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Cheesy piece of history finds a home

November 11, 2009 By

A Madison man who got President Barack Obama’s signature on his cheesehead hat has donated the headgear to the state historical society in Madison. Mansfield Neblett wore the hat during last week’s presidential visit to J.C. Wright Middle School, where Neblett’s daughter is a student.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:55 MP3)

Asked to remove the cheesehead during the president’s speech, Neblett asked for something, too: the president’s signature on the bright yellow foam rubber lid. After thinking about selling the hat, Neblett decided to donate it instead. Neblett presented the cheesehead to staff at the Wisconsin Historical Society Museum on the Capitol Square in Madison.

More photos

Filed Under: Human Interest

Doyle focuses on military families on Veterans Day

November 11, 2009 By

veterans_day111109This Veterans’ Day is particularly poignant for many Wisconsin families.

Governor Jim Doyle says his heart is heavy right now as he pays tribute to the victims of the Fort Hood massacre and their families.

“Wisconsin was obviously, particulary effected by those events as the 467th, a unit that is directed to helping other veterans was the heaviest hit of any group at Fort Hood.”

Doyle recently returned from a memorial ceremony at Fort Hood, Texas, before attending the Veterans’ Day ceremony at Wisconsin’s State Capitol. He mentions by name both soldiers from Wisconsin who were killed and the four who were injured. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Military

Chances look good for mental health parity

November 11, 2009 By

Legislation requiring insurance parity for mental health and substance abuse may become law. While small business groups have labeled the bill – which would require mental health coverage under all insurance plans – a jobs killer, the measure’s Senate author maintains that’s short sighted.

“I would say early intervention and taking care of people that have depression, are bipolar, or have alcohol or drug problems, is going to end up saving them money,” said state Senator Dave Hansen. “It may be a minimum premium increase, but in the end you’re going to save money.”

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:65 MP3)

Hansen, a Green Bay Democrat who’s authored the bill (SB 362/AB 512) with Assembly Democrat Sandy Pasch of Whitefish Bay, said they’re optimistic the bill will pass when lawmakers are back in session next year. “In 2001 we actually passed it in a bipartisan way out of the state Senate,” said Hansen, adding that the bill never received a hearing in the state Assembly. “We haven’t been able to bring it up since, but we have the majority now in the Assembly and Senate. There’s a real possibility of getting this passed.” This time, the proposal has received public hearings before committees in both chambers.

Currently, group health insurance plans in Wisconsin cap payments for mental health and substance abuse treatments at $7,000, a rate which has not increased in twenty years.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature

Mayor still mulling over Governor’s run

November 11, 2009 By

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says he will make a decision on whether to enter the governor’s race by the end of this week.

AUDIO: Tom Barrett (MP3 :07)

Barrett met last week with President Obama’s top political strategist and has been under increasing pressure to run but with four kids in Milwaukee schools, Barrett hesitates to uproot his family. Steve Chernoff, the chairman of Barrett’s mayoral campaign, confirms Barrett is thinking about keeping his home in Milwaukee and working there a few days each week if he chooses to run for Governor and he wins.

The Democratic Party is without any major candidates for governor after Governor Doyle decided against seeking a third term and Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton dropped out of the race. 

Among Republicans running for the job are Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann.

Jason Fischer contributed to this report

Filed Under: Politics & Government Tagged With:

Veterans group promotes peaceful observance

November 11, 2009 By

Denied the right to march in their city’s parade, a Milwaukee veterans group wants to focus on peace this Veterans Day. Bill Christopherson is spokesman for Milwaukee Chapter 102 of Veterans for Peace, which was denied permission to participate in last weekend’s Milwaukee Veterans Parade. Christopherson says members showed up anyway, to raise money for the city’s homeless veterans, and were well received. “One of the parade participants broke ranks and came over to tell us how happy he was that we were there,” said Christopherson, adding that many members of his group are combat veterans.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

Christopherson said it’s ironic that politicians, many of them non-veterans, are welcome in the parade, but that Veterans for Peace was deemed too political by parade organizers. Veterans for Peace and other veterans groups are sponsoring an observance at Milwaukee City Hall tonight, which will include tolling the City Hall bell in remembrance of the dead. “Part of what we hope is that we get back to the original purpose of this day, and celebrate it as a day for peace, and solemn remembrance of what happens to people in war, instead of a day for flag waving and fly overs and calls for calls for escalation,” said Christopherson, who noted that Veterans Day was originally Armistice Day, marking the day the First World War ended.

Filed Under: Human Interest, Military
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