Battleground Wisconsin: Five voters and a tale of two primaries
MADISON, Wis. -- Ahead of the midterm primary election on August 9 in Wisconsin, News 3 Now's Naomi Kowles went roadtripping across the state talking to…
Investigates
State officials pushing changes after News 3 Investigation into special needs patients waiting years for dental care
A News 3 Now Investigation in May uncovered how experts estimated hundreds were on years-long waitlists in Wisconsin as the number of dentists trained for sedated care dwindled
MADISON, Wis. -- State officials are working to push through long-delayed funding to dentists who provide specialized care in Wisconsin, and lawmakers…
In wake of Uvalde shooting, Dane Co. parent raises concerns about daughter’s school safety plan
n the wake of the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas last month, Cottage Grove parent Mike Sokolowski checked in with his middle schooler about what her school was doing to prepare students for a similar event.
'This is a crisis': In Wisconsin, special needs patients may wait years for sedated dental care
IOWA COUNTY, Wis. -- Trent Scullion's life began with death. It was 32 years ago that Trent's mother Karen said his heart stopped beating…
Dane County's CPS head disputes how police described their involvement before a toddler's death
Plus: How more than half of child deaths from abuse or neglect in Wisconsin in 2020 included past, recent contact with county CPS agencies
The head for child protective services in Dane County is disputing how the actions of their case workers were characterized in court records for a case where a toddler was killed on Madison's west side.
An old drug addiction and an uncharged crime: How the internet won't let a Madison man move on
In this story, WISC-TV/Channel 3000 rolls out a new policy and takes a close look at media responsibility—including our own—in the internet age
MADISON, Wis. -- Today, Zachary Wisniewski is an instructor. Five years ago, he was a teenager struggling with addiction. But in the internet's eyes, he is something he says he…
A baby's death, missing suspects, $500 bond: Dane County set the lowest bar for release in Wisconsin in a reckless homicide charge
A News 3 Investigates analysis of court cases and child maltreatment deaths in Wisconsin in 2020 reveals Dane County set the lowest bar for release in the state in two ways: first degree reckless homicide charges, and children's deaths from abuse or neglect
MADISON, Wis. -- The headline in late 2020 came and went quietly: a young Dane County couple, a boyfriend…
Two years and thousands in debt later, Stoughton hair stylist still fighting for pandemic unemployment benefits
STOUGHTON, Wis. -- After two years and thousands of dollars in credit card debt, Falicia Block still has little of the unemployment aid promised…
A tale of two tragedies: How Wisconsin is sidestepping key recommendations in push for bail reform
MADISON -- In Wisconsin, bail reform has more than once begun with heartbreak. In the late spring of 1979, 22-year-old…
'I'm taking back my story': First, a sexual assault. Now, the Oregon teen says the system failed her—twice.
As an Oregon teen grapples with the aftermath of finding justice for an assault 3 years ago, schools across Dane County are taking closer looks at how they're supporting and responding to sexual violence
OREGON, Wis. -- When Bry Oppliger first published a video online in late November last year detailing her sexual assault while a freshman at Oregon High School, the…
Growing up: Madison's decade of rapid growth
MADISON, Wis. -- Year over year in the last decade, Madison has added hundreds of new housing units to try and keep up with a population that grew by…
Facing eviction and accused in string of sexual incidents, suspended UW student also wanted in Rhode Island
MADISON, Wis. -- A former University of Wisconsin-Madison student accused of third-degree sexual assault on campus last week has a harassment history dating back not just the last few months in…
Two years, two known ransomware attacks in Wisconsin schools: They may be more common than we know
MADISON, Wis. -- When a ransomware attack in October locked Janesville School District students, staff and families out of various online programs, parent Neanda…
Feds: Mailing mix-ups delayed social security cards for Afghan refugees
MADISON, Wis. -- Logistical mailing issues have helped delay social security cards for Afghan refugees across the country, with organizations unable to get cards mailed to…
Inside the police reports: What teachers, witnesses at Beloit school "masking incident" say actually happened
A teacher told Beloit police that after a student repeatedly didn't put his mask on correctly when she asked, she joked she'd "have to tape it" and he challenged her to do it, police reports say
BELOIT, Wis. -- A "masking incident" at a Beloit school has led to canceled classes Friday as school administrators say they…
Maps, districts, and Wisconsin's political future: A redistricting primer
MADISON, Wis. -- When Gov. Tony Evers “People’s Map’s Commission” opened an online portal for Wisconsinites to submit their ideas for the state’s next redistricting plan, Middleton…
‘I just don’t understand why nothing was done’: Decades after reporting sexual abuse by adoptive father and teacher, woman continues push for justice
For decades, Melisa Trejo has repeated allegations that her adoptive father and longtime River Valley School District teacher sexually abused her. In her quiet hometown, she wants someone to listen.
Eviction letters, a 'trashed' housing record: As eviction filings rise, a Fitchburg mother's struggle for housing
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the national moratorium on evictions, eviction filings increased by at least 64% in Dane County
FITCHBURG, Wis. -- Silvia Rodriguez fights back tears as she sorts through the letters from her landlord. "I've had a…
Where Wisconsin ranks in federal discrimination complaints nationwide
MADISON, Wis. -- Recently-published data shows Wisconsin ranks near the highest in the country for both the top rate of Black, Asian and Hispanic workers who file federal discrimination complaints,…
'I had a bullseye on my back': Wisconsin state employee files federal discrimination complaint
According to recently-published research, Wisconsin ranks #6 in the country for the number of federal discrimination complaints filed by Black workers
MADISON, Wis. -- Shante Cameron-Cuesta is certain she’s about to become a statistic. She’s worked as an insurance examiner for the state…
'Death is too good for them': Wisconsin grandmother of murdered boy says father's sentencing brings little relief
MADISON, Wis. -- Born and first abused in Wisconsin, a young boy's tragic life-and-death story has reached a major mile marker, now that his father has been sentenced…
Wisconsin couple wins appeal over $12K unemployment debt; judge overturns DWD's overpayment decision
MADISON, Wis. -- An administrative law judge has overturned a Department of Workforce Development decision to charge an Appleton man about $12,000 for overpaid unemployment benefits during the pandemic. The news…
In Wisconsin, a $100 vaccine incentive seems to work. Nationwide, incentive results are a tossup.
MADISON, Wis. -- A week after Gov. Tony Evers promised a $100 rewards card to anyone in Wisconsin getting their first COVID-19 vaccine, the 7-day average of shots…
FBI reports 44% increase in Wisconsin hate crimes last year. Here's why that's only a small part of the story.
MADISON, Wis. -- Hate crimes rose by 44% last year in Wisconsin, according to the latest annual FBI hate crime report. In an ongoing uptick over the past several years, the number rose to 72 last year, up from 50…
