— Gov. Jim Doyle has declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin due to the presence of swine flu in the state. The governor said Thursday there were two new suspected cases of the swine flu in Wisconsin in addition to the three reported previously. The new cases are young adults living in Ozaukee and Sheboygan counties. “We are staying on top of it 24 hours a day,” Doyle said. See the press release: http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=157279 — The UW Board of Regents will meet in Milwaukee next week and is set to discuss a proposed differential tuition level for the UW-Madison campus. UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin proposed the tuition increase in March. If approved by the board, the state’s flagship campus would boost in-state undergraduate tuition $250 a year for four straight years beginning in 2010. The four-year increase would boost tuition rates by $1,000 a year. Out-of-state students would be charged an additional $750 each year, resulting in a $3,000 surcharge after four years. As part of the proposal, a portion of the new revenue would match private donations for an increase in need-based financial aid. Martin says the new aid would negate the tuition hike for students whose families earn less than $80,000. — Made possible by a sharp decline in fuel costs, the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin approved a reduction in Wisconsin Electric Power Company’s fuel surcharge. The average residential WEPCO customer using 600 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month can expect to see their electric bill drop approximately $1.60 per month. See the press release: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=157253 ************************* MONDAY, MAY 4 at The Madison Club The next WisBusiness.com Luncheon at the Madison Club, organized by the Madison Club, Madison Magazine, and WisBusiness.com, is slated for Monday May 4 at 11:45 a.m. The guest is Tim Cooley, Madison’s new economic development director. Learn more about Cooley: http://www.cityofmadison.com/news/view.cfm?news_id=1252 The event is open to the public, and the price for lunch is $19. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m. TOP STORIES Badger Meter to shift work to Mexico: To reduce costs and optimize a new factory, Badger Meter Inc. plans to shift production from its main operations in Brown Deer to a new plant in Mexico. Doyle Declares Public Health Emergency Over N1N1 Flu: Now that the so-called ‘Swine Influenza A,’ or H1N1 virus, has been found in the state, Governor Jim Doyle has declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin. The action calls for the Department of Health Services to take all necessary and appropriate measures to prevent and respond to the pandemic. Machine conversion complicates Kimberly’s NewPage mill sale: Big challenges loom as the wheels begin turning for the marketing and sale of the dormant NewPage paper mill. State jobless rate expected to remain sluggish: “By the end of 2009 or the beginning of 2010 we will see our economy much stronger, so (economists) are seeing some kernels of increased confidence and some signs of improvement,” said Roberta Gassman, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. Gassman spoke Thursday to the Labor Management Council of Northeast Wisconsin at the Radisson Hotel & Conference Center in Ashwaubenon. Alliant turns to layoffs, other cost cutting : Its sales and earnings falling because of the weak economy, Alliant Energy Corp. on Thursday announced layoffs, furloughs and the suspension of contributions to employees’ 401(k) plans in a bid to cut costs.
************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler: ************************************************************
ECONOMY (back to top) – Area economy contracted at slower rate in April – Film tax breaks capped at $3 million OK’d – Journal CEO Smith: Some lost revenue may never return – CB Richard Ellis loses $36.7 million – Area industrial economy improved in April, report shows
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – More buried bombs drive demand for armored vehicles with Oshkosh Corp. parts – Military work keeps Oshkosh Corp. rolling – Mercury Marine posts $51 million first quarter loss in engine division – Charges push Manitowoc to a first-quarter loss LABOR (back to top)
INVESTING (back to top) – Two dissenting voices leave Great Wolf board
REAL ESTATE (back to top) – Wauwatosa business groups support county land sale to UWM – Mortgage rates lowest in at least 39 years – Merchants caught in middle of investors’ lawsuits
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – Cross County: ‘Our life has been like a movie’ – Eat pork, producers plead
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
REGULATION (back to top)
TOURISM (back to top) – Haunted house convention in Milwaukee aims to scare up business
UTILITIES (back to top) – We Energies gets OK to cut rates
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
MANAGEMENT (back to top) – Orion Energy appoints Mark Williamson to board PRESS RELEASES (back to top) For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 |
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