Coming soon online and in person

 

Join the League of Women Voters of Dane County and the La Crosse Area to look at htf environmental impacts of data centers on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. REGISTER FOR LINK.

"With the dramatic increase of AI applications, cloud services, and crypto-mining, data centers are proliferating across the country (and world), and Wisconsin is not immune. Data centers promise to be a boon to local economies, including employment opportunities and large increases in local tax revenues. And yet there are questions. What we do know from locations that now have data centers is that there are a number of concerns that should be addressed sooner rather than later. The questions include whether there will be long-term employment opportunities vs near-term construction jobs, demand on local water resources and the impact on local electrical capacity. Local revenues are also questionable at this point since current locations with data centers have not recouped the promised resources. In addition to these questions, there are additional concerns that have been pushed into the background like noise and light pollution, increased electrical bills, ecological degradation."

On Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. hear from those who are resisting the regime and reimaginonh a caring community. REGISTER HERE.

"Organizers and community members in Minnesota are transforming crisis into action and tragedy into solidarity. Join us for a conversation with labor and community leaders from Minnesota including Reps. Ilhan Omar (MN-5), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and special guests. They’ll share practical lessons for fellow organizers on organizing in the midst of crisis, rapid response, economic solidarity actions, and how Minnesota’s experience can help other communities prepare to protect each other."

Breathe and touch the sky. Great Backyard Bird Count February 13-16.

"People from around the world spend these four days in their favorite places, connecting to the birds around their homes and in their community. Whether you see one bird or hundreds over the weekend, we want to share in your joy of watching birds and connecting to nature. Count the birds you see for as little as 15 minutes on one of the four days. Then, submit your bird list to be part of a global movement to better understand how bird populations are doing. Your participation matters."

Learn how to participate at https://birdcount.org.

All are invited to a Hintgen Neighborhood Meet & Greet with city (Districts 11, 12, 13) and county electeds and school board candidates. 

Monday, February 16 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Moose Lodge, 1932 Ward Avenue. Come when you can, leave when you must. More at https://HintgenNA.blogspot.com

Protect elections NOW

From the Brennan Center

The SAVE Act could block millions of American citizens from voting by requiring people to produce documents like a passport or birth certificate to register to vote. The Brennan Center’s research shows that 21 million Americans don’t have these documents readily available.

We should be protecting the freedom to vote, not restricting it. Congress should reject this anti-voter bill. Learn more.

From Marc Elias, Democracy Docket: "The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) launched an investigation and issued new guidance that could severely undercut efforts to expand voting among college students ahead of the 2026 elections.

US Senator Chris Murphy explains. 

• Seeking regime control of voter lists
• Raiding and confiscating ballots and voter data in Georgia
• Plan to "nationalize " elections in key states based upon manipulation of the stolen ballots

"Donald Trump is taking the steps to create a pretext to take over state elections - that's what Georgia is about. ... If we don't see clearly what is happening ... then we have no way to stop it."

From 5Calls.org: "On January 29th, 2026, House Republicans introduced yet another bill aimed at disenfranchising voters under the guise of preventing nonexistent election fraud. The Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act, like the previously House-passed SAVE Act, would impose a proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration and a photo ID requirement to vote. ... The bill would also supersede states’ constitutional authority to administer elections by imposing sweeping changes like forcing states to discard mail-in ballots received after polls close on election day, banning universal vote by mail systems, and prohibiting ranked choice voting in federal elections."

Challenges continue to exist in Wisconsin. 

From Wisconsin Democracy Campaign: 

"In response to a suit brought by voters who were disenfranchised in the November 2024 election, the City of Madison is arguing that because the voters cast absentee ballots, they don’t have a constitutional right to have their votes counted."

From Wisconsin Watch: "Those who faced threats and pressure say the president’s legal authority may be limited, but the guardrails that once kept him in check aren’t as strong as they used to be."

Training Tonight!

 

Tonight from 5 to 7 p.m. Bystander Intervention &
De-Escalation Training at

The Nature Place

Support our Mississippi River!

From Friends of the Refuge-Mississippi River Pools 7&8

The Fish Thief: A Great Lakes Mystery screening on February 15 at The Rivoli (more details coming soon!)

A small local group is coordinating with the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, the primary backer of The Fish Thief, to enable this screening. The Commission has coordinated screenings in several other locations around the Great Lakes, including in conjunction with outdoor and sports shows. 

The Commission is now planning to have a booth at the La Crosse Sport Show (February 12-15, 2026) to promote the documentary and expand their education and outreach – especially in light of their collaborations with our very own USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center on French Island which will also be represented at the Commission booth during the La Crosse Sport Show.

The 1.5-hour documentary tells the incredible story of the most successful integrated pest management program of any aquatic vertebrate. The documentary highlights USGS science, including that conducted at the USGS Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center.  Commission staff and USGS scientists will attend the screening to answer questions about the Sea Lamprey Control Program and USGS science.

Last year we witnessed projected severe cuts to federal budgets and reductions in federal personnel including: National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, USGS Ecosystem Mission Area (which funds the Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center), and more. 

This is another local advocacy event to sustain funding for the management and research to sustain our natural resources, the first of 2026, to continue to tell the good stories of the people helping to protect the resources we value.

Help our neighbors!

 

February 6 from 10 a.m. to Noon help Driftless Mutual Aid collect community needs at Pearl Street Books, 323 Pearl Street with gubernatorial candidate, Francesca Hong.

Needs include non-perishable foods (no glass containers), hygiene/personal care items, period products, cold weather gear (hats , gloves, scarves), hand and foot warmers, first aid kits, baby products (diapers , wipes, cream), baby formula, gas cards, and donations.

Help support Hmong elders who may be reluctant to leave their homes to get basic supplies in these fraught times. You can help by donating or dropping of personal care items or non-perishable food items at the Hmoob Cultural and Community Agency, 1815 Ward Ave., M-F between 8 and 4:30 p.m. For more information contact Mia at 608-797-2578.