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Jobless rate inches down

November 20, 2009 By

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate decreased in October – but not by much. The state’s unemployment rate is at its lowest point of the year, continuing a decline that began in June and remaining below the national rate. That’s the good news revealed in the October jobless rate, which at 7.6 percent was down just one tenth of a percentage point from September, although it’s dropped eight tenths of a percent from August. On a seasonally adjusted basis, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate remained unchanged, at 8.4 percent, and down from 8.8 percent in August.

The national rate for October was 9.5 percent, also unchanged from September, and 3.4 percentage points higher than in October 2008. Over the last 12 months, data showed a loss of 129,600 non farm jobs in Wisconsin. Goods producers were down 59,000, mostly in manufacturing, which was down 48,700. Service sector jobs declined 70,600 over the year, led by professional and business services, which lost 23,200 jobs.

The figures were released Thursday by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development.

Filed Under: Economy

Officials want hunters to watch out for pot farms

November 19, 2009 By

The state Department of Natural Resources has a message for deer hunters: As you put your sights on that deer, keep your eyes open for marijuana-growing operations and methamphetamine labs.

Bill Engfer is a conservation warden with the DNR. He says if you see something that just doesn’t look right, get out of the area and call local law enforcement to report your findings. If you have a GPS unit, make a note of your coordinates. He says, though, be safe.

Just last month hunters in Shawano County stumbled upon one of the largest organized drug grow operations in Wisconsin. Over 8,000 marijuana plants were confiscated. Engfer says hunters should look for things that seem out of place in the woods, like huts, tents or other makeshift structures; equipment; watering jugs; chemical containers; or signs of disturbed vegetation. Wisconsin’s nine-day gun deer season begins Saturday.

Call: 1-800-TIP-WDNR

Jackie Johnson report (1:21 mp3)

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment Tagged With:

Rallying against wage theft

November 19, 2009 By
Wage theft rally in Madison

Wage theft rally in Madison

We’ve all heard of employee theft, but what about employers who steal from workers? According to Patrick Hickey with Madison’s Workers’ Rights Center, it’s a growing problem. At a rally at the Capitol, Hickey said federal legislation would extend the two year statute of limitations that the Department of Labor has to meet in its attempts to recover unpaid wages. Hickey said it generally takes the department three to four years to resolve complaints. He said the WRC filed a complaint on behalf of some restaurant workers in Madison two and a half years ago. The investigation is ongoing, and if it’s ever resolved in the workers’ favor “they won’t see a dime,” said Hickey. Hickey said the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development does a pretty good job handling complaints, but that there needs to be tougher enforcement at the federal level.

Patrick Hickey (14:00) AUDIO: Patrick Hickey (14:00 MP3)

Sarah White from the Center on Wisconsin Strategy at UW Madison said low wage workers are getting “stiffed” in Wisconsin. “It is not happening in overseas sweatshops, it’s happening right here,” said White. “This is a huge trend that’s shaping the American workplace, and threatening, really our whole economic recovery here in Wisconsin and around the country.” White said the low wage workers who are denied their wages spend most of their money in local economies. She noted that many employers who engage in wage find it’s cheaper to withhold wages and pay the fines, then it is to pay workers what they’re owed. She noted that also gives those businesses an unfair advantage over competing businesses who are playing by the rules. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children & Families, Crime & Courts, Economy, Labor

Biking to the Illinois state line

November 19, 2009 By
Badger State Trail in Madison

Badger State Trail in Madison

Good news for bikers and hikers after action by the state Building Commission. State Representative Spencer Black (D-Madison), a member of the panel, says the commission gave final approval Wednesday to finishing the multi-use Badger State Trail. Black says the final six mile section will connect trails in Fitchburg and Madison with the rest of the state, all the way to the Illinois border. The Commission approved about a half-million dollars in state funding to complete the trail, and that will be matched by a million dollars in federal money. It’s estimated a quarter million people will use the trail each year.

WIBA’s John Colbert submitted this report

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment, Transportation

Great American Smoke Out

November 19, 2009 By

As the Great American Smoke Out is today some funding to help people kick the habit is getting snuffed out. Tobacco control programs were slashed last budget by 55-percent.

“It’s important that when we encourage people to quit smoking we give them the tools to actually do so,’” says Bob Meyer, Wisconsin Government Relations Director for American Cancer Society. He understands challenges state lawmakers face with increasing fiscal pressures. However he says the state would save money with fewer people lighting up.

AUDIO: Bob Meyer on long term savings (MP3 :47)

Meyer ranks the tobacco quit line among the most vital of tobacco cessation approaches. The ACS says since the program began in 2001 smoking rates in Wisconsin have substantially declined. Last year the adult smoking rate hit an all time low of 19-percent, which is below the national average.

Federal officials believe Wisconsin is not spending enough. Funding was reduced to just under $7 million this two-year budget while the Centers for Disease Control recommends that badger state spend $64 million dollars a year to adequately combat tobacco use.

Filed Under: Health & Medicine
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