Wednesday, 9.12
State schools superintendent Tony Evers announces a $7 million budget initiative to pay for every high school junior in Wisconsin to take the ACT college entrance exam, beginning in 2014. The proposal would also use ACT exams to fulfill federal testing requirements. Says Evers: "We need to give our students and their families better resources to plan for study and work after high school."
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals files complaints with two federal agencies against UW-Madison researchers for allegedly violating the Animal Welfare Act in tests on a cat in 2008. According to PETA, a steel post was inserted in the cat's head, steel coils in its eyes, and electrodes in its brain. The animal was later killed.
Friday, 9.14
Dane County Circuit Judge William Foust appoints Milwaukee attorney John Wirth receiver of a Wisconsin Funeral Home Directors Association fund, which is facing a $21 million shortfall. The fund is for the safekeeping of money customers paid in advance for their funerals.
Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas rules that many of Gov. Scott Walker's labor reforms are unconstitutional and invalidates large parts of Act 10. Union leaders praise the decision, which is being appealed, while Walker calls Colas a "liberal activist judge from Dane County." Aw, you don't really mean that, do you, governor?
Monday, 9.17
Three UW-Madison students are charged with substantial battery for an alleged assault on Badgers running back Montee Ball on University Avenue on Aug. 1. The attack left Ball with a mild concussion. One of the alleged attackers told a witness that Ball had "jumped" him the week before.
Tuesday, 9.18
The State Journal reports that legislators and lobbyists are again working on simplifying the state's iron mine permitting process. Democrats and Republicans are apparently working on competing bills, which are likely to be submitted in January. Sen. Tim Cullen (D-Janesville), chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Mining, says compromise will be tough. "There is an element in this state that says, 'No mining at all.' And there is a strong element that says, 'Let's go tomorrow.'"
Wednesday, 9.19
The State Journal reports that Wisconsin is considering collecting even more DNA samples of convicted criminals. Current law requires anyone convicted of a felony to submit a DNA sample. The Department of Justice is also considering collecting DNA from adults convicted of misdemeanor crimes, which would increase the number of samples collected each year by 68,000.
Compiled, in part, from local media.
