Prosecutors in Marathon County will not amend criminal charges against a state lawmaker arrested for driving erratically near Wausau last September. Representative Jeff Wood told an Assembly panel considering his expulsion last week that he expected an OWI charge to be downgraded to inattentive driving based on state lab results that showed he had therapeutic levels of medicine in his system. But Marathon County assistant district attorney Kala Strawn has quote no intention of amending the charge. She declined to comment on the lab report or on whether she’s involved in an any plea negotiations. Both sides will meet again in a status conference April 26th.

Matt Lehman, WSAU

Wisconsin retailers would have to charge consumers the advertised price of a product, under legislation being proposed at the Capitol.

The bill from state Senator John Lehman (D-Racine) would ban retailers from advertising a low price for an item if it’s only available through a mail-in rebate. The Racine Democrat says consumers shouldn’t enter a store thinking they’re going to pay $50, and then end up paying $100 and filling out a form for the discount. [Read more...]