No shortage of opinions: Readers fuel the WisConversation

Wisconsin Watch has successfully relaunched its guest opinion section, dubbed "WisConversation," which has received numerous high-quality submissions since January. The publication seeks arguments rooted in evidence and lived experience concerning Wisconsin's future, and the volume of submissions has created a need for thorough fact-checking and editing, resulting in a longer publication queue for authors. The featured commentaries cover a diverse range of topics, including the growing presence of data centers, groundwater threats, youth mental health, and the economics of poverty. Specific authors and their topics include Sachin Shivaram on the expenses of poverty, Daniel Gage on the lack of after-school program funding, and Allison Gilmeister on overlooked glyphosate contamination in groundwater. John Imes and Michael V. Haley both contribute perspectives on energy and water policy, advocating for clear consumer protections and redesigned water rates, respectively. Other topics include reproductive health proposals by Layne Donovan and addressing alcohol misuse as a public health issue by Kayla Doege.