THURSDAY
May 23, 2013

MADISON, Wis.  — Another year, another campaign. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is gearing up for re-election next year, his third race in four years. But the Republican's courting of out-of-state donors and conservatives, his plans to visit Iowa this week and his refusal to say whether he would serve out another full term if elected suggest he might be seeking a much bigger prize — the presidency. Not that he will openly acknowledge as much.
 

MADISON — Education` standards adopted in Wisconsin and 44 other states are either a rigorous benchmark that will improve student performance, or they're a dangerous intrusion on local control masterminded by the federal government, speakers said at a joint legislative hearing Wednesday. The divergent opinions offered by right-leaning think tanks came as lawmakers on the Senate and Assembly education committees looked to learn more about the Common Core Standards adopted in Wisconsin three years ago.

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Charles Woodson had gotten word that Oakland fans had mobilized through social media to hold a rally at his free-agent visit to the Raiders. Even Woodson was blown away by the reception that included more than a hundred fans decked out in Raiders gear and costumes waiting at the team facility for his arrival Tuesday. "It was overwhelming," he said Wednesday. "I think that if at any time I'd ever forgotten what the love was like in Oakland, I was definitely reminded yesterday."

MILWAUKEE — Dodgers manager Don Mattingly criticized his team and benched All-Star right fielder Andre Ethier, then watched Los Angeles beat the Milwaukee Brewers 9-2 Wednesday. Mattingly, in the third and final year of his contract, discussed his club's lack of mental toughness and said he wanted a balanced team that has grit and fight. He benched Ethier for the third time in six games and said he was "putting out my lineup that I feel is going to be the most competitive and going to compete the hardest."

MILWAUKEE — The strength of the tornado that killed at least 24 people and destroyed countless homes in Oklahoma this week is rarely seen in Wisconsin. The Oklahoma tornado was a top-of-the-scale EF5 twister with winds of at least 200 mph. The National Weather Service says only six tornadoes in Wisconsin match the severity of the EF5. The Journal Sentinel says the 1996 Oakfield tornado caused $40 million in damage, but no deaths.

MADISON — The Legislature's budget-writing committee is expected to approve Gov. Scott Walker's plan to freeze University of Wisconsin System tuition for two years and slash a planned spending increase for system schools. The committee is meeting Thursday in Madison. Republicans are outraged at UW System officials after learning last month the system amassed a $650 million surplus even while raising tuition year after year.

MADISON, Wis.  — The state's troubled economic-development agency has hired its fourth chief financial officer in two years. The Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. on Thursday named Stephanie M. Walker as its CFO. The agency says she's unrelated to Gov. Scott Walker, and her first day will be June 17. Stephanie Walker is the finance director for the Milwaukee County village of Shorewood. She held similar positions in Brown Deer and in Berwyn, Ill.

WAUKESHA – Plans for a 22,817-square-foot office and warehouse expansion at Miro Tool & Manufacturing are moving forward, as the Plan Commission unanimously approved a preliminary site plan and architectural review for the site Wednesday evening. Community Development Specialist Jeff Fortin said the business opened up a 4,000-square-foot facility at 201 Sentry Drive in 1992 and has since done numerous additions as the business expanded to three buildings with a total of just more than 40,000 square feet currently.