5.15 Thursday
The Brighter Life Living Facility, a group home less than a block away from Lapham Elementary, decides not to accept Mark Staskal, 44. Staskal had been scheduled for release from Mendota Mental Health Institute, where he has lived since killing his sister in 1984.
5.16 Friday
Gov. Jim Doyle vetoes parts of a bill to close the state's $527 million budget gap. Doyle takes $103 million from the state's road fund and blocks an attempt to delay school aids. The Wisconsin State Journal, which crusaded for a constitutional amendment to rein in the guv's "Frankenstein" veto powers, notes that these powers remain largely intact. Call it the Return of Frankenstein.
5.19 Monday
About 80 people attend a public hearing in Fitchburg on the Dane County 911 Call Center. They voice concerns about the call center's location technologies, staffing issues and procedures. County and 911 Center officials do not attend.
A woman is abducted at knifepoint from the 4600 block of Atticus Way. Police later find her safe and arrest Anthony Steele, 48. Steele is believed to have known the woman.
Vicente Rea, 36, makes his first court appearance on charges of misconduct in office and fraud. Rea allegedly sold phony driving permits and a state identification card while he worked at the Division of Motor Vehicles' east-side service center. He was arrested in Minnesota earlier this month, after eluding capture for nearly two years.
The Madison Cosmetology Center closes its doors, citing low enrollment. About 30 students attended the school.
Gov. Jim Doyle appoints state Sen. Roger Breske (D-Eland) as the new railroad commissioner. Breske replaces Rodney Kreunen, who served as commissioner for 12 years.
5.20 Tuesday
Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announces that local governments here will share $1.4 million in federal disaster aid after this year's nightmarish winter. The city of Madison will get about $493,000, and Dane County will get $172,000 to cover the cost of snow removal and other expenses.
Wisconsin Public Radio confirms that it is no longer using volunteers to staff the phones during its pledge drives. The station, worried about possible identity theft of its donors, says it will hire a call center instead. No incidents of identity theft have occurred.
UW Hospital's Med Flight begins "confidence flights," which are trips for crewmembers without any passengers. Med Flight has been grounded since a crash killed three crewmen near La Crosse.
The Madison Common Council confirms Kevin Briski as the city's new parks superintendent and Dave Gawenda as its new treasurer.
5.21 Wednesday
The National Transportation Safety Board releases an initial report that gives no explanation for the crash of the UW Hospital Med Flight helicopter. The report says the helicopter was in compliance with federal regulations.
Compiled from local media