Ann-Elise Henzl

The polls are now open in Wisconsin. The Milwaukee Election Commission expects about 30 percent of registered voters in the city to head to the polls.

Meanwhile, state election officials are reminding people that because this is a partisan primary, voters must choose candidates from just one party.

Today's partisan primary elections include races for governor, U.S. Senate and seats in the House of Representatives. These contests are drawing national attention, including from NPR's Weekend Edition Sunday.

The eight Democrats vying for the chance to take on Republican Gov. Scott Walker this fall made their cases to voters in their only broadcast debate Thursday night, with just weeks to go before the Aug. 14 primary.

President Donald Trump appeared in Mount Pleasant midday on Thursday to break ground on the huge Foxconn LCD screen plant that's being built in the Racine County community. He spoke briefly at the ceremony, telling Foxconn CEO Terry Gou that Foxconn will "love Wisconsin."

Trump, Gou, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan and Christopher Murodock, Wisconsin's first Foxconn employee, used shovels with gold-colored handles to turn over the dirt.

Summer is the favorite time of year for most beach-goers. But Milwaukee once was home to a unique fellow who tanned year-round at the lakefront. Our Bubbler Talk questioner wanted to know: Who was that guy?

Many people who lived in Milwaukee before 2000, like Cynthia Hoffman, know the answer. The man was the late Dick Bacon.

The thought of hurling sharp, potentially dangerous objects doesn't appeal to everyone. But Jason Hilleshiem wanted to try the activity as soon as he learned about it. So he was one of the first customers at Fling Milwaukee, the city's first axe-throwing establishment, which opened in May.

He lined up inside what looks kind of like a batting cage, waiting his turn to hurl a hatchet at a target painted on a wooden wall.

The campaigns for two vacant legislative seats in Wisconsin have been watched closely, with observers wondering whether the results would help gauge the strength of the "blue wave" in this midterm election year. The contests drew national attention and big campaign donations. The outcome on Tuesday was mixed, with a Democrat capturing one seat, and a Republican capturing the other.

Democrat Caleb Frostman won the state Senate seat in De Pere, defeating GOP state Rep. Andre Jacque. Meanwhile, Republican Jon Plumer defeated Democrat Ann Groves Lloyd for an Assembly post in Lodi.

Voters in De Pere, WI will select a new state senator Tuesday. Meanwhile, voters in Lodi will choose a new member of the Assembly. Special elections are being held to fill two vacancies.

Observers are wondering whether the elections could be a litmus test for the “blue wave” in Wisconsin, in this midterm election year.

Democrats are campaigning hard to win the seats, while Republicans are fighting just as hard to keep them.

Wispolitics.com Editor JR Ross talked about the special elections and other issues in this week’s Capitol Notes segment.

The August primary elections are coming up quickly. Yet there's still no Democratic front-runner in the Democrats' bid to prevent Republican Gov. Scott Walker from winning another term in November.

The number of candidates is in the double digits. However, a few of them could be pulling ahead, according to a straw poll that WisPolitics.com conducted at last weekend's state Democratic Party convention.

People who shop at Boston Store could soon be seeing "Going Out of Business" sales -- and the loss of 2,200 jobs in Wisconsin.

A U.S. bankruptcy court Wednesday approved the sale of Boston Store's parent, Bob-Ton Stores, Inc. to a couple of liquidation companies.

Bon-Ton operates 260 stores in 24 states, including Boston Store and Younkers stores across Wisconsin.  The news is a blow to Milwaukee, including at the flagship Boston Store downtown, and the corporate offices in the same building.  

Milwaukee civil rights icon Vel Phillips has passed away. Phillips was the first African American woman on the Common Council, where she pushed -- for years -- to end housing discrimination.

Our latest Bubbler Talk report involves the large metal tower at the entrance to Estabrook Park, near the border of Milwaukee and Shorewood. The listener asked: "What is the giant ugly metal tower used for?"

He might be surprised to learn that the tower houses WUWM's antenna, along with that of WITI Channel 6, and a couple other radio stations.

Milwaukee Public Schools will once again be searching for a new school superintendent. Darienne Driver announced Tuesday that she'll be stepping down this summer.

She was the youngest person to head the district, and the only woman to do so on a permanent basis.

After three and a half years at the helm of MPS, Superintendent Driver will leave her position on July 6 to become president and CEO of the United Way of Southeastern Michigan.