April 2005 NEWS ARCHIVES


Wisconsin Cheese Gets Face Lift
04/29/05

A large Wisconsin dairy cooperative is jumping on the specialty cheese bandwagon. Alto Dairy will market a gourmet cheddar cheese under its own name. Patty Murray reports...

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Manure Dispute Settled
04/29/05

There’s a settlement between rural Jackson County residents and owners of a large heifer operation. Mary Jo Wagner reports...

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Wisconsin Project Frees Wrongfully Convicted
04/29/05

Three years of research by the Wisconsin Innocence project paid off this week for a former policeman convicted in 2001 of strangling his former girlfriend. A Dodge county judge dimissed all charges against Evan Zimmerman today. Gil Halsted reports...

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Doyle Vetoes Photo ID Measure at Polls
04/29/05

Governor Jim Doyle has vetoed a plan that would have required a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin. The Governor also rejected a proposal to increase the size of the state's school choice program. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Bill to Protect Wisconsin Ground Water
04/29/05

The DNR has more tools to assess proposed high capacity wells, and homeowners who want new wells will have to pay a new fee. Those are changes coming under a law that takes effect Sunday. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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CAFTA May be Difficult to Pass
04/29/05

A new trade agreement with Central America could mean billions of dollars for the U.S. economy. But that doesn't mean it's likely to sail through Congress. Terry Bell...

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Prescription Drug Co-op Saves Big Money
04/29/05

A nonprofit co-op formed to get better prescription drug prices is out with an audit showing it's doing even better than predicted. An independent review shows Wisconsin Rx saved members a total of nearly 19-million dollars last year. Shamane Mills reports...

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Institute of Medicine Recommends Food Program Update
04/29/05

A government food program for women and children is likely to change what participants take home from the grocery store. If approved, those changes would reflect the new food pyramid, which advises people to eat more fruits and vegetables and more whole grains. Shamane Mills reports...

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Senator Clinton Speaks to Women's Group in Madison
04/29/05

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton will be in Madison this weekend to keynote the annual gathering of a Wisconsin Women's group. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Different Views on Vietnam War
04/29/05

This Saturday marks the 30th anniversary of the end of the war in Vietnam. The war divided public opinion in the U.S., a split that continues to this day. Both American and Vietnamese war veterans will mark the day with ceremonies. Gil Halsted reports...

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Priest Monitoring Policy Hits Second Draft
04/29/05

A controversial policy on monitoring of Catholic priests appears headed for a rewrite. That's after a closed door meeting yesterday (4/28) between Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan and dozens of clergy members. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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DOD and Red Cliff Tribe to Investigate Weapon Dump
04/28/05

The Department of Defense will re-open the case of the 1400 mystery barrels secretly dumped into Lake Superior during the Cold War. Mike Simonson reports...

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State of the Air
04/28/05

The American Lung Association is out with its yearly report card on the nation's air quality. Parts of Wisconsin are still failing to make the grade because of ozone pollution. And, for the first time, the report gagues the levels of soot and other airborne pollutants. Patty Murray reports...

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Inefficient W-2 Program May Change
04/28/05

State lawmakers say they're considering several changes to the state's welfare to work program. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Rallies for the Filibuster
04/28/05

The left-of-center group Move-On.org sponsored rallies across the country yesterday to support the use of the filibuster to block President Bush's judicial nominees. About 200 people showed up at events held outside fededral court houses in Milwaukee and Madison. Gil Halsted reports...

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Employee Fitness to Cut Health Care Costs
04/28/05

For many companies, health care is rising faster than any other cost of doing business. So more and more companies are implementing wellness programs in an attempt to keep employees out of the doctor's office. Shamane Mills reports...

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Step Closer to Great Lakes Clean-Up
04/28/05

Government, business and tribal officials from the Midwest meet in Michigan today (4/28) for more work on a plan to coordinate clean-up of the Great Lakes. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Bill of Rights to Strike Against Utility Prices
04/28/05

A business group wants a ratepayer bill of rights for utility customers hit by rising prices. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Home Loan Program to Cut Down Traffic
04/27/05

There are a lot of programs around the state which offer home buying assistance. They usually use federal money to help people with downpayments. But a Dane County community is using local funds to attract new residents, many of whom already work in the city and are clogging up roads on their daily commute. Shamane Mills reports...

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Medical Society Questions Health Care Data Base
04/27/05

The Wisconsin Medical Society says the state might be better off leaving the management of health care data to the private sector. Sandra Harris reports...

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Bill Proposes Tribal-State Council
04/27/05

A bill that could give Wisconsin Indian tribes more say in shaping state policies got a hearing in Madison yesterday (T). Some tribal leaders are backing the creation of a Tribal-State council. Gil Halsted reports...

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State's Malpractice Cap on the Table
04/27/05

A lawsuit by an eight-year-old boy who was injured at birth could decide the future of Wisconsin's malpractice law. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Hunting Permits More Expensive
04/27/05

Republicans on the legislature's budget committee last night (T) voted to increase a number of hunting and fishing fees in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Businesses and Environmentalists Clash Over Air Permit
04/27/05

State business and environmental groups are split over an air pollution permit plan that goes before the DNR Board today (W). Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Anti War Rally Turns 1000
04/26/05

A group of persistent peace protesters celebrated a milestone event yesterday (M) in Madison. It was the 1000th weekly peace vigil held Monday's at noon in front of the Post Office on the Capitol Square. Gil Halsted reports...

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Hearings Start on President's Social Security Reform
04/26/05

Today (T) a U.S. Senate committee begins hearings on how to stabilize social security for the future. Shamane Mills reports...

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Disputed Election Triggers Homeless Vote Issue
04/26/05

A court case in Racine could clarify voting rights of the homeless in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Pressure on City Officials to Shelter Drug Dependents
04/26/05

Advocates for the homeless in Madison are stepping up pressure on local officials to fund a new "wet shelter." They plan a sleep out on the UW campus to dramatize the need for a facility that will accept people addicted to drugs and alcohol. Gil Halsted reports...

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DNR Wants to Redefine Wolf Damage
04/26/05

Wisconsin's system for paying people for damage that wolves cause to pets and livestock could be in for some changes. But some parts of the proposal going before the DNR Board tomorrow (W) are controversial. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Madison Parents to Learn About Web Dangers
04/25/05

Information about "stranger danger" used to consist of telling kids not to take candy from unknown people or get in their vehicles. In modern times, parents also have to warn their kids about the possible pitfalls of computers. The Internet has provided predators a way to connect with kids on their level: by using computer chat rooms, a phenomenon that parents may not fully understand but which the younger generation is comfortable with and finds indispensable. Shamane Mills reports...

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Humans More Compassionate Toward Wolves
04/25/05

Wolves are still scary to people, but a new survey says most folks no longer think wolves should be exterminated. A Northland College Sociology professor in Ashland has finished a five year study of what people think about wolves in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota. Mike Simonson...

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Rights and Responsibilities of Formers PSC Members
04/25/05

There's another attempt in the Legislature to slow Public Service Commission leaders from switching to the private sector, and then coming back before the Commission. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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The Filibuster Under Threat
04/25/05

Both of Wisconsin's U.S. senators say they'll fight Republican efforts to abolish the use of the filibuster to block president Bush's judicial nominations. Senator Russ Feingold says it's the only tool the Democrats have to keep the president from stacking federal courts with conservative judges. Gil Halsted reports...

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State Agency to Set Taser Guidelines
04/22/05

A state Justice Department committee says stun guns are safe. That opinion will now be taken into consideration by a board which sets training standards for law enforcement. Shamane Mills reports...

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Proposal Would Bring Hmong History to Schools
04/22/05

Some state lawmakers want to require Wisconsin's public schools to teach kids about the history of the Hmong people in the Vietnam War. Shawn Johnson reports...

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New State Panel on Recycling, Landfills and Waste Management
04/22/05

Governor Doyle chose Earth Day to announce a new task force on recycling, landfills and minimizing waste. The Governor's panel is already getting some recommendations. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Casino Project and Tribal Leader in Question
04/22/05

The Red Cliff Tribe’s 32-million dollar casino/marina/resort complex is on the ropes, and could be knocked out at a Tribal Council meeting Sunday night. Mike Simonson reports...

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Two State Republicans Are Looking for Higher Public Offices
04/22/05

The political landscape in Northeastern Wisconsin is in for some changes. An incumbent Congressman has his eye on the Governor's mansion. And another prominent Republican is thinking seriously about going to Washington DC. Patty Murray reports...

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Wal-Mart's Badger Care Health Service Disputed
04/22/05

A coalition of labor and consumer groups says Wal-Mart should re-imburse the state for providing health care coverage to hundreds of its employees through Badger Care. But a spokesperson for the world's largest retailer defends the company's health care benefits. Gil Halsted reports...

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Union Leaders Beat Their Drum at the Capitol
04/22/05

It's been a while since some of Wisconsin's public employees unions sat down at the table to discuss their contracts with the Doyle administration. On Thursday, they shouted out their demands at a state capitol rally. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Higher Minimum Wage May Become Illegal
04/22/05

The first city in Wisconsin to create its own minimum wage has the approval of a local judge that it's legal to do so. However, Madison's new higher wage could be banned by state lawmakers, along with minimum wage increases recently enacted in Milwaukee and La Crosse. Shamane Mills reports...

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Water Used for More Than Drinking
04/22/05

One Great Lakes city is using lake water year-round to cool beer and buildings. But is Wisconsin ready for something similar? Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Earth Day Anniversary, a Global Outlook
04/22/05

As many people find ways to observe Earth Day today (F) , some academics say global problems are creating new challenges for the earth. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Legislators Meet With Human Services Clients
04/21/05

La Crosse County officials say they're hoping area legislators face-to-face contact with county human services clients will make them think twice as they look at freezing local tax levies. Sandra Harris reports...

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Food Pyramid Changes
04/21/05

The nation is "digesting" a new nutritional guideline. The old food pyramid was "one size fits all." It's being replaced with 12 different pyramids, each with different recommendations on healthy eating. Patty Murray reports...

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Same-Sex Couples Demand Equal Rights
04/21/05

The battle between Governor Doyle and the Republican led legislature over domestic partner benefits for state employees may be decided in court. The ACLU filed a lawusit yesterday (W) suing the state on behalf of six lesbian state employees . They're seeking health insurance benefits for their partners . Gil Halsted reports...

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Male Birds Reluctant to Baby-Sit
04/21/05

Wildlife experts hope whooping cranes will lay more eggs in Wisconsin this spring, despite the recent discovery of a damaged crane egg. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Traffic Light System Gets D-
04/21/05

A study of the nation's traffic light system says it doesn't keep vehicles moving like it should. A report done by a group of engineers and transportation officials says stop-and-go traffic wastes both gas and time and creates more pollution. The report says those negative factors are more costly than the expense of installing better traffic systems. Shamane Mills reports...

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Controversy Over Medicare Funding
04/21/05

Republicans on the legislature's finance committee say borrowing is out of the question when it comes to paying health care expenses for the poor and elderly. They voted to reject a major part of Governor Jim Doyle's Medicaid budget, but they didn't say where the state would make up the money. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Lottery Could Help State's Finances
04/21/05

People waiting for a flight at a Wisconsin airport could pick up a lottery ticket from a state-licensed vending machine under a measure that cleared the legislature's budget writing committee. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Prepare for Future Without Cars
04/21/05

The worlds' known oil reserves are shrinking and Americans need to prepare themselves for a future without cars. That was the warning author James Howard Kunstler gave during a talk on the UW-Madison campus last night. Gil Halsted reports...

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Smoke Lingers Around UW-Stevens Point Professor
04/20/05

On April 5th, voters in Stevens Point voted against a work-place smoking ban. But a legal battle over the methods used on behalf of one of the campaigns rages on. Terry Bell reports...

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Stem Cells to Treat Lou Gehrigs Disease
04/20/05

UW researchers have created a new kind of stem cell that may eventually be used as a drug delivery device to treat Lou Gehrigs Disease. Gil Halsted reports...

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Hope That New Pope Will Stop Priest Abuse
04/20/05

Milwaukee's Archbishop predicts the new pope will take seriously the issue of sexual abuse by clergy. A victim's group says it would like to see Pope Benedict the Sixteenth do more to stop abuse. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Dispute Over Tasers' Link to Deaths
04/20/05

There have not been any deaths linked to Tasers in Wisconsin. But an emergency room doctor predicts there very well could be. Not because of more widespread use of the controversial device or the inherent danger of stun guns; but because of increased use of stimulant drugs, especially crystal meth, which the doctor says can produce heart failure being blamed on Tasers. Shamane Mills reports...

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New Tests to Find Cancer at Early Stage
04/19/05

Researchers at the Medical College of Wisconsin are on their way to creating a quick test for breast cancer that could spot the disease sooner than traditional methods. Shamane Mills reports...

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Proposal Disregards Public Land
04/19/05

A legislator is proposing to give utilities the power to condemn public land. The issue comes after a vote two months ago by the Douglas County Board to not negotiate with American Transmission Company which is trying to build the Duluth to Wausau transmission line. Mike Simonson reports...

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Muir's Spiritual Quest Posted on the Web
04/19/05

You're now just a few computer mouse clicks away from seeing dozens of letters written by environmental pioneer John Muir. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Wisconsin Gas Tax Among Highest in the Nation
04/19/05

When Wisconsin's gas tax went up earlier this month several lawmakers proposed doing away with the automatic increase. A state tax expert says the idea gets brought up as regularly as Spring flowers and there's a reason it hasn't become law. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Proposed Bill Defines Fighting in Iraq as Family Emergency
04/19/05

Families of soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan often face economic hardships. Wisconsin law makers at both the state and federal level have introduced bills aimed at making their lives a little easier. Gil Halsted reports...

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Tiny Technology a Big Issue
04/18/05

The next big thing is science is very small. Nanotechnology is an emerging field. It uses tiny particles for everything from faster computers to self-cleaning windows and pants that don't stain. Those are the good things. Some worry about potential downsides. So the public and scientists from the UW-Madison got together at a forum Sunday (yesterday) to talk about nanotechnology. Some predict the new science will someday influence virtually every aspect of people's lives. Shamane Mills reports...

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Congress Debates CAFTA, Controversial Trade Agreement
04/18/05

Farm and Labor groups in Wisconsin are lining up on both sides of a debate over a new free trade agreement. Hearings in Congress began last week in Washington D.C. on the Central American Free Trade Agreement or CAFTA. Gil Halsted reports...

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Wisconsin Faces Vote on Legal Suicide
04/18/05

A doctor-assisted suicide bill will be re-introduced into the state Assembly this session. The so-called "Death with Dignity" bill allows physicians to administer lethal doses of medication to end a person's life. Mike Simonson reports...

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Forum Debates Pros and Cons of Nano Technology
04/15/05

Citizens and scientists will debate the promise and the perils of nano technology in a special public forum in Madison this weekend. Gil Halsted reports...

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Convenience Stores Unload Transportation Offices
04/15/05

Many convenience stores sell lottery tickets for the state of Wisconsin. Now some stores are also selling vehicle registrations for the Department of Transportation. Shamane Mills reports...

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DNR Worries About Forest Fires
04/15/05

Dry air and no rain are making for flammable conditions in parts of Wisconsin. Wildfires have burned nearly 900 acres so far this year and the DNR won't issue burning permits in nearly 40 counties. If it doesn't rain, foresters fear more fires could spark this weekend as hunters hit the woods for the opening of turkey season. Patty Murray reports...

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Governor Candidate Promises to Cut Taxes and State Programs
04/15/05

Republican Candidate for Governor Scott Walker used tax day to point out all the areas where people would pay less if he gets elected. Walker wouldn't say which state programs he'd cut to make up the difference. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Archdiocese Plans to Search Priest Homes
04/15/05

Some criticism Friday for a plan that could allow church officials to search the homes of Catholic clergy in Milwaukee. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Librarian Stands Up Against the Patriot Act
04/15/05

A former northern Wisconsin librarian from Ashland has been given the 2005 First Amendment Award by international writer's organization PEN America. A woman stood up to a Patriot Act subpoena demanding the names of people who read a book about Osama Bin Laden after the 9/11 attacks. Mike Simonson reports...

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Minority Grant at UW Campuses Questioned
04/15/05

Federal education officials are reviewing a scholarship program designed to increase diversity on UW campuses after getting a formal complaint from a retired Madison faculty member. Shamane Mills reports...

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Veterans Mark 60 Years Since Liberation of Nazi Camp
04/15/05

Sixty years ago this week the Buchenwald concentration camp was liberated. More than 43,000 people are estimated to have died at the Nazi death camp. An Oshkosh veterans group is marking the anniversary later this week with a tribute to a Wisconsin soldier who was among the first to walk through the barbed wire gates. Patty Murray reports...

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Wisconsin Dells - Hope for Young Milwaukeeians
04/15/05

Tourism-related businesses in the Wisconsin Dells are hiring thousands of workers for the summer, and one Wisconsin city with a high number of unemployed young people is trying to supply some of the muscle. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Students Clash Over Military Recruitment
04/15/05

Duelling demonstrations clashed briefly but peacefully on the UW- Madison campus. Some students walked out of class to protest military recruitment on campus. Meanwhile college Republicans rallied in support of the troops in Iraq. Gil Halsted Reports...

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Private Companies Closer to Voter Database Contract
04/15/05

The state has taken another step forward on a private contract to set up a voter database. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Exhibit Triggers Debate on Human Expenses in War
04/14/05

A photo exhibit of soldiers wounded in Iraq helped spark a public discussion in Madison last night about the human cost of war. Gil Halsted reports...

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Increase in Young Gamblers, Cheaper Than Night Out
04/14/05

Problem-gamblers are getting younger, according to a state organization that tries to help people fight their addiction to slot machines and poker chips. Among the growing high-risk groups are college students. Anneli Radestad reports...

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U.S. Citizens Will Need Passports to Re-enter America
04/14/05

A passport will be required for crossing the Canadian border in a few years. But fewer people need to make the trip for cheaper drugs than in the past. Sandra Harris reports...

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Request for Voters to Identify Themselves Stirs Up Controversy
04/14/05

A measure that would require Wisconsin residents to show a photo ID at the polls is now on the Governor's desk. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Cheaper Way of Speeding Up Tax Refund for Working Poor
04/14/05

More low-income taxpayers in Milwaukee are rejecting high-priced refund anticipation loans. In fact, demand for so-called "rapid refund" loans is dropping faster in Milwaukee than in any major city in the country. Terry Bell reports...

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Twisted Wording Undermines Mandate
04/13/05

The results of last week's referendum on unfunded mandates may not be a mandate at all. At least that's according to some state lawmakers and at least one political observer. Terry Bell reports...

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New Study of Smoking Treatments at UW-Madison
04/13/05

The medical school at UW Madison is getting 8 million dollars in grants to compare five, federally-approved smoking treatments. Shamane Mills reports...

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Clergy Sex Abuse Case May Set Time Limit for Case-Filing
04/13/05

Clergy abuse victims came before the State Supreme Court yesterday (T) in a case that could have a major impact on the Catholic Church in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Group Brainstorms Help for Ex-Inmates
04/13/05

Department of Corrections officials and community groups are looking for ways to help released inmates find ,jobs and housing. The Dane County United Way brought former inmates, social workers, and probation officers together to search for common ground at a forum in Madison this week. Gil Halsted reports...

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Higher License Fees Would Curb Illegal Hunting
04/13/05

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says it's losing the ability to catch poachers. The DNR has more than 30 game warden jobs that aren't filled. But officials say increased hunting and fishing license fees would solve the problem. Patty Murray reports...

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Republican Proposes "100-Day Agenda" to Speed Up Action
04/13/05

The state Assembly yesterday (T) put the finishing touches on what Republican Speaker John Gard has billed as his "100-day agenda." That list includes tax breaks for new businesses, a tax freeze for homeowners and a requirement to show photo ID's at voting booths. The Speaker says he wanted lawmakers to approve the proposals quickly because they're urgent for Wisconsin businesses. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Passed Proposal May Affect Air Emission Permits for Businesses
04/13/05

The state Assembly last night passed proposals that would make it easier for businesses to get air emissions permits and tougher for the attorney general to sue polluters. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Court Contemplates Prisoners' Rights to DNA Testing
04/13/05

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is taking its first look at a recent state law that gives prisoners access to DNA testing. A case argued before the court yesterday (T) could eventually shorten a man's prison term by decades. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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NASA's Safe Return to Space
04/12/05

As NASA readies the space shuttle program for its return to space next month, some astronauts with the shuttle crew are questioning if all the safety procedures are up to snuff. Mike Simonson reports...

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Wisconsin Goes to Court Against Mercury
04/12/05

Governor Jim Doyle says more mercury could come into Wisconsin under a Bush administration plan. So, Doyle has agreed to have the state join a lawsuit that's trying to block the rule. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Studies Show: Cell Phones Don't Cause Cancer
04/12/05

Scientists, tech experts and lawyers have long been trying to determine whether cell phones cause cancer. Lawsuits against big cellular phone maker Motorola never went anywhere .....and research has been mixed. The latest findings from a Danish study show there's NO link between brain tumors and cell phone use; but some remain unconvinced. Shamane Mills reports...

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Feingold's Friendly Divorce Not Harmful
04/12/05

Wisconsin U.S. Senator Russ Feingold announced yesterday (M) that he's getting a divorce from his wife Mary. The news comes three years before the next presidential race, in which Feingold may be a candidate. But an expert on campaigns and elections says he doesn't expect much political fallout. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Hunting Not a Solution to Cat Problem
04/12/05

Opponents and backers of a proposal to make wild or feral cats into an unprotected species in Wisconsin agree on one thing: free-running cats are a problem. La Crosse County was the site of one of 72 meetings of the conservation congress across the state last night. Sandra Harris reports...

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Effort to Save Outdated Fire Towers
04/11/05

There's an effort underway to save the handful of remaining Depression-era fire towers in the Chequamegon-Nicolet National forests. The U.S. Forest Service is asking people to tell them what they think of these old 100-foot high towers. Mike Simonson reports...

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Colleges Invite AIDS Experts to De Pere
04/11/05

Two colleges in Northeastern Wisconsin are offering a "crash course" in AIDS. UW Green Bay and St. Norbert College have invited international and local experts on the disease this Saturday. The conference will look at the medical aspects of aids and how it has become an issue of social justice. Patty Murray reports...

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American Universities Lose Brains to Europe
04/11/05

In the 90's, American universities in the United States attracted a lot of foreign students; now they have to work harder to get those highly coveted students and faculty. Cumbersome VISA restrictions have been eased, but other factors are making European universities more attractive. This concerns some American academics, who recently met with foreign colleagues to talk about the "globalization of higher education." Shamane Mills reports...

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Stray Cats May Become Unprotected Species
04/11/05

The DNR Secretary says don't expect a cat hunting season, regardless on what happens tonight (M) on a vote at Conservation Congress hearings around the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Republicans Help Feingold Revise Patriot Act
04/08/05

Wisconsin U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is helping lead a bi-partisan coalition to revise portions of the U.S. Patriot Act. The effort has created some odd bed fellows. Gil Halsted reports...

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Shopko Wants Shareholders' Stock
04/08/05

A Green Bay based retailer wants to become privately held. Shopko announced today it has agreed to a buyout deal from a Minneapolis investment firm. Patty Murray reports...

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Wisconsin Democrat Wants to Ban Forced Microchip Surveillance
04/08/05

A Wisconsin lawmaker wants to make sure "big brother" isn't watching. He wants the state to ban any business or government from requiring that people implant microchips in their bodies. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Doyle Weighs in on Power Plant Case
04/08/05

Governor Jim Doyle today (F) weighed in on the State Supreme Court case involving the proposed expansion of a large power plant in Oak Creek. Doyle criticized at least part of the circuit court ruling that has put the expansion on hold. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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PSC Lays Electricity Prices on the Table
04/08/05

The new chairperson of the State Public Service Commission says he wants "a dialogue" about rising electricity rates. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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University of Wisconsin Talks Strategies Against Sweatshops
04/08/05

The University of Wisconsin will stay the course when it comes to enforcing its sweatshop licensing rules. Terry Bell reports...

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Consumers Can Shop Around for Health Care Online
04/08/05

A website designed to compare hospital care in Wisconsin is growing and has a new look. Shamane Mills reports...

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Purple Hearts Exhibit Depicts Wounded Soldiers
04/08/05

A nationaly acclaimed photo exhibit featuring pictures of 15 U.S. soldiers wounded in the war in Iraq opens in Madison this week. Organizers of the Purple Hearts exhibit say the pictures offer the public a graphic depiction of the human cost of the war. Gil Halsted reports...

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One in Two Returns to W2-Program
04/08/05

An audit of Wisconsin's welfare to work program shows more people are returning to the state's welfare rolls after they leave. The report also found new mothers are using the program as a form of paid maternity leave. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Wind Farm Raises Concern About Wildlife
04/08/05

Dozens of people near Horicon Marsh came to public meetings the state held yesterday (TH) on a plan to build Wisconsin's largest wind farm. State regulators have raised some concens about the so-called Forward Wind Energy project in Dodge and Fond du Lac Counties. Chuck Quirmbach report...

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Organ Donations On the Rise
04/07/05

Nationwide organ donations from the deceased are up by 11 percent. More organ transplants are also being done in Wisconsin. Patty Murray reports...

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Ojibwe Spearfishers Ready to Start
04/07/05

The opening of the walleye fishing season in northern Wisconsin is still a month away. But members of the state's six Ojibwe tribes could begin spearing fish as soon as this weekend on 800 lakes the tribes origonally ceded in the 19th century. Gil Halsted reports...

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Lawmakers Discuss Tax Increase on Cigarettes
04/07/05

State lawmakers yesterday (WEDS) unveiled an often discussed proposal to raise the state's cigarette tax. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Hiring Discrimination Case Triggers Racial Dispute
04/07/05

A civil rights group wants Milwaukee to challenge a court ruling that could pay seventeen white police officers thousands of dollars in damages. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Study Shows Link Between TV and Child Bullies
04/06/05

A study indicates school bullies watch more television than other children. It also found that the risk of bullying was reduced if parents gave their kids emotional support and spent more "fun time" with them. Shamane Mills reports...

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State Senate Passes Controversial School Plan
04/06/05

The state Senate passed a plan yesterday (TUES) that Republicans say will help more low-income school districts reduce class sizes. But Democrats argue the measure will only hurt the program known as "SAGE." Shawn Johnson reports...

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Department of Corrections Requests $1 Billion For Ex-Prisoners
04/06/05

Department of corrections secretary Matt Frank will brief the Joint Finance Committee on his one billion dollar budget request tomorrow this morning (WED). It includes new funding for community programs aimed at reducing the number of released prisoners who end up re-offending and going back to prison. Gil Halsted reports...

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Milwaukee Says No to Bonding Plan
04/06/05

A defeat for one of the Republicans running for governor... Voters in Milwaukee County have said no to Scott Walker's plan to borrow $260 million to ease a budget crunch. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Watchdogs Say Media Buzz Threatens Democracy
04/05/05

Recently there's been nearly non-stop media coverage prompted by celebrity criminal trials, the death of a brain-damaged Florida woman, and the passing of a Roman Catholic Pope...with mixed response. Shamane Mills reports...

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Dispute Fumes Over Voter Database Contract
04/05/05

Wisconsin's election's chief and several people who are suing him sat down at the same table yesterday (MON) to talk with the public about a contract for a statewide voter database. Shawn Johnson reports...

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U-W Professor Conducts Controversial Taser Study
04/05/05

Many law enforcement personnel across North America are taking Tasers with them on patrol. Backers of the stun-guns say they keep police from resorting to lethal force in nabbing suspects. But critics say the devices may have caused at least 100 deaths. A U-W researcher’s checking that out. But his study is setting off a debate as charged as the Tasers themselves. Brian Bull reports...

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Recycled Wind Turbines Proposed for Wisconsin
04/05/05

Sustainable energy advocates are promoting the use of mid-size wind turbines at businesses or schools. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Next Pope Must Contend with Clergy Abuse Issue
04/04/05

Some Wisconsin Catholics are sharing their thoughts on what type of person should take over as pope to replace the late John Paul II. One task for the next pope is dealing with the Catholic Church's clergy abuse problems. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

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Web Hunting Riles Some Sportsmen
04/04/05

The internet has made everything from shopping to gambling more convenient. Now a Texas game farm is offering online hunting. A state legislator calls the idea "appalling," and is introducing a bill that would ban internet hunting in Wisconsin. Patty Murray reports...

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Book Tries to Undemonize Spiders
04/04/05

Spiders have gotten a lot of bad PR over the centuries. They were blamed for the Plague in the middle ages to being the villain on the silver screen. But one man is devoting part of his life to promoting arachnids. Mike Simonson...

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Online Cigarettes: No Tax, No Age Limit
04/04/05

It's estimated 15 percent of cigarette sales occur online. If Wisconsin raises tobacco taxes like other states have, cyber sales could go higher. That's bad news for states; they've had a hard time collecting cigarette taxes from online companies. It's also a concern because minors use the cyber tobacco sites. Shamane Mills reports...

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Schools May Be Required to Teach More Hmong History
04/04/05

A new bill to be introduced in the state legislature this month calls on local school districts to do a better job of teaching students about the history of one of Wisconsin 's most recent group of immigrants. Gil Halsted reports...

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Controversy Over School Budget
04/04/05

Incumbent State Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Burmaster thinks Wisconsin needs to spend more on education. Challenger Greg Underheim says that type of thinking ends up pitting schoolkids against taxpayers. The two candidates hit on that fundamental difference several times last night at a debate in Madison. Shawn Johnson reports...

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Tribes Take On Gay, Lesbian Unions
04/04/05

The emotional debate over same sex marriage now underway in state legislatures across the country could eventually get even more complicated. Sovereign Indian nations could begin to weigh in with thier own strict, or more lenient marriage laws. Gil Halsted reports...

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Organization Wants to Restore Eroded Area
04/04/05

A national conservation organization is calling for restoration of the midwest driftless area. Sandra Harris reports...

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Food Coopearatives New Trend in Wisconsin
04/04/05

Community Supported Agriculture is becoming more popular in Wisconsin. This weekend farmers, gardeners, and people who like to eat can learn more about the food cooperatives. The Eastern Wisconsin Sustainable Farm Network is sponsoring a Farm Fair this Saturday. Patty Murray reports...

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Ancient Treasure Inspires Rock Concert
04/01/05

How do you fully appreciate the oldest thing in the world? That's the question University of Wisconsin geologist Joe Skulan pondered some time ago. The answer is a work of live performance art coming to Madison next weekend. Terry Bell reports...

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UW-Superior Native American Specialist Helps Red Lake Students Readjust
04/01/05

The University of Wisconsin-Superior will allow its Native American Development Specialist to help the students at Red Lake High School recover after last week's shootings that left 10 people dead. Mike Simonson reports...

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Bill May Terminate Parental Rights Among Meth Producers
04/01/05

Those who get caught manufacturing methamphetamine may lose their children. Mary Jo Wagner reports...

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Scientific Dispute Over Animal Laughter and Its Human Impact
04/01/05

Long ago, Charles Darwin noted similarities between the expressions of primates and humans. Now some scientists go further, contending that animals laugh. And that those play sounds might be the evolutionary basis for laughter in humans. Shamane Mills reports...

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Grassroot Actions Against Bush's Social Security Reform
04/01/05

Across the country this week Labor Unions are lobbying Wall street investment firms to withdraw their support for President Bush's plan to create private social security accounts. In Madison About 40 protsters gathered outside the offices of the Charles Schwab corporation. Gil Halsted reports...

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Future of Public Nuisance Law Uncertain
04/01/05

A state Assembly panel may vote next week on a plan that would make it tougher for the government to sue businesses for being public nuisances. Supporters say the proposal will help grow jobs but the state's top lawyer calls it appalling. Shawn Johnson reports...

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