Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Wisconsin rarely grants compassionate release as aging, ailing prisoners stress systems

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 2d

WI rarely imprisoned >3,000 for a century. Since adopting Truth in Sentencing, prisoner numbers have soared to 23,500. Many are over 60 w/ health care needs. Use of compassionate release could ease costs & crowding but just 5 of 63 cases were approved in 2024

wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/wisc...

Increased use of compassionate release could ease costs and crowding with minimal risks to public safety, experts say. But it remains off limits to many prisoners.

Behind the lens: Breaking the news to a Nobel Prize winner | The Associated Press

4 3

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 3d

“Sir, your wife just won the Nobel Prize.” AP Photographer breaks news to winner of Nobel Prize in Medicine after waking her, her husband & their dog. Her first reaction: "Don't be ridiculous!" They thought all the calls from Sweden were spam www.ap.org/the-definiti...

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, but these photos may be worth a Nobel Prize. In the early hours of Monday morning, Seattle-based AP

www.ap.org

1 2

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 3d

We are a democratic republic. The government, at all levels, works for us when we do our part. We can act to change things. We don’t have to be resigned and accept the way things are as inevitable. We’re in charge — if we choose to be. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/wisc...

Rebuilding civic life requires truthful, independent journalism

Our democratic republic, more than other forms of government, relies on trust and truth. But people are increasingly receiving bitter and dividing information.

Rebuilding civic life requires truthful, independent journalism

3 5

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 4d

Bill Belichick’s record as pro & college head coach when Tom Brady was not his quarterback: 85-107. Tom Brady’s record as a pro and college QB when Bill Belichick was not his coach: 57-25

Ollie Connolly @ollieconnolly.bsky.social · 4d

Per sources: Bill Belichick has discussed buyout options with North Carolina’s hierarchy. Belichick has signaled a willingness to trigger his own $1 million buyout if he can find a soft landing with another team or in media

2

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 4d

No matter what problem you aim to address in our democracy, you’ll need honest reporters to inform the public, to show how the problem is affecting real people and to highlight better ways. We need local news that nurtures community and keeps the people in charge wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/wisc...

Our democratic republic, more than other forms of government, relies on trust and truth. But people are increasingly receiving bitter and dividing information.

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 6d

Driving around downtown Milwaukee today it was striking to see so many people wearing Brewers shirts on a work day. The fans have fallen in love with this team.

How one spring swing proved to be a huge blessing for Blake Perkins in his mother's hour of need

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 7d

How a dispiriting spring training injury proved to be a huge blessing in disguise for Blake Perkins and his mother

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

Initially, Blake Perkins was upset he was sidelined this spring by a tibial fracture. But that became gratitude when his mother became terminally ill.

www.jsonline.com

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 8d

I like NYT’s take on Brewers game: “After Saturday afternoon’s 9-3 loss, the Cubs will have to win three of the next four games against baseball’s best team ... First time watching the Brewers? This is what they do”

www.nytimes.com/athletic/668...

Cubs-Brewers Game 1 takeaways: Brewers string together offensive onslaught

The Cubs struck first, but the Brewers answered back with nine runs in the game's first two innings.

www.nytimes.com

Rapid deportation push leaves immigrant families in the dark

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 8d

A Manitowoc County dairy worker arrived for her shift early on a Thursday morning & waited for a text from her husband. It’s their routine: rise early, commute to jobs at separate dairies & check in by phone. “But when I called him, he didn’t answer.”
wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/rapi...

The pace of the Trump administration’s crackdown and lack of transparency have disoriented affected families and overwhelmed immigration attorneys.

Nuclear power could return to Kewaunee County. Some locals have reservations.

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 9d

A decade after the Kewaunee Power Station closed, its owner wants to build a new nuclear plant on the site. Residents hope a new plant could bring economic growth, but some are concerned by the lack of transparency @mirandadunlap.bsky.social @wisconsinwatch.org wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/wisc...

A decade after the Kewaunee Power Station closed, its owner wants to build a new nuclear plant on the site. Residents hope a new plant could bring economic growth, but some are concerned by the com…

“Put Them in Trauma”: Inside a Key MAGA Leader’s Plans for a New Trump Agenda

Reposted by George Stanley

ProPublica @propublica.org · 10d

Before engineering the Trump administration's government shutdown response, Russ Vought spent years building Project 2025 strategy.

“We want the bureaucrats to be traumatically affected,” he said in 2023. “When they wake up in the morning, we want them to not want to go to work.”

(Pub. Oct. 2024)

Private videos reveal Trump adviser Russ Vought’s “shadow” plans for using the military on protesters, defunding the EPA and villainizing civil servants.

www.propublica.org

96 520 940

Reposted by George Stanley

Tom Kertscher @tomkertschernews.bsky.social · 10d

Among other bonuses and reimbursements, local police agencies can receive up to $100,000 for vehicles for working with ICE on apprehending unauthorized immigrants, @wisconsinwatch.org finds. wisconsinwatch.org/2025/10/wisc...

Is ICE offering police departments $100,000 to cooperate in finding unauthorized immigrants?

Yes. At least 13 sheriff’s offices and one police department in Wisconsin are working with ICE in some capacity.

‘They are squeezing everybody in this park to death’: Owners of manufactured homes get little protection as private equity moves in

2 19 22

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 10d

Wherever you find affordable housing for low-income people and regulators not doing their jobs, you'll find hedge funds circling in to take advantage for their wealthy clients. That includes Wisconsin trailer parks. @wisconsinwatch.org @addiecostello.bsky.social wisconsinwatch.org/2025/09/wisc...

Wisconsin regulators rarely inspect parks and allow many to go unlicensed — all while frustrations simmer with unresponsive landlords.

Matt LaFleur’s Packers aren’t standing up to pressure of being a Super Bowl contender

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 12d

This is Tom Silverstein’s fourth decade covering the Packers. That experience and depth of knowledge offers unique insights.

www.jsonline.com/story/sports...

This isn’t the team that is supposed to sneak into the playoffs. The Packers are playing to win it all this season. Only they don’t look like it.

www.jsonline.com

1 2

Reposted by George Stanley

The Associated Press @apnews.com · 15d

Oregon governor says Trump is abusing his authority by ordering troops to Portland, a city that is "just fine."

Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle 'domestic terrorists'

President Donald Trump says he'll send troops to Portland, Oregon, to handle “domestic terrorists” as he expands his controversial deployments to more American cities.

bit.ly

70 270 740

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 15d

Huntington’s is the disease that killed Woody Guthrie.

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 18d

Here’s a powerful Pulitzer Prize winning report on the cruelty of Huntington’s, by @amyharmon.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2007/03/18/h...

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 15d

Wow, Amy, that blows me away. Like your reporting of Katie’s story did.

Amy Harmon @amyharmon.bsky.social · 15d

Thanks for surfacing that piece, George! Katie Moser, the subject, was the first to send me the news of the study this week.

Something is wrong with Lake Itasca, the source of the Mississippi River

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 15d

Minnesotans have done everything they can to protect this picturesque lake in an ancient woods from which the country’s great river begins. But Lake Itasca’s chemistry, shallow depth and even its shape make it vulnerable to warming temperatures in the north www.startribune.com/lake-itasca-...

Warming water may have an outsized impact on the legendary lake, which has been protected for decades.

www.startribune.com

Reposted by George Stanley

Carrie Brown @brizzyc.bsky.social · 16d

"That didn’t stop Alden Global Capital from making offer after offer, persistently confused by the concept of someone taking less money for better journalism." www.niemanlab.org/2025/09/dall... Finally, some good news in the journalism space.

Dallas Morning News shareholders vote to deny the hedge fund Alden Global Capital

Is a newspaper a financial asset or a community trust? This particular standoff ended with an increasingly uncommon answer.

www.niemanlab.org

2 7

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 16d

Ex State Supreme Justice Michael Gableman should lose license to practice law after election investigation, referee recommends @WisconsinWatch wisconsinwatch.org/2025/09/supr...

Supreme Court should suspend Michael Gableman’s law license for 3 years, referee says

The punishment would be for the former Supreme Court justice’s conduct in investigating the 2020 election

Wisconsin’s fight over administrative rules sounds wonky, but it affects important issues like water quality and public health

George Stanley @georgestanley.bsky.social · 17d

Are you worried about toxic algae blooms closing beaches and ruining local lakes? Here’s a story worth following: wisconsinwatch.org/2025/09/wisc...

A 2023 DNR administrative rule on preserving water quality for Wisconsin water bodies has been swept up in a legal debate over administrative rules at the Capitol.