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Governor hosts second summit on campus safety

August 9, 2007 By

Wisconsin's new task force on campus safety held its second summit in Eau Claire on Thursday. Governor Doyle created the task force in response to the Virginia Tech massacre this past spring.

This second summit focused on how to handle students who show warning signs related to mental health. Governor says members are focused on dealing with students that have a history of problems and may be a danger to others. He wants them to examine ways to make sure they have access to the help they need and that steps are taken to protect other students.

More than eighty registrants attended the session, which included a mix of law enforcement, education, and student mental health professionals.

The Governor has asked the statewide task force to come up with some recommendations by the time classes start this fall. 

AUDIO: Dan Lea reports (MP3 :49)

Filed Under: Education

Conference committee deadlocks on UW funding

August 9, 2007 By

Another contentious day demonstrates the gulf between Senate and Assembly versions of the state budget. Negotiators at the Capitol batted around education proposals Thursday, but the eight member budget conference committee failed to come to any consensus on funding for the University of Wisconsin System. For Democrats led by Senate Majority Leader Judy Robson (D-Beloit), the day's focus was on the UW System: Robson's not happy with Assembly Republicans, whom she accused of grinding personal axes with provisions to eliminate funding for the UW Law School, and cutting funds for the Sociology Department at UW Madison. “That's just plain silly,” said Robson, who was also critical of Republicans for failing to come up with a counter offer to the UW funding proposal the Democrats made.

But, Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch (R-West Salem) stuck to his guns on UW funding. “We did not give them as much as you would've given them, and we did not give then as much as they wanted,” said Huebsch. “I believe they are probable not giddy about that. I understand that. And the Republicans elected to counter with a K-12 funding proposal , with Huebsch reiterating that money for public schools remains the Assembly Republicans top priority. A seeming point of agreement between the two sides, to cap the rate of increase for UW System tuition at 4%, fell apart when Republicans rejected a Democrat proposal to provide more money to the university.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:55 MP3)

Filed Under: Budget, Politics & Government, Top Story

Schools could get more help dealing with problem students

August 9, 2007 By

A proposal at the Capitol would expand the ability of school staff to deal with unruly students.

Currently, only a teacher or principal can remove a disruptive pupil from classes. State Representative Joan Ballweg (R-Markesan) wants to extend that power to any school employee, and expand it to activities outside the classroom.

Ballweg says the idea is that if there's a disruptive student, any employee should be able to get that student out of that situation.

The way many school environments are set up these days, Ballweg says it's important all personnel be involved to insure the safety of students and staff. 

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :38)

Filed Under: Education

Push continues for tobacco tax hike

August 9, 2007 By

Members of the Legislature's budget conference committee are being told the state needs to pass a proposed $1.25 a pack increase in the cigarette tax. The message is coming from Maureen Busalacchi, head of SmokeFree Wisconsin, who says taxes need to be increased so the state has more money to combat youth and pregnancy smoking rates. She says the state can't afford to keep things the same because Medicaid costs for smoking-related illnesses continue to climb.

Governor Doyle proposed the $1.25 tax, which Senate Democrats endorsed and Assembly Republicans rejected. What action comes out of the conference committee remains to be seen. 

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :36)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Vernon County pig farm controversy

August 9, 2007 By

How big should livestock operations in the state be ? That question was raised in a Vernon County dispute over health and environmental issues.

It was neighbor against neighbor in a battle over a proposed 24-hundred head pig farm. There were complaints that it would cause environmental and health problems and start a trend of more mega-farms.

Supporters said there is no evidence of a health threat based on  conditions on at least thirty other farms in the state.

Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen says the state doesn't set limits on the number of head in an operation but has rules and guidelines on how to run those operations. Something they worked on for thirty months.

Until now, Nilsestuen says, regulations were all over the place varying from town to town making it confusing and controversial for everyone.

The Vernon County board decided against a moratorium on how large livestock operations could be and decided to come up with a county operation ordinance based on the state guidelines.

AUDIO: Jim Dick reports ( :58 MP3 )

Filed Under: Agriculture
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