RHINELANDER - Oneida County's new District Attorney hit the ground running. Mike Schiek took the oath of office today before beginning his first day on the job.
Governor Scott Walker's office asked Schiek if he was willing to start early. The term should start January first, but the District Attorney seat has been vacant since Judge Michael Bloom left in the spring.
Schiek spent the last few weeks wrapping up his criminal defense practice at O'Melia, Schiek and McEldowney.
"We've got intake this afternoon, for criminal intake, in Jude O'Melia's office so I'll start with that. I should be pretty familiar with that; I've done that throughout the last ten years of my life. So I'll be doing that and I'm going to get my feet wet and we'll see what happens," says Schiek.
Schiek will travel Wednesday to Madison for training. That's where the more than 20 newly elected DAs from around the state will network and learn the ropes.
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.
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.
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.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU - In Vilas County the courts have a new option for treating drug and alcohol offenders, instead of putting them behind bars.
Today the new Wellness Court was named in Lac du Flambeau. Circuit court judge Neal Neilsen and Tribal Court Judge Gary Smith will work together to help those involved with drugs and alcohol get the treatment they need.
"A traditional court would, more than likely sentence the person to jail or prison, and we've seen studies where that just doesn't work anymore. We need to get creative," said Lac du Flambeau Tribal Chief Judge, Gary Smith.
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