MADISON, Wis. (AP) — State Assembly Republicans hope the Senate's new members will help pass a bill raising the speed limit to 70 mph in Wisconsin. The Assembly approved the 5 mph hike last year, but the measure died when senators declined to back it. Both houses were controlled by Republicans, as they are now. But, the makeup of the Senate has changed with the retirement of more moderate lawmakers, […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says debate over making Wisconsin a right-to-work state likely will not happen until after the April 7 spring election. Fitzgerald says he's "hopeful that at some point there will be enough momentum to at least take a vote on the bill itself." But Fitzgerald says that's not likely to happen until after the April 7 election when a vacancy is […]
Two Oshkosh men are accused of stealing scrap metal from several locations in Fond du Lac County. Scott Busby and Brady Malzhan both face 16 counts of burglary and theft. They are free on $2500 signature bonds after making their initial Fond du Lac court appearances. Fond du Lac County sheriff’s lieutenant Cameron McGee says these types of thefts occur from time to time depending on the price of the […]
The author of the Assembly School Accountability bill says he is open to changes in the measure. The Assembly Education Committee held a public hearing on the measure last week. Committee chair, Fond du Lac Republican lawmaker, Jeremy Thiesfeldt, says the committee won’t take action on the measure this week. "I quietly announced to the committee members on Friday that we were not going to be taking this up this […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A pair of Wisconsin Republicans is taking aim at the tiny plastic beads in soaps, toothpastes and facial scrubs. The so-called microbeads have cropped up in lakes, rivers and inside fish. Environmentalist group Clean Wisconsin is hoping to join the states pursuing a ban. Rep. Mary Czaja and Sen. Rob Cowles are working on a measure to ban the manufacture of products with microbeads after […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says he's still trying to work out a deal before a Feb. 19 deadline that would allow the Menominee Tribe to open a new casino in Kenosha. Walker was asked Monday about a report that said the state and Menominee Tribe are close to reaching agreement on a new gambling compact. Walker says "That's just one more step in terms of what may […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker says he's likely to lead a trade mission to Israel later this year. The trip would be his first there in more than four years as governor and comes as the Republican continues to seriously explore a run for president in 2016. Walker says Monday that he's had multiple requests to go to Israel "so we'll probably try to find a way." He […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker isn't saying whether he will propose breaking the Madison campus off from the rest of the University of Wisconsin System. Walker was asked about the issue on Monday. He says his plans for the budget to be released on Feb. 3 remain in flux. Walker proposed giving the flagship Madison campus more autonomy in his first budget in 2011, but the idea failed […]
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A bipartisan bill may ban powdered alcohol before the product even hits shelves in Wisconsin. Following the lead of eight other states, Senator Tim Carpenter, a Democrat from Milwaukee, said he hopes to ban Palcohol before it becomes available this spring. Carpenter says he fears people would abuse the product by snorting it or sneaking it into events. Mark Phillips, owner of the Arizona-based company Palcohol, […]