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Republicans unveil package of mental health bills

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Legislative Republicans unveiled a package of bills on Tuesday aimed at improving mental health in Wisconsin.

One of the bills will increase the funding available to non profits for youth mental health services. Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin executive director Andy Gussert says helping kids as they go through childhood is a vital and needed task. 

“There are some people who may want to debate whether we should spend money on addressing youth mental health or trauma informed care. But it’s not really debate. We will spend money on these youths at one time or another.”

Another bill will overhaul how the state licenses psychologists, something that Dr. Bruce Erdmann says is sorely needed. 

“The current licensing law was drafted in the early 1990s, when the internet was in its infancy, email was only used by a select few and nerds, cell phones were unheard of, and no one knew anything about texting.”

Other bills will encourage psychiatrists to move to Wisconsin though the use of tax deductions, and also provide funding for the Clubhouse organization to improve mental heath facilities. 

Another year of high security costs for Summerfest

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Milwaukee mayor Tom Barrett says changes may be coming for Summerfest after another six-figure security tab. 

Milwaukee Police say it cost the city 800-thousand dollars to provide security for this year’s Big Gig. Summerfest organizers paid about 125 thousand-dollars of that, taxpayers are on the hook for the rest.

It’s the fourth year in a row that Summerfest costs have been so high.

DNR warns outdoorsman away from phony websites when buying licenses

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If you’re looking to get your hunting and fishing licenses online this year, make sure you’re doing it in the right place.

Kimberly Currie with the DNR says scammers set up very similar looking websites at genuine sounding web addresses. 

“We have a growing number of people who like to use online services, and we want to make sure they’re using our site and not an imposter.”

It’s a lot like how there’s websites that pose as the D M V or other state agencies. “If you read the small print, they’re pretty direct in telling you they’re not an official state website, but they will charge you a fee and often they just give you a pamphlet on how you can reach our website.”

Currie says one way to always be sure you’re getting what you’re paying for is to head to a trusted local retailer. “Sporting good stores, hardware shops, bait and tackle shops across the state of Wisconsin, who are ready, willing and able to assist you in that process.”

You can also head online to http://gowild.wi.gov to use the state’s official online system, or use the Go Wild app on your smartphone. 

Farm Technology Days hosts special block party this year to show off new techniques to the public

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Farm Technology Days starts its second day of its three-day run in Jefferson County north of Johnson Creek at Walter Grain Farm, and Melissa Gerner says the event is for more than just farmers.

“We actually have extended hours for Wednesday, the show runs from 9 am to 7 pm, and the block party runs from 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm, which is a wine, beer, and food taste testing and sampling type event.”

Gerner says farmers also come here to learn about research and improved conservation practices.

“Farmers here in Jefferson County and Wisconsin are doing right by us, and they’re really passionate about the earth, the water, the soil that we have here, and are trying to do what’s best for everyone moving forward.”

 

State Rep. Stuck calls for civility in Congress as she announces run for 8th District

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A Fox Valley Democrat has announced her run for Congress.

Representative Amanda Stuck is the first Democrat to announce for the 8th District covering northeast Wisconsin. Stuck says she wants to help recreate a Congress that can work together without partisan division.

“I actually helped found a bipartisan caucus, one of only a handful at the state level, of millennial state legislators to really figure out how we can do a better job of working together across the aisle.”

Stuck says her time working multiple jobs while raising a family has given her an outside perspective on both Madison and Washington.

“As somebody who was a single mom 16 years ago, I know that families like mine are just tired of the games. They don’t have time for it.”

She will be running against incumbent Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher from Green Bay in the Eighth District.  

Sushi condiment cause of fire at two Madison restaurants

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The Madison fire department is putting out a warning to Japanese and sushi restaurants after two of them had fires this spring due to an unusual source.

Investigator Kara Nelson says the fires started when baskets of fried breading used to top sushi rolls caught on fire spontaneously. 

“A lot of us are very familiar with the process of spontaneous combustion. It happens with haystacks, it happens with mulch.”

Nelson says that the crumbs were fried and put into a colander to dry out, but were left hot overnight, catching on fire from the residual heat. They’re taking a closer look to try and see how these fires start and how they can be prevented. 

“Is it the type of oil that they’re using? Is it the temperature they’re cooking it at? Is it the batter they’re making? And this is out of our scope, this needs to go to a laboratory.”

She’s hoping that proper research will help business owners have a plan of best practices for dealing with the topping.

The two stores had combined damages of around 575-thousand dollars.

 

Keep an eye out for algae blooms on the lake this summer, says the DNR

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Summer heat and calm conditions on many lakes across the state is causing lake scum and algae blooms.

Gina LaLiberte with the DNR says those ‘blue-green’ algae that cause the blooms can sicken people and cause skin irritation. 

“Any time you see discolored water that can be green or other colors, or you see foamy scums or mats, be suspicious that’s blue-green algae. And look for better water conditions elsewhere for swimming.”

The algae forms any time there’s high temperatures, plenty of sunlight, and little wind.

LaLiberte says it’s very important to keep pets out of the water if there’s blooms

“Dogs really don’t care what the water looks like. If they’re thirsty they’ll drink even scummy green water that we would not even want to put our feet into.”

Many strains of those algae can cause stomach discomfort and skin irritation, and the symptoms can be even more severe if you ingest the algae. If there’s lake warnings posted about algae, find another lake or stream to swim in.

Farm Bureau Marketbasket survey reveals summer cookout bargains

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The cost of your summer cookout is less than six-dollars per person. According to the latest Farm Bureau Marketbasket survey the total cost of 14 food items used to host a summer cookout for 10 people totaled 56-dollars and 47-cents. The same survey conducted on the national level came to 56.38.

The survey’s menu consists of hot dogs and buns, cheeseburgers and buns, ketchup and mustard, pork spare ribs, deli potato salad, baked beans, corn chips, lemonade and watermelon. A new item on this year’s survey is ice cream. Of the items that can be compared with last summer’s survey, five went down in price.

Ketchup went down 18-cents to 1.56 for a 20-ounce bottle. Pork spare ribs dropped by one-dollar and eight-cents, to 11.76 for a four-pound pack. Baked beans were a-dollar-97 a can.

During the last three decades, retail grocery prices have gradually increased while the share of the average dollar spent on food that farm families receive has dropped. In the mid-1970’s, farmers received about one-third of consumer retail food expenditures in grocery stores and restaurants. Since then, that figure has gone down steadily, and is now about 14-point-six-percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The U-S-D-A says Americans will spend approximately 10 percent of their disposable annual income on food, the lowest average in the world.  Members of Wisconsin Farm Bureau collected price samples of 14 food items in 28 communities, including Marshfield and Medford.

 

Vos open to discussions on allowing medical marijuana for Wisconsin

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Speaker Robin Vos

Republican budget writers removed a provision in Governor Tony Evers’ budget to legalize medical marijuana, but the idea is budding anew at the Capitol, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos wants to look at legalizing medical marijuana in Wisconsin.

Evers’ budget also would have decriminalized recreational pot in some amounts. “I do not support recreational marijuana” Vos said Thursday at the Capitol. But the Speaker said this fall lawmakers could look at allowing medical marijuana in Wisconsin

“The goal would be to try to show people that there’s a path, to be able to talk about this, to discuss it,” Vos said. “To figure out maybe a Wisconsin way that isn’t like Illinois or Michigan or Minnesota.” Minnesota allows marijuana for medical use, Michigan allows it for recreational use, and Illinois Governor J.B. Priitzker this week signed a bill doing the same there.

“I’d much rather figure out a way to get to yes than just instantly say “well because it could lead to recreational marijuana I’m an automatic no,” Vos said.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald has thus far been skeptical about medical marijuana.
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Northwoods bass fishing opens this weekend

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Northwoods anglers can rev up those bass boats this weekend as the bass season opens up on inland waters.

Department of Natural Resources fisheries manager Mike Vogelsang says you can expect to see an influx of people out on the lakes this weekend, if the weather holds up.

“And as with any opener, there’s always a little excitement generated with it. It’s the first chance you get to actually fish and harvest those species, so that’s the big attraction.” 

He says both smallmouth and largemouth bass are exciting fish to try out. “They’re typically easier to catch, a good family fish, and most of our lakes have abundant bass populations right now.”

Vogelsang says if you’re looking for an early trophy bass this year, you should check the fishing regulations and head for lakes with single fish bag limits. He says those typically have pretty good sized fish on offer. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can also try out Green Bay.  “Tremendous trophy potential there, lots of great numbers, although it’s bigger water. So you know, the general angler might be a little more intimidated by that.”

He reminds people heading out into Green Bay and the Great Lakes in general that water temperatures are still very cold for this time of year, so wear your flotation devices and limit the time you’re in the water.

Be sure check the regulations for the lake your on before you head out on the water. Those are typically posted at boat launches, but you can also check the regulations online or with the DNR’s Hunt Wild app.