UP: Scott Jensen. A state Court of Appeals overturns convictions for the former Assembly Speaker and his former aide, Sherry Schultz. It orders a new trial, saying a Dane county circuit judge wrongly excluded Jensen's testimony about his understanding of the use of state resources for campaigns. Jensen was convicted last year of felony misconduct in public office and for using his office for private benefit.
DOWN: WYOU and City Channel 12. Public access, government and educational cable channels receive a possible death blow when the state Senate votes 23-9 to pass an industry-backed cable franchise bill that will phase out funding for them after three years. State Sen. Russ Decker, the new Senate majority leader, says that's plenty of time to come up with other funding mechanisms. Too bad there wasn't time to work out this and other problems before passing the bill.