(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 31 Aug. 2009

MON WisBusiness News Summary
31 August 2009
Exclusively for WisBusiness Subscribers


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From WisBusiness.com …

— It was another week of gains for the Dow Jones as it starts this week at 9,544, roughly 40 points higher than last week’s open.

The WisBusiness index of 70 state stocks stayed steady and again opened the week just above 1,700.

The week ahead will see a quarterly profit report from Milwaukee mining equipment company Joy Global on Wednesday.

And Kohl’s Department Stores gives a look at its back-to-school sales when it releases its August numbers on Thursday.

— The Wisconsin Industrial Energy Group and the Citizens Utility Board have filed a lawsuit against the Public Service Commission for allegedly ignoring state law in approving a wind power project to be built in Minnesota, owned by Madison-based Wisconsin Power & Light Co. and paid for by WPL’s Wisconsin customers.

See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82

— Explore Minnesota Tourism, the state’s tourism promotion office, has begun running two ads on Minnesota radio stations in collaboration with the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The ads promote fall travel to both the Minnesota and Wisconsin sides of the St. Croix River and the Mississippi River. Each of these rivers is popular for viewing fall color, and this partnership markets both sides of the river as a joint destination.

— BioForward, the member organization that represents the state’s biotechnology industry, announced that Bryan Renk has accepted the position of executive director and will be starting Oct. 1.

Renk comes to BioForward with over 20 years of management expertise, most recently as president and director of aOva Technologies. Previously he has held positions as director of licensing at Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, and director at Wm. F. Renk and Sons.

— Today is the last day to sign up for the latest iteration of Wisconsin’s Do Not Call List.

Residents must sign up for the No Call list every two years to avoid being dropped from the service. Today is the deadline to sign up for the next two-year list, which goes into effect beginning in October. Consumers can always sign up later, but they will not be on the list that becomes effective on Oct. 1.

Wisconsin residents can sign up their cell phone or landline numbers by calling 1-866-9NO-CALL (1-866-966-2255). It’s toll-free and can be contacted 24 hours a day. Registration is also available online at https://nocall.wisconsin.gov/web/home.asp .

TOP STORIES
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Harley’s desire for central spot knocks out Tosa: Efficiency issues and a desire for a more centrally located factory led Harley-Davidson Inc. management to rule out Wauwatosa as a possible site for motorcycle assembly operations should the company decide to close its York, Pa., plant.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/31/story6.html?b=1251691200^2009141

Project aimed at water businesses: A $117 million business park proposed for Milwaukee’s 5th Ward along the Menomonee Canal would be aimed at water-based technology firms.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/31/story4.html?b=1251691200^2008461

M&I makes Appleton layoffs of 154 official: M&I Bank filed official notice Friday of its planned layoffs in Appleton. The Milwaukee-based bank said 154 workers would be displaced by Nov. 2 in the notice of mass layoff filed with the Department of Workforce Development.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090829/APC03/908290508/1028/

Spectrum Brands emerges from bankruptcy : The company said it completed its Chapter 11 reorganization after meeting all closing conditions as confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Texas, San Antonio Division.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/463724

Groups sue regulators over giant wind farm: Two electric consumer groups have sued Wisconsin regulators alleging they followed the wrong process when they approved a giant wind farm in Minnesota.
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_7151225a-9410-11de-a3d8-001cc4c03286.html

Union leader: No second vote for Mercury Marine workers in Fond du Lac: As a deadline neared on wage and benefit concessions Mercury Marine said it needed to keep 850 jobs from moving to Oklahoma, a union leader said a second vote would not occur.
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090829/APC0101/908290521/1979

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VISIT BIZOPINION FOR BUSINESS-RELATED COMMENTARY

See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors Jennifer Sereno, Kevin McKinley, Tom Burzinski, Gregg Hoffmann, Tom Still and Steve Jagler:
http://blogs.wisbusiness.com/bizopinion

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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– As Internet turns 40, barriers threaten its growth
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090831/OSH03/90830034

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Milwaukee’s for-profit colleges do well during recession
http://www.jsonline.com/business/55949037.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Columbus Chemical Industries rebounds after May fire
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/463779

LABOR (back to top)
– 40-day strike over at Bemis plant in W. Indiana
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/I/IN_BEMIS_STRIKE_WIOL-?SITE=WIEAU&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

– Worker verification rule for contractors clears federal court
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/24/daily79.html

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Door County cherry crop has banner year
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090830/GPG03/908300592/1247/

– Recent Bacterial Infection Cases Linked to Raw Milk
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=1041&yr=2009

– Farm matchmaking a way to preserve rural America
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/463893

RETAIL (back to top)
– Skipper Bud’s opens Arizona marina
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/24/daily81.html

– Wisconsin’s cigarette tax to go up 75 cents a pack on Tuesday
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/463922

REGULATION (back to top)
– ‘Robocalls’ ban starts Tuesday
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/24/daily78.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Recession squeezes state travel industry
http://www.jsonline.com/business/55949077.html

– Brewers likely to hit 3 million soon
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/sports/55764417.html

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Harness the wind: Turbines grow in popularity
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/463781

– Nuclear waste now stored outside reactor
http://www.jsonline.com/business/55949067.html

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah planning for beyond 100th birthday
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090830/APC03/908300477

– Seniors see threats to health care
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090830/OSH03/908300351

– Telemedicine allows remote medical procedures
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BL0V2AA10OC

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Regulators pressure 3 Wisconsin banks to improve
http://www.jsonline.com/business/55764577.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Kohl’s Corp.’s Mansell getting pay raise
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/24/daily75.html

– BioForward names new executive director
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/08/24/daily72.html

PRESS RELEASES (back to top)
DWD: Gov. Doyle announces additional assistance for dislocated workers
· RENEW Wisconsin: PSC opens door for more in-state renewable installations
· Wisconsin Association for Justice: Labor Day holiday travel alert: More than 19% of WI truck companies have safety regulation violations
· Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation: Fall harvest weight limits begin on Sept. 1
· BioForward: Announces new executive director

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82

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