J. B. Kenehan acquires Conley Printing division
4:01 p.m.

WAUKESHA - Conley Publishing announced today that it has sold its printing division, Conley Printing, to Waukesha-based J. B. Kenehan, LLC.

Conley Printing is located in Beaver Dam and was part of Conley Publishing, which owns The Freeman.

J. B. Kenehan has offered pre-press, printing and finishing technology to its customers for 25 years. 

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Freeman.

Report shows girl’s fall from Wis. Dells ride was operator error
2:48 p.m.

 MADISON (AP) - A Wisconsin investigation has determined there was nothing mechanically wrong with a free fall ride when a 12-year-old Florida girl fell about 100-feet to the ground.

 The state Department of Commerce report released today indicates the operator at the top of the Terminal Velocity did not follow protocol when Teagan Marti fell July 30 at the Extreme World amusement park in the Wisconsin Dells.

 The report says Marti was dropped before the cage in which she was riding reached the top and before a net was in proper position.

 Thirty-three-year-old Charles Carnell was the dive master and was charged with one count of first-degree-reckless injury.

 Marti was severely injured and may be paralyzed. She was transferred Wednesday to a Florida hospital. The ride remains closed.

Israel, Palestinians agree to 2nd round of talks
2:46 p.m.

 WASHINGTON (AP) - Israeli and Palestinian leaders agreed today to keep talking and produce a framework for a permanent peace deal, modest achievements reached amid deep skepticism about success at their first such session in two years.

 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet again on Sept. 14 and 15 in the Middle East, likely at the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheik, with an eye toward forging the outline of a pact. They will also meet roughly every two weeks after that.

 Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, who hosted the talks at the State Department, will attend the next round. In a public plea for both sides to compromise in the name of peace, Clinton said the Obama administration has no illusions about reaching a quick breakthrough.

Oil sheen spreading from Gulf platform explosion
1:10 p.m. 

 NEW ORLEANS, La. (AP) - The Coast Guard is saying that a mile-long oil sheen is spreading from the site off an offshore petroleum platform that exploded in the Gulf of Mexico off Louisiana.

 The site of the explosion is west of where BP’s massive spill occurred.

 The Coast Guard said no one was killed today in the explosion. The blast was spotted by a commercial helicopter flying over the site.

 All 13 people aboard the rig were found floating in the water in survival gear.

Jersey Mike’s Subs to open in Brookfield
11:46 a.m.

BROOKFIELD - Jersey Mike’s Subs will open a new location in Brookfield, which is its first store in the state of Wisconsin. A grand opening celebration will be held Wednesday.

For more information, pick up a copy of today's Freeman.

Record-high turnout predicted for Wis. primary
11:46 a.m. 

 MADISON (AP) - A record-high 28 percent turnout is predicted for Wisconsin’s primary on Sept. 14.

 State elections officials made the estimate today, citing highly contested statewide races for governor as well as local legislative and congressional contests.

 Government Accountability Board Director Kevin Kennedy said there appears to be tremendous interest in this election. The highest primary election turnout on records dating back to 1960 was 27.9 percent in 1964.

 This year’s prediction equates to about 1.2 million voters.

 The governor’s race is one of six contested primaries for statewide office. There are also contested Republican primary for U.S. Senate and seven primaries in the eight congressional districts.

Urgent road work on Highway KE today
10:54 a.m.

HARTLAND - Waukesha County Public Works and the Canadian Pacific Railway will close Highway KE at the rail crossing, approximately .7 miles south of Highway 16  through today for maintenance.

A detour route will be posted and all work is expected to be finished by the end of the business day today.

Stocks fluctuate after mixed jobs report
9:05 a.m.

 NEW YORK (AP) - Stocks fluctuated in a tight range today after traders received one mixed report on the jobs market and prepared for a second report on the sector later this week.

 The Dow Jones industrial average rose 3 points in early morning trading. Broader indexes were are little changed.

 The Labor Department said initial claims for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week, but remain well above levels that are considered a sign of a healthy economy. Claims dipped for the second straight week, falling slightly below the level economists had forecast. That was somewhat encouraging, but not enough to extend stocks big rally into a second day.

 Major indexes jumped more than 2 percent Wednesday after a surprising rise in manufacturing activity.

 Today’s muted move is not surprising because the government’s monthly report on employment is due out Friday. Traders often limit big traders before the jobs data because it is considered so vital to determining the health of the economy.

Burger King agrees to buyout from 3G Capital
9:04 a.m.

 MIAMI (AP) - Burger King Holdings Inc. is selling itself to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal worth $3.26 billion.

 Today’s $24-per-share offer comes after a day of speculation about the deal sent shares up more than 15 percent. The stock continued to make big gains today in premarket trading.

 Burger King has until mid-October to solicit better offers.

School's back in session
4:45 a.m.

WAUKESHA - Kindergartener Alex Herrera stood in front of the office at Bethesda Elementary School on Wednesday morning with Principal Randy Kunkel standing over him and holding down a rope attached to the old school bell.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

West Bend RDA asks aldermen to review change to bylaws
4:45 a.m.

WEST BEND -  Before deciding on whether to change its bylaws to limit its ability to sell or buy certain parcels of land, the West Bend Redevelopment Authority wants the Common Council to review the changes. The changes would slow the process for buy or selling land for development, and could hamper some developments, some RDA members said Wednesday.

The RDA's authority was questioned when it sold a downtown parcel to an apartment developer.

For more on this story, see Thursday's Daily News.

Dan Vrakas introduces proposed 2011-15 capital projects plan
4:45 a.m.

WAUKESHA - Waukesha County is planning on upgrading its 911 phone system and emergency radio equipment as part of the proposed 2011-15 capital projects plan.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

Man accused of killing wife's cat
4:45 a.m.

WEST BEND - A West Bend man, 48, faces more than three years in prison and fines of $10,000 for allegedly killing his wife's cat and placing its body in a freezer, according to criminal complaint. Kevin R. Lindahl was arrested for mistreatment of animals on Sunday. He allegedly killed the cat after it bit his wife and hissed at him, the complaint stated.

For more on this story, see Thursday's Daily News.

Mequon library explores upgrades
4:45 a.m.

MEQUON - Mequon's Frank L. Weyenberg Library plans to explore a self-checkout system, consider a theft security system, replace 136 windows and complete other renovation work over the next five years. The projects are included in a five-year capital improvement plan that library officials compiled at the request of the city of Mequon.

For the complete story, see Thursday's News Graphic.

Brookfield woman builds stone garden for others to find peace
4:45 a.m.

BROOKFIELD - Bonnie Clifford's yard can be viewed as one giant garden. From the blue bottle decorations to the stream of rocks demonstrating a dry river, she loves the outdoors.

Her home is set in a quiet, woods setting in Brookfield. She has baby racoons in her backyard and little fawns have dinner while eating some of the plants on her property.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

Deck the Walls finds a new home
4:45 a.m.

WAUKESHA - People looking to have their pictures framed by Deck the Walls should no longer look at Brookfield Square mall.

That is because Deck the Walls moved out of its location at the mall July 31 and moved to 821 Meadowbrook Road in Waukesha. The store opened at its Meadowbrook Road location Aug. 20.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

Local residents take advantage of police departments' citizens' academies
4:45 a.m.

WAUKESHA - Muskego Police officer Gary Mrotek said he recently pulled over a man for speeding and planned to give the offender a warning because he "wasn't going too fast."

Mrotek walked up to the car to speak with the speeder when he got a surprise.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

Wisconsin Highland Games celebrate Celtic culture
4:45 a.m.

WAUKESHA - This weekend the Waukesha County Expo Center will be the place to find shepherd's pie, the melodious sounds of bagpipes and large men in kilts throwing heavy objects. The center will be hosting the Wisconsin Highland Games.

For the full story, pick up a copy off today's Freeman.

Should Washington County Board meeting be televised?
4:45 a.m.

WEST BEND -  First-term County Supervisor Michael Bassill meet with the West Bend Community TV Committee this week to discuss whether it would be possible to broadcast County Board meetings. Bassill said he will report his findings to the County Board's Executive Committee and ask for the discussion to be continued.

For more on this story, see Thursday's Daily News.

Village of Grafton schedules Dumpster Day for Sept. 11
4:45 a.m.

GRAFTON - For the second time this year, village of Grafton residents can take advantage of Dumpster Day, the annual event that offers the opportunity for disposal of items too large for the regular garbage collection. Dumpster Day is slated for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Residential Yard Waste Site on Lakefield Road.

For the complete story, see Thursday's News Graphic.

Cedarburg City Hall to be closed Friday
4:45 a.m.

CEDARBURG - Anyone needing to conduct business at Cedarburg City Hall is asked to do so before Friday. The building, including parks and recreation, public works and the assessor's departments, will be closed Friday for a furlough day and Monday in recognition of Labor Day.

For the complete story, see Thursday's News Graphic.