Wednesday, 1.25
Gov. Scott Walker gives his second State of the State address, boasting about his accomplishments, which he says include balancing the budget and lowering the unemployment rate. "We are turning things around," he said. "We are heading in the right direction." Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca has a different view: "What we didn't hear tonight - which is the truth - is that the state of our state is divided and broken."
Thursday, 1.26
Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm details charges that while Gov. Scott Walker was Milwaukee County executive, his aides used a secret computer system to conduct political work while on the government clock. Walker denies he knew about the system, saying, "people will see that our integrity remains in place."
The state Assembly approves a bill that would streamline the permitting process for iron mines. The bill, now before the Senate, is being considered on behalf of a controversial $1.5 billion iron mine south of Ashland.
The Dane County Community Development Block Grant Commission agrees to give the National Mustard Museum in Middleton more time to pay off its $200,000 loan, deferring principal and interest for one year. However, the commission asks the museum to fulfill the loan requirement that it employ 10 people. The museum currently has two and a half full-time-equivalent positions.
State Rep. Fred Clark (D-Baraboo) introduces a bill that would close a loophole in the new state concealed carry law that allows people to carry guns in freestanding preschools and kindergartens.
Sunday, 1.29
State Sen. Frank Lasee (R-De Pere) announces he's withdrawing from the race to replace U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl this fall. State Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, former U.S. Rep. Mark Neumann and former Gov. Tommy Thompson are fighting for the chance to run against the likely Democratic nominee, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin.
Tuesday, 1.31
The state Government Accountability Board begins posting recall petitions online despite privacy concerns over releasing people's addresses, especially for those who have been victims of domestic violence. Kevin Kennedy, GAB director and general counsel, says, "Few processes in the electoral system or elsewhere are more public than the signing of recall petitions against state-elected officials. Petition signers chose to participate in the public process of initiating a recall election of the governor as well as other officeholders." Because the forms aren't searchable, potential stalkers will have to sort through hundreds of thousands of pages to find a name.
Wednesday, 2.1
Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance releases a report showing that since 2005, the state has been losing more and more residents. The study says the cumulative loss of income from people leaving the state in the past decade was $8 billion.
Compiled (in part) from local media.
