From WisBusiness.com …
— The Wisconsin Bio Industry Association is lauding a Consumer Federation of America report that contends ethanol is helping hold down the price of gasoline.
Joshua Morby, executive director of the WBIA, said consumers, oil companies and policy makers “are realizing the benefits far outweigh the costs. Bio fuels like ethanol are a great start down the path of energy dependence.”
He said increasing production of ethanol in the Badger State “has extended gasoline supplies and mitigated what might otherwise be remarkably significantly higher fuel prices.”
Morby said Marathon Oil, one of the nation’s largest oil companies, now plans to include bio fuel in 100 percent of the gasoline sold at a number of terminals it operates around the Midwest, including one in Milwaukee terminal.
*See release: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=122102
*See the CFA report: http://www.consumerfed.org/pdfs/2008gasolineprices.pdf
— Gov. Jim Doyle is appointing John Drew and Betty Womack to the UW System Board of Regents for terms that expire in 2014.
He also is reappointing Danae Davis to the board with a term to expire in 2011.
Drew, a regional representative for the United Auto Workers in Southeast Wisconsin, previously worked as a part-time instructor at UW-Milwaukee and as an adjunct faculty member for the University of Wisconsin-Extension School for Workers. He replaces Peggy Rosenzweig, a former GOP state lawmaker.
Womack, an assistant superintendent at the Kettle Moraine School District, will assume the seat that had been held by Davis. Davis will replace Milt McPike, who announced his resignation from the board this month because of health concerns.
Read the release:
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=122085
— Inland Real Estate Auctions Inc. says it will auction the Tuscumbia Country Club in Green Lake, home to the state’s oldest golf course.
The resort property also includes a full restaurant and the Green Lake Lodge, a 10-unit log cabin-style luxury condominium development completed in 2006 and an adjacent development site. The auction will take place in May.
The winner of the auction will own an 18-hole golf course that was founded in 1896. The resort destination includes a recently constructed clubhouse that is home to 680 North, a full-service restaurant in a venue suited to live entertainment. See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/3/27/#green-lake-golf-course-to-be-sold-at-auction
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Press Releases
‘Raising the Grass Ceiling’ Event Kicks-Off Registration
Axelrod Named Wisconsin Super Lawyer by National Publication
From Stained Glass to Stem Cells, Science Shines on Campus April 5
Get Answers to Your Ugliest Yard Care Problems
Godfrey & Kahn Named Eco-Challenge Partner by American Bar Association
Governor Doyle Names John Drew and Betty Womack to the Board of Regents
Low Taxes Draw Shoppers to the New North
Mach One Corporation Announces New Corporate Website
Manghera Joins DeWitt Ross & Stevens Law Firm
Miller Brewing Renews TEAM Enterprises Deal for On-Premise Execution
Next Generation Manufacturing Focus of Wisconsin’s Manufacturing Matters! Conference April 23 in Milwaukee
Organic Valley Celebrates 20 Years of Progress Through Partnership
Renaissance Learning, Inc. to Report First Quarter 2008 Financial Results on April 15, 2008
Report Says Ethanol Lowers Gas Prices
Three Day Course Trains a New Batch of Solar Ready HVAC, Mechanical, and Plumbing Professionals
Train – Vehicle Collisions at Crossings, and Pedestrian Incidents Lower in 2007
UPS Freight Workers in Alabama, Georgia, New York, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin Sign Cards to Become Teamsters
Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C. Announces Annual Human Resources Law Seminar “The Workplace of Tomorrow”
Wisconsin Kids ‘Kick Butts’ on April 2
Wisconsin’s Biofuels Destiny’ is theme for April conference in Stevens Point
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Rate cuts must stop, Ryan says: Fed actions will boost inflation, hurt dollar, congressman thinks… The United States “probably” is in a recession, but the government should react to the situation carefully, U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said Thursday. Among the actions that should not be taken are additional interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Board, said Ryan, the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee. “I don’t think there is anymore cutting to be done,” Ryan told members of the Wisconsin Mortgage Bankers Association, who were gathered at the Country Springs Hotel for their annual real estate finance conference.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=732964
Madison, Brookfield make Fortune’s ‘best places’ list: Two Wisconsin cities made this year’s list of “100 Best Places to Live and Launch” as Fortune Small Business this week unveiled its rankings. Madison was named 46th on the list and Brookfield was 72nd. “The University of Wisconsin’s flagship campus provides a talented, educated labor pool for startups: Madison boasts an unusually high density of PhDs,” Fortune said of the city. “Entrepreneurs also benefit from tax incentives such as the Angel Investment and Venture Capital Tax Credit, which is available to investors in small tech companies.” For Brookfield, Fortune stated: “For the past three years, Brookfield has significantly increased its efforts to recruit growing businesses.”
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily37.html?surround=lfn
Higher Chicago tax may offer opportunity: Coalition of counties to urge Illinois residents to avoid 10.25% rate by shopping up north… A coalition of northeastern Wisconsin communities sees an economic opportunity in Chicago’s decision to push its sales tax to 10.25% this summer. In short, they are hoping to persuade Illinois residents who vacation in Wisconsin to do more shopping here, where taxes are lower. “We hope to put together some of the retailers to see what we can do to promote the added benefits of the region,” said Joshua Morby, spokesman for The New North, a coalition of 18 counties in the northeast part of the state. Chicago’s sales tax will go to 10.25% on July 1, as a result of a recent action by Cook County.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=732965
Asian funds sought for redevelopment: Pabst Brewing site owner seeks Chinese funding for international trade center… The Pabst Brewing Co. complex, perhaps the most conspicuous symbol of Milwaukee’s urban decay, is reaching out for redevelopment funding from an unexpected source: the Chinese. The redevelopment of the 21-acre site is one of three projects in southeast Wisconsin soliciting international investments under an obscure federal program that was approved for the region less than a year ago. The program offers U.S. residency rights to qualified foreign investors who invest at least $500,000 and create at least 10 jobs in rural or distressed areas within a designated “EB-5 Immigrant Investment Zone.”
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=733027
State scores second in health care quality report: Wisconsin is now second to Minnesota in healthiest state rankings from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, falling after a first-place ranking for 2006. The agency’s “State Snapshots,” released Wednesday, uses information from the National Health Care Quality Report to measure states according to types of care, settings of care and care by clinical area, looking at areas such as hospital, acute care and heart disease measures. “It’s all of the measures that we consider to be an indicator of health care quality,” said Karen Ho, lead staff for the National Health Care Disparities Report at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality of Rockville, Md.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily38.html?surround=lfn
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Scientists fight seizures with jolts directly into the brain
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=733028
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Doyle promotes Clean Energy Wisconsin plan
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/z07energy28.txt
– Energizing plans
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BG67OIM7BHV
– Godfrey & Kahn law firm named ‘Eco-Challenge Partner’
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily41.html?surround=lfn
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Bargains remain after ‘firing squad’ recession
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/279174
– It’s a tough time to refinance city projects
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/279010
– As prices of raw materials rise, Brown County gains
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG03/803280651/1247/GPGbusiness
– Small towns cringe as land values increase
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048222&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048222%26snippet%3Df
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Milwaukee’s Zilber rolls dice on industrial project
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048218&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048218%26snippet%3Df
LABOR (back to top)
– OSHA session set for builders, contractors
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/APC03/803280602/1028
– City seeks pay bump for some part-time employees
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/z02pay28.txt
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– A unique brew: Pizza Beer stands out in local sales outlets
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/278920
– ‘Gym rat’ markets fitness center for entire family
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_14.asp
– Video store pushes ‘eject’
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=732967
INVESTING (back to top)
– Economic gloom is getting gloomier
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/279011
– Dow ends day down
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080327/APC03/80327085/1028
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Prime real estate
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03282008_01.asp
– Property value growth slows in southeast Wisconsin
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily42.html?surround=lfn
– Onalaska development to feature 30 Energy Star certified homes, a first in Wisconsin
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/03homes.txt
– Century-old golf course, new condos up for auction
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=732966
– Milwaukee schools hit the market
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048214&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048214%26snippet%3Df
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Minnesota men, Wisconsin company accused of shipping dirty butter
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/wi/06wi.txt
– Waumandee cheese plant to reopen
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BG5DN55KBHJ
– Farm Groups File Brief in Supreme Court Defending Right to Farm
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=394&yr=2008
– Conservation Congress County Meeting & Spring Hearings Planned
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=395&yr=2008
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Poor economic tide sinking $40 billion boating industry
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/279016
– Analysis: Deaths from motorcycle crashes up as helmet laws weaken
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/wi/08wi.txt
– American, Delta cancel flights for safety inspections
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily36.html?surround=lfn
RETAIL (back to top)
– Resale events a perfect fit for kids
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/278924
– Co-op cuts ties to Metro Place
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/278957
– Gun sellers warn against alarm about AK-47s
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03282008_02.asp
– A new neighbor for Cabela’s
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_09.asp
REGULATION (back to top)
– State Legislature fumbles campaign-finance reform
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG0101/803280653/1207/GPGnews
– Assembly speaker says he hopes for budget resolution
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG0101/803280682/1207/GPGnews
– Compliance checks nab 17 businesses
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/03/28/news/02checks.txt
TOURISM (back to top)
– Ozaukee County attractions to air on TV next week
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_14.asp
– Grafton’s offer to host Fish Day parade declined
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_13.asp
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Power shut off in Kewaunee Co. while silo is taken down
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG0101/803280702/1207/GPGnews
– Power outage riles neighbors in West Bend
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_08.asp
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Meriter, UW Hospital ban smoking on grounds
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/279085
– Organ donor bill offers boost
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/APC0101/803280590/1979/NEWS01
– Bellin Hospital lab now accredited
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG03/803280658/1247/GPGbusiness
– Mercy expansion plans highlight trauma services
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/mar/27/mercy-expansion-plans-highlight-trauma-services/
– Wisconsin ranks 14th among healthiest states
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily34.html?surround=lfn
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– $7 million investment fraud case grows
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/March_08/03272008_06.asp
– Credit union to host retirement seminar
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/APC03/803280601/1028
– FDIC beefs up bank failure unit
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily33.html?surround=lfn
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Economy taking toll on Overture
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/278954
– Aon Risk Services’ Green Bay location named Office of the Year
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG03/803280675/1247/GPGbusiness
– New vice president hopes to strengthen Prevea’s partnership
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080328/GPG03/803280677/1247/GPGbusiness
– Greenberg named to Miller Park board
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/03/24/daily35.html?surround=lfn
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– John Oncken: Book is just hog wild about raising pigs
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/278904
– Tannette Johnson-Elie: Black entrepreneurs told to advocate, lobby
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=732996
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