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Bigby gets a shot at safety with Packers

August 14, 2007 By

Atari Bigby Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy is holding tryouts at safety in practice.  First to step to the plate is Atari Bigby, who worked in practice with the first defensive unit at both safety positions yesterday.

Nick Collins is one starter and Marquand Manuel the other, but Manuel's job could be in jeopardy.  This is the first time that the Packers have moved another player onto the first unit at the safety position during this training camp. 

Bigby went undrafted in 2005 and has called practice squads his home for much of the last two seasons. 

Bigby has played well in training camp so far and played reletively well in Saturday's preseason opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers.  But he did miss a pair of tackles, which is something he'll need to clean up.

Listen / Download – Bill Scott on Atari Bigby's working with the one's in practice. 1:00

Filed Under: Green Bay Packers

Proposed soda tax falls flat

August 14, 2007 By

The proposal from State Representative Gary Bies (R-Sister Bay) would tax soda by two cents a can. The extra revenue would be used to provide dental care of low-income kids in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Grocers Association president Brandon Scholz says it's a noble cause, but it's not fair to impose a special tax just to address one problem in society. He says the state should find a way to pay for such a special need out of existing state revenues, if it recognizes the problem as something that needs to be addressed. He says the soda tax would open the door for similar action to address other problems.

The Wisconsin Dental Association is supporting the proposal. 

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (MP3 :39)

Filed Under: Taxes

Push continues for anti-smoking initiatives

August 14, 2007 By

A coalition of health groups is strengthening its push to limit tobacco use in Wisconsin.

Smoke Free Wisconsin's Maureen Busalacchi says there's strong public support for a statewide smoking ban, a $1.25 a pack increase in the tobacco tax, and increased funding for smoking prevention.

Smoke Free Wisconsin and several other health groups have been coordinating a statewide campaign to limit tobacco use. But Busalacchi says some lawmakers are still hesitant to support them because of a very vocal minority that believes those measures are bad for business.

The health groups are urging the public to tell lawmakers they want anti-tobacco measures to move forward. Busalacchi says it's the only way to compete with being outspent 2-to-1 by big tobacco.

Busalacchi says public perceptions are changing, and lawmakers can't ignore anti-smoking efforts anymore. 

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:08)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine
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