Extra patrols on duty for St. Patrick's Day

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013, 9:31am

Madison police and the Dane County Sheriff's Office are among the local law enforcement agencies planning extra patrols for St. Patrick's Day on Sunday.

Madison police are adding staff starting Friday and running through Sunday night. The Dane County Sheriff's Office is using grant money to put extra deputies on the road.

Madison police said they're focused primarily on finding impaired drivers but will also be looking for speeders and motorists not wearing seat belts.

Patrols will be focused on East Washington Avenue, John Nolan Drive, University Avenue, Stoughton Road, Packers Avenue and Northport Drive. Those are areas with high volume and where crashes have occurred in the past, according to police.

Sheriff David Mahoney is asking revelers to make sure a designated driver is assigned to get everyone home safely or to use public transportation or the safe ride program available at many bars.

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Mayor announces appointment of Madison Planning Division director

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Monday, March 11th, 2013, 2:54pm

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin on Monday announced the appointment of Katherine Cornwell as the city of Madison's Planning Division director.

Cornwell currently has a private strategic planning consulting practice that provides development programming, proforma and market analysis, sustainable development planning, zoning entitlement assistance and other services.

In 2008 and 2009, Cornwell worked as a sustainable communities strategic advisor for the Seattle Department of Planning and Development. From 2000 to 2008, Cornwell worked as a senior and principal planner for the Denver Department of Community Planning and Development where she played a key role in Blueprint Denver, an integrated land use and transportation plan for the city of Denver, according to a city of Madison news release.

She also served as project manager and author of numerous corridor plans and studies, led related rezoning, and created Denver's first form-based zone district for Main Streets.

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New information on shooting at governor's mansion

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Saturday, March 9th, 2013, 7:24pm

Newly-released records show the Capitol Police officer who was terminated after firing her gun inside the governor's mansion last October told investigators the gunshot came from outside the building.

Records released at the request of the Wisconsin State Journal showed the officer was in the security office in the lower level of the Maple Bluff mansion when her gun was fired. The bullet shot the eye of a cartoon ghost Halloween decoration.

Two Capitol police officers and another from Maple Bluff responded to the shooting and searched the mansion grounds for an armed intruder. Records also show the officer had not completed her firearms training and that the police department extended her probation period so she could finish it.

The officer's termination letter said she "intentionally attempted to mislead the department."

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State offers safety reminders for daylight saving

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Saturday, March 9th, 2013, 3:51pm

State offers safety reminders for daylight saving

It's almost time to spring forward, and Wisconsin officials are using the occasion to remind residents about home safety.

Daylight saving time begins Sunday, when Wisconsinites will set the clocks ahead one hour. Safety officials said the event marks a convenient reminder to do annual checks.

For example:

Consider replacing the batteries in smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors
If you don't have an emergency kit at home, now's the time to get one
If you do have an emergency kit, put fresh batteries in the flashlight and make sure the food, water and first-aid kit are all in good condition

The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs has additional safety tips on its website.

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Protestors arrested at homeless rally

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Saturday, March 9th, 2013, 2:25pm

Nine people have been issued tickets and seven were arrested Friday evening while protesting to raise awareness for the homeless.

The rally began on the steps of Madison?s City County Building and moved inside after an hour, where police issued tickets to people who refused to leave.

Around 70 people came to hear rally organizers talk about a lack of shelter options. Madison?s day warming shelters are set to close March 31, leaving some without a place to stay.

The deadline for homeless camping in Token Creek is also set to expire March 17.

Protestors said city officials have not done enough to address the homeless issue.

?Being out here is inhumane,? protestor Glenn Carpenter said. ?The shelter quality is not up to par of what it should be. It?s a lot like prison.?

Rally goers said several of them planned to sleep on the steps of the City County building Friday night.

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Filmmakers, political figures to take part in 'We Are Wisconsin' screening

Submitted by Tabatha Wethal, Channel3000.com Community Reporter

Thursday, March 7th, 2013, 6:40pm

Filmmakers, political figures to take part in 'We Are Wisconsin' screening

Documentary on Act 10 protests, movement to show at Alliant Energy Center

On the second anniversary of the signing of Act 10 -- the 2011 bill passed by Gov. Scott Walker that stripped unions of nearly all bargaining rights -- activists will mark the date with screenings of a documentary on the anti-union law, "We are Wisconsin," plus a live webcast of a town hall discussion Monday at 6 p.m.

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New African lion arrives at Henry Vilas Zoo

Submitted by Channel3000 Web Staff

Thursday, March 7th, 2013, 4:33pm

New African lion arrives at Henry Vilas Zoo

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi on Thursday announced the arrival of a new female African lion at Dane County's Henry Vilas Zoo.

The lion came to Madison from the Sedgewick County Zoo in Wichita, Kan.

Ronda Schwetz, director of the zoo, said that Shakura is just over two years old and is a young adult. The Lion Species Survival Plan, which works to preserve a species over generations, sent Shakura to pair with Henry, the older male lion currently at the zoo.

The SSP makes matches to help produce the healthiest and most genetically sound offspring possible for the long-term health of the whole population.

"Shakura is very energetic and fun to watch on exhibit. She has taken to her new surroundings very well," said Schwetz in a Dane County news release.

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