reading time: 2 protocol
gambling on games of chance; persistent electoral lies; toxic school board elections; the spearfishing season begins; telework and climate change
Notable: Today we highlight our story of the efforts of the Ho-Chunk Nation and other Wisconsin tribes to diversify their economies beyond gambling, which plays an outsized role in funding tribal government services. Economic pain from COVID-19’s temporary casino closures in early 2020 still lingers on the Ho-Chunk Nation, forcing layoffs and cuts in services, reports Mario Koran. Though the Ho-Chunk have had little success with previous diversification efforts since gambling revenues began transforming tribal life in the 1980s, some officials see promise for the future.
This story is part of a collaborative series, At the Crossroads, by the Institute for Nonprofit News, Indian Country Today, Wisconsin Watch and eight other news partners examining the state of the economy in Indian Country.
Access to some articles featured in the Wisconsin Weekly Summary may be restricted to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to support these important news outlets by subscribing.
Thank you for reading!
Wisconsin Weekly straight to your inbox. Click on the image to subscribe.
A blackjack table is seen at Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls on February 9, 2022 in Black River Falls, Wisconsin. Economic pain from temporary pandemic-related shutdowns in 2020 still persists in Ho-Chunk Nation, manifested in layoffs and cuts in crucial services. This is forcing tribal leaders to confront their economy’s over-reliance on casinos. (Photo by Ilana Bar-av for Wisconsin Watch)
‘We must ban gambling from our blood’: Pandemic shock forces Wisconsin tribes to diversify economy
Wisconsin Watch – April 5, 2022
Wisconsin’s 11 state-recognized tribes — along with tribal nations across North America — have long considered how to diversify their economies, and the pandemic has highlighted the risk of not doing so.
Read more from Wisconsin Watch: Behind the Story: How we covered challenges and opportunities for Wisconsin’s tribal economies
A small but noisy group of conservative voters wants to transform the Wisconsin Republican Party into a one-issue party. That’s how we came here. Brandon Raygo/Cap Times
Trump’s election lies persist online, dividing Wisconsin Republicans
Cap Times—April 7, 2022
It’s been nearly 18 months since President Joe Biden won Wisconsin and then-President Donald Trump, who won the state in 2016, snatched the 10 votes from the state’s electoral college on moderation and threats of removal for spreading disinformation.
Also read from POLITICO: How Election Conspiracy Theories Made Local Politics “Toxic” in a Wisconsin Town
What the increasingly partisan and hateful Wisconsin school board races are revealing about the American election
ProPublica – April 1, 2022
As traditionally bipartisan campaigns by school boards become polarized battlegrounds, voters at next week’s Wisconsin races could set the tone for how contentious races across the country will be this year.
Tribal people of Lac du Flambeau, William Poupart and his father Duane Poupart set out to spearfish a Carrol Lake in Vilas County. Frank Vaisvilas/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
As tribes in northern Wisconsin begin their marlin season, officials say they have “zero tolerance” for harassment
Green Bay Press-Gazette – April 4, 2022
Tribal and state officials warn of harassment of spearfishers as Native American harvest season begins in northern Wisconsin. Tribal officials said there are incidents of spearfisher harassment each season, but many go unreported.
More from the Press-Gazette: Tribal spearfishers continue to practice for food sovereignty and culture despite claims of harassment in northern Wisconsin
Silver lining, but no silver bullet: Teleworking could reduce CO2 emissions
Wisconsin State Journal – April 3, 2022
As more people return to the office, a 2021 survey by the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization found that 64% of workers said they expect to continue teleworking at least one day a week. And that could have a big impact on CO2 emissions
Comments are closed.