Top Stories, March 20th

GOP Leadership Has No Plans To Revisit Vote

3/20/11 - Republican legislative leaders will follow the appeals process when it comes to the budget repair bill. Dane County Circuit Court Judge Maryann Sumi issued a temporary restraining order Friday to stop publication of the controversial law that limits collective bargaining for state employees. Publishing the bill would make it law. Appeals of Sumi's ruling could be filed as early as tomorrow. Secretary of State Doug La Follette can't publish the law until Judge Sumi rules on an injunction. Hearings on that injunction are scheduled for a week from Tuesday, March 29, and April 1. GOP leadership says it has no plans to reconvene either the Senate or Assembly to take another vote on that bill.

Deputies Called Out To Fitzgeralds Neighborhood

3/20/11 - The Dodge County Sheriffs Department has been called out to State Senator Scott Fitzgerald’s rural Juneau home twice in the past two days. According to records from the Dodge County Sheriffs Department, deputies responded to the property on Maple Road in the Town of Clyman at 7am Saturday morning after receiving complaints that there were approximately 50 people in the yard, screaming. Deputies spoke with both the protestors and the property owners and no further action was taken. Deputies responded Friday morning around the same time after neighbors complained that protestors were too loud. Deputies responded and determined it was a peaceful, lawful gathering.

Kapanke Balancing Access, Safety

3/20/11 - State Senator Dan Kapanke carefully balances his accessibility to the public with his personal safety. Rose Smyrski, Kapanke’s chief of staff, says the La Crosse Republican is the victim of threats and vandalism, including a smashed windshield in Madison and two incidents of nails strewn in the driveway of his La Crosse-area home. Kapanki’s political opponent in La Crosse, Assembly Democrat Jennifer Shilling, encourages peaceful debate among both sides of the issue. “I denounce these aggressive actions from individuals on both sides that have taken place recently surrounding the ongoing debate over worker rights.” Smyrski says her boss has also received death threats. Kapanke is one of eight Republican senators targeted for recall attempts due to their support for Governor Scott Walker’s controversial budget repair bill, and its effect on collective bargaining for public employees. Shilling condemns those making the threats. Smyrski says Kapanke would not be surprised at Shilling’s response, saying the two senators have a good relationship and he’d do the same for her. Eight Democrats are also being targeted for potential recall, for their decision to flee the state to avoid a vote on the Governor’s bill.

BadgerCare Basic Enrollment Halted

3/20/11 - Only nine months after it started, the Department of Health Services says expenditures for the BadgerCare Basic program have outgrown premium revenues by nearly two million dollars. To help control those costs, the Department says it is putting a freeze on new enrollments, effective today. DHS Secretary Dennis Smith says the move is unfortunate, but the design of the program is unsustainable and the freeze will keep costs from being shifted to taxpayers. Smith says the program is a prime example of “good intentions that created unrealistic expectations.” BadgerCare Basic was designed to be a self-funded health care program for adults without dependent children who are unable to enroll in the BadgerCare Core plan. Through February of this year, Smith says it has taken in 4-point-2 million dollars in premium revenues and paid out 5-point-8 million in claims.

State-Owned Power Plant Sale Talk Continues

3/20/11 - It's no longer a part of the governor's budget repair bill, but the state still plans to sell its power plants. The head of the Division of State Facilities says the idea to sell the state-owned power plants will likely be put into play as a separate piece of legislation, or will be added to Governor Walker's budget plan. The state owns 37 plants. It wants to sell them to private operators. Democrats were highly critical of the move to spend nine million dollars on plant improvements. They saw that as a back-door giveaway to the corporation which might buy the facilities.

Raw Milk Back On Legislative Agenda

3/20/11 - Less than a year after a bill allowing it was vetoed, raw milk sales are back on the agenda at the Capitol. State Senator Glenn Grothman is taking another kick at the milk pail, offering legislation to allow for on farm sales of unpasteurized, or “raw” milk. “The last time we did pass this bill, but Governor Doyle vetoed it,” said the West Bend Republican. “The Department of Ag set up a committee designed to work on some compromise. That committee was heavily weighted with people who were hostile to raw milk. Nevertheless the compromise that they come up with is something that we will look at.” Grothmann said he’s been surprised at the number of health conscious people who are already drinking raw milk. Grothman said the current situation puts the state Ag Department in a tough spot -- enforcing the existing law limits revenue for farmers and options for consumers.

Summer Blend Gas Driving Price

3/20/11 - Industry experts suggest the switch to the spring-summer blend of gasoline is driving much of the increase in cost for gasoline in Wisconsin. Chicago-area gasoline traders began that move last week. The average price of a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline has increased 37 cents a gallon this month in Milwaukee. Milwaukeegasprices-dot-com reports the average price as of yesterday was $3.49 cents a gallon, with some stations charging as much as $3.59. The average price a month ago was $3.12. A gallon of gas in Beaver Dam has held steady this week, also at $3.49.

Spring Flooding Risk Above Average

3/20/11 - The National Weather Service warns of an above average risk of spring flooding. Wisconsin Emergency Management Spokesperson Lori Getter says they’ve been in contact with the agency and local officials, to ensure resources including equipment and sandbags are covered. Emergency Management is keeping a close eye on waterways especially areas along the Mississippi and Chippewa Rivers. Among smaller waterways the agency is concerned with, the Kickapoo River around Gays Mills which is running higher than normal. With rain forecast this weekend in parts of the state, Getter anticipates potential low land river flooding. If heavy rains hit, the future could bring major floods. Causes for spring flooding include snow melting, new rainfall and higher than normal rainfall before the winter freeze.

CCH Hosting Drug Drop

3/20/11 - The Columbus Community Hospital will be hosting a prescription drug drop-off this Friday. Community Relations Coordinator Patti Walker says the no-cost, drug-drop is being held in cooperation with the Columbus Police Department. Medications should be brought in their original containers with personal identification removed. The drug drop-off will be held on Friday, March 25 from noon to 2pm in the main entrance of the Columbus hospital. Drug take-back programs are intended to reduce the quantity of unused pharmaceuticals entering the water supply, and reducing the amount of drugs available for theft, or accidental poisoning.

Kennedy Listening Session Tuesday

3/20/11 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy has listening sessions scheduled for Tuesday. Kennedy says city residents are invited to meet with him, one-on-one, without appointment on the first and third Tuesday of every month. He says it is important that constituents have the opportunity to speak with him the day after each regular meeting of the common council. The meetings are held in Room 109 on the first floor of City Hall from 10am until noon and again from 5pm to 6pm. Kennedy also makes himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.

Columbus Community Garden Sign-Ups Underway

3/20/11 - Columbus Community Gardens will be starting their third year of operation this spring. The number of area residents involved has doubled in the first two years. Olivet Congregational Church donated land at the corner of Western Avenue and Tower Drive for the Community Garden plots. Over 40 area residents are donating time, muscle and money to produce foods for the Food Pantry, Larson House, the Columbus Rehabilitation Center, Senior Center and School Lunch program. Gardeners can reserve one of the 79 available plots for a ten dollar donation and an agreement to donate some of their gardening skills and crops to local community organizations. There are also a dozen plots used by Discovery Charter School teachers who get second and third graders interested in growing food crops. The Mayor and Council have supported Community Gardens since the project began in 2009. Columbus residents Laura Reetz and Michelle Opper are coordinating the garden plot assignments and crop distribution efforts for the 2011 growing season.