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WISCONSIN BUDGET

Assembly scheduled to pass state budget

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state Assembly is scheduled to vote on passing the state budget after debate barely got off the ground on Tuesday.

The vote on passage is scheduled to happen at 5 p.m. Wednesday.

The Assembly was scheduled to spend all day Tuesday on the plan, but discussions among Republicans on more than two dozen changes caused a delay. Lawmakers spent only 15 minutes debating the plan as talks dragged on behind the scenes.

1 of the late additions to the budget includes giving the state Department of Natural Resources the authority to pass a rule restricting access to the proposed site of an iron ore mine near Lake Superior.

Another would delay for a year loosening requirements for high-capacity wells.

XGR--INVESTMENT CAPITAL

Wisconsin lawmakers pass venture capital bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - State lawmakers have approved legislation that would invest millions of dollars in public money in Wisconsin startups despite criticism that the investment only targets limited industries.

The venture capital program created under the bipartisan proposal would contain $25 million from the state and at least $50 million in private money. The investment will go to qualified young Wisconsin companies operating in agriculture, information technology, engineered products, advanced manufacturing, and medical devices and imaging industries.

Democrats criticize the bill for excluding sectors such as biotechnology, but Republicans say the priority should be industries that can return investments and create jobs quickly.

An amended version of the measure passed the Senate on a 29-3 vote. The Assembly approved it later Tuesday.

It now heads to Gov. Scott Walker's desk for his signature.

TEACHING TEACHERS-WISCONSIN

Report faults UW-System education schools

MILWAUKEE (AP) - A review of the nation's teacher-training programs 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.

According to the review, UW-Stout's undergraduate program for preparing high school teachers received three stars, the highest marks in the state for any education school.

But 21 other education programs reviewed in the UW System fell into the one- and two-star categories, with most receiving one star.

Some education-school leaders in the UW System criticized the results.

President Jeanne Williams of the Wisconsin Association of Colleges for Teacher Education tells the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/19MTi6Y) the council had "no standing to be evaluating teacher education."

GREAT GRANDMOTHER KILLED

ME: Slain Wis. woman struck many times

SHEBOYGAN, Wis. (AP) - A medical examiner has testified that a slain 78-year-old Wisconsin woman was struck at least 27 times with sharp and blunt objects.

Fond du Lac County Medical Examiner Doug Kelley testified Tuesday at the homicide trial of 14-year-old Nathan Paape (pahp) of Sheboygan.

Kelley performed the autopsy on Barbara Olson, who was killed in her Sheboygan Falls home last September. Kelly says his number is conservative.

Sheboygan Press Media reports jurors were shown photos of Olson's body. The images showed gashes and fractures to her head, face, arms and hands.

Paape and his friend, Antonio Barbeau, are accused of attacking Olson with a hatchet and a hammer.

The defense has argued that Paape was a bystander as Barbeau killed his great-grandmother. Barbeau has pleaded no contest to first-degree homicide.

BEAR ATTACK-WISCONSIN

Officials: Man mauled by bear outside Wis. cabin

SHELL LAKE, Wis. (AP) - A man who was attacked by a black bear outside a cabin in northwestern Wisconsin is recovering at a hospital.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says the man was attacked in his yard near Shell Lake on Monday night. DNR carnivore specialist David MacFarland says the man's dog apparently initiated contact with the bear.

MacFarland says the man's brother came out of the cabin and shot and injured the bear, which ran away.

The Burnett County Sheriff's Department says the man was taken to a hospital in Shell Lake. He was then airlifted to a hospital in the Twin Cities. MacFarland says he's in stable condition.

DNR wildlife supervisor Mike Zeckmeister says officials have set up traps for the bear in case it returns.

HULSEY-INDEPENDENT

Democrat Hulsey considering becoming independent

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Democratic state Rep. Brett Hulsey of Madison is considering switching his party affiliation to become an independent.

Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says Hulsey told him and Democratic Assembly Leader Peter Barca on Tuesday he was considering the switch.

Hulsey declined to comment, saying he was focused on budget debate that also began Tuesday.

Hulsey is 1 of 39 Democrats in the Assembly. There are 60 Republicans.

The last independent in the Assembly was Rep. Bob Ziegelbauer of Manitowoc. He was also previously a Democrat before switching.

PIPELINE SPILL-WELLS

Number of Town of Jackson polluted wells hits 39

TOWN OF JACKSON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin environmental officials say the number of wells contaminated by a 2012 gasoline pipeline spill continues to grow in the Town of Jackson.

Recent tests detected benzene in two additional private wells, pushing the number of contaminated wells to 39.

Town officials have decided to ask the Village of Jackson to extend municipal water service to residents in a state-designated drinking water advisory area.

According to the DNR, if any property owners in the advisory area consider drilling new private wells instead of connecting to the village supply, they will have to abide by a new set of drilling requirements. The Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/12TxkO9) reports those requirements could boost the cost of a new well to an estimated $120,000.

Last July's pipeline rupture spilled an estimated 54,600 gallons of gasoline.

TRAIN-MINIVAN FATAL-WISCONISIN

Wis. man dies in collision with train

NEILLSVILLE, Wis. (AP) - Clark County authorities say an 81-year-old man was killed when his minivan collided with a freight train.

The sheriff's office says an initial investigation found Charles Podbelsek of Spencer did not stop at the stop sign at a crossing and struck a Canadian National train.

Podbelsek was thrown from the van and died at the scene.

The crash was reported about 9:15 a.m. Tuesday in the Township of Unity.

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