RHINELANDER - The Oneida County fair wraps up Sunday and local politicians took every opportunity to spread their message to fair goers.
The one hot topic on many people’s mind gas prices.
The recent spike in gas prices can be blamed on many factors.
But here in the Midwest, the recent shut down of two oil pipes in Wisconsin is causing a shortage in oil.
Congressman Sean Duffy said, "If one pipe goes, we should have the keys to another pipeline already underway bringing us great oil from Canada and we can’t get it built because the President has said no to it."
July 17th a pipeline leak in Green Bay forced one line to shut down temporarily.
Then less than two weeks later another pipeline burst in Adams County.
That one is still shut down.
Because of those incidents, Regular gas in Rhinelander is teetering on 4-dollars a gallon.
"I think there needs to be a bipartisan approach where we care about the environment but we also care about having great American energy," said Duffy.
Due to safety hazards the U-S Department of Transportation will not let the Adams County pipe re-open.
But the 7th district congressman is hopeful the problem will be resolved quickly.
Until it re-opens, a spokesperson with AAA says gas prices will remain where they are or possibly go up.
MADISON - Burglars accused of hitting 12 Wisconsin counties will answer for their crimes. Two men are charged after an investigation that took years to complete.
Twenty eight-year-old Robert Miles and 37-year-old Daniel Frausto are formally charged in three of those counties, including Oconto and Outagamie.
Frausto also faces burglary, robbery and false imprisonment charges in Waupaca County.
Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said some of the other counties the ring operated in are Shawano, Portage, and Oneida counties.
Charges are expected to be filed in some of those other counties as well.
Van Hollen says they'll also charge other suspects.
MADISON - The quarterly deadline to place a telephone number on Wisconsin's no-call list is approaching.
The deadline to be added to the list is May 31. Any number put on the list then will be protected from unwanted phone solicitations and text messages starting July 1.
Registrations are good for two years, and people can re-register their numbers at any time.
The list is updated four times a year.
Anyone who misses the May 31 deadline won't be able to get their number added to the list until Oct. 1.
Numbers can be added to the list at http://nocall.wisconsin.gov or by calling 1-866-966-2255.
Political calls, calls from nonprofit organizations and calls made in response to a written or verbal request or permission are not covered.
WI Not Likely to Go the Way of Other States on Gay Marriage
Submitted: 05/18/2013
MADISON - Wisconsin's neighbor Minnesota may have become the 12th state in the country to legalize same-sex unions on Tuesday.
But gay marriage is not on the legislative agenda in Wisconsin, and that's not expected to change in the near future.
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse political scientist Joe Heim tells Post-Crescent Media national public opinion seems to lean toward gay marriage but he doesn't see Wisconsin joining that group soon.
In November 2006, nearly 60 percent of Wisconsin voters supported an amendment banning gay marriage.
Before Wisconsin lawmakers could consider a bill to allow gay marriage, voters would have to pass an amendment undoing the 2006 amendment language. But before that the Legislature would have to pass the amendment in two consecutive sessions.
BLANCHARDVILLE - The Lafayette County sheriff's office has identified the 8-year-old boy run over by a skid steer loader.
The sheriff's department says Melvin Jarrett, Jr., was killed when he was accidentally struck by a skid loader being operated by Melvin Jarrett Sr.
Authorities say Jarrett Sr. was backing up when the boy was struck at about 4:40 p.m. Friday. Sheriff's officials say the machine was being used to help develop a small campground.
The boy is from Blanchardville and the man is from Mineral Point.
WOODRUFF - The capitol may be far away but one of our local legislators wants to bring it closer. Assemblyman Rob Swearingen is meeting with constituents around the 34th district.
He visited Woodruff and Eagle River today.
Swearingen is five months into his freshman term. He wants to make sure people can put a face to his name.
He also wants reach those who might be skeptical of him because of his political party.
"You get that, just because I have the "R" in the back of my name that you're automatically not going to be friendly to those issues. And we encourage you to reach out. I may respond and it may not be the response you want to hear, but if you're going to ask me an honest question I'm going to give you an honest answer," says Rep. Swearingen.
Swearingen says everyone's working hard on the budget in Madison. He's hearing a lot of concerns about school funding locally.
"I just really feel that people should be engaged with their own local legislators so the legislator knows them, and knows how they feel. And I showed him my tax bill and he got a real perspective for someone who's on a fixed income and how all the costs for education impact one of his constituents," says Shirley Kufeldt, from Conover.
"We're looking for more funding for the K-12 funding program. I think there's been a lot of heightened awareness in the capital on both sides of the isle and in the Governor's office. So I'm looking for hopefully some good results to help rural schools as the budget moves forward before the Governor signs it in the first part of July," says Rep. Swearingen.
Swearingen's first budget motion was to allow Nicolet College to be eligible for state aid based on enrollment. That motion passed unanimously.
He says his weekly drive to his office in Madison is a reality check.
"There's the state capitol and you realize that your office is inside that building. It's a really surreal feeling to walk into that building each morning. Every time I press that button, whether it's green or red, I am voting on behalf of over 50,000 people in the 34th Assembly District. And that is something you don't take lightly," says Rep. Swearingen.
Swearingen will continue district dialogues on Monday. He'll be in Florence, Rhinelander and Crandon.
Florence, May 20th 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM Maxsells Restaurant Inn & Pub, 209 Central Ave, (US Highway 2)
Crandon, May 20th 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Forest County Courthouse, Board Room
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