By Brian E. Clark
RISING
UW-Madison
The University of Wisconsin-Madison made national news for another stem cell breakthrough, but inside Wisconsin it’s been hit by fan and political criticism over football games that have aired only on the new Big Ten Network.
The stem cell advance could eliminate many of the ethical objections to the research because it does not require the destruction of human embryos to create self-replicating cells. It comes from the lab of pioneer Jamie Thomson, who first isolated embryonic stem cells in 1998.
In response, UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley reports that the school will earn at least $6.1 million this year under its broadcasting agreement with the network. He said 70 percent of the revenue going to the Athletic Department and the rest will be used for financial aid for low-income students and to support the school’s library system.
The university released the details of its agreement with the Big Ten Network on Friday after state lawmakers started to question the deal. Many Badger fans are upset with the network and the state’s two biggest cable networks because they can’t get some football and basketball games on TV since the companies have been unable to reach an accord with the network. The cable companies want to put the channel in a separate sports package that would add extra monthly fees. The Big Ten Network wants to be included on basic cable.
MIXED
Badger State employment
Wisconsin’s unadjusted unemployment rate for October was 4.5 percent, one-tenth of a percentage point lower than in September but up from 3.9 percent for the same month last year.
The rate compares with a national unadjusted unemployment rate of 4.4 percent, down from 4.5 percent in September. Wisconsin’s jobless rate has been greater than the national figure for more than a year now. Prior to that, the state rate was less than the national figure for nearly two decades.
Wisconsin non-farm jobs increased 13,400 to 2,912,200 from September to October 2007. Private-sector jobs fell over the month by 1,400, led by a drop in leisure and hospitality jobs, which were down 6,200.
Most of the month’s increase came from the rise in government jobs, largely due to teachers and staff returning to school.
FALLING
U.S. Oil Co.
Wisconsin has fined U.S. Oil Co. of Combined Locks $450,000 for violating air pollution control laws at petroleum bulk storage tanks it runs in Brown, Dane and Milwaukee counties. The privately held company has more than 1,000 employees.
Its Milwaukee and Green Bay terminals were considered major pollution sources with the potential of emitting more than 100 tons of organic gases per year.
The state Department of Justice said the fine was approved by Dane County Circuit Judge Maryann Sumi. And Atty. Gen. J.B. Van Hollen said in a statement that he is “hopeful that the company’s corrective actions will eliminate any future violations.”
Marjorie Young, general counsel for U.S. Oil, said many of the issues have been dealt with and that the company is now in compliance with all the rules and regulations regarding terminals, adding: “We believe any violations that did occur were corrected.”
