Thursday, 5.8
A whooping crane chick hatches in the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge. Wildlife biologists are excited but admit that the bird will have a low chance of survival because of predators. "The cranes are due for a good year," biologist Brad Strobel tells the Wisconsin State Journal. "We've been struggling with reproduction for several years."
U.S. District Judge Rudolph Randa again halts a John Doe investigation into allegations of illegal campaign coordination by Republicans and conservative groups during recall elections, dismissing an appeal to his earlier ruling to stop it. Legal experts later say the case might end up before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The state Department of Public Instruction releases data from 2013 showing that a higher percentage of Madison high school students are graduating in four years, climbing from 74.6% in 2012 to 77.3% in 2013. However, racial disparities in Madison are worse than in other parts of the state. Only 52.8% of African American students graduated after four years in 2013 -- a slight decrease from the year before. Poor students also struggle, with only 56.2% graduating in four years. In all categories, Madison students graduated at lower rates than those statewide.
The U.S. Senate confirms Madison lawyer James Peterson to a federal judge seat, which has been vacant since Judge John Shabaz went on medical leave in 2008.
Saturday, 5.10
Gov. Patrick Lucey, who was elected to two terms as Wisconsin governor and was an independent candidate for vice president in 1980, dies in Milwaukee. He was 96.
Monday, 5.12
Dane County Circuit Judge Nicholas McNamara sentences Phillip Rowin, 77, of Sun Prairie to five years in prison for possessing and sharing child pornography.
Tuesday, 5.13
The Fitchburg Common Council votes to keep Nine Springs Golf Course a golf course for at least another year instead of turning it into a park.
The Rev. Bruce Burnside, 60, pleads guilty to killing Maureen Mengelt, 52, in April 2013 with his car as she was jogging in Sun Prairie. Burnside, a former Lutheran bishop, was drunk at the time and on his way to deliver a sermon.
Wednesday, 5.14
The State Journal reports that the state Department of Natural Resources may eliminate antlerless deer permits in the northern portion of the state because so many deer have died over the previous two harsh winters. The DNR's Kevin Wallenfang says, "It's going to be a regrowth period."
