Wisconsin

July 21, 2008 -- The Department of Defense announced today the death of a soldier who was supporting Operation Enduring Freedom.

1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst, 25, of Onalaska, Wisconsin, died July 20 in the Qalandar District of the Khost Province, Afghanistan, of wounds suffered when his convoy came under attack by individuals using rocket propelled grenades and small arms fire.

He was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, Ky.

Source: DOD

MADISON, Wis., June 24, 2008 -- Understanding FEMA's assistance and being prepared for the on-site property inspection can cut the time it takes to get disaster aid, state and local officials said today. Assistance with housing needs and necessary expenses may be available to Wisconsin residents affected by the recent severe storms, tornadoes and flooding.

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) officials say that the first step is to register with FEMA. If you live in one of the 22 counties in which President Bush has authorized aid to individuals, you should call, toll-free, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or, for those with speech or hearing impairments, (TTY) 1-800-462-7585. You can also register via FEMA's Web site, www.fema.gov.    » read more »

Madison, Wis., June 24, 2008 -- "Even though valuable photographs and family heirlooms have been damaged by June storms, they can sometimes be saved if certain procedures are followed," says Federal Coordinating Officer Dolph Diemont, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The federal coordinating officer is appointed by the president to lead the federal portion of the federal/state disaster response and recovery efforts.

Photographs may be the only record of special occasions such as weddings, birthdays and graduations. Damaged photographs for which there are no negatives available should receive attention first. Once photographs have stuck together or become moldy, saving them may not be possible.    » read more »

MADISON, Wis., June 23, 2008 -- The recent wave of flooding in Wisconsin has prompted two communities in Columbus County to seek - and win -- reinstatement into the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP), disaster-management officials announced today.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) removed the towns of Columbus and Fall River from the program earlier this year because they had not developed requisite ordinances adopting their new Flood Insurance Rate Maps. Both communities have now fulfilled this requirement and are now reinstated.    » read more »

Madison, Wis. June 23, 2008 -- Individuals who can't work because of the severe storms, tornadoes and ongoing flooding that began on June 5 may be eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

The benefits are funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency in a 26-week program administered by the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development (WDWD).

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for DUA, you must meet all the following criteria:

* Live in a county declared for federal disaster assistance (see list below).
* Are not eligible for regular unemployment insurance benefits.
* Unemployment was a direct result of the recent storms.
* Live or worked in the disaster area.    » read more »

MADISON, Wis., June 23, 2008 -- Regardless of where they live, Wisconsin residents with storm damage who have applied for federal disaster assistance may visit any Disaster Recovery Center (DRC).

Wisconsin Emergency Management (WEM), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) now have seven DRCs open in storm-damaged southern Wisconsin counties (see attached listing) and will open more in the near future.    » read more »

New Distribution Center Expected to Bring 265 Jobs to State

June 17, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that Gordon Food Service (GFS) will construct and equip a 480,000-square-foot distribution center in Kenosha. The new Kenosha facility is expected to create up to 265 jobs for Wisconsin residents.    » read more »

State’s Lawsuit Alleged Air Emissions at Rothschild Wisconsin Plant Exceeded Permit Limits

June 17, 2008 -- MADISON - The State and the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation (WPSC) have agreed to settle a lawsuit alleging multiple violations of state air pollution control laws at Wisconsin Public Service Corporation’s Weston electric generating station in Marathon County, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen announced today.    » read more »

Individual Assistance Now Available in Seven Counties; Others Expected to Follow

June 16, 2008 -- MADISON — Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle today announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has declared a state of disaster for Richland and Racine counties, bringing the number of Wisconsin counties where individual assistance is available to seven.

FEMA over the weekend made federal assistance available to those living in Columbia, Crawford, Milwaukee, Sauk and Vernon counties and is conducting damage assessments to allow declarations in other counties.    » read more »

June 16, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle announced today that individuals in Columbia, Crawford, Racine, Richland, Milwaukee, Sauk, and Vernon counties affected by the recent severe storms and floods that began on June 5, 2008 will be eligible to apply for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).

Disaster Unemployment Assistance is available to unemployed workers who worked or were self employed if they:

* worked or were self employed, or were scheduled to begin work or self employment, in one of the affected counties; or were unable to reach their employment because they must travel though the affected area;    » read more »

Relief efforts underway throughout Midwest, but also in West Virginia

WASHINGTON -- June 09, 2008 -- Storms and heavy rainfall have caused serious flash flooding in already saturated areas of the central United States. In response, the American Red Cross has mobilized relief workers to six states in the devastated areas.

Flooded midwestern home: Photo by cabakus (CC)

Floods are among the most frequent and costly natural disasters in terms of human hardship and economic loss.    » read more »

Widespread Flooding Throughout Wisconsin Causes Road Closures and Evacuations

June 09, 2008 -- MADISON – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle tonight declared a state of emergency for 29 counties due to severe storms and flooding.

Flooding in Milwaukee area, Wisconsin, June 2008: Photo by Tracy Apps (CC)

The counties include: Adams, Calumet, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, LaCrosse, Marquette, Milwaukee, Monroe, Ozaukee, Racine, Richland, Rock, Sauk, Sheboygan, Vernon, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha, and Winnebago Counties.    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Following the announcement by General Motors that it planned to close its Janesville plant by 2010, U.S. Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl and Representative Paul Ryan sent the following letter to General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner asking him to reconsider the decision to close the Janesville GM plant and requesting a meeting to discuss the possible retooling of the plant for different production lines.

A copy of the letter is available here: http://feingold.senate.gov/pdf/ltr_gm_060308.pdf.

June 3, 2008

G. Richard Wagoner, Jr.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
General Motors Corporation
300 Renaissance Center
Detroit, MI 48265

Dear Mr. Wagoner:    » read more »

June 03, 2008 -- JANESVILLE – Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle issued the following statement following the announcement by General Motors that it will close the GM plant in Janesville by 2010:

“After all the years of work and everything the people of Janesville have given, it is tough to stomach what GM is doing here today.

“Families here have dedicated their working lives to this General Motors plant. The city of Janesville, the state of Wisconsin – we have all been committed to making this plant work.

“So many people here have put their hearts into building trucks at the Janesville assembly plant, and now they are left with a cold decision that casts them aside. We all feel it in our guts.    » read more »

May 14, 2008 -- With each passing day, the effects of global warming are being seen across the globe – glaciers are retreating, sea levels are rising, and extreme weather is increasing in frequency and intensity.

Climate change demands aggressive action at the international, national, state, local and individual levels. Just as the impact of global warming will affect us all, the responsibility for leadership rests with each of us. I want Wisconsin to be a place where citizens work together with businesses, researchers, government officials, and others to seize the challenges of climate change and find opportunities for growth in them.    » read more »