Friday is the deadline for senior citizens to sign up for a Medicare drug discount card. But the cards that were the center piece of the Bush administration's Medicare reform program have not proved very popular... especially in Wisconsin. Gil Halsted reports...

The friends and family of a Wisconsin National Guard soldier killed in Iraq this week are planning a large public memorial service next week to honor him. Gil Halsted reports...

A new federal fund may help clean up four pollution hotspots along Lake Michigan and Lake Superior. But money promised from Congress is coming in much smaller amounts than originally promised. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

Wisconsin is getting more than 2-million dollars in federal money to help people with disabilities find work. The Department of Health and Family Services says the disabled represent an untapped labor pool. Patty Murray reports...

The city of La Crosse may have more candidates for mayor than there are wards in the city. Sandra Harris reports...

"Out with the old and in with the new" is a common saying to ring in the coming year. But its also a chemical process the body does year-round. Research on so-called "cell garbage" is being done at the UW-Madison. It may lead to longer lasting flowers, fewer rotten tomatoes...and possibly even a way to control cancer in humans. Shamane Mills reports...

Anyone who wants a flu shot should probably head to their local clinic sometime soon. Steve Roisum reports...

Disaster relief agencies with offices in Wisconsin are responding quickly to the devastation caused by Sunday's massive tsunami in Southeast Asia. Gil Halsted reports...

Defense attorneys for the man accused of murdering six hunters and wounding two others say they'll ask for a change in the trial's location. They say they're also looking into a mental illness defense. Mike Simonson covered Chai Vang's court appearance in Hayward Wednesday...

The U.S. Commerce Department has moved to protect a Wisconsin company that makes outboard motors. The Fond Du Lac-based Mercury Marine contends the Japanese have been undercutting their prices and "dumping" outboard motors in the American market. Patty Murray reports...

Governor Jim Doyle has decided against pardoning a Superior woman convicted of murdering her newborn baby. Shawn Johnson reports...

Almost a year after the last bishop left the Diocese of La Crosse to become the Archbishop of St. Louis, Pope John Paul II has named a successor. Steve Roisum Reports...

Health officials say the number of cases of whooping cough in Wisconsin was unusually high. Terry Bell reports...

Starting January First, the U.S. will let farms and certain other businesses use more of the pesticide methyl bromide. But environmentalists may go to court on the issue. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Beaver Dam citizen's group is going to court this week to try to block construction of a 55 million dollar Wal-Mart distribution center. The project would bring hundreds of jobs to the area. But opponents object to the secrecy surrounding the deal the city cut with Wal Mart. Gil Halsted has more...

Sri Lankan students at UW-Superior are hoping and praying for their friends and relatives back home. That northern Wisconsin campus has the second largest Sri Lankan student population in the United States. Their island Asian nation was among those hit by tsunamis following a major earthquake Sunday. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

The accused murderer of six hunters in Sawyer County last month will make a court appearance Wednesday morning. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

A school district in western Wisconsin may be the first in the country to teach all of its students the words to the national anthem...as part of a special project. Terry Bell reports...

Some Wisconsin soldiers who have served in Iraq are NOT joining the recent chorus of criticism against Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. But others say the Pentagon should be doing more to make sure troops have what they need to fight the war. Gil Halsted has more...

News of the devastating tsunami in Asia prompted some panic for the families of UW Madison students who are studying in India this year. And a Madison based Indian student association says they've begun plans to help in the relief and clean-up effort. Gil Halsted reports...

Starting January 1st... Wisconsin will change the way it pays for care of the developmentally disabled. As Shawn Johnson reports, the move will likely shift more people into community-based treatment...

An earthquake expert at the UW-Madison says he was surprised to learn that part of the world didn't have a tidal warning system. Such a system could have saved thousands of lives which were lost when an earthquake generated gigantic waves in Southern Asia. Shamane Mills reports...

Announced Reductions in Pell grants may not cause students to drop out of school--but they'll need to find alternate means to pay for some extra education costs. Sandra Harris reports...

Many pet owners like to involve their furry friends in the holiday celebration. But some animal welfare advocates say the nicest thing you can probably do for your cat or dog, is to leave them out of the festivities. Brian Bull explains...

The domestic Christmas tree market is losing ground to foreign fakes. Industry representatives say it's a growing concern. Brian Bull reports...

Reggie White is being remembered as a great football player who helped the Green Bay Packers regain their Super Bowl Glory during the 1990's. But White also made plenty of headlines off the field---sometimes for controversial actions. Chuck Quirmbach has more on White, who died Sunday at age 43...

A Wisconsin doctor says the state could save millions of dollars by simply reducing the number of injuries that occur when someone falls and breaks a leg or a hip. The Wisconsin Medical Society has launched a "fall prevention" campaign aimed at prolonging the time senior citizens can live independently at home. Gil Halsted reports...

Starting next year, home builders in Wisconsin will be required to have their construction inspected. Sandra Harris Reports...

The season of giving can mean toys galore for kids. But a consumer protection advocate says the wrong toy in the wrong hands can mean injury -- or worse. Brian Bull reports...

It appears the homicide total in Milwaukee this year will be significantly down from last year. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

For many, candles are the centerpiece of holiday decorating -- adding sparkle to this festive season.We use them to dress up our dinner tables; we light them in our windows; they're part of religious rituals. If we're not careful, though...candles can also be deadly. Catherine Brand reports that fires sparked by candles are more common than ever...

Fatal traffic accidents look to be on the decline in Wisconsin this year. Shawn Johnson reports...

A national tax organization is warning consumers of fictitious letters and emails posing as IRS correspondence. Wisconsin Public Radio's Brian Bull reports...

Some religions that don't celebrate Christmas DO have their own holidays in November or December -- and they're NOT the same as Christmas. Some Jewish and Muslim residents say it's good to learn the difference. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

A political watchdog group is suing the Wisconsin Elections Board over a contract to set up a statewide voter registration list. Shawn Johnson reports...

A record number of people graduated from Wisconsin's technical colleges this year. More than ever, those grads are African-Americans and Latinos. Terry Bell reports...

Projects planned for national forests like the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest in Northern Wisconsin, would be reviewed more quickly, under federal rules announced Wednesday. But critics say that means the Bush Administration would just allow more logging. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Madison peace activist is being held in an Israeli jail awaiting deportation. The UW Madison graduate was arrested last week while protesting near a security wall being built along the border between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Gil Halsted reports...

Two mothers delivered a letter to the Green Bay Catholic Bishop Wednesday. Their sons were both sexually abused by Priests in the Green Bay Diocese. The mothers want the church to take a more active role in reaching out to other potential victims. Patty Murray reports.

21-year-old US Marine Brent Vroman was buried Thursday in Oshkosh. He was killed in Iraq last week. Among his survivors is an older brother and a twin who is also a Marine…and who could be sent to Iraq himself in the near future. From Wisconsin Public Radio, Patty Murray reports...

The Speaker of the State Assembly says he wants more light shed on who gets state contracts in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports...

If you're younger than fifty, healthy, and you want a flu shot...La Crosse is the place to be. Terry Bell explains...

The campaign trail, war casualites ...a deer hunting tragedy, and more. Wisconsin Public Radio's news team again captured the sounds of the state this year. Here are a couple minutes of quotes collected by WPR reporters.....

So far, national holiday sales figures are weaker than predicted. Many retailers are hitting on shoppers with last minute discounts and incentives, in an effort to boost drooping profits. But an economic specialist says there's a wild card in the mix that may help. Brian Bull reports...

Backers of a plan to curb government spending in Wisconsin are making an early push at the state capitol. Shawn Johnson reports...

A new report calls for school districts and day care centers to work together to create more 4 year old kindergarten programs. Gil Halsted reports...

Consumer groups and big-energy users are trying to keep the lid on a proposed sale of the Kewaunee nuclear power plant. The plant's owners this week asked the state to reconsider its decision to block the sale of the plant to a Virginia utility. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Many Wisconsin communities have started to look for more dollars from tax-exempt agencies. The City of Milwaukee is starting the most comprehensive so-called "fair share" plan in the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A 75-thousand-dollar grant has boosted production efforts for a PBS documentary on Native American veterans. The project, headed by a University of Wisconsin professor, is slated to air around Veterans Day of 20-06. Brian Bull reports...

The state's largest private food bank is now accepting on-line food donations. America's Second Harvest of Wisconsin says it hopes to eliminate the hassle of dealing with cans and bags. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Milwaukee radio talk show host who called state lawmakers an obscenity remains off the air. But supporters Monday rallied to bring his program back. Donnie Forti reports...

A new study from the Institute of Medicine finds veterans from the 1991 Gulf War exposed to oil well fires may have an increased risk of lung cancer. A Wisconsin Gulf War vet says he hopes the Veterans administraton will use the study to encourage more veterans to be tested for lung related ailments. Gil Halsted reports...

A scientist has discovered a chemical compound that sexually "turns on" fish...getting the male fish to cluster. Mike Simonson reports that this could be a break through in controlling fish populations of exotic species like the Asian carp, sea lamprey or Eurasian ruffe. Mike Simonson reports...

The state Supreme Court will hear a case involving a tenured professor who was fired based on allegations of misconduct. Shawn Johnson reports...

A close election with alleged infractions by observers at polling places has Wisconsin's Elections Board considering new election rules. Eri Hillyer reports...

The new year will bring new tax rules. One change affects how much a taxpayer can deduct for donating a car to charity. That has Wisconsin's Rawhide Boys Ranch concerned about the future of its program that rehabilitates and sells donated vehicles. Patty Murray reports...

The state's teachers and superintendents say they have evidence that revenue caps are hurting Wisconsin's schools. Others say the numbers don't add up. Shawn Johnson reports...

A company fired by Florida has been hired in Wisconsin to creat a list of eligible voters. Some are wondering why. They hope to get their questions answered next week. A citizen forum on Wisconsin's new voter list next Monday will feature the state official who approved the contract. Also attending will be a critic who says the deal is too expensive and was done with little public oversight. Shamane Mills reports...

Earlier this month, a two-dollar note issued by a bank in La Crosse in 1875 was sold for more than 20-thousand dollars at an auction. The note harkens back to a day when money issued by local banks was considered more valuable than regular federal currency. Terry Bell reports...

Public television loses a famous personality Friday night when Bill Moyers steps away from his program titled "NOW with Bill Moyers." The host's left-of-center views angered....or pleased...many people in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Wisconsin has played backdrop for many major motion pictures, including "The Blues Brothers", "Back to School" and "Mr. 3000". But the pending shutdown of the state film office may bring the curtain down on many future film ventures. Brian Bull reports...

The projected pricetag for high speed rail service in the Midwest is going up. But the Wisconsin Transportation Department says it's still interested in the project, if the federal government comes forward with money. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Lawn care companies are suing to block a new ban on phosphorus fertilizers in Madison and Dane County . They say it's based on bad science, and will hurt local retaliers. But the ban's defenders say keeping the chemical out of the lakes makes both good economic and scientific sense. Gil Halsted reports...

The state Supreme Court has voted to loosen the penalties for people who bring frivolous lawsuits in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports...

Homeless protestors who sat outside the office of Madison's mayor last week got to make their point today Thursday without getting arrested. They spoke at a public forum about how to get people off the streets. Shamane Mills reports...

University of Wisconsin students and teaching assistants used Christmas gimmicks at the state capitol Thursday to protest budget cuts and rising tuition. Shawn Johnson prepared this report...

The University of Wisconsin is aggressively defending its patent for a semiconductor process developed on campus. The University has just settled out of court with Samsung Electronics, and is now targeting another electronics giant on a similar matter. Brian Bull reports...

The D.N.R. Board is sending Governor Doyle a letter, warning about possible layoffs at the Department of Natural Resources. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Milwaukee's library will apparently become the first public library in Wisconsin to require a photo ID to check out books. Donnie Forti reports...

The National Park Service has approved a plan to allow a controversial power line to cross the Namekogon River. Gil Halsted reports...

Some of Wisconsin's poorest families might be missing out on hundreds of dollars worth of tax credits. Governor Jim Doyle travelled the state on Wednesday to unveil a simplified form for the Homestead Tax Credit. He hopes a shorter form will prompt more people to apply for the credit. Patty Murray reports...

The state's high court will meet Thursday to discuss changing state rules involving frivolous lawsuits. They'll also consider new guidelines on who can practice law in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports...

A new study ranks a suburban Milwaukee county as the healthiest place in Wisconsin. Meanwhile, Milwaukee itself and several rural counties ranked toward the bottom of the pack. Shawn Johnson reports...

A type of air pollution known as fine particles has reduced in the Midwest over the last five years. So says a government report released on Tuesday. But one Wisconsin county may still get snagged in crackdown on particulates. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

New priests in Northeastern Wisconsin will be fluent in Spanish. The Bishop of the Green Bay Archdiocese is requiring all seminary students to learn the language. Patty Murray reports...

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People could be coming to Western Wisconsin for the first time. A new branch may be established in La Crosse Counyy. Sandra Harris reports...

A study shows some herbal medicines may be bad for your health because they contain high levels of heavy metals. Herbalists say the study should not alarm consumers, just make them more cautious about how they use herbal products and where they come from. Shamane Mills reports...

Late December is when the flu season usually is at its worst. So far the flu season is off to a slow start. But health officials say it appears the vaccine will protect against the strain that's going around this year. Shamane Mills reports...

A woman fighting to keep a wild deer raised in captivity will find out this week whether the animal stays or goes. Shamane Mills reports...

A five-year legal battle has ended for members of a church mission group that went to Cuba. Six members of the Central United Methodist Church in Milwaukee went to Havana in 1999 to participate in the anniversary of its sister church. Donnie Forti reports...

It could be a little easier to find a job in Wisconsin over the next three months. So says the latest state hiring report, by the Milwaukee-based temporary services firm, Manpower, Incorporated. Chuck Quirmbach has the story...

Governor Jim Doyle met on Monday with senior Defense Officials in Washington about keeping Wisconsin's military bases open. Shawn Johnson reports...

Groundbreaking took place on Monday in Madison for the state's new 24 million dollar Veterinary Diagnostic Lab. It's one of five regional labs aroud the country that will be equipped to track outbreaks of dangerous animal diseases and potential bio-terrorism. Gil Halsted reports...

Some Great Lakes supporters are wondering what'll happen to a clean-up initiative, now that EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt is taking a different job in the Bush Administration. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Two feet of snow and four foot drifts greeted people along parts of Lake Superior's South Shore Monday morning. Even for an area used to "big snows", this was a big storm. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

Protests are planned in several cities today as the electoral college meets to certify the results of the November second presidential election. Yesterday in Madison about a hundred protesters gathered at the state capitol for an election reform rally. Gil Halsted reports...

New research on how far deer travel each year may help state wildlife managers predict how far and fast Chronic Wasting Disease will spread. Gil Halsted reports...

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle is in the nation's capitol this week where he's lobbying to protect the state's military bases. The Governor will also use the trip to testify on behalf of a Fond du Lac manufacturer. Shawn Johnson reports...

Snowfall in northern Wisconsin is opening some snowmobile trails this week. Department of Natural Resources wardens hope this will be a quieter winter than years past. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

Hollywood used to put doctors on a pedestal. But according to a Milwaukee physician who analyzes medical movies, the profession is getting less respect on the big screen . Shamane Mills reports...

There's a court battle brewing in the first city in Wisconsin to set its own minimum wage. Shamane Mills reports...

The peace movement is shaping its post-election strategy---at events such as a town hall meeting in Milwaukee on Saturday. One analyst says this is a period when the movement's commitment will be tested. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Young farmers are needed to keeping Wisconsin's agricultural economy humming. Workshops to help with the transition are underway. One is on Saturday in the Clark County city of Thorp. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

Same-sex couple want to let others to get to know them as people as they try to stop legislation calling for a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. Sandra Harris reports...

Advocates for the homeless are calling on the City of Madison to open a so-called warming shelter in advance of Wisconsin's coldest weather. Shawn Johnson reports...

Some lawmakers want to test the new rules being designed for farm expansions before they apply to farmers. An advisory board will take up the proposal on Friday. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

A coalition of 90 local church groups is calling on Congressman James Sensenbrenner to help stop the deportation of an Indian immigrant. The Stewards of Prophetic Hopeful International Action, or Sophia, held a rally at Sensenbrenner's Brookfield office on Thursday. Gil Halsted reports...

Hospitals have cut back on the hours residents work. The purpose of reducing work time was make life easier for doctors in training and to improve patient safety. But a study from the Medical College of Wisconsin shows that mortality rates didn't change when doctors were less tired. Shamane Mills reports...

Military officials are trying to slow a flood of unsolicited care packages sent to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. But the call to halt such shipments doesn't include those sent by military family support groups. Gil Halsted reports...

The federal government may create a national cell phone number directory. Consumer advocates in Wisconsin say the idea has its merits...and its drawbacks. Terry Bell reports...

Unwary computer users can fall victim to fake e-mails from legitimate internet companies. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

A new report aims to contradict claims that Wisconsin's taxes are out of control. Shawn Johnson reports...

The nation's longest running land dispute could soon be settled. Two Wisconsin tribes have reached an agreement with the state of New York. The Oneida and Stockbridge Munsee will get ancestral land and the rights to operate casinos within a short drive of New York City. Patty Murray reports...

The number of Wisconsin deer testing positive for Chronic Wasting Disease has gone up by 22 this year. Despite the numbers hunters in the disease hot zone opted to keep and eat more of the deer they killed than in the past two years. Gil Halsted reports...

Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle says that the state will loosen restrictions on who's eligible to receive the flu vaccine. Shawn Johnson reports...

A Wisconsin doctor stationed in Iraq says the U.S. military is doing a good job of restoring the public health infrastucture in Fallujah. Reporter Gil Halsted spoke with Navy reservist Captain John Williams of Marshfield by sattelite phone...

A state legislator is apologizing for his arrest early Monday morning for driving drunk. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

A state Supreme Court ruling involving a prisoner with bad health and no money leaves a Dane County hospital footing the bill. A trade group for health care providers says the ruling will mean more cost sharing by regular patients. The Dane County sheriff says its a win for taxpayers. Shamane Mills reports...

Agencies across Wisconsin which use a device to jumpstart hearts are getting replacements. They were left in the lurch in November by a company that recalled defibrillators then went belly up. The UW Madison Police got new ones on Tuesday; other departments around the state are still trying to decide what to do. Shamane Mills reports...

A radio talk show host remains suspended for using a profanity to describe state lawmakers who criticized his deal with a W-2 agency in Milwaukee. But a welfare rights advocate says some of those legislators are to blame for setting up a bad welfare-to-work system. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The Wisconsin Supreme Court will consider three cases on Tuesday that could potentially reduce prison sentences for thousands of Wisconsin inmates. Shawn Johnson reports...

Fewer than half Wisconsin's drivers mark the organ donation box on their license. Teens are the most likely to do so, as are people living in St. Croix County. Those living in Menominee County are the least likely to promise one of their organs to another person. Shamane Mills reports...

Many commuters like to hop on the bus, as a way to cut down on traffic and exhaust emissions. But even metro transit packs its own problems. Rising concerns over public health risks from air pollution have started a move towards cleaner burning buses and possibly more public transportation choices. Wisconsin Public Radio’s Eri Hillyer reports...

Permanent rules for dredging and other waterfront development projects go before the D.N.R. Board this week. The D.N.R. and environmental groups disagree over whether the rule package does enough to protect Wisconsin rivers and lakes. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The use of food as punishment in Wisconsin prisons could come under closer scrutiny. Gil Halsted reports...

The high school gymastics season is underway in Wisconsin. Since the 1980's, the sport has only been available to girls. But a boy from Stevens Point is challenging a rule that keeps boys off of girls' teams. Terry Bell reports...

UW-Eau Claire is one of very few universities in the country to require every student to do service learning in order to graduate. At issue right now is whether certain types of religious activity count. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

There's a new effort to help working families in Door County buy homes. The county has one of the most pronounced shortages of affordable housing in the state. Patty Murray reports...

A state panel that advises Governor Jim Doyle has voted unanimously to deny a pardon to a Superior woman convicted of murdering her newborn baby. Shawn Johnson reports...

Some grain shipments on the Mississippi River may be down, but a backer of proposed infrastructure improvements says the construction is still needed. Sandra Harris reports...

Lawmakers around Wisconsin are announcing grants and budget items for communities from the newly passed Congressional budget. Critics call it bringing home the pork, but as Mike Simonson reports, one member of congress targeted by the White House two years ago, calls it economic development...

Funeral services for the 29th Wisconsin soldier to die in Iraq were held in Beaver Dam yesterday. Marine reservist Ryan Cantafio was killed on Thanksgiving Day by a roadside bomb south of Bagdad. He is the second Marine from Beaver Dam to die in the war. More than a hundred people gathered at the Oakwood cemetery for his burial. Gil Halsted was there and prepared this report...

Christians who support the rights of same-sex couples are gearing up for the next session of the Wisconsin legislature. As Shawn Johnson reports... they're hoping to lobby against a proposal that would make gay marriage illegal in the state...

State education officials say they're open to solving new problems with some voucher schools in Milwaukee. A voucher advocate says the latest controversy should not derail efforts next year to expand the number of kids who can qualify for the taxpayer-funded tuition program. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

The first ever outbreak of a disease in the United States threatens the soybean crop. The agricultural community in Wisconsin is looking at all options to get ready for soybean rust. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

New companies in Wisconsin could have millions of dollars worth of new capital available to them. The people responsible for the state employees' pension fund are considering nearly doubling such venture investments. At least one observer thinks it's a (pretty) good idea. Terry Bell reports...

A troubled state welfare provider was asked to explain itself to a panel of Wisconsin lawmakers at the capitol Wednesday. Shawn Johnson reports...

The State Elections Board apparently won't try to cancel a private contract with a firm that's developing a statewide voter registration list. So a public employee union will take its objections to Governor Jim Doyle. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Thursday marks the 20th anniversary of the Bhopal Chemical plant disaster. In 1984 a gas leak at a pesticide plant in India killed more than 15 thousand people . Some survivors of the accident will hold a candlelight vigil in Milwaukee on Thursday night. Gil Halsted reports...

Officials at Salvation Army offices around the state are worried what a cutback in bell ringing sites this year will do to donations. Things have gotten so bad for the Salvation Army in La Crosse that they are even worried about where to get pens. Sandra Harris reports...

50 years ago on the 2nd of December, the U.S. Senate censured Joseph McCarthy, for conduct unbecoming a Senator. It dealt a stinging blow to his anti-Communist crusade, which he’d waged for nearly four years against suspected “Reds” in the government. Brian Bull reports...

Ojibwa tribes are negotiating with the National Park Service to exercise treaty rights in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

Wisconsin's nine day deer hunting season didn't set any records, but officials say it made a nice dent in the over-populated deer herd. As Mike Simonson reports, one area saw a dramatic drop-off in deer killed...

More health officials are experimenting with another way to test your body's level of mercury. The only sample you need to give is of hair. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

State employees and voting rights activists crowded the sidewalk outside the State Elections Board on Tuesday. They were protesting a state contract they say wastes money and endangers fair elections. Shawn Johnson reports...

There aren't enough doctors to serve many of Wisconsin's rural communties. But a special visa program for foreign doctors may help alleviate the shortage. Gil Halsted reports...