Wisconsin News Roundup, DNR Budget Measures, Veterans And Brain Injuries

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New studies are trying to find out how “back-blasts” from explosions affect soldiers’ brains. We discuss the danger of these hidden brain injuries and how doctors are trying to heal them. We also review the biggest stories from Governor Walker’s budget plan, and explore how the budget will affect the state’s Department of Natural Resources.

Featured in this Show

  • Weekly News Roundup: The 'Wisconsin Idea' Controversy And Other Budget Address News


    Wisconsin National Guard (CC-BY-NC-ND).

    Governor Outlines Biennial Budget Plan In Address At The State Capitol

    Gov. Scott Walker laid out his vision for state spending over the next two fiscal years on Tuesday night.

    The budget document included everything from an expansion of private school vouchers and a reorganization of state agencies, to substantial university funding cuts and property tax breaks.

    While Walker’s proposals caused no shortage of debate, the release marked only the beginning of the budgetary process. The budget now goes to state lawmakers for their input.


    Phil Roeder (CC-BY).

    ‘Wisconsin Idea’ Was Rewritten Per Walker’s Drafting Orders

    A controversy surfaced on Wednesday over whether or not Gov. Scott Walker removed wording from the University of Wisconsin System’s mission statement, called the “Wisconsin Idea.” The changes also added language that suggested the mission should also be able to address the state’s workforce needs.

    Initially, the governor defended the move, then he attributed it to a “drafting error.”

    On Thursday, email copies surfaced showing the Walker administration specifically asked for the changes. After this came to light, the governor described the whole situation as a “simple miscommunication.”


    Ministério das Comunicações (CC-BY-SA).

    UW-Madison Chancellor: Budget Will Lead Other Schools To ‘Raid’ Wisconsin Faculty

    University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said Thursday that news of Walker’s budget cuts to the UW System will lead other universities to “raid” her top faculty.

    She told the UW Board of Regents that there’s already been one casualty: the School of Medicine and Public Health was just about to hire a top researcher who backed out because of what he heard about the budget.


    Maureen McCollum/WPR.

    Patients, Staff At Tomah VA Call For Private Investigation Of Facility

    A town hall meeting organized by western Wisconsin state lawmakers on Thursday led to patients and staff calling for an independent investigation into the Tomah VA medical center.

    There’s already a federal investigation into the facility because of claims that certain doctors were overprescribing narcotics to veterans and that the chief of staff created a culture of fear. At the meeting, employees and patients said they don’t trust the system and they want an independent investigation.

  • State News Roundup For Friday, February 6th, 2015

    WPR’s assistant news director joins us to talk about the biggest stories from Governor Walker’s budget plan.

  • Budget Would Freeze Land Purchases, Make DNR Advisory Board

    Governor Walker’s budget proposal makes significant changes to the Department of Natural Resources, including freezing land stewardship purchases until 2028 and take away the policy setting of the Natural Resources Board.

  • Healing Traumatic Brain Injury In Veterans

    Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have left many American veterans with hidden wounds–traumatic brain injuries. A reporter shares the scope of the problem–and efforts to heal those injuries.

Episode Credits

  • Rob Ferrett Host
  • Veronica Rueckert Host
  • Matt Oleson Producer
  • Galen Druke Producer
  • Noah Ovshinsky Guest
  • Michael Kraft Guest
  • Caroline Alexander Guest