On Monday, the Madison School Board takes up a controversial issue: whether to change a policy prohibiting pets in the classroom. Shamane Mills reports...

The Ho Chunk Tribe is continuing to withold a $30 million casino payment to the state due last June. Department of Adminstration Secretary Mark Marotta says he's confident the tribe will pay up as soon as its signs a new gaming compact. But a new provision in most of the new tribal gaming compacts could mean fewer casino dollars will flow directly into the state's coffers in the future. Gil Halsted reports...

A 63-year old Albanian woman living in Waukesha County could be forced to go back to her country -- but only if federal immigration officials decide to pursue the case. Catherine Brand reports...

Heavy snowfall "up north" is making for a better than average winter tourism season so far. As Mike Simonson reports, skiers and snowmobilers are turning out in big numbers...

A series of indoor farmers' markets this winter have been trying to connect farm families with people of faith who live in cities. Sponsors say there's a religious connection between the urban dweller, the farmer, and the earth. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Wisconsin National Guard soldier who spent 14 months in Iraq says it's time to pull US troops out, and let Iraqi's fend for themselves. The twenty-three year-old UW Madison student told the story of her tour of duty to an audience on the UW campus on Thursday night. Gil Halsted reports...

A military base near Sparta is losing its commander, who played a controversial role in last year's political campaign. Sandra Harris reports...

As the fortunes of the Universtiy of Wisconsin men's basketball team rise...so does demand for tickets. Students are mounting a full-court press for a larger student section at the Kohl Center. But they're facing a tough defense from other fans. Terry Bell reports...

Those who oppose a constitutional ban on gay marriage in Wisconsin are telling legislators it's a bad idea. Shamane Mills reports on an event called Lobby Day...

Global law enforcement agencies are teaming up with a Wisconsin-based identity protection firm to find tsunami relief scams. Brian Bull reports...

A campaign finance watchdog group is pushing for a ban on election fundraising while the state budget is being debated. Gil Halsted reports...

The State Assembly has voted to increase the number of students eligible for the Milwaukee School Choice program. Shawn Johnson reports...

Proposed rules to cover new large or expanded livestock facilities are on their way to public hearings. The state has added standards to try and control odors. But that move isn't sitting well with some people. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Madison-based Oscar Mayer is changing much of its product line to appeal to health-conscious consumers. The move is part of a larger effort by its managing company, Kraft Foods. Brian Bull reports...

Congressman Mark Green's possible entry into the 2006 Governor's race in Wisconsin is facing a financial roadblock. The Elections Board has passed an emergency rule limiting the spending of federal campaign funds in a state contest. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The State Elections Board has endorsed the way state staff handled a controversial contract to set up a voter registration list for Wisconsin. But some board members say they're concerned about the contractor's ability to have the list ready on time. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A state senator wants to expand Wisconsin's no call list to include cell phones. Shawn Johnson reports...

Republican State Assembly Speaker John Gard says he won't run for Governor in 2006. Shawn Johnson reports...

A proposal to use county funds to buy free calling cards for Dane county soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan has sparked a political debate. It pits the phone needs of indigent jail inmates against those of troops fighting overseas. Gil Halsted reports...

The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is suing Menard's Incorporated, the nation's third-largest home improvement store chain. The suit may be served to company heads as early as Tuesday. Brian Bull has more...

Wisconsin will host three professional golf tournaments in the coming years. The Professional Golfers Association has booked the Whistling Straits course at Kohler for two championship contests and the International Ryder Cup. Patty Murray reports...

The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is encouraging state residents to file their taxes online this year. One official says the process has sound benefits for filers. Mary Huerter reports...

The day of decision may be close at hand for the proposed Duluth to Wausau high-powered transmission line. Approval is only needed from Douglas and Washburn Counties before American Transmission Company can move ahead with construction. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

A Wisconsin prison inmate is suing because the state won't pay for a sex change operation. Shamane Mills reports...

If the top jobs in your profession were to melt away, what would that do to your career goals? That's the question minor-league hockey players in the US and Canada are pondering, in light of the prolonged lockout of the National Hockey League. Chuck Quirmbach caught up with some members of the minor league team in Milwaukee and asked them about the big ice jam at the NHL...

A felony charge against the son of newly-elected Wisconsin Congressmember Gwen Moore may distract from Moore's debut on Capitol Hill. But a political analyst contends Moore can recover. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The son of newly-elected Congressmember Gwen Moore is among five Democratic activists who face a felony charge for allegedly slashing tires on Election Day last November. Milwaukee prosecutors filed the charges on Monday. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

On Monday, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker confirmed that he's running for Governor next year. Walker may be one of several Republicans vying to take on Democratic incumbent Jim Doyle. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A new report might hold the key to why water levels on Lakes Michigan and Huron are dropping. The study's authors say human interference is causing more water to flow out of the two lakes...never to return. Patty Murray reports...

UW Researchers believe that a California study on the potential harmful effects of contaminated stem cells shows the need for more federal money to develop new lines. But the White House shows no signs of expanding research funding beyond what's allowed now. Shamane Mills reports...

Entertainer Johnny Carson died this week from emphyzema, a lung disease that kills 100,000 people a year in the United States. Carson was a lifelong smoker. In Wisconsin, doctors say the best way to avoid emphyzema is not to smoke. Terry Bell has more...

Many health officials support a new policy which expands who gets emergency aids drugs. However, a UW-Madison infectious disease specialist has concerns that the expensive medicine will be used by people who don't necessarily need it -- and that money might be better spent on prevention efforts. Shamane Mills reports...

The Army National Guard is looking for ways to increase its ranks as more and more units are called to serve in Iraq. As Gil Halsted reports some who have already served in Iraq are not swayed by a new cash incentive...

One of the larger non-Superfund dumping grounds for PCB's in Wisconsin will be cleaned up, under a $15 million plan announced on Friday. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Wisconsin has joined three other Great Lakes states to pay for a new lock at Sault Saint Marie, Michigan. Governor Jim Doyle calls the 50 year commitment vital to long-term economic growth. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

People who want to know when lawn care companies are spraying pesticides in their neighborhood have until the end of this month to sign up for a state program. The Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection says it wants to clear up some questions about the pesticide registry. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Those who need emergency shelter are often turned away if they're drunk or on drugs. So, there's a proposal that Madison have a place where such people could go, a so-called "wet shelter". Shamane Mills reports...

Democrats will push a rule this week barring lawmakers who face felony charges from serving in leadership positions. The change would affect one GOP lawmaker who serves on the legislature's budget committee. Shawn Johnson reports...

A survey shows 70-percent of teens don't like Wisconsin's graduated drivers license program. But the author of the law says concerns about compliance are unwarranted -- and the law is likely to get tougher, not weaker. Shamane Mills reports...

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs is offering free classes to vets who want to start their own businesses. The program will walk potential entrepreneurs through the process of becoming their own bosses. Patty Murray reports...

There's an effort underway in northern Wisconsin to distribute multi-lingual "no trespassing" signs. The action comes in the aftermath of the shooting of eight hunters last November in Sawyer County. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

The court battle over the Ten Commandments monument in La Crosse's Cameron Park isn't the only controversy over religion in La Crosse county. Sandra Harris Reports...

County governments are concerned about the burden state-mandated programs place on local property taxpayers. The La Crosse County Board is the latest to approve two referenda asking who should pay for the services. Sandra Harris reports...

As President Bush officially begins his second term today the results of a global poll show many in the world are worried about four more years of the president's policies. Gil Halsted reports...

Wisconsin's Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection has an internet linck for state residents to tell the federal government to leave Wisconsin's Do-Not-Call law list alone. Sandra Harris Reports...

After high schoolers in Wisconsin fared poorly on a national test of financial literacy, there was a lot of talk about helping people of all ages manage money better. However, a recent study done by a nonprofit organization specializing in personal finance, suggests some Badger state residents have plenty of financial know-how -- it may just depend on where they live. Shamane Mills reports...

Many Iraqi citizens living in the U.S. plan to go to voting facilities in five American cities this week to register to vote in the January 30th elections. Some—including a Madison college student—hope the process helps establish democracy in their native country. Mary Huerter reports...

A new study shows suicide rates for young people in Wisconsin are significantly higher than those in the rest of the country. Catherine Brand reports...

A citizens group wants the Department of Natural Resources to tighten diesel emission rules for trucks parked at the proposed Wal-Mart distribution center in Beaver Dam. It's part of an onging effort to force the retail giant to pay more attention to local concerns about the environmental impact of the new center. Gil Halsted reports...

Gasoline sold in Wisconsin would have to contain more ethanol under a plan lawmakers will consider this year. Shawn Johnson reports...

A panel of state lawmakers has signed off on a plan to offer tax-free health savings accounts in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports...

The enrollment caps on Milwaukee's School Choice program would be temporarily lifted under a measure advancing at the state capitol. Shawn Johnson reports...

A new center at UW-Madison has launched a program to help low income workers make the most of their pay checks. The Center on Business and Poverty is targetting workers making under $34,000 a year and promising to boost their disposable income by 20 percent. Gil Halsted reports...

Wisconsin's largest theater chain has stopped running an ad aimed at preventing more teenage pregnancies. Shamane Mills reports...

Those who oppose the U.S. war against Iraq let the president know with massive marches. Now, as President Bush is being inaugurated for a second term, another kind of protest is planned: an economic boycott aimed at the nation's pocketbook. Shamane Mills reports...

Trains and planes became better connected in Wisconsin on Tuesday...as an Amtrak station opened near Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee. The new station comes amid growing train ridership in part of the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The Vermeer Windmill in Pella, Iowa. (Permission of Bonnie Verburg).

The village of Little Chute has high hopes for a new, authentic-style windmill. City planners think the $2.5 million project could blow more tourists and cash their way. A fundraising effort is even going Dutch...leaving tax dollars out of the purse. Brian Bull reports...

A former University of Wisconsin student has killed himself in a jail cell, just before his murder trial. The suicide is perhaps the final twist in one of the state's more unusual cases. Brian Bull reports...

At one Martin Luther King Day gathering on Monday, the focus was on children...those who have violently died... and those whose futures show promise. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The national convention of the NAACP comes to Milwaukee this summer. Local organizers say they hope the event will help shake Wisconsin's image as a place of racial segregation. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

About 300 children at a grade school in Wauwatosa will learn Tuesday that their school will close later this year. The Wauwatosa School Board voted early Tuesday morning to shut down Wilson Elementary. The school appears to be the latest casualty in the fight over state limits on school funding. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Young people in Wisconsin are three times as likely to die violently as they are to die of cancer. The State Medical Society is releasing the report which examined the causes of death for nearly 600 people under the age of 25. Patty Murray reports...

There could be thousands of discarded lead weights at the bottom of lake Michigan. Some fishermen use the big sinkers to hook fish that live in deep water. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is looking into the harm the weights could cause. Patty Murray reports...

An Eau Claire man is fed up with the way the two main political parties are running the government. That's why he's forming a new party called "The Responsible Party." Mary Jo Wagner has more...

A national tax organization is warning that people who cheat on their taxes are more likely than ever to find themselves targeted by the IRS. Brian Bull reports...

Cities bypassed during the recent presidential campaign missed out on more than just election excitement. They also avoided the bills associated with hosting the candidates. Now some of those cities that did are trying to get reimbursed without much success. Shamane Mills reports...

Educators at UW-Madison are planning to use high-end information technology, along with traditional native knowledge of the land, to create learning opportunities for students, teachers and community members in Alaska. Dave Potratz has more...

In his State of the State address, Governor Jim Doyle talked about increasing state support to the University of Wisconsin system. But critics say some of Doyle's ideas fall short. Shawn Johnson reports...

Green Bay-based Shopko Stores Incorporated opened three "free standing" drugstores during the week of January 10, 2005. The stores are an old-fashioned venture designed to brighten the company's future. Brian Bull reports...

The stage is set for a new state supreme court ruling on tribal gaming. The court has agreed to take another look at the Dairyland dog track suit that challenges the legality of all tribal casino's in the state. Gil Halsted has more...

A national child safety group has given Wisconsin an F for not having a law requiring booster seats for kids riding in cars. Two lawmakers want to change that. Shamane Mills reports...

The Wisconsin Elections Board has voted to allow Republican Gregg Underheim on the ballot in the race for state schools chief. The Board also asked the Dane County District Attorney to investigate some of Underheim's petitions. Shawn Johnson reports...

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America recommends very little change in its recognition of gay relations among pastors. Sandra Harris reports...

State regulators will reconsider their decision to block the sale of the Kewaunee nuclear power plant to a Virginia company. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The sale of the Milwaukee Brewers is supposed to offically close Friday at a Milwaukee law office. Owners of the other major league baseball teams have unanimously okayed the purchase of the Brewers by a group led by California investor Mark Attanasio. Chuck Quirmbach reports it's the end of the link between the Brewers and the Selig family...

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is renewing its call this week for random roadblocks to test drivers for alcohol consumption. As Catherine Brand reports, Wisconsin is one of eleven states that currently ban sobriety checkpoints...

The issues of what's an appropriate veterans memorial...and what's the right thing to have along the Great Lakes shoreline...are converging in Milwaukee. More groups lined up Wednesday against a plan to refurbish and move a Navy heavy-gun cruiser to Milwaukee's lakefront. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A wastewater permit for the proposed expansion of the Oak Creek power plant is getting a preliminary thumbs up from the Wisconsin DNR. But environmental groups say the larger plant would damage aquatic life in Lake Michigan. Chuck Quirmbach reports.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has voted 5 to 2 to impose a 50 dollar annual fee on all Wisconsin lawyers to help fund the cost of civil legal services for the poor. Legal aid groups say it's a step in the right direction. Gil Halsted reports...

The Salvation Army of Green Bay is on the short list to get a 30-million dollar grant from the Joan Kroc Foundation. Green Bay is the only Wisconsin city to make it to the second round of applications for money that would build a new community center. Patty Murray reports...

Wisconsin lawmakers have signed off on Governor Jim Doyle's plan to refinance hundreds of millions of dollars in state debt. Shawn Johnson reports...

Democratic Governor Jim Doyle challenged lawmakers to increase education funding and raise the minimum wage during his State of the State address Wednesday night. He also called for more money for health care... and told GOP lawmakers to drop their plans to freeze property taxes. Shawn Johnson reports...

Triple A wants to keep older drivers on the road as long as safely possible so they're offering a computer program. It tests whether motorists are fit for the road. Shamane Mills reports...

For the first time ever, a company from Wisconsin has made "Fortune" Magazine's list of the top ten places to work in America. Terry Bell reports...

The last week has been a tragic one on Wisconsin snowmobile trails: six people were killed, pushing this year's totals to almost four times as high as a year ago. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

A Madison congresswoman says federal lawmakers need to negotiate with the Bush administration before they send any more money to Iraq. U.S. Representive Tammy Baldwin also says more needs to be known about the long-term costs of the war. Shawn Johnson reports...

Milwaukee is stoking the minimum wage debate. A Common Council member has introduced a measure that would raise the city's minimum wage by $1.35 over the next two years, if Wisconsin legislators don't raise the statewide minimum. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

President Bush has said he'll push to reduce jury awards in medical malpratice suits. But a survey done by the Kaiser Foundation says that's not high on people's list of health reforms. Shamane Mills reports...

Brown County is a step closer to taking control of an offshore landfill filled with contaminated sediment. The County has a plan to close Renard Island. But an environmental group objects. Patty Murray reports...

The woman who was the inspiration for The Special Olympics has passed away. But the alternative athletic event started by the family of Rosemary Kennedy remains strong, with 10-thousand participants in Wisconsin. Shamane Mills reports...

Wisconsin mayors say the state needs to rethink a tax break for some retirement homes. Shawn Johnson reports...

There's been another court ruling in the decade long legal battle over a proposed tribal casino in Hudson. On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court decided NOT to hear an appeal by three Wisconsin Ojibway tribes seeking to convert the Hudson greyhound race track into casino. Gil Halsted has more...

The line between offensive language and protected free speech can get blurred during political protests. Police in Wausau discovered that last week when they cited a protester for carrying a sign that blends the president's name with a four letter word. Gil Halsted reports...

The same toxic chemical that triggered deaths and evacuations in a South Carolina train wreck rolls through Wisconsin almost every day. But safety experts say they think Wisconsin is NOT likely to see a deadly spill of chlorine. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America will announce results on Thursday of a study of homosexuality and the church. Sandra Harris reports...

High schools and their sports teams are focal points for many communities around Wisconsin, especially in small towns. But several teams and their fans will get a look at new opponents in the near future. Terry Bell reports...

Three Wisconsin Supreme Court justices have now recused themselves from both trials involving lawmakers doing campaign work on state time. A political watchdog group would like to see a fourth justice sit the cases out. As Shawn Johnson reports... the concern over a conflict of interest with Justice Patrick Crooks dates back to his campaign almost a decade ago...

There are more questions about state spending on the Marquette Interchange highway project in Milwaukee. The latest dispute is over a million and a half dollar renovation for a building used by some people who work on the project. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A representative of the state's maple-syrup industry says it's time Wisconsin regain its place as a top national producer. Brian Bull reports...

The U.S. Coast Guard plans to stop regulating draw bridges along the Fox and Wolf Rivers. That has communities concerned that closed bridges could hurt economic development. Patty Murray reports...

The state wants your help to compile a list of species that are declining in population across Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

As images of traumatized and lonely children come in from the south Asian region, thousands of couples are hoping to adopt orphaned tsunami victims. The U.S. State Department has ruled out such adoptions for now, and many adoption agencies are advising people to hold off. Brian Bull reports...

Wisconsin has picked up more power on national energy issues, with the naming of Democrat Tammy Baldwin to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Baldwin promises to fight a controversial plan to drill for oil in Alaska ...and to be active on the issue of nuclear waste. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

An unassuming brick house on the east side of Green Bay is drawing attention for one of its former occupants. It's where Earl Lambeau probably took his first steps. Earl would later earn the nickname "Curly"...and go on to found the Green Bay Packers. A group of investors is renovating the house...and promising to turn over any profits to low income elementary students. Patty Murray reports...

An attorney for the state told the Wisconsin Supreme Court today that three legislators knew they were breaking the law when they did campaign work on state time. Shawn Johnson reports...

A task force of lawyers and lawmakers is reccomending changes to prevent innocent people from going to jail. That's what happened to Stephen Avery, a Manitowoc County man who spent 18 years in prison for a rape someone else committed. Shamane Mills reports...

The latest research shows that women still have fewer opportunities and less pay in the world of higher education. And it seems the gender gap is equally daunting for women in the University of Wisconsin System. Terry Bell reports...

Madison has won its first court battle to have a higher minimum wage than the state. Businesses wanted to stop the ordinance from taking effect, but a Dane County judge refused. Shamane Mills reports...

A new barrier is being constructed to prevent the Asian carp from getting into the Great Lakes. But a Congressmember will seek money in 2005 to keep an existing barrier in operation, too. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The State Supreme Court will hear arguments Thursday morning in a case involving lawmakers charged in the legislative caucus scandal. Shawn Johnson reports...

Ag officials are tracking a big pig problem across Wisconsin. Since 1999, growing numbers of feral swine have appeared across the state. And as Brian Bull reports, Minnesotans now fear an invasion from the wild oinkers...

Wisconsin Senators Herb Kohl and Russ Feingold could get some time in the spotlight Thursday, as the Senate Judiciary Commitee holds a hearing on the nomination of Alberto Gonzales to be U.S. Attorney General.Chuck Quirmbach reports...

When the Target store chain banned Salvation Army bell-ringers from its doors this past Christmas season, many figured it would hurt yuletide donations. But for several large Salvation Army chapters in Wisconsin at least, it was just the opposite. Brian Bull reports...

Environmentalists are trying to get a Doyle appointee confimed to serve on the Natural Resources Board. But some Republican lawmakers are resisting. At stake may be control of the board. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A federal appeals court says a City of La Crosse sale of park land where a ten commandments monument stands is constitutional. Sandra Harris Reports...

A State Supreme Court Justice won't have any challengers in her bid for re-election. Meanwhile, the race for state schools chief may or may not get more crowded. Shawn Johnson reports...

State lawmakers have decided to hold back more than 10 million dollars from three Milwaukee welfare to work agencies. Shawn Johnson reports...

On the first day Wisconsin lawmakers met in formal session, ordinary citizens gathered in an attempt to fix what they think is wrong with the current political system. Shamane Mills attended the informal, grassroots event billed as the "People's Legislature..."

President George W. Bush, and former Presidents Clinton and Bush are asking citizens to help out victims of the tsunami catastrophe. But a national tax organization is advising people to be shrewd in making donations toward disaster relief efforts. Wisconsin Public Radio's Brian Bull reports...

One of the state lawmakers taking an oath of office on Monday was Representative Fred Kessler. It was both a new...and old...experience for the Milwaukee Democrat. He's back in the Legislature after a 32-year absence. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A day normally reserved for ceremony at the state capitol turned heated at times on Monday. Lawmakers took their oaths of office... and then got an early start at partisan finger-pointing. In between... they laid out their priorities for the coming session. Shawn Johnson reports...

The democratic senator from Wisconsin who's led efforts to try and change big money influence in politics hopes more campaign finance reform is on the way. Political observers say fixing what some consider a loophole in the McCain Feingold law won't be easy, even though President Bush has said he wants so-called 527s reigned in. Shamane Mills reports...

Areas in northern Wisconsin have changed the names of places containing the word squaw. Now, an area further south, Dane County, may consider a similar switch. Shamane Mills reports...

Machine-made snow from a ski resort in Marathon County is causing a blizzard of controversy. As Catherine Brand reports, snowguns and strong winds are conspiring to make area highways hazardous...

Wisconsin isn't necessarily known as a literary hotbed, but there are hundreds of people in the state publishing books. Today, Wisconsin Public Radio begins a monthly series highlighting some of those writers and their most recent books. The latest work by Wisconsin based author Parker Palmer is titled "A Hidden Wholeness, The Journey Toward an Undivided Life." Connie Walker has more about the book....

An Ashland parent wants the school district to include more teaching about the accomplishments of American Indians. His effort is changing the curriculum in schools there. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

The state legislature returns to the capitol this week to begin a new two-year session. Meanwhile, across town a group will gather Tuesday to vent their frustrations with the political process. Shawn Johnson reports...

A new research institute involving universities in Minnesota and Wisconsin will look into ways to expand Great Lakes shipping. The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute will get 750-thousand dollars start-up money from the federal government. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

There's been an ongoing effort to increase milk consumption in schools. Districts are finding they can do that by changing the flavor, temperature, and packaging of milk. Those were suggestions from a dairy council study linking consumption to the kind of milk container used. Shamane Mills reports...

Wisconsin's first non-white member of Congress heads to Washington D.C. for a formal swearing-in on Tuesday. At a ceremonial event in Milwaukee on Sunday, Representative-elect Gwen Moore made several pledges to voters. Chuck Quirmbach reports...