June 18, 2013

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Officials warn of heat-related deaths

June 13, 2013 By

Emergency officials are warning about the dangers of extreme heat.

Heat can kill, especially in consecutive days of hot temperatures.

“If you take the tornadoes and floods and winter storms, if you add all those together — tornadoes, everything — it doesn’t even come close to matching the people that we lose to heat.”

Tod Pritchard with Wisconsin Emergency Management says almost all heat-related deaths are preventable. Last year, Wisconsin had 24 heat-related deaths. In 1995, two major killer heat waves resulted in 154 deaths and over 300 illnesses.

If you feel symptoms, it might be too late. “You’ve got to call 911 at that moment because heat stroke can take a life in a matter of minutes. So you really don’t have much time.”

None of the victims in previous years had air conditioning and did not seek shelter at one of the many cooling centers which opened around the state. If you know anyone who’s vulnerable, Pritchard says you need to be a “heat buddy” and get them to a cooler environment.

Also, never leave pets or animals in a closed car, ever. “Cars can heat so fast, even just on a run-of-the-mill 80-degree day in Wisconsin  the inside temperature of your car can go up to about 99 degrees in ten minutes, and 109 in just 20 minutes.”

When temps get high limit physical activity on extremely hot days, drink lots of water, avoid alcohol, eat lightly, take cool showers.

Thursday June 13 is Wisconsin Heat Awareness Day.

Tips to keep safe in hot weather:

1. Never leave children, disabled persons, or pets in a parked car – even briefly.
2. Keep your living space cool.
3. Slow down and limit physical activity.
4. Drink plenty of water and eat lightly.
5. Wear lightweight, loose-fitting, light-colored clothing.
6. Don’t stop taking medication unless your doctor says you should.
7. Taking a cool shower or bath will cool you down.

Follow Ready Wisconsin on twitter and facebook for up-to-date information on emergency issues. Also, visit their YouTube page.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, News, Weather

Secretary of state hopes to restore the office

June 11, 2013 By
Doug La Follette (FILE PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Doug La Follette (FILE PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

The secretary of state wants the governor and the legislature to put politics aside for the good of the state, its economy, and job creation.

Secretary of State Doug La Follette is working on developing a good structure for his office to encourage people to form corporations, do business, and borrow money in Wisconsin.

“I think there’s been a lot of mistakes made about the Secretary of State’s office and it’s hurt Wisconsin. One of the best things we can do for the economy, that’s so obvious, is return the business functions to the Secretary of State’s office that were here originally and are in the Secretaries of State’s offices all across the country.”

In 1995 many responsibilities were transferred to a newly-created Department of Financial Institutions (DFI). La Follette says over the years people inquiring about trademarks, notaries public, and other business regulations were confused. He says it’s important to restore those business functions to the office of Secretary of State.

“This is not about Doug La Follette. I’m not gonna be around forever. It’s about what’s best for Wisconsin’s economy and for doing business. If we wanna be open for business we shouldn’t make it hard for people to find the things they need to do business.”

Rohn W. Bishop is critical of the position. The Republican last month announced his candidacy for La Follette’s “pretty cushy gig.” Bishop says he can carry out the limited duties of the Secretary of State while advocating for elimination of the office.

La Follette defends the office. He met with Governor Scott Walker recently, he says, to explain how Wisconsin has gone “off the track” by creating the DFI and putting it in charge of the business functions.

“All across the country we want to encourage people to come here — form corporations, do businesses, borrow money. All that requires dealing with the Secretary of State’s office everywhere in the country except Wisconsin. That doesn’t make sense.”

La Follette was first elected to the office of Secretary of State in 1974. He announced at the State Democratic Party of Wisconsin Convention over the weekend that he will seek re-election next year.

Bishop says “It’s a waste of taxpayer money to keep a position around just so Mr. La Follotte can set some kind of record for duration in office.”

The election is 17 months away.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 2:10

Filed Under: Economy, Elections, News, Politics & Government

Interest on student loans set to double

June 10, 2013 By

Interest rates on new federal student loans could soon double.

An estimated 160,000 Wisconsinites who will borrow student loans would have to pay twice as much in interest rates after July 1, according to WISPIRG, unless Congress does something about it. “We’re getting down to the wire,” says WISPIRG Director Bruce Speight. He says “Congress needs to act or else students will be burdened by increasing debt from the interest rates on federal Stafford loans doubling from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent.”

Speight his findings show thats translates into a $915 increase in debt per student, per loan.

He explains Congress needs to act by July 1, otherwise individuals taking out new subsidized Stafford student loans will be impacted with an increasing debt burden that would have a huge impact on the economy. ”In the form of $145 million that students otherwise could spend in our economy in Wisconsin buying a home or a car.”

Just last year, student debt nationwide hit the $1 trillion mark, passing credit card debt as the country’s top form of consumer debt. Speight says the average college graduate with loans in Wisconsin currently has $26,238 in student debt.

The low 3.4 percent rate was set to expire in 2012, but Congress and the president had temporarily extended that rate for one more year. That extension is about to expire.

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:27

Filed Under: Education, News, Politics & Government

Suspected drunken driver slams into ambulance

June 8, 2013 By
Ambulance hit by car at intersection.

Ambulance hit by car at intersection. (PHOTO: Clark County Sheriff’s Department)

The city of Greenwood ambulance takes a beating Saturday morning after getting hit by a car at an intersection, sending four people to a nearby hospital and resulting in one arrest for possible drunk driving. Nobody was killed.

Clark County Sheriff’s Department officials arrive to find the bus north of the County Highway H and State Highway 73 intersection lying on its side. A car was found to have significant damage at the scene.

According to a press release, the preliminary investigation indicates the car’s driver, 35-year-old Kevin Colby of Loyal, went through the stop sign and then struck the rear corner of the ambulance, causing it to spin, overturn, and slide down the road. That happened just before 4:00 am Saturday, just north of Neillsville and south of Greenwood. Colby and his passenger, 35-year-old Angela Colby, were taken to Ministry St. Joseph’s Hospital in Marshfield with non life-threatening injuries, according to the Sheriff’s Department.

Car speeds through intersection and hits ambulance in Clark County

Car speeds through intersection and hits ambulance (PHOTO: Clark County Sheriff’s Department)

The driver of the ambulance was not injured, but two EMTs were taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries, also believed to be non life-threatening.

The ambulance was returning from a call and no patient was in the vehicle at the time of crash.

Kevin Colby was arrested on suspicion of Operating a Motor Vehicle While Intoxicated.

The Neillsville Fire Department, Neillsville Ambulance Service and Wisconsin State Patrol all assisted at the scene. Investigation is continuing by the Sheriff’s Department and State Patrol.

Filed Under: Fires/Accidents/Disasters, News

Election reforms on fast track

June 6, 2013 By

Wisconsin omnibus election reform bill moving ahead, but needs a little more time for consideration.

Republicans in the legislature are pushing a bill seeking multiple changes to Wisconsin’s election laws, including voter photo ID requirements. At an Assembly committee hearing this week Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) asks the Assembly speaker, “What’s the hurry?”

The measure had been scheduled for a vote on Thursday, two days after its first public hearing. Zamarripa pleads, “Can we slow this down? Can we not exec on Thursday? … if you’re sincere about taking bipartisan input.”

Dozens of people attend the hearing Tuesday on Jeff Stone’s (R-Greendale) election reform legislation. Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin testifies against it. “Well there’s not time to analyze or clearly to address all of the anti-voter aspects of AB 225; we wonder what Wisconsin voters could possibly have done to deserve such a restrictive law.”

The bill allows voters who are too poor to pay for a photo identification card to sign an affidavit and take an oath stating the accuracy of that statement. Representative Fred Kessler (D-Milwaukee) says that’s an “extremely humiliating requirement.”

“It strikes me as creating multiple classes of voters,” Kessler directs his concern to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington), “Does that not trouble you, also?”

Vos says he’d like to have the package approved by the end of the Legislature’s current floor period on June 30th, providing ample time to train poll workers on the new changes before the next election. Kessler argues, considering the earliest election is the February primary, the package could be taken up in the fall session, allowing more time for it to be examined and debated.

Ardis Cerny of Brookfield supports the measure. “First of all I’d like to respond to some of the comments that were made earlier about ‘What’s the hurry? What’s the hurry? … This bill’s going way too fast.’ Well, I’ve been waiting for 4 1/2 years for election reform. So I say bring it on. It’s about time.”

The Assembly Committee on Campaigns and Elections heard public testimony on Tuesday at the Capitol. A vote was going to take place today (Thursday), but Committee Chair Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls) is saying panel members need more time to review the details, get clarification, and address the many concerns of the Government Accountability Board. However, waiting until the next session is not an option. Plenty of time is needed to implement the changes and train poll workers on the procedures.

Filed Under: Elections, News, Politics & Government
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