January 27, 2012

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Raji voted to his 1st Pro Bowl!

December 27, 2011 By

B.J. Raji should have been voted to his first NFL Pro Bowl last season, but the Packers nose tackle missed out.  The former Boston

B.J. Raji

College product had a career best 66 tackles, 36 of them solo to go along with a career best 6 1/2 sacks to lead all NFL nose tackles.

Raji’s reward comes one year, even though his numbers are a fraction of what they were a year ago.  Raji told me earlier this afternoon that he received word that he was voted to the NFC Squad.  The NFC and AFC squads will officially be unveiled by the NFL Network tonight at 6pm.

Raji this season, through 15 games, has 21 tackles and 3 sacks.  He also has a rushing touchdown as well.  But those numbers aren’t close to a year ago.  But that’s the way things go in Pro Bowl voting.  First you have to do something to get noticed and then the rewards will come.

Raji, on top of his outstanding season a year ago, intercepted a pass for a touchdown in the NFC Championship game and followed it up with a first time celebration tabbed “The Raji”.  Soon after, they were writing songs about Raji.  The “Raji”, the songs, and a Super Bowl championship gave the young defensive star his first of what could be many Pro Bowl honors.

A colleague of mine, Justin Hull from AM1570 The Score in Appleton talked with Raji earlier this afternoon about the honor.

AUDIO: The Score’s Justin Hull with BJ Raji today 1:50

Filed Under: Green Bay Packers, Sports, Titletown Report Tagged With:

Wisconsin soldier dies in Afghanistan

December 27, 2011 By

An Army medic from Marshfield has died in Afghanistan, after he was attacked by insurgents. The Pentagon confirms that 27-year-old Staff Sergeant Joseph Altmann died on Christmas Day, just a few days after his own birthday. Officials say he was hit by small-arms fire. His family says this is Altmann’s third tour of duty; he previously served in Iraq, and had recently enlisted for another four years in the Army. His parents are John and Janice Altmann. Their son was a medic whose unit was based out of Hawaii. Altmann had no children; he just got married in February of this year.

Filed Under: Military, News

2011 in Review: ‘Fab 14′ a focus

December 27, 2011 By

The state Senate set the tone for a tumultuous 2011 in Wisconsin politics. It began on February 17th, a scheduled Thursday floor session for the Wisconsin state Senate, for which the fourteen Democratic Senators failed to appear, to the chagrin of Majority Leader, Scott Fitzgerald. “I’m not sure where the Democrat senators are,” said Fitzgerald, who had dispatched law enforcement officers to find them.

AUDIO: Bob Hague reports (1:35) [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government Tagged With:

Pushing for state budget transparency

December 27, 2011 By

Lawmakers and the public would have an easier time identifying earmarks in the state budget, under legislation being considered at the state Capitol. The bill from state Senator Rich Zipperer (R-Pewaukee) would require special spending projects included in the budget to be clearly identified, along with what legislative districts and lawmakers would benefit from them.

Zipperer says it’s meant to “shine light on one of the most secretive practices in the Legislature.”

The bill requires the Legislative Fiscal Bureau to prepare a report identifying all earmarks, along with their costs. Zipperer says it would also prevent lawmakers from voting on the budget until that report is publicly available.

Zipperer says it will help avoid situations where lawmakers approve a state budget, only to discover later that a costly provision was slipped in at the last minute. He says good public policy doesn’t come from backroom deals made at the 11th hour.

A Senate committee is considering the measure.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:07)

Filed Under: Legislature, News

Kicking the habit for the New Year

December 27, 2011 By

For smokers, there are just a few more days left if you want to kick the habit in 2011.

Doctor Michael Fiore of the UW Tobacco Cessation and Prevention Program says most smokers do want to quit, but may need a little extra help getting there. He says that’s why the Tobacco Quit line remains available.

By calling 1-800-QUIT-NOW, smokers can access counseling and a free two-week supply of aids, such as the nicotine patch.

Fiore estimates 70 percent of Wisconsin smokers want to stop cigarettes. He says a New Year’s Resolution can work to “get that monkey off your back.”

AUDIO: John Colbert reports (:39)

Filed Under: Health & Medicine, News
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