From WisBusiness.com …
— Envirotest has told state and local officials it plans to close its Waukesha facility, resulting in permanent layoffs of as many as 105 employees at this site and 11 other locations starting July 1, 2008.
Envirotest runs the Wisconsin Vehicle Inspection Program, but its state contract is expiring. The inspection program’s Web site lists Envirotest Wisconsin as a subsidiary of Environmental Systems Products Inc., based in East Granby, Conn. The company said all affected employees are being offered two weeks separation pay. In addition to Waukesha, other communities affected by the shutdown include Milwaukee, West Bend, Sheboygan, Burlington, Kenosha, Racine and West Allis.
State Workforce Development Department officials said the agency is working with its regional partners to assist the affected employees in these 12 locations. The Southeast Wisconsin Workforce Development Board, the Milwaukee Area Workforce Investment Board, and the Washington-Ozaukee-Waukesha Workforce Development Board have Rapid Response teams contacting the company to arrange orientation sessions for the affected workers in their areas.
— Traveler spending in Wisconsin remained strong and steady last year, despite rising gasoline prices, economic uncertainty and poor winter and spring weather, according to a study released by the Wisconsin Department of Tourism. The 18th annual Economic Impact of Expenditures by Travelers on Wisconsin report estimated that travelers here spent $12.78 billion in 2007, virtually a dead heat with the returns for 2006.
The state saw growth in both the business travel and meetings and convention travel sectors. Estimated expenditures by business travelers grew .34 percent, from $2.42 to $2.43 billion, while estimated spending by meetings and convention travelers increased 5.86 percent, from $1.28 to $1.36 billion.
— Milwaukee real estate developer and philanthropist Joseph Zilber plans to announce another significant gift to “rebuild” his hometown today.
Zilber, the 90-year-old founder and chairman of Zilber Ltd. and Towne Realty Inc., will make “a major announcement regarding the future of the City of Milwaukee,” according to a statement released by Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s office. Zilber’s announcement will take place in the rotunda of the Milwaukee City Hall on the ground floor at 10:30 a.m.
Last August, Zilber announced he would donate $50 million to organizations in the Milwaukee area in an effort to revitalize the community. He said he would give $30 million to the Marquette University Law School and later announced a $10 million gift to the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to create a School of Public Health, a $3 million gift to the Milwaukee Jewish Federation and a $1.5 million gift to the United Way of Greater Milwaukee.
See story: http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/5/9/#zilber-to-announce-another-large-gift-to-milwaukee
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· Invitrogen, WARF Sign License Agreement For Human Embryonic Stem Cells
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· Nation’s First Of Its Kind Consumer Medication Return Initiative Creates Momentum For Safe Drug Disposal In The U.S.
· National City Bank Picks Up The Tab For Milwaukee … Literally
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TOP STORIES
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Med Flight helicopter crashes, killing all on board; Cause of accident still being investigated
A surgeon, nurse and pilot were killed when a University of Wisconsin Hospital Med Flight helicopter crashed shortly after dropping off a patient Saturday night in La Crosse. The cause of the crash was being investigated Sunday, but UW Hospital chief operating officer Margaret Van Bree said it appeared to have struck a hill or some trees. There were no survivors. The helicopter dropped off a patient at the Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and was returning to Madison when the crash occurred, Van Bree said.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/GPG0101/805120572/1207
Related:
– Med Flight loss highlights risk to health-care workers
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/285802
– ‘It’s just terrible. It’s such a loss.’
http://www.madison.com/redirect.php?type=newstool_tct&id=285807
– Dr. Bean was always busy, ‘got so much done’
http://www.madison.com/redirect.php?type=newstool_tct&id=285817
– Nurse, EMS instructor Coyne ‘really affected a lot of people’
http://www.madison.com/redirect.php?type=newstool_tct&id=285825
– Lipperer was longtime Med Flight pilot
http://www.madison.com/redirect.php?type=newstool_tct&id=285822
– Studies show hike in EMS aircraft crashes
http://www.madison.com/redirect.php?type=newstool_tct&id=285826
Washington prepares for farm bill fight
A top Bush official said Friday that supporters of a new farm bill compromise might have the votes to override an expected presidential veto. “If you look at what happened at the end of this bill when it became clear it wasn’t going in a direction the president was going to support, they sort of put something in there for everybody,” Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer said in a conference call. “Everybody gets to take home something from the farm bill that is important to their district or their constituents. That’s hard to vote against.” “We have an uphill battle here to sustain the veto,” Schafer said. The House is scheduled to vote on the $300 billion bill Wednesday. The Senate could vote on the measure by week’s end and send it to the president.
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/FON0101/805120366/1289
Class action status granted in Kraft case
Employees of Kraft Foods have been given class action status for their lawsuit seeking pay for time spent putting on and taking off safety equipment. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb says current and former hourly employees who worked at the company’s Oscar Mayer meat processing plant in Madison since May 2004 can take part. Crabb says the group includes at least 1,000 workers.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285664
State’s cheese title safe for now
Cheeseheads don ‘t need to be bleu: Experts say predictions that California will soon overtake Wisconsin as the nation ‘s top cheese producer are unlikely to come true. The Golden State and its happy cows gained quickly on Wisconsin in the past decade, but plants in California are maxing out while efforts to boost production in Wisconsin are paying off, said Dick Groves, longtime owner of the Madison-based trade publication, Cheese Reporter.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/285877
Zilber gives $50 million; Philanthropist hopes to revive low-income areas in city, encourage others to give
Milwaukee philanthropist Joseph Zilber will announce Monday that he is committing $50 million over the next 10 years to improve life in low-income neighborhoods in the city. The goal, according to a draft of remarks to be made by Zilber, is “to revitalize Milwaukee’s neighborhoods and reconnect all of her citizens to social and economic opportunity.” Zilber’s text says though rates of poverty, crime and other problems are much too high in Milwaukee, “I believe the current reality presents a far more interesting and hopeful story. In fact, Milwaukee may have the best chance in decades to engineer a new future for itself and its citizens.”
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749374
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Madison: WARF asks city to cut $600,000 bond fee
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/285856
– The fuel of their ambition
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749368
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Residents encouraged to spend stimulus money close to home
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/WRT0101/805120605/1806
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Screen time for Baileigh builds brand; TV, movie exposure help spur sales of metal fabrication equipment
http://www.htrnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/MAN0101/805120468/1358
LABOR (back to top)
– City Wide Insulation settles overtime lawsuit
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285641
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Family-owned nurseries facing growing threat from Big Box stores
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/OSH03/805110643/1167
– New City Center restaurant pays homage to Oshkosh’s past
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/OSH03/805100384/1167
INVESTING (back to top)
– Money manager sees system on the mend
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749100
– Time for financial spring cleaning
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/SPJ03/805120424/1694
– Fixed-income securities can deliver gains
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080510/SPJ03/805100591/1694
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Jury: Ashwaubenon marina should be credited; Boardwalk says Riverside owes money
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/GPG0101/805120555/1207
– Hope Builders helps De Pere family with home makeover
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/GPG0101/805120557/1207
– Green Bay: Condos added to Haven Way project
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/GPG0101/805120562/1207
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Farming boost may stall green land gains; Higher crop prices have farmers leaving conservation effort
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749516
– Farm, planting costs are up, so groceries should continue to climb
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/OSH0101/805120384/1128
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– A busy world pivots around the port
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749142
– Supply and demand create pain at pump
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/APC0101/805120481/1004
– Commuters hop on bikes in face of $4-a-gallon gas
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285827
– Stevens Point: Hwy. J railroad overpass construction begins
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/SPJ0101/805120392/1657
– Fond du Lac looks at road salt needs
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/FON0101/805120361/1289
RETAIL (back to top)
– Natural Ovens struggling with transition to new owner while battered by high prices
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749147
– Kwik Trip plans to continue expanding its support center facilities
http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2008/05/08/business/00kwiktrip.txt
REGULATION (back to top)
– Neenah, Menasha beef up code enforcement
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/APC0101/805120479/1004
– Police: Rebate checks focus of newest scams
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/APC0101/805120512/1004
TOURISM (back to top)
– Madison: Children’s museum to unveil plans
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/285870
– Long, snowy winter benefits Granite Peak
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/MNH0101/805120388/1657
– Oneida back higher per capita payouts
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/APC0101/805120510/1004
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Utilities tap into renewable sources; some are customer owned
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285676
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Assisted Living experiences a rebound; Falls-based firm posts second-best return
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749102
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– New firm sees potential in Vietnam
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749101
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Abdoo helped grow Wisconsin Energy’s power plans
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/12/story9.html?b=1210564800^1633498
– Innovation Network group meets Thursday
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080512/APC03/805120490/1028
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Confessions of a money manager: See the light of solar stocks
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285563
– Torinus column: Time to turn health care pricing on its head
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=749144
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