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A winter bicycling primer

November 28, 2009 By

Is winter time in Wisconsin time to put away the bicycle? Not necessarily. “So many of us in Wisconsin feel such cabin fever during these long winter months,” says Amanda White with the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin. “If you bike to work or go for a quick bike in the evenings, it’s a great way to get a little fresh air and a little exercise.” Exercise that can help us during a time of year when it’s common to pack on a few extra pounds.

White says there’s a misconception that you have to spend a ton of money on special winter cycling gear. “That’s just not true. If you make sure to wear layers – not your heavy winter coat – you have a good set of lights and some thicker tires, you should do just fine in the winter,” she says. A good pair of mittens or gloves is also a must. “Your hands and face are the first things to get cold in the winter, and that can be miserable,” explains White. “So a good set of gloves, and also a way to keep your face warm. Whether it’s a special biking mask or just even a scarf, keeping your face warm is very important. And of course, always wear a helmet year-round.” One other idea: a good set of fenders can keep the off the slop during those commutes to and from work. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Transportation, Weather

Watch for lead in Holiday lights

November 28, 2009 By

If you’re putting up Christmas decorations this weekend, you might want to check the label to see if your lights contain lead. “The risk is going to be very low,” says

Tim Banwell, Environmental Health Director with the Rock County health department. “You wouldn’t want to put them in a place where children could be touching them with hands and having contact with them. Some of the lead could come off the plastic and the wires, and they could ingest it.”

Banwell says lead paint on older homes is a bigger hazard than the lead in lights. Still, he says choose lights without lead if you have small children. After coming into contact with those types of lights, be sure to wash your hands.

WCLO’s Beth Wheelock submitted this report

Filed Under: Children & Families, Health & Medicine

PEG channels want more support

November 27, 2009 By

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...]

Filed Under: Legislature

Obey’s war tax not likely to advance

November 27, 2009 By

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...]

Filed Under: Military, Politics & Government

Avoid an OWI during holidays

November 27, 2009 By

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

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Human Interest Tagged With:
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