August 2026

There is an interesting energy-policy document making the rounds here in western Wisconsin that deserves a few minutes of our attention.

State Representative Travis Tranel, who represents Wisconsin's 49th Assembly District and serves on the Assembly Energy and Utilities Committee, has laid out what is a common-sense approach to energy reform.

And there are really **three big ideas** here.

**Number one: local control.**

This week’s CouleeConservatives.com Weekly Recap is packed with big questions about Wisconsin’s future—and a challenge to every citizen who believes liberty is worth defending.

Western Wisconsin needs representation that understands our farms, small towns, veterans, and working families. Congressman Derrick Van Orden has shown that he is willing to bring attention and resources back home where they belong. Whether meeting with farmers in the district, serving on the House Agriculture Committee, or working on veterans’ issues, he has made clear that rural Wisconsin deserves a strong voice in Washington.

I was named the “2026 Legislator of the Year” by the Wisconsin State Fire Chiefs Association (WSFCA) on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Chief Steve Denzien, WSFCA President, along with WSFCA Vice President Robert Goplin, and Platteville Fire Chief Ryan Simmons, presented the award at the Platteville Fire Station for my work supporting local fire departments across Wisconsin.

A major party’s likely nominee for governor, state Rep. Francesca Hong, says she favors good schools. “Every child deserves a strong and comprehensive education,” her platform says.

So why, as a matter of policy, does she want to close the particular schools providing measurably great education for working-class kids?