Local News (archives)
School
district has funds to cover window repairs"The Hurley School District has enough funds remaining from its roof replacement project to cover most of the cost of needed window repairs, district administrator Chris Patritto said this week. Earlier this month, board members learned it will cost around $550,000 to repair rotting windows and defective block on the K-12 school. "
Montreal:
City budget hearing set for Nov. 13 "Montreal residents will have a chance to discuss the city's 2008 budget that shows an increase of $26,103 over last year's expenditures of $151,301. Proposed expenditures total $177,504."
Mercer:
Clinic can fill prescriptions"The service can help patients who might not get prescriptions filled or would not be able to start treatment right away while they wait for transportation to a pharmacy in a neighboring community or for the drug to be mailed."
Duluth,
Minn.: Scientists: Humans are greatest threat to Lake Superior"Development along the shores of Lake Superior could be the greatest threat to the lake, scientists said during a conference in Duluth. The panel of scientists who spoke Monday agreed that pollution, rising temperatures and invasive species also threaten the world's largest freshwater lake and its cold, sensitive ecosystem."
Department
of Tourism releases new guide "The new format provides more sidebar articles of interest and a streamlined contact information section to help travelers plan their vacation. Separate guides for seasonal events, festivals, exhibits and performing arts are available as a companion piece to the Wisconsin Activity Guide."
Felons
issued gun hunting licenses"An analysis of records from the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Department of Natural Resources shows that at least 77 felons bought deer licenses last year. The actual number was likely higher because only one of every five Wisconsin hunters consented to release their names when applying for a license."
We
Energies proposes new wind power farm"The Milwaukee-based utility has ordered a $200 million wind project that would generate about 100 megawatts of electricity, We Energies Chairman Gale Klappa said. The project would consist of 50 to 65 turbines, depending on the size and power output of the turbines eventually selected."
DNR:
Blast away at wild pigs"State wildlife and agriculture officials want hunters to shoot, skewer or otherwise summarily dispatch as many of the destructive, diseased porkers as possible this fall, and with plenty of prejudice. "Shoot them on sight," implored Brad Koele, a state Department of Natural Resources wildlife damage specialist, in a statement to hunters this week."
Smoke
and mirrors?""But it's all smoke and mirrors. People need to look at the facts. In 1994 the company promised new jobs and expanded broadband in exchange for a bill that allowed it to charge more money. That bill passed and their profits sky-rocketed. But they didn't keep their promises."
[As background info you might want to check Speed Matters. The US now ranks 16th in high speed internet. - Bob]
"Later, Bolen barged back into the house and got into an argument with Lee. Lee told police Bolen slammed him down on the couch and threw two large pickles at him and said, “Here’s your damn pickles.”"
New
rules will change the nature of boating and fishing"Just as frequent flyers have learned to accept increased security at the nation's airports and change their attitudes about public safety, boaters and anglers will be conscripted into the war against biological invaders, foreign agents that often cannot be seen. The institutional term is "bio-security" and it means folks will have to get used to the idea you just can't transfer water, plants or fish tissue from one body of water to another."
Gov.
DoyleSchool
district approves $7 million budget"School board president Joe Simonich, of Kimball, said while the state promises two-thirds funding to school districts, Hurley is actually getting less than 50 percent with its $3,496,489 in state aid. As recently as 2004-05, the district received $4,150,358 in state aid."
Hospital
tax plan could be revived"Hospitals see the new tax as the only way to get their first rate increase in years for what they spend caring for Medicaid patients, Decker told reporters. The tax would cost them $418 million, which would attract about $575 million in additional federal Medicaid funds. Overall, Wisconsin hospitals that treat Medicaid patients would come out $284.2 million ahead."
The
failure of school choice"We had expected to find a wellspring of hope that increased parental involvement in the Milwaukee Public Schools would be the key ingredient in improving student performance," acknowledges George Lightbourn, a senior fellow with the institute and longtime advocate for school choice initiatives. Instead, an honest assessment of Milwaukee's school choice experiment is summed up by the phrases "bad schools" and "little change."
Freedom
from Religion lawsuit against Boys Ranch adds defendants"If this was a private, legally run facility with nothing to do with the state, then they could do whatever they like," Gaylor said. "But this is unacceptable." The lawsuit filed in federal court in Bismarck asks a judge to declare a violation of the constitutional separation of church and state, and to order the government to stop sending children or money to the ranch."
One
day later: Police itemize Halloween crimes"Of the 181 total arrests, 135 people were released that same night, 43 were brought to jail and three were taken to detox. However, a release from the MPD stated that there were others brought to detox throughout the weekend who did not come through the arrest processing."
Lawmakers
target Badgers, Packers TV access"The biggest hang-up has been over whether to offer the channel as part of the basic tier or a more expensive special sports tier. The bill, sponsored by a Democrat in the Senate and a Republican in the Assembly, would establish an arbitration system to settle disputes between the sports networks and cable companies."
"Aspirus assumed administrative oversight of the 25-bed critical access hospital in January, which had been in financial crisis... Aspirus plans to invest more than $4 million in building improvements, physician recruitment, equipment upgrades and additional services."
Jauch:
New state budget will benefit the north "To end our work on the budget was a matter of great satisfaction and relief," he said Monday. "I argued very hard that there had to be a better, more human, more decent way to reach a conclusion."... "There is way too much about personality and power, and people are exercising their frustration rather than exercising their energy and voice in ways that we can make things better," he said.
"The project aims to transform the 1906 building, which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, into an education and cultural center where language programs and traditional skills such as mat making and basket weaving are taught. It will also serve as a monument to the brutal regime to which American Indian families were subjected when their children were taken from them."
Sen
R. Feingold
"Refusing to be distracted by the coming presidential election, Feingold promised to remain focused on the work at hand: bringing U.S. troops home, taking honest steps to promote stability in the Middle East, and turning the attention of the U.S. intelligence and defense establishment toward real threats -- as opposed to the fantasies of Dick Cheney and the neocons."
Rep
D. Obey
Editorial:
We shouldn't shift costs of Iraq to future generations ... -
San Jose Mercury News"David Obey, a Wisconsin Democrat who is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has the right idea. He is proposing a temporary surcharge on income taxes to pay specifically for the war in Iraq. But he cannot even get a hearing in Congress. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-San Francisco, immediately rejected the idea; anti-war Democrats want to stop the war, not get blamed for taxing it."
Collage
of Hurley's Late ColorAt "peak color" the landscape is overwhelmed with the orange and red of the hardwoods. Hurley has a second color season, the ambers and yellows of the poplars and tamaracks. These pictures were taken on Oct 24th and 25th in stormy late afternoon and bright mid-morning. - Bob
The
Globe - About_IRonwood"Look out your window, drive around town if you think we should do better, do you think are taxes are being wasted or our water rates too high? If so, then you believe as I do. We need to go in a new direction and I'm hoping that you will all join me in on that trip. Let's start that journey November 6th. Please Vote."
[Posting of this is not intended as an endorsement of this or any other candidate. - Bob]
Manitowish
Waters, Wis.: Cutright to speak at bird club meeting"The North Lakeland Discovery Center Bird Club will hold its monthly meeting on Monday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at the center in Manitowish Waters. Special guest will be Noel Cutright, former Wisconsin for Society Ornithology president and senior editor of the "Atlas of the Breedeing BIrds of Wisconsin." "
Doyle
vetoes free shots of liquor, new wine distribution system
"A provision slipped into the budget at the last minute would have allowed up to 1.5 ounces of liquor to be handed out for free. "To me, it's absurd that you walk into a grocery store and start taking shots,'' Doyle said. "
"I found the best lice expert in the U.S., Katie Shepherd of Lice Solutions in Florida (licesolutions.org or 561-842-9969)... Shepherd is all about education, awareness, safe products that work, grants and helping us parents. Gosh, imagine someone that actually wants to help us parents with head lice, so much that she deals with it every day."
"Not all of the schools chartered by local school boards violate basic requirements such as having independent governance boards, Zautcke said. "But the vast majority of them, if there was a governance board, it was district administrators and maybe the principal . . . and it wasn't really very clean.""
"Powless was accused of taking the Hobart village snowplow last April to escape police who were chasing him for an incident nearby. A police dog gave chase, the complaint said, and Powless allegedly wrestled the dog while he held an 8-inch kitchen knife."
"A year ago, the program had $61.4 million available and helped about 145,000 households with an average grant of $382, she said. The program expects to help 150,000 households this year, paying each an average $587 in energy aid, she said."
Students
ride windsled to school"They go by windsled, an airboat of sorts, which can traverse the 2.5 miles across Lake Superior to the mainland of Wisconsin when there is too much ice for the ferry to operate, but not enough to support cars and trucks on an ice road."
"Doyle's proposed ban on smoking in all bars, restaurants and public buildings also has an uncertain future, even in the Democratic-controlled Senate. Decker said he would like to see a compromise between lawmakers who support a total ban and those who want an exemption for taverns. Huebsch hasn't taken a position on the ban. The powerful Tavern League, which represents the state's bars, has been fighting for an exemption to allow smoking in bars and taverns across the state."
Gov.
Doyle
Hunting
And Fishing Bill Of Rights"Today, during a tour of western Iowa, John Edwards unveiled his Hunting and Fishing Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy America's incredible natural resources. Edwards' plan calls for increasing access to public lands, protecting gun rights, improving conservation efforts and ensuring clean waters for safe, healthy fishing."
School
board to meet Monday to set tax levies"Now that Wisconsin has finalized a budget for the next two years, school districts and municipalities can determine how much state aid they'll be getting and set 2007-08 tax levies. The Hurley School Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday to set its levy and adopt a budget."
Northern
Wisconsin jobless rates fall"It is really important to demonstrate that we can move beyond gridlock and focus on resolution of key issues. If thoughtful legislators will work together, we will not only be able to address important health care matters, but can also set the high standard of legislative performance that the public expects,"
Jauch
to lead effort to revisit hospital assessment "State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, said Friday a bipartisan group of legislators should immediately begin to work with the Wisconsin Medical Society and Wisconsin Hospital Association to find a way to increase hospital medical assistance payments and help avert a potential fee increase to physicians."
Hurley
man charged in Silver Street incident "A 46-year-old Hurley man has been charged with battery and disorderly conduct stemming from an early morning Oct. 13 incident in his Silver Street apartment."
Good
news in economy abounds across range"In my short time as a member of the Ironwood City Commission, I have been stunned by the volume of pessimism pulsating through certain segments of the community. Even more irritating, is the number of people who take the time to forward this negative information via mail and the Internet."
[See also Candidates use Web site to lash incumbents, officials and Local Web site carries harsh images, messages . - Bob]
'Frankenstein
veto' debate gets new life"We spent months negotiating and debating the budget provisions, and specifically the levy limit, and through the use of the Frankenstein veto he simply ignores those negotiations and puts in place what he wants," said state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf (R-River Falls), sponsor of a constitutional amendment to limit the authority."
Budget
'pork' is tough to pin down"Among his veto casualties was a provision that would have allowed grocery stores to give out free samples of hard liquor - an idea Doyle called "absurd." The measure showed up in the budget at the last minute, but no lawmaker will acknowledge he or she wanted it."
Analysis:
Budget debacle shows flaws in system"Ideas that are out there, which would have varying levels of impact, including banning campaign contributions during the budget process, freezing legislative pay and per diems during an impasse, limiting the time that lawmakers are allowed to be in session, and requiring government to shut down when there is no budget by the July 1 deadline."
Doyle
veto raises property tax ceiling"As a result of the veto, the owner of a state median-value home, valued at $170,305, would pay $107 more in taxes over the next two years compared to an increase of $92 under the version of the budget lawmakers passed, said Dave Schmiedicke, state budget director."
Nation's
only health insurance co-op for farmers helps cut costs"Organizers of the Farmers' Health Cooperative of Wisconsin, the nation's first such program, say it's growing faster than expected and tapping into an unmet need in rural communities. The concept, they say, should spread nationwide."
Public
access TV advocates oppose state bill"It's like giving the job to enforce customer service protection to municipalities but then tying their hands behind their back. Basically, all municipalities can do is say please obey these customer service requirements -- they have no authority; there's no penalties."
Sen
R. Feingold"I will not stand idly by while this mistaken war continues," the Democratic senator from Wisconsin announced, as he pledged to make the wrongheaded occupation of Iraq a day-in, day-out issue in the Senate for the rest of 2007 and into 2008."
Sen
H. Kohl"According to a study conducted in July of this year by AARP, only 17 percent of 401(k) enrollees knew that they were paying any fees. Two-thirds of the respondents, or 65 percent, thought they paid no fees for their 401(k) plan. In conjunction with this hearing, Chairman Kohl and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) will introduce the Defined Contribution Fee Disclosure Act of 2007."
"According to U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, who sits on the panel, the measure authorizes federal farm programs for the next five years, such as the Milk Income Loss Contract program. MILC is the counter-cyclical safety net for small and mid-size dairy farmers when milk prices plummet."
Rep
D. Obey
"I ask everyone who comes into this office seeking money two questions," Obey, Congress's top money man, said from behind his desk across the room. Each wrinkled sign bears one of those questions, and Obey asks them so often that he can recite them by heart. "The first is: If what you want costs money, are you willing to go home and tell your friends that we need to cut back on the size of the President's tax cuts so there is room for it in the budget?" The second, and related question, goes as follows: "Is there anything you want me to do for somebody else that is more important than whatever it is you want me to do for you?"
Great
Lakes key front in water wars"But potentially huge battles over water are looming in the Great Lakes region as cities, towns and states near and far fight for access to the world's largest body of fresh surface water, all of it residing in the five Great Lakes. Call them water wars, with the Great Lakes states hunkering down to protect what they see as theirs."
Although "Under the Radar" seems antithetical to the public persona of the "gorgeous blonde constitutional scholar," Miss Anne Coulter, any area where the only talk radio is the admitted sexual deviant and known prevaricator, Bill OhReally, there should have access to this clever satire. - Bob
"The Iron County Finance Committee will meet on Thursday, November 01, 2007 at 3:00 PM at the Iron County Courthouse, Hurley, Wisconsin. The meeting is open to the public per Chapter 19, Sub Chapter V, Wisconsin Statutes."
Halloween Party at Nora's"Nora's Red Carpet Lounge on historic Silver Street is having a Halloween costume party with cash prizes, and live music by Jimmy Lee on Saturday, Oct 27th."
Madison,
Wis.: Campaign finance reformers accuse Doyle of breaking promise
"One of the sponsors of the main reform bill, Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, said it is reasonable to get campaign finance done yet this year. "I think we do have enough time between now and the end of the year," he said, although Erpenbach said he had not talked with the governor's office about it recently. "In my mind there's somewhat of an urgency to get something done here.""
Petoskey:
Tribes, Michigan celebrate deal on Indian hunting, fishing rights"Five American Indian tribes and the state are celebrating an agreement designed to end decades of legal wrangling over members' hunting and fishing rights. Leaders of the tribes joined state and federal officials for a pipe and flag ceremony in Petoskey. They signed a document declaring their negotiations complete."
About Ironwood
Lists Interviews |
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| 10 AM - John Cain | 12:30 PM - Marvin Shepherd | 3:00 PM - Jim Albert |
| 10:30 - Tom Laabs | 1:00 PM - Bruce Noreen | 3:30 PM - Lou Bonaguro |
| 11 AM - John Kasieta | 1:30 PM - Suzanne Toth | 4:00 PM - Steven Frank |
| 11:30 AM - Lawrence Zani | 2:00 PM - Gemma Gorrilla Lamb | 4:30 PM - Robert Burchell |
| 12:00 Noon - Scott Sturzl | 2:30 PM - Jim Beckman | 5:00 PM - David Peite |
Board
OKs interim rules against fish-killing virus"The board approved emergency rules this week that will make it illegal for anyone to transport fish or water from one water system to another within the state. The move is a tougher package of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, rules than the one that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources pitched to the board."
"The Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing should verify the immigration status of all applicants because federal law prohibits states from issuing professional licenses to illegal immigrants, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a legal opinion issued Thursday."
Doyle
veto raises property tax ceiling"Gov. Jim Doyle announced today that he used his veto pen to let local governments raise property taxes by 3.86 percent this year instead of the 2 percent limit agreed to by lawmakers in the new two-year budget deal."
"It includes more than $525 million in new funding for public schools, $21 million in new funds for the University of Wisconsin's "growth agenda," and new money for student aids and grants. It creates the Wisconsin Covenant, a new program that guarantees financial assistance for higher education to all state students who graduate from high school with good grades."
Food
producers seek legislative support of local campaign"The "Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin" program aiming to promote the sale of produce grown in the state is now being implemented as a part of the budget approved Tuesday by the Wisconsin state Legislature. The program provides $600,000 over two years to farmers, communities and nonprofit organizations to develop and expand local food markets,..."
Residents
want Superfund cleanup to be permanent "More than 50 people, and their little red dots, have spoken: When the Superfund site is cleaned up, it should be done right to ensure it's permanent, the city should be able to re-use the site, and it should be restored to its original beauty."
New
emergency rule affects all boaters, anglers statewide"This means the operator of any boat removed from any body of water in the state must immediately drain off all water from the boat, boat trailer and any fishing gear, including from any bilge, ballast tank, live well or any other container with the exception of containers of potable water for human consumption."
Sen
R. Feingold"I am deeply troubled by reports of the release of Jamal al-Badawi, who is believed to be the mastermind behind the attack on the USS Cole in 2000, in which 17 Americans were killed. The Yemeni government's reported decision to release him – after two jail escapes - is completely unacceptable."
Gov.
Doyle
"Mills said that Sovereign Deed would offer planning and rescue services to subscribers who pay a "country club type membership fee." Basic service, he said, would involve a one time $50,000 fee and $15,000 per year. "The reality of FEMA is that is has no infrastructure, and a lot of our National Guard is elsewhere fighting the war," Mills said. "You never know what could happen. A hurricane, a terrorist attack, a nuclear power plant going bad -- it doesn't matter, you make concentric circles, you get a plan.""
City
council receives six applications to fill vacant position "Mayor Joe Pinardi said former Mayor Robbie Lanctoe, former council member Leon Baron, Larry Fluhr, Dennis Munn, Jim Bock and Mike Sejbl answered an advertisement to fill the vacancy that was created when Robert Kallas moved to Saxon."
Good
Samaritan shows he's humble, too"Here's the twist: It just so happened that Dabbs' next stop was White Cross Pharmacy. He mentioned to staff that he'd just found $50 dollars at Super One and turned it in. A pharmacy representative told the Globe they put two and two together and called Sullivan with the good news. Sullivan told the Globe, "I went and got my money back, renewing my faith in mankind."
CESA
12 grant writer back on books"The Mercer School Board voted 5-0 Monday to contract with the Cooperative Education Service Agency for $10,800 for the shared services of a grant writer."
Volunteers
take to the streets to perform walking, biking audit "As a recipient of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Planning Grant, the school and town needed to gather information and identify concerns regarding the walking and biking possibilities and issues that exist near the school."
Airport
secures grant to fund marketing efforts "The airport will be receiving a $135,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation for advertising and marketing, Stupak told DuRay. Another $15,000 matching funds will come from local government and business sources."
Tobacco
check nets 4 vendors "Only four of 30 vendors inspected so far in 2007 sold tobacco to minors, according to Karen Hagemann, coordinator for Tobacco-Free Iron County Community Coalition. Iron County tobacco vendors recorded an overall compliance rate of 87 percent, according to Hagemann."
"Wisconsin bet big on corn this year, with farmers planting more than 4 million acres of the crop - about 400,000 more acres than in 2006, according to state and federal statistics. The crop is predicted to biggest ever in the state. That bet, combined with sharply higher prices, could have a ripple effect not seen in years through the state economy."
"In a formal legal opinion, Van Hollen told the Department of Regulation and Licensing to begin checking the immigration status of all those who apply for professional licenses and credentials. The opinion came after the agency discovered earlier this year that some of its 350,000 credential holders were using invalid Social Security numbers."
So
much for compromise -- legislation would undo budget decisions"Breske, who doesn't like the patients fund transfer, said the $418 million tax would help bring in added federal money that could be used increase reimbursement to hospitals for Medicaid treatment of the poor and help the state do without all or part of the transfer."
'First
Lady of the Press' Helen Thomas rails against Bush, Iraq war in Northland
talk "Helen Thomas, who began her career as a White House reporter with the administration of John F. Kennedy, has been both revered and reviled for her hard-nosed journalistic toughness and fearlessness. Those who attended the first of Northland College's "Leaders and Visionaries" lecture series Wednesday got a firsthand look at how she earned her singular reputation as she mounted a scathing verbal assault on the Bush administration, Congress, the Supreme Court and even on fellow members of the Washington press corps."
College
costs outpace inflation"The price of college in Wisconsin rose faster than the inflation rate this year but just about kept pace with the national tuition average, increasing about 6% at four-year public and private schools and about 4% at public two-year institutions."
Truck
registration fees would rise 30%"We figured there would be a truck registration fee increase . . . but quite honestly, the 30 percent was a little bit of a shock," said Thomas A. Howells Jr., president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, the industry's key lobbying group."
"It's terribly in error, especially in view of Wisconsin's open records law. We are aware of police agencies all over the state that have started redacting items of information that heretofore were commonly released to the public and the media without any sort of problem."
State
budget fallout -- Robson shown the door"Decker said some Democrats were dissatisfied with the budget deal Robson struck with Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle and Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem. Decker said he was among them, adding that he would have fought harder to keep in the budget a tax on oil company revenues."
"The wine rules bring Wisconsin into compliance with a 2005 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that requires states to treat wine shipments the same whether they are from in-state or out-of-state. Separate rules are designed to help small breweries such as the Great Dane Pub in Madison add more retail locations."
Robson
out, Decker in as majority leader"Decker said the final budget deal clearly missed some opportunities on issues important to Democrats, including their efforts to eliminate a tax loophole for companies based in Wisconsin but registered in other, lower-tax states, as well to pass a $400 million tax on hospitals and nursing homes that would have leveraged more federal Medicaid matching funds."
Budget
provides funds for UW union, new housing projects"With the Wisconsin state budget passing last night in both the House and the Assembly, renovations of both Memorial Union and Union South were approved, as well as a major University of Wisconsin Housing project. However, a planned addition of two residence halls in the Lakeshore area was nixed in the Assembly."
Grand
opening planned for Wal-Mart Supercenter "In addition to a vastly augmented choice of general merchandise, the operation features a new food center with a full line of groceries, baked goods, deli center, frozen foods, dairy products and fresh produce. Also new is a tire and lube express, one-hour photo lab, a pharmacy with drive through lanes and a family fun center."
Sen
R. FeingoldAnniversary
of the Authorization of the Use of Military Force in Iraq"Five years after the authorization of war, America is mired in a conflict that continues to have no end in sight. Nearly 4,000 of our soldiers have died and more than 27,000 have been wounded. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqi civilians have been killed, if not more, and at least 4.5 million have been displaced from their homes."
Collins,
Feingold Hail Senate Passage of Dental Health Care Funding Increase"The Act provides grants to states to help them develop innovative programs tailored to the needs of the state and focuses on expanding dental care to people living in urban and rural areas with little access to dental care. The Collins-Feingold amendment doubles funding for the program to $4 million."
"Feingold and Collins introduced an amendment to the Labor-HHS Appropriations bill to increase funding for the Automated Defibrillators in Adam's Memory (ADAM) Act, a program they have long championed. The Labor-HHS Appropriations bill will contain $200,000 for the ADAM Act."
Gov.
Doyle
"After a long process, Democrats and Republicans have come together to hold the line on taxes, streamline government, and create real opportunity for Wisconsin families and businesses. Tonight, the Legislature has done the right thing for our schools; for the safety of our neighborhoods; for the health of our kids and the health of our economy."
Mercer:
School district delays setting levy"Eight residents of the Mercer School District plus the school board approved a 2007-08 budget of $3,045,565 on Monday night. It is a 7.98 percent increase -- $225,116 -- over the 2006-07 budget."
DNR
pushing for permanent rules to stop fish virus' spread"Nobody knows how viral hemorrhagic septicemia, or VHS, arrived in the Great Lakes region, though many suspect that the virus somehow hitched a ride on an oceangoing freighter. It has been migrating west since it was first discovered in Lake Ontario in 2005."
"As a group, they're the fifth-largest employer in the state and generate about $22 billion a year in revenue. But they have no collective voice in Madison. No central clearinghouse for training and information. No way to leverage their significant presence to either raise or save money."
DNR:
Some hunters use road kill to get around earn-a-buck"I don't suspect it is successful all that often. Anybody who has driven by road kill, there are probably some that don't show much damage but most of them look pretty beat up."
Budget
offers big winners and losers"The University of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Public Broadcasting, and the city of Madison are all big winners in the final state budget package that comes up for approval by state lawmakers today."
Lawmakers
add free shots to beer samples"Wisconsin lawmakers quietly slipped a provision into the overdue budget that allows liquor and grocery stores to hand out free samples of hard liquor. Each customer could have up to three samples of half an ounce or less, or about a shot-and-a-half."
DNR
may back off statewide fish movement ban "We're actually going backwards," Meyer said. "This means we're only protecting those waters where we've already found the problem. We won’t be effectively protecting the state."
Staph
infections confirmed at Lakeland Union High School"Three Lakeland Union High School students tested positive for staph infections this past August and September, but it is unclear whether any of the cases involved MRSA, a methicillin-resistant staphylococcus bacteria that made national headlines last week after one Virginia high school student died from the infection."
Air
America inks 11 new affiliates"But rumors of the network's demise are currently unfounded. In fact, they issued a press release today announcing eleven new affiliates, in areas such as Washington, DC, Tampa, Tuscon, the Pennsylvania Poconos and even the capital of Alaska."
[It amazes me that an area this overwhelmingly Dem has only one talk show, the right wing Bill O'Reilly. Would it be too much to ask for a more compatible voice also? - Bob]
"Many prominent libraries have accepted Google's offer - including the New York Public Library and libraries at the University of Michigan, Harvard, Stanford and Oxford. Google expects to scan 15 million books from those collections over the next decade. But the resistance from some libraries, like the Boston Public Library and the Smithsonian Institution, suggests that many in the academic and nonprofit world are intent on pursuing a vision of the Web as a global repository of knowledge that is free of business interests or restrictions."
Mercer:
Plum Creek Foundation aids park effort"The planned park improvements will enhance the overall facilities at W.S. Carrow Park in Mercer . They include new bike racks, benches and picnic tables, playground improvements, a new beach shelter, walkway lighting and signs."
Parade/cake
walk"The Hurley elementary school will hold its Halloween parade Oct. 31 at 1 p.m. in the school auditorium. Parents and guests are welcome to attend."
"There are extensive areas of the park that contain evidence of former beaches, old wave-cut caves and ancient barriers and lagoons," Anderton said. "This information will be used to generate a geographic information system model of a prehistoric Native American settlement that will be used to predict the location of archaeological sites."
Budget
full of surprises"The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimated that December property tax bills on the median-valued home - about $170,000 - would rise $80, from $2,734 to $2,814, or about $2.9%, under the budget compromise. That tax bill would jump another $18, or 0.6%, in December 2008."
"A group that includes executives from some of the country's largest corporations, including chief executives of Manpower and Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., has concluded that the system of providing health insurance through employers is failing and must be scrapped."
Anti-tax
group protests budget deal"The anti-tax group that sponsored last week's rally at the Capitol was set to deliver toy pigs to lawmakers and hearing aids to Gov. Jim Doyle today to protest a final state budget deal."
Leaders
agree on budget plan"The students again got beat up by the leaders of both parties by taking out the tuition cap," Mikalsen said. "The worst news is the UW System is going to take a minimum of a $21 million [cut], meaning in the next year, you will see tuition go up dramatically."
Inch
by Inch, Great Lakes Shrink, and Cargo Carriers Face Losses -
NY Times"The picture is just as serious in the upper Great Lakes and is particularly grave in Lake Superior, where water levels have hovered below average since 1998 and, based on provisional data, set record lows in August and September. It is the longest stretch of below-average readings at Lake Superior since the Corps of Engineers started tracking the Great Lakes' levels in 1918."
Women's
council to hold observance Oct. 28"The St. Mary's Catholic Women's Council will observe National Council of Catholic Women Sunday, Oct. 28 at the St. Mary's Catholic Church 11 a.m. Mass."
Lice
more nuisance than health risk"At Hurley, elementary secretary Leola Maslanka said they had some head lice at the start of the school year, but none now ... If they have a student with lice, she said, they check the whole class as well as friends and other family members of the student at school."
Hurley
to host playoff game"Hurley (5-4) gets to host Cameron (7-2) despite Cameron's better record. That's because Cameron does not have a certified field for the playoffs and Hurley does."
State
budget deal brings compromises"Gov. Jim Doyle and leaders of both parties broke a three-month budget stalemate Friday night by agreeing to a $1 increase in the cigarette tax, the governor's Wisconsin Covenant college enrollment plan and an elimination of hospital and oil company taxes backed by the governor."
Health
proposal dead, senator says"Healthy Wisconsin in some form is coming back," he said in an interview. He dismissed the notion that the Senate would focus now on less comprehensive solutions to the problem of providing affordable health insurance for all Wisconsin residents."
DNR
targets island birds"Five islands on Wisconsin's Lake Michigan and Green Bay shorelines are now home to more than 12,000 nesting pairs of fish-feasting double-crested cormorants, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources would like to slash that number in half."
DNR
stocks cupboard for pheasant hunters"In a cupboard-stocking tradition that started in the late 1920s, a state Department of Natural Resources crew released 140 ring-necked roosters at the property east of the Village of Jackson on Friday afternoon, just 16 hours before the start of shooting."
Republicans,
Democrats can claim victory in Wis. budget deal"Republicans who control the Assembly can take credit for killing Democratic plans to increase taxes on hospitals and oil companies, limiting property tax increases to 2 percent and forcing cuts in state spending. Democrats who control the Senate have less to brag about and might have given up the most. But they can tout Doyle's plans and increased funding for financial aid, public schools and the University of Wisconsin System.
Finally,
it's a deal: 100-plus days late, pols agree on budget"... the deal features a number of victories for Democrats, including fully funding two-thirds of the cost of local schools statewide; expanding the BadgerCare program, which provides low-cost health insurance for low-income families, to allow all children in the state to participate; providing tuition assistance to all veterans who want to go to college; and establishing the Wisconsin Covenant program that guarantees financial aid to all Wisconsin students who maintain good grades in high school and stay out of trouble."
Teacher
boycott hits 100 activities"As of Friday, more than 100 activities or events have been affected at schools district wide, said Paul Clark, chairman of the Wausau Education Association's action committee. Teachers in the union decided Sunday to stop performing duties not specified in their old contract as negotiations with the district on a new contract continue."
Sen
R. Feingold
Senate
Panel Approves Immunity for Spying Telcos - Wired News"Democratic Senators Russell Feingold (Wisconsin) and Ron Wyden (Oregon) were the two lone votes against the bill, which they successfully modified to include a provision forcing the NSA to get warrants when targeting Americans oversees."
Rep
D. Obey
House
fails to override children's health insurance veto - The
Reporter - Fond du Lac"Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac, was among 44 GOP members to vote for an override, but Republicans Paul Ryan of Janesville and James Sensenbrenner of Menomonee Falls voted against an override of the veto. Wisconsin Democrats Tammy Baldwin of Madison, Steve Kagen of Appleton, Ron Kind of La Crosse, Gwen Moore of Milwaukee and David Obey of Wausau will vote to override the veto."
Iron
County judge takes part in World Scouting Jamboree"Having participated in the World Scouting Jamboree in Chemelsford, Essex, England, in June, watching the role women (mainly from other countries) play in Scouting, Madden said he is truly committed to bringing both boys and girls together."
"Dan Walowinski, 52, of Poplar Street in Hurley, was cited Tuesday for inattentive driving ... Walowinski was also cited for unreasonable and imprudent speed and open intoxicant (driver). State charges of hit-and-run and property damage are pending, the report said.
Budget
deal would toss hospital, oil taxes"Gov. Jim Doyle and legislative leaders hoped to announce a long-overdue budget deal this afternoon - an agreement that would let Republicans claim they killed new taxes on hospitals and oil companies the governor has been fighting for since February."
Drain
hole theory explored"The International Joint Commission, which oversees boundary waters issues between the two countries, said it will expedite its study of the "drain hole" theory on the St. Clair River to find out whether ongoing erosion since a 1960s Army Corps of Engineers dredging project has caused lake levels to plummet."
Deal
on budget reached by Doyle, legislative leaders"Legislative leaders and Gov. Jim Doyle reached agreement Friday on a new, two-year budget that raises the cigarette tax by $1 per pack, expands health care for poor people and limits property taxes, according to Doyle's office."
"Nelson has set up camp in the Capitol because of a vow he made Thursday to remain in the Assembly chambers until the budget impasse ends. "I'm here ready to work, and I'm going to be here 24 hours a day, seven days a week, until we pass a budget,"
Lawmaker
has rough night in sit-in"Things didn't get much better today. Nelson had to take a cold shower in the Capitol basement because there was no hot water. "It was quick," he said. Then, the Assembly Sergeant at Arms Rick Skindrud rejected his request for a phone at his desk. Nelson protested to no avail, saying he's put more than 300 minutes on his cell phone so far. Skindrud also chastised Nelson for having food at his desk and seized a box of Tater Tots and a half-eaten candy bar. "No food is allowed in the chambers," Skindrud said.
Van
Hollen agrees to pay costs to end campaign lawsuit "Bob Dreps, one of the fund's attorneys, said Van Hollen shouldn't be allowed to walk away "scot-free" from the case. "He used the courts as a political weapon and then wanted to just walk away without any consequence," Dreps said. The Greater Wisconsin Political Fund is a political entity affiliated with the Democratic-leaning Greater Wisconsin Committee. Under federal law, the fund can spend money to influence elections."
WEAUEau Claire
Senate
Approves Money to Help Stop Meth"Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl says this money will help the Meth Law Enforcement Initiative and Regional Clandestine Laboratory Enforcement and Response Task Force. The initiative is the only statewide project addressing the use of meth."
Sen
R. Feingold
Working
Every Step of the Way to Fix the FISA Bill"I was pleased that in the Intelligence Committee markup yesterday Senator Wyden and I were able to make some improvements to the bill, including requiring FISA court orders for wiretapping U.S. citizens overseas and more meaningful oversight by Congress and the Inspector General of the new authorities."
Feingold
to hold listening sessions in Ashland and Sawyer Counties -
BusinessNorth.com - Duluth,MN"There are consistent themes, but there are certain parts of the state where you hear extremely heavy emphasis on environmental issues, such as far northern Wisconsin near Lake Superior."