Wednesday, 10.23
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Madison police officer Stephen Heimsness retired from the force on Oct. 14, after being approved for state disability retirement. Heimsness has been mostly inactive from the force since he shot and killed Paul Heenan last November on the near east side.
Thursday, 10.24
The Madison Police and Fire Commission announces it will conduct an open search for the city's next police chief, meaning it will accept applications from around the country, not just from within the police department.
Brian Stowe pleads guilty to photographing a 17-year-old girl while she was unconscious in his bed last year, but denies that he drugged her. He faces at least 15 years in prison, but possibly as many as 30. Stowe also faces numerous charges in Dane County court for allegedly taking sexually explicit pictures of other women, some of them coworkers at Epic, while they were unconscious.
Rob Zerban announces he will try again to unseat U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Janesville) in 2014. Ryan, the GOP star thought to be considering a run for president, beat Zerban last year 55% to 43%.
Friday, 10.25
Sun Prairie police report that 5-year-old Brayden Turnbill, who was injured earlier in the week, has died, and that they are investigating it as a homicide. Police later report that they are holding Dakota Black, the boyfriend of Turnbill's mother, as a suspect.
Downtown businessman Gus Paras buys the Orpheum Theater ahead of a Nov. 5 foreclosure auction, blocking at least one other party, Frank Productions, that was interested in buying it. (See Joe Tarr's report.)
Saturday, 10.26
Buraka serves its final meals at 543 State St. The Ethiopian restaurant has been forced to close because an apartment project will displace its building. The owners continue to look for a new location.
Tuesday, 10.29
Ernie Wittwer, a former state Department of Transportation employee, announces he's running as a Democrat for the state Senate seat currently held by Dale Schultz (R-Richland Center), one of the few legitimate GOP moderates in the state Legislature. Schultz is also being targeted from the right, with state Rep. Howard Marklein planning to run in the Republican primary against him.
The state Department of Public Instruction reports that 79% of the 500 students using the state's new voucher program to attend private schools were enrolled in private schools before the program began.
