The Wisconsin Supreme Court rules that it was okay for police to use GPS tracking on a stalking suspect’s car. The high court Tuesday did not address whether secretly attaching the tracker was unconstitutional but did decide law enforcement acted in accordance by obtaining a search warrant to monitor Michael Sveum’s movement.
Decision forces fiscal challenge (AUDIO)
July 20, 2010 By
Tuesday’s Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling means the state will have to pay back millions of dollars taken from a medical malpractice fund, but there’s plenty of partisan finger pointing going on already. Dan Schooff, Secretary of the Department of Administration, criticizes the interest group which filed a legal challenge to the 2007, $200 million, budget balancing transfer from the Patients Compensation Fund – the Wisconsin Medical Society. “We think that a question could be asked as to why this was such a big priority for the state’s doctors,” says Schoof. State Representative Mark Pocan, a Madison Democrat who co-chairs the legislature’s Joint Finance Committee points out that Republicans who controlled the state Assembly came up with the fund raid in the first place. “It’s a sign that, when the Republicans were in control in the Assembly and this was part the scheme that they did to get out of the budget in 2007, it wasn’t a very smart decision,” says Pocan, who voted for the budget deal which was later signed by Governor Jim Doyle. “Now we’re going to have to fix it.” [Read more...]
Mayor: ‘I’m an alcoholic, let’s face it’
July 20, 2010 By
Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan has had a setback in his efforts to fight alcoholism. Ryan issued a statement during Monday night’s city council meeting, admitting that rumors swirling around the city about him are true. “I had a setback in my program. I was out in the city of Sheboygan, I was at drinking establishments and I was drinking. I know that the rumors are swirling that I was out and they are true, I admit it,” he said.
Bar patrons drop a dime on drunk dad
July 20, 2010 By
David Hines PHOTO: Dane Co. Sheriff
A Dane County man faces charges after leaving his young son in a truck while he drank at rural tavern. Sheriff’s spokeswoman Elise Schaefer said it happened Saturday night at Heather’s Bar in Rockdale. “When one man was leaving the bar at about 12:30 he noticed a small child sleeping in a pickup truck outside. The truck had the keys in the ignition and the radio was playing,” said Schaefer. She said the patron removed the keys from the ignition, went back inside the bar, and located the truck’s owner, 33 year-old David Hines, who deputies later determined to be intoxicated. [Read more...]
Courtesy Tours cater to nonfarmers at Farm Tech Days
July 20, 2010 By
No question is too stupid when exploring new advancements in farm-related industries.
The state’s ‘Farm Technology Days’ gets underway in Western Wisconsin. “Courtesy Tours” makes its debut at the annual event that offers agricultural producers an opportunity learn more about new products and services. And the general public can also learn a thing or two. “What we’re really trying to do is offer, as a courtesy, tours to the non-farm public that will attend our event.” [Read more...]
