From WisBusiness.com … — Two northern Wisconsin Democrats are calling on mining company Gogebic Taconite to remove what they described as “heavily armed masked commando security forces” at the site of a planned mine in the Penokee Hills. Tensions have been high at the site of the proposed mine over the past month with allegations protesters slashed tires on mining equipment and did other damage. Read the letter: — In a new BizOpinion column, Tom Still writes that recent studies and news reports show innovation is helping to reshape some of Wisconsin’s largest business sectors. “That’s vital to the state’s long-term recovery, not only from the Great Recession that began in 2008, but a much longer slide in manufacturing employment that began more than 13 years ago,” Still writes. Read the column for a few examples: TOP STORIES Listeria illness, death tied to Wisconsin-made Crave Brothers cheese: One person has died, a pregnant woman has miscarried and three others have been hospitalized after eating contaminated soft cheese from an award-winning Wisconsin cheese operation, officials said Monday. … The recalled cheeses were distributed nationwide through dozens of retail and food-service outlets as well as by mail order. Related: Wisconsin lawmakers ask Gogebic Taconite to remove armed guards: Two Wisconsin lawmakers have asked the president of Gogebic Taconite to remove armed security guards from the company’s proposed mining site in Ashland and Iron counties. … Bob Seitz, Gogebic Taconite spokesman, told the News Tribune that the company began employing private security guards after teams of mining opponents “dressed in black and wearing masks violently attacked our drill site” in June. State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, and Rep. Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, on Monday sent a letter to Gogebic Taconite President Bill Williams, calling on him to immediately remove “the heavily armed masked commando security unit recently hired to protect the company’s property in the Penokee Hills.” Related: – Gogebic Taconite asked to remove armed guards from mine site – Mining company might restrict public access: In the midst of outrage over photos of armed guards patrolling the controversial mining site, the company says it may move to end public access to the area. – Armed security posted at GTAC sites – Pictures show armed guards at G-Tac mining site – Mining company draws fire for hiring armed guards Home Savings Bank files for an initial public stock offering: The Madison bank has filed a proposal with federal regulators to create a holding company, Home Bancorp Wisconsin, and sell up to about 12.5 million shares of stock at a tentative price of $10 a share, raising as much as $12.5 million. Net proceeds would be up to $11.4 million. UW separating from WiscNet: A nonprofit group which provides Internet services to school districts, libraries and other public-sector entities expects to maintain a viable business model, despite the loss of its largest customer, the University of Wisconsin System. Related: – Officials say WiscNet Internet service can survive ************************************************************ See commentary from around the state and columns from WisBusiness contributors: ************************************************************ ECONOMY (back to top) – Consumer borrowing surges in May: Americans increased their borrowing in May at the fastest pace in a year. Borrowing in the category that includes credit cards reached its highest point since the fall of 2010. MANUFACTURING (back to top) – Bemis Co. reports earnings July 25: Bemis Co. Inc., a maker of flexible packaging, will release its second quarter earnings results on July 25 before the market opens. Company executives will discuss the results during a conference call at 9 a.m. that day. – Johnson Controls, Cree partner on N.C. lighting project – Koss reaches settlement with Grant Thornton: Milwaukee-based Koss Corp. has settled the claims against its former auditor, Grant Thornton LLP, in the lawsuit pending in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, County Department, Law Division. LABOR (back to top) – Desperate for labor, farmers join call for immigration reform – UW chemistry building evacuated: University of Wisconsin Madison officials evacuated the chemistry building on campus after reports of a leaking liquid nitrogen tank Monday night. SMALL BUSINESS (back to top) – Appleton sign company’s roof collapses INVESTING (back to top) REAL ESTATE (back to top) – Neighbors speak out against Monroe Street building project in Madison – Monroe Street redevelopment OK’d over neighbor protest – Downtown La Crosse Transit Center gets commercial tenant: Nearly three years after opening, downtown La Crosse’s transit center has a commercial tenant and may be close to signing another. – Sheboygan to get ‘facelift,’ company says: Sheboygan is about to get a facelift, courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints. The community cast enough online votes in the paint company’s “Main Street Matters” contest to win the community a Benjamin Moore-sponsored paint job on certain sections of downtown. – Milwaukee: Small downtown office to be demolished due to structural problems – Home price gains bring sellers off the sidelines AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – Crops Thriving in the Hot, Dry Weather – Climate Corp. Approved to Provide Federal Crop Insurance – July 15 is the Deadline to File Annual Acreage Reports – Wisconsin Holstein to Hold State Show Next Week TRANSPORTATION (back to top) – Leaf-cutter ants may reveal secrets to creating biofuels – Briggs & Stratton develops additive to offset ethanol’s effects on small engines – New names for regional airports give sense of place RETAIL (back to top) – Board postpones decision on land use, Walmart: An initial decision from the Caledonia Village Board on what to do with the area of land encompassing a proposed Walmart location has again been put on hold. – Wausau: New Polito’s, Jimmy John’s locations in south metro area back on track REGULATION (back to top) – Lawmakers vow to take on aid fraud in Wisconsin: State lawmakers from both parties expressed frustration Monday at gaps in regulation of Wisconsin’s public assistance programs and pledged to do more to combat fraud. – Judge blocks new Wisconsin abortion law: A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday evening to block enforcement of a new Wisconsin law that bans doctors who lack admitting privileges at nearby hospitals from performing abortions. – Admitting privileges provision a successful pro-life tool: Though a federal judge blocked the implementation of the law in Wisconsin for now, it’s been an effective strategy for shutting down abortion clinics in other states. – Judge temporarily blocks enforcement of new abortion law – ATF settles with landlord after flawed sting: The ATF has settled a claim from the landlord of the building where the agency ran a troubled undercover sting in Milwaukee last year. – New permit under consideration for 716-acre sand mine: Trempealeau County’s largest frac sand mine wants to build and operate a rail development and dewatering facility. TOURISM (back to top) – Public input sought on future of Janesville Performing Arts Center – Milwaukee’s newest outdoor amphitheater soaks in the skyline: Kadish Park is home to Milwaukee’s newest outdoor performance venue, overlooking the Milwaukee River and the city’s downtown. – Monks to create sand artwork near Spring Green: A group of Tibetan monks are visiting Wisconsin during the Himalayan Festival in the Spring Green area. – Riverfest back on track; attendance soared with perfect weather – MVC buys 400 acres near Boscobel: The Mississippi Valley Conservancy has purchased a wilderness tract about half the size of Hixon Forest near Boscobel for conservation and outdoor recreation. – Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame golf tournament at The Bull at Pinehurst Farms, July 8 (PHOTO GALLERY) UTILITIES (back to top) – We Energies: Scam being taken ‘to a different level’: Officials from We Energies say the power company is seeing an increasing number of reports of scammers trying to bilk money from their customers by claiming that customers owe money to the utility and threaten to cut off electrical service unless they pay immediately. – Big disconnect: Phone companies abandoning landlines: The lines have been supplanted by cellphones and Internet-based phone service offered by way of cable television and fiber optic wiring. – Xcel: Demand not to blame for brief Onalaska brownout – Sawyer Creek dredging, contamination cleanup will stretch into fall: The cleanup of petroleum-contaminated sediment dredged from Sawyer Creek will cost the city of Oshkosh $487,000 and will not be finished until the end of October. HEALTH CARE (back to top) – TPG Capital expected to close on Assisted Living Concepts purchase shortly – White House taps Gundersen CEO as ‘Champion of Change’: Dr. Jeff Thompson, CEO of the Gundersen Health System, is one of 11 people who will be honored as “Champions of Change” Tuesday at the White House. FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top) MANAGEMENT (back to top) – Hund will be new president of Manitowoc Company division PRESS RELEASES (back to top) For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82 |
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