Wednesday, 4.14
A meteor weighing about a ton burns up in the skies over Wisconsin, sending meteor hunters scrambling to look for cool space rocks.
Thursday, 4.15
Thousands of Tea Party activists gather on Capitol Square to hear former Gov. Tommy Thompson announce he won't run for U.S. Senate (see column, page 10) and cluck about the nation's descent into totalitarianism (see Bill Lueders' report).
Madison resident James Larry, 32, is charged in Chicago with four counts of murder for allegedly killing his pregnant wife, infant son and two nieces.
Spectrum Brands - formerly known as Rayovac - says it's bringing its corporate headquarters back to Madison, six years after moving to Atlanta. Welcome home.
Friday, 4.16
Dane County Judge Juan B. Colas rules in favor of the city, saying the county cannot set 911 center policy without the consent of the facility's governing board. The lawsuit arose when the county implemented an automated system for non-emergency calls and parking enforcement in February.
Monday, 4.19
Columbia County Circuit Court Judge Daniel S. George sentences state Rep. Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls) to 45 days in jail and revokes his driver's license for drunk driving. Wood must report to jail next Monday, allowing him to finish the current legislative session. Wood still faces two other driving-under-the-influence charges from 2009.
The Madison school board restores funding for two Safe Haven programs at Lindbergh and Penn Park schools. The programs, which cost a combined $36,000, were to be cut to help plug a budget shortfall.
Tuesday, 4.20
A jury acquits Raul Romero-Ortega and Joshua Carrasquillo on charges of murdering German Gonzalez on Madison's east side in 2004. Romero-Ortega is returned to federal prison, where he is serving an 11-year sentence for drug dealing; Carrasquillo is freed.
The Wisconsin Women's Council releases a study showing that the income gap between men and women grew slightly in 2009. On average, women earn 81 cents for every $1 men make.
The Madison Common Council elects Ald. Mark Clear over Ald. Marsha Rummel as its new president in an 11-to-8 vote. Ald. Lauren Cnare is unanimously elected president pro-tem.
The Dane County Board reelects Supv. Scott McDonell as its chair by a 24-to-13 vote over Supv. Dave Ripp.
Wednesday, 4.21
An effort to expel Rep. Jeff Wood from the state Assembly is tabled by a 49-to-48 vote. But the Assembly does vote 73 to 24 to censure Wood, who is not seeking reelection in November and will continue to receive his salary and benefits.
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen reports that the state has caught up on a backlog of 1,785 DNA samples waiting to be tested at Wisconsin's crime laboratories. He says new cases are now completed within 60 days.
Compiled (in part) from local media
