Local News
"Neither Proxmire, who died a year ago, nor Kohl, 71, developed a reputation based on giant national or international issues such as Vietnam or Iraq. Instead, they focused on things that appealed to people in the state, such as fighting wasteful spending (Proxmire's "Golden Fleece Awards") or agricultural aid, a big interest of Kohl."
"Because of the Giants' win, the only way the Packers can make the playoffs is if they beat the Bears and win the "strength of victory" tiebreaker with New York. To do so, eight - count 'em, eight - games have to go their way: Detroit must beat Dallas; Minnesota must beat St. Louis; Miami must beat Indianapolis; Arizona must beat San Diego; San Francisco must beat Denver; New Orleans must beat Carolina; Seattle must beat Tampa Bay; and Cleveland must beat Houston."
"There might not be enough snow on the ground yet for a traditional sleigh ride, but Northwoods Sleigh and Carriage of Ashland offers a wheeled alternative for a unique special event attraction."
"Plastics are now so technologically advanced, that they can go from the boat to the bucket," Thompson said. "We use plastics all summer long with success, so why not use them in the winter, too?"
"With many complaints against Bednar-Clemens filed with the office of lawyer regulations, the county board and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, the DCI, in July 2005, initiated an investigation into alleged misconduct in office by Bednar-Clemens."
"We were the first Wisconsin team ever to win the High School Bowl," said team captain Mark Hagemann. "We exceeded all of my expectations."
"The error is limited to taxpayers who filed Form 1, the long form, by mail earlier this year to pay their 2005 state income taxes, Helgerson said. It does not affect individuals who filed electronically or through professional tax preparers; individuals who filed the state's short, EZ or non-resident forms; or businesses, she said."
"The state's financial books show that Wi sconsin ended the last fiscal year with a $2.15 billion deficit, under accounting principles that are standard for private companies, according to a report that the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance released Friday."
"Three percent, or 4 clinics surveyed, said they have provided the costly, complicated procedure to help families create children with a disability."
"Everybody was led to believe that that was an issues fund," Imhoff said. "The money was to be used to protect homeowners (against something) like an attack on homeowers" such as legislation to eliminate tax deductions for mortgage interest. "We were led to believe it wouldn't be used on candidates."
"The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department said the girl, from Rochester, Minn., had been seat belted onto a snowmobile, and was taken down with the vehicle in about 50 feet of water."
"Restoration of the marsh does need to be on the table. Not just mentioned in passing, but as a serious option," said EPA region 5 life scientist Holly Arrigoni at the Dec. 14 meeting. "I know removing the ditches would be a huge undertaking, but we need to consider all of the options, not just the most convenient."
""I have to be honest," said Eagle River mayor Jeff Hyslop, "when the state Legislature passed this, they couldn't have made it more confusing if they tried." Eagle River is not the only municipality in the state with a premier resort area tax, a localized, half percent tax authorized by the Legislature in 1997."
News
""We want to prevent any chance identity theft might occur," department spokeswoman Meredith Helgerson said. An agency news release included an apology to taxpayers and a statement that steps were being taken "to make sure that this will never happen again.""
"In adopting a resolution Wednesday on an 11-1 vote, the county board noted a $25 fee will be added to the amount of the bad check and placed in the county's general fund."
"The driver of the vehicle, Michael P. Graser, 43, of Mercer, was arrested for operating while intoxicated by ICSD officers. He was transported by Mercer Ambulance to Howard Young Medical Center in Woodruff, where Vilas County officials were to determine his blood-alcohol content."
"Area motorists struggled with detours throughout much of 2006 as five blocks of Silver Street, from the Montreal River to Fifth Avenue, received new sewer and water lines, storm sewer, sidewalks and street lights. Two landscaped areas were added and, most importantly, there's a smooth new road surface."
"Gov. Jim Doyle's purchase of tickets provided by a lobbyist for a Green Bay Packers football game in 2003 was improper under the state's lobbying laws, the state Ethics Board said Thursday."
"The state's outgoing attorney general has said in an opinion that Wisconsin's new ban on gay marriage doesn't mean employers have to stop providing benefits to same-sex couples."
"The range of fair trade products is rapidly broadening beyond coffee, cocoa and bananas. Furnishings, clothing, spa products, gourmet foods, toys, ornaments, musical instruments, kitchen equipment and jewelry are among the items being sold under the umbrella of fair trade associations."
"If even a middle-level warming happens over the next century or so, we will see a reduction in the southern limit of current trees. They will be pushed further north." Species such as the balsam fir, white spruce, white birch and perhaps the red pine are likely to be lost from the state, he predicted."
"An aide to Republican state Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-La Crosse, agreed to pay $100 for using the Legislature's office equipment to copy a Senate Democrat's campaign strategy memo he discovered in a binder belonging to another lawmaker."
"The scrubber should reduce emissions by at least 90 percent, said Tom Larson, superintendent of technology and administrative services at the plant. The improvements are required by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. "
"As it is, a routine check of prints can take 10 to 12 days, plus mail time when submitted on a traditional fingerprint card. That wait can grow to 60 days if a criminal check is being conducted. According to Ashland County Sheriff's Department Lieutenant Tony Jones, those delays are now a thing of the past."
Sen
R. Feingold"Wisconsin Democrat Russ Feingold cinched the title in March when he proposed that Senate censure President Bush for repeatedly authorizing domestic wiretaps on American citizens without first obtaining a legally required court order. "This conduct is right in the strike zone of the concept of high crimes and misdemeanors," explained Feingold"
"At a contracted salary of $32,000, Splonskowski will be in his office in the courthouse from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, the same hours as the other courthouse offices, beginning Jan. 3, the date his one-year contract begins."
"Officials at the sheriff's department in Hurley were unable to give specific details of the accident, which happened just prior to going to press Wednesday."
"The event kicks off with a snowmobile parade on Lake Minocqua at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The area chamber of commerce will sponsor a bonfire and refreshments at Torpy Park from 6 to 8 p.m."
Ironwood
Wal-Mart set to open for business in early 2008 "Clearing of the parcel for the 165,000 square-foot Super Center will begin in early spring, Infante said, with a nine-month construction period to follow, he said."
"Hove and her daughters are among the thousands of Wisconsin residents who are adapting to life under the state's booster seat law, which went into effect in June and was intended to enhance child-safety regulations already in place. It requires children who are at least 4 years old but younger than 8 to travel in a booster seat while in the car, unless they are 4 feet 9 inches or taller or weigh 80 pounds or more."
"An average tax refund of $2,000 can carry instant refund loan fees of $250 or more - equivalent to paying an annual interest rate of 521 percent for a 10-day loan, the council report said."
"Lautenschlager wrote that "it can reasonably be inferred" from the language of the amendment "that neither the Legislature nor the people intended to invalidate domestic partnerships when they adopted this provision.""
"Limberg knows that in time -- maybe even by the time this story hits the newstands -- snow will fall and he'll be gliding along the trails. In the meantime, he takes what's given to him."
Hurley-area
rug weavers keep local tradition, museum going“We have a pretty good group of volunteers who do the work needed to keep the museum open,” she said. “We are totally self-supporting. Other than donations, we don’t receive any other funds.”
"After more than two decades spent photographing common loons and other Northwoods wildlife, St. Germain wildlife photographer Bob Baldwin decided it was time to craft his capstone project - a labor of love depicting the interaction of a loon pair as they mate, nest and, 28 days later, meet their newly hatched chick."
Rep
D. Obey" "I've had my share of calls, and they weren't to wish me a Merry Christmas," said incoming Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey, Wisconsin Democrat. Earmarks have exploded in number and cost in recent years, and Congress got a black eye when former Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, California Republican, admitted taking $2.4 million in bribes in exchange for earmarking projects to defense contractors."
Gov.
Doyle“President Ford was a great friend of the citizens of Wisconsin,” Governor Doyle wrote. “The President was a much admired statesman whose ability to bring this nation together following a tumultuous time will be his greatest legacy.”
"The board may also authorize short-term borrowing for two trucks for the highway department -- a 2004 Sterling truck at $140,950, and a 2007 Sterling truck for $115,000."
"Christoferson, 26, and Galarno, 46, were constructing a deer stand Nov. 12 on Galarno's property in Saxon when a support strap slipped, sending the men and the entire stand plummeting to the ground."
"When dignitaries gathered on a windy, rainy Saturday in September to dedicate the renovated Saxon Harbor, the large make-shift tent blew down just after the festivities had concluded. That's one of the few things that went wrong during the 13-month harbor expansion project. "
"After the game, Packers founder and coach Curly Lambeau offered him a contract with the team for $200 a game for a 14-game season. Ford turned him down, choosing a different career path: He headed to law school at Yale University and a place in American history."
"Norovirus is sometimes called the Norwalk-like virus or the "cruise-ship virus." It can be easily spread through food or on surfaces such as doorknobs, especially if infected people don't wash their hands. "It's going around the whole community," and probably is affecting many more people than those reported in groups, Kita-Yarbro said."
"Madison may not need to pass a law like New York's banning trans fats. Many restaurant owners here have voluntarily eliminated the unhealthy substance from their kitchens."
Obey:
Ford brought 'healing hand' to D.C."When he succeeded Richard Nixon as president, he brought a healing hand to the office and reaffirmed people's belief that those who govern could be fair and decent. We were of different political parties, but I regard him as a friend and feel privileged to have served and worked with him."
Sen
R. Feingold"Gerald Ford dutifully assumed the presidency during a difficult time in our nation’s history. He served with integrity and will be remembered for restoring honesty and openness to that office, which had been so tainted by the Watergate scandal. Our country will be forever grateful for his leadership."
Gov.
Doyle“We have lost a great man. President Ford will always be remembered for his work to heal a hurting nation. Our thoughts are with the Ford family.”
"When Mom began it 25 years ago, her heart went out to street people or the lonely," said daughter Melissa DeCarlo, of Gile, Wis. "Even through her chemo treatments, she continued to do the dinners."
"Casey and other farmers said they haven't seen anything like it in years: corn prices so high they don't even get their government checks. Demand so high they've already sold much of their 2007 crop."
"In July, after more than three years of analyzing dozens of published reports and doing their own research, scientists at the University of Minnesota published a report concluding that ethanol produced from corn results in a 25% positive return on energy."
Doyle
and Democratic Senate differ"Freitag said the Democratic Senate means Doyle will have to be more careful with some bills but it probably won't pull the governor significantly to the left. The Assembly is still in Republican hands, and even the Senate itself is a fairly close 18-15 split in favor of the Democrats, he noted."
"That's why the newly created Regional Economic Development Entity should take the lead on creating a user-friendly, information-packed Web site for the Madison area."
"The state began posting the names of tax scofflaws on the Internet on Jan. 3 in an effort to shame them into paying. They had hoped to collect $1 million in unpaid taxes per year, but instead, they received $15.7 million by the end of November."
Merry
Christmas
(Except for Bill OhRealy fans...
who are wished
"Happy Holidays.")
"There is a future for the small town," Champeau said. "Kids will leave here to get an education. But they will come back. And they will work."
"The same factors that drove Old World to Chinese production - the long turnaround time, dealing with numerous tiny suppliers, and high-end quality and prices - set up the Workshop for Internet success. "I believe in inventory," says Ranes."
"It's not too late to accept your family's shortcomings and realize what really matters this holiday season. All you need are a couple of therapists, a parent educator and an advice columnist."
"Luckily, most of us don't really care which seasonal saying is offered, just so you're sincere and friendly about it. A smile helps, too."
"Now, nestled among NASA's 200-point mission goals for lunar base plans it announced earlier this month, there is a proposal to mine the moon for this fuel, even though so far there are no viable power plants that exist for it or efficient ways to bring it back to Earth."
"We experienced that level in 2005 when insufficient snowmelt and non-existent rain left our chain so low that many people never got their boats into the water and wetlands adjacent to the water simply dried up,"
Sen
H. Kohl"Herb Kohl, the future chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, is himself aging. But at 71, the Wisconsin senator still has 19 Senate colleagues who have his birthdate beat."
"The group has been selected to perform for the 2007 State Education Convention at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee on Jan. 17. A mini-tour of Wisconsin schools is planned for the trip to and from Milwaukee."
"The Mercer School Board on Monday approved an additional two hours for two days a week for the aide in the combined class of kindergarten and pre-kindergarten students. The board also approved an aide for the combined third and fourth grade for six hours a week."
"Those are perfect for tossing, especially if they sit in the freezer for about a year and get nice and hard. People receiving fruitcakes this week, in other words, should not toss them - yet. Tom actually made the one that nailed Dippy all by himself. It was a big, round one that weighed 2 pounds and, in accordance with the rules, had two types of frozen fruit in it."
"We've seen enough of these El Nino patterns to know they have a pretty significant impact on our area for people who like snow," Bachmeier said. "Because it is an El Nino pattern and moderate, it can translate to less snowfall but it depends on the path of the exact storms."
"HyperPhrase, which has offices in Madison and Mequon, asked for unspecified damages and for Google to stop using the technology. In a highly technical 25-page ruling, Shabaz granted Mountain View, Calif.-based Google's motion to dismiss the claims."
"Bates said the person who stole the skid steer must have had a key and been familiar with how the machine operates. Similar models have keys that could work in his machine, Bates said.:"
"Charter Communications officials had been negotiating with officials from both CBS and the NFL as long as they could, but after no deal would be reached, Charter was forced to black the game out in the local area."
"K-12 Principal Jeff Gulan said a staff meeting was held prior to the search to discuss temporary lockdown drills, and, "We executed the drill on Dec. 13. The police department brought its drug dog into the building and I'm happy to report that nothing (illegal) was in the building," he told the school board Monday."
'Mic'
fans celebrate decision"Madison is really a microcosm of what could be taking place around the country," popular radio host Ed Schultz said this morning. "There is a mindset with the progressive format that it's shaky territory for advertisers, and it's simply not true." Schultz, whose show reaches 2.25 million listeners nationwide, said he was excited about Clear Channel's move and "how it all came to work together."
[I wonder when WJMS 590AM will notice the 60% blue voters in the North woods and dump Oh Really. Email Frede and suggest it. - Bob]
"Of the 69 county kettle sites, the one at South Towne is surrounded by the least affluent neighborhood, said Ruth Ann Schoer, development director for the local Salvation Army."
"What was going on all seemed surreal," the teacher continued. "I think it was the SWAT team that really affected the kids - and scared them."
Sen
H. Kohl"Piling on, the New York Times, which used the leaked documents for stories on Sunday and Monday, followed on Tuesday with an editorial calling for Congressional oversight hearings given the controversy they were trying to create. And the new majority on Capitol Hill seems all to eager to cooperate. Already, an another front, Senator Herb Kohl is calling for extremely tight regulation – if not an all out ban – on direct to consumer advertising of prescription medicines."
Gov.
Doyle"After conducting an extensive international search, the company chose Madison for its overall quality of life, accessibility to world renowned stem cell researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and its close proximity to WiCell. The company will locate in UW-Madison’s University Research Park with a small team of key employees."
“They have helped me over the last four years as we’ve balanced the budget, protected our schools and created new jobs. I look forward to working with these dedicated, talented individuals as we continue our efforts on behalf of hardworking Wisconsin families.”
"Bugni is the agent for Over the Edge of the Ridge, Inc., which is seeking the Combination Class B beer and liquor license for 29 Silver St., to be called Big Al and Waldo's Inn. The tavern was most recently operated as Mahogany Ridge."
"Incoming Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit) said Senate Democrats will likely vote to raise cigarette taxes next year as they try to expand health care coverage."
"I regret that a fellow lawyer got himself in this kind of a situation. Oh, we can say a lot about our political system and whatnot. Certainly, one vote here and one vote in Cook County is not going to do much to disturb the political process. But the fact that somebody does it is a serious problem,"
"Investors have lots of money they want to put to use in growing companies but it's apparently going to established businesses, not to entrepreneurs coming up with new ideas, a study finds."
"The scientists used brain scan technology to create a "window into the brain" that identified both of the major abnormal deposits of the disease in living people who may not develop Alzheimer's for years to come."
"Charter said the NFL Network has made unreasonable demands, including a requirement that all its programs be available to expanded basic customers at no extra charge. Charter wants to offer NFL Network on a digital sports tier, available to subscribers for an additional $10 a month."
"Norbury said the new rule is based on the agency's own planning process established in 2005 and a Supreme Court opinion from the 1998 Ohio Forestry vs. Sierra Club case, which basically ruled that although a plan might make certain actions more likely — logging, for example — the plan itself does not authorize specific action, and therefore has no environmental impact."
Sen
R. Feingold“I applaud the President’s decision to sign into law the Collins-Feingold bill extending the important work of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction. It would have been a costly mistake to shut down the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction prematurely."
"In total, sewer-water improvements are planned for about 40 city blocks. The development of new municipal well system near the Hurley K-12 school is also part of the city's utility plans."
"Denys Vargovich, of Gurney, Wis., is the 2006 winner of the "Light Up Saxon-Gurney" holiday decorating contest. She received a $40 gift certificate for the Liberty Bell Chalet in Hurley."
"The Mercer MECCA Ski Club is welcoming new memberships and daily users of the cross country ski trails in the Mercer area. The club has erected a log cabin ski chalet near the wastewater plant."
"A council appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle to find ways of providing health care coverage to more Wisconsin residents Tuesday recommended a $1-a-pack increase in the cigarette tax to help extend state-supported insurance to about 61,000 people."
"Out of a town of 220,000 people, I was the only one who cared enough," she said. "I was extremely disappointed. I was the only citizen that thought the selection of the new police chief for the city was important."
"The only other occasion, Sommers said, was a preseason game at Milwaukee's old County Stadium that was blacked out here because it did not sell out. (Before 1995, when the Packers moved all their games to Green Bay, Madison was considered a local market due to its proximity to Milwaukee and therefore was subject to blackout rules.):"
"As part of the transaction, FPL Energy said it will keep the plant's 660 employees working for 18 months. FPL Energy, based in Juno Beach, Fla., will also be responsible for the ultimate decommissioning of the facility and the cost of that decommissioning. We Energies said that, after closing the transaction, it will receive approximately $300 million from a trust fund that had been established to pay for the decommissioning of the plant."
"An ad-hoc committee of county employees and administrators recommended that the policy be changed to move smokers away from entrances to the county courthouse."
Sen
R. Feingold“It has been six weeks since Americans overwhelmingly called for a change in our Iraq policy through the ballot box. The President continues to ignore this demand for change from the American people as well as from members of both parties."
"According to press accounts, you plan to propose a
sweeping new regulatory framework that would preempt the current state and local video
franchise laws and procedures. Based on these accounts, this proposal seems to have a
questionable legal basis while threatening the public interest by limiting support for local public,
educational and governmental (PEG) channels and institutional networks (INET), and allowing
companies to exclude parts of a community from receiving service."
"The school district will mail statements to families with negative balances at least once every other week. An unpaid food service debt of 60 or more days may be taken to the district administrator for possible action. A meeting may then be set up with the parents to discuss the bill."
"That means the agency is canceling its quest to establish 34 zones, including 14 on Lake Michigan, where Coast Guard crews would have practiced firing with live ammunition, specifically the new M240-B machine guns that can fire up to 600 rounds a minute."
""If we're undecided, and the kid's on the border, race or ethnicity can push them over," said Rob Seltzer, the university's director of admissions."
"More uninsured children. Fewer workers with health coverage. Rising medical costs. Voter demand for change. Some say that with Democrats now in control of the state Senate and the governor's office, the climate is ripe for health-care reform in Wisconsin's legislative session to begin next month."
"Now head of the American Civil Rights Institute, Connerly has led successful anti-affirmative action initiatives in California, Washington state and Michigan and is leading drives in other states."
"This lab will allow students or community members to learn from an instructor that is located outside of the district or even out-of-state. The technology will provide students access to classes not currently offered in the district, but needed to enhance their pre-college credits."
"Lake residents fear that a high-volume well tapped into an aquifer that replenishes the lake via underground springs will lead to a decline in lake levels and ultimately harm the ecology of the basin. The ordinance says that before a well is sunk, a permit must be obtained from the district."
"Proponents of the disclosure change say it would curb the increasing influence of secret donors on statewide elections and give average people more of a say. But Lyle Walheim, 67, said he'd oppose the disclosure requirement if it meant some groups would stop airing the ads - which business groups said they would be forced to do."
[They would quit airing the smear ads? What is the down side? - Bob]
Doyle:
Take new look at civil unions"Doyle said he believes it was unfair for opponents of gay marriage to include a provision in the amendment that would ban any relationships "substantially similar" to marriage. The amendment, which passed with 59 percent of the vote, also defines marriage as between one man and one woman. "I do not believe people in Wisconsin would have voted 'no' on civil unions," Doyle said."
"Health insurance premiums increased more than four times faster than earnings for Wisconsin workers over the last six years, according to a report issued today."
"The City of Bayfield joins the cities of Ashland and Washburn and the Town of Bayfield in designating itself as an eco-municipality based in large part on the principles put forth through the Natural Step movement."
Rep
D. Obey""We understand the need of the Coast Guard to be in a top state of readiness, but they must respect the public's concern for safety and the environment," said Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis."
"But it should be noted that all of the earmarks combined don't begin to match the increase in the deficit caused by the president wasting $50 billion in supersized tax cuts for those making more than $1 million a year while other Americans sleep on the streets"
Gov.
Doyle"But individual property tax bills will rise, said Parsons and Jeffrey Browne, president of the Public Policy Forum, for properties with values that have risen more than those of other properties in the same community. That's the reason to reassess regularly, so that properties are fairly valued and property owners pay their share of taxes consistently, Browne said."
"Raising the cigarette tax by $1 a pack to $1.77 is projected to generate an additional $227.5 million a year in new state cigarette tax revenue, while leading to 90.8 million fewer packs sold in Wisconsin, according to figures by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids."
Doyle
can expect a battle on teacher salary limit"Backed by unionized teachers like Vedra, Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle seems poised for another try at rolling back the so- called "qualified economic offer" law, which limits teachers' ability to bargain for more money. A key piece in the state's school funding jigsaw puzzle for more than a decade, the provision has helped hold down taxes for homeowners by suppressing teacher wages while allowing growth in their benefits, experts said."
"According to Randall Wade, a member of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation'sintercity rail systems committee, the high-speed rail initiative would expand Amtrak service to include Madison, Green Bay and Appleton. Currently, Amtrak travels between Milwaukee and Minneapolis through Portage, Wisconsin Dells and La Crosse."
"Of the 73 clients, AADC made 17 loans through the seven revolving loan funds that AADC administers. These loans totaled of $683,000 and were matched with private financing of $1,989,000. The 17 loans helped to create 51 new full-time jobs in the Ashland County area."
"After interviewing three candidates on Thursday, the finance committee agreed to recommend to the full county board the hiring of Charles Splonskowski, who is also the chairman in the Town of Carey. The county board is scheduled to meet on Dec. 27 at 7 p.m."
"Lawyers for two unions and a retired United Auto Workers union official from Racine accused the Milwaukee-based Alliance for Choices in Education and two political arms of the national group All Children Matter of trying to "launder" campaign cash to get around state laws."
"One top adviser, who asked not to be named, said Thompson understood better than anyone that expectations about his candidacy are low. But Thompson thinks there's a void within the GOP field for a candidate who is Midwestern, Catholic and pro-life, and "he's all of those things," the adviser said."
'Funeral
procession' for progressive talk planned"Walasek, a Mic listener and lifelong Madison resident who started the petition and organized the recent rally, said Clear Channel is ignoring community interests for higher profits "in an already saturated sports market," she stated in a press release. The procession will represent "mourners who feel that free speech will die on January 1, 2007 when 'the Mic' goes off the air," the release said."
"According to the commission, the group's leader, Moua Tua Ter, accompanied 405 people to Ban Ha village in Phoukout District before returning to the jungle with a few of his guerillas. The surrendering Hmong were fed by villagers, then loaded onto military trucks and taken to an army camp."
Sen
R. Feingold"... This has to stop and the whole international community needs to deal with it." Shelter For Life, International, which specializes in refugee resettlement programs and reconstruction programs, applauds Feingold's efforts. "
Rep
D. Obey"Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, who will head the House Appropriations Committee next year, and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., who will head the Senate Appropriations Committee, said in their joint announcement Monday that they plan to omit special projects, also known as earmarks."
Gov.
Doyle"Gov. Jim Doyle urged a Thursday morning Capitol Civic Centre audience to "violate a Wisconsin value ... and start bragging about what a wonderful place Wisconsin is to have a business and raise a family.""
"Craig J. Norman of Sixth Avenue South returned home on his own after spending some time in the Battle Creek area, Erspamer said."
"The programs will be presented via videoconferencing with live speakers who will include power-point, slides, overheads and video in their presentations."
"Hours are 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday for Mercer area patrons and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday for Hurley area patrons."
"The tree cutting includes all of southeastern Wisconsin. But officials said the ash trees will be cut selectively, and mostly on public property, meaning that the search for the destructive bug will not produce patches of denuded forest."
[Edith Makra (Uban Forester at Morton Aboretum in suburban Chicago) is way out front on this stuff. She has placed Great Information at the Aroretum website. - Bob]
Doyle,
leading lawmakers agree on ethics overhaul"They put their weight behind a plan to merge the state's Ethics and Elections boards to create a Government Accountability Board that they said would give ethics watchdogs more investigative powers."
"Doyle said he would call a special session of the Legislature next month to consider the plan to create a Government Accountability Board to enforce campaign finance, lobbying and elections laws."
"There will not be less corn for people to eat - field corn for livestock and fuel is different from sweet corn, the source of corn on the cob and canned or frozen corn. Chicken companies are hoping to pass at least some of the high feed costs onto shoppers, despite resistance from supermarkets and fast-food chains, said Richard Lobb, spokesman for the National Chicken Council."
"Weather conditions earlier this week forced the Coast Guard and environmental response contractors to suspend pollution response operations for the Seneca. During that period, pollution responders assessed the effectiveness of past actions and made preparations for future response operations."
"However, as law enforcement officers moved into the school during the day, an Oneida County Sheriff's Department deputy, Greg Gardner, accidentally fired his weapon inside the building. The discharge happened at approximately 1:55 p.m., in a staging area in the school's commons. No one was injured, though a tile in the floor was destroyed. The sheriff's department is investigating."
Sen
R. Feingold“I am so grateful for all the people who took the time to meet with me and share their concerns and ideas,” Feingold said. “These listening sessions play such an important role in my job as a U.S. Senator that I don’t know what I’d do without them."
Sen
H. Kohl"The Willihnganz daughters met the senator at the door of the school and escorted him a classroom where both the classes had gathered. Kohl said it was the second time that he has visited the school. The last time was shortly after he took office in 1988."
"Three Medford, Wis., men were wet and cold Monday afternoon when they showed up at a nearby convenience store in Gile where they waited for an officer after the ATV they were riding broke through the ice on Gile Flowage."
"Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis, according to the Web site locksoflove.org."
"That's better than in 2004, when a similar analysis by the Journal Sentinel showed the proficiency gaps in several key measures between African-American and white children were larger in Wisconsin than in any other state."
Ethics
reform gets bipartisan support"Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders from both parties said today they backed an agreement for a bipartisan ethics reform package that will move forward in the Legislature in a January special session."
"Some people know exactly what they want. Some just don't want to go shopping and fight the crowds," she said. "For others, it's nice to have a fresh perspective and that's where I come in with creative ideas."
"This is a grassroots effort that's already on fire," said citizen Ros Nelson, citing the new efficient wastewater treatment plant and the composting of this year's Apple Fest refuse as examples of community interest in sustainability. "It's not requiring anyone to change overnight - it's like saying we're on board with these actions, and we want to be part of caring for the Earth."
"All totaled, the overall projected town surplus is expected to be $291,000, with anticipated spending $66,000 less than expected as of the first of the month. Revenues will likely come in around $225,000 above expectations."
Sen
R. Feingold"Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) welcomed the report's findings. "I commend the Future of Music Coalition for compiling this important report on how concentration in the radio industry is affecting radio's diversity, creativity and local content."
Sen
H. Kohl"Kohl will speak at 10 a.m. at the event, sponsored by The New North — a consortium of business, economic development, chambers of commerce, workforce development, civic, non-profit, and education leaders in 18 counties of Northeast Wisconsin."
Rep
D. Obey"The Wisconsin Democrat said Republicans had no standing to complain about how the spending measures are handled in the next Congress, given their failure to approve them this year. "They lose all right to criticize in any way, shape or form the manner in which we go about trying to clean up their mess,'' Obey said."
"On Monday, the incoming Democratic chairman of the House and Senate appropriations committees — Rep. David Obey of Wisconsin and Sen. Robert Byrd of West Virginia — said in a joint statement that they do not see how it will be possible to give full consideration to the fiscal 2007 federal budget next year while also working simultaneously on the fiscal 2008 budget. They said they are inclined to simply extend the continuing resolution and its flat spending levels through Sept. 30, 2007, the end of the current fiscal year."
Gov.
Doyle“This agreement is not only a major breakthrough on significant ethics and elections reform, it’s a very hopeful sign that Republicans and Democrats can work together,”
“Our efforts, through the Kauffman initiative, will help us to recruit and train the next generation of Wisconsin entrepreneurs and give them access to needed capital.”
"If this goes to referendum," Petrusha said prior to the vote, "it will set a precedence for other departments. It should be up to each department head to say what they want... If this goes to referendum, I'm done. I will not put a hardship on the people or the budget."
"We can't afford not to do something about it," district administrator Chris Patritto said just before the borrowing was approved on a 34-3 vote in a rare special district-wide meeting."
"The bad news: The entire Doyle-backed package of limits that held down property taxes for the past two years - and through the election cycle that ended Nov. 7 - expires this year. So, Doyle and the new Legislature that convenes next month must write new controls into the 2007-'09 state budget - or risk a return to the double-digit increases in tax bills that angered homeowners in the 1990s."
"The idea is to increase the number of Wisconsin residents with degrees and reduce the "brain drain" by offering to pay tuition for students at Wisconsin colleges and universities who commit to stay and work in the state for 10 years. Those who leave earlier likely would have to repay some of the tuition, commission members said."
Big
crowd rallies for The Mic"But critics charge the conservative Texas-based owners of Clear Channel pulled the plug right after the November elections because they were alarmed by the electoral victories of Democrats. And they say Clear Channel didn't effectively sell ads for the progressive news station."
[Folks are reminded that WCPT AM 850 from Chicago has the same programming and can be heard north to Portage. - Bob]
"Charm alone won't cut it. This is not so much a criticism of Obama himself but rather of his premature coronation as national savior."
"First, however, the real estate industry must deal with a record number of homes for sale - or "excess inventory" as the professionals put it. There are more than 5,200 homes listed for sale in south central Wisconsin, more than twice as many on the market as two years ago."
"The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that law enforcement officials were searching lockers and backpacks for the possibility that a weapon was brought to school. District Superintendent Michael Dailey said that everyone is safe and told the newspaper that nothing has occurred inside the school."
"According to Alajoki, crafting retreats are becoming very popular regionally. "There are about 10 of them in Minnesota and Wisconsin," she said. "They are gaining momentum.""
Sen
R. Feingold“It’s been over a month since the American people went to the polls and soundly rejected the President’s strategy in Iraq. Since then, 105 more brave Americans have been killed in Iraq. The President says he’s “not going to be rushed” into coming up with a new plan, but further delay is simply unacceptable. We need a timeline to redeploy our troops from Iraq and refocus on the global fight against terrorism. If the president won’t act on a timeline, Congress needs to do so right away next year.”
Sen
H. Kohl"Over the last five years, the number of FDA inspections of domestic food-processing operations has decreased, while the number of produce-related outbreaks of food borne illness has more than doubled."
"If anybody has any information as to the whereabouts of Craig J. Norman, they are asked to contact the Hurley Police Department at (715) 561-2345."
"Tobacco-Free Iron County Community Coalition and trained youth will be conducting youth tobacco compliance checks in Iron County through the end of 2006."
"Mercer's 2005-06 enrollment stood at 193, but it fell to 172 as of Thursday, according to school officials. It would have been lower, but a few new students enrolled since the start of the school year."
"Trail 8 is one of the many trails that winds through the woods of Iron County," said county trail coordinator Tara Stuhr. "This trail branches off to get you to every corner of the county -- a key trail if you enjoy the backwoods type of snowmobiling."
""But I think what Milwaukee needs to do if it wants to regain some of that balance that was lost in the last 50 years is more of a focus on education and retaining good college graduates," Parsons said. "One of the reasons Madison has such an edge over Milwaukee is having people who can fill high-tech science research jobs. A lot of that work force is missing from a city like"
"That's my goal because the thought process of letting go of 400 people on Christmas Eve just doesn't sit that well with me."
"I've seen these figures for years and I've watched them and feel very strongly that the way for us to turn this around is, first, to retain and grow the companies that are here; second, to make sure our young people stay in school and get an education, which is imperative in a world economy. Third is to do a better job selling the city because we are competing against other communities,"
"... the "Seneca," the flagship of the Duluth-based Zenith Tugboat Company, was lost on eastern Lake Superior after an unexpected storm shredded its towing gear. The disabled 94-foot long vessel drifted off into the darkness, away from it's tow, the Susan Hoey, and was assumed lost by the Hoey's skipper, Captain Franz VonRiedel,..."
Gov.
Doyle“We are doing everything possible to be prepared and to keep our residents as safe and healthy as possible during a pandemic. This web site is just one more step to help our communities, businesses, schools, organizations, and government agencies to connect.”
"Would you agree to live and work in Wisconsin for 10 years after college if the state offered to pay your tuition costs for all four years? That is the question being contemplated by a state commission that was assigned to upgrade Wisconsin's two-year college campuses - but has hatched an idea to overhaul the entire University of Wisconsin System."
"But the DNR may not wait on the Legislature to give New Berlin a green light to pursue a Lake Michigan solution, and it may not wait for what many believe is the requisite approval from the other seven Great Lakes states."
"There are major hurdles left to be cleared: The state must get approval from the federal government to make such changes, and Doyle must persuade legislators to go along with the idea by including BadgerCare Plus in the budget."
"According to a 2003 Cornell University study, my calorie-laden freshman experience is not unique. The study, which followed 60 Cornell freshmen for 12 weeks, found the students gained an average of .3 pounds each week, almost 11 times more than the expected weekly weight gain in 17- and 18-year-olds and about 20 times more than expected in the average American adult."
"Officials at Kraft Foods, Harley-Davidson and Banta said their subsidiaries did paid taxes in 2003, the year examined in the report by the Milwaukee-based Institute for Wisconsin's Future. The report did not include those payments and said only that the parent companies had not paid."
"While UW professors are nowhere near the point where lectures are available for download, some have begun to podcast or use course-related podcasts as supplementary course material."
"Skyward Gradebook is a Web-based program that records and computes teachers' grades, and Family Access allows students' guardians some access to that information and more over the Internet."
"But why the risqué calendar and not one filled with shots of fluffy cats and pretty pups? Simple: It's the shock factor, something that's becoming increasingly important for non-profits when they ask for your money."
"Olmsted is disturbed because she knows those drugs don't just go down the drain. They go into the sewer system and eventually contaminate our lakes, streams and drinking water. And she is frustrated because for Wisconsin residents there are few safe ways to get rid of expired or unused drugs."
Editorial:
Feingold's skepticism"I'm not buying the Washington embrace of this thing. ... It's time for us to have a clear plan to disengage in Iraq. This doesn't do it," declared Feingold, who notes that the report "leaves the strong possibility of an open-ended commitment."
"About half the crew will be needed to clear the right of way for the pipe, to help place the pipe and weld it, and to do work to restore the environment," Hamsher said. The remainder will be specialized welders and technicians brought in by the company. "We are now in the process of signing on contractors for the project."
"Petrusha explained a 12-year funding package for the truck that would not result in additional taxes being collected. He said the city would sell its 2001 fire truck for about $125,000 and obtain a grant-loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development. The grant would amount to $50,000. The loan would carry a 4.25 to 4.5 percent interest rate."
"With the help of the Iron County Aging Unit, the Salvation Army, many local businesses and generous people, the traditional turkey dinner with all of the trimmings has been offered for free to everyone across the Range since 1981."
"A small school in its first year in Milwaukee's private school voucher program was ordered out of the program Friday by state officials as a result of an accident in which a school bus hit a firetruck on Nov. 29, sending 18 children to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries."
"The Rayovac plant in Fennimore will cut its staff by more than one-third in February and move some of its alkaline battery production to China."
"Like many other family child care providers, Wooldridge is state-licensed and subject to regulations governing everything from the number of children she can care for to the physical layout of her home. Wooldridge said she hopes to have a greater say in such issues now that she and 7,000 other in-home family child care providers have formed a union that will represent them in negotiations with the state."
Feingold
faults Bush policy on Somalia"He visited Ethiopia and Kenya, two countries that neighbor Somalia, during his weeklong trip. An Islamic militia has taken over much of Somalia, including the capital, and the country's prime minister said this week his troops were bracing for war."
Sen
R. Feingold"So this is just the kind of situation that we should be paying real attention to, instead of only obsessing about Iraq," he said. "Our failure to have a policy in this area is a threat to the American people, and our government has a very serious responsibility to turn this around."
"The Hurley School Board is making a decision that is in the best interest of our students now and in the future. The decision is fiscally responsible and I would urge all district residents to support this move," Patritto said.
"Early signs indicate there won't be many races in Iron County's 10 towns in the April 3 spring election. Candidates began taking out their nomination papers on Friday.
"The Mercer Lioness will hold their second Great Mercer Chili Cook-Off and Tasting on Jan. 6."
"So after the Appleton physician, just elected to Congress, learned that there was mold in the office building he'll occupy next year, he first jumped into a haz-mat suit Thursday - and then into action."
"Less than two years after Kmart bought Sears, Roebuck & Co. - Lands' End's parent since 2002 - the company known for its "preppy casual" apparel and bed linens has branched out, with new lines of baby clothes and women's lingerie, investments in specialized equipment, and a Christmas catalog that could be the Midwest's answer to Texas' grandiose Neiman Marcus wish book."
"In recent weeks, Doyle's top aide, chief of staff Susan Goodwin, has invited the heads of the state's two major reform groups to meet with her to discuss prospects for overhauling campaign finance and ethics laws."
"Howard Young Medical Center (HYMC) posted a profit of $4 million in 2005, joining other Wisconsin hospitals in a record year of profit growth and putting it in a robust position compared to its nearest neighbors and to its own position at the beginning of the decade, according to a survey of the latest data by a state senator."
Sen
R. Feingold"The President should quickly sign this bill into law to ensure sufficient oversight of billions of U.S. taxpayer dollars being spent on reconstruction efforts in Iraq.”
"Under current Medicare law, Wisconsin physicians are paid less than physicians in other areas of the country—even though the work they do is identical. This provision helps address this inequity so that physicians who practice in states with large rural areas will not be at a disadvantage."
"After Clement said he wasn't stepping down, board members Tom Koivisto and Shane Wyzlic approved a motion to seek an investigation by Iron County District Attorney Marty Lipske regarding possible wrongdoing by the chairman."
"Small claims court action is one possibility for collecting the $8,000, he indicated, although it would be easier for both the school district and families if parents responded to notices of overdue bills by setting up payment schedules."
"Good Shepard Community Apostolic Lutheran Church will hold a community reach-out dinner to those in need on Saturday from noon to 2 p.m. at the church on Center Drive in Kimball."
"Stoffel's Country Store opened Aug. 14 at the former Camperland site. The store stocks food, health supplements, toys and other supplies for dogs, cats and small animals ranging from hermit crabs to hamsters and ferrets; birdseed; and food and supplies for horses."
"ARC of the Northwoods will meet today at 6 p.m. at the Hurley School library. The regional organization promotes advocacy, provides support and shares information about issues surrounding people with developmental disabilities and their families and caregivers. "
Kohl
urges FBI chief to visit city"Kohl asked Mueller to visit Milwaukee to meet with state and local officials to discuss the crime problem, to have the FBI specifically analyze the cause of the city's surge in violent crime, and to add agents to the bureau's Milwaukee office."
"At the recommendation of DNR staff, the board agreed to $1 to $3 increases in camping fees at most state parks. In most cases, the increase would rise from a base daily fee of $12 and $15. In addition, the board agreed to increase the price of three-year boat registration fees on all sizes of boats."
"Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fishery experts are formulating plans to pull thousands of carp out of Lake Wingra next spring by funneling the undesirable species into the lagoon during spawning season, then using a seine net to drag ton after ton of carp out of the water."
"The marriage amendment, which passed by an overwhelming margin Nov. 7, defines marriage as specifically between “one man and one woman,” and additionally bans any “legal status identical to or substantially similar to that of marriage,” including civil unions. Erpenbach stressed his focus was on the second part of the amendment, which effectively bans civil unions."
"It's because that date lives in infamy as the day on which this country might be said to have surrendered its innocence. And the men and women who listened in horror to radio accounts of the attacks subconsciously made a decision that they stand by today."
"But for 16 years, Ashland's Genesis 1990 — a peer-led, drop-in center for consumers of mental health services — has offered a safe space for its members to socialize and learn how to better care for themselves."
Sen
R. Feingold"Today, we remember the tremendous sacrifices of our World War II veterans and the countless contributions they have made to our country. As we welcome home a new generation of veterans serving in Iraq, Afghanistan, and around the world, we must ensure that their heroic service is not forgotten once the battles have ended and our troops come home."
Sen. Feingold is interviewed by Keith Oberman during Wednesday's news broadcast.
Gov.
Doyle“Today marks a solemn anniversary in American history, as we remember a moment that 65 years later still lives in infamy as the worst and deadliest attack on the American people."
"The current student count of around 678 at Hurley compares to a recent high of 833 in 1994-95, a year when enrollment increased by 15. By the end of this decade, the count could drop below the 600 mark."
"A special 3:30 p.m. Friday meeting of the Hurley City Council's finance committee has been called to open bids for an aerial ladder fire truck. After opening bids, the committee members will make a recommendation to the full city council, which meets next Tuesday."
"WDNR officials said temperatures and snowfall will be two key factors in how many hunters participate in the four-day season in the north. With a foot of snow on the ground in the Iron County area and the arrival of frigid temperatures, the special hunt isn't expected to attract much interest here."
"DNR officers said the collared wolf was shot broadside at 25 yards from a hunting blind with a scoped rifle, however. The animal was located when officers responded to a mortality signal coming from the radio collar of the dead wolf."
"According to the audit, revenue from the 2-cent-per-gallon tax is sent to a trustee for the Bank of New York, which administers the fund that pays off bonds issued to replace the underground fuel tanks. The $10 million was sent to the state Commerce Department instead of the state Transportation Fund, which has now been given the money, Mueller added."
"An explosion that may have started in a large propane tank devastated an industrial complex near downtown Milwaukee Wednesday morning, killing three people and injuring dozens,"
"Despite this, the coalition - led by north side bar owner Dave Wiganowsky - continues to push the issue in advance of this spring's City Council elections. They sent their survey to five aldermanic districts that Wiganowsky called "swing votes.""
“They said the domestic-partner benefits was a big problem in the recruitment, but the university was committed to get full domestic-partner benefits for employees, and that was pretty sincere,” Gomez said. “Perhaps they were naïve — and so was I.”
Landowners
offer 12.2 acres to White River Fishery area"State Rep. Gary Sherman, D-Port Wing, who has canoed the White River from the town of Mason to the Sandburn Ave. dam, echoes Steffens assessment of the river’s value. “This stretch of river is almost continuous rapids one and twos (ratings), with hardly a space to get out between and look at them,” Sherman said."
Sen
R. Feingold"Maybe there are still people in Washington who need a study group to tell them that the policy in Iraq isn’t working, but the American people are way ahead of this report."
"Tom Baade, from Naterra's Minocqua office, said environmental concerns, including the potential difficulty in building a road to the proposed sites, caused the company to back out."
"The 5:30 p.m. meeting will ask district residents whether the district should borrow $1,015,000 from the trust fund at a 6 percent interest rate to repay the unfunded pension liability. The loan would be repaid over a 20-year period."
"Deputy Darrell Petrusha and DNR warden Stuart Pfeiffer found John Walter, who had been hunting deer using a muzzle-loading rifle during black powder season, at about 11 a.m. Saturday."
"It's not perfect," said Mark S. Boyce, a wildlife population model expert at the University of Alberta. "But it may be the best we can do, given our current understanding."
"The companies that didn't pay any business income taxes include such state corporations as Johnson Controls, Kohl's, Harley-Davidson, and such national companies as Kraft Foods and PepsiCo, according to the institute's data."
"If kids are left financially illiterate, they can find themselves easy prey to savvy credit lures, financial scams and credit overload later in life. Smart financial planning and decision making, experts say, are basic survival skills in a capitalistic society."
Obey
to be named to powerful job"The announcement by Speaker-elect Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., will mark a return by Obey to the position he briefly held for 10 months in 1994, when he produced something that's very rare in this city — a federal budget completed on time. "
"Because of its relatively isolated position, the Apostle Islands is one of the few places in the National Park System where hunting is required. The intent of the wildlife plan is to establish a legal framework and consistent approach between the hunting of various species such as deer and black bear ..."
Sen
R. Feingold"And I think we have some great opportunities in the next two years to make significant progress on a number of issues of great importance to the fair functioning of our government."
"Applications will be accepted starting Dec. 1 for the fourth Dogwood Run-Walk scholarships. Scholarships of up to $300 each will be awarded to a female and male high school senior."
"The Scholastic Book Fair will be held in the cafeteria during the week of Dec . 11 through 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The book fair will also be open after the school holiday concert on Dec. 12."
"Saab, the Swedish car-maker that's a division of General Motors, verified the high mileage on Gilbert's car last summer. Almost everything on the vehicle was original equipment, except for the front hoods and other parts that were replaced after the car-deer collisions."
"Farmers face a special difficulty finding affordable health insurance, Gentile said, because often they are in their 50s, self-employed and engaged in an occupation that insurance providers consider dangerous."
"Teens aged 16 to 19 are volunteering more than twice as much of their time as they did a generation ago, the Corporation for National and Community Service reported Monday. Baby boomers, often derided as the "Me Generation," also are volunteering at a higher rate than their parents did when they were middle-aged, according to the report. And the aging parents of the baby boomers are volunteering more now, too."
""The State of Working Wisconsin 2006" by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in September found that women earned 25 percent less than men in 2005, a gap that actually increased from about 23 percent in 2000."
"The Weather Service predicts a chance of snow every day between today and Thursday, with their odds between 20 percent and 60 percent, depending on the day. In addition, the NWS expects the highest temperatures to be about the same (in the low 20s) but down to single digits at night."
"But while many students are grateful for the straightforward information, some say the organization has gone too far. The group receives nearly $90,000 in student fees. Critics say students shouldn't have to foot the bill for pleasure programming."
"Wisconsin's ranking of 40 among the states and District of Columbia comes in a detailed study released in November by the Center on Wealth and Philanthropy at Boston College. The report ranks states based on residents' giving adjusted for household income, cost of living, tax burden and other factors."
"Fraser seems to be the hot tree right now. They hold their branches beautifully," Tesch said. "People go through fads. But we still probably sell 80 to 90 percent balsam."
"Residents of Bayfield County who don't have insurance are getting a break on the price of their prescriptions by using a National Association of Counties (NACO)-sponsored prescription drug discount card provided by Bayfield County."
"Old photos show small houses with yards full of tree stumps and weeds. Liesch sees a community quickly built during the mining boom, trees cleared to make room for homes, a populace with no time for landscaping."
"Iron County hunters shot only 668 bucks this year, compared to 755 in 2005. The total deer kill in the county was 1,295, compared to 1,340 a year ago."
"Both Wisconsin Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) and State Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing) defended the perk. However, Jauch said the failure to report sick days needs to be addressed. "Accrued sick days is not a perk that is specifically given to state legislators," he said. "The issue that needs to be addressed is reporting it. We need to set up some kind of mechanism for reporting." "
"Federal budget cuts will trim millions of dollars from local efforts to collect child support money, shoving more one-parent families into poverty and onto public assistance, state and local officials said Friday. Unless Congress can be persuaded to reverse the trims or the state to make up the difference, Wisconsin counties will lose $6.3 million next year and $25.3 million in 2008, according to figures prepared by the state.
"The Administration Department drafts the governor's version of the state budget, which will be written over the next two months, before the document goes to the Legislature. As the agency overseeing the vast resources of state government, the department handles much of the purchasing and spending, personnel and borrowing done by the state."
"The 20-member eHealth Care Quality and Patient Safety Board has been working for almost a year to develop a five-year plan for statewide adoption of health information technology and exchange."
Sen
R. Feingold"On Nov. 14, Sen. Russ Feingold (D) of Wisconsin introduced legislation requiring US forces to redeploy from Iraq by July 1, 2007. Meanwhile, many Republicans are shifting into defensive mode as they give up control of oversight committees. GOP Rep. Zach Wamp of Tennessee and Sen. Johnny Isakson (R) of Georgia said this week that they are backing Sen. John McCain's plan to boost troop levels by as much as 20,000 in Iraq."
"Variations on that message reverberated in dozens of House districts and will result in an extraordinary block of legislators in the Senate, as Webb, Claire McCaskill (Mo.), organic farmer-turned-pol John Tester (Mont.), Bob Casey (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Bernie Sanders (Vt.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.) join senators like Byron Dorgan (N.D.), Russ Feingold (Wis.) and Tom Harkin (Iowa)."
Rep
D. Obey"Until recently, the U.S. Coast Guard was conducting “live-fire” exercises in the Great Lakes, with large caliber machine guns mounted on some Coast Guard vessels. Those exercises, which had never been done before, were conducted last summer after a public comment period which ended in August."
"Whether it snows or not, Iron County's snowmobile trails will remain closed until Dec. 11. That means the trails will be closed during the special Dec. 7-10 antlerless deer hunting season, but will open in time for Hurley's Redlight Rally snowmobile event on Dec. 14-17. "
"The man claimed he observed two coyotes running through the area and shot twice, thinking he missed both times. DNR officers said the collared wolf was shot broadside at 25 yards from a hunting blind with a scoped rifle, however."
"So far this year, no babies have been born in Wisconsin HIV infected, the first time - if it endures through this final month of the year - in more than 16 years."
"I think anyone in the cable industry who said, 'Let's not raise rates this year,' would either be laughed at or fired," Orton added. "And they don't have any real good reason not to raise them because many people are pissed at them anyway, and I guess they figure people can't hate them any more."
Sen
R. Feingold
"It has become clear that we can only defeat the epidemic by aggressively pursuing a combination of efforts, including broader access to good and affordable health care, prevention education, and increasing the number of health care workers in impoverished nations."
Gov.
Doyle“A few weeks ago, many thought these additional jobs were heading out of Wisconsin, but the company, the union, and my administration never gave up,” Governor Doyle said. “Because of our work together Harley will expand right here in Wisconsin and retain its operations in this state."
"But fewer than 50 families had actually collected the money as of Tuesday, prompting renewed concern among homeowners and some government officials about the pace of the program, which is called the Road Home and is widely considered the most important factor in rebuilding areas damaged by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita."
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