(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 8 Dec. 2008

From WisBusiness.com …

— As congressional and White House negotiators work on a tentative $15 billion loan package for the Big Three automakers, U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore says Congress has to make sure it’s “not just a bailout.”

Moore, D-Milwaukee, and a member of the House Financial Services Committee, says a consensus is developing among members of Congress that “we should do something.” But she told “UpFront with Mike Gousha” that it needs to be an investment.

“We want to make sure this industry can actually survive and we’re not just providing them liquidity for the next three months or so.”

She said other countries are helping their auto industries and to not do so in the United States would result in $200 billion in additional Medicaid and unemployment costs. “It will be catastrophic,” she said.

“UpFront” also talks to Bill Sepic, the president of the Wisconsin Auto and Truck Dealers Association, about the fate of thousands of dealerships is tied to the auto industry.

WisPolitics.com and WISN-TV in Milwaukee are partners in the”UpFront” statewide TV show along with various TV stations around the state.

Find interview links:

http://www.wisn.com/upfront/18222492/detail.html

— If you’re looking at doing business in parts of southwest Wisconsin, WisBusiness columnist Gregg Hoffmann says it’s best to make it as green as possible.

Environmentalists, organic farmers, citizens groups and an increasing number of elected officials have made it clear that the environment needs to be part of any business equation, Hoffmann writes in his new column.

See the column for more:

http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=202

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Press Releases
· AG Van Hollen: Asphalt Specialists of Middleton to pay $23,332 for violating Wisconsin’s Home Improvement Code and for engaging in deceptive business practices
· Gov. Doyle: Opens County Highway A and begins refilling Lake Delton
· Marshall & Ilsley Corp.: To participate in the FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program
· New North Inc.: Governor Doyle to address annual New North Summit
· Orion Energy Systems: Receives esteemed Platts Global Energy award
· Planet Propaganda: Creates new look for LeAnn Rimes
· Quintessence Biosciences: Cancer drug, QBI-139, clears FDA review to start Phase I human trial
· Trig’s: Trig’s partners with WRJO to help stock local food pantries
· Wilderness on the Lake: To celebrate reopening of Lake Delton by offering all guests from June 9, 2008 a free night’s stay on June 9, 2009

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


TOP STORIES
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Printing firm Serigraph announces layoffs: Serigraph Inc. in West Bend announced Friday that it will lay off about 50 full-time employees through a combination of early retirements and permanent layoffs. “This is a sad day for Serigraph. Our sales, particularly to our automotive and appliance customers, have suffered an unprecedented drop. We needed to make these reductions to get our costs in line with the reduced sales,” said Sean Torinus, chief executive officer.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily59.html

Intel fires back, sues WARF : Already in court in a patent infringement lawsuit, computer chip giant Intel fired back at UW-Madison on Friday with a lawsuit of its own, this one alleging that Intel was denied the use of UW research that the company funded. A popular Intel computer chip inside millions of computers is at the heart of the controversy between Intel and UW-Madison.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/317479

Fidelity will close Middleton office : Fidelity National Information Services will close its Middleton office and lay off 53 employees. The Jacksonville, Fla., company provides payment and processing services for the financial industry. It merged in 2006 with Certegy, a credit card processing company.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/317465

Plymouth Tube Co. to lay off 31 workers: Plymouth Tube Co. in East Troy has filed a notice with the state Department of Workforce Development that it plans to lay off “an unspecified number of workers” beginning Jan. 30, 2009. When contact by DWD officials, the company, which has more than 100 employees, said the layoff would affect 31 workers. The company’s shop employees are represented by the United Steelworkers.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily53.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)
– Goodwill expands thrift market with Web site offerings
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081206/APC03/812060482/1028

– Some TV viewers using an antenna find fault with digital signal
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/317623

– AT&T launching U-verse phone on Monday
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/317386

– Travel Web sites see drop in traffic
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily55.html

BIOTECH (back to top)
– Fuel for the future: Virent Energy Systems develops biofuel from plant sugars that has same composition as gas
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/317423

– Quintessence gets FDA OK
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/317476

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Businesses scale back holiday festivities
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35635094.html

– Wausau city development slows down, though downtown projects show promise
http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20081207/WDH0101/812070580/1981

– Portage County hit by construction slowdown
http://www.stevenspointjournal.com/article/20081206/SPJ0101/812060629&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

– CEOs predict hard times ahead
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily51.html

– Local auto dealers consider effects of bailout
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news.asp?id=BII07L2IH24

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Owners of NewPage Kimberly mill coming for meeting
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_PAPER_WOES_WIOL-?SITE=WIFON&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

– Struggling Stoughton companies to rely on creative thinking
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/317462

LABOR (back to top)
– Job losses worst since 1974
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35603184.html

– Johnson Controls limits ‘golden coffin’ executive perk
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35608009.html

– Claims for unemployment insurance up 13% to date
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35607719.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Small businesses hope for health-care help
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/317558

– Maritime Divers helps scuba enthusiasts enjoy diving near and far
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20081207/MAN03/812070469/1397

INVESTING (back to top)
– Johnson Outdoors reports 4Q loss
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily57.html

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Buyers find good bargains in foreclosed homes in Dane County
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/317396

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Wisconsin boasts most manure-to-energy projects
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35635069.html

– More women in state running farms
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/317612

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Lawton asks Midwest to protect jobs in Wisconsin
http://www.startribune.com/local/35601099.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiacyKUU

– Midwest’s market share slips
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35689489.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– Despite economy, big box stores still on track
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081207/OSH0101/81206031/1987

– Be cautious when using payday loan stores
http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20081207/OSH03/812070364/1167

– Atomic Records to close in February
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35603279.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– Middleton business pays hefty fine for violating protection laws
http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/317463

UTILITIES (back to top)
– Little city is at center of a great debate
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/35664859.html

– Wind over water
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/35693224.html

– Holiday lights going green
http://www.jsonline.com/news/35664079.html

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– N.E.W. Curative Rehabilitation helps disabled, elderly be independent
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20081208/GPG03/812080533/1247

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Baylake Bank appoints new president
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/12/01/daily58.html

– Staying on an even keel
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35689634.html

– Health insurance after layoff
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35635084.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Johnson Controls CEO Roell got $14.9M in 2008
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/12/06/wi/05wis.txt

– Menasha Corp.’s CEO among top businessmen
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081207/APC03/812070594/1028

– FVTC names director of foundation
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081206/APC03/812060488/1028

– New president, COO named at Baylake
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081206/APC03/812060489/1028

– Actuant CEO pay increases 9%
http://www.jsonline.com/business/35613734.html

BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– John Van Driest column: Customers redefine value during tough economic times
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20081208/APC0701/812080450/1436/APC03

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

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