Tuesday, 12.24
Madison Police arrest Shacole Gailette Burks, 30, for allegedly taking five bags of groceries from the Woodman's store on Gammon Road without paying and slugging an employee who tried to stop her.
Thursday, 12.26
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reports that 257 wolves were killed during the 2013 hunting season. That's six above the limit of 251.
State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen fines Completion Industrial Minerals LLC, a Texas company that operates a frac sand processing plant in Marshfield, $80,000 for violating state air pollution laws.
Friday, 12.27
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Scientific Protein Laboratories, a Waunakee spinoff of Oscar Mayer Foods, will be bought by a Chinese company for $337.5 million.
The State Journal reports that fewer UW-Madison football fans are making the journey to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando than made the trek to the Rose Bowl last season.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) tells the Associated Press that a proposal to raise the speed limit to 70 mph doesn't have enough votes to pass.
Saturday, 12.28
Donald D. Alford-Lofton, 19, allegedly leaves the car he stole on Christmas Day at a Pflaum Road gas station and swipes a purse from another car getting gas there. Police apprehend him a short time later.
Sunday, 12.29
WLUK Fox News in Green Bay reports that 6,284 state workers received bonuses or raises totaling $13.8 million through Oct. 20 of this year.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that a proposal to create two weekend sales tax "holidays" is gaining momentum and could be voted on in the spring. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) says, "It might only be 20 or 30 or 40 or 50 bucks, but anything that helps a family is something we're trying to do." Anything except expand Medicaid?
Monday, 12.30
The New York Times reports that Milwaukee has started a pilot program to repurpose cheese brine to help keep roads ice-free. The city's Jeffrey A. Tews tells the paper that not all cheese is the same: "You want to use provolone or mozzarella."
The State Journal reports that the Wisconsin Legislature's Black and Latino Caucus is inviting white lawmakers who represent districts with a majority of minorities to participate in its meetings. The group is not yet allowing them full membership. The state has 12 districts where a majority of constituents are ethnic minorities, but only six of them are represented by minorities.
