May 16, 2012

You are here: Home / 2009 / August / Archives for 28th

Unemployment leveling off

August 28, 2009 By

A new report shows some signs of hope with Wisconsin’s unemployment trend. Since April the rate of unemployment has leveled off after steady decline, according to the Center on Wisconsin Strategy’s Job Watch. COWS Associate Director Laura Dresser says nationally heavy months of jobs loss from September to March affected industries including manufacturing, financial services and retail.

Construction also saw job loss in Wisconsin but gained an uptick in the spring, a common seasonal trend, before falling again. Two thousand five hundred construction jobs in the state were lost between May and July.

Wisconsin unemployment stands at 9-percent. The Badger State has 137,100 fewer jobs than when the recession started in December 2007 but Dresser calls the recent steadiness “good news.”

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :68)

Filed Under: Economy

Boaters beware

August 28, 2009 By

Boaters in Northern Wisconsin beware this weekend as the DNR will be on the lookout for boaters violating rules meant to prevent invasive species and the fish killing VHS.

Deputy Conservation Warden John Preuss says they are focusing efforts on Iron, Oneida and Vilas Counties.

The rules include prohibiting the moving of live fish from the lake, draining water from wells before leaving the landing and removing all aquatic plants from equipment.

The agency has been educating the public about regulations which have been in place for a few years. Preuss estimates in his area boaters comply with the regulations only about 50 to 60-percent of the time, increasing the likelihood of an invader.

It only takes about a two inch fragment of the Eurasian Mill Foil plant to spread to a new lake while invading Zebra Mussels can be microscopic.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :68)

Filed Under: Environment & Conservation

FDL County Board moves to keep Mercury HQ

August 28, 2009 By

Fond du Lac County supervisors Thursday night approved an incentive package aimed at keeping Mercury Marine’s corporate headquarters in Fond du Lac. County Executive Al Buechel believes they have a good offer that the company will consider for retention of the corporate headquarters. The county exec says while manufacturing jobs are likely moving to Stillwater, Oklahoma it’s a different situation with the headquarters because some professional staff may be leery about moving.

AUDIO: Buechel on HQ employees (MP3 :15)

It’s estimated that the impact of losing Mercury Marine’s entire operations on Fond du Lac County would be $353 million and for the state about $600 million. Buechel says economic development officials will prepare an impact study to see what the financial impact is should corporate headquarters be retained.

City and County officials will present their incentive proposals to Mercury executives late Friday afternoon.

Contributed by Bob Nelson-KFIZ

Filed Under: Business, Economy

Ryan’s health care event stays civil

August 28, 2009 By

A large crowd packed into the Roma Lodge near Racine Thursday for the latest listening session held by First District Congressman Paul Ryan and for the most part engaged in a civil exchange on health care reform. There have been internet rumors circulating that there would be an organized attempt to disrupt the session and early on and Ryan urged the crowd to be respectful with people’s opinions.

The Janesville Republican said in jest, “there may even be one or two people who don’t agree with me.”

When asked if there’s anything about the House health care reform bill he likes, Ryan said there things he agrees with but has issue with how they’re implemented. He mentioned repayment of student loans and the importance of addressing a shortage of primary care providers, among those provisions.

More than 500 people attended the event. One man was removed by Mount Pleasant police after he grabbed a microphone from another speaker’s hand, the only disruption during the session.

Contributed by Janet Hoff-WRJN

AUDIO: Janet Hoff reports (MP3 :75)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Politics & Government

Ex-mayor denied request regarding sex charges

August 28, 2009 By

Motions to dismiss child porn and internet sex sting related charges against the former Racine mayor have been denied. Racine County Judge Stephen Simanek rejected a challenge to the affidavit and search warrant regarding different pornographic images on Gary Becker’s personal computer hard drive which he gave to city IT staffers to fix.

The judge noted Gary Becker voluntary turned over his computer. “How can you have a reasonable expectation of privacy under those circumstances,” said Simanek.

A change of venue motion was also rejected by the judge who did agree to separate a charge of misconduct in public office.

Trial remains listed for mid-October with Becker free on bond. The former mayor is now rehabbing houses in the community he once led.

Contributed by Tom Karkow-WRJN

AUDIO: Tom Karkow reports (MP3 :42)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government
« Previous Page
Next Page »