6-22-13 budget-governor reaction

Gov. Scott Walker is praising the Legislature's passage of the state budget, but still not saying what he may veto.  Walker  says he is proud of the Legislature's work, citing an across-the-board income tax cut, an increase in money for public schools and an expansion of private school vouchers.

Senate Democratic leader Chris Larson tells WFDL news the budget bows to the demands of the most extreme Tea Party factions while ignoring the needs of Wisconsin’s middle class.  "Expands vouchers statewide, ends up giving a big tax cut to the wealthy while steering our state toward a huge deficit in the future,"  Larson said.  Larson says he’s also concerned the budget may allow for existing voucher schools to open Satellite schools anywhere in the state and not subject to a 500 student cap next year.  Republican state senator Rick Gudex voted for the budget.  "There's too many good things in this budget to not pass this budget, I mean we're looking at almost a billion dollars in tax cuts, $651 million of that is income tax relief,"  Gudex said.  Walker is also defending his Medicaid proposal, which rejects federal funding to cover an additional  87,000 poor people. Instead, Walker is tightening income eligibility and forcing more people off Medicaid and into the federally subsidized private health insurance marketplace.  Walker says the budget will bring more prosperity to people in Wisconsin. He says he plans to sign it by July 1.

6-22-13 breakfast on the farm

City folk have an opportunity to get a firsthand look at what its like to live and work on a dairy farm this weekend.  Breakfast on the Farm is this Sunday from 8am to noon at the Diedrich farm in Malone.  Highlights include the popular country-style breakfast, $1 Culver’s Sundaes, with the proceeds benefitting the Ag Ambassador program, farm tours, kiddie pedal tractor pull and antique farm equipment display.  Tickets are $7 at the door, children five and under get in for free.  The 3-D daiary is located at N8148 Schaefer Road in Malone.

6-21-13 democrats question scope of voucher growth

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chris Larson says a provision in the state budget would allow for even greater growth in the private voucher school program than expected.

Larson said Thursday the budget would allow for existing voucher schools to open satellite schools anywhere in the state that would not be subject to a 500-student cap next year. The cap is part of a deal in the budget that allows vouchers anywhere in Wisconsin.  Bob Lang, director of the nonpartisan Fiscal Bureau, says whether that could happen would be up to how Department of Public Instruction Secretary Tony Evers interprets it.   Republican Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald says "if that's the case, we'd have to address it. But not tonight."

6-21-13 wisconsin unemployment rate down slightly

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's unemployment rate has improved slightly, dipping a fraction of a percentage point to 7.0 percent last month. That's down from 7.1 percent in April and unchanged from May of last year. The national rate is 7.6 percent.  The state Department of Workforce Development released the latest federal figures Thursday. The numbers are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.  The state gained 10,400 total nonfarm jobs from April to May. That includes a gain of 4,600 jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry and a loss of 1,100 manufacturing jobs.  The biggest drop came in government positions. From April to May there were 4,200 fewer state employees, although 1,900 jobs in local government were added during that same time.  The May numbers are preliminary and subject to revision.

6-21-13 west nile reporting hotline

The state of Wisconsin has activated its dead bird reporting hotline to track West Nile virus.  The toll-free hotline number is 1-800-433-1610.  Health officials say certain dead birds can act as an early warning system for West Nile virus activity in an area.  A mild winter and wet spring could mean more mosquitoes which carry the virus.

6-21-13 bird tests positive for west nile virus

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Health offici9als say a dead crow found in Washington County has tested positive for West Nile virus.  It's the first bird to test positive for the virus in Wisconsin this year.  West Nile virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected with the virus by feeding on infected birds, and then potentially transmit the virus by biting people.  Although few mosquitoes actually carry West Nile virus, health officials say infected birds serve as an early warning that the virus is present in the area and that people should take precautions against mosquito bites.

Last year, 57 cases of West Nile virus infection were reported among Wisconsin residents. That's the highest annual number of reported cases since surveillance of the disease began in Wisconsin.

6-21-13 teen convicted in murder of elderly sheboygan falls woman

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) — A jury has convicted a 14-year-old Wisconsin boy in the bludgeoning death of his friend's great-grandmother.  The jury found Nathan Paape guilty Thursday of being party to first-degree intentional homicide.  Paape was accused of killing 78-year-old Barbara Olson at her home in Sheboygan Falls last September.  Testimony ended Wednesday when Paape and his accused accomplice, Antonio Barbeau, each took the witness stand and gave widely varying accounts of how Barbeau's great-grandmother was killed.  Paape testified the robbery and murder were plotted and proposed by Barbeau just hours before they went to Olson's house. He testified he thought Barbeau was joking about killing his great-grandmother.  Barbeau has already been convicted of first-degree intentional homicide and is awaiting sentencing.