Friday, 4.29
Rajib Mitra, 33, who was sentenced Thursday to 6-1/2 years in prison for sexual exploitation of a child and possessing child pornography, hangs himself in the Dane County jail.
The Madison school district reports that 1,769 of its teachers, or two-thirds, called in sick for at least one day of a four-day protest against Gov. Walker in February. Eighty-four teachers submitted fraudulent doctors' excuses and 38 were suspended for failing to rescind the notes.
Saturday, 4.30
Activist Ben Masel dies from lung cancer at age 56. Masel was best known for his fight to legalize marijuana but advocated on a number of issues, including free speech and assembly. Friend Sal Serio tells the Wisconsin State Journal: "He wasn't just some pothead. He respected the Constitution. He respected the system. And he fought to make sure others did too."
At the Mifflin Street Block Party, two people are stabbed, three police officers are injured and dozens of students are arrested or taken to detox. The mayhem prompts Madison officials to consider ending the annual bash.
Monday, 5.2
In a press release, Gov. Scott Walker heralds a 25% increase in new businesses since January, saying it shows "we're moving in the right direction." Two hours later, his office rescinds the release, saying newly corrected numbers "do not reflect a significant uptick in new business formations." Oops.
Efforts to recall Republican Sens. Glenn Grothman (West Bend) and Mary Lazich (New Berlin) fail for want of sufficient signatures.
The UW-Madison Faculty Senate votes in favor of a controversial plan to split the flagship campus from the university system. The UW Board of Regents and other chancellors remain opposed.
Tuesday, 5.3
Ke'Andre M. Frazier, 18, pleads no contest to first-degree reckless homicide in the punching and stomping death of 16-year-old Lorenzo J. McKittrick in Fitchburg last June. He will be sentenced in two months.
The Sun Prairie City Council denies a conditional-use permit to the Madison Muslim Dawa Circle to operate its mosque in an office park, whose other residents cited parking and traffic concerns. The mosque's Fayaz Suleman says they'll look elsewhere for a home: "If we're not welcome, then we're withdrawing."
Madison Common Council, at the request of Mayor Paul Soglin, puts a hold on spending $250,000 on plans for a proposed public market downtown, pending further review.
Wednesday, 5.4
The Wisconsin Supreme Court, after weeks of inaction, asks parties to file briefs and plan for June 6 oral arguments regarding Dane County Judge Maryann Sumi's order blocking implementation of portions of Gov. Scott Walker's budget repair bill.
Compiled from local media
