MADISON - A Dane County judge is set to hear arguments in a lawsuit challenging a 2012 law that sets out conditions for abortions.
The law requires a doctor to determine whether the woman's consent is voluntary and inform the woman of domestic abuse services if he or she suspects the woman is being coerced. The law also requires doctors to perform a physical exam before they can prescribe abortion-inducting drugs and be in the room when the drugs are given to the woman.
Planned Parenthood filed a lawsuit in February 2013 arguing the law is unconstitutionally vague. The organization argues its unclear how doctors should determine voluntary consent and whether doctors need to be present when drugs are dispensed or administered.
Judge Richard Niess is set to hear arguments Thursday morning.
MADISON - The start of a new short-term loan program that wasn't slated to begin until July has been moved up in an effort to help businesses hurt by recent cutbacks at Oshkosh Corp.
The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the state's chief jobs agency, voted this week to start the pilot program earlier. It will provide loans or loan guarantees of up to $250,000 to companies for projects or expenses that may not be eligible for traditional financing.
The board says it was starting the program earlier in light of news that Oshkosh was cutting 760 jobs from its defense division because of budget cuts being made by the U.S. Department of Defense.
The loan program this year will only target businesses in Oshkosh Corp.'s supply chain
MERRILL - A Lincoln County man convicted of killing his wife and hiding her body will get his sentence this summer.
50-year-old Mark Bucki was convicted earlier this month in connection to the death and disappearance of his wife Anita.
He was convicted on three charges including first-degree intentional homicide, hiding a body and strangling a person.
The first-degree intentional homicide charge carries a mandatory life in prison sentence, according to Lincoln County Judge Jay Tlusty on the day of the April verdict.
Prosecutors want to add more years on top of the mandatory sentence with additional years from the other two charges.
Bucki will be back in court for his sentencing July 3rd.
MERRILL - Hospitals can sometimes scare kids and even many adults.
That's why one Northwoods hospital wants those kids to be comfortable with doctors if they ever need their help.
Merrill kindergarteners visited Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center on Wednesday.
The kids got to see an ambulance, physical therapy and x rays.
"We try to show them that you know what, the hospital isn't so scary. And we bring them through different areas that they may experience when they come in or they have a family member here. And a lot of times children, if they don't know, they're very afraid. A hospital can be very intimidating, says Jane Bentz, Director of Foundation and Community Outreach.
MOLE LAKE - You can drive along plenty of scenic stretches of roads across Northern Wisconsin.
However, the state of Wisconsin only considers one stretch of highway in the Northwoods as an official scenic byway.
Leaders in a handful of counties want to change that by earning a distinction from Wisconsin's Scenic Byways program. They held a public planning meeting in Mole Lake Wednesday.
The proposed scenic highway, The Wolf River Nicolet Scenic Byway, is a more than 100 mile stretch of Highway 55. It stretches from Langlade, in Langlade County, north to the Michigan boarder.
MADISON - A state program that provides in-home care for the elderly and disabled will expand to seven more Wisconsin counties.
Republican Governor Scott Walker announced in December of 2011 his administration would lift an enrollment cap on Family Care.
The program was also to be expanded to the 15 counties that don't currently offer it.
Walker said Monday the state is finally ready to start expanding the program to Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Menominee, Oconto and Shawano counties.
Play Video
Copyright© 2014 Rockfleet Broadcasting / Northland Television, Inc.