Local News

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Legislature's finance committee has adopted Republican Gov. Scott Walker's plan to eliminate 80 positions within the state Department of Natural Resources, including more than half of the researchers in the agency's science bureau.  Walker's budget includes provisions that would eliminate about 19 researcher positions from the science bureau as well 11 natural resources educator spots. According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, four of the scientist […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin lawmakers have rejected Republican Gov. Scott Walker's plan to block the state Department of Natural Resources from purchasing any land through its stewardship program for at least the next 13 years.  Walker's budget would place a moratorium on stewardship land acquisitions until debt service on purchases already made drops to $1 for every $8 spent since the program began in 1989. The program won't reach […]

Green Bay Packers all-time leading receiver, Dancing with the Stars champion and children’s book author  Donald Driver wants Fond du Lac kids to be driven to better health.  Driver made a personal visit to the students at Riverside Elementary School in Fond du Lac Friday to congratulate them for winning the 2015 Driven to Better Health School Challenge.  Driver has teamed up with Children’s Hospital to establish the school and […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Xcel Energy has asked Wisconsin regulators for permission to raise electric and natural gas rates next year. The utility filed an application Friday with the Public Service Commission seeking to raise electric rates by $27.4 million. According to the utility, that would translate to about $4.73 more per month for a typical residential customer.

Following another vehicle too closely (tailgating) is a common problem that results in many crashes and often leads to road rage incidents.  All motorists must remember not to follow other vehicles too closely.   If the lead vehicle has to stop or slow suddenly for a road hazard, the following vehicle will not be able to stop in time to avoid a crash.  If the following vehicle has sufficient distance between […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republicans who control the Wisconsin Legislature don't have deals yet on financing a new arena for the Milwaukee Bucks or highway funding.  Both of those items have been removed from consideration by the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee on Friday. Committee co-chair Rep. John Nygren says there is no agreement on either issue.  The panel plans to meet again Tuesday to take up issues related to the […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Supreme Court members are continuing to disagree over how to run the chambers.  State Supreme Court Chief Justice Patience Roggensack has hired a temporary administrator to fill a job that has been vacant for nearly a year. Roggensack announced yesterday that J. Denis Moran, who served as court director for more than two decades, will begin next week. But Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and N. […]

Two area legislators are trying to get the state to change the location of where two convicted child sex offenders are placed when they are released from prison next week.  State  Sen. Scott Fitzgerald of Juneau and Rep. Mark Born of Beaver Dam issued a joint statement Thursday stating that allowing two Chapter 980 individuals to be placed next to the residence of two young children is simply unacceptable.  Fitzgerald and Born said […]