January 27, 2012

Making inmates pay for medications

When inmates in Wisconsin’s correctional facilities are prescribed medications, the state currently picks up the cost of their drugs. State Representative Mark Radcliffe (D-Black River Falls) says that carries a price tag of nearly $16 million a year, even though many inmates do have the money to cover them.

Radcliffe is sponsoring a bill that would require a co-pay from inmates of at least $2.50 for prescription drugs. The money would come from an inmate’s canteen account, which is a fund available for them to pay for goods and is based on work they do while incarcerated. [Read more...]

Boozing Sheboygan mayor won’t resign

Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan said he will not resign in the wake of a weekend drinking incident in Elkhart Lake. Ryan was apologetic for the three-day binge which ended on Monday morning. “I’m humiliated by this once again. This is the third time this has happened. It’s not an enjoyable situation to be in,” Ryan said during a live interview on WHBL.

The Sheboygan City Council met as a Committee of the Whole Wednesday night, and called for the mayor’s resignation or removal. Ryan said he has no intention of resigning. “I am sorry for the stuff that has happened, truly. But, on the other hand, I feel that I can lead this city better than anybody can, and I aim to do that.” [Read more...]

Black Widow hitches ride to Wisconsin

A central Wisconsin woman got more than she bargained after a trip to the produce section. Earlier this month, Velora Roehl bought some red grapes from a store in Marshfield. She used some in a fruit salad and put the rest back in the fridge. A week later, she thought it was time to clean them out. “I reached my hand in there . . . and, something wiggled,” said Roehl. That got her attention. She looked in the bag and found a web — and a Black Widow spider. “I could see that red hourglass very visably,” said Roehl.

It’s rare, but not unheard of for spiders-including the poisonous Black Widow to hitch a ride on produce. The grapes were picked in Mexico. Roehl has the in a jar. “I really don’t know how to get rid of her other than to take her back to the store,” she said. “I don’t want to open the jar, because she tends to hide in the cover.” The Black Widow is poisonous, but its bite is usually not fatal for humans, it just hurts. A lot.

AUDIO: WCCN’s Paul Knoff reports (1:30)

A Capitol balloon popping results in an arrest

The state employee allegedly involved in a balloon-stabbing incident at the Wisconsin State Capitol on Monday is arrested Thursday by the Capitol Police for endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon, according to the Department of Administration.

A woman had brought the red, heart-shaped Mylar balloon to the regularly scheduled sing-along in the rotunda, a daily event in protest of Governor Scott Walker’s collective bargaining law. The state worker allegedly tried to pop the balloon with a knife, [Read more...]

Redistricting lawsuit dismissed

A panel of federal judges has dismissed a lawsuit asking the court to take over Wisconsin’s redistricting process. The three judges with the Eastern District federal court in Milwaukee rejected a lawsuit filed by former Democratic state Senator Judy Robson, ruling that no special circumstances exist that warrant the court getting involved in the matter. [Read more...]