May 16, 2012

Banning BPA

A state lawmaker wants to ban BPA from products used by children.

Legislation from state Representative Kelda Helen Roys (D-Madison) would ban retailers from selling any bottles or cups that contain bisphenol A, also known as BPA. Roys says the move is needed to send a message that the state is willing to stand up for the health and well being of children.

BPA is often found in hard plastics, and several studies have determined constant exposure can impact the neurological development of infants and small children. Roys says their risk is so great because small children get much of their nourishment in a liquid format, often from containers that could contain BPA.

Many retailers are already working to remove products from their shelves that contain BPA. Roys applauds the move, but says parents shouldn’t have to worry about it in the first place or go to a specialty retailer.

Violators could face fines of up to $5,000 and jail time.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (MP3 1:06)

Ad campaign begins for autumn tourism

Advertising for the state’s fall season is underway …starting today, the day after Labor Day.

Labor Day is widely considered the unofficial last weekend of summer, and now the Wisconsin Department of Tourism is talking about the autumn season.

“We’re launching our fall marketing campaign right now as we speak.”

Tourism Secretary Kelli Trumble says the agency has launched its annual Fall Color Report, featuring a map indicating the progress of fall colors throughout the state.

“We already have people going to TravelWisconsin.com to look at our fall color reports, in fact over 2,000 visits in the first three days that we launched it.”

Trumble explains, the department relies on a small army of folks in various areas of the state reporting on the changing fall foliage.

“Well, we have great partners throughout the state of Wisconsin. We have over 100 people in the field who are calling and contacting the Department of Tourism with a fall color report.”

TravelWisconsin.com also lists routes for 11 classic fall color drives.

The fall season in Wisconsin is the second-biggest travel season, driving nearly $3 billion to the state’s economy. Summer generates most of our state’s 13-billion tourism dollars.

Jackie Johnson report (1:15 mp3)