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Inside LOCAL
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Good News for ‘Onlies’
Study: Growing up without sibs doesn't hurt social skills.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – A new study suggests that growing up without siblings doesn't seem to be a disadvantage for teenagers when it comes to social skills.
My husband and I were very relieved to hear it.
Having waited until we were 37 (me) and 40 (him) years old to get married for the first time, it seemed inevitable that we would also begin building on our little family later than most. And after a few years trying – first
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Picking Your Parenting Battles
Brand new parents, trying to find our way through the parenting “best practices” gauntlet.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – My daughter makes me feel stupid. She’s eight weeks old today, but sometimes the way she looks at me, I truly believe she is a full-grown adult trapped in an infant’s body.
Maybe reincarnation is real, I think. May
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The Perfect Christmas Dinner Story
‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through our apartment, the mother was in a panic and called the fire department.
MADISON, WI (YN) – It was my first turkey. It was gorgeous. And no one will remember it.
I had never prepared a true, traditional Christmas feast with all the trimmings. I’d never even cooked an entire turkey. But this year my parents agreed to spend t
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DUI, DWI, OUI, OWI, SOL?
If you’re a regular reader of the YourNews Incident Blotter – in which multiple repeat-offending drunk drivers are featured horrifyingly often – you might be happy to hear that Governor Doyle has just signed a new, stronger anti-drunk-driving bill. But is it enough?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Governor Jim Doyle on Tuesday signed legislation to strengthen Wisconsin’s drunk driving laws. At the signing, the Governor was surrounded by law enforcement officers, doctors and medical professionals, advocates and many people whose family or friends were killed due to drunk drivers.
In his first few months as Governor, Doyle signed legislation setting a .08 blood alcohol standard for drivers in Wisconsi
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Answer: Media Narcissism on Steroids
Question: What do Gary Condit, shark attacks, and Tiger Woods have in common?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Before we get started, please write in and tell me what you think of this article so we can have another article about whether or not we should have another article about Tiger Woods. That way, you can have an opinion without having all the facts – since I haven’t started the article yet – and I’ll get another thousand words to post tomorrow. Thanks a bunch.
I don’t like golf. For a few reasons. I think it
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I Totally Need One of Those
Consumers over-predict the use of holiday gifts; strangers are often better at estimating the frequency of gift use. But more to the point, should holiday gifts be more about Need than Want, or vice versa?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Another earth-shattering study has just been released. This one evaluates the accuracy of gift recipients in how often they would use the item.
Immediately I start thinking about my pantry: waffle iron, bread maker, three-dish crock pot, coffee grinder... I loved that bread maker – for about a month. I grind my coffee at the store now. The crock pot I do use – precisely once a year – but I was certain, at
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Reproductive Rights Group Holds Rally on Capitol Steps
Wednesday’s rally coincided with a National Day of Action & Stop Stupak-Pitts Event in Washington DC.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – The National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League (NARAL) organized a rally on the capitol’s State Street steps Wednesday, stating that this “ban on abortion coverage in health care reform is a direct attack on women’s health.”
The House of Representatives passed a health care reform bill that includes an amendment by Reps. Stupak and Pitts that will effectively eliminate all insurance coverage for abortion. Currently, 85% of insurance plans in the private market cover these services.
“It w
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It’s Easy for Me
My mother had breast cancer, so I know I am going to continue getting annual mammograms, even though I’m still in my 40s.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – It’s not quite the Kennedy assassination or 9/11, but I will probably remember for at least another couple of months where I was when I heard the news. I’ll certainly remember until my next mammogram appointment – in
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I Admit It – I Never Thought of It That Way
The UW Center for Tobacco Research says a $9 million stop-smoking federal grant is headed to Wisconsin. I’m a non-smoker, but can I get a little of that stash?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – I think it must be our current economic crisis – and the way the politicians and pundits have been throwing around million- and billion-dollar increments like teenagers in a texting flame war – that caused me to ruminate on this recent announcement from the UW that otherwise might have passed by me with little more than a glance.
The University’s Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention (UW-CTRI) rece
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Wisconsin’s Fiscal Dirty Laundry Studied, One City’s Approach Considered
A day after The Pew Center on the States (PCS) issues a dire warning about nine states – Wisconsin among them – that are in “fiscal peril,” Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz shares his thoughts on the passage of the City of Madison 2010 operating and capital budgets.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Pew's Center on the States is a reputable research organization that ostensibly brings together diverse and, ideally, nonpartisan perspectives to analyzes states’ experiences to determine what works and what doesn’t, with the goal of advancing practical solutions for critical issues affecting Americans.
Their recent report about nine U.S. states – including Wisconsin – that are evidently hurtling toward fi
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Dane County Gets a Break – But Not Everyone is On Board
AFSCME members agree to pay cut to help Dane County maintain services. The Dane County Deputy Sheriff’s Association & Supervisors – and four other bargaining unions – aren’t yet on board.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – On the heels of another successful ratification vote this week by American Federation of State, County, and Municipal bargaining units representing Dane County employees (AFSCME), County Executive Kathleen Falk Thursd
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A New Angle on Old Crappy Behavior
The old Nigerian email scheme is back – only this time it’s personal.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – The Madison Police Department (MPD) is reporting what looks to be a rather sickening new twist on an old fraud scheme.
An MPD officer, who is currently assigned to the South District station, received a fraudulent solicitation via email early Tuesday morning, which reads as follows:
“Subject: Can I Trust You?
Hello, My name is Scott Anderson, I am an American soldier in peace keeping force in Iraq and
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What’s Going on in Madison?? Part II
Crime in Madison continues to trend down, with one notable exception.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – On October 19th I wrote a story (“Always Nice to See Bright, Young Women Helping the Elderly“) about an 88-year-old woman being mugged in the parking lot of Woodman’s East, in broad daylight, by three individuals, two of whom were girls, aged 19 and 16.
I was so appalled by the news I had to call the Madison Police Department (MPD) to find out what the heck was happening in Madison.
In what thankfully
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Now I Know Why My Mom is a Right-Wing Wacko
Study: TV consumption predicts opinions about criminal justice system.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – My mom can’t go to bed without – as she puts it – a little “murder and mayhem.” She just loves television crime dramas.
“Criminal Minds,” “Law & Order: SVU” – these are her lullabies. And despite her being a professional pianist, a member of the board of her local “Friends of the Opera,” a firm believer in a woman’s right to choose, equal pay, and a teeth-grinding “saver” and recycler (i.e. closet environm
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The Economic Bell Still Tolls
Unemployment benefits, which were initially extended under the $787 economic stimulus and recovery bill, are in danger of expiring by the end of the year and some have estimated that approximately 7,000 Americans are losing their benefits each day.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – The Senate is expected to take the first step today to extend unemployment insurance benefits to thousands of out-of-work Americans. Thousands of Wisconsin residents could lose their unemployment benefits soon, prompt
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Obama is The One
I can’t help it, I am still thrilled with this president and I am just so proud I’m on his “side.”
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – I want to capture this moment. I want to revel in it.
And it’s not Schadenfreude – there is no one suffering from my joy; to the contrary, we are all benefiting from my happiness.
I am simply blissful in my choice for President of the United States. Obama has just won the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his “extraordinary efforts” to ease world tensions by emphasizing diplomacy, encouraging cooperation over
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Always Nice to See Bright, Young Women Helping the Elderly
Helping themselves is more like it, in broad daylight. So much for honor among thieves.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) - On Saturday afternoon around 4:00 p.m. an 88-year-old woman was in the parking lot of Woodman's (east) on Milwaukee Street when she was attacked by three individuals.
The 88-year-old woman was taken to the ground and her wallet and purse were stolen.
Woodman's employees came to the 88-year-old’s assistance, but were unable to stop the suspects from fleeing in a van.
Witnesses did, however, take note
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My Take on Brett (for what it’s worth)
I don’t like football all that much; I watch it for the bean dip, the company, and the inevitable nap. But – and I’m very, very sorry Packers fans, because I am one, too – last night’s game was just plain fun.
by Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – I had been reminded that this game was happening earlier in the afternoon. My neighbors offered pizza for Monday Night Football.
“It’s your Packers and Vikings.” Clearly I wasn’t getting it; must have been the dull glaze in my eyes. “Brett Favre is with the Vikings now –“
Oh right right right, of course. I can’t have pizza – I’m making dinner for my husband and some potential work partners – but I make
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Middle Age is Fun
Just when you begin to get the hang of things, Life throws a curve ball.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – For the last 18 months or so, my mother has been suffering from what by all accounts (by me, my father, my brother and sister, and family friends) appears to be an advancing case of dementia, or “mild cognitive impairment.”
And it remains, to date, virtually undiagnosed.
Go ahead, let me have it. Marvel at our obvious and outrageous insensitivity. Our inattentiveness. Our negligence.
I do. My hu
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Blame it on Rio
Chicago and Tokyo, with least number of votes, were the first and second cities respectively eliminated from the race to host the 2016 Summer Olympics; Madrid was close second to winner Rio.
By Kathryn Lake
CHICAGO, IL (YN) – Rio will be the host of the 2016 Summer Olympics.
The stunned reaction was quietly audible in downtown Chicago among the thousands of people gathered to hear the first round voting results earlier this morning for the city’s bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics. Broadcast live on a large screen erected at Daley Plaza, Chicago was pronounced the holder of the least number of votes and the first to be eliminated
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Internet Fraud Abounds
Two different Madison women suffer two different web thugs with two different thievery attempts.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Internet fraud – any type of con scheme that uses one or more components of the Internet, such as email, messages boards, chat rooms, or websites, to present fraudulent solicitations to potential victims, conduct frau
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Bicha in a Bind
Secretary of Wis Department of Children and Families called to appear before Joint Committee on Finance regarding ongoing problems in the Wisconsin Shares Program.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – In a letter sent Wednesday to Wisconsin Department of Children and Families Secretary Reggie Bicha, Senator Mark Miller and Representative Mark Pocan, Co-Chairs on the Joint Committee on Finance, requested the appearance of Bicha before the committee to discuss “allegations and findings of fraud and possible child endangerment.”
This follows a letter presented to Rep. Pocan and Sen. Miller by State Reps. T
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Tweeting My Life Away
Adding one more social medium to my life might be one more than I can handle.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – I just lost an hour out of my day. I don’t know what happened. I’m a little confused and disoriented. Give me a minute to try to piece it together, will you?
Last I remember, I was happily emailing, Facebooking and
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Scientists Go to See the 'Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch' for Themselves
They found the expansive patch of plastic and debris floating 1,000 miles from land. IMAGE: SEAPLEX researchers spotted a large net tangled with plastic within the "garbage patch.”
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – In the great vastness of the northern Pacific Ocean there is what’s called the North Pacific Subtropical (or simply North Pacific) Gyre, which is basically a large-scale vortex of wind and ocean currents. There are others – the North Atlantic Subpolar Gyre, North Pacific Subpolar, Indian Ocean Subtropical, to name just a few – but what distinguishes the North Pacific Gyre is the “Great Pacific Ocean Garbage Patch,” a.k.a. the Pacific Trash Vortex or the Eastern Garbage Patch (EGP).
The EGP, estimated to
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Standing Behind the Law
Attorney General Van Hollen says he will not represent the state on a constitutional challenge to Wisconsin’s Domestic Partnership Law, citing duty to uphold the Constitution, telling the state to go get another attorney – at our expense.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) - Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen issued a statement Friday relating to his decision declining to represent the state against a petition challenging the constitutionality of the creation of the legal status of domestic partnerships in Wisconsin. The statement is reprinted below in its entirety.
Despite the constitutional ban, Wisconsin was the first to grant domestic partnerships to gay couples and the firs
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The MPD is Just Horsing Around
Bad puns aside, Madison, Wis. is among an exclusive list of perhaps 100 other U.S. Cities with a Mounted Patrol Unit.
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Once again I find myself moved to near-tears over the stupidest things.
I could try to attribute it to my advancing years (accompanied part and parcel with enhanced PMS sensitivity), but I have just always had this thing for the mounted police.
Not like that – just this fascination. Gratitude. Joy. I feel giddy excitement whenever I see them, like I’m 12 years old again.
Naturally, I usually try to
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Recycling Guilt
The City of Madison just added to my list: smoke detectors cannot be recycled in Madison. What’s a guilt-riddled consumer to do?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Just add it to the list. Smoke detectors, according to the City of Madison, are not recyclable.
Madison's new smoke alarm ordinance has made most old smoke alarms obsolete and the first phase of the ordinance, which impacts multi-family dwellings, went into effect on August 15th. The second phase, which will go into effect on August 15, 2010, will impact single-family homes.
"The new ordinance will mea
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Sounds Like Real Educating Going on at Elcho High School
What’s next, higher graduation rates?
By Kathryn Lake
ELCHO, WI (YN) – The most effective way to pass on a healthy planet to future generations is by teaching young people to become good guardians of the environment. That is the goal of the SolarWise for Schools program, a renewable energy education program offered to high schools served by Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) Corporation.
Schools selected for the SolarWise for Schools program each receive a 2-kilowatt solar-electric
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The Day More Music Died
On the anniversary of the weekend that music and the culture of the 60s was born, the father of the solid-body electric guitar Les Paul has died. Les Paul (1915-2009).
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – Another pioneer of music has died. Lester William Polsfuss, better known as Les Paul, was a musician and a ground-breaker in the evolution of the electric guitar and in recording. Tape delay, phasing and multi-tracking – staples of the recording industry today – were all invented or discovered by Paul, and his guitars “made the sound of rock and roll possible.” Paul died of complications from pneumonia last night at the age of 94.
Paul’s performance skills set him apart from his contemporaries and inspir
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Policing in Madison is Going to the Dogs
The MPD Canine Program continues to be an integral part of the law enforcement arsenal
by Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – On August 7 at approximately 1:40 a.m. the Dane County Sheriff’s Office requested assistance in an eluding case where the suspect fled a vehicle near the intersection of Hwy 12 & Meffert Road.
The suspect inadverte
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Rhyming, Rhythm and Cher: Auto-Tune the News
School house rock for the new millennium?
By Kathryn Lake
MADISON, WI (YN) – I had a discussion with my husband the other night in which I somewhat timidly, but definitely arrogantly, claimed our generation to be the luckiest in terms of the musical evolution.
We were watching a summer redeux 60 Minutes story about the renaissance of vinyl records in the music industry and I thought, How cool is it that in our lifetime we saw the Beatles’ arrival, the sixties’ revolution of rock, t
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Glen Beck Steps in it, and I’m Following Right Behind
This might be just the thing to bring Olberman back from vacation early.
by Kathryn Lake
CHICAGO, IL (YN) – I don’t want to write this article.
I do not want to mire myself in this trap. And I don’t want anyone else to, either. But here we go again.
This morning Glenn Beck, host of Fox and Friends on the Fox News chan
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Big Brother is Us and We’re Watching Our Every Move
Social Media’s dark side.
by Kathryn Lake
Madison, WI (YN) - A recent imbroglio in the offices of the Young Republicans is playing out in the blogosphere this week, involving a top Young Republican official and her Facebook page.
Audra Shay, vice chairman of the Young Repub
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