The process is simple, efficient and recycles otherwise-wasted energy into a useable form.

“This study provides a simple and cost-effective technology for direct water splitting that may generate hydrogen fuels by scavenging energy wastes such as noise or stray vibrations from the environment,” the authors write in a new paper, published March 2 in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. “This new discovery may have potential implications in solving the challenging energy and environmental issues that we are facing today and in the future.”

The researchers, led by UW-Madison geologist and crystal specialist Huifang Xu, grew nanocrystals of two common crystals, zinc oxide and barium titanate, and placed them in water. When pulsed with ultrasonic vibrations, the nanofibers flexed and catalyzed a chemical reaction to split the water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

When the fibers bend, asymmetries in their crystal structures generate positive and negative charges and create an electrical potential. This phenomenon, called the piezoelectric effect, has been well known in certain crystals for more than a century and is the driving force behind quartz clocks and other applications.

Xu and his colleagues applied the same idea to the nanocrystal fibers. “The bulk materials are brittle, but at the nanoscale they are flexible,” he says, like the difference between fiberglass and a pane of glass.

Smaller fibers bend more easily than larger crystals and therefore also produce electric charges easily. So far, the researchers have achieved an impressive 18 percent efficiency with the nanocrystals, higher than most experimental energy sources.

In addition, Xu says, “because we can tune the fiber and plate sizes, we can use even small amounts of [mechanical] noise – like a vibration or water flowing – to bend the fibers and plates. With this kind of technology, we can scavenge energy waste and convert it into useful chemical energy.”

Rather than harvest this electrical energy directly, the scientists took a novel approach and used the energy to break the chemical bonds in water and produce oxygen and hydrogen gas.

“This is a new phenomenon, converting mechanical energy directly to chemical energy,” Xu says, calling it a piezoelectrochemical (PZEC) effect.

The chemical energy of hydrogen fuel is more stable than the electric charge, he explains. It is relatively easy to store and will not lose potency over time.

With the right technology, Xu envisions this method being useful for generating small amounts of power from a multitude of small sources – for example, walking could charge a cell phone or music player and breezes could power streetlights.

“We have limited areas to collect large energy differences, like a waterfall or a big dam,” he says. “But we have lots of places with small energies. If we can harvest that energy, it would be tremendous.”

The new paper is co-authored by graduate student Kuang-Sheng Hong, research scientist Hiromi Konishi and mechanical engineering professor Xiaochun Li, all at UW-Madison. Xu’s research is supported by grants from the UW-Madison Graduate School, National Science Foundation, NASA Astrobiology Institute and the U.S. Department of Energy.

Posted @ 8:00 a.m.

Madison, WI  – The Republican Party of Wisconsin has launched a new web site aimed at improving access and ease of use for grassroots activists. The new wisgop.org includes an interactive county parties map, information and links to websites and social networks for Republican candidates for elected office, and new focus on updated social networks.

“The new wisgop.org is a result of suggestions and feedback from online users and will provide easier access to our vibrant social networks,” according to Reince Priebus, Chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsin.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin has been focusing on increasing activity over social networks for the past year, including Facebook, Twitter, and You Tube. The Wisconsin GOP is now in the top three state parties in the nation for both Facebook fans and Twitter followers.

“Facebook, Twitter, and an interactive web site have helped get us in touch with voters in a new and interactive way,” Priebus said. “Our new website and updated social networks will further enhance discussion on blog posts, Facebook updates and tweets. More online interaction helps ensure we’re listening to the pulse of the Wisconsin people and getting our message of fiscal responsibility and job creation out to voters.”

The Republican Party of Wisconsin’s new web site is located at http://www.wisgop.org. Online visitors may follow the WISGOP on Twitter at http://twitter.com/wisgop, become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/wisgop, or watch WISGOP videos on You Tube at http://www.youtube.com/wisgop.

Posted @ 6:00 a.m.

Madison, WI– An attempt to repeal the automobile insurance changes in the state budget is bad news for Wisconsin auto consumers. Those in favor of the repeal say legislators were warned that premiums would rise on average between 33 and 43 percent if these changes were made, but those claims were rebuffed by the insurance industry themselves.

At a public hearing last November that sought repeal of the automobile insurance changes, a question was asked about the alleged premium increase. Andy Franken, representing the Wisconsin Insurance Alliance backed away from the number saying they “have not put out any documents or studies post-Act 28 that reference premium increases at any percentage.”

“This repeal looks like a great gift to the insurance companies, “ said Paul Gagliardi, President of the Wisconsin Association for Justice. “There is absolutely no justification for this give-away to the insurance companies.”

“The U.S. Insurance Industry has trillions of dollars in assets and enjoys average profits of over $30 billion a year. The Consumer Federation of America found that consumers of property/casualty insurance receive only 55 cents back from every premium dollar spent, a 20 percent reduction over the past 20 years. The Insurance Industry pays its CEO’s more than any other industry with CEO’s in the top ten property/casualty companies earning an average of $8.9 million in 2007,” said Gagliardi.

Gagliardi provided the example of Allstate, a major insurance company that is publicly traded. “Even though Allstate lost money in 2008, the top five executives at Allstate had their salaries and bonuses increased to over $60 million. To attend meetings, the eleven directors had their average pay increased, going up to $150,000 – $170,000 per year in stock options and base pay from $40,000 – $70,000 in 2007. In the first half of 2009 Allstate’s consolidated revenue was up 14% from 2008. Net income as compared to the first 6 months of 2008 was up 15.56 times ($389 million from $25 million),” stated Gagliardi

“Protecting automobile consumers should be the top priority of legislators. The Truth in Automobile Insurance legislation did that. They are protecting millions of Wisconsin consumers today. The law should not be altered to take away consumer rights just to increase insurance profits,” stated Gagliardi.

For additional information on the Truth in Auto Insurance Law, go to www.wisjustice.org/facts.

The Wisconsin Association for Justice stands with consumers to promote a fair and effective justice system for every citizen, not just the privileged and wealthy.

Posted @ 4:00 a.m.

Roberta Gassman

Madison, WI – Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman has announced  that Wisconsin added jobs (seasonally adjusted) for the first time since October 2009.

“We are hopeful that we have seen a bottoming of the labor market in Wisconsin, and are seeing signs of economic recovery,” Secretary Gassman said. “Wisconsin’s unemployment rate remains below the national average in this mid-winter period when rates are typically highest. Even so, many hardworking Wisconsin families continue to bear the brunt of the national recession. We are working hard to help people return to work and grow the economy.”

Current employment statistics – seasonally adjusted – show Wisconsin experienced a net gain of 5,600 jobs in January 2010. The largest gains were in manufacturing, administrative and support services, and health care. A net gain in jobs occurred in only five other months in Wisconsin since the national recession began in December 2007.

The January 2010 seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Wisconsin was 8.7 percent, up slightly from the December rate of 8.5 percent. The January 2009 rate was 7.1 percent. The national seasonally adjusted January 2010 rate was 9.7 percent, down slightly from 10.0 percent in December. The U.S. January 2009 rate was 7.7 percent.

The state unemployment rate (not seasonally adjusted) for January 2010 was 9.6 percent, up from 8.3 percent in December. The January 2009 rate was 7.7 percent. The national rate for January was 10.6 percent, up from 9.7 percent in December. The U.S. January 2009 rate was 8.5 percent. Unemployment rate increases (not seasonally adjusted) in January are common in Wisconsin and other northern states, given seasonal factors.

The January 2010 decrease in jobs (not seasonally adjusted) is less than the typical decrease during the month of January. From December 2009 to January 2010, total Wisconsin non-farm jobs – not seasonally adjusted – decreased by an estimated 71,700 to 2,641,200. The typical decrease during the month of January is about 80,000 jobs. Job decreases (not seasonally adjusted) in January are also common in Wisconsin and other northern states, due to seasonal factors.

Posted @ 2:00 a.m.

Washington D.C. – The U.S. Department of Transportation today announced that the number of overall traffic fatalities reported at the end of 2009 reached the lowest level since 1954, declining for the 15th consecutive quarter. According to early projections, the fatality rate, which takes into account the number of miles traveled, reached the lowest level ever recorded.

“This is exciting news, but there are still far too many people dying in traffic accidents,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Drivers need to keep their hands on the steering wheel and their focus on the road in order to stay safe.”

The projected fatality data for 2009 places the highway death count at 33,963, a drop of 8.9 percent as compared to the 37,261 deaths reported in 2008. The fatality rate for 2009 declined to the lowest on record, to 1.16 fatalities per 100 million Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) down from 1.25 fatalities per 100 million VMT in 2008.

“This continuing decline in highway deaths is encouraging, but our work is far from over,” said National Highway Traffic Safety Administrator David Strickland. “We want to see those numbers drop further. We will not stop as long as there are still lives lost on our nation’s highways. We must continue our efforts to ensure seat belts are always used and stay focused on reducing distracted and impaired driving.”

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes the decline in 2009 to a combination of factors that include, high visibility campaigns like Click It or Ticket to increase seat belt use, and Drunk Driving. Over the Limit. Under Arrest which helps with the enforcement of state laws to prevent drunk driving and distracted driving. In addition, the decline is also the result of safer roads, safer vehicles and motorists driving less.

NHTSA annually collects crash statistics from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico to produce annual reports on traffic fatality trends. The agency intends to update 2009 estimates regularly as more data becomes available. The final counts for 2009 will be made available in the summer of 2010. To view the preliminary fatality statistics visit: http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811291.PDF

Posted @ 10:00 p.m.

Sen. Mary Lazich

Madison, WI- State Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) told a state Assembly committee today that legislation to repeal local ordinances that restrict where released sex offenders can congregate and live is dangerous.

“Assembly Bill 759 (AB 759) and Senate Bill 548 (SB 548) impose the greatest risk to children and families in the state of Wisconsin,” Lazich told the state Assembly Committee on Corrections and the Courts. “Eliminating local ordinances that allow local communities and local law enforcement to do their jobs to protect society would put all residents, particularly children, in danger.”

Lazich’s state Senate District 28 includes the city of Franklin. During 2007, Franklin enacted two landmark sex offender ordinances that prevailed over nine constitutional challenges during 2008. The Franklin ordinances have been the model for the state. Over 100 similar local ordinances now in effect would be nullified if proposed state legislation were to become law.

“The ability for law enforcement to fully and effectively do their job is severely hampered because AB 759 and SB 548 transfer the responsibility for community safety to the state,” said Lazich. “The state does not have the full and adequate understanding of the community. Local law enforcement does have that keen knowledge and expertise suited for their community.”

“AB 759 and SB 548 are gambling,” said Lazich. “It is gambling with lives of children and the lives of all Wisconsin residents. These two bills increase the chance of children and Wisconsin residents being killed by released sex offenders, and before they will be killed, they will be tortured. We should be making it more difficult for offenders to kill children, not easier for them to sexually and violently rape and kill our constituents. My bet and my gamble are with local law enforcement, local citizens, and local elected officials, not with the state.”

Posted @ 8:00 p.m.

Rep. Robin Vos

Madison, WI – Rep. Vos (R-Caledonia) released the following statement regarding the public hearing held today in the Assembly Transportation Committee on the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority Bill:

“Today’s hearing made one thing perfectly clear: Democrats want to ram through a plan that creates an unelected, unaccountable RTA to raise your taxes without a mandatory referendum.

“I don’t understand why, in this economy, they are so hell-bent on raising taxes on Wisconsin families. I look forward to joining other Republicans as we stand on the side of Wisconsin taxpayers, not on the side of special interests and their high-priced, powerful lobbyists.”

Posted @ 6:00 p.m.

The questionnaire seeks opinions on Wisconsin’s top rail trends, the issues affecting rail and the future level of state-funded investment.  The transportation department will use the results of the questionnaire to help make decisions about the future of freight, passenger and commuter rail in Wisconsin. The questionnaire is located at the plan Web site.

Public participation is encouraged throughout plan development.  For more information on Wisconsin’s statewide long-range rail plan and how to participate contact:  Wisconsin Rail Plan 2030, WisDOT Bureau of Planning & Economic Development, P.O. Box 7913, Madison, WI  53707; (608) 266-8108; email; or see the Web site.

Posted @ 3:36 p.m.

“Kevin and Michael’s dedication to the people of Wisconsin exemplifies the commitment to excellence that we look for throughout the Department of Justice,” said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. “I want to recognize the time and effort they put into completing this demanding certification process in order to better serve the people of Wisconsin.” Special Agent Heimerl has been employed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation – Arson Bureau since January 2004. After attending the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, receiving a BS in a double major of Criminal Justice and Political Science, Special Agent Heimerl spent 14 years with the Columbus County Sheriff’s Department, with 11 of those years as a Detective. While employed with Columbia County, he conducted fire investigations for the Sheriff’s Department, and assisted local fire departments with origin and cause investigations.

Special Agent Heimerl attended DCI’s Arson School for Law Enforcement in 1993. He has frequently attended the annual training seminar of the Wisconsin Chapter 25, IAAI for many years, and is a member of the IAAI. He has also attended the National Fire Academy’s course on Fire/Arson Investigation.

Special Agent Heimerl has been teaching various topics, to include Origin Determination and Fire Scene Preservation for the DCI Arson Bureau, and has presented this training to multiple local fire investigation task force groups throughout the state. Special Agent Michael Rindt has been in law enforcement for the past 16 years. Since 2004, he has been employed by the Wisconsin Department of Justice – Division of Criminal Investigation. Prior to working for the DOJ, he was employed by the Washington County
Sheriff’s Department. He held the duties of patrolman and detective while with Washington County.

Special Agent Rindt earned a BS Degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, majoring in Behavioral Science and Law.

Special Agent Rindt is a past director and current 2nd Vice President of the WI Chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators. In October of 2009, he became an Adjunct Instructor in Fire/Arson Investigation at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland.

Both Special Agents are currently Deputy Fire Marshals within the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Division of Criminal Investigation.

Posted @ 10:00 a.m.

Madison, WI – A no-cost alternative program for “at-risk” youth, the Wisconsin Challenge Academy is now accepting applications for its next class of cadets entering on July 22, 2010. Located at Fort McCoy, Wis., the Academy offers teens that are at risk of not graduating a chance to earn their High School Equivalency Diploma, learn essential job and life-coping skills and, most importantly, develop the strength of character to become responsible citizens.

To qualify for this program, which is no cost to families, applicants must be at least 16 years and nine months old but not yet 19, have dropped out of school, been expelled, or become at least a year behind in credits. Candidates must not have been convicted of a felony and cannot be on adult parole or probation at time of entry.

“If I didn’t come here, I probably would have kept going down the wrong road and landed in jail where my friends are,” a current Challenge Academy cadet said. “I needed to do something different and change my life, and this is a great way to start.”

For someone who has the desire to get his or her life back on the right path, the Challenge Academy may be a step in the right direction. Call the Admissions Department at (608) 269- 4605 for an application, or visit the Challenge Academy’s website at http://www.challengeacademy.org/.

Posted @ 9:00 a.m.

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton

Madison, WI – Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton issued the following statement in response to legislation, signed by President Obama last week, that extends U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) loan products enhanced by waiving borrower fees and offering higher guarantees to banks:

“Since the federal recovery act was signed by President Obama a year ago, Wisconsin boasts great success in capturing federal recovery dollars for small businesses here through the Small Business Administration. Small businesses provide a strong structural framework for our economy in Wisconsin. Support to ensure their viability contributes to economic stability and new job growth potential. This extension comes at a critical time, when demand is still high.

“It shouldn’t be such a struggle to secure loans small businesses count on traditionally to meet payroll, expand inventories, or grow in ways that create new jobs. This extension is limited and it is ‘first-come, first-serve.’ I urge Wisconsin business owners to talk to their local lender or our district SBA office about these extended programs today, before federal dollars run out. “

As part of the Recovery Act, SBA received $730 million, including $375 million to increase SBA guarantees on 7(a) loans to 90 percent and to waive borrower fees on most 7(a) and 504 loans. Funds for these programs were exhausted on Nov. 23; an additional $125 million was provided in December; those funds were exhausted in late February. The latest extension signed by President Obama authorizes the higher guarantee levels through March 28, 2010, for 7(a) loans. Fee relief is available until the additional funding is exhausted or September 30, 2010, whichever comes first.

Lt. Governor Lawton and SBA officials made 20 stops on a statewide tour to connect small businesses to these opportunities. Wisconsin is in the top tier for receiving federal recovery money to create and retain small business jobs.

For more information on the program extension visit: www.sba.gov/recovery.

Posted @ 7:00 a.m.

Gov. Jim Doyle

Madison, WI – Governor Jim Doyle today awarded $1.7 million in competitive grants to improve energy efficiency at six of the state’s leading manufacturers. The state’s Focus on Energy industrial grant program will provide grants to complete energy efficiency projects at BPM Incorporated, Briggs & Stratton Corporation, Georgia- Pacific Consumer Products, Mercury Marine, Procter & Gamble and Thilmany Papers.

“Wisconsin is working hard to help our manufacturers invest in energy efficiency technologies that reduce energy costs, improve their bottom line, and create and retain jobs,” Governor Doyle said. “Through these investments, we’ll help some of our biggest manufacturers invest in energy efficiency that will help them compete.”

These grants will help companies that are lacking access to capital in the current economic climate. Each grant will fund up to $500,000 or 50 percent of project costs for large energy efficiency projects that have been stalled due to lack of available internal capital. Projects must be completed by December 15, 2010 and were awarded to companies that scored the highest on several criteria, with an emphasis on energy cost-effectiveness.

Together, the grant recipients will save an estimated 12.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 1.1 million therms of natural gas annually – enough energy to power nearly 2,500 homes for a year and eliminate more
than 35 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) from being released into the atmosphere.

Last week, Governor Doyle announced the release of an independent evaluation that shows Wisconsin’s clean energy programs through Focus on Energy have added more than 5,000 jobs and more than $1.4 billion to
Wisconsin’s economy since the program began in 2001.

Governor Doyle has led major efforts to help Wisconsin manufacturers improve energy efficiency and invest in clean energy technologies. Wisconsin is the only state directing 100 percent of its state energy funds from the Recovery Act – more than $55 million – to help state manufacturers bring down their costs through energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. Through the state energy program, companies like Helios USA, Nature Tech, ZBB Energy Corporation, Renewegy and Cardinal Glass are already creating hundreds of jobs through these investments.

Governor Doyle has also laid out plans to continue building the state’s economy and create jobs, including establishing the Wisconsin Green to Gold Fund to help manufacturers reduce energy costs and create and retain jobs. The Governor has also called for passing the Clean Energy Jobs Act to create 16,000 jobs in the emerging clean energy economy and called for passing the CORE Jobs Act to build on successful economic development tax credit programs and strengthen programs for manufacturing, research and development, and worker training. Governor Doyle has worked hard to improve Wisconsin’s tax ranking and business climate. Today, Wisconsin ranks 30th in business taxes – well below the national average.

- BPM Inc of Peshtigo: will receive $227,700 to increase energy efficiency at its operation by replacing a fan pump on a paper machine; installing a double doctor system designed to remove water from the couch roll and decrease drying requirements; adding an innovative technology for freeness control across its main refiner; and installing an energy-efficient rotor on the main mill pulper for the facility. Overall, the project will save more than 1.4 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and 39,000 therms of natural gas annually – enough energy to power 191 homes for a year and save the manufacturer more than $189,000 on its annual energy costs.

- Briggs & Stratton Corporation of Wauwatosa: will receive $203,800 to install an innovative power regenerating system that would recapture some of the lost power generated during engine and generator endurance testing. By recovering this “waste” energy, the project will save more than 1.2
million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough energy to power 128 homes for a year and save the small engine and outdoor power equipment manufacturer more than $104,000 on its annual energy costs.

- Georgia-Pacific Consumer Products L.P. of Green Bay: will receive $125,000 to fund an aeration optimization project that will save more than 3.5 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually – enough energy to power 352 homes for a year and save the company more than $210,000 in annual energy costs.

- Mercury Marine of Fond du Lac: will receive $270,000 to install three centralized air collection systems
for its machining centers. These systems will allow clean, filtered air to be recycled inside the facility rather than treating the contaminated air and exhausting the treated air outside. The project will save more than 600,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity and 236,000 therms of natural gas each year – enough energy to power more than 300 homes for a year and save Mercury Marine more than $200,000 in annual energy costs.

- Procter & Gamble of Green Bay: will receive $441,204 to install medium voltage variable-frequency drives in two of its fans and modify a fan impeller in a third fan which together will increase fan efficiencies and reduce annual site power consumption by over 5.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
annually. This saves enough energy to power 571 homes for a year and save the manufacturer more than $327,000 on its annual energy costs. These measures will also slow down the fans and reduce noise in the fan room areas – contributing to a quieter workplace.

- Thilmany Papers of Kaukauna: will receive $500,000 to improve the thermal efficiency and water usage on its paper machines by upgrading several pieces of equipment, including replacing rotary siphons with stationary siphons on dryers; installing a high-efficiency separator; and adding a thermocompressor to capture blow-through steam and flash steam from dryer cans. Overall, the project will save 740,000 therms of natural gas annually – enough to power 760 homes for a year. The project will also help the mill reduce water usage by up to 1,300 gallons per minute.

Focus on Energy builds on the Governor’s energy efficiency and clean energy efforts through energy-saving programs for homes and businesses. In January, Governor Doyle announced that Focus on Energy has helped
Wisconsin residents and businesses save more than $268 million in annual energy costs. For more information on Focus on Energy, please visit focusonenergy.com.

Posted @ 4:25 p.m.

“In recent months, raw milk sales have been an increasingly contentious issue in Wisconsin and other states. There is a clear demand among some consumers and a clear desire on the part of some producers to open this market. But we also have a clear duty in the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection to protect public health, and the reputation of our vital dairy industry,” Nilsestuen said. “My goal in appointing this group is to recognize the many and varied interests within the milk production, manufacturing, and distribution system.”

Richard Barrows, a widely respected agricultural economist and retired Associate Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, will chair the group. The committee also includes: large, mid-size and small dairy farmers, both organic and conventional; large and small cheese makers and dairy processors; dairy veterinarians; consumers; and food safety and public health professionals. (See list below.)

Nilsestuen charged the group with conducting an open-minded review and discussion to decide whether raw milk sales should be allowed in Wisconsin, and if so, under what conditions. The Legislature will be advised of the committee’s recommendation. The group is expected to meet for the first time in the second half of February.

The group’s assignment will be to:

• Review the department’s statutory mission
• Examine current laws regulating dairy farms, milk and other dairy products, retail food sales, dairy product labeling, and the prohibition on selling raw milk to consumers
• Examine the current system of enforcing dairy regulations and consider public health needs
• Evaluate other states’ raw milk regulations
• Analyze ways that Wisconsin might allow sale of raw milk
• Recommend policy, program and/or regulatory recommendations related to retail sales of raw milk

“We need farms of all sizes and shapes in Wisconsin. I strongly support opportunities for dairy producers to diversify and increase their income, and I strongly support consumer freedom of choice ? but they must be informed consumers, and they must be informed producers,” Nilsestuen said.

Wisconsin law has required since 1957 that milk sold to consumers be pasteurized. Milk must go from farms to licensed dairy plants, and must meet strict quality standards even before pasteurization. Regardless of any action Wisconsin were to take, federal law would prohibit interstate sales of unpasteurized milk.

Pasteurization is a heating process that destroys potentially disease-causing organisms in milk, including E. coli 0157:H7, Campylobacter, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella. Effects from these bacteria range from nausea and diarrhea to kidney failure, miscarriage and other serious health impacts.

Working group members

• Dick Barrows, Chair,University or Wisconsin-Madison, Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (retired)
• Elizabeth Kohl, Facilitator, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Office of the Secretary
• Joe Weis,Foremost Farms, Baraboo (dairy cooperative)
• Melissa Hughes, Organic Valley,LaFarge (organic dairy cooperative)
• Vince Hundt, Farmer, Coon Valley
• Jeff Davis, MD, Wisconsin Department of Health Services
• Mike Gingrich, Uplands Cheese, Dodgeville
• Mark Zinniker, Farmer, Elkhorn
• Willy Lehner, Bleu Mont Cheese, Blue Mounds
• Patty Edelburg, Farmer, Scandinavia
• Shelly Mayer, Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin, Fond du Lac (farmers’ organization)
• James Baerwolf, Sassy Cow Creamery, Columbus
• Joe and Melinda Plasterer, Consumers, Madison
• Dale Grosskurth, Marathon County Public Health
• Steve Steinhoff, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Division of Food Safety (retired)
• Scott Rankin, Ph.D., UW-Madison, Department of Food Science
• Pam Ruegg,DVM, UW-Madison, Department of Dairy Science
• Brad Legreid, Wisconsin Dairy Products Association
• Kevin Krentz, Farmer
• Ted Galloway, Galloway Co., Neenah (producer of dairy ingredients)
• Dick Cates, farmer, Spring Green, also member of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Board and director of Wisconsin School for Beginning Dairy and Livestock Farmers

Posted @ 3:14 p.m.

The Luncheon is the agency’s largest fundraiser of the year and all proceeds go directly back to funding programs such as 1000 Words – Veterans Art Therapy, Youth anger Management and counseling for individuals and families.

Silent auction tables will feature over 100 items.  Super raffles such as Southwest airline tickets and a generous cash raffle add to the afternoon’s excitement.  Fox 6 News reporter, Bob Moore will again emcee this year’s event.  The luncheon is known for being a fast-paced, fun time to be had by all and this year will be even more special due to the celebratory nature of a 100^th anniversary.

Individual tickets for the luncheon are $40.00 and table sponsorship opportunities are still available. To order your tickets or for more information about the Families First Luncheon, contact Tammy Leverich at 262-634-2391 ext 101.

Family Service of Racine is a non-profit agency offering mental wellness counseling to over 2,000 persons annually.  Proceeds from the Families First Luncheon allow the agency to provide family strengthening programs to Racine’s under-served populations. The agency is funded in part by the United Way of Racine County, via contributions and donations and via contracts agreements.

Posted @ 8:00 a.m.

The approach, which is described in the March 9 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, can convert three-quarters of the sugars locked up in raw corn stover into simple, fermentable sugars, making it an attractive alternative to the enzyme-based approaches currently favored by biofuels researchers.

“Our chemical process is extremely efficient,” says Ron Raines, a UW-Madison professor of biochemistry and chemistry. “It also has marked advantages over the existing processes-both chemical or enzymatic-for producing sugars from biomass.”

Working under a strong federal mandate, scientists across the nation are developing next-generation biofuels from inedible plant materials such as corn stover, switchgrass and wood chips. Unlike most ethanol on the market today, these so-called cellulosic biofuels would not be derived from food sources, potentially reducing the stress on food systems. But the complex structure of plant material keeps cellulose’s energy-rich sugars locked up in tangled webs, making the process of converting it to fuel difficult. In recent years, scientists have been trying to find and engineer enzymes that can break down the sugars more efficiently, potentially opening the door to the commercial production of fuel from cellulose.

Raines’ chemical approach, which he developed with graduate student Joe Binder, a doctoral candidate in the chemistry department, on the other hand, relies on a mixture of an ionic liquid and dilute acid-both of which can slip past lignin-to dissolve the long chains of sugars in biomass and break them up into individual molecules of glucose and xylose.

Over the course of the reaction, they added water to the mixture to prevent unwanted byproducts from forming. After two rounds of such treatment, a sample of corn stover gave up about 70 percent of its glucose and 79 percent of its xylose, a 75 percent sugar yield overall. From there, the researchers used ion-exclusion chromatography to separate the sugars from the reaction mixture, as well as the ionic liquid, for reuse.

The sugar yields obtained using this method, says Raines, approach those achieved using enzymes to break down raw biomass. And chemicals, he notes, are more robust and less expensive than enzymes-and require no pretreatment of the biomass sample. “In the biofuels race,” says Raines, “I feel this sort of chemical approach has a good shot at winning.”

Raines and Binder subsequently used microbes to ferment the sugars they collected into ethanol. All told, says Raines, using this integrated process, they were able to convert half of the sugars available in plant biomass into liquid fuel.

To make it work at the industrial scale, however, a number of hurdles will need to be overcome, including the near-perfect recovery of the ionic liquid, which is expensive, in order to make the whole process economical. Nevertheless, says Raines, the technology is ready for the right entrepreneur.

“This work could have substantial short-term economic and political impacts,” he says.

Raines’ project was supported by the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, a U.S. Department of Energy bioenergy research center located at UW-Madison, as well as a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship awarded to Binder.

Posted @ 6:00 a.m.

Sen. Russ Feingold

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold announced today that the U.S. Army is recommending that Delafield native and Civil War Hero Alonzo Cushing be awarded the prestigious Congressional Medal of Honor.  In 2003, Feingold had helped a group of citizens, including several Wisconsinites, petition the Army to posthumously award the Medal of Honor to Cushing, who died at the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.  In a letter to Feingold, Secretary of the Army John McHugh stated that the Army recommended the decoration be given to Cushing, writing that he “clearly distinguished himself through his courageous actions.”

“This is a tremendous honor made possible by a group of devoted citizens with immense pride in Alonzo Cushing’s actions and Wisconsin history,” Feingold said.  “I am grateful to have been able to help secure this very prestigious and well-deserved honor for a Wisconsin hero who fought valiantly and gave his life for his country.”

“Since the erection of the Cushing Monument in Delafield, WI on May 31, 1915 by the Waukesha County Historical Society, the Cushing name has been permanently etched into the hearts of our community,” said Kirsten Lee Villegas, Executive Director of the Waukesha County Historical Society & Museum. “It is gratifying to see almost 100 years later the incredible honor being bestowed on a young man who died for his country at only 22 years of age. Alonzo H. Cushing’s recognition of heroic service though the Medal of Honor 147 years after his death in the Civil War serves as a very humbling reminder of those you have served and continue to serve as American patriots in service to our country. We are indeed grateful that this high honor has been bestowed on one of our hometown Waukesha County heroes by the United States Army.”

Created in 1861, the Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the U.S. government to service members for valor in action against an enemy force.  It is often presented by the President of the United States to the recipient, or in the case of posthumous awards, to the next of kin.  Recipients can be nominated in two ways – either by a service member in the chain of command or by a member of Congress, which then requires approval by a special act of Congress.

Read Feingold’s 2003 letter to the Army in support of the application to award Alonzo Cushing the Medal of Honor here.

Read Army Secretary John McHugh’s recent response recommending approval of the nomination here.

About Alonzo Cushing

Alonzo H. Cushing of Delafield, Wisconsin graduated from West Point Academy in 1861.  He fought in several Civil War battles, including the Battle of Bull Run, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Antietam and earned the rank of First Lieutenant.  At Antietam, he personally saved his battery from capture.

Cushing is probably best remembered for his action at Gettysburg.  At the height of “Pickett’s Charge,” Cushing’s battery was at the center of the rebel objective.  While defending Cemetery Ridge from the oncoming Confederate Army, Cushing was seriously wounded.  Despite his injuries and limited manpower, Cushing remained on the battlefield, staying to fight until he was struck down by enemy fire.  Cushing was buried with full honors at West Point.

Posted @ 7:00 p.m.

Governor Jim Doyle

Wauwatosa, WI – Governor Jim Doyle today signed into law Assembly Bill 614, the Health Care Transparency Bill. The Governor signed the bill at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and was joined by supporters of the bill and the bill’s Senate author Senator Jim Sullivan.

“Nowhere else are people asked to buy a product before they know what the price is,” Governor Doyle said.

“This bill is a practical step forward that will help people better understand what their health care costs are before making important health care decisions.”

The new law requires health care providers to disclose the cost of the most common procedures they perform. It will help consumers get price estimates prior to a procedure, help them make apples-to-apples comparisons on prices, and help them determine out-of-pocket costs prior to services occurring.

Since taking office in 2003, Governor Doyle has worked hard to make Wisconsin America’s health care leader. Under Governor Doyle’s leadership, Wisconsin now ranks second in the country in the percentage of people with access to health care and first in health care quality. Every Wisconsin child now has access to health care through Governor Doyle’s BadgerCare Plus plan. In addition, the Governor’s BadgerCare Plus Core Plan has provided standard health benefits for low income adults without dependent children – a program that now has a waiting list of more than 30,000 people due to budget limits. In January, Governor Doyle proposed a new, entirely self-funded health care plan called BadgerCare Plus Basic for those adults
on that waiting list.

Governor Doyle today called on the Legislature to quickly pass BadgerCare Plus Basic to help thousands of people on the Core waiting list purchase coverage that will provide basic care at no cost to taxpayers. The Basic plan, Senate Bill 484, will be paid for through a $130 monthly premium that enrollees pay, helping them see a doctor and get the medications they need.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Richards and Staskunas and Senators Sullivan and Cowles for their work on the bill.

Governor Doyle also signed Assembly Bill 165, which allows cities to broaden the property tax base subject to neighborhood improvement district special assessments for the purpose of economic development.

Governor Doyle thanked Representatives Richards and Zepnick and Senators Plale and Carpenter for their work on the bill.

Posted @ 6:15 p.m.

“Agricultural Enterprise Areas are part of Wisconsin’s Working Lands Initiative and provide a unique way to identify areas that will remain in agriculture which in turn slows the loss of farmland,” said Secretary Rod Nilsestuen, Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. “An AEA designation can encourage future agricultural development in areas that have support from the local community which can lead to economic development.”

In response to the first-ever call for petitions, the department received twelve requests for designation totaling 222,000 acres. More than 150 landowners, 25 city and town governments and 11 county governments signed the petitions submitted for consideration. The 12 petitions were received from Bayfield, Chippewa, Dane, Dodge, Jefferson, Langlade,
Polk, Rock, St. Croix, Shawano and Waukesha counties.

“The petition process required landowners to talk with one another and to work with their local government to discuss plans and future goals for their area. We’ve heard from several farmers that was a valuable part of the process,” Nilsestuen said.

Nilsestuen further explained that some of the petitions would incorporate some twists on traditional agriculture.

“Several of the petitions include a focus on renewable energy or energy conservation while other petitions are making a connection to local foods with community supported agriculture and organic production,” Nilsestuen said. “Another petition is looking to increase vegetable production to support the local food processing industry.”

Once an area is officially designated as an AEA, eligible farmers owning land within the AEA may enter into a farmland preservation agreement with the state. This enables the landowners to receive tax credits in exchange for agreeing to keep their farm in agricultural use for at least 15 years.

“A team will spend the next few months evaluating the petitions and the AEAs selected for designation will be announced by June 11, 2010,” Nilsestuen said.

The state may designate a maximum of 15 AEAs or 200,000 acres by January 1, 2012 and one million acres statewide after January 1, 2012.

After the successful petitions are chosen the area must be officially designated through Wisconsin’s rulemaking process.

DATCP is authorized to follow an expedited process so the designation will go into effect January 1 of the following year.

“Wisconsin agriculture is made of many types and sizes of farms and the petitions reflect some of that diversity,” Nilsestuen said. “With the AEAs in place, the landowners can feel secure knowing that the surrounding land will remain in agriculture and ag-related businesses can more confidently locate near their clients.”

Posted @ 9:00 a.m.

Rep. Daniel Knodl

Madison, WI – Representative Dan Knodl (R – Germantown) and 17 other legislative colleagues introduced legislation that would penalize drug users currently receiving benefits in the Wisconsin Works (W-2) program. According to Knodl, it is unacceptable for the state to subsidize the criminal behavior and addictions of drug dealers and drug abusers.

“The W-2 program is about preparing people to work and getting them back on their feet,” said Knodl. “People still abusing shouldn’t be allowed in the same program as families struggling to find work.”

Currently, any individual who is receiving W-2 benefits that was convicted of a state or federal crime after 1996 that dealt with any element of possession, use, or distribution of a controlled substance must submit to a drug test. If that test comes back positive, they could have their benefits reduced by 15%. Under this legislation, if they test positive, they could have their benefits reduced by as much as 50%.

“We need to send an unambiguous message to drug users that we will not subsidize illegal drug use with state dollars,” said Knodl. “This bill makes it clear to criminals that taxpayers are sick and tired of them abusing the system.”

In addition, this bill safeguards any children who may be harmed by their parents’ drug use. The bill states that children would still receive benefits, but that the money would be handled by an independent party. Knodl says he hopes to see the bill receive a vote when the Assembly returns in April.

Posted @ 6:00 a.m.

“The continued cooperation by federal and local law enforcement together with the Department’s Division of Criminal Investigation is having an effect on street crime, the availability of drugs, and these crime’s effects on victims. I am pleased by this successful effort and its safe conclusion,” said Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen.

Green Bay, WI – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today the successful conclusion of one portion of a seven month long investigation resulting in the arrest of six individuals and the execution of six search warrants in the Fox Cities area. Participating in this operation was the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.

This investigation targeted a cocaine and marijuana distribution organization that is believed to be responsible for trafficking over 40 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $4 million and several hundred pounds of marijuana from Fond du Lac to Green Bay and several points in between over the past several years.

On Friday March 5, 2010, search warrants were executed on Lucerne Dr, Menasha; Manitowoc St, Menasha; Racine St, Menasha; Broad St, Menasha; 7th St, Menasha; and E. John Street, Appleton. Roughly 5 ounces of cocaine and four pounds of marijuana were seized as a result of these warrants. In addition, United States Currency in the amount of over $130,000 of alleged drug proceeds was located and seized from these residences. Three vehicles were also seized.

Arrested as a result of these efforts were:

ANDRES GARCIA-GUADARRAMA, Lucerne Dr, Menasha: 38 yoa; for possession with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine. Garcia-Guadarrama was booked into the Winnebago County Jail.

LUIS A. VILLAGOMEZ, W. Everett, Appleton: 33 yoa, for possession with intent to deliver marijuana and cocaine. Villagomez was booked into the Winnebago County Jail.

JESUS QUINONES, Manitowoc Street, Menasha: 26 yoa; on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Quinones was booked into the Winnebago County Jail.

DOUGLAS D. BUDDE, Manitowoc Street, Menasha: 49 yoa; on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver. Budde was booked into the Winnebago County Jail.

REFUGIO SALINAS, Neenah, 43 yoa, was arrested for possession with intent to deliver marijuana, and booked into the Winnebago County Jail. His vehicle was also seized.

GENARO VASQUEZ MAGANA, Town of Buchanan, 46 yoa, was arrested and booked into the Calumet County Jail on one count of possession with intent to deliver marijuana.

ALBERTO BUCIO-LUVIANO, County Road KK, Calumet County, 32 yoa, was arrested in connection with one of the traffic stops resulting in a marijuana seizure. He was also booked into the Calumet County Jail on one count of Party to the Crime of Possession with intent to Deliver marijuana.

A traffic stop in Neenah later Friday of a 2000 Volkswagen Passat resulted in the seizure of approximately 91 pounds of marijuana and approximately $2,000 United States Currency.

Another traffic stop and three pound marijuana seizure took place on County Highway KK, Township of Woodville, Calumet County.

This investigation was a joint effort by three agencies: The Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit, the Drug Enforcement Administration; and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation. Several other agencies assisted with the activities on March 5, including the Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, the Neenah Police Department, and the City of Menasha Police Department. Over fifty law enforcement officers from those agencies were involved in this activity.

Posted @ 8:30 p.m.

Madison, WI- In one 24-hour period, 1,900 victims of domestic violence and their children across Wisconsin received life-saving services from local domestic violence service providers. Domestic violence experts in the state answered 749 emergency hotline calls. At the same time, 273 requests for services went unmet, due to lack of funding.

These are just a few of the numbers from the latest survey conducted by the National Network to End Domestic Violence (NNEDV) and the Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence (WCADV). About 90% of domestic violence shelters and programs in the state participated in the survey. The numbers are being released today as part of recognizing International
Women’s Day.

Locally, domestic violence programs are reporting unprecedented levels of requests for help. Victim advocates say that the increased demand for services is related to victims’ financial situations.

“While economic turmoil doesn’t drive abusers to use violence, financial insecurity prevents victims from leaving abusive homes on their own, meaning the local shelter or service provider is the only place they can turn,” said Patti Seger, Executive Director of WCADV.

The elevated level of demand in Wisconsin is consistent with what NNEDV found nationally. On September 15, 2009, despite the difficulty to raise funds for vital services, domestic violence programs nationwide provided services to more than 65,000 adults and children in one day alone. More than 23,000 crisis hotline calls were answered, but over 9,200 requests for services went unmet, mostly due to funding shortfalls.

Data from the survey also demonstrate that domestic violence is a life or death issue, which affects children and adults. Across the nation on September 15, 2009, two women miscarried as a result of domestic violence. Four women were murdered by their intimate partners. Seven children were killed by their fathers in domestic violence homicides, and seven babies were
born in domestic violence shelters.

“Domestic violence victim programs in Wisconsin are providing life-saving services,” said Seger. “Although 2009 was a record year for domestic violence homicides in our state, we know that the figure would be much higher if it were not for the dedication, sacrifice and talent of victim
advocates.”

The report also notes that on the day of the survey 677 individuals attended training provided by local programs statewide. The 30 sessions in Wisconsin focused on abuse prevention and early intervention.

“Victim service providers have shown a commitment to changing the attitudes and culture that fuel violence, even while attending to the immediate needs of victims in crisis,” said Seger. “In all, the survey provides a glimpse into Wisconsin’s response to domestic violence. We see the
heroic efforts to prevent violence and serve victims and the urgent need for additional funding to respond to requests for help that are currently going unmet.”

Nationally, 1,648 local domestic violence programs (83%) submitted their service statistics for September 15. In Wisconsin, 63 of 72 programs participated. The full National Domestic

Violence Counts 2009 report is available online at www.nnedv.org.

Posted @ 7:46 p.m.

When the sophomore biochemistry major from Montvale, N.J., decided in his senior year of high school that he wanted to learn a hip-hop dance style called “popping,” he turned to YouTube for videos on how to do the moves.

He quickly mastered them and offered up a set of instructional dance videos on YouTube that have been viewed more than 5 million times. Vinokur, now self-taught in entrepreneurship as well as dancing, runs a Web site – http://www.TheRussianTiger.com – where he sells videos to budding hip-hop dancers as far away as Saudi Arabia and Great Britain.

Vinokur is a recipient of one of this year’s Wiscontrepreneur scholarships, awarded to University of Wisconsin-Madison freshmen and sophomores by the UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations (OCR) to foster and invigorate entrepreneurial skills and practices on campus. In all, nine scholarships of $2,500 each are being awarded.

Supported by a grant from the Kauffman Foundation, the Wiscontrepreneur initiative offers a variety of courses, programs, awards and activities to spur entrepreneurship and entrepreneurial thinking across the entire campus, and statewide.

“The scholarship winners represent the best examples of creativity and ingenuity among students across disciplines and majors,” says Charles Hoslet, OCR managing director. “We look forward to watching these students develop their talents and contribute to fields ranging from business to the arts.”

While Vinokur wants to inspire people to learn to express themselves through “popping,” he also has a more practical reason for offering the videos.

“Everything I make through this entrepreneurial venture is going toward my college tuition,” he says.

The Wiscontrepreneur scholarships were created two years ago and are the first of their kind aimed at students from all fields of study who demonstrate an affinity for entrepreneurship, Hoslet says.

“Entrepreneurship in the greater world isn’t confined to one area of business, and it shouldn’t be limited at UW-Madison, either,” he says. “It has the ability to create opportunities and fuel a weak, or strong, economy.”

Cydney Edwards is one of those students who have forged a different approach to entrepreneurship. The legal studies major from Chicago is a member of UW-Madison’s First Wave program centered on spoken word and hip-hop culture. Edwards says she’ll use the scholarship to help her publish a book of poetry – a longtime goal of hers.

“I really associated becoming an entrepreneur with pursuing business, so I never really thought it was necessarily for me,” she says. “I always thought of it as people investing in a project and opening a restaurant or opening their own store…but when I thought about it, I figured why not do this for my book?”

Other winners of this year’s Wiscontrepreneur scholarships include:

- Michael Bethencourt, computer science and computer engineering, from Mount Horeb, Wis. Bethencourt founded FreedomDesigns.org, a “name your own price” freelance Web design business and is working to create software for a collaborative graphic design program.

- Logan Cascia, double major in management and human resources with emphasis in entrepreneurship, and communication arts with film emphasis, from Glenview, Ill. Cascia has received critical acclaim for a film about the life of a 15-year-old blind boy, which he plans to submit to the Wisconsin Film Festival, and hopes to work on music videos, live concerts and Internet television shows.

- Gabriel De Los Reyes, double major in English and theater, from Miami. De Los Reyes started a clothing and lifestyle company, InkRed, which promotes hip-hop artists, community involvement and social activism.

- Wally Graeber, landscape architecture major from Twin Lakes, Wis. Graber is the owner of WG Lakefront & Lawn Services LLC and is working to launch Badgerscapes Landscape Design this spring.

- Jordan Heiftiz, finance major from Glencoe, Ill. Heiftiz started a DJ business at age 12 that now employs about 20 people. The company provided entertainment at the 2009 White House Easter Egg Roll.

- Joe Powell, mechanical engineering major from New Berlin, Wis. Powell created and tested a mechanism for harvesting meat at the Meat Science Lab and started a computer repair business in his dorm.

- Lisa Rosenblum, marketing major from New Rochelle, N.Y. Rosenblum helped restart the UW-Madison chapter of Delta Sigma Pi, a co-ed business fraternity that had been inactive for 10 years and plans to one day open a business that helps the environment.

“Helping students advance their entrepreneurial goals is one of the rewarding parts of our Wiscontrepreneur efforts,” adds Hoslet. “I’m confident this year’s scholarship winners will inspire other students to find ways to turn their passions into profitable ventures.”

For more information about the Office of Corporate Relations, visit http://www.ocr.wisc.edu. For more on Wiscontrepreneur, visit http://www.wiscontrepreneur.org.

Posted @ 4:12 p.m.

The Wisconsinites who boarded the bus Sunday will be joining thousands of people from throughout the country that will protest big insurance on Tuesday March 9th, and demand that Congress give America the health care reform we voted for. The protest, being staged by Health Care for America Now, is targeting the national conference of the America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) at the Ritz-Carleton Hotel in Washington, DC. Once there, protesters will share their own health care experiences and express their outrage towards CEOs who make millions by denying our care, hiking premiums, and devastating America’s families and businesses. The protest will take place Tuesday morning.

The bus trip was organized by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and Take Action Minnesota, the leaders of the Health Care for America Now campaign in each state. The Wisconsin Health Care for America Now coalition has 32 affiliated organizations, including senior, labor, faith based, and disability groups.

“It shows the arrogance of big health insurance that its CEOs would gather at a ritzy Washington hotel at the same time Congress is deciding whether to enact meaningful national health care reform,” said Robert Kraig, Executive Director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin. “They need to understand that their millions in political contributions and lobbying expenditures will no longer drown out the voices of average citizens from across Wisconsin and the rest of the country demanding action on the health care crisis.”

“The hardy Wisconsinites sojourning to Washington to tell their personal health care stories and stand up to the big insurance companies are sending a clear message to Congress that it is time to finish the job on health care reform,” Kraig concluded.

Posted @ 3:42 p.m.

Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen

Milwaukee, WI – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today that the Milwaukee Election Fraud Task Force has brought additional electoral fraud cases against five Wisconsin residents. The Department of Justice, acting as Special Prosecutor for Milwaukee County, has filed felony charges against Maria Miles, Kevin Clancy, Michael Henderson, Herbert Gunka, and Suzanne Gunka, all alleging election fraud arising out of the November 4, 2008, Presidential Election.

“The integrity of elections is dependent upon citizens and officials insisting they be conducted lawfully. Wisconsin’s citizens should not have to wonder whether their vote has been negated or diminished by illegally cast ballots,” Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said.

According to the criminal complaints, Miles and Clancy served as Special Registration Deputies (“SRD”) for the City of Milwaukee in advance of the 2008 Presidential Election. Each worked for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (“ACORN”). Miles and Clancy are each charged with the felony offense of Falsely Procuring Voter Registration as Party to a Crime. The complaint alleges that Miles and Clancy submitted multiple voter registration applications for the same individuals, and also were part of a scheme in which they and other SRDs registered each other to vote multiple times in order to meet voter registration quotas imposed by ACORN.

Henderson is charged with one count of Voting by a Disqualified Person and one count of Providing False Information to Election Officials, both felonies. The complaint alleges that Henderson registered to vote at the polls on November 4, 2008, thereby certifying that he was a qualified elector. It also alleges that he then cast a ballot. At that time, Henderson was on an active period of probation for felony convictions from Rock County. A felon on an active period of supervision for a felony offense is prohibited by state law from voting in any election.

Herbert and Suzanne Gunka are each charged with the felony offense of Double Voting. The complaint alleges that they each voted in the November 2008 election by casting absentee ballots before the election. The complaint also alleges that after casting absentee ballots, they each voted in person at their polling place on election day.

Each individual charge carries a potential penalty of imprisonment up to 3 ½ years and a $10,000 fine. All defendants are ordered in for an initial appearance on April 20, 2010, at 1:30 p.m.

Copies of the criminal complaints can be accessed at:
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Henderson%20Complaint.pdf
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Henderson%20Summons.pdf
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Miles%20&%20Clancy Complaint%20&%20Summons.pdf
http://www.doj.state.wi.us/news/files/Gunka Complaint%20&%20Summons.pdf

Prior to the November 2008 election, Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced the creation of the Election Fraud Task Force, a multi-jurisdictional action team that evaluates, investigates and prosecutes complaints of electoral fraud.

A criminal complaint is a document accusing a person of a violation of criminal law. A defendant enjoys a presumption of innocence. The prosecution must prove its allegations at trial beyond a reasonable doubt.

Assistant Attorney General David W. Maas is representing the State.

Posted @ 3:36 p.m.

The watch is being issued because of the forecast for elevated levels of fine particles in the air. Fine particle pollution is composed of microscopic dust, soot, liquid droplets and smoke particles that are 2.5 microns or smaller. These fine particles come primarily from combustion sources, such as power plants, factories and other industrial sources, vehicle exhaust, and wood burning.

The Air Quality Index is forecast to reach the orange level, which is considered unhealthy for people in sensitive groups. People in those sensitive groups include those with heart or lung disease, asthma, older adults and children. When an air quality watch is issued, people in those groups are advised to reschedule or cut back on strenuous activities during the watch period.

People with lung diseases such as asthma and bronchitis and heart disease should pay attention to cardiac symptoms like chest pain and shortness of breath or respiratory symptoms like coughing, wheezing and discomfort when taking a breath, and consult with their physician if they have concerns or are experiencing symptoms. Fine particle pollution deposits itself deep into the lungs and cannot easily be exhaled. People who are at risk are particularly vulnerable after several days of high particle pollution exposure.

Posted @ 1:30 p.m.

Attorney General J.B.Van Hollen

Madison, WI – Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued the following statement regarding the passage of the E-signature Bill, Senate Bill 467, by the Wisconsin State Assembly:

I applaud both the Wisconsin State Senate and the Wisconsin State Assembly for the passage of Senate Bill 467, otherwise known as the E-signature bill.  I especially want to thank Senator Bob Jauch and Representative Gary Hebl for their leadership on this legislation.  Repeatedly at county law enforcement roundtables that I held around the state, I heard from law enforcement officials about their desire to find ways to eliminate unnecessary tasks and maximize officer time on the streets.

This bill makes the process for filing a criminal complaint more efficient.  As computers become increasingly mobile, the ability to transmit a complaint with an E-signature will allow law enforcement submitting the complaint to reduce time and travel, while allowing the use of modern technology to file a complaint.  This legislation allows us to adapt our law to current technology and allow public tax dollars to do more work.

I look forward to the E-signature legislation being signed into law by the Governor.

Posted @ 9:00 a.m.

Rep. Robin Vos

Racine County, WI – Racine County Executive BIll McReynolds announced last month that the Racine County prescription discount card has saved Racine County residents almost $500,000 in the last 27 months.

If you’re not familiar with the program, it was instituted in November 2007 to help Racine County residents cope with the high cost of prescription drugs.  The card is offered through the National Association of Counties and administered by CVS Caremark. On average, cardholders enjoy discounts of 25% at more than 57,000 retail pharmacies throughout the nation, and at almost every pharmacy in Racine County.

The best thing about this discount card is it’s free and available to every Racine County resident, regardless of age or income. There’s also no enrollment form, no application, no membership fee and no limit on how much you can use the card.

The Racine County Executive and Board deserve a great deal of credit for taking advantage of  large-group buying power.  I would encourage everyone to obtain the card to help out with their monthly family budget.

You can print your own cards at home by going to http://www.rxprintacard.biz/naco/.  You can also call 1-877-321-2652 or by log on to https://naco.advancerx.com.

Posted @ 7:00 a.m.

Concord Foods was notified by its supplier that an ingredient used in these products and produced by Basic Food Flavors Inc is the subject of a voluntary recall due to potential Salmonella contamination.

The product subject to this recall that was distributed nationwide in the United States under the Concord Foods brand in foil pouches and sold in the produce section of the supermarket is:
(Note: The best by date code is embossed on the left edge of the back panel).

Concord Foods Vegetable Dip Seasoning – Homestyle (Best By: 07/27/12).
UPC Code: 041409002066       Net weight 1.5 oz (43 g)

To date no known illnesses have been associated with this product and no other types, varieties or different date codes have been affected by this recall. However, since customer safety is our top priority, Concord Foods has voluntarily recalled this product. Concord Foods is working with Food and Drug Administration to conduct this voluntary recall.

Consumers with products carrying this date code should destroy or return them to the store for a full refund.

Consumers with questions should contact Concord Foods at 1-800-924-5775 (Monday – Friday from 9:00 am-4:30 pm EST).

“Providing nutritious meals through the National School Lunch Program is one way to help students concentrate on their studies so they can graduate with the knowledge and skills needed to be successful in the workforce or further education,” said State Superintendent Tony Evers. “This grant will help the Department of Public Instruction work with schools in the program to meet the sometimes complex reporting requirements for participation.”

The Administrative Review and Training (ART) grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture will provide support to state agencies as they implement innovative training, monitoring, and technology solutions to enhance program effectiveness. The DPI will use grant funding to provide additional technical assistance and training to schools that are at greater risk of making errors because of the size of the school and high staff turnover rates. The grant will also support technology that will be available at any time to provide training for program participants. The technology will allow DPI and participating schools to have immediate access to detailed information that will improve efficiencies and help identify potential issues before they become problems.

“There are schools that struggle with meeting all of the complex requirements required by the National School Lunch Program, especially in states like Wisconsin that have a large number of small schools,” added Evers. “With this funding, we will be able to provide additional support and monitoring to help all schools concentrate on the important work of providing students with meals.”

Posted @ 4:50 p.m.

Sen. Mary Lazich

Wisconsin was hurt less than other states during the recession. However, Wisconsin does not possess a magic formula to rebound quickly. Job growth is coming. Unfortunately, a return to prosperity will take a long time. Two noted experts shared their economic forecasts at a symposium presented at the state Capitol sponsored by the Wisconsin Legislative Council. Mike Knetter, the Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business at the University of Wisconsin- Madison and Rick Mattoon, Senior Economist and Economic Advisor at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago addressed the U.S. economy and its implications for Wisconsin.

The absence of certain factors prevented Wisconsin from suffering a more severe recession. Wisconsin did not experience the level of overbuilding and excessive lending that swept other parts of the country. News that only Iowa outperformed Wisconsin in the Midwest region during the recession and that Wisconsin’s economy is stabilized provides little, if any consolation to struggling families.

Wisconsin’s unemployment rate has not risen as quickly as the nation’s. American job losses have piled up and returning to previous employment levels will be a daunting task. During August 2009, there were 1.3 million fewer jobs in the United States than had existed during 1999. Richard Mattoon of the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago does not foresee job growth for a protracted time in part because businesses are hesitant to bring on new employees until they are confident that the downturn is over.

Mattoon offered the audience what could definitely be classified as a worst-case scenario, a study by Rutgers University. Authors calculated America’s job deficit, i.e., job losses plus lack of new job creation, would total 9.39 million by December 2009. “America’s New Post-Recession Employment Arithmetic” reports, “Erasing this deficit will require substantial and sustained employment growth. Even if the nation could add 2.15 million private-sector jobs per year starting in January 2010, it would need to maintain this pace for more than 7 straight years (7.63 years), or until August 2017, to eliminate the jobs deficit!”

So what about Wisconsin? We have our strengths. Remember, we excel in manufacturing, a sector the state has outperformed the rest of the country. Agriculture, higher education, patent counts, research and development, licensing and royalties, and a devoted workforce levels are also huge plusses. Our weaknesses prevent a faster climb out of our economic abyss.

Manufacturing, a longtime Wisconsin trump card, has taken a back seat to a national shift toward knowledge and service economies. Wisconsin has a world class university meaning the state is a high producer of human capital. However, we train these intelligent young people and we export them and their innovations.

Additionally, ideas, products and services created in Wisconsin get commercialized elsewhere due to a culture that is big on modesty and low on willingness to take risks.

UW Business School Dean Michael Knetter contends that because Wisconsin is heavy on manufacturing and light on knowledge and service economies, the state seriously lags the rest of the nation in income and wealth. Richard Mattoon sees Wisconsin’s continuing budget deficits as an issue in need of attention. Michael Knetter’s outlook and advice for Wisconsin: Unemployment will be nine percent at the end of 2010 meaning there will still be a number of discouraged workers. Wisconsin must defend its strengths and at the same time venture into areas like knowledge and service economies that will garner higher profits and wages. He concludes, “We just need to ride out the recession like everyone else.”

Richard Mattoon’s outlook and advice for Wisconsin: The state Department of Revenue predicts pre-recession job levels will not return here until 2012. Wisconsin needs to boost its production and retention of coveted human capital and stabilize its fiscal condition by creating an environment that makes the state a great place to do business.

If you have comments on this or any other issue, please contact me at
Sen.Lazich@legis.wisconsin.gov, www.SenatorLazich.com, Senator Mary Lazich, State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 or 1-800-334-1442