From WisBusiness.com …
— State Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman announced that Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for July was 4.8 percent, down 0.1 percentage point from June. The rate was unchanged from the rate in July of 2007. The national rate for July was 6.0, up 0.3 percentage points from June, and up 1.1 percentage points from July 2007.
“Wisconsin’s unemployment rate showed little change in July with a drop in rate over the month and no change over the year, despite increases in the national rate in both monthly and yearly comparisons,” Gassman said. “Job counts followed normal seasonal patterns, which typically show a drop from June to July.”
See the release: http://dwd.wisconsin.gov/dwd/newsreleases/2008/unemployment/0708_state_lmi.pdf
— Data Specialists, Inc. in Elkhorn will receive $100,000 in state Technology Zone tax credits for a project is expected to create 36 new positions.
See details: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=133541
— Appleton Papers Inc. has received an $85,000 Customized Labor Training grant from the Department of Commerce to train 80 current employees on new equipment.
See details: http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=133538
— Researchers from UW-Madison and Hitachi have announced a new approach to manufacturing that could further shrink the size of hard drives and other data storage devices.
The new manufacturing method could allow for smaller devices and also make the production process cheaper and faster.
See the release: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/news/headlines/2008/Aug14a.html
— Wisconsin is feeling an economic contraction in the printing industry this week.
Sussex-based Quad/Graphics Inc. eliminated 100 jobs, mostly in Wisconsin, Wednesday, and General Binding Corp., a commercial document finishing company, announced plans to cut 75 jobs at its 100,000-square-foot plant in Pleasant Prairie.
See details: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/8/14/#economic-slowdown-clips-briggs
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Dept. of Commerce: Governor Doyle announces funding for Data Specialists, Inc.
Dept. of Commerce: Marketplace 2008 to showcase Wisconsin Minority Business Awards
Fiserv: Launches source capture optimization approach to capture deposits from any location
Gov. Doyle: Announces training project with Appleton Papers
Marshfield Clinic demonstrates improved quality of care resulting in cost savings for Medicare
SonoPlot: Appoints distributor in Japan
TV4US Wisconsin: Wisconsin cable companies black out Brett
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Wisconsin bucks July’s national unemployment trend: Wisconsin’s unemployment rate for July was down slightly from June, despite national trends which saw unemployment grow. Department of Workforce Development Secretary Roberta Gassman said the unemployment rate for July was 4.8 percent in Wisconsin, down 0.1 percent from June and virtually unchanged from July of 2007. The national unemployment rate for July was 6.0 percent, an increase of 0.3 percent from June and an increase of 1.1 percent from July of 2007. Gassman said July marked the fifth consecutive month to post gains in both manufacturing and construction jobs, although the total number of non-farm jobs in the state decreased by 29,600 to a total of 2,889,000.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300776
Wisconsin’s existing home sales drop 22.2 percent: Existing home sales in Wisconsin fell 22.2 percent during the second quarter from a year ago, a steeper decline than the Midwest region and the nation, according to a report issued Thursday by the Wisconsin Association of Realtors. Median sale prices were down 3 percent to $162,200 from last year, better than a 7.6 percent national decline reported by the National Association of Realtors. During the second quarter, 14,933 home sales were reported to multiple listing services in the state, down from 19,186 during the second quarter last year. These figures do not include sales that didn’t involve a real estate agent. “It’s a mirror image of what happened in the first quarter,” said David Clark, an economist with C3 Statistical Solutions of Milwaukee.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/300790
Kohl’s quarterly profit drops by more than 12%: Earnings fall as consumers cut spending … Kohl’s Corp. said Thursday that its second-quarter profit fell more than 12 percent as same-store sales dipped during a consumer pullback in spending. The department store chain, based in Menomonee Falls, said it earned $236 million, or 77 cents per share, during the three-month period ending in August. That was down from the same period last year, when Kohl’s earned $269.2 million, or 83 cents per share. Sales rose 3.8 percent to $3.7 billion, on par with estimates. But same-store sales — a key figure in retailing that measures sales at stores open at least a year — fell 4.6 percent. The results came after the market closed Thursday. Kohl’s shares rose 68 cents, or 1.4 percent, to close at $48.27.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/GPG0101/808150643/1978/GPGnews
Briggs’ sales fall, profits plummet: Homeowners choose to repair old mowers instead of buying new, and lawn and garden equipment makers are feeling the painEarnings fall 97%; new machines to cost more … Briggs & Stratton executives said Thursday they remain cautious about their outlook for the lawn and garden equipment industry as consumers pull back on discretionary spending. The company’s fourth-quarter earnings sank 97% on a decrease in sales and higher operating costs. For 2009, Briggs expects sales growth of 5% to 6%, mostly due to price increases. U.S. sales of lawn and garden equipment, especially, have been hard hit by the economic downturn. “We think that we have hit bottom here,” John Shiely, Briggs chairman, president and CEO said in a conference call with analysts.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783536
UW team patents way to make smaller drives: An iPod equipped with a tiny disk drive can hold up to 200 hours of video, or 40,000 songs. In other words, not nearly enough. The continuing effort to squeeze more digital material into ever smaller devices has taken a big step forward at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where researchers have helped develop a novel technique for making computer chips. The team used materials called “block copolymers” that can assemble themselves into microscopic patterns printed onto chips used in disk drives. The technique has the potential to make the mass production of higher-capacity drives possible at a reasonable price, some experts say. “We’re making structures 1,000 to 10,000 times smaller than the width of a human hair.”
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783617
Oshkosh school district suing Appleton-based company over lead contamination: The Oshkosh School District is suing the company it believes spread lead-contaminated paint dust throughout the Recreation Department building in October. The district filed a civil lawsuit against Appleton-based Protective Coating Specialists Inc. and Acuity Mutual Insurance for cleanup costs to remove dust from the building and the cost of additional cleanup work still needed, according to a civil complaint filed in Winnebago County Circuit Court Thursday. Protective Coating Specialists was contracted to grind paint off the building’s basement floor, a former shooting range. A clause in the contract required the company to take precautions to limit the amount of dust circulating from the work, but the district claims the company’s work spread through the building.
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/OSH0101/808150454/1987
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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS
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– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Court says copyrights apply even for free software
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/T/TEC_FREE_SOFTWARE_LAWSUIT?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Wind program blows in to LTC
http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/SHE0101/808150485/1973
– State swings for wind rules
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20049306&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20049306%26snippet%3Df
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Recipients of grants, tax credits for business growth announced
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783539
– Bear market takes toll on retirees
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/APC0101/808150532/1979/APCnews
– Consumer prices rise at double the expected rate
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/APC03/80814040/1028
– Market crushes developers
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20049307&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20049307%26snippet%3Df
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Magnetek sees 27% rise in quarterly profit
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Aug_08/08142008_16.asp
LABOR (back to top)
– Jobless claims fall less than expected
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/APC03/80814037/1028
– More layoffs planned for Pleasant Prairie plant
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/daily29.html?surround=lfn
– July jobless figure grows by 12,000
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783551
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Grand Chute church site cleared for novelty restaurant
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/APC03/808150543/1028
INVESTING (back to top)
– Oil falls below $114 on slowing economies
http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OIL_PRICES?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME
– Stocks fall after disappointing inflation data
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/APC03/80814042/1028
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Fox Valley home sales drop
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/APC03/808150546/1028
– Dip in home foreclosures shows hope for state
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783538
– Land near Racine brings $3.4 million
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783577
– UWM names three finalists for residence hall site
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/daily40.html?surround=lfn
– U.S. foreclosure filings surged 55 percent, data say
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/WDH03/808150461/1618
– Estimates on Allied Drive redevelopment are $730,000 over budget
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/300775
– Alderman wants a redo on Sequoya Commons parking entrance ruling
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300719
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Life drained by water that won’t
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783622
– Controlling beetles will be a local expense
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Aug_08/08142008_04.asp
– 21 county farms enter 2008 dairy futurity
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/MAN0101/808150506/1984
– Prices Mostly Lower on NASS Cheese Survey
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=996&yr=2008
– Crave Brothers, Barlass to be Honored at World Dairy Expo
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=993&yr=2008
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– S.S. Badger to resume crossings
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/GPG03/808150614/1247
– Airport lease study sought
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783576
– Law enforcement to crack down on Highway 151 speeding next week
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300764
RETAIL (back to top)
– Wilsons store closes
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080814/APC03/80814137/1028
– Texas Roadhouse coming to Sheboygan
http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/SHE0101/80815013/1973
– Retail sales drop slightly on weak car sales
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/daily33.html?surround=lfn
REGULATION (back to top)
– EOC members get their say on nuisance property law
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300818
– State law on child performances murky
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/08/15/wi/01wis.txt
– Slow, no-wake order for Lake Mendota lifted
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300715
– Campers around the bonfire face new restrictions because of the Ash Borer
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/08/15/local_news/doc48a4a077790b3829724274.txt
TOURISM (back to top)
– Artrageous in running for Top 10 list
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/WDH0101/808150560/1981/WDHnews
– DNR vote on par with golf course overhaul
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/Aug_08/08142008_02.asp
– Antique center could draw visitors to Evansville
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/aug/14/antique-center-could-draw-visitors-evansville/
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Dominion seeks license renewal for Kewaunee Power Station
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/GPG03/808150617/1247
– Utility Committee OKs water agreement
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=783697
– LTC goes nuclear with $1 million grant
http://www.sheboyganpress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/SHE0101/808150472/1973
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Marshfield Clinic cuts Medicare costs
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/WDH0101/808150607/1981/WDHnews
– ThedaCare names chief medical officer
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/APC03/808150550/1028
– Suit with former mental hospital patient settled for $162,000
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/300766
– Mercy residence hospice won’t take new patients
http://www.gazettextra.com/news/2008/aug/14/mercy-residence-hospice-wont-take-new-patients/
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– MGIC sells rest of Sherman Financial
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/daily38.html?surround=lfn
– Altoona loan guarantee to company linked to jobs
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BHG0CE0HEQU
– Disaster Program Eligibility Requires Reporting Pasture Acreage
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=997&yr=2008
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– UW-Madison chancellor transition is under way
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/300770
– Chvala gets his real estate license back
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300670
– Phillips Plastics brought into state’s Green Tier program
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BHFTS40PEIU
– Broadway Business Improvement District’s budget moves on to Green Bay City Council
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/GPG03/808150616/1247
– ZJS names new president
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/11/daily36.html?surround=lfn
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Ray Unger: Simplicity is a powerful tool for portfolio management
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/300763
– Leslie Whitaker: Lying about job skills can hurt you when called to perform
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080815/APC0701/808150538/1436/APC03
– John Oncken: Hageman family tries to keep going after devastating barn fire
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/300736
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