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Wisconsin Public Radio has a broadcast and online news staff of more than 20 journalists and web professionals located in seven regions. There are over 20,000 news stories available online.

Wisconsin's June Jobs Report Worst of 2012

July 20, 2012 - 12:48pm

Preliminary numbers show Wisconsin lost more than 13,000 jobs in the month of June, with most of those job losses coming in the private sector.

If the preliminary numbers from a monthly survey of employers hold, they'd represent the state's worst jobs report so far in 2012. In total, the report...

Drought affecting private wells

July 19, 2012 - 6:24pm

The dry weather in southern Wisconsin is causing problems for home owners who have wells. Companies that drill and fix private wells are seeing an increase in business.

Ellen Redekcer is with Sams Well Drilling in Randolph. She says they're getting calls everyday from worried homeowners whose wells are dried up...

Dispute over fee charged to frac sand haulers

July 19, 2012 - 6:21pm

State lawmakers are concerned that a road impact fee being charged to frac sand haulers in Wood County unfairly targets a new industry. But the county says sand haulers need to pay for damage caused by their trucks.

Frac sand mining, processing and hauling operations have exploded in the western half...

Lawmakers criticized at wolf hunt meeting

July 19, 2012 - 6:16pm

At Wednesday's meeting of the Natural Resources Board in Stevens Point, lawmakers were accused of overstepping their bounds on environmental policy. The criticism involves the law mandating Wisconsin's first wolf hunt.

Republican Assemblyman Scott Suder of Abbotsford told DNR board members in no uncertain terms they were not carrying out the...

U.S. Senate candidates keep sparring

July 19, 2012 - 6:14pm

Republican Senate candidate Eric Hovde is questioning the ability of fellow contender Tommy Thompson to understand some complex financial problems facing the U.S.

All four Republican Senate candidates spoke to a conservative group in Milwaukee, but the news media were not allowed to electronically record the remarks. So, the Senate hopefuls...

Roundtable discussion of Affordable Care Act

July 19, 2012 - 6:00pm

In October hospitals across the country will be rewarded financially for how well patients perceive their care and whether certain standards were followed. The head of a Madison doctor's group says this aspect of the Affordable Care Act should improve quality.

Edgewood College held a roundtable discussion about health reform with...

Drought and heat taking toll on farmers markets

July 19, 2012 - 12:58pm

Vendors at farmers' markets are feeling the heat in drought-stricken southern Wisconsin. Some producers expect a profitable year despite dry ground and little rain, while others aren’t as optimistic.

Once a week, there’s a farmers' market just off Interstate 90 in La Crosse. Bob Stremcha of Barre Mills has a display...

New home construction up in state's major metro areas

July 19, 2012 - 12:54pm

New home construction continues to improve in Wisconsin's major metropolitan areas.

MTD Marketing Services of Wisconsin, an Oshkosh firm that tracks housing starts, reports that so far, this year compared to last, the greater Milwaukee area saw the largest increase: 152 percent, from 181 to 457 homes.

Scott Mathie is with the...

Director's Cut Radio: "Nerdcore for Life"

July 19, 2012 - 12:52pm

The world of hip-hop by nerds, for nerds is the focus of this week's Director's Cut Radio. Terry Bell speaks with Dan Lamoureux, the director of the documentary, "Nerdcore for Life".

New trial called for in Diocese of Green Bay abuse case

July 19, 2012 - 12:48pm

An Outagamie County judge has ordered a new trial after the Diocese of Green Bay challenged a civil judgment stemming from the case of a priest convicted of abusing two brothers.

This spring $700,000 was awarded to brothers Troy and Todd Merryfield, who were abused by Priest John Patrick Feeney in...

Wisconsin Dems press Republican Senate candidates for tax returns

July 19, 2012 - 12:45pm

Only one of the four Republicans running for U.S. Senate plans to release his income tax forms before the August 14th primary.

As national Democrats continue to press Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney to release his tax forms, Wisconsin Democrats, including state Party Chair Mike Tate, are making a similar push...

Wisconsin State Senate likely to elect Risser new Senate president

July 19, 2012 - 11:37am

The longtime Democratic lawmaker who will likely be sworn in as State Senate president tomorrow Tuesday says he does not expect the full legislature to return for a special session this year. But, he says, committees run by Democrats could be busy.

When the full state Senate convenes on Tuesday, members...

Show of solidarity given after six arson fires at Wisconsin reservation

July 19, 2012 - 11:25am

Six fires last weekend on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation which appear to have targeted ceremonial and spiritual places are being called “criminal in nature” by tribal police.

Tribal members on the Lac Courte Oreilles reservation near Hayward came together for a community feast Tuesday, but it wasn’t a celebration. It...

DNR Board approves wolf hunt rules

July 18, 2012 - 8:31pm

The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board has approved a set of rules to govern the state's first wolf hunt. It's an effort to reduce the size of a population that now exceeds 800 animals.

The board approved a harvest of up to 201 wolves for this season in an effort to eventually...

Voting photo ID law under injunction, likely through November

July 18, 2012 - 8:28pm

Wisconsin's photo ID voting law may be on hold until after the November elections, after another court ruling Tuesday.

Dane County judge David Flanagan has made his temporary injunction against the Republican-backed photo ID law a permanent injunction. That means any appeal of the new ruling, as well as a challenge...

Walker paid PR firm almost $10,000

July 18, 2012 - 8:27pm

Gov. Scott Walker used nearly $10,000 from his legal defense fund to pay a Chicago public relations firm according to a newly filed document with the IRS.

Walker established the fund to pay his lawyers for work they perform part of the ongoing John Doe investigation in Milwaukee County. Aides who...

Sentencing delay for Walker aide

July 18, 2012 - 8:26pm

Criminal sentencing for a former aide to Scott Walker has been delayed until after the November election.

Darlene Wink worked for Walker when he was Milwaukee County executive. She sat at her county desk and wrote e-mails to the local newspaper variously defending or praising Walker during the 2010 governor's race. She...

State police call for tougher checks on gun buyers

July 18, 2012 - 8:25pm

Police in Wisconsin are calling for expanded background checks on gun buyers. Firearms were the number one cause of fatalities for on-duty officers nationwide last year, surpassing motor vehicle accidents for the first time in 14 years.

Private gun sales over the internet or in person account for a substantial amount...

Dems officially take control of Wisconsin State Senate

July 18, 2012 - 8:24pm

Democrats officially took control of the state Senate Tuesday, returning Wisconsin to divided government after a year-and-a-half of Republican control.

Senators returned to Madison to swear in Democrat John Lehman of Racine and Republican Jerry Petrowski of Marathon. Both won their summer recall elections, with Lehman defeating Republican incumbent Van Waangaard...

Food prices slightly up

July 18, 2012 - 8:21pm

Food prices have increased slightly at the grocery store, according to the latest Wisconsin Farm Bureau Marketbasket survey.

The total cost of 16 basic food items used to prepare meals was $50.32, up 1.6 percent, or 77 cents, compared to the first quarter of the year. The cost for those...

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Wisconsin's June Jobs Report Worst of 2012

Drought affecting private wells

Dispute over fee charged to frac sand haulers

Lawmakers criticized at wolf hunt meeting

U.S. Senate candidates keep sparring

Roundtable discussion of Affordable Care Act

Drought and heat taking toll on farmers markets

New home construction up in state's major metro areas

Director's Cut Radio: "Nerdcore for Life"

New trial called for in Diocese of Green Bay abuse case

Wisconsin Dems press Republican Senate candidates for tax returns

Wisconsin State Senate likely to elect Risser new Senate president

Show of solidarity given after six arson fires at Wisconsin reservation

DNR Board approves wolf hunt rules

Voting photo ID law under injunction, likely through November

Walker paid PR firm almost $10,000

Sentencing delay for Walker aide

State police call for tougher checks on gun buyers

Dems officially take control of Wisconsin State Senate

Food prices slightly up

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