Wednesday, 5.4
Republicans introduce separate bills to make carrying a concealed handgun legal in Wisconsin. One bill requires licenses (though no training) to carry a weapon; the other requires no licensing. Police officials and domestic abuse victims' advocates condemn the bills.
"Jelly" Jim Schroeder, a vendor at the Dane County Farmers' Market since it started in 1972, dies at age 87.
Thursday, 5.5
Democrats accuse the Republican Party of submitting hundreds to thousands of fraudulent signatures in its attempt to recall three Democratic senators. Some residents were allegedly told they were signing petitions to recall Gov. Walker or support education. Republicans say the Dems are nitpicking.
Friday, 5.6
Gov. Walker rescinds the layoff notices sent to assistant district attorneys around the state. The layoffs were ordered after the assistant DAs had refused to take the remaining six of 16 required furlough days. But the guv now says prosecuting crime is too great a priority.
Saturday, 5.7
The Wisconsin State Journal exposes a rift between Meriter hospital and UW Health over the UW's plans to build a community hospital on the far east side, even though Meriter has vacant beds. UW Health is developing 42 acres it bought at the American Center business park in 2005.
Sunday, 5.8
Frightful, a peregrine falcon living at MG&E's Blount generating station, hatches four chicks. Happy Mother's Day.
Monday, 5.9
Omar Tavizon-Ramos, a 21-year-old accused of killing two people in a drunk-driving accident on Easter in Janesville, escapes UW Hospital in a wheelchair the day before police were to take him into custody. Janesville police say they decided not to place a guard at Tavizon-Ramos' room because of the severity of his injuries. A search continues.
Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess extends the deadline for Waukesha County to recount votes in the election for state Supreme Court between Justice David Prosser and challenger JoAnne Kloppenburg. All other counties have finished their recounts, but Waukesha now has until May 26. The Government Accountability Board says it is not seeing significant changes in the tallies. In Dane County, both candidates picked up votes.
Police arrest Ayad N. Almutairi, a Saudi national, for disorderly conduct after he allegedly engaged in bizarre behavior at a downtown hotel. When a police dog detects the possible presence of explosives in the man's luggage, parts of the City-County and Public Safety buildings are evacuated. The bomb squad finds no bomb. The FBI later joins the investigation.
Tuesday, 5.10
Police arrest Barry Richardson, 24, for disorderly conduct after he allegedly dumps a 61-year-old canoeist who cannot swim into Lake Mendota at the UW-Madison Memorial Union Terrace. Richardson tells police he was "just trying to impress some girls." How'd that work out?
Wednesday, 5.11
The state announces that it's found $636 million in tax revenues it didn't know it had (hidden perhaps in a mattress somewhere). Republicans quickly say the new money shouldn't be used for new spending. Democrats urge that it go to reduce education cuts.
Compiled (in part) from local media
