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Gallardo is spectacular in win over Pirates

April 29, 2009 By

Yovani Gallardo The Milwaukee Brewers swept the Pittsburgh Pirates in their 3-game series with a 1-0 win at Miller Park this afternoon.  It was all Yovani Gallardo, who homered for the Brewers only run on offense and pitched 8-scoreless innings of 2-hit ball for his 3rd win (3-1) of the season.

The Brewers have now won 3-straight, 15 in-a-row against the Pirates and 18-straight against Pittsburgh at Miller Park.  Carlos Villanueva worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his second save.

After a slow start this season (4-9), the Brewers have gone 7-1 in their last 8 games to move past the .500 mark (11-10) for the first time this season. 

Listen / Download – Ken Macha sums up the win :08

Filed Under: Brewers, Top Story

Lawmaker proposes beer tax hike

April 29, 2009 By

State Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) A state lawmaker is reviving a proposal to increase Wisconsin's beer tax.

The Legislation from State Representative Terese Berceau (D-Madison) would increase the tax on beer by just under three cents a bottle. Money from the tax would be used to pay for law enforcement and alcohol abuse treatment programs.

Berceau says Wisconsin has a nationally known drinking problem, but the state is not dedicating the resources or reforms needed to address the problem. She says the tax would allow beer drinkers to cover some of the costs brought on by alcohol use.

Opponents of the plan say it would lead to a significant increase in the cost of beer around the state. However, Berceau says you'd have to drink a six pack a day to see beer costs go up by more than a dollar a week. The Madison Democrat says those drinking that much are already part of the problems facing the state due to alcohol abuse.

The Wisconsin Tavern League says the proposal would also reduce beer sales across the state, at a time when many businesses are already having a hard time keeping their doors open and getting customers to come in. Berceau calls that a “false argument” and says her research has shown alcoholics are not price sensitive and won't be purchasing less beer.

Wisconsin currently has the third lowest beer tax in the nation, which has not been increased since 1969.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:05)

Filed Under: Taxes, Top Story

What's in a name?

April 29, 2009 By

The Wisconsin Pork Producers Association wants everyone to drop the label "Swine Flu" when talking about the current outbreak of a new type of influenza around the globe.

Tammy Vaasenn, Director of Operations for the Association, says it's an unfortunate choice of words because there's no indication a pig gave the virus to a human. She says the "Swine Flu" term is a bit misleading and could impact sales of pork products, even though there's no connection between the virus and pork.

Farm groups and animal health organizations are offering some alternative names; the top recommendations being 'North American influenza' or 'Hybrid Influenza,' because the strain in question contains elements of human, avian and swine flu.

Vaassen says consumer feedback so far has been positive and people seem to be getting the message that the virus isn't spread through pork products. Still, the market is still taking a hit with future and cash prices dropping over the past few days. She says that's hard for producers to handle, after over a year of red ink already.

While most of the media reports have focused on the risk to humans, pork producers have also been put on alert, and asked to be vigilant. Vaasenn says they've been asked to review bio-security plans to prevent any disease from coming into swine herds. The virus has not been detected in any of the U.S. swine herd.

AUDIO: Paul Knoff reports (MP3 1:05)

Filed Under: Agriculture

Workplace discrimination bill approved

April 29, 2009 By

State lawmakers have passed new workplace discrimination legislation, following Senate and Assembly debate during which Republicans and at least one Democrat derided the bill as a 'jobs killer'.

Manitowoc Democrat, state Representative Bob Ziegelbauer , said the Equal Pay Performance Act ( SB-20 ) "creates a brand new army of second guessers trolling for money, for weaknesses in the paperwork. Bounty Hunters." Ziegelbauer said the legislation "tells managers, tells businesses, tells investors, that instead of looking to grow and prosper, they need to look over their shoulder, every second."

The bill permits workers, or the Department of Workforce Development, to seek punitive damages of up to $300,000 in cases of workplace discrimination. "Every day businesses in my area are thinking 'do I keep my business here in Kenosha County, or do I move south of the border" said State Representative Samantha Kerkman , one of several Assembly Republicans who called the bill a jobs killer. Kerkman also said she resented a characterization made by Democrats. "I really do take offense . . to the other side saying that Republican women don't care about discrimination," said Kerkman. "Because we do."

But Kenosha Democrat, Representative Peter Barca, insisted the bill won't be a jobs killer. "For those few companies in this state that have a history of discrimination, that's a problem," said Barca.

"You can talk about all the jobs and that huge sucking sound that you say that's happening here in the state of Wisconsin, but it's not because of the legislation we're passing to protect the men and women that roll up their sleeves and get the work done every day," said Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan .

The bill passed the Assembly today – not a regularly specially scheduled floor session – on a 51-47 vote, after passing the Senate on Tuesday. Governor Jim Doyle is expected to sign the measure.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Business, Politics & Government, Top Story

Favre released by Jets, free to sign with anyone!

April 29, 2009 By

A year ago, the Minnesota Vikings seemed interested in doing whatever they could to get their hands on Brett Favre.  And Favre seemed interested in doing whatever he could to stick it to the Packers.  Has anything changed?

The former Packers quarterback was released by the New York Jets yesterday, but he quickly said at this time, he has no interest in making another comeback.  According to reports, Favre made the request to the Jets to be released.  He had been on the reserve/retired list since Feb. 11, when he announced for a second time that he was retiring from the NFL.

Favre's release means if he were to return to the NFL, he'd be free to sign with any team and because the Jets relinquished his rights, they would not be owed any compensation if Favre signed with another team.

Could we see Favre in a Vikings uniform by next season?

Filed Under: Green Bay Packers
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