Although the federal government has pledged several million more dollars in aid to Hmong refugees this week, some advocates are wondering how much they’ll actually benefit from the funding. Emily Winter reports...

A University of Wisconsin administrator says the school's stem cell research program will expand slowly and modestly, despite the current rise of interest in the field. Brian Bull reports...

As the left of center Green Party heads for a key vote this weekend in Wisconsin, its leaders held a lively debate last night. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Currently, the federal government does not allow cheaper, imported drugs into the United States. But it is trying to help elderly people with prescription costs another way. New Medicare discount cards have been available since the beginning of June. But some are finding better savings through their supplemental insurance or through Wisconsin's drug plan called SeniorCare. Shamane Mills reports...

Thousands of government workers gathered in Anaheim, California yesterday to hear Presidential candidate John Kerry lay out his labor platform. Hundreds of other members of the public employee union, AFSCME watched the speech live via satellite in 18 cities in so called battleground states. Gil Halsted reports on one such gathering in Madison...

A judge has dismissed five felony counts against a former Milwaukee lawmaker accused of misconduct in office. Shamane Mills reports...

Today, June 24th, marks 50 years since the Circus World Museum in Baraboo was founded. Organizers are staging a 4th of July Weekend celebrationto mark the Big Top’s golden anniversary, and attract funders. Brian Bull reports...

Fifteen hundred members of the Green Party are gathering for their national convention in Milwaukee. A political scientist says a decision later this week on a nomination... or an endorsement for president will be a big test for the party. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Now that the Governor's Task Force on Education has finished its work, the challenge begins -- selling a plan that would increase sales taxes, cut property taxes and eliminate caps on teacher salaries. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

The DNR Board has again passed rules to cut mercury pollution from large, coal-burning power plants. The rule package has been weakened, since similar action last year. But supporters call Wednesday's vote a major step to help Wisconsin rivers and lakes. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Opposition to the controversial Duluth to Wausau power line may be waning .. at least in the Wausau area. The Marathon County board has agreed to consider allowing the power line to run through part of a public hiking and skiing area . Gil Halsted reports...

More states are adding toll roads. The lawmaker, Jeff Stone, says he's keeping an open mind on the idea--even though Governor Jim Doyle is trying to put the brakes on any toll road here. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Police around Wisconsin can tape a suspect's statement when investigating a crime. But, unlike other states, they don't have to. A task force trying to find ways to prevent wrongful convictions is hearing why law enforcement should consider electronic recording -- and what pitfalls to avoid. Shamane Mills reports...

There's controversy across the nation over how much and how fast to reduce mercury levels. Supporting groups from 30 states called on the Bush Administration Tuesday to toughen proposed regulations on coal plant emissions. They did so in a letter to the head of the Environmental Protection Agency. Sporting groups also want Wisconsin officials to approve stricter mercury rules. Shamane Mills reports...

U-S Congressman Ron Kind says there’s a lack of scientific evidence about the effects of chronic wasting disease on humans. So he and two other Wisconsin representatives are gathering national support and requesting federal aid. Emily Winter reports...

The DNR Board went underground Tuesday to look at an improvement Milwaukee is making in its sewage system. The tour came as the DNR is considering a fine against the Metro Milwaukee Sewerage District. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A northwest Wisconsin city wants to try out an innovative way to fund local government. Mary Jo Wagner has more on legislation to help Rice Lake...

A California man who says he was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest as a child can sue church officials in Wisconsin. The U-S Supreme court is allowing a civil lawsuit against the Milwaukee archdiocese. That's where a known pedophile served as a priest before his transfer to another state. Shamane Mills reports...

The push to suspend new DNR rules aimed at protecting Wisconsin waterways is the latest battle over the so-called Job Creation Act. The act was promoted this year by Governor Doyle and Republican lawmakers. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Wisconsin's largest electric company is ready to sign on to a state plan to reduce mercury-- as long as the utility can eventually switch to a national control program. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Doctors, pharmacists and police in Wisconsin are looking for ways to work together to prevent the abuse of prescription drugs. In Columbia County they're getting help from a unique training program offered by the company that makes the powerful painkiller Oxycontin. Gil Halsted reports...

Organizers of the 15th annual Midwest Renewable Energy Fair say public opposition to the War in Iraq may have helped swell attendance at the event this year. But as Gil Halsted reports the link between oil and war isn't the only reason people are looking for ways to kick the fossil fuel habit.

An analyst says an endorsement by Representative Jerry Kleczka in the Milwaukee congressional election is unusual. Kleczka over the weekend threw his support behind Democrat Matt Flynn, even though there are three other high-profile Democrats in the contest. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The Adams County Board and Ho Chunk Nation are collaborating on an effort to return an Indian cemetery to tribal jurisdiction. But some relatives of those buried in the Preston site in Southwestern Wisconsin oppose the resolution. Brian Bull reports...

Milwaukee, Chicago and Duluth are among the 26 sites being considered for the home of the United States Beer Hall of Fame. As Mike Simonson reports, plans for this complex could draw hundreds of thousands of tourists a year...

Wisconsin motorists don't have to show up every year at state transportation offices to renew their driver's license. They can simply do it by mail or online. Now a medical study shows there may a good reason to give up that convenience: death rates of elderly drivers go down when motorists have to appear in-person to renew a license. Shamane Mills reports...

A new ATV policy in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest has people talking about recreation versus preserving the forest lands. Kate Houlihan reports...

Four bears have been shot and killed this spring in far northwestern Wisconsin. It appears they weren't killed by poachers, but by people fed up with nuisance bears. Mike Simonson has the story from Superior...

A group of Republican state legislators want the state to take over management of Wisconsin's national forest land. But the state's head forester says he wasn't consulted about the plan and he's not sure it's workable. Gil Halsted has more...

President Bush's campaign manager says he thinks the Bush-Cheney team can win Wisconsin this fall. Ken Mehlman was in the state today--in part fending off criticism of the president's record on women's rights. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Eighty five percent of the soybeans raised in Wisconsin are genetically modified. The amount of corn is less than half that, but it's growing. And next year transgenic alfalfa will be available for planting. However, farmers have been more accepting of the modified food than some consumers and scientists. Shamane Mills reports...

For years, Midwestern farmers have been at odds with those in the northeast over how milk is priced - and the latest idea is no exception. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

The death of Ronald Reagan has renewed calls to overturn funding restrictions for new stem cell lines. Researchers say these lines could potentially treat Alzheimer's, the disease the former president had, and other diseases as well: like Parkinson's, which Governor Jim Doyle's mother suffers from. Doyle wants national democrats to support overturning those restrictions by making it a part of the party's platform. Shamane Mills reports...

The candidates for U.S. Senate are all trying to get face time with potential voters in the state. Today, we conclude our "We The People" Civic Journalism series featuring road trips with the candidates. In these travels, they talk with constituents about the issues. Wisconsin Public Television reporter Frederica Freyberg went "on the road" with candidate Tim Michels....

State and local officials are trying to track a mysterious odor that's been hovering around a northeastern Green Bay neighborhood for at least two years. The gasoline-like smell, though, has intensified in recent days, forcing some residents to stay indoors. Catherine Brand reports...

A statewide task force on truancy has begun its work. Education officials won't say how much they think they can succeed. But there are plenty of ideas on what to try. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Labor and fair trade activists are claiming credit for the state investment board's decision to stop buying bonds from the World Bank . A divestment campaign begun four years ago charges that bank policies encourage Wisconsin companies to shut down operations here and move to poorer countries where labor is cheaper. Gil Halsted reports...

Today in Washington DC, the Council on American-Islamic Relations launched a public awareness campaign to confront religious discrimination. In Wisconsin, Muslim leaders in Madison are pushing a similar effort, to challenge the stereotype that followers of Islam are terrorists. Brian Bull reports...

Ag researchers from the UW-Madison telling congress to fatten up funding to examine these fad diets. Better research, they say, could help people make healthier food choices. It could also help farmers who are sometimes at the mercy of fickle consumers trying out different diets. Shamane Mills reports...

The state has put off a decision to buy a house for sexual predators in suburban Milwaukee. Building commission members want an opinion from the state attorney general first. Officials say they need to exactly what the state's responsibility is when it comes to placing sexually violent persons in the community. Shamane Mills reports...

It's been a good and unusual spring for the Clam Lake elk herd in far northern Wisconsin. Mike Simonson reports that this transplanted herd continues to grow with healthy new calves...

The proposed sale of one of Wisconsin's nuclear power plants starts getting a closer look by state regulators today. The Citizen's Utility Board is testifying today that a sale would cost Wisconsin ratepayers a lot of money. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Those who want Wisconsin to broaden its energy sources and waste less power tried to shed more "light" on the issue by talking about ...."blackouts." At a public hearing held simultaneously in several locations around the state, conservation advocates say programs which promote energy efficiency helped California keep the lights on. They told a task force appointed by the governor that Wisconsin should not darken its reputation by skimping on energy conservation funding. Shamane Mills reports...

Another major casino project in Wisconsin has been put on hold because of a State Supreme Court ruling last month. The Red Cliff tribe on the shores of Lake Superior has had an investor pull out because the ruling leaves the future of Indian gaming uncertain. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

Wisconsin farmers are suffering through a rainier-than-usual spring. If it stays this wet much longer, it may be too late to save some important crops in the state this year. Terry Bell reports...

Some Great Lakes mayors want more federal money, to help pay for improvements of troubled sewage systems. But EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt says he first wants to see how current funds are being spent. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt has handed out ten million dollars in Wisconsin, to clean up contaminated sites known as brownfields. Leavitt says the clean up program is doing well under the Bush Administration. But critics say funding cuts seem to be in store. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Wisconsin residents are preparing for more Hmong refugees. Hmong who came several years ago say they think adapting to the United States will be easier for the newcomers. Sandra Harris reports...

Wisconsin Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager expressed remorse... as she told the Milwaukee Rotary Club Tuesday about her drunk driving arrest this year. Chuck Quirmbach prepared this report...

The recent death of Ronald Reagan has prompted greater interest in Alzheimers Disease, an ailment that affects memory, language, and thinking. Local researchers hope the increased awareness helps in expanding Wisconsin’s network of diagnostic clinics. Brian Bull reports...

A significant number of women now own businesses in Wisconsin. The state's lieutenant governor says they need to take a more active role in setting rules. Sandra Harris reports...

While severe and heavy thunderstorms have drenched Wisconsin’s towns and highways, many tourist sites have also been affected. Emily Winter reports...

High gas prices have helped fuel debate over new energy policies. A task force appointed by Governor Jim Doyle held a public hearing Tuesday on ways to use less energy while getting more from renewable sources. Shamane Mills reports...

A new survey says more Wisconsin employers will be adding workers in the next quarter than laying people off. The company behind the survey acknowledges that different politicians will try to take credit for the projected jobs increase. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The Pewaukee teen who wanted to be pictured in his school yearbook with a Confederate flag and hunting rifle has chosen a replacement photo instead. School officials said they wouldn't print the first one. Shamane Mills reports...

The state of Wisconsin is downsizing its fleet of trucks and cars. Governor Jim Doyle has ordered the sale of about a thousand vehicles. He also wants more accountability over how the vehicles are used by state employees. Shamane Mills reports...

As Amtrak celebrated the 75th anniversary of its long-distance Empire Builder train on Friday, a rail passenger group is worried about money for service on the Milwaukee-Chicago Hiawatha line. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The wave of the future is hitting Duluth's Canal Park area: This week it will activate wireless internet access for that tourism hotspot. Mike Simonson reports that a few other cities are offering "wi-fi" as their newest strategy for economic development...

Reports last week of a dog suffering from seizures prompted DNR officials to close Lake Kegonsa State Beach south of Madison. Though the beach has since reopened, the state hygiene lab confirmed the culprit was a toxic blue-green sludge -- potentially fatal to both animals and humans, if ingested. Catherine Brand reports...

Democrats have two goals in state legisative races this fall. Number one is, keep enough people in office so that Governor Doyle's vetoes are upheld. The second goal is, maybe win back control of at least one of the legislative chambers. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Last month, we reported on the Wisconsin Historical Society’s survey to find the most significant event in state history. As Brian Bull reports, the results are in --- and the winner is truly the cream of the crop...

A dead crow in Sauk County has tested positive for West Nile Virus. It's the first case of the disease in animals to turn up in Wisconsin this year. It's a little earlier than health experts expected. So they're urging people to protect themselves from mosquitoes--which carry the disease. Patty Murray reports...

The nation is pondering and debating the long-term effects of Ronald Reagan's presidency on the country. In Wisconsin, the impact of Reganomics can be seen by taking a drive across the southern part of the state. That's according to one economist. Terry Bell reports...

There won't be a summertime session in which legislators talk about tax limits. Republicans say they'll wait until next year to start a long and involved process required to change the state's constitution. Shamane Mills reports...

The American Red Cross says it is "critically short" of type O blood. That's the type known as the universal donor...and is widely used by hospital emergency rooms. Patty Murray has more...

This week a different kind of protest left from Ashland County in far northern Wisconsin: instead of signs, they’re using their feet. Kate Houlihan has the story of people taking “A Walk on the Child’s Side.”

Tuition is going up as much as $700 at Univeristy of WIsconsin campuses this fall. The UW Board of Regents voted Thursday for a budget plan that includes the tuition hike. Many regents claim their hands were tied by the governor and legislature. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Hawyard journalist has settled a libel lawsuit brought against him by Leonard Peltier, but says he's still pursuing the activist's role in the slaying of two federal agents. Brian Bull reports...

Credit cards allow people to buy something right away, establish a credit history, and worry about the bill later. But abuse of credit cards by college students has prompted universities in at least 9 states to pass or consider limits. University of Wisconsin officials are considering restraints on credit card companies who solicit on campus and whether students should be taught proper credit card use. Shamane Mills reports...

Wisconsin has a growing number of very large and very small farms. Meanwhile in the middle the family dairy is virtually disappearing. The state is losing hundreds of those farms each year. Some mid-sized producers are holding their ground by developing niche products. Patty Murray visited a family of farmers who recently went organic. They say grass-based grazing is keeping them afloat.

Dane County public health officials are sounding the alarm after a dog reportedly suffered a seizure while taking a dip in Lake Kegonsa Monday. As Catherine Brand reports, the state DNR is describing the suspect as green, blue, and suspiciously slimy...

To make sure air doesn't violate federal standards on ground-level ozone, Dane County is starting a voluntary program. Residents are being asked to conserve energy and pollute less. Shamane Mills reports...

There may be a revolt among University of Wisconsin chancellors and regents over a request by Governor Doyle. The Governor is asking all state agencies to submit budgets showing a 10-percent reduction. But as Mike Simonson reports, that's not sitting well with educators...

So far only one Wisconsin Indian Tribe has decided to comply with a state Supreme Court ruling by shutting down its poker, craps and roulette tables. One reason for that is there's been no move by either state or federal authorities to enforce the ruling that the new games are illegal. Gil Halsted has more...

State officials are weighing concerns about shade and safety as they decide whether to chop down a tree near the state capitol. A large limb of a Norway maple fell on an empty parked car Monday. The incident revives a longtime debate about old trees on the capitol square. Shamane Mills reports...

A government report to be released soon will who continued growth of invasive species in the Great Lakes region. Chuck Quirmbach has details...

A La Crosse area man says Hmong are more rigorously checked for ID's at a local bar. Snadra Harris reports......

Health insurers don't always cover mental disorders the same way they do physical ailments. There is a federal law on mental health parity. However it allows insurers to charge higher co-pays and deductibles. A new version named after the late senator Paul Wellstone seeks to close what some consider loopholes. The bill's currently stalled in a congressional committee. Advocates are hoping to jump start the issue by taking a road tour of six cities. Shamane Mills reports...

This month, the Madison City Council blocked funding for the local Boy Scouts. Members cited the national organization’s policy on excluding gays from its ranks as the reason. The decision has rankled some community residents, as Brian Bull reports...

American Indian Movement activist Leonard Peltier has dismissed a libel lawsuit against a Hayward Indian newspaper's editor. Brian Bull reports...

Labor unions and environmental groups are teaming up to fight urban sprawl in Wisconsin. One of their goals is to prevent the proliferation of Wal-Mart stores. Gil Halsted reports...

The Milwaukee Sewer District told state officials Monday that most of its recent sewage dumping into Lake Michigan may be allowed under a state permit. The DNR is investigating possible fines to the district. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The Public Service Commission heard from the public Tuesday morning on the commission's state energy plan for the next seven years. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

It’s not easy being poor even when you’re just pretending. That’s what a group of adult basic education teachers found out recently during a special poverty simulation. The goal was to make them more sensitive to the difficulties many of their students face. Gil Halsted prepared this report...

The U-S Senate is set to vote on a measure that could change the way class action lawsuits are handled. Supporters say the legislation will cut down on frivolous lawsuits. But others say the change will hurt consumers. Patty Murray has more...

A far northern Wisconsin county is once again telling American Transmission Company to stay off its land. ATC is trying to get permission to use land in eight counties to build the proposed Duluth to Wausau high-powered transmission line. Mike Simonson has the latest from Superior.

Environmental activists are looking for ways to help doctors and nurses make the link between politics, pollution and preventive health care. At a conference in Madison Friday doctors and nurses gathered to learn more about protecting their patients from toxins in the air and water. Gil Halsted reports...

As president Bush travels Europe to mark the 60 year anniversary of D-day, Madison-area opponents of a more recent U-S invasion sought to underscore the lives lost in Iraq. Shamane Mills reports...

The state's highest court has sided with a Marathon County homeowner whose dog bit an unexpected guest. The unanimous decision carves out a small exemption for dog owners who are usually liable for injuries caused by their pet. Shamane Mills reports...

The state of Wisconsin is suing 20 pharmecutical companies. Attorney General Peg Lautenschlager filed suit Thursday in Dane County court. She says the drug companies are artificially inflating the price of prescription drugs. Patty Murray has more...

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison say they’ve made an innovative breakthrough in gene therapy. Brian Bull reports...

Dust from inside your computer may contain toxic chemicals that could pose a long term health threat. That's the conclusion of a new report by a computer recycling group. The GrassRoots recycling network is pushing for a ban on the flame retardants used in computers that are the source of the potentially toxic dust. Gil Halsted reports...

Statewide test scores show fewer schools were put on the list of "needing improvement" under the federal education law. The Department of Public Instruction released the list Thursday. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

The U-S government says up to 15-thousand Hmong refugees will settle into the country this year. Wisconsin's congressional delegates are calling for federal funds to help the refugees relocate to the state. Brian Bull reports...

The Democratic challenger in a state Assembly race says she won't apologize for raising questions about her opponents' service in the National Guard. Gil Halsted reports...

Some Wisconsin vets supporting John Kerry are calling President Bush's proposed cuts to the Veterans Administration a "slap in the face". They say there is already a backlog in cases. Republicans say a so-called "secret memo" urging cuts does not reflect what may actually happen in the next budget cycle. Shamane Mills reports...

As the price of gasoline rises across the state, so does the number of people driving away from the pump without paying. Brian Bull reports...

Wisconsin adults have difficulty naming their First Amendment rights. That from a survey done by UW-Stout researchers. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

High-speed ferry service began on the great lakes Tuesday as the “Lake Express” started regular trips between Milwaukee and Muskegon, MI. Owners of the new boat say they can draw customers without taking people away from a slower car ferry that travels between Manitowoc and Ludington, MI. Chuck Quirmbach was on the first voyage of the “Lake Express” and has this report...

Not many senior citizens have signed up for the new Medicare Drug Discount cards. Critics of the card hope the low sign-up rate will fuel the effort to legalize the re-importation of cheaper drugs from Canada. Gil Halsted reports...

Mudslides and debris on roads have kept county highway departments busy in the last few weeks, and it is costing more. Sandra Harris reports...

The rising cost of fuel isn't just pinching you at the gas pump. It's also raising the price of many of the things you buy. Terry Bell reports...

More than two-hundred Wisconsin cancer patients will get financial relief after paying too much for drug treatment. Dave Potratz has more...

The Janesville City Council is weighing whether or not to grant 250-thousand in federal dollars towards a housing development. Critics say the facility violates the separation of church and state. Brian Bull reports...

Beach testing on Lakes Michigan and Superior resumes this month. As Mike Simonson reports from Superior, some tourism officials think the signs posted on beaches are too scary and drive away business...

Wisconsin has a website listing Canadian pharmacies which offer cheaper prescriptions.Individuals save money; state government doesn't. But at least one LOCAL government is now looking to trim its employee health costs using the internet. The Oak Creek Common Council meets tonight to give initial consideration on linking city employees to Canadian pharmacies. Shamane Mills reports...

A former Wisconsin man who was nearly executed in Texas this year may learn soon if he's headed BACK to Death Row. Some mental health practictioners recently evaluated Scott Panetti and concluded that the convicted murderer is competent enough to be put to death. But Panetti's supporters have asked for a hearing and may seek another mental health examination for him. The case is at the center of a debate over whether states should execute the mentally ill. Chuck Quirmbach went to Texas this year to look into Panetti's case...