UP: Igor. The 130-pound bull mastiff is spared when a Dane County judge rules that he can spend the rest of his life at an animal sanctuary in northern Wisconsin. Igor had been condemned to death for mauling another dog at a park last summer, and for biting a couple of people. But local animal activists raised money for Igor's stay at the sanctuary.
DOWN: State lawmakers. Members of the state Legislature say they cannot prevent a scheduled 5.3% pay hike for themselves next year because state law bans sitting officeholders from changing their salaries. Legislators' salaries will rise $2,530, to $49,943 annually, during a time when the state faces a projected $5.4 billion deficit. So far, five lawmakers have declined the raise, including Sen. Jon Erpenbach (D-Middleton). Anyone else?
