After bolstering the offensive side of the football with four of their first five picks, the Packers turned to defense with both picks in the 5th round.
The first 5th round pick, #159 overall, for GM Ted Thompson was Iowa corner back Micah Hyde.
Hyde was…
Ricky Wagner
Photo/WisconsinThe Baltimore Ravens drafted Wisconsin OT Ricky Wagner in the last pick in the 5th round, the 168th pick in the draft.
Heading into 2012, Wagner was thought to be a potential first round talent. However, the way 2012 started…
Nate Plamer
The Packers late round run on defense continues as the Packers tab Illinois State OLB Nate Palmer in the 6th round with the 193rd pick in the draft.
Palmer’s college career started at Illinois before he transferred to Illinois State after his…
The state’s unemployment rate increased in June. Preliminary numbers from the Department of Workforce Development show Wisconsin lost over 13,200 jobs last month, with 11,700 of those coming from the private sector.
The unemployment rate jumped from 6.8 percent in May to 7 percent in June. Wisconsin is still below the national rate of 8.2 percent.
State officials stressed that the numbers are based on a survey of only 3.5 percent of employers, which they argue is less accurate than a quarterly report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, Democrats say the jump highlights the need for a special session of the Legislature to work together on rapid job creation.
Mark Neumann responds to Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Tammy Baldwin’s call for her GOP counterparts to support lowering college student loan interest rates.
While speaking to reporters outside of Baldwin’s Madison office, Neumann called her “hypocritical” for supporting the 2007 House bill that led to the looming interest rate increase. The Republican Senate candidate said the legislation–five years ago–was a “budgeting gimmick” to make it appear there was more revenue than there actually was.
Interest rates for student loans are 3.4 percent, but are set to double to 6.8 percent this year.
One aspect of Baldwin’s plan is to implement the Buffett Rule which would raise taxes on millionaires. “We can keep interest rates low and provide students a fair shot at an affordable education, by making wealthier individuals pay their fair share in taxes,” said Baldwin in a release.
Neumann said any loan interest relief should be off-set by spending reductions. Neumann, a former Congressman, faces Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, businessman Eric Hovde and former Governor Tommy Thompson in an August primary. The GOP nominee will face Baldwin in November.
A recount decision will be made Friday in the 21st state Senate District.
Poplar Democratic Senator Bob Jauch says it’s time to move on; the people have spoken. “Governor Walker legitimately won the recall election,” he says, and everyone has accepted that outcome. Now, it’s time for Republicans to accept the outcome of the Racine Senate election. “The Senate Democratic candidate won — legitimately won — according to the canvass.”
An official canvass of last week’s Racine senate race gives Democratic challenger John Lehman the win by 834 votes over incumbent Republican Senator Van Wanggaard, putting Democrats in a 17-16 majority in that house. The victory for Democrats could be short lived, as half the chamber is up for reelection in November.
Wanggaard’s campaign manager, Justin Phillips, had said on Tuesday that they won’t make a decision about seeking a recount until Friday. The campaign is looking into possible election irregularities and voter fraud. Phillips said they owe at least that to Senator Wanggaard’s supporters and the voters of Wisconsin.
Jauch says the decision made by voters needs to be respected, and while the Senator has every right to ask for a recount, Jauch wants Wanggaard to concede to help heal the bitterly divided state. “He has a right to contest the case … I don’t think that this is Senator Wanggaard; I think it’s the Republican majority that is going to do what they can to prolong this to the point they have an excuse so that we do not have any majority control.”
Jauch urges members of the GOP not to drag this out. “This is not a Kingdom, and an empire. And they ought not act like Darth Vader who’s trying to control the dark side of life, because we need to respect these elections whether we like them or not.”
Wanggaard defeated Lehman for this seat just a year and a half ago, in November 2010. He has until the end of business day Friday to decide whether to request and pay for a recount.
The Racine County District Attorney’s office is asking the Racine County Sheriff’s office for an investigation into the suspected fraud, according to a news release from the Sheriff’s office sent out Thursday afternoon.
AUDIO: Jackie Johnson report 1:23
