A Sauk County judge has agreed to review whether a teenager charged in the shooting death of his school principal should be tried in juvenile court. The announcement pleases an Internet-based advocacy group that has been petitioning on behalf of 15-year-old Eric Hainstock. Brian Bull reports…

Improving health care for children is one item included in the governor's state of the state speech. Shamane Mills reports…

A regional transit group will ask Governor Doyle to get behind higher rental car fees in part of Southeastern Wisconsin, in order to help pay for a commuter rail system. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Governor Jim Doyle proposed what he called a "major expansion" of the state's BadgerCare health insurance program during his State of the State address last night. Doyle asked lawmakers to support letting more low-income individuals buy into the plan... even if they don't have children. Shawn Johnson reports…

Some car rental agencies aren't happy with a plan to help fund what would be Wisconsin's largest commuter rail system in decades. They say local governments too often turn to higher rental car fees when trying to pay for local projects. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

People from across northern Wisconsin and Minnesota packed their bags and signs and protested the war in Iraq at a rally in Washington D.C. Saturday. Danielle Kaeding reports…

An online petition says the Sauk County teenager accused in a high school shooting last fall should be tried as a juvenile. Eric Hainstock is accused of killing principal John Klang at the Weston High School in Cazenovia. He’s charged with first-degree murder, which means he can be tried as an adult. He makes a court appearance tomorrow (1/30) where a trial date may be set. Brian Bull reports…

A retired Catholic Bishop could be forced to testify in a civil case involving the sexual abuse of a child. If the case goes forward it would be the first time in years for a church official to go on record about clergy abuse in Wisconsin. Patty Murray reports…

Taking gray wolves off the federal endangered or threatened list is being applauded by livestock farmers in Wisconsin. Mike Simonson reports from Superior…

Federal officials confirmed today (1/30) that the gray wolf will no longer be listed as endangered or threatened in Wisconsin, Minnesota or Michigan. That means Wisconsin will soon be able to resume killing problem wolves.... and some private landowners will be able to get in on the shooting. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Several communities in Wisconsin have minimum security jails where inmates are allowed to leave for work. LaCrosse County no longer has such a building. Instead it monitors low risk offenders solely by electronic bracelet. It's something Dane County is exploring as an option -- to save money and keep inmates closer to their families. Shamane Mills reports…

A taxpayer group says Governor Doyle's plan to get more money upfront from bonds issued in the wake of a settlement with tobacco companies may have some flaws ..... and is similar to a controversial deal worked out by the governor's predecessor. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle says his state budget plan will include a separate cabinet agency for children and families. The plan comes amid a large funding gap in state-backed childcare. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

University of Wisconsin Regents heard first-hand stories yesterday (1/29) from people who feel an admissions policy that considers more than just academics gave them the chance they needed to succeed. They also heard from others who think it has the potential to be discriminatory. Shawn Johnson reports…

Governor Jim Doyle will deliver the first State of the State address of his second term tonight. Doyle heads into this session with a decisive re-election win under his belt... and a Democratic State Senate to carry his agenda. Shawn Johnson reports…

Experts say depression takes a huge economic toll in the Wisconsin workplace. One Wisconsin company has seen success in addressing it. Sandra Harris reports…

Governor Jim Doyle cited a societal trend toward less smoking as one of the reasons he proposed a statewide smoking ban last week. But a group in one of the Wisconsin cities with its own smoking ordinance says Doyle's plan goes too far. Shawn Johnson reports…

With Congress poised to reauthorize the Farm Bill this year, a delegation of Wisconsin farmers is in Washington this week (week of 1/29) to push for major changes. Brian Bull has more…

A national judicial watchdog group is warning Wisconsin voters to follow the money in this spring's Supreme Court election. Gil Halsted reports…

Grey wolves in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan would be taken off the federal endangered and threatened species lists, under an announcement expected today (1/29) by the Interior Department. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Children's Hospital of Milwaukee is reporting a record number of cases of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Doctors hope a new law being phased in this year will reduce the number of babies who are permanently injured or killed by those who are supposed to care for them. Patty Murray reports…

The state is encouraging people to sign up for an annual program that lets you know when a neighbor is having a commercial pesticide sprayer apply lawn chemicals. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

As Congress prepares to vote on increased funding for the war in Iraq, the father of a slain Wisconsin soldier says replacing HUMVEE'S like the one his son died in should be at the top of the list. But, defense analysts say replacing the thousands of HUMVEES now in Iraq might take longer than the war is expected to last. Gil Halsted reports…

There's more evidence that a little berry may help prevent cancer. A new review of previous research indicates some compounds in cranberries can slow the growth of tumors in many types of cancer. Patty Murray reports…

A Wisconsin judge says a US Supreme Court ruling striking down parts of California's truth in sentencing law won't affect the way Wisconsin inmates are sentenced. But a UW law professor hopes it will result in clearer guidelines for Wisconsin judges when they impose prison sentences. Gil Halsted reports…

The minority party in the state assembly criticized majority Republicans last session for focusing on " god, gays and guns." These go-around Republicans say they will fight for photo IDs at the polls and resist measures on abortion and embryonic stem cell research. But Republicans say their main agenda is taxes, health care and education. Shamane Mills reports…

Wisconsin-based Midwest Airlines is asking shareholders to reject the latest buyout offer by Florida discount airline Air Tran Airways. Midwest also released numbers today (1/25) showing it made a profit last year. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

People from across the state will hop a bus today (Friday) to Washington where they plan to march down the streets of the nation’s capital to protest the war in Iraq. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior…

More than 600 Hmong residents from across Wisconsin crammed into the Capitol yesterday (1/25) in support of the Hmong Migration Education Act. The bill would direct schools to teach how Hmong helped US forces during the Vietnam War, and how many have come to America since. Brian Bull reports…

An artist whose works expressed post-war angst is the focus of an exhibit opening tomorrow (1/27) at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Francis Bacon painted figures of howling dogs, screaming popes and people in the shadows. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A new national study suggests that Wisconsin is short of judges- eighteen, to be exact. Brian Bull reports…

Wisconsin Right to Life says abortion funding and current restrictions --like a 24-hour waiting period and counseling -- might be affected if voters overturn a constitutional amendment banning civil unions. The so-called Equal Rights amendment is prompting concern in other corners, too. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle wants to ban smoking in public places statewide. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior on what some businesses think…

The three contenders for Wisconsin Supreme Court are debating the importance of a controversial letter from Former Lieutenant Governor Margaret Farrow. The Republican activist is backing one of the candidates. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A new research and therapy center for soldiers who've lost their legs or arms in battle opens at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Thursday. Gil Halsted reports…

Governor Jim Doyle wants to ban smoking in all workplaces, bars and restaurants... and increase the state's tax on cigarettes by $1.25 a pack. Shawn Johnson reports…

Governor Doyle's plan to increase the use of bio fuels in Wisconsin is prompting some state agencies to look for new ways to use old distribution systems to deliver green fuel to consumers. Gil Halsted reports…

The Green Bay School Board unanimously approved a package of increased security measures. The vote was prompted after an alleged Columbine Style assault was uncovered last fall. But, as Patty Murray reports, the District doesn't know yet exactly how it'll pay for the extra peace of mind…

Madison officials say the winter cold is helping clamp down on crime. However, there's concern there will be another spree of robberies and attacks once the weather warms up. Plans to prevent that include camera surveillance. Shamane Mills reports…

Environmental groups say there's too much sediment running off of commercial construction sites in Wisconsin. A new report says there should be a shift in state oversight of the projects. Chuck Quirmbach has details…

Senate Republicans have introduced a one percent across-the-board state income tax cut for Wisconsin residents. But the idea will be a tough sell in another difficult budget year. Shawn Johnson reports…

Senate Democrats have set up a potential showdown with Assembly Republicans over a plan to strengthen Wisconsin's ethics and election laws. But leaders insist an earlier compromise is still intact. Shawn Johnson reports…

The DNR will ask today to continue killing mute swans in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The DNR is trying to revive a plan to limit water pollution from the 150 largest livestock farms in Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The recent killing of a Hmong hunter near Peshtigo has rekindled racial tensions across the state’s northwoods. Brian Bull reports that while there are efforts to counter the problem, they’re often met with apathy and indifference…

Wisconsin's old law against abortion remains on the books even though it can't be enforced because of Roe versus Wade. Whether it stays or goes is something the legislature is expected to be heavily lobbied on. Shamane Mills reports…

Ten cases of pertussis, commonly called whooping cough, have been confirmed in Monroe County. Micah Schweizer reports…

The DNR says it has some questions about requests to go for deeper cuts in mercury pollution...and to stay out of a mercury emissions trading program. Chuck Quirmbach reports …

Lawyers in the national "innocence project" movement say the number of prisoners exonerated by DNA evidence each year is remaining constant and in some states is on the rise. The director of the Wisconsin Innocence project says the trend is not what most in the movement had predicted. Gil Halsted reports…

The Oneida Nation of Wisconsin is shutting down its high school and elementary school this week. A representative says while part of the reason is to train staff on handling problem behavior, the main reason is cultural. Brian Bull has more…

The state's largest power company says it's happy that the Governor will ask for fewer restrictions on some Eastern Wisconsin businesses that produce chemicals which form harmful ozone. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A new study released by UW Stevens Point shows the university is a major economic force in central Wisconsin. As Glen Moberg reports, higher education supporters hope the report is read by the politicians in Madison…

A judge could face a recall election for the light sentence he gave two young Chicago lawyers charged with sexual assault. Some Green Lake county residents are gathering signatures to oust Judge William McMonigal. Gil Halsted has details…

Some cleaner garbage trucks are about to hit the streets in two Wisconsin cities. The state is getting 50 thousand dollars from the Environmental Protection Agency to retrofit the trucks' diesel engines. Patty Murray reports…

A part of the state with a large number of Hispanics is reaching out to new mothers who are having trouble coping after giving birth. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Doyle says he'll try to help Milwaukee taxpayers hurt by the expansion of school vouchers ...and give more transportation aid to many local school districts across the state. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Hmong leaders across Wisconsin are praising how state and local law enforcement officials are handling the January 5th murder of a young Hmong hunter in Marinette County. But a Hmong civil rights group in Minnesota is demanding that prosecutors treat the killing of Cha Vang as a hate crime. Gil Halsted reports…

The two district attorneys who prosecuted Wisconsin's legislative caucus scandal say a plan to toughen the state's ethics laws actually gives lawmakers special treatment. Shawn Johnson reports.…

Violent crime in Milwaukee will get a closer look from U-S Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Milwaukee's Mayor says he welcomes the probe, but says it should include what to do about handguns. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

The city of Madison's new optional oath of office is drawing fire from the group that led the effort to pass the Wisconsin's new constitutional ban on gay marriage . Gil Halsted reports.…

The group that led an unsuccessful effort to try to defeat an amendment banning civil unions and gay marriage says it isn’t going away. Sandra Harris reports..

Testing on nearly two-thousand birds which could carry avian flu into Wisconsin is complete. Lab analysis showed no signs of the H5N1 virus. More testing may still be done.....if Congress approves the money. Shamane Mills reports.…

The federal government’s fight against bird flu and bioterrorism has landed the Medical College of WIsconsin an eight million dollar grant. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

A recent surge in the number of dogs killed by wolves in northern Wisconsin has the Department of Natural Resources concerned. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is taking a second look at de-listing wolves as an endangered species. Jay Stephenson reports from Superior .…

Ethanol producers are closely watching what Congress does to promote renewable fuels. And they’re closely watching the high price of corn. Mary Jo Wagner has more.…

As more Americans go online for health information, those providing care are becoming aware the that the so-called superhighway is another route to marketing their service and educating patients. Shamane Mills reports.…

People convicted of violent crimes would be banned from owning vicious dogs. That's if a newly introduced bill makes its way through the Wisconsin legislature. Patty Murray reports…

Cuts in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife budget will affect several positions in the upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge, but won’t hurt public access to the refuge. Sandra Harris Reports…

Sixteen years after the end of the the first Gulf War thousands of soldiers who fought in Iraq and Kuwait are still suffering from an undiagnosed illness commonly known as Gulf War Syndrome. Some Wisconsin soldiers gathered in Madison today to hear about the latest research. Gil Halsted reports…

A Wisconsin Congressman says he'll try to prevent the job cuts announced today (W) at National Wildlife Refuges across the Midwest. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The mostly female office workers union at Miller Brewing in Milwaukee says the "Man Law" image in company advertising may be coming across at the bargaining table. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A Wisconsin professor with connections to the environment and religion has joined a new effort aimed at convincing politicians that global warming is a real threat. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The State Schools Superintendent has put in her budget wish-list to Governor Doyle....and the answer will come soon. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Wisconsin has lost it's 67th soldier to the war in Iraq. The death of 21 year old Army Specialist Matthew Grimm has been an especially tough blow for one central Wisconsin high school. Glen Moberg reports …

A squirrel hunter in Wisconsin faces homocide and other charges in the death of a Hmong man. No hate crime charges have been filed, but some wonder if the deadly confrontation was sparked by a culture clash. Shamane Mills reports…

Governor Jim Doyle says more money for bio-medical research will be in his proposed state budget. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Ten jobs would be eliminated at National Wildlife Refuges in Wisconsin, under a plan being announced today (1/17) by the U-S Fish and Wildlife Service. That's even though attendance at many refuges is growing. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

The state supreme court heard arguments today in a case that could change the length of time hundreds of inmates spend in prison and on supervised parole. At issue is how to treat offenders who have committed crimes both before and after Truth in Sentencing went into affect. Gil Halsted reports…

A vicious murder by a neighbor of a Superior woman is mobilizing that community to push for legislation that would alert people if a convicted violent felon is moving into the area. Mike Simonson reports that the law would be based on notification when sex offenders locate in a neighborhood…

Lawmakers will hold their first public hearing Tuesday morning on a new plan that aims to strengthen enforcement of Wisconsin's ethics and election laws. Shawn Johnson reports…

Tribal governments are celebrating the defeat of an amendment to the Federal Election Campaign Act . The measure would have defined tribes as corporations forcing them to form Political Action Committees to contribute to political parties or candidates. Gil Halsted reports…

Several Wisconsin cities held ceremonies today, marking the Martin Luther King holiday. In Milwaukee, a black male teenager told a crowd about trying to overcome stereotypes. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Governor Doyle's promise to look for ways to reduce the number of African American's in prison is winning praise from a Milwaukee State senator and a former Milwaukee police officer. But both say the solution will have to include more housing and job assistance for released prisoners. Gil Halsted reports…

Civil rights activists continued to link Martin Luther King to the anti-war movement, as they marked the King holiday today. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold promises a push to help low-income people get affordable housing. But the way he plans to pay for his proposal could be controversial. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Democrats in the House of Representatives last week pushed through a change in the prescription drug plan under Medicare, but that legislation faces an uncertain future in the Senate. Shamane Mills reports, advocates for seniors in Wisconsin are watching to find out what will happen to the proposal…

A big increase in the number of reported drunk driving incidents in Central Wisconsin may actually be good news... according to some local activists. Glen Moberg reports…

It looks rather wintry in parts of Wisconsin this morning -- but that hasn't been the case for most of this season. Some resorts and restaurants in northern Wisconsin are feeling the effects of the warm and largely snow-less winter. Jay Stephenson reports from Superior…

A committee is asking the Wisconsin Legislature for more money to tackle local groundwater problems. The panel also wants a new category of groundwater warnings. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A new report finds Wisconsin leads the nation in an embarassing crime statistic. In the Badger state African American and Latino youth are ten times more likely to be jailed than their white counter parts. That's twice the national ratio. Gil Halsted has details…

Air Tran Airways has raised its takeover offer for Milwaukee-based Midwest Airlines. This time, Florida-based Air Tran is taking its offer directly to Midwest shareholders. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A veteran’s advocate says awareness of post-traumatic stress disorder – or PTSD for short – is still just catching on in many Native American communities. This despite a long history of Indians fighting for the U-S government. Brian Bull has more…

Wisconsin's largest emitter of mercury pollution has lost a bid to hold down its electricity rates in exchange for installing new mercury controls at its plant in Central Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

A state panel studying affirmative action heard from the Chancellor of the U-W Madison Thursday. John Wiley told committee members that the University gets better students by looking at more than just grades on college applications. Shawn Johnson reports…

A Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group report suggests the average U-W Madison student would save roughly 45-hundred dollars in loan interest under a plan Congress may consider. Shawn Johnson reports…

Using money from a sizable three-year grant, a western Wisconsin school district is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to help make sure the students are physically fit. Steve Roisum reports…

Calls to Wisconsin's problem gambling hotline were down eight-percent in 2006. As Shawn Johnson reports... it marked the first decrease since the hotline was established a decade ago…

Gasoline prices have plunged BELOW two dollars a gallon in some parts of Wisconsin. How long the lower prices will last may depend on the weather and other factors. Chuck Quirmbach reports…

Sales of new vehicles went down in 2006; even more so in Wisconsin than the country as a whole. The sagging popularity of gas-guzzling cars and trucks is to blame. Terry Bell reports…

School, police, and city of Madison officials are the target of a lawsuit over the use of a Taser on a teenager. Shamane Mills reports…

According to a preliminary FBI crime report, violent crime rates – including robbery -- are up nationwide. In Wisconsin, that includes a higher number of bank robberies. Brian Bull reports…

A Wisconsin school district which never allowed advertising at athletic sites has changed its mind. Shamane Mills reports.…

Regarding President Bush's address to the nation on a new war strategy in Iraq , the father of a Wisconsin soldier killed there last July says it will take more than increased troop levels to win the war. Stephen Castner of Cedarburg says unless U-S troops are well equipped and trained sending more will just mean more targets for roadside bombs. Gil Halsted reports. …

A behavioral health worker says a proposed ordinance to stop young people from drinking too much by fining them may or may not deter them. Some say it could still help the safety issue surrounding young men drinking then drowning in the river at La Crosse. Sandra Harris reports…

A new study indicates fluids used to remove or prevent ice buildup on planes can still be harmful to aquatic life. But the research indicates some de-icers are safer for the environment than they used to be. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

There's new evidence that the high cost of health care is a growing problem in Wisconsin. Glen Moberg reports on the results of a survey released this week in Wausau.…

Governor Jim Doyle has called a special session of the legislature to begin work on a proposal to strengthen enforcement of the state's ethics and campaign finance laws. Shawn Johnson reports...…

A plan that would lead to major cuts in mercury emissions from Wisconsin's largest industrial source of the pollutant is scheduled for action today (1/11) by the Public Service Commission. One national group says it would be one of the biggest swaps of electricity rates for environmental improvement. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

A new analysis of a proposed state healthcare program says it will be much more expensive than supporters claim. And the report says Wisconsin's employers will bear most of the burden. Patty Murray reports.…

A health group is out with a comparison of anti-smoking efforts in each state. Wisconsin got low marks. Shamane Mills reports. …

Parole and police officials say they welcome a new law that requires the use of global positioning technology to track the movements of about 100 released sex offenders in Wisconsin. But they predict it will cost the state more than ten million dollars a year . The author of the bill calls that a wild exaggeration. Gil Halsted reports.…

A women’s health organization wants the state legislature to help rape victims have access to emergency contraception statewide. Danielle Kaeding reports from Superior. …

There's been a new breakthrough in the effort to control the spread of Mad Cow Disease. But two Wisconsin researchers say it won't have much impact on the threat the disease poses to beef eaters. Gil Halsted has more. …

A former Wisconsin nun has plead not guilty of behaving indecently with two Milwaukee youths in the 1960s. Sister Norma Giannini had her first court appearance yesterday (1/09). Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

State Senate Democrats exercised their new power as the majority party today/yesterday to confirm several of Governor Jim Doyle's appointments. Shawn Johnson reports...

Public schools just for boys or girls don't exist in Wisconsin, or are very rare. But Milwaukee took a step closer to single-sex schools last night. (1/09) Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

The Marinette County Sheriff has confirmed that 30-year old Hmong refugee Cha Vang of Green Bay was murdered while hunting on public land near Peshtigo on Saturday. Sheriff Jim Kanikula says he's confident that the suspect arrested on Sunday was involved in the shooting. Gil Halsted reports.…

In Wisconsin, only police can use stun guns. In other states, ordinary citizens can own them. Now the company that makes Tasers has released a new version designed for widespread use. Shamane Mills reports.…

A citizens group has asked Governor Doyle for help, regarding groundwater contamination near the former Army Ammunition plant south of Baraboo. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

Telemarketers who violate Wisconsin's no-call list could face tougher fines under a proposal a State Senator will reintroduce this session. As Shawn Johnson reports... the plan would also extend the list to cell phones.…

The Badger State Winter Games take place in Wausau later this month... and there may be changes because of the lack of snow. Glen Moberg reports.…

Wisconsin counties are getting into the act to help people more easily find out if they could become victims of a cancer-causing gas in their homes. Sandra Harris reports…

The chancellors of the two biggest universities in Wisconsin say their schools practice academic cooperation, not competition. And they say that benefits the whole state. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

Former Governor Tommy Thompson has been spending time in Iowa recently, meeting voters in preparation for a possible presidential bid. But he was on more familiar ground this past weekend, asking long-time supporters in Madison to finance his campaign. Shawn Johnson reports…

Wisconsin victims of clergy abuse say they're gearing up for action in the State Legislature this year-- five years after a major scandal broke involving the Catholic Church in Boston. Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

Many sex offenders begin their deviant behavor as children . As new state laws kick in this year cracking down on sex offenders , a child welfare group will launch a pilot project aimed at stopping the sexual abuse of children before it starts . Gil Halsted reports…

Nationwide, educators, parents, and counselors are concerned over rising incidents of self-injury among teenage girls. The most common act is cutting, where someone carves into their arms, legs, or belly with a knife or similar object. Brian Bull reports on one person’s efforts to boost awareness of the problem in “Indian Country”.…

The effort is on in La Crosse County to ban smoking in all workplaces -- including bars and bowling alleys. Sandra Harris reports…

State agricultural officials want to meet with farmers this month, to discuss a livestock disease that’s costing producers nearly 54-million dollars a year, nationally. Brian Bull has more…

Democrats have promised that Republicans will have a say as work of the 110th Congress begins today (1/4). The new Congress was sworn in with Democrats in control of both the U-S Senate and House of Representatives. Sandra Harris reports.…

U-S Senator Russ Feingold of Wisconsin has reintroduced a bill to start bringing U-S troops home from Iraq, just as President Bush may try to send more military personnel to Baghdad. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

A study suggests that preschoolers who bottle feed for several years are more likely to develop weight problems. The study, lead by a University of Wisconsin-Madison researcher, also indicates that obese mothers are likely to raise heavy kids. Shamane Mills reports…

The oil spill in Clark County is mostly cleaned up now, but the incident has prompted a new round of debate over a proposed pipeline project between Superior and Southern Wisconsin. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

There are new questions about how much grain it will take to supply all the ethanol plants being built around Wisconsin and the rest of the U-S. One group says more ethanol production will push grain and supermarket prices higher . Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

A new state law that went into effect on Monday lets Wisconsin residents freeze their credit reports. Shawn Johnson reports…

There was a common theme during yesterday's inauguration ceremonies at the Wisconsin State Capitol. Members of both political parties pledged to work together in the interest of tackling "big ideas."

Governor Jim Doyle listed a few areas where he though lawmakers should start, including addressing the cost of health care. Wisconsin Public Radio's Shawn Johnson reports...…

Candidates are expected to be...candid. But people who seek judgeships in Wisconsin are usually tight-lipped when they run for office. That would change, if one group has its way. Terry Bell reports...…

The League of Women Voters is launching a recruitment drive...for more poll workers. The group is specifically looking for students and minorities to volunteer for future elections. Patty Murray reports.…

Wal-Marts in Wisconsin and across the country are now offering another health benefit to employees. The decision to pay for birth control means the retail giant will no longer have to fight a federal lawsuit. Shamane Mills reports.…

A national education group says Wisconsin students have a good chance of achieving success because their parents are generally financially well-off and well-educated, but the report says the state's preschool enrollment could be higher. Shamane Mills reports. …

A group that opposes operating on dogs in a laboratory class at the Medical College of Wisconsin is putting its message on a billboard. But the Wauwatosa-based school says the dogs are ...on their last legs. Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

Unseasonably warm weather has left thin ice and unsafe conditions on many of our northern lakes. Authorities are warning fishermen to leave their vehicles on shore. As Glen Moberg reports... most of them seem to be listening.…

Direct airline service will start soon between Milwaukee and Duluth/Superior. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

The number of spousal homicides has dropped significantly over the past decade according to a new national report. But the director of a domestic violence prevention group in Wisconsin says that doesn't mean the problem has gone away . Gil Halsted reports.…

Search crews in China have officially called off efforts to find missing American climber Christine Boskoff. The Appleton native is presumed dead and buried under the same heavy snow that her climbing partner was found in last week. Brian Bull reports:…

Peace groups in five Wisconsin cities have marked the number of deaths of U-S troops in Iraq having passed three-thousand. In Milwaukee last night, more than one-hundred people took part in a "die-in" outside the Federal Courthouse. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

There's concern that nurses who work long shifts may increase their chances of making a mistake. That topic is the focus of an annual meeting which will be held by a couple dozen nursing organizations in Wisconsin later this month. Shamane Mills reports.…

Governor Jim Doyle says he's well aware of crime problems in Milwaukee and plans to do something about them. Chuck Quirmbach reports.…

Supporters of a failed ethanol mandate in the last legislative session will try some new approaches this time around. One Wisconsin lawmaker wants to pressure oil companies to hit renewable fuel benchmarks. Shawn Johnson reports...…

Governor Jim Doyle says health care reform is one of his top agenda items for his new term that begins today (tomorrow-WED). Chuck Quirmbach reports. …

Michigan will require all ships coming from ocean waters to get a permit before it can travel on its waters. The new law which takes effect this month is designed to stop the spread of invasive species carried in ballast water from foreign ports. But Mike Simonson reports that it could stop foreign ships from reaching Lakes Michigan and Superior.…

Wisconsin's newest member of Congress is taking the oath of office this week (Jan. 4th). Steve Kagen will represent Northeastern Wisconsin's 8th district. And, as Patty Murray reports, the Freshman has an ambitious to-do list.…

Some of Wisconsin's more than four thousand migrant workers will get the chance to get a high school degree thanks to the renewal of a two million dollar federal grant. The money will go to the Madison Area Technical College that recruits migrant students from factories and farms in nine counties. Gil Halsted has more.…

Driving down the highway, especiall in the winter, you might spot a tree trunk with a few thick but short branches sticking out at the top….looking like a tree with a crewcut. Arborists say you’ve just seen a victim of tree-topping, a practice they’d like to see stopped. Sandra Harris reports…

A State Senator will introduce a plan in the coming session that aims to encourage more people to buy produce directly from local farmers. Shawn Johnson reports...…

Starting this week, people driving their kids around without booster seats could face tickets. To help poor families get safety seats designed for older children, communities in Wisconsin are applying for grant money. It comes from the federal government, which encouraged states to pass the law. Shamane Mills reports…

With the New Year... one's thoughts turn to taxes. And the Wisconsin Department of Revenue is warning people not to fall for expensive loans that let you get a refund more quickly. Patty Murray reports…

Conventional thinking says lots of snow over the winter means lots of dousing water for farmland come the spring thaw. Yet weather-experts say it’s an El-Nino kind of winter this season, which means milder, warmer conditions with little snow-pack at all. One agricultural expert says most farmers need not worry. Brian Bull has more…

If you’re heading to Canada in the next month, make sure your passport is at the ready, eh? Danielle Kaeding reports on new travel requirements for people heading for the border…

Wisconsin once again ranked last in the nation in 2006 when it came to low-income kids who received school breakfasts. But advocates think the state will buck that trend in the coming year. Shawn Johnson reports…