Wisconsin News and Sports
The 11th ranked Wisconsin Badgers won their 9th straight Big Ten men’s
Ryan Evans
basketball opener on Tuesday night, 64-40 over the Nebraska Cornhuskers in Lincoln.
Ryan Evans scored a career-high 22 points and grabbed six rebounds while Jordan Taylor added 15 points as the Badgers held Nebraska to just 14 second half points in the win. Evans hit 9 of 11 FG’s, including a pair of three-pointers to double his season total. [Read more...]
Protests in Wisconsin (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)
It all started when Governor Scott Walker unveiled his budget repair bill in mid-February. Walker said he’d fix the $137 million budget hole by radically reducing public employees’ ability to collectively bargain. “If we don’t do it — the legislature does not do this either through the budget repair or through the budget bill — I think it needs to be very realistic about what the alternatives are. You’re talking about massive layoffs at both the state and local level.”
Upon introducing the bill, Walker said the measure would have support in the Legislature, and he thought public workers would understand why the repair bill was needed. “I have every confidence that the professionals who showed up yesterday and today will continue to show up because they understand that the choices we’re making are to offset choices that I think are less positive being made in other states.”
The first sign of the protests came on February 14th, when University of Wisconsin students delivered Valentine’s to the governor’s office asking him to reconsider. Protesters gathered during a hearing of the Joint Finance Committee that continued through the night. Growing crowds, armed with sleeping bags and mobile phones, occupied the state Capitol around the clock showing their opposition to the bill while disrupting the daily operations of state government, chanting “kill the bill,” “the people united will never be defeated,” and “when I say Walker you say stupid.”
In the coming weeks, a peak of 100,000 demonstrators brandished signs and marched around the Capitol Square, drawing national attention and big names to the state. At one point, the Walker Administration put the Capitol on lockdown citing security concerns, causing even more tension. Demonstrators shouted, among other things, “let us in … let us in.”
A Dane County judge ordered the state Capitol building fully re-opened to the public in early March. Walker signed the collective bargaining bill into law in mid-March and it officially took effect at the end of June. To this day, protests continue, most regularly are the daily Solidarity Singers.
State lawmakers are considering a proposal that would allow some public projects with private funding to cut labor costs.
The bill from state Representative Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) would exempt public works projects from the prevailing wage law if at least 85-percent of the cost is being covered by private funding. The project would have to be something for public use that’s focused on conservation, recreational, or educational purposes.
Marklein says the need for the exemption became clear after a group tried to replace a shelter at Blue Mounds State Park. Despite raising more than $400,000, the project fell short of the needed funding because the organization had not raised enough to pay the prevailing wage. Marklein says government should be encouraging private investment in projects that benefit the public.
Union groups are concerned the bill could drive down wages on numerous construction jobs. For example, Thomas Gasperetti with the Wisconsin Pipe Trades says many UW projects rely heavily on private funding and he says the bill creates a “problematic loophole.”
The bill is currently awaiting action from a Senate committee.
AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:05)
Wisconsin and seven other states have reached settlements with several TV and computer makers they sued for alleged price-fixing on LCD screens.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen says the companies, including Samsung, have agreed to put $500 million into a settlement fund for consumers and businesses from 25 states. But Wisconsinites will not be able to make claims just yet. Van Hollen says litigation must still be concluded against four other firms, including LG.
The lawsuit brought by several states was filed in August of last year. It claims the companies conspired to illegally inflate prices of certain LCD panels, preventing price competition for components that are common in TV and computer displays.
The Green Bay Packers have seven of their players represent them on the 2011-12 NFC Pro Bowl team. The Packers learned that wide receiver Greg Jennings, fullback John Kuhn, linebacker Clay Matthews, quarterback Aaron Rodgers, nose tackle B.J. Raji, center Scott Wells and cornerback Charles Woodson were named Pro Bowl selections by the National Football League. Kuhn, Matthews, Rodgers and Woodson were named starters for the NFC.
Kicker Mason Crosby was named first alternate. Other alternates include linebacker Desmond Bishop, returner Randall Cobb, tight end Jermichael Finley, wide receiver Jordy Nelson, guard Josh Sitton and cornerback Tramon Williams.
The seven players are the most the Packers have had voted into the Pro Bowl since 1967.
John Kuhn, B.J. Raji and Scott Wells are all first time Pro Bowl selections.
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