WisBusiness News Summary
4 February 2008
Exclusively for WisBusiness Subscribers
E-mail press releases and calendar items to staff@wisbusiness.com
FOLLOW THE NEWS FROM YOUR HAND-HELD COMPUTER:
http://pda.wispolitics.com
http://pda.wisbusiness.com
From WisBusiness …
—
****************************************
THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS
- University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
- Madison Gas & Electric
- University
Research Park - Wipfli
- Wisconsin Bankers Association
- Wisconsin Technology Council
****************************************
QUICK LINKS
Use these links to jump directly to a news summary topic
Technology | Biotech
| Economy | Manufacturing
| Labor | Small
Business | Investing | Real Estate | Agribusiness
| Transportation | Retail | Regulation
| Tourism | Utilities
| Health Care | Financial Services | Management | Business
Columns
Press Releases
A.M. Best Assigns Issuer Credit Rating to CUNA Mutual Insurance Society
Acquisition of Midwest Air Group By TPG Capital Closes
Bemis Announces 5 Percent Cash Dividend Increase
Bemis Elects Van Deursen to Board of Directors
DFI’s Mancl Appointed to President’s Advisory Council on Financial
Literacy
Governor Doyle to Lead Trade, Investment Mission to Ireland and United
Kingdom
Hospitals, Healthcare Providers to Save with Premier Surgical Automatic
Tourniquet Systems and Accessories Agreements
Manpower Reports 4th Quarter and Full Year 2007 Results
OpGen, Inc. Appoints Noel Doheny as Chief Executive Officer
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Announces Intent to Acquire Red Robin
Franchised Restaurants in Wisconsin & Minnesota for $20.9 million
Rexnord LLC Conference Call to Report Third Quarter Fiscal 2008
Financial Results
Snap-on Announces Record Fourth-quarter and Full-year Results
Valent U.S.A. and Sumitomo Chemical File Complaints at ITC and in
Courts Against Syngenta AG and Subsidiaries in a Dispute Over
Insecticide Patents
Whyte Hirshboeck Dudek S.C. Adds Sperling
For these and more releases visit
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
*************
Oil money filters into Rothschild
plant: You likely won’t hear employees at Siemens Water
Technologies in Rothschild complaining about the price of oil. Rising
demand and a limited supply means oil companies are increasingly
willing to invest millions of dollars as they look for reserves in
untapped corners of the earth. The oil and gas industry accounts for
about 90 percent of the Rothschild operation’s business, and right now
business is good, said Jerry Rogers, vice president and general manager
of Zimpro Systems, part of Siemens Water Technologies. “Our business
has grown substantially over the last three years,” Rogers said, citing
400 percent growth during that span and the hiring of 57 additional
workers in the past year alone. “When the price of oil goes back to $25
a barrel, the growth will probably stop.” With prices currently at
about $90 a barrel, the Rothschild company’s biggest problem is finding
enough quality workers to keep pace.
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/WDH03/802040428/1618/WDHbusiness
Aurora, WPS settle dispute over
medical coverage: Disagreement centered on lack of a new
contract… Customers of Wisconsin Physicians Service Insurance Corp.
who use the HealthEOS and HealthEOS Plus networks will have access to
Aurora Health Care doctors and facilities through the end of this year
at in-network rates, under a settlement the companies announced Friday.
Last month, WPS sued Aurora and HealthEOS, alleging that Aurora told
HealthEOS to stop including Aurora physicians and hospitals in its
network for anyone in a WPS health plan, and that HealthEOS agreed to
do so on Jan. 1. The dispute, which centered on the lack of a new
contract between WPS and Aurora, left thousands of people in eastern
Wisconsin with the prospect of changing doctors or paying a much larger
share of their medical bills. The agreement announced Friday calls for
WPS to drop its lawsuit against Aurora and HealthEOS. It also says any
continuing relationship between WPS and Aurora after Dec. 31 would need
to be negotiated by the two parties.
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713798
Creating
a voice for workers: Less than a month into retirement, Frank
Emspak has his work cut out for him. Not only is there the pending
broadcast deal with CNN’s Lou Dobbs, but also the perennial challenge
of raising money to keep afloat the labor news program he launched in
2001. “News in general is a loss leader for most organizations, because
it’s very expensive to produce,” says Emspak, executive director for
Workers Independent News, which produces pro-labor news that is aired
on more than 100 commercial and non-commercial radio stations
nationwide. “Like any progressive content provider, financing content
is difficult.” Emspak, 65, retired from UW-Extension’s School for
Workers in early January, where he worked as a professor training
scores of workers since 1991. Tonight, Emspak, a storied figure in
local activist circles, will be roasted by friends and cohorts as he
begins the difficult task of increasing WIN’s presence in national
radio and Internet markets.
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/270690
Nilsestuen: Proposed rail merger could
affect state ag businesses: Wisconsin’s agriculture secretary
says the state must keep an eye on a proposed rail merger in the
Chicago area, which he fears may erode already declining freight rail
service in the state. Last week, Rod Nilsestuen said the farm industry
and renewable fuel sector are already in need of more and better rail
service. The Canadian National Railway Company, the largest rail
network in Canada, announced plans last year to acquire the Elgin,
Joliet and Eastern Railway to improve the fluidity of their rail
operations in the Chicago region. EJ&E, a Class II railroad,
operates on the outskirts of the Chicago metropolitan area. The
acquisition is subject to regulatory review by the U.S. Surface
Transportation Board. “The concentration of ownership in a few large
railroads and a greater focus on improving the speed and efficiency of
overhead traffic results in reduced service to the small, remote
shipper,” according to comments submitted to the STB by DATCP in
January.
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=145&yr=2008
Endless
snow helping tourism business: Heavy snowfall this winter
season is a pain for some, but a boon to others who cater to those who
like to play outdoors. Ski resorts and other businesses that benefit
from the snow are having a banner year. The state Department of
Tourism’s Mark Richardson says there’s about 13 billion dollars in
tourism commerce in an average year and 2.3 billion is done in the
winter months. Tourism officials said attendance at winter festivals is
up across the state. Thousands of people turned out to watch
cross-country ski sprint races at Madison’s Winter Festival during the
weekend. Attendance in years past has been around 15,000, but this
year, organizers estimate the crowd was around 30,000.
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2008/feb/04/endless-snow-helping-tourism-business/
************************************************************
Increase your group’s Web site traffic
DRAW MEMBERS TO YOUR GROUP’S WEB SITE …
AND KEEP THEM INFORMED ABOUT WHAT’S GOING ON
Provide your members with a constant news feed from WisPolitics.com
and WisBusiness.com
If you subscribe to WisPolitics.com or WisBusiness.com, you can add the
WisPolitics.com or WisBusiness.com NEWS TICKER on the front page of
your Web site.
Click here for a sample: http://archive.wispolitics.com/ticker.html
Contact: mayers@wispolitics.com or call 608-441-8418
************************************************************
TECHNOLOGY ( back to top)
– Third Wave stays focused
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713803
BIOTECH ( back to top)
– Finding the right mix… Device to analyze fuel may jumpstart start-up
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713755
– Ultra-Small Scale Methane Program Slated for Wednesday
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=146&yr=2008
ECONOMY ( back to top)
– Tax rebate plan in flux on Capitol Hill
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/APC0101/802040531/1003/APCnews
– Kimberly-Clark closes Lakeview diaper plant; firm is marketing
facility
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/GPG03/802040475/1247/GPGbusiness
– Doyle sets trade mission to U.K., Ireland
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/01/28/daily62.html?surround=lfn
MANUFACTURING ( back to top)
– Welding program isn’t seamless… But with 3 steady workers out of 14
trainees, Tramont executive says his idea does work
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=714117
– Bemis Co. names Theisen as CEO
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/01/28/daily54.html?surround=lfn
LABOR ( back to top)
– Milwaukee Public Schools officials want to hire 200 teachers
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/front/topstory06.asp
– Saputo to cut string cheese manufacturing, could mean job losses
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/04/wi/02wis0204.txt
SMALL BUSINESS ( back to
top)
– New name, old game: Ex-Kennedy Hahn staffers open appliance store
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/270503
– Grand Appliance sets up in Fitchburg
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/270631
INVESTING ( back to top)
– Twin Disc adds to share buyback plan
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/01/28/daily55.html?surround=lfn
REAL ESTATE ( back
to top)
– Housing squeeze: Market is challenging home buyers and sellers
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/270687
AGRIBUSINESS ( back to top)
– Class III Milk Price Announced at $19.32
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=143&yr=2008
– January Crop, Livestock Prices Mixed
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=144&yr=2008
TRANSPORTATION ( back to
top)
– County Board to debate RTA vote
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/270782
– Door County grading project wins state award
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/GPG03/802040469/1247/GPGbusiness
– Future of La Crosse’s iconic bluff roadway unclear
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/03/news/00lead.txt
RETAIL ( back to top)
– Verona sizes up big boxes
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/270685
REGULATION ( back to top)
– Changes are few for state tax filers
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/270613
– Smoke-free push gets personal
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/APC0101/802040535/1003/APCnews
TOURISM ( back to top)
– City hopes to be spared
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713969
– National Railroad Museum gets land donation
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/03/wi/05wis0203.txt
UTILITIES ( back to top)
– Who should pay the water bill?
http://www.journaltimes.com/articles/2008/02/04/local_news/doc47a6a245e30f8717186367.txt
HEALTH CARE ( back to
top)
– WPS customers to get access to Aurora physicians, facilities
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/270522
– Need for geriatric nurses growing
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/270691
– County’s poor get ‘Middle Ages’ dental care
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/WDH0101/802040560/1581/WDHnews
FINANCIAL SERVICES ( back
to top)
– Doyle’s idea: Equalized insurance
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713802
– Kenosha County officials don’t expect federal help for tornado
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/02/04/wi/06wis0204.txt
– New CEO named for Sheboygan’s HSA Bank
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/01/28/daily57.html?surround=lfn
MANAGEMENT ( back to top)
– Beitlich Unexpectedly Returns for Another Term as WFU President
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=142&yr=2008
– His goal is improved health care
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713756
– Fox Cities paper industry giant George Mueller dies
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/GPG03/802040477/1247/GPGbusiness
– Wisconsin Newspaper Association elects leaders
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/GPG03/802040468/1247/GPGbusiness
BUSINESS COLUMNS ( back
to top)
– Mick Hager: Leaders should aim to excel in 4 skill areas
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080204/GPG03/802040467/1247/GPGbusiness
– John Torinus: Business-adverse candidates are gone
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713788
– Tom Saler: Will economy or inflation perk up first?
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=713764
Media Partners
—Channel3000
—Small Business Times
—Madison Magazine
—BusinessWeek
National Business Roundups ( back to top)
–YAHOO FINANCE: http://finance.yahoo.com/
–CNBC BUSINESS NEWS: http://www.cnbc.com
–ABC BUSINESS NEWS: http://abcnews.go.com/sections/business/
–GOOGLE NEWS: http://news.google.com/news/en/us/business.html
(c)2008 WisBusiness.com.
All rights reserved. Reproduction or retransmission of this
publication, in whole or in part, without the express permission of
WisBusiness.com is prohibited. Unauthorized reproduction violates
United States copyright law (17 USC 101 et seq.), as does
retransmission by facsimile or any other electronic means, including
electronic mail.
