Ron Brochu

  • Frac Sand Firms Invest In Northwest Wisconsin

    This will be a summer of industrial construction in Northwestern Wisconsin, where frac sand companies are investing about a quarter-billion dollars into mines and processing plants just south of Rice Lake in Barron and Chippewa counties.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Kestrel Aircraft Decision Brings 600 Jobs North

    Superior has landed a general aviation manufacturing plant and hundreds of new jobs.

    Kestrel Aircraft Corp. formally announced Monday it will operate two manufacturing/assembly plants in Superior, confirming a story that had been circulating since late in December.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Walker Unapologetic For Tough Choices

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s first year on the job was anything but typical.

    His unyielding conservative beliefs prompted Democrat senators to flee the state, triggered a prolonged capitol occupation, ignited court battles and served to launch recall efforts against several Wisconsin Republicans, including himself.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Area Newspapers Take Cost Controls To Higher Level

    Having lost a substantial amount of their classified advertising and readership to the Internet, newspapers nationwide and regionally are fighting a continuing battle to remain profitable as revenue declines.

    The ongoing recession has made that effort even more difficult.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Regional Online News Venues Find Audience

    A growing number of blogs and online news sites are emerging regionally in tandem with the growing availability of cheap and simple web design software and server space. This new breed of publishers, however, is finding it’s much easier to produce written content than to generate revenue.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Study: Great Lakes Shipping Has Massive Impact

    Maritime commerce on the Great Lakes Seaway system created nearly a quarter million jobs last year and salaries of $14.1 billion, according to a report released Tuesday. In addition, it's also the most environmentally friendly way to move cargo, according to a long-time industry participant.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Growth In Transportation Anticipated In Northern Wisconsin, Minnesota

    High-paying jobs with benefits. That’s always the battle cry in Northeastern Minnesota and Northwestern Wisconsin. Despite the recession, more of those coveted positions are likely to emerge, but not in headline-grabbing technology positions.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • More Healthcare Act Provisions In 2012

    Recent economic turmoil has shifted the spotlight from healthcare, but that doesn’t lessen the need for businesses to prepare for the next regulatory wave, which is just four months away.

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Weather Shield Permanently Closes Park Falls Plant

    Weather Shield Inc. has announced plans to permanently shutter its Park Falls manufacturing plant, where 158 employees have been laid off for nine months.

    The layoff was announced last December, when plant manager Pat Henrichs told state officials the job losses were expected to be permanent as of Jan. 31.
     

    By: Ron Brochu
  • Wisconsin Colleges, Universities Staggering From Funding Losses

    Rigorous belt-tightening is becoming the mantra at college and universities in Wisconsin and nationwide as states struggle to overcome staggering deficits.

    Gov. Scott Walker’s aggressive two-year budget plan will reduce the University of Wisconsin System’s budget by $250 million. UW-Superior’s share exceeded $3 million, according to State Rep. Nick Milroy.

    By: Ron Brochu