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 Colassaco, 401 S. Mansfield, around 8 p.m. The sow was in the yard and the baby bear was up in a tree."
DNR
to expand emergency rules"The virus has killed fish in parts of the Great Lakes but had previously been found on only one other inland lake, Lake Conesus in New York state."
Ex-GOP
flack doing WTMJ-AM news"Lato's position at the station has received more notice than it would otherwise because he's been in the news, not only reporting it but also as part of the ongoing U.S. attorney flap."
Minnesota
wildfire rages"An army of nearly 1,100 firefighters is still nowhere close to dousing a 75,000-acre wildfire raging on the Minnesota and Canadian border near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness north of Duluth."
UW
to open stem-cell center"Just about every university now has a stem-cell center," said Clive Svendsen, a co-director of the center. "This is a response to national competition in this area. We want to keep UW-Madison a leader in the field."
Ziegler
will pay state ethics fine"Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice-elect Annette Ziegler has acknowledged she violated the state's conflict-of-interest law and agreed to pay $17,000, including a $5,000 fine, the Wisconsin Ethics Board announced Wednesday."
Senate
passes morning-after pill bill"Hospitals would be required to provide the so-called morning-after pill to rape victims under a measure that passed the state Senate on Wednesday and has the backing of Gov. Jim Doyle."
Wildlife
officials race to contain fish virus"The Natural Resources Board, which sets policy for the Department of Natural Resources, tried to get ahead of the virus with the first emergency rule in April. But this past weekend DNR officials got word fish from Little Lake Butte des Morts, part of the Lake Winnebago system, tested positive for the virus."
"According to the DNR, so far this year, a total of 2,030.6 acres from 40 fires have burned in the Brule dispatch group, the largest amount of burned acreage for any group in the state. Thus far this year, some 3,778 acres have burned on land in Wisconsin under DNR jurisdiction."
Sen
R. Feingold“I share the desire of my colleagues to pass a supplemental spending bill as soon as possible but when it comes to such significant legislation, we need full debate and votes, not backroom agreements."
Iron
County officials baffled by latest twist in 911 saga ""I believe that what they did was not acting in good faith," Iron County Sheriff Bob Bruneau said. "After all the time we spent having meetings with them to try to help them work through the problem, it was an under-handed move," Bruneau said of Gogebic County pulling out of the deal."
"Attorneys could not reach a plea agreement Tuesday in the case of an Ironwood minister accused of a felony count of vehicular homicide."
"During Click It or Ticket, our officers will be patrolling in greater numbers and for longer hours. Our goal during the mobilization is not to write more tickets but to save lives through voluntary compliance with Wisconsin's mandatory safety belt law,"
North
Country chapter releases trail events schedule "The chapter invites area outdoors enthusiasts, hikers and backpackers to join with its members at any of the events for a full or partial day of fun and helping to build the North Country National Scenic Trail in Iron County."
Evangelist's
influence felt across state"The time was just right," Keck said. "I think Jerry and the Moral Majority were responsible for the registration of a lot of voters across America. I think it woke up a lot of people, what's called the sleeping religious right."
Fair
support or unfair subsidy: Private school busing faces legislative review"With state-imposed revenue caps squeezing local school budgets, public schools are looking for ways to cut the state-mandated costs of transporting private school students. But those efforts are opposed by some private schools and affected families who say they deserve to keep their modest public subsidy."
"Cell phones and cameras have become so tiny that people can take those into locker rooms, and there ought to be policies in place by schools and universities and professional teams as well as private clubs," Schneider said.
"...the Madison pastors argued that "the concern of all religious people should be for the powerless, rather than for the search for power, and we are disturbed when the kind of moral imperialism which is becoming more prevalent in this country obscures the deeper challenges of the biblical message.""
"The 10-month-old, whose given name is Howard David Ludwig, was issued a firearm owner’s identification card after his father, Howard Ludwig, paid the $5 fee and filled out the application, not expecting to actually get one. The card lists the baby’s height (2 feet, 3 inches), weight (20 pounds) and has a scribble where the signature should be."
Public
will be chipping in on Superfund site cleanup"The good news: Ashland customers won't be the only ones chipping in, as the plan so far is to spread the cost among 100,000 Northern States Power-Wisconsin (NSP-W) gas customers; there's a chance that electric customers might also be asked to contribute part of their bill toward the remediation."
"The memorandum calls for the first $100,000 of annual gaming funds paid to the State of Wisconsin to be retained by the tribe and paid directly to Ashland County."
Sen
R. Feingold“Today the Senate took another step toward acknowledging the will of the American people, who want to end this misguided mission in Iraq. A majority of Senate Democrats are on the record clearly stating that the President’s Iraq policy is a failure and that we need to take real action to change course."
"Congress cannot wait for the President to change course – we must change the course ourselves. Iraq’s problems will not be solved by an open-ended, massive U.S. military engagement. And our own national security will be weakened until we bring this war to a close."
Gov.
Doyle"... to hold a public hearing on the proposed issuance of the Bonds, following reasonable public notice, in accordance with the standards set forth in Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and order the hearing officer to deliver to the Governor a transcript or summary of the appearances at that hearing."
“We pleaded with Attorney General Gonzales and FTC Chairman Majoras, Platt, [sic] to begin an investigation of the oil industry, and we offered our partnership in that work... And so we invited, we beseeched the federal government to join us in that investigation and so far they have declined to do so."
Jauch,
Decker disappointed by committee vote "Sens. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and Russ Decker, D-Weston, offered a motion in the Joint Finance Committee to provide a $5 million grant to the Park Falls paper mill to help them build a wood-burning biomass boiler that would provide energy for the mill."
""Do not use Cellular One. Tell people not to use Dobson," said Gogebic County 911 Committee member Bruce Mahler, Marenisco, just before Monday's vote to rescind the earlier action."
Search
for fish virus intensifies"A DNR official said Monday that the agency will search for fish infected with the disease, especially in lakes and rivers that attract anglers from long distances."
Key
state Democrats throw support behind Clinton in 2008 bid"Wisconsin Democrats continue to choose sides in the 2008 race for the presidential nomination, with several key state officials lining up Monday behind U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York."
Doyle's
efficiency initiative under fire"The string of setbacks for the sweeping Accountability, Consolidation and Efficiency initiative has some critics asking whether the Doyle administration has over-hyped the up-to-$200 million in savings promised for the efficiency program."
"Many states around the country have taken stands against the federal REAL ID law, but while some Wisconsin legislators are raising concerns, the effort appears likely to pass another legislative hurdle this week."
Meeting
tonight to discuss how Xcel customers will chip in on superfund cleanup"Northern States Power-Wisconsin, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Xcel, is the only party so far deemed responsible by the Environmental Protection Agency for contamination throughout the 12-acre site, which includes both groundwater contamination and sediment contamination in Chequamegon Bay."
Sen
R. FeingoldRestore
True Meaning of the Clean Water Act“We need to preserve all of our waters for drinking, fishing, swimming, and a host of other economically vital uses,” Feingold said. “The primary concern of the original Clean Water Act was to protect all waters from pollution, not just sustain the navigability of waterways for some waters.”
"That first, lopsided Senate battle over the PATRIOT Act set the tone. The administration mollified skeptical U.S. senators with small changes to a bill that began as a K-Tel compilation of new state powers: The attorney general would still be allowed to seize education records, for example, but now he was required to present some reasons for doing so. Feingold, who proposed several doomed amendments to the law, was the only senator to break faith with the parties and vote against the entire bill."
Sen
H. Kohl
"Comey made the remarks at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing under questioning by Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis. Earlier this month, Comey defended Biskupic at a House Judiciary Committee hearing, calling the U.S. attorney an "absolutely straight guy" who would never prosecute anyone for political reasons."
Gov.
DoyleIron
County not known only for its winters anymore "Long known as a premier destination for winter sports and abundant night life, Hurley is quickly developing a reputation as a great spring, summer and fall getaway, as well."
"As far as I know, (the virus) doesn't affect human consumption; it's just going to affect your fishing. But fishing is big around here - everybody and their brother fishes - so I'm sure it's going to hurt local business."
"From Saturday to Friday, the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin is encouraging all bicyclists -- from the die-hard to the wannabes -- to choose at least one day to bike to work. For bike-to-work novices, the Bicycle Federation offers tips to get started, such as choosing the nicest day of the week and bringing along a small towel to clean up when you arrive to work. The bike group also recommends riding the route a few days in advance to find out how long it take."
"With the aid of two WARF stem cell patents, the company is developing ways to help drug manufacturers screen drugs for toxicity. The aim is to save millions of dollars in drug development costs by developing a library of biomarkers that discover toxins in the early stages of pharmaceutical development."
Tommy
still backpedaling from bungle at debate"Expanding on his reason for saying at a debate that an employer should be allowed to fire someone for being gay, Tommy Thompson has blamed a dead hearing aid and his need to use the bathroom."
Doyle
stumps for stewardship funding at Conservation Congresss"Doyle told the nearly 400-person crowd of delegates from all 72 Wisconsin counties, and Department of Natural Resources officials, that reauthorization of the Fund by the Wisconsin Legislature was of "overriding importance.""
Sen
R. Feingold"The American people deserve to have the Senate go on record about whether or not it wants to end our misguided mission in Iraq and safely redeploy our brave troops.”
"The Senators have offered an amendment to the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) to create a temporary, bipartisan Water Resource Commission to make recommendations on how best to prioritize funding for future projects."
"The Senate has exempted themselves from this requirement and is only required to file paper reports. The public's ability to review these reports in a timely manner is substantially curtailed by these antiquated paper filings. Not only that, it costs taxpayers over $250,000 per year to have these reports scanned and made available online at a much later date."
Gov.
Doyle“Our growing stem cell industry has attracted some of the best and brightest scientists in the world,” Governor Doyle said. “Dr. Cezar's company has the potential to achieve incredible breakthroughs that could save lives and create jobs."
"Last
night, he
elaborated on the point, saying he flubbed the question because he had
to go to the bathroom.""Beil and other union leaders say criminal background checks should be done before even part-time jobs are filled, and even on workers for private janitorial and other companies that contract with the state and work in government offices."
Biofuels
could revive state's agriculture industry,
lawmaker says"Hundreds of farmers, academics and government leaders are due to discuss issues facing the state's signature agriculture industry and rural way of life. Project organizers recently detailed 83 recommendations to enhance the future of Wisconsin's rural areas."
Deadly
fish virus in state"The deaths last week of hundreds of sheepshead in Lake Winnebago and Little Lake Butte des Morts signal the presence of a virus responsible for massive fish kills in Lakes Erie and Ontario, a state official said."
"If tornadoes tore through Marathon County while a riot broke out in downtown Milwaukee, the state's armed forces would have enough men and women to adequately respond to both incidents despite overseas deployments, a National Guard spokesman said."
"While savoring the flavor of deep-fried livestock testicles isn't as common as fried cheese curds in Wisconsin, it's catching on here. More than 300 people were intrigued enough to pay $5 for all-you-can-eat goat, lamb and bull testicles Saturday at the ninth annual Testicle Festival at Mama's Place Bar and Grill."
[... and this one is not labeled odd item of the day. - Bob]
Sen
R. Feingold"With brave Americans fighting and dying for a failed policy in Iraq, members of Congress shouldn't delay action to end this misguided war for weeks or even months just for the sake of political comfort," says Feingold, who more than a year ago started talking about the need for a well-defined exit strategy."
Gov.
Thompson
Thompson
offers apology on gay comment"Tommy Thompson cited a dead hearing aid and an urgent need to use the bathroom in explaining on Saturday why he said at a GOP presidential debate that an employer should be allowed to fire a gay worker."
[Many Republicans are looking for a candidate who can handle the pressure. - Bob]
'Challenging'
fire chars nearly 50 acres"Firefighters could not get equipment into the site because of swampy conditions, the report said. Gallagher said the site was also next to a lake and so a U.S. Forest Service helicopter from Rhinelander was brought in."
"The reunion is especially poignant because the Murrays are home on a brief leave from deployment in Iraq with the U.S. Army. They return to military duty Monday."
Hurley
students observe Arbor Day"The project was a collaboration of students, teachers, volunteers and ranger Tim Fitzgerald from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources post at Mercer. Fitzgerald demonstrated how to plant the trees and gave hands-on assistance during the project."
"A cell caller reported the accident. According to the complaint, during the initial call for assistance, a dispatcher heard a woman in the background say, "Don't call the cops.""
"Should the disappearances continue and limit crop pollination in the future, U.S. consumers will face significantly higher prices of nuts, fruits and vegetables, and farmers will have few choices but to import bees from abroad, a step that comes with the risk of bringing in new pests,..."
Aid
cost put at $139 million"Gov. Jim Doyle's promise of college seats to eighth-graders who stay out of trouble and maintain a B average would force student financial aid subsidies to rise at least $139 million over a six-year period starting in 2009, administration officials said Friday."
UW
bans cozy ties to lenders"New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo has led a wide-ranging investigation into the student loan industry. He has found evidence that some colleges received a percentage of loan proceeds from their preferred lenders and some college loan officers got gifts from lenders to encourage them to steer borrowers their way."
Sen
R. Feingold"U.S. Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) is leading calls for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to step up its investigation into the bad reporting of nonfat dry milk prices, which led to financial losses for dairy farmers."
Rep
D. Obey
Mount
Obey erupts on colleagues - the Politico"Obey gave some insight into how he uses his temper when he elaborated on the incident. "It was purposeful," he said. "People don't listen to half the things that are said in caucus. I did it to get people's attention. And, by God, I got their attention." Obey continued, "As far as whether I have a temper, frankly, Scarlett, I don't give a damn. I didn't come here to win a popularity contest.""
Hurley
hopes to reclaim world record at May 25 ATV parade "The town of Evarts, Ky., holds the world's record for the largest ATV parade at 1,138 participants, according to Ricky Kelly, of the Hurley Chamber of Commerce. Hurley set the record in 2005 and seeks to reclaim it. "We are going for it again this year," Kelly said."
"The pavement did not hold up well through the winter and they are trying to determine why and what should be done about it. The WDOT has indicated they would like to wait on paving the final surface until they have completed their evaluation," Martin wrote in his monthly report to the city council.
"Beacon Ambulance, along with other Advanced Life Support services in Wisconsin that were licensed prior to Jan. 1, 2000, are being asked to downgrade their ambulance services to conform to a state law requiring providers to staff ambulances with two paramedics on each run."
Church
seeks support for relief mission"Range Community Bible Church is sending a mission team to New Orleans to assist with ongoing hurricane relief efforts."
DNR:
No bear traps in Ironwood until food sources
removed"Bears can be drawn to residences by smells from cooking and bird feeders, including the popular hummingbird offerings. "When feeding one species, you may be also feeding many other unwanted and dangerous ones," Johnson said."
"The council set May 10-24 for clean-up. Residents are asked to place bagged grass clippings and leaves and tree limbs no longer than six feet by the curb for pick-up by the city crew."
"The senior class of 16 worked almost daily to get the shop ready to open after renovations ended in late April, according to teacher Jennifer Varsick. She and business teacher Connie Swanson are advisors for the resale shop."
UW
System aims at loan conflicts"... the guidelines would not be based on a code of conduct promoted by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who has uncovered conflicts of interest and potential illegal activity throughout the student loan industry. Instead, they would be based on guidelines crafted by the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators."
"In the last five to seven years, it's becoming a much greater focus. There's always been some elements of recycling or trying to reuse some material, but it certainly is becoming more predominant,"
GOP
tie gives Ziegler new ethical woes"In what could be a violation of state judicial ethics rules, state Supreme Court Justice-elect Annette Ziegler is being billed as one of the featured guests at a July fundraiser for the Walworth County Republican Party."
"Under their proposal, the tax on a 12-ounce bottle of beer would increase from 0.6 to 3 cents, generating about $40 million a year for alcohol abuse prevention, treatment and enforcement."
"Authorities were led on a high speed vehicle chase by an armless, one-legged man, and they said this wasn't the first time the 40-year-old eluded police."
"The National Finnish American Festival Chorus, under the direction of Elsie Nevala, will present a Mother’s Day concert on Sunday, May 13 at 2 p.m. at the Kimball Community Center in Kimball. Accompanists are Aileen Anderson, piano, and Sue Kontny, flute."
"Officials from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held one of several public meetings on Thursday to gather input on emergency rules put in place last month to help stem the spread of a deadly fish disease, viral hemorrhagic septicemia."
Saving
our lakes and streams, beautifully"The primary purpose of a rain garden is to soak up rain water that runs off of roofs, driveways and lawns, reducing the amount of run-off that ends up in our streams and lakes. That run-off can contain pollutants such as lawn chemicals, road salt, and silt that is gathered by the rainwater and sent into storm sewers and drains, eventually dumping out into our lakes and streams."
Gov.
Doyle"WHEREAS, on May 16, 2007, in the City of Milwaukee, and on May 18, 2007, in the City of Madison, there will be public ceremonies honoring peace officers of this state who have given their lives in the line of duty;"
Doyle
touts drug plan to supplement Medicare D"The new WisconsinCare would help replace the state's SeniorCare program for 102,000 of the state's low-income seniors. Federal officials said last month that SeniorCare would end and its participants would need to instead enroll in the federal Medicare Part D prescription drug program."
Campaign,
lobby bills pass in Senate"Sen. Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) said the state's largest business group, Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, rented pink billboards to attack him last year, but WMC did not have to disclose its contributors. "I want to know who paid for them," Jauch added, saying he would like a list of individual contributors."
"More seniors will be covered and get better benefits under a replacement to the state's unique and popular SeniorCare program unveiled Wednesday, Gov. Jim Doyle and others said."
"With cell phones now outnumbering landlines in Wisconsin, and telemarketers becoming more adept at reaching cell phones, it's time to let consumers register their cell phones on the no-call list, too."
""It is a cancer that has spread," said Sen. John Lehman, D-Racine, who was targeted by issue ads during his Senate race last fall. The bill, he said, would "let them say the nasty stuff, but make them have their names attached to it.""
"Under their proposal, the tax on a 12-ounce bottle of beer would increase from 2.4 to 3 cents a bottle, generating approximately $40 million a year for alcohol abuse prevention, treatment and enforcement."
Sen
R. Feingold"Right now, Congress does not have any information about the relative priority of the current massive backlog of authorized projects. And we don’t have any way of evaluating the relative priority of new projects."
Requiring
Climate Change to be Considered in Planning of Water Projects“Natural systems like wetlands and floodplains can act as important buffers between hurricanes or other severe storms and coastal communities,”
Sen
H. Kohl"If a foreign exporter to the United States delays access for FDA inspectors unnecessarily, the FDA can stop all food imports from that firm immediately thereby denying them access to our markets," Kohl says. "If an exporter does not want to let the FDA inspect its firm on FDA's schedule, that exporter can't ship to this country."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle, First Lady Doyle, Lt. Governor Lawton, Wisconsin Eighth-Graders Sign
the Wisconsin Covenant""I don't like it," Hurley Police Chief Dan Erspamer said of the planned event. Silver Street at midnight is a great deal different than Silver Street during daylight hours, he noted. Erspamer said he'd talk to the promoters of the event today, however, to suggest the rave be conducted from 7 to 10 p.m. instead."
County
D extension study approved by city council "Mayor Joe Pinardi noted a Wisconsin Department of Commerce grant included $25,000 for studying the extension that would divert logging trucks and other big rigs from downtown Hurley."
Moore
declines principal post"The Mercer School Board offered the job to Mercer English teacher Cathy Moore, who declined, board president John Pinzl said Tuesday. "She mentioned family matters and left it real general like that," Pinzl said."
County
still restricting burning"The Wisconsin emergency burning restrictions in Iron County are still in effect, with all outdoor burning and campfires prohibited especially on the Gile and Turtle Flambeau flowages, according to the Mercer Ranger Station."
"The Wisconsin Joint Finance Committee unanimously approved a bi-partisan budget motion to extend $200,000 in additional state aid to the state's county fairs."
Sherman
bill would recover uncollected medical payments "under current law, the amount expended by Medicaid is supposed to be repaid to the state from the amounts in the recovery that are paid for that particular medical care. However, without vigorous collection action, this money can be lost to the state treasury."
High
court won't hear Ziegler's ethics request"In a terse order, the court denied Ziegler's request to take up her argument that the Ethics Board does not have jurisdiction over ethics matters involving judges. The order means the Ethics Board can continue to pursue its case in a May 17 hearing before a reserve judge."
Gas
station ordered to stop giving discounts"But the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says those deals are too good: They violate Wisconsin's Unfair Sales Act, which requires stations to sell gas for about 9.2 percent more than the wholesale price."
Panel
OKs new Department of Families"Earlier Republican efforts to remove the proposed department from the budget bill failed on an 8-8 party-line vote, with Republicans voting to kill the new agency and Democrats voting in favor of it."
Editorial:
Big Oil has handy excuse for high prices"The dog ate my homework. The check's in the mail. To those classic excuses for failure, used for decades to avoid personal responsibility, we now can add one more: There's a refinery problem."
"In the weeks leading to his latest arrest, Sax said, witnesses in Dowdy’s neighborhood reported seeing a suspicious person slinking about, at times peeking through windows. Often, Sax says, socks were left behind, though it’s unclear whether the culprit dropped them clumsily or as a calling card."
First-ever
birding festival in region next week"The Chequamegon Bay region is widely regarded as one of the best birding destinations in the Midwest, and, with it's huge reserves of public land, northwest Wisconsin has an amazing variety of unspoiled natural habitats of all kinds."
Sen
R. Feingold“The USDA should immediately put in place regulations to ensure accurate information as well as explain why it hasn’t already done so. The USDA should to do everything in its power to conduct this investigation quickly and propose changes to rectify the situation.”
Failure
to Pass Strong Prescription Drug Reimportation Legislation"The reimportation of prescription drugs would help Americans gain access to the safe FDA-approved medications they need. I remain committed to helping Wisconsinites and all Americans receive the same prescription drug prices as consumers in many other countries.”
Senator
Feingold Discusses Restoring Federal Jurisdiction over US ...
- E-Wire - Dallas,TX"In the current National Wetlands Newsletterandreg (May-June 2007), Sen. Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) discusses legislation he plans to introduce this session that would restore the federal government's role in protecting the nation's waters."
Gov.
Doyle“WisconsinCare will provide seniors and people with disabilities access to life-saving prescription drugs at a price they can afford,” Governor Doyle said. “By filling donut holes, using one-page applications, and providing access to affordable prescription drugs, WisconsinCare will protect our seniors ..."
"The Hurley tavern will lock up its alcohol and open its doors to an underage crowd for what promoter Troy Puisto describes as a "more intimate scene" than the typical school dance. "It will be the best light show and sound system that these kids will ever have heard," Puisto said."
Birding
Festival to be held at North Lakeland Discovery Center"May 11 is the early-bird registration deadline for the third annual Birding Festival to be held May 18 and 19 at the North Lakeland Discovery Center and held in partnership with the Manitowish Waters Chamber of Commerce."
"The decision dismissed a Wisconsin Democracy Campaign complaint against the campaign of Green, who gave up a seat in the U.S. House to run for governor. The complaint was filed before the election won by Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle."
"The state's largest electric utility wants consecutive increases of 7.5% per year. Bills for the typical residential customer now paying $81.51 a month would rise by more than $6 in January 2008 and again by more than $6.50 in January 2009."
"Wisconsin employers could fire and refuse to hire convicted child molesters, kidnappers and murderers - no questions asked - under a Republican bill that would carve out an exemption to the state's fair employment law."
"The FCC order requires that, effective May 25, retailers tell shoppers that analog sets will not receive signals through antennas once broadcasters switch to the digital format."
Wal-Mart's
organic' labels rapped"After responding to complaints from a consumer group, Wisconsin regulators have found evidence that Wal-Mart misidentified some conventional food items as organic."
"Some of the dead possums and raccoons have been dressed in pet or human baby clothes and have had their claws painted with nail polish. The carcass of a deer has been adorned with gold paint."
Sen
R. Feingold“With brave Americans fighting and dying for a failed policy in Iraq, members of Congress shouldn’t delay action to end this misguided war for weeks or even months just for the sake of political comfort."
"While I am somewhat encouraged by the Sudanese government's agreement to support humanitarian efforts in Darfur, this pledge must be implemented completely and fully if it is to be at all useful to the millions of people who rely on humanitarian assistance for survival,"
"Feingold originally introduced legislation last year after learning of Wisconsin servicemembers being forced to pay early termination fees or pay for a service they cannot use when they are either reassigned or called up for active duty"
"This process costs taxpayers $250,000 yearly. More important, it often prevents voters from learning who has contributed to Senate candidates until the election is over. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., are sponsoring S. 223, which would require the information to be filed electronically."
Rep
D. Obey"The House leadership had made no final decision, but aides said Representative Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, was leaning toward the approach, which was developed by Representatives David Obey of Wisconsin and John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania, two senior Democrats on the Appropriations Committee."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle’s Statement on Expected Spike in Gas Prices This Summer“Big oil companies have made record-setting profits, while Wisconsin families pay the price. It is unreasonable for these companies to continue raking in excessive profits while middle class families in Wisconsin and across the country continue to be squeezed at the pump."
Area
waits for relief from dry conditions "Due to the warning, all DNR issued burning permits have been canceled, and campfire, outdoor smoking and outdoor cooking are banned until further notice. Anyone spotting grass, brush or forest fires are asked to contact the DNR or dial 911."
Council
to discuss engineering for two projects "At its regular monthly meeting at city hall, the council will act on a recommendation from the finance committee to approve a contract with MSA Professional Services, of Rhinelander, for designing a new walking trail. It would extend from the downtown to Cary Park on Wisconsin 77."
[The CITY COUNCIL AGENDA was previously posted. - Bob]
Hurley
to offer summer school, child care"The Hurley School District also offers a child care program for ages 4 through 11. The program operates from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday from June 8 through Aug. 31. Child care will not be available from 9 a.m. to noon during the three weeks of summer school, to encourage students to participate in the classes."
Mercer
teen to take part in Youth Conservation Corps "Pfeiffer, of Mercer, will participate in the Youth Conservation Corps camp at Yosemite National Park in El Portal, Calif. The camp runs from June 17 to Aug. 10."
College
program lacking price tag"Doyle says students who fulfill the pledge will be guaranteed a spot after graduation in one of the state's colleges or universities, along with a financial aid package based on need. If students from low-income families cannot afford college with existing financial aid, he says, the state will provide more assistance to close the gap."
Wineke:
Thompson has acquired a Bush trait"Of course it's not his position. Tommy Thompson may have attributes many people don't like. But he is not a bigot and he is not a homophobe. Those of us who live with him in Wisconsin know that. We may disagree with his politics and we may disagree with his policies, but we know he's a decent man. But somehow, when he gets on a national stage, the strangest things come out of his mouth."
"Because the legal issues raised by the Petitioner are likely to reach the Supreme Court eventually and because the Court in the past has assumed original jurisdiction over cases challenging the constitutionality of legislative enactments regulating judges and the courts, it should do so in this case as well," the Ethics Board contended.
Exhibit
offers look at potential effect of global warming in northwoods"The forests of northern Wisconsin and Minnesota will see the biggest global warming-related changes in all of North America, Pastor said, because this region straddles several distinct ecological areas determined by climate like boreal forest, northern hardwood forest and savanna-prairie. Because of the lake effect, the Upper Peninsula may look much the same in 50 years despite rising temperatures, but that's not so in northwest Wisconsin, Pastor said."
Sen
R. FeingoldPoliticians
avoiding hard truth of Iraq war, to our peril - Central Maine
Morning Sentinel - Augusta,ME"As Wisconsin Democratic Senator Russ Feingold, one of the leading critics of the war said, "There is virtually no one in our caucus who does not want to be associated with trying to get us out of this war. The only thing that is slowing some of them down is the fear that somehow they will be accused of doing something that will put the troops at risk."
Sen
H. KohlAverage
Gas Prices Hit All Time High. How Congress Must Now Act to ...
- Huffington Post - New York,NY"Then in 2005 a bipartisan group of Senators led by then Senator Mike De Wine (R., Ohio) and Senator Herb Kohl (D., Wisc) introduced the No OIL Producing and Exporting Cartels Act (called the NOPEC Bill) designed to give the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission explicit powers to process legal action against OPEC's collusion in manipulating oil prices."
Gov.
DoyleGovernor
Doyle Announces $400,000 to Help Build School for At-Risk Children"Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Capitol Crossing, LLC, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, will receive a $400,000 Blight Elimination and Brownfield Redevelopment grant to rehabilitate a 76-year old blighted building into a school for at-risk children. "
- "BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS -_5:15 P.M.
- POLICE, FIRE & LICENSE COMMITTEE
Immediately following the Board of Public Works meeting - PARKS & RECREATION COMMITTEE
Immediately following the Police, Fire & License Committee meeting - FINANCE COMMITTEE
Immediately following the Parks & Recreation Committee meeting - CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:30 P.M."
"In early May 2007 38.7 acres along the Montreal River, including Peterson Falls, was put up for sale. http://www.jwhuss.com/acreage1.html Through a grassroots effort, we hope to find a way to preserve the falls and maintain public access."
"It is image and substance, a state of mind and a group of states, tumultuous history, politics and culture, now all crammed into a new book called "The American Midwest: An Interpretive Encyclopedia."
Clues
for spotting a Sears house offered"Interest in these houses has become a phenomenon - some people are maniacal about them," Draeger said. "I've seen people market houses as Sears houses because it increases their attractiveness to certain people." Although Sears' records of its catalog house sales were destroyed long ago, information and images of them can be found on the Sears online archives: www.searsarchives.com/homes."
Building
sale posing problem"It could cost between $1.8 million and $2.3 million to move the data center's computers and provide network connections for them at a new location within several miles of the current Isthmus site... That's because the state will need to pay to move the computers and to install fiber-optic cables to carry the massive amounts of data that zip back and forth between the DOA building and other locations as part of the state's daily business.
""We noticed it last year when prices were up," Mayer said. "In between holidays, it's a little bit slower." Mayer said more people travel to the Northwoods to fish for the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays and not as much in between."
"Neighboring states shipped 1.5 million tons of waste in 2001, almost 27 percent of all waste collected in Wisconsin. Now, as landfills across the state close, hauling companies must travel farther to dispose of waste. The fuel costs are passed on to customers."
Sen
H. Kohl"As most readers probably know, Kohl is but one of several legislators who have seen sit-ins in their offices because of their refusal to support bills demanding immediate withdrawal of forces form Iraq. The Madison action was unique in that it was organized primarily by antiwar students at the university and will most likely go down in the history of the current antiwar movement as the first large action of its kind."
"The Ironwood Public Safety Departments 2007 Bicycle Safety Program
was a big success! Many thanks to all the Ironwood volunteers who
helped make the on-bike lesson a real learning experience for the
children. My children loved the hot dogs chips and great prizes we
won at the event."
[Registration required - Bob]
Republicans
defect to the Obama camp"DISILLUSIONED supporters of President George W Bush are defecting to Barack Obama, the Democratic senator for Illinois, as the White House candidate with the best chance of uniting a divided nation."
Global
Warming: Misinformation Action Center"While consensus in the scientific community exists on the issue, too often pundits and journalists advance false, misleading, and baseless claims about the looming environmental crisis. Among the common conservative myths and falsehoods advanced in the media about global warming are unsubstantiated claims that human activity is not a substantial cause of global warming; Antarctic ice is increasing, not decreasing; former Vice President Al Gore is exaggerating; and carbon dioxide is not bad for the environment."
Burning
ban to be strictly enforced this weekend "Homeowners are advised to consider alternatives to burning leaves and brush right now. People with burn barrel permits should make different arrangements to dispose of their items. Throwing matches, ashes, or burning material from a vehicle is also prohibited."
Hurley
resident's efforts revive former city trout pond for kids "For the past two years, Kasper has renovated the pond. He put in a new stand pipe, which allowed the small impoundment to fill up within a dew days. Excess dirt from Hurley's Silver Street project was used as fill to build up the banks and make it more accessible."
Saxon:
Spring Craft Fair"The Saxon-Gurney Community Church will host the annual Spring Craft Fair on May 12 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Saxon Community Center."
"Oak Street resident Joel Wesley Graser Sr., who faces a charge of delivery of a schedule II controlled substance (morphine), is scheduled to appear in Iron County Circuit Court on May 14 at 10:30 a.m."
Manitowish
Waters, Wis.: May 10 meeting to examine problem of global warming"May's Nibbles 'N Knowledge series will take a closer look at the issue of climate change Thursday, May 10, at 6 p.m. (doors open at 5 p.m.) at the North Lakeland Discovery Center."
Panel
will investigate research firms' ethics"The Ohio Democrat [U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich] said Constella, a North Carolina firm with ties to former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson, has a conflict because it has worked for both federal regulators and companies that are regulated. Thompson, the former secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services who chairs Constella's advisory board, declined to comment"
"If adopted by the full Legislature, the amendment would allow state utilities to import hydroelectric power from dams in Manitoba, using a new $420 million high-voltage transmission line that is under construction between Wausau and Duluth, Minn."
Thompson
puts second foot in mouth"When you're trailing as badly as Thompson is, you need a lot of good breaks and no gaffes, and he's now made two sizable gaffes and hasn't gotten any real big breaks," said Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia. "That's not a good sign."
Drug
plan for seniors is still on"No matter what program is developed, it will be better than Medicare Part D on its own, Ryan said. Doyle has said he believes some seniors could be better off with the new programs than under SeniorCare, while others may not be."
Gay
remark effect called low for long-shot Tommy"For some of the guys not in the first or second tier, they have to make something happen. You could say this hurts his chances, but I don't know how good of a chance he had in the first place."
"Smart investors are sinking their money into defibrillators. Demand for the devices that jolt hearts back to life only can skyrocket as motorists succumb to Sudden Auto-motive Gas Shock, or SAGS."
""We had no problem prior to enhanced 911 in Gogebic County. If they are turning to Dobson to rectify the situation, I will not hesitate to take legal action to protect the residents of this county," DeRosso added."
Schroepfer
appointed to fill vacant county board seat "Chuck Schroepfer of Mercer has been appointed as Mercer's district 12 representative on the Iron County Board of Supervisors."
"The high volume of hats sold in northern Iron County reflects the fact many snowmobilers flocked to the Hurley area because of good trail conditions here, as opposed to other areas in the Midwest that didn't receive much snow.
Mercer
looks to start new tradition with Lupine Junefest "The daylong celebration from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. includes biking and hiking events, sidewalk chalk art, a flea market, children's activities, educational booths, live music, food and drink."
Bears
leave Ironwood home - for now "The mother came back Wednesday evening and repeatedly went up and down the tree, Hakari said. The cub didn't come down. It went on the tree's branches, worrying those watching that it would fall. But it just went back to its spot in the tree. "
Former
Justice official backs Biskupic"It reminded me that I've read some stuff in the press about him that appeared to impugn his integrity. And that really sticks in my craw, because in my judgment, he's a person of great integrity. And that's the person you want as U.S. attorney."
Home
sale fee increase in works"Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle's plan to double the fee paid by sellers of homes and other property - a fee increase that would cost sellers of property $142 million over the next two years - survived the first attempt by Republicans to kill it Thursday."
"On a 3-2 vote, a state Senate committee on Wednesday approved broad additions to the state's no-call list that provide new protections for consumers and much larger fines for telemarketers who break the rules."
Tommy
apologizes for remark about firing gay workers"The question: "If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?" His response: "I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be." Asked if his answer was yes, Thompson said, "Yes.""
"The U.S. Health and Human Services Department told the state in April that a three-year extension of SeniorCare would not be granted. The state then asked for an extension from the program’s June 30 end date through the rest of the year so it has time to create a supplemental plan to Medicare."
"A gang of armed robbers forced a man to strip naked and then glued him to his exercise bike and sealed his lips with more glue while they ransacked his house, according to a published report."
Anglers
encouraged to watch out for aquatic invasive species"To help stem the spread of aquatic invasive species like Eurasian Water-Milfoil, the CBCW will have volunteers at several lakes around the area not only to help anglers recognize invasive versus native plants, but also to help dispose of them properly."
"While consumers have the choice whether to frequent smoking-allowed pool halls and bars, health officials say the findings might be disturbing for employees who work in such sites, as they are exposed to twice the fine particle pollution that is allowed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)."
Sen
R. Feingold"So, when Congress asks a political appointee whether the President is going to continue going to the court, how could that appointee say anything other than what Mitch McConnell, the new Director of National Intelligence told Democratic Senator Russ Feingold. "Sir, the president's authority under Article II is in the Constitution," Mr. McConnell said. "So if the president chose to exercise Article II authority, that would be the president's call.""
Gov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER #198"The Governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff beginning on May 5, 2007 and ending at sundown on that date as a Mark of Respect for Private First Class Nicholas Riehl of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom."
Content
analysis of O'Reilly's rhetoric finds spin to be a 'factor' -
Indiana University"Using analysis techniques first developed in the 1930s by the Institute for Propaganda Analysis, Conway, Grabe and Grieves found that O'Reilly employed six of the seven propaganda devices nearly 13 times each minute in his editorials."
[Four radio stations in a 60% Democratic border area have only one national radio talk show and it is this lying sack of crap. What's wrong with this picture? - Bob]
"Foster's has teamed up with some scientists at the University of Queensland to convert it's brewery waste into electricity and clean water. The beer battery works by feeding the waste sugar, starch and alcohol to microbes which, in turn, get excited and produce electricity."
'vote
fraud' conspiracy - TPM"But given what I've heard and given the highly circumstantial nature of the case, I'm inclined to believe, until I hear more evidence to the contrary, that Biskupic himself has clean hands in all this."
Emergency
fire regulations in effect in Iron, other counties "All burning permits for brush and trash have been suspended, including use of burn barrels. With predicted high winds, warm temperatures and low humidity over the next few days, firefighters are urging people to take extra precautions."
Most
Iron County ATV trails now open"Most Iron County all-terrain vehicle trails and corridors are now open. Some routes or portions of routes are still closed for repairs, however, said Iron County Forest Administrator Joe Vairus."
Chamber
Singers proffer lighthearted fare"The Chamber Singers will present their spring concert on Monday, May 7, in the Hurley School auditorium at 7 p.m. This is the lighter of the group's two annual concerts. It will feature folk songs, tunes from musicals, gospel and spiritual music and a group of vocal jazz pieces."
Bear
cub in tree sympton of larger issue"The mother will come back for the cub, Brian Bogaczyk, a wildlife biologist at the Ottawa National Forest, suspects. "She'll be crabby, too," he said. "That cub will not survive on its own.""
Big
hitters in state back Edwards"Making the case for Edwards, Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz cited his willingness to lay out detailed policy positions early in the campaign; his repudiation of his own 2002 vote to authorize force in Iraq; and his focus on poverty and inequality, a signature issue for Edwards in 2004."
""You are absolutely at the fault line" of a tricky issue, Lee said. The blog in question, called Radio Free Wisconsin (at radiofreewis.blogspot.com), has made strong personal attacks on agency leadership and has sometimes dug up dirt on their actions."
Smart
future: Tiny European economy car is being introduced in the U.S. next year"Early word-of-mouth praise comes from international travelers who have seen or driven the miniature cars - two fit in an average parking space. They have been on sale in Europe since 1998, in Mexico since 2003 and in Canada since 2004. Smarts are now sold in 36 countries, and the company says it has sold 750,000 of them in the past decade."
Public
radio ratings gain after changes"The new financial call-in program produced by Kevin McGinley had the highest-ever hour in its time slot of 7 a.m. Sunday mornings. The repeat of "A Prairie Home Companion" on Sunday mornings more than doubled the previous audience during that time slot."
"Then they forgot about the bats until they smelled a foul odor in January. When they checked the attic, they found dead bats and piles of guano. An exterminator says hundreds of bats had been living in the attic, leaving behind 3,500 pounds of droppings."
‘‘All it takes is one of those sinkers, one, a single one, to kill a bald eagle or a trumpeter swan,’’ said Gibson, executive director of the Raptor Education Group Inc. at Antigo in northeastern Wisconsin. ‘‘It stays in the stomach or crop. It’s almost impossible to get it out.’’
Sen
R. Feingold"The ink on the President's veto is barely dry, and already, a lot of Washington insiders - including some Democrats -- are saying Congress should just give in to the President," he said. "[B]acking down is not the answer. No one else should die in Iraq to give political comfort to dealmakers in Washington."
Rep
D. Obey"The President is still standing in the way of the change the American people called for in the last election," the congressman said. "We have to put enough pressure on the president's Republican allies to leave him. That's not going to happen overnight."
Gov.
DoyleEXECUTIVE
ORDER #198"The Governor has ordered that flags be lowered to half-staff beginning on May 5, 2007 and ending at sundown on that date as a Mark of Respect for Private First Class Nicholas Riehl of the United States Army Who Lost His Life During Operation Iraqi Freedom."
"Iron County Emergency Government Director Tom Schellinger said quartering off the tower is not an option. If the northeast portion of the tower is turned, cell phone calls from Hurley, and portions of Kimball and Oma, would then be transmitted to Negaunee for dispatch."
"Firefighters from Mercer, Sherman, Pike Lake and Price County fire departments and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources responded to the 3:15 p.m. Sunday forest fire and kept the blaze away from both seasonal and year-round homes, Schellinger said.
Weber
Lake to be stocked with thousands of trout"Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologists said 4,000 rainbows and 2,650 brook trout will be released into the lake from hatchery trucks."
Pair
of Mercer principal finalists earn second interview""It's the first time we've had that many. The only reason is because we separated the jobs," Pinzl said Tuesday. "We really enjoyed interviewing these candidates. We're real pleased with the final two we have.""
Ex-senators
barred from law 2 years"The state Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended for two years the law licenses of former state Senate Majority Leader Chuck Chvala (D-Madison) and former Sen. Brian Burke (D-Milwaukee). Both were convicted in connection with the Capitol caucus scandal."
UW
is finalist for biofuel grant"The U.S. Department of Energy is expected to invest $125 million over five years at each of two or possibly three new bioenergy research centers, starting as early as this year."
"About 400 people gathered peacefully at the State Capitol for a rally Tuesday afternoon and marched along West Washington Avenue to Brittingham Park to show their support for immigrants' and workers' rights on May Day, which is also International Workers Day."
"The gentleman and his employees gave Pelletier a poster all of them had signed. It said, "Thanks, Ray, I have not forgotten your generosity that helped start this business. Now it's my chance to repay that. Thanks for your help, your friendship and the fun all those years.""
Midgets
one-up AHS"Ashland had rallied to tie the game in the top of the seventh and threatened to surge ahead. But the Midgets got a key double play and came up with a run in their half to earn a 5-4 victory in their non-conference baseball game."
Gov.
Doyle“My Task Force will bring together students, parents, law enforcement and officials from our states colleges and universities to provide recommendations for how institutions should prepare for both physical security needs and critical mental health aspects to ensure campus safety.”
City
plans new walking-biking trail"The trail that will extend from Tenth Avenue South will be located on the north side of the highway. It will cross the driveway entrance to the Highline Corporation, at 100 Cary Road, and continue through an undeveloped area to the park."
Many
fires in Mercer area; extreme fire danger warning issued"Forest fires at this time of year are difficult to extinguish as the duff layer burns for hours," Fitzgerald said. "You are responsible if your fire gets away. You become liable for all expenses incurred in suppressing a fire and will be responsible for all damage caused by the fire," he warned.
"A controlled burn by the U.S. Forest Service got out of hand over the weekend and it has scorched 1,332 acres about five miles northwest of Covington, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources."
Low
water levels a problem"The lowest water levels in Lake Superior in more than 80 years are causing trouble for boaters. The levels are restricting access for big recreational boats, especially sailboats with 6- to 8-foot keels, from Grand Marais to the Twin Ports and on to Ashland, Bayfield and Saxon, Wis."
"Thank-you Mr. Jacquart for meeting with me and taking the time to listen
to my political ramblings. I urge our members to take a tour of
Jacquarts and see just what goes on there. I think you will have a
renewed understanding of Ironwood's largest employer."
"He said reasons for the gap include delinquent individual and corporate taxes, which total more than $823 million; individuals underreporting their income; all-cash business and personal transactions; and the loss of sales taxes to Internet merchandising."
"In addition, the company's owner was arrested and charged with six felony counts on allegations of hiring workers with Social Security numbers that weren't their own. Allen Petrie, 48, is scheduled to go to trial in July on six counts of identity theft for financial gain, party to a crime. If convicted, he faces up to six years in prison, and fines of $10,000 on each count."
Court
denies Ziegler request in ethics case"The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Monday declined to temporarily block the state Ethics Board from pursuing a complaint against incoming Justice Annette Ziegler."
"Doyle is proposing a statewide ban on smoking in all workplaces, including restaurants and taverns. The powerful Tavern League lobby, which represents the state's 13,000 bar owners, is pushing for an exemption."
"This is really the first major, interdisciplinary, expansive attempt to ponder what the Midwest is, and what it means," says James Leary, a director for the University of Wisconsin's Center for the Study of Upper Midwestern Cultures. He edited the book's 440-page folklore section. "It's a landmark production that belies the notion of mediocrity and dullness" that is a Midwest stereotype, Leary says."
"In Wisconsin, the hot beef sandwich reigns supreme," Stuttgen observed in a 2005 interview. In the new cookbook, she praises the sandwich quality at Main Street Cafe in Siren (Burnett County), whose owners "are as passionate about making great hot beef as Wisconsinites are about eating it."
Obey
blasts Bush veto“I don’t think the American people would agree that $1.8 billion for Veterans Healthcare, $3.3 billion for Defense Health programs, $2.25 billion for Homeland Security, $6.9 billion for Katrina recovery, $663 million to protect the country from the ravages of a world flu pandemic or $650 million to keep kids from losing their health insurance is unnecessary."
Lake
Wausau panfish dying"Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fisheries biologist Thomas Meronek said the panfish have been dying for the past two weeks and the DNR is keeping an eye on the lake."
"It could take several days before investigators determine the cause of a forest fire that scorched nearly 1,200 acres of public and private land in Bayfield County on Sunday and Monday."
Sen
R. Feingold
On
the 4th Anniversary of the President Declaring "Mission Accomplished""The anniversary reminds us that we shouldn’t give credence to an Administration that has made such disastrous mistakes in Iraq. Congress should listen to the American people and not an Administration that has been so wrong, and so dishonest, so many times."
“We need to boost funding for the Section 8 program so our communities will be better equipped to meet the rising demand for housing assistance, particularly the demand for rental housing assistance.”
Rep
D. Obey“The President is still standing in the way of the change the American people called for in the last election,’’ the congressman said. “We have to put enough pressure on the president’s Republican allies to leave him. That’s not going to happen overnight.’’
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