OSHKOSH - About 130 members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard are coming home.
They landed in the U.S. early last week, but they've been de-mobilizing at a camp in Mississippi. This afternoon they'll be welcomed back to Wisconsin at a celebration in Oshkosh.
Most of the troops are part of the Oshkosh-based 157th Transportation Company. They spent almost 10 months in Afghanistan on convoy-escort missions.
Gov. Scott Walker and senior Wisconsin Army National Guard leaders will be among the family welcoming the troops home. Community members are also invited to attend.
That event will be at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh.
MADISON - Governor Walker hopes greater walleye numbers can help boost state tourism.
Walker announced a nearly 13-million dollar effort to boost walleye production.
The plan would allow the state to borrow millions to expand hatcheries.
It would also give several million in grants for private walleye production plants.
The plan also includes money for aquaculture work, buying fingerlings from private vendors, and expanding a program that gives tribal youth jobs on natural resources-related projects.
MILWAUKEE - Ministry Health Care plans to lay off several hundred employees, citing a drop in the number of patients and cuts in federal reimbursement levels.
Ministry operates 15 hospitals and 47 clinics across Wisconsin.
The facilities include Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield and Saint Michael's Hospital in Stevens Point.
Ministry spokesman Geoffrey Huys says about 225 to 250 employees will be cut, mainly through attrition and job eliminations.
RHINELANDER - Rhinelander needs new businesses to fill empty stores downtown.
This past weekend 26 properties had an open house. It was organized by Downtown Rhinelander, Inc. (DRI) and Flanders Reality Group. Finding the right home for a business can be hard. But the event tried to help those on the hunt.
"This way, you know, your here, you look, your able to talk to someone who knows the property. And you can really make a really good decision right now today," said Maggie Steffen, DRI Executive Director.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - We got to see and hear Wisconsin Senator Tammy Baldwin give her first speech on the floor Wednesday morning.
The first-term Senator focused mainly on optimism and bipartisanship during her 11-minute speech.
She spoke on a day when the Senate took up debate on the so-called 2013 Farm Bill.
The bi-partisan effort would help limit the risks many farmers take while saving taxpayers billions. It's the kind of work Baldwin would like to see the Senate do more of.
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