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Keeping bartenders sober

August 28, 2009 By

Licensed bartenders could soon be required to remain totally sober while on the job.

Legislation at the Capitol would require bartenders to refrain from drinking while on the job. State Representative Josh Zepnick (D-Milwaukee) says the behavior could impact the safety of customers, especially if a bartender fails to help a customer who may be too drunk to drive.

However, Madison bar owner Bill Rogers says the current version of the bill would make it difficult to train his workers, who often need to sample specialty products. Rogers says his bartenders don’t drink while they’re serving customers, but the proposal would prevent them from ever having a drink while on the clock.

Zepnick says the bill is intended to attack a more severe problem, where the person responsible for the bar is engaging in “quite a bit of drinking” as well. He says he will consider changes to address the concerns of businesses.

The legislation is being considered by an Assembly committee.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:03)

Filed Under: Legislature

Budget panel rejects DOT plan to eliminate deficit

August 28, 2009 By

Legislative budget writers have nixed a DOT plan to eliminate a deficit, by scaling back road work. Lower than expected registration fees and fuel taxes have resulted in a 33 million dollar deficit in the transportation agency’s segregated fund for road development and maintenance. But Joint Finance Committee member, Senate Judy Robson, noted increased revenues may already be in the pipeline. “We just finished the Cash for Clunkers which is very successful, so there are a lot of new vehicles being purchased, and a lot of regsitration fees,” said Robson. “I think that we’ll see an increase in the amount that the DOT has.”

“Given the fact that they could wind up with more potential savings on bids, or additional dollars coming in on registrations, or a lot of other things that could happen, that could easily make up the difference,” said JFC co-chair, state Representative Mark Pocan. “It just didn’t make any sense to stop the jobs right now.”

The DOT will only have to come up with an alternate plan if segregated fund develops a deficit of greater than 30 million dollars in the current two year budget cycle.

 AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:56 MP3)

Filed Under: Politics & Government, Transportation

EAB in Milwaukee County

August 28, 2009 By

The invasive emerald ash borer has been found in Milwaukee County. Bob Manwell with the state Department of Natural Resources says a utility crew in the city of Franklin discovered emerald ash borer larvae on Thursday.

AUDIO: DNR’s Bob Manwell (:18 MP3)

Milwaukee County is the seventh county in the state were EAB has been found, and would join a growing list of quarantined counties. Firewood cannot be brought out of those counties, in an effort to stem the spread of the destructive insect.

AUDIO: Manwell (:15 MP3)

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation

Union members say leadership lied

August 28, 2009 By

Three Mercury Marine union members, who organized a re-vote rally in Fond du Lac, claim union representative at their district office in Milwaukee lied about what union by-laws allow.

Fred Toth spoke with Russell Krings of the International Associaton of Machinists and Aerospace Workers District 10 office. He says Krings told him there’s nothing in the by-laws that prohibit a second vote on a contract, it’s simply an “unwritten understanding.” Toth that means for the last week, union reps have been outright lying to the community and union members when they said a second vote wasn’t allowed.

Rick Schmitt says the union first claimed substantial changes needed to be made to the contract union workers rejected from Mercury, before it could be voted on. Schmitt says he considers lying to union workers about the bylaws a substantial change, so a second vote should take place.

Phillip Rodriguez says union leaders should understand he wants to keep his job. .

The three are considering hiring a lawyer.

AUDIO: IAM member Fred Toth (MP3 :16)

Contributed by KFIZ’s Bob Nelson.

Filed Under: Business

Packers get their first real test tonight

August 28, 2009 By

The Green Bay Packers new 3-4 defense has looked dominant in the first two exhibition games, wins over Cleveland and Buffalo.  Not to take anything away from the Packers, but confusing the young quarterbacks for the Browns and Bills was child’s play.  Doing the same to Arizona’s Kurt Warner will be another deal.

And the same goes for the Packers offense, which has moved the ball with reletive ease in the first two games.  Now play on the road, against the defending NFC champs.  Do it against these guys and we’ll have something to talk about.

The Packers defense has registered 9 takeaways in the first two games and they’re in the top 10 in fewest yards allowed during the exhibition season.  But make no mistake, the Packers will get their first real test and how well they do will be a much more accurate depiction of where they stand.

The Packers have been unbelievable in the first two games, but they’re preseason games.  We’ve seen far too many times where a team has been dominant in the preseason, only to fall apart when the real bullets are flying.

The starters will play at least a half and perhaps into the third quarter before giving way to the reserves.  But there are some backups that will see playing time, like undrafted rookie free agent Tyrell Sutton, who leads the team in rushing in the preseason and will get a look with the 1′s tonight.

First round pick B.J. Raji will also see his playing time increased, somewhere around 25 plays or so.  And this is also a big game for second year quarterback Brian Brohm, who has struggled so far in the preseason, but will get some significant playing time with Matt Flynn sidelined.

Filed Under: Sports, Titletown Report Tagged With:
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