Month: October 2015

WEST BEND, Wis. (AP) — A convicted child sex offender is accused of violating the rules of his probation by volunteering at a charity haunted house geared toward children in southeast Wisconsin.  A criminal complaint says 36-year-old Andy Hawthorne of West Bend was working as a volunteer monster at the Dwelling of Despair in Slinger when he removed his mask to calm down two frightened children and their father, an […]

CINCINNATI (AP) — Newly elected U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan has said he found himself while in college in John Boehner's home county in southwest Ohio.  At Miami University, Ryan took a deep dive into the study of conservative economic philosophies and dipped his toe into congressional politics as a low-level volunteer for Boehner.  The Wisconsin Republican was elected Thursday to succeed Boehner. Ryan has said he spent much of […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker's administration has no records to back up an example he and Republicans have cited as necessitating overhauling the state's civil service hiring process.  Walker has frequently said a short-order cook performed well enough on the state's civil service exam to be interviewed for a financial examiner job, which he did not get.  But Walker administration spokesman Cullen Werwie says in an email to […]

A Republican state representative from Oshkosh says the State Treasurer no longer serves a useful purpose in state government.  The Assembly voted this week in favor of a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the position.  Republicans who control the legislature have slowly eliminated the treasurer’s duties over the years.  Repbulican state representative Michael Schraa  says the treasurer only has one remaining small responsibility.  "When you have a state position that […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Florida Sen. Marco Rubio plans to hold a rally in Wisconsin the day before the next Republican presidential candidate debate.  Rubio announced Thursday that he will appear in Pewaukee on Nov. 9, the day before the Milwaukee debate.  Rubio also plans to host a fundraiser on Nov. 9 for Wisconsin state Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and the committee to elect Republicans to the Assembly. Vos and […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Scott Walker's administration says Capitol Police did not maintain records of who visited the governor's mansion prior to the filing of an open records requests by a liberal advocacy group.  Walker attorney Elisabeth Winterhack says in an email sent Thursday to the group One Wisconsin Now that the records are transitory and not required to be kept under the law.  But the president of the […]

A Wisconsin environmental group says a new Clean Power Plan is long overdue…critics say it will drive up utility costs for Wisconsin residents.  The final power plant carbon pollution limits require Wisconsin to reduce emissions by 41 percent below 2005 levels by 2030.  Clean Wisconsin senior policy director Keith Reopelle says it makes sense for Wisconsin to write its own plan to meet the new greenhouse gas rules.  "The plan […]

Its that time of year again…the annual Medicare open enrollment period.  Fond du lac County Senior Services Benefits Specialist Julie Hilbert says if you would like to make a change to your Medicare Part D prescription drug plan or your Medicare Advantage plan you can do so between now and December 7th: Hilbert says it can be confusing, but she says having the right plan can save you hundreds of […]

The Wisconsin AAA says now is the time to have routine maintenance on your vehicle to prevent breakdowns during the winter driving season.  State AAA spokesman Nick Jarmuscz says in 2014  AAA responded to more than 29 million calls for roadside assistance with the majority due to battery failure, flat tires and keys locked in vehicles.  A recent AAA survey revealed that 35 percent of motorists skipped or delayed service […]