Wisconsin News and Sports
Wisconsin’s PEG channels say changes are needed in the cable industry to keep them alive.
Legislation passed two years ago changed how cable companies are required to support Public, Education, and Government channels. Wisconsin Association of PEG Channels director Mary Cardona says it’s making it harder for them to stay on the air by ending support for many stations. [Read more...]
How serious is a Wisconsin congressman about a “war tax” to cover the costs of the Obama administration’s stepped up war in Afghanistan? UW Madison political scientist Charles Franklin doubts whether Wausau Democrat, U.S. Representative Dave Obey, will see his proposal come to a vote in the House.
“Obey is a very influential congressman, so I don’t want to discount this. But he has proposed this before. He proposed something like it during the Bush administration,” said Franklin. “I cannot imagine that there’s a majority in Congress prepared to vote for such a tax.” To pay for more troops in Afghanistan, Obey wants a graduated surtax on income. Tax increases would range from one percent for the lowest wage earners, to five percent for the most wealthy. [Read more...]
Holiday parties abound between now and the year’s end, and that means police around Wisconsin will be busy with drunk driving arrests. Madison alcohol counselor Janet DuBerry sees too much emphasis on getting “toasted.”
“For example with Thanksgiving dinner, you don’t sit down at the dining table and eat as much as you can, as fast as you can. But, people do that with alcohol, thinking it’s going to increase the pleasurable effects. And it doesn’t.”
Janet DuBerry (:15) AUDIO: Janet DuBerry (:15 MP3)
DuBerry says what it DOES lead to are fights, embarrassing situations, and potentially an OWI arrest. “This is the time or year when people give themselves permission to celebrate, and part of that celebration in Wisconsin, unfortunately, is excessive drinking,” says DuBerry. “That is why we see the rise in arrests occur this time of year.” Her advice: take a cab.
WIBA
Stores in Wisconsin are bracing for big crowds on Black Friday, the official start of the Christmas shopping season. Madison-based retail consultant Doug Johnson says it was pretty dismal last year, but it seems to be picking up now. But Johnson concedes some things are just out of retailers’ control. “We’ve got to make that we don’t have bad weather. We’ve got to hope that we don’t have any kind of national or international political or other crisis,” said Johnson. “That said, there’s reason for retailers to be cautiously optimistic.” [Read more...]
Call it a holiday plea for some “situational awareness.” Black Friday shoppers should guard against theft, because winter weather and holiday shopping bring opportunities for thieves. “We’ll see an increase with the colder weather of people starting up their cars to warm them up, leave them unattended, and someone provided that opportunity will take off with their vehicle.” says Janesville Police Department Sergeant Brian Donohoue.
Donanue’s words of caution hold true for Black Friday shoppers. “Sometimes we get distracted during the holiday season, and we forget about locking our car. We keep packages and such in plain view, which offers the opportunity for people to steal things,” he says, adding that police usually see an increase in thefts during the holiday season. “If you do have packages or you do have valuables, but them in the trunk or take them out of the vehicle. People do to take the opportunity, if they see something they like, to get into the vehicles.”
Bob Hague (:40) AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (:40 MP3)
Audio Beth Wheelock, WCLO
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