of railcars parked on the tracks near Spooner? (Andrea Anderson, Feb. 24, 2023)
2. Teen boy dies following industrial accident at northern Wisconsin sawmill (Joe Schulz, July 3, 2023)
3. Rural bridge collapse sparks calls for statewide inventory, safety assessment (Hope Kirwan, April 21, 2023)
4. Wisconsin company pays $1.5M fine for illegally employing over 100 children (Joe Schulz, Feb. 17, 2023
5. Wisconsin restaurant sees business spike after making national list of 50 most exciting restaurants (Jonah Beleckis, Oct. 25, 2023)
6. USS Milwaukee’s voyage ends, underscoring failures of costly Navy ships built in Wisconsin (Trevor Hook, Oct. 10, 2023)
7. Conservative wins in Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District, securing GOP impeachment power (Deneen Smith, April 5, 2023)
8. A court ruling took tribal land off Wisconsin tax rolls. The victory for the tribes has blown a hole (Danielle Kaeding, June 20, 2023)
9. After 100+ years, demolition of a Lake Geneva-based mansion is underway (Gaby Vinick, March 13, 2023)
10. Wisconsin restaurant owner owes more than $270K in employee back pay, violated child labor laws (Corrinne Hess, July 24, 2023)
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