Top Stories, February 19th

Tea Party Protestors Expected At Capitol

2/19/11 - The largest crowds of the week rallied at the Wisconsin state Capitol Friday, but today's gathering could top that. State Department of Administration officials estimated 40 thousand pro-labor demonstrators were on the Capitol grounds. Five thousand people from the crowd were inside the building, protesting a bill back by the governor that would strip nearly all public employees of the right to collectively bargain on most issues. Governor Scott Walker has said the changes would save the state 30 million dollars by July. Tea Party activists are expected to rally at the Capitol today in support of Walker's bill. Many say they will stay there until next Tuesday when some lawmakers will return.

Democrats Still In Illinois

2/19/11 - Democrats dodging the vote at the Capitol could stay in hiding for weeks and that could paralyze state government. Their departure stopped action on the bill that would ease the state's budget problems by cutting the pay, benefits and collective bargaining rights of thousands of Wisconsin state government workers. Democrats who stayed in Madison got a taste of victory as well, forcing the Assembly to adjourn until at least next Tuesday before a vote is even possible. Democratic State Senator Jon Erpenbach told the Associated Press resolution is up to the governor. Erpenbach was speaking from a hotel in downtown Chicago. He says the decision to leave the Capitol came on the spur of the moment as Democrats were discussing strategy. Democrats in Texas tried a similar strategy eight years ago, but it eventually failed.

Judge Denies MSD Request To Order Teachers Back

2/19/11 - Calling the current work stoppage and illegal strike, the Madison School District went to court to try to force teachers to return to the classroom. The district filed for a temporary restraining order. Schools were closed by the absent teachers for three days last week. The judge refused to force the teachers to return to their classes, but the head of the teachers union says they will be back Tuesday. Monday is a federal holiday.

Walker Tells Obama To Worry About His Own Budget

2/19/11 - With the sounds of protesters outside clearly audible in his Capitol conference room, Governor Scott Walker took questions from reporters Friday afternoon. Walker was asked his reaction to President Barack Obama’s statement that his budget repair bill is an assault on unions, and that the DNC’s campaign arm, Organizing for America, is on the ground in Madison. “I think the President of the United States has his hands full balancing the federal budget deficit, they have big problems there. He should stick to balancing the federal budget,” said Walker. Walker’s office announced his state budget address, which had been scheduled for next Tuesday at a Madison business, would instead be delivered on Tuesday, March 1st at the Capitol. He blamed the missing Democratic members of the state Senate.

UW Workers Voting To Unionize

2/19/11 - Workers at UW-La Crosse will vote next week whether to unionize, regardless what the legislature does with the governor's budget proposal that would cut back collective bargaining. UW-La Crosse faculty and staff will vote whether to join the American Federation of Teachers. At a rally on UW-La Crosse’s campus, faculty and staff made it clear that they want the option to unionize, even if it is decided that state employees can no longer collectively bargain. Workers at UW-Stevens Point, Stout, and River Falls also have an upcoming vote on whether or not to join the AFT.

Neosho Woman Arrested Following Hit and Run

2/19/11 - A Neosho woman was arrested after the driver of the car she allegedly hit followed her back home. 31-year-old Amanda Drager reportedly struck the car from behind just after 6pm yesterday on Highway 60 in the Town of Rubicon. Officers say she had open alcohol in her vehicle and they charged her with her second Operating While Intoxicated. Additional citations are possible.

Teen Charged With Burglary

2/19/11 - A Beaver Dam teen is charged with burglarizing a friend’s house. Patrick Tratar is charged with a felony count of Burglary in addition to felony bail jumping for allegedly breaking into the residence last week and stealing $2300 worth of computer equipment. Tratar was charged with bail jumping because he is also facing charges related to the alleged sale of marijuana at the Beaver Dam High School last October. The 18-year-old was bound over for trial on those charges during a preliminary hearing Thursday. Tratar will be back in court for both of the cases next month.

BD Man Arraigned In Scrap Metal Theft

2/19/11 - One of the two Beaver Dam men facing felony Theft charges for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars worth of scrap metal was in court for an arraignment hearing this week. 22-year-old Joseph Evans entered a “not guilty” plea. His alleged accomplice, 34-year-old Jason Woodke, entered a “not guilty” plea last month and has a jury trial scheduled in March. The two are accused of stealing 50 stainless steel sheets weighing 50 pounds each from Supreme Manufacturing in Beaver Dam last May. They were apprehended after reportedly selling the scrap to a company in Washington County. According to the criminal complaint, Woodke admitted to selling the scrap and he faces up to ten years in prison if convicted. Evans reportedly admitted to being the driver and faces up to three-and-a-half years.

McCullough Pleads ‘Not Guilty’ in Thefts

2/19/11 - A Waupun man accused of rifling through vehicles and garages entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment this week. Christopher McCullough allegedly broke into a garage in Waupun in September and stole electronic equipment, cash and gift certificates. The 32-year-old was arrested while walking the streets of Waupun at 4am and connected to the crime through stolen gift certificates said to be in his possession. McCullough denied taking them and told police they were given to him by the actual burglar. He faces over 13 years in prison, if convicted. McCullough was recently placed on probation in Fond du Lac County for writing bad checks.

Raney In Court For Stealing Stolen TV

2/19/11 - A Juneau man entered a “not guilty” plea at arraignment this week to charges of felony Burglary and misdemeanor Theft. Adam Raney is accused of selling a stolen television and then breaking into the buyer’s home and stealing it again. According to the criminal complaint, the 31-year-old stole the flat screen from an apartment that police had raided. He then sold the TV to his friends’ parents for $400. Raney is said to have borrowed that friend’s car a short time later, noticed that the house key was on the same key ring, and stole back the TV and traded it for cocaine. Raney faces over 13 years in prison, if convicted.

GOP Looks To Repeal Racial Data Mandate

2/19/11 - In 2009, the legislature approved spending more than $700,000 on data collection to find out whether state law enforcement agencies were using racial profiling in making traffic stops. About half the money has already been spent. The state has also given counties thousands of dollars in grants to install computers in squad cars to collect racial and ethnic data for each traffic stop. This week a committee chaired by Republican Sen. Van Wangaard held a hearing on repealing the bill. Wangaard called the data collection a waste of police time. But opponents of repealing the bill say the data-gathering will eventually save the state money and help reduce unwarranted police stops that may be occurring. Democratic Sen. Lena Taylor from Milwaukee sponsored the legislation that made the data collection mandatory. Taylor says 29 other state have mandatory racial and ethnic data collection statues already in place.