State News Briefs: A blast of heat returns today, but a cool down is projected

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After a slight cool-down yesterday, another blast of heat returns to much of Wisconsin today. Temperatures in the 90’s are expected once again in about the southern two-thirds of the Badger State – and parts of the south could see 100. The heat index is predicted to get close to 110. The National Weather Service has posted heat advisories from noon-to-seven p-m for parts of central Wisconsin and the Fox Valley. Those advisories will run until nine tonight in the southern part of the state. But in the north, a front is expected to keep things much cooler – and the mercury might not hit 80 today in that region. Showers and thunderstorms are predicted in the north during the day, and in southern Wisconsin tonight. Forecasters say some of the activity could be severe. Once it passes, most parts of the state will cool down to the 70’s-and-80’s tomorrow and Friday.

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Three U-W Madison researchers, including stem cell pioneer James Thomson, have received a federal grant to help improve the process of deciding whether new medicines are safe. Thomson, William Murphy, and David Page are part of the Morgridge Institute for Research – which received two-point-two-million dollars in a two-year project. They’ll work on a new tissue model, in which certain types of cells will be assembled in the gray matter around the brain. Their goal is to make tests of toxic content for new drugs faster and more accurate. Thomson says it could reduce the need to test animals to see how proposed new medications would work. An arm of the National Institutes of Health awarded 17 grants for similar projects around the country.

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Wisconsin has lots of farmers’ markets that sell fresh, home-made produce all summer long. And the American Farmland Trust group is giving folks a chance to honor their favorite farmers’ market in an online contest. Voting began a month ago, and it continues through Labor Day. As of this morning, the Kenosha Harbor Market was the leader with 60 votes. The Dane County Farmers’ Market on Madison’s Capitol Square was a close second with 59. The Cameron Park market in La Crosse was third with 52 votes. Farmers’ markets in Beloit and West Allis were a distant fourth-and-fifth. Folks in other states are also choosing their favorites – and four markets of various sizes will be crowned as national winners in September. To vote, log onto VoteMyFarmersMarket.Org. The Farmland Trust sponsors the contest to promote that key role that farmers’ markets play in keeping family farms in business. The group says Wisconsin loses an average of over 60 acres of farmland per day – and people can save farmers by buying and enjoying their local foods.

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A Milwaukee man was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday, for killing a homeowner while robbing the victim’s house two decades ago. 43-year-old Cary Holmes pleaded guilty last week to reckless homicide. He decided not to go through his trial, just as prosecutors were about to introduce D-N-A evidence obtained through a relatively new type of technology. Holmes shot 55-year-old Thomas Recore to death in 1992. Authorities said Holmes was trying to rob Recore and his wife as they were entering their home – and the shooting came during a struggle. The victim’s widow asked for the maximum sentence of 20 years. But both the prosecution and defense called for a lesser sentence, saying Holmes changed his ways after spending 20 years in prison or sexual abuse and robbery. His lawyer said Holmes now has a job and a new family, and he has taken technical school classes and joined a church. Circuit Judge Rebecca Dallet agreed that Holmes was a different person – and she hopes his new prison sentence will help him understand the effects he has on people.

Tags: crime and courts, news, crime, wisconsin