Dear Friends,

Congratulations to the Whitefish Bay Boys Soccer team who captured their third straight state title last weekend!  The Blue Dukes completed a perfect 25-0 record with a win over Oregon High School by a score of 6-1.   Whitefish Bay is also the number two team in the nation for boys soccer.  Congratulations to Whitefish Bay coach Rob Dubinski and the Blue Dukes soccer team!

Whitefish Bay High School is on a roll.  Tonight, the Blue Dukes football team is playing New Berlin Eisenhower in the Division 3 in the WIAA State Semifinals at Kettle Moraine.  Good luck!

Wisconsin's economy is on a roll too.  Our exports are up 6.5% over the year.  We are on pace for a $1.4 billion increase in 2017.  Once Foxconn is up and running, we will see another boost in our exports.

Today, Governor Walker signed the final contract with the technology giant in Racine.  The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce says Foxconn will add $78 billion to our state's GDP over the 15-year term of the package.  There isn't a state in the nation that wouldn't want to be in our shoes right now.  

As always, if you have any ideas on how to improve our great state, please do not hesitate to contact me by email at  [email protected] or 608-266-5830.   

On Wisconsin!

Senate Votes to Close OWI Loophole
 
Ignition interlocks can be an effective tool in preventing drunk driving.  They save lives and are like having a probation officer right there in the car.   However, due to a loophole in state law, some drunk drivers are getting off the hook for driving without their court ordered ignition interlock. 
 
On Tuesday, the Wisconsin State Senate unanimously voted to approve my bill which closes that loophole.  My bill allows judges to specify the date in which a convicted drunk driver's car must have an ignition interlock installed.
 
Some convicted drunk drivers exploit the loophole by not installing an ignition interlock and driving before their license is reinstated.  If that driver was pulled over by police, they can be charged with driving without a valid license, but not the more serious crime of driving without the court ordered ignition interlock.  Driving without a court-ordered ignition interlock can lead to a hefty fine and/or up to six months in prison.
 
Closing this loophole makes Wisconsin's roads much safer.  Individuals who break the law should face the consequences of their actions, not skip the law because of a loophole.
 
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, first-time OWI offenders who used ignition interlocks were less likely to be arrested again in the next two years for alcohol-impaired driving than those without interlocks in their vehicle.  The bill now heads to Governor Walker's desk for final approval.
Faces of Addiction Quilt
The 2017 Wisconsin Faces of Addiction and recovery quilt was in the State Capitol yesterday. It's an incredibly moving way to tell the stories of the opioid crisis in our state.   A special thank you to Bev Kelley-Miller for taking the time to share the story of her beautiful daughter Megan.
Looking for Senate Scholars
Senator Darling with 2017 Senate Scholar Joe Pencak from Whitefish Bay High School. 

Do you know a remarkable young person who is interested in government?  The Senate Scholar program is a week-long program, where students get to see first-hand how the State Senate operates.  Only 33 students are picked for the program and applications are due by November 22nd.  You can read more about the program  here.
Around the 8th...
Congratulations to Oriole Lane Elementary School in Mequon for being named a National Blue Ribbon School!  Oriole Lane earned this honor for closing achievement gaps and it ranks as one of the highest performing schools in the nation.  

Now three schools in the Mequon-Thiensville School District have earned National Blue Ribbon status. Homestead High School earned the honor in 2004 and Lake Shore Middle School achieved it in 2015!  Congratulations to all!
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Trinity Lutheran School in Mequon visited the State Capitol recently!
Senator Alberta Darling | [email protected] | 1-800-863-1113| http://darling.senate.wisconsin.gov
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