Tuesday, 2.17
U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb strikes down rules barring Wisconsin judges from joining political parties and soliciting campaign contributions. Now judges can openly shake down partisans whose interests they serve. That's progress.
Wednesday, 2.18
Madison police arrest an 18-year-old Fitchburg man for riding a bus with what turned out to be a BB gun tucked into his waistband.
Thursday, 2.19
Madison police arrest two youths, ages 15 and 16, for brandishing a BB gun at a downtown hotel. What, is Toys R Us having a sale?
Waunakee resident Michael T. Unger, 24, gets six months in jail for a hit-and-run accident involving a pedestrian in February 2008. Unger said he thought he'd hit a deer.
Courtney M. Cowins, 28, is ordered to stand trial on seven felony counts for a brutal rape in 2006, to which he's linked by DNA. He pleads not guilty.
Friday, 2.20
Margaret Hiebing, 54, files a federal civil rights lawsuit against three UW-Madison police officers who Tasered her repeatedly during a football game at Camp Randall. Police claim Hiebing was disruptive and gave her a citation for disorderly conduct, later dismissed. Hiebing says police used excessive force.
Sunday, 2.22
Wisconsin State Journal reporter Jason Stein wins a national award from the American Society of Newspaper Editors for his series on endangered Native American languages. Hoka hey!
Monday, 2.23
Mark Vivian, a mayoral candidate in Fitchburg, advances to the general election against Ald. Jay Allen after his name is pulled from a hat. No kidding. Vivian tied for second place in the primary with Marc Jones, and this is the statutory method of resolving ties.
Tuesday, 2.24
Jeremy Quam, 27, of Stoughton, is charged with nine felonies and two misdemeanors, for which he faces a total of 181 years in prison, for allegedly taking part in a marijuana growing operation while on probation for another drug crime. Quam purportedly told police he "only made $50 to $100 a pound." Why do you think they call it dope?
Wednesday, 2.25
In the early morning hours of a meeting that began Tuesday night, the Madison Common Council votes 11-8 to raise cash fares for buses from $1.50 to $2, overruling the city's Transit and Parking Commission. The vote comes after several hours of debate and public testimony, mainly from opponents of the hike. The meeting ends at 1 am, too late for those who stayed to catch a bus home.
Compiled (in part) from local media