Paul Dietrich, international corporate attorney for Foxhall Capital Management, gave a presentation about how globalization affects local economies at UWSP on March 31st.

Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison and Executive Director for the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign discussed the constitutional amendment to curtail the Governor's partial veto powers with WisconsinEye contributer John Powell. The amendement was set to go before voters on April 1, 2008. The program took place in WisconsinEye's Madison Studios on March 31, 2008.

Madison Bureau Chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Steve Walters interviewed Department of Financial Institutions Secretary Lorrie Keating Heinemann on March 31, 2008 as part of WisconsinEye's Faces of Government series. The series focuses on the people behind many of the decisions that affect the lives of the state's citizens. According to the agency's website, the department's mission is to ensure the safety and soundness of Wisconsin's financial institutions, to protect the consumers of financial services, and to facilitate economic growth.

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Description to follow.

WisconsinEye attended one of twelve town meetings held throughout Wisconsin's 6th Congressional District hosted by U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Fond du Lac in March. WisconsinEye caught up with Petri at this meeting in Neenah, WI on March 28, 2008. Petri also held listening sessions in Oshkosh, Kohler, Watertown and Ripon among other places.

Description to follow.

Assembly Speaker Representative Michael Huebsch, R-West Salem, participated in a WisconsinEye Newsmaker interview with Madison Bureau Chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Steve Walters on March 27, 2008. The interview took place in WisconsinEye’s Madison Studio.

Andrea Kaminski, Executive Director for the League for Women Voters of Wisconsin spoke with WisconsinEye contributor John Powell about the efforts the organization makes to education the public about the elections process. Kaminiski also spoke about the groups advocacy efforts. The interview took place in WisconsinEyes Madison studio on March 27, 2008.

The UW Madison Wisconsin Public Utility Institute hosted a daylong seminar to discuss nuclear power. Within the seminar a range of experts describe a change in public opinion regarding New Nuclear, and UW-Madison professors describe new plant designs and nuclear waste management strategies. Also, industry and finance experts addressed why utilities are considering nuclear power and what conditions will be necessary for Wall Street to finance such endeavors.

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Continued coverage.

Judge Gableman was the invited guest for the March 26th Madison Rotary meeting at the Inn on the Park in Madison.

Sen. Ted Kanavas, R-Brookfield, and Sen. Pat Kreitlow, D-Chippewa Falls, both members of the Senate Economic Development Committee discussed the different economic development plans presented by the Senate Republicans and Senate Democrats. The legislators appeared with WisconsinEye contributer John Powell in WisconsinEye's Madison Studio on March 26, 2008.

Democratic National Committee chairmen Howard Dean spoke at the Majestic Theater in Madison, WI on March 25, 2008. Dean spoke about the future of the democratic party and the upcoming presidential election.

Cheesemaker BelGioioso opened their fifth Wisconsin plant in Freedom, WI on March 25, 2008. The new plant, which will make mozzarella and fontina, brings new jobs to the area and boosts local dairy economy with milk purchases for the new plant.

Chris Long, President and CEO of WisconsinEye, presented a progress report to the Milwaukee Rotary Club on March 25, 2008 at the War Memorial in Milwaukee.

U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen, D-Appleton, joined a teleconference hosted by Families USA, a Washington D.C. based national health care advocacy organization on March 25, 2008. The teleconference was organized on the day that the organization issued a report on the affect that a lack of health care insurance has on Wisconsin residents. Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, Dr. Barbara Horner-Ibler, medical director for Bread Healing Clinic in Milwaukee and Robert Kraig of Citizen Action of Wisconsin also participated in the teleconference with media from around the state.

U.S. Senator Russ Feingold spoke at UW-Madison as part of the Distinguished Lecture Series. A University of Wisconsin alumnus, Feingold discussed the importance of citizen diplomacy, and how, by dispelling negative misperceptions of the U.S., it can improve our image abroad and our security at home. His speech was entitled Reaching Out to the World: Public and Private Diplomacy for the 21st Century. Sen. Feingold lobbied for U.S. foreign relations improvements Monday at the Memorial Union Monday sponsored by Wisconsin Union Directorate and the UW Division of International Studies. Feingold focused his discussion on how international relations and the worldview of the United States affects and can be affected by UW-Madison students and Wisconsin citizens. Feingold encouraged students in the audience to join the Peace Corps, volunteer abroad through other programs, study and form relationships with citizens abroad and welcome foreign citizens visiting in the United States. (Excerpted from The Daily Cardinal UW Madisons Student Newspaper)

Todd Berry of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance discussed the political dimensions of the state budget woes and the pending budget repair bill. Berry was interviewed by WisconsinEye contributor John Powell in WisconsinEye's Madison Studio on March 24, 2008.

David Schmiedicke, state budget director with the Department of Administration and Bob Lang, director of the Legislative Fiscal Bureau discussed the state budget process with WisconsinEye contributor John Powell in WisconsinEyes Madison Studio on March 24, 2008. Among other topics in this explanation of states budget process, Lang and Schmiedicke discussed the need for a budget repair bill for the states biennial budget, which was passed in the fall of 2007.

Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton held this media availability on March 20, 2008 at the Colonial Carriage Works in Columbus, Wis. to discuss the impact that the filming of the NBC Universal production Public Enemies staring Johnny Depp is having on the states economy. Several days of filming took place in Columbuss downtown and at various other locations in the state. Prior to the press conference Lawton met with cast and crew of the film as well as area business owners. WisconsinEye also talked with Columbus Mayor Nancy Osterhaus about the impact on the citys businesses and citizens.

Wisconsin Women in Government held a networking event with guest speaker Sue Ann Thompson at the Madison Club, just off the State Capitol grounds in Madison on Thursday March 20. Mrs. Thompson, a founder of the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation and former First Lady of Wisconsin, spoke on issues concerning women's health.

On March 20, 2008, Steve Walters interviewed Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald in the Senate Parlor about the accomplishments and defeats during the last Legislative Session as well as the current state budget woes.

Civil rights leader Roy Innis, chairman of the Congress of Racial Equality, appeared at an Americans for Prosperity press conference on March 19, 2008 to discuss what he called the negative impact of Global warming policies on minorities. Innis later delivered testimony at a public hearing before the Governors Task Force on Global Warming. The press conference was held in the Assembly Parlor in the Wisconsin State Capitol.

On March 18, 2008, WisconsinEye interviewed award winning author and University of Wisconsin-Superior professor Anthony Bukoski. Over the course of the interview, Professor Bukoski discussed his background, his early career as a writer, his current projects, and also read a selection of his work. Professor Bukoski was recently the judge of a short story competition held by the Wisconsin People & Ideas magazine.

Madison Bureau Chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Steve Walters, led a panel of state Capitol reporters in a discussion of the week's major news stories in state politics. This week’s guests included Capitol Reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Stacy Forster, Madison Correspondent for the Associated Press Scott Bauer, and Capitol Reporter for the Wisconsin State Journal Jason Stein.

A day on the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Alder as it performs an ice breaking mission in the Duluth-Superior Harbor on Lake Superior just days before the Great Lakes shipping season opens. The Alder was built in Marinette, WI and first launched in 2004. It has sailed on all five Great Lakes, but keeps it homeport at Duluth, MN.

The Richard I. Bong museum located in Superior, WI, commemorates the life of our nation's Ace of Aces. Richard I. Bong, a native to Wisconsin, was a WWII hero, who took down more Japanese planes than any other American. Bob Fuhrman, the museum's director gives us a tour hilighting some of the museums best items.

Jeremy Shertz lead a tour of Candy Corner in Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, and demonstrated the making of turtle fudge, carmel apples, and chocolate covered strawberries on March 17, 2008.

The 2008 Wisconsin High School Mock Trial Tournament Finals were held in the Wisconsin State Capitol Supreme Court chamber on Monday, March 17, 2008. This year the event celebrated its 25th Anniversary. The final contest featured Rhinelander High School and Shorewood High School in State of Wisconsin vs. Lee Morgan Nash. The mock trial was presided over by the Wisconsin Supreme Court Justices. Chief Justice Shirley S. Abrahamson presented awards following the trial.

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Continued.

In the WisconsinEye studios on March 17, 2008, guests Susan Armacost, Legislative Director for Wisconsin Right to Life; James Buchen, Vice President of Government Relations for Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce; Mike McCabe of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign; and UW-Madison Professor of Political Science Charles Franklin discuss public financing of Wisconsin Supreme Court races with host John Powell.

As part of WisconsinEye's series "Newsmakers," Steve Walters interviews Former Supreme Court Justice William Bablitch on March 17, 2008.

On March 14, 2008, James Servais, a Vernon County Board Supervisor, organized a meeting to discuss land-use planning issues for Vernon and La Crosse Counties. Joined by Charley Handy, a La Crosse County Planner, they focused their discussion on purchasing development rights programs (PDRs). Servais, a retired dairy farmer has been initiating meetings of this nature over concerns he has about the loss of farmland to development of many kinds. After a trip he took with land-use officials from Vernon and La Crosse counties to the East Coast, where they looked at existing PDR programs, Servais has taken the initiative to create a public dialogue about land-use issues and property rights. WisconsinEye was there to listen-in on the presentation and conversation that took place, as well as interview Servais and Handy to learn more about what they are learning from their meetings and outreach efforts.

The World Championship Cheese Contest was held at the Monona Terrace in Madison March 11-13, 2008. WisconsinEye visited the contest for the final round of judging, where the world champion was declared. WisconsinEye spoke with the organizer of the event John Umhoeffer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and others at the contest.

The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign held a Peoples Legislature rally addressing what they have identified as "Unfinished Business" at the State Capitol. the last day the state Legislature is scheduled to be in session to act on general legislative business. Billed as multi-partisan citizen assembly <http://www.peopleslegislature.org/> , they presented a number of speakers to protest what they see as a deliberate plan by legislative leaders to run out the clock on the 2007-2008 session without taking action on certain issues. Speakers included Mike McCabe, Executive Director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign; Ed Garvey, George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation; Jessica Garrels, Organizing Director of the Wisconsin League of Conservation Voters and Bruce Speight, Advocate for Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group. Topics addressed were the Great Lakes Water Compact, health insurance, campaign finance reform and the proposed state smoking ban.

The Milwaukee Bar Association (MBA) was host to a candidates forum for the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Wisconsin Court of Appeals and Milwaukee County Circuit Court seats. This moderated forum was open to MBA members and the general public, where questions of the candidates by those attending were submitted to the moderator. These forums fall in line with the MBAs 150 year old mission of increasing public awareness of the crucial roll that the law plays in the lives of the people of Milwaukee, says James Temmer, Executive Director of the MBA. These provide our members and the residents of Milwaukee County the opportunity to learn more about the people who will enforce the laws of Wisconsin before they cast their vote.

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The Wisconsin Veterans Museum held a program comparing women's roles in the Marines from when they were first admitted to modern day. Mibs Ewald, a Marine during WWII, speaks on her experience as a women in the armed forces during the 1940's. Julie Shaffer, a modern day Marine, talks about her current roles and responsibilities as a Marine and expands on the different experiences by women in WWII and in Iraq today.

WisconsinEye talked to Julie and Marcy Thompson about their experiences with virtual schooling at their home in Cross Plains on March 10, 2008. Julie Thompson and daughter Marcy have been participating in Wisconsin's virtual school program for the last five years, and have been involved in recent legislation that may affect Wisconsin's virtual schools.

On March 10, 2008, the Wisconsin Tibetan Association held a March commemorating the 1959 Tibetan uprising against the Chinese occupation. The march began on State street in Madison and ended on the steps of the state Capitol. Speakers took to the podium to commemorate the day and to speak out against the Chinese policy on Tibet. Speakers included: Lobsang Tenzing, President Wisconsin Tibetan Association; Katie Crowley representing U.S. Senator Russell Feingold; Representative Spencer Black; Representative Joe Parisi; Asius Vangio, Secretary for Students for a free Tibet, and others.

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Full description to follow.

As a part of WisconsinEye's new series "Made in Wisconsin," videographer Paul Schmidt visited the TREK Bicycle facility in Waterloo Wisconsin on March 7, 2008. Todd VandeBerg, Human Resources Generalist for TREK led a tour of the facility through different deparments such as bicycle design, sales, manufacturing and shipping.

Clean Wisconsin, a leading state environmental group, presented environmental leadership awards for outstanding achievements in three areas: public officials, corporate leadership, and citizen leadership. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and New Berlin Mayor Jack Chiovatero received awards for their impact on Wisconsin's efforts to ratify the Great Lakes Compact. And Mayor Gary Becker of Racine, Johnson Controls, and Jim Te Selle President of the Great Lakes Coalition received awards for their commitment to Wisconsins environment. Clean Wisconsin in an environmental advocacy organization, and one of Wisconsins oldest and largest state groups dedicated to the defense of Wisconsin's natural heritage. Previously known as Wisconsins Environmental Decade, the advocacy group changed its name to Clean Wisconsin in 2003.

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Full description to follow soon.

WisconsinEye visited the Great Lakes Water Institute on March 5, 2008, and interviewed Jim Lubner, Education Coordinator of the Wisconsin Sea Grant Institute. He spoke about the work and importance of the Great Lakes Water Institute for Wisconsin and for the critical studies of the Great Lakes.

Advocates of the arts convened at the Monona Terrace for Arts Day 2008, an effort to lobby state legislators on behalf of arts in Wisconsin. WisconsinEye was there to capture the Arts Day Legislative Breakfast and networking session featuring Lt. Governor Barbara Lawton, announcing the Wisconsin Arts Board's New Economy Funding Initiative. Also featured were remarks by Jennifer Alexander, president of Thrive a Madison-area regional development organization; Jack Fischer, Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce; and George Tzougros, Wisconsin Arts Board Director, on the topic of developing Wisconsins new branding strategy. In addition, and at the end of the event, a partial performance of ROARrr-Ole Two Feets Great Discovery was presented. An original musical folktale written by Dr. "Chuck" Charles Taylor for young audiences, tells the story of how Maureen, a little village girl, brought the divided worlds of villagers and beasts together by helping the King Beast-Ole Two-Feet learn a very important lesson.

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A special Blueprint Briefing, sponsored by WisPolitics.com explored "The Issues and Science behind the Pending Great Lakes Water Compact" on the morning of Wednesday, March 5 at Discovery World on Milwaukees lake front. Among the topics discussed were the pending Great Lakes Compact, how the compact would affect the region's freshwater supply and its economy, and the economic opportunities presented by a healthy Great Lakes system. Speakers included: "Great Lakes Water Wars" author Peter Annin; Todd Ambs, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resource's water division chief and member of the board of the Great Lakes Commission; Matt Moroney, executive director of the Metropolitan Builders Association of Greater Milwaukee; Ann Beier of Office of Environmental Sustainability; and UW-Milwaukee science experts and UW-Milwaukee Vice Chancellor for Research and Econ. Development, Colin Scanes.

Fred Woskoff interviews Nelda Barnett, a member of the National Board of Directors, and Lisa Lamkins, Advocacy Director for Wisconsin AARP.

As a part of the 2008 Governor's Conference on Tourism Sarah Klavis, Director of Wisconsin Department of Tourism and Secretary of the Department of Tourism Kelli Trumble gave a presentation on Wisconsin's branding initiative. They described the process of creating a brand for Wisconsin in discovering Wisconsin's unique characteristics.

As a part of the 2008 Governor's Conference on Tourism Sarah Klavis, Director of Wisconsin Department of Tourism and Secretary of the Department of Tourism Kelli Trumble gave a presentation on Wisconsin's branding initiative. They described the process of creating a brand for Wisconsin in discovering Wisconsin's unique characteristics.

As a part of the 2008 Governor's Conference on Tourism Sarah Klavis, Director of Wisconsin Department of Tourism and Secretary of the Department of Tourism Kelli Trumble gave a presentation on Wisconsin's branding initiative. They described the process of creating a brand for Wisconsin in discovering Wisconsin's unique characteristics.

Full description to follow.

Department of Workforce Development (DWD) Secretary Roberta Gassman addressed a class of social work students on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. Secretary Gassman gave a brief history of her political career as well as discussed policy-making initiatives at the state level, highlighting Governor Jim Doyles Grow Wisconsin strategy. She also took questions. A member of Governor Doyles Cabinet, Secretary Gassman leads the Department of Workforce Development, charged with strengthening Wisconsins workforce.