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  THURSDAY
June 20, 2013

MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Assembly passed the state budget Wednesday after Democrats decided against offering any amendments or prolonging debate, saying the $70 billion spending plan is so bad it can't be fixed.
The budget would cut income taxes for all tax filers by $650 million over two years, expand statewide private school vouchers currently only available in Milwaukee and Racine, and tighten income eligibility under Medicaid, forcing nearly 90,000 people into federally subsidized exchanges to purchase insurance.
>>Dems: No budget debate was tactic, not retreat
>>GOP lawmaker explains 'no' vote on budget

MILWAUKEE  — Wisconsin's economy relies too heavily on the paper industry and other declining sectors, raising concerns that the state lacks the innovation and technology to be competitive in the 21st century, according to a study released Tuesday. Three of the state's five largest sectors have to do with paper and printing, which doesn't bode well as the nation shifts toward digital media, the study found. It also said Wisconsin's main industries aren't as globally minded as are manufacturers elsewhere, another competitive disadvantage.

ST. FRANCIS — The Milwaukee Bucks have lost their leading scorer. Monta Ellis has informed the Bucks he won't exercise his $11 million option for the upcoming season, making him an unrestricted free agent July 1. The move Monday wasn't a total surprise, coming after Ellis rejected a two-year contract extension last fall. There's a chance the Bucks could lose their second-leading scorer, too.

HOUSTON — The Milwaukee Brewers were done in by their mistakes on Tuesday night. They had miscues on the mound and three in the field, and to top it off they couldn't take advantage of opportunities on offense in a 10-1 loss to the Houston Astros. Matt Dominguez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs to back another solid performance by Jordan Lyles and help Houston to the victory.

MADISON — Republicans are looking to curtail public access to an iron mine site in far northwestern Wisconsin in hopes of stopping protesters from interfering with the project. The state budget will be amended to give the state Department of Natural Resources authority to pass rules restricting access, Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Tuesday. Vos had said earlier that DNR may be able to pass an emergency rule on its own, but he said the agency doesn't currently have the authority to do that in this case.

MILWAUKEE  — A review of the nation's teacher-training programs released Tuesday suggests that many University of Wisconsin System education schools are of middling quality. The nonprofit National Council on Teacher Quality used a four-star rating system to evaluate teacher preparation programs at more than 1,100 colleges and universities. UW-Stout's undergraduate program for preparing high school teachers received three stars, the highest marks in the state for any education school.
>>Wis. Senate confirms 2 of Walker's regent nominees

NEW YORK — A Roman Catholic religious order released an unusually candid report Tuesday outlining how its leaders failed for decades to stop sex abuse in its schools and other ministries. The Capuchin Franciscan Province of St. Joseph, which spans 10 Midwestern states, asked experts in clergy sex abuse to provide a full accounting of abuse by examining all the order's records. Advocates for victims said it was the broadest attempt at transparency by any part of the American church.

MILWAUKEE – It’s a move United Tool owner Ron Kelnhofer wishes he could have made six months ago because his company has far outgrown its Milwaukee facility. During the second week of August, United Tool will move from a 12,800-square-foot facility at 8219 W. Bradley Road to an approximate 27,000-square-foot facility at N27-W23591 Paul Road in the City of Pewaukee. “It is a real nice bit of room for us,” Kelnhofer said. “We are sardines where we are now.” Kelnhofer said another plus of being located in Waukesha County is the better talent pool than Milwaukee.