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State of Education requires rule changes, federal funds

September 24, 2009 By
Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers delivers first State of Education address

Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Tony Evers delivers first State of Education address

Wisconsin’s new public school superintendent delivers his first “State of Education” address in the Capitol Rotunda.

In his speech, Superintendent Tony Evers commends educators, saying they expect — and deserve — everyone’s support for their commitment in educating the students. Evers is trying to send the message that he’s ready to move forward on initiatives to improve education in our state.

“We can’t be risk averse anymore. We really have to move forward. We have to move forward to change our testing system and our accountability system, the way our standards are developed to make sure that they’re nationally and internationally bench marked.”

Evers says he’s working with Governor Jim Doyle and others to begin the process of writing a grant proposal for the purpose of getting federal [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Politics & Government

Another arrest for Wood

September 24, 2009 By

A state lawmaker has been arrested, for driving while intoxicated for the second time in less than a year. The Wisconsin State Patrol arrested 40-year-old Jeff Wood near Wausau Wednesday night after several eyewitnesses reported he was driving erratically on Highway 51 northbound.

“I saw this car weaving back and forth, and it had gone on for . . . at least three or four miles,” said motorist Marty Endres, who was driving from Madison to a cabin near Minocqua, when he saw other vehicles get out of Woods’ way. “A semi had passed us, and a few other vehicles. They had also slowed down, too. They were afraid to go by him.”

AUDIO: Marty Endres (:12 MP3)

Endres called 911 after he saw Wood driving erratically. “I can’t say reckless, but he was all over the road,” Endres said. “He was going from the fog line all the way over to the center line. Back and forth, and it was continuous.” 

AUDIO: Marty Endres (:07 MP3)

A second 911 caller said Wood nearly sideswiped her car and jumped a curb before a trooper finally pulled him over. Wood said he was looking for a spot on a map later admitted taking six Lorazepam anti-anxiety pills and two doses of Nite-Time cough syrup.

The State Patrol’s previous encounter with the Independent from Chippewa Falls came last December, on the Interstate near Portage. In that incident, Wood was arrested for driving drunk and possessing marijuana. The State Patrol said he crashed into a highway sign in Columbia County. That case remains pending.

WSAU’s Matt Lehman submitted this report

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Politics & Government

Giants claim Rouse off of waivers

September 24, 2009 By

The New York Giants placed safety Kenny Phillips on injured reserve with a left knee injury today.  The Giants were awarded former Packers safety Aaron Rouse off of waivers.

The Packers released Rouse earlier this week and signed former Colts safety Matt Giordano.  Rouse was a 3rd round pick of the Packers in the 2007 draft.

Filed Under: Sports, Titletown Report Tagged With:

Kind takes a pass on run for governor

September 24, 2009 By

A Wisconsin congressman says he won’t be running for governor. Ending weeks of speculation on whether or not he’d make a bid to succeed Governor Jim Doyle, Representative Ron Kind says he’s decided to keep his focus on another job: health care reform.

Audio: Kind conference call with reporters (7:30 MP3)

“The fact that I’m in the middle of these intense negotiations right now, tells me I’ve got a primary responsibility to do this job well,” says the La Crosse Democrat, who’s a member of the key House Ways and Means Committee. Kind says he was not pressured by his party to run for governor. “No not at all. It wasn’t about politics, it wasn’t about safe seat or not a safe seat. This was a personal decision,” says Kind, who was first elected to the Third Congressional District seat in 1996.

Kind expects his decision will result in a lot of encouragement directed at Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who hasn’t made an announcement yet. “I think a lot of people have great respect and admiration for him,” says Kind, who served with Barrett in the House. So far, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton is the only announced Democratic candidate to succeed Doyle. On the Republican, Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former congressman Mark Neumann are running. 

Political observers say Kind faces one of his strongest Republican challengers ever in his campaign to retain his House seat in 2010, in Republican state Senator Dan Kapanke.

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:

No ruling yet on Amish challenge to premise registration

September 24, 2009 By

A judge will wait to make a ruling, on a challenge by Amish farmers to the constitutionality of Wisconsin’s Premise Registration law. Clark County Circuit Court Judge Jon Counsell heard a full day of testimony Wednesday, with roughly 100 members of the Amish community packed into a court room, and dozens others standing in the hallway.

Under questioning by Bonnie Wacsmuth, an attorney representing the farmers, Noah Schwartz, an Amish church bishop, said Premise ID could be a forerunner to the Mark of the Beast. “I can’t really define and say that this is actually the Mark of the Beast,” said Schwartz. “I do feel it’s probably at least a strong lead to such, and would not want to be involved in promoting a system which I think would lead to that.” And, Schwartz said, the law represented a shift of people’s trust from God to government. “I’d consider it an anti-Christ movement.”

The law, which went into effect in 2005, requires properties that have livestock be registered with the Department of Agriculture. The state alleges an Old Order Amish farmer from the Loyal area has not complied, and presented five witnesses in an effort to show there was a “compelling interest,” in this case an ability to combat a potentially crippling animal disease outbreak.

For the rule to pass muster, the judge will have to determine that interest trumps the Amish’s sincerely held religious beliefs. Judge Counsell did not issue a ruling. He gave Wacsmuth 30 days to submit a brief in support of her motion to dismiss the case. Clark County District Attorney Darwin Zwieg will then have 30 days to respond. The time limits will begin when the court reporter finishes the transcript, so it’s safe to assume a ruling could be months away.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:30 MP3)

WCCN’s Paul Knoff submitted this report

Filed Under: Agriculture, Crime & Courts, Human Interest
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