Conflicting Stories Arise Out Supreme Court Altercation
6/26/11 - A dispute between state Supreme Court Justices became physical earlier this month. That’s according to a joint investigation by Wisconsin Public Radio and the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism that says an argument took place between Justices David Prosser and Ann Walsh Bradley on June 13, the day before the high court's release of a decision upholding a bill to curtail the collective bargaining rights of most public employee unions. The sources say Prosser and Bradley were among five justices gathered informally in Bradley's office to discuss the decision. The conversation then grew heated as Bradley was reportedly bothered by disparaging remarks Prosser had allegedly made about Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. According to one account, Prosser grabbed Bradley by the neck. According to another account, Bradley charged Prosser, who raised his hands to defend himself and made contact with her neck. Prosser issued a statement late last night that said: "Once there's a proper review of the matter and the facts surrounding it are made clear, the anonymous claim made to the media will be proven false. Bradley and the other justices present have not commented. The Journal Sentinel is reporting that Capitol Police Chief Charles Tubbs was notified of the incident, and the matter was brought to the attention of the Wisconsin Judicial Commission, which investigates allegations of misconduct involving judges. The executive director of the commission is neither confirming nor denying that the incident is under investigation.
Beaver Dam Relay Exceeds Fundraising Goal
6/26/11 - This weekend’s Relay for Life of Beaver Dam exceeded its fundraising goal. The event, now in its sixteenth year, featured over 30 teams on the track of the Beaver Dam High School with the hopes of raising $125,000. Event Co-Chair Kristin Fabisch says the total gross was $128,154, more than three thousand dollars over target. Former Event Chair Maria Rognstad brought in the most money for an individual, over $1900, while Good Karma Broadcastings own Karen Kuhn was second at $1440. Team Jenny brought in the most for a team at just over $7800 and the Beaver Dam Community Hospital Cancer Kickers were second at $7100. Donations can still be made to an individual, a team or the national organization. A link to the American Cancer Society Relay for Life web page can be found on website, wbevradio.com.
Benefit Held Today For Joplin Victim with Dodge County Ties
6/26/11 - A benefit is being held today for the family of a Watertown-native who died in the recent tornado in Joplin, Missouri. Tami Moldenhauer-Campbell – a former employee of the Beaver Dam Wal-Mart – left behind a husband and three boys; a nine-year old and two five-year-olds. Organizer Jena Schultz says in addition to losing a wife and mother, the family lost their home and all of their possessions. Making matters worse, they did not have homeowners insurance and did not have life insurance. The benefit is being held Old World Pub at 210 Water Street in Watertown beginning at 12:30pm Sunday afternoon. Three bands have volunteered to play; performances begin at 2:30pm and continue until midnight. Freewill donations are being accepted at the door. The benefit will also feature raffles and an auction with donations from local businesses. In addition, ten percent of the gross sales from the bar will be given to the family.
Columbus Council Opposes Assembly Bill
6/26/11 - The Columbus Council has joined the City’s Water and Light Commission in opposing a proposed state Assembly Bill. The Council approved a resolution urging lawmakers to stop passage of Bill 182 that would take away Water and Light’s power to place delinquent bills on the tax roll. The proposed legislation would weaken municipal utilities’ power to collect on unpaid bills. A Public Hearing on Bill 182 will be held during the next few weeks. Columbus has been served by a locally controlled, nonprofit electric & water utility for over 100 years.
SKDS Observing Feast of Corpus Christi
6/26/11 - Members of the St. Katherine Drexel Parish in Beaver Dam will be participating in a procession from their church to Swan Park this morning. It is part of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Fr. Mike Erwin says it is the one time of the year their communion sacrament is brought outside the church into the general public. The procession begins at the Spring Street church at 11am. There are seven stations for prayers for special needs along the route to Swan Park. The Feast of Corpus Christi concludes with noon mass at the church. The public is invited to attend.
Dodge County Dairy Brunch Is Today
6/26/11 - The Dodge County Dairy Brunch is being held today on the Hildebrandt Farm in Hustisford. The menu includes scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, pancakes, an assortment of cheeses, milk, juice and ice cream sundaes. They’ll start serving at 9am and won’t quit until 12:30pm or until everyone is fed. The cost for those 12 and older is $7, ages 5 to 11 is $3, and those under four are free. The Hildebrandt Farm is located at N2963 County Road R.
Construction Begins on Third State Vets Home
6/26/11 - Construction has officially begun on the state government’s third skilled nursing home for veterans. The new, 20-million dollar Wisconsin Veterans Home in Chippewa Falls will have 72 beds, and will provide skilled nursing care for veterans and their spouses. It will be the third vets’ home in Wisconsin, and the first in the northwest part of the state. The others are at King in Waupaca County, and Union Grove in Racine County. State lawmakers authorized funding in 2003 in serve veterans’ in northwest Wisconsin – and the new home has received support from local lawmakers of both parties. The State Building Commission okayed the project nine months ago. The new veterans’ home will be named in honor of John Moses, a World War Two commander and Purple Heart recipient. He ran the state Department of Veterans’ Affairs for 21 years until 1982. He was the agency’s longest-serving secretary ever. Moses died in 2007 at age 88.
Baldwin Opposes Cuts In Medicaid
6/26/11 - Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin says businesses will only hurt themselves unless they oppose the G-O-P’s proposed cuts in Medicaid. The health advocacy group Families U-S-A says Wisconsin would lose three-billion-dollars a year in economic activity if the Medicaid cuts go through, with an estimated loss of 31-thousand jobs. The Republican-controlled House has passed a budget blue-print that calls for a 33-percent cut in federal health care for the poor-and-elderly by 2021. One-point-two million Wisconsinites – one-of-every-five of us – get some form of Medicaid health coverage. And Baldwin says the proposed cuts would leave less money for those people to spend on other things, resulting in lost business revenues and a slow-down in the economic recovery. The author of the Medicaid cuts, House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan of Janesville, says the federal budget will choke itself unless the burgeoning federal deficits go away. Baldwin agrees – but she says there are smarter ways to attack the problem, and more people should share in the sacrifices.
Jobless Benefits Extension Likely
6/26/11 - About 10-thousand unemployed Wisconsinites are one step closer to getting an extra 13 weeks of jobless benefits – but it might be awhile before they see the money. The Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council asked the Legislature this past week to make 89-million-dollars in federal benefit funds available. A bill must still be drafted to allocate the money, and it could take at least a few weeks for both houses to approve it. Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Peter Barca called for quick action, saying that thousands of unemployed people are “really hurting.” A spokesman for G-O-P Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald of Juneau had no comment on when the matter might come up. The funding would extend maximum benefits for the long-term unemployed from 73 weeks to 86. The affected recipients lost their benefits in mid-April – and because of a drop in the unemployment rate, the state could not use the extra benefits at that time. But they can now, and state A-F-L C-I-O president Phil Neuenfeldt calls the extension the right thing. He says the extra money would go right back into the economy.
Van Hollen Names President of AG’s Association
6/26/11 - Wisconsin’s attorney general is getting some national stature. J-B Van Hollen has been elected vice president of the National Association of Attorneys General. The 104-year-old group helps the states’ top law enforcement officials deal with a host of emerging state-and-federal issues. Van Hollen will serve a one-year term as vice-president, and will also be on the group’s executive committee. Van Hollen, a Republican, is in his fifth year as Wisconsin’s attorney general.
Schools Can Use Google Apps For Education For Free
6/26/11 - Wisconsin’s public schools can use the Google “Apps for Education” software, under a deal reached between the state and the company. Schools will get it for free, but the state Department of Public Instruction still made it official by signing a contract with Google. The software includes chat and e-mail programs, calendars, a video platform, telephone management, voice-mail, and other services. The D-P-I is also negotiating to get volume discounts from Google for extra items that schools may want to buy. Google has similar contracts with seven other states, including neighboring Iowa and Missouri.
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