Are you looking for something to do with the kids this weekend that is fun, informative and free? Then you are in luck. wsaw.com/2026/09/22/central-…

Four companies located in the 24th Senate District have been nominated to compete in the 11th annual Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin competition. They are: • Cardinal IG in Tomah for their CliC Smart Privacy Glass • Jacoby Custom Cues in Nekoosa for their Custom Pool Cues • King Cone in Plover for their Mint on Your Pillow Ice Cream • Stevens Point Brewery in Stevens Point for their Point Brewery Beverages Please join me in voting for these four local businesses by clicking here: madeinwis.com/ Voting for this round ends on Sept. 29. The Top 16 will advance to the Manufacturing Madness portion of the contest. You can submit one vote per day per email address. I want to wish the best of luck to Cardinal IG, Jacoby Custom Cues, King Cone and Stevens Point Brewery in this year’s competition.

For my latest “On the Job” visit, I went to the heart of cranberry country and worked a shift at the Russell Rezin and Son Cranberry Marsh in Warrens. Founded in 1918, this fifth-generation, 250-acre family farm continues to be a major contributor to Wisconsin’s standing as the “Cranberry King” of the entire world. In fact, our state grows roughly 60 percent of the nation’s crop and more than 50 percent of the global supply. My staff is currently putting together video footage of my experience at the Russell Rezin and Son Cranberry Marsh. Once the full video is finished, I look forward to sharing it with all of you. Since I was first elected to the Wisconsin State Senate, I have regularly spent a day "On the Job" with local employers to get a better understanding of their operations and to highlight the employment opportunities available in our area. If you know of a business in the 24th Senate District that wants to be featured in one of my future "On the Job" segments, please contact my office.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection is accepting applications for the Meat Processor Infrastructure Grant program through Oct. 15. The goal of the grants is to expand Wisconsin's meat industry and improve the long-term viability of the state's livestock sector. If you are interested in more information about the grant program, please click here: datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Medi…

“The attacks of September 11th were intended to break our spirit. Instead we have emerged stronger and more unified. We feel renewed devotion to the principles of political, economic and religious freedom, the rule of law and respect for human life. We are more determined than ever to live our lives in freedom.” — Rudy Giuliani

I would like to offer all high school juniors and seniors in the 24th Senate District the opportunity to participate in a rewarding educational experience at the state Capitol in Madison. Applications are now being accepted for the 2027 Senate Scholar Program. The submission deadline is Nov. 6. The week-long event introduces high school juniors and seniors to the many facets of state government and the legislative process. Tasks include attending Senate floor debates, committee hearings and seminars. Senate Scholars will also engage in mock legislative activities where they will draft a bill and vote it out of committee. Admission to the program is highly competitive and limited to 33 academically exceptional students. Typically, only one is chosen from each senate district. For those interested in filling out a digital copy of the application, please click here: legis.wisconsin.gov/senate/s… If you still have questions about the Senate Scholar Program after reviewing the website, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office.

Congratulations, Asa Bennett. I know you will represent Central Wisconsin well on the state Cranberry Board. datcp.wi.gov/Pages/News_Medi…

The Joint Finance Committee, of which I serve as Senate vice-chair, met yesterday to consider several items. One of the proposals we approved involved the sale of two unoccupied state-owned buildings. This move is expected to save taxpayers more than $200 million in deferred maintenance costs. The proceeds from both sales will go toward paying down state debt. In other action, my JFC colleagues and I released $10 million for PFAS clean-up and remediation efforts. That amount is in addition to the $130 million that was approved earlier in the 2025-26 legislative session. We also voted in favor of a $24 million reimbursement to counties for increased road salt costs during the previous winter season.

Good luck, students, on your first day of school.

Several hunting seasons begin this September in Wisconsin. To help ensure hunters are better prepared, the state Department of Natural Resources has released an online tool that lists all the different hunting regulations in an easy-to-find format. If you are interested in further details, please click here: dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/r…

I want to make sure everyone is aware that the Wisconsin Department of Transportation will soon be hosting an informational meeting regarding a construction project on State Highway 54 at the Plover and Biron railroad crossings in Portage and Wood counties. The public gathering will be held on Sept. 2 at 5 p.m. at the McMillan Memorial Library on East Grand Avenue in Wisconsin Rapids. Project staff will be on hand to share construction details, schedules, traffic impacts and other information. During construction, that section of State Highway 54 will be closed and traffic will be detoured.

The Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin contest is back. The statewide competition, sponsored by Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce and BMO, aims to bring more attention to the state’s nearly $74 billion manufacturing industry and the job opportunities it provides. If you are interested in nominating a local product for this year’s contest, please click here: madeinwis.com/ Nominations are being accepted through Sept. 11. From Sept. 21 to 29, the first round of voting will be held to narrow the field down to 16 finalists. Those 16 products will be placed in a bracket-style tournament called Manufacturing Madness. They will then compete against one another in head-to-head match-ups and those that receive the highest vote totals will advance to the next rounds. The winner will be announced on Oct. 27.

Approximately $5 million in workforce development funding is now available through the state’s Fast Forward grant program. Wisconsin employers of all sizes from all industries – including manufacturing, healthcare and information technology – are eligible to apply. The deadline is 3 p.m. on Oct. 5. Wisconsin Fast Forward grants range from $5,000 to $400,000 and reimburse the costs of customized occupational training for existing workers and the unemployed and underemployed. If you would like additional details, please click here: wisconsinfastforward.com/wff…

This past weekend, I had the privilege of speaking and presenting a legislative citation at the 125th anniversary celebration of the Stevens Point Elks Lodge No. 641. Since its founding in 1901, our local Elks Lodge has proudly served the Stevens Point and Portage County communities through charitable initiatives, youth and veterans programs and a steadfast commitment to the principles of charity, justice, brotherly love and fidelity. The lodge also hosts numerous annual events, including spaghetti dinners that raise tens of thousands of dollars for local youth groups, Boy and Girl Scouts and University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point athletic teams. We are so fortunate to have organizations like the Stevens Point Elks Lodge No. 641 in our area. We cannot thank them enough. Here’s to another 125 years of the Stevens Point Elks Lodge stepping up to selflessly assist our family, friends and neighbors.

Starting this morning, hunters can begin purchasing bonus antlerless harvest authorizations for the 2026 gun deer season. Bonus authorizations are $12 each for Wisconsin residents, $20 each for nonresidents and $5 each for children aged 11 and younger. They are being sold at a rate of one per person per day until they are gone or until the 2026 deer hunting season concludes. If you would like more information, please click here: dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/r…

Are you interested in participating in a special trapping season at the Sandhill Wildlife Area, which is located about 25 miles southwest of Wisconsin Rapids? If so, you have until Sept. 18 to submit an application with the state Department of Natural Resources. Trapping permits will be issued at the close of a 2-hour workshop that includes a review of season objectives, vehicle use regulations and data collection instructions. If you would like more information, please click here: dnr.wisconsin.gov/newsroom/r…

I want to remind everyone that my legislative office still has plenty of 2025-26 Wisconsin Blue Books available for free. If you are a resident of the 24th Senate District and would like a copy of the latest edition of the Blue Book, please email your request to Sen.Testin@legis.wi.gov and we will be happy to mail one out to you at no cost. First published in 1853, the Blue Book is updated every two years and is full of Wisconsin history and current information about state lawmakers and government agencies. This biennium’s feature article is titled “Going Global.” It chronicles previous efforts to build sister-state relationships with Nicaragua, Germany, the People’s Republic of China, Taiwan, Japan and Mexico.

Back in 2024, I was the lead Senate co-author of a state law that created a program authorizing the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. to award grant funding to assist in the redevelopment of University of Wisconsin branch campus buildings and facilities. We are now seeing the benefit of that state statute right here in our area. Yesterday, I participated in a press conference where it was announced that Wood County is receiving a $2 million grant to renovate the Helen Connor Laird Fine Arts Building at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point at Marshfield Campus. The $2 million in state funding will be used to make the structure ADA compliant and more accessible to the community. Plans include refurbishing the venue so that it can also host larger business conferences and other events. If you are interested in additional information, please click here: hubcitytimes.com/stories/lai…

Today is Primary Election Day in Wisconsin. Polling places across the state are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. If you have any questions related to the election, please contact my office or visit the MyVote Wisconsin website at myvote.wi.gov/en-us/.