WJI's daily reads for Aug. 19, 2021

The Cap Times: WILL sues Dane County over new mask mandate.

In June, the state Supreme Court ruled local public health officials do not have the authority to close schools and that an order from PHMDC last year infringed on religious rights.

WILL argues that the June ruling establishes that (Public Health Madison & Dane County Director Janel) Heinrich's authority is narrower than local government currently perceives it. The law firm is asking the court to issue a temporary injunction blocking enforcement of the order, followed by a permanent injunction after considering the arguments presented.

Wisconsin law only confers a “series of discrete powers” upon health officials, and if the power is not “specifically conferred,” then “that power is not authorized," WILL argues.
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Wisconsin State Journal: Beagle rescue(?) brings criminal charges.

Animal rights activists from out of state were charged Wednesday in Dane County for allegedly stealing three beagles from an animal testing and breeding facility in the town of Blue Mounds more than four years ago.

Eva Hamer, of Illinois, Wayne Hsiung, of California, and Paul Picklesimer, of California, are facing felony theft and burglary charges for the April 2017 incident.

A criminal complaint alleges they worked together to steal three dogs reportedly worth $3,600 from Ridglan Farms, a facility in the town of Blue Mounds that breeds and sells more than 3,000 beagles annually to medical researchers, including UW-Madison.

The New York Times: San Francisco sues three online sellers for dealing in "ghost guns." 

Fox6 News: Thousands petition Wisconsin Department of Corrections to reverse monopoly vendor plan.

Missouri Independent via The Joplin Globe: U.S. Department of Justice asks court to block Missouri's new Second Amendment sanctuary law.

As part of an ongoing lawsuit set for a hearing Thursday afternoon, the Justice Department is asking Cole County Judge Daniel Green to block the Second Amendment Preservation Act, a law approved by the state Legislature in May and signed by Gov. Mike Parson.

Among its provisions, the law says law enforcement agencies will face $50,000 fines if they “infringe” on Missourians’ Second Amendment rights.

Some of those laws would include imposing certain taxes on firearms, requiring gun owners to register their weapons and laws prohibiting “law-abiding” residents from possessing or transferring their guns.

Brian M. Boynton, the acting head of the Justice Department’s civil division, wrote that the law violates the U.S. Constitution and “has caused, and will continue to cause, significant harms to law enforcement within the state of Missouri.”