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29 Feb
	PRESIDENT’s COMMENTS on GAS PRICES “I’m not surprised at how out of touch the White House is with what American’s are going through given the fact that they seem to be oblivious to the need for extending unemployment insurance and taking other actions to help middle and low income families deal with the whole range of economic problems they face. But it was amazing to me that an oil man wouldn’t know what’s been happening with oil prices."
	AB 77 Passes Assembly "In the wee hours of the morning, AB 77, introduced by Rep. Gary Sherman (D-Port Wing), passed the Assembly on a voice vote. The legislation alters the manner in which the school levy and lottery property tax credits are distributed to municipalities."
	Expect more pain at pump "At $3.11 a gallon, regular gas costs 66 cents more than it did at this point in 2007, months before the usual spring and summer ramp-up. Last year, the price reached a record $3.42 a gallon over the Memorial Day weekend, and some analysts have suggested the annual increase in driving will push the price to $4 a gallon this summer. Economists worry that the added burden on consumers will draw money from the broader economy. The question is where will they cut back to pay more for fuel."
	Leaders question water compact "Moroney and Vrakas spoke of their mutual angst with a compact provision that allows one governor to veto a water diversion proposed for another state. Instead, they want diversions ruled by a simple majority vote. Moroney said that Michigan, which is almost totally in the basin and does not need diversions, has a history of turning down diversion requests made by other states. Illinois already has an exemption for 2.1 billion gallons a day that it takes from the lake and does not have to return to Lake Michigan."
	Fewer teens buying cigarettes in state "The good news is that our efforts in Wisconsin are successful," said Stephanie Marquis, spokeswoman for the state Department of Health and Family Services. "This is the lowest rate of selling to minors we've ever achieved, which is crucial to preventing kids from taking up the habit."
	Wis. Assembly approves new ban on partial-birth abortion "The U.S. Supreme Court ruled last year that a federal ban was legal. Republican lawmakers then introduced the bill that mirrors the federal law, saying it would give local prosecutors the ability to handle violations. The Assembly voted 59-38 for the bill, which is dead on arrival in the Democratic-controlled Senate."
	Bill would exempt big piers from enforcement "The measure would exempt piers of 300 square feet or less built before February 2004 from current maximum pier sizes of 6 feet wide and 3 feet deep. Shoreline owners also would be allowed to add one additional slip."
	Rape victims bill passes "After years of conservative opposition and, more recently, months of procedural delay, a bill that requires hospitals to provide emergency contraception to rape victims finally passed the state Legislature today. Gov. Jim Doyle has said he would sign the bill."
	Assembly approves virtual schools bill; no deal yet "A measure approved by the Democratic-controlled Senate last week included a tight enrollment cap at the urging of Gov. Jim Doyle, who has signaled he would veto the Assembly plan. Time is running out for a compromise because lawmakers plan to adjourn in two weeks."
	Forest Service gets feedback on barrens restoration "The plan, labeled the Northwest Sands Project, continues work that began in the 1960s, but incorporates an additional 6,000 acres or so that the Forest Service added to the restoration concept when the agency's Washburn Ranger District updated its forest plan in 2004.:"
	Sen. Kohl Urges Changes in Meat Safety "Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl is urging the Agriculture Department to install cameras in slaughterhouses to ensure meat safety. "
	US Senate Leader Withdraws Bill To Cut Funds For Iraq War - Voice of America "Senator Feingold argues the war in Iraq has diverted attention from a growing threat posed by al-Qaida. "We are watching al-Qaida strengthen and develop its affiliates around the world while we remain bogged down in Iraq. How foolish can we be to allow them to reconstitute all over the world as they watch us unable to extricate ourselves from a mistake, which was, of course, going into Iraq the way we did," he said."
	KOHL CALLS FOR GREATER USDA VIGILANCE TO ENFORCE FOOD SAFETY "We cannot allow a single downer cow to enter our food supply under any circumstances. We must have tougher standards, round-the-clock surveillance and stiffer penalties to ensure our meat inspection system protects Americans."
	Aging Committee Hears Surgeons Paid Millions to Promote Medical ... - SeniorJournal.com - San Antonio,TX "Chairman Herb Kohl (D-WI) called the hearing, entitled “Surgeons for Sale: Conflicts and Consultant Payments in the Medical Device Industry,” to examine the financial interactions between medical device companies and surgeons, which often involve substantial payments in the form of consultant fees, educational grants, royalties, funding for clinical trials, travel and gifts. "
	Governor Doyle Rolls out Growth Initiative for UW Colleges and Extension “By removing barriers and increasing opportunities for higher education, we are, together with the UW Colleges and UW-Extension, making it easier for adults across the state to pursue more education and acquire a bachelor’s degree,”
	Border Fence Shuts Out U.S. Steelworkers, Threatens Environment - afl-cio now blog "Once again, the Bush administration is sending work overseas that could be done here and ignoring laws that get in the way of what it wants to accomplish. This time it’s the $1.2 billion, 700-mile fence along the U.S.-Mexico border that’s supposed to make us more secure.
28 Feb
	WDOT approves Poplar-Norrie street bridge replacement "Ironwood City Manager Scott Erickson told the city commission Monday 80 percent of the cost of the replacement will be covered through the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. Hurley and Ironwood will both be responsible for local matching costs in the joint project."
	Kimball: Department of Revenue hears testimony on assessments "Jessica Iverson from the DOR earlier said the department will look at existing assessment records for procedures used for evaluation. She said the probe will focus on a "review of all equity in the assessments." Ahonen said a field survey will be done. Total real estate assessment climbed from $25,471,600 in 2006 to $44,846,900."
	County looks at smoke-free measures "The proposed ordinance prohibits smoking within 75 feet of "all entrances of any building owned or leased by Iron County." The proposed ordinance would also prohibit smoking in all county vehicles."
	DNR easing approach to fighting deer disease "When the fatal deer disease was discovered six years ago, the DNR embarked on a controversial plan virtually to wipe out deer populations in which the malady was found. But after acknowledging that deer numbers had not been reduced, the agency proposed regulations aimed at killing far fewer deer in the 2008 hunting season."
	GOP legislators offer to limit virtual-school enrollment "A spokeswoman for Doyle said he hadn't had a chance to review the letter from Huebsch and Davis, but that he believed a version that the Senate passed protects the schools - and students enrolled in them - until the program has been audited."
	U.S. upholds key stem cell patent held by Wisconsin group "Two consumer groups have asked the office to throw out the patents, which cover discoveries made by UW-Madison scientist James Thomson. They argue Thomson's work should not qualify for patents and that patent enforcement has hindered U.S. stem cell research. Thomson was the first to isolate embryonic stem cells - which have great medical potential because they can turn into any type of cell in the body - in the 1990s."
	Hundreds rally for autism insurance coverage at Wisconsin Capitol "Hundreds of families gather at the state Capitol in support of requiring insurance companies to cover autism. The bill passed the state Senate earlier this week but has not been scheduled by the Republican-controlled Assembly."
	U.S. Patent Office upholds WARF's stem cell claim "The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has won a key battle for one of its stem cell patents, after the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office upheld the foundation's claim to the patent. The decision affirms WARF's contention that an initial University of Wisconsin-Madison human embryonic stem cell discovery is a patentable invention."
	Area students meet lawmakers while touring the Capitol "Colgrove said she and Sherman don’t agree on certain issues, but she learned a lot from him and enjoyed her time with him. “He is a very kind man. I don’t know if you find that in politics as much when you are on opposite sides,” she said. “He has great personality towards everyone and he is an accepting person.”"
	Feingold Pushes Funding for 'Green Jobs' “When I travel around Wisconsin holding my listening sessions, two of the most frequently raised domestic concerns are job losses and energy issues,” Feingold said. “This green jobs initiative is exactly what our country should be doing to reduce our dependency on oil and slow climate change while providing jobs to hard-working Americans.”
	Army Official: Yes, Waterboarding Breaks International Law - TPM "Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI) asked, "General, do you believe that waterboarding is consistent with Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions?" After pausing a moment to think, Maples [Lt. Gen. Michael D. Maples, the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency] replied, "No, sir, I don’t." "Do you think it’s humane?" Levin asked. "No, sir, I think it would go beyond that bound.""
	McCain Rated As America’s Worst Senator For Children - Thinik Progress "Furthermore, the rankings weren’t divided by party. Sens. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Orrin Hatch (R-UT), and Gordon Smith (R-OR) received strong 70 percent rankings. McCain’s CDF score has steadily declined over the years. In 2004, he received a 38 percent; in 2005, 22 percent; in 2006, 10 percent. "
27 Feb
	School board names Bender new baseball coach "School board members Dave Pajula and Mark Wendt supported retaining Levra as coach following a Monday closed session, but Perry Elsemore, Joel Enking and board president Joe Simonich supported Bender. Simonich said Levra would make the better coach, but the board faced a grievance if it didn't hire Bender, who teaches in the school district."
	DNR taking helm on ships' ballast "The department was prodded by conservationists who argued that the state had authority under the Clean Water Act to regulate ballast just like any other pollutant. The DNR started exploring the issue late last year and has come to the conclusion that existing law does, indeed, give it the authority to regulate those discharges. The next step is to do something about it."
	DNR unveils possible ATV trails for state forest "State officials Tuesday unveiled possible all-terrain vehicle trails for Northern Highland American Legion State Forest. The trails would be a first for ATVs in the largest state forest in north-central Wisconsin."
	Doyle believes economic development plan can clear Legislature "Doyle, speaking to about 200 executives at "Business Day in Madison," argued that in the face of a national recession, Wisconsin must move forward to strengthen its business sector. "We can't crawl under a rock," he said. "We can't get into bed and hope the tough times pass.""
	Democrats assail Republicans for Legislature's rarely meeting "On the state Assembly's 23rd day at work since last January, Democrats assailed the Republican majority for not working hard enough. "We don't do anything!" state Rep. Frank Boyle, D-Superior, yelled shortly after the beginning of the Assembly's day at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday - more than seven hours after the scheduled start time. "I'm embarrassed to be here.""
	Religion casts nanotechnology as immoral in U.S. "Scheufele contends that nanotechnology, biotechnology and stem cell research are lumped together by religious people as means to enhance human qualities. In short, some people believe that researchers are "playing God" when they create materials that do not occur in nature, especially where nanotechnology and biotechnology intertwine, he said."
	Phishing attacks cripple TDS e-mail "The hackers use the addresses they can gain control of to send out large quantities of spam e-mails, causing the system-wide delays. They also may sell the account information."
	Anti-war group pushes Iraqi tuition referendum "If the initiative were approved, each UW student would donate $1 per semester, including summer sessions, and the money would be refundable per written request within 45 days of the first day of class."
	Assembly not likely to pass autism bill "The state Senate has passed a bill that would require health insurance companies to cover treatments for autism, but the bill appears unlikely to go any further. State Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston, said Tuesday the bill passed 25-8 after it was amended to include speech therapy. "
	Local residents prepare to speak with lawmakers"Some participants will lobby to outlaw the transport and launch of aquatic invasive species. Many non-native species have been found in northwest Wisconsin lakes, rivers, and streams, and once they get into the water, they can destroy the water quality and harm the population of native fish and plants."
	Johnny Depp movie is coming to Wisconsin "But official word of the film coming to Wisconsin had to wait until after NBC Universal signed an agreement with the state on tax credits last Wednesday. The film will co-star Christian Bale and be directed and produced by University of Wisconsin graduate Michael Mann. Bale will play FBI Special Agent Melvin Purvis, who led the manhunt for Dillinger in the 1930s."
	Local Veterans will Serve on State Board "Freedman, has chaired U.S. Senator Herb Kohl’s (D-WI) Veterans Policy Advisory Committee since 1989 and has been a member of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold’s (D-WI) Veterans Advisory Committee since 1993. Moen is a retired naval officer who served 22 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy."
	Feingold to Attend White House Meeting Following President's Trip to Africa “I look forward to meeting with the president to hear about his trip and discuss issues like preventing disease, including HIV/AIDS, addressing human rights abuses, the importance of humanitarian assistance, and supporting democratic institutions."
	David Swanson: Senator Feingold's Peace Effort - Scoop.co.nz - New Zealand "Senator Russ Feingold (D., Wisc.) is preparing to give the Republicans in the Senate two more opportunities this week to grandstand and filibuster in favor of the occupation of Iraq. They will, of course, do so; and they will, of course, win."
	WisDOT: US 2 doesn’t need to be widened - Superior Telegram - Superior,MN "With U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., serving as chairman of the federal Transportation Committee, and U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis., at the helm of the Appropriations Committee, now is the right time for the state to take up the highway study, said Douglas County Supervisor Larry Quam."
	Governor Doyle Announces $4 Million in Harbor Assistance Grants for Port of Superior “The Port of Superior is a critical part of Wisconsin’s economy,” said Governor Doyle. “It is the Great Lakes’ largest harbor, handling a variety of agricultural products and other bulk materials, supporting job growth in Wisconsin and throughout the Midwest.”
26 Feb
	Forum to focus on Great Lakes pact "The compact has stirred debate about whether it will help or hinder Waukesha and other Waukesha County communities from obtaining Lake Michigan water for community use."
	As ads blare, court candidates want to focus on issues "Gableman criticized as untrue an ad from the Greater Wisconsin Committee, which alleges he secured his appointment to the Burnett County judgeship as a result of campaign donations to former Gov. Scott McCallum. But he did not join in Butler's call for third parties to stay out of the race. He noted that Butler didn't call for that ad to be taken down, as Gableman's campaign requested."
	Study indicates voucher students do about as well as MPS students "We have displayed a rough and limited snapshot of the average performance of Choice (Milwaukee Parental Choice Program) students in certain grades that suggests they tend to perform below national averages but at levels roughly comparable to similarly income-disadvantaged students in MPS," said Patrick J. Wolf, a professor at the University of Arkansas who is the lead researcher in the project."
	Firms seek ways to limit on-the-road spending "Restaurant industry profits are falling, but it's hard to determine how much of that is due to business travel versus local families cutting back, said Standard & Poor's chief economist David Wyss. Wyss said the travel and leisure sectors, which employ roughly 1 in 25 Americans, are "by no means trivial" to the broader economy."
	Snowmobiler accused of ramming cop "... Marathon County Sheriff's deputy Steve DeNovi staked out a spot where a snowmobile trail crosses Highway WW. He parked his squad car with the lights turned off and stood in the road waving a flashlight to get a snowmobile allegedly driven by Holzem to stop, the report said. The snowmobiler failed to stop for a stop sign and accelerated through the roadway, hitting DeNovi in the leg and knocking him to the ground, police said. DeNovi suffered bruises and abrasions from the collision. Police followed the snowmobile tracks to a town of Texas residence where Holzem was arrested."
	Gov. Doyle has Obama vision ""I have to admit that as I sat there and looked, I could picture a President (Barack) Obama standing up in front of us next year," said Doyle, a Democrat and active supporter of the Illinois senator's presidential run. However, Doyle said he could not envision himself as Obama's vice president. "No," Doyle chuckled. "I really like being governor of Wisconsin." "
	DNR proposes adding Thompson’s Park to impaired waters list "Thompson’s West End Park is one of 35 sites proposed to be added to the list; it is the only new site in Ashland or Bayfield counties. Amnicon River Beach, Middle River Beach and Wisconsin Point Beach #2, all in Douglas County, are also proposed to be added. Spider and Clear Lakes, which function as one water body straddling the border of Sawyer and Douglas counties, is also proposed to be added to the list due to the presence of mercury."
	McCain-Feingold Act overblown by conservatives - Tennessee Journalist - Knoxville,TN "Opponents to the legislation claim the act, sponsored by Wisconsin Sen. Russ Feingold and McCain, violates first amendment rights. In reality, many conservatives have fallen into the smear campaign by McCain's opponents that has created the false impression that the legislation is unconstitutional. The intention of the act was to stop under the table funding of state, local and national campaigns with so called soft money from large campaign donors, and to force candidates to approve messages put out by their campaign."
	Fight to Protect Wisconsin's Premium Ginseng "The Wisconsin senators are urging the Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman and Ranking Member to keep a requirement in the Senate Farm Bill that raw ginseng root be labeled to identify the country where it was harvested. Wisconsin produces over 90 percent of the ginseng grown in the United States."
	Sen. Herb Kohl explains why he voted for telecom immunity Dane101 - Madison,WI "This measure would authorize the Intelligence Community to conduct electronic surveillance similar to that authorized by the PAA, but also provide the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court with greater authorities to oversee the use of these new authorities by the Intelligence Community and protect the privacy of innocent Americans."
	Aussies can be trusted with F-22: Gates - The Age - Melbourne, Victoria,Australia "The aircraft is the US Air Force's most advanced fighter and its sale is prohibited to any foreign country, under a 1998 amendment to a budget bill moved by Wisconsin Democrat Congressman Dave Obey. Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon said last week he would write to Congressman Obey to gauge his views on a change in the law."
	Analysis Details Missing White House E-mails - Washington Post "A 2005 technical analysis found that up to 1,000 days of e-mails were missing from White House servers during a 2-1/2 year period, amounting to more than 1 million separate e-mail messages, according to statements from a former White House technology manager released today... McDevitt said in his statements that the analysis included participation by a wide array of government technology officials and outside contractors, and that the full report--which has not been given to Congress--was approximately 250 pages long."
25 Feb
	Students perform at Kangas Memorial "Six area music students performed at Hurley Coffee Co. Sunday to help raise funds for the Nick Kangas Memorial Scholarship, which will provide a talented high school musician with $800 for college."
	School district estimates $230,000 deficit "The $230,000 deficit is a conservative estimate, Patritto said. He expressed confidence that the district will be able to balance the 2008-09 budget without dipping into its fund balance."
	Board to discuss hiring of coach "District administrator Chris Patritto said he would check references and consult legal counsel before the special meeting. There are reportedly four candidates for the job. "
	Area nursing, rehab centers close to prevent flu outbreak "Nursing and rehabilitation centers in Hurley and Wakefield temporarily closed their doors to visitors Friday because of an outbreak of the influenza A virus on the Gogebic Range. Postings on the doors of the Sky View Nursing Home and Villa Maria Rehabilitation Center early Friday morning indicated both Hurley facilities were temporarily closed."
	Doyle urges Legislature to approve Great Lakes water compact "Each Great Lakes governor can veto water diversions within counties straddling the basin line -- even in other states. The compact preserves that power, but establishes criteria under which such move could be made, Doyle said."
	Road salt delivering a toxic shock "Scientist Steve Corsi said the findings of chloride concentrations exceeded the EPA's toxic standard of 850 parts per million on the Kinnickinnic, Menomonee and Root rivers and on Honey, Underwood, Lincoln and Little Menomonee creeks."
	DNR: 24 snowmobilers killed so far this winter "Snowmobile crashes on Wisconsin trails have killed 24 riders so far this winter - up 40 percent from a year ago - but fewer than might be expected given snow conditions, a state safety expert said Monday."
	Officials repeated Pa. mistakes "Wisconsin officials familiar with the report pointed to only limited changes that were made after learning of the failures in Pennsylvania in February 2007, which led Gov. Ed Rendell to order the report and later far-reaching changes to ensure the mistakes in that state were not repeated."
	Supreme Court candidates blast "shadowy" interest groups ""This race goes right to the heart of the integrity of the justice system for the people of Wisconsin, and it goes right to the heart of the shadowy groups that are out there trying to influence the decisions that the voters are going to have to make on April 1," he [Justice Louis Butler] said."
	Gov. Doyle defends plan to cap virtual schools enrollment "Gov. Jim Doyle says he can’t understand why some are upset over his last-minute proposal to cap enrollment in virtual schools. Lawmakers have tried to keep the schools open after a December court ruling said they were violating state laws on teacher licensing, open enrollment and charter schools."
	Feingold: Superdelegates won’t decide Democratic nominee “I do believe it is going to be fine on the Democratic side, and I do also believe the Republicans are going to come together,” Feingold said. “I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of party disunity. Both sides know this is a big election and both want to win.”
	Area Hispanic workers depart after border patrol detentions "A pair of visits by agents of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Border Patrol has led to an apparent exodus of a number of Hispanics who had been employed at an Ashland business, along with family members and friends who had lived with them in the area."
	Lt. governor stumps for Great Lakes Compact support "Wisconsin Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton joined Ashland Mayor Ed Monroe Friday in urging citizens to call on legislative leaders to ratify the Great Lakes Compact, an agreement designed to protect the Great Lakes from future water diversion."
	Feingold Fights for Protections for Family Farmers “Farming can be a tough business and I’m concerned when Wisconsin farmers tell me that the tax code is preventing them from receiving full protections under Social Security or hospital insurance under Medicare,”
	Placing the Fight Against al Qaeda First "There is no reason for us to wait another month or even another day to show the American people Congress is determined to focus on those who attacked us on 9/11, instead of draining our resources in Iraq."
	Feingold Receives Perfect Score for Record on Reform Issues "In a report released by the nonpartisan League of Women Voters (LWV), Feingold was hailed for his votes on reform issues including the lobbying and ethics reform bill he championed, as well as civil liberties, voting rights for Washington, D.C. residents, climate change, and health care."
	Clintonite Stabs Obama Supporter "Ortiz, a Clinton supporter, replied that "Obama was not a realist." While not exactly fighting words, the verbal political tiff led to some mutual choking and punching. And, allegedly, a stabbing in the abdomen." [This item is provided for those who are getting tired of the rather lengthly presidential campaign. It could be worse. - Bob]
23&24 Feb
	Otters Create Slide at Norrie Park Dam "River otters have been busy building their slide off of the Norrie Park Dam on the Montreal River recently. If there's one thing an otter likes to do... it's sliding." [This is the permanent/archival address. For the next few days, it would be polite to hit the front page version and notice the advertisers so that you can support them. - Bob]
	Doyle pushes water compact "Speaking near the shore of Lake Michigan at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's Great Lakes WATER Institute, Doyle accused Assembly leadership of playing political games with what he considers Wisconsin's best chance to both protect and capitalize on the state's grandest natural resource."
	Feingold likely to back Obama "They have different strengths, but in the end, I just decided he seemed like a very interesting candidate who would be very exciting and also send a great message throughout the country and throughout the world."
	Harley-Davidson eyes entering Indian market "India's commerce ministry has now agreed to recognize European engine emission standards for motorcycle engines exceeding 800 cubic centimeters. Harley's bikes already comply with European Union standards. India hasn't set a limit on the number of Harleys allowed in the country. But there is a 60 percent tariff on the imported bikes, plus another 30 percent or so in various taxes. "The net effect is, the cost of a Harley in India is about double what it is here," Harley spokesman Bob Klein said."
	DNR broadens air quality advisory "An air quality advisory for fine particle pollution has been broadened to all Wisconsin counties and has been extended by the state Department of Natural Resources through noon Sunday. The advisory is for fine particles that come mostly from combustion sources such as power plants, factories, vehicle exhaust and wood fires."
	Doyle acknowledges botched response “There is no doubt that this should have been handled much better,” Doyle said. “We should be very, very thankful that we are not dealing with a worse situation than what we have. We have people who were terribly inconvenienced, and I apologize to those people.”
	Wisconsin health care plan still alive and well "Healthy Wisconsin, the groundbreaking health care reform plan that was gunned down in last year's biennial budget fight isn't dead, and will be reintroduced in the state legislature as a stand-alone program, says Steven R. Williams, a political education legislative coordinator for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees."
	Political tenor shifts in Wisconsin - Boston Globe "At the Saturday Democratic dinner, filled with activists and union leaders, a Democratic Party official began by saluting a former Republican governor and senator. Senator Russ Feingold offered praise for his legislative partner, McCain. And a congresswoman giving a rah-rah speech proclaimed Wisconsin as "a deeply purple state.""
	Feingold working for Hayward VA Clinic services - BusinessNorth.com - Duluth,MN "The meetings and the efforts and the contacts and the pushing for the new doctor--we are working on this all the time with our staff and the federal officials and the local officials. I believe that people will be coming to the town meetings to discuss exactly what needs to be done."
	Feingold-Kohl Backed Study Calls Into Question President’s Plan to Outsource jobs - Common Dreams "U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl are questioning the administration’s initiative to outsource federal agency jobs to private companies after a government study of the plan at the U.S. Forest Service revealed that it is unclear if the program actually saved any money. Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released an audit, requested by Feingold, Kohl, and several other senators, on the competitive sourcing program at the United State Forest Service (USFS) which the administration billed as a way to cut down on government spending."
	Senator Kohl Calls for Audit of Polling Places - WKBT - La Crosse,WI "There are more than 25-hundred polling sites in Wisconsin. State officials say nearly 40-percent have problems for disabled and elderly people. Some of those problems include inaccessible parking, voting machines that aren't set up properly, and at times, not enough assistance from polling workers. That's why Wisconsin Senator Herb Kohl announced Monday he's asked for another audit of polling places."
	Senator to probe inspection process after huge Calif beef recall - Press-Enterprise - Riverside,CA "Kohl says Secretary of Agriculture Ed Schafer and the presidents of the Humane Society and the American Meat Institute will testify at the Feb. 28 hearing in Washington, D.C."
	From the Fact Check Desk: Obama's Army Anecdote "I called the Obama campaign this morning to chat about this story, and was put in touch with the Army captain in question. He told me his story, which I found quite credible, though for obvious reasons he asked that I not mention his name or certain identifying information. Short answer: He backs up Obama's story."
22 Feb
	Judge denies Laguna new trial "In filing the post-conviction motion for a new trial, Canright claimed ineffective counsel by Fred Bourg, of the public defender's office in Ashland. Bourg defended Laguna in his early May 2006 first-degree intentional homicide trial."
	Committee to establish ATV routes "We will form a committee to look at what routes or roads to open for access to the trails," Ahonen said. The state continues to work on its plan for public access to ATV trails, Ahonen said, "a plan similar to that for snowmobiles."
	Grant sought for safe route to school "If the school receives a grant, the first phase of the project would be to study a possible trail system. The school would then need to apply for a second grant to develop a design for a walking-bicycling trail."
	Public may comment on wastewater permit "Susan Scobell Watson, a permit drafter with the Department of Natural Resources' Rhinelander office, said Thursday the permit could be reissued for up to five years and that the DNR has tentatively decided the permit should be reissued."
	Man charged with killing fiance's brother in hit-and-run crash "In court, Vilas County Assistant District Attorney David Breedlove did not explain how Thompson ended up in the path of Valdez' vehicle. When Judge Neal A. "Chip" Nielsen asked Valdez if he knew the victim, he said the man was his fiancee's brother."
	Obama widens lead in state superdelegate count "Before Tuesday's primary, which Obama won 58 percent to 41 percent, only six of Wisconsin's superdelegates had committed -- four for Obama and two for Clinton. After the primary, Obama gained the backing of U.S. Rep. Ron Kind."
	Court upholds man's conviction for having sex with dead deer "The 3rd District Court of Appeals rejected Bryan Hathaway's argument that the charge should be dismissed because the law against committing an act of sexual gratification with animals does not apply if they are dead."
	Patrol wouldn't shut I-90 "In the midst of the snowstorm this month that stranded more than 1,500 cars south of Madison for up to 12 hours, state officials refused to shut down I-90/39, blocked snowmobilers from checking on drivers and nearly shut down the emergency response center at the height of the crisis."
	DNR urges changes in deer hunts, disease control "The state Department of Natural Resources recommendations released Thursday include a four-day, antlerless deer-only hunt in mid-October; a nine-day gun season starting Nov. 22; and another four-day, antlerless deer-only season in late December in areas where chronic wasting disease exists."
	Wis. attorney general: Counties can enact invasive species rules "Van Hollen says in an informal opinion the Legislature has granted counties broad authority over their own boundaries. He says state law doesn't expressly prohibit counties from passing invasive species ordinances. Van Hollen cautions the ordinances couldn't conflict with state or federal laws, though."
	State Patrol faulted in report on Interstate storm traffic jam "Interagency coordination was excellent as the storm developed on Feb. 5, the report said, but "nonexistent as the emergency grew and darkness fell on the stranded motorists.""
	Feingold: I voted for Obama "I really do think that at the gut level, this is a chance to do something special" for the nation, Feingold said, adding that electing Obama represents "an enormous historical opportunity for America and for our relationship with the world."
	Doyle urges Wis. Legislature to approve Great Lakes water compact "Doyle says the Great Lakes provide a great economic opportunity for Wisconsin. The pact was intended largely to address fears that states in the booming but arid Southwest will try tapping into the lakes, which hold 90 percent of the nation's fresh surface water."
	State computers hit by virus seeking e-mail info "... the e-mail went Thursday to about one-tenth of the state work force, or some 4,000 employees, with the invitation to view the video. But when employees clicked on the link, it activated the virus that downloaded software that attempts to steal information, mainly e-mail addresses, he said."
	Odd: NYC bank lets wrong man withdraw $2M "Lovell said he was told it was his and he could withdraw the money... The lesser-funded Lovell gave away some of the withdrawn money and blew some of it on gifts, but lost much of it on bad investments, prosecutors said.
	Objections raised to development proposals at former Ag Station "A number of residents from the Town of Eileen have raised objections to proposals that portions of the 260-acre former University of Wisconsin Agricultural Research Station east of Ashland be designated for multiple uses, including commercial, light industrial and residential purposes."
	Lac du Flambeau voters choose to mortgage 2 percent of fee lands ""The voters have been misled and what they don't understand is that this will not assure that everyone gets to keep their job, or gets their job back," Chosa said. Chosa said he believes there are several other legal problems for the council to resolve. "The first is that the council failed to tell voters that if payments are missed on these loans that the fee lands can have liens placed on them," Chosa said."
	Governor Doyle Announces Tobacco Sales to Wisconsin Minors at All-Time Low “As Attorney General, I fought the big tobacco companies to help protect children from the health hazards of tobacco use, and as Governor, I am very pleased we have made amazing progress in preventing the sale of tobacco to minors in Wisconsin,”
	Governor Doyle, Business Leaders Urge Legislature to Protect Great Lakes, Pass Compact “The Great Lakes present a great economic opportunity for Wisconsin. One of our greatest competitive advantages in a 21st Century global economy is our water,”
21 Feb
	Apology For those couple hundred Hurley residents who have come to depend on MyHurley as a convenient way to scan the Wisconsin and local news, we apologize for the complete melt down of the last several days. It appears that a site hosted in Florida has been attacking the server that hosts this site in West Virginia, pushing as much bandwidth yesterday alone as we usually see in a normal month, while our hosting manager was on a much deserved vacation... in Florida. For the moment, they are blocked, and hopefully will find some other target. - Bob
	25% of young voters turn out "Still, Wisconsin's youth voter turnout was up only slightly from 2004, when there was no Republican contest. And the vote Tuesday by those under age 30 represented only 15% of all votes cast. "Young people are still turning out at much lower rates than older people," said Kathleen Dolan, political science professor at UWM. "This notion that young Americans are turning out at remarkable rates, I don't see that as a remarkable rate.""
	Voting gap divides the parties "In Tuesday's election, 73% of those who went to the polls voted in the Democratic primary, to 27% on the GOP side - a huge difference in a state that in November 2004 was decided by about 11,400 votes."
	Big bucks dropped on obscure court race "Together, the two outside groups are paying out $260,000, which is nearly as much as was spent in Milwaukee in recent weeks by presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton, John McCain and Mike Huckabee - combined."
	Precious hours lost in 2,000-vehicle traffic jam as agencies fail to communicate, report says "Our investigation shows that the lead agency for traffic response on the Interstate, the Wisconsin State Patrol, did respond to events as they unfolded but was slow to recognize that an emergency existed,"
	Lawmakers consider psychological exams for police "A bill that would require pyschological testing for police officers in Wisconsin is getting a lukewarm reception from a legislative committee. The bill comes in response to last fall's mass shooting in Crandon. Tyler Peterson, an off-duty police officer, killed six people with his SWAT assault rifle before killing himself."
	Feingold says he's 'inclined' to support Obama "Feingold has a large following among liberals. He's also one of Wisconsin's 18 superdelegates, who can back any candidate they wish at the Democratic National Convention. Feingold has declined to say definitively that he would support Obama."
	Report rips State Patrol's response to Interstate logjam "The Wisconsin State Patrol response and leadership cost the state valuable time. The State Emergency Operations Center operated by Wisconsin Emergency Management and the statewide Traffic Operations Center operated by the Department of Transportation-Highways were in unique positions to assist, but failed to recognize the larger picture,"
	City analyzes poll numbers, big student turnout “It was a zoo all afternoon and evening; we had as many as eight people registering people during the day plus the poll workers doing the other jobs,” she said. “There were absolutely more than I’ve seen in the past. We voted 1,333 people; of that, 1,100 registered yesterday.”
	Upward trend reported of killing animals for thrills in Wisconsin "Officials say several dozen cases have been confirmed in which wild animals were shot with firearms and arrows, run down with vehicles or clubbed with baseball bats and homemade weapons such as sharpened sticks. “This is simply a criminal act. It has nothing to do with hunting,” said Department of Natural Resources warden Rick Rosen..."
	Proposal exempts vendors from state fire code "(Vendors) probably wouldn't make it to the fair anymore," Petrowski said, alluding to the fire code's impact on nonprofit vendors such as the Wausau Jaycees or Wausau Noon Optimists. "They can't afford it."
	Snowmobliers ask for better plowing on Bayfield streets "We wing the streets back as often as we can, and the problem we're having this year is with the amount of snow we've got, we can only push it so far," Kovachevich said. "So, we do the best we can, and we can try to do a little bit more. We'll do everything we can to help."
	Feingold-Kohl Backed Study Calls into Question President's Plan to Outsource Jobs "Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released an audit, requested by Feingold, Kohl, and several other senators, on the competitive sourcing program at the United State Forest Service (USFS) which the administration billed as a way to cut down on government spending. The GAO audit found that the USFS did not maintain reliable data on its competitive sourcing program and that costs associated with implementing the program may have exceeded the agency’s stated savings."
20 Feb
	School board can't decide on baseball coach "The position became vacant when Jerry Levra was fired. Levra had contracts with the district for coaching both middle school basketball and varsity baseball. Following a closed session of the school board on Dec. 3, Levra said his contracts were terminated for not following directives set forth by administration."
	Wisconsin confirms first flu death "Wisconsin reported its first influenza case in November. The season is anticipated to run until the end of April, so there is still time for the vaccine to provide protection from influenza. Health care providers throughout the state indicate they have vaccine available."
	Vilas accident kills 16-year-old "The youth was operating a 2006 Yamaha that was heading south on the roadway when it crossed the center line on a curve and struck the Dodge truck and plow head-on."
	Obama, McCain win in Wisconsin "In Iron County, however, Hillary Rodham Clinton won the most votes with a slight edge over Obama, 651 to 640. John Edwards, who was still on the ballot although he was no longer a candidate, finished a distant third with 14 votes."
	Cell phones may join no-call list "The state Senate unanimously voted Tuesday to add cell phones to the state's "do not call" list and raise the maximum fine for violating that law from $100 to $1,000."
	State ban on plastic bags proposed "Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, have introduced a bill that would ban retail stores from providing non-biodegradable plastic bags to consumers. These are the thin bags that consumers usually use once -- unless there are pets in the home. The proposed ban would go into effect three years after it's signed by the governor."
	KOHL, KAGEN VISIT FOX VALLEY FAMILY MEDICINE "Senator Kohl led the successful effort to restore federal resources for the hospital resident training program, which was targeted for elimination, by including language in the Labor-HHS section of the Omnibus budget to restore the doctors training program's federal grant eligibility. The legislation was approved by Congress and signed into law last year."
	Governor Doyle Reports Record Export Growth in Wisconsin for 2007 “I salute Wisconsin companies for aggressively seeking new markets around the globe,” Governor Doyle said. “As Governor, I’m committed to doing all I can to support a climate that encourages success for our exporters.”
	Governor Doyle Presents Design and Construction Awards “Excellence in design and construction in the state building program is the result of professional skill and teamwork put forth by architects, engineers, contractors and state staff. I am pleased to recognize those achievements with the Governor’s Awards.”
19 Feb
	School weight room updates begin "Board members authorized the $4,200 purchase, including the cost of setting up the cardiovascular exercise equipment. Athletics director Dean Kolpin and K-12 principal Jeff Gulan were authorized in January to set up a committee to submit a grant application in an effort to obtain funding for additional weight room equipment."
	Police release names of hit-and-run victim, suspect "A 47-year-old Illinois man was scheduled to appear in Vilas County Court Monday in connection with the hit-and-run death of Richard Thomaston, 43, of Lac du Flambeau, who died around 2:30 a.m. Saturday on Wisconsin 47 in the Town of Lac du Flambeau."
	Interim report focuses on cutting energy use "Gov. Jim Doyle was among a group of governors and mayors who last year began looking for ways to cut greenhouse gases as scientists saw greater evidence of a link between the burning of fossil fuels and rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Doyle formed the panel, which includes representatives of utilities, industry and conservation groups, a year ago, asking it to come up with recommendations to reduce the state's greenhouse gas emissions by as much as 80% by 2050."
	on the Pakistani Elections "I am dismayed that violence in Pakistan has become so pervasive that it seems to have impacted voter turn out in this critical election."
	Governor Doyle Receives Interim Global Warming Report “The time to take action is now, and this interim report is a step toward addressing global warming while growing the state’s economy, creating new jobs, and utilizing homegrown resources and technologies to make Wisconsin a world leader on this issue.”
18 Feb
	New Collage of Hurley Snow OK, I really did this one to place on my Chicago suburban site... to entice snow-mobilers to come visit. It would be prettier if we could come up with a couple days of bright sunshine, but there is something right about bluish gray...
	Kimball: Effort begins to save Interstate Falls access ""The owner of this property has been kind enough to allow the community to visit the waterfalls for over 50 years, but the property is now for sale and public access is in jeopardy," Shackleford said. Iron County and the Town of Kimball haven't expressed interest in purchasing either the property or an easement, Shackleford said." [The folks at the Superior Chronicle visited this site and posted pictures and a video last fall... they generously provided me with the following links. - Bob] interstate falls peterson bluff peterson falls falls video
	Weather grounds Clinton, her advisers step up criticism of Obama "Grounded by bad weather, Hillary Rodham Clinton noshed on eggs at a diner and visited a Hispanic grocery Sunday ... Weather also forced Obama to cancel his only planned event in the state, a town hall in Kaukauna."
	Nibbles 'n' Knowledge lecture series Thursday "The North Lakeland Discovery Center's February Nibbles 'n Knowledge lecture series will feature research scientist Tim Kratz on Thursday at the Manitowish Waters Community Center."
	Police arrest suspect in fatal hit-and-run "Initial findings by the sheriff's department indicate the victim was struck by a car and the car fled the scene of the accident. The Vilas County Coroner declared the victim dead at the scene, the report said. The car was located a short time later and the driver was taken into custody at the Vilas County Jail in Eagle River, the report said."
	Dairy subsidy could be issue for candidates "Should farmers keep that safety net? Both Democratic presidential candidates think so... But this year 's GOP frontrunner, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, says he can 't do that."
	Enrollment at technical colleges up, could be linked to economy "The state's technical colleges are seeing a slight gain in students, which they say often happens when jobs become harder to find. The biggest growth spurts in the past 30 years at Wisconsin technical colleges coincided with the national economic recessions of 2001, 1991 and the early 1980s."
	Conditions slow Dems' primary campaigns "A brutal winter storm paralyzed the Wisconsin campaign schedules of Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama on Sunday, setting up a mad dash in the remaining hours before the state's presidential primary Tuesday."
	Merrill superdelegate hasn't made decision yet "Schroeder works with federal agencies as a caseworker in U.S. Rep. Dave Obey's Wausau office. Obey, also a superdelegate, already has thrown his support behind Obama, but Schroeder said the two do not discuss their political preferences."
	Superdelegate Stan Gruszynski endorses Sen. Barack Obama "Former 71st District Assembly Rep. Stan Gruszynski of Stevens Point, a superdelegate in the Democratic Party, has announced his endorsement for Sen. Barack Obama for president, according to a campaign news release today."
	Lac du Flambeau layoffs underscore financial crunch "Pressing financial problems and job layoffs brought tribe members together to talk about resolving some serious budget shortfalls. The LdF tribal council had scheduled a 3:30 p.m. informational meeting Monday to be held at the William Wildcat Tribal Center, but it was canceled at the last minute. The frustrated tribe members then set their own meeting for 5:30 p.m."
	Manitowish Waters supervisors table Camp Jorn YMCA request for no wake zone "Looking to avoid a lengthy approval process involving ordinance amendments, public hearings and a bid for DNR approval, town of Manitowish Waters supervisors on Tuesday unanimously tabled action on a request submitted by Camp Jorn YMCA in favor of finding a simpler solution to Camp Jorn's bid for creation of a 30x90-foot no wake swimmer safety zone for its designated swimming beach at Fox Island on Rest Lake."
	Senators Grassley, Kohl Offer Bill for Better Information on ... - SeniorJournal.com - San Antonio,TX "Sen. Chuck Grassley, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, joined yesterday with Sen. Herb Kohl, Democrat Chair of the Senate Special Committee on Aging, to introduce legislation aimed at improving the quality of care in nursing homes with more and better information for consumers on the Nursing Home Compare Website published by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services."
	Number of Senior Citizens in Workforce Rapidly Climbing - SeniorJournal.com - San Antonio,TX "Senior citizens face a number of financial challenges in the years ahead – out of control healthcare costs, Social Security payments not keeping pace with their inflation, increasing charges by Medicare, and more - and this appears to be forcing more seniors back into the workforce. A new report says the number of seniors working is expected to grow by 74% by 2014, with 2004 as the base."
	Oberstar, Obey among top 20 in securing earmarks for states - Duluth News Tribune "U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wis., was No. 11 among all House members and led Wisconsin representatives with $59 million in earmarks, including $4 million for a Duluth-Superior harbor project. Obey, a 39-year veteran of Congress, is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee."
	Independents have clout, if not cohesion - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel "Independents are by their very nature the people who have the least depth and exposure to what the candidates are doing and saying," the congressman claimed the other day. "That's why they're independents."
	State Primary Coverage Journal Sentinel Clinton makes visits on the fly as weather scraps her schedule Refusing to cry 'uncle,' Huckabee out-campaigns Republican rival McCain pledges 'no new taxes' Clinton blasts Obama on financing Kennedy backs Obama health plan Washington State Journal Clinton speaks in De Pere; candidates to make stops across state Storm changes campaign stops Candidate Q&A: Energy policy Capital Times Republicans for Obama Clinton: Face off with Obama would be invaluable to state voters Kennedy disagrees with Clinton trade policies Badger Herald Candidates gear up for the big day Dems ready to support nominee McCain appeals to Wisconsin conservatives
	Poverty Is Poison - PAUL KRUGMAN, New York Times "... if a progressive wins this election, it will be by promising to ease the anxiety of the middle class rather than aiding the poor. And for a variety of reasons, health care, not poverty, should be the first priority of a Democratic administration. But ultimately, let’s hope that the nation turns back to the task it abandoned — that of ending the poverty that still poisons so many American lives."
16&17 Feb
	Clinton, Obama, Events Cancelled Due to Weather "With the Wisconsin State Patrol urging residents to stay off roads today, especially in northeastern Wisconsin, the "Stand for Change" Town Hall with Senator Barack Obama that had been scheduled for today at Kaukauna High School has been CANCELLED." "Hillary Clinton's "Solutions for America" Town Hall Meeting in De Pere has also been Cancelled."
	Wisconsin hosts presidential primary election Tuesday "The only Iron County referendum on Tuesday's ballot will be decided in the Town of Kimball, where residents will be asked, "Should the Town of Kimball open town roads for all-terrain vehicle use?" The non-binding referendum is necessary because the state allows home-to-trail access in communities for snowmobiles, but not for ATVs."
	Kimball: Taxpayers ask for reassessment of properties "At the hearing, taxpayers will be able to present testimony and evidence to attempt to show a lack of uniformity in the town's assessments, Iverson said. She said the department will review the testimony, but the process doesn't stop there. The Department of Revenue will also conduct its own investigation, focusing on a review of equity in the assessments."
	Great Lakes compact hits rough waters "Now comes the hard part: agreeing on precisely how to draw the magic line that will allow those on the inside access to Great Lakes water and force those on the outside to go somewhere else for one of life's most basic necessities."
	Crackdown on illegal immigrants spurs debate "No law requires local police to report suspected illegal immigrants, and because immigration is a federal matter, local police can 't arrest someone simply because they are in this country illegally. In Dane County, jail inmates are reported to the federal government if they don 't have documentation to prove their legal status in this country."
	Wolf killed in Winnebago County; another seen in Iowa County "I immediately thought it would hurt my dog so I opened the patio door in the kitchen and yelled at the wolf to get its attention away from my dog," Cassidy said. "The wolf then just looked around and slowly started walking away. I ...took the pictures as the wolf was leaving."
	Up to a foot of snow expected...again "The National Weather Service has already issued a winter storm warning for almost all counties in Wisconsin, with the northwest corner of the state being the exception. The prediction for the Madison area is 8 to 12 inches of snow, after we get the aforementioned blend of various forms of freezing precipitation."
	Expert: Home crisis initiatives won't help "In terms of lessening the severity and time of the (housing market) downturn, this will likely not change anything," said Morris Davis, formerly the housing analyst for ex-Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and now an assistant professor of real estate and urban land economics at UW-Madison. In fact, added Davis, "A person could argue that it may make the current situation worse..."
	Restoring democracy - Baltimore Sun "Civil death in America has an explicitly racist past. It is no accident that it disproportionately affects African-Americans. Nationwide, 13 percent of all African-American men are disenfranchised; in some states, it is almost 25 percent. Like the poll tax and the grandfather clause, civil death was a tool of Jim Crow."
	State Primary Coverage Journal Sentinel Paul's message: more liberty, less government McCain courts votes on 2 fronts Paul backers rally against McCain Democrats take subtle jabs as Clinton comes to state Obama winning ad wars in region Polls in state give Obama slight edge Wisconsin State Journal Obama wears bracelet given to him by mother of fallen US soldier Clinton, Obama each make their case at Democratic Party dinner Clinton renews call for debate with Obama The Capitol Times Democratic women face tough decision between Obama and Clinton Badger Herald Accumulate campaign dollars as I say, not as I do Hillary in Madison Sunday night Bill talks issues for wife at UW State up for grabs Wausau Daily Herald Obama: Put higher education in reach of more Americans Professor opens home to Clinton supporters, campaign staffers Obama NTC visit closed Clinton plans Wausau event
	Expert warns senator vulnerable to campaign manager's lobbying - WorldNetDaily "Still, information about McCain's involvement with the Reform Institute, which has been backed by George Soros, and the way he has handled various issues during his Commerce Committee assignment, have been available in the public record and widely discussed on the Internet."
15 Feb
	Great Lakes Water Resources Compact "Recent statements by Speaker Huebsch on the Great Lakes Water Resources Compact are an assault on Wisconsin’s natural resources and amount to an insult to the hundreds of citizens who engaged for nineteen months in a thoughtful and deliberative effort to preserve Wisconsin waters."
	Jimmy Lee at Nora's Jimmy Lee will be appearing at Nora's Red Carpet Lounge on Saturday night, 16 Feb 2008 starting around 9 PM.
	Food pantry eyes former church as new home "Before the pantry can relocated, Bishop Peter F. Christensen from the Diocese of Superior must approve the transfer of the church to the pantry. The Rev. Michael Hayden, pastor of the St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hurley, is scheduled to meet with the bishop on Tuesday."
	Key lawmakers in Ohio, Wisconsin seek changes in Great Lakes pact "Legislative leaders in Ohio and Wisconsin proposed changes Thursday in a Great Lakes water compact that could force renegotiation of the deal, which has been ratified by two states and is moving toward approval in four others. The compact, signed by the governors of the eight Great Lakes states in 2005, would prohibit most diversions of water from the region's drainage basin and require each state to regulate water use."
	Surprisingly long, snowy winter shrinks salt supplies "Snowflakes may be small but getting rid of them is a big problem this year. From Maine, to Iowa and Wisconsin, the unusually snowy winter means dozens of communities face dwindling salt supplies and blown snow removal budgets."
	DNR: Hunter killed wolf, not dog-wolf hybrid, in Winnebago County "The animal was killed in the town of Nekimi and was first believed to be a coyote. But DNR officials spent several weeks testing it to determine the species and now say it's a gray wolf. DNR officials say they'll levy the minimum fine of $306.30 against a Brandon hunter who killed it and will not revoke his license."
	Records: Wis. agency slow to stop sex offenders from getting aid "The Higher Educational Aids Board learned in April 2007 that people living at the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center, which houses some of the state's worst child molesters and rapists, were receiving state and federal aid for living expenses."
	State up for grabs "It isn’t every week that nationally recognized senators, governors and even a former president descend on the state as if it were the only one that mattered. And never again will a Bears fan draw 20,000 people to the Kohl Center."
	2 fishermen rescued near Stockton Island "According to the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore Chief of Protection Greg Zeman, the two men were riding snowmobiles to an area on the lake where several ice fishing tents had been placed and which had about 10 inches of ice, which is considered safe for a man on a snowmobile to travel on."
	Feingold Calls on Administration to Focus on Fighting Al Qaeda “Congress needs to end the president’s failed strategy in Iraq, so that we can focus on improving our homeland security and denying al Qaeda a safe haven in Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere.”
	Assistance to Ten Wisconsin Fire Departments “This grant program has been an unqualified success in getting much-needed resources directly to local firefighters,” Feingold said. “I have been and continue to be a strong supporter of this program, in no small measure because of the advocacy of Wisconsin firefighters."
	Governor Doyle Announces Wisconsin Waterfront Initiative Website "Governor Doyle recently released Grow Wisconsin – The Next Steps, his comprehensive plan to grow Wisconsin’s economy and seize opportunities to update Wisconsin’s bedrock industries and enter new markets. To Read Grow Wisconsin - the Next Steps visit: http://www.wisgov.state.wi.us/docview.asp?docid=12933."
	State Primary Coverage Journal Sentinel Clinton continues pushing Obama on debate, economics Clinton covers range of subjects Ex-president stumps for Clinton around state Huckabee's conservatism finds fans in tour of state Wisconsin State Journal Obama: U.S. must do 'whatever it takes' to end gun violence News from the campaign trail Obama leads in poll of Wis. voters ahead of Tuesday's primary McCain: Friendship with Feingold doesn't affect conservative view Capital Times Bill stumps for Hillary at UW Stock Pavilion
	87 yr-old NH state rep announces fast for impeachment - After Downing Street "I just got off the phone with Betty Hall. She is the 14-term State of N.H. representative who has introduced to the state house HR 24 to impeach Bush and Cheney. The public Hearing for the resolution is next Tuesday Feb. 19th (the day after President's day). She is joining the Code Pink fast. She is 87 years old and refuses to eat again until Conyers begins impeachment proceedings. She told me "I've had a good life. I can't think of any better way to end it."
14 Feb
	City grants two liquor licenses "New liquor licenses cost $10,000 but since the one issued to Marani's was a continuing license, it was grandfathered in and Gurka will be required to pay only a pro-rated amount of the $600 annual license fee. The reduced cost for the license prompted the four applications for the existing license."
	Upson: Grant allows Town of Anderson to form its own fire department "Anderson currently has 11 firefighters, with three pieces of equipment in its fleet. After receiving a $98,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture-Rural Development, the town purchased a 2007 Peterbilt pumper-tanker fire truck with a 3,000-gallon tank and a 700-gallon self-contained pump in August."
	Bad times hit state budget "The slumping economy will result in state tax collections falling $650 million below projections in the current two-year state budget - 60% more than the shortfall estimated last month, a report warned Wednesday."
	Kohl wants weekend voting "Kohl's proposal, dubbed the Weekend Voting Act, would mandate that the polls be open from 10 a.m. eastern time on the first Saturday in November until 6 p.m. Sunday in the contiguous 48 states. Election officials could close polls overnight if staffing during those hours proved too difficult."
	Deficit double original guess "Gov. Jim Doyle has already directed the Department of the Administration to take some steps to close the gap, including mandating $111 million in cuts from state agencies and delaying payment on some short-term loans, but the remaining $415.9 million will need to be addressed by the governor and state legislators."
	The Capital Times Online: Future trend or big mistake? “We’ll have lots of self-taught mo-jos (mobile journalists) that aren’t as informed as they need to be about fairness issues and in-depth reporting,” Brochu said. “Really, anyone could get on the Internet and come across a reporter, and the reader doesn’t know if that reporter is trained.”
	Officials order trespassing hot dog stand to jump a few feet "Both the town of Woodruff and the Oneida County planning and zoning department have ordered the Sissons to move their hot dog stand - which sits on a poured concrete foundation - by a little more than nine feet. In a letter to Woodruff town attorney John Houlihan, the Sisson's lawyer, Greg Harrold, called this "a situation which could mean economic disaster for my clients.""
	Free Bikes? "Just say no to cars-and get a free bicycle for better health and cleaner air. That's what tiny Ripon College is offering new students next fall in what it says is a first-of-a-kind program that keeps the college from having to build more parking lots."
	Feingold Backs Bill Making "Do Not Call" Registration Permanent “When folks in Wisconsin signed up for the “do-not-call” registry to avoid unsolicited calls, they weren’t just looking for a five-year trial period to see if they could live without telemarketers,”
	Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold on the President's Foreign Affairs Budget “Madam Secretary, I remain deeply concerned that the President is still failing to properly allocate resources so we can best address our top national security priority – the global threat posed by al Qaeda and its affiliates."
	on Limiting Interrogation Techniques to Those Authorized by the Army Field Manual "The Administration’s illegal actions and its relentless efforts to obtain vast new eavesdropping authorities make oversight more important than ever. I particularly support the provision limiting interrogation techniques to those authorized by the Army Field Manual."
	Kohl's Column for Black History Month: "But this month, with the budget proposed by President Bush, it was disappointing to see he underfunded the No Child Left Behind Act. This means that under the President's proposal, Wisconsin schools in need of assistance to improve their facilities would only receive almost $150 million less in important Title I funds instead of the $348 million authorized by Congress."
	KOHL UNVEILS WEEKEND VOTING ACT "Holding elections on the first Tuesday of November makes it difficult, even impossible, for many Americans with jobs and family to exercise their fundamental right to vote. We should do what is in our power to make this process easier, to encourage more people to make their voice heard in Washington. Holding elections over the weekend rather than a work day will make it significantly easier for millions of Americans to vote."
	Governor Doyle Seeks Applicants for Non-Traditional Student for Board of Regents
	Governor Doyle Proclaims Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week
	State Primary Coverage Journal Sentinel Clinton ad calls for debate - Huckabee tells crowd he'll boost GOP principles Obama speaks to the heartland on inequality, economy Obama takes political shots at McCain Wisconsin State Journal Huckabee meets with Republican state lawmakers, staff - News from the campaign trail Huckabee: 'Not ready to say game over' Wausau Daily Herald Wisconsin voters hit with campaign appeals today from former Pres. Clinton, Huckabee Stevens Point superdelegate endorses Sen. Barack Obama Huckabee to take campaign break Saturday for speech in Caymans
	Pete's Place - YouTube This is a short commercial which has been posted on You Tube for Pete's Place, the restaurant attached to the Hurley Inn. If watching the ad convinces you to check out their Friday Night Fish Fry, tell them how you found it, please.
	Senate Admonishes Larry Craig - TPM "It's not just the arrest they tag him for but his efforts to withdraw his guilty plea. Oh, and there was the matter of him slipping the officer his Senate business card. They didn't like the appearance of that either."
13 Feb
	Public hearing set for wood-burning issue "The permit would not allow an outdoor wood-burning furnace to be installed within 100 feet of the nearest residence or business. The exceptions would be if a conditional use permit was approved by the city or if the chimney stack would be at least two feet higher than the peak of any building within the 100 feet."
	Air service to continue despite airline's decision to end flights "DuRay said Midwest Connect, as an essential air service provider, is obligated to make sure the airport has a commercial provider, even if it decides to terminate flights and even if it does not use Midwest Express crews."
	Two snowmobilers die in northern Wisconsin crashes "A Minnesota snowmobiler killed Thursday in an Ashland County collision with a logging truck was among four people killed on state trails in the past week."
	In uphill battle for GOP nomination, Huckabee to spend 3 days in state ""Huckabee would have to win something like 93 percent of the rest of the delegates, which is virtually impossible"... Undaunted by the uphill math, and hoping to tap into dissatisfaction with McCain among some conservative voters, Huckabee will spend the next three days in Wisconsin."
	Obama inspires crowd at packed Kohl Center rally "Riding a wave of eight straight primary and caucus victories in recent weeks, including Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia on Tuesday, Obama turned to Wisconsin voters shortly after the polls closed there."
	In Stoughton, dream of co-op turning to reality "Restored maple hardwood floors, a tin ceiling and three 6-foot-high and 9-foot-high windows that bathe the store in natural light, all combine to give the store a throwback atmosphere. "It gives it that small-town grocery store feel, but we 'll have more variety than a small store, " said Markin, 36."
	Obama energizes 17,000+ at Kohl Center (with full audio) "This is our moment. This is our time," Obama said to overwhelming applause during a 25-minute stump speech in front of more than 17,000 supporters in the arena and another 2,000 in the Kohl Center's Nicholas-Johnson Pavilion. "And where better to affirm our ideals than here in Wisconsin, where a century ago the progressive movement was born?"
	Be wary of Valentine's Day e-mail virus "The FBI has issued a virus warning for Valentine's Day because of the "Storm Worm" virus. The virus is a botnet, or a network of compromised machines controlled by a single user, that can launch a whole slew of problems on your computer, including the possibility of identity theft and the spreading of malicious software to other connected machines."
	Feingold: My Hope Is with The House - TPM Muckraker "Instead the Senate, with the help of too many Democrats, is yet again giving the administration sweeping new powers – and letting it off the hook for its illegal wiretapping program. I hope that our House colleagues will hold a stronger line, and refuse to accept the deeply flawed Senate bill. The calls from Americans tired of having their rights and their Constitution trampled on by this administration are only growing louder."
	American Samoan baby dies after customs holdup in Honolulu airport "Futi's son, Michael Tony, died Friday at the airport after he, Futi and the nurse, Arizona Veavea, were kept in a locked room after flying nearly five hours from American Samoa so the child could be treated for a birth defect, a hole in his heart, Fried said."
12 Feb
	AGENDA - Regular School Board Meeting Hurley School District 5503 W Range View Drive, Hurley, WI 54534 5:00 p.m. Monday, February 18, 2008 Held in the Hurley High School IMC
	Bill to phase out mercury products "A bill authored by Jauch addressing mercury pollution by phasing out certain products from the marketplace was unanimously recommended by the Senate Committee on Environmental Resources on Friday."
	Search continues for Taylor County woman "A search is continuing for a missing 38-year-old Taylor County woman whose van was found Thursday on a remote logging road in the Town of Chippewa in Ashland County."
	Young voters courted in Wisconsin; Obama urged to debate "New York Sen. Hillary Clinton's daughter made stops at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and near Marquette University before heading to UW-Madison to speak to hundreds of students at the union. She planned additional visits at university campuses in Eau Claire and La Crosse today."
	Campaign hits state in earnest Tuesday "Democrat Barack Obama is holding a major rally tonight at the Kohl Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where the Illinois senator is hoping to celebrate victories in the East Coast primaries. Earlier in the day, his wife, Michelle, is to make appearances in Milwaukee, Sheboygan and De Pere."
	Immigrant, senior numbers likely to rise, report says "If current trends continue, nearly 1 in 5 Americans will be an immigrant by 2050, compared with 1 in 8 in 2005, according to the report by the Pew Hispanic Center."
	Report: Toxins could be sickening some Wisconsin residents "The report showed that pollution created by several active and abandoned Milwaukee County industries may be contributing to the county's higher-than-average rates of infant mortality, low birth weight, premature births and deaths from colon cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke."
	Chevy pickup passes 1 million-mile mark in Wisconsin "He passed the million-mile mark Friday in southeastern Wisconsin while on his way back home to Catawba, located in the north in Price County, about an hour west of Rhinelander. He was on County Highway V southeast of Fond du Lac. On hand was a film crew from Chevrolet's public relations and advertising company, and he was speaking live to Robert Siegel, host of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered.""
	For Barack Obama and the better angels of our nature "We still believe that this great nation can and should be what Lincoln imagined: "the last best hope of Earth." That, more than any of the vagaries of campaign finance, primary scheduling or simplistic candidate comparisons, explains why Barack Obama's campaign for the presidency has been so successful -- and why it must prevail on Feb. 19 in Wisconsin and at this summer's Democratic National Convention in Denver."
	Huckabee hoping Wisconsin sparks big comeback "Huckabee will hold a rally at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Pewaukee and will visit La Crosse or Eau Claire and Green Bay following the Madison stop Thursday, according to his campaign’s Wisconsin blog. Further details about the visits are not yet available."
	A summary of campaign events scheduled so far in Wisconsin "Campaign visits scheduled in advance of the Wisconsin presidential primary next Tuesday:"
	Ron Paul group meets tonight at UWMC "The Wausau Ron Paul 2008 Meetup Group will hold its first meeting at 7 p.m. tonight. The meeting will be held in the Round Room (near the Student Union) at the University of Wisconsin Marathon County at 518 S. Seventh Ave., Wausau."
	On Striking Retroactive Immunity in FISA "Congress should not be giving automatic, retroactive immunity to companies that allegedly cooperated with the President’s illegal NSA wiretapping program. This provision of the bill is both unnecessary and unjustified, and it will undermine the rule of law."
	Senator Kohl sells out to the telecos - Dane101 - Madison,WI "You should be proud of one of your Senators today Madison. Senator Russ Feingold has stood up time and time again to make sure the telecommunication companies who are complicit in allowing the government to invade your right to privacy are held accountable. As for the other one, Senator Herb Kohl, not so much. Today Kohl joined 18 other Democrats to vote against an amendment to the FISA bill that would "strike the provisions providing immunity from civil liability to electronic communication service providers for certain assistance provided to the Government.""
	Six Wisconsin superdelegates announce candidate preference - Appleton Post Crescent "Four superdelegates have announced their support for Obama. They are Gov. Jim Doyle, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. David Obey, and Stan Gruszynski. Two have announced their support for Clinton. They are Rep. Tammy Baldwin and Tim Sullivan."
	Obama's Students, Independents Erode Clinton's Wisconsin Base - Bloomberg " Congressman Dave Obey, a former Edwards loyalist who endorsed Obama last week, said his rural and blue-collar constituents in northern Wisconsin hold anti-Nafta and anti-war views that could favor Obama. Obey, 69, said he fears the hard-fought campaign could leave scars. He remembers the 1960 Wisconsin primary when John Kennedy defeated Hubert Humphrey: ``There are still Democrats in this state who won't talk to each other since.'' "
	Governor Doyle Announces Georgia-Pacific Investment Governor Doyle Announces MacDonald and Owen Lumber Co. Expansion Governor Doyle Announces Funding for iMARK Molding Governor Doyle Announces Five Star Coatings Group Expansion Governor Announces Appointment of José Vásquez to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents
11 Feb
	Laskiainen celebrated at Little Finland "By noon, the wood frame building that houses the main dining hall and kitchen at Little Finland was almost full. Even though temperatures outside were approaching minus 15 degrees, some people even went snowshoeing and cross country skiing on the new trail recently blazed on the group's campus."
	Developmental screening offered for children "Mercer K-12 Schoool and the Iron County Birth to Three Program will provide developmental screening for young children in the Mercer School District on Tuesday, Feb. 19. The free screenings are for children from age 18 months to 3 1/2 years. Older children who have not been screened may participate as well. "
	Wisconsin Republicans could sway Democratic presidential race "... voters are free to switch parties when casting ballots. While party operatives and independent observers both say such crossover voting is unlikely to decide the election for one candidate or the other, they admit it does happen."
	Rebate dreams taking shape "Starting in May, most single taxpayers would get a check for $600, and married couples would receive $1,200. The government will add $300 for each child 17 or younger who lived with the taxpayer for more than half of 2007."
	Wisconsin prepares for deluge at polls "There are some municipalities that may see a record turnout at the polls," Albrecht said. "And you cannot run out of ballots."
	Wisconsin cities experiment with beet juice on frozen roads "The city applies a solution of beet juice, saltwater and calcium chloride. The beet juice lowers the brine's freezing point so it works at temperatures where regular saltwater wouldn't be effective. Beet juice also is better for the environment and helps reduce the city's dependence on road salt, which has been hard for many cities to get this season, Walsh said."
	Vets seek to display replica gravestones "Madison Veterans for Peace is asking the city for permission to erect about 4,500 gravestone replicas in Olbrich Park for one week, starting May 25, the day before Memorial Day. The corrugated plastic tombstones will represent the U.S. servicemen and women who have been killed during the war in Iraq and the fighting in Afghanistan."
	Indefensible Bush budget "People in Wisconsin and throughout the nation have reason to be angered and insulted by President Bush's latest, and thankfully last, budget proposal," says Baldwin. "While again calling for $3 trillion in tax cuts for the privileged and well-connected over the next 10 years, the president wants to finance those tax cuts by drastically cutting funds for Medicare, Medicaid, the Centers for Disease Control, low-income home energy assistance, Community Oriented Policing Services, and the Environmental Protection Agency, among others."
	Cultivating perch for fish fries, posterity "Much of what seafood we eat is imported," says Fred Binkowski, senior scientist. "We don't know where it's growing, what it's eating" or what additives may be introduced into the diet. A fish fry with the European zander, for example, resembles walleye in taste. An entree billed as Florida grouper actually might be Asian catfish, or another fish of cheaper quality."
	On Wisconsin: Primary race heats up "Chelsea Clinton will be at Memorial Union this afternoon, while Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., will hold a rally Tuesday night at the Kohl Center, while. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., will attend a Milwaukee event Feb. 16."
	Sen. Feingold unlikely to offer endorsement before Feb. 19 primary “On the one hand, I really want somebody who has the sort of experience and brain to be president-quality,” Feingold said, “but I also want somebody who has progressive principles and a record who is likely to try to do some exciting things to achieve change on a couple of key issues.”
	Hurley nails down IC title with win over Mercer "After missing an opportunity Tuesday at Washburn, the Hurley Midgets bounced back to claim their second Indianhead Conference boys basketball title in 21 years with a 61-56 victory over the Mercer Tigers Friday night."
	Sturgeon season to continue after spearers get 300 fish today "Biologist Ron Bruch of the Department of Natural Resources tallied nine fish over 100 pounds today, including a male that weighed 104 pounds. That was first male lake sturgeon to exceed the 100-pound mark since the DNR began mandatory registration of all harvested fish in 1956."
09&10 Feb
	HURLEY CITY COUNCIL BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS -_5:30 P.M. POLICE, FIRE & LICENSE COMMITTEE Immediately following the Board of Public Works meeting FINANCE COMMITTEE Immediately following the Police, Fire & License Committee meeting CITY COUNCIL MEETING – 6:30 P.M.
	IRON COUNTY FINANCE MEETING "The Iron County Finance Committee will meet on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 6:00 PM at the Iron County Courthouse, Hurley, Wisconsin. The meeting is open to the public per Chapter 19, sub Chapter V, Wisconsin Statutes. (Open Meeting Law)"
	Bill To Phase-Out Certain Mercury Products Advances "“Mercury pollution is a significant environmental danger and long overdue legislation to ban certain products containing mercury will help reduce some of this poison that threatens our resources and public health,” State Senator Bob Jauch said Friday."
	Superior officials defend use of stun gun on high school student "Superior police have used electronic stun guns for the past couple of years, but last week was the first time one was used in a school. An officer used it to subdue a 15-year-old boy at Superior High School. The student was 6 feet tall and weighed more than 300 pounds, according to police reports. He was not injured. "
	Some details from mass killings in Crandon still not released "It doesn't contain any autopsy reports, transcripts of cell phone messages to and from the victims and the killer, Tyler Peterson. And it doesn't name the sniper who shot Peterson seconds before the young sheriff's deputy took his own life. What it does have is a three-page explanation for the missing material."
	Tax return, rebate scams seek personal information "Although the e-mails appear to be genuine, with IRS logos, they attempt to scam taxpayers by seeking Social Security numbers and debit card information. The goal of the scams is to trick people into revealing personal and financial information, which the scammers can use to commit identity theft."
	Roundup: Midgets sew up Indianhead title "The Hurley Midgets clinched the outright Indianhead Conference championship Friday night with a 61-56 over rival Mercer. It is just Hurley's second conference title in 21 years, the last coming in 2000. "
	Advantage for Obama? "If those independents cross over into the Democratic primary, they really could add to Obama's support," said Charles Franklin, an expert on polling data and trends at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. "Voting by independents is often going to be a case where . . . they have McCain and Obama (first), in various order," Franklin said. "They probably have her (Clinton) third in that group."
	Doyle wants: Who, what, when after Interstate debacle "Do you have any idea when you guys are going to get traffic going there? " a frazzled 911 operator asked a State Patrol dispatcher just before 7 p.m. as calls were coming in from desperate motorists. "Not an idea, " the dispatcher responded. "We 're trying to get a plan together right now. "
	Attorney general needs to come clean "While he claims that the Division of Criminal Investigation "has always been well-run and well-managed" and that he was not in the process of making major management changes in the division, the attorney general is using the standard dodge of public officials when it comes to discussing what is going on."
	Bush budget costs hospitals "President Bush has proposed cutting more than $196 billion from Medicare and Medicaid. Some parts of the proposal have already been examined by legislative committees; others are expected to be discussed next week, said U.S. Rep. Dave Obey, D-Wausau. Based on the proposed cuts, Aspirus could lose $33.4 million in funding over five years, mostly in the form of decreased reimbursement for patient care, said Sid Sczygelski, Aspirus' chief financial officer."
	Hurley cools off Washburn, 61-49 "The Hurley Midgettes remained in first place in the Indianhead Conference by snapping the Washburn Castle Guards' eight-game winning streak in a 61-49 victory Thursday night. The Midgettes (13-3 overall, 11-1 IC) hurt the Guards (12-4, 11-3) both inside and outside."
	Feingold still believes in bipartisanship - Janesville Gazette "Bipartisanship has taken a beating in the last few years, but Sen. Russ Feingold still believes it’s necessary, he said. “I believe in it so much that the Republican nominee’s biggest problem is that he’s got my name attached to him,” he joked Saturday morning at the Janesville Municipal Building."
	Hearing on Microsoft-Yahoo Deal Postponed - New York Times "Washington is still monitoring this deal closely. Senator Herb Kohl, a Democrat from Wisconsin and chairman of the Senate’s Antitrust Subcommittee, has already said that his panel will hold hearings on competitive and privacy implications if Yahoo accepts Microsoft’s offer."
	Obama campaign on Obey endorsement - Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “What you see with people like Cong. Obey, who have deep and meaningful experience, (is) they bring larger credibility to somebody like Barack, who does not have deep experience in Washington,” said Hildebrand. Obey had supported John Edwards before Edwards dropped out. As both a super delegate and political force in northern Wisconsin, his backing is a nice pick-up for the Obama campaign."
08 Feb
	Homecoming tonight "The Hurley homecoming game against Mercer will take place at the Hurley High School gymnasium at 7 p.m. today. Homecoming court introduction and coronation and the homecoming dance will immediately follow the game."
	Professor receives patent for paddle "Since the beginning of the project, Dillenschneider has intended this adaptive-use paddle to be built and distributed by an outdoor equipment manufacturer rather than by a medical supply company in an effort to keep the cost of the paddle lower."
	Justice Department: Deputy committed suicide after killing 6
	Hands On Outdoor Education "North Lakeland Elementary School Students, in Manitowish Waters, are taking time outside of the classroom to learn all about outdoor education. Students learn how to cross country ski, build an open fire, and how to cook outdoors."
	Obey Backs Obama "Today in a press release Obey said Barack Obama or Hillary Rodham Clinton would make an "outstanding" president, but he believes the Illinois senator has the best chance of of giving the country a new beginning. "
	Plan to help UW graduates tout work outside class "Students who graduate from the University of Wisconsin System could soon have an extra transcript to trumpet their achievements outside the classroom, system President Kevin Reilly announced Thursday."
	No warning before Crandon rampage, report says ""Things from beginning to end were handled quite appropriately" by law enforcement, Van Hollen said, brushing aside allegations by some of the victims' families that the Crandon Police Department and the Forest County Sheriff's Office knew or should have known of Peterson's propensity for violence."
	Superior officials defend use of stun gun on high school student "An officer used it to subdue a 15-year-old boy at Superior High School. The student was 6 feet tall and weighed more than 300 pounds, according to police reports. He was not injured... The student swore at staff members and refused to follow directions, the police report said. When a school liaison officer was called to issue a citation, the student swung at and kicked him. He also tried to bite two school officials."
	State's potato genebank keeps world spud supply safe "So if the most widespread varieties were stricken with blight as deadly as the one that struck Ireland in 1845, what would the world do? One place it would turn would be the genebank near Sturgeon Bay that has stored the genetic materials for hundreds of types of potatoes -- including the wild varieties that might save us in case of a worldwide catastrophe."
	Congressman Obey endorses Obama “People will, and should, make their own choices,” Obey said in his statement. “Sen. Obama has the best chance of giving this country the new beginning it so desperately needs.”
	State creates online site for voters "Area voters now can look up their polling place and other election-related information online using a new function of the state’s voter registration system. After going to the Web site, http://gab.wi.gov, voters can find polling place information under “Voter Information” on the Elections Division page."
	Doyle orders review of response to massive traffic backup "Wisconsin’s governor ordered a review Thursday of the emergency response when an interstate traffic backup in a massive snowstorm left thousands of motorists stranded for as long as 12 hours, some without food, water or gasoline."
	Feingold, Coleman Reintroduce Program to Help Americans Volunteer Internationally “Now, more than ever, we need to be investing in every opportunity to improve the perception of the U.S. abroad. Some of the greatest threats to our national security are based on false impressions of who we are as Americans. To change these impressions, we need the world to understand who the American people really are.”
	Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On the Senate's Stimulus Package "I regret that a particularly effective and desperately needed provision from the Finance Committee proposal was dropped from this agreement, namely an extension of unemployment insurance benefits for the long-term unemployed."
	Feingold Announces Assistance to Three Wisconsin Fire Departments
	Governor Doyle Calls for a Review Of Emergency Response to Stranded Motorists “I am concerned about the motorists who were stranded by the storm and am directing Brigadier General Donald Dunbar to conduct a complete review of the emergency response,”
07 Feb
	State Senator Bob Jauch Endorses Barack Obama "Calling him a "once in a generation leader," State Senator Bob Jauch (D-Poplar) endorsed Senator Barack Obama in his bid for the Presidency today. Jauch's endorsement coincides with a campaign event for Obama this evening on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Superior."
	TONIGHT! Join Senator Bob Jauch and Duluth Mayor Don Ness for an Obama Event in Superior
	Tomahawk man seeking shelter gets more than he bargained for "After coming in out of the cold, Jural learned that he was awaiting pickup by U.S. marshals on a warrant out of Boston for failure to appear on federal charges of tampering with government property, interfering with agency functions, public intoxication and obstructing, resisting and impeding a federal officer, Bruneau said."
	State to release more information today on Crandon shootings "Most of what was gone over we already knew," said Paul Murray, whose daughter, Jordanne Murray, was among the victims. He declined further comment, saying he needed more time "to go through things and get my head around it." He expected to get more information Thursday."
	Campaign operations coming into Wisconsin "In the race to build a campaign structure in the state, observers said, Democrat Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have had a head start on their rivals. But in a campaign increasingly driven by technology, advertising and enthusiasm-building rallies, the others could quickly close the organizational gap."
	Many scurry to vote absentee "Overall, Kevin J. Kennedy, director of the Government Accountability Board, predicted that 1.5 million voters - or 35% of all voting-age residents - will go to the polls Feb. 19. That's a big jump from the 24.1% of voting-age residents who went to the polls in the 2004 presidential primary. That would also be the largest voter turnout in a presidential primary since 1992, figures show."
	The Capital Times shifting focus, reducing days of publication "After 90 years, Madison's afternoon newspaper will stop printing as a daily and shift its focus to a more widely distributed free weekly print edition and its Web site, its publisher said today. The move at The Capital Times will end the era of two daily newspapers in Madison, one of the last cities in the nation to retain what had once been a common practice."
	20-inch snowstorm hits southern Wisconsin, strands 800 vehicles "Motorists also complained they received little official information about what was going on. State Patrol Supt. David Collins says he will look for ways to improve how authorities communicated the situation to the public. He also says the State Patrol did not learn about the backup until about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Some motorists have said they were stuck as long as three hours earlier." More than 2,000 vehicles stranded; National Guard called out "A total of 2,053 trucks, cars and other vehicles were stranded on the Interstate Wednesday night and this morning, the Wisconsin State Patrol said today."
	Capital Times unveils major shift to Internet "Publisher Clayton Frink said the newspaper's online site, captimes.com, will feature increased volume, depth and timeliness of news, opinion and other information. He said the printed edition of the newspaper will expand its distribution by about five times and switch from six-day publication to two weekly tabloid-size editions."
	Feingold wants candidates to get serious about issues "We'd like to hear something about what they're going to do. It's amazing to me that this campaign has gotten as far as it has without getting down to specifics. But Wisconsin voters expect more from the candidates than the slogans."
	State Patrol responds to criticism from stranded motorists "State Patrol Supt. David Collins says he will look for ways to improve how authorities communicated the situation to the public. He also says the State Patrol did not learn about the backup until about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Some motorists have said they were stuck as long as three hours earlier."
	National defense spending helps local company grow "Clover Industries of Wausau on Wednesday announced it has received final approval of a $3.25 million defense contract to support research and development of two technologies for the U.S. military. The contract was one of two awarded to the small manufacturer, which designs and builds hydraulic cylinders and integrated cylinder systems."
	Native American Achievement Project unveils many truths "The graduation rates for Native Americans is 49 percent on average as compared to 82.25 percent for non-native students over a four year period. There are approximately 149 non-native students completing Advanced Placement courses at LUHS, compared to just one Native American student."
	Keweenaw County opts out of Clean Air proposal "Copper Harbor business owner Peggy Kauppi disagreed. “I don’t smoke, and I don’t like smoke, but when government tells me they want to protect me I feel it’s an open door to future regulation,” she said. “We are able to decide in this country how we can protect ourselves.”"
	Russ Feingold Pushes the Bolton Button - Huffington Post "Emptywheel now reminds us tonight that Senator Feingold was not only moved to oppose Bolton but is now continuing to invoke his name as an example of the kind of government abuse of authority and intelligence that all Americans should worry about."
	Google and Microsoft Take Up Battle Stations - New York Times "And Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat of Wisconsin, who leads an important antitrust subcommittee, said he was interested in the proposed acquisition. “Should Yahoo accept Microsoft’s offer,” he said, “the subcommittee expects to hold hearings to explore the competitive and privacy implications of the deal.”"
	EXECUTIVE ORDER #239 "WHEREAS, emergency responders from fire, law enforcement, and emergency medical services may need to respond as a result of severe winter weather, including the Wisconsin National Guard, Wisconsin Emergency Management, and the Wisconsin State Patrol; and ..."
	Governor Doyle Welcomes AlliedPanels to Wisconsin
06 Feb
	Woman leaves more than $300,000 to food pantry "There will always be hungry people," Nancy Caruso told her financial power of attorney, Cindy Chartier, of the Paul Sturgul law office in Hurley. Caruso, who died Oct. 26, 2007, at age 93, bequeathed more than $300,000 to the Iron County Food Pantry. "
	Smoke-free advocates record tales on new Web site "A smoke-free air meet and greet was held at the Hurley Coffee Company on Jan. 24. Karen Hagemann, coordinator for Tobacco-Free Iron County Community Coalition, said the surgeon general has reported there is no risk-free exposure to second-hand smoke and the only way to protect everyone is to have policies that eliminate smoking indoors."
	State streamlines burning permit process "The system was tested in several northeastern Wisconsin counties in 2007 and worked well, according to the DNR. Customer feedback was positive and officials feel the convenience promotes a higher level of compliance with outdoor burning rules and safety concerns, said Trent Marty, chief of DNR forest protection services."
	Spencer man gets life without parole for killing wife with plate "A judge sentenced a 40-year-old Spencer man to life in prison without parole Tuesday for killing his wife, who had a bunny-shaped candy dish shoved down her throat."
	3 accused of harboring illegal workers "Federal agents arrested 20 illegal immigrants Tuesday in West Bend and Fond du Lac as part of a "criminal work-site enforcement operation," officials said... The arrests of 12 Chinese and eight Mexicans were made at restaurants and residences in both cities as a result of five search warrants, immigration officials said."
	Cougar sighting confirmed "The Department of Natural Resources confirmed Tuesday that DNA tests concluded that a large cat seen leaping from a hayloft on Jan. 18 in Rock County was a cougar. If it is determined to be wild, it would be the first evidence that cougars had returned to Wisconsin since the early 1900s."
	Campaign manager: Obama plans to spend 'a lot of time' in Wis. "Wisconsin's going to be enormously competitive," said Obama's campaign manager David Plouffe in a conference call from Chicago. "It is a state that has a history of supporting insurgent candidates, supporting candidates that were on the reform side of the equation."
	Wisconsin now a primary primary "It's exciting because he will be coming to Wisconsin and we'll matter," said Jim Witkins, 36, a Web architect for the department of family medicine at UW Hospital. Witkins was one of about 100 people crowded into the bar area of Brocach Irish Pub & Restaurant on the Capitol Square for an Obama results watching party."
	Tommy Thompson endorses McCain for president "Thompson dropped out of the presidential race last year and threw his support behind Rudy Giuliani. But Giuliani quit the race after the Florida primary and is supporting McCain."
	Bay Days location in doubt due to road work "That will take some negotiation between the commission and the Ashland Chamber of Commerce, however, since chamber officials said Tuesday they're still hoping the festival can remain at Memorial Park. "There really is no other location," Chamber President Mary McPhetridge said, citing the need for electricity, water and parking."
	Black History Month "In this election year, we are reminded of the long struggle made by so many to give every American the right to vote. That struggle defined the civil rights movement, and marked one of the greatest victories for democracy that our country has ever seen."
	Feingold-Ryan Anti-Earmark Bill "I know it may not be everything this president or any president would want. I voted for the previous line-item veto that was struck down by the Supreme Court. What we’re trying to do here is find something that would pass muster with the Supreme Court and still give the President the ability to help us get rid of some of these unfortunate provisions."
	Governor Doyle Appoints Juan B. Colas as Dane County Circuit Court Judge
05 Feb
	More families file claims in Crandon shootings "Forest County Clerk Ann Mihalko said 12 notices of claim were filed with her office -- the first step in a possible civil wrongful death lawsuit alleging negligence by Tyler Peterson's employers contributed to the tragedy last October." Snow helps boost Badger Winter Games, winter tourism "Skiing and snowboarding commissioner Marc Zimmerman said having snow every few days got people thinking about skiing and encouraged them to come out."
	Farmers cashing in on carbon credits "Essentially, if a large company wants to be a good citizen and help reduce global warming, it pledges to voluntarily reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by a certain amount annually. If, after doing all it can to cut emissions from its manufacturing processes and other business operations, the company still comes up short of its goal, it can pay farmers to take steps to reduce their carbon emissions - and earn credit for the reduction from what the farmer would normally have produced."
	Sex offenders pocketed financial aid, official says "Some of Wisconsin's worst sex offenders living in a state-run treatment facility wrongly received college financial aid last year, its director said Monday. At least one offender living in the Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Center was scamming the system by receiving aid and pocketing the money after dropping classes, said director Steve Watters. A handful of others took classes and claimed money for living expenses even though taxpayers already pay for them, he said."
	UW plans to renovate five old buildings "The '60s generation is bowing to its elders, at least when it comes to buildings on the UW-Madison campus. While three 1960s-era buildings on campus have come down or will in the near future, five other structures dating back nearly 100 years will get major renovations and live on, according to Alan Fish, UW-Madison 's vice chancellor in charge of facilities planning and management."
	Race out as reason to deny Madison school transfers "Madison School Board members voted Monday night to halt the practice of using race as a reason to deny transfers by white students to other school districts for the current open enrollment period, which began Monday and continues through Feb. 22."
	Legislator: Ban affirmative action “As time goes on, it becomes more and more apparent that the forces of affirmative action are trying to expand the role of preferences in Wisconsin,” Grothman said. “It is time to go back the other way.”
	Obey: Layoff relief reduced "In order to compromise with Republican leadership, the House's $146 billion economic stimulus package, which passed Jan. 29, did not include several Democrat-backed initiatives designed to assist workers who lose their jobs, Obey said. "We are still having an argument because some of us would like to add an extension of unemployment benefits and an increase in state aid," he said, "but the White House has been resisting these ... benefits, so we don't know if we're going to get them."" Rep. talks compromise, not endorsements
	DNR to spray region for moths "The state will spray an insecticide over about 530 acres in four Wausau-area communities this spring in an effort to kill gypsy moths. The gypsy moth is a non-native species brought to the United States in the 1800s by a man who wanted to make silk."
	Midwinter's Delight: Mushers, sled dogs cruise northwoods "That was the sound greeting spectators at the 13th annual Apostle Islands Sled Dog Race Saturday and Sunday at the Echo Valley Gravel Pit about 12 miles north of Bayfield, as some 50 sled dog teams waited their turns for a variety of races from 10 to 40 miles in length."
	Feingold Asks President to Emphasize Democratic Reform, Respect for Human Rights During Trip to Africa "More than simply rhetoric about the importance of free and fair elections, the time has come to consolidate the legal and institutional frameworks, to ensure equal and transparent competition for political positions, ensure accountability of officeholders, guarantee freedom of the press, and provide sufficient protections for civil society."
04 Feb
	Secondhand Smoke Presents Dangerous Public Health Threat "While my legislative colleagues are entitled to their opinion, I must most strongly disagree with the labeling of the effects of secondhand smoke as “hogwash”. That is absolutely wrong."
	Reaction to State of the State and Economy "Wisconsin can be proud that over the last year we’ve strengthened education, improved our infrastructure, expanded access to health care and made targeted investments in our state’s economy." [Sorry! This item got buried in an email box and was NOT posted in a timely fashion. - Bob]
	Barnes to participate in Senate Scholar Program "Students then put their knowledge into action by staffing an actual Senate session and participating in a Senate Scholar committee hearing on a bill the students will draft."
	Officials to increase scrutiny of bridges "Wisconsin officials plan to increase by nearly tenfold the number of bridges under added scrutiny since Interstate 35W collapsed in Minneapolis last summer."
	Northwestern Wisconsin man dies after shootout with police "One of the officers went up to a man matching a description of the suspect sitting in a gray minivan. But the department says the man got out and pointed a rifle at the officer. Shots were exchanged, leaving Phillip Metzig dead. Metzig lives in a nearby apartment."
	U.S. aid for tornado damage unlikely "The Jan. 7 tornado destroyed nearly 30 homes and caused about $21.6 million in damage in the county. Most of the damaged homes were insured, Schliesman said. In Wheatland, building inspector Tim Popanda said 21 homes were destroyed, 11 suffered severe structural damage, and 55 had other damage."
	Milfred: McCain and Obama bank on Wisconsin "It 's easier to vote in Wisconsin. We allow same-day registration at the polls, and voters don 't have to declare allegiance to a specific political party. That means independent voters like me, who couldn 't stomach the idea of publicly identifying ourselves as a Republican or Democrat, have as much control as the party faithful in picking party winners."
	Up in smoke: Public support high for ban, but bills mired in Legislature "Saxe and eight other Wisconsin residents also tell their "smoke-free" stories in radio ads that started airing around the state this week. The videos can be seen at www.mysmokefreestory.com but won't run on television."
	BadgerCare Plus begins recruiting "BadgerCare Plus streamlines Medicare, BadgerCare and Healthy Start and creates an inexpensive, state-sponsored health care program at no additional cost to taxpayers."
	Candidates spend big in ‘08 "According to the Wisconsin Advertising Project, candidates have also avoided mudslinging in their ads. More than 90 percent of all efforts have been positive advertisements. The only negative ads were run in Iowa by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who pulled them after they were shown 11 times."
	Another Election Season, Another Political Prosecution in Alabama "And it’s spreading a message of cold fear in the community. Others with whom I communicated were afraid to have their names appear in print. “This is a political vendetta. Anyone who objects to what they’re doing will become a target,” one teacher told me."
02&03 Feb
	Benefit set to help Kimball family who lost home in weekend fire "Johnny Trash and Jimmy Lee will perform at the Koski/Keegan Miller Fire Relief Benefit from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 10, at Larry's Good Time Saloon in Hurley. There will be a potluck meal, door prizes, a 50/50 and possibly an auction."
	Lake of the Falls land swap deal goes to court "The county sent a tentative agreement to Edelstein in November, agreeing to pay Edelstein $110,000 for the Haven by the Falls property on Lake of the Falls near Mercer. Edelstein paid $90,000 for the Haven by the Falls property with the understanding he would trade that parcel of land to Iron County in exchange for six acres of county-owned land on Fisher Lake. Iron County paid $61,900 in that $151,900 deal.
	Father of one victim files claim notices in Crandon shootings
	Father of one victim files claim notices in Crandon shootings
	Many overlook tax credit ""The whole idea is to reward folks for working, and the IRS is urging individuals to make use of the benefit," he said. A person who earns less than $12,590 a year without a child can qualify. So can families with two or more children who earn less than $37,783 a year, or $39,783 if married and filing jointly."
	Pushing for change at DNR "In the past, bills to allow the seven-member Natural Resources Board to hire and fire the DNR chief have foundered. But the measure is getting more traction with a big push by hunting and fishing groups."
	Bush's digital dysfunction "When George Bush assumed the presidency in 2001, the United States ranked fourth when it came to broadband penetration -- the measure of access to digital services. Now, as Bush enters his last year in office, the United States has dropped to 15th place."
	Drunk driving is curse Up North "About 40 miles east of Ashland, the city of Hurley is a case in point. An old mining center with an even older reputation for raucous nightlife, this city of about 1,800 boasts more than 20 taverns. Hurley's "famous Silver Street " attracts drinkers from across northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan. Silver Street has a noticeable spillover effect in Ashland County. Delegan says he sees a spike in illegal activity around 2 a.m. when local bars close, and another when people who have been drinking in places like Hurley or Superior, about 65 miles west of Ashland, begin arriving home."
	Studies are in, let action begin "It 's been nine months since the Legislative Audit Bureau outlined what Wisconsin ought to do in response to a series of bungled efforts to upgrade computerized data systems in the Division of Motor Vehicles, the State Elections Board and elsewhere. This week the Assembly Speaker 's Task Force on State Information Technology Failures also weighed in with similar recommendations."
	Inspiring a generation: Doyle hears echoes of JFK in Obama "I believed everything he (Kennedy) said, and it was inspiring. He was calling people to service, and he was calling people to do something for their country that was something bigger than themselves. I see that same quality very directly in (Obama), not only through my eyes but through young people's eyes. I think he's a transformational figure,"
BusinessNorth.com Duluth,MN	Superior Days to push to four lane Highway across northern Wisconsin "The addition of passing lanes to U.S. Highway 2 a number of years ago has reduced accidents. But Abeles-Allison says that’s not enough. “Those are relatively short. So, if you’re going to make a pass, you have to do it pretty quickly. We believe that a four-lane through the entire area would make for a safer passageway.”"
	Yes We Can For those wondering why Obama seems to hit the correct notes with the younger set, you would do well to watch this viral video. Youngsters who will tune out commercials during today's SuperBowl will be watching all 4 1/2 minutes replete with music icons, that you might not recognize, but they surely will. Nobody can buy this kind of advertising. - Bob
01 Feb
	New Record... over 2 Gigabytes of Bandwidth "Your site myhurley.net has exceeded its bandwidth quota in the period beginning on 2008-01-01. Your quota is set to 1048576000 bytes ( 1000.0 MB ), and your site has consumed 1243260803 bytes ( 1185.666 MB ) beyond that quota. [Congratulations! With traffic as about the only thing driving MyHurley's google rating, it is a 3, compared to the Wisconsin State Journal's Google 6. Thankyou for patronizing my silly little website. - Bob].
	States differ on solution to deadly fish virus "While Wisconsin is suspending much of its fish planting program because of viral hemorrhagic septicemia, Michigan doesn't plan to halt stocking this year. That's what fishermen attending a Wednesday night meeting of the Saxon Harbor Boating Club with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found out. "
	School's deficit projected to continue "The Baird model projects a Mercer district deficit of $162,000 in 2008-09 -- when the district will collect the added $250,000. The following year, it forecasts a deficit of more than $250,000 -- with that same deficit continuing in future years."
	Woman accused of false accusation, faces three felony counts "A 43-year-old Ironwood woman faces three felony counts for false imprisonment stemming from allegations of a sexual assault on the Silver Street bridge in Hurley on Aug. 13."
	Man indicted for possessing shotgun in Hurley "The indictment alleged Biernat possessed a 12-gauge shotgun on Oct. 17. According to a Hurley Police Department report from that date, a loaded 12-gauge Winchester shotgun was found in Biernat's vehicle following a traffic stop on Second Avenue at 11:22 p.m."
	DNR staff recommends approving U.P. mine "Department of Natural Resources Director Rebecca Humphries is expected to announce Feb. 7 whether she will approve Kennecott Minerals Co.'s plan for the mine in western Marquette County."
	Child coverage expands in state "The insurance will cost $10 to $90.74 a month for each child, depending on family income, and will be available through the state under the new program known as BadgerCare Plus. The state hopes to enroll 25,000 people in BadgerCare Plus in the first year to year and a half."
	U.S. health official praises Wis. health insurance plan for kids "U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt says the BadgerCare Plus program is exactly the kind of state-based solution to problems that he favors. He says he might have designed the program differently if he was the governor, but he credits Wisconsin officials for making progress in reducing the number of uninsured."
	Audit: Juvenile sentencing opens revolving door "Nearly half of 17-year-olds rreleased from prison in 2002 were back in prison within three years, according to a new state audit of the handling of juveniles moved into the adult court system. In addition, fewer than half of those teens successfully completed their probation, said the Wisconsin Legislative Audit Bureau. Its report examines the effectiveness of a decade-old law mandating that 17-year-olds be tried as adults."
	'Ice quake' makes UW staff, students quiver "A tremor that lasted two or three seconds was recorded by a Geology Department seismometer in Weeks Hall. "It was quite small and did not have hallmarks of an earthquake," Thurber said. "I would guess that the magnitute might be one-half or one on the Richter scale.""
	Quake shakes Mendota lake "UW senior Matt Yale was in Elizabeth Waters residence hall when the “ice quake” occurred. He said the doors rattled, and a lot of students came out into the halls, though nothing fell off shelves or broke. “It was over really quickly,” Yale said. “We were speculating all different things like something hit the building or something.”"
	Lobby aims to resurrect ‘death tax’ "The One Wisconsin Now petition asks lawmakers to bring back the inheritance tax, dubbed the “death tax” by its opponents. The tax on large sums passed on in wills has been phased out since 1991 and ended completely in Wisconsin Jan.1. Scot Ross, executive director of the group, said the three-year revenue from the tax would fill the $300 million hole projected for the budget."
	Village 'idiots' foul Weston's recycling "During the past four or five months there has been a significant increase in the number of nonrecyclable items turning up at the recycling site, said Todd Mitchell, general manager at Veolia... Recent thefts, vandalism and illegal dumping, though, have prompted officials to enforce stricter hours, construct a better fence surrounding the containers and install video cameras."
	Two Michigan counties report 911 service outage Duluth News Tribune "Regular 911 service is currently out in Michigan’s Houghton and Keweenaw counties. For emergency service in Houghton County, people should call 482-0055. In Keweenaw County, people should call 337-0528."
	911 service out in Houghton, Keweenaw counties "Service went down around 3:15 a.m., said Greg Sharp, computer aided dispatch administrator for the Michigan State Police Negaunee Post. “They are working on it very diligently, but we haven’t gotten it up just yet,” he said."
	National Affordable Housing Trust Fund “A real investment in safe, affordable housing can serve as the foundation for improving the lives and communities of hundreds of thousands of Americans,”
	Feingold Announces Assistance to Seven Wisconsin Fire Departments
	Governor Doyle Appoints Jessica Erickson Press Secretary
	Governor Doyle to Lead Trade, Investment Mission to Ireland and United Kingdom
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