May 21, 2012

Rains bring early end to Farm Technology Days

The final day’s activities at Farm Technology Days was canceled due to rain and wet grounds at the site southwest of River Falls. “Unfortunately, due to heavy rains, the show is canceled for today,” says Pierce County Farm Technology Days committee member Jim Harsdorf. Harsdorf says the festival site southwest of River Falls was too wet for the safety of visitors. “It’s not the first time Farm Technology Days has had to deal with the weather, and it won’t be the last,” he says. The rain brings an end to three years of work by the host committee and 1500 volunteers. The 2011 Farm Technology Days will be held in Marathon County.

Jeff Petersen, WIXK

Women riding for motorcycle crash course

A group of Wisconsin women motorcyclists have embarked on a 670 mile ride to raise money and awareness about a program for accident scene response. “We believe the most likely person to be at the scene of the crash is another motorcyclist. So we want to teach the average motorcyclist what to do until the professionals get there,” says organizer Vicki Sanfelipo. [Read more...]

Tax credits help small business with health care costs

A new report shows the majority of Wisconsin small businesses are eligible for health care tax credits.

The brunt of the health care crisis has fallen on small businesses, so says Robert Kraig – Executive Director at Citizen Action of Wisconsin. He says a new report shows that over 21,000 Wisconsin small businesses have dropped health coverage for their employees in the last decade. “The latest numbers indicate that only 36.8-percent of Wisconsin small businesses provide coverage,” he says, “that is way down from 58-percent that provided coverage a decade ago.” [Read more...]

Washington eyes Obey’s seat

The soon-to-be empty seat from Democratic Congressman Dave Obey has Washington DC buzzing with big names coming to the area to drum up support for the party favorites.  The two insiders appeared separately in Wausau this month, Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich and current Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer.

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Ag secretary drowns in Lake Superior

Wisconsin’s agriculture secretary drowned late Wednesday afternoon while swimming in Lake Superior. An ag department spokesman said 62-year-old Rod Nilsestuen was on vacation in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, working with Habitat for Humanity like he did every summer.

[Read more...]