MONDAY
May 20, 2013

MADISON — Wisconsin employers, including hospitals, nursing homes and other health care agencies, could no longer require workers to get flu shots under a bill pending in the Legislature. Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, said he began drafting the legislation after several hospital workers and health care contractors in his district complained they were fired after refusing to be vaccinated. Other states have laws or legislation pending requiring health care workers to be immunized or requiring employers to offer them the vaccine. 

WASHINGTON — Consumer spending is likely to pick up this year, while government spending declines at a faster rate, according to a survey of business economists. The economists predict that the U.S. economy will grow 2.4 percent this year and 3 percent next year. That's unchanged from their forecast in February. But they are more bullish on consumer spending and housing than they were three months ago, in part because of a more positive view about unemployment.

MADISON - Wisconsin's neighbor Minnesota may have become the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex unions on Tuesday. But gay marriage is not on the legislative agenda in Wisconsin, and that's not expected to change in the near future. "I just don't think it's very likely in this state anytime soon," said Joe Heim, a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist, told a news outlet. 

ST. LOUIS — David Freese had an RBI in a four-run fourth inning to go with big plays at third base, and the St. Louis Cardinals beat former teammate Kyle Lohse for the third time this season with a 4-2 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday. John Gast (2-0) won his second straight start in place of the injured Jake Westbrook and fellow rookie Seth Maness escaped a bases-loaded, none-out jam in the seventh.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will visit Iowa this week to deliver a speech that may bolster speculation that he will run for president in 2016. The Wisconsin State Journal reports Walker will speak to a Republican fundraiser in the Des Moines area on Thursday. The event will be hosted by the Republican Party of Polk County.

MADISON — Two tickets sold in Wisconsin are worth $1 million apiece after Saturday night's Powerball drawing. The sole winning ticket for the $590.5 million jackpot was sold in Florida. But the Wisconsin Lottery says $1 million tickets were sold in Antigo and Milwaukee. The Antigo ticket was sold at Krist Food Mart on Superior Street, while the Milwaukee ticket was sold at Pick 'N Save on Garfield.

MILWAUKEE — Experts say swarms of black flies appear to be the best explanation for why endangered whooping cranes are abandoning their nests at a Wisconsin wildlife refuge. But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Sunday that the pesky insects at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge near Tomah aren't the only reason the birds are struggling.