Tuesday, August 8th at 1:00 PM, there will be a showing of Book Club: The Next Chapter @ Seniors in the Park, in the Starin Community Building:
Comedy
Rated PG-13
1 hour, 47 minutes. (2023)
A sequel to the 2015 hit: follow the four book club best friends as they venture to Italy for sightseeing, adventures, and romance. Returning cast includes Diane Keaton, Jane Fonda, Candice Bergen, Mary Steenbergen, Andy Garcia, Don Johnson, and Craig Nelson.
Yes, cats can eat bananas. But just like any other human food, be careful feeding your feline the fruit.
While bananas are not inherently bad for your cat, they’re not that great either.
Bananas have high sugar which can lead to or further complicate diabetes in your cat. It can also cause weight problems, according to Purina.
For humans, bananas are great sources of fiber, potassium and other important nutrients that help us stay healthy. For cats, bananas do not have the same effect.
Cats are “obligate carnivores,” meaning in order to stay healthy a cat’s diet is primarily meat, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Your pet will get most key nutrients from their cat food. So, there is no real benefit to introducing fruit into your cat’s diet, according to Purina.
If you choose to give your cat bananas, remove the peel since the skin is a “choking hazard and not digestible,” according to Hill’s Pet Nutrition. Feed your cat the banana in small portions.
Thursday in Whitewater will be partly cloudy with a high of 87. Sunrise is 5:49 AM and sunset 8:12 PM for 14h 23m 43s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 95.5% of its visible disk illuminated.
The lawsuit argues the state’s current legislative district lines, drawn originally by Republicans in 2011 and updated in 2021, violate the Wisconsin Constitution. It asks the court to declare them invalid and eventually decide on new maps.
Should plaintiffs succeed, every state senator would have to run for election under new districts in 2024, effectively resetting a chamber where Republicans currently hold a veto-proof two-thirds majority that gives them the power to impose their legislative will on Democrats.
….
The case was filed with the Wisconsin Supreme Court Wednesday as an “original action” petition, meaning it asks the court to hear the case directly rather than let the lawsuit proceed through the state court system first. Four of the court’s seven justices would need to agree to that expedited timeline, meaning that if all four liberal justices want to pursue the case, they could.
Should the lawsuit succeed, the court could then decide whether to accept maps from parties or appoint a “special master” to handle redistricting itself.
If plaintiffs get their way, a victory would also apply throughout the state, and all at once. While state Senators normally run on staggered four-year terms, it would have all 33 Senate districts up for election in 2024. That would mean half of all Senators would be running in special elections, and they’d need to run for reelection in 2026. All 99 Assembly races would also take place under the new map.
On Wednesday, July 17, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Audubon Great Lakes and partners at Detroit Zoo and University of Minnesota, released four federally endangered Great Lakes piping plover chicks at the Cat Island Restoration Site, in Lower Green Bay.
Wednesday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of 85. Sunrise is 5:48 AM and sunset 8:14 PM for 14h 25m 59s of daytime. The moon is a waning gibbous with 99.2% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1939, Albert Einstein and Leo Szilard write a letter to Franklin D. Roosevelt, urging him to begin the Manhattan Project to develop a nuclear weapon.
Another prospective Republican candidate for U.S. Senate has announced he won’t run in 2024, leaving U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin without a declared GOP challenger in her reelection bid.
U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Minocqua, announced Tuesday that he will seek reelection in his northwestern Wisconsin Congressional district instead.
“While Tammy Baldwin is vulnerable due to her record as a rubber stamp for President Biden, I can make the greatest impact continuing to serve the great people of Wisconsin in the House of Representatives,” Tiffany said in a written statement.
A spokesperson for his campaign said that Tiffany will support whoever runs against Baldwin next year. So far, there are no declared contenders.
Tiffany’s decision comes less than two months after another Republican congressperson, Rep. Mike Gallagher, R-Green Bay, announced he will not run.
Tiffany entered Congress after winning a 2020 special election in a landslide. He won with a similar margin in 2022.
But he’d face a different electorate running for statewide office, according to Anthony Chergosky, a political scientist at University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.
“It seems like Tiffany would have a pretty darn good chance at winning the Republican nomination if he opted to run,” Chergosky said. “But he does, after all, represent a very secure district, and running for Senate would have been a major roll of the dice on his part.”
Baldwin’s not vulnerable to any of the WISGOP challengers she’d face. Despite his bluster, Tiffany knows that.
Tuesday in Whitewater will be partly cloudy with a high of 83. Sunrise is 5:47 AM and sunset 8:15 PM for 14h 28m 14s of daytime. The moon is full with 99.9% of its visible disk illuminated.
Some have spotted a molehill and think they’ve sighted a mountain. Over at the Journal Sentinel, Molly Beck & Daniel Bice focus on a minor tale about the new Wisconsin Supreme Court majority’s possible replacement of the director of the state courts system. Beck & Bice report New liberal majority on state Supreme Court to fire director of state court system:
The new liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court is taking its first step by firing the director of the state courts system.
Randy Koschnick, who has held the position since 2017 when he was appointed by the outgoing conservative majority, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he received a phone call Monday afternoon from Justice Jill Karofsky informing him there were enough votes to “fire you tomorrow.”
Koschnick received the call a day before a swearing in ceremony for the court’s newest justice, Janet Protasiewicz, was set to take place in the Wisconsin state Capitol.
“It’s a wrecking ball,” Koschnick said of the move. “I’m not sure what my options are. I’m still exploring my options. I’d like to continue to serve.”
That’s not a ‘wrecking ball,’ but rather common practice to replace an appointee from time to time, and Koschnick (defeated as a Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate in 2009) received his appointment in 2017 more as a consolation prize for running against Chief Justice Abrahamson in ’09 as much as anything else. (If Beck & Bice think Koschnick’s experience in Jefferson County made him the best person in the entire state to serve as court administrator they may be fooling themselves but they’re fooling no readers.)
Koschnick has been lucky, in fact, that he found a conservative majority willing to give him another six years (2017-2023) on the state payroll after he left the Jefferson County bench.
Monday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of 81. Sunrise is 5:45 AM and sunset 8:16 PM for 14h 30m 26s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 97.4% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1777, the Second Continental Congress passes a resolution that the services of Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette “be accepted, and that, in consideration of his zeal, illustrious family and connexions, he have the rank and commission of major-general of the United States.”
Sunday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 79. Sunrise is 5:44 AM and sunset 8:17 PM for 14h 32m 36s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 92.9% of its visible disk illuminated.
With more than 101 rail-trails spanning nearly 2,000 miles, 25,000 miles of snowmobiling routes and a national scenic trail that traverses 1,000 miles of glaciated terrain, Wisconsin is clearly a place where the outdoors reign supreme—perhaps as well regarded as the state’s cheese and beer industries? (But you’ll certainly find an abundance of both along Wisconsin’s extensive trail networks!)
Here are just 10 of our favorite Badger State trails—encapsulating some of the best sites and experiences Wisconsin has to offer.
Saturday in Whitewater will be mostly sunny with a high of 83. Sunrise is 5:43 AM and sunset 8:18 PM for 14h 34m 45s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 85.9% of its visible disk illuminated.
Friday in Whitewater will be partly cloudy with a high of 93. Sunrise is 5:42 AM and sunset 8:19 PM for 14h 36m 52s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 77.4% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day, the “model industrial village” of Kohler became an armed camp of National Guard cavalrymen after deadly strike-related rioting. The July 27th violence, which killed two Sheboygan men and injured 40 others, prompted the summoning of 250 Guardsmen to join the 200 special deputy village marshals already present.
After striking workers became agitated and began to destroy company property, deputies turned to tear gas, rifles, and shotguns to quell the stone-throwing crowd, resulting in the deaths and injuries. Owner Walter Kohler blamed Communists and outside agitators for the violence, while union leaders blamed Kohler exclusively. Workers at the Kohler plant were demanding better hours, higher wages, and recognition of the American Federation of Labor as their collective bargaining agent.
Not settled until 1941, the strike marked the beginning of what was to become a prolonged struggle between the Kohler Company and organized labor in Wisconsin; a second Kohler strike lasted from 1954 to 1965.
On Wednesday, 7.26.23, the City of Whitewater’s Fire & Emergency Services Department issued the following press release about receiving paramedic certification:
Fire and EMS Department obtains Paramedic Certification
Whitewater, Wis. July 26, 2023 – The City of Whitewater Fire and Emergency Medical Department has obtained its Paramedic service license.
The City of Whitewater is excited to announce that effective today, our Whitewater Fire & Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) Department has obtained its Paramedic service license. This significant achievement has been a result of countless hours of hard work and dedication from a team of committed individuals. The City of Whitewater wants to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in making this long-awaited process a reality. City of Whitewater wants to personally thank EMS Chief, Jason Dean. This is a direct result of his leadership and dedication.
As we move forward, FEMS is diligently working on procuring the necessary supplies, obtaining a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number, and acquiring the required medications to ensure our Paramedic service operates at its full potential. Presently, we have five licensed Paramedics who are in the process of submitting their Local Credentialing Agreements for approval through our Medical Control, under the leadership of Interim Lt. Crystal Griffin.
During the next 12 months, FEMS will be gradually transitioning to a fully operational Paramedic service. Our Paramedics will be informed about the specific skills they are authorized to perform as we equip them with the necessary equipment and supplies. Though the City aims to expedite this process, our top priority remains to effectively and accurately provide this elevated level of service for our department.
The City must commend the enthusiasm and dedication of our Paramedics and support team, who are excited to put their well-honed skills and expertise into practice. However, the City kindly ask for your understanding and patience during this time of transition, as their training and adaptation will require considerable effort and focus.
FEMS will be providing direct communication to our Paramedics regarding the next steps in this transformative journey. As a community, let us rally together in support of FEMS department, appreciating the invaluable services they provide to keep us safe and protected.
So, what is this?
It’s normal and responsible government. Not always easy to achieve, but always a worthy effort.
Thursday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 92. Sunrise is 5:41 AM and sunset 8:20 PM for 14h 38m 55s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 67.3% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1940, the animated short A Wild Hare is released, introducing the character of Bugs Bunny.
National economic growth is no assurance of Whitewater’s local prosperity (as it has not been, after all, this last decade), but national growth provides, at least, the prospect of local growth.
The economic recovery gained momentum in the spring as buoyant consumer spending and resurgent business investment helped, once again, to keep a recession at bay.
Gross domestic product, adjusted for inflation, rose at a 2.4 percent annual rate in the second quarter, the Commerce Department said Thursday. That was up from a 2 percent growth rate in the first three months of the year and far stronger than forecasters expected a few months ago.
Consumers led the way, as they have throughout the recovery from the severe but short-lived pandemic recession in 2020. Spending rose at a 1.6 percent rate, slower than in the first quarter but still solid. Much of that growth came from spending on services, as consumers shelled out for vacation travel, restaurant meals and Taylor Swift tickets.
Consumers didn’t carry all the weight, however. Business investment rebounded in the second quarter after slumping in the first three months of the year, and increased spending by state and local governments contributed to growth.
“If you’re looking for a working definition of ‘resilient,’ look no further than the American economy,” said Joseph Brusuelas, chief economist at RSM.
Wednesday in Whitewater will see morning thunderstorms with a high of 89. Sunrise is 5:40 AM and sunset 8:21 PM for 14h 40m 57s of daytime. The moon is a waxing gibbous with 57.1% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1775, the office that would later become the United States Post Office Department is established by the Second Continental Congress. Benjamin Franklin of Pennsylvania takes office as Postmaster General.
iHeartRadio.com, being the top-notch scholary journal clickbait mill that it is, has a 2023 post linking to a 2020 peer-reviewed research paper dog-crap article on The Most Stressed City in Each State. The 2020 article lists Whitewater as the most stressed city in Wisconsin.
The formula for clickbait articles like this is to create an appearance, however flimsy, of a serious method: select a grab bag of measurements, apportion those measurements equally or even without any disclosure of apportionment, and then rank communities by them. Abracadabra!: a list of communities from most to least stressed. Using figures from six to ten years ago, the result somehow claims that Whitewater — of all places in the state — is the most stressed.
I’m sure there are people in Whitewater who are stressed, but a few measures of dubious weighting using stale data serve iHeartRadio and the article’s original author (Zippia, ‘The Career Expert’) only as a way to attract website clicks.
Why would this libertarian blogger mention the re-publication of an article that anyone with a GED, high school, technical school, college, graduate, or professional education should see as nonsense?
At that time, the university made sure to flack this nonsense prominently on its website.
For some of us, respect for a high school, college, graduate school, or professional school education requires us to honor the legacy of the men and women who taught us proper standards of reasoning and method. No one honors an academic institution by debasing academic standards.
The use of dodgy studies for marketing seems initially clever and practical, until someone else later comes along and deprecates the same community with the very technique the earlier dodgy effort used.
Live by clickbait marketing then, perish by clickbait marketing now.
Tuesday in Whitewater will be sunny with a high of 89. Sunrise is 5:39 AM and sunset 8:22 PM for 14h 42m 57s of daytime. The moon is a waxing crescent with 47% of its visible disk illuminated.
On this day in 1897, author Jack London embarks on a sailing trip to take part in the Klondike’s gold rush, from which he wrote his first successful stories
This week, the control tower at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh will be the busiest in the world, as it’s set to welcome 10,000 flyers for the Experimental Aircraft Association’s annual AirVenture.
The event is billed as the world’s largest air show and fly-in convention, and is expected to draw over half a million visitors to the Fox Valley. The week-long festivities include daily air shows, pyrotechnics, feature films at a fly-in theater, forums, workshops, demonstrations and more.
Beyond celebrating aviation, AirVenture has grown to become a major economic development tool for Oshkosh and surrounding communities. A 2017 UW-Oshkosh study found the event’s economic impact was $170 million spread across Winnebago, Fond du Lac, Outagamie, Brown and Calumet counties. Adjusted for inflation, that number is now north of $200 million.
