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Officials gear limited vaccine to at-risk folks

October 27, 2009 By

State health officials are responding to a nationwide shortage of the H1N1 vaccine.

Wisconsin Health and Family Services Secretary Karen Timberlake says, as of Tuesday, Wisconsin has been allocated a total of 407,000 doses of the vaccine.

“And while that may sound like a large number of doses … nevertheless we don’t have it in the quantities that we need.”

State Health Officer Seth Foldy, MD, says for the next several weeks, local health professionals are encouraged to target individuals who are most-at-risk.

“Our approach is designed to reach the most vulnerable and those who come into contact with the most vulnerable.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine

Senate passes labor education requirement

October 27, 2009 By

Legislation requiring a labor history unit in Wisconsin schools is headed to the governor. There wasn’t a lot of debate on the bill in the state Senate Tuesday, although Sheboygan Republican Joe Liebham questioned the need for more mandated curriculum, something schools in his district never ask for. “Districts are smart enough and in touch enough with the makeup of their communities and the student population that they represent, to if they want to have month long discussion on labor history, they can do that,” Leibham said.

AUDIO: Senator Joe Liebham (:16 MP3)

The final vote on the bill, 20-12 included the support of two Republicans with heavy labor presence in their districts: Fond du Lac’s Randy Hopper, and Neenah’s Mike Ellis. “So when you put out your news releases saying that the Republicans are against labor, you can’t do it,” said Ellis. “This is a bipartisan bill, just as much as if Olympia Snowe votes with that goofy health care,” added Ellis, referring to the Maine Republican who’s been supportive of health care reform proposed by Democrats in the U.S. Senate. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Labor, Uncategorized

Assembly approves puppy mill regulations

October 27, 2009 By

Legislation that would regulate dog breeders in Wisconsin has cleared the state Assembly. Lawmakers on Tuesday approved the bill unanimously on a 96-0 vote.

It would require dog breeding operations that sell more than 25 dogs a year to be licensed by the state. The measure would also allow the state to investigate breeders and suspend or revoke their license.

Animal rights groups have been trying to get the legislation passed for over a decade, in order to stop so-called puppy mills from operating in the state.

The bill now heads to state Senate.

Filed Under: Legislature

Bill bans phosphorous in dishwasher soap

October 27, 2009 By

Legislation keeping dishwashing detergents that contain phosphorous off of store shelves in Wisconsin heads to the governor.

Approval of the bill on detergents comes in the wake of an earlier ban on lawn fertilizers containing the chemical. State Representative Spencer Black says phosphorus is responsible for algae blooms and excess weed growth that detract from the water quality of Wisconsin’s lakes and streams.

Phosphorous is already banned from the majority of soaps, but there’s an exemption for products used in automatic dishwashers, and this bill would add those products to the list. Black says major companies that make the detergents have agreed to the change, and will have until summer of 2010 to get new products on the market that are phosphorous free, something that’s not expected to increases prices consumers pay.

Filed Under: Politics & Government

Lawton discusses decision

October 27, 2009 By

In a surprise move, Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton on Monday dropped out of the race for Governor, citing “personal reasons.” The Lt. Governor is not revealing what those reasons are though, saying only it was a very complex decision that she made with her family. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government
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