Afternoon News Brief - Sheboygan man arrested for making bombs

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MILWAUKEE - A Sheboygan County man has been arrested, after authorities found evidence that bombs were being made at his home in Waldo.A woman at the home called sheriff’s deputies yesterday and asked for help. Officials said the 38 year old man has a history of making homemade explosives. The Milwaukee County Bomb Squad was called, and it found large amounts of chemicals and explosives. The explosives were detonated at a county owned gravel pit, while the chemicals were confiscated and thrown away. State justice agents helped with the arrest, along with the US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The investigation is continuing, and the suspect is being held for violating a previous probation.

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Two Wisconsin senators unveiled a compromise package today aimed at helping Gogebic Taconite build an iron ore mine near Hurley, while preserving the public’s interest. But Assembly Republican leaders immediately objected to the package from moderate Senate Republican Dale Schultz and Democrat Bob Jauch, who represents the proposed mining site. Assembly Speaker Jeff Fitzgerald, Republican Majority Leader Scott Suder, and finance chair Robin Vos all said they were open to a more moderate plan than what the full Assembly passed last month but the Schultz-Jauch package was not what they had in mind. The compromise was developed after Senate GOP leader Scott Fitzgerald said he did not have the votes to pass the Assembly’s version of the mining bill and there had to be something different that everyone could support before the Legislature adjourns for the year on March 15th.

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The Schultz-Jauch compromise calls for a 540-day limit for the DNR to approve iron ore mining permits, instead of the 360 days in the Assembly bill. It would also continue the present policy of letting local communities keep all the sales tax revenue from the products at their mines, instead of giving 40 percent of that to Madison as the Assembly prescribed. Also, the public could challenge DNR decisions in the final phase of a mining permit review but not in the early phases for the purpose of endlessly delaying projects. Jauch called it fair and flexible plan that provides certainty for mining developers, while protecting what he calls “the public voice.” If nothing passes by March 15th, the issue is dead at least until next year, and Gogebic Taconite has said it might abandon the mine unless something is approved now.

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The Wisconsin Assembly went into its normal closed caucuses at midday to discuss strategy on its upcoming legislation. But before they shut the doors, they voted unanimously to declare December 12th of 2012 as “Aaron Rodgers Day.” You’d write that on your checks as 12-12-12 if you haven’t figured that out already. Rodgers wears Number 12, and he was named the National Football League’s MVP in the 2011-2012 season for leading Green Bay to a 15-2 record and a another trip to the playoffs. The “Rodgers Day” resolution now goes to the Senate.

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