Wisconsin

In 1634, Frenchman Jean Nicolet became Wisconsin‘s first European explorer. The French controlled the area until 1763, when it was ceded to the British. The state’s name is an English version of a French adaptation of an Indian name said to mean “the place where we live.” The Wisconsin Territory was formed in 1836 and was admitted into the Union as the 30th state in 1848. With the nickname “America’s Dairyland,” it’s no surprise that Wisconsin is one of the top producers of milk, cheese, and butter in the country. In fact, the loyal fans of the Green Bay Packers football team call themselves “cheeseheads.” Milwaukee, the state’s largest city, helps make Wisconsin one of the largest manufacturing states in the nation. The state capital, Madison, is home to the University of Wisconsin. The flower of the “Badger State” is the wood violet and the state bird is the robin.

Human trafficking is a serious issue that affects people all around the world, including in Wisconsin. It is a form of modern slavery in which individuals are exploited for labor, sexual exploitation, or other purposes.

According to data from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, Wisconsin has consistently ranked among the top states in the United States for the number of human trafficking cases reported. In 2020, the state ranked ninth in the country for the number of cases reported to the hotline, with a total of 102 cases.

Human trafficking can take many forms in Wisconsin, including forced labor, domestic servitude, and sexual exploitation. It often affects vulnerable populations, such as immigrants, children, and people who are homeless or in poverty.

If you suspect that someone you know may be a victim of human trafficking, there are steps you can take to help. You can report the situation to the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 or by text at 233733. You can also contact local law enforcement or a trusted organization that provides services to victims of human trafficking. It is important to remember that the safety of the victim should be the top priority and to handle the situation with care and sensitivity.

 

 

Lawyers: Woman charged in Kaukauna murder will use human trafficking defense
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Lawyers: Woman charged in Kaukauna murder will use human trafficking defense

APPLETON, Wis. (WBAY) – Lawyers filed court papers indicating they plan to use a human trafficking defense for one of the two people charged in a Kaukauna man’s murder. Tanya Stammer, 30, is charged with party to the crime of 1st Degree Intentional Homicide and party to the crime of Armed Robbery in the death…

Your child’s glasses may have been made with forced prison labor
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Your child’s glasses may have been made with forced prison labor

When Sovannarie was 3 months old, her parents noticed something unusual about their daughter: white opacities in both pupils. Without cataract surgery — and soon — doctors predicted irreversible vision loss. Even if that procedure went perfectly, Sovannarie would need glasses to rehabilitate her eyes and prevent blindness. A decade and many operations later, Sovannarie…

– Human Trafficking: A Look Inside “The Life,” part 2
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Human Trafficking: A Look Inside “The Life,” part 2

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (WBAY) – Human trafficking is a real issue happening across the country, including Wisconsin. However, most people don’t notice it even when it’s happening right in front of them. In all 72 counties of Wisconsin is another world unseen by most with the worst to offer. It’s known as “The Life.” “The Life,…

Human Trafficking: A look inside “The Life” – Journey to recovery
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Human Trafficking: A look inside “The Life” – Journey to recovery

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WBAY) – Throughout our series, Human Trafficking: A Look Inside ‘The Life’, a survivor bravely shared her story with Action 2 News viewers to bring awareness to a serious issue in Wisconsin. However, Jane, says public awareness in only the first step to combating human trafficking. Watch the video here. “I’m officially…

Trump White House Blocked Dozens of New Government Websites – Business Insider
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Trump White House Blocked Dozens of New Government Websites – Business Insider

Federal agencies asked the Trump White House to approve dozens of new “.gov” websites. But Trump officials rejected many of them, according to records obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request. In contrast, the Biden White House has approved almost all such website requests. Donald Trump’s White House blocked dozens of federal agencies from…

Four States Vote to Ban Prison Labor and the “Slavery Loophole”
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Four States Vote to Ban Prison Labor and the “Slavery Loophole”

In the lead up to the election, pundits strained themselves bending over backwards to claim that Democrats’ focus on so-called “social issues” leaves them out of touch from the everyday concerns “ordinary” people deal with. But surprise: The results of the 2022 midterms prove otherwise. All five states with abortion on the ballot—California, Michigan, Vermont,…

Wisconsin man handed down 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking conviction – NBC15
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Wisconsin man handed down 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking conviction – NBC15

MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) – A Wisconsin man was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison on Friday after being convicted for sex trafficking, The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) said. Fifty-one-year-old Cory Hereford was tried back in February with codefendant and coconspirator Tanya Partee of Janesville when they were accused of using an adult…

Rock County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sex Trafficking of an Adult & a Minor
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Rock County Man Sentenced to 20 Years for Sex Trafficking of an Adult & a Minor

MADISON, WIS. – A federal judge in the Western District of Wisconsin sentenced Cory Hereford, 51, Beloit, Wisconsin to 20 years in prison for sex trafficking and related charges. Hereford was convicted after a four-day trial in February 2022 of sex trafficking, conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, maintaining a property for the purposes of distributing…

From satanic panic to billion-dollar business: how Dungeons & Dragons conquered the world
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From satanic panic to billion-dollar business: how Dungeons & Dragons conquered the world

A role-playing game born half a century ago in a Wisconsin basement has spawned an empire spanning film, TV and YouTube. How did it leave its mark on Stranger Things, ET and everyone from Stephen King to Elon Musk? by Stuart Jeffries  ‘We didn’t mean to unleash the greatest evil the world has ever known,”…