Top Stories, March 18th

Walker Requests Disaster Declaration

3/18/11 - Governor Scott Walker has asked the federal government to declare Dodge County and nine other southern Wisconsin counties as disaster areas due to the Groundhog Day Blizzard. Walker says local governments need help to cover the nine-and-a-half million dollars they spent cleaning up from the blizzard. Up to 26-inches of snow fell between January 31st and February third in southern Wisconsin, and at least four people died. Racine and Kenosha counties were hardest hit. They’re included in the request for disaster aid, along with Milwaukee, Dane, Grant, Iowa, Lafayette, Walworth, and Washington counties. If the disaster aid is approved, the federal government would pay 75-percent of the cleanup costs in those counties. The rest would be funded equally between the state and local governments.

Judge To Decide Today On Bargaining Publication

3/18/11 - A judge in Madison plans to decide Friday whether to temporarily stop Wisconsin’s new public union bargaining limits from taking effect. Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi will hear testimony on the district attorney’s complaint that a state committee broke the Open Meeting Law when it passed the measure nine days ago. Four Republican legislative leaders are named in the complaint. They’re immune from civil suits until the end of their current session in January of 2013. But the complaint would also prohibit Secretary-of-State Doug La Follette publishing the law, thus blocking its implementation. Judge Sumi expects to hear enough testimony to decide today on a temporary restraining order. It would block the collective bargaining limits until the alleged Open Meeting Law violations can be fully considered. Without that move, the law would take effect a week from tomorrow.

Lawsuit Claims Walker Misused Office

3/18/11 - The State Democratic Party has filed a complaint that accuses G-O-P Governor Scott Walker of illegally using his tax-funded office for political gain. It’s connected with a meeting Walker had with prominent Republican pollster Frank Luntz on February 23rd – the day after Walker’s notorious phone call from a blogger who pretended to be billionaire conservative David Koch. Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said the governor met with Luntz to talk about the state’s economy – and it was not about polling on himself. But the Democrats don’t buy that. They told the Government Accountability Board that Walker broke the laws against using state facilities for political gain, and using his post to seek something of value.

Lawsuit Targets Capitol Protest Policy

3/18/11 - A long-time activist in Madison has asked a judge to strike down the state’s policies for holding demonstrations at the Capitol. Ben Masel filed suit in Dane County. He wants to stop the Walker administration from enforcing what it calls a long-standing policy to require permits for events like the recent protests over the governor’s union bargaining restrictions. Masel’s attorney, Jeff Olson, said the rules were not enforced until recently. He said the administration’s policies are too vague. And Olson said previous court decisions recognized that protestors and others don’t need permits to quote, “engage in expressive activity” on the Capitol grounds. The Justice Department will defend the lawsuit, and has not commented yet. Masel did not mention the Capitol demonstrations in his legal action. But he said he’s bringing it to engage in future activities like his annual Marijuana Harvest Festival.

Governor Settles Open Records Lawsuit

3/18/11 - The governor’s office has settled a lawsuit that accused officials of illegally withholding public records. The A-P and the Madison weekly paper Isthmus sued Republican Scott Walker’s office for not releasing e-mails sent to the governor from people who commented on his union bargaining limits. Isthmus reported yesterday that Walker has agreed to produce the records, pay seven-thousand-dollars in plaintiffs’ legal fees, and not admit guilt.

Budget Hearings Unlikely In Sports Arenas

3/18/11 - A chairman of the Legislature’s finance panel says he’s all in favor of holding public hearings around the state on the governor’s next budget – but not in big sports arenas. Assembly Republican Robin Vos of Racine County says he won’t hold hearings in a place with a scoreboard, unless it’s a high school gym. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said last week that he’d like the budget hearings to be in places like Milwaukee’s Bradley Center and Madison’s Kohl Center. He expects large crowds to comment on Republican Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposal that calls for massive cuts in state spending and aid to local governments and schools. Typically, the finance panel holds all-day hearings in several Wisconsin cities. The Madison area hearing was held away from the State Capitol in both 2007-and-’09.

La Crosse Republican Car Vandalized

3/18/11 - Wisconsin Senate Republican Dan Kapanke has called off public meetings in his La Crosse area district, after he was vandalized and had death threats. His chief-of-staff Rose Smyrski tells the La Crosse Tribune that Kapanke’s car window was broken in Madison. And nails were scattered in the driveway of his house on La Crosse’s French Island. Kapanke is one of the eight Republican senators targeted for recall, for his vote in favor of the bill that virtually ends collective bargaining for most public employee unions. The state Justice Department is investigating e-mail threats against Governor Scott Walker and the eight targeted senators. One message said in part, “If you and your goonies feel that it’s necessary to strip the rights of 300-thousand people and ruin their lives, we will get rid of the eight of you.” Smyrski also said Kapanke received his own unique threat that was quote, “un-nerving.” She says Kapanke is limiting his public appearances to larger groups for now. A listening session in Ontario is off for tomorrow – and so are office hours in West Salem on Monday. Kapanke says he remains committed to meeting one-on-one with constituents but he’s quote, “balancing his availability to the public and his safety.” A political opponent of Kapanke’s stood by him today. Assembly Democrat Jennifer Shilling of La Crosse denounced the death threats and vandalism, and she called again called for the debate to be peaceful.

Unemployment Increases Across The Board

3/18/11 - The unemployment rate was up across the board in Wisconsin from December to January. According to the Department of Workforce Development Dodge County’s jobless rate jumped over one full percentage point to 8.7%. At this time last year, Dodge County was at 11.2%. Columbia County was also at 8.7%. Washington County’s unemployment rate last month was 7.7%, Fond du Lac was at 7.9%, Jefferson County 9.1%...all over one percent higher than December but at least two percent lower than at the same time one year ago. Door County has the highest unemployment rate in the state at 13.3%, which is about the same rate as last year; Dane County continues to have the lowest at 5.3%. The statewide jobless rate went up over a full point to 8.2%, which is almost two percent lower than January of 2010.

Meanwhile, five of Wisconsin’s 12 metro areas gained jobs on a seasonally-adjusted basis in January. Metro Milwaukee gained 66-hundred jobs during the month. And Janesville, Oshkosh, Sheboygan, and Racine each gained between 100-and-500 jobs. Madison lost 26-hundred jobs in January, reflecting a drop in government employment statewide. Appleton lost 700 jobs. Fond du Lac, Wausau, Green Bay, and La Crosse all lost between 200-and-500 jobs apiece. Eau Claire’s employment held steady.

Former Bar Manager Arraigned

3/18/11 - The former manager of The Cellar in Beaver Dam waived his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges that he pulled a gun at the Rowell Street tavern in January. David Dionysius the proceeded to arraignment and entered a “not guilty” plea to a felony count of Threatening to Injure and misdemeanor charges of Intentionally Pointing a Firearm, Operating a Firearm While Intoxicated, Battery and Disorderly Conduct. The criminal complaint says the 36-year-old put a gun to the head of a man he thought was responsible for several break-ins at the bar. Dionysius has court activity on the calendar in May.

Pharmacy Burglary Suspect Bound Over

3/18/11 - A Horicon man has been bound over for trial for allegedly breaking into the Marshland Pharmacy and stealing thousands of dollars worth of drugs. A Dodge County judge Thursday found probable cause for Alexander Metzger to proceed to trial on charges of felony burglary for allegedly smashing in the front glass doors to the pharmacy last September and taking over $3600 of Oxycontin. Police were tipped to the crime by an anonymous call. According to the criminal complaint, a hair found at the crime scene matched one obtained from Metzger. When he was questioned, authorities say the 23-year-old had a white, powdery substance crusted around his nostrils that turned out to be Oxycontin. Metzger could spend over 12 years in prison, if convicted. An arraignment hearing will be held next week.

BD Woman Arraigned on Smuggling Charge

A Beaver Dam woman accused of trying to smuggle drugs into the Waupun Correctional Institution entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment this week. Annalise Paige Buhrow Cram is charged with felony counts of Delivering Illegal Articles to an Inmate and drug possession. According to the criminal complaint, corrections officers allegedly saw the 20-year-old place two pills of methadone on the hamburger of an inmate she was visiting in January. Another four pills was then reportedly discovered inside a baggie hidden in her bra. The charges carry a maximum prison sentence of 18-and-a-half years upon conviction.

Trooper Make Fifth OWI Arrest Near Hartford

3/18/11 - A New Berlin man was arrested in Dodge County yesterday morning for Operating While Intoxicated, fifth offense. The Wisconsin State Patrol says 45-year-old Bart G. Hite was stopped for a traffic violation on Highway 167 at Highway 83 south of Hartford just after 10am. Troopers say open intoxicants were found in the vehicle and Hite failed a field sobriety test.

DOJ: ‘Kratz Should Pay His Own Damages’

3/18/11 - The state Justice Department says former prosecutor Ken Kratz should pay his own damages if he loses a federal lawsuit from a woman who received his racy text messages. Stephanie Van Groll claims that the former Calumet County D-A violated her rights to due process and equal protection. That’s after he sent her 30 suggestive messages in 2009, while prosecuting her ex-boyfriend for trying to strangle her. Attorneys in the case recently agreed to let the Justice Department prevent taxpayers from shelling out any damages that are eventually awarded to Van Groll. State attorneys said Kratz acted outside the scope of his employment, and therefore the state’s not liable for his damage payments. Kratz’s attorney is preparing a request to drop Van Groll’s lawsuit. Robert Belli said the woman does not have a valid claim to make. The lawyers have been given until November to gather evidence.

Meat Plant Fire Settlement Reached

3/18/11 - The owner of the Patrick Cudahy meat plant near Milwaukee has reached a settlement with its insurance carrier over the 2009 fire that destroyed a large part of the factory. In an earnings report, Smithfield Foods said the settlement totaled 208-million-dollars – more than four times the plant’s original damage of 50-million. The report said the insurance money would recover the lost value at the plant, plus the cost of lost meat production. About 14-hundred employees had their jobs interrupted by the blaze – but virtually all were back-at-work within three months. The fire was caused by two men who launched a military flare at their family’s house next door. They were celebrating the Fourth-of-July. The flare landed on the plant’s roof. No one was hurt in the blaze.

Pot Advocate Develops Lung Cancer

3/18/11 - Wisconsin’s most famous pro-marijuana advocate is dying of lung cancer. 56-year-old Ben Masel of Madison said he was diagnosed in January, and the cancer has spread beyond his lungs. He says his goal is to contain the cancer rather than seek a cure. Masel has been a light cigarette smoker for about 40 years – but he admits his marijuana use has been heavy by anyone’s standards. And neither he nor doctors can say if there’s a direct tie to his marijuana use and his medical condition. Doctor Michael Fiore of the U-W Madison Center for Tobacco Research says it’s a known fact that people have greater risks of lung cancer the longer they smoke cigarettes. With marijuana, Fiore says the jury’s still out – but it’s possible that pot smoke can cause cancer. Masel remains active in social causes. Just this week, he filed suit against the Walker administration’s requirement to get permits for future protests at the State Capitol. And Masel plans to go to Denver this spring for a conference of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. He’s been a long-time state official for the group – and he didn’t believe it would take this long to legalize pot.