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Koepp prosecutors refute robbery theory

January 27, 2010 By

Rock County prosecutors are trying to prove a robbery did not occur, when the Lentz family was murdered in their trailer in January 2007. Janesville Gazette reporter Ted Sullivan was in the courtroom Wednesday afternoon. He said a Rock County Sheriff’s officer testified that bank cards and gift cards were located near a purse, and a forensic pathologist testified money was found in Danyetta Lentz’s pocket.

James Koepp is on trial for the murders of Danyetta Lentz and her children Scott and Nicole. Another piece of evidence that doesn’t add up: witnesses say that the victims’ socks were missing. They could tell the victims had been wearing socks because their feet were free from blood. The trial for the 50 year-old Koepp’s trial is scheduled to last two weeks.

AUDIO: Janesville Gazette reporter Ted Sullivan (:50 MP3) AUDIO: Janesville Gazette reporter Ted Sullivan (:50 MP3)

Filed Under: Crime & Courts

Support for constitutional change on property taxes

January 27, 2010 By

There’s a call for a constitutional change to help Wisconsin homeowners.

Governor Jim Doyle wants legislators to approve a Constitutional Amendment to allow the state to target property tax relief to homeowners. Sun Prairie Democrat Gary Hebl backs the move.

“We need to protect our homeowners … especially those that are on fixed incomes. This property tax relief is long overdue.”

The Governor called for the constitutional change in his final State of the State address last night.

John Colbert, WIBA  :37

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Filed Under: Politics & Government, Taxes Tagged With:

Decker: MPS governance requires compromise

January 27, 2010 By

A legislative leader says reform of Milwaukee schools is at a roadblock. Governor Jim Doyle’s State of the State address included a passionate call for mayoral control of the Milwaukee Public Schools, but state Senator Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Schofield) says there’s a problem. “It is a controversial issue, and the Milwaukee legislators themselves can’t come to an agreement,” said Decker at Wednesday’s WisPolitics luncheon in Madison. “And . . . I learned a lesson when I first came down here: you don’t cram something down someone’s throat in their district. In this case it’s Spencer Coggs, and I’ve been encouraging them to work to a compromise. I think most people in the Senate Democratic caucus would get on board, if there was compromise between the Milwaukee legislators.” [Read more...]

Filed Under: Education Tagged With:

Budget repair bill avoided

January 27, 2010 By

Revenue analysis shows a state budget repair bill is not needed. The Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects the closing gross general fund balance at the end of the current biennium to be $55.7 million Although that figure is $219.5 million below the balance projected when the current two year state budget was enacted, legislative leader say the state may avoid a budget adjustment.

Representative Mark Pocan (D-Madison), a co-chair of the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee, said that analysis shows the legislature’s budget measures are on target. Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan (D-Janesville) said basic economic indicators are improving, and the state is on track to avoid a budget adjustment bill.

The Fiscal Bureau’s analysis said the decrease is mainly due to on a $92 million drop in cigarette tax revenues, and the loss of $92 million due to the end of income tax reciprocity with Minnesota.

Filed Under: Politics & Government

President’s message won’t be “Lost” to angry fans

January 27, 2010 By

The White House recently assured fans of ABC’s Lost that the President’s State of the Union will not interfere with the season premiere of the show. The speech by the nation’s first African American president may have conflicted with the time slot for the show which has also been historic in its own roles regarding race.

Mary Beltrán, Associate Professor of Chicano and Latino studies at UW-Madison, says when casting the first season of Lost, which premiered in 2004, staff were so impressed by actors who turned out for the roles that they modified the ethnicity of the characters. An example is the Jorge Garcia who plays Hurley, a character initially not specified to be Latino. Yunjin Kim, who plays Sun, originally auditioned for Kate, a role that which went Caucasian woman. The show handlers were so impressed that they created a special character for her.

Sometimes the show has played it safe according to Beltrán. One example is the character of Jack, a surgeon who was to be killed in the pilot episode while Kate becomes the unofficial leader of the survivors. Beltrán says test audiences and seasoned producers did not like the idea so it is Jack who assumes the helm.

The ABC sci fi drama’s  sixth and final season premiere is Tuesday.

Filed Under: Politics & Government
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