(WisBusiness) THURS News Summary — 22 Jan. 2009

From WisBusiness.com …

— President Barack Obama must act to address a “crisis of confidence” in the financial markets in order to help pull America out of the recession, UW-Madison Business School Dean Michael Knetter told business executives at an economic forum in Milwaukee.

Knetter said Obama also must act to restore the public’s faith in the economy, while continued action by the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department is needed to prop up banks in order to keep them lending.

“We can’t let the banking system completely collapse,” Knetter said Wednesday.

While Knetter urged federal action through a stimulus package to boost spending and allow excess capacity in the market to correct itself in an orderly fashion, he also said it was important for Obama to boost people’s confidence in their economic futures so they are comfortable spending today.

“The administration needs to convince people we can’t all be fearful right now,” Knetter said.

Knetter was one of five speakers to address the Economic Trends 2009 Breakfast presented by BizTimes Milwaukee, The Executive Committee and the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin. Northern Trust was the lead sponsor.

Read more from the breakfast: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=146402

— The University of Wisconsin College of Engineering and Small Business Development Center have launched a biotech process-improvement program, working with NeoClone in Madison, Catalent in Middleton and Invitrogen in Milwaukee. This new program is intended to help biotech companies reduce lead time, variability and costs, while improving process quality and the likelihood of success on the market.

See details: http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Article=146428

— Wausau Paper announced that Bedford Park, Illinois, was selected as the location for its new printing & writing distribution hub. The company said Bedford Park, a southwestern suburb of Chicago, was chosen for its proximity to key Midwest commercial printing markets and the company’s network of merchant distribution partners.

See the press release: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20090121006133/en

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TOP STORIES
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Wisconsin Power & Light may raise rates : If you’re a Wisconsin Power & Light customer, you may soon pay more for electricity. WPL is expected to file an emergency request with state regulators for permission to raise rates. Just last month, the Madison utility company agreed to hold electric rates steady for 2009 and reduce natural-gas rates by $4 million. The reason: the recession.
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/433996

Arbitrator rules Midwest’s restructuring doesn’t violate contract: Midwest Airline’s decision to hire Republic Airlines to operate a fleet of regional jets is permissible under Midwest’s collective bargaining agreement with its unionized pilots, an arbitrator has ruled. The System Board of Adjustment found that the arrangement is a legitimate codeshare agreement and further found that Oak Creek-based Midwest Airline’s collective bargaining agreement with the pilots provides the airline the unrestricted right to engage in codeshares. The board ruled that there is no violation of the labor agreement.
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily40.html

Madison’s TomoTherapy partners with Hitachi in Japan: TomoTherapy, the Madison-based radiation therapy company, is partnering with Hitachi Medical Corp. to market and sell TomoTherapy’s Hi-Art cancer treatment system in Japan. The distribution agreement was announced by TomoTherapy officials on Tuesday.
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433956

Falling milk prices hurt dairy farms : Rapidly falling milk prices could result in more Wisconsin dairy farmers calling it quits this year. Profit margins have tumbled in recent weeks and are expected to remain depressed for months. Some farms could operate at a loss in 2009, especially during the first half of the year, according to University of Wisconsin dairy specialists.
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38100814.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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BIOTECH (back to top)
– Accelerated Genetics Unveils Microbial for Organic Cattle
http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=90&yr=2009

ECONOMY (back to top)
– Clear Channel lays off 8 in Madison
http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/latest/434051

– Johnson Controls to pursue growth, CEO says
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38021619.html

MANUFACTURING (back to top)
– Tufco’s upgrade of Ashwaubenon factory cuts energy costs
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090122/GPG03/901220525/1247

– Ashwaubenon-based Schneider National takes top honor
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090122/GPG03/901220526/1247

LABOR (back to top)
– More government employees retired in late 2008
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WI_RETIREMENT_PENSIONS_WIOL-?SITE=WIMAD&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

– Early retirement saves lawmaker pension bucks
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/38121179.html

– More area cities take up paid-sick-day issue
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/38007984.html

– County’s pension fund struggles continue
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/38012659.html

– State unemployment claims up 62% so far this year
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38003549.html

SMALL BUSINESS (back to top)
– Shifting Gears: Sandwich shop adapts to the times, demands
http://www.postcrescent.com/article/20090122/APC03/901220468/1028

INVESTING (back to top)
– American Superconductor sees wider quarterly loss on unforeseen costs, charges
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/433982

REAL ESTATE (back to top)
– New West Side home could be first in state with highest LEED rating
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/434060

AGRIBUSINESS (back to top)
– Wisconsin company recalls sliced apple products
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090121/GPG03/90121168/1247

TRANSPORTATION (back to top)
– Passenger totals at Dane County Regional Airport increase in December
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/433941

– Mitchell hits passenger record despite slowdown
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily38.html

RETAIL (back to top)
– New owners found for De Pere’s Butterfly Books
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20090122/GPG03/901220527/1247

– Plan for Sun Prairie Woodman’s grocery delayed
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/434065

– Woodman’s targets Menomonee Falls
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily35.html

– Marcus closing budget cinema in Racine
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily42.html

– Allen Edmonds on Obama: ‘It looks like our shoes’
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily39.html

– Flat Top Grill to open in Tosa at end of February
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily36.html

REGULATION (back to top)
– ALRC votes to pull North Side bar’s liquor license
http://www.madison.com/wsj/topstories/434085

HEALTH CARE (back to top)
– Report finds increase in Wisconsin HMO enrollment
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily41.html

FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top)
– PNC expects to report 4Q loss
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily34.html

– U.S. Bancorp misses estimates in 4Q
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily32.html

MANAGEMENT (back to top)
– Ex-Huffy Sports president moves up at Regal Ware
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/01/19/daily37.html

– American Transmission names Procario as CEO
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38013984.html

– Tushaus names Gebhardt as president, shareholder
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38013129.html

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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