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H1N1 could be leveling off

November 18, 2009 By

There have been more swine flu deaths in the past week than in the first nine months of the year.

Officials at the Wisconsin Health Department say there were 11 deaths reported in the past week, with a total of 31 deaths for the entire year.

Stephanie Marquis says although there seems to be a slight downward trend in H1N1 cases, flu activity still remains high. Health officials continue to target the vaccine toward high-risk groups.

Marquis says, if you’re healthy, try to stay that way by using good hygiene and common sense. If you get sick, stay home. Since the beginning of September, 405 people have been hospitalized from the swine flu, 82% of whom had underlying medical conditions.

In Wisconsin, activity is widespread with 71 of the 72 counties reporting confirmed H1N1 cases. Marquis says the Badger State is in line with trends on the national level.

Jackie Johnson report (1:17 mp3)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine

Study details state tax burden

November 18, 2009 By

New numbers reveal low and moderate income earners carry a big tax burden in Wisconsin. Jon Peacock with the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families says that’s based on a new study by the Institute on Taxation & Economic Policy, which indicates that low-and middle-income families in Wisconsin pay a much higher share of their income in state and local taxes than do the state’s richest families.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:60 MP3)

While that’s not necessarily a surprising finding, Peacock says the state’s reliance on regressive sales and excise taxes, and on property taxes, could mean tougher times ahead for those low to moderate income taxpayers.

The study claims that when all Wisconsin taxes are totaled up:

  • Families earning less than $20,000 — the poorest fifth of Wisconsin non-elderly taxpayers pay 9.2 percent of their income in Wisconsin state and local taxes.
  • Middle-income taxpayers — those earning between $35,000 and $57,000 – pay 11.2 percent of their income in Wisconsin state and local taxes.
  • The richest taxpayers — with average incomes of $1,116,000 – pay only 8.0% of their income in Wisconsin state and local taxes.

Peacock say the state’s one progressive tax, the income tax, is not enough to offset the unfair impact of those other taxes, which account for the majority of the state’s tax revenue.

Filed Under: Taxes

Lawmaker predicts jump in school taxes

November 18, 2009 By

A state lawmaker says some school districts in Wisconsin could see double-digit increases in property taxes in the coming years, thanks to the state budget adopted last summer by the Democratic-controlled Legislature.

Republican state Representative Brett Davis of Oregon says the budget resulted in cuts in state aid, removal of limits on teacher salaries, and changes in arbitration laws.  [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education, Taxes

Nuclear breakthrough has Wisconsin fingerprints

November 18, 2009 By

The US Department of Energy considers a recent achievement “a world record” in gas reactor particle fuel use, according to Kathy McCarthy, Deputy Associate Lab Director for Nuclear Science & Technology at Idaho National Laboratory.

AUDIO: Dr. Kathy McCarthy (MP3 :33)

UW-Madison nuclear engineering students have been strongly contributing to the projects research.

Those who’ve opposed the expansion of nuclear power cite issue of hazardous waste and potential disastrous accidents at facilities. McCarthy calls the technology “very, very safe” and highly regulated.

As energy demand increases and the Obama administration pushes for cleaner forms, McCarthy says nuclear is strong option. Fossil fuels continue to make up most of the nation’s energy production with 70-percent of Wisconsin’s electricity coming from coal. McCarthy is not suggesting coal use be eliminated and notes related technology is allowing cleaner application of the fossil fuel.

Although nuclear accounts for only 20-percent of the nation’s energy it makes up 70-percent of the non-greenhouse producing energy. Meanwhile the Nuclear Energy Institute reports Wisconsin has averaged more than 1-percent growth in state product annually over the past five years. In a state affected by poor air quality in the NEI believes state will need new sources of power.

Filed Under: Economy, Environment & Conservation, Labor

Packers release WR Allen

November 18, 2009 By

The Green Bay Packers have released WR Jake Allen today.  No corresponding addition to the roster was announced.

Allen saw action in one game and was inactive for two others.  He spent the entire 2008 season and the first seven weeks of the 2009 season on the Packers’ practice squad.

Filed Under: Sports, Titletown Report Tagged With:
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