WUWM News

Every spring in southeastern Wisconsin, rising water temperatures activate certain fishes’ instincts to leave Lake Michigan and migrate up river. Several species, including big trout called “steelhead,” make the run upstream to find gravel beds. That’s where the females deposit eggs and the males then fertilize them.

Today is Earth Day. What’s become an international event, was the brainchild of the late Gaylord Nelson of Wisconsin. Over the years, the U.S. Senator inspired millions of people around the world to address dangers threatening the environment.

Jean Clausen has found inspiration in the world around her. The 95-year-old nature writer helped save the “once endangered” bald eagles that now thrive on the Wisconsin River. world to address dangers threatening the environment.

WUWM environmental reporter Susan Bence motored up to her riverbank cottage, 30 miles northwest of Madison. She caught Clausen in the middle of intense bird watching, and chronicling. world to address dangers threatening the environment.

Jean Clausen is excited! She just spotted a small woodpecker - a yellow-bellied sapsucker - feasting at one of her many feeders. world to address dangers threatening the environment.

The debate over where city of Milwaukee employees are allowed to live takes center stage at the state Capitol Tuesday. A Senate committee will hold a public hearing on a bill that would do away with the requirement that Milwaukee police officers and fire fighters reside within the city limits. Gov. Scott Walker’s budget would also scrap the residency rule for Milwaukee’s 6,000 public school teachers. More than a decade ago, state lawmakers in Michigan made a similar move, giving city of Detroit workers the freedom to live wherever they want. WUWM’s Erin Toner spoke with a few people about how those changes have impacted the Motor City.

One of the people watching – and taking part in -- the Madison protests has been Margaret (Peggy) Rozga.

She’s an English professor at UW-Waukesha, but perhaps is best known as the widow of James Groppi. He was the former Catholic priest and activist who was a major leader in the civil rights movement in Milwaukee in the 1960s.

Democrats are accusing Governor Scott Walker of breaking ethics and campaign finance laws during a phone conversation he thought he was having with billionaire David Koch. The state Democratic Party Monday filed a formal complaint with the Government Accountability Board. WUWM’s Erin Toner reports that the case has raised ethics questions, not only in the political realm, but also in the field of journalism.

A Dane County Circuit Judge ordered all remaining demonstrators to leave the state Capitol late Thursday. There were about 100 there at the time. Judge John Albert says the building should return to normal business hours. For more than two weeks, the Capitol has been filled the protesters around the clock, most demanding that Governor Walker or the Legislature drop his plan to rescind most collective bargaining rights for public workers. WUWM’s LaToya Dennis is here in the studio with me this morning, with the latest developments. To recap the situation, Capitol police asked protesters to vacate the Capitol late Sunday, so the building could be cleaned. Most did leave, but officers allowed the rest to remain, rather than risk confrontation. Then, the DOA, the Department of Administration began limiting access to the building in order to minimize disruption and return a sense of normalcy. But unintended consequences resulted.

Protests in Madison enter a second week today. Thousands of people are expected in the state’s capital today to continue their protests against a bill that would strip unionized state workers of virtually all of their collective bargaining rights.

WUWM’s Bob Bach was in Madison over the weekend and joins us in the studio this morning with more on the story.

It's been another lively, emotional day at the state Capitol in Madison.

Thousands of demonstrators have been on hand, most protesting Governor Scott Walker's plan to strip public workers of most bargaining rights.

The Joint Finance Committee late last night approved legislation that would strip the public sector of most of its collective bargaining rights. All 12 Republicans on the committee voted in favor of the bill, while the four Democrats opposed the controversial legislation that has drawn thousands to the state Capitol this week. WUWM’s LaToya Dennis joins us in the studio with the latest developments.

More protests are planned in Madison on Thursday. The state Capitol has become the center of opposition to Walker administration plans to virtually abolish state labor unions. WUWM’s Marti Mikkelson is in Madison and has been speaking with some of the thousands of protesters as well as supporters of the governor's plans.

The halls of the state Capitol are expected to be packed again today as the state legislature prepares to vote on a proposal to strip state employees of most collective bargaining rights. Marti Mikkelson is in Madison and file this report.