Wednesday, 1.4
Dane County Circuit Judge Stephen Ehlke decides that a 41-year-old man already serving time for possession of child pornography won't have to spend more time in jail for attempting to buy an 8-year-old girl for sex. Instead, Ehlke sentenced Paul M. Ketring of Verona to 20 years of probation after he finishes his 7-1/2-year federal prison term, which he began serving last February. "My main concern is that Mr. Ketring be supervised so that no child is put at risk," Ehlke says.
Thursday, 1.5
The State Bar of Wisconsin announces that it eliminated nine staff positions in order to close a budget deficit. The bar, which has more than 24,000 members, now has 86 full-time employees.
Friday, 1.6
John Chadima, senior associate athletic director at UW-Madison, is placed on administrative leave after alleged misconduct during the Badger football team's trip to the Rose Bowl. Chadima resigns the next day, and the university later names a panel to review the accusations, which have not been made public.
Monday, 1.9
Gov. Walker announces he's creating a council to help prepare students for college and careers. Critics point out that the governor just cut funding for technical colleges by $71 million and reduced funding for the UW System by $250 million.
The Madison Cultural Arts District, which formerly oversaw operation of the Overture Center, is divided during a meeting on whether or not to dissolve itself and sets another meeting for Feb. 21. Mayor Paul Soglin asks the committee to remain active "as we don't know all the options necessary to keep Overture sustainable."
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that a Republican-sponsored bill designed to help start an iron mine in northern Wisconsin would increase administrative costs for mining projects from half a million to $3.8 million a year.
Tuesday, 1.10
Burglars steal about 25 packets of a synthetic substance - which some people smoke to get a buzz similar to marijuana - from a convenience store on South Gammon Road. The substance is sold as incense under names like Mad Hatter and Kryptonite. According to a police news release, "Officers found a trail of packets from the store to where it ended, probably where the burglars got into a vehicle."
Wednesday, 1.11
An accident on Milwaukee Street ruptures a tanker truck, which begins leaking fuel. Fire crews attempt to keep the fuel from entering stormwater drains.
State Rep. Kelda Helen Roys begins circulating a resolution calling for the ouster of state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman, for presiding over cases involving a law firm that represented him for free.
Compiled, in part, from local media.
