The State is chipping in to buy nearly one-thousand acres of pristine forest in Northern Wisconsin. Descendants of a Wisconsin beer maker have struck a deal that'll open the area to the public. Patty Murray reports...

A Wisconsin task force is looking at reinstating caps on jury awards in medical malpractice lawsuits. Critics question why patients should take less money for pain and suffering so doctors might pay less for liability insurance. Shamane Mills reports...

Two proposed La Crosse ordinances regarding alcohol have been put on the fast track for consideration this month. Micah Schweizer reports...

The death of a UW-La Crosse student last year is affecting how the community is addressing the problem of alcohol abuse. The university has a newly-revamped website meant for faculty, parents and students. Steve Roisum reports...

Former Democratic presidential candidate General Wesely Clark was in Madison Wednesday as part of a national tour to raise funds for Democratic party candidates. He says the party needs to reshape it's image when it comes to foreign policy. Gil Halsted reports...

Milwaukee started a gun buy back program last month; now Madison is doing likewise. Madison's police chief says it will keep the city "one of the safest in America," but critics contend the guns bought usually aren't the ones used in crimes. Shamane Mills reports...

University of Wisconsin officials say a national fraternity has suspended its U-W Whitewater chapter, following a series of alcohol-related violations. Brian Bull reports...

A national group is touring Wisconsin this week teaching seminars on how to trap cats. The Alley Cat Allies say the best way to reduce the number of feral cats is to catch them, fix them...then put them back in the wild. The fur flew this spring on the issue...with some wanting to allow the shooting of wild cats. Patty Murray reports...

Fish biologists say successful anti pollution efforts in some Canadian streams may have had the unwanted effect of increasing the population of invasive sea lamprey's. The number of Lamprey that prey on valuable game fish like Lake trout have doubled in the western part of Lake Superior this year. Gil Halsted reports...

More than a thousand Wisconsin Army National Guard Troops training for overseas assignments in Mississippi have safely weathered Hurricane Katrina.. The soldiers from dozens of units from all parts of the state are training at Camp Shelby in Mississippi that was directly in the path of the storm. Gil Halsted reports...

Mix of Old and New at Asian Summer Festival

08/29/05

Kato game between Hmong and Cambodian players (Photo by Brian Bull).

Thousands of people converged in Madison's Reindahl Park this weekend, for the Asian Summer Festival. The annual event typically draws in visitors and participants from all over the U.S. to honor the Hmong, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Chinese cultures among others. And while promoters emphasize the festival's traditional Asian songs and activities, the influence of 21st century-Americana is hard to miss. Brian Bull prepared this report: running time 5:00 Listen to this story now using RealPlayer

A new report concludes women scientists at universities still face career barriers that most men don't. Chuck Quirmbach has the story…

Democrats will introduce a bill in September that could end the gay marriage debate in Wisconsin. But it's a long shot to get through the Republican-controlled legislature. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Studying a population of people for disease and death patterns can tell health workers a lot. However, there are restrictions on who gets to see that information and what they get to see. Now there’s an effort to ease these access roadblocks while maintaining privacy. Wisconsin health agencies and the UW-Madison will try to do this using a 1.6 million dollar grant from the National Science Foundation. Shamane Mills reports…

This fall the Appleton Area School District will partner with area universities to begin a study that will assess effects of its healthy lifestyles program on students. Among other things, researchers will be digging through the school trash. Julia Monczunski reports…

Plans for wireless internet access in downtown Madison just got booted abruptly. But community leaders vow to get the project back on-line. Terry Bell reports…

The Navy will decide next month what to do with 1,500 telephone poles spread across more than 40 acres of forest land in northern Wisconsin and upper Michigan. The poles are all that's left of the ELF antenna sites that were shut down last September. Gil Halsted has more…

Child welfare officials in rural counties of western and northwestern Wisconsin say a drug epidemic is hitting small town Wisconsin. Mike Simonson reports that the instantly addictive, easily accessible drug methamphetamine is putting a strain on child care resources…

The staff advising a base-closing commission says Milwaukee's 440th Airlift Wing should be moved to another state. But the staff has better news for another base in Milwaukee and a base in Madison. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Wisconsin is testing new voting machines. Those systems have to meet certain federal requirements, namely that they be handicap accessible. Shamane Mills reports…

A large national gathering of Asian cultures is being held this weekend in Madison. Organizers hope the event will educate people about the many new faces that have arrived in the region over the last year. Brian Bull reports…

The Federal Trade Commission says Hispanics are twice as likely to be targeted for fraud than the general population. Many Latino Immigrants are reluctant to talk about swindles. But Wisconsin's Department of Ag, Trade, and Consumer Protection says people who report unscrupulous businesses won't risk deportation or other penalties. Patty Murray reports…

Emergency officials say it’ll be a week or two before they learn if there will be a presidential disaster declaration to help Wisconsin residents pay for tornado damage. Sandra Harris reports…

The longstanding national debate over what's driving up malpractice insurance is heating up in Wisconsin. Consumer groups say insurance companies are price gouging. Doctors blame big jury awards. Shamane Mills reports…

The growing controversy over military recruiters in high schools will prompt Milwaukee schools to more actively tell parents about their family's privacy rights. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Schools that receive federal money under the No Child Left Behind law are required to provide information about students to military recruiters. That's been a big issue before the Milwaukee School Board, but so far not in Eau Claire. Mary Jo Wagner reports…

The Pentagon’s base realignment and closure plans mean a loss of jobs at Fort McCoy. But military and local officials say the end result could actually be a gain. Sandra Harris reports…

A state of Wisconsin consultant says a base closing commission is showing some independence. So he's hoping an Air Force reserve base in Milwaukee may stay open. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

There's another attempt to limit the veto powers of future governors of Wisconsin. This one comes from a legislator who's in the same political party as Governor Jim Doyle. Shamane Mills reports…

A citizens' group says invasive plant species along state highways are spreading on to other property, while the state cuts back on controlling the harmful plants. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Even this close to school starting, there are still spots open at some University of Wisconsin campuses. Mary Jo Wagner has this update…

Wednesday (8/24) was the thirty-fifth anniversary of the bombing of Sterling Hall on the UW-Madison campus. An exhibit commemorating what was then the largest act of domestic terrorism in the United States opened this week at the State Historical Society Museum. Gil Halsted reports…

Eighty-five years ago women got the right to vote. Now they're not only electing politicians, they're holding office. In the next presidential campaign, women’s voter groups hope to have their strongest showing yet: a female candidate at the top of the ticket. Shamane Mills reports…

A discovery that could decide which stem cells are used in the future might make the ethical debate over embryonic stem cells a thing of the past. Shamane Mills reports…

Some Wisconsin counties may engage in mass disobedience over state mandates they say they can no longer afford to provide. Sandra Harris reports…

Wisconsin's longest-serving Governor says he may run for the country's top political post: President of the United States. Shamane Mills reports…

For the first time in more than a quarter of a century, two far northern Wisconsin waterways could be designated "wild and scenic." Mike Simonson reports that some locals are pushing for a way to protect the rivers from the pressures of development…

School districts in Wisconsin could soon have an across-the-board policy on bullying. State lawmakers say computers and popular culture have taken bullying beyond name calling. If the problem goes un-addressed lawmakers say it could cost districts a lot of money. Patty Murray reports…

An Asian carp caught in the Rock River near Rockford, Illinois, has snagged the attention of Wisconsin DNR officials. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A proposal to make Madison the first city to require sick leave at private business sparked plenty of questions. Shamane Mills attended a forum last night put on by a coalition which supports the policy...

One battle over diverting water from the Great Lakes has to do with *bottled* water. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A 75-cent fee tacked on to every pack of cigarettes in Minnesota is causing many people there to head across the border to buy their smokes. Mike Simonson reports from Superior...

A Wisconsin National Guard member destined for Kuwait doesn't know if he'll have a job when he comes back. What's in dispute is a federal law designed to protect the civilian jobs of soldiers. Shamane Mills reports...

Emergency government officials are tallying up their estimates of tornado damage to the village of Viola. They’ll meet with federal officials today. Sandra Harris reports...

The city of Waukesha has been getting national attention for its efforts to get drinking water from Lake Michigan. But at a meeting last night, some Waukesha-area residents made it clear they don't want lake water. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is reiterating the need for a deadline to pull American troops from Iraq. The Middleton Democrat is criticizing the Army's plans for possibly keeping a large occupation force there for four more years. Brian Bull reports…

The eagle is treasured as a sacred symbol by many Native Americans. But the bird is also prized by poachers, who are getting top dollar for eagle parts on the black market. And as Brian Bull reports, conservation officers are finding it hard to crack down on those profiting from the trend…

The high price of gas isn't cutting into demand this summer. The state's only oil refinery reports it is operating 24/7 at full capacity. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A state humane society is trying to reduce bird collisions with buildings and homes. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Residents of Viola are picking up the pieces after a tornado struck the small village 12 miles southeast of Viroqua late Thursday afternoon. Sandra Harris talked with residents and has this report…

Sky-high gas prices are adding pressure to school district budgets already strapped for cash. Julia Monczunski reports…

The governor and some lawmakers say eliminating the state’s minimum mark-up law could reduce gasoline prices—but an expert who’s studied the issue says that’s unlikely. Sandra Harris reports…

Miller Brewing will toast its 150th birthday Saturday (8/20) with a party in Milwaukee called "The Big Brew-Ha." Even though Miller recently had some good sales news, the company admits more consumers are looking to quench their thirst in other ways. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Debate has started over Governor Jim Doyle's plan to bring back a state environmental lawyer known as the public intervenor. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

School vending machines, usually a big hit with the kids, aren't as popular with nutritionists and some parents. There's criticism the easy access to candy, chips and pop has contributed to a childhood obesity problem. The American Beverage Association is recommending less soda be sold in schools. Shamane Mills reports…

Two state agencies will look at how Wisconsin can conserve water. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is projecting an all-time record crop for Wisconsin’s cranberry harvest this year. However, some industry officials fear the boom could backfire. Julia Monczunski reports…

This week, the Dane County Executive's Office announced a new funding source that will help support a Hmong Mental Health Center in Madison. But advocates for the facility say its future still hangs in the balance. Brian Bull reports…

Public pensions in Wisconsin are bigger than any other state but Rhode Island. And the amount that employees contribute is the lowest. Shamane Mills reports…

A state task force is out with recommendations on how police and prosecutors can avoid wrongful convictions. The Steven Avery task force is named for a man who spent 18 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Patty Murray reports…

A concerted effort to reduce high-risk drinking on the UW-Eau Claire campus will be funded by a new federal grant. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

When property tax bills go out in December, more of them in Wisconsin will go up, rather than down. That's according to this week's report from the non-partisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. But to what extent and at what cost is still a matter of disagreement. Terry Bell reports…

Governor Jim Doyle will announce an environmental package Thursday (8/18) that includes a plan to bring back the State Public Intervenor. Chuck Quirmbach has this preview…

Cancer patients can get experimental treatment in more than a dozen Wisconsin communities. However, insurance companies do not always cover routine treatment like chemotherapy used as part of clinical trials. Shamane Mills reports…

The first effort to overturn Madison's new smoking ban failed. Now there's another attempt to ease strict rules regulating cigarettes in taverns and restaurants. Shamane Mills reports…

A spiritual ceremony aimed at bridging racial and religious differences is being held later this month in Spring Green. Brian Bull reports…

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is considering setting a date for withdrawing American forces from Iraq. Mike Simonson reports that date could be as soon as the end of next year…

The lower Wisconsin Riverway is known for its scenery. Now the area is getting a look some don't like. DNR wardens are finding trash and tire tracks in places they shouldn't be. Officials are calling on local residents to report offenders. Shamane Mills reports…

Studies show people without health insurance are the most likely to go without medical care. Wisconsin has a health program for the working poor and their kids. With school about to start, advocates are reminding families about Badger Care. Shamane Mills reports…

The stalemate over negotiations between northwestern Wisconsin counties and American Transmission Company is expected to be broken this week. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A study indicates a patient's trust in their doctor is just as important as money when it comes to taking expensive medication. Shamane Mills reports…

The list of people waiting for a kidney is one shorter after an Eau Claire teacher donated one of hers to a stranger. More from Mary Jo Wagner…

One of the most comprehensive studies of development in and around national forests spells out some threats for Northern Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Congressional pressure to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq is increasing. Shamane Mills reports…

For the second time this year, Governor Jim Doyle has vetoed a plan that would require a photo ID to vote in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports…

Polls indicate younger people are most likely to support plans for investing social security funds through personal accounts. However, a new report from a congressional committee shows that's the age group with the most to lose if social security changes. Shamane Mills reports…

Beginning Saturday (8/13) Milwaukee will host the world's largest gospel music convention. People who sing gospel say the music is vitally important to them and to other musical genres. Terrence Shaw reports…

When a member of the National Guard or Reserves is called to active duty, service to country often means taking a hit in the pocketbook. For more than a year, citizen-soldiers who also happen to be Wisconsin state government employees haven't had to worry about that. But many other government and private sector workers around the country still do. Terry Bell reports…

Wisconsin’s school district boundary review board is getting ready for hearings on the dissolution of a northeastern Wisconsin school district. Sandra Harris reports…

Social Security turns 70 this weekend. The social insurance program was the brainchild of a Wisconsin economist. Shamane Mills reports on the program's past and what people think of it today…

There've been a lot fewer mosquitoes in Wisconsin this summer. But the risk of one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses has gone up. There's a good reason for that. Terry Bell explains…

Department of Defense and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials toured the Red Cliff reservation Thursday (8/11) as part of a fact-finding mission. Mike Simonson reports from Red Cliff that they hope to find out more about Department of Defense barrels dumped into Lake Superior…

The explosion of Minnesota residents moving to western Wisconsin has Hudson officials trying to control the growth. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Clergy abuse victims have filed another lawsuit in Milwaukee, involving a former priest who allegedly sexually abused two brothers. The victims group, SNAP, says the case shows Wisconsin comes up short, compared with other states. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

State lawmakers could hold hearings as early as next month on a revised plan to let residents carry concealed weapons. Shawn Johnson reports…

More than 500 people from 40 different countries have gathered in Madison this week for the International Foster Care Conference. Parents, youth and professionals are taking part in training and cross-cultural sharing. Julia Monczunski reports…

Officials from the Department of Defense will meet with Red Cliff tribal officials Thursday (8/11) about recovering mystery barrels dumped into Lake Superior almost a half century ago. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Madison was the first city in Wisconsin to have its own minimum wage. Now, it’s considering another proposal to help employees of private companies: paid sick leave. Small business owners say they can't afford it. Shamane Mills reports…

The Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling says more people are calling their hotline concerned about young people playing poker. Steve Roisum reports…

Republican lawmakers have sent Governor Doyle another voter ID bill to sign and they say more possible fraud in Milwaukee is another reason Doyle should sign the measure. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Alcohol during pregnancy can harm the developing fetus. Now some UW-Madison researchers think they know why. Shamane Mills reports…

Environmentalists are applauding one provision of the new Energy Bill signed by President Bush this week. As Mike Simonson reports, it bans drilling under the Great Lakes…

The thirty-year-long battle to protect the Wolf River from copper mining in Forest County isn't quite over. The Mole Lake Sokaogan Chippewa tribe is in the final stages of a fundraising effort to raise eight million dollars by next April to pay off a loan from an international mining company. If successful, the tribe will have permanent title to the land and mineral rights in Crandon near their reservation. Gil Halsted reports…

The ongoing protest near President Bush's ranch by the mother of a California soldier killed in Iraq is winning support from military family groups around the country. A Wisconsin veteran is helping the mothers of other soldiers travel to Texas to join the protest. Gil Halsted reports…

The permit Wisconsin uses to euthanize problem wolves is under question. The Humane Society of the US says a federal agency improperly granted the permit this year. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Wisconsin could see an influx of rent-to-own stores under a measure being considered by the state legislature. Shawn Johnson reports…

There's a new approach to an old problem: curbing underage drinking by trying to cut off the source of alcohol. A new public service campaign encourages liquor sellers and parents to keep alcohol out of the hands of minors. Shamane Mills reports…

It's often said that time is money. Now a community group in Madison is creating a "Time Bank" that neighbors and businesses can use to help those in need. It's a way for people who can't afford to volunteer to get something in return for serving others. Gil Halsted reports…

The Apostle Islands Wilderness area was dedicated Monday (8/8)named for former Governor and U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson. Nick Pelletier reports that doesn’t change access to the National Lakeshore…

Opponents of a plan to build the state's largest wind farm have asked the Public Service Commission to take a second look at the case. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Researchers are learning new ways to use umbilical cord blood to treat a variety of blood diseases. A proposal at the state capitol would let more pregnant women know about it. Shawn Johnson reports…

About 29 square miles in Northeastern Wisconsin would have additional protections against development, under a proposed land use deal Governor Doyle has announced. But the idea still needs money from the state Stewardship Fund. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

One of the famous trees planted by naturalist Aldo Leopold and his family will be cut down Monday...as the Aldo Leopold Foundation continues with plans to change a central Wisconsin landmark. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

Doctors say exercise will not only help fight flab, but disease. There are guidelines for how much exercise a person of a certain age should get. Those recommendations are based on medical data from men, not women. Now women have their own chart to follow. Shamane Mills reports...

Representatives of the nation’s largest Lutheran church vote this week on a policy that could give gay parishioners more options. Some say any changes will rip the church apart. Voting members from Wisconsin are in Florida for the Churchwide Assembly. Mary Jo Wagner has more...

One of the world's most powerful telescopes is going on-line this fall in South Africa. Astronomers at U-W Madison helped build it. Now they say the sky's the limit in the country that used to be divided along racial lines. They're encouraging business owners in Wisconsin to explore opportunities in South Africa. Patty Murray reports...

Monroe County's sheriff says overcrowding in the county jail is critical. The county's working to address the problem -- but a state counties official says it's a difficult time for many counties facing the same situation. Sandra Harris reports....

A Wisconsin Marine severely wounded in Iraq eight months ago died yesterday (8/04/05). He was surrounded by friends and family at a hospice near Madison. Gil Halsted reports…

The State Ag Department has made several changes in the regulations it's proposing for large farms. Chuck Quirmbach reports.

People who in the past couple months paid back taxes on Internet cigarette sales will be getting that money back from the state. But the official who has to sign those refund checks says they're unfair to other taxpayers. Shawn Johnson reports...

Wisconsin politicians are pressuring the Bush Administration to reauthorize a milk subsidy program for farmers....before the program ends next month. Chuck Quirmbach reports...

A Catholic priest accused of sexual abuse is attempting to clear his name in Rock County Court. That's where a defamation lawsuit was heard this week. A jury is now deciding whether Gerald Vosen was falsely accused or not....and whether the priest should get money for damage to his reputation. Shamane Mills reports...

The state will use a new grant to help cut its backlog of criminal investigations that use D-N-A evidence. Shawn Johnson reports...

Lobbying groups spent record amounts trying to influence state lamakers in the first half of this year. Shawn Johnson reports...

More than two-thirds of Wisconsin was under an air quality advisory Wednesday and Thursday. The Department of Natural Resources warned of a lot of particulate matter in the air. Particulates are better known as "soot." Coal fired power plants are one source of the pollution. Two environmental groups are going after an older plant in Green Bay they contend is "making people sick." Patty Murray reports...

This week, South Korean scientists announced the world's first dog clone, ending a worldwide race to successfully create a canine replicant. A commercial pet-cloning company with a lab in Waunakee says it's not discouraged by the news....and aims to offer the service within a year. Brian Bull reports....

A feud between a northwoods newspaper and the Lac du Flambeau Tribal government has heated up over the past few weeks. The paper's editor says there have been theats against tribal members who violated a boycott of the paper by selling copies on the reservation. Gil Halsted reports....

Home-improvement giant Menards Incorporated turned over records Wednesday (8/3) to investigators checking out alleged discrimination in the company's employment practices. Brian Bull reports…

Mosquitos found in two traps in Milwaukee have tested positive for the West Nile virus. Those are the first samples since 2003 to test positive in the state. Donnie Forti reports…

High temperatures, car exhaust and a lot of soot from coal-burning power plants are teaming up to cause potential air pollution problems in the southern two-thirds of the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The State Elections Board voted Wednesday (8/3) to fine Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker five thousand dollars for an automated phone message he put out last November. Shawn Johnson reports…

A report shows many uninsured kids in America get no medical care -- some go without seeing a doctor a whole year. A study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation says that's because families lack insurance. There are government programs to help, but as Shamane Mills reports, they're under strain…

The first national study of sexual violence in prison finds less than half of the reported cases of rape are ever substantiated. In Wisconsin last year, less than 30 percent of alleged sexual assaults behind bars were ever proven. Gil Halsted reports…

It’s been a little over a year since thousands of Hmong refugees moved to the United States with many coming to Wisconsin. Over 200 moved to the La Crosse area. Steve Roisum has this update…

The company that helped create a popular diet based on low carbs is low on funds. Atkins Nutritionals filed for bankruptcy earlier this week. Local stores carrying such products insist there's still demand. But analysts say the market is flooded with low carb products and consumers may have had their fill of high protein diets. Shamane Mills reports…

In Afghanistan, battles with Taliban fighters have been on the increase in the past week. But according to members of an elite Wisconsin National Guard unit just returned from the Afghan-Pakistan border, the country is making significant progress towards democracy. Gil Halsted attended a welcome ceremony for "Task Force Phoenix" in Madison Tuesday (8/2) and produced this report…

Wisconsin’s debate about changing the protected status of feral cats has drawn attention of a national group. “Alley Cat Allies” wants to show the state another way to deal with free-running felines. Sandra Harris reports…

Young people in Milwaukee gave some suggestions to Governor Jim Doyle Tuesday (8/2) about reducing the violence that's hit the city this summer. Doyle later got a first-hand look at how difficult the job may be. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A state lawmaker thinks parents and students deserve more respect from the University of Wisconsin. He's introduced a so-called "college student's bill of rights" that would cover everything from when parents can meet with teachers to how heavy textbooks can be. Shawn Johnson reports…

Changes would be in store for many waterfront property owners, under a controversial rule package the D.N. R. is taking around the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports on a public hearing Tuesday night (8/2) in Delavan…

A Wisconsin Senator on the Foreign Relations Committee says John Bolton is "fundamentally unsuited" for the job of U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. But a professor of international studies says the post needed to be filled before fall and that Bolton may moderate his past controversial statements during his temporary tenure. Shamane Mills reports…

Wisconsin’s mandatory arrest law will receive its first modifications since the landmark measure was drafted in 1988. Lawmakers say the proposed changes will clarify the law’s intent. Micah Schweizer reports…

A western Wisconsin furniture-maker appears headed for another confrontation with environmentalists. Ashley Furniture wants to expand its factory in Arcadia on wetlands that conservationists want protected. Terry Bell has more…

A one-of-its-kind mental health center for Hmong refugees in Madison may have to close its doors this fall. The director of the program predicts attempted suicides among older refugees will increase if federal funding runs out in September. Gil Halsted reports…

Conflict over land use around military bases is a major concern of federal base closure officials. Wisconsin officials hope a new law will send a signal to future base closure commissions that the state will try to protect its bases from encroachment. Sandra Harris reports…

The University of Wisconsin is starting work on a center that will serve as an anchor for new biomedical research. Shawn Johnson reports…

The village of Weston won't be getting a new zip code. Weston is Marathon County's second largest community, but still struggles to create an identity of its own. As Patty Murray reports, zip codes create a lot of confusion in central Wisconsin…

Wisconsin polling places will likely be using electronic voting machines by next year. The State Elections Board will start to mull over different models at its meeting Wednesday (8/3). Shawn Johnson reports…

Bicycle programs in Wisconsin would gain many millions of dollars, under the federal transportation bill headed to President Bush. One of the biggest gainers would be in the home district of Republican Congressmember Tom Petri, who was a key player in shaping the transportation package. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Six beaches in Door and Kewaunee Counties were closed last week because of e-coli contamination. That's bad news for vacationers. But an environmental group says the closings are good from a public health standpoint. Patty Murray reports…

After another defeat in court last week, opponents of the Duluth to Wausau transmission line are running out of options to stop it. Now, American Transmission Company says it will begin building the line in Marathon County in just a few days. Mike Simonson reports that this fight will go on…

A recent study finds that kids with gaps in health insurance coverage are just as likely to miss out on regular health care as kids with no coverage at all. Julia Monczunski has more…

A Republican state Senator wants to amend the State Constitution to limit the Governor's line-item veto powers. Governor Jim Doyle used his veto pen to shrink several paragraphs to one or two sentences in the state budget. Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls says she wants to make sure no future governors can do the same thing. Gil Halsted reports…

The usually quiet, rural, bluff areas that dominate parts of western Wisconsin come alive with strange crimes that affect a small community in author Mary Logue’s latest book. “Poison Heart” is the fifth in her Claire Watkin’s mysteries that take place in tiny Pepin County. The book was just released July 26th. It’s the latest in our Wisconsin author series. Mary Jo Wagner has this review…