Tuesday State News Briefs: Deadline for UW-Madison chancellor's job Dec. 21

• University of Wisconsin-Madison

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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MADISON - The deadline is December 21st to apply for one of the most challenging jobs in Wisconsin – running the state’s largest public university campus, the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

David Ward is in his second-and-final year as the interim chancellor at UW-Madison – a job he also held for eight years in the 1990’s. And a wide mix of leaders is expected to be on the application list. Later this week, the UW Board of Regents will consider a possible pay raise for the next president. Ward now makes 437-thousand dollars a year – and the Regents will consider an increase in the pay range to between 426-thousand and $522,000. Molly Corbett Broad of the American Council on Education says people are generally nominated for such posts – and those who apply themselves might not have much of a chance. The Council also says there’s an 8-in-10 chance that the next Madison chancellor will come from the academic spectrum, based on who’s running other U.S. colleges. A 25-member search committee will narrow the field to about five finalists by late February. The new chancellor is expected to be named in April, with a starting date of next July. The previous chancellor, Biddy Martin, blamed a lack of autonomy and intense political battles for her decision to leave after just three years. She became the president of the prestigious and private Amherst College in Massachusetts. Ward has seemed to have quieted down the political rhetoric about the UW – but then again, politicians have been awash in other emotional issues, like the fallout from the limits on public union bargaining.

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UW-Madison has dropped from third-to-fourth in the country in what it spent on research in the last fiscal year. The National Science Foundation said the UW spent one-point-one billion research dollars in fiscal 2011 – less than Johns Hopkins and the universities of Michigan and Washington. Madison has been among the nation’s five largest research schools – both public and private – for the last two decades. Vice chancellor Martin Cadwallader says the UW’s overall research numbers are still heading in the right direction. That’s because Madison’s total for research spending grew by over $100-million in the year ending last September. That includes studies in science and engineering, among other fields. The UW’s research funding comes mainly from competitive federal grants from agencies like the Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and NASA. Madison received around $600-million federal research dollars last year – including $52-million from the Obama stimulus package.

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For the third year in a row, University of Wisconsin-Madison football fans and alumni are planning their New Year’s trips to the Rose Bowl in southern California. But some travel agents wonder if the luster is wearing off, as they get fewer inquiries than the last two years. Scott Mast of Madison’s Burkhalter Travel tells the Wisconsin State Journal, quote, “It ends up to be a trophy kind of a trip … They want to do it one time.” But UW officials say plenty of folks are lining up for tickets – especially younger fans who didn’t go either of the last two years. Associate athletic director Justin Doherty said about 13,000 tickets in the UW’s allotment of 24,000 were sold by last night. And he expects the university to sell out of its supply. Doherty said the Rose Bowl is quote, “a pretty amazing place to watch a football game, and be for New Year’s.” Doherty said Wisconsin’s getting about 10,000 fewer tickets than Stanford, which is much closer to Pasadena. Two years ago, the Badger crowd was the larger one, with a much higher level of enthusiasm after missing out on the game for a number of years. This year, Wisconsin won the Big Ten title game in a rout – but the team still heads to Pasadena with a lesser 8-5 record.

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State Assembly Republican Don Pridemore of Hartford says he would strengthen ties between public schools and employers – and make the state’s education agency more of a friend to GOP Governor Scott Walker. Pridemore, one of the Legislature’s strongest conservatives, is announcing his candidacy for state public school superintendent today in several appearances around the state. Pridemore, an eight-year veteran in the Assembly, is the first to announce a run against incumbent school Superintendent Tony Evers next spring. Pridemore vowed to take a quote, “common sense, conservative” approach to education – but he refused to answer specific policy questions, like whether he would push for private school vouchers statewide instead of just in Milwaukee County and Racine. He says those details would come out later in the campaign. The Legislature and governor would have to approve any major education initiatives. But Pridemore’s fellow Republicans currently have the majorities in both houses to pass anything they want, as long as their party’s governor does not object. Pridemore said Evers is heavily supported by the state’s largest teachers’ union – and he says his only special interest is the children. Evers has not commented, and the union says it has not decided who it will support.

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An Ohio State University law professor says politicizing Wisconsin’s basic election rules is quote, “the worst idea I’ve heard this year.” Daniel Tojaki has written about the state’s Government Accountability Board. And he criticizes a proposal by Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) to replace the retired judges on the board with political appointees. Tojaki has written that Wisconsin’s elections agency is a national model – and it does a much better job than the partisan secretaries-of-state who often run elections elsewhere. Tojaki equates an election administrator to an umpire – and in many states, he says the umpire is actually a player for one of the teams. Fitzgerald says the Accountability Board favors Democrats, and he said it showed during the recall elections over the past two years. He also said the board rubber-stamps proposals from its staff – something the board’s chairman denied. Tojaki tells the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel he’s not surprised that partisan politician is trying to wrestle power away from the Accountability Board – and he calls it unfortunate. Incoming Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Burlington) said he’d be willing to consider changes. But board chairman David Deininger said Fitzgerald’s proposal would be a “step backward.” Republican Governor Scott Walker has not commented on Fitzgerald’s proposal.

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A Racine County judge promises to send a deadbeat father-of-nine to jail if he fathers another child. 44-year-old Corey Curtis of Racine owes around $90,000 in past due child support and interest, to help six women support nine children he had with them. At his sentencing yesterday, Circuit Judge Tim Boyle said he wished he had the legal authority to sterilize Curtis. That’s when Assistant District Attorney Rebecca Sommers pointed out that a previous State Supreme Court ruling allows a defendant not to have another child unless it’s proven that he-or-she can support that youngster. Boyle then said he would make non-procreation order part of Curtis’s probation. The Supreme Court upheld a similar probation order in 2001 in a case from Manitowoc County. The justices said David Oakley’s right to procreate was not eliminated, because he could still physically reproduce – as long as he supported his children.

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U.S. Justice Department officials have asked the FBI to start tracking hate crimes against members of the Sikh religious community – as well as other minorities. That’s what a federal prosecutor and the president’s top civil rights attorney said in Milwaukee yesterday. Thomas Perez, the assistant attorney general for civil rights, joined Milwaukee U.S. attorney James Santelle in a series of meetings with Sikhs, interfaith leaders, and others. Wisconsin Sikhs had asked Congress to start tracking hate crimes against their religion, in the aftermath of the August fifth shooting spree at the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek. Six people were killed that day, and four others were wounded. Santelle said the Justice Department wants Sikhs to know that it ensures everyone’s right to practice their faith freely, and without a threat of violence. At yesterday’s meetings, people raised questions about gun control, hate crimes, racial disparities among prisoners, and immigration reform. Perez said he was very optimistic that an immigration reform package will be sent to Congress next year – and that both parties can support it.

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Starting on Friday, Wisconsin law enforcement officers will be on a special lookout for drunk drivers and those not buckled up. The State Patrol says the “Booze-and-Belts” campaign will run through December 16th – at a time when many folks attend holiday parties. The DOT said 51 people died in Wisconsin crashes last December, and 35-hundred others were injured. And police gave out 85,000 tickets last year to those not wearing their seat belts.

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Students at a Lutheran high school in Mosinee could have stayed home yesterday. But instead, almost 50 of the 60 students at Wisconsin Valley Lutheran showed up to remove items from classrooms damaged by a broken water line during the weekend. Administrator Dave Beringer said books, shelves, desks, and other items had to be cleared out of the damaged classrooms – and thanks to the student volunteers, the job was all done by noon. Computer towers were among the items that cannot be salvaged, along with a number of textbooks and teaching materials. Ceilings fell in, and walks and carpets were soaked by the spilled water. Several inches of water were standing – and cleaners have been working to remove as much of it as possible. Beringer says an insurance adjuster has inspected the damage, and some of it will not be covered. Wisconsin Valley Lutheran is taking donations for things like teaching materials. The cost of the clean-up is not certain yet. And officials are still not sure why the water line broke.

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A man was found dead in Racine early today in a recreational vehicle that started on fire. It was reported just after midnight. Once the blaze was put out, the body of a 48-year-old man was found in the vehicle. A cause is being determined.

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A prisoner who sued for the right to have a sex-change operation now claims the state is not living up to the promises it made in settling that lawsuit. 48-year-old Scott Konitzer has filed a new lawsuit in federal court, accusing the state Corrections Department of falsely inducing him to settle the suit he brought in 2003. Konitzer has gender identity disorder – and as part of the settlement, he dropped his demand for a sex-change operation in exchange for continuing non-surgical therapy. He said the state also promised to consider other therapies that experts might recommend for his disorder. But now, Konitzer said the state never intended to explore those other therapies – and they’ve limited his previous treatments which made him go bald and to consider suicide. Konitzer is serving 123 years at the state prison in Portage for multiple armed robberies and for stabbing another prisoner. He changed his name to Donna – and once state legislators caught wind of that, they passed a law banning hormone treatments and tax-funded sex-change surgeries for prisoners. Konitzer and two other inmates sued. And a federal appeals court threw out the state law, saying it violates constitutional protections against cruel-and-unusual punishment. Corrections’ officials have not commented on Konitzer’s new lawsuit.

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About 150 families in Washington County have sued the owners of a nearby pipeline that spilled almost 55,000 gallons of gasoline in mid-July. The landowners say they’ve suffered emotional problems and health effects like diarrhea and nausea, while their property values have gone down. Attorneys in Milwaukee and Baltimore are representing the families, who want a jury trial. Among other things, they want a medical monitoring fund to screen residents for cancer. And they want the West Shore Pipeline Company and Buckeye Partners to pay punitive damages for not doing more to prevent the spill. Attorney Dan Rottier said the government warned as early as 1988 that pipelines like the one at Jackson used welding techniques that needed careful inspections, because they were subject to seam failures. He says the law firm will be asking for the companies’ maintenance records. Patrick Hodgins of Buckeye Partners says they’re still working on cleaning up the spill, and talking with local officials on a long-term alternative to providing water to residents. As of yesterday, West Shore said excessive levels of benzene were still in 17-of-29 private water wells near Jackson – close to where the pipeline broke. The company worked immediately to fix problems with the water system, supplied bottled water, and paid for hotels for those who couldn’t use their drinking water.

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Wisconsin’s tourism industry is starting to collect used winter clothing to help the needy. The state Tourism Department is also involved. Folks can log onto Travel Wisconsin.com to find a list of 80 sites around the Badger State which are collecting used hats, gloves, coats, and other winter items. They’ll be donated to charities throughout Wisconsin. Packer fans can drop off warm clothing at Lambeau Field on Sunday night, when the Packers play the Detroit Lions.

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Four Wisconsinites have died from the flu, in what’s become the nation’s deadliest start to the flu season in about 35 years. State health officials now say they’ve seen 113 confirmed cases of influenza this fall – compared to just seven at this time a year ago. Twenty-six Wisconsin residents were recently hospitalized with the flu. State epidemiologist Tom Haupt said there had been no flu-related hospitalizations before January in the last 2-to-3 years. This year, at least four flu patients were pregnant women who did not get flu shots. State officials have been encouraging everyone to get vaccinated, and they say it’s not too late – even though it takes a couple weeks after a shot to start getting the full protection. Officials are not sure why there’s been an increase in hospitalizations. Paul Biedrzycki of the Milwaukee Health Department says the dominant strain so far was a good match for the vaccine that people have been getting. But he says a mutation in the flu virus can happen at any time. According to Biedrzycki, scientists are studying a possible mutation of the genes in the seasonal AH3N2 flu – thus creating a disease that can spread easier, and is not covered as much by vaccines that were developed 6-to-8 months ago.

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A Wausau area couple will ask the State Supreme Court today to throw out their homicide convictions for praying instead of getting medical care for their dying daughter. The justices will hear oral arguments, before deciding for the first time whether religious freedom protects parents from being criminally liable if their faith-healing leads to their children’s deaths. Dale and Leilani Neumann of Weston were convicted of second-degree reckless homicide in 2009, after they prayed that God would heal their 11-year-old daughter Kara of an undiagnosed but treatable form of diabetes. That didn’t happen, and the girl died on Easter Sunday of ’08. A judge sentenced each parent to serve one month a year in jail for six years – one each March and one in September. They also received 10 years of probation. The sentences were delayed, pending the Neumanns’ appeals. Wisconsin is among 18 states that give parents some type of legal protection for healing their kids through faith instead of the medical system. But there have been questions of how far the exemptions go. The Neumanns’ attorneys say Wisconsin laws do not indicate a point of severity in which faith-healing parents are open to criminal charges. But the state Justice Department says homicide laws trump prayer exemptions when a child dies.

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November’s foreclosure cases in southeast Wisconsin were the lowest for the month in six years. The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel said there were 684 new court filings last month for home foreclosures in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Kenosha, Racine, and Walworth counties. Milwaukee County’s foreclosure cases fell by 27-percent, to just under 390 for the month. But for the first 11 months of the year, cases were still up two-percent from a year ago.

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Two Wisconsin brothers accused of trying to wipe out their family return to court this week. Armin Wand the Third and Jeremy Ward are scheduled to enter pleas Wednesday in Lafayette County. Both men face several felony charges, including homicide and arson. Prosecutors say the two set Armin Wand’s home in Argyle on fire September 7th. They say he wanted a fresh start. Wand’s pregnant wife and two year old daughter managed to get out, but her injuries killed her unborn child.

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The Brookfield salon where three women were gunned down six weeks ago re-opened last weekend. The Azana salon and spa was where Zina Haughton and two other women were killed October 21st. Her estranged husband also wounded four others before killing himself that day. A table at Zina Haughton’s retired workstation last Saturday morning held three yellow roses and a lighted candle. A permanent granite memorial outside the salon bears the names of the three women killed in the incident – Zina Haughton, Maelyn Lind and Cary Robuck.

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A Wausau woman pleaded innocent today to torturing and killing her boyfriend’s dog, in a case that spurred animal lovers to promote stronger penalties for abusing pets. 20-year-old Sean Janas was arraigned in Marathon County Circuit Court on felony charges poisoning and mistreating an animal to death, and a misdemeanor count of obstructing police. Her next court date has yet to be set. Prosecutors said Janas kept a detailed diary which told how she forced her boyfriend’s lab-shepherd mix to take bleach and drain cleaner – and how she got pleasure from watching the pet suffer. The dog, named Mary, died in early June. Thousands of animal lovers said Janas should receive the maximum penalty if she’s convicted. That would be up to five years in prison and $30,000 dollars in fines if the current charges are not dropped, or reduced in a plea deal.

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A man killed in an Interstate crash at Janesville was identified Monday as 30-year-old Derek Rieble of Stoughton. The State Patrol said he was a passenger in a pick-up truck that slipped on wet pavement, veered into a ditch, rolled over twice, crashed through a fence, and landed on its top. Three others in the vehicle were hurt, including the 31-year-old driver from Stoughton. They were taken to area hospitals for treatment. The mishap occurred just before 2 a.m. Sunday on an on-ramp to southbound I-39 at Highway 14 on the north edge of Janesville. The State Patrol is still investigating.

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Two men were arrested after a brawl at a Green Bay area sports bar which followed Sunday's Packer-Viking game – and a man who tried to break up the fight was beaten. Authorities in Ashwaubenon said up to 30 people were involved in the fight, which occurred in the parking lot of the Sideline Sports Bar. Officials said a 50-year-old man who tried to break up the fight was found unconscious and bleeding in the head. He was taken to a hospital. A 40-year-old Lakeland, Minnesota man was arrested on a possible charge of felony battery, and a Green Bay man was arrested for disorderly conduct.

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House Budget chairman Paul Ryan of Janesville has taken a low profile since returning to Washington following his failed vice-presidential bid. But analysts expect Ryan to end up playing a major role in determining the final solution to the “fiscal cliff.” GOP strategist Ron Bonjean tells the Gannett News Service that Ryan’s views will figure prominently into whatever deal is finally worked out. Bonjean says quote, “You need your best player on the field to negotiate a deal.” And he calls Ryan “the star quarterback of House Republicans.” Ryan said negotiators can find quote, “common ground on responsible spending restraint and greater revenue.” But he says President Obama has yet to commit to what Ryan called “real, specific spending cuts.” Ryan is starting his eighth two-year term in Congress. And House Speaker John Boehner has again named Ryan as the chair of the budget committee, granting an exemption to a House Republican rule that a representative can only serve a single two-year term as a committee chair.

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A Marshfield man is free on a signature bond, after he appeared in court Monday for allegedly making cellphone videos of girls changing clothes at a hotel where he used to work. 29-year-old Joseph Wright was bound over for further proceedings on a felony charge of capturing nude images, and a misdemeanor of invading privacy by surveillance. Officials say other charges are possible. Wood County prosecutors said Wright placed a recording cellphone on the bathroom floor at Marshfield’s Comfort Inn on October seventh. He reportedly tried to claim that his phone was missing – but investigators said the video captured Wright placing the device in a girls’ bathroom. Officials said a girl found the device, saw that it was apparently running, and called authorities.

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