From WisBusiness.com …
— Tom Still, president of the Wisconsin Technology Council, says he isn’t overly disappointed that UW-Madison Business School Dean Michael Knetter didn’t make the final four candidates for the Madison school’s chancellor post.
Some in the business community had hoped Knetter, who was interviewed for the job, would be a finalist because of his fundraising ability, his understanding of commerce and his ability to deal with politicos.
“I’ve been very impressed with Knetter’s accomplishments at the business school,” Still said of the economist who grew up in Wisconsin. “He has done a number of things to raise its profile, both financially and academically.
“But I never thought he had a lock on the post,” he said. “That’s ultimately up to the Board of Regents. They are they ones who decide.”
Still said he did not have a favorite among the finalists, though he said he had heard good things about Gary Sandefur, dean of the UW-Madison College of Letters and Sciences.
— The Wisconsin Department of Commerce’s International Trade Team, which has offices around the globe, will be traveling throughout the state next week to meet with industry representatives interested in growing their export businesses.
The group plans stops in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Neenah and Sheboygan.
See release:
http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=125515
— The rising costs of living will absorb the bulk of the economic stimulus tax rebates for many temporary workers in Wisconsin and northern Illinois, according to a new survey.
The vast majority of respondents plan on spending their rebate money toward easing everyday costs for things such as gasoline and food, according to a survey of 100 temporary workers by QPS Companies Inc., a Brookfield staffing and recruiting firm.
For many, the stimulus check is already as good as gone, as the money is to be applied toward existing debt.
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Press Releases
AirTran Airways Launches Milwaukee Expansion With Nonstop Flights to More Destinations
America Feels More at Home in the Office Than Ever
Annual Visit from Overseas Directors Begins May 12
Appleton to Release First Quarter 2008 Financial Results
FOX News Channel’s Brit Hume to Emcee Bradley Prize Gala in Washington, D.C.
Governor Doyle Announces Funding for DNASTAR Expansion
Governor Doyle Announces Funding For LoanSifter, Inc
Governor Doyle Proclaims State Employee Recognition Day
Midwest Air Group Reports April Performance
Sonic Foundry Event Services to Webcast Sloan Consortium International Symposium
The Manitowoc Company to Present at Bank of America Basics/Industrial Conference
Web Tool Puts Wildlife Diseases on the Map
Wisconsin Energy’s Klappa to Participate in Panels at Goldman Sachs Eighth Annual Power and Utility Conference
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
TOP STORIES
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Panel reviews deal to buy Smithfield: Witnesses at hearing say plan would make market less competitive for some… A Brazilian company’s plans to buy two major U.S. meatpackers would continue consolidation in the industry, but witnesses at a Senate hearing Wednesday were divided about its long-term effect on cattle producers and consumers. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Milwaukee, who presided over the hearing, said he would request an investigation by the Government Accountability Office into whether past agribusiness mergers have led to price manipulation and higher costs for consumers. Kohl also urged the Justice Department’s antitrust division to scrutinize JBS Swift & Co.’s proposal to buy Smithfield Beef Group of Green Bay, Smithfield’s Five Rivers Ranch Cattle Feeding LLC and National Beef Packing LLC.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/GPG03/805080557/1247
Ruling favors U.S. papermakers: Several Chinese and German paper companies undercut U.S. firms by selling their goods at artificially low prices, the Commerce Department ruled Wednesday. The decision is preliminary. The department plans to issue a final decision in September. Agents for U.S. Customs and Border Protection will collect penalty fees on lightweight thermal paper products from the companies. Lightweight thermal paper is used for coupons and receipts such as those issued by automated teller machines. The action was another victory for paper manufacturer Appleton, formerly known as Appleton Papers Inc. The company triggered the lengthy review last year when it filed complaints about unfair competition by foreign companies.
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC03/805080513/1028
Madison-based FluGen signs contract with Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation: FluGen, a Madison company founded in 2007 based on the research led by UW-Madison avian flu expert Yoshihiro Kawaoka, has signed a licensing agreement with the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation. The primary goal: to create a faster, more effective, less expensive way to manufacture influenza vaccine. Since the 1930s, the standard for making flu vaccine has been that a team of experts decides which flu strains to target, then chicken eggs are injected with the viruses which are then grown for use in the vaccine. “It takes quite a bit of time to come up with that, and this year, they were off,” Paul Radspinner, FluGen president, chief executive and co-founder said.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285273
Madison firm receives state aid for growth: DNAStar Inc., a developer and marketer of genetic research software, will receive $231,500 in Technology Zone tax credits to help pay for a $2.5 million expansion of its Madison facility. The project is expected to create 20 new positions, Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle said in announcing the state aid from the state Department of Commerce. DNAStar, founded in 1983, develops and markets software tools for scientists researching the structure and function of genes and proteins. As part of the company’s expansion, DNAStar plans to lease additional space at its facility in Madison. “With the advent of personalized medicine and related techniques and technologies, our industry is going through a significant transformation…”
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily31.html?surround=lfn
LoanSifter to get state tax credits: LoanSifter of Little Chute will receive $160,000 in tax credits from the state of Wisconsin. The project is expected to create 34 new positions. LoanSifter is a national Internet-based product and pricing search engine company. LoanSifter provides services for mortgage brokers looking for banks or investors to place their residential mortgages. The company plans to use the funds to develop new software and technology for the real estate industry. The total project cost is $440,000.
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/GPG03/805080554/1247
International Monetary buys N.Y. firm: Commercial barter services firm International Monetary Systems Ltd. said Tuesday that it has acquired the assets and client base of Business Network Inc., a trade exchange in Hauppauge, N.Y., on Long Island. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. New Berlin-based International Monetary said the transaction will give customers of the Long Island office and its Manhattan office additional trading opportunities. With the deal, the company will have nearly 2,500 members in the state of New York, including members of the firm’s offices in Rochester, Buffalo and Syracuse, said Don Mardak, International Monetary’s chief executive officer.
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily28.html?surround=lfn
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WISBUSINESS FEATURED COLUMNISTS
– GREGG HOFFMANN: Contributor, WisBusiness.com
– TOM STILL: President, Wisconsin Technology Council
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– STEVE JAGLER: Executive editor, Small Business Times
– TOM BURZINSKI: IT executive and consultant
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top)
– Clearwire, Sprint Nextel combining wireless broadband units
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285272
– High-def boosts DirecTV profit
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285160
BIOTECH (back to top)
– Evansville supports wind energy in survey
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2008/may/07/evansville-supports-wind-energy-survey/
– District plugs into energy saving plan
http://www.leadertelegram.com/story-news_local.asp?id=BGIF8OL8CNN
ECONOMY (back to top)
– Gas price up 14 cents a gallon overnight
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285155
– Neenah Paper records sales gain
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC03/805080512/1028
– LoanSifter, BWAY receive tax credits
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily34.html?surround=lfn
MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– American Axle strike continues to slow local SUV production
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/may/07/american-axle-strike-continues-slow-local-suv-prod/
– Duties on foreign paper advance
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748398
– Marten Transport appoints president
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily30.html?surround=lfn
LABOR (back to top)
– Union officials defend 911 dispatcher in Zimmermann case
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/285278
– Worker productivity up at 2.2 percent
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/APC03/80507092/1028
– Woodman’s employees plan rally
http://www.gazettextra.com/weblogs/latest-news/2008/may/08/woodmans-employees-plan-rally/
– Official seeks end to welfare abuse
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/GPG0101/805080596/1978/GPGnews
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Quinton’s Bar liquor license in jeopardy
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/285351
– New North small business session June 24
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC03/805080518/1028
– Brookfield rapidly adds liquor licenses
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748562
INVESTING (back to top)
– NewPage files notice for stock offering
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC03/805080505/1028
– Investors avoiding the dollar might want to rethink strategy
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/business/front/bizfeature.asp
REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– Marshall Erdman parent posts improved results
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285209
– Neenah distributes $121,500 in grants for low-income housing
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC0101/805080501/1979/APCnews
– Plans to redevelop buildings dropped
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748404
– Restaurant bought for assisted-living site
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748396
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Sky Vegetables proposal by UW-Madison students imagines fresh produce from the supermarket roof
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285253
– Gypsy Moth Aerial Spraying to Start Next Week
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=573&yr=2008
– Agricultural Clean Sweep Planned in Sheboygan County
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=574&yr=2008
TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– State keeps I-94 cash beyond reach of rail projects
http://www.dailyreporter.com/item.cfm?recid=20048550&snippet=t&forward=%2Fitem%2Ecfm%3Frecid%3D20048550%26snippet%3Df
– College Avenue bridge delay threat angers mayor
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC0101/805080502/1979/APCnews
– Midwest Airlines flies fewer passengers
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily32.html?surround=lfn
RETAIL (back to top)
– Kohl Wants Answers on High Food Prices
http://wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=569&yr=2008
– Delafield considering development moratorium
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05072008_03.asp
– New visions for Highway 33
http://www.gmtoday.com/news/local_stories/2008/May_08/05072008_08.asp
– George Webb marks 60 years that almost didn’t happen
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748460
REGULATION (back to top)
– State: Man scammed fans on Packers tickets
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/stories/285277
– State to propose inspecting all new permanent thrill rides
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/local/285033
– Health Department shuts down bar/restaurant over license violations
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/05/08/news/z03bar08.txt
TOURISM (back to top)
– Marcus Hotels to manage Rhode Island resort
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily29.html?surround=lfn
UTILITIES (back to top)
– Cold weather boosts MGE earnings
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/285271
– Despite age, local sewer system comes out clean
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/GPG0101/805080585/1978/GPGnews
HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Long-term health care agency names new director
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2008/05/08/news/z04garrity08.txt
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– Guaranty Bank parent reports loss of almost $7.6 million
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748401
– Business financing session set May 29
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080508/APC03/805080507/1028
MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Three of four chancellor candidates have ties to UW-Madison
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/285199
– Rowland sells MacKenzie-Childs to a private equity firm
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/285225
– Sheiffer calls for economic summit in wake of GM news
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/may/07/sheiffer-calls-economic-summit-wake-gm-news/
– Dutcher, Dohner win Local 95 posts
http://gazettextra.com/news/2008/may/07/dutcher-dohner-win-local-95-posts/
– Author helps women make most of finances
http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=748402
– Van Deursen joins Actuant board
http://milwaukee.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/05/05/daily37.html?surround=lfn
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top)
– Pete Bach: Auditor’s transition is holistic
http://www.postcrescent.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080507/APC03/80507135/1028
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