The public has an opportunity at an upcoming public open house to review and comment on master plan alternatives for the Mukwonago River Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest and Lulu Lake State Natural Area

Comprehensive effort would support local efforts to revive waterfronts along the Great Lakes, oceans, rivers and lakes to promote economic, ecosystem and community resiliency

The draft master plan for nine wildlife, fishery and natural area properties located within the Northern Kettle Moraine Region Wildlife, Fishery and Natural Area Planning Group will be presented to the Natural Resources Board for consideration and approval at its Aug. 12 meeting in Horicon, Wis

State Representative Evan Goyke (D-Milwaukee) released the following statement after today’s vote in the Assembly to approve the Milwaukee Bucks arena proposal. I am proud of my vote to support the Milwaukee Bucks arena proposal today in the State Assembly. I heard from a number of constituents on this issue and would like to thank them for their engagement.

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer (R-ND) introduced the bipartisan Federal Land Asset Inventory Reform (FLAIR) Act. The bill requires the Department of Interior (DOI) to increase transparency and efficiency by conducting an inventory of its federal property holdings and integrating the findings into one database that can track and manage property.

The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) is one of only four applicants in the country to receive a Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes. This year the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in partnership with the National Environmental Health Association (NEHA) held its first annual Secretary’s Award for Healthy Homes to recognize excellence in healthy housing innovation and achievement.

The Department of Natural Resources is offering five state-owned parcels of land for public sale beginning July 16, 2015. In June 2014, the Natural Resources Board approved 22 department-owned properties totaling approximately 1,400 acres for public sale. Of these 22 parcels, 15 were land-locked with no legal access from a road and marketed to adjoining landowners.

The City of Milwaukee has been awarded a $1 million state grant for the development of Reed Street Yards, a water technology business park now under construction adjacent to the Global Water Center

Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) yesterday reintroduced the Private Property Rights Protection Act, which would provide American citizens with the means to protect their private property from inappropriate claims of eminent domain. If a state or political subdivision of a state uses its eminent domain power to transfer private property to other private parties for the purpose of economic development, the state would be ineligible for federal economic funds for two fiscal years following a judicial determination that the law has been violated.

Earlier today the State Building Commission approved a $624 million capital budget. Representative Robb Kahl (D-Monona) made the following comments after the vote “While I appreciate the Governor’s desire to have no new borrowing due to our financial situation in Wisconsin, I do have serious concerns that by not making adequate investments in our buildings and infrastructure, we’ll end up having to pay significantly more for projects in the future.”<