Learfield Data

Wheeler News - Morning State News #3 - 12/15

2011-12-15T07:18:00.002-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 15, 2011 - Morning State News #3

===Stations: We're having trouble sending this report on Learfield Data, so it's here for your use.===

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:Governor Walker will sign a bill today that makes it a felony for an unlicensed driver to hurt or kill somebody in a traffic crash...
Milwaukee Police identify two murder victims from Tuesday night...
A Door County woman is scheduled to enter pleas on January 19th to charges involving the death of her eight-month-old daughter.
A western Wisconsin fire-fighter who saved a teen's life three years ago was later rescued by that same youngster.

Here are the details:

Governor Scott walker will sign a bill this morning that makes it a felony for an unlicensed driver to hurt or kill somebody in a traffic accident. The governor will hold a ceremony at the Greendale Safety Center, where Rob Dams was the police chief before he retired. He asked lawmakers for tougher penalties after his son Nick was killed in 2006 by an unlicensed driver. Dams said the driver got off with a traffic ticket. And while special fines are allowed in such cases, he says they're rarely imposed or collected. The new bill calls for prison terms of up to six years for unlicensed drivers who kill someone in a crash, and lesser time for causing injuries. The bill would apply to those with revoked and suspended licenses, as well as those who were never licensed. Lawmakers gave final approval to the measure just three days before a pick-up truck driver with a revoked license allegedly killed a pedestrian and injured another on a street in Milwaukee. Police said that driver was speeding at up to 100-miles-an-hour before he crashed his truck in the Milwaukee Harbor, where he was saved and then arrested.
-12/15-
Milwaukee Police have identified two people killed in separate homicides on Tuesday night. 26-year-old Joseph McBeath of Milwaukee was shot-to-death while sitting in a car behind a north side coffee shop. Police said they're not sure about a possible motive, and no one is in custody. In the other incident, 35-year-old John Astemborski of Glendale was found dead in a car on Milwaukee's northwest side. Police are trying to determine if that case was drug-related. No one's in custody.
-12/15-
A Door County woman is scheduled to enter pleas on January 19th to charges involving the death of her eight-month-old daughter. 33-year-old Melissa Martinez of Brussels is charged with homicide by drunk driving, and fatal child neglect. Authorities said she left her daughter Elena in an S-U-V that was idling for several hours on October 19th. She later died from hypothermia. Martinez has been getting treatment the last few weeks at an inpatient rehab facility, and she's being released to a halfway house this week. A judge modified Martinez's bond to let her stay at the halfway house -- but she cannot be released for an overnight stay anywhere else.
-12/15-
A western Wisconsin fire-fighter who saved a teenager's life three years ago was later rescued by that same youngster. Tanner Franson of Mondovi was 13 when he had a stroke in 2008. Volunteer fire-fighter Jim Rud (rood) was among those who rushed Tanner to the hospital. Earlier this year, Rud was cutting grass at Mirror Lake when his mower tipped over and landed on top of him in the water. A woman screamed for help, and Tanner heard it -- and he and his friends raced to the water and pulled the mower off Rud. W-E-A-U T-V in Eau Claire said the two got together recently -- and Rud joked about how they're even.
(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #4 - 12/5

2011-12-05T07:59:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State News #4

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Almost 19-hundred Wisconsin parents appear to have forgotten about their child support checks, and they're now considered unclaimed property...
Up to seven people want to replace Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan in a recall election early in the New Year...
Authorities say a seven-time drunk driver slammed his car into a float carrying young kids during a Christmas parade in Mondovi...
Grafton's Plan Commission has okayed an industrial expansion that will add at least 20 new jobs.

Here are the details:

Almost 19-hundred Wisconsin parents appear to have forgotten about their child support checks. The Appleton Post-Crescent said the intended recipients moved and never left forwarding addresses -- and those payments are now being held by the State Treasurer's office as unclaimed property. Mary Pitman, who's written a book about how to get unclaimed property, said it's a common problem throughout the nation. She says parents are owed millions in child support, and they have no idea they have it coming. The Appleton paper said some of Wisconsin's child support recipients are hard to find. Some are dead, and many have moved without leaving forwarding addresses with the post office. Sara Buschman of the state Children-and-Families' agency says her office occasionally sends lists of unclaimed child support payments to the treasurer's office -- and those names are put on-line along with other recipients of unclaimed property. She says parents must complete forms with the Child Support Bureau to get past-due payments back.

-12/5-

At least six people, and maybe seven want to replace Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan in a recall election early next year. The Common Council will be asked tonight to schedule a primary for January 21st. By law, a general election would be held February 14th if necessary. But City Clerk Sue Richards says she'll ask the state for permission to schedule the run-off on February 21st, when other state-and-local primaries are set. Ryan is being targeted for three alcohol-related incidents during his two-and-a-half years as Sheboygan's mayor. Recall organizers obtained almost 45-hundred valid petition signatures for a special election. That's 360 more signatures than they needed. Alderman Kevin Matichek, who helped organize the recall effort, is one of the six announced candidates against Ryan. Former state Representative Terry Van Akkeren, who lost to Ryan in 2009, is also running. The manager of the Harbor Centre's business improvement district is also considering a run.

-12/5-

Authorities in western Wisconsin said a drunk driver slammed his car into a float carrying young kids during a Christmas parade. It happened Saturday night in Mondovi. And Buffalo County authorities said it was the driver's seventh O-W-I offense. No one was hurt. Sheriff's deputies said the 52-year-old car driver ran away after the crash, but a witness grabbed the man about a block away and held him until officers got there. The case is being referred to prosecutors on possible charges of seven-time drunk driving and hit-and-run.

-12/5-

The plan commission in Grafton has approved an industrial expansion that will create at least 20 new jobs. Oetlinger Precision Manufacturing is a maker of industrial machine parts. It plans to add almost 21-thousand square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space -- almost a 50-percent expansion of its current facility. Village officials say the plant has around 40 employees now.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #3 - 12/5

2011-12-05T06:54:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State News #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Wisconsin groups that help sexual assault victims will get 42-percent less in state aid next year...
A G-O-P lawmaker wants to give parents more time to give up their unwanted babies under the Safe Haven law...
U-W Superior and Minnesota-Duluth have received federal funds to study how a Lake Michigan ferry boat can run on natural gas instead of coal...
Milwaukee Police investigate a weekend traffic accident that killed a 56-year-old pedestrian.

Here are the details:

Wisconsin groups that help sexual assault victims will get 42-percent less in state aid next year. The Justice Department said the cuts were mainly due to a drop in revenues from criminal fines -- along with much lower funding ordered by the governor and Legislature in the new state budget. Pennie Meyers of the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault calls the cuts "disastrous." She said it would "imperil" the efforts of local groups in meeting the needs of sexual assault survivors. But Assistant Attorney General Steve Means said it was nothing his agency wanted to do -- and it did not have much of a choice. Criminals help pay for the sex assault victim programs with surcharges on their fines. And that revenue has been reduced from one-and-three-quarter million dollars in 2008 to about one-point-four million this year. Also, the Justice Department said the new state budget required a 10-percent spending cut for all state agencies. And officials said they'd have to find an additional 174-million dollars. Attorney General J-B Van Hollen asked lawmakers to exempt from the Justice Department from the budget cuts -- but they said no.

-12/5-

A Republican lawmaker wants to give parents more time to give up their unwanted babies under Wisconsin's 10-year-old Safe Haven Law. Right now, they have 72 hours to leave an infant at a hospital, law enforcement agency, or rescue service with no questions asked. And Representative Dale Kooyenga of Brookfield wants to expand that time limit to 30 days. He also wants health care clinics to be able to take those unwanted babies. Kooyenga says some mothers are still in a hospital when the current 72-hour limit is up. But many such infants are born outside a medical setting. And there are a couple of major cases each year in Wisconsin in which mothers leave infants in the garbage or another hidden location -- and they tell police either they had no idea that a Safe Haven law existed, or they were afraid they'd get in legal trouble for it anyway.

-12/5-

U-W Superior and Minnesota-Duluth have received federal funding to see how a Lake Michigan ferry boat can run on natural gas instead of coal. The two schools are part of the Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute -- and they hope to make the S-S Badger one of the most environmentally-friendly vessels on the Great Lakes. The federal money will pay for an engineering study to change the fuel source for the Badger -- which carries vehicles and passengers across Lake Michigan between Manitowoc and Ludington Michigan. The federal E-P-A wants the Badger to stop dumping coal ash into the lake by the end of next year. The company that runs the ferry has asked for a longer grace period. And a bill approved by the House would exempt from the Badger from coal ash emission limits altogether -- because the boat is being considered for national landmark status as the nation's last remaining coal-powered steamship. Senate opponents are trying to kill that exemption.

-12/5-

Milwaukee Police are investigating a weekend traffic mishap that killed a 56-year-old pedestrian. Police said the man hit near a south side intersection on Saturday. Other details, including the victim's name, were not immediately released.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #2 - 12/5

2011-12-05T05:56:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State News #2

===Stations: In case you don't have Wisconsin categories on Learfield Data today, we're sending our reports here.===

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
We could find out today or tomorrow what caused a huge fire in downtown Pulaski...
A 30-year-old man is in jail, awaiting charges of defacing recall petitions in West Bend...
Milwaukee authorities investigate the death of a 10-year-old boy.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 5-6-8-24-33-34 - No Doubler
Pick-3: 4-6-7
Pick-4: 5-5-7-6
Badger-5: 5-9-10-17-26

Here are the details:

It could be today or tomorrow before we know what caused a fire that destroyed three buildings in downtown Pulaski and damaged two others. Fire Chief Randy Wichlacz said the blaze appears to have started in a bowling center late Friday night. The bowling facility was destroyed along with two other buildings. A fourth structure had heavy water-and-smoke damage. The fifth building had minor fire-and-smoke damage. Two fire-fighters from Howard and Pulaski were treated at a hospital for smoke inhalation. The Green Bay area Red Cross is helping up to 40 people who lost their homes to the fire.

-12/5-

A 30-year-old man was sent to jail after he was caught defacing petitions seeking the recalls of Governor Scott Walker and Lieutenant Governor Rebecca Kleefisch. According to police, the suspect stood in line outside a teacher's house in West Bend yesterday, appearing as if he wanted to sign the petitions. When it was his turn, police said he scribbled out some of the signers' names. Recall organizers wrote down his license plate number as he drove away -- and police found him a short time later. The man is in the Washington County Jail awaiting charges. Officials say he could appear in court today. State officials have warned people that it's a felony to deface or destroy political petitions. Last week, the Government Accountability Board and the Justice Department set up a joint arrangement to handle petition-related complaints.

-12/5-

Milwaukee authorities are investigating the death of a 10-year-old boy. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's office said it was called to a home on Saturday night, where the youngster was found dead. Police have not released details.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports - 12/5

2011-12-05T05:07:00.003-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State Sports

===Stations: In case you don't receive the Wisconsin categories in Learfield Data, we're sending today's material here.===

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Packers are the N-F-C North champions after the Lions lost at New Orleans
late last night...
Charles Woodson suffered a concussion, and two other Packers were injured in their hard-fought win over the Giants at the Meadowlands...

N-F-C North scores...
Green Bay 38, New York Giants 35
New Orleans 31, Detroit 17
Kansas City 10, Chicago 3
Denver 35, Minnesota 32

Also...
Wisconsin coach Bret Bielema says his Badgers will have a challenge against Oregon's fast-paced offense in the Rose Bowl...
The Brewers will look for relief pitching and infield help at Baseball's Winter Meetings which open today in Dallas...

In women's college basketball...
U-W Green Bay 75, Northern Iowa 67
Marquette 84, Arkansas-Pine Bluff 36

Here are the details:

The Green Bay Packers won the N-F-C North Division late last night, after the
second-place Detroit Lions lost at New Orleans 31-to-17. The Packers had
already clinched a playoff spot before their hard-fought 38-35 win over the
Giants at New York. The Chicago Bears punched Green Bay's ticket to the
post-season, by losing at home to Kansas City 10-to-3 before the Packers kicked
off in the Meadowlands. Mason Crosby booted a 30-yard field goal as time
expired. It broke a 35-all tie, and gave Green Bay its 18th straight victory
dating back to last season. But it might have been a costly victory for the
Packers with three notable injuries. The early word is that corner Charles
Woodson suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter, which means he'll have to
go through an N-F-L protocol and independent exams before he can return.
Running back James Starks re-injured his right ankle for the third straight
game, but he thinks he'll be okay for next Sunday's home game against Oakland.
And back-up tight end Andrew Quarless had his right knee bend awkwardly while
covering a kickoff. The Packers are now 12-and-0, but they still have not
clinched the N-F-C's best record and home field advantage throughout the
playoffs. San Francisco remains two games back in that department, after
blanking Saint Louis 26-to-nothing.

Former Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum put the Giants in front early with a
67-yard touchdown catch from Eli Manning. The Packers later went in front when
Clay Matthews returned an interception 38 yards for a score. It was a see-saw
battle the rest of the way. Hakeem Nicks had the second of his two touchdown
catches with 58 seconds left, and a two-point conversion tied it at 35. Aaron
Rodgers then threw four straight passes covering 68 yards to set up Crosby's
game-winning field goal.

Rodgers threw for 369 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. And he led
the Packers in rushing with 32 yards. His passer rating was 106-point-two, and
he's only the N-F-L quarterback to have a 100-plus rating in 12 straight games.
Greg Jennings caught seven passes for 94 yards and a score. Donald Driver had
a pair of touchdown catches, and Jermichael Finley caught Rodgers' other T-D
pass. Eli Manning threw for 347 yards, three T-D passes, and an interception.
Victor Cruz caught seven passes for 119 yards, as the Giants fell to 6-and-6.

-12/5-

The Packers wrapped up the N-F-C North Division with a five-game lead over their closest challengers with four weeks left. Green Bay is 12-and-0, and Detroit and Chicago are both 7-and-5. Minnesota fell to 2-and-10 after losing at home to Denver.Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 408 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. But Detroit racked up 11 penalties in their 31-17 loss at New Orleans. Saints' quarterback Drew Brees threw for 342 yards and three scores.
Kansas City beat the Bears 10-3 on a 38-yard Hail Mary pass caught by Dexter McCluster at the end of the first half. Chicago's Matt Forte left in the first quarter with a right knee injury. The Bears only had 181 total yards and went 0-for-11 on third downs.
The Vikings lost to Denver 35-32 at the Metrodome. Matt Prater kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired.

-12/5-

Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema says it will be a tremendous challenge to play Oregon's fast-paced offense in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks use a no-huddle spread offense that's just as explosive as Wisconsin, if not more. During a Rose Bowl tele-conference last night, Bielema said it would be a game of opposites. Bielema said Oregon likes to score at a rapid pace, while the Badgers try to hold the ball as long as they possibly can. But Wisconsin still gets in the end zone often enough to have the nation's fourth-highest scoring offense at almost 45 points a game. They scored 96-percent of the time in the red zone, second-best in the country. Oregon keeps the ball just 25 minutes a game, while Badgers have it for about 32 minutes. Both teams enter the Rose Bowl at 11-and-2. Wisconsin jumped five places to 10th in the final B-C-S Standings last night, after the Badgers edged Michigan State to win the Big Ten championship game on Saturday night. Oregon, champions of the Pac-12, is fifth in the B-C-S Standings. L-S-U and Alabama are one-and-two, and will play each other in the national championship game next month.

-12/5-

Baseball's Winter Meetings begin today in Dallas. And for the first time in several years, the Milwaukee Brewers will not be on the prowl for starting pitching. General manager Doug Melvin had wrapped up a deal on the eve of last year's Winter Meetings to get Shaun Marcum for Toronto. Melvin later crafted a deal with Kansas City to get Zack Greinke. Melvin says the Brewers will get all five starters back, and they're set in the closer's spot and the outfield. But he says he'd like to get some more depth in the bullpen, and improve at shortstop and third base. If Prince Fielder leaves as a free agent, manager Ron Roenicke says he'd most likely try Mat Gamel at first -- with Casey McGehee and Corey Hart as possibilities to fall back on. There's been talk about acquiring third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the Chicago Cubs. But money might be an issue, since he's reportedly seeking a 3-to-4-year deal at over 10-million dollars a season. Free agent shortstops Rafael Furcal and Alex Gonzalez have also been mentioned. One possibility was taken off the board yesterday, when the Miami Marlins reportedly reached a deal with shortstop Jose Reyes on a six-year package worth 106-million dollars.

-12/5-

The U-W Green Bay women's basketball team improved to 7-and-0 after a 75-to-67 home win over Northern Iowa. The 23rd-ranked Phoenix were held scoreless for almost the first six minutes of the game. But Green Bay then used an 18-3 run to get within two. Northern Iowa hit two free throws, and Green Bay then went on another big run to go up by 14 at the half. The Panthers got to within five with just under four minutes left -- but Green Bay then made it a 10-point game and hung on from there. Senior Julie Wojta had a career-high 26 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Phoenix. Katelin Oney had 25 points and Amber Kirschbaum had 11 rebounds for Northern Iowa, which dropped to 5-and-2. Green Bay will play at Toledo on Thursday night.

-12/5-

The Marquette women went above .500, after crushing Arkansas Pine-Bluff at home yesterday 84-to-36. The Golden Eagles led all the way. They were up by 19 at the break, and they had a 14-3 run in the opening five minutes of the second half. The Eagles led by as many as 51, and they shot 51-percent to 24-and-a-half percent for Pine Bluff. Arlesia Morse led Marquette with 19 points. Sarina Simmons had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. The 36 points were the lowest an Eagles' opponent has scored all season. Chigozi Okwumabua had nine points and seven boards for Arkansas-Pine Bluff, which fell to 0-and-6. Marquette is now 5-and-4, and will open its Big East Conference season on Wednesday night at Notre Dame. Tonight, the Wisconsin women are hosting Saint Louis. And the U-W Milwaukee men are at De Paul.

-12/5-

In golf, Steve Stricker of Madison finished 16th among 18 players at the Chevron World Challenge. Stricker shot a two-over-par 74 in his final round yesterday in Thousands Oaks California. And he finished at four-over-par 292. Tiger Woods hosts the event -- and he won it at 10-under-278.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports - Partial

2011-12-05T05:05:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State Sports

===Stations: In case Learfield Data does not have your Wisconsin categories this morning, our material is also being sent here.===

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com
Here are the headlines:

The Packers are the N-F-C North champions after the Lions lost at New Orleans
late last night...
Charles Woodson suffered a concussion, and two other Packers were injured in their hard-fought win over the Giants at the Meadowlands...

N-F-C North scores...
Green Bay 38, New York Giants 35
New Orleans 31, Detroit 17
Kansas City 10, Chicago 3
Denver 35, Minnesota 32

Here are the details:
The Green Bay Packers won the N-F-C North Division late last night, after the
second-place Detroit Lions lost at New Orleans 31-to-17. The Packers had
already clinched a playoff spot before their hard-fought 38-35 win over the
Giants at New York. The Chicago Bears punched Green Bay's ticket to the
post-season, by losing at home to Kansas City 10-to-3 before the Packers kicked
off in the Meadowlands. Mason Crosby booted a 30-yard field goal as time
expired. It broke a 35-all tie, and gave Green Bay its 18th straight victory
dating back to last season. But it might have been a costly victory for the
Packers with three notable injuries. The early word is that corner Charles
Woodson suffered a concussion in the fourth quarter, which means he'll have to
go through an N-F-L protocol and independent exams before he can return.
Running back James Starks re-injured his right ankle for the third straight
game, but he thinks he'll be okay for next Sunday's home game against Oakland.
And back-up tight end Andrew Quarless had his right knee bend awkwardly while
covering a kickoff. The Packers are now 12-and-0, but they still have not
clinched the N-F-C's best record and home field advantage throughout the
playoffs. San Francisco remains two games back in that department, after
blanking Saint Louis 26-to-nothing.

Former Wisconsin tight end Travis Beckum put the Giants in front early with a
67-yard touchdown catch from Eli Manning. The Packers later went in front when
Clay Matthews returned an interception 38 yards for a score. It was a see-saw
battle the rest of the way. Hakeem Nicks had the second of his two touchdown
catches with 58 seconds left, and a two-point conversion tied it at 35. Aaron
Rodgers then threw four straight passes covering 68 yards to set up Crosby's
game-winning field goal.

Rodgers threw for 369 yards, four touchdowns, and an interception. And he led
the Packers in rushing with 32 yards. His passer rating was 106-point-two, and
he's only the N-F-L quarterback to have a 100-plus rating in 12 straight games.
Greg Jennings caught seven passes for 94 yards and a score. Donald Driver had
a pair of touchdown catches, and Jermichael Finley caught Rodgers' other T-D
pass. Eli Manning threw for 347 yards, three T-D passes, and an interception.
Victor Cruz caught seven passes for 119 yards, as the Giants fell to 6-and-6.

-12/5-

The Packers wrapped up the N-F-C North Division with a five-game lead over their closest challengers with four weeks left. Green Bay is 12-and-0, and Detroit and Chicago are both 7-and-5. Minnesota fell to 2-and-10 after losing at home to Denver.Lions' quarterback Matthew Stafford threw for 408 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. But Detroit racked up 11 penalties in their 31-17 loss at New Orleans. Saints' quarterback Drew Brees threw for 342 yards and three scores.Kansas City beat the Bears 10-3 on a 38-yard Hail Mary pass caught by Dexter McCluster at the end of the first half. Chicago's Matt Forte left in the first quarter with a right knee injury. The Bears only had 181 total yards and went 0-for-11 on third downs.The Vikings lost to Denver 35-32 at the Metrodome. Matt Prater kicked a 23-yard field goal as time expired.

-12/5-

Wisconsin football coach Bret Bielema says it will be a tremendous challenge to play Oregon's fast-paced offense in the Rose Bowl. The Ducks use a no-huddle spread offense that's just as explosive as Wisconsin, if not more. During a Rose Bowl tele-conference last night, Bielema said it would be a game of opposites. Bielema said Oregon likes to score at a rapid pace, while the Badgers try to hold the ball as long as they possibly can. But Wisconsin still gets in the end zone often enough to have the nation's fourth-highest scoring offense at almost 45 points a game. They scored 96-percent of the time in the red zone, second-best in the country. Oregon keeps the ball just 25 minutes a game, while Badgers have it for about 32 minutes. Both teams enter the Rose Bowl at 11-and-2. Wisconsin jumped five places to 10th in the final B-C-S Standings last night, after the Badgers edged Michigan State to win the Big Ten championship game on Saturday night. Oregon, champions of the Pac-12, is fifth in the B-C-S Standings. L-S-U and Alabama are one-and-two, and will play each other in the national championship game next month.

-12/5-

Baseball's Winter Meetings begin today in Dallas. And for the first time in several years, the Milwaukee Brewers will not be on the prowl for starting pitching. General manager Doug Melvin had wrapped up a deal on the eve of last year's Winter Meetings to get Shaun Marcum for Toronto. Melvin later crafted a deal with Kansas City to get Zack Greinke. Melvin says the Brewers will get all five starters back, and they're set in the closer's spot and the outfield. But he says he'd like to get some more depth in the bullpen, and improve at shortstop and third base. If Prince Fielder leaves as a free agent, manager Ron Roenicke says he'd most likely try Mat Gamel at first -- with Casey McGehee and Corey Hart as possibilities to fall back on. There's been talk about acquiring third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the Chicago Cubs. But money might be an issue, since he's reportedly seeking a 3-to-4-year deal at over 10-million dollars a season. Free agent shortstops Rafael Furcal and Alex Gonzalez have also been mentioned. One possibility was taken off the board yesterday, when the Miami Marlins reportedly reached a deal with shortstop Jose Reyes on a six-year package worth 106-million dollars.

-12/5-

Wheeler News - Morning State News #1 - 12/5

2011-12-05T02:17:00.003-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning State News #1
Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

===Stations: In case you don't see the Wisconsin News category on Learfield Data, today's State news is being sent here.===

Here are the headlines:
Hundreds of Chinese students would attend U-W Milwaukee under a five-year recruiting agreement that's expected to be signed today...
Governor Walker apparently took a big gamble when he announced in July that Wisconsin had over half the nation's increase in total jobs in June...
Power has been restored in northern Wisconsin, where over 32-hundred customers were left in the dark by heavy, wet snow during the weekend...
A woman was killed in Superior yesterday, after she drove her S-U-V into Lake Superior.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 5-6-8-24-33-34 - No Doubler
Pick-3: 4-6-7
Pick-4: 5-5-7-6
Badger-5: 5-9-10-17-26

Here are the details:

Hundreds of students from China would attend U-W Milwaukee under a five-year recruiting agreement that's expected to be signed today in Beijing. U-W-M Chancellor Michael Lovell is scheduled to sign an agreement with an education network run by the Chinese government. The network would recruit students throughout China, and others could sign up on their own. Up to 50 Chinese students would attend U-W-M next fall, and the numbers would rise each year to around 250 by 2015. Officials said the arrangement would increase the school's international profile, bring in millions in out-of-state tuition dollars, and create new workers for Milwaukee businesses that now operate in China. About a-thousand international students attend U-W Milwaukee now, and a quarter of them are from China. The new arrangement is being signed on Mayor Tom Barrett's trade mission to China which began yesterday. The U-W Board of Regents must still act on the deal. It's up for approval at a meeting of the Regents later this week.
-12/5-
Governor Scott Walker apparently took a big gamble when he announced in July that Wisconsin had over half the nation's increase in total jobs in June. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said the Republican governor was warned by the Workforce Development department three days in advance that the June job figures were quote, "very questionable" and "suspect." But Walker announced them anyway, and he gave credit to a "rebirth in tourism." The figures showed that 95-hundred of the 18-thousand jobs gained nationally in June were from Wisconsin. Walker called it "incredibly good news," at a time when his policies were questioned and six of his party's senators were about to face recall elections in the following month. The announced monthly job numbers are based on a partial survey of Wisconsin's employers, and are adjusted later when the full surveys are complete. Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said his office never tried to hide the fact the governor used preliminary numbers in his announcement. And he said they quote, "qualified it appropriately." As it turned out, the June job numbers were actually understated. Workforce Development officials said the final job increase for June was actually revised upward by about two-thousand jobs. The next month, jobs fell by almost 11-thousand. And another agency memo quoted by the Journal Sentinel said the June spike was quote, "always suspect." Assembly Democratic Leader Peter Barca said he thought Walker's numbers were too rosy at the time.
-12/5-
Power has been restored in northern Wisconsin, where over 32-hundred customers were left in the dark by heavy, wet snow during the weekend. Wisconsin Public Service reported no outages as of 3:45 this morning. Most of the weekend power interruptions were in the Tomahawk, Rhinelander, and Wabeno areas. Winchester in Vilas County had the most snow, with seven inches. Medford almost had seven inches. Mondovi in Buffalo County and Alvin in Forest County had just over five-and-a-half. Lesser amounts fell in western and north central Wisconsin. More light snow is expected today in western and southern Wisconsin, plus the Lake Superior Snow Belt. Highs will be in the 20's-and-30's.
-12/5-
A woman was killed in Superior yesterday, after she drove her S-U-V into Lake Superior. According to police, the woman drove off the end of a street at a high rate of speed late yesterday morning. And her vehicle rolled down a hillside before it landed in the lake, just off a boat landing. Officers said they found the vehicle partially submerged, and the woman was wearing a seat belt in the driver's seat. Her name was not immediately released.
(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports 12/5

2011-12-05T02:17:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service - Monday, December 5, 2011 - Morning National Sports

===NFL===

Green Bay Packers 38, New York Giants 35
Tennessee Titans 23, Buffalo Bills 17
Kansas City Chiefs 10, Chicago Bears 3
Houston Texans 17, Atlanta Falcons 10
Miami Dolphins 34, Oakland Raiders 14
Denver Broncos 35, Minnesota Vikings 32
New England Patriots 31, Indianapolis Colts 24
Pittsburgh Steelers 35, Cincinnati Bengals 7
Carolina Panthers 38, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 19
New York Jets 34, Washington Redskins 19
Baltimore Ravens 24, Cleveland Browns 10
Arizona Cardinals 19, Dallas Cowboys 13 (OT)
San Francisco 49ers 26, St. Louis Rams 0
New Orleans Saints 31, Detroit Lions 17

The NFC North-champion Packers were pushed to the brink and answered emphatically, as Mason Crosby booted the game-winning 30-yard field goal at the buzzer to keep Green Bay's perfect season alive with a 38-35 victory over the New York Giants. Hakeem Nicks' second touchdown grab brought the Giants within 35-33 with 58 seconds remaining in regulation, and D.J. Ware punched in the two-point conversion on a delayed draw to pull even. But Aaron Rodgers completed four straight passes to cover 68 yards and get in field goal range, allowing Crosby to come in and split the uprights to seal Green Bay's (12-0) franchise-record 18th straight win. The Packers clinched their division courtesy of Detroit's loss to the Saints on Sunday night.

Ben Roethlisberger threw a pair of touchdown passes while becoming the Steelers' all-time completions leader in a 35-7 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. The Steelers remained tied atop the AFC North with the Ravens, who bested the Browns, 24-10. In another early contest of playoff hopefuls, rookie quarterback T.J. Yates and running back Arian Foster led the Texans to a 17-10 victory over the Falcons, extending their franchise-best winning streak to six games.
The 49ers clinched their division Sunday, winning the NFC West title for the first time in nine years by shutting out the St. Louis Rams, 26-0. Frank Gore became the franchise's all-time leading rusher in the blowout.

===

Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte left Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs with a right knee injury. On a 2nd-and-7 in the first quarter, Forte ran off the left edge, but was undercut by Kansas City's Derrick Johnson around the knees. Forte stayed down on the field for a few minutes before walking off and into the locker room. Bears head coach Lovie Smith called the injury a "sprain" following the 10-3 loss.

An underwhelming Monday night contest is on the horizon, as the Chargers visit the Jaguars, who fired head coach Jack Del Rio last week following a 3-8 start. San Diego has been struggling as well, having lost six in a row for the first time since 2001.

===COLLEGE FOOTBALL===

In the end, it had always been about the SEC. College football's most powerful conference will officially send both teams to the BCS National Championship Game, as the LSU Tigers and Alabama Crimson Tide will duel on January 9, 2012 at the Superdome with the title on the line. The Tigers (13-0) won the conference in convincing fashion on Saturday with a 42-10 drubbing of Georgia to complete a remarkable undefeated season, which included eight victories over ranked opponents. They predictably finished with a perfect 1.000 BCS average in Sunday's final standings, but their opponent was still open for debate. Alabama (11-1) was a firm No. 2 in last week's standings, but Oklahoma State's emphatic 44-10 victory over Oklahoma on Saturday cast the Cowboys (11-1) as a potential foil in an all-SEC title game. Nevertheless, the Big 12 champions were overlooked by the BCS system, as 'Bama eked out the No. 2 spot by just 0.009 points, setting up a rematch of an instant classic back on November 5.

Oklahoma State was denied a trip to the BCS title game, but the Cowboys still earned a bid to the Fiesta Bowl on January 5 opposite Stanford. In the other BCS bowls: Wisconsin and Oregon will battle in the Rose Bowl, Clemson and West Virginia square off in the Orange Bowl, and the Sugar Bowl pits Virginia Tech and Michigan as at-large selections.

===COLLEGE BASKETBALL===

Wichita State 89, (18) Nevada-Las Vegas 70

Joe Ragland hit eight three-pointers and finished with 31 points, leading Wichita State to an 89-70 rout of No. 18 UNLV in a Mountain West/Missouri Valle Challenge contest. Carl Hall netted 17 points for the Shockers (5-2), who shot 59 percent and won their third consecutive game. Chace Stanback had 16 points to lead the Rebels (8-1), who had given up at least 80 points in their previous two games, but won both -- including a 90-80 victory against then-Number-One North Carolina.

Elsewhere in the Top-25:
------------------------
(7) Baylor 69, Northwestern 41
San Diego State 64, (24) California 63

===NHL===

Colorado 4, Detroit 2

Ryan O'Reilly scored twice and Gabriel Landeskog had two assists as the Colorado Avalanche took a 4-2 decision over the Detroit Red Wings at Pepsi Center. Paul Stastny and T.J. Galiardi also scored for Colorado, which ended a season-long eight-game homestand with a 5-3 record. Semyon Varlamov made 27 saves in the Avs' third straight win. Johan Franzen and Danny Cleary each lit the lamp for the Red Wings, who had their season-high seven-game win streak snapped.

Elsewhere in the NHL:
---------------------
Minnesota Wild 5, Anaheim Ducks 3
Vancouver Canucks 5, Calgary Flames 1

===BASEBALL===

The Miami Marlins have reportedly signed prized free agent shortstop Jose Reyes to a lucrative contract. According to several sources, including the Sun-Sentinel, Reyes and the Marlins have agree to a six-year deal worth a minimum of $106 million. The 28-year-old Reyes broke into the majors in 2003 and quickly became the Mets' everyday shortstop. Injuries have sapped his production over the past few years, but he hit a career-high .337 in 126 games last season, adding 39 stolen bases and 101 runs scored.

===

Retired slugger Manny Ramirez has filed for reinstatement, Major League Baseball announced Sunday. Ramirez, 39, retired in April after a second violation of the league's Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. The violation came with a 100-game suspension, but the 11-time All Star instead chose to hang up his cleats. The Office of the Commissioner and the Players Association have decided that the suspension will be reduced to 50 games upon Ramirez's return. It will take effect when he signs with a team.

===TENNIS===

Spain captured its third Davis Cup title in the past four years on Sunday when Rafael Nadal topped Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro in the opening reverse singles match of the day. Nadal bounced back from a horrendous first set and earned a 1-6, 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (7-0) triumph to give the host Spaniards an insurmountable 3-1 lead in the best-of-five tie. The 10-time Grand Slam champ improved to 20-1 all-time in Davis Cup singles and an incredible 16-0 on his beloved clay. Spain won its fifth Davis Cup crown, all coming in the last 12 years. while Argentina fell to 0-4 all-time in Davis Cup finals.

===GOLF===

Tiger Woods collected his first win of any kind since the 2009 car accident that triggered a personal scandal Sunday at the Chevron World Challenge. The drought lasted 749 days, 107 weeks and 27 starts, by far the longest span in between victories for Woods. He birdied the last two holes Sunday to shoot a three-under 69, besting overnight leader Zach Johnson by just one stroke at Sherwood Country Club. Woods finished at 10-under 278.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports - 12/1

2011-12-01T09:02:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Badger men's basketball team shoots 13-percent below its season average in falling to Number-five North Carolina...
The Wisconsin women won their Big Ten-A-C-C Challenge game over Boston College...
Bucks' players can work out at their team training facility today, but official practices cannot begin yet...

In men's college basketball...
North Carolina 60, Wisconsin 57
U-W Whitewater 65, Illinois Wesleyan 53
U-W La Crosse 77, Bethany Lutheran 56
U-W Superior 67, Northwestern of Minnesota 56
Madison Edgewood 81, Marian 72

In women's college basketball...
Wisconsin 58, Boston College 50
U-W River Falls 72, Saint Scholastica 56
U-W Superior 75, Northwestern of Minnesota 56
Wisconsin Lutheran 81, Alverno 51
Milwaukee Engineering 62, Benedictine 53
Concordia-Mequon 56, Marian 52
Carthage 67, Clarke 32

In Wisconsin boys' high school basketball...
Shorewood 51, Milwaukee University School 50

In girls' high school basketball...
Brown Deer 55, Milwaukee Madison/Northwest 45
Whitefish Bay 77, Milwaukee Messmer 15

Also... Packers' left tackle Chad Clifton is being held out of practice with a back injury suffered while rehabbing his injured hamstring.

Here are the details:

The Wisconsin men's basketball team had a sub-par shooting night, as the ninth-ranked Badgers lost at Number-five North Carolina 60-to-57 in the Big Ten-A-C-C Challenge. Wisconsin was cold all night, shooting just 36-percent -- 13 points below its average. The Badgers only hit 8-of-28 from three-point range. And they only went to the free-throw line six times, making three. Wisconsin was down by one at the half. But North Carolina used an 18-5 run to lead by eight with five-and-a-minutes remaining. And the Tar Heels hung on from there to improve to 6-and-1. They won their 19th straight at home, and they recovered from a 10-point loss to Nevada-Las Vegas last Saturday night. Harrison Barnes, coming off a sprained ankle from Saturday, led North Carolina with 20 points. John Henson had 17 rebounds for the Tar Heels, who out-rebounded Wisconsin 42-29 and made 19-of-24 from the charity stripe. Jordan Taylor led the Badgers with 18 points. Jared Berggren added 14 points, five rebounds, three steals, and a blocked shot. Wisconsin fell to 6-and-1, and they broke a six-game winning streak against A-C-C teams including three in the annual Challenge. The Badgers will host Marquette on Saturday. Tonight, conference play begins for men's teams in the Horizon League. U-W Milwaukee hosts Loyola, and U-W Green Bay entertains Illinois-Chicago.

-12/1-

The Wisconsin women won their Big Ten-A-C-C Challenge game last night, 58-to-50 at home over Boston College. Wisconsin opened the game with a 9-2 run, and B-C only led once when it was 15-to-13. Wisconsin led by eight at the half. Taylor Wurtz hit a three with 15-minutes left to give the Badgers a nine-point advantage, and the teams stayed even the rest of the way. Three Wisconsin players scored in double figures, led by Wurtz with 19. Anya Covington scored 13 and Ashley Thomas had 10. Shayra Brown scored 11 for Boston College, which fell to 2-and-3. Wisconsin improved to 3-and-5, and they're now 3-and-2 in their annual series with the A-C-C. The Badgers will host Saint Louis on Monday night.

-12/1-

Milwaukee Bucks' players can start using their practice facility at the Cousins Center today. But the coaches cannot have contact with the players yet, because the N-B-A's new collective bargaining agreement is still in the process of being ratified. Training camps are scheduled to open a week from tomorrow, and the Bucks' first of 66 regular season games will be played sometime after Christmas. Coach Scott Skiles was allowed to talk about his team publicly yesterday for the first time since the owners' lockout in July. He said the staff has been quote, "quietly excited about our team, although we couldn't talk to anyone about it." And Skiles said he likes his mix of players -- even though he has no idea what kind of shape they're in. Skiles does not expect a flood of players today, but he says they'll trickle in. Many have worked out on their own, but Skiles says there's no substitute for 5-on-5 contact with regular N-B-A players. Skiles also said he expects to improve their shooting around the rim, and creating more scoring opportunities on defense. He says a healthier Andrew Bogut will help. And Skiles said the acquisition of Beno Udrih will give the Bucks more of a scoring presence in the paint.

-12/1-

Green Bay Packers' left tackle Chad Clifton is not practicing this week because he hurt his back while rehabilitating the hamstring he injured October ninth at Atlanta. There was talk that Clifton could be ready to return Sunday against the Giants at New York. But that's out, and coach Mike McCarthy has not said when the veteran might return. Linebackers A-J Hawk and Desmond Bishop won't return until tomorrow at the earliest, after they suffered calf injuries a week ago at Detroit. Linebacker Erik Walden will continue to practice and play while he awaits a decision on whether he'll be charged in an argument with his live-in girlfriend last Friday. Prosecutors say they're still trying to determine the aggressor in that incident. And Packers' corner Pat Lee says he'll appeal a 15-thousand-dollar fine from the N-F-L for his apparent punching of Detroit's Aaron Barry during a punt return play last week. Lee said he pushed Barry's head as he was trying to break free. Replays showed that Barry threw a punch first and Lee retaliated -- but it was Lee who got ejected.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #1 - 12/1

2011-12-01T08:59:00.002-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Morning State News #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

State regulators recommend a six-month law license suspension for former Calumet County D-A Ken Kratz...
The federal E-P-A proposes stricter rules for cleaning the ballast water on incoming ships that brought in almost 200 invasive species...
Opponents of Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan get enough signatures to force a recall election...
Bon Iver and its leader from Eau Claire receive four Grammy Award nominations.

Winning lottery numbers:
Powerball: 2-6-34-35-47, Powerball 22, Power Play 2
Megabucks: 6-11-31-35-39-42
Supercash: 13-21-26-28-31-33 - No Doubler
Pick-3: 9-4-9
Pick-4: 5-4-8-0
Badger-5: 2-6-7-24-29

Here are the details:

A former eastern Wisconsin prosecutor who resigned for making sexual remarks to women might have his law license suspended, and be temporarily forced out of his current private law practice. Ex-Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz had a complaint filed against him yesterday. The state's Office of Lawyer Regulation asked the Supreme Court to suspend his law license for six months for multiple violations of the attorney conduct code. Kratz resigned his D-A's post 14 months ago, after it was learned that he sent over 30 racy text messages to a domestic abuse victim in 2009. He was prosecuting her ex-boyfriend at the time. The new complaint also said Kratz made lewd comments to a female social worker who was worried about testifying in a parental rights case -- and to a woman who wanted him to help her get a pardon for a drug conviction. Regulators also said another woman accused Kratz of sexually assaulting her three years after he prosecuted her for theft in 2006. Kratz said the sex was consensual, but regulators still said it was offensive behavior. The incidents reportedly happened around the same time in '09. The text messages showed that Kratz called the domestic abuse victim a "hot nymph," and he claimed to be her "prize" with a 350-thousand-dollar house. Other women then came forward and said he made similar remarks to them. Former Governor Jim Doyle had started the process of removing Kratz from office when he stepped down in October of last year. Kratz and his attorney have not commented on the new complaint. He has 20 days to give the Lawyer Regulation office a response.

-12/1-

The federal E-P-A has proposed stricter rules for cleaning the ballast water on foreign cargo ships that dumped almost 200 invasive species into the Great Lakes, and caused billions in environmental damage. The new rules are similar to those endorsed by the International Maritime Organization seven years ago. Ballast water is a balancing agent that keeps ships from tipping over. And both the E-P-A and Congress have hesitated to adopt uniform standards until the House voted last month to impose the international rules. The E-P-A wants to make vessels install technology that can kill at least some of the foreign organisms before they're dumped in U-S ports. The standards would take effect in 2013, and the shipping industry says they're doable. Steve Fisher of the American Great Lakes Ports Association said it allows room for changes after four years. But environmental groups say the proposed standards are not strong enough. Thom Cmar of the Natural Resources Defense Council calls it a "half-step forward." Both sides say federal rules are preferable to the patchwork of ballast water regulations that states are imposing. New York is scheduled to adopt standards in 2013 that are 100 times stricter than the international rules. And Wisconsin and other states have balked, claiming their foreign business would be cut off. That's because incoming ships must pass through New York to get to the Great Lakes. The E-P-A will take public comments for 75 days on its new rules.

-12/1-

Opponents of Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan were successful in forcing a recall election against him. City Clerk Sue Richards said yesterday that enough valid petition signatures were filed to order the Common Council to schedule the vote for January 17th. Ryan is being targeted for three major alcohol-related episodes in the first two-and-a-half years of his four-year term. The latest was in July, when he admitted going on a three-day drinking binge in Elkhart Lake. Recall organizers needed 41-hundred-21 signatures, and they got over 600 more than that. Richards says she won't know the final number of valid signatures until later today. But she said 10 different computer checks and other processes convinced her that enough signatures were obtained. Richards will give her report to the Council on Monday. Ryan says he won't challenge the petitions, and he'll wage what he calls a "vigorous campaign" to keep his job. Ryan admits he's an alcoholic, and is getting help.

-12/1-

Bon Iver and its leader from Eau Claire have received four Grammy Award nominations. Justin Vernon's group was nominated last night for both the best record and the best song with "Holocene." Bon Iver was also nominated as the best new artist, and the best alternative music album with the self-titled "Bon Iver." Kanye West led the way with seven Grammy nominations. Adele had six. The selections were unveiled during a prime-time concert on C-B-S. The 54th Grammy Awards ceremony will be held February 12th in Hollywood. Two other artists with Wisconsin connections also received nominations. Tierney Sutton, who went to Glendale Nicolet High School, had his self-named band nominated for the best jazz vocal album, "American Road." And Butch Vig, formerly of Madison, was nominated as the non-classical producer-of-the-year for the album "Wasting Light" by the Foo Fighters.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #2 - 12/1

2011-12-01T08:57:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Morning State News #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

Plans are announced for Wisconsin's third medical college in Wausau...
A woman accused of e-mailing death threats to 16 Wisconsin legislators is expected to settle her criminal case this afternoon...
The state D-N-R is offering up to 30-thousand-dollars for projects that help reduce damage from wildfires in urban communities.

Winning lottery numbers:
Powerball: 2-6-34-35-47, Powerball 22, Power Play 2
Megabucks: 6-11-31-35-39-42
Supercash: 13-21-26-28-31-33 - No Doubler
Pick-3: 9-4-9
Pick-4: 5-4-8-0
Badger-5: 2-6-7-24-29

Here are the details:

Wisconsin could get its third medical college in 2013. Plans were announced yesterday for the Wisconsin College of Osteopathic Medicine to be established in Wausau. Doctor Gregg Silberg will be the dean. He says the school would help provide 22-hundred additional doctors that the Wisconsin Hospital Association says will be needed statewide by 2030. And it would be the first school to train osteopathic doctors, who focus on disease prevention. Silberg says two-thirds of osteopathic medical school graduates go into primary care -- the biggest need listed by the hospital association. He said the new school would create doctors for rural and underserved parts of Wisconsin. The Wausau-based Aspirus (ah-spy'-rus) hospital system will help Silberg raise the 70-to-75-million dollars needed to start up the new medical school. The plan requires state approval and national accreditation -- and Silberg is not sure if state funding will be sought. Tim Size of the Rural Wisocnsin Health Cooperative says the new school will go a long way toward solving the state's impending doctor shortage. But U-W Madison medical school dean Robert Golden says the school might not be able to afford the required residency programs. He says the only two osteopathic residency programs in the state are full. And Golden says graduates might have to go to other states to complete their residencies, and will probably practice out-of-state. He calls the new medical school a "bridge to nowhere."

-12/1-

A Dane County woman accused of e-mailing death threats to 16 Wisconsin legislators is expected to settle her criminal case this afternoon. A plea hearing is scheduled for 26-year-old Katherine Windels of Cross Plains. She's currently charged with two felony counts of making bomb scares, and two misdemeanor counts of using computers to threaten bodily harm. Windels was scheduled to go on trial in January. Prosecutors said she wrote the G-O-P lawmakers in March, on the night the Senate passed the law which virtually ended most public union bargaining. Windels reportedly said she would shoot the lawmakers in the head -- and that bombs were planted around their homes and vehicles. Windels reportedly told investigators she was upset with what the G-O-P did, but was not planning to carry out the threat.

-12/1-

The state D-N-R is offering up to 30-thousand-dollars for projects that help reduce damage from wildfires in urban communities. The money comes from a federal grant. The D-N-R says the projects could include barriers that prevent forest fires from reaching nearby homes -- or removal efforts for dead wood and brush. Proposals can be sent to the D-N-R by January sixth, and the agency will decide by January 31st which projects will be funded. Those groups will have until the middle of 2013 to complete their projects, and only then will they receive the reimbursement funding. That means the groups would have to come up with the full cost of the projects themselves.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #3 - 12/1

2011-12-01T08:55:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Morning State News #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

A judge has agreed to continue force-feedings for a man convicted in a Waukesha County murder-for-hire scheme...
A new study shows that seniors who eat baked-and-broiled fish stay mentally sharp and physically coordinated...
The state government's job Web site has added new some new improvements and thousands more job openings...
A foundation that preserves the work of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright is getting a new leader from Wisconsin.

Here are the details:

A man convicted in a murder-for-hire scheme in Waukesha County will continue to get involuntary force-feedings and medical exams until he's sentenced December 20th. Circuit Judge James Kieffer extended those involuntary actions yesterday for Darren Wold. He had refused to take food or medicines for almost three weeks after he was convicted November second -- and Kieffer approved a temporary request for the involuntary feedings-and-exams on November 22nd. The 43-year-old Wold faces life in prison, after he and Jack Johnson were found guilty of hiring Justin Welch to kill Wold's ex-girlfriend. Kimberly Smith was murdered over two years ago in her Oconomowoc home, and authorities said it was because Wold wanted sole custody of their young son. Waukesha County prosecutors tried to get Wold's sentencing moved up to tomorrow -- but defense lawyers said they couldn't make it until the 20th. Yesterday's hearing was closed to the public over the objection of news reporters. The defense wanted the closed hearing because Wold's personal health information was brought up.

-12/1-

The next time Wisconsin senior citizens go to a fish fry, they'll really help themselves if they can choose baked-or-broiled fish. A new study shows that seniors who eat baked fish on a regular basis lose fewer brain cells -- and they do better on cognitive tests. The study was presented yesterday at a meeting of the Radiological Society of North America. Over 250 seniors were asked in 1990 how much baked-and-broiled fish they ate. Ten years later, they underwent brain scans and cognitive tests. And doctors found that those eating the fish are five times less likely to develop Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairments over a five-year period. Medical College of Wisconsin neurologist Piero Antuono says baked fatty fish has more of the Omega-Three fats that can improve brain health. Antuono, who did not take part in the study, said a regular diet of baked fish has a protective mental effect. But if seniors can't resist the fried fish, doctors say they won't get the benefits. That's because fried fish does not improve the volumes of gray matter in the brain.

-12/1-

The state government's job Web site has added over 100-thousand job openings posted on other employment sites. The Job Center of Wisconsin site listed 31-thousand of its own job openings yesterday -- plus 104-thousand others that were posted elsewhere. Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson says the site has also added postings from Twitter and Facebook, which expand the tools available to help both employers and job seekers. The state's Web site first went up three years ago. You'll find it at JobCenterOfWisconsin-Dot-Com.

-12/1-

A foundation that preserves the work of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright is getting a new leader from Wisconsin. He's Sean Malone, who's leaving a foundation he started 15 years ago to save the Ten Chimneys home in Waukesha County. Ten Chimneys is the home of the late theater legends Lynn Fontanne and Alfred Lunt in Genesee Depot. Malone will join the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation on February first. He'll take over for interim C-E-O Anne Maley. Wright started the foundation himself in 1940 in Scottsdale Arizona. It's a cultural-and-education center, and it's the primary conservator of Wright's work.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #4 - 12/1

2011-12-01T08:25:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, December 1, 2011 - Morning State News #4

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Thirteen years after he last ran for public office, Tommy Thompson is kicking off his Republican U-S Senate campaign today...
A federal judge in Dallas has refused to throw out a lawsuit by fans who paid hundreds for seats they never got at the Packers' Super Bowl win...
A driver was killed overnight when he lost control on a ramp between two freeways in Green Bay.

Here are the details:

Thirteen years after he last ran for public office, Tommy Thompson is kicking off his Republican campaign for the U-S Senate today. After 14 years as Wisconsin's governor and four more as the nation's health secretary, Thompson remains one of the state's best-known political figures. But critics from both parties say some of the luster has come off -- partially because of his previous support for national health care reform, and partially because the economy is not nearly as good as it was when he increased state spending in Wisconsin throughout the late '80's and '90's. Thompson insists he's a conservative by today's standards -- and he has condemned the final version of the Obama health package which is now in the hands of the U-S Supreme Court. Thompson is one at least three Republicans eyeing the Senate seat to be given up by Democrat Herb Kohl. Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin is the only candidate on her party's side. And Matt Canter of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee predicts the G-O-P race will be a quote, "bloody, divisive primary where most of the fire is focused on Thompson." The national conservative Club for Growth has endorsed former G-O-P Congressman Mark Neumann. Current state Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald says his conservative credentials put him ahead of both Thompson and Neumann. He said he's most proud of his leadership in passing the state law that virtually ended most public union bargaining in Wisconsin.

-12/1-

A federal judge in Dallas has refused to throw out a lawsuit by fans who paid hundreds-of-dollars for seats they never got at the Packers' Super Bowl win last February. Over 12-hundred seats at Cowboys Stadium were declared unsafe just hours before the game -- and about 500 fans had to either stand, or watch the game on T-V in a stadium lounge. The N-F-L tried to get the suit dismissed, but Federal Judge Barbara Lynn said it should proceed. Lynn also said the league's make-up offer was not sufficient under the law. The offer included free tickets to a future Super Bowl, with travel expenses paid. Attorney Michael Avenatti said the league has tried numerous legal maneuvers to quote, "deny the fans what they're entitled to." The league has not commented on the judge's ruling.

-12/1-

A driver was killed overnight when he lost control on a ramp between two freeways. It happened about 11:30 p-m on the northeast side of Green Bay. Police said a 57-year-old Green Bay man was between southbound Interstate-43 and northbound Highway 54-57 when his vehicle lost control on a curve. Police said it overturned and hit a sign, and the vehicle then split in half. No one else was in the vehicle. The driver died at the scene.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State News #2 - 10/19/11

2011-10-19T05:57:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, October 19, 2011 – Morning State News #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Wisconsinites will get their first chance today to comment on the proposed cuts in the state’s Medicaid programs…
Jurors in Waukesha County will hear their first full day of testimony in a month-long murder-for-hire trial…
A suburban Milwaukee family has been ticketed for lying to the police about a car accident in which a tree hit a neighbor’s house.

Winning lottery numbers:
Mega Millions: 24-25-45-47-53, Mega Ball 42, Megaplier 2
Supercash: 2-17-23-28-30-32 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 9-9-4
Pick-4: 9-6-6-5
Badger-5: 4-11-14-27-29

Here are the details:

Wisconsinites will get their first chance today to comment on the proposed cuts in the state’s Medicaid health programs for the poor and the elderly. State health officials will hold town hall meetings today in Madison, and on Friday in Milwaukee. The Save Badger-Care Coalition says it will speak out against the cuts. That group represents advocates for children, the elderly, and public health organizations. State officials say Medicaid has built up huge deficits due to higher health costs and more clients, many of whom are victims of the Great Recession. Health services secretary Dennis Smith has proposed over 550-million-dollars in spending cuts in the forms of tighter eligibility for benefits and higher premiums. The state is also asking for a federal waiver – and without it, over 50-thousand recipients could lose their health coverage. After this week’s meetings, the state will ask federal health officials to approve the cuts.

-10/19-

Jurors in Waukesha County will hear their first full day of testimony in the murder-for-hire trial of Darren Wold and Jack Johnson. District Attorney Brad Schimel said in his opening argument that both defendants offered seven-thousand-dollars to Justin Welch to have him kill Wold’s former girlfriend. Authorities said Welch killed 39-year-old Kimberly Smith two years ago so Wold could have sole custody of their young son. The 28-year-old Welch has pleaded guilty to the slaying – and he agreed to testify against Wold and Johnson to have a chance at a supervised prison release when he’s 60. Defense lawyers Mark Rosen and Anthony Rosario called Welch a predator, and said he would lie on the witness stand to get a better sentencing deal. Rosen represents Johnson, and Rosario is the attorney for Wold. Both lawyers said their own clients had nothing to do with the murder-for-hire scheme – and each blamed the other’s client for what happened. The trial is expected to run for about a month.

-10/19-

A suburban Milwaukee family has been ticketed for lying to the police about a car accident in which a tree hit a neighbor’s house. It happened in Glendale 10 days ago. According to police, a 15-year-old boy lost control of the family car while pulling out of his driveway. And the vehicle drove into the neighbor’s yard, knocked down two trees, and pushed one of the trees into the house. His 55-year-old mother told investigators that she was in the car at the time, and the younger had a learner’s permit. The boy and his 53-year-old father gave the same story. But as it turned out, the teen was driving alone – and he did not have an instructional permit. All three were cited for obstructing officers. The boy was also ticketed for driving without a license – and his dad was also cited for letting an unauthorized driver use his vehicle. The father reportedly agreed to pay for all the damages.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State Sports - 9/27/11

2011-09-27T14:26:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 27, 2011 – Afternoon State Sports

===Stations: We had a slight glitch with Learfield Data early this afternoon. The problem should be fixed shortly ... but just in case, here's your early afternoon material. A fresh state news feed is directly below this.===

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the details:

Milwaukee Brewers’ slugger Ryan Braun says his team needs to “take care of business” so can they get home-field advantage in the playoffs without needing help. The Brewers still control their own destiny in claiming the National League’s Number-two playoff seed – and they’ll get it if they can beat Pittsburgh in their final two regular season games the next two nights at Miller Park. Milwaukee can also nail down the Number-two seed tonight with a win over the Pirates and an Arizona home loss to the L-A Dodgers. Right now, the Brewers have a one-game edge over Arizona for the two seed. If Arizona and the Brewers end up tied, the Diamondbacks would win the second-seed because the D-Backs won the season series over the Brew Crew. And that would open up the risk that Milwaukee will open the playoffs in Philadelphia, which won its 100th game of the season last night. Milwaukee’s at 94-and-66. Also if the Brewers win their final two games over the Pirates, they’ll set a new team record for wins in a season. The current mark is 95 set in 1978-and-’82. Left-hander Randy Wolf will start for the Brewers tonight. Right-hander Ross Ohlendorf goes for Pittsburgh.

-9/27-

The Minnesota Twins will try to avoid losing their 100th game tonight when they host Kansas City. The Twins have two more contests against Ned Yost and his Royals – and Minnesota needs to win both to avoid the century mark in defeats. The Twins have only lost 100 games once in their 51-year history. That was in 1982. K-C won last night’s series opened 7-to-3. Anthony Swarzak goes for Minnesota tonight against Sean O’Sullivan.

(Thanks Minnesota News Network)

-9/27-

The Green Bay Packers have announced their enhanced security procedures starting with Sunday’s game against Denver at Lambeau Field. Security personnel will use hand-held metal-detecting wands, similar to what’s used at airports. The Packers say pat-downs could still be used. The N-F-L recommended the extra security, which also includes wands and pats from the head to the ankles. Previously, only the upper body was checked. Packers’ security director Doug Collins urged fans to enter the stadium earlier than in the past. They warn the added security will take extra time. The league announced the new procedures a couple weeks ago, but the Packers have not had a home game since September 8th. Sunday’s kickoff is at 3:15 at Lambeau.

-9/27-

The W-I-A-C’s football players-of-the-week are Nate Wara and Taylor Goodman, both of U-W Oshkosh, and Zach Litchfield of Platteville. Wara, a junior quarterback, threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns in a 56-to-10 pasting of U-W Stout. And he ran for 185 yards and two more scores. Goodman, a junior linebacker, had 10 tackles for Oshkosh in the win over Stout. Litchfield, a sophomore kicker, won the special teams’ award. His 42-yard field goal was the difference in a 17-14 Platteville win over La Crosse. The W-I-A-C also recognized Nate Stymiest and Christy Cazzola, both of Oshkosh, in cross country – Logan George of Superior and James Pike of Oshkosh in men’s soccer – Becca Blue of Oshkosh and Courtney Tideman of Stout in women’s soccer – Catherine Wagner of Eau Claire in women’s golf – Katie Schaefer of Whitewater in women’s singles tennis – and Schaefer and Alexandra Bayliss of Whitewater in doubles’ tennis.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State News #1 - 9/27/11

2011-09-27T14:22:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 27, 2011 – Afternoon State News #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Five Wisconsin school systems will share 30-million-dollars, in a settlement of federal charges over the schools’ purchase of risky investments…
The governor said he didn’t know his chief spokesman was given immunity in a John Doe probe until the media reported it…
A mail carrier in Waukesha is accused of driving drunk on the job.

Here are the details:

Five Wisconsin school districts will share 30-million-dollars, as part of a settlement of federal charges over the schools’ purchase of risky investments. The Securities-and-Exchange Commission had accused the Royal Bank of Canada of misconduct in selling collateralized debt obligations to the Kimberly, Kenosha, Waukesha, Whitefish Bay, and West Allis-West Milwaukee school systems. The schools had invested 200-million dollars ago to boost their retirement accounts. But the investments later became worthless – and the S-E-C agreed with the schools that the Royal Bank did not give adequate disclosures about how risky the investments were. The five school districts put in 37-million-dollars and borrowed the rest. Stephen Kravit, the schools’ attorney, said the districts were vindicated. That was after the investment sellers had said school officials should have done their homework, and taken the same risks that the rest of us have to take when we invest. Kravit said a large part of their losses will be paid to them within the next 10 days. The government’s legal action is separate from a highly-publicized civil lawsuit filed by the five school districts about three-and-a-half years ago. That’s still pending, along with an S-E-C action against the other defendant in the suit, the financial firm of Stifel Nicolaus.

-9/27-

Governor Scott Walker said today that he didn’t know his chief spokesman was given immunity in a John Doe investigation until the media reported it. We learned last Friday that Cullen Werwie was given a deal to avoid possible prosecution. Walker said it would have been wrong for Werwie to tell the governor about the immunity in private – because it’s against the law to disclose statements made in John Doe probes. The Milwaukee County District Attorney’s office is conducting the probe to see if any of Walker’s aides illegally campaigned for him last year, when they served under Walker when he was the county executive. The Republican governor made his comments in Milwaukee, after holding his second statewide forum on job creation. Walker told reporters he lives to the highest ethical standards that he learned from his parents when he became an Eagle Scout. Walker’s father was a Baptist minister and quote, “I continue to have that kind of integrity.” Over the past few days, the governor has also questioned the media’s coverage of the John Doe proceeding – which has been going on for almost a year-and-a-half. Walker said people have commented on the probe who quote, “either don’t know what they’re talking about – or they’re violating the law” by speaking out of turn. The governor also said he has not personally been contacted by investigators in connection with the matter.

-9/27-

A mail carrier in Waukesha is accused of driving drunk on the job. The 45-year-old man was arrested after a series of crashes on Saturday with his postal vehicle. The case was referred to the Waukesha city attorney’s office, as a citation for the man’s first O-W-I offense. Police captain Ron Oremus said the vehicle struck several others both in front of the driver and behind him on a one-block stretch late Saturday morning. Oremus said the vehicle also had fresh damage from an apparent crash just outside of Waukesha. When he was arrested, Oremus said officers found an open bottle of brandy on the floor-board of the postal truck. He said the man’s blood alcohol level was point-18, more than twice the legal limit for intoxication.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State News #3 - 6/29/11

2011-06-29T16:34:00.001-05:00

===Stations: Learfield Data has been down this afternoon, so we've sent all 3 Wisconsin PM State News feeds here, along with the Afternoon State Sports. We anticipate Learfield Data to be back up this evening, and we'll make sure all the PM Reports get on that wire for your use tomorrow morning. Thank you for your patience.===

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – Afternoon State News #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Former U-W Madison chancellor David Ward returns to the post on an interim basis for a year…
A judge in Minnesota says the Stillwater Lift Bridge at the Wisconsin border will stay open, even if there’s a government shutdown in the Gopher State…
An Elkhorn man dies in a vehicle garage mishap in Walworth County…
A guard at the Milwaukee children’s detention center is charged with physically abusing a child held at that facility.

Here are the details:

U-W Madison announced late this afternoon that its former chancellor will return to the post on an interim basis. David Ward will replace Biddy Martin on July 18th, as she leaves to become the new president of Amherst College in Massachusetts. His term will be for one year. Ward ran the Madison campus from 1993 until 2001, when he became the president of the American Council on Education. He served in that post until 2008. U-W System President Kevin Reilly said Ward will be involved in major budget decisions, as the campus faces a loss in state aid of well over 100-thousand dollars in the next two years. And Reilly said Ward would help implement the school’s new-found flexibility, as granted by lawmakers in the next state budget which takes effect on Friday. Reilly called Ward a “strategic thinker” who can help make the upcoming changes in ways that fit with Madison’s academic traditions. Board of Regents’ president Michael Spector said Ward has demonstrated he can do the job of chancellor well – and he understands the role of the flagship campus within the entire U-W System.

-6/29-

A key link between northwest Wisconsin and Minnesota will stay open, if the Gopher State’s government shuts down on Friday. Transportation officials said this afternoon that the Stillwater Lift Bridge will not shut down. Ramsey County Chief Judge Kathleen Gearin of Saint Paul agreed that the bridge serves a critical function in maintaining public health and safety. It’s one of a number of core functions in Minnesota’s government that will keep going during a possible government shutdown – which is the result of an impasse over that state’s new budget. The shutdown is looming for Friday. Officially, Gearin said the Stillwater Lift Bridge will stay open to accommodate ambulance traffic between Minnesota and Wisconsin. But thousands of commuters also use the bridge to get to-and-from their jobs each day in Minnesota’s Twin Cities.

-6/29-

An Elkhorn man died today while working at a vehicle garage in far southeast Wisconsin. Walworth County authorities a car fell off its hoist at Lockhart’s Service Station in the town of Lafayette – and it landed on 28-year-old Nicholas Van Dyke. Sheriff’s deputies and co-workers eventually got him free, but he died later at a hospital.

-6/29-

A guard at a children’s detention center in Milwaukee was charged today with physically abusing a child who was being held there. Prosecutors said 61-year-old George Mack of Milwaukee assaulted a juvenile at the facility on June eighth.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State News #2 - 6/29/11

2011-06-29T15:32:00.002-05:00

===Stations: Learfield Data was down at this publication. We've been sending afternoon material here, and will continue to do so until the wire comes back up.===

Wheeler News Service - Wednesday, June 29, 2011 -- Afternoon State News #2

Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the stories:

One Wisconsin Now is circulating a petition asking Supreme Court Justice David Prosser to resign. Another state Supreme Court Justice, Ann Walsh Bradley, has claimed Prosser put what she called a “choke hold” on her earlier this month. One Wisconsin Now says it was able to collect six thousand signatures in less than 24 hours. Prosser has denied the claims as the Wisconsin Judicial Commission investigates the incident.-
6/29-
A Waukesha police officer has killed a pit bull after it attacked its owner and a neighbor. Police say the officer opened fire on the animal after that attack because he thought the dog would jump the gate and attack responders. The owner and neighbor were bitten while trying to kennel a pit bull that wasn’t involved in the attack. Those individuals are expected to recover, but the dog that was shot has died.
-6/29-
Fourteen Wisconsin Senate Democrats maintain they were right to leave the state earlier this year in an attempt to block Governor Walker’s collective bargaining changes. They stayed in Illinois for nearly three weeks to block a vote on the bill – until Republicans in the Senate found a way to pass it without them being present. Even though Wisconsin Act 10 took effect today, state Senator Spencer Coggs of Milwaukee says there are no regrets about the decision to leave. He says it gave the public more time to understand what the bill meant and allowed citizens to make their voices heard. Senator Fred Risser says he expects the issue is far from settled.
(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State News #1 - 6/29/11

2011-06-29T14:50:00.001-05:00

===Stations: Learfield Data was down at mid-afternoon, so we're sending the Afternoon State News #1 and the Afternoon State Sports on this blog.===

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – Afternoon Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

Republican Senate recall challenger David VanderLeest could be facing more legal trouble…
Federal indictments are issued against 35 people in a pair of major drug trafficking operations in Racine and elsewhere…
Jurors in Arizona were about to decide this afternoon whether James Arthur Ray should get a tougher sentence for a Milwaukee man’s death in a sweat lodge.

Here are the details:
A Republican challenger for a Wisconsin Senate seat in a recall election could be facing more legal trouble. It’s already been reported that David VanderLeest of Green Bay has two misdemeanor disorderly conduct convictions from 2007, plus other arrests – all connected with alleged domestic violence. And today, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said VanderLeest is under investigation in Oconto County. Chief Deputy Clark Longsine said there’s an open investigation which deputies have shared with the county’s human services agency. He didn’t give details, but VanderLeest told the Journal Sentinel it was connected with a restraining order his ex-wife sought in April that she later withdrew. VanderLeest is a wind farm developer who’s the only official G-O-P candidate at the moment for the Senate seat held by Democrat Dave Hansen of Green Bay. The disorderly conduct convictions were part of a plea deal in which he was originally charged with intimidating a witness and battery. His ex-wife had obtained restraining orders against him in 2005-and-’06. And Wisconsin Democrats said he was also arrested for pulling his ex-wife’s hair, throwing her to a floor to stop her from calling police, and another battery. Those incidents were from 2006-and-’09, but VanderLeest was not convicted in those cases. He told the Journal Sentinel those cases were the result of a bad marriage and what he called corruption in the court system. State Democratic chairman Mike Tate says VanderLeest is not a person who’s fit for office. He organized the recall effort against Hansen. Earlier this week, state Representative John Nygren of Marinette was kept off the ballot for a primary against VanderLeest due to a lack of valid nominating signatures. But Nygren is challenging that matter in court, and a hearing on it is set for Friday in Madison.
-6/29-
Federal authorities say 35 people have been indicted in a pair of large drug trafficking operations in Racine. The U-S attorney’s office said 18 people were charged in one operation. That’s after authorities were told that a barber at Ruth’s Beauty Salon in Racine had been suspected of helping sell crack cocaine and heroin. In the other case, 17 people – including gang members from the Gangster Disciples – were indicted for drug and firearms charges. U-S Attorney James Santelle (san-tell’) said cocaine, marijuana, meth-amphetamines, and cash were taken during searches in the Racine, Chicago, and San Antonio areas. He said a Racine man had been the leader of that group.
-6/29-
Jurors in Arizona were about to decide this afternoon whether James Arthur Ray should get a tough sentence for letting a Milwaukee man die in a sweat-lodge ceremony. Closing arguments in the trial’s penalty phase were presented this morning. After convicting Ray last week, the jury must decide if there were aggravating factors that a judge should consider when giving his sentence. The jury found Ray guilty last week on three lesser charges of negligent homicide, for causing the deaths of 40-year-old James Shore of Milwaukee and two others during a spiritual ceremony in a heated structure in 2009. Ray could get anything from probation to 11 years behind bars. Prosecutors had survivors of the victims testify about their effects on their families’ lives due to the tragedy. But the defense said the state did not meet some key burdens of proof. Ray’s lawyers said he never profited from the sweat lodge ceremony, and there’s no proof that Ray had a unique position of trust with the victims.
(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State Sports

2011-06-29T14:47:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, June 29, 2011 – Afternoon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the details:

The New York Yankees will to try to extend their winning streak to four games tonight, when they host the Milwaukee Brewers again. The Yanks have the American League’s best record at 46-and-31, while Milwaukee has the National League’s worst road record at 15-and-25. The Brewers got crushed 12-to-2 last night at Yankee Stadium. And it narrowed Milwaukee’s division lead to two games over second-place Saint Louis in the National League Central. New York has won 13-of-its-last-17 games, and Yankees’ third baseman Alex Rodriguez has batted .411 during that stretch with 17 R-B-I’s. Mark Teixiera has homered in each of his last three games, and Nick Swisher is batting .351 with five homers in his last 17 contests. For the Brewers, Ryan Braun has the hot bat. He has a career-high 18-game hitting streak, including a double late in Monday night’s defeat. Right-hander Shaun Marcum starts for the Brew Crew this evening against Yankees’ right-hander A-J Burnett.

-6/29-

The Milwaukee Brewers will continue to have a minor league connection in Wisconsin for at least five-and-a-half more years. The Brewers today announced a four-year extension of its affiliation with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers of Appleton, running through 2016. The Timber Rattlers are the lower of two Class-“A” farm clubs, with Brevard County being slightly higher in stature. But Brewers’ G-M Doug Melvin calls the affiliation with the Timber Rattlers a “perfect fit.” He says it has given the Brewers the convenience of sending players close by for minor league rehab assignments – and it gives the Rattlers a chance to play in a big league ball park on occasion. Tonight, the Rattlers face Peoria at Miller Park in Milwaukee. The Brewers started their connection with Wisconsin in 2008.

-6/29-

The Timber Rattlers will try to salvage a victory tonight in their three-game Midwest League series against Peoria at Miller Park. The Chiefs topped the Rattlers 4-to-1 last night. The Beloit Snappers will play the rubber game of their series at Clinton. The Lumber-kings won 4-to-3 in 12 innings on Tuesday. The loss was Beloit’s first of the second half, leaving Kane County as the league’s only unbeaten team at 5-and-0. One game is already in the books this afternoon. Fort Wayne won at Lake County 11-to-4. Also tonight, Burlington hosts Kane County. Cedar Rapids plays at Quad Cities. Lansing is at Dayton. West Michigan entertains South Bend. And Bowling Green plays at Great Lakes.

-6/29-

We’ll find out Sunday if the Brewers will have three starters in the All-Star Game for the first time in their history. Outfielder Ryan Braun and second baseman Rickie Weeks lead the fan voting in their positions. First baseman Prince Fielder ranks second in his spot – but the leader, Albert Pujols, will miss the All-Star Game with a broken forearm so it’s possible that Fielder could be named the starter. Braun leads all National League players in the fan ballot with just over three-million votes as of Monday. He says it would “pretty cool” to have three Brewers in the starting N-L lineup – and he credits the Milwaukee fans for being “extremely passionate and supportive.” The fan voting continues through late tomorrow night at Brewers-Dot-Com and M-L-B-Dot-Com.

-6/29-

Brewers’ reliever Takashi Saito might return to the Milwaukee bullpen by Friday night, when the team opens a weekend series at Minnesota. The 41-year-old Saito struck out two and gave up a hit in one inning last night for Triple-“A” Nashville. The Sounds won that game 3-to-2. Brewers’ manager Ron Roenicke says Saito will have a throwing session today – and if all goes well, he could return to the big club by the end of the week. Saito has missed most of the season with an injured hamstring, followed by a strained oblique muscle. The Brewers signed the veteran Saito last winter to be a set-up man for John Axford. Kameron Loe has moved into that role instead.

-6/29-

Minnesota Twins’ outfielder Delmon Young has no ligament damage in the ankle he sprained last Saturday night in Milwaukee. Young underwent an M-R-I yesterday – and it showed that he had some swelling and bone bruise, but the ligaments appear to look good. Young was hurt while sliding into the left field wall as he tried to catch a long fly from Yuniesky Betancourt – who had an inside-the-park home run on that play. Trainers say Young can put his full weight on his ankle. But the Brewers won’t be seeing him during their series in Minneapolis this weekend, because he’s on the 15-day disabled list. Young is expected to get off the D-L on July 11th.

(Thanks Minnesota News Network)

-6/29-

Stephen Jackson says he’ll happy to play for the Milwaukee Bucks, despite early reports that he wasn’t. Jackson was the Bucks’ main acquisition in a three-team trade last week. He and Shaun Livingston came over from Charlotte, while Corey Maggette was dealt to the Bobcats. At a Bradley Center news conference today, the 33-year-old Jackson called Milwaukee a “great place to win,” and he has a lot of respect for the coaching staff. The veteran guard says coach Scott Skiles won’t have to ask him to be a leader on the floor – because it’s his instinct to do so. Jackson said he received welcoming text messages from Bucks’ point guard Brandon Jennings and center Andrew Bogut as soon as the trade was announced on Draft Night last week – and he didn’t expect to hear from Bogut. This is Jackson’s third N-B-A team in three years. He played for Golden State two seasons ago, and was on the floor when Jennings scored his 55-point game against the Warriors. Jackson says he’ll have a lot more fun teaming up with Jennings than playing against him.

-6/29-

A youth soccer team from Milwaukee won a championship today at the Midwest Regional finals in Appleton. F-C Milwaukee took the 18-and-under girls’ category with a 3-to-1 victory over the Mockingbird club of Kentucky. Justine Hovden scored two goals for Milwaukee, and Mady Vicker scored the other one. Finals were being played today in seven boys’ categories and seven girls’ divisions. F-C Milwaukee was the only Wisconsin team to make today’s finals. They’ll advance to national competition next month in Phoenix.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #4 - 10/23/10

2010-09-23T10:21:00.002-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, September 23, 2010 – Morning Report #4

===Stations: Learfield Data went down this morning. So we've posted this report & the Noon State Sports here. We'll also post the Noon Report here if the site is not back up by then. And when it does return, we'll place all the feeds there. Thank you for understanding.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines: Arcadia’s mayor has declared a state-of-emergency after heavy rains caused heavy floods overnight…
The federal government says Wisconsinites are still waiting longer than they should for appeal hearings when their requests for jobless benefits are denied…
Prosecutors plan to offer a plea deal to a former eastern Wisconsin teacher charged with 28 sex-related counts…
The Oneida and Menominee Indian tribes are preserving their historical records with the help of federal grants.

Here are the details:

The mayor of Arcadia has declared a state-of-emergency after heavy rains caused heavy floods overnight. The National Weather Service says roads are closed in-and-out of the Trempealeau County community. Parts of western Wisconsin had over five-inches of rain last night and early today. The Alma Dam on the Mississippi River had five-point-one inches. The Black River Falls area had over four inches. Central Wisconsin had around three-inches, and the Weather Service has a flood warning in Wood-and-Portage counties until 10:30 this morning. Highway 10 in the Junction City area was closed as of seven o’clock. Also, the Weather Service has flood warnings for the Yellow River in Wood County. It was above its banks at Pittsville this morning – and it’s expected to rise five-feet above flood stage at Babcock by early Saturday. In the meantime, forecasters say more heavy rains are in the forecast throughout Wisconsin into tomorrow morning. Much of western Wisconsin remains under a flood watch until then.

-9/23-

The federal government says unemployed Wisconsinites are still waiting longer than they should for appeal hearings when their requests for jobless benefits are denied. The Labor Department said the state is completing about 10-percent of appeals within 30 days after they’re filed. That’s well below the federal standard of 60-percent. And only 13-percent of appeals are handled within 45 days after they’re filed – below the federal standard of 80-percent. State officials say they’re doing better now than a few weeks ago. Workforce development spokesman John Dipko said there almost 57-hundred pending appeals – 220 less than several weeks ago. He said the state is dealing with record claims, and Wisconsin is not the only one that’s behind. Dipko said 39 other states have also failed to meet the federal standards for scheduling appeal hearings. And he says Wisconsin has done better than most states in other standards – like making first-time payments on a timely basis.

-9/23-

Prosecutors say they’ll offer a plea deal to a former eastern Wisconsin teacher who’s facing 28 sex-related charges in three counties. A preliminary hearing for 32-year-old Ryan Zellner of Allouez (al’-oh-way) has been delayed until November second in Brown County Circuit Court. Most of the charges accuse Zellner of making sexually-explicit calls to female students at several schools where he had worked since 2003. District Attorney John Zakowski says he and prosecutors in Manitowoc and Calumet counties will come up with a plan to consolidate the charges in one county, and offer a plea bargain. He says Zellner would have to spend time in prison under any offer that’s made.

-9/23-

Two Wisconsin Indian tribes are preserving their historical records with help from the federal government. The Oneida Nation of Green Bay is getting a 102-thousand-dollar grant to upgrade its library to make it safer and better-organized. And the Menominee tribe is getting 74-thousand dollars to create digital records about its history – especially its “termination era.” The federal government ended the Menominee’s tribal status in the 1950’s, and tribal member Ada Deer helped get it restored in 1973. Deer was the first woman to head the U-S Bureau of Indian Affairs. And Monique Tyndall of the Menominee College Library says she’s excited to preserve Deer’s account of what happened. Tyndall said the tribe had lost its sovereignty, and the restoration agreement provides a voice from the community to the federal government. Also, Tyndall says the library has been getting materials from other tribal members. And it’s creating an inventory for the digitalization process.

(Thanks Brian Bull, WHA-WERN, Madison)

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon State Sports 10/23/10

2010-09-23T10:13:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, September 23, 2010 – Noon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com Here are the headlines:
The Brewers will open their final home series of the year tonight against Florida…
Packers’ running back Ryan Grant says his ankle surgery was a success…
Madison golfer Steve Stricker has a 12:45 tee time this afternoon, as the final event in the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs gets underway…
U-W Oshkosh assistant wrestling coach Chris Stratton gets promoted to the top spot.

Here are the details:

The Milwaukee Brewers will open their final home series of the year tonight, a four-game set against the Florida Marlins. Both teams are coming off victories from last evening. The Brewers crushed Cincinnati 13-to-1, while Florida swept a two-game series from the New York Mets with a 7-to-5 win. Former Brewer Wes Helms drove in three runs in that contest, which put Florida above the .500 mark at 76-and-75. They come into Miller Park with a three-game winning streak. The Brewers now have 70 victories – but they also have 81 losses, and the next will assure them of their second consecutive losing season. Their romp of Cincy ended a three-game losing streak overall, and seven straight losses to the Reds. Right-hander Yovani Gallardo will start for Milwaukee tonight against Florida right-hander Anibal Sanchez.

-9/23-

Green Bay Packers’ running back Ryan Grant said his ankle surgery was a success. He said on Twitter, “Everyone’s prayers and support has made this an easy process so far.” And Grant promised to be quote, “even more of a beast” when he returns next year. The Packers put Grant on injured reserve, which means he cannot return this season. He tore ligaments in his right ankle September 12th at Philadelphia. He was planning to have screws inserted in the ankle to help the ligaments heal. Meanwhile, Grant’s teammates started practicing today for their next game on Monday night at Chicago. Both the Packers and Bears are 2-and-0.

-9/23-

Madison golfer Steve Stricker has a 12:45 tee time this afternoon, as the final tournament in the Fed-Ex Cup playoffs is getting underway. Stricker is in the second-to-last pairing at the Tour Championship near Atlanta. That reflects his fourth place standing in the Fed-Ex Cup point totals. The series leader, Matt Kuchar, is golfing with second-place Dustin Johnson in the final pairing. Stricker is paired with third-place Charley Hoffman. The top-five players determine their own destiny for the Fed-Ex Cup and the 10-million-dollar prize. The other 25 players in the field will need help in order to achieve victory.

On the P-G-A Champions Tour, Rhinelander native Dan Forsman will play in the S-A-S Championship in Cary North Carolina. The three-round tournament begins tomorrow. The L-P-G-A women’s tour is off this weekend.

-9/23-

The assistant wrestling coach at U-W Oshkosh has been promoted to the top spot. Chris Stratton replaces Mike DeRoehn, who stepped down after six years to focus on his work with the Wisconsin Wrestling Federation. Stratton has been an assistant coach at Oshkosh the past two seasons. And he used to wrestle at that school, earning varsity letters in 2004, ’05, and ’07. Stratton is also an instructor in the Oshkosh Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education. He inherits a program that’s been represented at the national Division-Three meet three times in the past four years. The Titans placed fifth in the conference meet last season, with a 6-and-7 record in dual meets.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1 - 2/18/10

2010-02-18T06:23:00.002-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data encountered a problem around 6 a.m. We'll keep posting our new material here. Thank you for your understanding.=====

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, February 18, 2010 – Morning Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
La Crosse Judge Ramona Gonzalez concedes, after late figures show that she lost an appeals court primary by 182 votes…
Sarah Palin takes sides in a northern Wisconsin House primary with the goal of defeating David Obey…
A federal grand jury has indicted four Eau Claire County residents for allegedly stealing electronics items that were being mailed…
Authorities identify a man killed by falling steel at a plant in West Milwaukee.

Winning lottery numbers:
Powerball: 7-8-19-26-36, Powerball 15, Power Play 3
Megabucks: 4-8-10-18-40-44
Supercash: 4-7-9-13-29-31 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 5-4-6
Pick-4: 8-1-8-8
Badger-5: 2-9-17-18-31

Here are the details:

La Crosse County Circuit Judge Ramona Gonzalez conceded yesterday, amid conflicting reports about who won the Fourth District Appeals Court primary. The state’s Government Accountability Board did an un-official tally – and it found that Gonzalez lost by just 182 votes to Richland County Circuit Judge Edward Leineweber for the second spot on the April ballot. Dane County D-A Brian Blanchard easily won the first spot with 28-thousand-157 votes. Leineweber advanced with 12-thousand-964, and Gonzalez took third with 12-thousand-782. Earlier yesterday, some media outlets – including the Wheeler News state wire – had Gonzalez in second. She ended up third in 15 of the 24 counties in the appellate court district. Gonzalez said she would not ask for a recount, saying the taxpayers have spent enough on the election. State officials say the results will not be official until the municipalities and counties certify them. They have until nextTuesday to report their final numbers to Madison.

-2/18-

Sarah Palin wants her supporters to give campaign money to a northern Wisconsin Republican in order to quote, “unseat the author of the stimulus bill.” On Facebook yesterday, the former vice presidential candidate endorsed Ashland County D-A Sean Duffy – one of two Republicans running against Democratic incumbent David Obey of Wausau. Palin wrote a column about the one-year anniversary of the federal stimulus package. And near the end of it, she called Duffy a “brave soul” to take on quote, “a liberal Goliath who’s been in Congress over 40 years.” She did not mention Obey by name, but she said a vote for Duffy would quote, “send a message to the big spenders in Washington.” Obey wrote much of the 787-billion-dollar stimulus package. And he said yesterday it provided tax cuts to the middle class, kept local teachers and police on the job, and made key investments that should spur job growth for years to come. He said thestimulus “softened the landing” of the recession, and there’s still a long way to go. Meanwhile, Palin did what many political heavy-weights don’t often do – endorse a primary candidate in their own party. Before he can face Obey, Duffy must first defeat Rudolph farmer Dan Mielke (mill-kee) – who got almost 40-percent of the vote against Obey in the last election in 2008. Palin’s column mentioned nothing about the primary – or why she chose Duffy over Mielke. But Duffy won’t complain, saying it will give him credibility and a fund-raising boost.

-2/18-

A federal grand jury has indicted four Eau Claire County residents for allegedly stealing electronics that were being mailed. The U-S attorney’s office in Madison said Branden Kortness, William Lund, Deedra Ulry, and Michael Dayton stole packages with T-V’s, computers, and valuable coins. Authorities said it happened at Straight Shot Express Corporation, a shipping company in Eau Claire that’s contracted to transport mail. Kortness was a night shift supervisor. All four defendants are from Altoona. Prosecutors said the thefts occurred in a 22-month period ending last November.

-2/18-

A man who died after being trapped by falling steel in a West Milwaukee plant was identified yesterday as 61-year-old Leroy Baker of Milwaukee. The county medical examiner said Baker was using an overhead lift to move steel into the building, when a two-ton piece of steel fell onto him from the lift hoist. It happened on Tuesday at the Galland Henning Nopak factory.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports - 2/18/10

2010-02-18T06:19:00.001-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data encountered a processing error around 6 a.m. today. We'll post our reports here until the problem is fixed. Thank you for your understanding.=====

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, February 18, 2010 – Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

The Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly finalized a trade to get John Salmons from the Bulls, in exchange for Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander…
The Bucks come out flat after the All-Star break, as Houston hits a barrage of three-pointers in a 28-point Milwaukee loss…
U-W Stevens Point and Whitewater remain tied for both the W-I-A-C men’s-and-women’s basketball leads with just one regular season game left…
The Badger men go for their 20th win tonight at Minnesota…

In the N-B-A…
Houston 127, Milwaukee 99In men’s college basketball…
U-W Stevens Point 78, U-W Platteville 56
U-W Whitewater 62, U-W Oshkosh 50
U-W Superior 89, U-W Eau Claire 79 in overtime
U-W La Crosse 73, U-W River Falls 71
U-W Stout 102, Silver Lake 72
Carthage 61, North Park 55
Carroll 87, Ripon 80
Beloit 75, Lawrence 61

In women’s college basketball…
U-W Whitewater 75, U-W Oshkosh 62
U-W Stevens Point 77, U-W Platteville 59
U-W La Crosse 76, U-W River Falls 67
U-W Eau Claire 72, U-W Superior 48
Lakeland 72, Concordia-Mequon 66
Milwaukee Engineering 69, Alverno 57
Wisconsin Lutheran 96, Dominican 61
Rockford 67, Marian 58
Beloit 63, Lawrence 59
Ripon 66, Carroll 53

In boys’ high school basketball…
Milwaukee King 63, Milwaukee South 55
Milwaukee North 59, Milwaukee Northwest 55
Racine Horlick 87, Milwaukee Languages 51

In girls’ high school basketball…
Beaver Dam Wayland 66, Brookfield Academy 58
Milwaukee Bradley Tech 63, Milwaukee Academy of Science 13
Mukwonago 57, Pewaukee 46

Also…
Team U-S-A ends its Olympic drought in speed-skating, as Milwaukee resident Shani Davis wins his second straight gold in the one-thousand-meters…
Madison golfer Steve Stricker has become only the second top-seed to lose a first-round match in the history of the Accenture Match Play Championship…
The Wisconsin women’s swim team is tied for third, after winning the 200-medley relay in the first day of the Big Ten Championships.

Here are the details:

The N-B-A trade deadline is at two this afternoon – and the Milwaukee Bucks have reportedly finalized a deal to get Chicago Bulls’ guard and forward John Salmons. According to the Journal Sentinel, the Bucks will send forwards Hakim Warrick and Joe Alexander to Chicago. Earlier yesterday, centers Francisco Elson and Kurt Thomas were rumored to be part of the deal – but that apparently was ruled out. The 30-year-old Salmons was a key player in Chicago’s playoff run a year ago, which ended in a first-round loss to Boston in seven games. This year, Salmons is averaging 13 points and three-and-a-half rebounds. He was kept out of last night’s Bulls’ contest at New York. Warrick, a fifth-year forward who joined the Bucks last summer, is averaging 10 points and four rebounds. Alexander, a second-year pro, is in the N-B-A’s Developmental League after struggling with injuries during much of his time in Milwaukee. He was going to be goneafter this year anyway, as the Bucks declined the third-year option on his rookie contract. The trade reportedly involves about an equal amount in salaries. But Salmons has a player option for almost six-million dollars next year, while the other two contracts expire at the end of the season. That would free up salary cap space for the Bulls this summer.

-2/18-

The Bucks came out flat after the All-Star break, as they got pounded by the Houston Rockets 127-to-99 last night at the Bradley Center. The Rockets made 16 three-pointers – one short of the team record – and they shot a blistering 69-percent from beyond-the-arc. Trevor Ariza and Shane Battier (bat’-ee-yay) hit six treys each. Houston was up by five points at the half. And they hit eight three-pointers in the third quarter to take a 34-point lead into the final period. Seven Rockets scored in double figures, led by Ariza with 22 and Battier with 20. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute led Milwaukee with 18 points and eight rebounds. Trade rumors kept swirling both before and during the game, but Bucks’ coach Scott Skiles said it was not a distraction. If it was, he said the Bucks don’t deserve to make the playoffs. The loss dropped Milwaukee to two games back for the eighth-and-final Eastern Conference playoff spot. Charlotte took over thatspot, as Miami and Chicago moved to a tie for sixth. The Bucks are now 24-and-28, and will play at Detroit tomorrow night.

-2/18-

With just one game left, U-W Stevens Point and Whitewater remain tied for first place in both the men’s-and-women’s basketball races in the W-I-A-C. The Pointer and Warhawk men both improved to 12-and-3 after road victories last night. The Point and Whitewater women are both 11-and-4 – and they clinched at least a share of the league crown with home victories last evening. On the men’s side, Stevens Point used a 15-to-2 run midway through the game to win at Platteville 78-to-56. Whitewater kept pace with a 62-to-50 victory at Oshkosh, as the Warhawks out-shot the Titans 58-to-36-percent. On the women’s side, Nicole Bundy had 23 points and nine rebounds to give Whitewater at 75-to-62 home victory over Oshkosh. And the Stevens Point women held their share of first with a 77-59 home win over Platteville. Britta Peterson scored 24 for the Pointers.

-2/18-

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team will go for their 20th win of the season tonight at Minnesota. The 14th-ranked Badgers are 9-and-4 in the Big Ten, a game-and-a-half behind front-running Michigan State. And they’re 19-and-6 overall, coming off a home win over Indiana. The Badgers say it’s uncertain whether forward Jon Leuer will play. He practiced this week for the first time since breaking his left wrist on January ninth against Purdue. Minnesota comes in after back-to-back losses to Michigan and Northwestern. The Gophers are 5-and-7 in the conference and 14-and-10 overall, and they’ve lost six-of-their-last-eight. Still, the Gophers are the highest-scoring team in the Big Ten. Senior guard Lawrence Westbrook leads Minnesota with almost 13-and-a-half points a game. Also tonight, the Marquette men host Pittsburgh. The U-W Milwaukee men entertain Cleveland State. In women’s play, the Badgers host Ohio State. U-W Milwaukeeentertains Loyola. And U-W Green Bay hosts Illinois-Chicago. And the Parkside women-and-men are both home against Saint Joseph’s.

-2/18-

America’s Olympic medal drought in long-track speed-skating ended last night, as Milwaukee resident Shani Davis won his second straight gold in the one-thousand meters. Davis – who trains at the Pettit National Ice Center – skated his best event in one-minute, eight-point-nine-four seconds. It was two-and-a-half seconds off his world record, but he won on ice that was so sticky that Chad Hedrick said it felt like 12-hundred meters instead of a-thousand. Hedrick placed third and took the bronze. Waukesha County native Nick Pearson of Vernon was seventh, and Trevor Marsicano of West Allis placed 10th. In short track speed-skating, Alyson Dudek of Hales Corners was eliminated from the 500-meters after she placed fourth in her quarter-final heat. In women’s hockey, ex-Badger Carla MacLeod had an assist for Canada in its 13-to-1 rout of Sweden. And the U-S women’s curling team, captained by Debbie McCormick of Rio, fell to Germany 6-to-5. Nicole Joraanstad of Madison also played in that match, in which the Americans fell to 0-and-2.

-2/18-

Steve Stricker of Madison lost his first-round match yesterday as the top overall seed at the Accenture Match Play Championship in Marana Arizona. Ross McGowan of England made a 30-foot putt on the 19th hole, to become only the second bottom seed to beat a number-one since the tournament began 12 years ago. McGowan was the last player entered in the 64-man field, and he only got in because Tiger Woods is not playing. Stricker said the loss was historic – but it could still happen to anybody. Stricker was the only Wisconsin player in the field.

-2/18-

The Wisconsin women’s swim team is tied for third after the opening day of the Big Ten Championships at Purdue. The Badgers won the 200-yard medley relay for the second straight year. Maggie Meyer, Ashley Wanland, Karlyn Hougan, and Beckie Thompson had a pool-record time of a 1:37-point-34 – the fourth-fastest time in Wisconsin history. Indiana has the early lead with 72 points. The Badgers had 62 after Day-One.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #2 - 2/18/10

2010-02-18T06:15:00.002-06:00

Learfield Data is operating again - 10/5

2009-10-05T05:13:00.001-05:00

Stations:
Learfield Data was down for a brief time overnight. It returned to service just after 5:00 a.m. If you had trouble accessing it before, please try now. Thank you for your patience.

Wheeler News - Morning Report #3 - 9/25

2009-09-25T05:50:00.001-05:00

===Stations: Learfield Data went back online just before 7 a.m. We'll post all of this morning's reports on that Web site -- and should future problems arise, we'll resume posting reports here. Thank you for your patience.=====

Wheeler News Service – Friday, September 25, 2009 – Morning Report #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Two patients at U-W Hospital in Madison are about to go home, after getting Wisconsin’s first domino transplant…
Former state Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Ray Boland says the agency’s board is apparently out to replace its current leader…
Northern Wisconsin astronaut Jeffrey Williams begins his third trip in space next Wednesday…
Wisconsin residents get more time to apply for state grants for projects that promote the state’s food products.

Here are the details:

Two patients at U-W Hospital in Madison are recovering, after they received Wisconsin’s first domino transplant. In a 12-hour operation this week, Joe Stoikes of Madison received a matching liver from a deceased donor – and Stoikes’ liver was then given to Eino Ahlgren of Waukesha. Both men are doing well. Stoikes is expected to go home today, and Ahlgren could be released during the weekend. The domino procedure has only been done about 100 times over the past 13 years. Stoikes needed a new liver because he has a rare genetic condition called F-A-P. Ahlgren’s liver was about to fail because of a long-time hepatitis infection. Doctors say he’ll be okay with Stoikes’ liver, even with Stoikes’ genetic condition. Without the new liver, Ahlgren might have lived for only another year or two. The head of the U-W liver transplant program, Doctor Anthony D’Alessandro, said the 58-year-old Ahlgren could get symptoms of F-A-P, but not for 20-to-30 years. And even then, it’s expected to be so mild that no treatment would be necessary.

-9/25-

Former state Veterans’ Affairs Secretary Ray Boland says the agency’s board is apparently out to replace its current secretary, John Scocos (sco’-cose). Boland tells the A-P he can’t believe that the board asked the Legislative Audit Bureau to investigate problems that could have been handled within the agency. And Boland said the recent negative publicity about the department is a slap-in-the-face to veterans in a way. Boland retired in 2003 after spending 11 years heading the state veterans’ agency. Scocos replaced him, and he’s recently been serving in Iraq with his military unit. Board chairman Marv Freedman is not commenting on Scocos and his possible future. He said the board asked for the audit because it was concerned with several aspects of the department’s operations. They included 820-thousand-dollars in unbudgeted spending at the state’s nursing home for veterans in Waupaca County, where the commandant was recently let go.

-9/25-

An astronaut from northern Wisconsin will begin his third trip in space next Wednesday. Jeffrey Williams of Winter will board a Soyuz rocket which will blast off from a desert base in Kazakhstan. Two days later, they’ll get to the International Space Station, where Williams will spend his second six-month tour of duty. He says the isolation of Earth’s orbit is made easier by contact with his family in Houston – and from reading Bible passages. His favorite verse is from the book of Job, and it reads: “He hangs the Earth on nothing.” Williams says it dispels old myths that the Earth was flat, suspended, or sitting on top of pillars. After orbiting the Earth many times, Williams says he can truly attest that the Earth hangs on nothing.

(Thanks Mike Simonson, KUWS, Superior)

-9/25-

Wisconsin residents are getting more time to apply for state grants for projects that promote the state’s food products. The agriculture department says the deadline is now October seventh at four p-m to apply for funding under the “Buy Local, Buy Wisconsin” program. Ag secretary Rod Nilsestuen (nil-ses-toon) says the goal is to get more of Wisconsin’s food dollars spent on locally-made products. Last year, 94 groups and individuals applied for a total of 225-thousand dollars in grants – and seven projects shared the money. They included a regional nourishment program in northwest Wisconsin, produce auctions in central areas, and a restaurant promotion in Metro Milwaukee.

(End)

Minnesota News from MNN - 9/25

2009-09-25T05:12:00.001-05:00

"Minnesota Summary"
>>AIDS Project Official Comments On AIDS Vaccine
(Undated) -- With news that an experimental AIDS vaccination has cut the risk of becoming infected with H-I-V by more than 31-percent, at least one Minnesotan is "cautiously optimistic." David Folkens, with the Minnesota AIDS Project, says he hopes that one day the vaccine will be approved and mass produced. He says H-I-V is very complex and that in Minnesota "over 62-hundred Minnesotans are living with H-I-V that are known." and "probably another two-thousand to 25-hundred that are H-I-V positive and don't know it yet." Folkens adds that every day, seven-thousand-500 people around the world are newly-infected with H-I-V.
>>Homicide Victims Remembered Today In St. Paul And Duluth
(Various) -- Minnesotans gather in the State Capitol Rotunda this morning (11am) and there's a bell-ringing this afternoon (3pm) in Duluth to remember the victims of homicide. One-hundred and nine people were murdered in Minnesota in 2007 -- the latest year for which numbers are available. Heather Martens with the group Citizens for a Safer Minnesota says today's observance is to support the families of those killed, but also to encourage people to become involved. Pointing to dramatic reductions in the murder rate in Minneapolis, Martens says prevention strategies can really work.
>>Hopeful Of Minnesotan's Release From Iran
(Undated) -- Leaders of U-S Muslim groups who met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (Ahk-mah-DIN'-ah-ghad) on Thursday say they are "guardedly optimistic" that three American hikers held there would be released soon. The director of the council on American-Islamic relations says they will remain engaged on the issue until a favorable result is reached. Minnesota Native Shane Bauer, along with Sarah Shourd and Josh Fattal apparently straying while hiking in July. Earlier this week, Ahmadinejad said he would push for leniency in the case.
>>Mayors On Road Trip To Spotlight State Aid Cuts
(Duluth, MN) -- A group of Minnesota mayors is in Duluth this morning (9am) where they will spotlight recent cuts in state aid to local governments. They're urging Minnesotans to press the candidates for governor for their positions on that issue. Wadena Mayor Wayne Wolden (WOLE'-den) says property taxes have increased over 64-percent in the past seven years. He adds police officers, firefighters, snowplow drivers, librarians and economic development directors have lost their jobs because of state funding cuts. Governor Pawlenty argues that with many Minnesotans struggling, cities should be able to absorb modest budget cuts without raising taxes, but some city officials say their budgets are stretched to the limit. The mayors' group will be in Bemidji this afternoon (2pm) and they'll travel around western and southwestern Minnesota next week.
>>Task Force Looks At State Job Picture
(St. Paul, MN) -- How can state government create and retain jobs in Minnesota -- that's the central question as a special legislative task force meets all day (9am start) at the State Capitol. The panel will first review the state of Minnesota's economy, then examine programs the state has used to stimulate job creation -- plus take another look at proposals from the last legislative session.
>>U-S Bank Taking Overdraft Fee Cuts Five-Dollars Further
(Minneapolis, MN) -- A major Minnesota bank is going five-dollars further than a competitor when it comes to cutting overdraft fees. Minneapolis-based U-S Bank says it's eliminating fees for customers who overdraft their accounts by up to ten-dollars. The move follows Wells Fargo's announcement that it will eliminate fees for those who overdraft accounts by five-dollars or less. Overdrafts often cost account-holders 25-dollars or more.
>>Home Sales Down In Minnesota
(Undated) -- New figures show Minnesota home sales took a dip last month, but not as steep as the national fall-off. Chris Galler (GAL'-er) of the Minnesota Association of Realtors says sales are still trending upward here despite the slowdown. Galler says his group is hoping Congress extends the first-time homebuyers credit beyond November. He says if it expires, Minnesota home sales would likely plunge over the next several months.
>>Farms And Farmers Markets During Harvest
(Undated) -- Minnesota-grown produce is drawing lots of folks to farms and farmers markets around the state as autumn sets in. State agriculture spokesman Paul Hugunin (HEW'-gah-nun) says there are still lots of summertime food offerings for sale, and also fall items like apples and raspberries, squash, and even melons. Hugunin says this is peak time for apples in Minnesota with lots of varieties.
>>Duluth Transit Authority Gets Honor
(Duluth, MN) -- Ridership is up on buses around the city of Duluth. As a result, for the first time, the Duluth Transit Authority has been picked as the Minnesota Transit System of the Year. The D-T-A also credits its G-P-S system for improved service which has boosted ridership by nearly 20-percent since 2006.
>>Winning Lottery Numbers
(Roseville, MN) -- Here are the winning numbers from the Minnesota State Lottery for Thursday, September 24th, 2009. The Daily Three: 0-1-1. Northstar Cash: 2-7-16-22-23.
###Smith/Werner

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports - 9/25

2009-09-25T05:01:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, September 25, 2009 – Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Jeff Suppan gets shelled as the Brewers lose to Philly…
The Cubs make Saint Louis wait another day to celebrate their impending National League Central crown…
The Tigers extend their A-L Central lead to three games over the Twins…

Major League scores…
Philadelphia 9, Milwaukee 4
Chicago Cubs 3, San Francisco 2
Detroit 6, Cleveland 5

In Wisconsin high school football…
De Soto 28, Belmont 14

Also…
Derrick Martin is getting ready to make his first start at safety for the Packers on Sunday at Saint Louis…
The New York Giants pick up safety Aaron Rouse, whom the Packers cut on Wednesday…
Wisconsin center John Moffitt will move to left guard for the Badgers’ Big Ten opener against Michigan State tomorrow…
Steve Stricker of Madison is four shots off the lead after the first round of the P-G-A Tour Championship…
Port Washington High School guard Josh Gasser gives a verbal commitment to Wisconsin for next fall.

Here are the details:

The Milwaukee Brewers lost to Philadelphia 9-to-4 at Miller Park last night. The Phillies scored six runs in the fifth inning, including a three-run homer by Jimmy Rollins. Jeff Suppan took the loss, giving up eight runs on 12 hits – both season-highs – in four-and-a-third innings. Suppan is now 7-and-11 overall, and only 3-and-8 at home. Phils’ rookie J-A Happ improved his record to 11-and-4. He struck out seven in five-and-two-thirds innings, giving up two runs on six hits. Happ also hit a run-scoring single, as he improved his road record to 7-and-2. Pedro Feliz went 3-for-5 and ex-Brewer Paul Bako drove in a run, as the Phillies reduced their magic number to four to clinch the National League East. Casey McGehee went 2-for-5 with a pair of R-B-I’s for the Brewers, who’ve lost three-of-their-last-four. The Brewers are now three games below .500 – and they’d have to go 7-and-2 the rest of the way to avoid a losing season. The Brewers and Phillies will play again tonight. Left-hander Manny Parra will make his first start in two-and-a-half weeks against Phillies’ left-hander Cliff Lee.

-9/25-

The Chicago Cubs edged the Giants in San Francisco 3-to-2. Jeff Baker hit the game-winner with a two-run homer with two out in the top of the ninth. The Cubs prevented the Saint Louis Cardinals from clinching the National League Central division. The Cards were idle, and their magic number remains at one. Meanwhile, Cubs’ manager Lou Piniella has honored Rich Harden’s request not to pitch again this season. Harden has complained of arm fatigue. He went 9-and-9 this year with a four-point-oh-nine E-R-A, and he’ll be a free agent after the season.

-9/25-

The Detroit Tigers extended their lead to three games in the American League Central, after winning at Cleveland last night 6-to-5. The Tigers completed a three-game sweep of the Indians, who suffered their 11th straight loss. Justin Verlander struck out 11 in seven innings, as the Tigers won their fourth straight. Second-place Minnesota was off yesterday.

-9/25-

Derrick Martin is getting ready to make his first start at safety for the Green Bay Packers on Sunday at Saint Louis. Coach Mike McCarthy has not announced the move yet, but Martin has been practicing with the starters – including safety Nick Collins, who’s recovering from a strained clavicle he suffered last weekend. Martin was traded from Baltimore three weeks ago in the deal that sent tackle Tony Moll to the Ravens. Martin started three games at corner, but he’s only been a back-up at safety – a position he has played full-time since late last season. Defensive back Jarrett Bush was added to the Packers’ injury report yesterday with a bad ankle. McCarthy said Bush has had the problem for some time, but it’s not serious. Also, running back Brandon Jackson sat out most of yesterday’s practice after his sprained left ankle tightened up again. He practiced on Wednesday for the first time in three weeks. Jackson is not sure if he’ll play against the Rams.

-9/25-

The New York Giants have acquired safety Aaron Rouse, just one day after he was cut by the Packers. The Giants claimed the third-year pro off waivers yesterday. New York needs help in the defensive backfield, after safety Kenny Phillips was put on injured reserve yesterday with a left knee problem. Phillips had two interceptions against Dallas last Sunday night. Also, Giants’ corners Kevin Dockery and Aaron Ross have been out with hamstring injuries. Rouse started 11 games in his two-plus years in Green Bay. He has four career interceptions – including a 99-yard return of a Peyton Manning pass against Indianapolis at home last October. It was the longest interception return in Lambeau Field history. Rouse had a dozen tackles in two games this season, but he was also criticized for missed tackles and assignments. He also suffered a neck stinger last Sunday in the Pack’s loss to Cincinnati.

-9/25-

Wisconsin will make a big change on its offensive line for tomorrow’s Big Ten opener against Michigan State in Madison. Coach Bret Bielema says center John Moffitt will move to left guard, and will start against the Spartans. Moffitt is returning from an injury, and redshirt freshman Peter Konz will again start at center. Sophomore Kevin Zeitler will make another start at right guard in place of Bill Nagy. Nagy practiced this week, but he aggravated an injured heel and his playing status is in doubt. Moffitt started six games at left guard for the Badgers in 2007. Bielema said he was moved to center last year based on need. Also, the coach said he would not announce until today whether Zach Brown or John Clay will start at running back. Bielema said both have had a good week of practice.

-9/25-

Steve Stricker of Madison is four shots off the lead after the first round of the P-G-A Tour Championship in Atlanta. Stricker began the tournament in second place in the Fed-Ex Cup standings – and a victory would give him the Cup and its 10-million-dollar prize. Stricker is tied for ninth. He shot an even-par 70 yesterday. Sean O’Hair has the lead at four-under. Series leader Tiger Woods is at three-under. Jerry Kelly of Madison is tied for 16th, at one-over-par 71. He entered the tournament in 29th place in the Fed-Ex standings.

-9/25-

Port Washington High School guard Josh Gasser will play his college basketball at Wisconsin next fall. He announced his verbal commitment to the Badgers yesterday. Gasser averaged 21 points and 10 rebounds a game last season. Wisconsin originally gave him an offer as a walk-on, with a scholarship in his second year. But Gasser received a full ride after freshman Diamond Taylor left the U-W after being arrested for burglary earlier this month. Gasser chose Wisconsin over Maryland and Arizona State.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports - 9/25

2009-09-25T03:47:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service - Friday, September 25, 2009 - Morning National Sports

Top-25 College Football
-----------------------
South Carolina 16, (4) Ole Miss 10
Major League Baseball
---------------------
National League
---------------
San Diego 5, Colorado 4
Chicago 3, San Francisco 2
Los Angeles 7, Washington 6
Philadelphia 9, Milwaukee 4
Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 1

American League
---------------
Detroit 6, Cleveland 5
Boston 10, Kansas City 3
Oakland 12, Texas 3
Seattle 5, Toronto 4

===COLLEGE FOOTBALL===
Stephen Garcia completed 16-of-34 passes for 220 yards and a score, as South Carolina upended fourth-ranked Ole Miss, 16-10, at Williams-Brice Stadium. Spencer Lanning converted all three field goal attempts for the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 SEC), who had never before beaten a top-five opponent at home. On a night when both teams struggled to find the end zone, Patrick DiMarco had the lone touchdown catch for South Carolina. The Gamecocks held Ole Miss (2-1, 0-1 SEC) to 248 total yards, recorded four sacks, and thwarted the Rebels on a drive in the final minutes.
===NHL=== Dave Tippett was named head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes on Thursday, hours after Wayne Gretzky resigned as head coach and director of hockey operations of the troubled team. The announcement from Gretzky came a day after it was learned through an emergency bankruptcy hearing that the Coyotes would be staying in Glendale for at least one more season, but that Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie could still gain ownership of the club and eventually move the team to Southern Ontario. Gretzky has compiled a 143-161-24 record over four seasons with the Coyotes, including a 36-39-7 mark last season. Tippett had a 271-156-37 record over six seasons with the Dallas Stars until being fired after the 2008-09 campaign.
===
The Vancouver Canucks have signed head coach Alain Vigneault to a contract extension through the 2012-13 season. Vigneault has spent the past three seasons behind Vancouver's bench and his current deal was set to expire at the conclusion of the upcoming campaign. The Canucks posted a record of 45-27-10 last season, winning the Northwest Division title. Vancouver lost to Chicago in the Western Conference semifinals last spring. In three seasons with the Canucks, Vigneault has a record of 133-86-27 and his .595 winning percentage is the most successful by a coach in team history. He won the Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach in his first year with the Canucks back in 2006-07.
===
Long-time Montreal Canadiens defenseman Patrice Brisebois announced his retirement on Thursday after 18 NHL seasons. Brisebois was taken 30th overall by the Habs in the 1989 draft and was a member of the 1993 Stanley Cup championship squad. He played in Montreal until the 2003-04 campaign, then, following the lockout, spent two years with the Colorado Avalanche before returning to the Canadiens. The Quebec native wrapped up his career with 98 goals and 322 assists in 1,009 games.
===NFL=== The Houston Texans on Thursday placed guard Chester Pitts on injured reserve and signed safety Bernard Pollard. The 6-foot-4, 308-pound Pitts sustained a right knee injury in Sunday's 34-31 win at Tennessee and underwent surgery earlier in the week. A Houston newspaper reported Pitts had two procedures done on his knee: a surgery to repair meniscus cartilage and a microfracture surgery to repair articular cartilage. Pitts had started every game since the Texans' inaugural campaign in 2002, 114 in all. Pollard spent the past three seasons with Kansas City after the Chiefs took him in the second round of the 2006 draft. In 48 career games -- 31 starts -- Pollard has registered 188 tackles, one sack and three interceptions.
===
The New York Giants secondary took a big hit Thursday when the team announced second-year safety Kenny Phillips was placed on injured reserve with a left knee injury. Phillips, New York's first-round pick (31st overall) in the 2008 draft, was coming off a stellar performance against the Dallas Cowboys this past Sunday, when he recorded seven tackles and intercepted two passes. The knee problem initially surfaced during training camp, but Phillips was able to play through the injury. An MRI on Wednesday revealed that the condition (patella femoral arthritis) in Phillips' knee has worsened over time. The club has not determined how they will treat the injury yet. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound safety played in all 16 games (three starts) for the Giants last year, compiling 66 tackles, seven passes defensed and one interception. The Giants were awarded safety Aaron Rouse off waivers from Green Bay.
===GOLF=== Nearly in control of his own destiny as he chases a $10 million prize, Sean O'Hair fired a four-under 66 on Thursday to take the first-round lead at the Tour Championship in Atlanta. In the finale of the PGA Tour playoffs, O'Hair has some major company hot on his heels. Tiger Woods, Padraig Harrington and Stewart Cink are tied for second place at three-under 67 -- a shot off the lead -- with Lucas Glover another stroke further back at 68. Those four players have won seven of the last 10 majors. Retief Goosen, another multiple major champion, joined Dustin Johnson and Steve Marino at 69, while Steve Stricker leads a seven-way tie at 70. The top-five players in the FedEx Cup standings -- Woods, Stricker, Jim Furyk (72), Zach Johnson (70) and Heath Slocum (73) -- control their own destiny this week. Each of them can win the FedEx Cup, and its $10 million payout, with a victory at East Lake.
==MLB=== The St. Louis Cardinals will have to wait until tonight to possibly clinch a playoff spot. They could have won the NL Central title Thursday, but Jeff Baker's two-run homer in the ninth inning lifted the Chicago Cubs to a 3-2 win over San Francisco. St. Louis opens a three-game series tonight at Colorado with a magic number of one to win the division.
===COLLEGE BASKETBALL===
Army has fired men's basketball coach Jim Crews, who posted a record of just 60-139 in seven seasons at the helm. The Black Knights were 11-19 last year and never had a winning record under Crews, whose best season was 15-16 in 2006-07. Crews, who played for former Army coach Bob Knight at Indiana and was a member of Knight's coaching staff for eight years, spent 17 seasons as the head coach at Evansville before taking the job at Army in 2002. He has a career coaching record of 354-348.
(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1 - 9/25

2009-09-25T03:38:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, September 25, 2009 – Morning Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Tom Barrett’s advisors say he’ll decide by early October whether he’ll run for governor next year, after House Democrat Ron Kind said he wouldn’t run…
Marathon County prosecutors are considering charges after Representative Jeff Wood’s latest arrest for driving under the influence…
The state’s attorney general and corrections secretary will meet today to talk about the 12-thousand missing D-N-A samples from the state’s data-base…
Over seven-thousand people in Madison attend a speech by controversial food author Michael Pollan.

Winning lottery numbers: Supercash: 3-13-24-25-26-29 – No DoublerPick-3: 9-4-8Pick-4: 4-7-7-7Badger-5: 7-24-26-27-28

Here are the details:

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s advisors say he’ll decide by early October whether he’ll run for governor next year. That’s after Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse said yesterday he would not seek the Democratic bid to replace outgoing Governor Jim Doyle. Kind told reporters he wanted to focus on health care reform instead of running a statewide campaign. And he’ll run for his eighth term in the House, amid reports he was pressured to do so by national Democrats who feared losing the House seat to Republicans. Also, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said an internal poll showed that relatively few Wisconsinites know Kind. U-W La Crosse professor Joe Heim says that’s not surprising. He says it’s rare for statewide candidates to come from western Wisconsin – and most hopes for governor are from the Madison-Milwaukee-Green Bay triangle, where there’s more media attention. State Senate Republican Dan Kapanke of La Crosse is running for Kind’s House seat, and he said yesterday he’ll stay in the race. He said he expected to run against Kind all along.

Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton remains the only announced Democratic candidate to replace Doyle, and she’s getting endorsements from some key lawmakers and the Milwaukee County Democratic chair. Barrett ran for governor in 2002 and lost to Doyle in the primary. The Journal Sentinel quoted an internal poll showing Barrett in a dead heat with Milwaukee Republican Scott Walker in a head-to-head match-up. But the paper said Barrett faces family considerations. Walker, the Milwaukee County Executive, and former Congressman Mark Neumann are the G-O-P hopefuls. And Neumann said other Republicans might join in, like 2004 U-S Senate nominee Tim Michels (Michaels).

-9/25-

Marathon County prosecutors are considering new charges against State Representative Jeff Wood. That’s after the independent from Bloomer was arrested Wednesday for driving under-the-influence for the second time in the last 10 months. The State Patrol stopped him near Wausau, after a witness said he was weaving and almost hit another car while going north on Interstate-39. Online court records said the 40-year-old Wood was ticketed for inattentive driving, with a court date of December ninth. Wood told the arresting trooper he was checking a road map. A preliminary breath test did not turn up a blood alcohol level, and Wood told officers he had a double-dose of a prescription drug and two doses of cough syrup on Wednesday. He was released after a blood test at a hospital. Wood still faces charges in Columbia County, after he alleged drove drunk and hit a highway sign on the Interstate near Portage last December. He was also cited for possessing marijuana, but his attorney said officers were performing an illegal search when they found it. Wood is in his seventh year in the Assembly. Speaker Mike Sheridan said he was deeply troubled by his new arrest. State Republican Party director Mark Jefferson said Wood should resign. He said Wood’s having too much trouble coping with his own problems to deal with the state’s fiscal problems. Wood has not commented.

-9/25-

State Attorney General J-B Van Hollen and Corrections’ Secretary Rick Raemisch will meet this morning to talk about the 12-thousand D-N-A samples missing from a police data-bank. Convicted felons have been required since 2000 to give authorities their D-N-A to help officers investigate crimes both old-and-new. But it was learned last week that about 10-percent of felons never had their D-N-A put into a data-base that totals 128-thousand samples. The problem was uncovered when police could not identify the D-N-A of a man suspected of killing nine women in Milwaukee since 1986. A tip recently led officers to Walter Ellis, who has pleaded innocent to seven of the killings. He reportedly left a D-N-A sample in 2001 while in prison for another offense – and it never got into the database. Meanwhile, Wisconsin’s problem is not unique. Illinois learned this summer that 50-thousand of its D-N-A samples were missing. Attorney General Lisa Madigan said there was a shortage of nurses to draw blood from a rush of felons when the law first took effect. Now, it’s a lot easier to get a person’s D-N-A from the mouth, because only a swab is needed.

-9/25-

Over seven-thousand people attended a speech in Madison last night by a controversial author who urges people to simplify their diets. Michael Pollan spoke at the U-W’s Kohl Center, as part of a campus reading program. All freshmen received Pollan’s book “In Defense of Food,” and it’s being used in 60 classes this fall from art-to-engineering. But the effort has spurred protests from farmers who say Pollan takes cheap shots at their profession – and in the process, he’s attacking much of Wisconsin’s livelihood. Pollan’s main message is “Eat food, not too much, mostly plants.” He discourages eating manufactured foods, and he has criticized food scientists and large farm operations. But at the start of his address last night, Pollan said he had no problem with the T-shirt message he saw from farmers which said “Eat food, be healthy, and thank a farmer.” He said farmers hold the key to solving the nation’s problems with health care, climate change, and energy. But Pollan said chronic health problems continue to rise while products that are billed as health foods keep expanding. In his words, “We obsess about nutrition but have lousy health.” U-W Madison food scientist John Lucey said Pollan ignores the problem of sedentary lifestyles, saying 20-million Americans don’t even take short walks.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon Report - 9/24

2009-09-24T11:19:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, September 24, 2009 – Noon Report

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Congressman Ron Kind has reportedly decided not to run for governor…
Labor officials from Wisconsin and nine other states want the U-S Senate to extend jobless benefits for those who are about to lose them…
A state appeals court said a strip club in Dane County could not be grandfathered under an ordinance which bans those places in neighborhoods…
A family-of-four in La Crosse all face possible charges of selling marijuana.

Here are the details:

Congressman Ron Kind has apparently decided not to run for Wisconsin governor next year. The Associated Press and Wis-Politics-Dot-Com are quoting sources who’ve been told the La Crosse Democrat will not try to replace Governor Jim Doyle. Kind has scheduled a conference call with reporters from Washington this afternoon. He’s been traveling around Wisconsin in recent weeks, meeting with Democratic leaders and gauging possible support for a gubernatorial bid. The reports say Kind plans to run again for the Third District House seat he has held for the past 11 years. Republican state Senator Dan Kapanke (kuh-pan’-kee) of La Crosse is also running for the congressional post. Governor Doyle announced just over a month ago that he’ll step down. Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton has announced her candidacy for the top job. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has said he’ll announce a decision in a few weeks on whether to run. The Republican candidates for governor include Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former Congressman Mark Neumann of Nashotah.

-9/24-

Labor officials from Wisconsin and nine other states are asking the U-S Senate to extend unemployment benefits for those who are about to lose them. The House recently agreed to provide an extra 13 weeks of jobless benefits to about 300-thousand people who payments are about to run out at the end of September. But the Senate has yet to act on the measure. And today, New York’s labor commissioner is meeting in Niagara Falls with Wisconsin’s workforce development leader – among others – to put the heat on senators to approve the benefits. Officials in Iowa are also part of the effort, along with those from Kansas, Montana, Oregon, Arizona, Maine, Pennsylvania, and Washington State. They’ll argue that jobless benefits have a positive effect on the economy, by helping support the housing market and those who still have jobs.

-9/24-

A state appeals court said it was okay for a town in Dane County to shut down a strip club. Hot Rods of Cross Plains said it should have been allowed to stay in business, because it opened before a county-wide ordinance took effect in 2005 that bans strip clubs in neighborhoods. But the town said the club knew about the ban when it opened just days before it took effect – and therefore, the club had no right to claim that it should be grandfathered. Today, the Fourth District Appellate Court in Madison agreed with the Town of Cross Plains, saying the club could not be legally grand-fathered. In April, the same court refused to touch the issue. It said the Supreme Court should decide it, because it would have a statewide impact on businesses which try to get around local ordinances. Today’s ruling is the first appellate ruling of its kind.

-9/24-

A family-of-four in La Crosse has been arrested for selling marijuana. Police said a 55-year-old man, his 47-year-old wife, their 17-year-old son, and a 16-year-old daughter were all in custody at last word. They were facing possible charges of possessing marijuana with the intent to deliver, and possessing drug paraphernalia. Investigators said the family sold pot to a large number of people, including students at La Crosse Central High School. Officers said they seized five ounces of marijuana and related items from the home – plus five guns.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon State Sports - 9/24

2009-09-24T10:20:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, September 24, 2009 – Noon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Packers make a new demand for player accountability…
The Brewers may be out of the playoffs, but they can still have three straight winning seasons for the first time in 26 years…
Ryan Braun is hitting .444 in his last seven games, but has only hit two homers since August 28th…
Madison golfer Steve Stricker faces an uphill to win the Fed-Ex Cup and the 10-million-dollar top prize at the Tour Championship which starts today…
Randolph High School senior Kyle Kelm says he’ll play his college hoops at U-W Milwaukee.

Here are the details:

Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers says the players cannot get too comfortable. And he says yesterday’s release of safety Aaron Rouse should be a wake-up call, especially for the younger players. There have been media reports that question the team’s demand for accountability – and that some players believe others have not earned their jobs. Rodgers won’t go that far – but he does say it takes awhile for some of the younger players to realize quote, “they’re not on scholarships anymore.” Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin told a team meeting this week that everyone needs to be more responsible. That was after the offensive line allowed Rodgers to be sacked 10 times in two games – the Packer receivers dropped a league-leading eight passes – and the team committed 17 penalties so far. There have also been missed tackles and assignments on the defensive side, and a lackluster showing on special teams. But with a 1-and-1 record, linebacker Nick Barnett says there’s still plenty of time to right the ship. Their next chance is on Sunday, when they play the Rams in Saint Louis.

-9/24-

The Milwaukee Brewers won’t make the playoffs, but they can still do something they haven’t done in 26 years – have three straight winning seasons. They’ll need a strong finish, however, since the Brewers are two games below .500 at 75-and-77. Tonight, the Brew Crew opens a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies at Miller Park. And there’s a chance the Phils can clinch their third straight National League East title while they’re in Milwaukee. Philly’s magic number is five, after losing at Florida 7-to-6 last night. The Brewers are coming off a one-run victory over the Chicago Cubs. Right-hander Jeff Suppan will start tonight against Phillies’ southpaw J-A Happ. Suppan is 7-and-10 with a four-point-seven-six E-R-A. He has lost two straight starts, but he had a no-decision against Houston Saturday night when he struck out seven in seven innings. Happ is 10-and-4, and he has the lowest E-R-A among National League rookies at two-point-seven-seven. But he’s been slowed down by back-to-back losses about a month ago, and a strained oblique muscle that forced him to miss his last two starts.

-9/24-

Ryan Braun has hit .444 in his last seven games. But those eye-popping home runs have been hard to come by for the Brewers’ All-Star. Braun has not gone yard since September 11th – and before that, his last homer was on August 28th. Braun was robbed of his 30th home run of the season on Tuesday night on a leaping catch at the wall by Chicago Cubs’ rookie Tyler Colvin. Braun has a sore right shoulder, but he says it has not affected his hitting. He says he’s still hitting the ball hard – and the power always seems to come and go. Braun is batting a solid .315 with 34 doubles and 103 R-B-I’s.

-9/24-

Madison golfer Steve Stricker will take the Fed-Ex Cup and 10-million-dollars if he wins the Tour Championship which starts today in Atlanta. But he’ll need his best performance ever at the East Lake course, where he has finished no higher than fifth place in the past – and that was only once, back in 1998. His next best showing was 17th. Also, Stricker is coming off his worst golf of the playoffs, when he tied for 53rd two weeks ago near Chicago. But he’s still has the number-two seed coming in to the playoff finale, only behind tournament favorite Tiger Woods. Stricker has won three P-G-A tournaments this year, second only to Woods. Stricker is also second on the Tour in scoring average, and fourth in birdies. Jerry Kelly of Madison is also playing in the Tour Championship. He’s 29th among the Top-30 competing for the crown. Meanwhile, on the Champions’ Tour, Rhinelander native Dan Forsman will play in the S-A-S Championship which starts tomorrow in Cary North Carolina.

-9/24-

Randolph High School senior Kyle Kelm says he’ll play his college basketball at U-W Milwaukee. The 6-9 forward gave a verbal commitment to the Panthers, after he made an official visit to the campus last week. Randolph coach Bob Haffele said Milwaukee has a program that fits Kelm’s style – and it’s a good thing for him to stay closer to home. Kelm averaged 17 points and six rebounds for Randolph last year. But he broke his right foot while playing in A-A-U league in May. He had surgery in August, and he’s expected to recover in time for the next season which begins in November.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #2

2009-09-23T13:47:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Afternoon Report #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Six people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized this month with the H-1-N-1 swine flu virus, and there have been no reports of deaths…
Unemployment went down last month in all 12 of Wisconsin’s metro areas…
Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin urges her colleagues to pass a major national law banning job discrimination against gays and transsexuals.

Here are the details:

Six people in Wisconsin have been hospitalized this month with the H-1-N-1 swine flu virus, and there have been no reports of deaths. That’s what state health officials said today. Flu cases have been higher than normal in September, and many incidents have been in the southern half of the Badger State. The state’s health agency is rounding up information about public flu clinics where people can get the H-1-N-1 vaccine once it’s available. It’s not due out until sometime next month. Wisconsin has had eight deaths from the virus this year. Another 239 have been hospitalized.

-9/23-

Unemployment went down last month in all 12 of Wisconsin’s metro areas. Janesville had the highest rate at 12-percent – but that was down eight-tenths of a point from July, as the closing of the General Motors’ plant gets further in the rear-view mirror. Madison continued to have the lowest rate among the state’s metros, five-point-nine percent. Unadjusted jobless rates also fell in virtually all of the state’s 72 counties. Only Oneida and Waupaca counties – both strong tourist areas – had higher unemployment than July. Among the cities, Beloit still has the highest jobless rate at 17-point-four percent. Racine is second at 16-point-two. Both went down slightly from July. State workforce development secretary Roberta Gassman says there are quote, “encouraging signs that the economy is improving.”

-9/23-

Madison House Democrat Tammy Baldwin urged her colleagues today to pass a major job discrimination bill which protects gays and transsexuals from bias at work. Baldwin and Massachusetts Democrat Barney Frank, who are both openly gay, testified for the bill today at a hearing of the House Labor Committee. Baldwin says it’s time for Washington to bring its laws in line with the reality of American life. Her home state of Wisconsin was the first to pass its own law banning workplace discrimination against gays 27 years ago. The bill prohibits employers from basing any decisions about hiring, promotions, pay, or firing on an employee’s gender or sexual orientation. The military would be exempt, along with religious groups and businesses with fewer than 15 employees. Opponents say the bill’s language is too vague, and it offers protection based on perceived sexual orientations. The House passed a similar measure two years. But it died in the Senate and former President Bush promised to veto it. The current president, Barack Obama, supports the bill.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State Sports

2009-09-23T11:36:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Afternoon State Sports

=====IMPORTANT NOTE: Learfield Data was down for a short time yesterday, and again late this morning. Whenever this site goes down, we'll send our Wheeler News feeds on our blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the details:

The Green Bay Packers released third-year safety Aaron Rouse today – and they replaced him by signing fifth-year veteran Matt Giordano from Indianapolis. Coach Mike McCarthy said Rouse played well in last Sunday’s Packer loss to Cincinnati. But Rouse has also been plagued with injuries during his career, and he suffered a neck stinger against the Bengals. He ended up playing 27 games for the Packers. Giordano played four years with the Colts, and he started six games. He was cut at the end of training camp. Also today, the Packers signed offensive tackle Dane Randolph to their practice squad. There was an opening on the squad after Buffalo claimed Packers’ rookie Jamon Meredith for their 53-man roster.

-9/23-

The Chicago Cubs will try to keep their slim playoff hopes alive tonight, when they go for a sweep of their three-game series in Milwaukee. The Brewers lost the first two games by a combined score of 17-to-4. Chris Narveson will make his third start in place of Brewers’ left-hander Manny Parra. Reliever Jeff Samardzija will make his second start for Chicago. The Cubs are seven-and-a-half games back for the National League Wild Card with 12 to play. The Brewers have been mathematically-eliminated from all post-season contention. They’re three games under .500 overall, and they’re two below the break-even point at Miller Park. Outfielder Jody Gerut has the hot bat for Milwaukee lately. He’s had nine hits in his last 14 official trips.

-9/23-

The Minnesota Twins will try again tonight to gain ground in the American League Central, when they face the White Sox in Chicago. The Twins remained two-and-a-half games behind front-running Detroit, after beating the Sox 8-to-6 last night. Four Twins’ players hit home runs, as Minnesota won its eighth game in its last nine. Tonight, they’re going for their first road sweep of the White Sox in three years. Brian Duensing starts against Chicago’s Mark Buehrle. The rookie Duensing has not allowed a run in his last 13-and-a-third innings.
Meanwhile, Detroit plays at Cleveland again tonight. The Indians have lost nine straight. But the Tigers have only won five-of-their-last-14. Rookie Rick Porcello goes for Detroit against Justin Masterson.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #1

2009-09-23T11:34:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Afternoon Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Natural Resources Board wants to hear what people think about a longer gun deer hunt in Wisconsin…
The state Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee has asked the D-N-R to consider changes in the new lakeside zoning rules…
The U-W Madison Business School’s entrepreneurial programs are gaining in national stature.

Here are the details:

The idea of a longer deer hunting season in Wisconsin took one step forward today. The Natural Resources Board agreed to hold public hearings to find out what people think. D-N-R staff members have proposed a 16-day gun deer season instead of the traditional nine days. It would help keep the state’s growing deer herd in check, after the board scrapped the controversial Earn-a-Buck program earlier this year. The proposed 16-day gun hunt would begin two Saturdays before Thanksgiving, and run through the Sunday after the holiday. It would take effect in 2010 if the board eventually agrees. The public hearings on the idea will be held next month around the state. The board endorsed those hearings today when it met in Sturgeon Bay.

-9/23-

The state Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee has asked the D-N-R to consider changes in the new lakeside zoning rules which the agency’s board approved in June. The panel is asking D-N-R staff members to decide by tomorrow if they’ll consider changes. If they do, lawmakers will make suggestions. If they don’t, the Legislature’s Joint Administrative Rules Committee could take formal action on the proposal. The new rules are designed to limit runoff into lakes caused by the massive development of lakeside homes over the last few decades. The D-N-R board voted to limit the size of structures and pavements to between 15-and-30-percent of a landowner’s total property – depending on other steps the owner takes to limit runoff. But Senate Democrat Jim Holperin of Conover has spoken out against the 30-percent limit. And Assembly natural resources chairman Spencer Black of Madison says the rules would affect those who have already bought lakeside property with plans to build later. And he says that’s just one a lot of concerns his panel has. The rules are the first major changes in Wisconsin’s shoreland zoning laws in 40 years. They would also relax restrictions on buildings within the current set-back requirement of 75-feet from a waterway.

-9/23-

The U-W Madison business school says its entrepreneurship programs are gaining in stature. The Princeton Review and Entrepreneur Magazine rate the U-W’s graduate programs as the 11th best in the country, up from Number-13 last year. And Madison’s undergraduate programs for aspiring small business owners made the Top-25 for the first time, coming in at Number-16. Business school dean Michael Knetter says the U-W’s students are being brought in close contact with local companies and start-up firms. And it’s helping to create opportunities for new ideas that will pay off in the future.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon Report

2009-09-23T10:57:00.001-05:00

===STATIONS: Learfield Data went down late this morning. The Noon Wisconsin News & Sports are below. Other feeds will appear here as needed, and will also be on Learfield Data when the site returns today.=====

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Noon Report

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
A state audit shows that four registered sex offenders have the same addresses as child care providers…
The sister of a northeast Wisconsin man accused of stalking country singer Jewel apologizes, and says her brother needs help…
S-C Johnson of Racine, Mercy Health of Janesville, and U-W Hospital of Madison made a national list of the 100 best places for mothers to work…
A driver in a roll-over crash died overnight in Oconto County.

Here are the details:

Four registered sex offenders in Wisconsin have the same addresses as child care providers. The Legislative Audit Bureau said it discovered the matter while reviewing the Wisconsin Shares child care program for the working poor. The audit said the Children-and-Families’ department followed up on the four cases, and does not believe any children were harmed. Two of the cases were in Milwaukee County. The auditors could not determine if the convicted sex offenders had anything to do with providing child care at the places where they live. But State Auditor Jan Mueller said the potential for such a problem exists unless new protections are adopted. According to today’s report, the Children-and-Families’ agency now checks the names of all child care licensing-and-certification applicants, to see if they’re on the state’s list of registered sex offenders. The audit did not identify any care providers who were sex offenders.

-9/23-

The sister of a northeast Wisconsin man who’s accused of stalking country singer Jewel says her brother needs help. Susan Richter of Oconto tells the Associated Press that her family has tried for two years to get in touch with Michael Kozelka – but he never gets back to them. Richter also apologized to Jewel and her husband on her brother’s behalf. The 50-year-old Kozelka is charged in Texas with felony stalking. Authorities quoted him as saying he was on a mission from God when he twice visited a ranch owned by Jewel and her rodeo champion husband Ty Murray. Officials said Kozelka was ordered to leave the ranch the first time – and he made it to the main house the next day before he was caught. Kozelka is from Townsend in Oconto County. Court records said he lost a house to foreclosure, something his sister confirmed today. She also said Kozelka has had a difficult time holding a job.

-9/23-

A Wisconsin company and two health systems made a national list of the 100-best places for mothers to work. S-C Johnson of Racine has been singled out for years by Working Mother magazine. And Mercy Health System of Janesville and U-W Hospital of Madison have joined Johnson on this year’s list. The Top-100 were not listed in any particular order. S-C Johnson, the household products giant, was honored for giving employees a paid 16-day winter break and offering benefits like tuition reimbursements, a recreation center, and two Fridays a month with no meetings. The magazine said Mercy Health managed to reduce its overhead without cutting staff or benefits last year. And among other things, it reimburses half the cost of adaptive devices at the homes of employees’ children with disabilities. Working Mother praised U-W Hospital for providing 35 paid days off to full-time employees each year – plus in-home and center-based back-up care, workplace benefits, and company-sponsored holiday shopping trips.

-9/23-

One person was killed overnight when a vehicle overturned in northeast Wisconsin. Oconto County authorities said the vehicle left a town road and rolled over about 2:30 this morning in the town of Oconto. An investigation continues, and officers said speed and weather conditions appeared to be possible factors. The driver was the only person in the vehicle. The victim’s name was not immediately released.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon State Sports

2009-09-23T10:56:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Noon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Packers look to fix a host of mistakes as they start to practice for Sunday’s road contest against the Rams…
The Rams cut former U-W Whitewater receiver Derek Stanley…
The Brewers try to salvage a win over the Cubs…
Freshman guard Rian Pearson is expected to miss his first five games, after tearing out a knee in a recent workout…
The Midwest Conference honors Wisconsin athletes in volleyball, tennis, and cross country.

Here are the details:

The Green Bay Packers are starting to practice today for their Sunday match-up in Saint Louis. Coach Mike McCarthy will try to determine how severe last Sunday’s injuries were to safeties Nick Collins and Aaron Rouse. And among other things, he’ll try to fix blocking mistakes by the offensive line, and dropped passes by the receivers. Six Packer wide-outs have dropped at least eight passes in their first two contests. Veteran Donald Driver says it’s due to a lack of concentration. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers says everybody has to play with more mental focus – including himself. Rodgers has been sacked 10 times in his first two games. And in a couple instances, the coaches said he held onto the ball too long. Meanwhile, the Rams are simply trying to figure out how to get into the end zone. They’ve only scored one touchdown in their first two games – that being last week in a 9-7 loss to the Washington Redskins. Saint Louis is 0-and-2. The Packers are 1-and-1.

-9/23-

The Saint Louis Rams cut former U-W Whitewater receiver Derek Stanley yesterday. The stand-out from Verona High School was the Rams’ punt returner during the first two weeks of the regular season. But general manager Billy Devaney said the team needs quote, “some juice in the return game.” So Stanley was released so the Rams could sign returner-and-receiver Danny Amendola. Devaney said Amendola can return both punts and kickoffs, and that’s his up-side. The Rams took him from Philadelphia’s practice squad. Stanley has spent just over two seasons with Saint Louis, after being drafted in the seventh round in 2007. For his career, he averaged six catches for 119 yards and one touchdown. Stanley averaged just over 12 yards on three punt returns this year.

-9/23-

The Milwaukee Brewers will try to salvage a win against the Chicago Cubs tonight, as they close out their three-game series at Miller Park. The Cubs easily won the first two contests, scoring a combined 13 runs in the first two innings of both games. Chicago has won three straight, and they’ve scored at least six runs in each of those outings. They got seven last night. Left-hander Chris Narveson will start for Milwaukee this evening against right-hander Jeff Samardzija. Narveson is 1-and-0 with a four-point-two-two E-R-A. He allowed one run and four hits in five innings against Houston last Friday night, and came away with a no-decision. Samardzija is 1-and-2 with a seven-point-eight-nine E-R-A. He’s normally a reliever, and he’s making his second career start. He got shelled for seven runs in three-and-a-third innings in his first start on August 12th against Philadelphia. The Brewers were officially eliminated from playoff contention last night. The Cubs are close, at seven-and-a-half back in the Wild Card standings with 12 games left.

-9/23-

A top freshman on the U-W Green Bay men’s basketball team had arthroscopic knee surgery this week. Guard Rian Pearson is expected to miss the first five games for the Phoenix, after he suffered a torn meniscus in a workout recently. Coach Tod Kowalczyk (ko-wall’-chick) said it was a significant tear – and it’s worse than one suffered last pre-season by former Green Bay player Ryan Tillema. Tillema was back less than four weeks after his surgery. It’s expected that Pearson will miss 8-to-10 weeks. For now, he’s expected to be ready for the November 27th Green Bay game at North Dakota.

-9/23-

Sara Heim of Ripon College is the volleyball performer-of-the-week in the Midwest Conference. Heim, a senior libero, set a new school record for career digs with 21-hundred-18 and counting. She had 124 digs in six matches last week. The Midwest Conference also honored Erika Zevin of Beloit College in women’s tennis – and Jon O’Brien and Jenny Scherer, both of Saint Norbert, in cross country.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports

2009-09-23T05:04:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The Packers might bring in former Indianapolis Colt Matt Giordano to fill a possible shortage at safety…
Wisconsin running back John Clay blames his three fumbles against Wofford on being in too much of a hurry to make the big play…
Cory Sartorelli of Eau Claire and James Taraboi of Oshkosh make the national small college football Team-of-the-Week…
The Brewers are eliminated from Wild Card contention, after losing big to the Cubs again…
Manny Parra will return to the mound on Friday night against the Phillies…
Detroit is still two-and-a-half games up on Minnesota in the A-L Central…

Major League scores…
Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 2
Detroit 3, Cleveland 1
Minnesota 8, Chicago White Sox 6

Also…
Michael Redd will have seven new teammates when the Bucks open training camp next Tuesday…
Former Marquette guard Dominic James is added to the Bucks’ camp roster…
The U-W Green Bay women’s soccer team plays to a scoreless tie with Loyola in their Horizon League opener.

Here are the details:

The Green Bay Packers might bring in former Indianapolis defensive back Matt Giordano to fill a possible shortage at safety. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said Giardano auditioned for the Packers yesterday, along with former D-B’s Nate Ness of Seattle and DeAndre Wright of the New York Giants. The paper said Giardano appeared to be the Packers’ top choice – but the team did not announce any signings. As of right now, Green Bay could have as little as two healthy safeties for Sunday’s game at Saint Louis. Starter Nick Collins will have a shoulder injury checked out again today, and Aaron Rouse is coming off a neck stinger. Both were injured in last Sunday’s home loss to Cincinnati. Starter Atari Bigby is already out with a bad knee. And for now, that leaves Jarrett Bush and Derrick Martin as the Packers’ healthy safeties. Giordano played four years for the Colts, and started six games. He had three interceptions, four pass break-ups, and 78 tackles. Indy cut Giordano on September sixth. Meanwhile, the Packers have lost practice squad tackle Jamon Meredith. The Buffalo Bills signed him to their 53-man roster, after right tackle Brad Butler was ruled out for the year. Meredith was the Packers’ fifth-round draft choice in April.

-9/23-

Wisconsin running back John Clay said he fumbled three times last Saturday because he was in too much of a hurry to make a big play. The third-year sophomore lost one of his fumbles to Wofford in last Saturday’s 44-14 Badger victory. Clay was making his first career start, but was pulled in the third quarter due to his fumbles. He said he must show his teammates they can still count on him. Coach Bret Bielema says Clay, Zach Brown, and Erik Smith will all get playing time at running back on Saturday, when the Badgers host Michigan State in their Big Ten opener. Brown appears to be the early favorite to get his third start of the season. Clay said starting is not important, because he’ll get the same number of carries during the game. Last year, Clay ran for 111 yards and a touchdown in Wisconsin’s one-point loss to Michigan State. It was his first career 100-yard performance.

-9/23-

Cory Sartorelli of U-W Eau Claire and James Taraboi of Oshkosh are on the national small college Team-of-the-Week from D-Three-Football-Dot-Com. Sartorelli, a senior, had six rushing touchdowns in Eau Claire’s 52-to-45 double overtime win over Hope College last Saturday. One of his scores was from 65 yards out. Sartorelli ended the day with 180 yards on 33 carries. Taraboi, a senior linebacker, had 10 tackles for Oshkosh in a 31-13 win over Huntingdon of Alabama. He also had a sack, a fumble recovery, two forced fumbles, and interception.

-9/23-

The Milwaukee Brewers were mathematically-eliminated from the post-season after losing to the Chicago Cubs 7-to-2 last night at Miller Park. The Brewers lost their shot at the National League Central Division crown on Monday night. And last night’s defeat eliminated them from the Wild Card they won last season, when they made the playoffs for the first time in 26 years. Prince Fielder says it’s unfortunate – but they still get paid to play hard, and they’ll keep doing so. The Cubs jumped on the Brewers early for the second straight night, going up 6-nothing after an-inning-and-a-half. Derrek Lee went 3-for-4 with a homer, two doubles, and two R-B-I’s for the Cubs, who’ve three in a row. Fielder belted his 41st homer for Milwaukee, which was out-scored 17-to-4 the past two nights. Dave Bush took the loss, giving up six runs in one-and-a-third innings to drop to 5-and-8. Rookie Randy Wells got the win. He struck out five in six innings, giving up a run on seven hits. He’s now 11-and-9. The Cubs’ slim playoff hopes are still alive. They remain seven-and-a-half games back for the Wild Card with 12 to go. The Brewers and Cubs will play again tonight. Left-hander Chris Narveson goes for the Brew Crew against right-hander Jeff Samardzija.

-9/23-

Brewers’ left-hander Manny Parra will start on Friday night against Philadelphia. He’s been out for two weeks with neck stiffness, but it went away recently. Parra’s normal turn is tonight, but pitching coach Chris Bosio wanted to give him one more bullpen session to make sure everything’s okay. Parra is 10-and-10. And has the highest E-R-A among the National League’s regular starters at six-point-four-two. Parra says he’s excited about returning, because he wants to end the season on a positive note. He’s expected to get two more starts.

-9/23-

Detroit is still two-and-a-half games up on second-place Minnesota in the American League Central. The Tigers won at Cleveland 3-to-1 last night, while the Twins kept pace with an 8-to-6 victory over the White Sox in Chicago.
Edwin Jackson threw seven shutout innings in the Tigers’ win. Ryan Raburn homered for Detroit, which has won two straight.
The Twins used to the long ball to get by the White Sox. Orlando Cabrera, Michael Cuddyer, Jason Kubel, and Matt Tolbert all went yard for Minnesota. Paul Konerko and Gordon Beckham homered for the White Sox, who’ve lost six-of-seven to fall eight games back in the Central race.

-9/23-

Michael Redd will have seven new teammates when the Milwaukee Bucks open their training camp next Tuesday. He says the pre-season will be more interesting than normal, because the Bucks will have to develop a strong chemistry right away. Many of the players got an early jump on that, by working out informally at the Bucks’ practice facility over the past few weeks. Coach Scott Skiles said the players showed a strong level of commitment during the summer – and it often translates to more victories on the court. Redd is coming off a torn knee ligament suffered last January. He says he’s been shooting for about a month, but is not doing certain drills like cutting. Redd expects to be fully healthy in time for the Bucks’ regular season opener at Philadelphia on October 30th.

-9/23-

Former Marquette guard Dominic James has been named to the Bucks’ training camp roster. General manager John Hammond said the 22-year-old James could make an N-B-A roster this year, but everything would have to fall into place for him. For now, James and two others are being added to the camp roster with non-guaranteed contracts. James performed well at the Bucks’ summer league camp in July, after coming off a knee injury this past spring. But he was hurt again while diving for a loose ball in a scrimmage, and that kept him off the Bucks’ roster for the N-B-A Summer League. Meanwhile, James’ two former guard teammates at Marquette will also be on N-B-A training camp rosters next month. Jerel McNeal is with the Los Angeles Clippers, and Wesley Matthews is at camp with Utah.

-9/23-

The U-W Green Bay women’s soccer team played to a scoreless tie with Loyola at home last night. It was the Horizon League opener for both teams, and it was the Phoenix’ second straight tie.. The Ramblers out-shot Green Bay 26-to-12, and Phoenix goal-tender Maddie Drusch made a season-high 12 stops. G-B is now 2-5-and-2 overall. Loyola is 1-8-and-1.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports

2009-09-23T03:36:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service - Wednesday, September 23, 2009 - Morning National Sports
Major League Baseball
---------------------
American League
---------------
Alex Rodriguez drove in the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning of New York's 6-5 win over the Angels, as the Yankees secured a playoff spot for the 14th time in 15 seasons. Rodriguez also hit a two-run homer. Jorge Posada added a two-run shot and Hideki Matsui tacked on a solo blast for the Yankees, who became the first team in baseball to clinch a playoff spot when the Texas Rangers lost in Oakland earlier Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in the AL:
--------------------
Detroit Tigers 3, Cleveland Indians 1
Toronto Blue Jays 6, Baltimore Orioles 5 (11 innings)
Seattle Mariners 4, Tampa Bay Rays 3
Kansas City Royals 5, Boston Red Sox 1
Minnesota Twins 8, Chicago White Sox 6
Oakland Athletics 9, Texas Rangers 1

National League
---------------
Clint Barmes hit a two-run inside-the-park homer as the Colorado Rockies inched closer to clinching a playoff spot by beating San Diego 11-10 in the opener of a three-game series. Brad Hawpe belted a three-run homer as the Rockies pounded out 14 hits on a rainy night at Coors Field. The Rocks moved five games ahead of San Francisco in the National League wild card chase. The Giants lost in Arizona Tuesday night.

Elsewhere in the NL:
--------------------
Philadelphia Phillies 9, Florida Marlins 3 (Game One)
Florida Marlins 3, Philadelphia Phillies 0 (Game Two)
Cincinnati Reds 10, Pittsburgh Pirates 4
Los Angeles Dodgers 14, Washington Nationals 2
Atlanta Braves 3, New York Mets 1
Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee Brewers 2
St. Louis Cardinals 11, Houston Astros 2
Arizona Diamondbacks 10, San Francisco Giants 8

===MLB===

The New York Yankees became the first team in baseball to clinch a playoff spot when the Texas Rangers lost, 9-1, in Oakland Tuesday night. This marks the 14th time in 15 years the Yankees are in the post-season. New York was playing its game in the eighth inning in Anaheim against the Angels when learning the Rangers lost. The Yankees beat the Angels, 6-5. The Yankees, who last won the World Series in 2000, missed out on the playoffs last year, finishing eight games off the pace in the AL East.
===
One more team can punch its ticket to the playoffs tonight. The St. Louis Cardinals have a magic number of two to win the National League Central Division. The Cardinals will need to win in Houston and have the Cubs lose their game in Milwaukee to pop the champagne. St. Louis is aiming for its fourth division title in six seasons.
===NFL===
Former New York Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday for a gun charge, stemming from an accidental shooting at a Manhattan night club last November. Burress pleaded guilty on August 20 to one count of attempted criminal possession of a weapon and agreed to serve two years in jail. A plea agreement with prosecutors led to a lesser charge after he was initially indicted on two counts of criminal possession of a weapon and one count of reckless endangerment on August 3. The former Super Bowl hero will likely serve 20 months in prison, with time off for good behavior, and will also serve two years of supervised release. Burress, who shot himself in the thigh with an unlicensed gun, was facing at least 3 1/2 years in prison if convicted at a trial on a weapons charge before making the plea agreement.
===
The Dallas Cowboys will reportedly be without running back Marion Barber for at least this weekend's game with Carolina after suffering a quadriceps injury late in Sunday's loss to the Giants. A Dallas TV station says Barber will miss 1-2 weeks because of the ailment. Barber has 203 yards and two scores on 32 carries, and two catches for 31 yards through two games this season. In a possible telling sign as to the severity of the injury, Dallas signed running back Chauncey Washington to the practice squad on Tuesday.
===COLLEGE FOOTBALL===
California senior receiver Nyan Boateng will miss the next 4-to-6 weeks with a fractured right foot. Boateng had surgery Monday. He was injured while blocking during the Golden Bears' 35-21 win against Minnesota on Saturday. Boateng led the team with 29 catches and 439 receiving yards as a junior last season, and he had five touchdown receptions. He has five catches for 78 yards and a score through three games this year. Sixth-ranked Cal opens its Pac-10 schedule this Saturday at Oregon.
===
Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber is expected to miss the next 4-to-6 weeks with a torn tendon in the quadriceps/groin area of his kicking leg. Sun Devils coach Dennis Erickson said Weber will likely miss the next five or six games after an MRI exam on Monday revealed the injury. As a freshman in 2007, Weber hit 24-of-25 field goal attempts and 46-of-48 extra-point attempts to win the Lou Groza Award as the nation's top kicker. He made 5-of-6 field goals in Arizona State's opener against Idaho State, but sat out last Saturday's game against Louisiana-Monroe. Freshman walk-on Bobby Wenzig handled the kicking chores this past Saturday and will do so again this week when the Sun Devils visit Georgia.
===TENNIS===
Former world number-one star Justine Henin announced her return to the WTA Tour on Tuesday. The seven-time Grand Slam event champion appeared on Belgian television to say she would re-join the circuit in time for next season. In May of last year, Henin shocked the tennis world by announcing a decision to retire, as she became the first-ever reigning world number-one to do so. The 27-year-old Henin quit after experiencing a bevy of physical ailments in nine-plus years on the grueling circuit. The 5-foot-5 Henin has captured seven Grand Slam titles among her 41 overall career championships and a gold medal at the 2004 Olympic Games.
===COLLEGE===
The NCAA has chosen James L. Isch as interim president, just six days after the death of Myles Brand, who died last Wednesday of pancreatic cancer at the age of 67. Isch served as senior vice president and chief financial officer for the NCAA and has been with the organization since 1998. The Executive Committee will meet October 29 in Indianapolis at its regularly scheduled quarterly meeting to discuss the search for the next permanent NCAA president.
===OLYMPICS===
Former Olympic medalist and World Cup champion Bode Miller will announce his plans Thursday on another possible run at the Olympics in Vancouver in 2010. The U.S. ski team and Miller will hold a joint news conference in Los Angeles. Men's alpine coach Sasha Rearick will also be in attendance. Judging by the participants, it appears Miller will try and make another Winter Games. If Miller does announce and eventually get to race in Vancouver after qualifying through World Cup events, it would be his fourth Olympics, joining the efforts he had in Nagano (1998), Salt Lake City (2002) and Torino (2006).
(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1

2009-09-23T02:01:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, September 23, 2009 – Morning Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The state Assembly votes 61-to-32 to strip the governor of his power to appoint the D-N-R secretary…
It could soon be against the law to throw old computers and T-V’s in the garbage…
A northeast Wisconsin man accused of stalking country singer Jewel claimed to be on a mission from God…
A man was electrocuted while putting up a portable garage along a lake in Winnebago County.

Winning lottery numbers: Supercash: 5-8-20-27-38-39 – No Doubler Pick-3: 3-3-8 Pick-4: 8-9-8-7 Badger-5: 15-20-22-26-31

Here are the details:

The governor’s power to manage natural resources would be sharply reduced under a bill passed by the Wisconsin Assembly. The vote was 61-to-32 yesterday to let the Natural Resources Board appoint the D-N-R secretary instead of the governor. Republican Don Friske (fris-kee) of Merrill says it would not do what the bill’s supporters want – take the politics out of hunting, fishing, and environmental matters. Friske says the governor would still appoint the D-N-R board members, and would choose people of his own political persuasion to get what he wants anyway. But Ed Harvey, head of the Conservation Congress, says the change would still remove “the slimy part of politics,” because board members don’t receive donations to campaign funds. Madison Democrat Spencer Black wrote the bill, saying it would preserve the environment – and he urged lawmakers to think about the next generation instead of the next election. The bill now goes to the Senate and then to the governor – who opposes the change, after supporting it for years. Wisconsin Rapids Democrat Marlin Schneider said if Doyle wants to veto the bill he should quote, “have at it,” and then give lawmakers a chance to override him. The 61 yes votes were five short of the two-thirds support needed for an override. But six members did not vote, and Black says there’s a good chance an override could succeed. It’s been 24 years since any governor’s veto has been overturned in Wisconsin.

-9/23-

It could soon be against the law to throw away computers, T-V’s, and other electronic devices. The Wisconsin Assembly voted 57-to-37 yesterday to make those manufacturers arrange to recycle their old products. They contain toxic chemicals, and the bill’s supporters say our groundwater would be protected by keeping them out of the trash. Neighboring Minnesota has a similar law. The Senate approved the bill earlier this year. But the Assembly has some changes which senators will have to ratify before the measure goes to the governor. Also, the Assembly voted 89-to-5 to ban the sale of products with mercury added – including thermostats – and there would be some exceptions.

-9/23-

A Wisconsin man accused of stalking country singer Jewel claimed to be on a mission from God. That’s what Texas authorities said yesterday about 50-year-old Michael Kozelka of Townsend in Oconto County. He’s charged with felony stalking after he allegedly made two visits in two days to a ranch near Stephenville Texas owned by Jewel’s husband, rodeo champion Ty Murray. Erath County Sheriff Tommy Bryant said Kozelka was found on the ranch September 14th and was told not to return. But the next day, Bryant said the man was seen at the ranch’s main house with a dog. He was said to be carrying a pocket knife, but he was calm and did not resist arrest. The sheriff did not say if Jewel or her husband were home at the time. And Bryant would not divulge the comments Kozelka made about Jewel and her husband. He’s in jail on a 30-thousand-dollar bond. Jewel, her husband, and Kozelka’s attorney have not commented. According to court records, a bank foreclosed on property Kozelka owned in Townsend last November, and it was sold last month.

-9/23-

A man was electrocuted in eastern Wisconsin while putting up portable garage. It happened yesterday afternoon about six miles north of Winneconne (wih’-neh-kah-nee). Winnebago County authorities said the man was putting a metal anchoring rod in the ground when he hit a power line. A relative tried to help him – but he couldn’t, since electricity was flowing through his body. The victim was 58. He died at the scene, and his name was not immediately released. The incident happened on the north shore of Lake Winneconne. We Energies cut off power to the area during an investigation.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #3

2009-09-22T15:38:00.001-05:00

STATIONS - Learfield Data was down this afternoon. PM Reports #1, 2 & 3 are here, along with the Afternoon State Sports.

------------------------------

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – Afternoon Report #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the details:

Wisconsin senators delayed action today on having legislators name secret successors to temporarily replace them in the event of a disaster. Democrat Bob Jauch of Poplar said too many people are uncomfortable with the idea of not making those successors’ names public. Jauch says he wouldn’t mind it – but he thinks political opponents might end up attacking them. Under the bill, each lawmaker would name 3-to-7 successors at the start of every term – and if there’s an enemy attack or a natural disaster, leaders would name one of those people to serve until permanent replacements can be chosen in special elections. Also, the bill would allow the Senate and Assembly to meet somewhere else besides the Capitol if the need arises – or maybe even on the Internet. Jauch says he’ll revise the measure, and bring it back this fall.

-9/22-

The Wisconsin Assembly voted today to let mothers breast-feed in public without being harassed. The bill makes it against the law to tell a woman to move, cover up, or otherwise interfere with her ability to breast-feed her baby. The purpose of the measure is to let women breast-feed in malls, restaurants, and other businesses without the management interfering. Violators would be fined up to 200-dollars. The Senate has passed a similar bill. But it’s not identical, so senators will be asked to adopt the Assembly’s changes. If they do, the measure would go to Governor Jim Doyle, who has said he would sign it. Over 40 states have similar public breast-feeding laws.

-9/22-

The North Crawford School District in southwest Wisconsin has gotten the flu bug. Officials said 30-percent of the 170 students in the tiny Crawford County district stayed home today. And that’s better than yesterday, when half the kids couldn’t make it to school. Most of the affected youngsters are in the high school. Elementary principal Brandon Munson said there’s been one confirmed case of the H-1-N-1 swine flu. The district is located in Soldiers Grove, and has one building for K-to-12. A volleyball tournament was called off yesterday because of the flu. It’s been re-set for next week.

-9/22-
-
Uncle Sam helps Milwaukee County get a little greener. The county will use a 210 thousand dollar federal stimulus grant to buy hybird vans. Those vans will be used by the county Department of Transportation and Public Works, replacing gasoline-powered vehicles used by supervisors. Federal officials say this program shows that green transportation helps the planet, strengthens the economic and can create jobs as well.-9/22-Four Chicago men are behind bars on child pornography charges after a three-month investigation by FBI agents in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois. FBI Special Agent Ross Rice says a defendant in another case tipped investigators off about the so-called "Boy Lovers." All four face multiple counts of possession of child pornography images -- and each faces between five and 20 years in prison. Two of the suspects were arrested after a meeting with undercover agents at an Illinois hotel.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State Sports

2009-09-22T14:56:00.002-05:00

STATIONS: Learfield Data was down this afternoon. The PM Wisconsin Sports is below, followed by Afternoon Reports #1 & #2 and today's Noon News Report.

----------------------------------

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – Afternoon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

The Milwaukee Brewers will try to even their home series against the Chicago Cubs tonight. A win would put Milwaukee back to .500 at Miller Park, where they’re 37-and-38 at the moment. The Brewers are two games below .500 overall at 74-and-76. The Cubs are five games above the break-even point, after whipping Milwaukee 10-to-2 last night. Braden Looper was shelled for seven runs in that outing. But he has achieved at least one Brewers’ milestone this year. Looper and Yovani Gallardo are the first pair of Milwaukee pitchers to get at least 13 wins since 1992, when Chris Bosio, Jaime (hy-mee) Navarro, and Bill Wegman all reached the 13-win mark. Bosio, who’s now Milwaukee’s interim pitching coach, was 16-and-6 in ’92.

-9/22-

The Minnesota Twins can get within one-and-a-half games of the American League Central division lead tonight. The Twins will play the White Sox in Chicago, while the first-place Detroit Tigers are in Cleveland to play the Indians.
Minnesota will try to win its second straight over the Sox, after a 7-nothing shut-out last night. The Twins hope to get center-fielder Denard Span back, after he was struck in the helmet by a 91-mile-an-hour fastball from Sox’ reliever Randy Williams last night. Span was helped off the field after being down for a few minutes. Officially, he’s day-to-day with a headache. Chicago’s John Danks will start against Jeff Manship.
The Tigers have lost 9-of-their-last-13 going into their series at Cleveland. But the Indians have lost eight straight, and Detroit hopes to keep that string going. Edwin Jackson faces Cleveland’s Justin Masterson.

-9/22-

Milwaukee Bucks’ guard Carlos Delfino has finally joined his new teammates. The Bucks acquired the 6-6 Delfino and guard Roko Ukic from Toronto last month for power forward Amir Johnson. But Delfino had been stuck in his native Argentina due to issues involving his visa. They’ve been resolved now. And Delfino is with his new Bucks’ teammates for a final week of un-official workouts before training camp begins next Tuesday. General manager John Hammond said he knew Delfino when they were both in Detroit. Hammond said the new guard is good at making plays for other people, and is a strong rebounder in the backcourt. Meanwhile, Ukic and forward Ersan Ilyasova are expected to arrive in Milwaukee within the next week. Both played for their home national teams in the recent Euro-Basket tournament in Poland. Ukic played for his native Croatia, and Ilyasova for Turkey.

(End)

Cory Sartorelli of U-W Eau Claire, Joe Mleziva of Stevens Point, and Jared Jenkins of Point are the W-I-A-C’s football players-of-the-week. Sartorelli, a senior running back, tied a school record with six rushing touchdowns in the Blugolds’ 52-45 double-overtime win over Hope College. Mleziva, a junior defensive back, had 19 tackles and an interception in Point’s 21-17 win over Missouri S-and-T. Jenkins, a junior punter, averaged 46 yards in five kicks in the Pointers’ victory. One of his punts went 73 yards, the longest in the W-I-A-C since 2006. The league also recognized Jason Garvens of Platteville and Katelynn Williams of La Crosse in cross country – B-J Gottschlich of Platteville and Zack Schmitt of Finlandia in men’s soccer – Shyla Gilbertson of Eau Claire and Ashley Alonso of Platteville in women’s soccer – Jessica Urban of Stevens Point in women’s golf – Kelsey Scheele of River Falls in volleyball – Chelsea Allbaugh of Stevens Point in women’s singles’ tennis – and Kaylei Sorensen and Leah Benn of Stevens Point in doubles’ tennis.

-9/22-

Larry Hairl of Wisconsin Lutheran is the offensive football player-of-the-week in the Northern Athletics Conference. Hairl, a junior running back, ran for 138 yards and three touchdowns in Wisconsin Lutheran’s 27-to-13 victory at Saint Scholastica. Josh McCormick of Lutheran is the league’s top defensive player. McCormick, a junior linebacker, had two tackles for a loss, a fumble recovery, and a forced fumble against Saint Scholastica. Justin Laack of Lakeland is the special teams’ player-of-the-week. Laack, a freshman kick returner, took a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown against Carthage. He returned five kicks for 173 yards. The N-A-C also honored Andy Ashenden of Concordia-Mequon and Kate Schommer of Wisconsin Lutheran in cross country – Muriel McIntyre of Concordia-Mequon and Gary Petit of Lakeland in golf – Andriy Apetrey of Madison Edgewood and Mary Ryan of Concordia-Mequon in soccer – and Katie Roessler of Concordia-Mequon in volleyball.

-9/22-

Four athletes will be inducted next month into the U-W Stout Hall-of-Fame. One of them is Amy Jamieson, the only Stout competitor to win all-conference honors in three different sports in the same school year. She made the all-league first team in softball and basketball, and the second team in tennis in the 1996-’97 term. Also to be inducted are two-time national gymnastics champion Mark Rezac, wrestler Jeremy Krings, and football guard Jason Lehman. The four will be recognized on October 17th.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Reports #1 & #2

2009-09-22T14:48:00.003-05:00

STATIONS: Learfield Data was down at mid-afternoon, so here are the PM Wisconsin news stories. The Noon Report and an Afternoon Sports feed follow.

------------------------------

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – Afternoon Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:

A memorial is almost finished to remember the six young adults murdered in Crandon almost two years ago…
A Baraboo restaurant owner gets four years in a federal prison for trying to hide cash transactions.

Here are the details:

A memorial is almost finished to remember the six young adults murdered when Tyler Peterson opened fire in Crandon almost two years ago. Project coordinator Gary Mueller says almost 50 contractors and a number of other volunteers are helping build a stone gazebo and walkway. He expects it to be finished by October seventh, the second anniversary of the Crandon slayings. Mueller said victims’ relatives have brought soda to the volunteer workers, or have just given words of support to the memorial project. The 20-year-old Peterson, an off-duty sheriff’s deputy, killed his on-again, off-again girlfriend and five others at a homecoming pizza party on October seventh of 2007. Peterson later turned the gun on himself as law enforcement was closing in on him. Authorities said he was upset because the girlfriend, Jordanne Murray, wouldn’t see him. The only survivor was Charlie Neitzel. He said he, too, would have been killed had he not played dead.

-9/22-

A restaurant owner in Baraboo has been sentenced to four years in a federal prison for trying to hide cash transactions. Prosecutors said 54-year-old Ismail Beciri was being investigated for bankruptcy fraud when he borrowed almost 620-thousand dollars from a customer last year. He allegedly told the customer to write the checks in small amounts, so he could pay his food distributors at Kristina’s Restaurant. Authorities said Beciri drove to numerous banks to cash the checks, to avoid the federal requirement that banks report cash transactions of over 10-thousand-dollars apiece.

(End)

-----------------------------------

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, September 22, 2009 – Afternoon Report #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:The Wisconsin Senate votes to make kids attend kindergarten, and paves the way for Packer opponents to ride to Lambeau without stopping for red lights…
State corrections’ officials say they’ll deliver D-N-A samples in person to the crime lab, to make sure they get in the state’s investigative data-base…
An Oshkosh pastor calls his 14 months in Iraq a “painfully unique experience.”

Here are the details:

The Wisconsin Senate voted today to make kids finish kindergarten before they can go to first grade. It’s optional now. But senators voted 17-to-15 to make it mandatory. The bill now goes to Governor Jim Doyle, after the Assembly passed the same requirement last week. All the yes votes came from Democrats. Republicans all voted no. The bill’s supporters say too many parents consider kindergarten to be like day care centers – and they’ll send their kids only when they feel like it, causing disruptions for both students and their teachers. But the bill’s opponents asked why the Legislature should mandate good attendance for kindergarteners because their parents make poor choices.

Also today, senators voted to let police officers escort dignitaries and sports teams through red lights without facing liability. The measure is designed to clear the way for Green Bay Packers’ opponents to ride from an Appleton hotel to Lambeau Field on game-days without having to stop. The senators okayed the bill on a voice vote. The Assembly passed it in June, so now it goes to Governor Doyle.-

9/22-

There’s pizza delivery – mail delivery – and now, D-N-A delivery. The state corrections’ department said today it would start delivering the D-N-A samples it collects from convicted felons in person to the State Crime Lab. And corrections’ secretary Rick Raemisch wants the attorney general to send back confirmations that the samples have been entered in the state’s police data-base. Last week, the Justice Department said 12-thousand required D-N-A samples from convicted felons never made it to the department’s data-base. Corrections’ officials have started going back to convicts whose samples are missing, and getting new ones. Other felons are being told to submit their D-N-A to their local sheriff’s departments.

-9/22-

An Oshkosh pastor who’s back home from Iraq called his service a “painfully unique experience.” The Reverend Tim Routh of Calvary Lutheran Church said he helped and counseled both American troops and the military detainees they held at Camp Bucca. Routh spent 14 months in Iraq as a member of the Army Reserve’s 320th Military Police unit – the same one that took humiliating photos of detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison a number of years ago. But now, Routh said the unit embraced a more kind treatment – and it brought tremendous results. He said they treated those in custody with dignity and respect, and he was surprised at the low rate of repeat offenders among the inmates they freed. Routh said most of the troops and prisoners he encountered had huge emotional swings – and the extreme heat, the long hours, and the separation from home made things even more difficult. Routh said it’s no joke what our troops are facing. Routh has beenhome for just over a month, but he said he spent time reflecting on his experiences before returning to his congregation last Sunday.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Reports #1 & #2

2009-06-02T13:47:00.002-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, June 2, 2009 – Afternoon Report #1

=====Stations: Learfield Data was down at the time this was sent. We'll send this material there once the site goes back online.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com
Here are the headlines:
Modine Manufacturing reports another big loss, as it feels the pains of the auto industry…
The S-S Badger ferry is ordered to stop dumping coal slurry into Lake Michigan by 2012…
Wisconsin will get almost 20-million federal stimulus dollars to restore over four-thousand acres of flood-plains to their natural state.

Here are the details:

A Racine company that makes car heating-and-cooling systems is feeling its share of the industry’s pain. Modine Manufacturing announced a quarterly loss today of 47-million-dollars, or a-dollar-47 per share. That’s down from a 35-million-dollar loss the previous year, during the final quarter of its 2008 fiscal year. Modine reported a total loss of almost 109-million dollars for the past year, after posting a 68-million-dollar loss the year before. Sales were down 12-percent over the past year – and they were down 43-percent in the most recent quarter. Modine said its debt level increased, because its cash flows were not enough to pay for capital expenses caused by growth.

-6/2-

One of the two ferries that send people and vehicles across Lake Michigan has been hit with a federal environmental order. The E-P-A has told the owner of the S-S Badger, which runs between Manitowoc and Ludington Michigan, to stop discharging coal slurry into Lake Michigan. And it has 2012 to change its practices. The Badger is the nation’s last coal-fired passenger boat of its kind. The order was reported by the Ludington Daily News, which quotes local leaders as saying the ferry is crucial for tourism in both Ludington and Manitowoc. The E-P-A has never regulated discharges from boats under the federal Clean Water Act. But several states and environmental groups won a lawsuit that requires such enforcement. That was after ballast water from foreign ships was blamed for bringing zebra mussels and other invasive species to the Great Lakes.

-6/2-

Wisconsin will get almost 20-million federal stimulus dollars to restore more than four-thousand acres of flood-plains to their natural state. U-S Senator Herb Kohl announced the grant today. He said it will make it easier prevent floods, and improve things like water quality, conservation, and habitat. Kohl says the grant will be a significant boost for creating sustainable lands – and he calls the Badger State a proven leader in such preservation. The U-S-D-A granted a total of 145-million dollars nationally to acquire flood-plain easements and restore lands. Kohl said Wisconsin got the second-most dollars to preserve the third largest acreage.

(End)

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, June 2, 2009 – Afternoon Report #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com
Here are the headlines:
A federal judge refuses to order two high schools in Brookfield to move their graduation ceremonies from the Elmbrook Church this weekend…
Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl wants the federal government to start enforcing the laws against seizures of Social Security and veterans’ benefits…
A new U-W report says campuses are making progress in preventing mass shootings, but budget problems will slow the effort down.

Here are the details:

A federal judge in Milwaukee refused today to order two Brookfield high schools to move their graduation ceremonies from a large church this weekend. Brookfield Central and East high schools were given the okay to hold their commencements in the Elmbrook Church. Judge Charles Clevert (clee’-vert) threw out a legal challenge from the Americans United for the Separation of Church-and-State, which said it was wrong for tax-funded schools to give out diplomas with a large cross as a backdrop. But Clevert said quote, “A ceremony in the church does not necessarily constitute a church ceremony.” He sided with school officials who said they used the church because it’s the only nearby place large enough to accommodate all the students and their relatives – and the cross has no role in the commencement. The ceremonies will take place Saturday and Sunday as scheduled. Next year, the district plans to use new facilities now being constructed at the two schools. But had the judge ruled the other way today, school officials said they did not have a “Plan-B.”

-6/2-

Wisconsin’s Herb Kohl wants the federal government to start enforcing the laws against seizures of Social Security and veterans’ benefits. Kohl, who chairs the Senate’s Special Committee on Aging, has a bill to stop promoting direct deposits of benefits until the Treasury Department can protect those deposits from bill collectors. The benefits are protected by law, but more bill collectors have been using loop-holes to seize Social Security and vets’ benefits made by direct deposit. More than 80-percent of the nation’s 51-million Social Security recipients have their benefits placed directly into their checking accounts. Margot Saunders of the National Consumer Law Center says veterans and senior citizens cannot afford to have their bank accounts frozen, while they pay lawyers to get back what’s been illegally garnished – but they often have no choice. The Social Security inspector general said 178-million dollars in a 12-month period were garnished from accounts with seniors’ benefits in them. Assistant Treasury Secretary Michael Barr told Kohl he’s committed to enforcing anti-garnishment laws, but without placing burdens on financial institutions. A treasury official says a deal is close to being made on such protections.

-6/2-

A new U-W report says campuses are making progress in preventing mass shooting incidents – but state budget problems will slow down some of those plans. The university’s Board of Regents will talk about the new report on Thursday. It comes more than two years a gunman killed almost three dozen students at Virginia Tech. The U-W report says campuses are giving students more information about safety risks. They have systems for notifying students during an emergency. And they have teams which identify students who could be dangerous, and intervene when necessary. But the report also says a lack of funding will delay other safety measures, because they need more staff-and-money. They include mental health counselors to help students in trouble, and a game-plan for resuming vital U-W services after a crisis.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon State Sports

2009-06-02T13:44:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, June 2, 2009 – Afternoon State Sports

=====Stations: Learfield Data was down earlier this afternoon, so this feed is being sent here. We'll also send this on LD when the site returns online.=====

Here are the details:

The Milwaukee Brewers will play at Florida tonight without reliever Jorge Julio (hor-hay hoo’-lee-oh). He was released today after a horrendous appearance last night – and the Brewers brought up veteran Mike Burns from Triple-“A” Nashville. Julio gave up five runs without retiring anybody in the sixth inning of last night’s Brewers’ loss to the Marlins. Julio struck two batters – one of whom drove in the winning run with the bases loaded. He also gave up two hits and a walk, while his only other batter reached on an error. Julio was under a one-year, 950-thousand dollar contract. He had a seven-point-seven-nine E-R-A in 15 relief outings, giving up a total of 15 hits and 15 walks and 17-and-a-third innings. The 30-year-old Burns was 6-and-2 for Nashville this season, with an E-R-A of just under three in 10 starts. Burns has 45 career relief appearances in the Majors with Houston, Cincinnati, and Boston. He has a five-point-eight-eight E-R-A in 52 innings with 36 strikeouts.

-6/2-

Prince Fielder and Trevor Hoffman have been named the Brewers’ player-and-pitcher of the month. They were chosen by the team’s traveling media, and they’ll be honored at Miller Park during the Brewers’ next home-stand. Fielder drove in 31 runs last month, and hit .305 for the month with a .442 on-base percentage. He never went more than one game in May without an R-B-I. Hoffman, meanwhile, went 11-for-11 in save opportunities last month. The Majors’ all-time save leader had not walked a batter all season until Sunday, when he notched his 13th save of the year. And he struck out 11 batters last month, while letting only five reach base.

-6/2-

The Chicago Cubs will open a series at Atlanta tonight. This was supposed to be Carlos Zambrano’s turn on the mound – but he was suspended for six games after his outburst last Wednesday in which thumbed the plate umpire out, threw a ball into left field, and attacked a Gatorade bucket. Randy Wells will start in Zambrano’s place tonight. Wells is 0-and-2, but with a solid one-point-eight-oh E-R-A. Kenshin Kawakami will start for Atlanta. He’s 3-and-6. The Braves are at .500, while the Cubs are a game above the break-even point.

-6/2-

The Chicago White Sox will try to make it two-in-a-row over the Oakland A’s tonight at U-S Cellular Field. The Sox have won six-of-their-last-seven, after beating the A’s by four last night. A win would put the Sox above .500 for the first time since May second. Bartolo Colon, who was supposed to start last night, will go tonight instead after getting some extra rest. He’s 3-and-4. Vin Mazarro will make his big league debut for Oakland.
The Minnesota Twins will host Cleveland tonight. The Twins have gotten hit hard with injuries lately. Outfielder Michael Cuddyer is day-to-day with a strained index finger, and catcher Joe Mauer missed the Twins’ last game Sunday after taking a foul ball of his right leg Saturday. Kevin Slowey takes a 7-and-1 record to the mound for Minnesota against Cleveland rookie David Huff, who’s 0-and-1.
The Detroit Tigers will open a home series against Boston. Tigers’ rookie Rick Porcello will try to win his sixth consecutive start against the Red Sox’ Daisuke Matsuzaka, who’s 0-and-3.

-6/2-

Former Milwaukee Bucks’ coach Del Harris has retired after 50 years in the business. The Chicago Bulls announced the move today. Harris was an assistant this past season under new Bulls’ coach Vinny Del Negro. Harris was also on Don Nelson’s bench in Milwaukee before he took over the Bucks’ coaching reins in 1987. He won just over 55-percent of his regular season games before he left in 1991 – and he led the Bucks to a 6-and-15 playoff record. Harris’s son Larry was the Bucks’ general manager until he was fired last summer.

-6/2-

U-W Whitewater has named Mike Johnson as its interim men’s track-and-field coach. He was a captain for the Warhawk track team, and was an assistant from 2005-through-last spring. Johnson spent the last year at U-W Stevens Point as a men’s-and-women’s cross country and track assistant. Johnson will serve for a year while a national search takes place for a permanent men’s track coach. He replaces Darren Schneider, who resigned after last month’s N-C-A-A Division-Three outdoor track meet.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports

2009-05-20T03:41:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service - Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - Morning National Sports

National Basketball Association Playoffs
----------------------------------------
Kobe Bryant scored 40 points, made six free throws in the final 30.5 seconds, and had the game-winning rebound in the final moments, as the L-A Lakers beat Denver, 105-103, to open the Western Conference finals. Game 2 of the best-of-seven set is Thursday, again at the Staples Center.

National Hockey League Stanley Cup Playoffs
-------------------------------------------
Mikael Samuelsson's goal 5:14 into overtime sent the Detroit Red Wings to a 3-2 home victory over the Chicago Blackhawks in Game 2 of their Western Conference final series. Dan Cleary and Brian Rafalski also scored for the Red Wings, who assumed a two-games-to-none series advan tage. Game 3 is on Friday in Chicago.

Major League Baseball
---------------------
American League
---------------
Dontrelle Willis earned his first win in a Tigers uniform after pitching 6 1/3 shutout innings, as Detroit snapped the Texas Rangers' seven-game winning streak with a 4-0 home victory.

Elsewhere in the AL:
--------------------
New York Yankees 9, Baltimore Orioles 1
Oakland Athletics 4, Tampa Bay Rays 1 (11 innings)
Boston Red Sox 2, Toronto Blue Jays 1
Kansas City Royals 6, Cleveland Indians 5
Chicago White Sox 6, Minnesota Twins 2
L-A Angels of Anaheim 6, Seattle Mariners 5

National League
---------------
Joel Pineiro threw his first shutout since the 2003 season, tossing a three-hitter as the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Chicago Cubs, 3-0, in the opener of a three-game series.

Elsewhere in the NL:
--------------------
Pittsburgh Pirates 8, Washington Nationals 5 (10 innings)
Philadelphia Phillies 4, Cincinnati Reds 3
Atlanta Braves 8, Colorado Rockies 1
Arizona Diamondbacks 5, Florida Marlins 3
Milwaukee Brewers 4, Houston Astros 2
San Diego Padres 2, San Francisco Giants 1
Los Angeles Dodgers 5, New York Mets 3

===NBA===

Kobe Bryant scored 40 points as the Lakers rallied to beat Denver, 105-103, in the opener of the Western Conference finals. The Nuggets were ahead by as many as 13 on Tuesday before faltering. Game 2 of the best-of-seven set is Thursday, again at the Staples Center. Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference finals begin tonight in Cleveland with the Cavaliers taking on the Orlando Magic. The Cavs, led by league MVP LeBron James, haven't lost yet in the playoffs following sweeps over Detroit and Atlanta, and are an astonishing 43-2 at Quicken Loans Arena since the start of the regular season. But the Magic have dominated the Cavs in recent seasons, winning eight of the past 11 meetings.
===
The Los Angeles Clippers won the NBA Draft lottery on Tuesday and will have the top overall selection on June 25. The Clippers, who finished this past season with a 19-63 record and had a 17.7 percent chance of capturing the top pick, won the lottery for the third time. They could select Oklahoma standout Blake Griffin with the pick. Memphis (24-68) will pick second, followed by Oklahoma City (23-59) and Sacramento (17-65). The Kings had the best shot, a 25-percent chance, at winning the lottery.
===COLLEGE BASKETBALL===
Gerald Henderson officially entered next month's NBA Draft after signing with agent Arn Tellem, ending the swingman's career at Duke. Henderson, who had one year left of eligibility, averaged career-highs of 16.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 37 games last year for the Blue Devils.
===NFL===
Saints owner Tom Benson announced on Tuesday the city of New Orleans was selected by NFL owners as the location for Super Bowl-47 in 2013. Miami and Phoenix had also made bids for the league's championship game. This will be the 10th time New Orleans will host the event and first since Hurricane Katrina ripped through the Louisiana Superdome and the surrounding area in 2005.
===BASEBALL===
New York Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado underwent arthroscopic surgery yesterday on his right hip to remove a bone spur and repair a torn labrum. The Mets said the veteran slugger is expected to be sidelined for about 10 weeks. In 26 games this year, Delgado is batting .298 with four home runs and 23 runs batted in.
===
The injuries plaguing Oakland Athletics third baseman Eric Chavez continue to pile up, putting the veteran's career in serious jeopardy. The team's Web site indicated doctors have told Chavez the next time the herniated disc in his back goes out, he will need career-ending spinal fusion surgery. Already on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, Chavez has played just 121 games in the past three seasons due to a plethora of ailments.
===AUTO RACING===
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon underwent a back procedure Monday, in hopes of alleviating pain that has gotten progressively worse. The facet block procedure involves an injection of local anesthetic and anti- inflammatory into a joint in the spine. The procedure is commonly ordered for patients who suffer lower back pain or pain associated from arthritic changes in the facet joints. If the procedure is not effective, surgery may be necessary.
(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #4

2009-05-18T07:56:00.003-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, May 18, 2009 – Morning Report #4

=====Stations: Learfield Data was down temporarily just before 7:55, so this report is here.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Relatives will testify today in the trial of a Wausau area woman accused of praying instead of getting help for her dying daughter…
Authorities are looking for a man suspected of killing his ex-wife in Fitchburg…
Wisconsin’s “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt campaign starts with a big name doing T-V spots for it…
Wisconsin should finally be saying goodbye to cold temperatures for the season.

Here are the details:

Family members will testify today at the trial of a Wausau area woman accused of praying instead of getting help for her dying daughter. Testimony was supposed to begin Saturday in Leilani Neumann’s trial in Marathon County. But soon after prosecutor Lamont Jacobson began his opening statement, the 41-year-old Neumann fainted at the defense table. Paramedics checked her out, and placed her in a wheelchair after finding that her vital signs were normal. The statements then resumed, but Circuit Judge Vincent Howard waited until this morning to have the state present its first witnesses. Neumann’s case has gotten national attention over the issues of religious freedom. But Jacobson stuck to the medical facts in his opening statement, and said 11-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann could have recovered had she gotten proper care. Defense attorney Gene Linehan (linn-uh-han) said Leilani Neumann did not knowingly cause her daughter’s death from diabetic complications. Meanwhile, Judge Howard told the defense it could not call a Texas faith healer as an expert witness. Neumann is charged with second-degree reckless homicide. Her trial is expected to last all week.

-5/18-

Authorities were looking for a man suspected of killing his ex-wife in Fitchburg, just south of Madison. 47-year-old Francesca Weber died late Saturday, but an autopsy yesterday showed that the cause of death was still pending. Fitchburg Police have put out an alert for 49-year-old Steve Weber of Verona. His divorce was finalized last week, and court records showed he was under a restraining order to stay away from the victim and the street where she lived. She was killed at her apartment in Fitchburg. Three homes on Madison’s west side were evacuated yesterday, as authorities said they had apparent connections to the suspect. No one was arrested in those searches.

-5/18-

Once again this Memorial Day, authorities are stepping up their efforts to ticket those who don’t buckle up. But this year, the “Click It or Ticket” campaign has a big name behind it. You might have seen the T-V announcements featuring Jeff Skiles, the Wisconsin co-pilot who helped save 155 lives by guiding U-S Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River in January. Skiles said everyone on the plane was wearing seat belts – and it behooves everyone on the road to do the same. The “Click It or Ticket” campaign officially begins today, and will last through at least the Memorial Day weekend. State Patrol Major Dan Lonsdorf says officers will watch for every traffic violation, in the hopes of educating those who are not buckled up. Wisconsin has one of the lowest seat-belt compliance rates in the country. Lonsdorf says it’s because we have secondary enforcement – which means officers must find another violation before giving out a seat-belt ticket. That could change as early as July, though. Governor Jim Doyle’s proposed state budget allows so-called “primary enforcement” for the first time. He also wanted to raise the fine from 10-dollars to 25 – but the Joint Finance Committee recently voted to leave it at 10.

-5/18-

We should finally be saying goodbye to those sub-freezing temperatures for awhile. Parts of northern Wisconsin dipped into the 20’s during the night. But in many spots, mid-level clouds had the mercury on the rise before sun-up. By seven this morning, Superior and Hayward were both in the low-50’s. Wautoma in central Wisconsin was the cold spot at 35. But those readings shouldn’t be around much longer, as forecasters predict highs in the 60’s-and-70’s with occasional sunshine and strong southwest breezes. Some rain is expected tomorrow, but not a cold spell. On Wednesday, the National Weather Service predicts highs in the 80’s for all of the Badger State. More rain is possible on Thursday, and somewhat cooler temperatures are projected for Friday – just in time to start the holiday weekend.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #1

2009-04-23T12:17:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, April 23, 2009 – Afternoon Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The chancellor at U-W Stevens Point resigns…
A congressional oversight panel on the banking bailout plans a hearing in Milwaukee…
About 500 people apply for 120 jobs at a new restaurant-and-brewery in Wausau.

Here are the details:

U-W Stevens Point chancellor Linda Bunnell – whose hit-and-run crash in Madison triggered criticisms about her leadership – announced her resignation today. She’ll leave May 31st, and return to her consulting firm which is based in Denver. The announcement comes a week after Bunnell admitted buying three drinks, and having one, before her state-owned car hit a parked vehicle February 17th while she was in a hurry to get to Governor Jim Doyle’s budget speech. A witness saw her leave without leaving a note, and she was fined 172-dollars. The incident produced statewide publicity about a bitter struggle Bunnell was in with leaders of the U-W Stevens Point Foundation. She said they were upset that she fired the school’s top fund-raiser. Recently, the Student Senate on the Point campus gave Bunnell a vote of no-confidence. She was Stevens Point’s chancellor since 2004. The university’s enrollment grew to its highest in 17 years under her watch, to almost 92-hundred students. And she cited a 22-percent increase in the number of students from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds. Campus provost and vice chancellor Mark Nook will become the interim chancellor on June first.

-4/23-

A congressional oversight panel that’s keeping tabs on the bailout of the financial services industry will hold a hearing next Wednesday in Milwaukee. The panel will select local witnesses, and others can watch but not testify. The two-hour hearing begins at 10 next Wednesday morning at the U-W Milwaukee student union. The oversight panel wants to know if the 700-billion-dollars in federal aid for the banking industry has resulted in new lending for small businesses. Spokesman Caleb Weaver says the committee is looking at the impact of the Troubled Asset Relief Program on “Main Street.”

-4/23-

About 500 people applied for 120 jobs at a restaurant-and-brewery that’s opening in Wausau. The Great Dane Pub of Madison is opening its first location outside the Capital City on May 22nd. Spokesman Ted Peterson says about 80 of the new jobs will be full-time – and they’ve attracted workers laid off from places ranging from diners to factories. The unemployment rate in Wausau’s home county is nine-point-four percent, the highest in 23 years.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon State Sports - 12/10

2008-12-10T11:32:00.001-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data was down late this morning, so we're sending the Noon Report & the Noon State Sports here. Once LD returns, we'll put all feeds there.=====

Wheeler News Service – Wednesday, December 10, 2008 – Noon State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
More media outlets are confirming that C-C Sabathia will become a Yankee – and for even more money than originally reported…
Milwaukee native Tony Kubek will be inducted into Baseball’s Hall-of-Fame this summer as a broadcaster…
The Packers won’t be the only under-achieving team on the field in Jacksonville on Sunday…
The Milwaukee Bucks will try to salvage a win when they close out their three-game Western road trip tonight at Golden State…
The U-W Milwaukee women’s basketball team will try to even its 3-and-4 record tonight at home against Illinois…
Conference play resumes tonight for W-I-A-C men’s and women’s teams…
The W-I-A-C names its athletes-of-the-week…
Jordan Barclay of Carroll is the women’s swimmer-of-the-week in the Midwest Conference.

Here are the details:

More media outlets in New York are confirming that C-C Sabathia will become a Yankee – and for even more money than what was first reported. Newsday of Long Island says the 28-year-old Sabathia told general manager Brian Cashman he wants to pitch for the Yanks. And the team raised its offer during the night from six years and 140-million-dollars, to seven years and 160-million. The New York Post said this morning that only a few minor hurdles remain – including the passing of a physical – and then Sabathia will officially get the largest pitching contract in Major League history. Cashman has met for three straight days with Sabathia – the last time being at the pitcher’s home near San Francisco. Newsday also says the Yankees are still talking with Brewers’ free agent Ben Sheets. Both Sheets and Sabathia were expected to leave Milwaukee. The Brewers will get two draft choices for each loss.

-12/10-

Milwaukee native Tony Kubek will be inducted into Baseball’s Hall-of-Fame this summer as a broadcaster. He’s been chosen to receive the Ford Frick Award during the Hall-of-Fame ceremonies July 24th-through-27th in Cooperstown New York. The 72-year-old Kubek now lives in Appleton. He joined N-B-C Sports in 1965, soon after his playing days with the New York Yankees as a shortstop. Hall-of-Fame president Jeff Idelson said that before the 24-hour sports channels, Kubek was the face and the voice of the game for an entire generation of fans. He was a color commentator for N-B-C’s “Game of the Week” for most of those years. Kubek ended his broadcasting career in ’94, when he was doing Yankee games. He said he needed to reconnect with his friends-and-relatives here in Wisconsin. Kubek is the second Wisconsin broadcaster to enter the Hall. Brewers’ radio broadcaster Bob Uecker won the Ford Frick Award in 2003.

-12/10-

The Green Bay Packers won’t be the only under-achieving team playing in Jacksonville on Sunday. Big things were expected from the Jaguars, too, after they went 11-and-5 a year ago and upset Pittsburgh in a Wild Card playoff game on the road. Instead, the Jaguars are 4-and-9 – and they’ve lost four in a row. Green Bay has dropped three straight and five-of-its-last-six. And while the 5-and-8 Packers are still in playoff contention, they’d need a miracle for it to happen. Like the Packers, Jacksonville has not gotten thoroughly pounded in most of their losses. But coach Jack Del Rio says the Jaguars have let opponents get big plays he calls “unearned.” They’ve been out-scored 104-to-30 in their last three games, while the Packers have given up an average of 421 total yards in their last three contests – losses to New Orleans, Carolina, and Houston. The Packers currently have the second-work record among the six teams that made the playoffs a year. The Jaguars have the worst mark among the six A-F-C playoff teams from 2007.

-12/10-

The Milwaukee Bucks will close out their three-game Western road trip tonight in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors. The Bucks lost by 15 last night in Phoenix, after falling by 12 to the Lakers in L-A on Sunday. The Bucks have lost five straight on the road, and are 9-and-14 overall. Golden State, led by former Bucks’ coach Don Nelson, is 6-and-15. They’re coming off a win at Oklahoma City on Monday night which ended a nine-game road skid. Warriors’ center Andris Biedrins from Latvia had 17 points and 21 rebounds against Oklahoma. And he’s second in the N-B-A with just over 12 boards per game. Milwaukee lost both its contests to Golden State a year ago. That was when Larry Harris was the Bucks’ general manager. Now, Harris sits alongside Nelson as an assistant coach for the Warriors. The Bucks are currently without starting forward Malik Allen with a strained rib muscle, and back-up guard Charlie Bell with a bad ankle.

-12/10-

The U-W Milwaukee women’s basketball team will try to even its 3-and-4 record tonight at home against Illinois. The Panthers have a two-game losing streak. They’re coming off a 21-point drubbing at Washington State on Sunday. Traci Edwards, Milwaukee’s all-time leading scorer, only had four points and one rebound at Washington State. Illinois has lost six straight after starting the year at 3-and-0. They have just three players back from last season. One of them is Jenna Smith, who leads the Illini with almost 19 points and two blocked shots per game. Also tonight, the U-W Green Bay women host Wisconsin. Both have eight-game winning streaks on the line. And the U-W Parkside women will host Illinois-Springfield.

-12/10-

Conference play resumes tonight for W-I-A-C men-and-women. U-W Platteville, ranked third in the nation by D-Three-Hoops-Dot-Com, is the league’s only undefeated team overall with a 7-and-0 mark. Platteville will host Eau Claire, both 1-and-0 in conference play. La Crosse is playing its league opener at home against sixth-ranked Stevens Point. Stout is at River Falls. Superior hosts Northwestern of Minnesota. Whitewater and Oshkosh have the night off. In the Northern Athletics Conference, Milwaukee Engineering is at Aurora in the state’s only other men’s game. On the women’s side, eighth-ranked Eau Claire entertains Platteville. Number-13 Stevens Point plays at La Crosse. Stout hosts River Falls. And Superior plays at Northwestern. Eau Claire is 7-and-0 overall – and they’re 1-and-0 in league play along with the Pointers, Platteville, and River Falls.

-12/10-

Matt Moses of U-W Stevens Point and Heidi Arciszewski (ar-shih-shess’-kee) of Eau Claire are W-I-A-C’s men’s-and-women’s basketball players of the week. Arciszewski also made D-Three-Hoops-Dot-Com’s national team-of-the-week. The senior guard had 15 points and eight rebounds in a win over Division-Two Minnesota-Duluth. And Arciszewski made all 16 of her free throws against U-W Stout, when she scored 31 points in all. Moses, a junior guard, scored 21 in Stevens Point’s upset of then-second-ranked Whitewater. He also had 18 points and 10 rebounds against Lawrence. The W-I-A-C also honored Joel Gaulrapp of Stout in men’s hockey – Andy Hanney of Whitewater and Chelsea Hoff of La Crosse in swimming – Bryan Dykstra of Eau Claire in diving – and Max Oldenburg of Whitewater in wrestling.

-12/10-

Jordan Barclay of Carroll is the women’s swimmer-of-the-week in the Midwest Conference. The freshman broke school records in the 200-and-400 individual medleys last weekend at the U-W River Falls Invitational. Michael Mackin of Lake Forest is the top male swimmer.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon Report - 12/10

2008-12-10T11:30:00.000-06:00

Learfield Data is operating again

2008-11-18T07:23:00.000-06:00

News & Sports Directors,

Learfield Data went back online in the past few minutes. We have placed all of this morning's feeds in their normal spots on the site.

Thank you for your understanding. And please, keep this blog address available should there be future outages.

Thom Gerretsen
Wheeler News

Wheeler News - Morning Report #3

2008-11-18T06:59:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Morning Report #3

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The head of a Wisconsin fire-fighters’ union is being urged to resign over a racial slur…
Scrap metal thieves are making their way to historical plaques…
Gas prices keep heading downward in Wisconsin…
The D-N-R tells deer hunters they can also shoot feral pigs.

Here are the details:

The head of a Wisconsin fire-fighters’ union is being urged to resign by members upset that he used a racial slur to describe Barack Obama. Media reports said Rick Gale was watching a T-V news report the day after the election, and he used the N-word in describing the president-elect. Last night, seven chapters of the Professional Fire-fighters of Wisconsin called for Gale’s resignation. The chapters’ spokesman, Patrick Kilbane, said the words do not reflect the feelings of the union as a whole – and if Gale doesn’t leave, he might face charges from the international fire-fighters’ union and a withdrawal of the southern Wisconsin chapters. Gale is also a member of the State Investment Board. He has not commented. The union’s executive board discussed the matter in Fond du Lac last weekend. It said Gale admitted using a quote, “single, politically incorrect term” – and he apologized and agreed to get counseling. The board also said Gale had worked on Obama’s Wisconsin campaign.

-11/18-

Apparently, scrap metal thieves are no longer satisfied with what they get from homes, garages, and businesses. Now, they’re going after historical plaques and markers. Larry Gobel, a public works supervisor in Burlington, says old brass plaques – some older than he is – are being pried from monuments and commemorative boulders in local parks. Gobel says he has checked with area metal dealers, and they haven’t seen the monuments. He believes the criminals are using the money they get to buy illegal drugs. Dane County sheriff’s detective Brian Lukens says the growing types of thefts are not unique to Burlington. And they’re happening in spite of a recent state law that requires scrap-metal dealers to better regulate sales. They’re supposed to keep thorough records that include a seller’s I-D, license plate number, and a description of what each person sells. Lukens says scrap metal thefts are now in the hundreds-of-thousands-of-dollars each year.

(Thanks Brian Bull, WHA-WERN, Madison)

-11/18-

Gas prices keep heading downward. The Wisconsin Triple-“A” says the average statewide price of unleaded regular dropped another two-cents-a-gallon this morning to 2.05. For the first time, Milwaukee Gas Prices-Dot-Com reports an average price for the metro below two-dollars. In that region, it’s as low as a buck-89.

-11/18-

If you go deer hunting, the Wisconsin D-N-R says you can also do your part to improve animal health by shooting feral pigs. Anyone with a sport, patron, or small game license can shoot them anywhere at any time – and you don’t need a license to shoot them on your own land. Feral pigs have been found in at least 29 Wisconsin counties. They carry a number of diseases like brucellosis and lepto-spirosis. And they were blamed for a small pseudo-rabies outbreak in Clark County a year-and-a-half ago. Feral pigs also prey on wild species like white-tail fawns and ground-nesting birds – so it’s not in the hunters’ best interests to have them around. About 700-thousand hunters are expected in the woods for the nine-day gun deer season that opens Saturday. Anyone shooting a feral pig is asked the contact the D-N-R, so tests can be taken. The D-N-R also wants to know if you see a wild pig. The only day they cannot be hunted is on Friday, just before the deer season begins.

(End)

Minnesota Sports from MNN

2008-11-18T06:03:00.000-06:00

"Minnesota Sports Summary"

>>Allen And The League

(Undated) -- Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is headed to New York where he'll meet today with N-F-L officials about his play on the field. Allen was fined 50-thousand dollars for hitting Houston quarterback Matt Schaub below the knees, and drew a personal foul penalty after a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers. There are reports that Allen faces another fine or a suspension, while Vikings coach Brad Childress doesn't know what could happen today. On Thursday, Vikings defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Pat Williams appear before league officials to appeal their four-game suspensions for violating the N-F-L's anti-drug policy. The two reportedly tested positive for a banned substance that can mask steroid use. The Vikings are five-and-five, and play at Jacksonville on Sunday.

>>Ray And Brad

(Undated) -- Vikings coach Brad Childress says the referees got it all wrong when they flagged defensive end Ray Edwards for a late hit on Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia in the second quarter of Sunday's game in Tampa. Childress says Garcia should have been called for intentional grounding on the play because he moved out of the pocket, then back in, and threw the ball out of bounds to avoid getting sacked. Edwards says he made the hit thinking Garcia still had the ball. Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden says the officials made the correct call, and that they were concerned Garcia was hurt on the play. Garcia played the entire game, helping Tampa Bay beat the Vikings.

>>They're Number One

(Undated) -- As expected, the University of Minnesota men's hockey team is ranked number one in the U-S College Hockey Online national poll. The Gophers picked up a tie and a win over Michigan State late weekend to replace Boston University, who split two games and fell to number two. Saint Cloud State used a sweep of Denver to move back into the rankings at number 17, with the Pioneers falling from fourth to tenth. Minnesota State Mankato stays at number 11 in the poll after a series split with Colorado College, who remains at number three. Minnesota-Duluth fell out of the top 20 after a tie and a loss to Wisconsin. In the women's U-S-C-H-O poll, Minnesota is second and U-M-D is seventh.

>>Wild And Pens

(Pittsburgh, PA) -- The Wild play their only road game in a three-week stretch tonight when they take on the Penguins tonight in Pittsburgh. The Penguins are among the top offensive teams in the N-H-L, with Evgeni (ev-jen'-ee) Malking leading the league in scoring, and teammate Sidney Crosby in fourth place. The pair have combined for 52 points, helping the Penguins win their last six games. The Wild have let up an average of just two goals per game, which is the fewest in the N-H-L. The Wild have won four of their last six and are a point behind first-place Vancouver in the N-H-L Northwest. The Canucks picked up a point last night in a 2-1 shootout loss to the New York Islanders.

>>Back To Work

(Minneapolis, MN) -- The Timberwolves return to the practice floor today after taking yesterday off. They're coming off back-to-back games on Saturday and Sunday, losing them both to drop to one-and-eight to start the season. Tomorrow opens a rough stretch for the Timberwolves, who take on the Philadelphia 76ers at Target Center. Friday night the N-B-A champion Boston Celtics come to town, then the Wolves head to Detroit for a Sunday night game. The Wolves haven't won since taking their season opener on October 29 over the Sacramento Kings.

>>Final Four

(Undated) -- University of Minnesota officials find out today if the Metrodome is chosen as a future site for the Division One men's basketball Final Four. Minneapolis is one of ten finalists to host the two-day, four team tournament, with the N-C-double-A naming sites today for five Final Fours beginning in 2012. The Metrodome has hosted the Final Four twice, in 1991 and 2001, with Duke winning the national title both times. U-of-M officials made their formal bid to host the tournament on November 11th. At issue is the Metrodome itself. It's not known if the facility will exist past 2011, when the Vikings' lease expires. The Gopher football team and Twins are moving into new stadiums within the next two years. The 2009 Final Four is set for Ford Field in Detroit.

>>W-C-H-A Expansion

(Undated) -- The Western Collegiate Hockey Association could be ready to lift its moratorium on expansion. The league's executive committee today decides if the issue goes on the agenda at their January meeting at the N-C-double-A convention. The W-C-H-A is at ten teams, and Bemidji State is among the teams that wants to join the league. The Beavers now play in College Hockey America, which has just four teams. Bemidji State is building a new arena to replace 22-hundred-seat John Glas Fieldhouse. The W-C-H-A this week decides on continuing the Minnesota Hockey Showcase for another season. The event featuring the University of Minnesota, Saint Cloud State, Minnesota State Mankato and Minnesota-Duluth drew more than ten-thousand to the Xcel Energy Center earlier this month.

>>Neshek Surgery Today

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Twins relief pitcher Pat Neshek (nee'-shek) today has Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his right elbow. Neshek went on the disabled list in May with a partial tear, and several doctors recommended not to have surgery. The righthander began throwing again in September, then felt discomfort nearly two weeks ago. The tear that's being repaired today is not related to the original injury. With Neshek out of action, the Twins were forced to use several different pitcher in the set-up role, with mixed results. The bullpen's struggles were among the reasons the Twins failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year.

>>A-L M-V-P

(Undated) -- The American League most valuable player award winner is revealed today, and Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is expected to get some support. Morneau had another solid season, batting an even .300 with 23 home runs and 123 runs batted in. What damages Morneau's chances was his slump down the stretch. He had just three hits in his last eight games, with the Twins going five-and-three. That includes an oh-for-three effort in the Twins' A-L Central tiebreaker loss at Chicago. Morneau was A-L most valuable player in 2006.

>>On The Road

(Undated) -- The University of Minnesota women's soccer team plays at Notre Dame on Friday in the third round of the N-C-double-A tournament. This is the farthest the Gopher women's soccer team has ever gotten in the postseason. They qualified for their first Sweet 16 appearance after taking two matches last weekend at Robbie Stadium in Saint Paul. The Gophers have lost just three times this season, while Notre Dame is unbeaten. The teams have never met before in women's soccer. Friday's winner heads to the national quarterfinals.

>>Gramenz Gets The Job

(Undated) -- The Thunder today gives Don Gramenz (gruh-menz') the head coaching job on a permanent basis. Gramenz took over in the middle of last season when Amos Magee stepped down, and led the Thunder into the United Soccer League playoffs. The Thunder were knocked out of the playoffs by eventual U-S-L first division champion Vancouver. Gramenz is from Cottage Grove and was a midfielder and defenseman for the Thunder for 12 seasons.

###Schoch

Wheeler News - Morning Report #2

2008-11-18T06:01:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Morning Report #2

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Washington’s tug-of-war with the auto industry leaves thousands of Wisconsin jobs hanging in the balance…
Wisconsinites near Lake Superior are digging out from up to 10-and-a-half inches of snow…
Jackson County’s chief prosecutor says he’ll file charges sometime this week against the Hatfield man accused of killing his ex-wife.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 3-4-5-23-31-36 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 0-6-9
Pick-4: 4-2-9-3
Badger-5: 2-3-4-24-28

Here are the details:

Washington’s tug-of-war with the auto industry leaves thousands of Wisconsin jobs hanging in the balance. Companies that make vehicle parts employ around 11-thousand people in the Badger State alone – not to mention the hundreds of Wisconsin workers at G-M in Janesville, Chrysler in Kenosha, and Ford in Saint Paul. Today, the heads of the big-three automakers will testify in favor of a bill by Senate Democrats to use money from the Wall Street bail-out package to save the domestic car industry. It’s a bill the Bush administration is suggesting it will oppose. But Harry Stratton, a parts supplier in Glendale, says something must happen to keep the industry going – but it’s more important to ease consumer credit, so more folks can start buying cars again. Stratton says the auto-makers will keep bleeding cash until consumers can get loans for their products again. Today, U-S Senate Republican Norm Coleman of Minnesota will meet with a Ford vice-president about the impact of a bail-out on Ford’s Saint Paul plant which makes Ranger pick-ups. Also, the owners of Chrysler dealers will lobby in Washington for a bil-out. Andy Palmen has four dealerships in Racine and Kenosha that employ 200 people. He’ll tell lawmakers that it was Wall Street’s greed that caused the problems – and not the auto industry itself.

(Thanks for help, Minnesota News Network)

-11/18-

Wisconsinites near Lake Superior are digging out from up to 10-and-a-half inches of snow. That was the total at Gile in Iron County – and the National Weather Service says the region could get another inch before the storm system clears out for good today. In Vilas County, 10-inches fell near Winchester and eight-inches at Presque Isle. Elsewhere in the state, snow showers, strong winds, and temperatures just under freezing created icy conditions. Milwaukee’s rush hour was slippery ride late yesterday afternoon, and Sheboygan County authorities urged motorists to stay off Interstate-43 as they were getting light snow. Two school buses and at least four cars collided at a Milwaukee freeway exit. And a nine-car pile-up occurred on the city’s west side. No serious injuries were reported in either of those incidents. In Sauk County, one person was killed and five others were hurt early last evening just east of Baraboo on Highway 33. But there was no immediate word if the crash was weather-related, but state officials reported slippery road conditions in most of the state at the time. Today, clouds will hang around much of the state – with the possibility of freezing drizzle in the north tonight. It’s supposed to get warmer tomorrow.

-11/18-

Jackson County’s chief prosecutor says he’ll file a homicide charge sometime this week against a Hatfield man accused of killing his ex-wife. Yesterday, a judge ruled that authorities had probable-cause when they arrested 39-year-old Doug Sidie of Hatfield. He first said he had no idea what happened to his 27-year-old ex-wife Alicia, after she left their house November seventh following an argument. A massive search took place for about a week. Then, officers were tipped off to a possible murder plot – and they said Doug Sidie took them to the wooded area where he dumped her body. No charges were filed yesterday. The arresting officer wrote that Alicia was shot in the head on the sidewalk outside her home, and her body was then hidden in the woods. Autopsy results were not released yesterday. Relatives are planning a memorial service for Thursday night.

(End)

Minnesota News from MNN

2008-11-18T05:18:00.000-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down overnight. Once it returns, we will post all morning material there.=====

"Minnesota Summary"

>>A-G's Office Issues Opinion Against Franken's Challenge

(St. Paul, MN) -- Just hours before the review of U-S Senate votes by the state Canvassing Board, reports say the Attorney General's Office has issued an opinion against a request by Al Franken to have rejected ballots be considered in the final results. The A-G's office says the Secretary of State should just count the votes and that a challenge of any improperly rejected asbsetee ballots should be a court decision. Meanwhile, with a recount set for Wednesday, incumbent Republican Norm Coleman's lead over Franken now stands at 215.

>>Minnesotans Can Watch Progress Of Recount On Web

(St. Paul, MN) -- The State Canvassing Board meets this afternoon (1pm) to review machine-counted vote totals in the U-S Senate race and likely authorize a recount which will begin tomorrow morning (9am). Secretary of State Mark Ritchie says the recount will take place at 107 locations around Minnesota which are posted on his office's website -- and starting tomorrow (Wed) they'll update the current recount numbers each night at 8pm. The website will have total votes to that point for Coleman, for Franken, and for other candidates -- including ballots where the voter's intent can't be determined. It will also list the number of ballots being challenged by the Franken campaign, and those being challenged by the Coleman camp.

>>Franken Meeting With Senate Leaders In Washington

(Washington, DC) -- Al Franken meets with U-S Senate Democratic leaders today, a move that Republican opponents call "presumptous." Campaign spokesman Andy Barr responds Franken is not attending orientation meetings for new senators, but it would be irresponsible for him "not to be ready to be Minnesota's junior senator on day one. Minnesota G-O-P Chairman Ron Carey asks whether Franken is going to Washington to talk with Democratic leaders about interfering with the recount. Franken's campaign declined comment.

>>Coleman To Talk With Ford Exec About Bailout, St. Paul Plant

(Washington, DC) -- Senator Norm Coleman sits down with Ford Motor Company's V-P of manufacturing this afternoon (2:30) to discuss the future of the struggling automaker. A spokesman says before Coleman can fully support an auto industry bailout package, he wants to know what role, if any, the St. Paul Ranger plant will have. The spokesman adds Coleman believes the Ford plant can play a role in producing fuel-efficient vehicles and that's something he'll press forward on. The closing of the St. Paul Ford Ranger plant is now pushed back to 2011.

>>State Settles With Design Firm Over Wakota Bridge

(St. Paul, MN) -- Mn-DOT says the state will receive 20-million-dollars, settling a dispute with a Kansas City firm over the design of the new Wakota (wuh-COE'-tuh) Bridge over the Mississippi River in South St. Paul. In 2004, small cracks were found during construction of the westbound span which Mn-DOT says was a design issue. That span was retrofitted and the eastbound span was redesigned. MN-DOT Chief Engineer Khani Sahebjam (KAH'-nee suh-HEB'-jam) says the settlement with H-N-T-B is a "fair and reasonable resolution" which allows the state to avoid costly and time-consuming litigation.

>>Second Shootng Suspect Found In Texas

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Nearly two months after a fatal shooting, authorities have arrested a second suspect in the case. The Minnesota Fugitive Task Force found 20-year-old Antonio Dale of Minneapolis down in Dallas, Texas and charged him in the death of 19-year-old Romel Jones. Dale is awaiting extradition to Minnesota. Authorities arrested another suspect last month in Florida. Aside from the death of Jones, two other people were injured in the shooting on September 24th.

>>Snow - Then Cold Temps

(Duluth, MN) -- Up to five inches of snow fell across parts of northern Minnesota Monday, followed by overnight lows dipping into the single digits. The coldest spots are along the North Shore and in International Falls. Most of the state is waking up to temperatures in the teens.

>>Health Effects From Burning Wood

(St. Paul, MN) -- State officials are trying to educate Minnesotans about the potential health effects of burning wood in their homes. Wood smoke contains fine particles and gases similar to those found in tobacco smoke. The Department of Health's Chuck Stroebel (STROH'-bul) says the effects can range from eye and respiratory irritation to asthma, bronchitis and emphysema. He also nots emerging research showing exposures associated with heart attacks. Stroebel says the fine particles in wood smoke are so small they're able to penetrate deep into the lungs and cross into the bloodstream. Some Minnesotans are turning to wood to heat their homes because it's cheaper than natural gas and heating oil.

>>Winning Lottery Numbers

(Roseville, MN) -- Here are the winning numbers from the Minnesota State Lottery for Monday, November 17th, 2008. The Daily Three: 9-1-9. Northstar Cash: 4-9-25-27-30. Gopher Five: 1-8-12-19-24.

###Smith/Werner

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports

2008-11-18T05:08:00.000-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down overnight. Once it returns, we'll put all the morning material there for your convenience.=====

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, November 18, 2008 – Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the scores and headlines:
In men’s college basketball…
Marquette 106, Chicago State 87
Concordia-Mequon 63, Dominican 42

In women’s college basketball…
South Dakota State 64, Wisconsin 44
Marquette 77, Sacred Heart 55
Lakeland 79, Carroll 55
Carthage 55, Aurora 49
Milwaukee Engineering 78, Mount Mary 72

Also…
Marquette moves up to 15th in the A-P men’s basketball poll, while the Badgers remain 25th…
Boston center Kevin Garnett gets a one-game suspension for hitting the Bucks’ Andrew Bogut on Saturday night…
The Packers hunker down to what’s now a six-game season for the N-F-C North crown…
A Cal Poly receiver mentions Appalachian State’s upset of Michigan in saying his team just might beat Wisconsin on Saturday…
Now that he won the M-V-P, Albert Pujols changes his tune about the award winner having to make the playoffs…
The N-A-C names its basketball players-of-the-week.

Here are the details:

The Marquette men’s basketball team crushed Chicago State at the Bradley Center last night, 106-to-87. The 106 points were the most for the Golden Eagles since December of 1980. They also have back-to-back games with 90-plus-points – something they never did in Tom Crean’s nine seasons as Marquette’s head coach. Chicago State led by one early in the first half, but the Eagles used an 18-6 run to go ahead for good. The Cougars got to within 11 with just under seven minutes to go, but could get no closer. Four Marquette players scored in double-figures, led by Wesley Matthews with 26. The Eagles took what the defense gave them, and scored 25 points off 16 Chicago State turnovers. David Holston, the second-leading returning scorer in Division-One, had 33 for Chicago State – including seven three-pointers. The Cougars dropped to 1-and-1, while Marquette is now 2-and-0. The Eagles will host U-W Milwaukee on Saturday night.

-11/18-

Marquette moved up one place to 15th in the new A-P men’s college basketball poll. The Golden Eagles remain unbeaten after two games – and they stayed at number-17 in the U-S-A Today-E-S-P-N coaches’ poll. Wisconsin is still 25th in the A-P media survey, but they dropped one place to 22nd in the coaches’ poll. The Badgers had a harder time than expected beating Long Beach State by seven points on Sunday. Tonight, the Badgers will host Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, which is in the process of moving up to Division-One status. The Cougars got their first Division-One victory on Sunday, beating Western Michigan 83-to-72. Five players scored in double figures in that contest, led by Aamir McClearly with 21. Edwardsville is 1-and-2. Wisconsin is 1-and-0. Also tonight, the U-W Green Bay men will play at Utah in the opening round of the Glenn Wilkes Classic.

-11/18-

The Wisconsin women lost their season opener at South Dakota State last night, 64-to-44. The Jackrabbits shot 73-percent in the first half. They made six-of-seven from three-point range, to go up by 16 at the intermission. South Dakota State also had an edge on the boards, 41-to-30 for the contest – and the Badgers committed 23 turnovers. Macie Michelson and Stacie Oistad led the Jackrabbits with 11 points each, as South Dakota State improved to 2-and-0. Alyssa Karel had 11 points and five rebounds for the Badgers, who will host Drake on Thursday night.

-11/18-

The Marquette women easily beat Sacred Heart 77-to-55 in Milwaukee last night. The Golden Eagles started an 11-0 run about two-and-a-half minutes into the game, and never looked back. Marquette shot 44-percent on the night, while Sacred Heart only hit 6-of-22 from the floor in the second half. Freshman Jessica Pachko led Marquette with 14 points. Alisa Apo had 13 for Sacred Heart, which fell to 0-and-2. Marquette will start a two-game road trip tomorrow night at Indiana State.

-11/18-

Boston Celtics’ center Kevin Garnett will serve a one-game suspension tonight, for hitting Milwaukee’s Andrew Bogut in the face on Saturday night. It happened late in the fourth quarter of the Bucks’ overtime loss to the Celts at the Bradley Center. Garnett fouled Bogut near the basket with just under four minutes to go in regulation. And when Bogut’s arm hit Garnett’s mouth, Garnett responded with an open-handed swing to the face. Double-technicals were called on the play – and Bogut was ejected, because it was his second “T” of the night. In announcing Garnett’s suspension yesterday, the league also said Bogut’s foul was upgraded to a Flagrant Penalty-One. It won’t penalize him now, but it might come into play if Bogut gets called for flagrant fouls later in the season. The loss to Boston dropped Milwaukee to 5-and-6. The Bucks return to action tonight at Denver.

-11/18-

It has come down to a six-game season for the Green Bay Packers, since they’re tied with Chicago and Minnesota for the N-F-C North Division lead. Coach Mike McCarthy says the Packers are playing better than their 5-and-5 record indicates. And he’ll start his winter routine this week of shortening practices and meetings by 15 minutes to keep the players fresh. McCarthy says it won’t be easy playing Monday night games at New Orleans right before Thanksgiving – and at Chicago right before Christmas. But he says the Packers are capable of handling the holiday schedule without losing their focus. Green Bay, Chicago, and Minnesota are all 5-and-5. And for now, at least, it appears that only the division champion will make the playoffs. Receiver Donald Driver bruised a knee in Sunday’s win over Chicago – and McCarthy says he might miss a day of practice this week.

-11/18-

Wisconsin’s regular season finale against Cal Poly will not be a cup-cake – and the Badgers say they won’t treat it like one. Wisconsin is in the same position that Iowa and Northwestern were in a year ago – when both lost their final games, and both did not make it to a bowl. Cal Poly is one of the better teams in the former Division-One-Double-“A,” where they’re ranked third in the country. The Mustangs won the Great West Conference title last Saturday. Now, receiver Ramses Barden says he looks forward to upsetting Wisconsin like Appalachian State surprised Michigan last year. Cal Poly is 8-and-1 overall, and it ranks first in the Football Championship Sub-Division with 46 points and 494 yards of offense per game. Badgers’ linebacker DeAndre Levy says Cal Poly uses a double-wing offense Wisconsin only sees a couple times a year – and it should be a good challenge for the Badgers. A win could get them to the Insight Bowl in Tempe Arizona on New Year’s Eve. Wisconsin is 6-and-5 overall. The Badgers sold tickets all season to the Cal Poly game – but only a couple hundred remain.

-11/18-

In baseball, Saint Louis first baseman Albert Pujols no longer believes a player’s team should make the playoffs before being considered as the M-V-P. Pujols – whose Cardinals finished fourth in the National League Central this year – received this year’s league M-V-P honor yesterday. He got 18-of-32 first-place votes from the Baseball Writers Association. First baseman Ryan Howard of the World Series’ champion Phillies took second, with 12 first-place votes. In 2006, Howard won the M-V-P honor without making the post-season, while Pujols led his Cardinals to the World Series. Back then, Pujols cried foul – but now, he said he was misinterpreted. Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun was third in the balloting – and some national commentators raised eyebrows when Braun finished one spot ahead of Dodgers’ outfielder Manny Ramirez. Milwaukee starter C-C Sabathia was sixth in the voting.

-11/18-

Kyle Plath of Wisconsin Lutheran is the men’s basketball player-of-the-week in the Northern Athletics Conference. Plath, a senior guard, scored a game-high 29 points in a loss to fourth-ranked U-W Whitewater. Megan Scheele of Madison Edgewood is the N-A-C’s top women’s player. The senior forward had 23 points and nine rebounds in a loss to Notre Dame of Ohio – and she made the Adrian College All-Tournament team with a two-game average of 17-and-a-half points.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Material From Monday

2008-11-18T04:37:00.000-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down overnight. And we'll keep sending our feeds here until it returns. By request, here's yesterday's afternoon material.=====

Wheeler News Service – Monday, November 17, 2008 – Afternoon Report #1

Here are the headlines:
A woman accused of helping a religious leader hide a dead body in Necedah struck a plea deal today, and was fined 350-dollars for now…
Concordia-Mequon professor Van Mobley becomes the second person to run for state school superintendent next spring…
Two girls in central Wisconsin are cited for driving the same vehicle at the same time while drunk.

Here are the details:

A woman accused of helping a religious leader hide a dead body, so they could get the victim’s Social Security benefits, was fined 350-dollars today. Tammy Lewis pleaded no contest in Juneau County to a charge of obstructing police in Necedah. And as part of a plea deal, five other charges will not be prosecuted for two years. She’ll be expected to testify against the religious leader, Alan Bushey (boo-shay’) of Necedah, if his case goes to trial next April as scheduled. The 36-year-old Lewis must also get treatment – as prosecutors agreed she was one of Bushey’s victims. Authorities said Lewis stored the dead body of 90-year-old Magdeline Middlesworth in her family bathroom for two months, and her two children saw it. Bushey told police that God would revive the victim – but investigators said it all part of a scheme for Lewis and Bushey to split the victim’s Social Security benefits. Both had been charged with hiding a corpse,theft, and causing mental harm to a child.

-11/17-

A second person is running for state school superintendent next spring. Van Mobley says he’ll take an unpaid leave-of-absence as a history and economics professor at Concordia University in Mequon. Mobley is also a managing partner for Do-Mo Capital Management – and he’s a village board member in Thiensville. He joins Tony Evers (ee’-vers) in running for the state’s Superintendent of Public Instruction. Evers is the deputy superintendent under Elizabeth Burmaster – who said recently she would not seek a third four-year term.

-11/17-

Two girls in central Wisconsin have been cited for driving the same vehicle at the same time while drunk. It happened Saturday between Athens and Edgar on Marathon County Trunk “H,” about 15 miles west of Wausau. According to sheriff’s deputies, the 16-year-old driver from Athens was sending a text message, while the 17-year-old passenger from Colby steered the car. The vehicle then went out of control and overturned. The passenger hurt a shoulder, but the driver was not hurt. Officials said both girls had been drinking. The driver’s preliminary blood alcohol level was point-11. The passenger was at point-zero-seven-five. Drivers younger than 21 in Wisconsin are required to be sober at all times in a vehicle.

(End)

-----------------------------

Wheeler News Service – Monday, November 17, 2008 – Afternoon Report #2

Here are the headlines:
Governor Doyle said he spoke to Barack Obama’s people last week – but not about a job in the new administration…
Lake-effect blizzards are making the news today from Wisconsin to New York – but the final totals in the Badger State won’t be as much as predicted…
A loan fund is created to help re-furbish apartments for Wisconsin’s low-income rural residents…
Wisconsin defensive tackle Mike Newkirk is the Big Ten’s defensive player-of-the-week.

Here are the details:

Governor Jim Doyle said he spoke to Barack Obama’s transition team last week – but it was not about taking a job with the new administration. Doyle made the comment this morning in Lac du Flambeau, where he attended the second annual Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit. Spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner passed the word on to Madison reporters. He said the governor did not make clear what the conversation was about. Doyle was one of Obama’s earliest and strongest supporters – and there’s speculation for months that the governor would be rewarded with a job in the fellow Democrat’s cabinet. Doyle re-affirmed this morning that he’s not seeking a job in Washington – and he stays focused on remaining Wisconsin’s chief executive. Doyle has two years left in his second term. He’s been raising money for a third campaign in 2010 – but he has not said if he’ll run yet.

-11/17-

Lake-effect blizzards are making the news today from Wisconsin to New York State. But forecasters now say the final snow totals in the Badger State won’t be as bad as first predicted. No more than nine-inches are in the revised forecast for far northern Wisconsin close to Lake Superior – and Iron County is expecting the most. Hurley had six-inches by late morning, with 1-to-3 inches more expected. Presque Isle in Vilas County had seven-inches on the ground – with just under six-inches of that falling over the previous day. Things are at lot worse out East, as a blast of wind from Canada to the Great Lakes dumped two-feet of snow in Constableville New York, downwind from Lake Ontario. Residents say it’s too early for that. The lake-effect snow in northern Wisconsin is expected to clear out tonight.

-11/17-

Wisconsin’s government housing agency has started a revolving loan fund, to help preserve and re-furbish apartments for low-income rural residents. The U-S Agriculture Department has provided 915-thousand dollars to be loaned out – and when it’s paid back with interest, it will be loaned out again. The Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority says the fund is meant to help low-income units in places with 20-thousand people or less. The agency expects another two-million-dollars-plus in housing from the U-S-D-A in January.

-11/17-

And in sports…Wisconsin defensive tackle Mike Newkirk was named today as the Big Ten’s defensive player-of-the-week. The senior Newkirk had two quarterback sacks in three plays, in the fourth quarter of last Saturday’s 35-to-32 Badger home victory over Minnesota. Newkirk had a career-high seven tackles – and his second sack of Gophers’ quarterback Adam Weber resulted in the Badgers’ second safety of the day. It gave the Badgers a four-point lead at the time, and forced Minnesota to at least score a touchdown in order to win. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said it was curious that Newkirk downplayed his accomplishments right after the game. The paper quoted him as saying his performance was quote, “probably average.” Newkirk said it was easy to think of him as a “world-beater,” and he credited the other three Badgers on the defensive line.

(End)

---------------------------------------

Wheeler News Service - Monday, November 17, 2008 -- Afternoon Report #3

Here are the stories:

Wisconsin's constitutional ban against gay marriage will likely remain on the books for some time, despite Democrats taking control of the Legislature. State Representative Mark Pocan of Madison, who is openly gay, says it's a lot of work to put something into the Constitution and to take it out again. Instead, he says lawmakers should focus on passing measures that can offer more rights for gay couples. Pocan says he'd like to see the Legislature give gay couples legal protections covering health insurance, inheritance, and hospital visitation rights.

-11/17-

Business and community leaders are focusing on northern Wisconsin this week. It's the second annual Northern Wisconsin Economic Development Summit. Leaders say tourism continues to play a major role in the economy up north, and that industry is getting a shot in the arm right now, with gas prices as low as they've been in months. That makes northern Wisconsin an attractive destination for the target markets in Chicago and Twin Cities. One of the big issues that surfaced in last year's first summit was the need for reliable broadband communication. That's still a problem in many parts of northern Wisconsin. Another hot topic this week: the impact of invasive species.

-11/17-

Kidney stones in kids are on the rise over the past 5 to 7 years, according to a pediatrician. Bruce Slaughenhoupt, UW Assistant Professor of Urology, says in the past decade the average age of children they've seen develop the condition is 10-years-old. Slaughenhoupt says it is likely a result of not enough exercise and too much salt in the diet. He notes the modern lifestyle often involves eating processed foods from the grocery store and fast food. For prevention, he suggests avoiding high salt foods, drinking plenty of fluids including lemonade, and exercising. Children with kidney stones experience pain and inconvenience with treatment normally being one or two surgical procedures. However, Dr. Slaughenhoupt says the stones are rarely dangerous for kids.

-11/17-

Wintertime farmers markets are getting underway, at a time of economic uncertainty for growers and customers. Janesville’s Churches Center for Land and People has been organizing indoor farmers markets during the last five winters. The group says it's a way for farmers to keep some income coming in, and for customers to get locally-grown-or-made food during cold weather. This year, the economic climate is also very cold. Center director Tony Ends says some of the farmers he works with are being impacted. Ends also says farmers had to deal with high fuel prices during most of the growing season, and they’re concerned gas prices will rise again by the spring. Ends says rising unemployment also pinches many shoppers. Some farmers markets also serve low-cost meals.

(CHUCK QUIRMBACH, WHAD DELAFIELD-MILWAUKEE)

(END)

---------------------------

Wheeler News Service - Monday, November 17, 2008 - Afternoon State Sports

Here are the stories:

Packers coach Mike McCarthy says his team came out of Sunday's victory over the Bears healthy. Wide receiver Donald Driver suffered some unspecified minor injuries, but he is expected to be okay for the next game. McCarthy says this is the best quarterback Aaron Rodgers has felt coming out of a game since he was hurt earlier this year. The coach had high praise for his offensive line. He pointed out that Rodgers wasn't hit during the Bears game. Nick Barnett is going to have his knee surgery Thursday. He is out for the season.-

11/17-

As expected, the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team holds on to its number-one ranking. The Badgers are undefeated with a 12-0h-and-2 record, earning all 15 first-place votes. Cross-border rival Minnesota is ranked second with a 9-2-and-1 record. Another WCHA team, Minnesota-Duluth, was ranked seventh.-

11/17-

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun finishes third in the Most Valuable Player race for the National League. St. Louis first baseman Albert Pujols won the top individual award for a second time. He hit .357 with 37 home runs and 116 runs batted in. Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard finished second in the voting. Milwaukee lefty CC Sabathia was sixth after joining the team in mid season. Sabathia won 11 of 13 decisions with an earned run average of 1-point-65.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1

2008-11-18T03:23:00.000-06:00

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down overnight. Once it returns, we'll send all the morning material there for your convenience. Thank you for your understanding.=====

Wheeler News Service – Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Morning Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Wisconsin’s only U-S-O is fighting to stay alive…
A Jefferson County judge’s candidacy raises the prospects for another partisan-style Supreme Court election…
A newly-elected legislator pleads innocent to making false statements in a campaign flier…
Text-messaging while driving is now against the law in Kenosha.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 3-4-5-23-31-36 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 0-6-9
Pick-4: 4-2-9-3
Badger-5: 2-3-4-24-28

Here are the details:

Wisconsin’s only U-S-O is fighting to stay alive, at a time when the troops and families it serves will need it most. Milwaukee has had a U-S-O chapter for 34 years, boosting the troops’ morale, and meeting their families’ recreational needs. But the group decided to fold last month – because it could not meet a national requirement to have a center where military families can watch T-V, use computers, and such. But now, the Milwaukee U-S-O is fighting back – and it’s asking the national organization for more time to comply. More families than ever will need the state’s U-S-O next spring, when about half the state’s Army National Guard gets called to Iraq. The non-profit group provides assistance to military families, and gives them free tickets to museums and events in the area. But it does things for troops outside Milwaukee, too – like helping an Eau Claire family with home repairs while one of its members was overseas. The state’s U-S-O runs out of a small office at Milwaukee’s War Memorial. It has a 25-thousand-dollar annual budget, all from donations.

-11/18-

For the third year in a row, we could see a partisan-style State Supreme Court election next spring. Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy Koschnick announced yesterday he’ll run against Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson. Koschnick – who’s been on the bench since 1999 – calls himself the judicial conservative. And he labeled Abrahamson as liberal-and-activist. Koschnick said judges should respect the laws the Legislature passes, and not look for reasons to overturn them. He accused Abrahamson of using her own judgment when the court overturned a 450-thousand-dollar limit on pain-and-suffering damages in medical malpractice cases. Koschnick says he’ll make sure his campaign ads are accurate. That was after the state’s Judicial Commission accused Justice Michael Gableman of making false statements in one of his own ads last spring. Koschnick also promised to repudiate false ads from third-party groups. But he can’t stop them by law, and he said he would not ask those groups to stay out of the race. Abrahamson, a justice for 32 years, says activist labels don’t belong in judicial races – and her campaign will focus on the importance of quote, “judicial independence and integrity.”

-11/18-

A newly-elected state lawmaker had an innocent plea entered yesterday, to making false statements a campaign flier. Republican Dan Knodl (kuh-no’-dle) of Germantown is charged in Ozaukee County with a misdemeanor. He’s accused of listing supporters who never endorsed him. Mary Ellen Nelson of Menomonee Falls filed a complaint, after seeing her name on a flier circulated in a weekly newspaper before the September primary. Knodl’s attorney calls the whole thing an honest mistake. He said one of the false names was that of a person who suggested where Knodl should put yard signs – and the candidate mistakenly took it to mean she supported him. Another supporter listed on the August flier had been dead since April. Knodl defeated Democrat Charlene Brady two weeks ago to win the state Assembly seat being given up by Republican Sue Jeskewitz (jess’-keh-witz) of Menomonee Falls. Knodl is due back in court December 15th.

-11/18-

You might have to pay at least 150-dollars if you’re caught text-messaging while driving in Kenosha. The City Council voted 12-to-2 last night to ban the reading, writing, or sending of text messages behind-the-wheel. Some wondered how police would enforce it. But Alderman David Bogdala says it would be easy to catch if a texter gets into an accident – and if someone is foolish enough to do it, there should be severe penalties. The fine is 150-dollars, but it jumps to 500-dollars for getting into a crash while texting. Alderman Dan Prozanski, who teaches at Kenosha Tremper High School, says teens are text-messaging at a rate most adults cannot comprehend. State Senate Republican Alan Lasee (luh-say’) of De Pere tried to convince his legislative colleagues of that. But his bill to ban texting behind-the-wheel never saw the light of day in the last session.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports

2008-11-18T02:21:00.000-06:00

STATIONS: Learfield Data is down, so we're sending our Nov. 18 feeds here for now. Once the site returns, we'll put all the feeds there for your convenience. Thank you for your understanding.

Wheeler News Service - Tuesday, November 18, 2008 - Morning National Sports

National Football League
-----------------------
Cleveland 29, Buffalo 27
National Basketball Association
-------------------------------
Houston 100, Oklahoma City 89
Utah 109, Phoenix 97
San Antonio 86, LA Clippers 83
Top-25 Men's College Basketball
-------------------------------
(2) Connecticut 99, Hartford 56
(6) Pittsburgh 82, Miami-Ohio 53
(11) Purdue 87, Eastern Michigan 58
(12) Oklahoma 94, Mississippi Valley State 53
(13) Memphis 80, Massachusetts 58
(15) Marquette 106, Chicago State 87
(21) Davidson 99, James Madison 64
(22) Georgetown 71, Jacksonville 62
(23) Villanova 107, Fordham 68
National Hockey League
----------------------
New York Islanders 2, Vancouver 1 (SO)
New York Rangers 2, Ottawa 1 (SO)
Boston 3, Toronto 2
Detroit 4, Edmonton 0
San Jose 4, Nashville 1

===NBA===
Dallas Mavericks billionaire owner Mark Cuban has been charged with insider trading by the Securities and Exchange Commission in a civil suit Monday. The outspoken and controversial Cuban, who made his fortune as an Internet entrepreneur, is being targeted for illegal trading of Mamma-Dot-Com stock. According to the complaint, the SEC has alleged Cuban was aware of a public announcement for a financing plan, and that his shares would be sold below market price. And therefore, he ordered his broker to sell all shares in the search engine company. By selling his stake before the public announcement, the SEC said Cuban avoided more than $750,000 in losses. The 50-year-old Cuban owns the Mavericks, HDNet, a national high-definition television network, and Landmark Theaters. He has also been rumored to be interested in purchasing a stake in Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs.
===
The Golden State Warriors have signed guard/forward Stephen Jackson to a multi-year contract extension. Jackson, 30, is averaging 22.1 points (12th in NBA), 6.4 assists (11th in NBA) and 3.9 rebounds over 43.4 minutes per game (1st in NBA) this season through the first 10 games. The ninth-year pro is coming off his most productive campaign in the league this past season for Golden State, when he posted career-highs in points (20.1), assists (4.1), three-point field goals (182) and free throw percentage (.832) to go along with 4.4 rebounds and 1.26 steals in 73 games.

===BASEBALL===
St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols has been named the National League's Most Valuable Player, as voted by the Baseball Writers' Association. Pujols, who won the award in 2005 and is a four-time runner-up, garnered 369 points to outdistance Philadelphia first baseman Ryan Howard by 61 points. Pujols placed first on 18 of the 32 ballots cast by two writers from each NL city. Milwaukee's Ryan Braun finished third.

===NFL===
Phil Dawson's 56-yard field goal gave the Browns the lead with 1:39 to play. And Rian Lindell pushed his 47-yard attempt wide right in the final minute of a frenetic fourth quarter, as Cleveland held on for a 29-27 win over the slumping Buffalo Bills. Dawson made all five field goals he attempted for the Browns (4-6), who had lost two straight and three of four. Braylon Edwards had eight catches for 104 yards. Brady Quinn completed 14-of-36 passes for 185 yards, and picked up his first career win in his second NFL start. Marshawn Lynch powered the Bills offense, as he rushed for 119 yards on 23 carries and had a career-high 10 catches for 58 yards and a touchdown. Trent Edwards was erratic, throwing three interceptions in the first quarter for the Bills (5-5), who lost their fourth straight after a 5-1 start.
===
Pro Bowl safety John Lynch announced his retirement at a news conference Monday afternoon. Lynch was selected to nine Pro Bowls at the safety position during his 15-year career with Tampa Bay and Denver. That's the second-most at the position in league history, trailing only Pro Football Hall of Famer Ken Houston (10). After playing his first 11 NFL seasons with the Bucs, Lynch joined the Broncos in 2004. He played the last four seasons with Denver, earning Pro Bowl berths each year. Earlier this year, however, the Broncos parted ways with the 37-year-old Lynch because he was in line to see a reduction in playing time due to the emergence of Marlon McCree. He will retire with 26 interceptions, 13 sacks and 1,277 tackles in 224 regular season games.
===
The St. Louis Rams will be without running back Steven Jackson and offensive tackle Orlando Pace for next Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. Jackson continues to miss time with a thigh injury, while Pace will be out 2-to-4 weeks with a knee injury. Jackson has missed the last two games and will miss his fourth game in five weeks. Rams coach Jim Haslett said the running back just needs time to rest. Jackson was hurt during the October 19 game against Dallas, despite rushing for 160 yards and three touchdowns. Pace, the top overall pick of the 1997 draft, suffered an MCL injury that will keep him sidelined for the next few weeks and possibly for the rest of the season.
===
Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden said Monday that running back Earnest Graham is likely done for the season with a right ankle injury. The five-year veteran was hurt in Sunday's 19-13 win over the Minnesota Vikings on his first carry of the game and had to be helped to the sideline. The injury means former first-round draft pick "Cadillac" Williams, who was activated off the physically unable to perform list early last week, will most likely see extended time at the running back position. Williams has not played an NFL game since September 30, 2007 when he suffered a torn patellar tendon in a contest against Carolina.

===COLLEGE BASKETBALL===
College basketball hall of famer Pete Newell, the head coach of an NIT champion, NCAA champion and Olympic champion, died Monday at the age of 93. The University of California, the program Newell led to the national title in 1959, announced his death. He had undergone a serious lung operation in 2005. Newell coached for 15 years at San Francisco, Michigan State and California before coaching in the 1960 Olympics, when he coached Oscar Robertson, Jerry West and Jerry Lucas to a gold medal in Rome. Newell won the 1949 NIT championship while at San Francisco and captured the 1959 NCAA crown with the Cal Bears. He won four straight Pac 8 titles from 1957-1960 and was named the National Coach of the Year in 1960.
===
North Carolina remained a unanimous pick as the top-ranked college basketball team in the country, according to the latest Associated Press poll released Monday. The Tar Heels (1-0), who opened their season with an 86-71 victory over Penn on Saturday, received all 72 first-place votes and a total of 1,800 points from a nationwide media panel. Roy Williams' team played Saturday without injured stars Tyler Hansbrough and Marcus Ginyard. There were only minor changes from the pre-season poll after the first week of games. Connecticut, Louisville and UCLA each kept their spots from two through four, but Michigan State moved up one spot into fifth and Pittsburgh dropped one place to sixth. Texas, Notre Dame, Gonzaga and Duke round out this week's top 10. Duke fell two spots from eighth after struggling to an 82-79 victory over Rhode Island on Sunday.
===
North Carolina senior forward Tyler Hansbrough will miss a second straight game when the top-ranked Tar Heels take on Kentucky tonight, due to a stress reaction condition in his right shin. The reigning national player of the year missed Saturday's 86-71 season-opening victory over the Penn Quakers. Hansbrough had not missed a game during his three years at North Carolina prior to this season but has been sidelined since the last week of October with the injury. He averaged 22.6 points and 10.2 rebounds last year, leading the Tar Heels to a school-record 36 victories and a Final Four appearance.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning State Sports

2008-10-30T05:09:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, October 30, 2008 – Morning State Sports

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com/
Here are the headlines:
In the N-B-A…
Milwaukee 98, Oklahoma City 87

Also…
Former Bucks’ coach Don Nelson signs a two-year contract extension at Golden State…
Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a limited number of passes at practice yesterday…
Wisconsin may finally get its first-string offensive line back for Saturday’s game at Michigan State…
Ex-Brewer teammates Geoff Jenkins and Grant Balfour played big roles in last night’s Game-Five win that gave Philadelphia the World Series title…
The Texas Rangers are apparently trying to get Brewers’ pitching coach Mike Maddux…
Keaton Nankivil stars for the Badger men’s basketball team in its annual Red-and-White scrimmage…
The Wisconsin men’s soccer team blanks Northern Illinois…
The Badger volleyball team ends a four-match losing streak.

Here are the details:

The Milwaukee Bucks recovered from their season-opening loss at Chicago to win at Oklahoma City last night, 98-to-87. The Bucks made eight-of-their-first 12 shots against the Thunder, and were up by 15 at half. Milwaukee led by as much as 24 in the third quarter, but Oklahoma City staged a late rally to get within 11 in their home opener. The Bucks got 20 points each from Richard Jefferson, Charlie Villanueva, and Michael Redd. And they held Kevin Durant – last season’s N-B-A rookie-of-the-year – to just 12 points. Chris Wilcox led the Thunder with 15 points. Former Buck Desmond Mason scored 11, and ex-Buck Joe Smith had eight. Milwaukee is now 1-and-1 under new coach Scott Skiles. They’ll play their home opener on Saturday night against Toronto.

-10/30-

Former Bucks’ coach Don Nelson has signed a two-year contract extension at Golden State, worth a reported 12-million-dollars. The Warriors had picked up an option in March to keep the 68-year-old Nelson. He’s the second-winningest coach in N-B-A history with 12-hundred-80 career victories. Only Lenny Wilkens has more, with 13-hundred-32. Nelson spent his first 11 coaching seasons in Milwaukee from 1976-through-’87, and he’s had two stints with Golden State. He’s 90-and-75 in his most recent tenure, which is going into its third season. Nelson’s Warriors missed the playoffs a year ago – but the season before, they upset the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round.

-10/30-

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw a limited number of passes at yesterday’s practice. His strength is no longer a concern, after dislocating his throwing shoulder a month ago at Tampa Bay. But Rodgers is still sore – and Packers’ coach Mike McCarthy says he’ll continue to be limited at practice so he can get the rest he needs to recover. Rodgers has not missed a game since getting hurt, and he’s fully expected to start on Sunday at Tennessee. Only one Packer did not take part in yesterday’s workout. Backup linebacker Desmond Bishop hurt a hamstring at practice on Monday. Meanwhile, the Packers are expected to have more defensive linemen available on Sunday – taking pressure off interior players Colin Cole, Ryan Pickett, and Johnny Jolly. Justin Harrell is expected to make his season debut against the Titans, and defensive ends Mike Montgomery and Jason Hunter are also back from injuries.

-10/30-

Wisconsin may finally get its first-string offensive line back for Saturday’s game at Michigan State. Senior guard Kraig Urbik and sophomore tackle Gabe Carimi have fully taken part in the Badgers’ practices the last two days. Both are coming off knee injuries, and Wisconsin has not had its starting line intact since the loss to Ohio State on October fourth. Carimi was injured that, while Urbik was hurt the following week against Penn State. Barring any last-minute problems, both Urbik and Carimi are due back on Saturday. Wisconsin is 1-and-4 in the Big Ten, and 4-and-4 overall. Michigan State is still playing for a Rose Bowl bid at 4-and-1 in conference play. The Spartans are 7-and-2 overall.

-10/30-

Two former Milwaukee teammates had a big role in last night’s World Series game, in which Philadelphia beat Tampa Bay 4-to-3 to win the Fall Classic three-games-to-one. Ex-Brewer Geoff Jenkins was a lead-off pinch-hitter for Philly when the suspended game resumed in the bottom of the sixth – and he hit a double off former Brewers’ reliever Grant Balfour. Jenkins went to third on a sacrifice bunt, and scored on Jayson Werth’s pop-up single to shallow center with the Rays’ infield drawn in. Balfour – who pitched a perfect fifth inning before the game was suspended on Monday night – only lasted another one-third inning after giving up Jenkins’ run. Each team traded runs later on. Menasha native Eric Hinske ended the game by striking out against Phillies’ closer Brad Lidge – who went a perfect 48-for-48 in save chances this season. Jenkins gets a World Series ring after 10 seasons of frustration in Milwaukee.

-10/30-

The Texas Rangers are apparently trying to get Brewers’ pitching coach Mike Maddux. The Journal Sentinel says Rangers’ bench coach Jackie Moore has spoken highly of Maddux, who coached for Moore in Triple-“A” before Milwaukee hired him away in 2003. The Brewers have offered a new contract to Maddux, but he hasn’t signed it because he wants to know who the manager will be first. Reports indicate that former Oakland manager Ken Macha will be named as soon as possible – and Maddux has no previous ties to Macha. Yesterday, the Brewers claimed third baseman Casey McGehee off waivers from the Chicago Cubs – and to make room, they designated infielder Joe Dillon for assignment. The 26-year-old McGehee hit .296 in Triple-“A” this year, and he went 4-for-24 in a September call-up with the Cubs with five R-B-I’s. The Brewers also named infield prospect Brent Brewer to replace Taylor Green in the Arizona Fall League. Green broke his nose this week.

-10/30-

Keaton Nankivil had 24 points and six rebounds in the Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s annual Red-and-White scrimmage at the Kohl Center. Nankivil, a sophomore forward, had the biggest numbers by far as he helped the Red team to a 72-to-67 win over the White. Coach Bo Ryan said Nankivil was the difference maker in the contest. He called it a coming-out party. Nankivil only scored seven points his entire freshman year. This year, he hopes to fill a void left the departures of front-liners Brian Butch and Greg Stiemsma. About 25-hundred fans attended last night’s scrimmage.

-10/30-

The Wisconsin men’s soccer team won at Northern Illinois last night, 1-to-nothing. Scott Lorenz scored in the 31st minute to give the Badgers their third straight victory. Lorenz now has nine goals, the most for a Badger since Nick Van Sicklen scored 12 four years ago. Northern Illinois had 16 shots but only four-on-goal. The Huskies fell to 8-4-and-4, while Wisconsin improved to 9-6-and-2. The Badgers will play for their first 10-win season in five years next Wednesday night at home against Drake.

-10/30-

The Wisconsin volleyball team ended a four-match losing streak last night, by blanking Northwestern three-games-to-none at the U-W Field House. Brittney Dolgner had 11 kills for the 25th-ranked Badgers. Wisconsin improved to 5-and-6 in the Big Ten and 15-and-8 overall. Northwestern lost its 10th conference match against just one victory – and the Wildcats are now 7-and-15 overall.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1

2008-10-30T03:49:00.001-05:00

Wheeler News Service – Thursday, October 30, 2008 – Morning Report #1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com
Here are the headlines:
At least one of Wisconsin’s Electoral College members would like to see the state’s winner-take-all system changed…
A former elementary principal from Manitowish Waters will spend a year in jail for molesting two teenage girls in suburban Milwaukee…
A Racine man charged in a 2006 beating death has now been charged with a murder from 1998…
You didn’t win last night’s Powerball jackpot unless you bought your ticket in Pennsylvania – where a single player won 58-million-plus.

Winning lottery numbers:
Powerball: 20-30-37-50-52, Powerball 33, Power Play 2
Megabucks: 12-18-31-40-45-46
Supercash: 1-6-11-12-29-33 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 4-3-5
Pick-4: 5-4-9-7
Badger-5: 7-21-24-29-31

Here are the details:

When you vote for president Tuesday, you’ll actually choose 10 members of the Electoral College – all of whom will later vote for whomever the state chooses. The system gives both small-and-large states an equal say in picking the president. But some say it’s wrong for the nation’s popular vote to go one way, and the Electoral College the other – which happened in 2000 when Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote. Now, instead of trying to dump the Electoral College, there’s a movement to simply have states give all their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote – thus nullifying the college’s purpose. Illinois is one of four states which do that. In Wisconsin, eight legislators tried to do the same in the last session. But their bill didn’t go anywhere. One of those eight lawmakers was Milwaukee Assembly Democrat Polly Williams. She’ll be one of the Wisconsin electors if Democrat Barack Obama wins the state’s vote on Tuesday. She says she’d like to change the system, but it won’t happen now. Like Obama, Williams is black – and she says she looks forward to electing the nation’s first African-American president. But Milwaukee businessman Bob Spindell says not-so-fast. He says Republican John McCain still has a chance here.

-10/30-

A former elementary principal who now lives in Manitowish Waters will spend a year in jail for molesting two teenage girls in suburban Milwaukee. 48-year-old Daniel Markofski must also spend 18 months under extended supervision when he gets out. And he has to register as a sex offender. According to prosecutors, Markofski picked up the two girls at a Milwaukee home in April, and took them a motel in suburban Glendale. They drank and smoked marijuana, when he asked them what movie they’d like to see. The girls wanted “Alvin and the Chipmunks,” but Markofski chose a pornographic film instead. He used to be an elementary principal in Spring Grove Illinois. He was convicted of having sex with a child 16-or-older, and two counts of exposing kids to harmful materials.

-10/30-

A Racine man who’s charged in a 2006 beating death has now been charged with a murder from 1998. A count of first-degree intentional homicide was filed this week against 29-year-old Dale Patterson, in the death nine years ago of Sean Tevrucht. Prosecutors said the defendant hit Tevrucht in the head with a baseball bat, because the victim was arguing with Peterson’s uncle. Earlier this month, Peterson was ordered to stand trial for the beating death of Michael Griffith of Racine in November of 2006. Peterson was wanted in that until he turned himself in almost two months ago.

-10/30-

You didn’t win the Powerball jackpot last night unless you bought your ticket in Pennsylvania. A single ticket there won 58-point-six million dollars. Wisconsin players won over 16-thousand smaller prizes. Three people won 10-thousand each by matching four regular numbers plus the Powerball. Another 83-hundred won three-bucks just by matching the Powerball. Last night’s numbers were 20, 30, 37, 50, and 52. The Powerball was 33, and the Power Play multiplier was two. The jackpot returns to 15-million-dollars for the next drawing on Saturday night.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning National Sports

2008-10-30T02:30:00.000-05:00

Wheeler News Service - Thursday, October 30, 2008 - Morning National Sports

World Series (Best-of-seven)
----------------------------
It took two extra nights, but the Phillies have finally put an end to Philadelphia's 25-year major sports title drought. Eric Bruntlett scored on a Pedro Feliz single in the seventh inning and the Phillies beat Tampa Bay, 4-3, in Game 5 of the World Series. It wrapped up the franchise's second title in history. Rocco Baldelli's homer tied the game in the top of the seventh, but the Rays couldn't go ahead as Chase Utley threw out Jason Bartlett at the plate to end the frame. The Phillies then went in front in the bottom half of a game that had been halted by rain tied, 2-2, Monday night after 5 1/2 innings. Wintry conditions forced a postponement for an extra day, but under cold, windy conditions Wednesday, the Phillies warmed up their fans quickly and sent the City of Brotherly Love into pandemonium. The 4-1 series victory gave Philadelphia its first championship of any kind since 1983. Cole Hamels, who went 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in two World Series appearances was named the MVP of the Fall Classic.

National Basketball Association
-------------------------------
Amare Stoudemire scored 22 points and pulled down eight rebounds as Phoenix topped San Antonio, 103-98, in the season opener for both teams at the AT&T Center. Shaquille O'Neal registered 15 points and a game-best 13 rebounds for the Suns, who won in new head coach Terry Porter's debut. Leandro Barbosa came off the bench to score 18 while Steve Nash added 13 points and dished out 13 assists. Tony Parker and Tim Duncan each recorded a game-high 32 points for the Spurs, who had won 11 consecutive season-opening games until Wednesday. Roger Mason added 12 points off the bench in the loss.

Elsewhere in the NBA:
---------------------
Toronto Raptors 95, Philadelphia 76ers 84
Atlanta Hawks 99, Orlando Magic 85
New Jersey Nets 95, Washington Wizards 85
New York Knicks 120, Miami Heat 115
Detroit Pistons 100, Indiana Pacers 94
Minnesota Timberwolves 98, Sacramento Kings 96
Milwaukee Bucks 98, Oklahoma City Thunder 87
Houston Rockets 82, Memphis Grizzlies 71
Utah Jazz 98, Denver Nuggets 94
New Orleans Hornets 108, Golden State Warriors 103
Los Angeles Lakers 117, Los Angeles Clippers 79

National Hockey League
----------------------
Francois Beauchemin's goal 1:39 into overtime gave Anaheim a come-from-behind 5-4 victory over Detroit at Honda Center. Teemu Selanne added a hat trick for the Ducks, who have won five games in a row. Brian Sutherby added a goal while Jean-Sebastein Giguere made 34 saves for the win.

Elsewhere in the NHL:
---------------------
Toronto Maple Leafs 6, New Jersey Devils 5 (SO)
Dallas Stars 4, Minnesota Wild 2

===NBA===

Portland Trail Blazers center Greg Oden is expected to miss 2-to-4 weeks with a right foot sprain sustained in Tuesday's season-opening 96-76 loss to the Lakers. Oden, who missed his entire rookie season after a right knee injury, suffered the injury in the first quarter. He underwent an MRI exam and CAT scan on Wednesday that confirmed the mid-lateral sprain. Oden will not require surgery. He went up for a rebound in the early stages of the first quarter with Lakers forward Andrew Bynum draped over his back. Oden came down awkwardly on his leg and bent his right foot back and to the inside. The top 2007 overall draft pick didn't score and grabbed five rebounds in just under 13 minutes.
===
The Golden State Warriors have signed head coach Don Nelson to a contract extension. Terms of the agreement were not announced, but a San Jose newspaper reported over the weekend it was a two-year deal worth $12 million. Nelson already had his option for the 2008-09 season picked up in March. The Warriors began their season Wednesday night with a 108-103 home loss to New Orleans. Nelson, 68, is currently the second-winningest coach in NBA history (1,280 wins), trailing only Lenny Wilkens (1,332) on the league's all-time list. During his current stint with Golden State, he has guided the Warriors to a combined 90-75 regular season record. Last season under Nelson's watch, Golden State went 48-34, the team's best record since 1993-94, but missed out on the playoffs. The Warriors went 42-40 the year prior and made the playoffs as the eighth seed in the West, upsetting the top-seeded Dallas Mavericks in the first round of the postseason.

===NFL===

Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy said Wednesday that he expects safety Bob Sanders and running back Joseph Addai back for this Sunday's game against the New England Patriots. The Colts also expect cornerback Kelvin Hayden to return to action. Sanders, the reigning Defensive Player of the Year, has missed five games since spraining his right ankle in Indianapolis' 18-15 win over the Minnesota Vikings on September 14. The Colts defensive star also underwent arthroscopic surgery on one of his knees while recovering from the ankle sprain. Addai has missed two weeks with a hamstring injury, while Hayden has been out for three weeks with a knee injury.
===
Quarterback Brad Johnson will make his third straight start Sunday against Dallas' NFC East nemesis, the New York Giants. There was speculation that third-string quarterback Brooks Bollinger would get the call after Dallas scored a combined 27 points in the last two contests, without Pro Bowler Tony Romo, who has been sidelined because a broken pinkie finger on his throwing hand. Johnson, 40, has completed 36-of-67 passes for 356 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions this season for the Cowboys (5-3). Cowboys tight end Jason Witten missed practice Wednesday due to a fractured rib, leaving his status in doubt if he'll play in Sunday's game.
===
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will not play in Sunday's home game against the Philadelphia Eagles due to continued weakness in his right leg stemming from a bulging disc in his back. That means Seneca Wallace gets the start for the third consecutive game. Hasselbeck visited a back surgeon in Los Angeles on Monday and was not able to walk on his heels, one of the leg strength tests. Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren said Hasselbeck's status is on a week-to-week basis.
===
The Carolina Panthers signed kicker John Kasay to a four-year contract extension on Wednesday, meaning that the last member of the club's original expansion roster could play in Carolina through the 2012 season. Kasay, 39, has made 21 consecutive field goals, including a 16-of-16 performance this season for the NFC South-leading Panthers. The 18-year veteran has not missed a field goal since December 16 of last season. His two field goals in Carolina's 27-23 win over Arizona on Sunday moved him past Jan Stenerud and into eighth place in NFL history with 374 field goals. A fourth-round pick out of Georgia by the Seattle Seahawks in 1991, Kasay was signed away from Seattle by the Panthers prior to their debut season in 1995.

===NHL===

The National Hockey League announced Wednesday that it has pushed its trade deadline back one day, to March 4. General managers will have until 2 p.m. that day to make deals, a day later than originally scheduled. The decision was apparently made by the league in conjunction with the NHL Players' Association because there are 12 games scheduled for March 3, but only two on March 4.

(End)

Test

2008-10-29T11:55:00.001-05:00

This is a test transmission.

Wheeler News - Noon State Sports

2007-12-10T16:20:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 10, 2007 - Noon State Sports

=====Stations: Learfield Data is down due to an ice storm at its main server location. We're sending the Noon/PM material as quickly as possible.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com/

=====Updated Version=====Tops with Brewers designating Kevin Menchf or assignment, lead story=====

Here are the headlines:
The Brewers take a step toward getting rid of outfielder Kevin Mench...
We might find out today whether Packers’ linebacker Nick Barnett is seeing any better, after he got poked in the eye…
The struggling Bucks will close out their West Coast road swing at Sacramento tonight…
Only a few small college basketball games are on tonight’s docket in Wisconsin….

Here are the details:

The Milwaukee Brewers designated outfielder Kevin Mench for assignment today, to make room on the roster for newly-acquired reliever Salomon Torres. The Brewers tried-but-failed to trade Mench at last week's winter meetings. Now, they have 10 days to trade-or-release him. He made three-point-four-million-dollars this year, while sharing the left field job with the departed Geoff Jenkins. Mench did never develop into a full-time player, batting .267 this season with eight homers and 37 R-B-I's. He was not expected to be offered a contract by a deadline on Wednesday -- partially because he's up for salary arbitration next spring. The Brewers are looking to move third baseman Ryan Braun to left, and they've been looking for a veteran infielder to shore up Milwaukee's defense. Meanwhile, the Brewers are expected to make another roster move when they sign closer Eric Gagne (gon-yay). Reports say he'll get 10-million dollars for one year, once he passes a physical.

-12/10-

Now that they’ve made the playoffs, the next challenge for the Green Bay Packers is to get a first-round bye and a guaranteed home game in the second round. The Packers will earn both if they win two-of-their-final-three regular season contests. Otherwise, Seattle would have to lose at least one of its remaining two games. If Green Bay and Seattle end up tied, Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks would win the tie-breaker. And the Packers would have to play on Wild Card Weekend, giving them an extra hurdle to the Super Bowl. Green Bay is 11-and-2 at the moment, and Seattle is 9-and-4. The Packers play at Saint Louis next Sunday and at Chicago December 23rd. Green Bay closes out the regular season at home on the 30th against Detroit. If the playoffs were to begin today, Dallas and Green Bay would automatically advance to the second-round, with the Cowboys as the top seed. Seattle, Tampa Bay, the New York Giants, and Minnesota would have the other N-F-C playoff spots.

-12/10-

We might find out today whether Packers’ middle linebacker Nick Barnett is seeing any better. He was scheduled to see an eye-doctor, although he had a scratched cornea in yesterday’s win over Oakland. Barnett said Raiders’ center Jeremy Newberry poked him on purpose. And he refused to accept Newberry’s apology. Barnett was seeing double after the game – but it’s not known how it might affect his playing status for next Sunday at Saint Louis. Meanwhile, startingleft offensive tackle Chad Clifton says he might not know until later this week if he can play against the Rams. He hurt his right shoulder in what described as a stinger. Clifton was also kicked in the shin, but he said it wasn’t a problem. Aaron Rodgers was the number-three emergency quarterback yesterday, and Craig Nall was the main back-up. Rodgers injured a hamstring at practice last week, but he hopes to re-assume his number-two spot next Sunday.

-12/10-

The Milwaukee Bucks will close out their West Coast road swing tonight at Sacramento. The Kings are 7-and-12. They’ve lost two straight. And both their starting guards are out with injuries, Mike Bibby and Kevin Martin. But Sacramento is 7-and-4 at home. And their back-up point guard, Beno Udrih, is averaging 15 points while making 46-percent of his shots. The Kings signed him as a free agent on November first. Milwaukee is 8-and-11. They’ve lost three straight and seven-of-their-last-eight – including a four-point overtime loss at Portland last night. Rookie forward Yi Jianlian says the Bucks have a lot of small details to iron out. Center Andrew Bogut says the players must weather the storm as professionals. Point guard Mo Williams says he’s trying to play more aggressively – especially when Bogut and Michael Redd are on the bench. Williams scored a season-high 33 points against the Trail Blazers.

-12/10-

All of Wisconsin’s major college basketball teams have the night off. In the Northern Athletics’ Conference, Maranatha Baptist will host Milwaukee Engineering in Watertown. Maranatha is 0-and-3 in league play. M-S-O-E is 1-and-1, a game-and-a-half behind front-runners Marian and Aurora. In non-conference men’s action, fourth-ranked U-W Stevens Point travels to La Crosse to play Viterbo. Superior hosts Finlandia. And Carthage is at East-West College. On the women's side, Superior travels to Ashland to play Northland College. And Carthage hosts Chicago.

(End)

Wheeler News - Noon Report

2007-12-10T16:16:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 10, 2007 – Noon Report

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down this afternoon due to an ice storm at its main server. We're sending the afternoon stuff as quickly as possible.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com/

Here are the headlines:

Two people are awaiting charges, and more could be arrested, aftert he cold-blooded murder of a pizza delivery man in Milwaukee…
Once again, animal rights’ activists try to get Washington to put the clamps on using animals in the U-W’s health research…
The Wisconsin Investment Board says it shies away from investments backed with sub-prime mortgages…
Highway 41 near Appleton is open again, after a pedestrian appeared to have killed himself on the freeway overnight.

Here are the details:

Two 17-year-old Milwaukee boys are awaiting charges in the robbery-and-murder of a pizza delivery man over the weekend. And more people may also be arrested. Police said the boys set-up 53-year-old Paul Schumann, ordering a pizza with the intent to rob him. It happened about three on Saturday morning. His boss at Zayna’s Pizza said Schumann was robbed twice before while delivering pizzas. He refused to give in either time -- and owner Younis Abdel-Hamid said he wouldn’t be surprised if Schumann resisted this time as well. Police said the two teens were with nine others just before the shooting. And some of the others could face charges like obstructing police during the investigation. His sister called Schumann a big-hearted, generous person who gave others the benefit-of-the-doubt. And Abdul-Hamid says he’ll use caution in delivering to areas with problems. For one thing, he won’t take first-time orders from cell phones unless those buyers go to his restaurant, register their numbers, and show their driver’s licenses.

-12/10-

Once again, animal rights activists are trying to get Washington to put the clamps on the use of animals in U-W Madison’s health research. A group called Stop Animal Exploitation Now wants the National Institutes of Health to stop funding universities that violate the Animal Welfare Act. And it wants the Inspector General to investigate and audit Madison’s National Primate Research Center. The group’s Michael Budkie says the U-W has increased its federal primate research dollars by 219-percent in eight years – while the number of animals studied has only risen 24-percent. The U-W’s Eric Sandgren says the N-I-H already has the power to reduce-or-eliminate funding for mis-using lab animals – and it hasn’t happened yet. Sandgren says the animal rights’ group wants to eliminate one of the prime methods researchers use to get answers about human diseases. And when the U-W gets extra federal funds, Sandgren says it often goes to areas critics would appreciate – including a more positive environment for the animals. But Budkie says research subjects are still being starved, strangled, andmaimed on a routine basis. And he says the government is almost powerless to stop it – claiming it gives meager fines the research labs consider as a cost of doing business.

-12/10-

The agency that invests money for most Wisconsin government retirees says it shies away from investments backed by sub-prime mortgages. Concerns were raised last week, when Florida put a freeze on its investment fund to prevent sub-prime investments from taking hold. Once the news broke, the treasurer in Dane County asked Wisconsin officials about its investment fund. And the Investment Board said it never put money into the types of securities that have caused problems in Florida and elsewhere. The Wisconsin fund has six-point-seven billion dollars.

-12/10-

Highway 41 near Appleton is open again, after a pedestrian was struck-and-killed overnight. According to authorities, a semi-truck might have hit a man on the freeway about four o’clock. And it caused lots of people to use alternative routes to work during the morning rush hour. One broadcast report said a suicide note was found in the victim’s car – and it was parked close by.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #1

2007-12-10T16:11:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 10, 2007 – Afternoon Report#1

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com/

=====Stations: Learfield Data went down this afternoon due to an ice storm at its main server. We're sending the afternoon material as quickly as possible.=====

Here are the headlines:
Authorities call off the latest search for missing U-W Green Bay student Amber Wilde (will-dee)…
Women’s health advocates try again to bring campus birth control costs down to what they once were…
A Manitowoc firm that makes components for high-tech wind-mills will buy a company which helps maintain those structures.

Here are the details:

Authorities have called their latest search for a U-W Green Bay student missing since 1998. Search dogs again checked out an excavated site over the weekend along Highway 29 near Wittenberg, for 19-year-old Amber Wilde (will-dee). When they didn’t find a scent, officers were convinced they searched all possible areas. A detective acting on a tip revived a search last week on about a quarter-acre of the excavated site. Now that the search has turnedup empty, the site will be filled in again. It the same place where a search took place in 2001 – when Highway 29 was being expanded to four lanes at that spot. Nothing was found then, either. Police say they’ve never stopped trying to find Wilde or her remains, and bring the case to a close. They’re still taking leads. Wilde hurt her head in a traffic accident in 1998. She was pregnant at the time,and she asked her father the next day to give her a wake-up call so she could go to class. The father reported her missing four days later.

-12/10-

It’s been almost a year since the cost of birth control went up 10 times at college health centers. And the Wisconsin Alliance forWomen’s Health says students have had to make tough choices. Last January, Congress passed a deficit reduction act which among other things, stopped campus health centers from qualifying for a program that lowered drug prices. As a result, students’ birth control went up from five-dollars a pack to 50. Sara Finger of the Women’s Health Alliance says the total student bill for birth control is now 500-dollars a year – a month’s rent for some students, or a year’s worth of textbooks. Finger believes Congress didn’t mean to cut off campus health centers. And she wants them to put things back to where they were. But student groups said the same thing a year ago,and nothing has changed yet.

-12/10-

A Manitowoc company that makes components for high-tech wind-mills will soon get bigger. Tower Tech Holdings has agreed to buy the Energy Maintenance Service – a company in Gary South Dakota that helps maintain wind turbines. The deal is expected to close early next year. The company says the terms will be made public in a future filing with the U-S Securities-and-Exchange Commission. Energy Maintenance has 170 employees throughout the country. Tower Tech has plants in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.

(End)

Wheeler News - Afternoon Report #2

2007-12-10T16:05:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Monday, December 10, 2007 – Afternoon Report#2

=====Stations: Learfield Data was down this afternoon because of an ice storm at its main server. We'll send the PM material here as quickly as possible.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373
Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com
Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com/

Here are the headlines:
The search continued today for a Watertown man missing when his snowmobile and two others fell through the ice, killing a woman…
Racine Police said a 16-year-old girl killed outside a tavern was probably an innocent by-stander…
An 18-year-old man in Racine is charged, after having consensual sex with his 14-year-old girlfriend…
And in sports, U-W Whitewater running back Justin Beaver wins the Gagliardi Trophy, the small college equivalent of the Heisman.

Here are the details:

The search continued today for a Watertown man missing when his snowmobile fell through the ice in Jefferson County. 40-year-oldGerald Debaets was one of three snowmobilers on separate machines who broke through the Rock River near Johnson Creek late Saturday. 36-year-old Wendy Heiman of Watertown was killed. 39-year-old Brian Nimm of Watertown also went under, but he managed to escape safely. Jefferson County deputies also said another snowmobiler went through the ice on the Rock River near Koshkonong late yesterday – but thatperson was saved. A snowmobiler from New Auburn went through the ice and died in Chippewa County over the weekend. The D-N-R’s Dave Walzsaid the ice is not thick enough for snowmobiles yet – even though it got down to 20-below in some spots for a couple days in northern Wisconsin.

-12/10-

Racine Police said a 16-year-old girl killed outside a tavern wasp robably an innocent by-stander. The victim was identified today as Autumn Ford, a student at Racine Park High School. The shooting happened about 1:15 Saturday morning near Cera’s Tequila Bar. Policehad gotten a report of a fight and a shooting. When officers arrived, they found Ford’s body a short distance away from the tavern with a single gunshot wound. She was dead-on-arrival at a local hospital. The bar’s owner told the Racine Journal Times he was stocking the place when a fight broke out – and both he and the bouncers took immediate action to stop the fight and remove thosei nvolved. The owner said he was not sure if Ford was in the bar. Police have not identified any suspects. They’re still looking for other witnesses.

-12/10-

Should an 18-year-old man have a criminal record for the rest of his life for having consensual sex with a 14-year-old girlfriend? Folksin Racine are debating that question today, after 18-year-old Justin Layman was charged with four counts of second-degree sexual assault. He’s due back in court December 20th. Racine County District Attorney Michael Nieskes says the law expressly forbids sex with13-to-16-year-olds – and there’s a big difference between an 18-year-old and a 14-year-old. Some folks in Racine said the teensmade a poor choice but it shouldn’t be criminal. Others called it inexcusable.

-12/10-

And in sports…U-W Whitewater running back Justin Beaver was named today as the winner of the Gagliardi Trophy, as the nation’s best football player in the N-C-A-A’s Division-Three. It’s the small college equivalent of the Heisman – and Beaver will receive his honor on Thursday night in Salem Virginia. That’s where his Whitewater team will play Mount Union on Saturday for the D-Three championship in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. The 5-9, 200-pound Beaver is a senior from nearby Palmyra-Eagle. He had the nation’s third-highest rushing total this year, with 16-hundred-40 yards. He surpassed the Whitewater and W-I-A-C career rushing records by a-thousand yards each. And Beaver was named a D-Three All-American after his junior and senior years. The All-Americans for this year have yet to be named.

(End)

Learfield Data is back online

2007-11-23T10:09:00.000-06:00

Stations: Learfield Data is now back online. There were server problems on Thanksgiving Eve, and they were finally resolved this morning. Thank you very much for your understanding and any inconvenience you might have gone through. And thank you for making Wheeler News your state news-and-sports service of choice.

We have resumed placing feeds on Learfield Data, starting with the Noon State Sports. The next Wisconsin news feed will be the Noon Report, to be sent as soon as it's written.

Best wishes for the forthcoming holiday season,
Thom Gerretsen
Wheeler News

2007-11-23T06:57:00.001-06:00

"Minnesota Summary"

>>Consumers Cautioned On Toy-Buying

(Undated) -- It's the start of the holiday shopping season, but with so many recalls and concerns over lead in children's toys how do you make good buying decisions? Consumer Reports recommends staying away from cheap metal jewelry for young children. About 20 percent of children's metal jewelry has high levels of lead lurking beneath the surface coating. A child who puts that in their mouth could suffer lead poisoning. You can test toys for lead by using a home lead test kit like Lead Check and the Lead Inspector. Also, avoid no-name products and be careful of toys purchased at dollar stores, street fairs, vending machines, thrift stores or yards sales.

>>Violent Crime Drops In Hennepin County

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Violent crime in Hennepin County is down 15-percent so far this year. Sheriff Rich Stanek is giving much of the credit to the Violent Offender Task Force, which has been targeting the area's worst repeat criminals and has netted 60 arrests. Fifty-four guns have also been taken off the streets through the new program. In addition, 71 guns and nearly three-million-dollars have been confiscated through Hennepin County's narcotics unit and five drug task forces. The drop in violent crime in the county is a reverse from recent trends. In the previous two-years, violent crime rates in Hennepin County went up by double-digits.

>>Charges Filed In Officer's Dragging

(Minneapolis, MN) -- A shoplifting suspect who dragged a Minneapolis Police officer with his car has been charged. Thirty-nine-year-old Eddie Frazier has been charged with obstructing the legal process and fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. Police were responding to a shop lifting at a store in the 18-hundred block of Lowry Avenue North when they observed Frazier leaving the store. After ordering him to stop, Frazier allegedly resisted and got into his car. Officer Paul Gillies attempted to stop him, but was dragged by the car as it took off. He suffered a minor head injury in the incident.

>>New Resource For College-Bound Military Vets

(Undated) -- Minnesota soldiers returning from active military duty have a new resource to help them prepare to go to college. A website called my-military-education-dot-org is a one-stop shop for soldiers who need help understanding what benefits they have and how they can be applied to school. Veterans Affairs spokesman Don Pfeffer says they have partnered with Minnesota Online to provide the service. Pfeffer says they interviewed all 26-hundred Minnesota National Guard soldiers as they returned from Iraq and he says 80-percent of them indicated they wanted to go to school or return to school.

>>Hormel Grant Sends Austin Teachers Back To School

(Austin, MN) -- About 90 school teachers from Austin are going back to school thanks to a grant from the Hormel Foundation. Austin schools Superintendent Candace Raskin says the money will fund the teachers' pursuit of master's degrees or other certifications through the University of Minnesota. The teachers, in turn, must commit to remain teachers in the district for a few years. Raskin says the program will ensure the staff in the district will not only be well-educated but also create a stable environment. About one-third of the district's staff in the areas of math, science, and literacy will be impacted.

###Nosek

Wheeler News - Morning Report #4

2007-11-23T06:54:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, November 23, 2007 – Morning Report #4

=====Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we are not sure how long our technical problems on Learfield Data will continue. Please keep checking this site for all updates.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
Residents of a burned-out apartment building in Green Bay spent the holiday salvaging what they could…
Experts say it’s not too late to get a flu shot, before Wisconsin records its first cases soon…
A Fond du Lac deer hunter was still fighting for his life at last word, after being shot by his own rifle near Princeton…
A national group is promoting a special, voluntary do-not-call list for political candidates.

Here are the details:

Residents of a burned-out apartment building in Green Bay spent Thanksgiving Day salvaging what they could. Up to 16 people lost their homes in a blaze which started around three yesterday morning. Flames were shooting through the roof by the time fire-fighters arrived. One of them hurt his face when he fell on the ice. He was treated at a hospital and later released. None of the residents of the eight-unit building were injured. Monica Bischoff said most were gone to spend the holiday with their families. And she called that fortunate. Reports said the blaze started in a second-floor unit. The cause remains under investigation. The apartment complex is owned by James and Jane Watermolen of Abrams. They arranged for the residents to stay at a vacant complex next door. Structural damage was estimated at 267-thousand dollars.

-11/23-

Experts say it’s not too late to get a flu shot. Thousands have done so in Wisconsin. And health officials are making another push to get even more folks vaccinated – especially kids – before the first cases get reported. La Crosse pediatrician David Gerhard says most parents realize the flu is not just a minor annoyance anymore – and today’s infections put more kids at risk of being hospitalized. Gerhard says parents should not wait until their kids are 100-percent healthy to get vaccinated. For many, he says it won’t happen – and the vaccine still provides good protection for those youngsters. Health officials nationally are making a special push to get youngsters 2-to-5 vaccinated. But they’re still recommending shots for virtually everyone, to keep communities safe. In western Wisconsin, at least, hospitals say they have plenty of vaccine left.

-11/23-

A deer hunter from Fond du Lac was still fighting for his life at last word, after being wounded by his own rifle. 47-year-old Timothy Floyd spent the holiday in critical condition at a Neenah hospital. Authorities said he was hunting alone, and was in a tree stand when his gun accidentally went off. Although he was hit in the foot-and-torso, Floyd still managed to climb down and walk to a road – where two Oshkosh men called 9-1-1 and gave him first aid. The shooting happened Wednesday at a public hunting preserve near Princeton in Green Lake County. The state D-N-R is still investigating the incident. At least two hunters have been shot-to-death statewide during the nine-day gun season. An 18-year-old Waushara County was accidentally shot by his grandfather. And a 29-year-old Illinois man was killed in Burnett County by a fellow hunter whose weapon got caught in brush during a drive. The season runs through Sunday.

-11/23-

A national group says a Madison lawmaker is barking up the wrong tree by wanting to ban those mass-computer-generated political phone calls. Shaun Dakin says a bill from Assembly Democrat Spencer Black to ban robo-calls probably isn’t constitutional – because the First Amendment protects political speech. But Dakin says he has created something better – The National Political Do-Not-Call Registry. Voters can register on-line. And candidates will then be told who doesn’t want those phone calls, e-mails, and such. Candidates would not have to abide by the list. But Dakin figures a voluntary system should work pretty well – because a person may not elect a candidate who ignores a voter’s wishes. Wisconsin already has both state-and-national do-not-call lists for telemarketers. But politicians are exempted, and still they can still call if they want. Dakin says the political no-call registry can let a person reject items only from certain parties – or they can even take-or-reject things on certain issues. You’ll find the registry at W-W-W-Dot-Stop Political Calls-Dot-Org.

(End)

Minnesota Sports from MNN

2007-11-23T05:49:00.002-06:00

"Minnesota Sports Summary"

>>Prep Bowl Day One--Nine Man

(Minneapolis, MN) -- It's a matchup of unbeaten teams as Stephen-Argyle takes on Waubun in today's nine-man state championship game at the Metrodome (10am). The Stephen-Argyle Storm are making their 12th consecutive and overall tournament appearance and are seeking their fifth consecutive title. The Storm advanced to the title game with a 44-8 quarter final victory over McGregor and a 35-14 semifinal win over Verndale. The Waubun Bombers enter the Prep Bowl with an unblemished record in their second appearance. Their last was in 1990. In the quarterfinals the Bombers beat Littlefork-Big Falls 12-6. In the semifinals they defeated last year's runners-up from Wheaton 14-8.

>>Prep Bowl Day One-- Class 1-A

(Minneapolis, MN) -- High-scoring Goodhue is pitted against the tough defense of Adrian in the Class 1-A final. Goodhue is averaging more than 40 points per game in the state tournament. Running Back Brett Watson rushed for 153 yards and just four carries in the Wildcats semi-final win over Kerkoven-Murdock Sunburg. Goodhue have lost just once this year and are making their second consecutive and seventh overall tournament appearance. The Dragons of Adrian are making their third appearance and come into the game with an 11-2 record. They last competed in the tournament in 1998.

>>Twins General Manager Praises Torii Hunter

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Twins General Manager Bill Smith has words of praise and gratitude for Torii Hunter. The Twins stand-out centerfielder - has accepted a five-year deal with the Anaheim Angels. Of Hunter's 15 seasons with the Twins, Smith says Torii "has been a critical player in the renaissance of the Twins in the past decade...has been a leader on the field and in the community...and is a consummate professional and a great person." Smith says he and the Twins wish Hunter continued success.

>>Utecht Catches Five-Yard T-D In Colts Win

(Atlanta, GA) -- Hastings native Ben Utecht (YOO'-tek) caught his first touchdown pass of the season in the Colts 31-13 victory at Atlanta last night. The former University of Minnesota tight end finished with four receptions for 38 yards. Indianapolis rallied from an early ten-point deficit with three second-quarter T-D passes from Peyton Manning The Colts played their six game without eight-time Pro Bowl receiver Marvin Harrison. Ex-Gopher and Vikings coach Tony Dungy says he hopes to have Harrison back for their December 2nd game against Jacksonville.

>>Cowboys Shoot Down Jets

(Dallas, TX) -- Former Golden Gopher Marion Barber rushed for 103 yards and a touchdown as the Cowboys routed the Jets 34-3 at Texas Stadium. It was the second time this season the Plymouth native has gained more than a 100 yards on the ground. Two-time ex-Viking quarterback Brad Johnson even saw some action for the Cowboys late in the fourth quarter. Dallas improves to 10-1 with the Thanksgiving Day win and is tied with Green Bay for the best record in the NFC. The two teams meet next week in what could be an NFC Championship preview.

###NOSEK

Wheeler News - Morning Report #3

2007-11-23T05:49:00.001-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, November 23, 2007 – Morning Report #3

=====Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we are not sure how long our technical problems on Learfield Data will continue. Please keep checking this site for all updates.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
One analyst expects a four-percent sales increase for Wisconsin stores this Christmas season…
The state’s top computer official says he’ll keep a closer eye on an overdue project for the prisons…
Madison Police are looking for two men allegedly involving in a murder on Thanksgiving Eve…
An Ashland woman gets four months in jail for mistreating 18 dogs.

Here are the details:

Wisconsin shoppers expect to do well with the bargains they’re getting on this Black Friday. But what about the stores? They’ll do pretty well, too, according to one state expert. Madison retail analyst Doug Johnson projects an average sales increase of four-percent for Wisconsin retailers over the holiday season. That’s higher than the three-point-seven-percent hike predicted by the National Retail Federation. Consumers have been hit with rising gas prices and an unstable housing market this year. But Johnson says the Wisconsin economy is still strong, and consumer confidence remains solid. Once again this year, Wisconsin stores are getting strong competition from Internet sellers who offer bargains at your fingertips. Johnson says almost 30-percent of holiday shopping will be done on-line – where it’s a lot easier for Wisconsinites to escape the sales taxes they’re supposed to pay. Governor Jim Doyle has been stymied whenever he tries to do something about that. But Johnson says many retailers in the Badger State are fighting back, by offering their own products on-line.

-11/23-

The state’s top computer official says he’ll keep a closer eye on an overdue project for the prisons. Chief I-T officer Oskar Anderson says his office will start estimating the cost of using state employees on the 25-million-dollar project – which will miss its fourth deadline in December. The new computer system is supposed to make prisons safer, by tracking around 23-thousand inmates, plus those out on probation-and-parole. As of now, it’s 18 months late. The project uses workers from both in-and-out of state government. The budget for the outsiders is doing okay, but the cost of using state employees was never determined. That figure is said to be just over three-million dollars so far – and nobody knows if that’s an over-run. Anderson was hired to help fix numerous problems with the state’s computer projects. That’s after an audit showed that delays and breakdowns cost taxpayers an unnecessary 190-million dollars.

-11/23-

Madison Police are looking for two men allegedly involved in the slaying of a 56-year-old man. It happened Wednesday night in an apartment on the south side of Wisconsin’s Capital City. The victim’s name was not released as of last night – but neighbors said he did not live there. One resident said police detained a man in his 30’s, but officials would not confirm that. Police did not say what the motive might have been, either. It’s the same neighborhood where a woman was stabbed to death 15 months ago, and a man tried to rob a taxi at knifepoint two-and-a-half years ago. Neighborhood leaders say there’s been apparently been more drug activity there – and every time it’s publicized, it damages the neighborhood’s reputation.

-11/23-

A woman from Ashland has been sentenced to four months in jail for mistreating 18 dogs. Prosecutors said 32-year-old Erica Vaughan allowed her Chihuahuas and dachshunds to suffer from dehydration, malnutrition, and other problems. Vaughan claimed that one sick dog infected the others -- and it wasn't totally a matter of abuse. But the judge in her case disagreed. Three dogs either died, or had to be euthanized. The other 15 were adopted. Vaughan was charged in June after authorities found the sick dogs in a woodshed.

(End)

Wheeler News - Wis Weather Report

2007-11-23T05:09:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, November 23, 2007 – Weather Report

=====Stations: Here is the Wisconsin State Forecast. If you need a local zone forecast, e-mail us at wheelernews@yahoo.com this morning.

WISCONSIN STATE FORECAST
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MILWAUKEE/SULLIVAN WI
400 AM CST FRI NOV 23 2007

.TODAY...PARTLY TO MOSTLY CLOUDY. FLURRIES NORTHWEST. HIGHS AROUND 30 NORTH TO THE UPPER 30S SOUTHWEST.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES WEST AND CENTRAL. LOWS IN THE UPPER TEENS FAR NORTH TO MID 20S SOUTH.
.SATURDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. SCATTERED FLURRIES. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S NORTHWEST TO AROUND 40 SOUTH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY NORTH...MOSTLY CLEAR SOUTH. LOWS FROM NEAR 20 NORTH TO ABOUT 30 ALONG THE LAKE MICHIGAN SHORE.
.SUNDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY NORTH...MOSTLY SUNNY SOUTH. HIGHS 40 TO 45.
.MONDAY...MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF LIGHT RAIN SOUTH. LOWS FROM THE LOWER 20S NORTH TO THE UPPER 20S SOUTH. HIGHS FROM THE MIDDLE 30S NORTH TO THE LOWER 40S SOUTH.
.TUESDAY...CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS FROM THE UPPER TEENS NORTHWEST TO THE UPPER 20S SOUTHEAST. HIGHS FROM THE UPPER 20S NORTHWEST TO THE LOWER 40S FAR SOUTHEAST.

Minnesota News from MNN

2007-11-23T05:00:00.000-06:00

"Minnesota Summary"

>>Manhunt Continues In Windom-Area Murder

(Undated) -- A manhunt continues across southern Minnesota for two men suspected of killing a partner in crime Monday near Windom. Authorities believe Lionel Benavidez (ben-uh-VEE'-dez) of LeCenter and Gerald Holt of Madison Lake - both in their early 20s - are involved in the fatal shooting of Alberto Samilpa (suh-MIL-puh) Junior. Investigators say Samilpa broke the clutch on a car he and the others had stolen. His comrades then shot and stabbed him and set fire to his body and the car. A fourth man, 20-year-old Hans Hottel of Mankato, is already charged in Samilpa's death.

>>Holiday Buying Binge Begins Today -- Black Friday

(Undated) -- Today is Black Friday. It's the day after Thanksgiving and signifies the start of the holiday shopping season. Professor George John at the U-of-M Carlson School of Management says holiday sales can either make or break some businesses. He says that's why many retailers are walking on pins and needles today. John says many businesses are worried about how wide consumers will open their wallets. A slumping housing market and rising energy prices have added to the uncertainty.

>>Northern Retailers Looking To Gain From Canadian Shoppers

(Grand Forks, N.D.) -- Retailers in Minnesota and North Dakota have reason for optimism heading into the holiday buying season. The strong Canadian dollar is drawing thousands of shoppers from north of the border. Sandy Dobmeier (dob-meyer) of the Grand Forks Convention and Visitors Bureau says the border crossing at Pembina, North Dakota saw a 34-percent increase in visitors last month.

>>Twins G.M. Praises Departing Torii Hunter

(Minneapolis, MN) -- Twins General Manager Bill Smith has words of praise and gratitude for Torii Hunter on Thanksgiving Day. Hunter - the Twins stand-out centerfielder - has accepted a five-year deal with the Anaheim Angels. Of Hunter's 15 seaons with the Twins, Smith says Torii - quote - "has been a critical player in the renaissance of the Twins in the past decade...has been a leader on the field and in the community...and is a consummate professional and a great person." Smith says he and the Twins wish Hunter continued success.

>>Winning Lottery Numbers

(Roseville, MN) -- Here are the winning numbers from the Minnesota State Lottery for Thursday, November 22, 2007. The Daily Three:5-6-6. Northstar Cash:10-13-18-26-31.

###Turner

Wheeler News - Morning Report #2

2007-11-23T04:57:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, November 23, 2007 – Morning Report #2

=====Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we are not sure how long our technical problems on Learfield Data will continue. Please keep checking this site for all updates.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
The state out-sourced various projects 74 times in the last fiscal year – snubbing more cost-effective state employees…
Two days after Thanksgiving, a Green Bay area unit will start training for a return to Iraq…
Appleton will host the National Hmong Conference in 2009…
Two people were killed and two others were hurt in a Thanksgiving crash in Lincoln County.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 2-9-15-21-28-32 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 5-2-2
Pick-4: 1-0-2-2
Badger-5: 1-10-16-29-30

Here are the details:

The state government spent 12-and-a-half million dollars more than it could have in the last fiscal year – by hiring outsiders to do work that state employees could have done cheaper. A new state report said Madison spent 14-percent less on contractors than the previous year. But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found 74 instances in which agencies out-sourced various things – even after determining they’d save money by giving the work to the employees they already had. Some officials say they need to bring in outsiders, because they have skills state employees don’t – especially for computer projects. For almost two years, there’s been a law requiring agencies to see if it’s more cost-effective to use state employees instead of outsiders. This week’s report was the first indication of how the law’s working. Its author, Senate Republican Rob Cowles of Green Bay, wants to know more about the cases where contractors were put ahead of state employees. But he’s still encouraged by the overall saving. Greg Georg, who heads the union for state computer workers, says officials out-source more than they should – and with recent budget cuts, it doesn’t make sense.

-11/23-

It was a bitter-sweet Thanksgiving for members of the Army Reserve’s Civil Affairs unit near Green Bay. For some, their turkey-and-pumpkin pie won’t be digested before they leave tomorrow for Fort Bragg North Carolina – where they’ll train for a month before making a second trip to Iraq. Captain Keith Curran of Appleton said he wasn’t expecting to leave until December. But the send-off was moved up on Tuesday. Most of the 200 members of Ashwaubenon’s 432nd Civil Affairs unit won’t be leaving until next week. They’re expected to make it home briefly for Christmas before taking off again. It’s been three-and-a-half years since the unit first worked in Iraq. They create or improve local governments, schools, and public services. Their current assignment calls for about a year’s service in the Middle East.

-11/23-

Appleton will host the National Hmong Conference in 2009. It’s a three-day event sponsored by a Washington non-profit group. Politicians, business leaders, and students are among those who will meet to look into issues affecting the Hmong. They’ll also recognize those who’ve helped the Hmong community. About 47-thousand immigrants from Southeast Asia live in Wisconsin – and a good number live in the Fox Valley. Lo Lee, who heads the Hmong-American Partnership group in Appleton, says the conference should help the region both culturally and with the millions the visitors will spend. This year’s event was held in Detroit. The 2008 conference will be in Denver in April. Appleton beat out a host of bigger cities who wanted the conference – and local leaders said it was an honor to be chosen ahead of that group.

-11/23-

Two people were killed and two others were hurt in a Thanksgiving Day crash in Lincoln County. Investigators said a 23-year-old Kenosha woman was apparently driving too fast around a curve – and her pick-up truck veered down an embankment and hit a tree head-on. She was killed, along with a 25-year-old male passenger from Jackson Mississippi. The driver’s husband and a 21-year-old man were taken to hospitals in Wausau and Marshfield with undisclosed injuries. Authorities are still investigating the mishap – which occurred about 5:30 yesterday morning on Lincoln County Trunk “D” in the town of Harrison.

(End)

Wheeler News - Morning Report #1

2007-11-23T03:31:00.000-06:00

Wheeler News Service – Friday, November 23, 2007 – Morning Report #1

=====Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, we are not sure how long our technical problems on Learfield Data will continue. Please keep checking this site for all updates.=====

Editor on duty: Thom Gerretsen (715) 389-2373 Story contributions: wheelernews@yahoo.com Wheeler Blog: http://learfielddata.blogspot.com

Here are the headlines:
It’s Black Friday – and if you haven’t been out shopping, you’ve already missed some of the best deals…
A fourth controversy this year is reported at the State Veterans’ Home in Waupaca County…
A father looking for his son on Thanksgiving finds him and another man dead in a Racine apartment…
A rural Wausau man is killed in a holiday logging mishap.

Winning lottery numbers:
Supercash: 2-9-15-21-28-32 – No Doubler
Pick-3: 5-2-2
Pick-4: 1-0-2-2
Badger-5: 1-10-16-29-30

Here are the details:

Been shopping yet? If not, you already missed some of the best deals on this Black Friday. Kohl’s and J-C Penney’s are among the Wisconsin stores that opened at four this morning – earlier than ever. Some outlet malls have been open since midnight. ShopKo planned a five o’clock opening, as part of what some retail experts call a fast response to a relatively weak fall season. But a Kohl’s official in Menomonee Falls denies that. Vice president Vicki Shamion says it’s been part of their holiday strategy for months. Almost half of those responding to a national survey said they’ll shop today – and nearly half of all sales are made before 10 a-m. It’s become known as more of a bargain-hunting day than the first official day of holiday shopping. 800-dollar flat-screen T-V’s were among the early discounts – and ShopKo is among those promising a lot of sale promotions over the next month. It’s called Black Friday because it’s so important for helping stores make a profit for the year. But it’s not the largest-selling day of the season. That won’t come until the Friday-or-Saturday before Christmas.

-11/23-

For the fourth time this year, a controversy is rearing its head at the state-owned nursing home for veterans in Waupaca County. According to the Associated Press, the state veterans' agency investigated allegations that the home's commandant -- Bill Crowley -- was drunk at the home's annual prom for seniors in 2005. Home official Cathy Leaverton told investigators Crowley kissed the prom queen on the lips. And she later claimed she was laid off for blowing the whistle. A spokesman said Crowley was not disciplined because he did not break work rules. But he said the deputy director of the vets' agency lectured Crowley about the conduct expected by senior managers. Leaverton is now trying to get her job back. Crowley has been the veterans' home leader since 2003, overseeing 400 employees and 700 residents. The A-P said two other investigations are now taking place. One involves a care-giver who allegedly stole money and credit cards from 12 ailing residents. The other probe involved an official accused of embezzling 60-thousand dollars from a fund he managed for the residents' recreational activities. The home's first controversy occurred earlier this year, when a retiring deputy director was paid a full salary for working part-time from her retirement home in California.

-11/23-

Autopsies are scheduled today for two men found dead in an apartment in Racine. The father of one of the victims was checking on his son after he failed to show up for Thanksgiving dinner – and he found the bodies about 12:30 in the afternoon. The victims were 19-and-20, and police say they have no idea how they died. There were no signs of forced entry at the apartment, and no evidence of gunshot wounds or other trauma. Police had to obtain a search warrant before removing the bodies. At least one of the men lived in the apartment. Police were called there about three Tuesday morning to quell a disturbance – and they ticketed several people. It was not immediately known if the two victims were involved in that incident.

-11/23-

A rural Wausau man was killed in a logging accident on Thanksgiving. According to authorities, the 68-year-old man was driving a tractor when a tree fell on top of him. It happened late yesterday afternoon, and he was working alone at the time. His name was not immediately released. Marathon County sheriff’s deputies are still investigating.

(End)