UP: Cougars. The state Department of Natural Resources is developing a plan for dealing with wild cougars as the animals return to the state after a century. The DNR has confirmed three wild cougars living in Wisconsin in the past two years, and there have been many more unconfirmed sightings. Wildlife officials hope the plan will minimize conflicts with humans but may be behind the curve. On Saturday, a cougar reportedly attacks a 1-year-old heifer in Juneau County.
UPPER: The Edgewater hotel. The redevelopment project finally won several approvals from the Madison Common Council this week, moving the project forward (see story).
DOWN: Payday lenders. Gov. Doyle uses his powerful partial veto to bar the payday loan industry from requiring people to use their cars as collateral for loans. "Wisconsin is one of the few states in the nation that had not enacted meaningful payday lending reform," Doyle wrote.
