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Kind: Pakistan is key to success in Middle East

November 16, 2009 By

A Congressman from Wisconsin is back on US soil after having spent several days in Pakistan as part of a small congressional delegation.

United States Representative Ron Kind returns home armed with information about counter-terrorism efforts after meeting with military and civilian officials in Pakistan.

“Most people would probably be surprised to learn that the true key to peace and stability throughout that region probably lies in the success or failure of Pakistan more than Afghanistan today.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government

Medical marijuana legislation introduced

November 16, 2009 By

Seriously ill patients would be able to get a doctor’s prescription for medical marijuana, under legislation being introduced at the Capitol. State Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison) says the bill is about compassion and health care reform, with the goal of giving patients and their doctors another valid form of treatment for serious medical conditions. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature

Ryan questions administration decisions on detainees

November 16, 2009 By

Alternative locations for detains from Guantanamo Bay prison are being sought by the Obama administration, while 9-11 conspirators are to be tried in New York federal court. Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan is questioning both decisions.

The Janesville Republican believes the military tribunal system is better than the trials in federal court. “They’re being used right now, it’s already in place,” he says of the tribunals. “But to take the actual mastermind of 9-11, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-conspitators, and put him into federal court, reveals our intelligence, criminalizes the act instead of making it an act of war, and bypasses the military tribunal system.” 

AUDIO: Rep. Paul Ryan (:22 MP3)

Ryan has plenty of questions, about using the Thomson Correctional Center in Illinois as a new home for Gitmo detains. “Whether or not new rights afix to them, visitation and things like this, I don’t know the answer to that question,” he says. “The point is, Gitmo works very well, it works fine. These are enemy combatants found on the battlefield.”

AUDIO: Rep. Paul Ryan (:16 MP3)

Ryan believes the president worked out a deal with Illinois’ governor and Senator Richad Durbin for use of the prison, which is a Supermax site.

(WRJN’s Tom Karkow submitted this report)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Military, Politics & Government

MKE airline prices wheeling closer to Chicago rates

November 16, 2009 By

Expansion of discount airline routes is driving down prices at Mitchell International Airport. The newest arrival, Southwest Airlines, joins AirTran as another option for low cost flights at the Milwaukee airport. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s own Midwest Airlines has announced plans to increase service levels to compete with the carriers.

The competition resulting in cheaper flights at Mitchell may benefit Wisconsin’s leisure, business and convention travel. “It does making it more attractive when we’re trying to book Midwest meetings and other national meetings if the airfare is competitive,” says Julia Hertel, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Association of Convention and Visitors Bureaus.

Wisconsin business travel, which normally peaks in the fall and spring, has been down with the recession. But people traveling on the company dime may come back on their own time. Hertel says they’ve seen business travelers who’ve made their first trip to Wisconsin coming back for leisure.

AUDIO: Brian Moon reports (MP3 :58)

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment, Transportation

Family of slain UW student seeking public help

November 16, 2009 By

The family of a slain UW student is seeking the public’s help. Brittany Zimmerman’s family hopes someone will come forward with information about her murder. They’ve placed ads on a Madison billboard and inside Madison Metro busses.

Zimmerman was a student at the UW-Madison when she was killed in her apartment in 2008. Madison police never publicly identified a suspect in the stabbing, which became the subject of a lawsuit over a mishandled 911 call. Zimmerman was able to call from her cellphone, but that call was treated as a hang-up by Dane County dispatchers, and police were not sent.

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, Human Interest
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