Judith Ruiz-Branch/Wisconsin News Connection
Judith Ruiz-Branch is an award-winning journalist with over a decade of experience as a reporter/producer for TV, radio, print and podcast news. She's also served as a Spanish spokesperson and led communications, media and public relations team's at various organizations in Chicago. She began her career at WGN-TV in Chicago and went on to work for various news outlets including WBEZ Radio, Crain's Chicago Business, the Chicago Tribune and WNIN Tri-State Media among others. Her bilingual reporting with WNIN earned her two Murrow Awards, most recently for innovation in the digital space. Her favorite stories to report on are health, human interest, equity, justice, and immigration.
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The state recently announced significant funding cuts for more than 300 school districts across the state, many of which are rural -
Advocates for Wisconsin seniors are speaking out about how federal policies are affecting the pressing issues in their communities – and they're joining arms to work to address them. -
FoodShare funds may have been restored in Wisconsin, but local organizations are speaking out about how program disruptions caused by the historic government shutdown are still preventing some residents from being able to access healthy food -
In July, President Donald Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act into law, bringing cuts of around $1 trillion to federal Medicaid spending from 2025 through 2034. -
Wisconsin taxpayers could stand to lose out on about $145 million in unclaimed tax credits annually, after the Trump administration ended a free government tax filing program created to help low-income and working families simplify tax filing -
The annual "Made in the U.S.A." poll showed more than 80% of Americans said they would purchase more American-made products if they saw more of them -
Partnering with 10 local makers, it’s stuffed with Wisconsin-themed watercolor art prints and polymer clay earrings shaped like Cheez-Its, or craft kits for kids -
Wednesday is Education Support Professionals Day, and as American Education Week continues, Wisconsin educators are emphasizing how crucial the workers are to schools, and the challenges they face when trying to help some of the most vulnerable students. -
A new report shows how a developing system called Agrivoltaics has the potential to offer what supporters call a much needed economic option for Wisconsin farmers, while redefining solar development as a tool for prosperity rather than a threat to it. -
Wisconsin advocates and communities are committed to honoring the contributions of immigrants to the state through its historical markers program
