Good evening, Wisconsin. We’re wrapping up the day for you with the most important stories you need to know and your weather outlook.

Your Weather Planner

It will be another cold one across the state tonight: lows in the single digits up north, teens for the rest of us. Friday brings a brief spike in temperatures for southern and eastern Wisconsin (highs in the 30s). Meanwhile, a strong cold front swoops in and brings light snow showers by midday. It also holds back highs across much of the state (10s and 20s).

Get your 7-day forecast: Milwaukee | Madison | Green Bay

Today’s Big Stories

1. Get the most out of your tank as gas prices soar

The average price of gas in the U.S. reached $4.32 per gallon on Thursday, according to AAA. The average gas price in Wisconsin is currently $4.04, but many areas across the Badger State are well above that; northern Wisconsin counties are seeing $4.08 to $4.29. With the price at the pump spiking, many drivers are looking to save money any way they can. Luckily, AAA has a host of tips and tricks to maximize your fuel economy.

2. Program brings clean drinking water to pregnant people’s doorstep

Robert Penner is passionate about making sure people have access to clean water. He is a part of the Get the Lead Out Coalition and on the coalition’s steering committee. He and other volunteers set up the “Clean Water for Pregnant People” program last year. It is a free program available to pregnant people who live in the city and have lead laterals that connect their home to the water main.

3. New data shows biggest drop in test scores for 3rd-8th graders during pandemic

New numbers compiled and released by the Department of Public Instruction shows some drops in test scores across the board for Wisconsin students. That shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone: Students, teachers and parents have had a rough go of it over the last two years. They’ve had to navigate abrupt stoppage of classes, switching to virtual learning and mask-wearing. Some of the biggest drops in test scores were with the Forward exam, which is taken by kids in third through eighth grades. 

4. MLB, players agree to new labor deal, clearing the way for season to begin

Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the players’ union, reached an agreement on a new labor deal on the 99th day of a lockout, clearing the way for a full 162-game season to begin. The final vote was 26 to 12 in favor of approving the new deal, which also requires the support of all of the league's players.

5. LGBTQ+ candidates run for office amid wave of anti-equality legislation

In state capitals across the country, fierce debates are taking place about LGBTQ+ rights – from whether transgender athletes should compete high school sports, to whether providing medical care for gender transitions should be considered a form of child abuse. Republican-led measures are seen as politically popular in some quarters – but they’re also unleashing pushback, including at the ballot box.

Your Notes for Tomorrow

• President Joe Biden addresses House Democrats retreat
• Vice President Kamala Harris continues Poland/Romania trip
• Deadline to avert federal government shutdown
• 2 years since COVID-19 declared a pandemic
• 1 year since Biden signed the American Rescue Act
• South by Southwest festival
• National 311 Day