Local News
""This is the county in which the crime took place, the county in which the victim resides," Nielsen said. "There are thousands of people in Iron County. Exposure of this case has not been excessive or prejudicial," Nielsen said."
"Defense attorney David Malban of Duluth, Minn., said he spoke with Lipske last week about possibly adding a misdemeanor count to the current homicide charge. "I am not necessarily opposed to that because I certainly do not think the felony intentional homicide is at all appropriate and I am sure my client is not guilty of the felony," Malban said Tuesday."
"The Interior Department announced it would remove about 4,000 wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin from the endangered and threatened species list in about a month. Then the federal government turns over the responsibility for keeping wolf numbers at healthy levels to state and tribal governments."
"In his "state of the state" address, Doyle called the bill "a model for what can happen when people in both parties set aside differences, compromise when they have to, and do what's right." The bill puts oversight of the state's ethics, lobbying and campaign finance laws into the hands of one agency, which reformers have been clamoring for because ethics and campaign finance violations often overlap."
Doyle
offers agenda for health care, UW System"In his first annual address since winning re-election in November, the Democratic governor outlined a wish list that included an overhaul and expansion of the state's health-care programs for the poor, a large increase in spending on public universities and a broad effort to stamp out cigarette smoking in Wisconsin."
'Thank
you, Sen. Feingold!'"On Democratic Underground, a 100,000-member-strong Web site, members posted alerts about the meeting's progress, and the widely read liberal blog Daily Kos ran the story on its front page, sparking hundreds of comments from its readers, many of whom lauded what they regard as the Wisconsin Democrat's courage and conviction."
Ethics
reform policy passes"The bill combines the state Ethics and Elections Boards into a Government Accountability Board with unlimited resources to investigate ethics, lobbying and campaign-finance violations. The nonpartisan board would be composed of six former judges."
"U.S. Bank of Wausau has donated $20,000 to The Neighbors’ Place, 745 Scott St., to help fund a joint program that provides Hispanic residents with English-language classes and job training to help them learn computer and math skills and financial literacy."
"Energy Services Inc., which administers the state energy assistance program, reports a 15 percent to 20 percent increase in clients this heating season, many of whom had never applied for assistance in the past... Bruer said utility costs are up 107 percent in the last three years for Energy Services clients."
"Consolidation — a process in which the two school districts would become one, requiring specific legal steps — is not being considered for next school year, said Glidden's District Administrator Mark Luoma Monday. Rather, the cooperative scenarios under consideration offer steps toward possible consolidation in the 2008-09 school year."
Sen
R. Feingold"Feingold’s legislation allows for specific operations to continue in Iraq beyond six months, including counter-terrorism efforts, protection of U.S. personnel and infrastructure, and training of Iraqi security forces. The six-month timeframe provides the President with adequate time to safely redeploy the troops from Iraq."
“The Administration and Congress have a responsibility to address the recent startling increase in violent crime, and we must work together in order to fight it,” Feingold said. “I was disappointed that in his recent State of the Union address the president failed to discuss this important issue.”
Sen
H. Kohl"Last year got off to a rocky start as many low-income seniors were denied the drugs they needed at the pharmacy," Kohl said. "While some of those problems were resolved, serious issues remain that are preventing low-income seniors from getting the low-income subsidy."
"Congressman Dave Obey, along with Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold say the changes proposed by the National Milk Producers' Federation would significantly alter classified pricing formulas by increasing prices paid to dairy farmers who produce milk for the fluid milk market, while undercutting those who's milk goes to make cheese."
Rep
D. Obey"Obey declined Tuesday to discuss the earmarks issue but was eager to rebut suggestions by Republicans that there won’t be an opportunity for open debate. He added that Republicans “may not like the choices we made, but at least we made them, which is more than they can say. And we have finished more work on appropriations bills in one month than they did in nine last year.”"
"“Within the constraints of what the House and Senate leadership and the appropriators were facing, what they were able to do is heroic,” said Pat White, director of federal relations at the Association of American Universities. “With so many other competing priorities, for them to take the longer view and make investments in research and education is, to me, really inspiring.”"
"The legislation does fulfill the new majority party’s pledge to enact a yearlong moratorium on thousands of special projects — commonly referred to as earmarks — requested by individual lawmakers."
Gov.
Doyle“The November election was a decisive victory for stem cell champions and a clear signal that government dictate where science should take us. The President has proven to be out of touch on this issue and Democrats have a responsibility to lead and a mandate for action.”
Workers
of America
"It’s time for that to change—and you can play a part. The Communications Workers of America union has launched a campaign to advocate for high-speed networks. Testing your own speed, even if you are currently using a dial-up connection, will help make the new Speed Matters project a success."
"The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Commission announced Monday that it was removing the gray wolf from the federal list of threatened and endangered species for the western Great Lakes region, including Wisconsin."
"Manuelidis, whose work appears today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said the same slow-acting viruses most likely also cause chronic wasting disease, the fatal brain disease that has infected the wild deer herd in Wisconsin and other states."
"Public health officials have been fighting the threat of lead poisoning for years, but the hazard is still present in as many as 466,000 homes across Wisconsin, according to state figures."
Squeezing
Schools Day 3: For schools, an increased sense of urgency"With measures of idealism, angst, politics and analysis, Wisconsin is moving into the most intense examination in more than a decade of how it pays for its $10 billion system of public schools.
There's fresh impetus for change, as increasing numbers of the state's 425 school districts report deepening financial problems ..."
"Wisconsin wildlife officials praised the decision and said the move will allow them to manage the state's wolves on their own and better control problem animals in the state's growing population, now pegged at more than 500 after a 30-year recovery effort."
"I think it's good news for the Wisconsin DNR, for the state of Wisconsin and for Wisconsin residents, that the wolf population has recovered to the point that they no longer need to be listed as endangered," he said. "We can now start applying a more flexible management system to deal with problem wolves, and that should improve public acceptance of wolves."
"It shows the character of the kids after a tough week," said Hurley coach Gary Giancola. "We took South Shore and Butternut to the wire, and the kids responded against Mercer. It was a great game. There was a playoff atmosphere, and it was really good for us to get over the hump."
Sen
R. Feingold"These are direct quotes from the Constitution of the United States. Yet to hear some in the Administration talk, it is as if these provisions were written in invisible ink. They were not. These powers are a clear and direct statement from the founders of our republic that Congress has authority to declare, to define, and ultimately, to end a war."
“The American people do not want to see a return to the pre-Watergate days of unlimited spending on presidential elections and candidates entirely beholden to private donors. We must act now to ensure the fairness of our elections and the confidence of our citizens in the process by repairing the cornerstone of the Watergate reforms.”
"The HOME program provides formula grants to state and local jurisdictions to produce, rehabilitate, and preserve affordable housing for low income families, and this bill would target the additional funding to families most in need."
Sen
H. Kohl"Issues to be examined will be merger enforcement, the government's pursuit of civil non-merger cases, such as monopolization and unilateral anti-competitive practices, and criminal antitrust enforcement. The Justice Department's implementation of the 2004 Tunney Act amendments designed to ensure meaningful judicial review of antitrust settlements will also be scrutinized."
Rep
D. Obey" House Republicans slammed plans to advance the $463.5 billion measure without giving Republicans or rank-and-file Democrats a chance to offer changes in an Appropriations Committee session or on the House floor. But Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey of Wisconsin had little sympathy, saying Republicans wouldn't make tough budget choices before the election or during the lame-duck session that came after it."
Gov.
Doyle“Middle class and hardworking families of this state have issued a mandate, not for any party, but for action. I will ask Democrats and Republicans to pledge to work together to seize the opportunities before us.”
"Steve Schurtter of Montreal, Wis., called the Daily Globe to say albino squirrels are not rare in "The City Beautiful." "We've got so many of them," Schurtter said Thursday. He thinks some are denned up in his side yard. There is one fewer albino squirrel in Montreal than last winter, Schurtter said, because one was too slow crossing Wisconsin 77."
"A recent study that compared the economic conditions of states showed that from 2000 to 2005, Wisconsin lost almost 5% of its cropland. Only seven other places - California, Georgia, Vermont, Nevada, Massachusetts, Hawaii and Delaware, none in the Midwest - lost a greater percentage of cropland in that period,"
"... the state must consider tightening income criteria in ways that would knock some poor families off the program. The cuts could also raise parents' co-payments, cut rates paid to providers and start a waiting list for parents needing child care, she said."
Squeezing Schools Part 2: UW-Madison professor has a vision for school
funding"Odden is lead author of a new state report pushing a radical idea: Wisconsin schools should get enough money to adequately educate all children, including those with special needs, to actually meet the state's own education standards. In the process, he said, the state could significantly increase the numbers of students attaining proficient and advanced ratings on standardized tests."
"Air America Radio, a liberal talk radio network, said Monday that it had reached a tentative agreement to be sold to the founder of a New York area real estate company. The network also said that Al Franken, its longtime headline personality, would depart next month."
"We have removed the non-severability clause to allow this important legislation a chance to succeed," Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem, said in a statement this morning. "I sincerely hope the opponents do not view its removal as an invitation to dismantle these historic reforms."
Feingold to chair hearing on ending Iraq war"Law school professors from Harvard, Duke University and the University of Virginia, along with a historian from the Library of Congress, will testify beginning at 9 a.m. Central Standard Time. Historical precedents include a 1973 spending bill that cut off funding for combat operations in Vietnam as of August of that year and more recent actions in the 1990s to limit military operations in Somalia and Bosnia."
"In September, the department [the tribe's Recycling/Solid Waste Department] received a 2006 Honoring Nations Award from Harvard's Kennedy School of Government for providing services far beyond curbside recycling, including burn barrel education programs, hazardous waste collection and annual spring cleanup."
Sen
R. Feingold"With Democrats now in control, Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) made it clear the issue will be a priority for him. ''Many law-abiding African Americans, Arab Americans, Latino Americans and others live with the fear of being racially profiled as they go about their everyday lives,'' Feingold said. "
Gov.
Doyle“With new technology, and a commitment to renewable fuels, Wisconsin can lead the way – reducing global warming and helping this nation kick its addiction to foreign oil.”
“Right now, Wisconsin has a cabinet level department devoted to prisoners, but not one devoted exclusively to children and their families. By streamlining these services, we will ensure that children are getting the support they need and enable families to easily navigate the services that are available.”
"Air America CEO Scott Elberg confirmed the sale. "This is a great thing, for our affiliates, the company, the audience and every employee in our organization." .... When Franken leaves the network in a few weeks, he'll be replaced by Thom Hartmann, who already has a syndicated show on the network's lineup."
"A Canadian Commission on the extraordinary rendition case of Maher Arar has recommended that the RCMP withold information from countries with "questionable human rights records" -- with, appears to me, to be a direct slap across the face with regards to current American foreign policy."
Doyle
seeks more biofuels, less emissions"Building on energy policies enacted in his first term, Gov. Jim Doyle will push the state to invest more in wind power, ethanol and other sources of renewable energy and explore ways to reduce Wisconsin's global warming emissions."
"Protesters held signs with the names of the nearly 70 Wisconsin service members killed in Iraq since the war began. The crowd filed into the Capitol and gathered around a plaque where volunteers read the names of service members killed in the war and recited a dedication to each one."
"If Wilcox is replaced by Ziegler - a self-declared conservative - the court's balance would be roughly the same. But election of Clifford, a political liberal, or Sommers, who describes his approach in populist terms, could change the tenor of the court, where justices serve 10-year terms and are rarely defeated for re-election."
Financial
crunch takes its toll; lauded program loses ground"The number of schools in the Student Achievement Guarantee in Education (SAGE) program has fallen 17 percent in six years, and many of the 480 remaining SAGE schools are struggling to retain the program because state payments have failed to keep pace with rising costs, a Wisconsin State Journal review shows."
"Wannabe office holders singled out the four, all of whom happen to be Republican, in making their introductions Friday night at a campaign training workshop hosted by Wellstone Action! and the Progressive Majority, which helps elect left-of-center candidates to office."
Wal-Mart
given fourth extension - Spooner Advocate"Wal-Mart’s legal counsel and a senior manager said the reason why the corporation could not complete the land sale agreement now is outstanding issues concerning traffic designs and pending lawsuits. Wal-Mart’s counsel said the lawsuit against Spooner Board of Approval (BOA) that granted the development an access variance less than than the 1,500 feet from an intersection, as prescribed by the city’s ordinance, could, drastically affect the development if the court finds in favor of those suing the BOA"
"But opponents of the FCC's action say the new rules amount to a "federalization" of the cable franchising process. They contend the change will mean a loss of local oversight, fewer dollars for public and government access channels and the possibility of "cherry picking" by companies that choose to serve only the richest neighborhoods."
"One proposed corridor is simply being identified as the Iron County Loop. If approved in its present study form, it would run about 18 miles across mainly state-owned lands, connecting on both ends with existing Iron County trails."
"The sheriff's department is proposing its road patrol go to a combination of shifts, 10-hour days during the week, with 12-hour shifts on weekends... Those on road patrol want shifts similar to the dispatchers, said county clerk Mike Saari."
"Classes are competing to raise the money for their choice of charity ... The winner will donate all money raised by all classes to their choice of charity."
"St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Hurley, will hold their service at 8 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 28. The usual 10:45 a.m. service will return the following Sunday, Feb. 4. For information call 561-3242."
Wal-Mart,
Ironwood closing in on deal for city services "Negotiations between City of Ironwood officials and Wal-Mart are centering on sanitary sewer connections and fire protection. Although the 165,000-square-foot Super Center will be built in Ironwood Township, the city is also involved in the project."
"The mute swan, a non-native bird, has made southeastern Wisconsin home for the past 50 years. Some experts say the mute swans are aggressive birds that over the years have driven out other native species, such as the trumpeter swan, and are considered by some to be harmful to the environment."
"When the survey was last completed in 1994, snowshoeing wasn't even a blip on the winter sports radar. Now, thanks to improved technology and more availability of both gear and trails, 8 percent of Wisconsin residents say they are snowshoers."
Wineke:
Stand up and be counted on Iraq"I'm not at all sure where Hillary Rodham Clinton stands, or where Harry Reid stands or where our other Wisconsin senator, Herb Kohl, stands. Kohl is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. I know they don't like the war but I don't know if they are actually willing to stand up to the president and say "yes" or "no.""
"Hybrid car sales have climbed steadily, in Madison and across the country, as customers embrace the high-mileage, low-emissions concept of cars powered by gasoline and electricity. Attracted in part by a federal tax credit that once topped $3,000, Americans bought a quarter-million hybrids last year, an increase of about 23 percent over 2005."
"Under a contract filed with the state, the telemarketing service gets 80 percent of the money it raises. Dane County Deputy Sheriff's Association President Jim Brigham said Encore earns the Cops for Kids program about $35,000 a year, which means the company pulls in about $140,000."
"Supporters of a mandate say it makes sense to provide the vaccine as a way to fight a cancer that kills 3,700 American women every year. But opponents say states should not push a vaccine on the assumption that young girls are or about to be sexually active."
"Hot-button social issues such as legalizing concealed weapons and reinstating the death penalty are not on state Assembly Republicans' agenda for the next two years. Instead, party leaders said Thursday they want to focus on issues they say are important to Wisconsin families -- cutting taxes, making health care more affordable and improving the economy."
Sen
R. Feingold"Feingold, a fierce war critic, will force Democrats to consider an option many consider politically suicidal: cutting off funds for the military campaign in Iraq. Democratic leaders have privately called on members to restrain from seeking any funding restrictions and focus instead on congressional resolutions condemning the Bush policy. The resolutions are nonbinding and therefore symbolic."
"This is not a time for legislative nuancing. This is not a time for trying to forge a compromise that everybody can be a part of. This is a time to stop the needless deaths of American troops in Iraq. "We have a moral responsibility, as well as a responsibility to the lives of the American people, to start doing it now."
Sen
H. Kohl"Irrespective of whether the offer by US Airways results in a proposed merger that is formally reviewed by the department, we do feel it appropriate to underscore our firm expectation that the department will investigate this or any other merger among airlines of all sizes with all due care and vigor,"
"A practice that has long aggravated many senior citizens, struggling to pay for the prescription drugs they need, may soon come to an end. A bill to "explicitly" prohibit brand-name drug manufacturers from using pay-off agreements to keep less expensive generic equivalents off the market was announced in the senate by the new chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, Herb Kohl (D-WI)."
Rep
D. Obey"I totally agree with that," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau. "Our problem is that the president keeps talking about the need to work with the government of (President Nouri) al-Malaki, in fact, Malaki has no intention of running an evenhanded government."
"Deciding which programs get exempted from the money freeze has prompted several weeks of arduous negotiations led by Obey, D-Wisconsin, and his Senate counterpart, Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Virginia. They announced last month that they will abide by a GOP-set funding cap for all agency budgets passed at lawmakers' discretion, and they promised to keep the bill clean of congressional pet projects."
"But its readership dwindled as rival newspapers appeared, confining PoIT primarily to the publication of announcements from publicly listed companies, and financial and legal institutions by the 1900s. While the paper has not covered news stories for more than 100 years, the World Association of Newspapers recognises PoIT as the world's oldest still in publication."
"Sharpshooters are killing white-tailed deer in the Southern Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest after the discovery of as many as nine cases of chronic wasting disease on Waukesha County's border. It's the first time professional shooters are being used in the forest to stop the spread of the fatal brain disease to healthy herds that roam within 30 miles of Milwaukee County."
"The central issue in the case was whether the software bought by Menasha Corp. was "off the shelf," which is subject to the sales tax, or "modified" or customized, which is not taxable. Other Wisconsin businesses have eagerly watched the case unfold for three years. Many have filed their own refund claims, ..."
"A proposal by Gov. Jim Doyle to spend $30 million to help fund electronic medical records systems is just a "drop in the bucket" of what it would take to enable all of the state's health-care providers to access patients' histories at the push of a button, medical experts said."
"Veterans who receive care through the Department of Veterans Affairs are invited to submit their artwork for the first phase of the National Veterans Creative Arts competition. "
"According to H Window spokesman Knute Pedersen, the purchase of the building from absentee owner Frank Berzon of Florida, will enable H Window to hire up to nine new additional workers for the new product line. "Our hope would be to be able to replace all the jobs that left there," he said."
Sen
R. Feingold"Under current law, volunteers who use their cars for charitable purposes may be reimbursed up to 14 cents per mile for their donated services without triggering a tax consequence for either the organization or the volunteers. The legislation would raise the level of allowable mileage reimbursement for volunteers to 40.5 cents per mile, making it equal to the reimbursement rate of businesses, and simplify the tax code both for non-profit groups and the volunteers themselves."
A cedar log destined to become part of a stairway gets its first cut at Nikula's Cedar Mill, formerly Randall's Cedar Mill about 1.5 miles north of Ironwood.
"The lack of snow throughout Wisconsin this winter has resulted in a sharp decline in the number of fatal snowmobile accidents. A check with the Department of Natural Resources showed three fatal accidents recorded through Tuesday, compared to eight a year ago."
"A student and teacher at Mercer K-12 School won top awards from VFW District 10, which includes 26 high schools across northern Wisconsin. Senior Amanda Thomson and teacher Kay Krans were honored at a surprise assembly Wednesday morning at the school."
"An assisted-living facility with a view of Lake Gogebic would bring 15 to 20 jobs, 45 residents and a place to go for those with higher incomes."
"In most cases, the department will use the new account numbers in correspondence with taxpayers, Deputy Revenue Secretary Laura Engan said. Taxpayers will still have to write their Social Security numbers on tax forms, and in limited cases the department will have to use Social Security numbers in correspondence, Engan said."
"Doyle said the $30 million would be a mix from general budget funds and the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, which gets its money from fees collected from doctors and health care providers and pays malpractice awards. "I hope and I think everybody would agree this is an appropriate use of a very small portion of that fund to improve medical quality," Doyle said."
"The powerful Tavern League of Wisconsin, the lobbying arm for the state's taverns, wants an exemption for small mom and pop establishments. The league's lobbyist, Scott Stenger, did not define what size tavern would fit that description. He also questioned whether people would follow it. "When you go to a small tavern in northern Wisconsin, if they're smoking there, people wouldn't be shocked," Stenger said. "I just don't think you're going to have a law that's adhered to."
"Fear of the aggressive, wood-eating emerald ash borer has led university officials to order the gradual removal of most ash trees, which are known for their straight trunk, diamond-shaped bark, compound leaves and oblong crown. The plan is an attempt to stay ahead of the beetle, which has invaded several states but has not yet been found in Wisconsin."
"Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal to ban smoking in all public places, including bars, is likely to reignite a longstanding feud between local tavern owners and casinos owned by American Indian tribes. The casinos would be exempt from the proposed ban because they are located on tribal lands not subject to state or local laws."
“Even though the Hmong have been in Wisconsin for the last 30 years, there are still people who have not had much exposure to the Hmong people and don’t know much about the history, culture or reasons why we came to live in Wisconsin,” he said. “This will definitely be helpful to all people.”
"Three men are in custody following a law enforcement search of a residence about five miles east of Hayward Tuesday... Executing the search were officers of the Sawyer and Washburn Sheriff's Departments and the Wisconsin Division of Criminal Investigation's Narcotics Bureau.
Sen
R. Feingold“This hearing will help inform my colleagues and the public about Congress’s power to end a war and how that power has been used in the past. I will soon be introducing legislation to use the power of the purse to end what is clearly one of the greatest mistakes in the history of our nation’s foreign policy.”
Gov.
Doyle“Care providers still often rely on paper charts written by hand to record the treatment of patients,” Governor Doyle said. “With better use of information technology, we can transform our health care system to improve the safety and quality of health care.”
"The segment in question–”Battle for Haifa Street”–is a piece of first-rate journalism but one that only appears on the CBS News website–and has never been broadcast. It is a gritty, realistic look at life on the very mean streets of Baghdad, and includes interviews with civilians who complain that the US military presence is only making their lives worse and the situation more deadly."
"A virtual school with tough penalties for truancy and small rural schools that offer Internet foreign language classes provide a glimpse of the possibilities for cyber-education."
"Lowering the water in the reservoir may lead to unstable ice conditions," said Pat Fulsher, of UPPCO. "We urge the public to exercise caution if they're using the area around Bond flowage for recreational activities."
Doyle
to ask for bans on smoking"Gov. Jim Doyle will announce today his support for an increase in the cigarette tax of more than $1 a pack and call for legislation banning smoking statewide in workplaces and public places, including taverns and restaurants."
Doyle
seeks deal on ethics bill"Legislative leaders "have just got to figure out a way to get it together," Doyle said. "You know, 98 percent of this bill, if not more, everybody agrees with.""
Doyle
to seek $1.25 increase to cigarette tax"The measures will include a $1.25 per pack increase in the state cigarette tax, a statewide ban on smoking in public places such as bars and restaurants, and a significant increase in state money going to efforts to help smokers quit the habit, the source said."
"But telemarketers who phone people signed up for the state's no-call list were still the biggest source of gripes received by the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection last year."
"Under the current agreement, Wisconsin residents now pay less tuition at public Minnesota colleges than Minnesota residents — a situation some Minnesota higher education officials want changed."
"Personal hygiene also consumes a lot of attention, with 19 percent of us fixing our hair, 12 percent putting on makeup and 2 percent shaving while at the wheel. We trust they all want to be well-groomed corpses when they run red lights and cross in front of buses."
"It was a solitary existence for the patient sentinels, alone with their thoughts and a hand-cranked telephone, or later a radio at hand, ready to report a blaze. But their presence was crucial; being able to spot a fire at its earliest stages could mean the difference between an easily controlled spot fire and an all-consuming conflagration."
Sen
R. Feingold“With the President continuing to defend a failed strategy for Iraq, Congress must use its power of the purse to safely redeploy our troops from Iraq so that we can refocus on the global terrorist threats that are not being adequately addressed right now."
"Senators Byron Dorgan of North Dakota and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin have proposed a Balanced Trade Restoration Act that would dramatically restrict the amount of foreign goods being bought by issuing a limited number of import certificates. They claim it would end the current $800 billion trade deficit in five years flat."
Sen
H. Kohl"Year after year, we see a concerted effort by this Administration to end the COPS program and gut funding for juvenile justice and prevention programs. Virtually everyone in the law enforcement community will agree that this has been a major contributing factor to the rise in violent crime. We are not giving our states and localities the help they need,"
Rep
D. Obey"Bush also needs to get tougher with the Iraqi government, according to Laird. "I totally agree with that," said Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, referring to Laird's suggestion. "Our problem is that the president keeps talking about the need to work with the government of (prime minister Nouri) al-Maliki, in fact, al-Maliki has no intention of running an evenhanded government." "
"The Wisconsin Democrat was sitting in the House chamber on the night of Jan. 30, 1974, when President Richard Nixon, besieged by the Watergate investigation, walked in to deliver what would turn out to be his final State of the Union speech. Some Democrats refuse to stand What I remember is that when Nixon walked in, about half the Democrats refused to stand,” Obey told me in an interview just off the House floor, a few yards from where Nixon spoke. “I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is going to look terrible on television.’ Then I discovered the House members weren’t shown on television” and the TV network anchormen didn’t comment on the Democrats’ snub of the president."
Gov.
Doyle“Despite our progress over the last few years, too many of our kids are still lighting up, too many lives are being cut short, and the cost of treating tobacco related illnesses in Wisconsin alone has swelled into the billions. Today we are launching a statewide initiative that employs proven strategies to reduce smoking and save lives.”
"An early morning fire Saturday destroyed the contents of the Paw Shop, a resale and craft store operated by students at Mercer School."
"Bus service from Ironwood throughout the Upper Peninsula will change hands from Greyhound to Indian Trails in February, but no bus line has picked up service for northern Wisconsin."
"The ethics-reform package moving through the Legislature cleared its first hurdle Monday with approval from an Assembly committee, but the inclusion of controversial elements in the bill puts the package's future in question."
"The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, which holds three patents covering virtually all embryonic stem-cell research in the country, announced two policy changes and a "clarification." WARF is trying to make it easier for university scientists to conduct stem-cell research, spokesman Andy Cohn said."
"The "U.S.A." some of the students were chanting stands for a three-word insult, an unsporting acronym the first letter of which stands for "You.""
"It's important because it's a recognition that the current system is not working," Madison School District lobbyist Joe Quick said after the final meeting of the panel, which endorsed four proposals intended to improve the state's system of paying for public schools."
"Park your car in a structure at the transfer point. Grab a cup of coffee from the shop in the complex. Jump on the bus and check your e-mail on your laptop as you make the commute to work, maybe even getting paid a portion of your hourly rate for the ride because you are working."
"Across the country, ethanol plants powered by methane instead of costly natural gas or coal are on the drawing board -- a movement that could be a win-win situation for the environment and the industry. "We'll produce ethanol much more efficiently and do it in an environmentally friendly way," said Dennis Langley, CEO of Kansas-based E3 BioFuels."
"Around 11:45 a.m., district employees discovered a bomb threat note, and the building was evacuated, Mayor Larry MacDonald said. By 12:20 p.m., members of the Bayfield Police Department, Fire Department and EMS had responded to the scene, as well as representatives from the Red Cliff Police Department, Bayfield County Sheriff's Department and Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. A two-hour search of the building revealed no danger, MacDonald said, and the building reopened at about 2:10 p.m."
"After a verbal tilt with the Department of Natural Resources over the use of all-terrain vehicles on town roads for this past weekend's Kitty Kat races, town chairman Joe Handrick said he will ask the Minocqua board of supervisors to consider a special event ATV ordinance."
SenFeingold
We should not be reducing our forces in Afghanistan. Instead, we should be strengthening our efforts to defeat a resurgent Taliban – the same movement that harbored and supported the terrorist elements that attacked our country on 9/11.”
Rep
D. Obey"Last November, the American people made clear their desire for a new direction for the country. They voted for the restoration of checks and balances, greater integrity in Washington, a Congress that addresses the concerns of working families – like healthcare and education – and an economy that works for all Americans, not just the privileged few."
“The law that created the Medicare Rx drug program includes a provision, sought by the big drug companies, that prohibits Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for lower drug prices,” said Obey. “The bill we passed today would repeal that gift to the big drug companies and allow Medicare to conduct cost-saving negotiations.”
“Make no mistake. Our troops won the war. And Congress is never going to shortchange them in terms of funding or support. But the Administration’s misguided policies have lost the peace. "
Gov.
Doyle"The Community Education office of the Hurley K-12 School has scheduled eve ment classes for all area adults, regardless of residency."
"St. Isaac Jogues Church, 2611 W. Garnet St., Mercer, will host its annual pizza and bingo party on Saturday, Feb. 3, in the church parish hall at 5 p.m."
Thompson
likes his prospects"During an interview in which he described his team, strategy and stand on issues, the former Wisconsin governor and Bush cabinet secretary was, by and large, enthusiastic about his progress in the month since he formed a presidential exploratory committee."
"The state Department of Transportation is asking the Wisconsin Public Service Commission to make the DOT the "exclusive designee" to use the 511 dialing code to provide travel-related information statewide. All or parts of at least 25 states, including Minnesota and Iowa, already offer the service, since the 511 number was authorized by the Federal Communications Commission in 2000..."
"The DOT monitors frost depths under the state highways using 33 frost tubes scattered around the state and temperature probes at 58 weather stations. When the frost depth is projected to be in the 16- to 18-inch range within the next week, roads are regarded as frozen..."
"The non-partisan League of Women Voters of Wisconsin announced this morning it was withdrawing its support and Common Cause in Wisconsin urged that the measure be taken off the "fast track and repaired." "It has become clear that the bill has serious flaws which make it unacceptable despite multiple redrafts,""
"Critics contend that the limits have been particularly punitive for districts that are either losing students or whose property tax base is losing value. Supporters respond that the limits help control property tax increases and rein in state educational costs. The state spends about $5 billion annually on general aids to local school districts statewide."
"The cities of Ashland, Washburn and Bayfield, along with the Village of Butternut and Town of Drummond, were awarded matching grants for tree management plans, educational awareness and other initiatives related to trees within their respective municipalities.
Sen
H. Kohl
"Senator Kohl (D-Mke) says the Bush Administration has slashed federal funding for crime prevention and law enforcement programs and shifted those resources to fight terrorism."
Rep
D. Obey”I totally agree with that,” said Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, referring to Laird’s suggestion that Bush get tougher with the Iraqi government. “Our problem is that the president keeps talking about the need to work with the government of (President Nouri) al-Malaki, in fact, Malaki has no intention of running an evenhanded government.”
Gov.
Doyle"Arlyn Ackley doesn't sport the type of resume typical of most successful politicians: a few drunken-driving arrests and two stints in prison - once for drugs and once for stealing more than $38,000 from his tribe, the Sokaogon (Mole Lake) Chippewa. Toss in being booted out as chairman back when the feds seized control of the tribe's casino in 1998, and you might think Ackley's career as a tribal pol would be kaput. Guess again."
"If you're a Wisconsin driver, outdoor enthusiast or voter, chances are state government has sold your name, address or other potentially sensitive personal information about you."
"According to a 2004 report by the National Center for Education Statistics, 28 percent of incoming freshmen nationwide enrolled in at least one remedial reading, writing or mathematics course at postsecondary institutions in 2000. At public two-year colleges, the figure jumps to 42 percent."
"Congress must bring an end to what has been one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes in the history of our nation," Feingold said in a statement shortly after the president's Jan. 10 address. "It is time to bring our troops out of Iraq and refocus on defeating the global terrorist networks that threaten this country."
Sen
R. Feingold"At the presidential level, the existing public financing program is woefully outdated and, unless fixed, will likely be bypassed by the major party candidates in 2008. Reps. Christopher Shays (Conn.) and Martin Meehan (Mass.) and Senator Russ Feingold (Wis.) have introduced the Presidential Funding Act of 2006, which would modernize the previously successful 30-year old program."
"What ought to infuriate the chatterers -- and the rest of us -- is the way that Rice evaded, obfuscated and acted mystified when Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., pressed her on whether we're more secure for having invaded Iraq:"
Sen
H. Kohl"The MILC program replaced a system of regional dairy cartels that penalized Wisconsin dairy farmers for being the best in the business. MILC is not a subsidy check that pads a farmer's income. MILC pays out only when prices drop precipitously low, it targets only small and mid- sized farms, and replaces only a percentage of the struggling farmers' lost income."
Rep
D. Obey"Rep. David Obey, D-Wausau, voted yes on five of the measures because he took a sick day during the vote to reduce interest rates on student loans. However, he was a co-sponsor of the bill."
"The First Presbyterian Church in Hurley will hold its worship service at 11 a.m. Sunday. The annual congregational meeting and potluck dinner will follow the service. "
"Republicans, who control the Assembly, insisted that the clause must remain in the bill if they're to support it. "When bits and pieces get taken out, it guts the intent of the law," said Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem)."
"The state Natural Resources Board is holding a meeting Wednesday to decide whether the DNR will be permitted to continue eradicating mute swans in southeastern Wisconsin to make way for the native trumpeter swan."
"And although the eagles are here in healthy numbers this winter and the weekend schedule includes all of the regular activities, the events have been overshadowed in recent weeks by a controversy. For several months, the village of Prairie du Sac has debated a plan to build condominiums on the banks of the Wisconsin River directly adjacent to one of the prime eagle hangouts, Eagle Island."
"The state Educational Communications Board (ECB) announced on Friday that it was canceling a request for bids to lease the 33 educational broadband service frequencies owned by the state. ECB officials said that while the bidding process was completely legal, they wanted to restart the process with more public input and full consideration by the ECB's board of directors."
"Part of a "holistic" admissions policy that takes into account nonacademic factors like extracurricular activities or socio-economic status, race is already a factor in admissions decisions at UW-Madison. The regents hope to expand the practice to the other 25 UW System campuses, in part to increase diversity."
"Iron County Development Zone Council Coordinator Kelly Klein said this week the loans for facade improvement will be for a maximum of $20,000. The loans will be for up to 10 years at a favorable 2 percent interest rate."
"Our stumpage revenue was up in 2006, but we're going to struggle to meet that figure this year because the pulp market is depressed," Glonek said.
"Upon successful completio n of the probationary period, the assistant highway commissioner will then step into the highway commissioner's position at a salary of $50,000 to $56,000, plus benefits."
"The forestry committee early this week narrowed the field from six applicants to two. One is from Wakefield and the other from Bessemer, according to acting forestry administrator Gary Glonek."
"In her monthly written report to the board, Traczyk said she's writing a new 21st Century Community Learning Center grant. It's due by Jan. 31 and would fund the district's afterschool program from $50,000 to $100,000 per year for a five-year period. She said the focus of the grant will be reading and mathematics and there will also be a "strong emphasis" on physical activity, healthy lifestyles and nutrition."
"A recent review of the kitchen area revealed pots, pans, dishes, silverware, coffeemakers and serving trays are missing, he said. Anyone with knowledge of who might have entered the church and removed the items is asked to contact Swetkovich at (715) 561-3561."
"Ziomkowski said because government funding of mental health services has increasingly been restricted to the most severe or emergency cases, many of the cases which Catholic Charities now takes, may not be accepted at Community Mental Health. Current clients' cases are now being assessed on a "case-by-case" basis, and the Catholic Charities here should still be called in the interim, he said."
"I respectfully ask members of the Legislature and the governor to support additional tools, not fewer tools, to prevent and detect violations of the law," Blanchard said.
"Some state officials want teenage smokers to think twice about their habit before it lengthens into a lifetime. A proposed $1 per pack increase in the cigarette tax to $1.77, which languished in the last session of the Legislature, is building momentum, supporters say."
How
low can it go? Pump prices fall back below $2"Wineke noted that during his State of the Union Address last year, Bush made grand promises about a comprehensive energy plan, but since then, the Republican Administration has done nothing to make our nation less dependent on oil. "Under Republicans, big oil reaped record profits and huge government subsidies while Wisconsin residents paid the price at the pump," he said. "Today, Democrats said enough is enough.""
"Drafted by Rep. Suzanne Jeskewitz, R-Menomonee Falls, the bill would require students with state-provided grants to reimburse the state for any coursework in which they failed to meet a C standard."
"Safety is always the first concern," Hansen said. "I'm guessing that the people putting pressure on the county to open the trails - the business and resort owners - would be mighty unhappy if they had a guest killed or seriously injured because the trails were not inspected properly."
Sen
R. Feingold“Today’s Senate passage of groundbreaking ethics and lobbying reforms was a resounding victory. In November, the American people demanded real change, and the Senate has responded with a strong bill that will bring an end to the status quo. I will continue this fight until these changes become law.”
Gov.
Doyle"I hope the President will finally get the message – that instead of rewarding the big oil companies, we need a federal energy policy that protects consumers, invests in renewable energy, and delivers relief to hardworking, middle class families in Wisconsin and across the country."
"State taxpayers likely will have to pitch in hundreds of thousands of dollars - and perhaps much more - to provide credit monitoring to help protect the 171,000 people whose Social Security numbers inadvertently were printed on the outside of tax booklets."
"The deadly 1918 flu virus harms monkeys the same way today's bird flu strikes some people, says a new study led by a UW-Madison researcher. Both viruses inflict an unusual immune response that kills instead of protects, the study found."
"For reasons yet to be explained, demand for homeless shelters has risen significantly. Despite a mild December, shelter use for the month was up by 25 percent compared to the same period a year ago. And new single-night records are being set for the number of homeless people taking shelter."
Editorial:
Focusing on food safety"When Democrats took charge of the Senate this month, Kohl became the chairman of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Food and Drug Administration budget. As such, he cannot be ignored when he says, "There's really not very much food safety regulations on fruits and vegetables. And a large percentage of what we eat is imported. So there needs to be a lot of oversight.""
Sen
H. Kohl"Kohl noted that there are nearly 2,200 fewer Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents devoted to traditional crime since 2000. In addition, funding cuts in the COPS program has meant that the Milwaukee Police Department, which received $1 million from the COPS program in 2002, received no funding at all last year."
"Senator Herb Kohl is expected to reintroduce a bill that would make the payments at issue illegal. While the legislation received bipartisan support last year, it never received a vote on the Senate floor."
Gov.
Doyle"This study confirms what we already know – Wisconsin is a great place to do business,” Governor Doyle said. “In the study, Wisconsin earned an A for economic performance, showing that our diverse economy is creating good jobs for hardworking families, and our strategic economic polices are providing the business climate necessary to fuel further economic growth.”
"Parents will be able to use the software, named "Zephyr," to find out what name, age and location their children use to represent themselves on MySpace, the Journal said. It would not allow parents to read their children's e-mail or see their profile pages, and it would alert children that their information was being shared, the paper reported."
"We've now got a line drawn in the sand. If attendance doesn't improve and students do not take the appropriate steps, we will then go to the court system,"
"After fire destroyed Skylawn Supper Club and owner Leigh Miresse decided not to rebuild, she wondered what to do with her famous recipe for Hungarian mushroom soup. She has decided to share it with the Friends of the Mercer Public Library, to place in their "Great Beginnings" recipe booklet."
"Though none of the charges filed Tuesday - first-degree intentional homicide while armed, concealing of a corpse and felon in possession of a firearm - included hate crime penalty enhancers, Marinette County District Attorney Brent DeBord said the investigation was continuing into whether other charges should be added."
"The ethics reform bill is the subject of a special session of the Legislature, which Gov. Jim Doyle called last week. The bill would merge the boards and create a Government Accountability Board, which a panel of six former judges would lead."
"MercyCare believes health coverage is a personal insurance that isn't meant to cover a surrogate situation where our insured is getting paid or doing a favor for someone who is not insured," MercyCare attorney William Toman said T uesday."
"The spirit of international service still burns strong on campus, Shapiro added. "The culture of the state of Wisconsin, as manifest in the students here at UW-Madison, is that service is high on the radar. People see this as an important part of their life's work."
"There has been legislation introduced to restrict the ability of Wisconsin researchers to conduct stem cell research, and it seems to me it's time to make a very clear statement that we support stem cell research in Wisconsin,"
"California and Wisconsin are among 14 states that fund corridor service that Amtrak wouldn't otherwise provide. Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Trent Lott, R-Miss., are expected to announce the introduction of legislation today that would, among other things, encourage more state investment in Amtrak by making federal matching funds available."
"It's easy to personalize the www.centurytel.net portal to individual tastes," said Wally Purdun, area operations manager. "I encourage everyone to try it out. CenturyTel is continually developing services and plans to meet our customers' lifestyles. I know they'll want to make www.centurytel.net their homepage."
Sen
R. Feingold"I am pleased that the President has been forced to return to the law and that this program has been terminated. I continue to have many questions about what the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court has decided and intend to scrutinize carefully how the Court has interpreted the FISA statute."
"I hope that all of you use today as an opportunity to share and revise ideas, options, lessons, and analysis that will help the U.S. and international community contribute to stabilizing Somalia. I also hope that you start with the premise that the United States can do more."
Sen
H. Kohl"When big brand-name drug companies pay generic manufacturers to stop generic drugs from reaching pharmacy shelves, consumers lose big-time," Kohl said. "We can't say we care about the high cost of prescription drugs while turning a blind eye to backroom deals between brand and generic drug companies. This practice has got to stop."
Rep
D. Obey“The law that created the Medicare Rx drug program includes a provision, sought by the big drug companies, that prohibits Medicare from negotiating with drug companies for lower drug prices,” said Obey. “The bill we passed today would repeal that gift to the big drug companies and allow Medicare to conduct cost-saving negotiations.”
Gov.
Doyle“Cleaning up brownfields is about more than just renewing damaged or vacant land – it is about renewing the pride of a community, and restoring jobs and productivity,”
“Helping seniors and people with disabilities move back to the community – with more appropriate care – will save taxpayer money. More importantly, it will help seniors and people with disabilities live with the dignity and independence they deserve.”
"The administration is replacing U.S. Attorneys throughout the country. How'd they get that power? It was an obscure provision in the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act, and it didn't take them very long to use it. The president signed it into law in March of last year -- by June, they were already moving to replace unwanted prosecutors."
"Elsemore said he considered contacting the Department of Natural Resources, but didn't want the bear to be shot with a tranquilizer dart because it was so high in the tree that the fall might kill it. He figured when the dogs settled down, the bear would retreat from the tree and be on its way."
"Patritto said some insurance changes might save the district money next year, when state aid will provide only about 53 percent of the total budget costs. Three years ago, the district was funded at about a 60 percent state aid rate."
"Silver Express will perform Wednesday morning at the 86th State Education Convention at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee."
"Parents often must make their way through a bureaucratic gantlet that includes complex regulations, confusing paperwork and understaffed county agencies. As a result, almost half of the uninsured children in Wisconsin are eligible for state health programs - but not enrolled."
Anti-war
sentiment defies boundaries""Why don't we impeach this guy?" an older lady upset with President Bush shouted from the back, to widespread and raucous laughter. Isn't Bush a lot like Hitler? a bearded man suggested. "But seriously," added a young woman standing behind the last row, "will you go on a date with my mom?" Feingold has done more than 1,000 of these "listening sessions" now, and knows how to sidestep a question. Just like he knows when to admonish somebody."
At King Day
celebration, Doyle proposes commission"Far too many of our citizens, particularly African-American males, are serving their time in prisons rather than learning in our schools or succeeding in the workplace. We cannot sit by and simply let this continue,"
"Now Wisconsin is about to begin the nation's first experiment at testing newborns for this killer, officially named SCID, in hopes of giving babies like Anthony a chance at lifesaving treatment - even as scientists ask how many infant deaths attributed to infections really might be due to the immune destroyer."
"Forty-five percent of U.S. employers indicated that they would have hired more permanent professional staff in the past six months if they could have found candidates with the right skills, while 38 percent said they are paying higher wages for the same positions compared to the previous year."
"Madison officials could become the first in the nation to protest a state ban on gay marriage with a strong dissent added to their oath of office. Madison residents voted 2-to-1 in November against the ban, which passed easily statewide. The City Council will consider a plan today to allow elected and appointed officials to register their disagreement when they take their oaths of office and swear to uphold the Wisconsin and U.S. constitutions."
"Similar to putting checks on adult entertainment facilities, city officials are looking to constrain the number of title loan stores, check-cashing businesses and pawnshops — or at least keep them far away from each other."
"Scenery along the trails includes towering hemlock and red pine, aspen mixed with balsam fir, and the wide expanse of the Little Turtle Flowage. Grouse and deer may occasionally be observed as well as wolf tracks."
"The students created more than 100 gift packages that included items they had made themselves. Inside were miniature decorated Christmas trees, ornaments, home-made cookies, candy and Christmas cards."
""She is a busy little girl," said Jeanne. "I know why you have children when you're younger." Since late November, when their son Troy Murray and his wife Yesenia were deployed to Iraq, the Kerns have been fill-in parents for their only granddaughter."
"The Van Evera Lecture "Is God Green? Exploring the Link between the Environment and Spirituality" will be Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Congregational Church, 214 Vaughn Avenue, Ashland."
"This is a trend that is going to be increasing and growing, and it's really difficult to predict what the schools of the future are going to look like."
"The tram will allow visitors, especially seniors and families with young children, to move more easily between the parts of the garden, including the Thai Garden and Pavilion on the other side of Starkweather Creek, Beam said. The current perimeter pathway is blanketed in grass, so the pavement also will make getting around on foot easier."
Wineke:
Feingold on target about war"Is he going to be successful in that effort? No. Is he going to be accused of turning his back on our valiant troops? Yes. But, given the fact almost no one, aside from President Bush and a handful of men who hope to succeed him in 2008, seems to believe the escalation the president plans in Iraq will succeed, perhaps we ought to see Feingold's message as being the only one that makes sense."
Doyle
orders new panel on blacks in state prisons"Far too many of our citizens, particularly African-American males, are serving time in our prisons rather than learning in our schools or succeeding in the workplace,"
"The DNR would lift a sunset provision in the rule, meaning the hunt could take place in future years. The hunt was approved by the Natural Resources Board in 2006. Clarifications to the special youth gun deer hunt and deer hunting in state parks also are on the hearing agenda."
"Although it was certainly cold enough for the white stuff on Saturday, a dusting of snow across the fields of the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center proved to be the only thing needed for more than 20 participants in the 21st annual Sleigh and Cutter Rally."
"Creation of the film by Science North of Sudbury, Ontario, could bring national, and even international, attention to Bad River and the Great Lakes as a whole, but it also is helping to facilitate research on some notable reservation inhabitants — bald eagles."
"The willingness of most mainstream media outlets to continue to treat seriously the absurd and propagandistic claims of this president and his aides is at least as damaging to the discourse and, by extension, to the American experiment as the collapse of congressional oversight."
"We always try to strike that balance between being the strongest advocate possible for traffic safety and not going too far to infringe on people's rights,"
Escalation
is not the answer"The first is that the administration doesn't have a clue about how to bring the insurgency in Iraq to a successful conclusion. The second is that our unilateral blundering has left us more isolated in world affairs than at any time since the end of World War II."
"The Middleton Democrat has said he believes the measure wouldn't affect the prohibition on gay marriage but would invalidate the second part of the ban, which forbids civil unions for gays and lesbians, and possibly others. Erpenbach said his proposal would roll back that second part, which he believes has less support from voters than the gay marriage ban."
"The Wisconsin State Journal editorial board considers the following issues to be among the most important facing south-central Wisconsin in 2007. "
"Krisberg said over the years that three key issues have been identified: the quality of legal representation for poor kids; whether the system is using objective rather than subjective decision-making; and whether communities invest in programs to assist youth where they live."
Sen
R. FeingoldEditorial:
Pairing up for reform"There is little question that, if it were to be enacted and fully implemented, the Feingold-Obama bill would change the way the Senate operates. Nor is there any question that the change would be for the better."
"The state’s goals in purchasing the land are to protect the critical fish spawning habitat, preserve the scenic qualities of the area, prevent development, provide opportunities for public recreation and connect the Chippewa Flowage Scenic Waters Area with the Chief River Widlife Area."
"Just last week, Benson said, the company put its latest strategy to work, purchasing 76,000 acres of forest land in northern Wisconsin..."The acquisition is a perfect example of our strategy," said Michael Covey, company president and chief executive officer, in a press statement. "Our objective is to maximize shareholder value through identifying and acquiring land with strong timber values.""
"That means families with children looking for places that are friendly, beautiful, safe and uncongested. The Fox Cities and Madison are close enough, the council reasons, for spontaneously planned getaways to Oneida County."
Sen
R. Feingold"In the letter, Feingold urges the FCC to not entrust an industry that "former Attorney General [Eliot] Spitzer has already shown to have violated payola rules" to police itself. Feingold urges Martin to "instead seek strong binding settlements that ensure future compliance with the law and reassure consumers they will have access to small, independent and local labels and artists via the public airwaves.""
"Oxfam yesterday confirmed at least 70 nomads in the Afmadow district near the border with Kenya had been killed. The nomads were bombed at night and during the day while searching for water sources. Meanwhile, the US ambassador to Kenya has acknowledged that the onslaught on Islamist fighters failed to kill any of the three prime targets wanted for their alleged role in the 1998 US embassy bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam."
"The ruling by judge Michael Nowakowski gave a rare court win to advocates for gifted student education. Yet the judge rejected a request that the DPI create rules detailing what programs districts have to provide to gifted students and provide a more vigorous enforcement of its standards."
""You don't deal with ethical problems by providing less oversight, so we're hoping this (bill) doesn't just transfer where the oversight is and that it adds to the oversight. So we're doing what we can to make sure that takes place," Van Hollen said."
"Utah is now scrambling to find a way to keep college students from pulling out concealed guns in their dorms. The Utah supreme court ruled that the state's concealed carry law prohibited the University of Utah from banning guns on campus."
"In an optimal world you would have one format," Kevin Tsujihara, president of the Warner Bros. home entertainment group said this week. "But there are many industries where multiple formats have existed and flourished."
"Arft said the tribes clearly articulated the quality of the application, the economic need of the two tribes and the higher-than-average unemployment rate in Beloit. Skibine’s response was that all three of those factors speak well for the application paperwork, and he expects the application to be reviewed by his office and forwarded on to the next level within the next 60 days, Arft said."
Escalation
Scoreboard: Seven GOP Senators Opposed, Nine More Skeptical -
TPM Cafe"So we're keeping track here at Election Central of which GOP Senators have passed judgment on the plan and what they've said. Here's the tally as it stands now: Seven Republicans firmly against and nine more expressing reluctance or skepticism."
"The well depth was approved by the Department of Natural Resources, although the DNR usually requires deeper wells. Hofman said installation of the well should be completed by Friday. "
"Council members agreed no action will be taken on the sale of the city land to Montreal for at least two or three months, while Hurley drills and tests a well at the K-12 school site."
""If the city doesn't want it, the prudent thing to do is hang on to it for possible use in the future," said Rev. Michael Hayden about the former Sacred Heart Catholic Church and the city council's decision Tuesday not to accept it as a donation."
"Residents of the area who have knowledge of alumni are asked to compile a list of names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mail addresses to bring to the lunch. Participants will eat lunch, learn more about the foundation and have a chance to win a door prize."
"Naturalist Zach Wilson will lead a guided snowshoe trek through a remote section of old-growth forest on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to noon."
"The all-you-can-eat buffet will be held at The Rustic at Manitowish Junction from 5 to 9 p.m. The cost is $7 for adults; $4 for children under age 12."
"Only one of Wisconsin's three Republican members of Congress - Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner - is embracing the president's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq."
"The complaint asks the board to rule that the alliance's $90,000 donation to the Virginia group broke Wisconsin law, which says corporations cannot make donations in partisan elections."
"The proposal, released Wednesday by lawmakers and Gov. Jim Doyle, would create a Government Accountability Board and would require that the entire proposal be struck down if any part of the complex, 85-page bill is found unconstitutional."
"I think the motive for the state is, quite simply, to get money to plug a hole in the budget, with little regard for the future utility of these frequencies for educational purposes," he said. "The sad thing is we're selling them for much less than their value."
"The beauty and attractions of Northwest Wisconsin will again be showcased on Discover Wisconsin Television. The program, titled "Do It All in Northwest Wisconsin — Your Adventure, Your Escape," is slated for broadcast on Saturday, January 20 and Sunday, January 21."
"Donald Richards, chairman of the council's public works committee, said water usage through the City of Ironwood was down 40 percent in December, compared to the previous December. Also, the amount of sewage sent to the Ironwood plant for treatment dropped 61 percent."
"Morzenti's October 2005 proposal to consider turning the church building into a community center was mulled around for several months, and was then dead in the water. The main drawback to using the church building as a community center appeared to be the cost of heating it. "There's an old furnace in the building," Morzenti noted then. "It's something to think about." "
""It is only dangerous at high levels, and long term," Hagemann said. "Anything can be dangerous. It is dosage sensitive." He said the American Dental Association has determined the proper dosage, and there are no health issues."
"According to Xcel Energy, about 191 customers were affected by an outage which occurred at 5:14 p.m. in the area between the Iron County Credit Union west to River Road, along U.S. 2."
""A new challenge now faces Wisconsin - and the nation," says Paul Delong administrator of the DNR Division of Forestry. "Who will be the next stewards of the state's forests? Will it be the children of current landowners? And will these offspring maintain the same commitment to the land as their parents?""
"A no contest plea is considered by the court to be a guilty plea. Conviction on the charges carry with it up to 90 days in jail and or $100-$1,000 and the cost of prosecution; forfeiture penalties depending on the type of animal taken and no hunting license for the year of conviction and the following three years."
State
ethics panel would use ex-judges"The governor and legislative leaders announced last month that they had reached agreement on the bill. In a statement, Doyle said the package of changes would "put real teeth behind our laws, and reaffirm public confidence in government.""
""If you would have been here, you would have seen kids laughing and dancing and having fun," he said. "You would have seen people bringing food in." They were talking about their culture and the influence of Kwanzaa."
"We Be Bio would have needed to invest an additional $1.5 million to remain in compliance with state regulations, Dahl said. Even though the plant's demise was not due to the same pressures now facing the industry, Dahl said even if she would have raised the money to stay in business, those pressures would have forced her to close anyway. "I would say the chances of any small biodiesel plant making it now are pretty slim," she said."
"Scott Larrivee, spokesman for the DOA, said the actual scope of the study would be determined by the end of March, but it would likely consider several options, including the construction of a cogeneration facility, which produces steam heat, chilled water and electricity at the same plant."
"The eight-panel flag display placed in front of a Rib Mountain business last year was determined to be an emblem of a nation this afternoon, making it exempt from a town statute that forbids distracting signs."
Sen
R. Feingold"Almost four years after this war began, Iraqis are no closer to a political agreement or to resolving the underlying political, ethnic, religious, and economic problems that are ripping the country apart."
“It is disheartening to learn that the bureaucratic inefficiencies of the Justice Department have denied important funds that could have helped reduce our nation’s increasingly serious violent crime problem.”
“Tonight, the President ignored the recommendations of members of both parties, military leaders, foreign policy experts, and the will of the American people by announcing that he intends to escalate our involvement in Iraq by sending more troops there. Congress must bring an end to what has been one of the greatest foreign policy mistakes in the history of our nation."
"Conditions in Iraq are deteriorating, the strain on our military is increasing and the threats we face to our national security elsewhere in the world continue to grow. We can't afford to wait any longer. Congress must use its main power - the power of the purse - to put an end to our involvement in the war in Iraq."
Sen
H. Kohl"The MEP program is one of the few federal initiatives that provide practical, usable assistance to the manufacturing sector to help companies stay in business and retain jobs. By making it possible for employers to operate more efficiently and compete more ably, MEP has been successful in saving good-paying manufacturing jobs in my state,"
"I heard little encouraging in the President's remarks tonight. Against the advice of many of his senior commanders, the Iraq Study Group, and a clear majority of the American people, he is proposing to send more troops to Iraq -- an approach we have tried before that has failed to reduce violence in the region."
Rep
D. Obey"The quickened pace was apparent yesterday. During debate, Appropriations Committee Chairman David R. Obey refused to hear a question from Rep. David Dreier, California Republican. "I didn't hear what you said, but I don't have the time to yield anyway," the Wisconsin Democrat told Mr. Dreier..."
Gov.
Doyle"In 2007, we face a new – yet equally important task. We’re fighting to make sure everyone has access to education, healthcare, and a chance to succeed in the economy. We’re fighting for a future where people are not just equal in the eyes of the law, but have an equal chance to realize their God given potential."
"City auditor Dave Traczyk said before the meeting the debt to the Wisconsin Retirement System is around $250,000. Ryskewecz was instructed to contact the State Trust Fund and area banks about loan rates to retire the debt. "
"It was not immediately known what caused the black-out, or how many customers were affected, and Xcel Energy could not be reached for comment prior to presstime Monday night."
"He said Muellerleile "recalled blackness right before the accident." Foryan said Muellerleile said on the previous day he had had "quite a long day and he was tired." In an earlier statement, defense attorney David Malban from Duluth said Muellerleile was returning from his ordination ceremony in Minnesota, where he had just been ordained as an ELCA Lutheran minister."
"The 60-page, full-color birding guide features a complete description of each birding hotspot and its signature and rare bird species. Driving directions, maps, parking, phone numbers and Web sites, and a handy gazetteer reference make finding Wisconsin's feathered friends a snap."
"George and Judi Vlach and their daughter, Allison, all from Des Plaines, Ill., have "adopted" the Hurley K-12 School for the past two years. They are frequent visitors to the area, to snowmobile and ski."
"The Hurley School District works hard to make learning interesting and fun," Innes said. "As a Mobil retailer, I am proud to help young people in the Hurley School District."
"Saturday is the Winter Blast celebration at the Sno-Goers barn with live music by Magnum from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. and food from 10 a.m. to midnight. There will be food refreshments and raffles all day."
"The fiancée of a squirrel hunter arrested after the weekend death of a Green Bay hunter said Tuesday that he told her he was shot in both hands by the other man during a confrontation and ended up stabbing the man."
"State law requires such people to take an oath to support the state and federal constitutions, said Cindy Wick, executive assistant at Madison's Equal Opportunities Commission. On Tuesday, the City Council is expected to take up a proposal that would allow them to add to that oath that it was taken under protest and promise to "work to eliminate this section from the Constitution and work to prevent any discriminatory impacts from its application.""
"The study, released today, found that health care workers across the country - including those in Dane County - are priced out of the housing market, even as the demand for their skills rises with an aging population."
"Lasee acknowledged that every decision to grant bail carries with it the risk that the accused will not show up for trial, but he said that risk is even greater in the case of illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes. Lasee said his bill, which is still being drafted, would require prosecutors to check the immigration status of anyone charged with a serious crime, such as sexual assault."
"Wausau Child Care’s Franklin Street Center will close Thursday and Friday following an outbreak of norovirus, which causes diarrhea and vomiting. More than 40 children and some staff members at the Franklin Street Center have contracted the virus, said Laure Blanchard, the center’s executive director. That represents more than half the children enrolled, she said."
House
OKs Obey bill to tighten control on intelligence agencies"One of the problems noted by the bipartisan 9/11 commission was the lack of proper congressional oversight of our intelligence community," Obey said in a prepared statement. "This joint panel is intended to solve that problem by allowing effective oversight of both the operations and the budget of our intelligence community while keeping that budget in the proper context of overall national security needs."
Sen
R. Feingold"Wisconsinites and all Americans need relief from the astronomical prices of prescription drugs. This legislation will help make safe medications more available to those who need them.”
“This bill is a way for Congress and the public to finally understand what is going on behind the closed doors of the executive branch so that we can start to have a policy discussion about data mining that is long overdue,”
“The Senate should catch up with the House, the President, and the many Senators who already voluntarily file electronically by passing this reform which has broad bipartisan support.”
Sen
H. Kohl"U.S. Senator Herb Kohl has been named to serve on the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense. The Defense Appropriations Subcommittee has jurisdiction over the Pentagon=s annual budget."
"Last year's outbreaks should serve as a reminder that we can't shortchange the agency and cut inspections of food and produce. We've got to make sure FDA has the right procedures and resources in place to adequately inspect home-grown and imported fruits and vegetables."
Gov.
Doyle“Now I’m calling a Special Session of the Legislature to move forward on this bipartisan package, which will put real teeth behind our laws, and reaffirm public confidence in government.”
“President Bush’s restrictions have delayed that research for far too long. Once again, Congress has a critical responsibility this week to do the right thing so that scientists can unlock cures to diseases we have long thought incurable.”
"Others claimed the new Rochester Road and Big Beaver location at the old Wagon Wheel Restaurant is the gateway to a desired world class Big Beaver corridor and shouldn't include a business like Hooters."
[Is there a point where you have to ask where all the adults have gone? - Bob]
"Of the 121 Wisconsin bank robberies in 2006, only 46 - or 38% - had been solved by the end of the year, statistics from the Federal Bureau of Investigation show."
"A bottle of tequila, a group of teenagers, cheap jewelry from the mall, and a needle. If all goes well, the outcome will be hangovers and a few bejeweled body parts. If things don't go well, it could lead to an emergency room visit with potentially fatal complications."
"The girls do homework, listen to CDs on headphones, and spend time with friends. Sometimes, if she finishes her homework, she'll play chess, "quietly," Mitchelle said. Sixth-grader Antonia said she likes to read."
"For the first time since weather records first began to be kept in the 1870s, northern Wisconsin had a brown Christmas in 2006. And for the first time in living memory, Chequamegon Bay was mostly open during the second week in January."
"The layering of the land in the Gogebic Iron Range, Brown explained, puts the iron at a 70-degree angle, versus the approximately 15-degree angle in the Mesabi Range of Minnesota. That makes the Minnesota iron much easier to extract through an open-pit process and avoids the removal of "waste rock" around the iron in this area. Not only is the Gogebic iron tougher to get to, but the surrounding area also lacks the infrastructure to process and transport the iron."
""We have a reputation for being good stewards of the land and for being good members of the community," said Mark Benson, a company spokesman, speaking by phone from company headquarters in Spokane, Wash. Still, questions remain about the fate of these forested lands, questions about public access and about how much acreage might be sold for commercial or residential development."
Sen
R. Feingold"If we’re going to eradicate al Qaeda in East Africa, we need to ramp up support for an international peacekeeping force, work with Somalia and its neighbors to create an inclusive, national government, and establish an international trust fund to help the Somali people rebuild their country and create the conditions for lasting peace.”
"The following letter, acquired by RAW STORY, was delivered to President Bush Monday, in response to an article published in the NY Daily News which revealed that Bush had written into a "signing statement" that the President could open Americans' mail."
Rep
D. Obey"The commission recommended a merger of authorization and oversight, and we could not do that because appropriations has to allocate spending to areas of intelligence outside of the intelligence community for the Army, Navy and other armed services,"
"If snow is in the forecast, Iron County Highway Commissioner Bob Peterson said he begins his work day at about 3 a.m. It's his job to call out the drivers, and they're plowing the roads by 4 a.m., Peterson said. "
"Some skiers expressed their concerns about the narrow trail conditions, which are great for traditional skiing, but create a problem for freestyle skiing, especially when skiers are competing for time."
"Students at the Hurley K-12 School participated in the annual coloring and writing contest sponsored by the Saxon-Gurney American Legion Auxiliary."
"Dr. Eric Anderson, a professor of Wildlife at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, will give a presentation on the status of cougars in Wisconsin Thursday at 6 p.m. at the North Lakeland Discovery Center in Manitowish Waters."
"When asked if there was any connection between the Sawyer County slayings and the death in Marinette County, Kanikula said "at this time, no. But that's not gospel. I don't have those answers yet. "What the circumstances are or what caused this incident, we're still sorting through everything.""
"It could save the Navy millions of dollars each year and reduce a headache that has plagued the shipping industry for hundreds of years. It also could help to clean up water treatment and industrial intake pipes across the Great Lakes."
"It's the third year since 1985 that no infants were reported to have been infected with HIV. The others were 1999 and 2004. Experts applaud the progress but say a lack of routine testing of pregnant women for HIV is preventing further success."
Feingold
to introduce ethics plan Monday"The bill by Feingold, D-Wis., and Obama, D-Ill., would, among other things, ban lobbyists and the groups that employ them from making gifts to members, create an Office of Public Integrity to investigate ethics complaints, and ban a member from negotiating for future work as a lobbyist."
"Bad River Tribal Operations Manager Ray DePerry confirmed Thursday the meeting has been arranged. Details on what is being signed have not been released, but it is anticipated that the meeting is related to the tribes’ Beloit Casino Complex proposal."
Sen
R. Feingold“We now have the opportunity to give the American people what they deserve and demanded in November – real ethics and lobbying reform that holds their elected officials to the highest ethical standards.”
"We need strong, sustained leadership at the ODNI to ensure that our intelligence is objective and accurate, that our intelligence capabilities are organized to effectively meet the threats confronting our country, and that our citizens are protected consistent with our laws and the Constitution."
Sen
H. Kohl"I am very pleased that Milwaukee will continue to receive this critically needed funding to clean up lead in our city's older homes,"
Rep
D. Obey"He played his harmonica with Willie Nelson and Neil Young at a Farm Aid concert some years ago. He played "Amazing Grace" during a 2005 memorial service for one of his mentors, Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson. Rep. David Obey is playing a new gig — minus the harmonica — as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee."
"How can you ever expect to get to a balanced budget if you're spending $100 billion a year on Iraq borrowing the money to do it, if you're giving $50 billion a year in tax cuts to people who make over a million bucks a year and paying for that with borrowed money?"
Doyle
focuses again on teacher pay"In what could be the biggest fight yet over repealing the controversial law limiting the pay raises of Wisconsin's teachers, Gov. Jim Doyle and Democrats who run the state Senate once again are taking aim at it."
"The idea isn't entirely new, but Manesh is convinced he's found ways to overcome problems that have plagued other airless tires - such as dissipating the heat buildup that occurs when they're driven. A handmade prototype has already been built, he said."
"In central Wisconsin, the nonprofit group Operation Migration is coordinating an effort to establish a second migrating flock. Each fall, Operation Migration leads cranes from Necedah National Wildlife Refuge to one in Florida using ultralight aircraft. The birds migrate back north on their own in the spring."
"Jim Knoeck has sold corn stoves for 15 years at his fireplace and heating business, Knoeck Inc., in Wausau. He thinks demand for corn-fed stoves will continue to grow, since people want a second source of heat when oil and natural gas prices escalate, like they did after Hurricane Katrina."
"Nardelli's exit package, which includes $20 million cash severance as well as a pension, deferred stock awards and stock options, equals the annual incomes of about 10,000 retail stock clerks making an average $21,000 a year."
"The 8.4 percent jobless rate was up from 5.6 percent in October. In November 2005, the jobless rate was 6.7 percent. Iron County had the second highest jobless rate in the state in November, according to the DWD. "
"At the first monthly meeting of 2007 at 6:30 p.m., the council will discuss the lease for the property with the City of Montreal before deciding on whether to sell the land."
"The most satisfying post-click send-offs, of course, are often not quite as printable - except, it turns out, in court transcripts."
Give
dairy industry a freer market"In the long term, a freer market would lead to a sounder dairy economy for farmers, lower dairy prices for consumers and reduced costs for taxpayers. Please pass this message along to U.S. Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., the new chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, and to the rest of the Wisconsin congressional delegation. We know you think you are doing Wisconsin a service by supporting subsidies for farmers. But you're not."
"Wisconsin Court of Appeals Judge Paul B. Higginbotham, the first black to serve as a judge on the appeals court and the first black to serve on the Dane County Circuit Court bench, will receive a 2007 Excellence in Leadership program award for outstanding achievement from a nationally-known power company."
"Pat Senoraske, 51, said a member of the Wisconsin Trappers Association was over on Thursday night to set some traps. He told her that her property was "loaded" with what appeared to be coyote tracks, Senoraske said. She also contacted some local hunters and gave them permission to search for coyotes."
Sen
R. Feingold"“Taxpayers need a full return on the investment dollars that Congress authorizes and the citizens of south Louisiana need the best protection possible.” Members of Congress who publicly support the goals of Levees.Org include Senator Russ Feingold D-WI and Senator David Vitter R-LA."
Gov.
Doyle"Gulan said some senior class students who have been missing classes have been warned they won't graduate unless their attendance approves. He said he's also contacted parents regarding the unexcused absences."
"On Thursday at about noon, when Krall spoke to the Daily Globe, the snow depth at the Wisconsin Welcome Center was 13 inches, a loss of three inches since Wednesday at 8 a.m. Just a couple miles away at the Ironwood Wastewater Treatment Facility, the snow measured six inches at 7 a.m. Thursday, compared with eight inches at the same time Wednesday."
"This new structure will provide upgraded facilities and modern technology, while still providing laboratory, X-ray, urgent care and physical therapy areas. It will allow Marshfield Clinic to continue to meet the needs of people in Mercer and surrounding communities in the years ahead,"
"Rev. Christian L. Muellerleile is charged with felony vehicular homicide and first-degree reckless injury in the death of Harland A. Craft, following a head-on collision on U.S. 2."
"Scott M. Silanpa stood mute to two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle,...Iron County Judge Patrick Madden entered a not guilty plea to the charges."
"Along with two felony counts -- second-degree sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault -- Phillip (Ruby) Laguna Sr. faces a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault, all stemming from an Aug. 15, 2005, incident involving a then 19-year-old Bessemer woman."
"What we are beginning to see is the unfolding of an epic competition between 800 million people who own automobiles and want to maintain their mobility, and the 2 billion poorest people in the world, many of whom are spending more than half of their income on food already,"
"If there's a way to mess up, government will find it. Now it turns out that the contractor who boneheadedly printed the numbers on the tax booklets shouldn't have been given them by the Department of Revenue in the first place. The state may want to note that the last word in Social Security is security."
"Sinclair has warned Mediacom customers that the dispute could mean they might not able to see programming such as NFL football, "Grey's Anatomy" and "American Idol," and is urging them to switch to satellite providers. The company is offering rebates for Mediacom subscribers who sign up for DirecTV."
"Antibiotics in chicken feed have long been targeted by critics as a health issue, but a new study by Johns Hopkins University researchers says they also are a money-loser for poultry farmers."
"This was the sixth year in a row where lack of snow during the Christmas-New Year’s holiday — normally a big time for visiting snowmobilers and skiers — allowed zero or very limited travel."
"The warmer-than-normal temperatures that have been the mainstay here have wreaked havoc on those making plans to snowmobile, ski, snowshoe, or just enjoy winter in the Northwoods."
Sen
R. Feingold"The Administration refuses to acknowledge the devastating impact that keeping our brave troops in Iraq is having on our national security, and now the President is considering sending even more troops. We should be bringing our troops out of Iraq, not the other way around."
"In the first of three speeches over the next month that will lay out his goals for his term, Doyle said "much more remains to be done for the hardworking families of Wisconsin," including making sure every child has health care."
"The proposed ordinance prohibits anyone from interfering with a woman nursing an infant or pumping breast milk in a public place under county jurisdiction, such as the airport, the zoo or any stores or restaurants in unincorporated areas."
"The biggest food trend today, both in restaurants and homes, is the increasing demand for fresh, local ingredients. Buying local means healthier, tastier meals for consumers, new markets for farmers and producers and less stress on the environment," said State Sen. Julie Lassa, D-Stevens Point."
"Each year, more than 11 million senior citizens fall and receive treatment for injuries, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Complications from falls cost more than $20.2 billion annually."
"There's no magic or set formula to know when the ice might be thick enough," said Mike Bartz, conservation warden with the DNR. "People should always carry a spud or a pole to test it."
"By the end of this year, the contents of all 1,800 courses taught at one of the world's most prestigious universities will be available online to anyone in the world, anywhere in the world. Learners won't have to register for the classes, and everyone is accepted."
Sen
R. Feingold“As part of a real strategy for Somalia and the Horn of Africa, we should dispatch a presidential envoy to the region and work aggressively to help stabilize and rebuild that country."
“I was pleased to be able to help get a lot done this year on behalf of Wisconsin and the country,” Feingold said. “As an incoming member of the Senate majority in the new Congress, I hope 2007 yields even more results.”
Sen
H. Kohl"I look forward to the new session and the opportunity it brings to get things done on behalf of the people who sent me here,"
Gov.
Doyle"Relating to a Proclamation that the Flag of the United States and the Flag of the State of Wisconsin be Flown at Half-Staff as a Mark of Respect for Private Evan Bixler of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom"
"We will run both races on the Montreal trail, but Sunday's freestyle competition, beginning at 10 a.m., will be shorter than its originally planned 15-kilometer run,"
"The concept of free tuition for staying in state for 10 years is simply not able to work," Nass said through his spokesman, Mike Mikalsen. "It's an idea, but not an idea that is going to go anywhere in the Legislature."
"The department said Wednesday that it recovered about a third of the forms - roughly 54,500 - from U.S. post offices in Madison, Portage and Oshkosh in an effort to prevent the sensitive data from falling into the hands of identity thieves."
"Norovirus, sometimes called the Norwalk-like virus or the "cruise ship virus," causes a sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually go away after two or three days, but the virus can be spread through food and on surfaces for several days if infected people don't wash their hands, health officials say."
Doyle
says technology, growth put state on right track"As Gov. Jim Doyle sees it, Wisconsin stands on the verge of a golden age in which legions of well-educated, tech-savvy workers will find high-paying jobs in the emerging fields of health care, high-tech manufacturing, biotechnology and alternative energy."
"As the new year begins, many private analysts are forecasting the economy will perform at the slowest pace in five years, a full percentage point lower than growth in 2006."
"Premises registration applies not only to large farms but also to any rural or city residence housing any type of livestock species, regardless of number. Anyone who keeps, houses or co-mingles livestock must register with the DATCP."
Sen
R. Feingold“So far, the administration has ignored that message and is considering sending more troops to Iraq – something that would run counter to our national security and the wishes of the American people."
Gov.
Doyle"Just like Hank Aaron, every child in Wisconsin has been blessed with his or her own unique gifts. It is up to all of us to help them be realized. Our state must be a place where dreams can take flight, where all our young people can go as far as their talent and hard work will take them."
“As public servants, we are given a short but sacred chance to serve the state we love. And it is my firm goal that four years from now – and four decades from now – people will look back at these years and say: in a changing and challenging time, we came together to seize the boundless opportunities before us.”
"Skiers will hit the cross-country ski trails in both Montreal and Mercer this week-end as the fourth annual Stormy Kromer Pursuit unfolds."
"Jackson called staff writer Margaret Levra at about 11:30 a.m. just after she and her daughter Roberta, who lives on Tamarack Street in Ironwood, looked out the kitchen window of the Lehto home and spotted three robins at the birdfeeder."
"Legislators were also stunned at the potential penalties. If Wisconsin fails to update birth and death records, residents will not be allowed to fly on commercial airlines or enter federal buildings."
"• Prettiest waterfalls explored:
Potato River Falls near Gurney and Superior Falls near Hurley, both in Iron County."
""You're not the ideal candidate anymore." A state lawmaker wants to offer incentives to businesses to hire veterans, including those like Steinborn returning from battlefields in Iraq and Afghanistan, young men and women who face high rates of unemployment in Wisconsin and nationwide."
""The challenge is the same challenge it's been for the last six budgets and that is we have financial commitments that we made in the past that we're carrying forward and not really meeting," said Todd Berry, president of the nonpartisan tax policy group, the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance."
"The species isn't native but was introduced into the wild when captive birds that people kept as pets escaped and took up residence around the state. The common swans found here are trumpeter and tundra swans, two migratory species that leave in winter and head east and south. The trumpeter and tundra swans have black beaks, while the mute swan has an orange beak."
"With free processing through the donation program and readily available disposal, no one other than those whom Maxinoski calls "slob hunters" -- those who show no respect for the deer or the environment -- would discard them."
Greyhound
to drop northern Wisconsin route in February"This is a typical sign of how we've neglected our transportation infrastructure in the north," Sherman said. "We don't have rail, we don't have air and pretty soon we're not going to have bussing either."
"By late June, investigators from Lincoln and Oneida counties were satisfied that Van Meter's woodland gun battle was fictional, a finding which implies that Van Meter shot himself that day."
"For nearly a decade, admirers of the mute swans have battled the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' plans to shoot the birds, to eliminate them from southeastern Wisconsin lakes, including Upper and Lower Phantom in Mukwonago, Tichigan in Waterford, and along the Fox River."
"We have them sign a contract that says they can't return to the floor intoxicated and you can't use alcohol on the floor," said one of Witte Hall's residence life coordinators, Magpie Martinez. "If they violate those, the contract says that we have the right to move them off the floor."
Editorial:
Ford, Obey and decency"It is a measure of Obey's decency and commitment to genuine bipartisanship as opposed to the false construct now promoted by the Bush White House in an effort to ideologically and politically neuter the Democratic majorities in the House and Senate that he recalls not merely a working relationship with Ford but a friendship."
Editorial:
Feingold was '06 MVP"As the first senator to propose a timeline for bringing U.S. troops home from Iraq, the first to propose censuring President Bush for authorizing illegal spying on Americans, the first to recognize that Democratic control of Congress created opportunities that were greater than those offered by a presidential run, and the truest defender of the Wisconsin progressive tradition, U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., was the unquestioned MVP."
"We're not really going to do this again, are we? "Of course we are, you wienie," cackled Wanda, the 97-year-old State Street mystic, sliding her cold, clammy hands over her crystal ball."
"In fact, one of the saddest but most common conditions in elementary school computer labs (when they exist in the developing world), is the children are being trained to use Word, Excel and PowerPoint," Negroponte wrote in an e-mail interview. "I consider that criminal, because children should be making things, communicating, exploring, sharing, not running office automation tools."
"That cash comes from a grant reimbursement program funded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources called “The Wisconsin Fund.” The goal of this fund is to assist property owners in replacing or rehabilitating failing septic systems."
Sen
R. Feingold"My bill will support rural America in four ways: supporting local bioproducts and food markets, encouraging local renewable fuels and bioproducts, expanding broadband Internet service in rural areas, and helping develop the next generation of farmers, ranchers and land managers."
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