Wednesday, 3.5
Mary Burke, Democratic candidate for governor, releases her first campaign ad, attacking Gov. Scott Walker's performance on job creation.
Friday, 3.7
Friends of Scott Walker, the governor's campaign organization, files a complaint against WXOW NEWS 19 for Mary Burke's ad, claiming it is "materially false and misleading" for asserting that unemployment has increased under Walker. PolitiFact agrees, giving Burke's ad the "pants on fire" rating.
A Dane County jury convicts Matthew and Alina Caminiti of child abuse for beating their children on their bare bottoms with wooden dowels. Matthew is the son of Philip Caminiti, who led the Aleitheia Bible Church in Black Earth and advised his congregation to beat their children, including infants.
Sunday, 3.9
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Madison Catholic Bishop Robert Morlino believes the media and others have "outrageously misinterpreted" Pope Francis' comments about abortion, homosexuality and other hot-button issues. "The mass media are trying to create a spirit of Pope Francis, just as they created a spirit of Vatican II," Morlino says. "Many Catholics fell for that the first time. I hope they won't fall for that again." Yeah, what a scam that Second Vatican Council was.
Tuesday, 3.11
The State Journal reports that six people have been arrested in connection to a violent burglary on Feb. 23, in which three men broke into a north-side home. The three allegedly sexually assaulted and beat a pregnant woman and her husband and then robbed them. Interim police chief Randy Gaber tells the paper: "In my 27-plus years of policing in Madison, this is probably one of the most disturbing and heinous crimes I have ever seen."
The human-rights group Voice Project launches a video supporting the Solidarity Sing Along protests and featuring comments from two members of Pussy Riot, the celebrated Russian art-punk rock collective. See Judith Davidoff's report.
Wednesday, 3.12
The state Senate passes a bill that would end voting the weekend before a statewide election, limiting early voting to weekdays in the two weeks prior to an election. Says Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville) of his Republican colleagues: "If you can't win them over with policies and ideas and candidates, you suppress their turnout." The Senate also approves a measure that allows lobbyists to make donations earlier in election years. You know, because it's more convenient.
