Back in 2003, the Wisconsin State Patrol lost 36 positions due to budget cuts. Now with a stroke of the Governor's pen, some of those jobs are back in place. Brian Bull reports…

The winner of the X Prize for the first private vehicle to go into space, says his primary concern was safety, which must be the number one consideration if spaceflight is to become a commercial proposition. John Powell has more...

Right now Wisconsin students pay up to 24-hundred dollars less than Minnesota students to attend state universities there. Some Minnesotans think this is unfair and are asking officials to review the current tuition reciprocity agreement between the states and make changes. Julia Monczunski reports...

A rise in high school graduation rates and a drop in the number of teen pregnancies have helped make Wisconsin one of the top ten states in the country for children to live in. But child advocates say a recent study also shows an increase in child poverty that could erode those gains. Gil Halsted reports.

A state senator is calling for a closer look at the value of the University of Wisconsin System. Sandra Harris reports…

This next season will be the last for Barry Alvarez as head football coach at the University of Wisconsin. As Terry Bell reports, Alvarez led the Badgers to unprecedented success…

A state senator is calling for a closer look at the value of the University of Wisconsin System. Sandra Harris reports…

This next season will be the last for Barry Alvarez as head football coach at the University of Wisconsin. As Terry Bell reports, Alvarez led the Badgers to unprecedented success…

Wisconsin's largest business group is hailing this week's Congressional approval of the Central American Free Trade Agreement as good news for the state's economy. But fair trade advocates and the Wisconsin Farmers' Union say it will hurt workers and small farmers. Gil Halsted reports…

The battle over free speech rights between a Wisconsin sheriff and his deputies continues. Thursday (7/28), a deputies union held a rally against Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, while Clarke took his case to the streets. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

One hundred and fifty-five years ago, federal officials wanted to move Indian tribes from their lands in northern Wisconsin, Minnesota and upper Michigan to the north central Minnesota community of Sandy Lake. Chosen members from 19 tribal bands arrived there in 1850, and 400 would die before making it home again. Mike Simonson reports on ceremonies this week to remember this region's own "trail of tears"…

The lawyers for six lesbian state employees seeking domestic partner benefits say they'll fight the Attorney General's effort to have their suit dismissed. At issue is whether only married employees are entitled to health care benefits. Gil Halsted reports…

The designer of SpaceShip One credits the Experimental Aircraft Association for inspiring him to attempt to get into space. Burt Rutan and SpaceShip One are appearing this week at the EAA's Airventure 2005 in Oshkosh. John Powell reports…

Clergy abuse victims have asked a state appeals court to look at another case against two former Catholic priests. The victims hope the case will lead to the ability to file civil lawsuits against religious organizations. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

State and federal judges from around the country are in Green Bay. They're joined by judges from many of the nation's Indian tribes. They hope to find common ground and avoid conflicts over which court has jurisdiction in certain cases. Patty Murray reports…

A new report posted on the website "Black Commentator dot com" lists Wisconsin as the worst place in the nation to live if you're African-American. According to the study's authors, the Badger State is bad for blacks because it leads the nation in the percentage of African-Americans in state prisons. Gil Halsted reports…

Homebuilders have always been the core of the Experimental Aircraft Association, and some homebuilders at AirVenture 2005 in Oshkosh this week, have something special to be proud of. John Powell has more…

The issue of whether a boss is retaliating against an employee for speaking out against him is headed for court in Milwaukee. A law enforcement union is suing Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke, after he re-assigned a deputy to foot patrol in a high-crime area. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Television coverage of women's sports still lags behind men's sports. That's according to the most recent version of a sports and gender co-authored by a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee professor. Donnie Forti reports…

People in Wisconsin like to think of themselves as hard-working, and there's evidence to back that up. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says a lot of people are holding two and even more jobs. Some do it because they want to, but most do it because they have to. Terry Bell reports…

A bag of used hypodermic needles is at the center of a feud between Assembly Speaker John Gard and Governor Jim Doyle. Gard says the Governor's office endangered the health of his staff by sending the bag to the Speaker's office. But a spokespeson for the Governor says the Speaker is missing the point. Gil Halsted reports…

Wisconsin farmers are keeping one eye on the sky and another on their plants. Hot, dry weather threatened to stunt or kill corn and soybeans in some areas. But heavy rains fell over much of the state this week and that could be just what producers need. Patty Murray reports…

A new Vietnam War exhibit at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum combines music, art and battlefield photography to present an intimate picture of the war from a soldier's perspective. "The Long Shadow" is the work of a Wisconsin veteran who served in the war and then returned home to join those who opposed it. Gil Halsted prepared this report…

The tire fire is out in Watertown. But the clean-up and financial battles may continue for a long time. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Virgin Galactic, Incorporated plans to offer rides into space in the near future, and is planning lots of promotions to recruit customers. It's announcing the promotions at the Experimental Aircraft Association's AirVenture 2005 which is going on in Oshkosh this week. John Powell has more…

Governor Jim Doyle says the two-year budget he signed Monday (7/25) will reduce property taxes and increase funding for schools. But Republicans say the Governor may have used his veto pen illegally to increase education funding. Gil Halsted has more…

Hours after signing the state budget Monday (7/25), Governor Jim Doyle went to the home cities of his likely Republican rivals in next year's election. One political analyst says the Governor is trying to invade the GOP's intellectual turf, as well. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A former Green Bay Priest goes on trial Tuesday (7/26) for sexually assaulting a Catholic school student in the 1980s. There could be more victims and a group of abuse survivors is asking the Green Bay archdiocese to reach out to them. Patty Murray reports…

What's happening at the zoo? Some senior high school students are working toward their diploma at the Lake Superior Zoo in Duluth this summer. Nick Pelletier has the story…

Indoor water parks—once shrugged off by the tourism industry as novelty attractions—are crashing onto the national scene in a monster way. First sprung in Wisconsin in 1989, there will be at least 120 in the US by late 2006. And practically any business that wants to see its revenues float to the top, is building one. Julia Monczunski reports…

The way the state taxes farmland will change. Monday (7/25), the Department of Revenue considers amending the rules governing assessment after some of the farm values dropped too much, leaving more of the tax burden on non-farmers. Shamane Mills reports…

Some Republicans in western Wisconsin says they want to refocus the GOP on the big issues. They say a more centrist organization could bring people together for the good of the country. Sandra Harris reports…

People in Wisconsin planning to fly Northwest Airlines in about a month are being told not to worry. Even with the possibility of a mechanics strike, experts say ticket-holding customers are likely to get to their destinations. Terry Bell reports…

Ninety years ago, the Benjamin Noble approached the Twin Ports with a load of rail for the Great Northern in Superior. It has been missing ever since. David Hopkins has the story…

Damage from the jackpine budworm this summer is worse than first thought…much worse. Almost a quarter of a million acres of jackpine forests in northwestern Wisconsin have lost their needles and may die. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A Milwaukee native who wrote and starred in the 1970's cult film "Billy Jack" has launched a national campaign to end the war in Iraq , and impeach president Bush. Tom Laughlin's plan is ambitious, and it sounds a lot like the plot of the Billy Jack sequel he plans to release next year. Gil Halsted reports…

One mystery Governor Doyle may clear up when he signs the state budget Monday (7/25) is whether money for nursing homes will increase in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

As Governor Doyle prepares to sign the budget bill on Monday (7/25) some groups are still lobbying him to eliminate some tax cuts. Gil Halsted reports…

The state budget the governor will sign on Monday (7/25) includes some extra help for organic farmers with one caveat. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Members of Wisconsin's Congressional delegation lined up on opposite sides of a resolution opposing the premature withdrawal of troops from Iraq. But the split wasn't exactly along party lines. Gil Halsted has more…

Governor Jim Doyle says the state will try to "make it right" for residents who paid back taxes on cigarettes they purchased over the Internet. Shawn Johnson reports …

A well-known female race car driver who's in Wisconsin this weekend says she hopes her success "empowers" other women. Chuck Quirmbach has details…

As waves of Hmong immigrants pour into Wisconsin, many of their children are trying to transition into American schools. Most struggle with reading and other comprehensive skills, but now a special bilingual summer program aims to help five-year-olds prepare for kindergarten. Julia Monczunski prepared this report:

The number of boating fatalities is up by a third so far this summer. But the Department of Natural Resources isn't surprised as more people flock to the water to beat the heat. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A Wisconsin native has invented a device that could change keg beer as we know it. The maker of "Turbo-Tap" claims it can pour a 'perfect pint' in two seconds. And it turns out the new tapper can get more beers out of each keg. Patty Murray reports…

Critics want the Nobel prize taken from the man who pioneered lobotomies. The controversial procedure developed by Egas Moniz was once widely used to treat mental illness, epilepsy and even lingering headaches. But frontal lobotomies also failed. Rosemary Kennedy spent the rest her life in a Wisconsin institution after having one. Shamane Mills reports…

A first-of-its-kind Native American cultural museum is taking shape in Wausau. It's got the backing of city leaders and the Great Lakes Intertribal Council. Supporters of the plan hope it will promote cultural tourism in the northern part of the state. Gil Halsted reports…

Governor Jim Doyle says he'll veto a piece of the budget that would have required the state to sell or contract out all of its heating and power plants. Shawn Johnson reports…

Some scientists contend that land use by humans has become a top threat to the planet's ecosystem. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The American Civil Liberties Union is calling on the Racine County juvenile court to stop requiring all young offenders to wear leg irons during court appearances. The NAACP and two youth advocacy groups have joined the ACLU in condemning the practice as humiliating and unnecessary. Gil Halsted has more…

One of the private companies that's setting up Wisconsin's statewide voter registration list will get a bigger paycheck. Shawn Johnson reports…

Some car manufacturers are trying to boost sales by offering consumers the same price their employees pay for a vehicle. It may look like a good buy, but consumers are warned not to be surprised over how much tax they have to pay on the deal. Sandra Harris reports…

Tire Fire Shows Program’s Problems
07/21/05

The Department of Natural Resources says Wisconsin's tire recycling program has reduced the state's problems with large numbers of old tires. But the fire that's burning at a tire recycler near Watertown shows the state program still needs better traction. Chuck Quirmbach reports.

Clergy abuse victims say they should be able to sue long after assaults occur. Such a change in law is being proposed, but church officials say it’s probably unconstitutional. Shamane Mills reports…

Thirty-two teachers from around Northeastern Wisconsin are going to summer school. They're going through an academy that will give them new ways to teach state and national history. Patty Murray reports…

Candidates in Northeastern Wisconsin are lining up to replace Representative Mark Green in Congress. Green is leaving the seat to run for Governor. It's the first time in ten years the Eighth District has no incumbent running for re-election. Patty Murray reports…

Governor Doyle is continuing to use his veto pen on the budget bill recently passed by the Republican-controlled legislature. This time he’s restoring cuts made to the UW system. Steve Roisum reports…

A debate about the future of the American labor movement will come to a head at the AFLCIO convention in Chicago this weekend. Some union leaders in Wisconsin fear a predicted split in the federation could make it harder for local unions to work together. Gil Halsted reports…

For more than a decade a proposal to stop using Native American names and images as school mascots has fallen flat at the State Capitol. It's being pushed again this year and so is a narrower measure that would take the word "squaw" off any lakes or streams. Shawn Johnson reports…

The look of Wisconsin drivers' licenses could change. A state lawmaker thinks it’s a good way to let emergency personnel and others know about the driver's final wishes if they're too hurt to tell others what they want. Shamane Mills reports…

Legislative leaders have agreed to a deal that would give raises to more than 30,000 University of Wisconsin employees. They also sent a message to top UW executives by deciding to hold off on their pay hikes. Shawn Johnson reports…

Scientists are excited about a new computing system being dedicated in Milwaukee today Wednesday (7/20). They say the Open Science Grid will also bring good things for non-scientists. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Public vaccinations helped stem the spread of certain childhood diseases. Now, some health experts think it may be time for a similar effort to help kids trim down. Tuesday night (7/19), the UW Medical School begins a string of free seminars on kids and weight. The first is called 'Confronting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic.' Shamane Mills reports…

A Wisconsin congressional member says a religious group’s statement about suicide bombings could have a positive effect. Sandra Harris reports…

A rapid rise in murders in Milwaukee has police asking for help and politicians looking for ways to get guns off the street. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Governor Jim Doyle has decided to whittle away at the Republican-drawn budget piece by piece. He announced Monday (7/18) he'll use his veto pen to scrap GOP changes to the state's stewardship fund and to restore a program that helps communities plan for growth. Shawn Johnson reports…

A retired police officer is riding a horse across the country to draw attention to the war on drugs. But he's not calling for reinforcements. He's calling for the legalization of ten drugs including marijuana and methamphetamine. Gil Halsted caught up with him as he rode through Madison Monday (7/18)…

Mobilizing and demobilizing soldiers at Fort McCoy can now get psychiatric help directly from Walter Reed U.S. Army Medical Center in Washington, D. C. without leaving the base. Sandra Harris reports…

The Department of Natural Resources is looking into the possible doubling of wetlands violations around the state. Mike Simonson reports that since environmental permitting was streamlined last year for developers, more people are illegally building on wetlands…

Another Wisconsin soldier may soon become a casualty of the war in Iraq. Staff Sergeant Chad Simon is at a Monona hospice with a severe brain injury. His wife says she may soon act on his living will and remove the feeding tube that's kept him alive for the past eight months. Gil Halsted reports…

Wisconsin is in the midst of a long hot summer. Temperatures are roughly ten degrees above normal and a lack of rain is affecting crops. But, as Patty Murray reports, conditions could be a whole lot worse…

The typical Western concept of a graduation ceremony is strolling down the aisle to “pomp and circumstance,” wearing a cap and gown, and walking off stage with a diploma. For the Hmong culture, the ritual is a bit different but no less important – as many clan leaders are recognizing higher education as the key to more opportunities in America. Brian Bull recently attended a Hmong graduation ceremony, and prepared this report…

State soybean growers are waiting to see if spores of the dreaded Asian rust disease blow into Wisconsin because if it arrives, crop losses could be substantial. A pest research company just received a state grant to develop an early-warning detection system. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

The State Supreme Court has revived a lead paint lawsuit in Milwaukee, that may be watched nationwide. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A ruling by the state supreme court sets new limits on the way eyewitness testimony can be used in court. Staff at the Wisconsin Innocence Project say the court established a new standard that could help prevent wrongful convictions. Gil Halsted reports…

Hogwarts is coming to a bookstore near you for the release Saturday (7/16) of the 6th book in the Harry Potter series. Many bookstores will celebrate with "Potter Parties." Nick Pelletier reports from Superior…

A Republican State Senator from New Berlin is calling for the repeal of a state law requiring Milwaukee County to build a half-way house for sexually-violent offenders. Senator Mary Lazich also wants the state to create a statewide GPS system to track sex offenders for life after they're released. Gil Halsted reports…

It's time to forget everything you think you know about high school music contests. Terry Bell reports…

Governor Jim Doyle and many of his cabinet members moved the state capital to Door County Thursday (7/14). Each year Wisconsin government temporarily re-locates somewhere outside of Madison. Patty Murray reports…

Black bears are encroaching on campgrounds at Copper Falls State Park in Ashland County. They've had to trap and move six bears so far this summer, compared to just one in past years. Mike Simonson reports that they've discovered a secret bait that bears can't resist…

Leaders of the national Republican and Democratic parties made a pitch for African-American votes at the NAACP convention in Milwaukee today. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The Douglas County Board vote to negotiate with American Transmission Company about the Duluth to Wausau transmission line has the board of supervisors planning their next step. Nick Pelletier reports from Superior…

Mercury emissions in Wisconsin and the United States are prompting many political and legal fights. But scientists meeting in Madison this week say it's also important to get a handle on mercury pollution around the globe. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The state supreme court has struck down Wisconsin’s cap on medical malpractice awards for pain and suffering. The four-to-three court ruling says the state’s 1995 law imposing a 350,000 dollar cap on pain and suffering claims is too broad. Gil Halsted reports…

Add golf to the list of sports being picked up by Indian athletes. Organizers are heralding the inaugural season of the Native American Golf tour, which kicks off in the upper Midwest. Brian Bull reports…

A Wisconsin Indian tribe has banned the sale of a local newspaper on its reservation, and pulled all its casino advertising. Lac du Flambeau tribal leaders accuse the paper of siding with dissidents in a dispute over the tribe's decision to buy a floating casino in the Gulf of Mexico. Gil Halsted reports…

A Federal Mortgage holding company says housing continues to be a major driving force for the nation's economy. Freddie Mac's housing outlook report says home-related consumption accounted for nearly one-quarter of last year's economic growth. Patty Murray reports…

Clergy abuse victims are finding some good news in a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision Wednesday (7/13) that came down in favor of the Milwaukee Catholic Archdiocese. Chuck Quirmbach explains…

Thousands packed the state capitol rotunda today to pay tribute to former Wisconsin Governor and US Senator Gaylord Nelson. Those who spoke remembered him as a champion of the environment with a sense of humor that's missing from today's politics. Shawn Johnson reports…

The State Park System is winding up a series of public meetings aimed at developing a long term plan. The new Strategic Plan is expected to be unveiled next spring. It'll be the first time in 12 years the Parks System has tweaked it's priorities. Patty Murray reports…

In absence of adequate funding, the Florence County School Board voted Monday night to dissolve its district. But there could be another move to pass a referendum to support Florence schools. Sandra Harris reports…

Tuesday (7/12) the Wisconsin Supreme Court granted anew trial for man convicted of rape and murder 25 years ago. The Wisconsin Innocence project says the case will help set a new standard for the role DNA evidence can play in proving guilt or innocence. Gil Halsted reports…

An inmate at Wisconsin's high security prison in Bocobel says he was stripped naked and held in solitary for two weeks without clothes or bedding. Nathan Gillis is suing the department of Corrections in federal court for what he calls cruel and unusual punishment. Gil Halsted reports…

Gaylord Nelson's legacy as the father of Earth Day will take center stage at today's state capitol ceremonies to honor the former Governor and Senator. He died earlier this month at the age of 89. As Gil Halsted reports Nelson also has an important anti war legacy. He was one of the earliest and most persistent opponents of the war in Vietnam…

The memorial service for Gaylord Nelson at the State Capitol Wednesday (7/13) is bringing forth memories on how people were changed by the first Earth Day. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The Food and Drug Administration is caught in a debate between biotech advocates and several large dairy groups. At issue is whether milk from a cloned cow is as healthy and safe as regular milk. Brian Bull reports…

"Phishing" is a fast-growing Internet scam that tries to scare people into revealing their financial information with fraudulent emails. Normally sent under the names of actual large banking corporations, scammers are now branching out against small bank companies and federal agencies. Brian Bull reports…

An equal opportunities ordinance in La Crosse says people shouldn’t be discriminated against for their political beliefs. Some elected officials say the ordinance goes too far. Sandra Harris reports…

Some environmental groups are using the latest Harry Potter book to push publishing companies to use more recycled paper. They're urging consumers to buy the Canadian edition instead of the American one, because it's using more forest-friendly paper. Gil Halsted reports…

An idea being revived at the State Capitol would reestablish a naval militia in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports…

Forest Researchers at the University of Wisconsin will map the habitat of an endangered butterfly. They say it'll help preserve the Karner Blue butterfly and help landowners save money at the same time. Patty Murray reports…

Enrollment keeps growing at the University of Wisconsin, but in the past couple budgets state support has fallen flat. As Shawn Johnson reports one UW Regent thinks it may be time to consider some type of enrollment caps…

A project that helps keep mom's in prison in touch with their children just got a financial boost . The program serving women and children in Dane county lost funding last year. But a new grant has put it back on it feet. Gil Halsted reports…

Legal experts say departing Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor took a fair-minded approach to civil rights issues. O'Connor's record and her potential successor are being discussed at the NAACP convention in Milwaukee. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

NAACP Board Chairman Julian Bond took on President Bush, and the conservative philanthropy of the Bradley Foundation Sunday night (7/10). Bond spoke to the NAACP convention in Milwaukee. Chuck Quirmbach reports …

African Americans have one of the highest rates of heart disease. They're also more likely to have diabetes and high blood pressure. This weekend people in the Milwaukee area will be talking about that during a health fair sponsored by the NAACP. Shamane Mills reports…

Wisconsin isn't the heaviest state when it comes to residents’ weight. But it could be in the future. A survey indicates one-fifth of those living in Wisconsin are obese and are likely to continue to gain pounds after those in other states have leveled off. Shamane Mills reports…

Six inmates face a long list of assault charges stemming from an attack on guards at the New Lisbon state prison last November. The Department of Corrections announced the result of a 6 month investigation into the incident at a news conference at the prison today. Gil Halsted reports…

One-hundred thirty three wind turbines would be put up just east of Horicon Marsh, under a construction plan that the PSC gave preliminary approval Friday (7/8). Opponents of what would become Wisconsin's largest wind farm had argued the project would be too harmful to migrating birds, and hurt local property values. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents has voted to raise tuition at UW campuses by nearly 7% this fall. Shawn Johnson reports…

Government and tribal officials have released a new collaboration plan for cleaning up the Great Lakes. But the price tag is unclear and passage is uncertain. Chuck Quirmbach reports …

The daughter of a National Guard Soldier from Waunakee who served in Iraq has launched a fund drive to buy school supplies for Iraqi children. The project is part of an effort to bring military kids together to support each other while their parents are overseas. Gil Halsted has more…

An Assembly leader says the state needs to end its moratorium on building nuclear energy plants. Sandra Harris reports …

State government is no longer in the business of luring movie production to Wisconsin. But a group of private arts and tourism groups wants to take up the work of the now-defunct Wisconsin Film Office and even improve on it. Terry Bell reports…

A UW-Madison student working as an intern in the British parliament was one of thousands of people forced to evacuate the London subway after Thursday (7/7) morning’s bombings. Gil Halsted reached him by phone as he walked home from work and has this report …

Terrorism can disrupt world economies. And the attacks on London's transportation system are having an effect. Shamane Mills reports …

Thursday morning’s subway bombings in London have renewed debate over America’s own homeland security and the ongoing “war on terrorism.” Brian Bull walked along Madison’s State Street on Thursday (7/7) and got the following reactions from passersby…

A team of Wisconsin National Guard soldiers recently returned from Iraq will be heading to Nicaragua for training at the end of this month. The Nicaraguan military will be teaching them how to detect and disarm land mines. Gil Halsted has more…

Members of the NAACP have started to arrive in Milwaukee, for the group's national convention that begins this weekend. One key issue for the civil rights organization is how to attract more young people. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Paper company executives and University officials kicked off a new Paper Technology Center Wednesday (7/6) in Green Bay. The Center will be a liaison between the private sector and researchers who have ideas on how to make paper more efficiently. Patty Murray reports…

Twenty-one cities in Wisconsin have smoking bans that state legislation could potentially snuff out. As the Governor decides whether to allow the local rules to stand, communities are trying to enforce the new smoking policies. In Madison, police say they need more city money to do it. Shamane Mills reports…

A special traveling office is in Madison this week, geared towards helping the area’s Mexican nationals set up bank accounts and get IDs. The venture is expected to help them gain more financial services and opportunities. Julia Monczunski has the story…

A Republican-drawn state budget is now on its way to the Governor's desk. On Tuesday night (7/5) the Assembly agreed to changes made by Senators that would force thousands of state employees to kick in more money for their retirement funds. The changes would also give tax credits to home-schoolers and people who adopt.

The final plan includes some accounting tricks that drew criticism from both political parties yesterday. And in coming weeks the budget will likely draw some vetoes from Democratic Governor Jim Doyle. Shawn Johnson reports…

Water quality experts in Wisconsin are paying closer attention to the pharmaceutical drugs that are passed into sewage systems and surface waters. Chuck Quirmbach reports …

A new Battle of the Bulge is plaguing the US Army—namely the rising rates of obesity among its soldiers and recruits. Brian Bull reports…

Studies show elderly people who live in rural areas are the least likely to have prescription drug coverage. This fall, they and others will be able to sign up for Medicare's new drug benefit. Shamane Mills reports on an outreach effort in Wisconsin…

Wisconsin regulators are re-evaluating their day care licensing codes. It's in response to the death of a two-year old girl left in a hot van last month. Terry Bell reports…

A new national study finds forensic DNA laboratories can't keep up with the growing demand for testing evidence from crime scenes. In Wisconsin, there's debate over which crimes should get priority when the samples reach the laboratory. Gil Halsted reports…

Historians say Gaylord Nelson left his mark on environmental issues across Wisconsin and around the Earth. The former Wisconsin Senator and Governor passed away Sunday (7/3) at the age of 89. Chuck Quirmbach has more on Nelson's environmental legacy…

Gaylord Nelson will be remembered for his environmental accomplishments, but Governor Jim Doyle says Nelson's sense of humor helped set him apart from the crowd. Shawn Johnson reports…

Democrats tried and failed last week to pass their version of property tax relief in Wisconsin. As Shawn Johnson reports, the proposal known as "HOPE" got a rocky reception from majority Republicans…

The remains of 12 soldiers killed in a battle in Vietnam in 1968 will finally get a proper burial. Two of the soldiers are from Wisconsin. As Gil Halsted reports, final identification of their remains has brought welcome closure for the families…

The state wants your help, to be on the lookout for the next generations of invasive species in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

On this day in 1776, American colonists declared their independence from England. That event is celebrated today with picnics and fireworks. But another struggle for independence continues, involving Native American journalists who work for tribal media. Brian Bull explains…

Our series of special reports on books by Wisconsin authors continues now. And on this Fourth of July, we thought it would be appropriate to feature a book about our national pastime... …

Arguably home to the first indoor water park, Wisconsin Dells is seeing one of its largest build on its appeal to the tune of nearly 200 million dollars. Julia Monczunski reports …

Normally the Fourth of July weekend means hamburgers and steaks sizzling away on the grill. Yet the second confirmed case of Mad Cow disease in America may make some tailgaters consider going with chicken or fish instead. Brian Bull reports…

The announced departure of the first woman to sit on the nation's highest court is significant. The departure of Justice Sandra Day O'Connor gives President Bush his first chance to shape the Supreme Court when the country is very divided on social issues like abortion. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle today criticized Senate Republicans for changing the state budget to cut taxes for home schoolers and cut state spending across the board. As Shawn Johnson reports, Doyle's biggest gripe still involves the hundreds of millions the GOP would trim from his education plan…

The Potowatomi tribe announced today it will pay the state the almost 44 million dollars it owes in casino fees. But it's not clear when . One major sticking point in the ongoing negotiations is how much competiiton the Potowatomi's Milwaukee casino may face from the proposed Menominee tribal casino in Kenosha. Gil Halsted reports…

A report on potential bio-terrorism against the nation’s milk supply has been released, after being delayed at the request of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Brian Bull reports…

Anger, frustration, and sadness are evident in northeastern Wisconsin’s Florence County as the school board begins the process of dissolving the county’s only school district. Sandra Harris reports…

A revised plan for dealing with proposed water diversions from the Great Lakes includes tougher language against large-scale withdrawals. But environmental groups are still worried about some possible individual cases. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A former Marine from Wisconsin who was held hostage 26 years ago in Iran contends that country's new president-elect was one of his captors during the 444-day ordeal. Shamane Mills reports…

The Wisconsin Senate passed a budget earlier this morning that includes new spending controls and additional cuts to state agencies across the board. Republican lawmakers spent much of the all-night session behind closed doors trying to scrap together support for the plan.

GOP leaders say the changes protect taxpayers, but Democrats say they amount to little more than accounting gimmicks. Shawn Johnson reports…