February 12, 2012

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Compact is insurance against invasives

December 12, 2009 By

The state takes out an “insurance policy” against invasive species. Wisconsin is the newest member of a multi-state compact formed to assist in the battle against plant pests such as diseases, insects or weeds. “IPCC – it actually stands for the Interstate Pest Control Compact - is a multi-state compact that’s kind of like an insurance policy for pest control,” says Jane Larson, with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.

The IPCC is an organization supported by nearly 40 states, and provides financial support when states may not have the necessary resources to combat outbreaks or infestations of plant diseases that threaten a state’s agricultural or natural resources. As with any insurance plan, there is a premium. “It’s determined based on your agricultural resources,” says Larson. “For Wisconsin, it would cost us $19,000, based on our crop and forestry acreage.” That premium us payable over several years. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Agriculture, Environment & Conservation

Kind on financial regulations overhaul

December 12, 2009 By

The House of Representatives has advanced an overhaul of financial regulations. More than a year after the catastrophic near-collapse of Wall Street, the House, on a largely partisan 223-202 vote, approved the most sweeping overhaul of the nation’s financial regulatory system since the Great Depression.

“What we’ve done is to insure that these institutions that were considered too big to fail, will be allowed to fail in the future, if they make bad bets, if they over extend themselves, if they speculate, if they make bad decisions,” said La Crosse Democrat, Rep. Ron Kind. Kind said that those institutions could be broken up – but that the economic well being of average citizens would be protected. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Politics & Government

More snow needed to open trails

December 12, 2009 By

Sure, we have some snow, but still not enough to open snowmobile trails in central Wisconsin. The National Weather Service estimates Clark County received around 9 inches of snow, but it blew around a lot, leaving some areas bare.

“We got a long ways to go.” notes Clark County Trails Coordinator Brian Duell, “If nothing else, it definitely helped get everyone’s spirits up, sparked a lot of interest and helped get a lot of work done. But, as far as snow amounts, we have quite a ways to go yet.” Even if there was enough snow, the trails would still be closed through the weekend because of the state’s antlerless deer season, Duell says. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Recreation & Entertainment, Weather