WASHINGTON —

Ron Johnson, the most vulnerable Republican senator up for reelection, will take on Wisconsin's Democratic lieutenant governor in November in one of this year's most closely watched Senate contests.

Meanwhile, a member of the Squad of progressive lawmakers survived a tough primary challenge from a Democratic rival running on a pro-police platform, while voters in Vermont are poised to send a woman to Congress for the first time in the state's 231-year history.

Takeaways from election results Tuesday night:

SQUAD VICTORY

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar’s detractors spent heavily to oust the divisive lawmaker and member of the progressive Squad.

They failed. Again.

Omar narrowly defeated her centrist challenger, former Minneapolis City Councilmember Don Samuels, all but guaranteeing her victory in November in an overwhelmingly Democratic district centered around Minneapolis. It was the second time a well-financed group had mobilized unsuccessfully against her.

Almost since her arrival in Congress, Omar has been a lightning rod for bipartisan criticism. First, she drew condemnation after suggesting in 2019 that Israel’s supporters were pushing U.S. lawmakers to take a pledge of “allegiance to a foreign country” and claiming congressional support for Israel was “all about the Benjamins, baby,” which many saw as an antisemitic trope about Jews buying influence.

That drew a $2.5 million negative advertising blitz, which was financed by the pro-Israel lobby, attacking her ahead of the 2020 election.

This year, pro-police groups as well as a mysterious super PAC spent over $750,000 criticizing Omar and backing Samuels. His north Minneapolis base suffers from more violent crime than other parts of the city, and he helped organize a campaign to stop sharp cuts in police funding pushed by progressive activists, including Omar, following the killing of George Floyd by police.

Other members of the Squad — Reps. Cori Bush of Missouri and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — had easier victories last week.

TOUGH FIGHT IN WISCONSIN SENATE RACE

If you take his word for it, Johnson shouldn't be running. The Wisconsin Republican had pledged to step down after two terms, only to reverse himself this year.

Now, after coasting to victory in his primary Tuesday, Johnson's reward will be a hard-fought campaign against Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes that could determine the balance of power in the narrowly divided U.S. Senate. It's also certain to saturate the airwaves as millions of political advertising dollars flood the state.

It will be the first time Johnson won’t be running against former Sen. Russ Feingold, the Democrat he ousted from office and defeated again six years later. He's also the only Republican senator up for reelection in a state Joe Biden won in 2020.

The matchup offers a study in contrasts. Johnson, 67, is a multimillionaire businessman whose father was a corporate treasurer. At 35, Barnes is close to half his age and the product of a working-class Milwaukee family. He would be the first Black senator from Wisconsin if elected.

Johnson has the former president's backing. He has also been a major ally.

After the 2020 election, an aide to Johnson told then-Vice President Mike Pence's staff in a text message that he wanted to hand-deliver to Pence fake elector votes from his state and neighboring Michigan. Pence's staff rebuffed their request.

Johnson met with Wisconsin lawmakers in 2021 and talked about dismantling the state’s bipartisan elections commission and having the GOP-controlled Legislature take over presidential and federal elections.

VERMONT'S GLASS CEILING

Vermont has been represented in Congress by white men ever since it became the 14th state to join the union in 1791.

That's poised to change after state Senate leader Becca Balint advanced from Tuesday's Democratic primary to face Republican Liam Madden in a general election contest that will determine who will be Vermont's next representative in the U.S. House.

Vermont is a liberal-leaning state and a Republican last won the seat in 1988, making Balint the overwhelming favorite in November. If she wins, Balint will not only be the first woman to represent Vermont in Congress, but the first openly gay person, too.

It may seem unusual that such a liberal-leaning state has not elected a woman to Congress. But there hasn’t been much opportunity. As the second-least populated state, Vermont gets to send only one representative to the U.S. House.

Current Democratic Rep. Peter Welch has held the seat for the past 15 years, giving it up to run for the Senate. Current U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders had it the 15 years before that. And Republican Jim Jeffords also held the seat for 15 years before he was elected to the Senate.

Although the pace of turnover has moved at glacier speed, there is an upside for Balint: The seat offers a reliable springboard to the U.S. Senate. Sanders' term is up in 2024. So far, the 80-year-old has not said whether he intends to run again.

Over 80 million people from the Midwest to the East Coast are under air quality alerts as smoke from the Canadian wildfires sweep across the U.S. border Tuesday, prompting beach closures, warnings about reduced visibility and calls to stay indoors.Canada is seeing its worst fire season on record with hundreds of wildfires raging across the country – more than 200 of them burning "out of control," according to the Canadian Interagency Forest Fire Centre. The wildfires have led to the highest emissions on record for the country, according to a Tuesday report from Copernicus.Video above: The kind of air conditioner filter you need to filter smoke from your homeAs smoke crosses into the U.S., air quality alerts have been issued for the entire states of Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Delaware and Maryland as well are portions of Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia, according to the National Weather Service. Residents are being advised to stay indoors with their air conditioning running or wear N95 masks if they have to be outside.Chicago had the worst air quality in the world Tuesday evening, according to IQAir. The city's Air Quality Index measured at 193 – a high reading designated as "unhealthy."The city has asked all residents – especially those with heart or lung disease, older adults, pregnant people and young children – to avoid outdoor activities and protect themselves from exposure. Chicago Public Schools and camps are also moving activities indoors, city officials said in a news release.Video below: Homemade air purifier can protect against wildfire smoke inside at homeAbout 11 miles away, Evanston, Illinois, is closing all swimming beaches and canceling a concert Tuesday due to the poor air quality, the city said on Facebook, asking residents to limit outdoor exposure through Wednesday. Across the state line in Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge stood covered with smoke Tuesday. Drivers were asked to drive slow and with caution due to the reduced visibility on the bridge. Detroit, Michigan, had the second worst air quality in the world Tuesday evening, with an "unhealthy" Air Quality Index is at 174, according to IQAir.High levels of fine particulate in the air in Michigan could become unhealthy or hazardous for all residents at some points – not just sensitive groups, the state's health department warned. "The most protective option when air is unhealthy for you is to stay indoors with air conditioning, reduce strenuous activities and limit outdoor activities. If you have to be outside, N95 masks offer enhanced protection when used according to product instructions," the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said.Indianapolis drivers were also warned about reduced visibility, with the National Weather Service saying to "be prepared for haze that could suddenly reduce visibilities" in some areas Tuesday and Wednesday.Video below: Canada's provinces, territories sign on to national climate adaptation strategyNew York is also expected to see unhealthy levels of smoke return Wednesday and Thursday to some areas – about three weeks after New York City topped the list of the world's worst air pollution as smoke from the Canadian wildfires wafted south, turning skies orange. "New Yorkers should be prepared for elevated levels of fine particulate pollution caused by smoke on Wednesday and Thursday," Gov. Kathy Hochul said in a statement. "Current projections show the highest concentrations of smoke will slowly push east across the eastern half of New York State during the day Thursday, extending across much of the state."In Ohio, a spokesperson for the Cleveland's mayor's office said "what happened in NY a few weeks ago and Chicago today may happen here in Cleveland tomorrow."The Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency issued an air quality advisory, forecasting fine particulate levels in the "Unhealthy" Air Quality Index range.Wildfire smoke carries particulate matter, or PM2.5 – a tiny but dangerous pollutant that, when inhaled, can travel deep into lung tissue and enter the bloodstream, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The particulate matter has been linked to a number of health problems including asthma, heart disease and other respiratory illnesses.

WAUKESHA, Wis. —

The Waukesha Christmas Parade returned to downtown Waukesha Sunday one year after a driver plowed through the same event killing six people and injuring dozens more.

The theme of this year's parade was Peace on Earth.

There were 80 groups marching in the parade, many of which are the same that were struck by tragedy including the Waukesha Blazers baseball club, the Dancing Grannies and Catholic Communities of Waukesha.

Several floats were decorated by Waukesha South High School band members and other students in honor of last year's victims.

Terry Rutledge has been a part of the Waukesha community for 45 years and was in the parade last year with the Salvation Army.

On Sunday, he drove a decorated plow.

Emotions were running high not only for the people who performed in the parade but also for those who attended.

"Last year after the parade we all came together, and it's just nice that even a year later, we're all still together, so it kind of solidified the whole community and kept us solidified for the whole year. The spirit never went away for Waukesha Strong," said Andrea Dorantes, who attended last year's parade.

Santa and Mrs. Claus were the last attraction in the parade.

The parade started at 4 p.m. along a new route and ended just before 5:30 p.m.

It began at Cutler Park, near Maple and Wisconsin avenues. It then went east along Main Street, south on Barstow Street and ended back at Cutler Park.

For some, it was an opportunity to heal.

"It's a very full circle moment being back. Immediately after the events of last year I started therapy so that way I could start healing right away so this is definitely the last step in my healing process," said Joe Eisenman, who attended last year's parade.

For others, like Eisenman's father, it was an opportunity to offer support.

"I just went through everything that he went through last year. We weren't here but we went through it when he was here," said Chris Eisenman.

The parade offered an opportunity for Waukesha to redefine its Christmas parade.

"Last year brought a lot of terror and a lot of confusion, but this year I honestly see nothing but happiness. That's definitely something that's different, but it's also definitely something that's amazing," said Joe Eisenman.

Parade attendees created good memories to overshadow the bad ones.

"We were here right in front of the Dancing Granny troop. So we saw a lot that day so it'll be good to see them back in the parade," said Dorantes.

Healing Hearts of Wisconsin was on hand at Sunday's parade. The organization provides support for grieving children and their families. They had a tent sent up at Cutler Park. The group also had personnel along the parade route to provide support to those struggling.

A fatal plane crash in Watertown, Wisconsin, claimed the lives of a 73-year-old pilot and his 8-year-old grandson joining him for a flight up to northern Wisconsin.

Summit View Elementary School sent a letter to inform families about the tragic loss of student Colin Strebe on June 14 due to an accident.

The aircraft plunged into a grove of trees at Brandt Quirk Park near a residential area on Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m. Investigators spent much of Thursday at the site, where pieces of the wreckage were spread across the soccer field.

The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were at the airport hangar to examine the evidence.

According to reports from Federal Aviation Administration, the plane had just taken off from the Municipal Airport about 3 miles from the accident site. Sources say the flight was planned to Manitowish Waters.

Investigators will collect as much information as they can from witnesses, and the wreckage itself, to determine, if they can, what led to this family tragedy in Watertown.

Watertown police department said the Brandt Quirk Park would remain closed through the weekend for site cleanup.

Police have yet to identify the victims, officially saying only that there were two victims. The pilot is from Watertown, and his grandson is from Waukesha.

The FAA and National Transportation Board will lead the investigation.

WATCH: Scary moment for Watertown neighbors who heard and 'felt' the plane crash

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The Pewaukee, Wisconsin, community and beyond dropped everything Friday night to lift up a little girl for her fifth birthday. "It's amazing, and there's so many great people out there doing so much for us. You're really happy to see it, but you wish it wasn't your kid," said Jacob Krings, Delaney Krings' father.In October, a trip to the emergency room for an ear infection would become the moment doctors told Delaney's parents she had just weeks to live. It was brain cancer, and it was terminal. "Brain cancer is terrible because if you look at a person as a puzzle, as a jigsaw puzzle, brain cancer is that one thing that takes one piece away every day and sometimes it's really sneaky, other times it's really obvious. But it's, unfortunately, a pretty steady decline," said Heather Krings, Delaney's mother.Andrew Kreblin, with the Wisconsin Truck Takeover Enthusiasts, heard Delaney's story and felt compelled to do something. After consulting with Delaney's parents, strangers to him, he began planning the parade. He said hundreds responded, wanting to be a part of the parade."It's good to see the community coming together. Time of need right now for the family. It's real touching, I've got kids at home around the same age," Kreblin said.Delaney's mom says she's a daddy's girl. So, from the window, in her father's arms, Delaney could lift an eyelid with her finger to see the outpouring of love, organized by a stranger. "This is just something we had to do. Right when I read the article, I had to do something, right then and there," Kreblin said. Sharon Tomlinson, a friend of the family, asked for birthday cards for Delaney. From around the world, 15,000 cards and thousands more packages poured in for Delaney. "Delaney's not going to be around for much longer. So having everybody come together to make this the best event possible and hopefully put a smile, not just on her face, but the family's face," Tomlinson said."She'll smile with the right side of her face," Krings said.While Delaney watches the parade, her parents watch an invisible clock, cherishing every second they have. "Hopefully, Christmas, she'll make it," Krings said.

It’s January, the middle of the school year, and yet tenth grader Lala Bivens is preparing for her first day at a new school.

Bivens started fall classes at One City Preparatory Academy, a new charter middle and high school in Madison, Wisconsin, but on January 13 a teacher shortage forced the school to shut down classes for more than 60 9th and 10th graders, including Bivens, who then had to switch schools.

“Teachers were just dropping like flies,” she told CNN.

Since the beginning of the school year, Bivens says she lost her math, chemistry and history teachers. The charter school’s CEO, Kaleem Caire, tells CNN the school lost “five core academic teachers” since the high school opened last fall.

On the second day of school, the Academy lost a humanities teacher. Then, four weeks later, a math teacher resigned. The school would lose three more teachers throughout the fall.

“We have quite a few students who are behind academically, the teachers found it hard, and some teachers came on not knowing how hard it was,” Caire told CNN by phone.

In addition to having to deal with low pay, high student-to-teacher ratios, poor working conditions, post-pandemic learning loss, school shootings and social or emotional issues with students, teachers across the nation are also grappling with culture wars over what they can and cannot teach in the classroom.

Florida school district begins 'cataloging' books to comply with DeSantis-backed law

Despite a national recruitment effort, Caire says he could not fill the open positions at the school. “Competition is intense. There are 16 school districts in this area.”

By the time Caire made the decision to shut down classes at the school for ninth and tenth graders, he had been filling in as a math teacher while other teachers at the school were teaching more than one class at a time.

The charter school helped Bivens and 61 other students scramble to find new schools midsemester. After a week of missed classes, Bivens’ mother was able to successfully enroll her at a local public high school.

It’s not just Wisconsin

What’s playing out in Madison is the worst-case scenario of a national teacher shortage gone unchecked.

Department of Education data shows 47 states have reported teacher shortages this school year with the problem being most acute in urban and rural areas. Meanwhile, desperate state legislatures are passing laws making it easier to become a public schoolteacher by lowering or eliminating certain qualifications.

The National Council On Teacher Quality told CNN that over the last two years, 23 states have lowered teacher qualification requirements for beginning teachers. That includes lowering or removing assessment tests designed to determine whether teachers have a firm grasp on the subject they will teach and creating emergency teaching certificates to expedite candidates into the classroom without a teaching degree.

Arizona, Florida and Oklahoma have created new pathways for people without a bachelor’s degree to teach in classrooms.

“Making it easier to become a teacher is an overly broad, short-term solution to staffing challenges that amounts to saying we just need ‘warm bodies’ in classrooms. It’s harmful to students and insulting to the teaching profession,” said Heather Peske, president of the National Council on Teacher Quality, a Washington, D.C., think tank that researches and evaluates teacher quality nationwide.

Linda Darling Hammond, president of the Learning Policy Institute, an education research and policy advocacy group, says state efforts to repeal teacher qualification requirements will only exacerbate the teacher shortage.

“When states respond to shortages by reducing standards rather than increasing salaries and improving working conditions, what they’re doing is creating a vicious cycle. They get people in who are underprepared. Those people leave at two to three times the rate of those who have come in with preparation.”

Hammond says at the same time the quality of education for students suffers. “You’re undermining student achievement.”

A Band-aid on a gaping wound

Since Florida opened teaching roles to veterans without a bachelor’s degree last August, the initiative has only netted the state 11 new teachers, according to the state’s education department, raising the question of whether lowering standards is an effective solution to the shortages.

Florida’s Department of Education denies that there’s a teacher shortage and instead says, “The purpose of this new pathway was to value the unique experience military service provides while simply offering additional time for these veterans to obtain a bachelor’s degree and other requirements to receive a full professional educator certification.”

Back in Madison, Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins’ school district will absorb most students transferring from One City Preparatory Academy, despite his district dealing with its own teacher shortage.

“I know our staff is amazing and they do magical type work but it’s still a challenge that will eventually bring stress on the staff here.”

“We have to try to make sure that what they learned aligns with what we are getting ready to teach. We don’t want the regression to happen,” he added.

But the learning loss he fears may have already begun.

“When I didn’t have enough teachers in my classes it was very hard because we didn’t really learn anything,” Bivens tells CNN.

Michael Jones, president of the Madison Teachers Inc. union told CNN, “We need to change the way public schools view educators as a never-ending supply of energetic martyrs and treat them more like the professionals they are and that we expect for our children.”

Kimberly Walkes, Bivens mother, says when she sent her daughter to school, she always assumed there would be enough teachers on staff to teach, so she was surprised when she learned that was not the case at her daughter’s school.

“You set your child up for greatness and they have so many great opportunities and to hear that was no longer being afforded to her, it broke my heart and brought me to tears," she said.

A small business owner in Waterford, Wisconsin, was reunited with his work portfolio and $5,000 in cash all thanks to a group of high school students who were in the exact right place at the right time. On May 15, Charles Jessup — the owner of Jessup Tree Services — was finishing up a job in East Troy, Wisconsin, when a client started talking to him. "As I was getting in my truck, the gentleman said, 'Hey Charles, one more tree,' and I said, 'OK, great,'" Jessup recalled. "Well, like a dummy, I put my portfolio on the back of my truck saying, 'Well I'm not going to forget this.'" He did forget it, though. Jessup said he drove off, and somewhere along Highway 20 between East Troy and Waterford, he ended up losing his open portfolio containing several important items including $5,000 in cash."My computer, OK, MacBook Air with my life, my business, records," Jessup said. "And then on the inside is where I had tucked the cash."Retracing his steps, Jessup said he found only his laptop. But he also spotted Waterford Union High School's Future Farmers of America students doing their spring roadside clean-up. "Charles pulled over on the side of the road, and he got my attention, because I was kind of toward the back of the group," Luke Hying, a Waterford Union junior and the FFA president, said. "At first, I was kind of a little confused. I'm like, 'What does this guy want?'"In a last-ditch effort, Jessup explained to the students his situation and asked them to call if they tracked down any of his items. "We were like, 'OK, we're probably not going to find it,'" sophomore Morgan Schoof said. "All of a sudden, I was like, 'there's a $50 bill right here.'""We found money after money after money, and then we found his portfolio," Hying added. "Then we found a bunch of papers with the portfolio. It was actually pretty crazy how much we found in that ditch."Jessup said he then received a phone call from Hying. "It went from having a terrible day, you know beating myself up for why would I be so stupid to leave that on the back of my truck, to like, 'Wow, what great kids,'" Jessup said.Monday, Jessup said thank you by hosting a party for the students during their lunch hour. "I really had no idea it would make such a big impact to Charles and so many people would see it as such a big event in the community," Hying said. The one act of kindness is inspiring more acts of kindness.Doc's on the Fox, a Waterford restaurant, donated pizzas for the party. "I wanted to re-enforce that sometimes doing the right things has benefits," Jessup said.

MILWAUKEE —

Inflation is at its highest point in decades, but there may be some hard-to-spot price hikes in the supermarket aisles, disguised from consumers by creative packaging.

Consumer advocate Edgar Dworsky said "shrinkflation," another term for product downsizing or manufacturers putting less product in a package for the same price, is more common during times of inflation.

"It really does come in waves and, unfortunately, we are in the middle of a big wave right now," said Dworsky, founder of ConsumerWorld.org.

"Prices are going up, and I think companies want to do the most to make sure it looks like they're not the ones raising their prices," Milwaukee shopper Sam Krieg observed.

Dworsky highlighted examples of shrinkflation.

"We always used to buy half-a-gallon of orange juice. Then it went down to 59 ounces. Then it went down to 52 ounces," he said.

Consumers are likely to find fewer sheets in a roll of paper towels, less pet food in a can or maybe an ounce less of cereal in a box.

"That little 1-ounce multiplied by tens of millions is big bucks in their pocket, and out of your pocket," Dworsky said.

He said other manufacturers may change the shape of their package.

"There's now an indent on the bottom of the Skippy jar that's, in essence, dead space. Gatorade came in 32-ounce bottles. They're now 28 ounces. Look for the one that kind of has a waistline on it. That's the one that's 4 ounces shorter," Dworsky said.

Sister station WISN found an example of downsizing on a Milwaukee store's shelf.

The older package for a tube of Crest 3D White toothpaste showed it contained 4.1 ounces, while the newer package listed 3.8 ounces.

Selling for the same price, the newer tube contained 7% less toothpaste.

Crest's parent company, Procter & Gamble sent a statement to WISN 12 saying in part, "P&G takes a holistic view of pricing by product category... Our focus is on delivering superior products with the best performance, ultimately delivering value to our consumers."

The best advice for shoppers may be to check the price per ounce or per unit, which is often posted in smaller print on the store shelf.

But even that may be hard to find because not all states require stores to post a unit price.

Nineteen states require some form of unit pricing, WISN reports.

Dworsky said consumers who don't routinely check unit prices may not be aware when a product has been downsized.

"Manufacturers are counting on consumers not noticing," he said.

But is it an attempt to deceive consumers?

"It certainly is a bit of package trickery, to say the least. Does it cross the line to be illegal? No," Dworsky said.

It's just a cleverly disguised hit to your household budget.

A police officer in Wisconsin went above and beyond the call of duty to help out a fellow citizen, just doing his job.

In a video that has recently gained some traction online, a Milwaukee, Wisconsin police officer is seen in security camera footage walking up to the door of a home in the city last week on Feb. 10. Walking next to him is a man holding a takeout food order, looking at his phone.

Just before they arrived the man's car had broken down while he was working, delivering food, according to a post by ViralHog.

The Wisconsin police officer drove the man to the customer's home so that he could complete his order, and not have any trouble with his employer.

In the video, you hear the delivery driver ask the deputy his name, and the two shake hands as if the incident had only started moments before.

As they wait, after the doorbell rang, the driver indicates that the customer would have been alerted that the food had arrived. Then the door opens and the officer tells the customer, "you got a special food delivery, his car broke down."

The officer said, "we're here to make your food order on time," as both smiled at the customer understanding her initial confusion.

The customer reacts saying that she thought to herself, "Oh, my god there is a police officer at the door."

The officer says, "He didn't want to be late for his food delivery." He said of the delivery driver, "His car died on Oklahoma on the freeway," referring to the avenue named after the state, in Milwaukee.

Milwaukee police Officer Herbert Davis was shot by a suspect Thursday night.

Now, his family has started fundraising to send him to Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles.

It's no secret he's a big Cincinnati Bengals fan.

Davis, 26, wore his gear when he was released from the hospital Friday.

His family shared video with WISN 12 showing Davis watch the end of the Bengals-Chiefs game Sunday night.

We all know the Bengals kicked a last-minute field goal to give them the victory and send them to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1989.

Davis got emotional watching the kick and score.

His family started a GoFundMe page to help raise the money needed.

Their goal is $25,000.

"Physically, he will heal," his sister wrote on the page. "Our family knows the healing process doesn't end with physical capabilities. He has a long haul ahead. He started as a police aide at 19 years old and has 7 years of service. Herb is a hero. He will forever hold that title."

The page said Davis' fiancee is also part of the MPD family.

Funds raised will also help with family travel and medical expenses.

"Go Bengals!!! Thank you for all the love and support he's been given," Davis' sister wrote.

Super Bowl LVI is Feb. 13. The Bengals will play the San Francisco 49ers.

The suspect charged with shooting Davis remains in the Milwaukee County Jail on $1 million cash bail.

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers proposed a plan on Thursday that would give every resident of the state of Wisconsin a $150 tax rebate. The plan would also send hundreds of millions of dollars into education in the state and would help with the rising cost of gas and goods at stores, Evers said.

The governor announced the plan on Twitter writing that the money would come from a state surplus and would help reduce "barriers to work by making caregiving and childcare more affordable."

Gov. Evers' office wrote, "We've worked hard to provide hundreds of dollars in relief to Wisconsinites through withholding table changes and our tax cuts—including one of the largest income tax cuts in state history—but I know folks are still being stretched thin due to rising prices, and we can do more."

As the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported, Gov. Evers plan would also aim to help cover childcare costs for parents and it would potentially funnel around $750 million into Wisconsin education.

Gov. Ever's election-year plan is reminiscent of his predecessor, Republican Scott Walker, who offer something similar as he headed into reelection in 2018, according to the Milwaukee Journal.

As the Associated Press noted, the plan would have to be approved first by the state's Republican-controlled legislature and GOP leaders there have said they'd like to use the money, which comes from a surplus, to offer a tax cut in 2023.

Evers, who had criticized a similar plan by his predecessor in 2018, said Thursday, “We weren’t in a pandemic back then and we didn’t have people that were struggling mightily at home, especially with some inflationary costs.”

Gov. Evers also said Thursday that he plans to invest $180 million into property tax relief and $130 million into a plan for childcare and "childgiver tax credits."

WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. —

Last Friday was the 600th day Paul Koepnick went into Lake Michigan.

"It was never about going into the lake every single day. It was about making every single day count," he says.

This is more than fun for Koepnick. It's a type of therapy called cold water immersion, similar to ice baths and cold showers.

"This moment of absolute power and inspiration that you have inside of yourself -- to be able to get past your limitations in all aspects of your life."

To do this type of therapy, Koepnick says you need to follow the proper safety precautions and guidance.

"I don't advise people to go into the lake without someone who has been trained and who knows what they're doing

Click here to learn more about cold water immersion.

Watch the video above to learn more about this story.

MILWAUKEE —

Six people were found dead in a Milwaukee home in what police are investigating as multiple homicides, authorities said.

Milwaukee police responded about 3:45 p.m. Sunday to assist with a welfare check at the residence where four men and one woman were found dead, Milwaukee Assistant Police Chief Paul Formolo said during a Sunday evening news conference.

The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office tweeted early Monday that the body of an additional person, a man, was recovered from the home. The identities of the dead were pending. Autopsies were scheduled for Monday.

A motive and information about any suspects was not immediately known, Formolo said. Police have not said what caused the deaths, but Formolo said there is no information to suggest that there is a threat to the community.

It's not clear how long the victims had been dead when their bodies were found. It's also not clear how old the victims were or how they may have died.

Police have not made any arrests or said how the victims were related. No suspect information was released.

So far, a weapon has not been recovered.

"The murders discovered today on a residential block in the heart of our city are horrific," Acting Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said in a statement. "First, I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the victims. Whatever the circumstances, we must share the grief of those who have lost loved ones.

"It is important not to feel numbed by the ongoing violence in our community. A horrible crime has again occurred, and it is not a movie or a fictional account. These victims died in our city, in one of our neighborhoods.

"We remain steadfast in our efforts to reduce violence. We will achieve that through strengthened and improved law enforcement, through community intervention, and through a renewed commitment to prevention. Again, we can never accept murderous violence as routine, and we must together recommit ourselves to our shared responsibility to find solutions and make our city safer."

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MADISON, Wis. —

University of Wisconsin basketball senior Chris Vogt went to bed early Friday night to prepare for the team's game in Columbus, Ohio.

He woke up to heartbreak.

"I woke up Saturday morning to a text from a former coach... and all it said was 'Are your parents okay?' And I had no idea what he was talking about," said Vogt.

He told sister station WISN his first thought was that his parents were in a car accident on their way to Ohio from Mayfield, Kentucky, his hometown.

“My heart was kind of racing, I started to look for stuff that possibly could have happened and that’s when I started seeing the news about the tornado," he explained. "And I see all the pictures, all the videos and I was kind of just in awe.”

Mayfield was in shambles following devastating, deadly tornadoes that ripped through parts of the Midwest and the southeastern U.S.

His parents are OK and were already in Ohio when the storms back at home hit.

Vogt said his small town of about 10,000 people is close-knit.

“It’s just kind of like a classic small town. I loved growing up there," he said. “It was heartbreaking... Being able to pick out landmarks and stuff in the video and knowing how they should look, and seeing them completely dismembered is really tough to see.”

Vogt texted everyone he could to check in before taking the court.

He put up seven points against the Buckeyes to help his team. After the game, though, he knew he needed to help his hometown.

He set up a GoFundMe account to raise funds for relief efforts.

"Just kind of reading through the comments on each and every donation there's been a lot of 'go Badgers' or 'I love this team, keep up the good work' and so it just means a lot knowing the fanbase has our back," he said.

Vogt plans to split the donations between several recovery efforts including the American Red Cross and Mayfield High School resource offices.

You can also help the relief efforts by donating here.

WAUKESHA, Wis. —

Warning: The above video contains footage that some viewers may find disturbing. Viewer discretion is advised.

An SUV driver sped through a police line and into a parade of Christmas marchers on Sunday, injuring 29 people in a horrifying scene captured by the city’s livestream and the cellphones of onlookers.

Waukesha police Chief Dan Thompson said “some” people had been killed but would not give an exact number. A person was in custody, he said, but did not give any indication of a motive.

One video shows a woman screaming, “Oh my God!” repeatedly after a group of girls wearing Santa hats and dancing with white pompoms is struck. Another shows the SUV plowing into members of a marching band, their music replaced with terrified screams

Police also had custody of the vehicle, Thompson said. The investigation was ongoing.

As the SUV broke through barricades, a Waukesha police officer fired his gun in an attempt to stop the vehicle, Thompson said. No bystanders were injured and Thompson said he did not know if the driver was struck by the officer's bullets.

One video shows the moment the SUV broke through the barricades and the sound of what appears to be several gunshots.

The video taken when the pompom dancers got struck ends with a group of people tending to one of the girls who is on the ground.

Corey Montiho, a Waukesha school district board member, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his daughter’s dance team was hit by the SUV.

“They were pompoms and shoes and spilled hot chocolate everywhere. I had to go from one crumpled body to the other to find my daughter,” he said. “My wife and two daughters were almost hit. Please pray for everybody. Please pray.”

One entry in the parade, the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies, posted on its Facebook page that “members of the group and volunteers were impacted and we are waiting for word on their conditions.” The post asked people to keep the Grannies and anyone else injured in their prayers. The group’s profile describes them as a “group of grannies that meet once a week to practice routines for summer and winter parades.”

Chris Germain, co-owner of the Aspire Dance Center studio, had about 70 girls in the parade ranging from as young as 2 being pulled in wagons to age 18. Germain, whose own 3-year-old daughter was in the parade, said he was driving at the head of their entry when he saw a maroon SUV that “just blazed right past us.” A police officer came by on foot chasing after, he said. Germain said he jumped out of his own SUV and gathered the girls who were with him.

“There were small children laying all over the road, there were police officers and EMTs doing CPR on multiple members of the parade," he said.

Angelito Tenorio, a West Allis alderman who is running for Wisconsin state treasurer, said he was watching the parade with his family when they saw the SUV come speeding into the area.

“Then we heard a loud bang,” Tenorio said. “And after that, we just heard deafening cries and screams from the crowd, from the people at the parade. And people started rushing, running away with tears in their eyes crying.”

The Waukesha school district canceled classes Monday and said in a notice on its website that extra counselors would be on hand for students and staff. The parade’s list of entries included cheer, dance and band entries associated with district schools.

Gov. Tony Evers said he and his wife, Kathy, were “praying for Waukesha tonight and all the kids, families, and community members affected by this senseless act.”

Waukesha County Executive Paul Farrow, who was at the parade but left just before the incident, called it “an unspeakable tragedy, affecting us all as we work to overcome an extremely challenging two years and resume our cherished holiday traditions.”

The parade is sponsored by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. This year’s edition was the 59th of the event that’s held each year the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

KENOSHA, Wis. —

Kyle Rittenhouse's defense team rested its case Thursday afternoon and the body of evidence is now closed.

The judge gave the jury Friday off while the prosecution and defense agree on final instructions.

"Even though evidence is closed it is not appropriate to discuss with anybody." Judge Bruce Schroeder told the jury.

Prosecutors said they will ask the judge to allow the jury to consider lesser charges on some of the most serious homicide charges.

Schroeder said they will begin again Monday morning with jury instructions.

That is expected to take up to an hour.

The state will then present its closing arguments.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger said he expected that to take up to two hours.

Defense attorney Mark Richards said he expected his closing arguments to take about 90 minutes.

The state will then have a final rebuttal, which Binger said could take up to an additional 30 minutes.

The judge said he would allow each side to have up to 2.5 hours total for their closing arguments.

He will then draw 12 numbers to decide the final jurors who will decide the case.

Those jurors will then begin their deliberations.

KENOSHA, Wis. —

A man who suffered a severe arm injury when he was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse during a night of protests against racial injustice is expected to testify this week as prosecutors near the end of their case in Rittenhouse's murder trial.

Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, who had a gun in his hand as he stepped toward Rittenhouse, was shot in the arm moments after Rittenhouse fatally shot two others in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin. Testimony during the first week of Rittenhouse's trial showed bystanders came to Grosskreutz's aid and placed a tourniquet on his arm before loading him into a vehicle that rushed him to a hospital.

Rittenhouse, 18, is charged with shooting Grosskreutz and fatally shooting Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber on Aug. 25, 2020. The one-time police youth cadet from Antioch, Illinois, was 17 when he went to Kenosha with an AR-style rifle and a medical kit in what he said was an effort to safeguard property from the demonstrations that broke out over the shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man, by a white Kenosha police officer.

Rittenhouse is white, as are the three men he shot, but the case has raised polarizing questions about racial justice, policing, firearms and white privilege.

In the first week of Rittenhouse's trial, prosecutors played numerous videos that showed the events of that night from different angles. Jurors heard testimony from people who were with Rittenhouse, as well as from police officers and loved ones of the men who died.

Jason Lackowski, a former Marine who was on the streets of Kenosha carrying his own rifle, testified Friday about Rosenbaum, the first man Rittenhouse shot. Lackowski said Rosenbaum was acting "belligerently" but did not appear to pose a serious threat.

Lackowski said he considered Rosenbaum a "babbling idiot," and turned his back and ignored him. He acknowledged that he didn't see everything that went on between Rittenhouse and Rosenbaum, including their final clash.

Other witnesses testified last week that a "hyperaggressive" Rosenbaum angrily threatened to kill Rittenhouse that night and that Rosenbaum was gunned down after he chased Rittenhouse and lunged for his rifle.

Prosecutors have portrayed Rittenhouse as the instigator of the bloodshed as well as an inexperienced teen who misrepresented his age and medical training to others that night. Rittenhouse's lawyer has argued that he acted in self-defense, suggesting among other things that Rittenhouse feared his weapon would be taken and used against him.

The prosecution suffered a potential blow when Rosenbaum's fiancée, Kariann Swart, disclosed that he was on medication for bipolar disorder and depression but hadn't filled his prescriptions because the local pharmacy was boarded up due to the unrest — information Rittenhouse's lawyers could use in their bid to portray Rosenbaum as the aggressor.

On the day he was killed, Rosenbaum, 36, had been released from a Milwaukee hospital. The jury was told that much, but not why he had been admitted — after a suicide attempt.

Rosenbaum's killing has emerged as one of the most crucial moments that night because it set in motion the bloodshed that followed moments later.

Rittenhouse shot and killed Huber, a 26-year-old protester seen on bystander video hitting Rittenhouse with a skateboard. Rittenhouse then wounded Grosskreutz.

Rittenhouse could get life in prison if convicted. The case has stirred furious debate over self-defense, vigilantism, the right to bear arms and the racial unrest that erupted around the U.S. after the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and similar cases.

Two jurors were also dismissed last week. One man was dismissed for potential bias after he told a joke about the Blake shooting to a court security officer, and a woman who is pregnant was dismissed after she said she was experiencing some discomfort. Eighteen jurors remain, and 12 will ultimately be picked to deliberate.

Warning: This live video may contain violent and/or disturbing images with strong language. Viewer discretion is advised

The trial for a man charged with killing two men and wounding a third with an assault-style rifle during protests last summer began Tuesday morning in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Kyle Rittenhouse, now 18, formerly of Antioch, Illinois, has been charged with six felonies and one misdemeanor.

He has pleaded not guilty by self-defense in the August 2020 shootings of three men as protests ensued after the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

Two of those victims died.

Witness: Martin Howard

Kenosha Police Detective Martin Howard is on the witness stand.

He was assigned to surveillance in squad cars to watch crowds on the night of Aug. 25.

Howard said he went to gas stations to shut off pumps to prevent arsons.

He testified he was also stationed near the interstate off ramps, looking for groups of cars getting off in Kenosha, possibly with license plates removed.

Howard is one of the lead detectives on the homicide case.

A lot of jurors were taking vigorous notes as Howard is on the stand.

Howard testified about when he went to interview Rittenhouse after he turned himself into police in Antioch, Illinois.

He said Rittenhouse had a few cuts, scrapes, and small bumps on the head.

Prosecutor Thomas Binger showed the jury another livestream video from TheRundownLive but the defense objected to audio from the man recording the video, saying it's editorialization.

The judge said the defendant's statements are allowed.

Witness: Koerri Washington

The prosecution's third witness was self-described social media influencer Koerri Washington, of Kenosha.

He began his testimony Tuesday afternoon.

"In my opinion, people like myself make things better for everyone because it helps show another side of the full picture," Washington said.

He said he followed the protests after the Blake shooting to document what happened.

The jury watched as the prosecution played a portion of Washington's Facebook Live video from the night of Aug. 25.

His video shows a crowd yelling at a group of armed men, including Rittenhouse, who was smoking a cigarette while holding the AR-15.

Washington's testimony continued Wednesday morning.

Jurors began the day watching two monitors just outside the jury box as prosecutors seek to enter extensive video they say will support their case.

Just before the trial started, Rittenhouse's mother, Wendy Rittenhouse, walked over to her son at the defense table to speak with him and a lawyer.

Rittenhouse, in a blue suit and tie, hunched forward at the defense table to watch the same video as jurors on a desktop screen.

Many jurors jotted down extensive notes when testimony turned to levels of violence at the Kenosha protests.

They seemed especially attentive when a defense attorney during a cross-examination displayed video of dozens of cars ablaze in a Car Source lot the day before the shootings, orange flames billowing above the business.

For their part, prosecutors have emphasized an absence of deadly violence in Kenosha, other than from Rittenhouse, on the day he shot three protesters.

KENOSHA, Wis. —

Jury selection for the Kyle Rittenhouse trial begins Monday.

Community members told sister station WISN 12 News tensions and anxiety run high as the trial approaches.

"I think people are a little nervous about how this is all going to play out," said Tanya McLean, executive director of the Leaders of Kenosha. "No matter what, we want everyone to remain peaceful because this is about getting justice for two young men."

Rittenhouse shot three men in August 2020 during unrest in Kenosha. Gaige Grosskreutz survived, but he killed Anthony Huber and Joseph Rosenbaum.

Rittenhouse claims he shot the men in self-defense.

"It is without debate, judge, all three of these people were chasing Kyle Rittenhouse," a defense attorney said at the last court hearing.

Now a jury will review footage and testimony to decide.

The Leaders of Kenosha group told WISN 12 News they believe justice will only be served if Rittenhouse is convicted of murder.

However, they said safety is a number one concern and priority heading into next week.

"Nobody deserves to go to a rally and not come home at night," said Justin Blake, Jacob Blake's uncle. "It doesn’t mean much to your family if you don't make it home."

The August unrest in Kenosha was in response to the Jacob Blake shooting.

"We have to accept the possibility that because of all these factors there's a chance justice won't fully be served," said Hannah Gittings, Huber's partner. "But what we need to remember is that our strength lies in our numbers and our bind."

The Kenosha County Sheriff's Department said there will be increased police presence and security surrounding the courthouse during the trial.

"Our responsibility to public safety is of utmost importance," Sheriff David Beth said in a statement. "These measures are meant to ensure the safety of the public that has legal business in and around the courthouse campus as well as Civic Center employees while maintaining the integrity of the trial."

MADISON, Wis. —

A judge may decide at a hearing Monday whether use-of-force experts can testify at Kyle Rittenhouse's trial for shooting three people during a protest against police brutality in Wisconsin last year.

The hearing is likely the last before Rittenhouse goes on trial Nov. 1 for the shootings that came during chaotic demonstrations in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, two days after police in that city shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, while responding to a domestic disturbance.

Related video above: Judge hears arguments on witnesses in Rittenhouse trial.

Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Illinois, was among several people who responded to calls on social media to take up arms and come to Kenosha to respond to the protests. Rittenhouse is charged with homicide and other crimes in the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz.

Rittenhouse's attorneys are seeking testimony from use-of-force expert John Black to bolster their case that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Prosecutors have asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to disqualify Black, arguing that his expertise is in police, not civilian, use of force and is not relevant to Rittenhouse's actions.

Black previewed his testimony at a hearing in early October. Monday's hearing will include testimony from Robert Willis, a use-of-force expert whom Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger has said he will use if Black is allowed to testify.

Other motions remain for Schroeder to decide before trial. One, from prosecutors, asks Schroeder to forbid defense attorneys from describing the three men Rittenhouse shot as rioters, looters or arsonists. Binger argues there's no proof any of the three were engaged in such activities the night they were shot.

Prosecutors also want Schroeder to block any reference to Rosenbaum's and Huber's criminal records.

They are also seeking to stop the defense from introducing any evidence that police offered water to Rittenhouse and other armed citizens, or that they said, “We appreciate you guys, we really do,” to them.

Rittenhouse attorney Mark Richards argued that such testimony is relevant to whether Rittenhouse was acting recklessly by being on the streets of Kenosha with a weapon that night.

“If the conduct was so obviously dangerous, it seems logical that law enforcement would have either removed the defendant from the situation via arrest, or informed him that he was to leave the area because of his actions,” Richards wrote in a motion. “They did neither.”

Many conservatives have flocked to support Rittenhouse, calling him a patriot and making him a symbol for gun rights and raising $2 million for his bail. Others, including some liberals and activists, portray him as a domestic terrorist and say he made a volatile situation worse.

For a fourth straight night, protests are taking place in Kenosha, Wisconsin, as demonstrators demand justice for Jacob Blake, a man shot in the back by police during a Sunday confrontation.

The protests are taking place hours after a 17-year-old Illinois boy was arrested and charged with shooting three protesters in the city on Tuesday night. Two of those protesters died, the third was hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

To the west, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey has requested help from the National Guard following unrest in his city. The protests are related to a Wednesday shooting death that was rumored to have involved police officers. After video of the incident was shared on social media, rioting and looting took place at a local mall.

However, the Minneapolis Police Department released footage Wednesday that they say showed the shooting was self-inflicted.

The nationwide protests are also taking place hours after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to take the court, citing frustration with continued police brutality. Several other pro sports teams, including the MLB's Milwaukee Brewers, also took part in the strike.

Blake was shot at least seven times in the back by Officer Rusten Sheskey as he entered his car after officers were called over a "domestic dispute." Police say Blake had possession of a knife in his vehicle.

Blake’s family said on Tuesday that the 29-year-old is partially paralyzed, but was fortunate to survive from his injuries.