(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 22 Sept. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— The 2008 World Stem Cell Summit continues today in Madison with a series of panel discussions and workshops, including a presentation from UW-Madison stem cell pioneer James Thomson.

Gov. Jim Doyle is due to deliver a keynote address at 5:30 p.m. before he receives a “National Leadership Award” from the Genetics Policy Institute at tonight’s awards dinner.

See the summit Web site for details:

http://www.worldstemcellsummit.com

— Waste Management employees represented by Teamsters Local 200 have rejected the company’s final contract offer, an outcome a spokeswoman said will lead the company to pursue hiring permanent replacement workers.

The union voted unanimously on Friday to reject the company’s proposal.

“Our members chose not to vote for a contract that replaces their retirement’s defined benefit program with a 401(k) plan,” Teamsters Local 200 Secretary-Treasurer Tom Millonzi said in a prepared statement.

— Wisconsin Insurance Commissioner Sean Dilweg is urging insurance consumers today to be cautious about replacing or liquidating their annuities, particularly those that may be underwritten by the AIG insurance companies, despite the current volatility in financial markets.

“Consumers should understand the full impact of any decisions they may make to liquidate or replace annuities they already hold,” Dilweg said. “If you liquidate or replace an annuity you currently own, you may be incurring significant surrender charges or experience adverse tax consequences. My office will be monitoring the suitability of annuity sales for activity that would appear to take advantage of the recent turmoil in financial markets.”

See more in the Small Business Times:

http://www.biztimes.com/daily/2008/9/19/#wisconsin-insurance-commissioner-urges-caution-about-aig-annuities

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Press Releases
· AG Van Hollen: Department of Justice files action against door-to-door seller of meat and seafood
· American Cancer Society: Dane County to go smoke-free!
· DDN: Honored with mid-market growth award
· Expense Reduction Analysts: Scott Knop joins Expense Reduction Network
· Gov. Doyle: Bioplastics & Composites: Wisconsin’s bioproduct future
· Inacom Information Systems: Laurie Benson, CEO of Inacom Information Systems, nationally named one of the most powerful women in the technology channel
· Sheraton: Madison area professionals get “LinkedIn” at Sheraton Madison
· U.S. Reps. Petri, Kohl, Feingold, Kagen: To meet with NewPage CEO
· UW-Madison: Business, government, academic leaders convene on sustainable real estate development
· Wisconsin Farm Bureau: Congress should pass free trade agreements

For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82


TOP STORIES
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Kraft will replace AIG in Dow: Food manufacturer Kraft Foods Inc. will replace embattled American International Group Inc. in the Dow Jones industrial average beginning Monday, Dow Jones & Co. said Thursday. Kraft, based in Northfield, Ill., is one of Wisconsin’s largest employers. About 4,000 people work at six plants operated by Kraft in Wisconsin, making products under such brand names as Oscar Mayer, Tombstone and DiGiorno.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=796563

Survey sheds light on state ‘brain drain’: Two groups hoping to stem what they see as a Badger state “brain drain” are encouraged by the results of a recent survey showing nearly 60 percent of UW-Madison graduates now living in five out-of-state metropolitan areas would consider moving back to Wisconsin. The survey is part of a broader effort by the Wisconsin Alumni Association and Competitive Wisconsin Inc., a private group that promotes economic development, to increase incomes and match UW-Madison graduates with employers.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/305875

Economy hits paper mills, small-town workers; NewPage mill part of closures seen across U.S.
After a century of supplying jobs to this town of 6,300 and neighboring communities, the NewPage paper-making factory has stopped production, leaving residents worried about their community’s future now that its key business is gone. It’s a scene that has played out in small paper towns from California to Maine. The number of jobs in the domestic paper industry has shrunk about 20 percent in recent years as costs rise and imports become cheaper. Demand all around has been dampened by the slow economy as well as the shift of eyeballs away from the printed page toward the screens of PCs and cell phones.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/GPG03/809220568/1247

Teamsters again reject offer; Waste Management’s next offer will scale back wage increases: For the second time in three days, members of striking Teamsters Local 200 rejected a contract offer from Waste Management. Sunday’s vote was 199-24. On Friday, union members voted unanimously to reject the five-year contract offer. As a result, Waste Management said it would withdraw an offer it said included higher wages and benefits, as well as a plan to move Teamsters from the Central States Pension Fund to a new 401(k) plan.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=797348

MillerCoors postpones Sparks Red rollout: MillerCoors LLC, under pressure from at least one consumer group and numerous state attorneys general, has put a hold on its planned launch of Sparks Red, an alcoholic energy drink, according to a statement by the brewer. “Pending a dialogue with state attorneys general who have expressed concern about Sparks Red, MillerCoors is placing the brewing and distribution of the product on hold,” the statement said.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/15/daily54.html

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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS

GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com

TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council

JENNIFER SERENO: Senior manager, Wood Communications Group

STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times

TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Rayovac enters portable power pack in Department of Defense competition
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/305764

BIOTECH (back to top)
– New issue arises on using stem cells
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/305868

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Rising health insurance costs outpace income: report
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/APC0101/809220464/1004&located=RSS

– Economy hits paper mills, small-town workers
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/GPG03/809220568/1247

– Alliant hosting economic development workshop
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/305777

– Survey: Despite economy, worker confidence remains high
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/15/daily48.html

– Survey sheds light on state ‘brain drain’
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/305875

– Leinenkugel optimistic about MillerCoors venture
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=792236

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Lawmakers, NewPage CEO to meet
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/GPG0101/809220552/1207&located=RSS

– Life after the NewPage mill in Kimberly
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/APC03/809210635/1028

– Sargento moves past dairy aisle
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=794177

LABOR (back to top)
– Teamsters reject Waste Management proposal; strike continues
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/15/daily53.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Test: ‘Hazardous’ air quality in some Fond du Lac bars, restaurants
http://www.fdlreporter.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/FON0101/809220357/1289&located=RSS

– Rucon Construction builds on 20 years
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/APC03/809210625/1028

– LED store sees bright future in efficient lighting
http://www.rivervalleynewspapers.com/articles/2008/09/21/business/01bizofweek.txt

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Clayton: Dispute pits town’s existing versus future land use
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/APC0101/809220457/1004&located=RSS

– WPPI seeking grant proposals under GreenMax Home program
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/305778

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– NTC pioneers dairy science program
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/MNH0101/809220401/1732&located=RSS

RETAIL (back to top)
– Best Buy success story could help Oshkosh attract big box retail
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/OSH03/809210497/1167

REGULATION (back to top)
– Suit filed against food distributor
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/GPG03/809220573/1247

– Manitowoc will sell Enodis units to appease regulators
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/15/daily50.html

TOURISM (back to top)
– Great Wolf inks deal with Enterprise Rent-A-Car
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/305765

UTILITIES (back to top)
– WPS plans hearing for two-year rate hike’
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/APC03/809210584/1028

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– ThedaCare names internal medicine specialist
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080921/APC03/809210614/1028

– ProHealth, physicians’ group form partnership
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/09/22/story5.html?b=1222056000^1703201

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– CUNA Mutual Foundation details $270,000 in new grants
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/305775

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