Local News (archives)
"People get this -- secondhand smoke kills, and there is no safe level of exposure," said Karen Hagemann, coordinator for Tobacco-Free Iron County Community Coalition. "The majority of Wisconsinites have made the shift in their homes - they ask smokers to take it outside."
Author
Lehto to talk about Italian Hall tragedy "Author and historian Steve Lehto will give a presentation on the 1913 Calumet Italian Hall tragedy on at 6:30 p.m. today at the Iron County Historical Society Museum here."
More
IT monitoring urged"The Legislature's budget committee unanimously voted to tighten monitoring of state computer projects Wednesday in response to an audit released last month that detailed cost overruns in the millions of dollars and long delays."
"It is now up to future court candidates to take advantage of their new freedom by more forthrightly answering questions about their opinions on abortion, gay rights and other issues of importance to voters."
"Oscar Mayer Foods workers are seeking millions of dollars in lost pay and damages in a lawsuit alleging violations of federal and state laws requiring payment for time spent changing into and out of personal protective equipment and walking to and from their workstations."
State
Dems' plan: Health coverage for all residents"The goal is really simple: get everyone covered with the same benefits we legislators have," said Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, who is leading the effort to develop a compromise plan. Erpenbach said he wants to have the plan ready for consideration "sometime within the next month."
"Although relatively common in the Southeast and Northeast, traffic circles are less common in the Midwest, but that is changing, said Voight. He noted that 175 traffic circles are either under construction or are in planning for Wisconsin because of their utility at handling traffic and their ease of use."
Sen
H. Kohl
XM/Sirius
Merger Backed By Consumer Groups - Twice (subscription) -
Newton,MA,"In opposition to the merger are the National Assn. of Broadcasters and Senator Herb Kohl, chairman of the Senate subcommittee on Antirust, competition policy and consumer rights."
Gov.
Doyle
Quiet
session for Iron County Board "I can't report on 911 because we're in negotiations," board member Jim Lambert said. Prior to the meeting, DeRosso said his "lips were zipped because something was in the works."
"Classes will cover rules of the road, traffic sign recognition, hand signals, and care and maintenance of bikes. After successful completion of this course, children will be given a bicycle helmet and a certificate of completion."
"The legislation would extend the records searches required of federally licensed firearms dealers to the gun shows and other so-called "gray market" sales that involve an original purchaser and a secondary recipient."
"The security guard industry found itself involuntarily transformed after September 2001, from an army of "rent-a-cops" to protectors of the homeland. Yet, many security officers are paid little more than restaurant cooks or janitors."
Proposed
oil company tax called "unconstitutional""Gov. Jim Doyle's proposal to tax oil company profits would likely be challenged in court as unconstitutional -- and such a case "would be strong," according to a legal opinion from former state Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager. Lautenschlager made that assessment in a confidential memo ..."
Feingold,
Ashcroft & the Bill of Rights"When Ashcroft did disregard the Constitution by advancing the Patriot Act, Feingold was the first and only senator to challenge the attorney general. But even then, the Wisconsinite suggested, it might not be fair to dismiss Ashcroft as just another shredder of the Bill of Rights."
"Both southbound lanes were closed for more than three hours and traffic was diverted to the shoulder of the freeway. Traffic re-opened at 2 p.m. The paint sludge has been cleaned from the roadway and is not known to be hazardous nor does it pose any environmental threats to the area."
Sen
R. Feingold“I am pleased that President Bush recognizes the dire need for more assistance to battle the global AIDS epidemic, especially in Africa."
Gov.
Doyleurban forest grants, minimum continuing education requirement, clarify terminology affecting mobile homes, electronic mail addresses, Tax Incremental District 3 in the city of Altoona
“For our state to thrive in the future, we must meet the challenges of an increasingly competitive global economy, build on the UW’s success, and generate the educated workforce our state needs to remain competitive,”
Hurley
bids farewell to Class of 2007"Sometimes that's all you can really do. We're going to be freshmen again. This time (in college) if we ruin the seniors' float, we go to jail."
ATVs
invade area for weekend rally"Miles and miles of ATVs could be seen on Friday night as 1,008 ATVers lined up for the ATV parade, an annual event that kicks-off off the rally each year. Event organizers and ATVers fell short of capturing the Guinness Book of Records for the world's largest ATV parade by 131 machines."
"He said they've "gone both north and south, and the trail system is uniform throughout the county -- well-marked and nicely groomed." If you go off the main corridor, "It's very woodsy and scenic and you see lots of wildlife," he said."
Mercer
High School presents diplomas to 16 graduating seniors "The class dedicated the yearbook to kindergarten teacher Mary Fitzgerald, saluting her profound effect on the school. Kati Anderson said Fitzgerald was known for dressing in bizarre costumes and dancing in the halls with her young students."
"Three giant oil companies - ExxonMobil, BP and Chevron USA - paid $7.3 million in Wisconsin corporate income taxes over a three-year period in which they reported worldwide profits of $165.7 billion, state Department of Revenue records show."
Cracking
down on class size"Already this year, several school systems that previously received funding while exceeding SAGE's 15-to-1 class-size requirements have had their requests denied."
"With 23 Dutch farming families moving to the state in the last six years, the Jurjens' are not the first to head west in search of a fresh start. In Wisconsin they find a ready infrastructure for dairying, cheaper start-up costs and an agriculture community not so different from that in their homeland, experts say."
Parade,
anti-war rally mark holiday"Hours later, at an anti-war rally at James Madison Park, Elliott Adams, national president of Veterans for Peace, described a similar "Norman Rockwell" scene from a previous Memorial Day parade and suggested the culture that allowed the Iraq war to happen is instilled in Americans at a young age."
"You have times when you can't make ends meet and you're cutting corners, and other times you get caught up on bills and maybe replace some machinery."
EPA
lacking updated study on nation's beaches, GAO finds"The lack of a reliable indicator and the lag time for test results using current methods could lead to unnecessary beach closure, or conversely, keeping beaches open when they should have been closed,"
Worker
suspended for personal emails, nudity on county computer"A news source provided The Lakeland Times with copies of some of the emails. Because Krueger forwarded these emails to the group using his county email address and county computer, and because the content of the emails was not work-related, the newspaper filed an open records request for all emails sent by Krueger to Hanson. "
Sen
R. Feingold"Senator Russ Feingold is part of an effort pressing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve state assistance for keeping beaches clean, including those along the Great Lakes. A Government Accountability Office (GAO) report released today found that the EPA’s formula to distribute grants intended to help states monitor the well-being of beaches “does not accurately reflect the monitoring needs of the states.”"
Gov.
Doyle
“I am writing to confirm that Wisconsin will, in fact, elect to continue SeniorCare. We look forward to working jointly with CMS to maintain the extraordinary success of SeniorCare through 2009.”
Happy
Memorial Day"This Memorial Day weekend, we should all take up Dr. King's call to action. It is time to take back patriotism from a president who has misused it to justify policies that have exacted such terrible costs -- from Guantanamo Bay to domestic spying to the war in Iraq itself. Let us reclaim patriotism for all of us who love our country, support our troops, and are ready to end the war -- and to bring these brave service men and women home to the heroes' welcome they deserve."
Former Senator John Edwards
Suit
against school dropped""I think we were convinced that the Conserve School understood the concerns we had and that they were operating in a way that alleviated those concerns," said John Buxton, head of the Culver academies. "We weren't trying to put anybody out of business. We were just trying to make sure the donor's wishes, as we understood them, were being followed.""
"Usually, they have about two days from notification to service. Once, after a snafu, they managed to arrange funeral honors in about two hours. When they receive a request, usually from a funeral home, they must verify that the veteran is, in fact, a veteran who received an honorable discharge."
Feingold
leads effort to get U.S. troops out of Iraq"I feel that we have lost lives unnecessarily as people have taken way too long to get on board," he said. "And that continues to this day."
DNR
will ask EPA to ease ozone regulations"Big companies in regions where ozone levels are too high have been forced to make reductions elsewhere in their plants. Or companies had to buy the value of the reductions from another company that made cuts. But often those reductions weren't available for sale."
Rob
Zaleski: Expert: "Peak oil" will force changes"It also means getting people to buy from local merchants and encouraging the development of small-scale businesses of one kind or another -- especially those that provide necessities of life."
Schools
struggle with high gas prices"As gas prices increase, it puts more pressure on the budget," Owens said. "If it continues to affect the budget, we will have to make cuts in other areas."
Sen
H. KohlChairman
of Senate Antitrust Panel - Wall Street Journal"Sen. Herb Kohl (D., Wis.), the chairman of a key Congressional antitrust panel, on Wednesday urged the Department of Justice and Federal Communications Commission Wednesday to reject the proposed merger between Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. and XM Satellite Radio Holdings Inc."
"The combined firm would have the ability to raise prices to consumers, who will have no choice but to accept the price increase," said Kohl. "Such a result would be unacceptable under antitrust law and as a matter of communications policy."
"When the President determines a catastrophic emergency has occurred, the President can take over all government functions and direct all private sector activities to ensure we will emerge from the emergency with an "enduring constitutional government.""
"The Vietnam Veterans Foundation of Wisconsin raised $260,000 last year, but kept just 10 cents of every dollar raised. The charity's fund-raiser got the rest. The foundation, which hired for-profit Xentel Inc. to raise money on its behalf, is one of a half-dozen veterans and police groups in Wisconsin that get just pennies of every dollar raised from telemarketing, a Journal Sentinel investigation found."
"Dubbed the "compassionate care" bill, SB 129 passed the Democratic-controlled Senate by a vote of 27 to 6. Among those voting yes were seven Republicans and one Democrat who had opposed a similar version in 2002. But with abortion politics swirling around the issue, the fate of a companion bill in the Republican-controlled Assembly is unclear."
Fish
defenses are low in state"A leading national expert on the deadly virus that has now been identified in Wisconsin fish says the genetic history of the disease shows many of the state's fish species are particularly vulnerable to infection and that the disease is likely to pose "an extremely serious threat for the next several decades.""
Doyle
versus the oil firms"Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, to his credit, refuses to go along with the annual rip-off. As Doyle's office noted in a pointed statement issued Wednesday, "Gas prices rise every spring, but the spike has grown even larger in recent years."
Lead
a risk in most homes""Studies show levels of (even) less than 10 micrograms per deciliter of blood can affect behavior," said Dale Grosskurth, the county's director of environmental health and safety. Most homes built before 1978 have some lead-based paint; houses built before 1950 have higher concentrations, Schwoch said."
"But farmers, chocolate makers and other producers must overcome a lot of hurdles before they can win shelf space. Problems include how to crack into elaborate distribution systems used by most big supermarket chains, expensive insurance requirements and competition from lower-priced, large-scale producers."
"He can treat patients immediately with these cells because the Chinese government doesn't consider stem cells a new kind of drug. Drugs would require clinical trials. Rather, the government regulates injections as if they were medical procedures similar to bone marrow transplants."
Hurley
School District pilot program to go online for next school year"Students who enroll into the Hurley School District online school as full-time students will be eligible to participate in school activities. Also, students who enroll will be required to participate in the Wisconsin WKCE testing each year as directed by the Department of Public Instruction."
Mercer:
Minnis gets bird's eye view of Madison "Minnis spent a week in Madison participating in the Senate Youth Scholar Program. She talked about her experience Monday at the Mercer School Board's monthly meeting."
"The 18-year-old Sheboygan guy was so proud of the pot plants he was growing in his basement that he posted pictures of them on two different Web sites, including MySpace.com."
"In one maneuver, he deleted 750 words from several budget provisions to create one new sentence allowing his administration to transfer $427 million from the transportation fund to the general budget. He came up with the figure by taking individual digits from five sets of numbers."
DNR
finds fish virus
in Lake Michigan"The DNR said that a smallmouth bass tested positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia in Sturgeon Bay and a brown trout also tested positive in Lake Michigan near Algoma in Kewaunee County."
"Wisconsin's $14.25 million-a-year aquaculture industry is braced for the worst after the discovery of the fish virus in the Lake Winnebago system. From small-scale backyard ponds to larger fish farms across the state, operators are boosting security to keep the virus at bay."
"The Joint Finance Committee voted 15-1 in support of expanding Family Care while maintaining legislative oversight of the expansion - a check on the program that Gov. Jim Doyle tried to do away with. The vote amounted to a recommendation to the full Legislature, which will debate the budget in summer."
"For now, the state is focusing on specialty plates, such as those issued for military branches, the National Guard and firefighters, she said. Some of those have not been reissued since 1985 and "are just ancient," she said. State law requires license plates to be reissued with black numbers and letters by June 30, 2010.
"Edwards said her husband's decision to stay in the race after it was discovered her breast cancer had spread to her bones surprised only those whose lives had not been touched by serious illness and who did not understand the need to live life "as fully as possible.""
"Police Chief Anstein Gjengedal’s wallet was snatched by a pickpocket as the campaign was set to begin, the Oslo newspaper Dagbladet reported."
Home,
sweet yurt"The word "yurt" is derived from the Turkic word meaning "dwelling place," in the sense of "homeland." It has come to mean the tent-like structures used by pastoral shepherds from Kazakhstan to Mongolia. A yurt consists of a lattice-like wall structure that forms the circular frame and wall."
Sen
R. Feingold
Senate
Intelligence Committee Report On Pre-War Assessments About Post-War Iraq“The report released today by the Senate Intelligence Committee underscores that the Administration was indifferent to the predicted negative consequences of the war in Iraq. The intelligence community’s assessments, made prior to the war and widely disseminated within the Administration, also directly contradict many of the assertions made at the time by the Administration."
Gov.
Doyle
EXECUTIVE
ORDER #204"The Governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff beginning at sunrise on May 29, 2007 and ending at sunset that same day as a Mark of Respect for Sergeant First Class Scott Brown of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom "
This
is a public service announcement about a new treatment for memory loss.Push
for world record nears"The ATVs will then meet at the intersection of the Iron Horse trail and 5th Avenue, and be led down the traditional Silver Street parade route by floats, fire trucks, and other vehicles that will be waiting along 5th Ave., Kelly said."
Four
more Mercer principal candidates to interview today"The board will interview Jennifer Vogler, of Webster; Mary Dettmering, Dearbrook; Debra Lins, Madison; and Barbara Fox McCurdy, Kaukauna."
"When Hurley Police Officer Don Packmayer, who investigated the case, spoke with Carlisle on Sunday and informed her that he had seen the surveillance video at Midland Services in Hurley, "she confessed to cashing these checks," the criminal complaint said."
Extension
likely for state's SeniorCare program""The program will continue on," said U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, who along with fellow state Democrat House Appropriations Chair Dave Obey inserted the language into the broader Iraq spending bill that President Bush is expected to sign."
"One widely cited estimate of the annual transportation savings associated with overseas traffic in the Great Lakes is $55 million. An estimate of the price to date just for dealing with zebra and quagga mussels since they were first discovered in North America: $2 billion."
"Mark Ranum, honey producer and owner of Ranum's 1887 Brand Apiaries near Darlington, about 65 miles southwest of Madison, suspects some of his bee colonies may be suffering from CCD. He is not a migratory beekeeper. Last year, the family-run business lost about 80 percent of its 300 colonies."
SeniorCare
drug program salvaged"The drug coverage that seniors in Wisconsin have come to know and depend on is going to stay in place," Kohl said in a statement. "The delegation stuck with it, and we got the job done."
Obey
opposes bill he co-wrote"I'm going to vote against the major portion of this agreement even though I negotiated it because I think the White House is in a cloud somewhere in terms of understanding the realities in Iraq,"
DNR
to campers: Leave
your firewood at home‘‘People should just start getting used to not hauling firewood anywhere because there are so many different pests now and on the horizon,’’ said Bruce Chevis, state parks operations manager for the Department of Natural Resources. ‘‘There is just going to come a day when firewood isn’t hauled.’’
Sen
R. Feingold
Obama,
Feingold Laud Passage of Strong House Ethics Package"Our bill proposed: a full ban on gifts and meals from lobbyists; an end to subsidized travel on corporate jets; closing the revolving door to ensure that public service isn’t all about lining up a high-paying lobbying job; an end to lavish, lobbyist-funded parties honoring members of Congress at the national party conventions; and a requirement that lobbyists disclose the contributions that they bundle for members of Congress.”"
"After hearing from folks in Wisconsin who know and trust this program, and clearly prefer SeniorCare to the flawed Medicare Part D program, it was clear we needed to do something. Wisconsin's seniors are the clear winners with the extension of the successful SeniorCare program."
In
Opposition to the Iraq Supplemental Conference Report"And now that we face a badly flawed take-it-or-leave it bill, we can simply shrug and tell our constituents “Hey, we did the best we could.” Well, that’s not good enough – not when we are talking about the most pressing issue facing this country."
Rep
D. Obey
House
Interior Increases Spending for Key Land Protection Programs
- AScribe (press release) - USA""This is a welcome and important step towards restoring healthy levels of conservation funding to help communities protect their critical lands," Front said. "For the first time in at least ten years, the subcommittee has provided increases above previous-year levels for these vital programs. With true vision and leadership from Subcommittee Chairman Norm Dicks, full Committee Chairman David Obey (D-WI) ..."
Gov.
Doyle"WHEREAS, Sergeant First Class Jesse Albrecht will be laid to rest on Saturday, May 26, 2007;... "
"WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper that the people of the State of Wisconsin remember and honor the brave men and women of the Armed Forces who, throughout our Nation’s history, have laid down their lives in defense of the United States of America;..."
"Beginning with the 2007-08 school year, the district will receive $81,700 for the first three years, $49,000 the fourth year, and $32,000 the final year, said district administrator Chris Patritto."
"Several coaches were hired by the Hurley School Board following executive session on Monday."
Area
readies for rally"The roar of all-terrain vehicle engines will fill the air in Iron County this weekend, as the 22nd Annual Iron County Memorial Weekend ATV Rally kicks off a fun-filled summer calendar of events."
Community
fishing contest set for June 2 "A Community Fishing Contest will be held Saturday, June 2, to benefit Mercer United Methodist Church's Next Generation Campaign."
Pence
residents urged to have emergency summer water supply "Due to the water main construction project in Pence, town residents are urged to have an emergency water supply through the summer months, said town chairman Dan Swetkovich."
Audit
finds fault with DNR"The extent of harm occurring to Wisconsin wetlands through ignorance or indifference is generally unknown because of the ineffective monitoring and poor tracking practices of the state Department of Natural Resources, a state audit released Tuesday says."
Doyle
blocks settlement on drafts of bills"In September 2005, then-Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager sued Rep. Scott Gunderson (R-Waterford) and then-Sen. Dave Zien (R-Eau Claire) after they refused to give her drafts of a concealed weapons bill they had shared with supporters, including the National Rifle Association."
"Doyle insists that the tax would not be passed on to consumers and that criminal penalties included in the provision would ensure oil companies don't do so."
Wineke:
GOP avoids Falwell funeral"The lack of Republican participation was somewhat breathtaking, however. Is it in any way conceivable that, had Falwell died in 2004, no Republican notable would have bothered to show up?"
"Under current regulations, credit card companies in most cases provide 15 days notice before making certain changes to the terms of an account, the Fed said. However, under current regulations creditors need not inform a consumer in advance if the interest rate to an account increases due to default or deliquency."
Immigration
reform flaws"The senator says, "Based on the limited information available so far, I have serious concerns about the bill, including whether it does enough to protect the rights of both U.S. and foreign workers." Feingold's concerns are well placed, and we are heartened by his declaration that "I will be looking closely at ways to improve the bill when it comes to the Senate floor.""
Sen
R. Feingold"US Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) recently introduced S. 616, "The HIPAA Recreational Injury Technical Correction Act." ... S. 616 aims at ending health care discrimination for individuals participating in legal transportation and recreational activities-activities like motorcycling, snowmobiling, skiing, horseback riding, and all-terrain vehicle riding."
Sen
H. KohlKey
senator urges rejection of XM-Sirius deal - Canada.com -
Hamilton,Ontario,Canada"Democratic Sen. Herb Kohl of Wisconsin said he had sent a letter to the Justice Department and the Federal Communications Commission calling on them to oppose the deal on grounds that it would cause "substantial harm to competition and consumers.""
Rep
D. ObeyDemocrats
Pull Troop Deadline From Iraq Bill - New York Times"Lawmakers said the final version was still being negotiated with the White House and Republicans to make certain it was acceptable to both, but it was expected to be voted on in the House on Thursday. “I think we’re very close to having things tied down,” said Representative David R. Obey, Democrat of Wisconsin and chairman of the Appropriations Committee."
Gov.
Doyle
Governor
Doyle, 16 Other Governors Urge President to Support Efforts to Lower Gas
Prices“Talk is much cheaper than gas prices,” Governor Doyle said in the letter. “Democratic governors know that the long term prescription for high gas prices is to achieve energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Together, we can make America more prosperous, more secure, and less vulnerable to the pain at the pump.”
State
forces Beacon Ambulance to lower medical-care level "State Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar), however, is working toward holding all ALS services to the same standard. Beacon Ambulance is being downgraded to intermediate services so that it is in compliance with Wisconsin law."
Mercer
School Board approves new charter school "... the curriculum would focus on a broad understanding of tourism and how it relates to the environment. It could include hospitality industry training; a wide scope of environmental issues ranging form ethics to wilderness first aid; and tourism interests from golf course to ski hill management."
"I would describe our maintenance activities as daunting or difficult, as opposed to dirty. But, it takes a special person to meet the challenges of the job. Our crews are preserving the integrity of the bridge. They are the reason it will be here at least another 50 years."
A
two-wheel rally"In Wisconsin, a motorcycle license is required to operate mopeds with engines 50cc and larger. Many of the motorized bikes get about 75 mpg fuel mileage, and some of the smallest ones can be legally parked on sidewalks. "So there's a huge savings not only in gas but in parking," Reina said."
Students'
test scores steady"Wisconsin students' performances improved in math and held steady in reading, language arts, science and social studies, according to annual test data released today."
Thompson
improves in Iowa poll"In his strongest showing yet, Tommy Thompson finished fourth in the latest GOP presidential preference poll in Iowa. Still, only 7 percent of the respondents to the Des Moines Register poll said the former Wisconsin governor was their top choice, and he trails the frontrunners by a wide margin."
"Dane County food pantries are getting more use, with many users who go hungry more than three times a month, according to survey results released this month."
Mercury
regulations get hearing Wednesday"The DNR is holding the hearings to gather data and opinions before it revisits whether to toughen current mercury emissions standards at power plants around the state."
Bill
adds $6.7 billion for veterans' care"This bill provides the largest increase in funding for veterans in the VA's 77-year history. It follows the increased funding we provided for veterans in this year's budget, and clearly shows that we've made the needs of our servicemen and women our top priority,"
"Two teens are in hot water after police said they decided to return to a pool at the same hotel where they had robbed three people about 15 hours before."
“Recreation fees on the Forest haven’t increased since 1998. The fee increases will allow us to maintain our historic high level of maintenance and service at these sites,”
Sen
R. Feingoldthe
Clean Water Restoration Act in the House of Representatives"We need to end the legal wrangling about what Congress meant when it passed the landmark law protecting our nation’s waters in 1972. The original Clean Water Act was clear: We must protect all waters from pollution, not just sustain the navigability of some waterways. Our legislation will help preserve all of our waters for drinking, recreation, and a host of other economically vital uses.”
Iraq
Supplemental Conference Report"I cannot support a bill that contains nothing more than toothless benchmarks and that allows the President to continue what may be the greatest foreign policy blunder in our nation’s history."
Gov.
Doyle“The Smart Growth program is a tool we have to help local communities efficiently plan and grow. From creating jobs and growing local economies, to upgrading infrastructure and improving communities, my Administration is committed to moving all communities in Wisconsin forward.”
"Iron County's all-terrain vehicle trails are in good shape and all trails are open for the 22nd annual Iron County Memorial Weekend ATV Rally that begins Friday."
"Emergency burning restrictions were still in effect in Iron County as of Sunday night, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural resources and the sheriff's department office."
Some
burning restrictions lifted in northern Wisconsin "Although some burning restrictions have been lifted in northern Wisconsin counties, only campfires are allowed in Iron County, according to Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Ranger Tim Fitzgerald from the Mercer ranger station."
Clean-up
a big hit"A two-day cleanup filled four 40-foot salvage containers, four 40-cubic-yard containers and three 12-yard dump trucks, according to town chairman Ron Ahonen."
Her
first vote put her in prison"Prude cast an illegal vote in 2004. As a felon on probation and under state supervision, she was ineligible to vote. A woman who dropped out of high school in 10th grade, struggled with substance abuse and compiled a criminal record, Prude found herself up against the might of the federal system."
"Philosophically, the department believes that the more information that is in the hands of the public, the better for the community, Roberts said, but noted that no final decision has been reached on how detailed the online registry will be about juvenile offenses, which are normally shielded from the public."
"In past years, there have been 50 or more boats to help take veterans, many who use wheelchairs, on the three- to four-hour fishing trip that leaves from Port Washington."
"The governor says the tax would bring in $575 million in federal matching funds for Medicaid, the state-federal health plan for the poor, resulting in higher Medicaid payments to the hospitals."
""We plan on having an increased presence and enforcement aimed at deterring these activities from taking place," Colden said.... This upcoming Memorial Day weekend kicks off the busy season on the beach, which has been used by nudists for more than 50 years."
"A Janesville man ran his truck through the wall of a liquor store after his prosthetic leg became jammed between the accelerator and brake pedal."
Sen
R. Feingold"In a letter to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Feingold asked DoD to provide information about active duty, guard and reserve members on medical holds. Feingold is also seeking answers as to why referrals for further mental health evaluations are not required for persons screening positive for post-traumatic stress disorder."
Sen
H. Kohl"This bill, sponsored by Representatives John Conyers (D–MI) and Steve Chabot (R–OH), would allow the federal government to sue the Organization for Petroleum Exporting States (OPEC) for antitrust violations. Similar legislation (S. 879) is pending in the Senate, sponsored by Senators Herb Kohl (D–WI) and Arlen Spector (R–PA)."
Rep
D. Obey"Also attending the meeting on Capitol Hill was Stephen Hadley, the president's national security adviser, and Rob Portman, the White House budget director, as well as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Kentucky, and Reps. Jerry Lewis and David Obey... The Democrats declined to say what their next bill will look like in light of Friday's meeting. But they insisted, as they have done for weeks, that nothing -- including a timetable on the war -- was off the table."
$3.40
gas or not, big vehicles roll"Because they consume so much fuel, SUVs and other light trucks are among the fastest-growing sources of greenhouse gases in the country. Carbon dioxide emissions from these vehicles jumped 74% from 1990 to 2005, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Emissions from cars rose less than 1%."
"As expected, preliminary lab results from seven dead freshwater drum recently plucked from the northeastern Wisconsin lake turned up positive for viral hemorrhagic septicemia, a highly contagious virus that was first discovered in the eastern Great Lakes two years ago."
Should
state change date for primary?"But with states aggressively scrambling to set their 2008 presidential election primaries as early as possible — more than 20 states may vote on Feb. 5 alone — experts say the Republican and Democratic nominees may already be selected by the time Wisconsin voters cast their primary ballots on Feb. 19."
Rudy
simply ignores facts"Rudy Giuliani made clear in this week's Republican presidential debate that he is not ready to let the facts get in the way of his approach to foreign policy."
Sen
R. FeingoldFeingold
says he's emboldened by Iraq vote - Janesville Gazette -
Janesville,WI"Sen. Russ Feingold called Wednesday's vote on his proposal to cut off funding for the war in Iraq "enormous progress," although the Senate rejected it by a lopsided 67-29 margin in a procedural vote."
"Monday, May 21, 2007, 5:30 p.m.
Lawn Care Bid Proposals, 2007-2008 School Year Calendar, Proposed Board Governance Model, 4-K Program Early Admittance Request, Pilot Online School for 2007-2008, and Technology Plan Approval. "
"A Michigan environmental group released a study this week indicating that chemicals such as chlorine, bromine and lead - which have been linked to cancer, as well as liver, thyroid and developmental problems in children and lab animals - could be leaching from seats, endangering the health of young children.."
Biskupic
had positive review"That Biskupic's work was praised shortly before his name appeared on a firing list bolsters arguments that the firings were political and not based on performance, said David Canon, a UW-Madison political science professor."
"Progressive talk radio star Stephanie Miller and Madison have been involved in something of a love affair for the past year or so. Miller, whose show broadcasts from 8 to 11 a.m. weekdays on 92.1 "The Mic," defended Madisonians when Fox blowhard Bill O'Reilly called us Satan worshipers. Madisonians defended Miller when Clear Channel tried to take liberal talk radio off the air here."
Child
support programs could be hit hard"In his 2007-09 budget proposal , Gov. Jim Doyle calls for additional funds for Wisconsin's Child Support Program to offset federal cuts. Huebsch said she recently learned the state Joint Finance Committee has committed to replacing some of the federal aid with state funds, but it's "not even close" to the full amount."
Burning
restrictions lifted in northern Wisconsin "The Department of Natural Resources said the burning restrictions that had been in place since May 3 were being removed effective today. Recent cool temperatures, modest rain and greening vegetation led to the removal of the restrictions, according to the DNR."
"Bethesda L. Carlisle is alleged to have stolen money from the book fair at the school on March 20. She is scheduled to appear in Iron County Circuit Court Monday."
Doyle
pushes smoking ban"Gov. Jim Doyle went to a bar in Madison on Thursday to prod the Legislature to enact his proposal for a statewide smoking ban in taverns and restaurants."
"Starting Jan. 1, the fee for an initial driver's license for three years would increase to $28 under a plan adopted by the Legislature's budget committee on an 11-5 vote. An eight-year renewal would go up to $34 under the plan."
"Here's a brief chronology of U.S. immigration laws.
* 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act: Barred the entry of any Chinese for 10 years, made permanent in 1904 until it was rescinded in 1943.
* 1921 Quota Act: Established first immigration quotas..."
Letter:
Obey helps end poverty, fight AIDS"Obey has long been a leader in Congress in the fight against poverty and AIDS. More recently, he pushed through a significant increase in funding for global health programs that combat AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria."
Sen
R. Feingold"I am equally worried that while the appointment of Ambassador Yates is a step in the right direction, the administration's policy towards Somalia does not comprehensively address the long-term stability needs of the region, which are vital to our national security."
Feingold
Says He's Emboldened By Iraq Vote - CBS 5 - Green Bay"Feingold, a Democrat, says when he first proposed in January that the funding be cut by a certain date, everyone ran away from the proposal. But he says he got 29 senators, most of them Democrats, to vote for it. Among them was Wisconsin's other Democratic senator, Herb Kohl."
Gov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER # 201"The Governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff on May 23, 2007 as a Mark of Respect for the Late Deputy Frank Fabiano, Jr. of the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Department."
Numerous
bear calls recorded"The first call came from Melvina