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July 22, 2008

Wisconsin Politics

State's No. 2 job is more than ceremonial (opinion): Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 21, 2008. Recently, WisPolitics.com speculated on three potential pathways for Lawton, two of which lead to the Governor's Mansion.

Wis. governor reports more than $1 million on hand: Wisconsin State Journal, July 21, 2008. Gov. Jim Doyle has more than $1 million in the bank if he decides to seek a third term in 2010.

Kagen, Gard shadowbox over drilling vs. conservation: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2008. During the campaign season, opposing candidates often get caught up in issues that raise the question: substance or semantics?

Wisconsin lawmakers seek review of state employee sick leave use: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2008. Overtime costs rise with sick leave abuse.

Multiple races develop for legislative seats: Hudson Star-Observer, July 17, 2008. Six of the District 91 candidates are Democrats and two are Republicans, so there will be primaries for both parties.

McCain targets women at Hudson campaign stop: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 11, 2008. At J&L Steel Erectors, senator touts himself as better choice than Obama.

Opponent challenges Colón’s nomination papers: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 11, 2008. Sen. Spencer Coggs (D-Milwaukee) is the subject of a separate challenge, but it might be invalid because it was made anonymously.

Economic Development

Business still reeling from Lake Delton drain: Racine Journal Times, July 21, 2008. Now the resorts, restaurants and boat rental shops that hitched their survival to the water are barely hanging on.

Soaring prices stunt builders: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 21, 2008. Some costs have doubled from year ago, report says.

Teamwork saves job personnel (opinion): Racine Journal Times, July 21, 2008. The most help should go where the jobs aren’t. That means Racine.

Consumers make changes -- but will they last? Madison Capital Times, July 20, 2008. 63 percent of consumers are cutting spending due to rising gas prices, up 18 percentage points from a year ago.

Economic woes cut charities: Beloit Daily News, July 19, 2008. As General Motors prepares to close its doors, the United Way of North Rock County is preparing for a sharp decline in the amount of donations from GM employees.

Wall Street Journal touts Manitowoc's manufacturing 'revival': Manitowoc Herald Times, July 18, 2008. 'Factory town' featured in front-page story.

EDC seeks to make 'credit worthy' dreams a reality: Manitowoc Herald Times, July 18, 2008. Money and jobs are the yardsticks for measuring the EDC's efforts and return on taxpayer and private sector donor dollars.

Export Boom Fuels Factory Town's Revival: Wall Street Journal, July 18, 2008. Plants Thrive, Reopen in Tiny Manitowoc; Building Cranes, School Desks, Saucepans.

Wisconsin's cranberry acreage may grow to keep up with demand: Wisconsin State Journal, July 18, 2008. The addition of 5,000 acres of cranberries to the state's 18,000 acres in 19 counties is needed to meet rising worldwide demand for cranberry products, officials said.

Berry demand may bring a burst in bogs: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 18, 2008. Wisconsin, already the nation's top cranberry grower, soon could see a huge increase in production.

MillerCoors selects Chicago for headquarters: Marshfield News Herald, July 14, 2008. Lauded Chicago as the best alternative because of its "access to an attractive base of talent, transportation and business resources."

Business wins big in high court: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 11, 2008. Sales tax ruling may cost state $265 million.

Targeting Chicago money a good idea: Manitowoc Herald Times, July 11, 2008. The NEW North is a consortium of 18 northeast Wisconsin counties — including Manitowoc — that focuses on recruitment and economic development for its members.

Energy

Oil profits likely to draw more ire: Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, July 21, 2008. Oil prices are set on the open market, not by the oil industry.

Clean energy needs transmission (opinion): Wisconsin State Journal, July 21, 2008. Big transmission lines also can transfer clean energy just as easily as they can carry power from the dirtiest coal-fired generators.

Building water power (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 19, 2008. The region’s water expertise is a marketable asset that should be invested in and grown. The region cannot wait. The competition is keen.

Nuclear must replace natural gas in power plants: Janesville Gazette, July 19, 2008. Today we have the means — and more important, an urgent need — to bring that technology back home.

Nuclear power not eco-friendly enough to resurrect: Janesville Gazette, July 19, 2008. Our Congress should follow the lead of Germany and permanently ban new nuclear power plant construction.

Windmill regs face study: Superior Daily Telegram, July 18, 2008. The goal is to fill the gap between regulations that affect individual property owners who would install a wind generator for personal use and those large enough to fall under state regulatory requirements governed by the PSC.

Alliant faces resistance on coal plant proposal: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 16, 2008. Environmental groups oppose utility’s project.

Environment

Wisconsin wants car repair shops to be able to test emissions: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 21, 2008. Wisconsin officials want to allow emissions testing at car repair shops, but the state's longtime vendor for such services says the practice would be illegal and violate consumer-protection laws.

DNR secretary discusses invasive species at Hayward: Ashland Daily Press, July 18, 2008. Northern Wisconsin is “at the cutting edge of the battle” to stop the spread of aquatic invasive species.

National forest planners may close motorized access to some roads: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2008. 55% of Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest roads would be affected.

Education

Energy costs fuel Green Bay School District deficit: Green Bay Press-Gazette, July 22, 2008. Budget shortfall to swell to $6.5 million, district officials say.

UWSP looks to cut its energy costs: Stevens Point Journal, July 22, 2008. UWSP is one of four University of Wisconsin campuses to commit to becoming "energy independent" by 2012 by signing onto Gov. Jim Doyle's 2007 challenge.

Health

Family struggles to find needed dental care: Janesville Gazette, July 21, 2008. Finding out firsthand how much health care reform is needed.

Popular Medicare plans to change: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 18, 2008. Bill may mean fewer benefits, higher costs.

Voters’ get choice on health care: Superior Daily Telegram, July 18, 2008. The Douglas County Board became the first northern Wisconsin county to adopt the advisory referendum question to place on the ballot for November.

Transportation

Medically unfit truck drivers still on roads: Janesville Gazette, July 21, 2008. The problems threatening highway travelers persist despite years of government warnings and hundreds of deaths and injuries.

'Round, 'round we go (opinion): Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 17, 2008. Roundabouts are safer and easier on gas consumption than traditional intersections. So why are they controversial?

State transportation chiefs meet on St. Croix River Bridge project: Hudson Star-Observer, July 17, 2008. Despite the high-level meeting there is still no word on whether Wisconsin will follow MnDOT's lead and accelerate the start date and funding of the St. Croix River Bridge project to 2013.

WisDOT seeks input on local, regional highway projects: The Daily Telegram, July 15, 2008. The six-year program highlights planned construction projects in the 20-county region area of northwest Wisconsin.

Other

Tough sell: Area legislators leery about new alcohol laws: Wausau Daily Herald, July 21, 2008. Any attempt to change or influence Wisconsin's alcohol culture comes with a set of associated costs, the legislators said, both in the state budget and in its citizens' own lifestyles.

New legislation considered to let home buyers sue for fraud: La Crosse Tribune, July 21, 2008. State lawmakers said they plan to introduce legislation next year that would reverse a state Supreme Court decision blocking home buyers from suing sellers for fraud when they lie about the condition of a house.

State committee’s proposal would tighten annuity sales rules: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, July 21, 2008. Insurance companies would be required to have an independent way of verifying that the sale of an annuity was appropriate.