News 11.16.16
16 November 2016 News
Two people are injured following a multi-vehicle accident in Waushara County. The accident happened Friday afternoon around 2:10pm on State Road 21, by the intersection of County Road X, in the Town of Aurora. Waushara County Sheriff Jeffrey Nett says four vehicle were involved and scattered across both lanes of State Road 21, west of the intersection. One vehicle occupant was flown to Theda Clark Hospital in Neenah with serious and possibly life threatening injuries. Another individual was taken to Berlin Hospital and treated for non-life threatening injuries. The other two vehicle occupants were not injured. Police have identified the four people as Rick Behnke, Patrick Effertz, Dale Danielski and Gina Schmaucher. No details have been released regarding who the injured parties are. The accident remains under investigation.
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A week after residents voted in favor of a multi-million dollar building referendum Waupun school officials are laying the plans to begin construction. School officials met Monday night with hopes of starting the first phase of construction next spring. Superintendent Tanya Gubin says some of the other projects will have to wait until after the school year. Gubin says the district hopes that local contractors will bid on the projects, in order to help the Fond du Lac and Dodge County economy. The $36 million referendum includes deferred maintenance and safety upgrades, classroom renovation and a new primary school gymnasium. About 65 percent of voters voted in favor of the referendum last Tuesday.
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State Superintendent Tony Evers is seeking $707 million more over the next two years for Wisconsin schools. Evers made the request in his $13.6 billion budget proposal released Tuesday. Gov. Scott Walker and the Legislature will consider it next year as it works on passing a new two-year spending plan for the state. Evers’ budget calls for a 2.7 percent spending increase the first year and 5.4 percent the second. That includes more than $500 million additional for general school aids as part of his plan to overhaul the school funding formula. The Republican-controlled Legislature has rejected Evers’ call to rewrite the formula three times. His budget also includes $5.5 million for grants in rural schools to help retain teachers who are lured away for higher-paying jobs in more urban areas.
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The national push to curtail occupational licensing requirements and regulations is gaining momentum in Wisconsin. The conservative, libertarian public interest law firm the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty introduced a report Tuesday it hopes will guide the Republican-controlled Legislature as it tackles the issue. Assembly Republicans said in their agenda for the next two years that they want to review education, experience and other licensing requirements and eliminate licenses that don’t provide legitimate public safety benefits. Gov. Scott Walker has also talked about making changes. The WILL report says there are more than 440,000 credential-holders regulated by the state and that has increased 34 percent since 1996. Its report argues that licensing requirements for many jobs raises prices and reduces competition, making it harder for people to find jobs.
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The Christmas tree that will be on display in the Wisconsin state Capitol this year is coming from Eagle River. Gov. Scott Walker announced Tuesday that the balsam fir is being donated by Bruce and Charlotte Carey. The tree is due to arrive at the Capitol today and will be installed after Thanksgiving. The tree will be decorated with ornaments made by Wisconsin school children. The theme this year is “Wisconsin Wildlife.” The tree is on display in the rotunda of the Capitol during the holiday season.
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