State Headlines From Wisconsin Public Radio, June 24
Methodist minister found guilty of breaking church rules
By Gilman Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio
Following a trial in Kaukauna, a Methodist church jury has found a gay pastor guilty of breaking Church rules by officiating at a lesbian wedding. The jury has suspended United Methodist Reverend Amy DeLong from ministerial duties for 20 days.
The unusual part of the penalty requires DeLong to use those 20 days to work with a committee of church officials on creating a new process for resolving disputes over ministerial violations of church covenant. If she doesn't help write a report on this new process, she could be suspended for a year.
United Methodists across the nation are watching the DeLong case. Pastors of churches in several states have also violated the ban on marrying gay couples. DeLong could appeal this ruling to the church's judicial council.
Before the penalty was imposed, she said she would not promise to abide by the ban on officiating at same sex weddings.
"Because the message that would give to the couple that I did join in holy union, it would give them the message that their union is somehow invalid," says DeLong. "And I would never send that message to them."
The United Methodis Church's prosecutor in the case, Reverend Tom Lambrecht, says church officials are pleased that the jury held DeLong accountable for violating church doctrine and creating animosity and division among church members. He calls the penalty a creative way of changing church procedure in a way that may prevent future trials like this one.
United Methodist officials say the current church rules on gay marriages is clear. They say God's love doesn't necessarily equate to acceptance of all behaviors.
Wisconsin schools and Google will work together
By Teresa Shipley, Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin public schools can now use a suite of Google Apps as education aids thanks to an agreement between the internet giant and the state Department of Public Instruction (DPI).
The deal between Google and the DPI lets any of Wisconsin's 424 districts use a host of Google programs, including email, shared online calendars and the geographic imaging program, Google Earth. These programs are already free to the public and the deal didn't cost the districts any money. But the DPI had to negotiate a contract with Google in order to get them as a unique educational package.
DPI spokesman Patrick Gasper says negotiating a statewide contract saved districts the trouble of having to set up their own agreements. He adds it'll save districts money who are currently using software like Microsoft Outlook.
"Those all have costs associated with licenses whereas these Google apps do not," he says.
Gasper says the contract is a basic user agreement which stipulates that Google provide training for Wisconsin educators. This would take place through the state's Cooperative Educational Service Agencies.
"Which may cost some money, but through those agencies -- and Google would provide some resources for that -- they would then teach educators how to appropriately use these applications in classroom settings."
Gasper says some districts in Wisconsin have already been using the Google Apps programs and that feedback has been positive.
Racine works to improve African-American infant mortality
By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio
Racine has one of Wisconsin's highest rates of infant mortality among African-Americans. Those hoping to change that introduced their plan to the community this week. An African-American baby born in Racine is nearly three times more likely to die in their first year than a white baby. Racine's goal is to now reduce infant mortality among blacks by 50 percent over the next five years.
One of the groups working to accomplish that is the Johnson Foundation at Wingspread. Its president, Roger Dower, says, it's more than a challenge.
"It's a crisis. African American babies --right here in Racine-- are dying at alarming rates before the age of one," Dower said.
A report says infant mortality was highest among African-Americans age 20 to 24. It also said college-educated black women in Racine were more likely to have babies that die in the first year than white mothers who didn't complete high school.
Some of the recommendations to reduce infant mortality include lowering poverty along with expanding pre- and post-natal care. The report also seeks to start programs that involve fathers and reduce the stress on families.
New Berlin faces lawsuit over affordable housing
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
The U.S. Justice Department is suing the Waukesha County community of New Berlin, over an affordable housing development that was blocked last year.
A developer wanted to build 180 units of affordable housing in the City Center area of New Berlin, noting that some low wage employers like Walmart were nearby. The local planning commission initially approved the project, but hundreds of local residents later complained, including some who said they were worried that African-Americans or other racial minorities would move in. The plan commission then rejected the project and this year, the New Berlin common council denied a revised proposal.
The U.S. Justice Department says New Berlin has violated the Fair Housing Act, at a time when many families are in need of decent and affordable housing. Justice officials say the filing shows a history of discriminatory conduct.
Joel Gaughan is a New Berlin resident and president of the religious group SOPHIA, which pushed for the housing. He says the last year's debate was troubling, and he hopes the developer and New Berlin can get together and make a deal on the housing project. He says it's important that in a fast-growing county like Waukesha, that housing and jobs be closer together.
New Berlin's mayor and city attorney say they want time to look at the lawsuit. A founder of Concerned Citizens of New Berlin -- which led the opposition to the project -- declined to talk about the case. Laura Karvala was elected this year to the New Berlin common council.
Congress starts work on the next Farm Bill
By Steve Roisum, Wisconsin Public Radio
Preliminary work has begun on the 2012 Farm Bill in Congress. Industry leaders say this legislation may receive a harder look than past Farm Bills, with direct payments to farmers and crop insurance coming more under review as the legislation gets shaped over the next year or so.
8th District Republican Congressman Reid Ribble, who serves on the House Agriculture Committee, says long standing programs will get a hard look to see if they're still relevant today.
"I think that's going to be at the heart of the hearings we do is to really measure how effective the programs are actually have a place anymore," says Congressman Ribble. "We have to begin to look at all our agriculture through the lens of a 21st century economy."
Wisconsin Farmers Union president Darin Von Ruden says his organization will be following the progress of the bill. Including whether funding for conservation programs will be scaled back or cut. He says without financial incentives, some farmers may not be as motivated to be good stewards of the land.
Von Ruden adds conservation practices are important in the state.
"Especially in western Wisconsin, you look at the hills and the valleys. If farmers are allowed to not use their conservation practices such as waterways and no-till planting you can look at losing major amounts of soil," Von Ruden said.
Von Ruden says the Wisconsin Farm Bureau would also like to see less farm subsidy funding go to what he says are wealthy landowners who don't work the acres they own.
Business and labor reps back unemployment benefit extension
By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio
A joint decision by a panel made up of management and labor representatives recommends extending unemployment benefits to Wisconsinites who've run out.
More than 10,000 people out of work in Wisconsin could be eligible for the additional unemployment benefits. Before they could get them, the legislature has to act. A state panel is recommending lawmakers approve a change that would qualify Wisconsin for nearly $90 million in federal money. That money would allow an extra 13 weeks of unemployment for those who've run out of state and federal benefits.
James Buchen from Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce is one of several people who represent management on the Unemployment Insurance Advisory Council. He said the benefits are needed because of a setback in the economy.
"A lot of the national economists are wondering about where the economy is headed," says Buchen. "It hasn't been quite as robust. I think things in Wisconsin are actually looking better than the national economy, but with that in mind we thought accepting this extension made sense too because there are people who are unemployed and finding it difficult to find jobs."
If lawmakers approve the change needed to qualify for federal money, it would mean about $360 a week for eligible Wisconsinites. Those extended benefits ran out in April.
DNR Board makes controversial changes to air pollution rule
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Board has approved scrapping a rule that environmental groups say helped people breathe in Wisconsin.
Business lobbyists calling themselves the Great Lakes legal foundation have been pressuring the DNR to revive an old debate--- whether to dump a state rule that covered larger airborne particles that come from sites like rock crushing companies and grain-handling facilities.
The DNR Board has now approved repealing the rule. DNR air management director John Melby says there are still federal and state laws addressing emissions of smaller particles. He does say it is unusual that the DNR didn't hold a new round of public hearings on the plan to dump the large particle rule. But he says very few people showed up for hearings in 2008.
The Sierra Club's Jennifer Feyerherm laments the apparent loss of the rule covering larger particles. She says it doesn't really help that the DNR Board also voted to have agency staff come up with a template that local communities could adopt to reduce the larger particles being a nuisance. She says many villages, towns and cities may choose not to do so.
Businesses urged to oppose proposed Medicaid cuts
By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio
Second Congressional District Representative Tammy Baldwin says those against proposed Medicaid cuts need to enlist new allies, namely business leaders who realize the loss of federal dollars could slow an economic recovery.
A report put out by the health advocacy group Families USA estimates jobs lost and the economic drain which could occur if federal Medicaid cuts become reality. Republican Congressman Paul Ryan's budget proposal calls for ever-increasing cuts that would reduce spending on Medicaid programs by 33 percent in the year 2021.
The Families USA report says Medicaid dollars coming into Wisconsin generate jobs; cuts could mean 31,000 people without work. Baldwin says it comes at a time when unemployment in Wisconsin, and across the nation, is still high.
"We have to face our deficit and we have to balance our budgets but the question is always how?" asks Baldwin. "And doing so smartly and that means sharing in the sacrifices that need to be made in order to address these critical challenges."
The proposed Medicaid cuts passed by the Republican-controlled House would be on top of the $500 million reduction in Gov. Scott Walker's budget.
Both cuts combined undoubtedly will have an impact, says Nino Amato from the Coalition of Wisconsin Aging Groups.
"It will definitely torpedo our economy," says Amato. "It will have huge effects on commerce in every small town, and large city, on Main Street."
The report estimates Wisconsin could experience a loss of $3 billion in economic activity if Medicaid cuts go through. To deal with the debt limit, Congress can raise the debt ceiling, enact Ryan's cuts, or do a combination of both.
Metal detectors removed from the Capitol
By Teresa Shipley, Wisconsin Public Radio
In Madison, Capitol police have removed metal detectors from the building's entrances almost a week earlier than planned.
Jodi Jensen, executive assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Administration, says the detectors came down earlier than expected because the legislature moved quickly on the budget.
"They obviously finished the budget and got through some things quicker than we thought they might, so the Capitol police decided to start to phase in the changes so it would help them plan for (June) 27th and get their staffing levels set," Jensen said.
Jensen says there are still extra police units at the Capitol but that beginning next Monday, only the Capitol police will remain. The metal detectors have been a presence in the Wisconsin Capitol since February, when thousands of protesters flooded the area to protest Governor Walker's controversial budget bill.
Chris Reeder is the organizer of the Solidarity Sing-Along, a group that's been meeting under the rotunda nearly every day for 15 weeks. He says walking into the Capitol recently was, "fantastic."
"A sense of freedom all of a sudden that we haven't had for a long time," says Reeder. "It feels very good to be able to walk in the building and not have your bag searched, not have to get wanded, not have to walk through a metal detector."
Five out of eight entrances to the Capitol building are open. The Department of Administration says the remaining three closed entrances will also open on Monday.
Businesses lobby against cuts to energy efficiency program
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
About 120 businesses have signed a letter, asking Gov. Walker to veto a proposed cut in a state program that funds energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Late last year, the Public Service Commission approved a major four year expansion of the Focus on Energy program, which is paid for by utility ratepayers.
Republican lawmakers are proposing to instead cut about $20 million from the program next year and dial back future increases. Businesses that install, design and supply renewable energy and energy efficiency projects want the governor to restore the funds.
Randy Johnson runs a lighting company in Green Bay. He says money from Focus on Energy has helped pay for school projects his firm is doing.
Other Wisconsin firms say they've been hiring more people, or plan to, because of the expectation the focus funding would continue to increase. Keith Reopelle of the environmental group, Clean Wisconsin, says leaving the focus cut in the budget package would not help the state's bottom line.
Republican lawmakers argue that cutting Focus on Energy would save money for smaller businesses and homeowners who buy electricity. But Reopelle says focus has saved all utility customers money by eliminating the need for some expensive new power plants.
Gov. Walker's office says it will "evaluate" the proposed focus funding cut.
Legislature advances concealed carry bill
By Shawn Johnson, Wisconsin Public Radio
For the first time, Wisconsin residents could legally carry concealed firearms under a plan now headed to Governor Scott Walker's desk. The plan passed on a bipartisan 68-27 vote with 11 Democrats joining most Republicans in supporting it. It would require people to get permits and show proof of some training to carry concealed guns.
Those requirements bothered some Republicans who wanted no restrictions--known among gun-rights advocates as "constitutional carry."
Wisconsin Rapids Republican Scott Krug says he'd prefer that kind of law, but said this was a start.
"I would love to see constitutional carry in the state of Wisconsin showing that everybody is responsible," said Krug. "And we'll have time to prove that now over the next five years in this permitting system. The people that make responsible choices are not going to go into a bar and shoot everybody up. People who make responsible choices by going through a permitting system and getting some training are not going to go to Summerfest and start opening fire."
Constitutional carry advocate Don Pridemore was the only Republican to vote "no."
Meanwhile, Madison Democrat Terese Berceau questioned the timing of the plan, given how divided the state has become since Governor Scott Walker took office.
"We're doing this now at a time when everything in Wisconsin is so incredibly volatile," said Berceau.
And while concealed carry advocates often argue Wisconsin is behind the curve because most states have concealed carry laws, Berceau said that's a good thing.
"The fact that we were one of two states that didn't have concealed carry I think made us smarter and better and hopefully more peaceful than other states," Berceau said.
Berceau and others tried unsuccessfully to change the bill to prohibit concealed guns in certain locations, like domestic violence shelters. They also pushed unsuccessfully for more stringent training standards.
Lawsuit filed in attempt to have biomass power plant in Rothschild
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
A new lawsuit has been filed, aiming to delay the biomass energy plant proposed for central Wisconsin. The Domtar Corporation and Milwaukee-based WE Energies have already agreed to go ahead with the biomass plant in Rothschild. But the Massachusetts-based Biomass Accountability Project has been asking the state's Department of Natural Resources for a longer look at the air pollution permit for the biomass plant. The DNR has refused. So, Biomass Project president Meg Sheehan says her group is taking the DNR to court, to try and get a Marathon County judge to order the contested case hearing that Sheehan says would allow more details to be discussed.
Sheehan says the DNR is trying to prevent the hearing, based on a technicality. A recent letter from a DNR attorney says Sheehan's group should have filed its request with the DNR Secretary, not the state Division of Hearings and Appeals.
WE Energies spokesperson Cathy Schulze declined to comment on the new lawsuit, but says the biomass plant would not be a big polluter.
Later this week, WE Energies may update the Public Service Commission about the financing plan for the $250 million biomass plant. A DNR attorney declined to do an interview about the new lawsuit.
Long-standing Native American lawsuit settled
By Brian Bull, Wisconsin Public Radio
A federal judge has finalized a $3.4 billion settlement in a case filed against the U.S. government nearly 16 years ago, which eventually grew to represent thousands of Native Americans across the country.
Tom Maulson is chair of Wisconsin's Lac du Flambeau tribe. Back in 1996, he joined lead plaintiff Eloise Cobell and four others in taking the federal government to court, a case known as Cobell v. Salazar. They claimed that for centuries, the government had squandered, mishandled, or cheated billions of dollars in royalties owed Native Americans, for timber, land, oil, and grazing leases. Maulson says a lot of his ire was pointed at the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
"The sad thing that made me sign on as a plaintiff, was the fact that that Bureau was lacking their fiduciary responsibility to Indian people across this country, and that was to keep proper record of procedures. And that never has really been done. I believe that the Bureau's working hard at making that happen now. And I'm hoping that they have a better working system than they had 16 years ago," Maulson said.
Maulson says he'd never expected the case to have made it this far, and it hit its fair share of snags along the way. Maulson says he's celebrating its resolution by simply being alive.
"I'm sad to say my colleague, Eloise (Cobell) has some very major health issues and I wish her well," says Maulson. "But yet you know, we've seen other natives peoples pass on, and I wish those families well too, because they were entitled to these here dollars as we go forth, into the next generations that we look forward to."
Eloise Cobell is recovering from cancer surgery. In a written statement, she says while the settlement isn't perfect, she does find it fair and reasonable. Maulson's share of the settlement will come to $150,000, while Cobell is set to receive $2 million. For roughly 300,000 individual native plaintiffs, the average share will come to $1,000.
Charitable giving on the rise
By Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio
A national survey shows that charitable giving increased last year, after declining in 2008 and 2009. That trend seems to be holding true for Wisconsin charities as well. According to the Giving USA Foundation, charitable contributions in the U.S. increased by more than $10 billion last year. That represents a roughly four percent increase from 2009. And that's also up from a 13 percent drop for 2008 and 2009 combined.
Two of Wisconsin's largest charities say they've seen a similar trend. Stephen Webster, executive director of United Way Wisconsin, says the increase is there but it's slight.
"We raised over $100 million in Wisconsin last year by the United Ways and that represents an increase," says Webster. "I would think that year to year we had something like around a 3 to 4-percent increase over the previous year."
But Webster says while donations are inching their way up, need is increasing by leaps and bounds. Because of that, Webster says they're spending more time soliciting. "Fundraising for us didn't use to be a year-round experience," says Webster. "It used to be something where we raised money in the fall and were involved in the best ways to give it away in the spring. But right now fundraising is a year round enterprise and so is the community impact work that we try to do."
Faithe Colas, a spokeswoman for the Salvation Army in Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, says in 2010 her Milwaukee County office reached their goal of just under $3 million for the first time in three years. Still, she says they're struggling to keep up.
"Any average week we serve about 1,500 people and that has increased to well over 2,000 individuals coming weekly," Colas said.
According to the national survey, Americans gave about two percent of their disposable personal income to charitable causes in 2010.
Debate continues over whether collective bargaining restrictions are making a difference
By Gilman Halsted, Wisconsin Public Radio
Governor Scott Walker says the new restrictions on collective bargaining rights for public employees are already resulting in balanced budgets for cities and school districts. But teachers' unions and local school officials don't see it that way.
The collective bargaining law is not in effect yet, and is currently being challenged in federal court. If and when it goes into effect it would eliminate the right of unions to bargain anything except wages and benefits and ties salary increases to the consumer price index.
Last week, Gov. Walker said that reform is already working in his hometown of Wauwatosa, where he says the tax levy is actually going to go down and where jobs in the school district will be preserved.
"That's because the reforms are working and they are going to work even more in the future," says Governor Walker. "And when they do, that's going to get this state back on track and get us working again."
"The union bosses only made concessions because it became apparent the long term fiscal reforms were going to become law," adds Cullen Werwie, a spokesman for Governor Walker.
But Wauwatosa School Superintendent Phil Ertl says it was state budget cuts that prompted his local unions to reach an agreement on a salary freeze.
"I think we've got some great employees that really recognize what we're trying to accomplish in this school district and they understood what we needed to get done," says Ertl. "They could have just sat back and said, `We have a contract until 2013 and we're not going to step up.' And the teachers were willing to step forward too, even though the budget bill still isn't passed."
Meanwhile, Wisconsin Education Association Council president Mary Bell says once the law takes effect school districts will have a harder -- not an easier time -- making ends meet.
Schools working to settle teacher's contracts
By Brian Bull, Wisconsin Public Radio
With the collective bargaining law now looking like a done deal, many school districts are finalizing teacher contracts before it's implemented. Last March, the Associated Press reported that roughly a third of the state's 424 districts had either extended existing contracts -- or signed off on new ones. 15 percent were mulling over their options, while nearly half had taken no action.
Barry Forbes of the Wisconsin Association of School Boards says it looks like that's changing, since the courts cleared the legislation, known as Wisconsin Act 10, last week.
"I'm thinking a little more than half the schools in Wisconsin have extended contracts for at least one year if not two years," says Forbes. "There are likely a few more thinking about it. I've spoken with a few schools that asked me when the implementation date of Wisconsin Act 10 would be."
Forbes says that appears to be June 29, following the Secretary of State's planned publication of the bill. He says contracts with collective bargaining agreements would be grandfathered in, if finalized before that date.
The governor's collective bargaining law will do away with automatic payments to WEAC, the state's largest teachers union. WEAC spokeswoman Christina Brey says she won't speculate on how that may affect the union's finances.
"We know however, that our members are as energized and activated as ever, based on the events of the last six months or so," says Brey. "We're getting out, we're talking to members, members are talking to members face to face about the future of our union, and why it's still important to remain advocates for public school kids."
Brey says teachers can decide individually if they want to set up automatic payments with WEAC to cover union dues.
Budget would make certain tobacco products cheaper
By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio
Health groups want the governor to veto a provision in the state budget that could make certain tobacco products more appealing to kids. Legislators approved a change to the taxing structure of moist smokeless tobacco, better known as "chew" or "snuff." Right now, taxes are based on price. Under the budget sent to Governor Walker, taxes on these smokeless products would instead be based on weight.
Gail Sumi is with the American Cancer Society in Wisconsin, one of five health groups opposing the change. She says doing so would make the premium products cheaper and "really close" the differential in the cost between the premium products and the cheap products.
"And the pre-products are the products marketed most heavily. Big tobacco spends $247 million annually in marketing in our state so those are the products the kids want: the Skoal and the Copenhagen," says Sumi.
Altria is the parent company of Philip Morris which makes those products. A spokesman says changing the taxing structure on chewing tobacco makes it comparable to other products taxed on volume, such as cigarettes, alcohol and gasoline.
Two dozen states use a weight based system for chewing tobacco. Wisconsin switched from that method under former Gov. Doyle as way to bring in more tobacco revenue for the state. Health groups say smokeless tobacco contains two to three times the nicotine of a cigarette. They also point to the risk of users developing gum and cheek cancer.
Domestic partnership backers score legal victory
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
Civil rights advocates are praising a Wisconsin judge who has upheld the state's domestic partnership registry. Dane County Judge Daniel Moeser has ruled the registry does not violate the state's ban on gay marriage. He says the registry law does not create a legal status for partners that is identical or substantially similar to that of marriage.
The conservative group Wisconsin Family Action had filed a lawsuit against the registry. But ACLU of Wisconsin legal director Larry Dupuis says the judge's ruling means couples who signed up for the registry can keep their benefits.
According to the group Fair Wisconsin, almost 1,800 Wisconsin couples have enrolled in the domestic partnership registry. The ruling appears to be a defeat for Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker, who had refused to defend the registry. Wisconsin Family Action says it expects to appeal Moeser's decision.
Alternative fuel vehicles big topic at energy fair
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
The debate over gasoline-fueled cars versus those running on alternative sources of energy continued this week at the Midwest Renewable Energy Fair near Stevens Point.
Some people who like cars --but hate gasoline or diesel engines-- have adapted vehicle engines so to use renewable sources of fuel. At the fair, Chris Wetzel of suburban Chicago showed off his passenger van that partly runs on used vegetable oil.
Creative types like Wetzel say they remain pretty skeptical of what U.S.-based car companies are doing to respond to high gas prices, unreliable supplies of oil and concerns about pollution. But Ford, for example, now offers a Mexican-produced 2011 gas-powered Fiesta that's rated as getting 40 miles per gallon on the highway.
Chris Schneider runs a Honda dealership in La Crosse that also sells many hybrids, neighborhood electric vehicles and cars that run on natural gas. He says U.S.-owned car companies are starting to go greener, in part under pressure from the Obama Administration. But he says in the car selling business, it still boils down to what people will buy. Schneider says he hopes two-vehicle families will start to look at having at least one that gets better mileage or doesn't use just gasoline, as people start realizing they often roll around in a vehicle that's mostly empty.
Eau Claire water park turns to moss to clean its water
By Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio
A commercially-owned water park in Eau Claire claims to be the first in the world to purify its water with a special kind of moss. The sphagnum moss is harvested from New Zealand, and naturally kills bacteria that make for slimy pools and equipment according to Dave Knighton, co-founder of Creative Water Solutions.
"We decided to look at using the moss to decrease chemical usage and make pools and spas more inviting," Knighton said.
Knighton says with the moss filters, people only need to use half the amount of chemicals in their water.
At the Chaos Water Park in Eau Claire nearly 20,000 gallons of water flow through the waterslides, lazy river and kiddy pool. One of the park's owners, Mark Steil, says he was eager to use the moss filters last year, but the state Board of Health wouldn't let him.
"They finally agreed after a couple months of looking into it that they would give us a six month trial. They are monitoring us right now," Steil said.
The tests began in January. So far, Stiel is satisfied. He says, the results now are wonderful.
"We have no chlorine smell, we've had no chlorine complaints. Our lifeguards are ecstatic about it because they don't get sick - I mean, a lifeguard is in there six hours a day. I cannot see a downside myself," Stiel said.
The sphagnum moss filters do cost more than traditional sand filters but Steil says the big plus is healthier workers and patrons.
Two more schools act to make logo, nickname changes
By Rich Kremer, Wisconsin Public Radio
Two school districts in western Wisconsin have voted to abolish their race based nicknames and logos. The Menomonie School District has been known since the 1930s as the home of the Indians. But recently, the school board abolished the moniker and the logo for good with a 7-1 vote. The lone no vote was cast by school board member and Menomonie Mayor Randy Knaack. He says the decision shouldn't have been limited to the school board.
"A matter of this magnitude and importance to the community needs the entire community feedback," says Knaack. "And with that I thought maybe a referendum might be a better choice than school board members making that choice for the community."
The Menomonie School Board has attempted to remove the Indians nickname and logo before. In 1996, that led to the recall of three school board members and a referendum that kept the logo and nickname the same. But District Superintendent Chris Stratton says things are different now. She says it was only a matter of time before their Indians identity was challenged due the state Indian mascot law, which lets the Department of Public Instruction order schools to stop using race based logos, names or mascots if a district's residents complain.
"If a decision would have been made to do something like a referendum or even a decision would have been made to wait for a complaint it is very likely, almost 100 percent guarantee that a complaint would have been filed with DPI," Stratton said.
Also, the Osseo-Fairchild school board voted unanimously to drop its 40-year-old Chieftains nickname after being ordered to do so by the Department of Public Instruction last year.
Budget cuts $1 million from Planned Parenthood
By Shamane Mills, Wisconsin Public Radio
Gov. Walker's actions on the budget sent to him last week by the legislature are being closely watched by women's health advocates. Lawmakers approved cuts to Planned Parenthood that could force patients to go elsewhere.
The budget approved by the Senate and Assembly takes $1 million state and federal from nine Planned Parenthood centers. None of those centers performs abortions, but the organization itself does and that's why Pro Life Wisconsin supports the measure. If the governor approves the cutbacks to Planned Parenthood it could mean restricted access to cancer screenings, birth control and pap tests in communities like Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and Eau Claire.
Pro Life Wisconsin legislative liaison Matt Sande says women have alternative health sources, like community clinics.
"Certainly Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin is not the only public health entity in the state that provides preventive health care to low income women," Sande said.
During the budget debate, Democrats read letters from public health departments indicating their concern over budget cuts to women's preventive health care.
Tanya Atkinson is executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin. She says their organization served 12,000 patients in the affected communities
"Almost every single one of them exclusively said we cannot absorb these patients," says Atkinson. "So there's nowhere else for these patients to go to receive the preventive cancer screening, STD testing and treatment, birth control."
The budget before Gov. Walker also would make changes to BadgerCare's Family Planning Program. Minors would need parental notification to get birth control or medical care and males would be removed from the program; a change that would require federal approval because it a Medicaid program.
Native American tribes prepare for recall elections
By Chuck Quirmbach, Wisconsin Public Radio
Get out the vote efforts during the summer of an odd-numbered year are usually pretty dormant. But things are different this year with the upcoming state Senate recall elections.
The Oneida reservation in northeastern Wisconsin includes the district of Republican state Sen. Rob Cowles and Democratic Sen. Dave Hansen. Both men are likely to face recall elections this summer.
Tana Aguirre coordinates voter turnout efforts for the Oneida. She says the shorter timelines of the recall races make things more difficult.
Aguirre also says primary elections that could include candidates who lie about their true political party make it tough to get voters to focus, as do lawsuits that seek to delay or block the recall elections.
The Menominee Nation is in the district of recall target and Democratic Sen. James Holperin.
Menominee tribal chairman Randal Chevalier says the summer is usually not voting time. He says the tribe's get out the vote effort is non-partisan, but adds the Democratic Party is ramping up its voter turnout work in Menominee County, as the small county usually casts most of its ballots for Democrats.