80 results for author: Joyce Luedke

Do You Know Where Your Ancestors Came From?

The United States is a country of immigrants and they came for many reasons. Donald Trump’s grandfather, Frederick, was born in 1869 in Kallstadt, which was in the Kingdom of Bavaria. He immigrated to the US in 1885 to escape three years of compulsory military service in Germany. Frederick’s wife, Elisabeth Christ, also lived in Kallstadt and immigrated to the US. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Trump Donald Trump’s father, Fred, married a woman, Mary Anne MacLeod, who was born in Scotland. https://www.forbes.com/sites/stuartanderson/2018/01/15/the-president-in-1885-didnt-stop-immigrant-friedrich-trump-from-coming-to-americ...

February 26-March 1st is Public School Week in Wisconsin

My mother, Elvie, grew up during the Depression on a family dairy farm in Maple, Wisconsin. She graduated from a small elementary school that educated children from first through eighth grade. Because she was the oldest of three children, she was needed on the farm and was unable to attend a high school in Superior. Thankfully, that was not the case for me when I graduated from 8th grade in the Northwestern School District. I was able to graduate from Northwestern High School which is located in Maple. How did this come to pass? The Miracle of Maple, written by Taisto Hayrinen, describes the process of funding and building Northwestern High ...

WHAT ARE YOUR MAIN CONCERNS IN 2024

Recently, I asked family members and friends: What are your main concerns in 2024? The responses centered around: climate change and the environment; unions; supporting public schools with additional funds to counter the taxpayer money going to unaccountable private schools; gerrymandering and redistricting; the slaughter of children by high-powered rifles; Social Security and Medicare; raising the minimum wage; increase the number of charging stations for vehicles; use money from the military budget for people programs—education, healthcare, childcare; as our local newspapers fail, so does our knowledge of what the government is doing; disinfo...

Writer challenges legislator Robin Vos on stand against DEI programs at UW System

Here are two questions for the readers: Do you contact Wisconsin legislators? Do the legislators respond? Recently, I sent an email to Assembly Speaker (Robin) Vos regarding statements Vos has made during and after the 2023-2025 budget session. Here are some of the statements I addressed in the email. Speaker Vos said he is embarrassed to be an alumni of UW-Whitewater. He stated he and his fellow Republicans will withhold the $32 million allocated to the UW-System in the 2023-2025 budget. What is his reason? He disagrees with the DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) programs that are happening throughout the UW-System. I sent ...

The time for Fair Maps is now

After the 2010 census, the Republican party that controlled the governorship, the state Senate and the Assembly hired a private law firm, Michael Best and Friedrich, to redraw with precision and in secret the legislative and congressional district maps to favor the party in control at that time. Keith Gaddie, a political science professor at Oklahoma University, was hired to engineer the district maps. Wisconsin taxpayers paid the law firm $431,000 to gerrymander the districts. A poll done by the Marquette University Law School (NPR, January 16-20, 2019) found: 72% of voters say they prefer redistricting of legislative and congressional districts ...

ATTACKS ON THE WISCONSIN VOTING SYSTEM

  President Trump is criticizing Wisconsin’s voting laws which were put in place by the GOP.   “The state’s voting laws and procedures were overhauled repeatedly during eight years of GOP control of state government.” These changes began in 2011 after the Walker Administration and the Republicans gained total control of the state.   The Republicans repeatedly declared the changes were made to “improve voting integrity and ensure the public had confidence in it.”   “Republicans dissolved the body that oversees elections and replaced it with one equally divided by Republicans and Democrats:” ...

DONATIONS FOR THE WARMING CENTER ARE NEEDED

  Donations for the Warming Center can be dropped off at the former Warming Center location: 540 South 3 rd Avenue in Wausau.   The location for the Warming Center for this year is the First United Methodist Church in Wausau. It will provide space for up to 25 men and women to assure more space for social distancing during this winter season. Do not drop off donations at the Methodist Church.   Warm Items (They cannot accept items for warm weather or bedding.)   Gently used winter coats—Both Men’s and Women’s Winter boots for men—Sizes 9-14 Winter boots for women—Sizes 6-10 Winter ...

CURRENT STATUS OF COVID-19

  Statistics: **U.S: 8,301,250 confirmed cases—up 52,638 since yesterday **223,250 deaths—up 428 since yesterday **Wisconsin: 183,177 confirmed cases an increase of 7,525 new cases. Deaths: 1,624 with an increase of 36 new deaths The total number of deaths from Covid-19 in the U.S. exceeds the deaths from Vietnam War, Iraqi War and Korean War combined. Statistics: A total of 100,215 Service Men and Women died in the line of duty in the three wars. **Vietnam War—1954-1975: 58,220 **Iraqi War—2003-2018: 4,550 service members and 3,793 military contractors **Korean War—1950-1953: 33,652 killed in action with ...

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

  Senator Jerry Petrowski, Representative Pat Snyder, and the Republican Party bring shame to all that was once good about Wisconsin and the values we hold so dear. Of course, they have no decency or conscience to be ashamed. They continue to sit on their butts and haven’t reported to work for over 140 days while getting paid by us, the taxpayers. They continue to collect their generous salary and benefits and now have lots of time to campaign at the taxpayers’ expense! Millions of Wisconsinites go to work every single day during this pandemic putting their health and lives on the line as well as the health and lives of their ...

THIS TIME WISCONSIN DESERVES FAIR MAPS

  Perhaps, you have seen these purple yard signs throughout the Wausau area and in Marathon County. A poll done by the Marquette University Law School (NPR), January 16-20, 2019 found: “Seventy-two percent of voters say they prefer redistricting of legislative and congressional districts to be done by a nonpartisan commission, while 18% prefer redistricting be done by the legislature and governor. Majorities in each partisan group favor a nonpartisan commission for redistricting, with 63% of Republicans including leaners, 83% of Democrats including leaners, and 76% of independents favoring a nonpartisan commission.” https://law.mar...