Topic: Wisconsin

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Five best and worst states for job growth

Some states have fared much better than others in reducing their unemployment rates in the past year. Can you guess which boom state was among those that backtracked?

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Year after drought, wettest Midwest spring in 40 years delays crop planting

Last year, Midwest farmers struggled with drought; this year, it's heavy rain and sodden farmlands, which have pushed back the planting season. By contrast, farmers in the South worry about too little rain.
Five best and worst states for job growth

Some states have fared much better than others in reducing their unemployment rates in the past year. Can you guess which boom state was among those that backtracked?
Parents who withheld care are guilty of homicide, Wisconsin justices say

The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld by 6 to 1 the second-degree reckless homicide conviction of two parents whose daughter died, citing a 'legal duty to provide medical care for a child if necessary.'
Modern Parenthood Kids' online privacy rules take effect: What's at stake

Kids' online privacy rules get tougher today. But parents should still be aware of the ways corporate marketing efforts can target kids with everything from alcohol, tobacco, and violent video games to the more insidious micropayments that will sap your bank account.
The 10 most expensive US natural disasters

Here are the top 10 priciest US natural disasters in billions of 2013 dollars adjusted for inflation, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Why wing walkers and stunt pilots inspire us

Wing walker Jane Wicker and pilot Charlie Schwenker were killed Saturday at an air show in Ohio. The kind of feats they performed have thrilled and inspired the earth-bound for generations.
Teachers experience rewards, challenges in their first year

Teachers who are taking on the job for the first time admit that the job can be overwhelming, but many are up for the challenge.
Derecho windstorms could sweep the midwest: Who is in its path?

Derecho windstorms can blow 75 mph winds for hours, across vast distances. This derecho could affect Milwaukee, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and maybe Washington, D.C.
The 20 best TV sitcoms of all time – readers' choice

What did Monitor readers choose as the best sitcom in the history of television?
Meet the Wisconsin teen behind today's Doodle 4 Google (+video)

Doodle 4 Google featured 'Coming Home,' an emotional piece of art by a Wisconsin teenager.
Chapter & Verse 'Bates Motel': it all goes back to a brilliant novelist named Robert Bloch

'Bates Motel,' which airs its season finale May 20, owes its origins to the novel "Psycho" by horror writer Robert Bloch.
Stir It Up! Review: Wisconsin Supper Clubs (+video)

Ron Failoa's new book profiles a charming semi-secret Wisconsin culinary tradition.
Hearing on IRS: What ousted chief offers, Republicans don't buy

Steven Miller, who resigned as acting IRS head this week, argued that the extra scrutiny for conservative groups amounted to ‘foolish mistakes.’ House Republicans see some problems reaching the White House.
Jeanne Cooper dies, leaves 'Young and Restless' legacy (+video)

Jeanne Cooper dies: As grande dame Katherine Chancellor, Jeanne Cooper starred on "The Young and the Restless" for four decades.
Energy Voices Natural gas glut crimps nuclear power

Natural gas has already been blamed for shuttering of coal plants and slowing wind and solar financing. Evidence suggests nuclear is also falling victim to the glut of cheap natural gas. The closure of a nuclear plant in Wisconsin Tuesday is exhibit A.
Immigration reform promises border security. Prove it, Republicans say. (+video)

The Senate immigration reform bill aims to apprehend 90 percent of potential border-crossers in high-risk areas within five years after passage, but Republicans question the plan.
Immigration reform: How much will it cost US taxpayers?

The conservative Heritage Foundation says that immigration reform will cost $5 trillion over 50 years. But some conservatives are firing back, saying the study doesn't look at all the variables.
Nestlé recalls CPK, DiGiorno frozen pizzas nationwide (+video)

Nestlé has issued a recall of four brands of DiGiorno and California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas sold in the US. The recalled pizzas may contain fragments of plastic that came from spinach used in manufacturing.
Decoder Wire Paul Ryan gay adoption: Is his support a big deal?

Paul Ryan: Gay adoption is an idea he now supports, although the former GOP VP candidate still opposes gay marriage. His change of heart is another indication that the political ground on gay rights is shifting rapidly in the US.
Pre-K programs take biggest state funding hit ever

Pre-K study finds that states' total spending on early childhood education dropped by more than $400 per pupil for the 2011-12 school year – and about $1,100 per pupil over a decade.
Fireballs! 'Tis the season for massive meteors.

Tonight (April 23) through Friday at dawn may be your best chance of the year to spot a fireball, a meteor that shines brighter than Venus, the brightest planet in the sky.
Girding for a federal budget battle royale, parties wrangle over rules

With Capitol Hill bracing for a battle over financial policy this summer, the focus now is on rules for the committee that will seek to reconcile House and Senate versions of the federal budget.
Aldo Leopold: A Sand County Almanac & Other Writings on Conservation and Ecology

The collected writings of American naturalist Aldo Leopold appear in a beautiful new edition from the Library of America.
On Earth Day 2013: 13 excellent books to consume

It's Earth Day. Check out these 13 books for the literary equivalent of a green boost of antioxidants and protein.
Paul Ryan and Chris Van Hollen: the fiscal bellwethers

The two House members – longtime ideological foes – will play a central role in bringing their respective party members along if Congress is ever to cut a grand fiscal deal.