Politics - March 20, 2009
Study shows Americans turning away from religion
The latest findings of the American Religious Identification Survey find that 34 million adult Americans -- that's almost one in five of us -- are now nonreligious. The Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation was quick to leap on the fact that they are now in the majority. The findings may not rival the "Great Awakening," but the United States is clearly in the midst of a "Gradual Awakening," and catching up with Europe's embrace of secularism, the group notes in a press release.
Tags: american relgious identification survey, freedom from religion foundaiton, nones, randy koschnick, shirley abrahamson, war protests, county grounds, uwm, port of milwaukee

Politics - Feb. 13, 2009
Shocking fundraiser draws fire from the ACLU
The Combined Locks Police Department wanted to raise money for Special Olympics. The noble gesture lost a little gloss in some circles when it offered to have officers absorb shocks from taser guns in exchange for $500 donations.
Tags: doug hissom, tom barrett, combined lakes, taser fundraiser, david clarke, shirley abrahamson, Randy Koschnick, rose fernandez, Wisconsin Coalition of Virtual School Families

Politics - Feb. 4, 2009
Common Council scoffs at DOT's interchange plan
The state Department of Transportation took its road show to the Common Council last week briefing Milwaukee officials on its plan to redo the Zoo interchange. DOT says it is the busiest interchange in the state and needs some help in moving vehicles along. They offered a new road term called the "Texas U-turn." But it didn't get a warm reception.
Tags: zoo interchange, scott walker, ald. joe davis, Dept. of Transportation, Ald. Willie Hines, Ald. Bob Bauman, Ald. Michael Murphy, Ald. Bob Donovan, Alberta Darling, MPS, Jim Klajbor, Scott Gunderson, randy Koschnick, Shirley Abrahamson, Jim Doyle, Joe Wine

Politics - Nov. 19, 2008
Spring election sprint gets underway
Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the TV and avoid political commercials, it's time for the spring elections -- with a state Supreme Court race and several county judicial races -- to get underway. The Supreme Court race pretty much started this week when Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy R. Koschnick fulfilled expectations that he would announce his campaign to attempt to unseat Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson.
Tags: Shirley Abrahamson, Randy R. Koschnick, Louis Butler, Miek Gableman, Jon Richards, Grant Langley, sick leave referendum