Thursday, 7.8
The Wisconsin Judicial Commission dismisses an ethics complaint against Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman after his court colleagues deadlock on how to respond. Gableman ran a campaign ad in 2008 suggesting his opponent helped free a sex offender who went on to rape again. Three justices thought the ad was knowingly false; the other three merely "distasteful."
Friday, 7.9
George Barton, hired in January as CEO of Access Community Health Centers, resigns to pursue "national opportunities." Access had hoped Barton would help the program transition as federal health reforms are enacted.
Saturday, 7.10
A 43-year-old Madison woman suffers critical injuries when she falls 20 feet while climbing boulders at Devil's Lake State Park.
Monday, 7.12
Federal agents arrest former Madison Ald. Jansson Wheeler, 76, for allegedly posting an ad on the shadowy Internet outfit Craigslist, seeking a bomb to send the boyfriend of his estranged wife, Dorothy Wheeler, who recently retired from the Dane County Board. Last September, police were called to the couple's home after Wheeler threatened to shoot his wife and then himself. Jansson Wheeler was on the council from 1968 to 1970.
A man driving erratically on Commerce Road in Stoughton fatally shoots himself after being pulled over by Dane County sheriff's deputies. The officers are put on paid leave while the incident is investigated. "We had a number of deputies who were very, very close when this individual shot himself," says Sheriff Dave Mahoney. "And I'm concerned about the impact this has on their well-being."
Isthmus breaks the story online that Republican candidate for governor Mark Neumann improperly failed to pay real estate transfer fees on some land deals (see updated version). The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel finally gets around to reporting the same story the following day, and gets credit for it from the Associated Press. Harrumph!
Tuesday, 7.13
Dane County says it has $1 million available to buy and remove 11 homes along Fish Lake that have continually flooded. But some homeowners don't want to sell. "Where can I buy a property on the lake for what they're going to give me?" Tom Kavanaugh asks the Wisconsin State Journal. "Nowhere."
Progressive activist Ben Manski submits signatures to run for the 77th state Assembly district, now held by Spencer Black, who is retiring.
Wednesday, 7.14
Twelve Dane County supervisors announce a proposal to hold a countywide referendum on whether the sales taxes should be raised to finance commuter rail. The Regional Transit Authority wanted to hold a referendum only in sections of the county where the tax would be in effect, but the Dane County clerk has said it's not possible to divide ballots along these boundaries in time for the Nov. 2 election. Opponents of the RTA have long sought a countywide referendum, which they think would be easier to defeat.
Compiled (in part) from local media