Megan O'Matz

Wisconsin’s Supreme Court this morning upheld abortion rights in the state, saying an 1849 ban in was, in effect, long repealed by subsequent legal restrictions state lawmakers imposed. And so abortions up to 20 weeks remain legal. wicourts.gov/sc/opinion/Dis…

New Marquette Law School Poll finds approval of Trump almost unchanged at 45%, support among GOP & his base remains strong. Seen negatively: “One Big Beautiful Bill," tariffs, inflation. Positively: strikes on Iran. marquette.edu/news-center/20…

In Broward #Florida, where deputies failed to run into the Parkland building to save kids, now 10 deputies face termination over the handling of domestic violence calls and a Tamarac triple murder. miamiherald.com/news/local/com…

Calling from a Texas detention center, José Manuel Ramos Bastidas told his wife to hit record: “They detained me simply because of my tattoos. I am not a criminal.” “Just in case something happens to me, so you can be aware.” A month later, he was gone. propublica.org/article/venezu…

On Feb. 15, José Manuel Ramos Bastidas called his wife from inside a Texas immigration detention facility. He asked her to record a message, “just in case something happens to me.” Thread 👇

Wisconsin's Legislature spent $26.2 million on outside legal fees since 2017, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found. The topics included political fights over redistricting & the 2020 election. / By @MSpicuzzaMJS and colleagues jsonline.com/story/news/pol… via @journalsentinel

Florida’s Brightline trains have killed 182 people, significantly more than publicly known, an investigation by the Miami Herald & NPR’s WLRN has found. Reporters spent a year combing records to count the dead./ by ⁦@BrittanyWallman⁩ and colleagues. miamiherald.com/news/local/art…

Coming tomorrow. A collaboration between the Miami Herald and WLRN. wlrn.org/podcast/killer…

The TX weather service warned of potential for flash flooding the day before. Also the state emergency management regional director contacted judges, mayors and others “in that area and notified them all of potential flooding.” / by ⁦@JenBerryHawes⁩ propublica.org/article/texas-…

The rapid onset of disruptive climate change — driven by burning oil, gasoline & coal — is making disasters like the TX one more common, more deadly & more costly, even as the government runs away from climate policies & research. / By ⁦@AbrahmL⁩ propublica.org/article/texas-…

Did you know? We have a database that allows you to search for organizations and people that have paid the Supreme Court justices, reimbursed them for travel and given them gifts. projects.propublica.org/supreme-connec…

In a surprise pay grab, the Hollywood FL mayor voted to hike his pay from about $55k to $100k, an 82% increase. Pay for commissioners will go from $52k to $70k, a 35% increase, plus health insurance after leaving office. / by ⁦@Susannah_Bryan⁩ sun-sentinel.com/2025/07/08/hol…

Years ago, the GOP gave a WI legislative committee veto power over executive branch rulemaking. Now the state Supreme Court said that's unconstitutional. In a dissent, one justice cites lyrics from Bruce Springsteen's album, Darkness on the Edge of Town. shorturl.at/Fx0pO

Experts, Dems say new voting maps laid groundwork for Wisconsin budget compromise With smaller state Senate majority, Republicans cut a deal with Democratic Gov. Tony Evers / ⁦@WPR⁩ wpr.org/news/new-votin…

Twin granddaughters, age 8, of former Miami Herald publisher David Lawrence Jr. tragically die in Texas flood cbsnews.com/miami/news/mia… via @CBSMiami

Texas has a growing backlog of flood management projects, totaling some $54 billion across the state. Instead of funding such needs, state lawmakers approved $51 billion in property tax cuts. / ⁦@nytimes⁩ nytimes.com/2025/07/06/us/…

Small MI school district serving disabled students has agrees to end seclusion / restraint after DOJ probe, Detroit Free Press investigation freep.com/story/news/edu… via @freep

NEW: Elon Musk's lobbyists spent more than $46,000 to wine and dine Texas politicians just this year. Want to know who was on the receiving end? Too bad. Texas law shields the identities of most lawmakers who get freebies from lobbyists. Here's my latest with @propublica…

All eyes were on Elon Musk in DC this year. But do you know what he was up to in Texas? The brilliant @lmcgaughy does. She dives DEEP into what he got out of the TX legislative session. Read more on @KUT , part of our new @propublica / @TexasTribune collab kut.org/politics/2025-…