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News 05.15.17

15 May 2017 News


Wisconsin Republican Sen. Ron Johnson says the Senate version of the health care bill will include protections for people with pre-existing conditions. Johnson spoke to reporters Saturday at the Wisconsin Republican Party convention. Johnson says the Senate bill will make sure people with pre-existing conditions can get coverage without “skyrocketing premiums” and “collapsing insurance markets.” He says the Senate won’t vote on a bill until there is a final cost estimate. The House passed its bill without a final cost estimate from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. House Speaker Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, led the effort to pass the House bill repealing the Affordable Care Act passed under former President Barack Obama.

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A man accused of breaking into a Janesville gun shop and stealing 18 weapons says he had no plans to harm the public while he was on the run for 10 days. Joseph Jakubowski called WTMJ-TV from jail on Friday. He told the station that he wanted to go to North Dakota to “get off the grid” and the media stoked public fear. He also expressed anger at the government and the “system.” Jakubowski is accused of stealing the guns on April 4 and was arrested after a manhunt, which ended after he was discovered in a remote area of western Wisconsin. He says the manifesto he sent to President Donald Trump is proof that he had no violent intent. Authorities were fearful of what Jakubowski might do because of that rambling statement.

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Wisconsin’s wine industry has grown substantially since 2000 when it had just 13 wineries. Wisconsin Public Radio reports Wisconsin has more than 140 wineries today, making it a destination for wine tourists. People made nearly 2 million visits to wineries in Wisconsin in 2015, and the state saw an estimated nearly $50 million in direct spending on wine tourism.

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A Manitowoc County woman has been chosen as the state’s 70th Alice in Dairyland. The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection says, Crystal Siemers-Peterman, from the village of Cleveland, will teach the public about the importance of agriculture in the state. As Alice, Siemers-Peterman will travel about 40,000 miles speaking at events and giving media interviews and she will present lessons in more than 100 Wisconsin classrooms in partnership with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, according to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Simers-Peterman starts June 5th.


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