Top Stories February 22nd

The Cleanup Begins

2/22/09 - If you’re heading out this morning beware of snow drifting over some area roadways. Dodge County Highway Patrol Supervisor Ken Stock says his crews were out until about midnight last night and back at it again at 4am battle yesterday’s snow. He says the roads are better than he thought they would be but still cautions drivers to take it slow. The Sheriff’s Department is reporting dozen of runoffs throughout the county yesterday but they say only one resulted in injuries. This morning the dispatch center says they’re dealing with a couple runoffs but for the most part it’s been quiet. Snow totals from yesterday’s storm are also starting to filter in. According to the National Weather Service, Oconomowoc got 6.5-inches, West Bend got 8.8-inches, and Ripon picked up 4.2 inches.

Columbus Fire Chief Search Underway

2/22/09 - Columbus City Administrator Boyd Kraemer will give the Council an update this week on where the City is in hiring a new Fire Chief. The Mayor, City Council and Police and Fire Commission have been disputing who has authority in hiring a chief for nearly three years. At recent sessions two City Resolutions limiting the PFC role in the process were reaffirmed by the Council and the Council approved a Chief’s job description. Tuesday night’s Council meeting will hear what action has been taken toward hiring the $26,000 per year permanent Fire Chief position for Columbus.

50 Weeks, 50 States, 50 Jobs?

2/22/09 - As if finding one job weren't tough enough, a man from California is hoping to find 50 jobs in 50 weeks in all 50 states. Daniel Seddiqui is spending this week in Wisconsin working at Widmer's Cheese Cellars in Theresa. The 26-year-old says he embarked on the cross-country trek after getting rejected for dozens of jobs after college. He's hoping the journey will help him find his life's calling. Before he started the project he says he felt there were no opportunities for him. Seddiqui says networking works. And, he says being a cheese maker is the most labor intensive job he's had in the 23 weeks he's been on the road.

Attorney: Hospital Killed Daughter, not her Father

2/22/09 - It wasn't my client, slamming his daughter's head against a table, that killed her. It was the hospital, turning off her life support. That's the argument by a defense attorney in a Washington County case. The West Bend man is facing charges of first-degree reckless homicide in the death of his two month old daughter. The defense lawyer asked the court to consider whether the decision to take the little girl off life support was the cause of her death, rather than any injuries her father might have caused. The judge said no to the argument, but the attorney is appealing that decision.

Lifting of Revenue Limits on Districts Unlikely to Happen

2/22/09 - At least one Republican at the Capitol gives Governor Doyle credit for taking on a controversial idea -- but he's not going to support. Doyle wants to lift state revenue caps for school districts meeting certain requirements. Republican State Representative Brett Davis says that could remove some protections for property taxpayers. In cases where those property taxes haven't kept up with rising costs for operating schools, opponents say taxpayers could be hit hard. Revenue caps have been in place in Wisconsin for more than 15 years. Immediate response to the governor's idea has been mixed.

Man Run-over by Girlfriend Pleads for Leniency at her Sentencing

2/22/09 - Prosecutors say you can blame jealousy, rage and possessiveness. Now, 22 year old Paula Habeck of Two Rivers will spend six months in jail. Habeck pleaded no contest to charges she left the scene after hitting her boyfriend with her SUV. Things could have been much worse. The boyfriend was said to be "lucky" to survive the November 8 incident. He's racked up 70 thousand dollars in medical bills. He's also still seeing Habeck -- and he asked the judge to be lenient in her sentencing. Habeck will be on probation for three years after she gets out and she also loses her driving privileges for a year.

Digital Download Tax Coming

2/22/09 - If you do a lot of buying online -- things like music, games, books or ring tones -- you can expect to pay a little more starting next fall. Effective October 1, the state of Wisconsin is going to collect sales taxes on Internet purchases. They're called digital downloads. Fifteen other states have similar tax laws in place. Governor Jim Doyle has been pushing for the change for years. Wisconsin's general fund could get up to seven million dollars a year from the tax. Since purchases on the Internet are growing by as much as 20 percent some years, that revenue source is expected to grow rapidly.

No Winner in Powerball

2/22/09 - Nobody won the 125-million-dollar Powerball jackpot last night, which means it’ll shoot up to 150-million for Wednesday night’s drawing. That’s the highest its been since an Indiana player won 163-million last month.