Legislators are trying to put their own stamp on a school choice deal cut between the Democratic governor and Republican leadership. Shamane Mills reports…

Jurors heard all day yesterday from the former state employee who allegedly worked hand-in-hand with Assemblyman Scott Jensen on Republican political campaigns. Jason Kratochwill testified he took direction from Jensen and he did campaign work because that was part of his job. Shawn Johnson reports…

A group which works to keep church and state separate says religious booklets should not be subsidized by students at UW-Madison. Shamane Mills reports…

The Deparmtent of Corrections will begin a pilot project in March aimed at getting more use out of the state's toughest and most-expensive prison. The plan for the prison once known as the Supermax is getting praise from a former Secretary of Corrections. Gil Halsted reports…

John Edwards says he thinks Democrats can make significant gains in the House and Senate this fall. The former Vice-Presidential candidate was in Milwaukee yesterday to talk about poverty and to raise campaign funds for State Assembly Democrats. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A report released yesterday may again create efforts to increase the state's cigarette tax. Sherry Nelsen has the details…

A new bill to re-instate a cap on Medical malpractice claims got a hearing in the state legislature yesterday. Supporters say they're confident Governor Doyle won't veto their proposal as he did the last one. But opponents say there's no evidence the cap will lower insurance premiums for doctors. Gil Halsted reports…

Environmentalists and the US-Forest Service often fight over the best way to balance cutting timber for lumber and paper and preserving wildlife habitat. Lately, the battle is over whether the government looks at each piece of land where it sells timber as a separate issue, or whether it looks at the cumulative impacts of logging on National Forests. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The State Assembly will vote tomorrow on a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriages and civil unions. It's expected to pass and be placed on the statewide ballot in November. Supporters and opponents say they're gearing up for a contentious debate about wheter Wisconsin should join the 19 other states that have already passed similar amendments. Gil Halsted reports…

Wisconsin plans to expand family care statewide. Planning grants are being used by consortiums of counties to undertake the process. Sandra Harris reports…

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is saving thousands of dollars on its electric bill. The school is using new technology that lets computers go to "sleep" when they're not being used. Patty Murray reports…

A whistleblower in the widespread corruption probe at the State Capitol told jurors today that everything she and her co-workers did on state time was campaign activity. Lyndee Woodliff is one of the latest witnesses to testify in the political misconduct trail of Representative Scott Jensen and GOP aide Sherry Shultz. Shawn Johnson reports from the Dane County Courthouse in Madison…

There are changes coming in the way prisoners are treated at Wisconsin's toughest prison. But inmates rights advocates say it's time for the state to admit past mistakes at the Boscobel prison once known as the Supermax. Gil Halsted reports…

The semi-truck driver involved in a fatal crash with a bus carrying Chippewa Falls students last fall has been ordered to stand trial. Mary Jo Wagner has more on the court hearing this morning…

People who want to eliminate native American logos and mascots from public schools are encouraged, even though one school board in Central Wisconsin voted this week to keep them. Glen Moberg reports…

Three graphic designers who once worked for Assembly Republicans all say they used their state jobs to do campaign work when Scott Jensen was the Speaker. A couple even told jurors in Jensen's criminal trial yesterday that they tried to hide what they were doing. Shawn Johnson reports…

US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia was in Wisconsin yesterday. He defended the record of his friend, the late chief Justice William Rehnquist. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A hibernating bear and her cubs are in the way of the Duluth to Wausau transmission line construction in northern Wisconsin. Bulldozers are getting closer, and the Department of Natural Resources wants them to stay away, for awhile at least. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Mental health advocates say insurance coverage is stuck in a financial time warp. Coverage hasn't increased in two decades. Advocates for better insurance say inadequate coverage strains patient's pocketbooks and and saps productivity in workplaces. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle spoke yesterday about progress being made in tracking down and monitoring sex offenders throughout Wisconsin. Dane Melby reports…

Prosecutors will call more witnesses today in the felony misconduct trial of Waukesha Representative Scott Jensen. Yesterday, jurors heard from a graphic designer who testified he once used his state job almost exclusively for campaign work during election seasons. Shawn Johnson reports…

The state Senate could consider a bill this week which would require proof of legal U.S. residency in order to get a Wisconsin drivers license. Shamane Mills reports…

If you failed to file your tax return back in 2002, the federal government may owe you some money. The IRS has more than $2 billion for errant taxpayers, as Brian Bull explains…

The UW-Madison chancellor says he welcomes a campus debate about a student newspapers publication of a controversial cartoon of the prophet Mohammed. But at a panel discussion about the cartooon last night some students accused the paper of creating an anti-muslim atmosphere at the University. Gil Halsted reports…

A state prosecutor told jurors in the Scott Jensen trial yesterday that the former Assembly Speaker used public employees to run a campaign "machine" at the capitol. Jensen's lawyer countered that his client was merely carrying out his duties as a legislative leader. Shawn Johnson reports…

One of the fastest growing employers in La Crosse is getting $4 million in new market tax credits. Sandra Harris reports…

Republicans are proposing a new compensation amount for medical malpractice victims. The $750,000 limit on non-economic damages is higher than an earlier cap vetoed by Governor Jim Doyle. Shamane Mills reports…

A plan to help prioritize which Wisconsin rivers and streams to restore is being unveiled today. The plan is from a coalition called the Wisconsin Buffer Initiative. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

It's hard to get a job interview while you're in prison. But state corrections officials are trying to change that. Gil Halsted reports on a recent job fair at the Oakhill Correctional facility…

Wisconsin Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton says the state will soon face an economic crisis and the answer is for local companies to hire and promote more women. Glen Moberg reports…

President Bush was in Milwaukee yesterday, talking about an energy plan that he says would reduce the need for foreign oil. The former Texas oilman visited a battery lab at the Johnson Controls company and later gave a speech at the firm. Our Milwaukee reporter Chuck Quirmbach joins Randall Davidson with details…

Brown County wants the Governor to declare a state of emergency to stop manure spreading near the town of Morrisson. That's where at least 20 wells have shown to be contaminated with bacteria. Patty Murray reports…

Foes and fans of indoor smoking restrictions in Wisconsin are trying different ways to influence public opinion. In Appleton, some bar owners are trying to get an exemption from the city's smoking ban by revealing reduced sales receipts. In the Madison area, smoke-free advocates have recruited a popular musician to appear in statewide, anti-tobacco advertisements. Shamane Mills reports…

The Wisconsin caucus investigation has so far resulted in a drawn out legal challenges culminating in plea deals. But it looks like that's about to change. Shawn Johnson reports…

Governor Jim Doyle has signed a ban on protesting at funerals in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports…

President Bush will continue to try to "green up" his image in Wisconsin today. He's supposed to visit a Milwaukee company and talk about cleaner energy sources and energy efficiency. But some analysts say the Bush White House is too closely linked to the oil companies. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A new federal law that goes into affect this summer will change the rules that govern how Native Americans can pass on land to their children. The University of Wisconsin Land Tenure center has launched a program to help Wisconsin tribes and their members use the new law to consoldiate triabl landholdings. Gil Halsted reports…

The man who was once the poster boy for the Wisconsin Innocence Project has weathered some legal ups and owns this week. Steven Avery settled one lawusit for his wrongful conviction 20 years ago, but now he faces a wrongful death lawsuit for the murder of Teresa Halbach last October. Gil Halsted reports…

A television ad defending American policy in Iraq is creating controversy among media in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle and Assembly Speaker John Gard have cut a deal to expand Milwaukee's taxpayer-funded school voucher program. The proposal includes more students for the voucher schools, more accountability standards for the private schools and smaller class sizes in some public schools. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Next week, the state changes its childcare subsidies; For those centers getting reduced rates, it could mean rejecting low income kids or tightening budgets. This comes at a time when a national report shows Wisconsin's daycare costs are among the highest in the country. Shamane Mills reports…

Heavy snowfall prompted state lawmakers to cancel most of their scheduled committee hearings at the Wisconsin Capitol yesterday. But it didn't stop a Republican Senator from trying to revive a plan that would repeal the so-called "minimum markup" retailers add to the price of gasoline. Shawn Johnson reports…

Republican candidate for Governor Scott Walker is expected to take aim at farm-raised pheasants during a campaign fundraiser in Waukesha County tomorrow. With politicans and hunting in the news this week, Chuck Quirmbach looks at what's ahead for the Walker party…

Muslim students at UW-Madison are demanding an apology from a campus newspaper for publishing one of the controversial Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohmamed with a bomb in his turban. But the editor of the Badger Herald defends the papers action and welcomes the debate it 's sparked among students. Gil Halsted reports…

Several powerful Republicans in Congress contend a nonpartisan report against secret wiretapping is biased. One of those disputing the analysis by the Congressional Research Service is James Sensenbrenner. He's asked for a second opinion, from experts he recommended. Shamane Mills reports…

In their initial court appearances Wednesday, bail was set for eight Wisconsin people who are charged with fraudently raising money for national charities. Mary Jo Wagner has more from Eau Claire…

A plan to limit government tax revenue in Wisconsin took its first step at the state capitol yesterday. At a legislative hearing, invited guests offered scores of suggestions on how they think lawmakers should fix the measure. Shawn Johnson reports…

Not that long ago, it seemed web logs, or "blogs" as they're otherwise known, were going to be the next big medium for news and opinion. A new Gallup Poll suggests that's not the case. And an expert from Wisconsin says he's not surprised. Terry Bell reports…

Statewide standards for new or expanded livestock farms could win legislative approval tomorrow. Advocates for large farms say they back the rules that the State Ag Board passed last week. But environmentalists say other rural residents may be holding their noses. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

It's the first of its kind in Wisconsin, a drive through window for birth control. It opened for business on Valentines Day in normally conservative Wausau with the support of community leaders. Glen Moberg reports…

Authorities in Southeastern Minnesota are hoping a new test kit will allow parents to address alcohol or drug issues with their children without involving law enforcement. Steve Roisum reports…

A new report says it's cost the US military more than $300 million to fire ten thousand gay and lesbian soldiers over the past 11 years. Opponents of the Pentagon's "don't ask don't tell" policy say the high cost of enforcing it is one of many reasons to repeal the rules. Gil Halsted has more…

Republicans lawmakers say they're willing to reach a compromise with Governor Jim Doyle on his proposal to help more people pay their home heating bills. As Shawn Johnson reports, the two sides still disagree over who should get the aid…

Scientists at the Unviersity of Wisconsin are a step closer to reconstructing one of the body's building blocks. They've discovered a way to make an important protein in the lab; something researchers have tried to do for 30 years. Shamane Mills reports…

Two hearings this week will consider the Lac du Flambeau Indian tribe's plan to have more control over preventing water pollution on its reservation. Another tribe in northern Wisconsin has had that authority on its land for a decade. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A goose-abuser is on the loose in Green Bay, and there's a big reward for whoever turns the person in. Patty Murray reports…

A Superior woman will be released from Taycheedah State Prison this week after spending 13 years behind bars for killing her newborn baby. The case has garnered support from many people who think her conviction came when little was known about post-partum depression. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Stay-at-home executives can write off some of their office expenses in their tax returns. But a national tax-preparer's group based in Appleton says it's important to know which items qualify and which ones don't. Brian Bull reports…

The US Commerce Department says the nation's trade deficit has set another record. The deficit hit $725 billion in 2005. Patty Murray reports…

One buzzword in business is location, location, location. Just as important is quick service. Wisconsin grocery stores are trying to make things faster; not so much in picking out the food, but in paying for it. Shamane Mills reports…

More out of state garbage may be heading to Wisconsin. On Wednesday, the Assembly Natural Resources Committee meets to talk about raising state tipping fees. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Those who honored William Proxmire at a state capitol ceremony this afternoon remembered him as a populist US Senator, a man who fought for the average taxpayer in Washington and a doggedly determined campaigner. Shawn Johnson attended the rememberance and prepared this report…

Republican lawmakers have introduced new limits on how much state and local governments can tax Wisconsin residents. The proposed constitutional amendment differs from one that died in the legislature two years ago. But critics say it would achieve the same disastrous results. Shawn Johnson reports…

Wisconsin newspaper editors are talking about the Danish editorial cartoons causing angst in the Muslim world. The 12 drawings depict Mohammed which is sacriligious to Islamic people. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A new report says there would be few technical problems with hauling high-level nuclear waste through Wisconsin and the rest of the US. But the authors say they were unable to get complete information about security issues from the White House. Chuck Quirmbach has the story…

Electric use in Wisconsin is steadily increasing. Two state legislators say ending a moratorium on expanding nuclear power is critical. they say they know their plan is dead on arrival but have a strategy. Sandra Harris reports…

Milwaukee is on a top ten list of so-called asthma "capitols". It ranks number 5 according to a report put out by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. Shamane Mills reports…

A large printing company will get millions in state tax breaks if it creates several hundred new jobs. Governor Jim Doyle announced the deal with Quad Graphics yesterday. Patty Murray has more…

Necessity may be the mother of invention, but for Engineering students at the UW-Madison, imagination and sustainability are the siblings of their creations on display at Innovation Days, which began yesterday and runs through today on the College of Engineering campus. Dane Melby reports…

State lawmakers have sent the Department of Natural Resources back to the drawing board to rework controversial rules regarding piers and docks in Wisconsin. Shawn Johnson reports…

A large study of hair samples shows how people who eat a lot of fish can have high levels of mercury in their body. The report comes as Wisconsin is getting ready to adjust its rules on mercury emissions. Chuck Quirmbach has details…

The cost of insuring homes and cars is cheaper in Wisconsin than it is almost everywhere else in the country. Insurers say that's because of relatively good weather and honest people. Patty Murray reports…

Wisconsin Democrats have begun a campaign to more clearly define themselves in order to defeat Republicans at the polls this fall. Sandra Harris reports…

The people who run Community Action Agencies in Wisconsin are the latest to voice concern about President Bush's proposed budget. Glen Moberg reports…

Madison's affordable housing law has produced more lower cost places to live than expected. Problem is, they weren't selling. Now some are. But critics are still calling for changes in a program that gives developers tax breaks to build cheaper housing along with market-rate units. Shamane Mills reports…

Experienced journalists have butted heads with Bill O'Reilly, including Fresh Air host Terry Gross. Now a young newspaper reporter from a Wisconsin weekly is taking on the well-known cable TV host on the issue of media ethics. Shamane Mills reports…

Problems continue to plague the new Medicare prescription drug program. The federal government says they should be cleared up by mid-month, but the state says it stands ready if that doesn't happen. Sandra Harris reports…

Democratic Governor Jim Doyle has called a special session of the legislature to discuss his plan to offer more people state home heating assistance. As Shawn Johnson reports, the idea got a cold reception from Republican leadership…

President Bush's proposed budget could cause hardship for Wisconsin dairy farmers, according to some analysts. Glen Moberg reports…

A stage show that looks at the career of the late entertainer Sammy Davis Jr., is playing in Wisconsin this week. Davises' family says the show tries to capture his highs and lows as he struggled with various issues. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The PSC will hear more testimony today on transmission lines within, and into, the state of Wisconsin. But one group says the agency doesn't do a comprehensive enough job of planning for energy needs. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Advertising is big business. And as young TV viewers literally get larger, some want to cut back on food marketing to kids. One advocate recently appeared on the UW-Madison campus. Shamane Mills reports…

County Court officials from around Wisconsin are meeting in Green Bay this week to discuss treating some law-breakers instead of jailing them. The so-called "treatment courts" boast of below-average recidivism rates and lower costs. Patty Murray reports…

While the winter weather is cooling down, tax season is warming up. And while many filers will be lucky to get a tax-refund this year, an Appleton-based group warns that carelessness may prevent it from arriving. Brian Bull has more…

The teaching of science versus so-called intelligent design is about to be debated at the state level in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Language and legal residency status are just two of the barriers facing Wisconsin's fastest growing immigrant population. Now the United Way of Dane County has launched a new outreach program to put a human face on these and other needs of the Latino population they serve. Gil Halsted pepared this report on a project called Cuentame…

Bluegrass fans in the Northwoods are saying so long to a local legend, a man they know simply as Brother Bill. Glen Moberg reports…

Some communities are trying contests and other financial incentives to get people to properly sort their recyclable garbage. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A survey on college campuses is underway around the country to find out if students are cheating or plagiarizing. UW-Eau Claire started its survey this week. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Condemnation of private property along the Duluth to Wausau high-voltage transmission line is three to five times higher than normal for such a project. But as Mike Simonson reports from Superior, acquisition of property for that 240 mile long line is on schedule…

University campuses are affected by the Governor's order heat be lowered in all state buildings to save money. But Aging heating systems and varied building use can make compliance challenging. Sandra Harris reports…

Georgia Thompson plead not guilty today, as the state employee charged with felonies in a high-profile contracting case made her initial court appearance in Milwaukee. Thompson's lawyer is promising a vigorous defense. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The Wisconsin Dental Association is backing proposed legislation that would tax soda to provide oral healthcare for low income kids. Patty Murray has more…

A Dane County judge today rejected another request from Representative Scott Jensen's attorney that Jensen's felony misconduct trial be moved to another location. The judge also indicated he won't take testimony from another former Speaker of the Wisconsin Assembly indicating that political work in the state capitol building was a long-standing practice. Shawn Johnson reports…

One ag economist says Wisconsin "has turned the corner" in milk production. The state now has more cows giving more milk, although California and Idaho are rapidly growing producers. When other states start making more milk, it can lead to job loss at Wisconsin cheese plants. Shamane Mills reports…

State wildlife officials are worried land around a Portage county deer farm may become a new hot spot for the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease. But some hunters aren't happy about the plan to kill as many deer as possible near the farm. Gil Halsted reports…

A mother and daughter team from Wisconsin sets out this weekend on a long journey to try to help save lives. Terry Bell reports…

Despite unseasonably warm weather, the Badger State Winter Games will get underway as scheduled today. Glen Moberg reports…

Low-income workers might be eligible for free technical college training. The State Department of Workforce Development is expanding a Fox Valley program that connects people in low-wage jobs with training that could pull them out of poverty. Patty Murray reports…

A huge drill designed by enginers at the University of Wisconsin's Ice Coring and Drilling Services, or ICDS, in Madison will soon head to Anarctica. Scientists will use it to drill two miles down to extract cores of 100,000 year-old ice. They're looking for clues that might explain the warm winter we're having. Gil Halsted reports…

Wisconsin is being urged to go to new heights to spot people who illegally fill in wetlands. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The top candidate for UW-Eau Claire’s next chancellor was named yesterday. The recommendation goes to the Board of Regents February 10th. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

Two UW-Platteville professors have come up with a new product that can save gardeners money while giving farmers a new market for cow manure. Gil Halsted reports…

State lawmakers have sent Governor Jim Doyle a bill that would keep people from protesting right outside a funeral. Shawn Johnson reports…

In his State of the Union address, President Bush spoke strongly about the need to remain in Iraq until the war is won. That call to stay the course got mixed reactions from the parents of two Wisconsin soldiers who served in Iraq. Gil Halsted reports…

The Canadian government is cracking down on exploration of the sunken ore carrier Edmund Fitzgerald. The Ontario Ministry of Culture says anyone diving the wreck without a permit could be fined up to $1 million. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

A plan that would keep protesters away from funerals has advanced to the full legislature, and chances are good that it will become law. But the big question is whether courts will let it stay that way. Shawn Johnson reports…

Senator Herb Kohl will be part of a Washington hearing today looking into problems with the Medicare prescription drug program. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Governor Jim Doyle says he always felt safe under military escort while touring of Iraq and three other countries last week. But he and the other governors did have a long moment of apprehension as they left Afghanistan. Shamane Mills reports…

Across the country, enrollment in health savings accounts has tripled in the last 10 months. Now President Bush wants to expand them; allowing people to set aside more money for medical expenses, tax-free. Several states have similar provisions, and legislation is pending in Wisconsin . Shamane Mills reports…

State Assembly lawmakers have sided with the Governor in rejecting a plan to let residents carry concealed guns in Wisconsin. As Shawn Johnson reports, it took two key Democrats switching their votes…

Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional District joins fellow Democrats who feel President Bush missed some key opportunities in his State of the Union address last night. Brian Bull prepared this report…

U.S. Congressman Mark Green says President Bush "hit the right notes" in last night's State of the Union address. The Green Bay Republican says one item in particular bodes well for Wisconsin's farmers. Brian Bull has the story…

Western Wisconsin's congressional member is giving the President credit for his effort at bipartisanship. Sandra Harris reports…

The Indiana semi truck driver involved in a bus crash last October was in Eau Claire county court yesterday. Mary Jo Wagner has more…

The DNR would allow limited deer hunting north of Highway Eight this December, under the latest plan that's bounced between the Department and state lawmakers. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

More people are speaking up about a request from a Wisconsin Native American tribe to have more control over the lakes and rivers on its reservation. Chuck Quirmbach reports…