Wednesday, 12.14
Thermo Fisher Scientific announces it is moving its Two Rivers plant, which makes laboratory furniture and employs about 200 people, to Texas.
Thursday, 12.15
Organizers of the effort to recall Gov. Walker announce that they have collected over half a million signatures, more than 90% of the 540,208 needed to force a recall election. State Democratic Party chair Mike Tate said the number of people who have signed would fill Lambeau Field seven times, but adds, "We'd like to fill Lambeau a few more times." See Judith Davidoff's report.
Friday, 12.16
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that Madison's Virent Inc. has landed a multi-year contract to produce plastic bottles for Coca-Cola entirely from plant-based materials. "It shows that we can get our technology in front of these 'tier one' type of companies," says Randy Cortright, the company's co-founder.
Monday, 12.19
Solidarity Sing-Along holds forth at noon in the Capitol Rotunda in defiance of new rules that require groups of four or more people gathering in the Capitol to get a demonstration permit. Police did not enforce the new rules. See here.
Tuesday, 12.20
The Madison school board votes 5-2 to reject a proposal for the Madison Preparatory charter school. Supporters say they'll consider opening it as a private school or lobbying the state Legislature to authorize the charter school. "I can assure you we will persist with this idea of closing the achievement gap," says David Cagigal, president of the Madison Prep board. See the op-ed and Nathan J. Comp's report.
Madison's Department of Civil Rights releases a report finding no evidence that Ald. Brian Solomon sexually harassed assistant city clerk Elena Berg at work. It did recommend that the city adopt a policy regarding alders socializing with city employees.
The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign calls for an ethics investigation of state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, who received free legal services from the law firm Michael Best & Friedrich. Gableman twice cast deciding votes in favor of clients represented by the firm, including one upholding Gov. Walker's decision to strip state workers of their bargaining rights.
Madison City Attorney Michael May announces that a lawsuit brought by the "Culver's Five" who were ticketed for openly carrying guns last year has been settled for $10,000. See here.
Gov. Walker announces that he's exempted the Department of Justice from some budget cuts in order to preserve money for organizations that help victims of sexual assault.
Wednesday, 12.21
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that tests have found more contamination from an industrial carcinogen in the east-side neighborhood around the Madison-Kipp plant. "What we're seeing in that soil is pretty concerning," says John Hausbeck, environmental health services supervisor with Public Health Madison and Dane County.
Compiled (in part) from local media.
