THU WisBusiness News Summary 6 May 2010 Exclusively for WisBusiness Subscribers
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From WisBusiness.com … — As world’s biggest biotech conference continues in Chicago, Gov. Jim Doyle says he had seven meetings with national and international companies here that are considering locating in Wisconsin or investing in the state. Doyle said he couldn’t discuss details, but said there could be “some very exciting news to report.’’
See more from BIO, including news on biofuels and genetically engineered crops, at the WisBusiness BIO Blog: htp://bio.wisbusiness.com
TOP STORIES ************* The Weight of Water: Can Milwaukee become the “Silicon Valley of Water”? Or are promoters of the idea all wet? … Central to this effort was a “Water Summit White Paper” … by UW-Milwaukee professor of urban planning Sammis White. … White found there were 120 firms involved in water and declared Milwaukee had a golden opportunity to build a unique water cluster. All that was needed to make this dream a reality was to invest tens of millions of public and private dollars. In short, tax dollars would be needed – and quickly. … no one in government or the media or any position of leadership seemed to be questioning the contention that Milwaukee was a global leader in water technology. In fact, the evidence for this was rather thin. http://www.milwaukeemagazine.com/currentIssue/full_feature_story.asp?NewMessageID=25510
Shopko to eliminate 74 positions as information technology jobs get outsourced: Retailer Shopko said Tuesday it will outsource more than half its information technology jobs starting later this year as part of a broader effort to revamp the company’s technology systems. The move is expected to eliminate 74 Shopko positions at company headquarters on Holmgren Way in Ashwaubenon. http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100505/GPG03/5050563/
Local officials dispute Forbes’ ranking of city: Janesville is one of the worst places in the country to look for a job, Forbes magazine said in a recent article. It’s no picnic for the unemployed, but Forbes’ ranking doesn’t tell the whole story, said two local officials who work to turn the jobs frown upside down. http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/may/05/local-officials-dispute-forbes-ranking-city/
Midwest, Frontier lose $42M in first quarter: Republic Airways Holdings Inc. reported that paying passenger traffic for the combined Midwest Airlines and Frontier Airlines increased in April, but the airlines lost $42.4 million before taxes in the first quarter of 2010. http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily35.html
Related: – Republic takes $11.5 million charge to dump Midwest Airlines brand http://www.jsonline.com/business/92830974.html
AnchorBank cutting 70 more jobs, selling four more branches: AnchorBank is selling four more of its 73 locations and cutting 70 jobs as the struggling savings bank tries to boost its financial cushion to meet the standards of federal regulators. Five weeks after a plan to inject up to $400 million from outside investors fell apart, Anchor came out with a new series of steps http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_25846eee-cd8c-524d-91e1-7cc76283d22b.html
Related: – AnchorBank selling four Green Bay-area branches, cutting 70 jobs http://www.jsonline.com/business/92916579.html
UW Health denies it is dropping plans to offer second-trimester abortions: The Attorney General’s Office is claiming that the UW has abandoned its plans to offer second-trimester abortions at the Madison Surgery Center. But UW Health issued a statement late Wednesday denying it had dropped its plans. http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/health_med_fit/article_f9450e2c-5870-11df-9691-001cc4c03286.html
Related: – University of Wisconsin Health hasn’t dropped plans for abortions at Madison clinic http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/article/20100505/GPG0101/100505108/1207
– Group claims victory in UW abortion fight http://www.wrn.com/2010/05/group-claims-victory-in-uw-abortion-fight/
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TECHNOLOGY (back to top) – Tech: AT&T dropping more calls than ever, new study finds http://host.madison.com/ct/business/technology/blog/article_0c7eb700-5852-11df-a8c7-001cc4c002e0.html
BIOTECH (back to top) – Economic uncertainties hurting biotech http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-05-05/business/ct-biz-0506-biotech-investors-20100505_1_biotech-companies-bio-organization-vaccines
– Al Gore in Chicago for biotech convention http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7425100
– Georgia.: Baker promises to create 100,000 jobs, 25,000 in bio-tech http://chronicle.augusta.com/latest-news/2010-05-05/baker-promises-create-100000-jobs-25000-bio-tech?v=1273081559
– Georgia: Jobs plan funds biotech startups http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/050610/new_634468820.shtml
ECONOMY (back to top) – U.S. Bank Analyst Predicts 300,000 to 400,000 New Monthly Jobs by Year’s End http://ibmadison.com/employment?id=479
– Planned layoffs at lowest level since 2006 http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily41.html
– New jobless claims drop for third straight week http://wiscnews.com/business/article_82ccd9b1-6949-5aa5-a7a5-c67aa9f9d056.html
– Productivity grows 3.6 percent in first quarter http://host.madison.com/news/article_24ffc885-893d-5eae-abce-9a277b96660f.html
MANUFACTURING (back to top) – SkipperLiner closing could cost Campbell http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_b975fd24-58c5-11df-8d94-001cc4c03286.html
– Douglas Dynamics shares close at $11.29 in first day of trading http://www.jsonline.com/business/92911304.html
– Wis. Rapids: Council passes resolution supporting local paper industry http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100506/CWS03/305060101/-1/WDH03/
LABOR (back to top) – OSHA fines Ill. company for Wis. plant violations http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/05/05/osha-fines-ill-company-for-wis-plant-violations/
– Home care workers might unionize http://www.jsonline.com/business/92929639.html
SMALL BUSINESS (back to top) – Racine: Three siblings open north-side Mexican restaurant, Centeotl http://journaltimes.com/business/local/article_c4b46740-5891-11df-bfc8-001cc4c03286.html
– Madison: Smart Motors acquires Ball Body Shop http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_ce254474-585b-11df-82b8-001cc4c002e0.html
INVESTING (back to top) – Most of us still deeply worried about finances, survey shows http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/92953119.html
REAL ESTATE (back to top) – Milton council reviews draft for soccer complex http://gazettextra.com/news/2010/may/05/milton-council-reviews-draft-soccer-complex/
– Laptop City Hall: Dueling Edgewater meetings set for Monday http://host.madison.com/ct/news/local/govt_and_politics/city_hall/article_6425fe42-588d-11df-9430-001cc4c03286.html
– Madison sticks to Central Library rebuild http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/05/05/madison-sticks-to-central-library-rebuild
– Wauwatosa approves rezoning for UWM campus at County Grounds http://www.jsonline.com/business/92929644.html
AGRIBUSINESS (back to top) – Racine: Area farmers’ markets will be opening this weekend http://journaltimes.com/lifestyles/leisure/article_3938b7be-5857-11df-8210-001cc4c03286.html
– Four-State Dairy Conference Planned for Next Month http://www.wisconsinagconnection.com/story-state.php?Id=532
– Crops planted early, big harvest seen http://www.jsonline.com/business/92929624.html
TRANSPORTATION (back to top) – Milwaukee rolls out streetcar plan http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/05/05/milwaukee-rolls-out-streetcar-plan/
– Panel to vote Thursday on whether to proceed with streetcar line http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/92894569.html
– AirTran traffic rises 8% in April http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily40.html
– Fish poisoning of Chicago river aims to track carp http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/92896189.html
RETAIL (back to top) – Bobcat of Madison draws new customers with award-winning new showroom http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_cdf21e68-5898-11df-a1d1-001cc4c002e0.html
– Spectrum Brands sees growing sales http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily36.html
– Spectrum Brands narrows losses http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_0bc575be-5853-11df-9ea6-001cc4c002e0.html
– Spectrum Brands narrows loss amid increased sales http://www.jsonline.com/business/92868379.html
– Mayfair wants more to say about Quality bankruptcy http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/92815214.html
– Mattress Firm stores surface at Bayshore Town Center, Greenfield http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/business/92808029.html
– Retailers report more modest April shopping http://wiscnews.com/business/article_9562472a-70fc-5687-8560-fb2d3b52ea5d.html
REGULATION (back to top) – DNR responds to Mazomanie development lawsuit http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/05/05/dnr-responds-to-mazomanie-development-lawsuit/
– Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle signs law banning texting while driving http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100505/OSH0101/305050176/1987
– Guv sgns txt ban legis http://www.wrn.com/2010/05/guv-sgns-txt-ban-legis/
– State measures penalties for contractor paperwork http://dailyreporter.com/blog/2010/05/05/state-measures-penalties-for-contractor-paperwork/
– La Crosse city officials: More beer gardens likely as smoking ban nears http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/article_927ef922-58c6-11df-abfe-001cc4c002e0.html
– Permit and hours of Hartland Sportsman’s Club will be reviewed http://www.jsonline.com/news/waukesha/92930629.html
– Obama: Begin work this year on immigration reform http://www.thenorthwestern.com/article/20100506/OSH0101/100505200/1128
– Case of jilted contractor prompts call for oversight law http://www.jsonline.com/business/92929619.html
TOURISM (back to top) – Kris Willis named general manager of Blue Harbor resort http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20100505/SHE0101/100505172/1062
– Supreme Court says MSO tickets subject to sales tax http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily37.html
– Sheboygan: Mission control: Space education center taking off at former Armory http://www.sheboyganpress.com/article/20100506/SHE0101/5060429/1062
UTILITIES (back to top) – Latest solar project will also be a classroom http://www.jsonline.com/business/92929629.html
HEALTH CARE (back to top) – Giving consumers power over health-care costs http://www.htrnews.com/article/20100506/MAN0101/5060547/1358
– West Bend approves first two phases of assisted living project http://www.jsonline.com/business/92876869.html
– Grafton sues pharmaceutical company over loan http://www.jsonline.com/business/92870864.html
FINANCIAL SERVICES (back to top) – Legacy Bank, The Northwestern Bank ordered to improve http://www.jsonline.com/business/92909784.html
MANAGEMENT (back to top) – CUNA selects next CEO http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/article_c2ce6058-5881-11df-88b3-001cc4c002e0.html
– Credit Union National Association names new CEO http://www.jsonline.com/business/92888284.html
– DDN names Wiesman president http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/05/03/daily39.html
– Coffee Break with Brewmaster Kirby Nelson http://ibmadison.com/ibtv?video_id=50
BUSINESS COLUMNS (back to top) – Biz Beat: Madison unemployment rate near all-time high http://host.madison.com/ct/business/biz_beat/article_2a1276d6-586a-11df-931d-001cc4c002e0.html
PRESS RELEASES (back to top)
· Dept. of Workforce Development: Governor Doyle announces additional assistance for dislocated workers at Badger Meter in Milwaukee · Dept. of Workforce Development: Governor Doyle announces additional assistance for dislocated workers at GE Healthcare Systems in Milwaukee · Dept. of Workforce Development: Secretary Gassman urges students to sign Wisconsin covenant · Franklin Energy Services: To relocate headquarters · Huot Instruments: Develops green lighting technology for the medical field · Keller Williams: Welcomes Michelle Stabbe to Elm Grove office · UW-Madison College of Engineering: May 7 biomedical engineering student invention expo to showcase real medical solutions · UW-Milwaukee: UWM partnering with the University of Southern California’s Center for Urban Education (CUE) to improve transfer rates · UW-Whitewater: GameZombie TV sweeps Webby Awards in Student category · Wisconsin Bio Industry Alliance: New report from Purdue shows reduction in emissions from ethanol production · Wisconsin Climate Change Action Initiative: Names Kuntz executive director · Wisconsin Supreme Court: Mandate in Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Inc. v. Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue · Xcel Energy: Updates cost estimates for innovative biomass project in Ashland
For these and more releases visit http://www.wisbusiness.com/index.iml?Content=82
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