Wednesday 7.18
James Winch, 55, a Dane County lawyer, is arrested on charges of possessing child pornography. Winch allegedly sent email with pornographic attachments; police say they found pornographic videos and DVDs in his home.
Thursday 7.19
Jeff Erlanger, a Madison community activist, is posthumously awarded the Rev. James C. Wright Human Rights Award. Erlanger, a quadriplegic, died in June at age 36.
Friday 7.20
The Freedom From Religion Foundation announces it has booked Christopher Hitchens as keynote speaker for its convention in Madison this fall. Hitchens is the author of the best-selling God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.
Scott Hassick, head of the state Department of Natural Resources, steps down after five years. Gov. Jim Doyle appoints Matt Frank, head of the Department of Corrections, to replace him. Doyle also names Rick Raemisch, a former Dane County sheriff, as secretary of corrections.
Saturday 7.21
A record 700 people (with 350 canoes) take part in the annual Paddle & Portage race. Ken Koscik, 43, and Jim Delehanty, 58, finish in first place. The race includes a 1.5-mile paddle across Lake Mendota, a 1-mile portage across the isthmus, and another 1.5-mile paddle across Lake Monona.
Tuesday 7.24
Matthew Zindars, 21, of Watertown, is killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. Zinders is the 77th Wisconsin soldier to die in the war.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office says it is hoping to question Randall Kent Gobble, 40, in the disappearance of 50-year-old Francine Tate. Gobble stayed at Tate's home in the town of Windsor shortly before she disappeared. Police say Gobble is not a suspect. Gobble, a transient who has spent time in jail, is believed to be in Milwaukee. Tate was last seen leaving Mad City Church on East Washington Avenue on July 17.
Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz taps Brad Wirtz, a former labor relations specialist, to head the city's Human Resources Department. Wirtz replaces Roger Goodwin, who is retiring.
Wisconsin Democracy Campaign reports that special interest groups and candidates for Supreme Court spent a record-setting $5.8 million. Annette Ziegler, who won the seat, spent $1.45 million - more than the total for any previous state Supreme Court race.
Madison police conduct an undercover sting operation at a pedestrian crossing near Hilldale. They cite seven drivers for failing to yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk. Not yielding carries a fine of $140.
Wednesday 7.25
Dane County Supv. Kyle Richmond proposes a resolution calling for the state to audit the American Transmission Company. Richmond says the state should formally investigate whether the for-profit company, which is trying to build a controversial 345-kilovolt power line across Dane County, is acting in the public interest.
Compiled from local media