Wisconsin’s groundhogs outnumber Punxsutawny Phil, two-to-one. In Sun Prairie, Jimmy the Groundhog was in a playful mood Wednesday morning when brought out at sunrise for his annual prediction. Mayor John Murray did the interpretting. “He wants to make a Super Bowl prediction. Patriots by three? But the Packers will be back next year.” But what about the weather? With all the fog Jimmy could nOT see his shadow, so if the tradition is accurate, winter is practically over.

The Milwaukee County Zoo’s groundhog, Wynter, did not see her shadow this morning either. Wynter didn’t make her prognostication until mid-morning – why so late? The zoo’s Jenny Diliberti says Wynter has always come out at 10:30, partly because the zoo doesn’t open until 9:30, which give visitors plenty ot time to see the event. In Pennsylvania, Phil saw his shadow, so maybe Keystone state residents will have six more weeks of winter.

Chandra Lynn, WIBA

The newly-crowned Miss America from Wisconsin says she will work to improve family relationships for those with loved ones who are in prison.

On Saturday night, 23-year-old Laura Kaeppeler of Kenosha won the Miss America crown and a $50,000 scholarship during the pageant in Las Vegas. She’s the first Miss America from Wisconsin since Terry Ann Meeuwsen in 1973.

Kaeppeler’s father spent 18 months behind bars for mail fraud. She said she will encourage families in similar situations to improve ties and move forward together.

Kaeppeler says she wants children of incarcerated adults to feel like they are not alone. She wants to make sure they have access to mentors and are able to have as much of a relationship with their parents as possible.

Kaeppeler, who won the Miss Wisconsin pageant last summer, said there are more than two million children with parents in jail.

Usually it’s law enforcement seeking out suspected drunken drivers away from the station house, but not always.

Police in the Racine County Village of Mount Pleasant got a complaint about an intoxicated male at the Village Hall attempting to pay his taxes. Being just on the other side of their brand new complex, a couple of officers walked right over.

The complaints from other citizens in line waiting to pay their taxes and from village employees led to a discussion with the 55-year-old man, who admitted driving there — alone, to get the taxes paid. The strong odor of intoxicants on his breath led to the man being arrested for Operating While Intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level of .15 – after he got to pay his taxes.

Tom Karkow, WRJN, Racine