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State ranks 10th for well being of kids

July 28, 2009 By

Wisconsin ranks number 10 nationally in a new state-by-state study on the well-being of America's children.

The 2009 KIDS COUNT Data Book from the Annie E. Casey Foundation reveals that since 2000, Wisconsin  improved on six of the 10 measures affecting child well-being. Yet on four other measures, conditions worsened for Wisconsin's kids.

In 2007, Wisconsin's child poverty rate stood at 14 percent, up from 12 percent in 2000. Despite ranking 12th nationally, the percentage of Wisconsin children living in families where no parent had full-time, year-round employment increased from 27 percent in 2000 to 29 percent in 2007; an increase of 13,558 children.

Wisconsin's infant mortality rate fell from 6.6 infant deaths per 1,000 live births in 2000 to 6.4 deaths per 1,000 births in 2006. During the same six-year period, the state's child death rate decreased from 20 to 15 deaths per 100,000 children ages 1 to 14. And the teen death rate dropped from 66 deaths per 100,000 teens ages 15 to 19 in 2000 to 59 deaths per 100,000 in 2006.

Wisconsin ranks third nationally on two indicators-percent high school dropouts and percent of teens ages 16 to 19 not in school and not working. The state ranks eighth among the 50 states on two other measures: percent low-birthweight babies and child death rate.

Filed Under: Human Interest

Choosing who heads the DNR

July 28, 2009 By

Legislation aimed at taking the politics out of the Department of Natural Resources receive a hearing at the Capitol Tuesday.

State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison) says the bill would restore a system for naming the DNR secretary that was in place until 1995, where a citizen's board decides who will head the agency.

The governor currently has the power to appoint the secretary, which supporters of the bill say allow politics to influence environmental decisions.

Current DNR Secretary Matt Frank disagrees with those who think the change will keep politics from influencing the agency. He says the need for policy to pass the Legislature would also have to be removed to make sure the agency is completely independent.

Frank also defended the need to keep the DNR as a cabinet-level agency. He says having the governor's backing makes it much easier to pass important environmental protections, such as ballast water regulations and the Great Lakes Compact.

However, Black says the current way of selecting the secretary means the governor controls the priorities of the DNR. He says that can result in policies that do irreversible harm to the environment every time a new governor is sworn in. The Madison Democrat says Mother Nature doesn't wait for political time tables, and damage that's done can be difficult to fix.

The bill is being considered by the Assembly Natural Resources Committee.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:22)

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation

Texting ban vote could come this session

July 28, 2009 By

A state lawmaker is hoping the legislature will ban sending text messages while behind the wheel. Recent news that the federal government suppressed a study showing the hazards of cell phoning and driving has state Senator Alan Lasee more optimistic over his bill ( SB 103 ) banning texting behind the wheel. The DePere Republican says texting is even more risky. "There is a difference between using a cell phone and texting," says Lasee. "Texting requires you to really take your eyes off the road, read the message, and then take your eyes off the road, and using one or two hands, send a message back."

Lasee says he's had conversations on the dangers of texting and driving with his own grandchildren – and he had an eye opening encounter with a texting driver while riding his motorcycle recently near Portage. "I looked over, and she had both hands off the wheel on the phone, texting. She was five, six feet away from me, doing 80 miles an hour."

Lasee's bill has been approved by the Senate Transportation Committee and is available to be scheduled for a floor vote. "I think the chances of passing some sort of restriction on texting and driving are probably imminent," says Lasee "My attitude is, because it's so serious, and the act of texting is different than talking on the phone, I think we need to highlight it, and it should really be taught for the young drivers who are trying to get a driving permit."

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government

La Crosse baseball and tennis teams need your help

July 28, 2009 By

UW-La Crosse baseball September 1st is the deadline and the UW-La Crosse baseball team is still more than $18,000 shy of the $50,000 it needs to raise to keep the program afloat for another year. 

The baseball and tennis programs at the school were eliminated in light of the state's budget deficit.  But both programs were given the Sept. 1 deadline to try to raise enough money to privately fund themselves for the upcoming academic year.  That's $50,000 for baseball and $40,000 for tennis.

The fundraising efforts are being led by coaches and players, both past and present.  As of today (Tuesday), the Eagles baseball team has raised $31,047.  When they reach $50,000, then the fund raising efforts immediately move to the $200,000 effort, which is needed to keep the program going for several years.

There's La Crosse baseball alumni all over the state and many of them are spearheading the effort.  Appleton East baseball coach Dan Heinritz played for longtime coach Bill Terry at La Crosse.  Heinritz said playing baseball and attending school in La Crosse has had a significant impact on both his career and his life and would like to see others have that same chance.

Heinritz said losing baseball at La Crosse would have a negative impact on the entire conference ( WIAC ).  He said other schools would likely follow and Whitewater , Stevens Point and Oshkosh would likely be the only survivors.

The fundraising effort could use a big shot in the arm from a major donor.  Baseball in the long term at the school may depend on it.

For baseball fans looking for more information, or for a way to make a financial contribution, they should go to www.saveuwlbaseball.com .

 

Listen / Download – Bill Scott on efforts to save baseball at UWL 3:52

Filed Under: Top Story

Wife testifies in prayer death trial

July 28, 2009 By

The Weston mother convicted in the prayer death of her 11-year-old daughter last spring testified that she and her husband did not take the girl to a doctor because it would have shown “complete disobedience” to their faith in God.

Leilani Neumann testified Tuesday morning at the trial of her husband Dale. He is charged with second-degree reckless homicide for choosing prayer over medicine as Madeline Kara Neumann died from untreated diabetes.

“We felt we were within our legal right to pray for our daughter,” Leilani Neumann said, adding that the family never considered taking her to a doctor as they discussed the girl's worsening condition last Easter Sunday.

Neumann told a jury of eight men and six women that she agreed to let a friend call 911 when Kara stopped breathing because they needed “some other intervention.”

Neumann testified that sickness is caused by sin and can be cured by God. She also testified that the reason Kara may have been sick was because of a falling out with fellow business partners and Bible study members Althea and Randall Wormgoor.

Prosecutors granted Neumann immunity, meaning nothing she says can be used against her at future court proceedings, like her October 6th sentencing hearing.

Neumann's testimony consumed the whole morning court session. Judge Vincent Howard appeared testy during a mid-morning break in which he said night court sessions would be possible to wrap up testimony by Friday.

The defense is expected to cross-examine Leilani Neumann this afternoon. 

AUDIO: Leilani Neumann (1:05 MP3)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Top Story
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