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Firefighting foam bill begins efforts to address PFAS

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A bill addressing concerns over dangerous Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances  (PFAS) chemicals is ready for the governor’s signature. Those chemicals are used in a variety of applications, and when used in firefighting foam, they can contaminate ground and surface waters

Representative John Nygren (R-Marinette) said PFAS contamination is “the number one issue” his office is dealing with. The bill prohibits use of the foam other than for testing or actual firefighting, as needed

Nygren acknowledges that more work needs to be done, to address the thousands of other PFAS chemicals and compounds currently in use.

Senator Mark Miller won’t seek reelection

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A long time Madison area lawmaker is calling it a career. State Senator Mark Miller (D-Monona) made the announcement on the Senate floor on Tuesday, that he won’t seek reelection to the seat he’s held since 2004.


Miller becomes the second state Senate Democrat to announce his retirement. Senator Dave Hansen of Green Bay made the announcement last week.

Vice President Mike Pence coming to Madison

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Vice President Mike Pence is coming to Madison next week. It’s seemingly another sign of Wisconsin’s importance in the presidential election.

The White House announced that Pence is scheduled to deliver remarks in the Capitol rotunda next Tuesday, as part of a National School Choice Week event.

Pence’s visit to the state’s liberal stronghold will take place two weeks after President Donald Trump staged a “Keep America Great” campaign rally in downtown Milwaukee.

Snowmobile safety is a focus this week

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A reminder for safe snowmobiling. Captain April Dombrowski, DNR Recreational Safety Section Chief, says smart, sober operation is the lesson of International Snowmobile Safety Week. “It’s really about practicing that zero alcohol,” she said. “It’s a personal choice to refrain from drinking any alcoholic beverage, until you’re done operating any motorized vehicle for the day.”

Staying sober makes it easier to know what you – and your snowmobile – are safely capable of. “Riding within your capabilities, riding at safe speeds for the users’ capability, and the machine’s capability.” The DNR recorded 16 fatal snowmobile accidents in 2019. Eleven occurred on public trails and roads, four were on frozen waterways.

Baldwin pledges she’ll be fair & impartial in Trump’s Senate trial

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U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin says she’s ready to hear the case against President Trump. The Senate trial begins on Tuesday. Baldwin, on WISN’s “UpFront” Sunday program, said Democrats want to hear from four witnesses, including White House Chief of Staff Mick Mulvaney and former National Security Advisor John Bolton.

“If you think of a trial, you think of witnesses and evidence and documents,” Baldwin said.

In the the most recent Marquette Poll, a narrow majority of respondents did not want the president removed from office. “This isn’t a matter of polling,” Baldwin said. “We just took an oath, to do impartial justice on a trial that has yet to have its arguments presented.”

Baldwin said she’s committed to being fair and impartial, but would like to hear the President present his side of the case. Wisconsin’s other U.S. Senator, Republican Ron Johnson, has said there are no grounds for removing the president from office.

Also over the weekend, Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner predicted the needed two-thirds of Senators will not vote to remove President Trump from office. During a visit to the district Sunday afternoon, the veteran congressman said impeachment shouldn’t be used just because people don’t like the results of the 2016 election. Sensenbrenner is the former chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Pleased for cheese: industry upbeat over USMCA

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The folks who make cheese in Wisconsin are happy to see a new trade deal with Canada and Mexico. The Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the American Dairy Coalition, and the Wisconsin Farm Bureau on Friday all said the new agreement will open-up new markets to Wisconsin cheese and milk.

The U.S. Senate approved the USMCA last week. It’s now waiting for President Trump to sign it into law.

Next UW System President may come from outside academia

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The next head of the University of Wisconsin System may not come from academia. The system’s search committee on Friday talked about what they want to see in their next president.

The committee is not requiring the next president to have a doctoral degree. That means someone from the business or political world could get the job.

The next president simply needs 10 years of experience in a ‘significant senior executive position’ and an understanding of public higher education.

The Search Committee convened in December to begin the national search. Faculty, staff, students, and other stakeholders will have several opportunities to provide input on the qualities sought in the next UW System President.  The Committee also invites comments.

It is anticipated the new UW System President will be appointed in late spring.

Diocese of La Crosse releases list of priests accused of sexual abuse

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Leaders of the Catholic Church in La Crosse are naming 25 priests who’ve been accused of sexual abuse.  The Diocese of La Crosse released the list last week. Eighteen of them have died, but all were removed the priesthood.

The diocese says eight of the priests worked in Eau Claire. Seven others worked in Chippewa Falls. You can find a full list of the men accused of abuse online.

Leads sought in Dane County homicide

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No arrests have been made yet, in a Dane County homicide. Initial indications were that the death was a hit-and-run. Witnesses saw Nicholas Day running near Mount Horeb last Wednesday, and he was dressed in running clothes when his body was found.

Following an autopsy, Sheriff Dave Mahoney said the 26-year-old Navy veteran and father was the victim of an “extremely brutal” and “very calculated ” homicide. A GoFundMe page has been established for Day’s family.

Madison has first homicide of 2020

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Madison police are investigating the city’s first homicide of the new year. A man killed in s shooting on Saturday in Madison has been identified as a 20-year-old from Chicago.

Police found Antonio Stidhum in an apartment on Madison’s southwest side. The person who lives in the apartment wasn’t there at the time, although police say they’ve been cooperating with the investigation.

No other details have been released on a suspect. This is Madison’s first homicide of 2020.

WIBA