AltWeeklies Wire
Hello, Cancer: One Madison Woman Tells What She Learnednew
I remember that she wore red shoes. Her feet were tiny and she was wearing pantyhose. She examined the lump on my neck for all of 20 seconds before leaning back in her swivel chair and pronouncing: "This is probably a lymphoma."
Does Wisconsin's Health Insurance Overseer Actually Protect Consumers?new
Even when it does have regulatory authority, the state's Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) seems reluctant to throw its weight around. Of the 28 complaints we reviewed, in no instance did OCI instruct an insurance company to behave differently.
Isthmus |
Bill Lueders |
10-26-2009 |
Policy Issues
Wisconsin State Employee Union Says the Governor's Furlough Math is Faultynew
When Gov. Jim Doyle announced that all state employees would have to take mandatory 16-day furloughs to help balance the state budget, Diane Tieman was a little confused. The state doesn't pay her salary, so her forced vacation won't save Wisconsin taxpayers a dime
Isthmus |
Joe Tarr |
08-18-2009 |
Business & Labor
Some Mentally Ill People Say No to Pharmaceutical Solutionsnew
The MadPride movement is a revolt against the numbing of peculiar personalities with powerful chemicals. Those who take this path -- sometimes with the help of medical professionals, sometimes in defiance of them -- say they would rather embrace their madness then try to stifle it.
Child Abuse Cases Are Getting More Severenew
Child protection service providers in Madison say their caseloads have increased and they are seeing more severe abuse cases. Worse, the waiting lists for social service programs have gotten longer.
Isthmus |
Joe Tarr |
06-08-2009 |
Children & Families
Tags: child abuse, Madison
Madison Is Asked to Relax Rules on Accessory Dwellingsnew
Also called "mother-in-law," "granny," "garage" or "basement" apartments, accessory dwelling units are currently verboten in the Madison's low-density, single-family neighborhoods. But some are pushing the city to allow them.
Isthmus |
Joe Tarr |
06-08-2009 |
Housing & Development
David Newby Hopes to Lead Labor's Comebacknew
Wisconsin State AFL-CIO President David Newby has felt despair over the past three decades of plant closings, wage cuts and union-busting. But he's convinced the labor movement has the potential to rebound.
Isthmus |
Roger Bybee |
02-09-2009 |
Business & Labor
Jerry Hancock Moves from Law Enforcement to Prison Ministrynew
Much of what the Rev. Jerry Hancock has to say about the criminal justice system sounds reasonable coming from a clergyman who heads a prison ministry program. But when you consider that he's spent more than 30 years as a lawyer in this system, many of them as a prosecutor, his perspective is positively stunning.
Isthmus |
Esty Dinur |
01-05-2009 |
Crime & Justice
Paper Mill Closing Leaves One Wisconsin Town Fighting for Its Lifenew
The struggle over the NewPage paper mill in Kimberly, Wisc., underscores the larger pattern of hurt in the heartland.
Isthmus |
Roger Bybee |
10-20-2008 |
Business & Labor
Guess Who the Economic Crisis is Hurting Most? (Hint: It Isn't the Fat Cats)new
The people feeling it hardest are ordinary workers -- Joe and Joann Doe on Main Street. Meanwhile, the fat cats from bellied-up and bailed-out businesses on Wall Street are walking away with tens of millions of dollars for doing such a good job blowing the economy to high heaven.
The Madison Police Department's Secret Beatingsnew
When violent assaults happen, the public has a right to know.
Isthmus |
Bill Lueders |
09-30-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Death By Prayernew
Eleven-year-old Madeline Kara Neumann died of diabetic complications as her parents prayed for her healing and stubbornly refused to call doctors. Now they face second-degree homicide charges. Will a religious exemption to child abuse laws--common to about 40 states--undermine their prosecution?
Isthmus |
Erik Gunn |
08-08-2008 |
Crime & Justice
Those of Us Who Care Ought to Fight to Help Keep Newspapers Goingnew
If it sounds like I'm angry, I guess I am. I'm angry that newspapers are falling into disrepute. I'm angry that people don't respect the quality control that goes into news reporting; they seem to think any idiot with internet access is worth listening to.
Military Fails to List Soldier's Death as Combat-Relatednew
According to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, between 150,000 and 300,000 U.S. troops have suffered traumatic brain injury, which the group labels "the signature injury of the war." James McDonald was one of them, and yet the military has thus far refused to classify his death as combat-related.
Helping People Out of the Subprime Crisis, Without Foreclosurenew
Three years ago, Lisa Peterson and her husband got into trouble with their own home payments after a publishing venture failed. They had to turn to family for help. The experience gave them an idea for a new business: help people protect their credit and avoid foreclosure, either by renegotiating their loans or buying and reselling their houses.
Isthmus |
Mary Ellen Bell |
05-12-2008 |
Housing & Development
