The Brewers today announced the signing of four players to one-year contracts. They now have OF Tony Gwynn, INF Hernan Iribarren, LHP Manny Parra and LHP Chase Wright under contract for the coming season.
Packers hold the line on ticket increases
February 26, 2009 By
This was the year the Green Bay Packers were supposed to increase ticket prices. The organization usually sticks with an every other year pattern and the team didn't increase prices last year. But Packers President and CEO Mark Murphy (pictured) said pricing will remain the same for the upcoming season.
Murphy said the Packers couldn't afford to be arrogant. He said they needed to be sensitive to what people are going through with the current economy. As a result, the Packers will look to cut costs and increase revenue in other areas.
The non-increase means the three price ranges of $72, $64 and $59 remain the same for next season. The average ticket price of just under $64 ranked as the 9th best value in the 32-team NFL .
It's a refreshing change when considering the current state of the economy and the millions of dollars in bailout money that's being thrown around to bankers and the car companies. The NFL cut it's job force by 15% and commissioner Roger Goodell took a voluntary pay cut of 20 to 25% from the $11-million he was set to make in the fiscal year 2008. Certainly Goodell won't go hungry, but when you're making $11-million and cutting other jobs, you can't stand still. You have to play the game too, and Murphy did that.
Organic conference in La Crosse
February 26, 2009 By
La Crosse is hosting the nation's largest organic farming conference. The 20th annual Organic Farming Conference, organized by Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Services, or MOSES, is taking place through Saturday at the La Crosse Center. Harriet Beehar of MOSES is an organic farmer in Gays Mills, and has been an organic inspector for 19 years.
Beehar says the conference will have two keynote speakers. Dr. Vandanna Shiva, a food, environmental and community activist from India, is perhaps best known for arguing against agricultural company Monsanto's attempt to patent an Indian tree. Also speaking is Dr. Alan Greene, a California pediatrician and chair of The Organic Ccenter, an advocate of organic foods nutritional aspects and how agriculture relates to world politics. There are also 147 exhibits and 10 workshops on the specifics of organic farming, from organic certification to allowable machinery and inputs.
James' career is over at Marquette after loss to U-Conn
February 26, 2009 By
Dominic James' career at Marquette is over after the senior guard suffered a broken bone in his foot during last night's 93-82 loss to second-ranked Connecticut. James left the game with about 4-minutes left in the first half and never returned to the game.
Coach Buzz Williams said after the game that James will miss the remainder of the season.
Jerel McNeal scored 26 in the loss for the Golden Eagles, but it wasn't enough to prevent Huskies coach Jim Calhoun from recording his 800th career win. A.J. Price poured in a career high 36 points to lead the second ranked team in the country. Calhoun joined Bob Knight, Dean Smith, Adolph Rupp, Jim Phelan, Mike Krzyzewski and Eddie Sutton as the only men's coaches to win 800 games in Division 1.
U-Conn moved into sole possession of first place in the Big East Conference with the win.
Listen / Download – Buzz Williams says James' career is over :15
Listen / Download – Maurice Acker on losing James. :17
Unemployment up 1.8%
February 26, 2009 By
If it seems as if Wisconsin's economy has been hemorrhaging jobs of late, the latest job numbers from the state Department of Workforce Development confirm that perception as harsh reality. Wisconsin' unemployment rate for January was 7.6 percent, up a startling 1.8 percentage points from December's 5.8 percent.
"The jump in Wisconsin' unemployment rate underscores the economic challenges we face as a nation and why we are taking strong action through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to put people to work," said DAD Secretary Roberta Gasman.
The rate was 2.7 percentage points higher than the rate of 4.9 percent for Wisconsin in January of 2008. The national rate for January was 8.5 percent, compared to 7.1 percent in December and 5.4 percent in January 2008.
From December to January, total Wisconsin nonfat jobs decreased by an estimated 87,900 to 2,755,600. Private sector jobs shrank by 72,500. Trade sector jobs fell by 17,600 over the month, Government jobs were down 15,400 and Manufacturing jobs decreased by 13,500, according to DWD.
Over the year, January 2009 showed a decline of 72,700 Wisconsin non-farm jobs. Manufacturing was down 31,700, Professional & Business Services were down 17,400 and Construction was down 11,000 jobs. Educational & Health Services jobs increased 9,700.
The January survey of Wisconsin households showed 60,500 fewer employed compared to December, and 75,200 fewer employed than one year ago. Wisconsin's civilian labor force decreased 6,400 to 3,073,700 in January, which was 8,200 more than January 2008.
