Tuesday, 12.29
State Sen. Glenn Grothman (R-West Bend) says he's working on a bill to strip Madison's ability to set its own plowing and salting policies. "This is what happens when you have a city with politicians whose base is people who walk to their job at the co-op," Grothman tells the Wisconsin State Journal. "I'm exaggerating a little bit, but you know what I mean."
Police evacuate the state Capitol after a bomb threat but find nothing. State workers take the opportunity to walk to the co-op. We're exaggerating a little bit.
The UW Badgers football team upsets the Miami Hurricanes in the Champs Bowl, 20-14. Hooray.
The Dane County Deputy Sheriff's Association ratifies a new contract that includes a 3% pay cut for 2010, a wage freeze for 2011, and a 3% pay hike beginning with the last paycheck in 2011.
Friday, 1.1
Two women related by marriage, Tammy K. Kail, 46, and Shelley J. Nelson, 46, are found dead in separate apartments in a building on Madison's east side. Police investigate the deaths, but the coroner says they do not appear violent in nature.
Police search for a man who shot a woman in the knee at a party at 6205 Hammersley Rd. early in the morning. The 29-year-old woman's injury was not serious.
Saturday, 1.2
UW drastically scales back its SAFEride program, which offers free, late-night cab rides to students. The program went 50% over budget last year. Students can now get only six free rides per semester, instead of four per month.
Monday, 1.4
State Rep. Jeff Wood (I-Chippewa Falls), accused of driving under the influence three times, asks a legislative committee overseeing a disciplinary hearing for more time to prepare a defense.
Tuesday, 1.5
The Madison Common Council reconsiders the Landmarks Commission's rejection of the Edgewater Hotel project, but refers action on it until its Feb. 23 meeting. See story here.
Fitchburg Police arrest Dwayne R. Johnson for allegedly beating a puppy to death with a flashlight during an argument with his girlfriend. The puppy, a 4- to 6-week-old pit bull, died of "massive head trauma as well as rib fractures."
Wednesday, 1.6
The media go gaga over a proposal by state Sen. Jim Sullivan (D-Wauwatosa) to make cheese the state's official snack. Already, corn is the official state grain, cranberry the official state fruit, milk the official beverage, and overweight the official state body type.
Compiled (in part) from local media
