A state lawmaker says a proposal to reduce the number of meals fed to inmates at Wisconsin prisons could save a lot of money. State Representative Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls) is backing legislation that would feed inmates two meals a day, instead of the current three. He says the idea was suggested by prison workers in his district, who believe it could cuts costs. [Read more...]
Kenosha bids farewell to fallen officer
March 26, 2011 By
Kenosha takes its turn saying farewell this weekend to a city native who died in the line of duty while serving as a police officer in Fond du Lac. Craig Birkholz was shot and killed responding to a sexual assault complaint last Sunday.
Kenosha Police Sergeant James Heiring says they are all too familiar with losing an officer in the line of duty. Kenosha County Sheriff’s Detective Frank [Read more...]
UW System chancellors pitch their own plan
March 26, 2011 By
A plan to split UW Madison from the rest of the UW System has competition. The chancellors of UW extension and all the UW campuses – with the exception of UW Madison’s Biddy Martin, have signed on to this Wisconsin Idea Partnership, a reaction toMartin’s New Badger Partnership which spins off the Madison campus. UW Parkside chancellor Debbie Ford doesn’t think that’s a good idea. “Creating another system of governance for higher education at a time dwindling resources is going to lead to greater competition,” said Ford. “I believe strongly in a unified system of higher education, and that’s what we’ve had for over forty years.” [Read more...]
Budget repair law published
March 25, 2011 By
Wisconsin’s non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau published a controversial law late Friday that makes changes to the collective bargaining rights of most public employees. The move comes despite a temporary restraining order issued by a Dane County judge last Friday that barred final action to make the law official.
A statement released by the Department of Justice contends that Act 10 was legally published and did not violate the restraining order. DOJ says the Secretary of State did not order the move, and the Legislative Fiscal Bureau was operating under its mandatory duty to publish the measure. [Read more...]
Planned Parenthood rally at Capitol (AUDIO)
March 25, 2011 By
With threats to family planning and community health centers in Governor Scott Walker’s proposed state budget, supporters of Planned Parenthood rallied at the Capitol on Friday. Walker is proposing to eliminate the Title V Maternal and Child Health Program which uses state and federal money to provide family planning services. “Our services have no place in balancing a state budget,” said Meg Robertson, a nurse practitioner with Planned Parenthood. “This absolutely vicious attack on reproductive health rights of both women and men is deplorable.”
