THU AM News: Poll finds two-thirds of voters favor one-year ban on data center construction; Kaul details how state will use Meta settlement funds

August 27, 2026

— The latest Marquette University Law School Poll found two-thirds of registered voters support banning data center construction for at least a year with Dems far more likely to support such a move.

The survey, conducted earlier this month, found 67% of registered voters favor a one-year ban on building data centers while 33% are opposed. Among Democrats, support for a ban was much stronger at 83% and 17% opposed.

A smaller share of Republicans — 53% — said they favor a ban while 46% are opposed. And independents had the same split as the overall poll of registered voters, 67-33.

The poll also found public views on the costs versus benefits of the massive projects continue to slip, with 78% of respondents saying the costs are greater. In the previous survey, conducted in July, 76% said the costs of data centers outweighed the benefits.

Both surveys show how much public opinion on data centers has fallen from late last year, when 55% of respondents said the costs outweighed the benefits. The question was worded differently in October, including a reference to Microsoft announcing it was backing off a data center project in the face of community opposition.

When broken down by party affiliation, the results suggest opposition to data centers is concentrated among Dems and independents, though Republicans also say costs outweigh benefits.

Between October 2025 and the latest survey, the share of Democrats saying the costs of data centers outweigh the benefits has leapt from 55% to 94%. Over the same period, independents have gone from 55% to 80%. But for Republicans, the change is less dramatic, going from 53% to 64%.

In fact, between the last two surveys, the share of Republican respondents saying costs are greater has dipped from 67% to 64%.

Still, only 5% of registered voters said data centers were their top concern, ranking No. 7. The top issue was inflation and the economy with 43% saying that was their top issue.

Meanwhile, a separate question on inflation expectations highlighted the partisan divide around economic issues.

Sixty-nine percent of surveyed registered voters said they expect inflation to rise over the next 12 months, 9% expect it to decrease and 21% expect it to say about the same.

Democrats are all but unified on this question, with 94% expecting an increase, 1% expecting a decrease and 5% expecting no change. At the same time, 43% of Republicans expect inflation to rise while 19% expect it to decline and 38% expect it to stay the same.

Independents are closer to the Dem camp on this question, with 83% expecting an increase in inflation, 3% expecting a decrease and 15% expecting no change.

See the full results.

— Attorney General Josh Kaul says the state will use its $219 million in funds from the Meta lawsuit settlement for various youth mental health programming efforts.

“There’s no doubt that this settlement is historic, but it’s also my sincere hope that this is an inflection point,” Kaul said.

He added that he hoped “other big tech firms and social media companies beyond Meta will hear our message that we are committed to getting accountability from social media companies that engage in conduct that harms our kids.”

A lawsuit filed by 47 states claimed that Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, knowingly added features to foster social media addiction among children and made false claims about the safety of its products.

As a part of the settlement, Meta will also implement a slew of safety features for users between the ages of 13 and 17, including stricter age verification measures, a daily time limit and additional content restrictions.

The entire settlement is $17 billion, and Kaul said the state could receive up to $313 million in settlement funds if other agreements are met with TikTok and YouTube.

Kaul said the DOJ will spend the next few weeks looking into how the funds can “most effectively help kids.”

He said this could take the form of crisis intervention services, digital literacy counselors, grants to school districts and after-school programming.

“This kind of massive settlement amount, as well as these kind of game-changing changes in how these platforms do their business with respect to kids who are online, is going to fundamentally change the role that social media plays in kids’ lives,” Kaul said.

Additionally, Kaul said the DOJ will be responsible for “assessing the precise allocation of the funds.”

Kaul and the Legislature have been at odds over settlement funds since Republicans in late 2018 gave lawmakers new oversight over the money through the Joint Finance Committee. The state Supreme Court ruled last month Kaul has the power to deposit uncommitted settlement funds into accounts controlled by the Department of Justice rather than putting that money into the state general fund overseen by lawmakers.

The office of Joint Finance co-chairs Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, Mark Born, R-Beaver Dam, didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.

— Workers at Foremost Farms in Reedsburg have voted to go on strike, accusing their employer of failing to address “chronic staffing problems” and wage concerns.

Teamsters Local 120, which represents more than 15,000 workers across five states including Wisconsin, yesterday announced 40 of its members employed at the co-op “voted overwhelmingly” in favor of striking. The exact vote totals were not disclosed.

Along with workers’ concerns about staffing, the release Foremost Farms isn’t addressing “lagging wages” as well as retirement security. Plus, the business is seeking “concessions” amid contract negotiations the union says would weaken existing overtime and attendance protections.

The employer did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the strike.

Shaun Mullikin, business agent with Teamsters Local 120, says members have been dealing with “severe staffing shortages and crazy overtime schedules” and the vote to strike shows they’re unified in demanding change.

“They are asking for wages that reflect their work, to maintain the overtime and attendance protections they have fought hard to secure, and retirement security that gives them dignity after years on the job,” Mullikin said in a statement.

Local 120 steward Drew Schafer argues their demands aren’t unreasonable, noting workers are seeking pension contributions that ensure they can retire.

“We want to reach an agreement as soon as possible, but Foremost Farms needs to stop playing games and come to the table with a serious offer or we will hit the streets,” he said in the union’s announcement.

Meanwhile, the co-op yesterday also announced it plans to close a cheese manufacturing facility in Marshfield and cease production of 40-pound block cheese amid a “strategic realignment” of its portfolio driven by shifting demand.

The plant shutdown, scheduled for December, will impact 68 workers. Yesterday’s announcement says they were informed Aug. 24 of the decision.

Brenda Dehart, the company’s president and CEO, says the planned closure “is not a reflection on our employees” at the Marshfield facility.

“This decision was incredibly difficult and is based solely on changing market conditions and long-term needs of our cooperative,” Dehart said in a statement.

Foremost Farms says it will offer resources, training and HR support to impacted workers, who will also have the opportunity to apply for jobs at other locations owned by the co-op.

See the union’s release.

— Gov. Tony Evers has formally requested President Donald Trump declare a disaster following storms last month that resulted in at least one confirmed tornado in the Menasha/Appleton area.

In all, Evers is seeking federal help for those in Forest, Outagamie, Vilas and Winnebago counties.

According to yesterday’s announcement, state and federal officials estimated $8.2 million in damage after assessing more than 2,346 residenial properties and more than $13.8 million in public sector damage.

— U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin is urging regulators to thoroughly investigate Sysco’s proposed $29.1 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, arguing the move would “put significant pressure on market competition” in the food industry.

The Madison Dem and Dem U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey this week sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission sounding the alarm on the proposed merger between the two restaurant supply businesses.

“America’s already fragile supply chain, as displayed during the COVID-19 pandemic, may move to the breaking point if a single company is able to dominate it,” the senators wrote, asking the FTC to ensure the merger wouldn’t drive up prices for independent restaurants and ultimately, U.S. consumers.

The lawmakers argue one company “monopolizing” food distribution would give it undue power to raise prices amid an already elevated price environment. The letter references figures from the National Restaurant Association showing menu prices have already risen by more than a third since 2020.

“The higher food and supply costs restaurants will likely incur from this merger will almost certainly be passed on to diners, as most of these small businesses operate on the margins of three to five percent even under favorable conditions,” they wrote.

Baldwin and Booker also warn the move could result in independent restaurants being forced to close, leading to job losses and economic harm to local communities, along with impacts to small farms who largely sell to these restaurants.

The companies named in the letter didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

See the release.

Top headlines from the Healthcare Report…

— The measles outbreak in southwestern Wisconsin now includes 42 confirmed and 17 probable cases across Grant, Iowa and Lafayette counties, bringing the state’s total for the year to 61.

For more of the most relevant health care news, reports on groundbreaking research in Wisconsin, links to top stories and more, sign up today for the free daily Health Care Report from WisPolitics and WisBusiness.com.

Sign up here.

Data center opposition inches higher in Wisconsin poll

Lawsuit accuses State Farm of undervaluing damaged cars

TOPICS

AGRIBUSINESS

– Wisconsin Farm Bureau selects 2027 leadership class

– Judge says permit for western Wisconsin CAFO fails to adequately protect groundwater

BANKING

– Bank to exit Milwaukee County following merger

CONSTRUCTION

– Former City on a Hill building could house work training center, dorm

ENVIRONMENT