This is one of the busiest boating weekends of the year. And, the state Department of Natural Resources says it has found nearly half the boaters in Wisconsin frequently move their boats from one lake to another. The D-N-R says if those boats aren't cleaned between uses, they could help spread invasive species throughout the state. One invasive water weed that's been difficult to control in other states has been found for the first time in Wisconsin. Eleanor Heidkamp-Young reports. …

The growing demand for corn-based ethanol spurred many Wisconsin growers to plant more corn this year. As Brian Bull reports, that push came at the expense of soybeans….…

The success of special drug courts nationwide in reducing recidivism is catching on in Wisconsin. More than a dozen counties now operate courts that sentence drug offenders to treatment instead of prison. And in counties that don't have one Judges and District Attorneys are asking for state aid to create more. Gil Halsted reports. …

The federal No Child Left Behind Act is five years old and has plenty of critics. 2 of them were in Eau Claire today/yesterday to outline changes they say are needed before the bill is re-authorized this fall. Mary Jo Wagner has more. …

A proposed high-voltage transmission line across Minnesota into western Wisconsin may be critical to meeting future electric needs. Utility operators say they’ll work closely with landowners to try to reduce possible opposition. Sandra Harris reports …

A Minnesota lawmaker says flood victims in his state shouldn’t have to rely on Federal Emergency Management Agency Disaster assistance alone. Steve Roisum reports…

Governor Jim Doyle's administration has ordered state health officials to develop a strategy to cut Medicaid in light of the ongoing budget standoff. As Shawn Johnson reports... Republicans call it a scare tactic. …

Three Native American tribes – including one from Wisconsin – celebrated the grand opening of their multi-million dollar venture in Sacramento this week. But instead of a casino, it’s a hotel….and observers say more tribes are teaming up on business ventures that don’t involve gaming. Brian Bull reports: …

A plan to reduce pollution from products containing mercury has been drafted for states in the Great Lakes region. Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

Low water levels continue in the Western Great Lakes. Some scientists say it may partly be the fault of global warming. But they also say warming could bring back high water levels. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

This is the week many university students move their things into dorms and apartments before school starts next week. But the ability of some to start is still in limbo because the state budget has not been finalized. Mary Jo Wagner has more from Eau Claire…

Healthcare providers and advocates for seniors say the children’s health and Medicare protection act – called CHAMP for short – is critical to providing healthcare for low-income people. Sandra Harris reports…

Ever since legislative leaders started discussing Wisconsin's state budget, public employees have kept a steady and visible presence at the Wisconsin capitol. As Shawn Johnson reports there are signs that some GOP lawmakers are listening…

A forestry manager nominated to serve on the DNR Board says the state should take a second look at a plan to cut down a lot of trees if the Emerald Ash Borer comes to Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports …

Members of the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin are getting a one-time payment later this year. Tribal officials say the total payout will come to 88-million dollars. But as Brian Bull reports, some question if the payments are good for the tribe’s future…

The unusual joint campaign of two Congressional candidates now includes a written promise of a clean and positive effort against Republican incumbent James Sensenbrenner. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A Catholic School teacher from Appleton who was fired for getting pregnant through in-vitro fertilization has reached a settlement with the Xavier Educational System. Kelly Romenesko reached a settlement today with the school district for an undisclosed amount of money. Gil Halsted reports…

Predicted heavy rains for Tuesday into Wednesday have prompted emergency officials in Vernon county to continue an evacuation order for residents near three dams of concern. Sandra Harris reports…

Women who face wage discrimination in the workplace could sue their employer for back pay under a plan being revived at the Wisconsin capitol. Shawn Johnson reports…

Some Wisconsin lawmakers want to follow Minnesota's lead and ban the use of phosphorus on all lawns and golf courses unless a soil test shows its needed. The intent is to reduce lake weeds and algae growth. Shamane Mills reports…

With a week to go before school, district superintendents are frustrated that state lawmakers haven't been able to finalize a state budget. That means school districts may start classes next week without knowing how much state aid they can expect to receive. Steve Roisum reports…

Assessors from the Federal Emergency Management Agency are touring flood-ravaged parts of Wisconsin this week. So far, disaster declarations have been issued for five counties. Many residents hope they’ll qualify for disaster assistance, to help them recover from the recent storms. Brian Bull reports…

Governor Jim Doyle is contending that the state budget impasse is making headaches for many school districts as classes start for the year. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A Dane county committee has approved proposal to reduce phone charges for inmates at the Dane county jail. If approved by the county board it would make the county the first local government in the country to ban the practice of raising local revenues by charging jail inmates and their families exorbitant prices for phone calls. Gil Halsted reports…

The investigation into homemade explosives found along the construction site of the Duluth to Wausau transmission line continues with federal and local law enforcement agencies. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A La Crosse baseball team has been planning a fund-raiser to update facilities at the ballpark it leases from the city. But, instead, what’s raised will go to help victims of last weeks’ floods. Sandra Harris reports...

There are still no candidates registered to face off against sitting Supreme Court Justice Louis Butler next spring. While the seat is officially non-partisan, a new analysis shows party affiliation played a bigger role than ever in the last race for the court. Shawn Johnson reports…

On Tuesday (08/28/07), a Wausau doctor will try to restore normal eyesight to a little girl from Iraq. The girl's condition was noticed by a soldier from central Wisconsin. Shamane Mills reports…

This fall, the National Weather Service will change the way it issues severe weather alerts. It hopes new “storm-based warnings” will promote safety by only alerting areas that lie directly in a storm’s path. Adam Hinterthuer has more.…

In downtown Madison, more than 30 surveillance cameras are scheduled to be installed and tested soon, as a way to crack down on crime. But there are already mixed feelings on the cameras’ use and effectiveness. Brian Bull reports…

The Apostle Islands National Lakeshore in northern Wisconsin looks to be getting a shot in the arm from both its annual budget…and a new National Park Service plan announced this week (Thursday). Mike Simonson reports from Superior.…

President Bush has approved a federal disaster declaration for five counties in Western Wisconsin hit hard by last week's rains. But the state also wants help for seven more counties. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The waters of the Kickapoo river are gradually receding and residents of Gays Mills are gearing up for community clean up day Saturday. Gil Halsted reports…

More counties in Wisconsin are taking the first step in seeking federal assistance for cleanup and rebuilding funds after recent flooding and high winds. Steve Roisum reports…

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency is in Wisconsin today assessing damage from this past week's storms. Shawn Johnson reports…

It's been about a month since legislative leaders started meeting to discuss the state budget, and they still haven't resolved a single difference. Their latest discussion highlighted one of the big hang-ups… they still can't decide how much money they have to work with. Shawn Johnson reports…

Even as flooding plagues the southern part of the state, moderate to severe drought across northern and central Wisconsin has prompted state and federal legislators to call for disaster relief for farmers. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior…

People in one of the southwestern Wisconsin communities hit hardest by this week's flooding are gradually starting the clean-up process. Officials say about 80-percent of the people evacuated from Gays Mills are now back in their homes. Gil Halsted reports…

Nearly a quarter of Wisconsin’s organic farms are located in the southwestern counties declared Disaster Areas by Governor Doyle. And many owners of those farms are saying that outdated insurance policies are making it difficult for them to recover from the damage. Mike Ewing reports…

One way to attract physicians to rural areas in Wisconsin may be to train them in a rural setting for a couple of years. That’s the thinking behind an agreement just signed between Marshfield Clinic and the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Doctors in Northeastern Wisconsin have a new option for their own healthcare. The Wisconsin Medical Society is launching a cooperative insurance pool for physicians and their office staff. Patty Murray reports…

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton says she had a cervical cancer scare twenty years ago. So, she's speaking out in favor of a measure that would boost cancer education for young people. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A massive new report from the Wisconsin sentencing commission finds African American and Hispanic drug offenders are much more likely than their white counterparts to be sent to prison instead of placed on probation. The report is long on statistics but short on explanations for why such racial disparity exists. Gil Halsed reports…

Residents of the Town of Shelby, south of La Crosse, spent Wednesday (08/22/07) salvaging their belongings, after what residents say was the worst flooding they’ve ever seen. Micah Schweizer reports…

An alternative to live ammunition fire training drills on the Great Lakes will get a test run Thursday (08/23/07) on Lake Erie. After coming under intense criticism last summer for conducting live ammunition drills on the Great Lakes, the Coast Guard is examining other training methods. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

When homes and businesses are damaged by water, insurance companies and owners want to get the damage repaired as efficiently as possible. Students at the Chippewa Valley Technical College may soon learn how to evaluate flood claims. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

State lawmakers are considering two competing plans that aim to keep gift cards from expiring before consumers get a chance to use them. Shawn Johnson reports…

Children’s advocates say kids can't learn when they're hungry and they don't do as well in school when they're sick, either. One obstacle to improving kid's health is getting parents to sign up for government programs. Shamane Mills reports…

The autobiography of Wisconsin's longest serving congressman hit the book stores this week. Reporter Glen Moberg sat down with Democrat Dave Obey, and learned that his interest in politics began with a controversial Wisconsin Republican…

Governor Jim Doyle has declared a state of emergency in two more Wisconsin counties as a result of this week's flooding. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Mold can take hold soon after a big storm. Public health officials say it’s important to dry out basements and other flooded areas quickly. But homeowner insurance policies generally don't cover such cleaning and maintenance, and many services are booked solid. Shamane Mills reports…

While Governor Doyle has added two more counties to his request for disaster assistance from the federal government, emergency officials from around the Coulee region are trying to assess flood damage to private property from this weekend’s heavy rains. Sandra Harris reports…

The state Supreme Court will take up a lawsuit that challenges the legal authority of a town government to place a moratorium on commercial and residential development. The issue relates directly to the state's Smart growth law that requires all local governments to write up a comprehensive growth plan. Gil Halsted reports…

Governor Doyle says he backs several proposals to limit access to handguns. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Lawmakers discussing Wisconsin's budget largely talked past one another Tuesday (8/21) about how much the state should spend buying and preserving public land. Shawn Johnson reports…

The Wisconsin DNR is worried about potential contamination of private wells in parts of the state that have received a lot of rain over the last few days. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The small town of Gays Mills in Crawford county took the brunt of the flooding damage that hit western Wisconsin over the weekend. When the Kickapoo river overran its banks early Sunday morning more than 200 people were evacuated . That 's a bout about a third of the town's population Gil Halsted reports…

The Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay is getting a $200,000 federal grant aimed at getting kids to exercise. Patty Murray reports…

Parts of Oregon have been underwater since getting all the rain this weekend. The village is one several areas in Dane County identified several years ago by flood experts as "hot spots". Shamane Mills reports…

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle surveyed a part of the Southwest portion of the state that took in up to twelve inches of rain over the weekend, causing massive flooding in areas. Steve Roisum reports...

A Republican and a Democrat have launched their joint election campaign against Wisconsin Rep. James Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls). Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Outagamie county supervisors are hoping an opinion from Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen will help clear the way for a proposed county ordinance to deny certain county benefits to illegal immigrants. But a spokesperson for an immigrants rights group says immigration laws are a federal responsibility and local governments shouldn't try to write their own. Gil Halsted reports…

While Republican state lawmakers want to get rid of most of the tax increases proposed by Democrats, the G.O.P. would also end a tax credit for many low-income singles. Shawn Johnson reports…

Each year, the elderly in Medicare's drug plan have a chance to switch without penalty. A consumer group warns low-income seniors may find themselves in a different insurance plan next year through no action of their own. Shamane Mills reports…

Law enforcement and emergency personnel in La Crosse County and Vernon County say there were a lot of challenges, and no known major injuries, after up to a foot of rain hit the area Saturday night and Sunday morning. Steve Roisum reports…

Tougher federal requirements for getting a passport are getting more Wisconsin parents who are delinquent on their child support to pay up. Shawn Johnson reports…

Many of the nation's high schools are turning into open drug bazaars, according to a recent national survey. The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse says 80 percent of high school students attend schools where drug dealing happens daily. But Wisconsin educational officials question the findings. Gil Halsted reports…

Early this morning, the Dane County Board in Madison voted in favor of impeaching President Bush, becoming only the second county in the nation to take that step. The idea isn't getting favorable reviews from a powerful Wisconsin Democrat. Glen Moberg reports…

Police around Wisconsin will be working overtime targeting drunken drivers. A half-million-dollar federal grant is going to pay for overtime patrols. It's part of a nationwide enforcement effort that's kicking off this weekend, and will last through Labor Day. Patty Murray reports…

The prospective new owners of Midwest Airlines say they don't think their partnership with Northwest Airlines will hurt competition for air travelers. But they say it's possible that Northwest could someday own Midwest. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Following the 35-W bridge collapse in Minnesota, two Wisconsin associations are trying to assure travelers that the state’s counties are keeping local bridges safe. Brian Bull reports…

As Wisconsin lawmakers consider whether to boost the cigarette tax, there is federal pressure to do so. Shamane Mills reports…

The Chequamegon Bay’s Alliance for Sustainability is doing more than trying to educate people about renewable energy. Danielle Kaeding reports that they’re going door-to-door, and they want you to swap light bulbs…

Wisconsin Right to Life says it’s critical to intervene in the case of a La Crosse area woman whose guardian is asking for a feeding tube to be removed. Sandra Harris reports …

Farmers worldwide are enjoying record-prices for milk. But a UW-Madison agricultural professor says U.S. prices are already at their peak. Brian Bull has more…

The issue of whether the state adequately protects surface waters from nearby hi-capacity wells may wind up in court. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Three Green Bay teenagers made plea agreements this week for their roles in plotting an attack on their High School. The pleas brought an end to the legal proceedings in the case, but students at East High are left to cope with the emotional aftermath. Two television producers spent much of the last school year documenting how students and teachers balance learning, security, and negative publicity. Patty Murray reports…

This was the fourth week legislative leaders have met to negotiate the state budget, and so far they have little to show for it. As Shawn Johnson reports, both sides are starting to discuss and point fingers over the lack of movement…

Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines has a merger deal with the private equity firm T-P-G Capital and Northwest Airlines. Midwest's Board of Directors accepted a new offer last night. (TH) Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Statewide, two thousand more students took the ACT test this year than last year and the scores are higher as well. But the test isn’t the sole factor of who gets into college. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

An effort to ban prescription drug ads in Wisconsin is being criticized as symbolic, potentially illegal and a jobs-killer for broadcast companies that air the ads. Supporters say it’s a way to protect consumers from unnecessary or even dangerous medicine. Shamane Mills reports…

Prison reform advocates are upset about the impasse over the state budget. A good chunk of the 60 million dollars the Republican controlled assembly wants to cut from the prison budget would fund programs designed to reduce recidivism. Gil Halsted reports…

State lawmakers hold a public hearing on a plan that would keep new teenage drivers from using a cell phone behind the wheel. Shawn Johnson reports…

More Wisconsin immigrants rights groups are criticizing the Bush Administration's newest crackdown on illegal immigration. They say a lawsuit may be coming. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Wisconsin has increased participation in what used to be known as the Food Stamp program. But officials are still trying to reach more people who could benefit. Shamane Mills reports…

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle has declared a statewide drought emergency. That could make it easier for farmers to use surface water for irrigation. But sometimes the state DNR says no. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

African Americans make up only 6 percent of Wisconsin's population . But the latest national crime study shows if your black in Wisconsin you're nine times more likely than whites or other ethnic groups to be a murder victim. That's higher than the national ratio according to the National Crime Victimization Study released this month. Gil Halsted has more…

Summary In the wake of the collapse of the I-35 W bridge in Minnesota two weeks ago. The Wisconsin Transportation Department has started the inspection of 15 similar bridges. As Sandra Harris reports, in an age where technology rules, bridge inspections still remain very low-tech…

World War Two ended sixty-two years ago Wednesday (8/15). While the ranks of surviving veterans are dwindling, those who remain still get together to share war stories. Seven members of a submarine crew will meet this weekend in Manitowoc. Patty Murray spoke to one of them who spends much of his summer at a museum sharing his experiences in the belly of the submarine he served on…

Two Democratic lawmakers are introducing a plan that they say would take the politics out of redrawing political maps. Shawn Johnson reports…

Midwest Airlines says it's considering a revised takeover bid made by Air Tran Airways –less than 48 hours after Air Tran said it was bowing out of the bidding war for Milwaukee-based Midwest. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Turns out the picnickers and sportsmen at Delavan’s Community Park have unexpected company. The Wisconsin State Historical Society says there’s a Native American burial mound on site, which park administrators plan to protect immediately. Brian Bull reports…

Northwest Airlines has emerged as a passive partner for a plan to acquire Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines. But an analyst says that may not be good news for price-conscious consumers. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The state has ordered tests for all fish being stocked in Wisconsin waters. It's the latest move aimed at stopping the spread of the fish-killing virus, VHS. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

One year after a Park Falls paper mill was resurrected under new ownership, the company is getting attention for both economic and environmental reasons. Glen Moberg reports…

Wisconsin's population continues to grow faster than most of its neighbors, but slower than in recent years. Shawn Johnson reports…

The President of the UW Board of Regents says a proposal to cap tuition at all four-year UW campuses may sound like a great idea, but it won’t work. Steve Roisum reports…

A month ago, the UW-Madison got word it was no longer being considered as a site for a national Bio and Agro Defense facility. University officials now know why; and say the information may help them adjust strategies to secure future research contracts. Shamane Mills reports…

A new situation comedy is coming to American households this fall, centering on the adventures of a Muslim exchange student from Pakistan, living with a skittish suburban family in Wisconsin. The show mirrors a highly successful show that premiered in Canada in January. Brian Bull reports…

The federal government says this year's corn crop will be the largest in history. In Wisconsin, corn growers say the crop is looking good here, too. Michael Leland has more…

Three teenagers will enter pleas in a Green Bay courtroom this morning (8/13). They were supposed to go on trial this morning on charges of plotting an attack on Green Bay East High School last fall. Michael Leland has more…

A piece of Americana may be slowly vanishing from Wisconsin's landscape. The "mom and pop resorts"...a spot with a handful of cabins and a small lodge where the owners live used to dot lakefronts across the state. But the heyday of rustic cabins is giving way to private development or inns and bed and breakfasts which offer more amenities. So, many of these 1950's vintage resorts struggle to survive. Mike Simonson reports from Gordon Lake in southern Ashland County…

Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines says it plans to pursue a sale to a private equity firm and other partners, and has spurned a takeover bid by Air Tran Airways. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The standoff over Wisconsin's state budget has prompted an early start to campaign season. A group that represents police officers will run an ad targeting a GOP lawmaker for supporting a budget it says hurts public safety. Shawn Johnson reports…

The Wisconsin State Bar Association is urging legislative leaders to reverse the funding cuts for the state court system included in the state Assembly's version of the budget. Gil Halsted reports…

The director of a new Wisconsin research center says he sees the potential for re-using a lot more construction waste and other materials in the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Part Five: In and Out of the Big House
08/10/07

The mantra of policy makers when it comes to prison re-entry programs is a simple one. The majority of prisoners will return to their communities one day so we better help them become productive citizens or they'll commit new crimes and go back to prison. In the fifth and final part of our prisoner re-entry series, Gil Halsted tracks the path of one offender who's been in and out of prison for most of the last 40 years. …

It's not just farmers who are looking to get something out of the federal farm bill: trout fishermen want more conservation dollars so manure and chemical runoff doesn't affect waterways, while energy interests want more money to grow crops needed for ethanol and other non-fossil fuels. Shamane Mills reports on a hearing U-S Senator Herb Kohl held in Madison yesterday (8/9) to find out what should be included in the massive farm bill being considered by Congress.…

Drought continues to take its toll in far northern Wisconsin. The driest area is along the southshore counties of Lake Superior, where the "river of Presidents"...the Brule River...is at an all-time low...and wildfires are plaguing the region. Mike Simonson reports from Superior.…

Tomorrow (8/11) could be a major day for Tommy Thompson's campaign to be President. Republicans in Iowa will vote in a straw poll of presidential candidates, and the former Wisconsin governor says he has to finish in the top two... to stay in the race. Chuck Quirmbach caught up with Thompson in Iowa and has this report.…

Madison officials are already buckling down for this year’s annual Freakfest celebration. While the Halloween-weekend event typically draws thousands of revelers, this coming observance coincides with another huge celebration. Brian Bull reports:…

Legislative leaders have tossed aside a plan that would increase funding at the University of Wisconsin and cap tuition at four percent. Shawn Johnson reports...…

Plans by a chemical plant to go mercury-free have entered the discussion over the DNR's proposal to require coal-burning power plants to make major cuts in mercury pollution. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Yesterday (8/9) at U-W Eau Claire, the Governor’s Task Force on Campus Safety held its second meeting, where the focus was complex mental health issues on campuses. Mary Jo Wagner has more. …

While many Wisconsin residents don Cheeseheads in order to show their pride for the dairy state, it isn't exactly causal apparel. But a new brand started by two UW-Madison students is proving to be a popular alternative. Mike Ewing reports...

Since 1994, prison inmates have been cut off from getting a four-year college degree while they're behind bars. That's when congress eliminated Pell Grants and student loans for prisoners. But a UW-Oshkosh criminology professor is trying to change that. In part four of our Prisoner Reentry series, Gil Halsted reports on the bridge from prison to college…

A company that's a major source of mercury pollution in Wisconsin says it's switching to a mercury-free technology. The site is a chemical plant in Port Edwards. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Immigrant rights activists gathered in Whitewater Wednesday (8/8) to mark the one-year anniversary of an immigration raid. While critics say the event crippled a local company and the town’s economy, authorities say the raid was justified. Brian Bull reports…

A new bill in Congress is designed to protect Wisconsin ginseng farmers, whose crop has been hit hard by foreign competition. Glen Moberg reports…

Wisconsin has more farmers markets than any other state except for California and New York. Business is good, but state agriculture officials think it can be better. Officials are giving out a $29,000-dollar grant for a website which will allow customers to purchase homegrown produce online. Shamane Mills reports…

There’s no new progress in state budget negotiations as legislative leaders continue to hammer home talking points on their pet issues. On Wednesday (08/08), Assembly Republicans told Senate Democrats they should go along with a plan that would freeze local property tax rates. Shawn Johnson reports…

You'd have more access to the archives of the late Wisconsin Senator Bill Proxmire, if a new fundraising effort by the State Historical Society succeeds. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

With daily attacks in Iraq and ethnic conflict in other parts of the Middle East, negative images of the Arab world are frequently on the news. But some members of Wisconsin’s Arab population are trying to highlight the diversity and richness of Middle Eastern culture. Eleanor Heidkamp-Young prepared this report…

It's usually better to find a new job before you quit your old one. For people getting out of prison, not finding a new job often means returning to their old one, locked behind bars . But for others, Wisconsin's prison work-release program is the key to avoiding the revolving door back into prison. In part three of our prisoner re-entry series Gil Halsted reports on the challenges prisoners face in paying their debt to society by earning money while they're still locked up…

Archaeologists are troubled by the recent vandalism of a prehistoric cave painting in southwest Wisconsin. A Ho-Chunk tribal member says the defacement is a great loss on many levels. Brian Bull reports…

Republicans have criticized a health plan in the democrat's budget as costly and a radical remaking of the current system. Now the GOP's proposal is under attack. Shamane Mills reports…

The Vernon County Board of Supervisors heard impassioned pleas from 30 people, both for and against the proposed six-month moratorium on large-scale livestock operations, before voting the measure down on Tuesday (8/7). Micah Schweizer reports…

Wisconsin will put sensors on fifteen bridges, to check for unusual movement. It's part of the state's reaction to the deadly bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

More Wisconsin meat producers still hope to be allowed to sell their products in other states. But there's a clog in Congress. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

49 Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to Governor Jim Doyle asking him not to use his partial veto pen once the state budget reaches his desk. As Shawn Johnson reports, the Governor says they should go back to civics class…

Wisconsin may set a record this year for fatal motorcycle accidents. As Glen Moberg reports, all too often, alcohol consumption has been a factor…

More than 9,000 inmates will be released from Wisconsin prisons next year. Some who have been on work release will already have a job. But many will hit the streets in debt and with only a few dollars in their pocket. Some will end up in seedy motels surrounded by the very things that landed them in jail in the first place. In part two of our special series on prisoner re-entry, Gil Halsted reports on both the opportunities and pitfalls for ex-offenders who are out and trying to stay out…

A local nutrition expert says healthy foods need to be promoted more and junk food less. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows kids prefer fast food from a chain that promotes its children's meals with toys and movie characters. Shamane Mills reports…

According to census figures, Milwaukee County has twice as many Hispanics compared to the state as a whole. And a study by the Medical College of Wisconsin indicates that for those who don't speak English, getting understandable health information can be difficult when it comes to prescription medication. Shamane Mills reports…

A Green Bay lawmaker says cutting the number of Wisconsin’s counties by 75 percent would curb big government and save money. A governmental affairs researcher says State Representative Frank Lasee’s (R-Bellevue) proposal has merit, but would be tough to pull off. Brian Bull reports…

One of the two major spans connecting Superior with Duluth is being inspected today, but in the wake of the I-35 bridge collapse in the Twin Cities last week, there are more inspectors than usual. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

One of the budget debates lawmakers will try to resolve in coming months is whether the state should make it easier for schools to buy students breakfast. Shawn Johnson reports…

A Spooner man who survived the I-35 W bridge collapse while on his way to visit his fiancé’s injured daughter has been charged with abuse of that child. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior…

An effort to check the background of healthcare workers had a sounding board at a public hearing in Superior Monday (8/6). Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior …

About four dozen people shared their ideas for slowing down or reducing global warming, during public input sessions around the state Monday (8/7). Chuck Quirmbach reports …

Ships are bringing more wind turbine components in and out of the Duluth-Superior port at a record pace this year. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior…

Locally grown food is one of the biggest trends in agriculture. And in some cases it really is more than just the going buzz word. For instance: a farmer, a chef and a brewer are turning a special kind of wheat into a popular beer, and quite possibly preserving a small town economy at the same time. Patty Murray reports…

Nationally the phrase "prisoner re-entry" has become a buzz word. Over the past decade millions of dollars, both public and private, have been spent on programs designed to reduce the human traffic surging in and out through the revolving prison doors. The most recent study in Wisconsin shows that more than a third of inmates released wind up back in prison within three years. In the first of a 5 part series, Gil Halsted reports on one of the latest efforts in Milwaukee to at least slow down the revolving door…

Legislative leaders head back to a conference table this week to resume debate on Wisconsin's state budget. One of the sticking points early-on has been over cuts proposed by Assembly Republicans to four cities with Democratic Senators. Shawn Johnson reports…

The FCC is pushing cell phone companies to provide customers with the best enhanced 9-1-1 service. Called “E-9-1-1” for short, it helps emergency responders locate people calling from a cellphone. But while some progress has been made, there’s still room for improvement for wireless phones, especially those used in rural areas. Brian Bull reports…

A Wisconsin task force trying to address global warming wants to hear from you at listening sessions Monday (8/6) afternoon. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

16-year-old Eric Hainstock has been sentenced for the shooting death of his high school principal last fall. Judge Patrick Taggart sentenced the teen gunman to life in prison, with a chance at parole in 30 years. Brian Bull reports…

A Wausau man has come home after serving as a top leader at the U.S. embassy in Iraq. As Glen Moberg reports, he has a warning for anti-war politicians…

A film about the experience of children at a northern Wisconsin summer camp made its Wisconsin debut Friday (8/3). Eleanor Heidkamp-Young reports…

Wisconsin's Department of Transportation will re-inspect 16 bridges that are similar in design to the one that collapsed in Minnesota. Shawn Johnson reports…

Last night, after more than six hours' deliberation, jurors found 16-year-old Eric Hainstock guilty of first degree intentional homicide. The teenager shot and killed his high school principal last September, in an act his defense tried to portray as a plea for help. Brian Bull produced this report…

The eight-lane freeway bridge that suddenly collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday will mean over-the-road freight traffic will be re-routed…some of it through Wisconsin. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior…

Following the fatal bridge collapse in Minnesota, Wisconsin officials are looking at their own infrastructure. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Tests show Wisconsin's hogs are healthy. As a result, Michigan has lifted its ban on incoming swine ...and two other states have eased lesser restrictions. Shamane Mills reports…

Tourism officials in La Crosse are welcoming the announcement Republicans will hold their statewide convention in that city in two years. Sandra Harris reports…

An ambulance service in La Crosse is using cutting-edge technology to find patients quicker, and to make sure paramedics have the information they need, even beforehand, to treat them. Steve Roisum reports…

Many folks wouldn’t dream of having a summer cook-out without mustard. The briny yellow condiment is often a prized topper for hot dogs, burgers, and brats. But while most folks see mustard as a squirt of zesty yellow ooze, one Mt. Horeb man literally regards mustard as an institution. Brian Bull profiles Barry Levinson, and his Mustard Museum…

Injury prevention experts from around the country are gathering this week in Marshfield, home of the National Farm Medicine Center. They are discussing ways to protect those who grow our food along with those who consume it. Shamane Mills reports…

A conservation group says there will be more pressure to tap into the fresh water of the Great Lakes. That same group says it will be more difficult to turn back attempts to build pipelines to southern and western states. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Wisconsin pulp and paper mills are being urged to switch to less hazardous chemicals—to reduce pollution and discourage terrorists. Chuck Quirmbach has the story…

Legislative leaders negotiating over the state budget have agreed to hundreds of items that many assumed were never in doubt in the first place. Nevertheless, their move gives yet another seal of approval to funding for programs like SeniorCare and DNA analysts at the state's crime labs. Shawn Johnson reports…

The number of reported sexual assault cases in the military is rising, but military officials say it’s the result of a new program addressing the problem. Danielle Kaeding reports how some people in Wisconsin are dealing with the issue…

Sixteen small businesses around Wisconsin are getting checks from the State. The money is going to help companies develop innovative products that find new uses for agricultural goods. Patty Murray reports…

Officials in southern Wisconsin are beginning a program to expedite emergency services in the case of a car crash. It is being called the “ICE” contact program, which stands for “In Case of Emergency.”…

Governor Doyle has named a new top officer for the Wisconsin National Guard. Doyle says he hopes his choice can also get civilians to follow orders. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Opposition has forced two democratic lawmakers to scale back plans regarding a new vaccine protecting against cervical cancer. They've backed off legislation making it mandatory, deciding instead to tell schoolgirls and their parents what health experts recommend. Shamane Mills reports…

The state's Attorney General says he found no evidence that campaign contributions to the Governor influenced a decision to approve the sale of the Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant. Shawn Johnson reports…

Allegations of illegal influence over the sale of the Kewaunee nuclear power plant have been ruled out. But a citizens group says the takeover by of the plant by Virginia-based Dominion Resources has not been good for Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…