(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 5 Jan. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— A federal stimulus package focused on “getting people to work” would stem widespread unemployment, Gov. Jim Doyle said as he warned about an upcoming budget plan without “any big new initiatives of any kind.”

While he is hopeful that a federal stimulus package will provide relief, Doyle cautioned that there isn’t a cure-all for the ailing economy.

“There is real risk that (the economy) gets worse but I think that without a major stimulus package it almost certainly will,” Doyle said in a year-end interview. “So I think people have to recognize this is not going to be an immediate turn-around.”

Doyle, in an interview with WisPolitics.com at the Executive Residence, said the most significant change Wisconsin will see under Barack Obama is the “economic recovery package that’s actually directed at getting people to work. It isn’t gonna be ‘Here banks, have a bunch of money and we’re gonna see what happens.”

A few days after the interview, the state Department of Revenue said key indicators show the Wisconsin economy has entered a recession. The DOR’s press release also says total state employment is expected to show a 0.6 percent decrease in 2008 and a 2.2 percent drop in 2009, with recovery beginning toward 2010.

In the year-end interview Doyle, entering his seventh year in the governor’s office, said by the accounts he’s heard, the recession, which began at the start of 2008, will continue through the first quarter of 2010. “Recessions of that length do real long-term damage to countries,” he said.

See more from Doyle on the economy:

http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144706

— Yellow Transportation and Roadway Express, both of Milwaukee, have filed separate notices of layoffs at their 6880 South Howell location in Oak Creek.

Yellow Transportation said it intends to close its facility, resulting in the permanent layoff of 97 workers. Roadway Express is not closing its facility, but filed notice of its plans for permanent layoffs affecting 63 workers. Both companies’ layoffs are set to start March 1.

See the state filings:

http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144707

— Enbridge Energy has agreed to pay $1.1 million to settle state claims under Wisconsin’s waterway and wetland protection and storm water control laws. The laws applied to Enbridge Energy’s pipeline construction across the state in 2007 and 2008, and the judgment resolves charges that Enbridge Energy failed to comply with certain requirements under those laws.

See the state Department of Justice press release:

http://wispolitics.com/index.Iml?Article=144644

— Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton and State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster and their Wisconsin Task Force on Arts and Creativity in Education will host the Creative Wisconsin Summit on Friday at Monona Terrace in Madison. Keynoting the event will be Sir Ken Robinson, internationally renowned expert in the field of creativity and innovation in business and education.

See more: http://wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=144537



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Press Releases
· A.G. Van Hollen: Enbridge Energy settles state lawsuit over environmental violations for $1,100,000
· Dept. of Revenue: National, state economic crises deepen
· Great Lakes Quick Lube: Receives “Spirit of Franchising” Award
· Madison Mayor Cieslewicz: Statement re: Stuart Seffern
· Wisconsin Medical Society: A remedy for health care paperwork headache

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


TOP STORIES
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Magazine ranks Wis. children’s hospital 3rd in U.S.: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin has been ranked No. 2 in emergency care and No. 3 overall by Parents magazine. The magazine surveyed more than 100 children’s hospitals about survival rates, staff expertise and research.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/430709

Kuhn acquires Dutch ag equipment firm: Agricultural equipment producer Kuhn North America Inc. of Brodhead on Friday announced that it has acquired the crop packaging division of Kverneland Group, which has its factory in Geldrop, Netherlands. The Kverneland facility specializes in the design and manufacturing of fixed- and variable-chamber round balers, big square balers, bale wrappers, rotary drum mowers, tedder-rake combinations and corn choppers.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430439

Oshkosh Corp. gets $1.2 billion Pentagon contract: The Defense Department said Wednesday that it has awarded a $1.2 billion contract to the military division of Oshkosh Corp. for work on military trucks.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20090102/OSH03/90102051/1167

Democrats Debate Methods to End Stem Cell Ban : Thwarted by President Bush in their efforts to expand federal spending on embryonic stem cell research, Democrats are now debating whether to overturn federal restrictions through executive order or by legislation when they assume full control of the government this month.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/03/washington/03stem.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

– GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

– TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

– JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

– STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Online sales fall 3% during holiday season
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430386

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Survey: Downturn stress impacting health
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/29/daily41.html

– Brace yourself: 2009 likely to be worse than 2008, economists say
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37073894.html

– Wisconsin foreclosure filings rise 21.5%, hit record in 2008
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37004694.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Metalworkers putting their stamp on industry
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20081228/MAN03/812280464/1397

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Number of businesses opening up sees dip
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090103/GPG03/901030543/1247

– Vital Source magazine calls it quits
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37069139.html

INVESTING (back to top)
– Take steps to rebuild your retirement investments
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090104/APC03/901040401/1028

– First Business Financial Services to issue more stock
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430528

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Bayshore a hot spot for offices
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/story4.html?b=1231131600^1755260

– Bielinski sells part of Grandview Plaza in Waukesha
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/05/story5.html?b=1231131600^1755285

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Cheese making is an exact science for Krohn, family
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090105/GPG03/901050497/1247

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Motorists’ habits spur call for gas tax increases
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430440

– Trucking industry hit by dropping volume
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BIPVPQFFGMP

RETAIL (back to top)
– Food pantries change to better serve their customers
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/430720

REGULATION (back to top)
– Enbridge settles state lawsuit for $1.1M
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/29/daily44.html

– State officials to monitor heating at Kenosha greyhound track
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/37049849.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Local ski hills revel in big snows
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/430031

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– 4 area nursing homes get low federal ratings
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090105/GPG0101/901050477/1978

– Foldy to lead Wisconsin’s Public Health division
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/29/daily39.html

– U.S. spends more on health
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37026774.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Anchor BanCorp Wisconsin gets debt payment extention
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/430524

– Sale of Brookfield bank closes
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/29/daily38.html

– Guaranty trying to prevent foreclosures
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37069129.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Amerequip Corp. names new president
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090104/APC03/901040402/1028

– Schrock settles in new post at Integrys
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090104/GPG03/901040629/1247

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– John Torinus: Reform is coming – let’s just make sure its aim is true
http://www.jsonline.com/business/37026709.html

Media Partners
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—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek

National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html

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