Author: Brian Bateman

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Another Major Data Center May Be Coming to Southeast Wisconsin

A new large-scale data center campus may soon join the growing tech infrastructure in southeast Wisconsin. The Kenosha Plan Commission is set to review a proposal on November 21 for a four-building data center campus near Interstate 94 and Highway 142, just six miles south of Microsoft’s $3.3 billion data center project in Mount Pleasant….

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Israeli Strike Destroys Secret Iranian Nuclear Research Facility, Signaling Escalation in Regional Tensions

The Target: Taleghan 2 Facility The attack focused on the Taleghan 2 facility, located within the Parchin military complex, about 20 miles southeast of Tehran. Once part of Iran’s Amad nuclear weapons program, which was halted in 2003, the site had been repurposed for testing explosives critical to nuclear weapons production, according to the Institute…

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Sheboygan’s Economy: Stable Labor Market and Manufacturing Adjustments in 2024

Overview of Labor Force Data Sheboygan’s labor market in 2024 has shown resilience and adaptability with a stable workforce and low unemployment. The civilian labor force expanded gradually, reaching 63.8 thousand by September, and employment has kept pace, hitting 62.4 thousand. The unemployment rate, initially at 2.4% in April, has declined steadily, reaching a low…

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Amazon Breaks Ground on $200 Million Robotic Facility in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin

Amazon has officially begun construction on a state-of-the-art robotic facility in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, marking a $200 million investment in the region. This new facility adds to Amazon’s significant footprint in the state, bringing its total investment in Wisconsin to over $11 billion. The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by key community and state leaders, including…

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Pregnant Woman Files Lawsuit to Challenge Kentucky’s Near-Total Abortion Ban

November 14, 2024 — A Kentucky woman has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state’s near-total abortion ban, arguing that the restrictive laws violate her constitutional rights. The lawsuit, submitted Tuesday in a Louisville state court, claims that Kentucky’s abortion bans infringe on the plaintiff’s rights to privacy and personal autonomy. The woman, using…

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Breakthrough PFAS Removal Technology Offers Hope for Water and Wastewater Treatment

November 14, 2024 — Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have introduced a revolutionary device capable of capturing, concentrating, and destroying a wide range of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in contaminated water—all in a single step. This breakthrough could have significant implications for industries struggling with PFAS contamination, particularly the rapidly expanding semiconductor…

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New Wisconsin Excise Tax to Charge 3 Cents per kWh for EV Charging Stations Starting January 1, 2025

MADISON, Wis. – Starting January 1, 2025, Wisconsin will implement a new excise tax on electric vehicle (EV) charging, as announced by the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. Under the stipulations of the recently enacted 2023 Wisconsin Act 121, this tax imposes a 3-cent per kilowatt-hour charge on electricity delivered to EVs at charging stations. The…

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Sheboygan Moves Forward with Demolition of Former Wells Fargo Building for Downtown Revitalization

November 13, 2024 — The City of Sheboygan is advancing its efforts to revitalize the downtown area by demolishing the former Wells Fargo Bank building at 828 Center Avenue. During a recent meeting on November 12, the Sheboygan Public Works Committee approved a contract with Scott’s Excavating, which will manage the demolition and necessary site…

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Sheboygan’s Planning & Development Director Resigns Abruptly After 14 Months

November 13, 2024 — The City of Sheboygan’s Director of Planning and Development, Diane McGinnis-Casey, has resigned from her position, effective immediately, after just over a year in the role. McGinnis-Casey submitted her resignation to the city’s human resources department on October 31. The following day, City Administrator Casey Bradley informed Mayor Ryan Sorenson, Common…