Top Stories January 17th

Changes Coming to Columbus City Hall

1/17/10 - Changes to historic Columbus City Hall are going to make a difference in the way the building will be used. Changes are expected to be made when the police department moves out later this month. Planners say the greatest need is for a larger city council and municipal court chamber when the extra space becomes available. The design also calls for more space for public meetings and an upgrade to the offices of the administrative staff. The council has approved the initial design and engineering phase for the remodeling.

Executives Not Confident in Economy Turnaround

1/17/10 - Wisconsin's high-tech business leaders are not showing a lot of confidence in the state's economy. A new survey of 235 executives shows that seven-of-every-eight rate the economy as fair or poor. And only 44-percent think conditions will improve during the New Year. About 46-percent thought the state economy would remain about the same in 2010. But almost 70-percent believe their own companies will have good-or-excellent performance. The survey was taken between December 17th and last Thursday for Wis-Business-Dot-Com.

Doyle to Finalize Application for "Race to the Top" Program

1/17/10 - Governor Jim Doyle says he'll finalize the state's application by today for a quarter-billion dollars in federal stimulus funds to improve public schools. He also released new figures Friday showing that 97-percent school districts and charter schools have agreed to tighten teacher standards and make other reforms, if the funding comes through. Wisconsin's application is due on Tuesday for the president's "Race to the Top" education program. Doyle says the state will try to make Wisconsin one of the top five states in achievement growth, cut the racial performance gap in half by 2013, reduce drop-outs by 50-percent by 2013, seek a 40-percent increase in the number of Wisconsin youngsters going to college, and ensure that all students are proficient in reading and math.

Woman Arrested for Selling Marijuana at Day Care Center

1/17/10 - She was running a taxpayer-funded day care center in her home. But, Milwaukee cops say 35 year old Cleopatrick Marks was also selling drugs. Marks is accused of selling marijuana to undercover police officers twice in the last week. Investigators say there was a child at the center when their search discovered marijuana, a scale and packaging equipment for the drugs. Marks was operating Rudy Lee's Day Care Center in Milwaukee at the time of the arrest.

The Boat Show Must Go On

1/17/10 - Boat dealers are offering reduced prices, incentives from manufacturers, rebates and special prices on repossessed boats. The slumping economy isn't stopping the Milwaukee Boat Show, which runs through next Sunday. More than 300 boats from 75 manufacturers are featured at the State Fair Park's Expo Center. While boat sales are down across the nation, Wisconsin dealers say their sales of aluminum fishing boats are still strong. They say that shows that fishing is still a major part of the Wisconsin lifestyle.

Tougher Regulations Needed on Great Lakes

1/17/10 - The Wisconsin chapter of the National Wildlife Federation says new permit regulations on dumping ballast water into the Great Lakes need to be tougher. The Department of Natural Resources has new permitting standards 100 times more restrictive than those required by the International Maritime Marine Organization. The National Wildlife Federation says the new DNR rules still won't keep invasive species from getting into the Great Lakes. The federation has asked for a hearing to review the standards. The DNR says it worked with many stakeholders to come up with the new regulations. No meeting has been scheduled yet.

DNR to Hold Public Hearings on Pollution Runoff Rules

1/17/10 - The Department of Natural Resources will hold a half-dozen public hearings on new pollution-runoff rules. Starting a week from tomorrow in Appleton, the meetings will be held through the end of February. The DNR says the changes are aimed at cutting the amount of pollutants running off cities and farms and into Wisconsin rivers, creeks and streams. If approved, the changes would be the first to those rules in nearly eight years. The regulations would limit the amount of phosphorus running off farm field, ban plowing within 20 feet of lakes and streams, and mandate a 40 percent reduction in municipal storm water over the next three years.

Kennedy to Host Open Door Meeting on Tuesday

1/17/10 - Beaver Dam Mayor Tom Kennedy will hold another one of his regular open door meetings on 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. Kennedy says he also make himself available for private meetings by appointment by contacting the mayor office.

Trees Still Available for County Residents

1/17/10 - Trees are still available for the annual fall Small Packet Tree sales program in Dodge County. The Land Conservation Department is offering 11 species of trees for sale, including red and white Oak, White Cedar and Norway Spruce. The trees are sold in bundles of 25 for $23 per bundle. Sugar Maple bundles are being sold for $40 per bundle. The deadline to place orders is January 27, but there are limited amounts of some species, so early orders are encouraged. For more information or to get an order form, contact the Dodge County Land Conservation Department at 386-3660 or visit the county website.