“Governor Walk, Hang in there, the American people are behind you, with you, and praying for you, don`t let those union scum sucking thugs push you around …” A selection of emails sent to Gov. Scott Walker from Feb. 11 to Feb. 18, 2011.
Category: Government
Posted inEconomy, Government
Analysis: Emails favored Walker 2-1
In the week after Gov. Scott Walker announced his plan to dramatically curtail public employees’ collective bargaining rights in the state budget repair bill, a wide majority of the emails to him expressed support, a Center analysis of those emails indicates. But that support was significantly boosted by emails from pro-Walker senders from outside Wisconsin.
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety
Records: At least 45 sex offenders in state’s nursing homes
Donald Henriksen is one of at least 45 registered sex offenders living among other nursing home residents, according to a Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism review of addresses for the state’s nearly 20,000 registered sex offenders and 399 licensed nursing homes.
Posted inGovernment, Justice & Safety, WisWatch Blog
Aviation database reveals frequent safety problems at airports
A six-month examination of more than 150,000 reports filed by pilots and others in the aviation industry over the past 20 years reveals surprising and sometimes shocking safety breaches and close calls at local, regional and major airports throughout the country.
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Government
How a polluter gets stimulus money — and avoids environmental review
A state program helped Didion Milling win $5.6 million in stimulus funding to expand its Cambria milling and ethanol plant, which has a history of environmental violations.
Posted inEconomy, Environment, Government
Audio slideshow: Citizens against Didion
Neighbors of Didion Milling’s Cambria plant talk about why they have fought the company for years. Main story How a polluter gets stimulus money — and avoids environmental review Nov. 29, 2010 The nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism (www.WisconsinWatch.org) collaborates with Wisconsin Public Radio, Wisconsin Public Television, other news media and the UW-Madison School […]
Posted inEnvironment, Government, Health & Welfare
Toxic Legacy: Gas customers may have to eat some costs for plant cleanups
Whoever is deemed responsible for the century-old toxic waste in Ashland, community residents — and others in Wisconsin — will pay for millions in cleanup costs.
Posted inEnvironment, Government, Health & Welfare
Toxic legacy: Century-old tar plumes under Lake Superior stir health fears — and a cleanup could be years away
Millions of gallons of contaminated groundwater and thousands of gallons of gooey black coal tar lie underneath Ashland’s downtown waterfront. It is by far the thorniest cleanup of an old manufactured gas plant in Wisconsin — both because of the difficulty in cleaning it up, and in finding someone to pay for it.
Posted inEconomy, Education, Government, WisWatch Blog
Westwood temporarily halts Wisconsin enrollments
Westwood College Online has temporarily stopped enrolling Wisconsin students, but maintains it doesn’t need approval from the Wisconsin agency that sent it a cease-and-desist letter.
Posted inEconomy, Education, Government
State orders for-profit college to halt enrollments
A for-profit college that is providing online classes without approval in Wisconsin was ordered Thursday by state regulators to immediately stop enrolling students in the state or face possible fines of up to $500 a day.
Posted inEconomy, Education, Government
For-profit college accused of operating illegally in Wisconsin
Melissa Willes has $25,000 in student loans and no degree to show for it. Now she’s suing Westwood College for operating in Wisconsin without the required state approval.
Posted inEducation, Government
Amid slow economy, more Wisconsin students heed the calls of military recruiters
Fred Machado, a wiry 18-year-old, walked across the Oregon High School stage at his graduation ceremony in June. Now he’s at a military facility 2,000 miles away, training to become a Marine.