June 19, 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

FAA charging EAA $500,000

June 5, 2013 By

A congressman from Fond du Lac says he’ll fight an attempt by the Federal Aviation Administration to charge the Experimental Aircraft Association $500,000 for air traffic controllers at this year’s AirVenture.

Congressman Tom Petri says the federal agency is already benefiting from the air show, because when pilots fly to and from Oshkosh for the world famous air show, a part of the tax on their fuel goes to the FAA. “Once you take into account that, I’m confident that they’re actually making money for the federal government, and they’re trying to charge them twice. It’s ridiculous.”

Petri says he believes the agency is exceeding its authority. He says Wisconsin’s delegation in Washington D.C. also opposes the move. The leader of the EAA says the FAA is demanding the money, or else it won’t provide the controllers.

Petri says the issue is coming up because of the sequestration cuts, but Congress gave the FAA more flexibility to deal with them.

AirVenture 2013 is scheduled for July 29 – August 4.

Mike Kemmeter, WHBY

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, News

Free outdoors four pack of fun

May 31, 2013 By

Wisconsin kicks off the first weekend in June with four ways to enjoy the outdoors for free. “Wisconsin is having, really, open houses in four big categories from our state parks, to a free fishing weekend, ATV weekend, and a state historical visitor appreciation day. So if you’re looking for something great to do, something outside, something interactive, this is the weekend for you and you can’t beat the price.”

Wisconsin Department of Tourism Secretary Stephanie Klett says there’s no charge for admission to state parks, forests, recreation areas and DNR-managed state trails on Saturday only. It’s one way to promote tourism in the state, which is a $16.8 billion industry, according to a recent report. This “4 Pack of Fun” weekend  gives people a taste of what Wisconsin has to offer.

Tourism is a substantial and growing driver of the Wisconsin economy and it represents a significant source of business sales, employment, and taxes in Wisconsin.

It’s also Free Fishing Weekend. No money? No license? No problem. “And this includes all 15,000 lakes, all of our rivers and streams,” Klett says, “Also, if you’re a first timer and you’re new to fishing and you don’t know if you’re gonna like it, this is a perfect way to try and see ‘OK, is this something I want to invest in or not?’”

Great time to test the water, so to speak. Dozens of free fishing clinics will be offered where you can learn the basics and borrow equipment for free. Klett says it’s a great way to try something new and enjoy what Wisconsin has to offer.

The first annual Free Wheel’n ATV Weekend is both Saturday and Sunday. Ride for the weekend without paying the annual registration fee. State Historical Visitor Appreciation Day is on Sunday, June 2, at four sites offering discounts: Madeline Island Museum, Pendarvis, Stonefield and Villa Louis.

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, News

Dalai Lama addresses lawmakers at Capitol

May 15, 2013 By
Dalai Lama speaks to full legislature on Tuesday. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

Dalai Lama speaks to full legislature on Tuesday. (PHOTO: Jackie Johnson)

The Dalai Lama talks about compassion, democracy, true friendship, and inner strength during a stop in Madison.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos gives His Holiness a warm welcome to the Assembly Chamber. “Here in this chamber every person in Wisconsin is represented. As you speak to us today, you are speaking to the entire state of Wisconsin.”

The 14th Dalai Lama talks about compassion and democracy. The Tibetan spiritual leader tells the crowd he’s honored to be speaking to a democratic nation, but he doesn’t like formalities where he has to “sit on a throne like a statue.”

The Nobel Peace Prize winner says everyone is the same, ”Whether king or queen or High Lama or high fellow spiritual leader like Dalai Lama and a beggar, we are same. Same human being. My logic is, the way we’re born, the way we die — same.” He giggles and repeats, “Same.”

The Dalai Lama acknowledges that everyone wants a successful life, but he says it’s not about material riches; success is about inner value. “When we analyze the situation the ultimate resource of success for life is not money, not power, but here,” he point to his heart, “inner value.”

The 77-year-old leader tells the members of Wisconsin’s legislature, “Irrespective of believer or nonbeliever, rich or poor, educated or uneducated, everyone wants a happy life; everyone has the potential, which we learned from our mother.” The spiritual leader talks about genuine friendship, not friendship of money or power, but friendship of human beings.

Even politicians want success, he laughs, especially at the next election.

His Holiness also spoke at the Alliant Energy Center and had a private meeting with Governor Scott Walker. This is his 9th visit to Wisconsin since 1979. The last time he addressed the legislature was in 1998.

The Dalai Lama ends his 25-minute speech by saying, “So, that’s my report. Thank you.”

AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:58

Filed Under: Featured Story, Human Interest, Miscellaneous, News

Poll shows strong support for UW tuition freeze

May 14, 2013 By

If state lawmakers move to freeze tuition on University of Wisconsin campuses, the public will largely support that plan. That’s according to the latest Marquette University Law School poll, which found 76 percent of those responding support blocking the UW System from increasing tuition over the next two years.

A tuition freeze is on the minds of lawmakers after the recent disclosure by the UW that it’s sitting on a reserve fund that could top $1.2 billion by the end of June. Poll director Charles Franklin on Tuesday cautioned against reading too much into the number though, noting that previous polls had not asked about tuition so it’s impossible to tell if the support is tied directly to reports about the surplus.

The poll did show lawmakers could face public pushback if they try to reduce funding for the UW in the state budget. Governor Walker has proposed an additional $181 million for the System. Franklin says 50 percent of respondents support keeping that in the budget, while 44 percent favored reducing that figure.

The survey also covered a wide range of other questions, including gun control, presidential prospects in Wisconsin, and the direction of the state’s economy.

On job creation, the poll shows many people do not believe the state is moving very quickly. Only nine percent said the state is ahead of other states, while 49 percent believe the state is lagging behind. About 35 percent said Wisconsin is working at the same pace as other states.

Governor Scott Walker’s approval rating held relatively steady, compared to previous polls. Of those responding, 51 percent approve of the job Governor Walker is doing, which is within a few points of where the number has been for much of the past year.

Opinions on a plan to expand a private school voucher program also saw little change from Marquette’s last poll in March. Franklin says 32 percent of respondents wanted statewide expansion, 16 percent supported a move to add them in the state’s nine largest districts, 15 percent wanted no expansion at all, and 29 percent said vouchers should be ended all together.

The poll of 717 registered voters was carried out by phone May 6-9. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percent.

Filed Under: Budget, Miscellaneous, News, Politics & Government
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