January 27, 2012

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An end to Milwaukee Public Schools?

March 30, 2009 By

MPS logo A state lawmaker wants to dissolve the Milwaukee Public School system.

Proposed legislation from state Senator Ted Kanavas (R-Brookfield) would divide MPS into eight new school districts, each with their own independent school board. Kanavas says the current school system has failed for far too long, and a new approach is needed to make it more accountable to parents and students. The new districts would take effect in 2013

With over 87,000 students and 207 schools, Kanavas says the system is just too large to be run efficiently. He says anything that large is hard to manage with just one superintendent.

The Brookfield Republican's legislative district does not include any MPS schools. However, he says the effective management of the system is an important concern for everyone in Wisconsin, because 75-percent of their budget comes from residents living outside of the district.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:01)

Filed Under: Education, Top Story

DOT expands Rideshare program

March 30, 2009 By

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is expanding its  Rideshare service.

The program was available only in Southeastern Wisconsin and the Madison-area, but Program Manager Karen Schmiechen says rising gas prices have prompted them to offer Rideshare to all parts of the state. The database will also include suburban areas near Wisconsin's borders with other states.

Rideshare allows users to go online and meet others who can share the cost of transportation. By entering their home and work address, along with their schedule, the system can match them up with people who have similar travel needs. Schmiechen says individuals can then set up a carpool on their own.

Schmiechen says the service has been very successful in urban areas, with over 5,000 drivers registered since it went online. She admits matching up people in rural areas may be harder, unless they're commuting to a nearby city.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:03)

Filed Under: Transportation

Right to Life still in the fight

March 28, 2009 By

The state's leading pro-life group continues its efforts, in the face of Democratic majorities in Washington and Madison. Wisconsin Right to Life executive director Barbara Lyons says, at the state Capitol, they'll oppose repeal of Wisconsin's abortion ban. "That law has been on the books for 160 years, and we need to keep it there, so that on the day Roe versus Wade is overturned, Wisconsin will be able to immediately shut down its abortion clinics," says Lyons.

Right to Life will also oppose a bill to legalize assisted suicide. "Senator (Fred) Risser introduces that bill every session," notes Lyons. "He will feel some momentum this year, because of the ballot issue in Washington state, where it was legalized, and the court case in Montana where a judge legalized assisted suicide there."

Lyons says there's plenty of work for her organization, including pushback against efforts to overturn the federal Hyde amendment, which prohibits the use of federal tax dollars for abortions. "If the Hyde amendment is overturned, abortions will increase dramatically," says Lyons, who discounts public opinion polling which shows support for the abortion status quo. The public, she says, doesn't realize that "forty eight percent of abortions are repeat abortions. Once Roe versus Wade is explained to them, then their opinion goes in a different direction."

AUDIO: Bob Hague interview (9:20 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Top Story

Proponent likes chances for high speed rail

March 28, 2009 By

An advocate for high speed rail says Wisconsin's chances for getting the service are looking pretty good. Madison to Milwaukee at 110 miles an hour? Kevin Brubaker with the Environmental Law and Policy Center in Chicago says we could soon see high speed rail along the existing Hiawatha route between Milwaukee and Chicago.

But that's not all. Brubaker says for about $500 million, we could get high speed rail between Milwaukee and Madison. Eight billion dollars in federal stimulus dollars have been allocated for high speed rail nationwide, and Brubaker says Wisconsin and the Midwest are in an ideal position to compete for some of that money, in part because of groundwork done years ago by former Governor Tommy Thompson. Brubaker says the trains are three times as efficient as cars and six times as efficient as planes over the same distance, and he believes business traveler in particular will be eager to use the service.

AUDIO: Bob Hague interview (6:30 MP3)

Filed Under: Transportation

SW WI flood outlook: so far, so good

March 27, 2009 By

So far it looks like southwest Wisconsin is on track to have a dry and uneventful spring. And that's good news, coming from Todd Shea, warning coordination meteorologist with the La Crosse National Weather Service

"Right now we are in any crest we're going to see, as far as snow melt," says Shea. "Most of our concern is along the Mississippi, and even that it looks like most of the snow melt crest is going to be below flood stage at almost all locations.

Shea says a dryer, less snowy winter this year means at least the area is not replicating the conditions of 2008's flooding. But, he says, there are still the spring storms. "We are still in an active weather pattern," Shea says. "We expect another storm system over the weekend, and perhaps one or two next week."

Shea says for right now, southwest Wisconsin is in better shape than south-central or southeast Wisconsin, where the ground is wetter coming out of the winter and there's been more precipitation recently.  

Filed Under: Weather
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