Even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, one of the most significant issues facing Wisconsinites was the high cost of prescription medications. With routine health care and medication being vital to a patient’s well-being, increases in medication costs can create untenable, unsustainable situations for our most vulnerable — including deciding between medications and other daily necessities.

It happens all the time. A member of the public or representative of the press will file a request under Wisconsin’s open records law, which applies to all state and local government entities. Instead of records, the requester gets a bill. “The city will require pre-payment in full before we begin fulfilling your request,” read one such response, dated March 17, to a citizen requester by the assistant city attorney of Fond du Lac.

In a traditional university setting, students learn and grow through their interactions with peers and faculty.

Wisconsin dairy farmers were treading water in 2020, kept afloat by direct payments from the federal government. The aid resulted in a sharp decrease in herd exits: 360 dairy farms went out of business in Wisconsin last year compared to 818 closures in 2019. When I read the latest statistic, my first reaction was relief. It’s a sad state of affairs when the average loss of one dairy farm a day in Wisconsin feels like good news.

For the 15th consecutive year, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council is presenting its Openness in Government Awards, or Opees, recognizing outstanding achievement in the cause of transparency. Several of this years’ awards are related to the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced wholesale changes in how government officials conduct the public’s business. All are predicated on upholding the public’s right to know.

Tom Lyon, former long-time Shawano resident, died on March 8 from a rare form of leukemia at his home in Cambridge, Wisconsin. He was 80 — and he was my best friend. Over the past few months, I was fortunate to talk to Tom several times on the phone. During one of those visits, he said, “Jim, I don’t think I’m going to win this one. So, do me a favor. Remember all the great times we had, okay?” I said I would.