Thursday, 4.19
State Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announces that he is appealing court rulings that require the state to redraw two Milwaukee voting districts. Federal courts ruled that the districts were drawn in violation of the federal Voting Rights Act.
The State Journal reports that the Madison Police Department is developing a new precinct, tentatively dubbed the Midtown District, which would divide the large West District.
Friday, 4.20
In response to a new state law making it harder for women to obtain abortions, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin announces that it has suspended nonsurgical abortions. State Rep. Terese Berceau (D-Madison) says under the new law "a doctor could be fined thousands of dollars or put in prison for years if a woman who has a medication abortion fails to return within about two weeks for 'follow-up' care."
The Madison Assessor's Office mails out property assessments and reports that for the third straight year, the city's property values declined, with the average single-family home dropping 3%. Overall, residential property declined 2.7%, while commercial property rose 0.7%, mostly due to new construction. All property in the city is valued at $20.8 billion, a 1.6% drop from last year.
Saturday, 4.21
The Associated Press reports that Gov. Scott Walker quietly reinstated merit raises and bonuses for some state workers, a program that former Gov. Jim Doyle had suspended. The AP found that state agencies gave $765,000 in bonuses and raises to about 220 employees. Most unionized employees were ineligible.
The Associated Press reports that Wisconsin has issued 100,000 concealed-carry permits just six months after allowing people to carry concealed weapons. The state had anticipated 125,000 would be issued in the first year. Attorney General Van Hollen says, "I don't know that [the state] is safer, and I don't know that it's less safe."
Gov. Walker and the UW-Madison School of Nursing break ground on a $52 million building, Signe Skott Cooper Hall, which will open in 2014 on Highland Avenue.
Sunday, 4.22
The Department of Natural Resources reports that the state isn't fully enforcing phosphorus limits adopted two years ago to reduce algae blooms.
Monday, 4.23
The Madison school district releases a report showing that $43.6 million is needed to upgrade its buildings and that it should double the amount it spends annually on maintenance. About half of the district's buildings fall short of a B grade in maintenance.
Tuesday, 4.24
A fire causes an estimated $2 million in damage to the Causeway Centre office building at 900 John Nolen Drive. No injuries are reported.
Compiled, in part, from local media.
