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Simplifying the child care rating system

January 29, 2010 By

Finding top-rated child care centers could be daunting for parents.

State Representative Cory Mason (D-Racine) believes a quality-ranking system, such as the newly proposed YoungStar, would help parents looking for a reliable child care provider. Mason testifies at a public hearing this week, though, about the difficulty in deciphering between certified or licensed facilities.

Says people who talks to has no idea which of the two is a higher quality program, licensed or certified. He confesses even he doesn’t know the difference. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Children & Families, Politics & Government

Lawmakers approve mandatory CO detectors

January 29, 2010 By

All homes in Wisconsin could soon be required to install carbon monoxide detectors.

Carbon monoxide poisoning claims over 2,000 lives in the US each year, and State Representative Gordon Hintz (D-Oshkosh) says legislation approved in the Senate and Assembly Thursday will help prevent similar deaths in the future. The bill requires the devices to be installed in single and two-family homes, on top of an existing mandate for them in apartment buildings and hotels. [Read more...]

Filed Under: Legislature

Senate passes mental health parity

January 29, 2010 By

The state Senate has passed legislation requiring mental health coverage in employer provided health insurance. Debate revolved around potential costs and potential savings to small and medium sized Wisconsin employers, if group insurance plans are required to provide parity in health care coverage for treatment of mental illnesses and substance abuse.

“We’ve got to treat mental illness as a physical illness, which it is,” said the bill’s author, Senator Dave Hansen (D-Green Bay). “The stigma exists, and I think that stigma still being out there is killing people, and it’s just wrong. Can small business afford this? What are the costs of not treating mental illness and addiction?” Senator Judy Robson (D-Beloit) said businesses will save money in the long run. “This (mental illness or addiction) costs employers,” said Robson. “When you have employees that are not functioning up to their potential, or have many sick days, they drain the employer.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, Legislature, Politics & Government

Brewers sign Edmonds to minor league deal

January 29, 2010 By

The Milwaukee Brewers and veteran outfielder Jim Edmonds agreed to a minor league contract on Thursday. 

Edmonds was out of baseball a year ago and he’s trying to get back in.  The 39-year old is a 4-time all-star and 8-time gold glove award winner.  He’s a career .284 hitter with 382 home runs.  Edmonds hit .235 with 20 homers and 55 rbi’s in 111 games for the Padres and Cubs two years ago.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin has been looking for outfield depth and for some left handed hitting.

Filed Under: Brewers, Sports Tagged With:

Badgers fall short at Purdue

January 29, 2010 By

When the Badgers need baskets down the stretch in games, they often go to point guard Trevon Hughes and he delivers most of the time.  But last night in West Lafayette, Hughes had his number called again with the Badgers down by 1.  Hughes missed a contested runner and the 10th-ranked Purdue Boilermakers pulled out a 60-57 win over the 16th ranked Badgers. 

On the defensive end, Wisconsin just couldn’t get the one stop when they needed one.

AUDIO: Bo Ryan on Badgers defense coming up just short :21

Purdue’s E’Twaun Moore led the Boilermakers with 20 points, scoring in the lane with 25.2 seconds left to give Purdue a 58-57 lead.  The Badgers then worked the clock down before Hughes missed his shot. 

Hughes took the final shot for the Badgers, despite Keaton Nankivil scoring a career high 25 points, hitting 7 of 8 three-pointers and 9 of 14 overall from the field.  

Purdue (5-3) pulled to within 1/2 game lead of the Badgers (6-3) for second place in the Big Ten.  Wisconsin is 16-5 overall.  They’re off until next Tuesday night when they host Big Ten leading Michigan State at the Kohl Center.

Filed Under: Badgers, Sports Tagged With:
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