UP: Bears. The number of black bears in Wisconsin has nearly tripled since 1986, to between 26,000 and 40,000, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. The bear population is healthy and growing, expanding farther south into the state.
DOWN: Brothers Bar. The owners of this campus pub pulled out all the stops to fight the UW's move to seize their building through condemnation. They filed a lawsuit that raised significant questions about state power, backed with a sweeping PR campaign. Then this week, on the eve of trial, they threw in the towel, agreeing to the same terms offered months before. Owners Marc and Eric Fortney say they're "doing the right thing for UW-Madison." Their attorney, Mike Wittenwyler, calls the lack of resolution on the underlying legal issues "extremely frustrating."
