January 27, 2012

WIAA State Soccer Tournament

The WIAA State High School Soccer Tournament is underway in Milwaukee.  In Division 1 Quarterfinals on Thursday:

Marquette 6, Green Bay Preble 2
Middleton 1, Brookfield East 0
Kettle Moraine 2, Chippewa Falls 1
Neenah 3, Elkhorn 0

In today’s semifinals:

Division 3

9am    Winnebago Lutheran (25-3) vs. Cent. Wis. Christian (15-7-1)
11am  Wausau Neuman (19-2-2) vs. Racine Prairie   (19-3-2)

Division 2

1pm    Mount Horeb  (18-2-2) vs. Sturgeon Bay  (21-2-1)
3pm    Fox Valley Lutheran (17-6-3) vs. Catholic Memorial   (17-5-1)

Division 1

6pm   Marquette (22-0-1) vs. Middleton (21-3-2)
8pm   Kettle Moraine (18-6-1) vs. Neenah  (22-3-2)

Championship games will be played Saturday.

Cap on attorney fees clears Senate

The state Senate has approved legislation that limits attorney fees in civil lawsuits. The bill would cap attorney fees in lawsuits to no more than three times the value of damages awarded in the decision.

State Senator Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) says the measure is meant to keep attorneys from racking up huge legal bills by dragging out a case. He says attorneys should not be rewarded with huge bills many times above the actual damages simply for delaying a decision.

Democrats charge the bill will stifle the ability of consumers with a small claim to have their day in court. Senate Minority Leader Mark Miller (D-Monona) says attorneys will not want to take up those claims when they realize they can’t recover the cost of arguing the case.

Zipperer says an amendment, which allows judges to exceed the cap if they feel it is necessary, will prevent that from happening.

The bill passed Thursday on a 17-15 vote in the Senate and now heads to the Assembly.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:14)

Senate will ban public from concealed carry

As the state prepares to unveil rules that will likely allow concealed weapons in the Capitol, the state Senate is poised to ban the public from carrying into its chambers.

The concealed carry law passed earlier this year takes effect on November first, allowing permit holders to carry hidden guns inside most government buildings, unless officials pass rules and post signs stating they are banned. The state Department of Administration is scheduled to outline a policy Friday morning that is expected to allow them inside parts of the Capitol under its control.

The law also allows the state Senate and Assembly to pass their own rules on whether hidden handguns will be allowed inside.

State Senate President Mike Ellis (R-Neenah) says he wants them banned from his chamber in both the gallery and on the floor. Ellis says “we have enough problems as it is without Tom Mix and Hopalong Cassidy with their six shooters out here.”

However, Ellis is only expected to get a portion of that wish granted. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) says an agreement among Republicans will only ban hidden guns in the Senate galleries. Members with permits will be allowed to carry them on the floor, they will be allowed in committee hearing rooms, and Senators will have the power to ban them from their offices.

Ellis says he would prefer to stick with the current policy that bans guns from the building, but admits he lost that battle.

Meanwhile, the state Assembly is expected to approve rules that allow concealed guns in that chamber. Democrats, such as state Senator Fred Risser (D-Madison), say the plan is a threat to public safety.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:02)

UPDATE: This story was edited from its original version to reflect the final compromise reached by Republicans, which will allow Senators with permits to carry concealed weapons in the chamber.

Bill boosts charter schools

A bill allowing for expansion of charter schools in Wisconsin has cleared the legislature’s budget panel. Joint Finance Committee co-chair, Representative Robin Vos, noted charter schools have bi-partisan support. “Actually I just read a story talking about President Obama’s strong support for charter schools,” said Vos. “He actually said money without reform doesn’t fix the problem. There’s something I actually agree with President Obama on.” But the bill received no support from Democrats on the committee, including Senator Bob Jauch, who said the charter expansion “benefits the few at the expense of the many.” [Read more...]

Konz: Where’s the beef?

As the Wisconsin Badgers gets ready for Saturday nights Big Ten road game in

Peter Konz

Columbus against the Ohio State Buckeyes, center Peter Konz from Neenah, Wisconsin took some time to discuss Wisconsin’s rich history of producing excellent offensive linemen.

AUDIO: Peter Konz on why Wisconsin produces such good offensive lineman :11

The Badgers are trying to put Michigan State in the rearview mirror and get back in the win column against the Buckeyes.