(WisBusiness) MON News Summary — 2 Mar. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— It’s “all but certain” the Midwest will see rail improvements, including a high-speed line linking Milwaukee and Madison, as a result of the federal stimulus package, a rail proponent said Sunday on “UpFront with Mike Gousha.”

The stimulus package sets aside $8 billion for high-speed rail, of which the Midwest could see $2 billion to $3 billion, said Kevin Brubaker, deputy director of the Environmental Law and Policy Center of Chicago.

Brubaker said the money is “ours to lose” due to political support from key Midwestern policy makers and because proposed projects in the region are “shovel ready.” He also noted that both the president and the transportation secretary hail from Illinois, which bodes well for those dollars to flow to the Midwest.

— The episode also featured UW-Madison School of Business professor and former federal reserve economist Morris Davis, who said movement back toward a historically average ratio of annual rental rates to home prices signals the housing market may hit bottom within the next year. That ratio fell by about two percent from the normal five percent in the last decade, he said.

Davis also criticized President Barack Obama’s housing plan, saying it will not address the nation’s foreclosure problem because it does not provide payment relief to people who have recently lost income. He pointed to a plan being advanced by the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston that would provide payment relief as a better alternative.

See the episode here: http://www.wisn.com/upfront/18822668/detail.html

— In the newest edition of his Fashion Forward column, Mitch Bram tackles how to dress for the change in seasons from winter to spring.

Read his column: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=211

— A trio of Milwaukee journalists recently discussed social media, making money online and when they think print publications might become a thing of the past.

The panelists — Chuck Melvin, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s business editor; Mark Sabljak, publisher for the Business Journal of Milwaukee, and Bruce Murphy, editor for Milwaukee Magazine — said the Web has given them the opportunity to reach readers in more ways and with more immediacy, but also said making money online can be a challenge.

Read more from the event: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=150656

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TODAY: WisBusiness.com Luncheon featuring Carl Gulbrandsen of WARF

The next WisBusiness.com Luncheon at the Madison Club, organized by the Madison Club, Madison Magazine, and WisBusiness.com, is slated for Monday March 2 at 11:45 a.m.. The guest is Carl Gulbrandsen of WARF

The event is open to the public, and the price for lunch is $19. Call the Madison Club to register at (608) 255-4861. The luncheon starts at 11:45 a.m. and ends at 1 p.m.

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GREEN TIER ADVANTAGE 2009: SUSTAINABILITY FOR WISCONSIN BUSINESSES

Date: March 3-4, Times: Day 1: 2-7 pm, Day 2: 8:30 am-3 pm Location: UWM School of Continuing Education

To learn more or register, go to: http://www4.uwm.edu/sce/landing/green/greentier.html

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THANKS TO OUR WISBUSINESS SPONSORS

• University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Madison Gas & Electric
• University Research Park
• Wisconsin Technology Council

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