February 11, 2012

Homeless advocates clean house (AUDIO)

Robert McGee (IMAGE: WRN)

Robert McGee (IMAGE: WRN)

As police officers watched from across the street and at least one disgruntled neighbor fumed, the homeless advocacy group Take Back the Land was out readying another vacant Madison property for occupancy on Monday – although whether a homeless family will ever reside there remained unclear. “We at this point have families that are interested in finding housing, we don’t have anyone that’s specifically looking for this one right now,” said a spokeswoman at the end of a forty minute long media event in front of a duplex (2920-2918 Turbo Drive) on Madison’s south side. [Read more...]

Another challenger for Feingold

An Oshkosh businessman is joining the list of those who want to unseat Democrat Russ Feingold in U.S. Senate.

Ron Johnson on Monday became the fourth Republican candidate to join the race against Feingold, saying “Obama Care” was the reason for his decision. Johnson owns a medical device company and says the national health care reform legislation threatens his business. [Read more...]

Brewers Gomez to rehab in Appleton

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Carlos Gomez is scheduled for a rehabilitation assignment and will appear in games for the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday and Thursday (May 19-20) at Fox Cities Stadium near Appleton.

Gomez has been out with a strained rotator cuff.  He’ll be eligible to return from the disabled list when the Brewers open a 3-game weekend series against the Minnesota Twins in Minneapolis.

Bucks host pre-draft workouts today

The Milwaukee Bucks are holding the first of their pre-draft workout sessions at the teams Training Center.

Working out this morning are:

- Paul George  6’7 soph  Fresno State
- Craig Brackins  6’10 jr  Iowa State
- Marquis Gilstrap  6’6 sr  Iowa State
- Tyren Johnson  6’8 sr  LA-Lafayette
- Trevon Hughes  6’1 sr  Wisconsin
- Jerome Randle  5’10 sr  California

Working out this afternoon are:

- Samardo Samuels  6’8 soph  Louisville
- Derrick Caracter  6’9 jr  UTEP
- Magnum Rolle  6’10 sr  LA Tech
- Trevor Booker  6’7 sr  Clemson
- Jeremy Wise  6’2  D-League (Bakersfield)
- Jerry Smith  6’2 sr  Louisville

Still evaluating ginseng loss

Wisconsin ginseng (Photo: Jackie Johnson)

Wisconsin ginseng (Photo: Jackie Johnson)

The ginseng industry took a big hit from recent bad weather, but just how big is not yet known.

Experts are still assessing the damage from snow and freezing temperatures earlier this month. “Just the loss of income — gross income to the farmers — certainly would be in excess of $5 million. Then if you take that and do a ripple effect through the economy.”

Butch Weege (wee-gee), executive director of the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin, says the unseasonable snowstorm on Mother’s Day weekend collapsed the plastic shade covers. [Read more...]