>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "IN
WISCONSIN."
I'M PATTY LOEW.
THIS WEEK, WORK WITH THIS
WILDLIFE DETECTIVE TO
INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF BIG CATS
STALKING WISCONSIN'S WILDS.
AND WHAT WOULD IT TAKE TO GET
YOU TO MAKE THIS PLUNGE?
HOW ABOUT A GOOD CAUSE?
AND WE'LL CONTINUE TO EXAMINE
SOME OF THE TOP ISSUES IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND
DISCOVER WHAT THE CANDIDATES
HAVE TO SAY ABOUT THEM.
WE ALSO WILL HEAD TO THE DELLS
OF EAU CLAIRE TO EXPERIENCE AN
ANTIDOTE FOR CABIN FEVER "IN
WISCONSIN."
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
UW HEALTH PROVIDING SPECIALTY
AND PRIMARY CARE FOR ALL AGES
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
INFORMATION ON UW HEALTH
PHYSICIANS AND CLINICS AND ON
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL IS AVAILABLE ON THE
WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL
PROBLEMS OF SMALL COMPANION
ANIMALS.
>> WE START WITH A STORY ABOUT
AN ANIMAL THAT DISAPPEARED FROM
OUR STATE MANY YEARS AGO.
THE ANIMAL IS THE COUGAR AND IT
HAS BEEN MORE THAN A CENTURY
SINCE WISCONSIN HAS HAD AN
ESTABLISHED POPULATION OF THE
BIG CATS.
BUT REPORTS OF COUGAR SIGHTINGS
HAVE INCREASED IN THE LAST FEW
YEARS.
HOW ARE THESE REPORTS ANALYZED
AND WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF
COUGARS RETURNING TO OUR STATE?
PRODUCER JO GARRETT REPORTS.
>> FOR MORE THAN A CENTURY,
WISCONSIN'S WOODS HAVE BEEN
EMPTY OF THIS SOUND.
THAT YOWL BELONGS TO THIS
ANIMAL, THE NORTH AMERICAN
COUGAR, AKA, THE MOUNTAIN LION,
THE PANTHER.
THE PUMA.
ALL THE DIFFERENT NAMES
DESCRIBE THE SAME BIG CAT.
AN ANIMAL THAT ONCE RANGED FROM
THE YUKON IN CANADA TO THE TIP
OF SOUTH AMERICA.
IN THE UNITED STATES, THE
POPULATION IS ESTIMATED AT
ABOUT 10,000.
AND NEARLY ALL OF THOSE ARE IN
THE WESTERN U.S.
EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI THERE
IS ONLY ONE ESTABLISHED
POPULATION, A SUB SPECIES OF
APPROXIMATELY 80.
THE SO-CALLED FLORIDA PANTHERS.
IT'S NOT TO SAY THAT INDIVIDUAL
COUGARS HAVEN'T BEEN SIGHTED IN
OUR NECK OF THE WOODS.
THEY HAVE, IN MINNESOTA,
MISSOURI, IOWA AND IN WISCONSIN.
A SIGHTING THAT RECEIVED A
GREAT DEAL OF ATTENTION
OCCURRED THIS JANUARY IN ROCK
COUNTY.
THIS SIGHTING MAY TURN OUT TO
BE THE REAL DEAL, AN ACTUAL
CONFIRMATION OF A COUGAR IN THE
STATE.
SOMETHING THAT HASN'T HAPPENED
SINCE THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL
RESOURCES BEGAN TRACKING WHAT
THEY CALL COUGAR OBSERVATIONS
IN 1990.
>> THIS IS ONE THAT WAS
REPORTED TO ME AS BEING AT
MOOSE LAKE, JUST EAST OF
HAYWARD.
>> WE SAT DOWN IN ADRIAN
WYDEVEN, THE DNR EMPLOYEE WHO
INVESTIGATES THESE SIGHTINGS.
WE WANTED TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND
OF REPORTS HE GETS.
AND WHY THIS ONE IS DIFFERENT.
>> HOW OFTEN DO YOU GET THESE
REPORTS?
>> LAST YEAR -- WELL, I GUESS
WE HAVEN'T PUT THE 2007 REPORT
TOGETHER YET BUT 2006 REPORT WE
HAD 86 REPORTS THAT WE LISTED
AS POSSIBLE.
>> WYDEVEN IS WELL SUITED AS AN
ANIMAL DETECTIVE.
HE HAS A MASTER'S DEGREE IN
WILDLIFE BIOLOGY AND EXPERIENCE
TRACKING ANIMALS.
WHAT IS HE LOOKING FOR?
TO START, LIKE ANY DETECTIVE,
HE NEEDS EVIDENCE.
>> UNFORTUNATELY PROBABLY LESS
THAN 10% OF THESE CAN WE
ACTUALLY EVALUATE SOMETHING
WHERE WE HAVE PICTURES OF
TRACKS OR PICTURES OF ANIMALS
OR CAN GO BACK TO THE SITE AND
LOOK FOR SIGN.
SO PROBABLY LESS THAN 10% OF
THE TIME CAN WE MAKE ANY KIND
OF EVALUATION.
>> IN THOSE CASES WHERE PEOPLE
HAVE SENT HIM PHOTOS OF THE
ANIMAL OR TRACKS, WHAT ARE THE
CLUES THAT POINT TO A HOAX?
OR SEPARATE COUGARS FROM OTHER
SUSPECTS?
HERE'S ONE.
>> HERE IS AN ANIMAL THAT WAS
SUSPECTED AS BEING A COUGAR BUT
SOMETHING THAT'S VERY
NOTICEABLE ON THIS ANIMAL IS
THE BACK OF THE EARS.
IT'S VERY CHARACTERISTIC OF A
BOBCAT IS TO HAVE THE BIG WHITE
SPOT IN THE BACK OF THEIR EARS.
A COUGAR EAR WOULD BE DARK
BLACK OR GRAYISH.
THERE WOULDN'T BE A LIGHT SPOT
AT ALL.
IT TELLS ME IT'S A BOBCAT, NOT
A COUGAR.
>> THIS PICTURE WAS SENT TO ME
IN NOVEMBER OF 2006 AND
REPORTED COUGAR OBSERVATION
NEAR BUTTERNUT, WISCONSIN.
I GET THIS PICTURE AND
SOMETHING DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT
ABOUT IT TO ME.
IT'S AN OBVIOUS COUGAR.
IT'S GOT THE LONG TAIL, DARKISH
COLORS AROUND ITS FACE, ROUNDED
SORT OF EARS.
ALL OF THAT SAYS COUGAR TO ME
BUT THE VEGETATION WASN'T RIGHT.
THE TREES LOOK LIKE LODGE POLE
PINE.
>> WE DON'T HAVE THAT HERE?
>> NO, WE HAVE RED PINE, JACK
PINE, WHITE PINE AND WE HAVE
SOME SCOTCH PINE PLANTED IN
WISCONSIN BUT WE DON'T HAVE
LODGE POLE PINE OCCURRING
NATURALLY.
THEN THE OTHER VEGETATION LOOKS
LIKE BITTER BRUSH OR SOME KIND
OF SAGEBRUSH.
IT IS NOT LIKELY A WISCONSIN
SCENE.
NOT LIKELY A SCENE NEAR
BUTTERNUT.
>> NOT LIKELY BUT SOMEHOW
FAMILIAR.
>> RIGHT AWAY WITH THIS PICTURE
I THOUGHT THERE IS SOMETHING --
I HAVE SEEN THIS SCENE BEFORE
AND WENT BACK THROUGH MY FILES
AND FROM TWO YEARS AGO I CAME
UP WITH THIS OTHER PICTURE.
INITIALLY SOMEBODY SAID THIS IS
NEAR THEIR HOME NEAR BARABOO
COUNTY IN THE BARABOO HILLS.
I DON'T THINK WE HAVE MULE DEER
THERE.
THIS IS A MULE DEER.
THE WHITE RUMP AND BLACK TIP ON
THE TAIL LIKE THAT.
A WHITE TAIL DEER WOULD HAVE A
TAN RUMP.
THIS IS THE EXACT SAME SCENE.
THE SAME PINE TREE HERE WITH
THE CAVITY HERE.
THE DOWNED TREE IN FRONT.
IT MAY BE WE HAVE PART OF A
PICTURE OF A DEER THAT WALKED
BY AND ANOTHER PICTURE OF THE
COUGAR AND THEY ARE JUST PASTED
TOGETHER.
THIS IS AN ANIMAL THAT A PERSON
SAW SWIMMING ON THE CHIPPEWA
FLOWAGE.
THEY WERE CONVINCED WHAT THEY
WERE SEEING WAS A BLACK PANTHER.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING AT THERE,
LOOKING AT THE SIZE OF THE TREE
AND THE ROOTS, THIS IS A FISHER.
A LARGE MEMBER OF THE WEASEL
FAMILY BUT AT A DISTANCE
SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO GAUGE
THE SIZE OF AN ANIMAL AND
THEY'RE CONVINCED IT IS A 70 OR
80 POUND ANIMAL.
THIS IS A SET OF TRACKS THAT
WERE TAKEN NEAR MILTON IN ROCK
COUNTY INVESTIGATING THIS
COUGAR OBSERVATION ON THE 19th
OF JANUARY.
I WAS SURPRISED WHEN I OPENED
UP MY EMAIL AND LOOKED AT THE
PICTURES AND I THOUGHT DARN,
THOSE DO LOOK LIKE COUGAR
TRACKS.
>> LOOK CLOSE.
HERE IS WHY.
>> WE HAVE A SET OF TRACKS THAT
IS ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG, 3
INCHES WIDE, VERY LARGE
INTERDIGITAL PAD.
WE HAVE THOSE THREE EVEN-SIZED
LOBES AT THE BACK OF THE PAD.
WE'VE GOT A BIT OF AN
INDENTATION AT THE TOP OF THE
PAD.
WE HAVE A LEADING TOE THAT
STICKS OUT AHEAD OF THE OTHER
TOE.
THE TOES ARE NOT QUITE
SYMMETRICAL.
THE OVERALL SIZE IS THE TYPICAL
SIZE OF A COUGAR.
I MEASURED THE WIDTH OF THE
INTERDIGITAL PAD AS 43
CENTIMETERS AND THAT WOULD PUT
IT AT THE SIZE RANGE OF AN
ADULT FEMALE COUGAR OR A YOUNG
MALE.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE TRACKS,
IT'S THE STRIDE, THE LENGTH
BETWEEN THE TRACKS AND WHAT'S
CALLED THE BOUNDING PATTERN.
>> THIS IS A VERY TYPICAL CAT
POUNDING PATTERN.
IT IS CALLED A ONE BY THREE
BOUND.
>> IT SPELLS COUGAR.
>> ALL THOSE ARE INDICATIVE OF
A COUGAR-SIZED CAT.
I WOULD CALL IT A PROBABLE.
>> SEVERAL WEEKS LATER DNA
TESTS FROM BLOOD THE CAT LEFT
AT THE SCENE CONFIRMED IT.
IT IS A COUGAR.
NEXT UP, MORE DNA TESTS TO HELP
DETERMINE IF IT'S TRULY A WILD
ANIMAL OR AN EXOTIC PET LET
LOOSE ON THE LANDSCAPE.
>> WE BELIEVE COUGARS MAY
REESTABLISH IN WISCONSIN.
WE HAVE HABITAT, WE FEEL,
THAT'S SUITABLE FOR COUGARS.
A VERY HIGH DEER POPULATION,
THEIR MAIN FOOD SOURCE.
THERE IS SOURCE POPULATIONS IN
THE BLACK HILLS OF SOUTH DAKOTA
WITHIN THE RANGE OF THOSE
COUGARS AND ONE OF THE THINGS
AS AN AGENCY WE WANT TO BE ON
TOP OF THAT WHEN COUGARS START
TO REESTABLISH IN THE STATE WE
WANT TO BE ABLE TO DETECT THEM
AND DETERMINE THERE ARE COUGARS
AND DOCUMENT THEIR PRESENCE AND
MONITOR THEIR POPULATIONS.
>> THE GROUP, THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATES, HAVE BEEN MAKING
THEIR CASE AROUND THE STATE.
FEBRUARY 19 WISCONSIN VOTERS
WILL HAVE THEIR SAY IN THE
PRIMARY ELECTION.
COMING UP NEXT WE EXAMINE WHAT
THE CANDIDATES HAVE TO SAY
ABOUT A SERIES OF ISSUES
IMPORTANT TO OUR CITIZENS.
ART HACKETT LOOKS AT
AGRICULTURE ISSUES.
ANDY SILK CHECKS OUT HEALTHCARE.
FIRST FREDERICA FREYBERG STARTS
US OFF WITH A REPORT OF A
FEDERAL LEGISLATION CALLED NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
IN MILWAUKEE AS ELSEWHERE THE
LAW HAS COME DOWN HARD ON
SCHOOLS UNABLE TO MEET THE
MANDATED TEST SCORES FOR
READING AND MATH.
THE SANCTIONS OF NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND RESULTED IN THIS SCHOOL
HAVING TO START OVER AFTER
YEARS OF NOT MAKING THE GRADE
UNDER THE FEDERAL LAW.
THE QUESTION HERE IS, HAS IT
HELPED THE STUDENTS?
>> I HAVE KIND OF MIXED
FEELINGS ABOUT NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND.
>> THE PRINCIPALS OF KOSCIUSZKO
MIDDLE SCHOOL SAYS THE LAW HAS
RAISED THE BAR.
>> THE SCORES HAVE RISEN
DRAMATICALLY.
3% PROVISION.
>> THE LAW HAS LOWERED THE
BOOM.
THESE SCORES ARE STILL FAILURE
BY NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND
STANDARDS.
KOSCIUSZKO MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS
FORCED TO CLOSE AND REOPEN WITH
A NEW TEACHING PLAN.
THAT NEW PLAN REINVENTS
KOSCIUSZKO AS A BYLING GAL
MONTESSORI SCHOOL.
SO FAR IT ONLY GOES THROUGH
FIRST GRADE.
THE CURRENT MIDDLE SCHOOL
REMAINS LARGELY UNCHANGED.
>> WHAT WE'VE SEEN WITH THE
LITTLE ONES IS WE'VE SEEN A
RESURGENCE OF HOPE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> FOR THE EXISTING MIDDLE
GRADES, THE SITUATION IS FAR
BLEAKER.
>> THIS YEAR WE DO NOT HAVE A
LIBRARIAN, NO MUSIC CLASSES,
HALF AN ART TEACHER, NO
COMPUTER TEACHER, NO SHOP OR
HOME HE CAN TEACHER.
>> IF SHE NEEDS TO HIRE A
TEACHER IT WILL BE IN READING
AND MATH TO TRY TO MEET THE
TEST SCORES MANDATED BY NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND.
>> IT IS TREMENDOUSLY
UNDERFUNDED.
THAT IN ADDITION TO THE FACT
THAT WE ARE SPENDING AS A
NATION $600 MILLION TO TEST IS
OUTRAGEOUS.
AND WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT
COULD BE DONE WITH $600 MILLION
IN THE CLASSROOM.
>> THIS MIDDLE SCHOOL ALSO
SUFFERS FROM DRAMATIC CUTS IN
STATE FUNDING DUE TO LOW
ENROLLMENT.
NEXT YEAR THE SCHOOL WOULD HAVE
TO LAY OFF ANOTHER TEN TEACHERS.
INSTEAD IT IS EXPECTED THE
SCHOOL BOARD WILL SIMPLY CLOSE
KOSCIUSZKO MIDDLE.
>> WE'VE HAD FEWER AND FEWER
DOLLARS EACH YEAR TO DO MORE
AND MORE.
>> JUST AS ONE PRINCIPAL HAS
MIXED FEELINGS ABOUT THE LAW,
SO, TOO, DO THE CANDIDATES
RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE HILLARY
CLINTON WOULD END NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND.
SHE PROMOTES EARLY CHILDHOOD
EDUCATION.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BARACK
OBAMA WOULD REFORM THE LAW AND
ENSURE ACCESS TO EARLY
EDUCATION.
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE MIKE
GRAVEL WOULD ALSO REFORM NO
CHILD LEFT BEHIND AND
ADEQUATELY FUND IT.
HE, TOO, WOULD EXPAND
PRE-SCHOOL PROGRAMS.
MIKE HUCKABEE SUPPORTS THE LAW
AND SUPPORTS SCHOOL CHOICE.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE JOHN
MCCAIN SUPPORTS NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND AND VOUCHER PROGRAMS.
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RON PAUL
VOTED AGAINST NO CHILD LEFT
BEHIND.
HE WOULD ABOLISH THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.
WHATEVER HAPPENS TO NO CHILD
LEFT BEHIND FOR NOW, EVERY
SCHOOL IN MILWAUKEE IS IN ITS
SIGHTS.
THE ENTIRE DISTRICT HAS BEEN
DECLARED IN NEED OF IMPROVEMENT.
>> IN 2004 PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
WERE A BIG ISSUE IN THE
PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.
WHILE IT HASN'T BEEN THE CASE
THIS YEAR IT MAY MAKE A BIG
DIFFERENCE TO WISCONSIN SENIORS.
FREDERICA FREYBERG INTRODUCED
VIEWERS TO MARVIN AND JANICE
WHO TRAVELED TO CANADA FOR
THEIR PRESCRIPTIONS.
>> WE'RE SAVING $2,568 A YEAR.
>> FOUR YEARS LATER MARVIN IS
TALKING ABOUT COSTS, NOT
SAVINGS.
>> LAST YEAR I SPENT -- I JUST
GOT A THING THAT WE SPENT
$7,600 ON DRUGS.
>> HE'S NOW ON MEDICARE PART D,
THE FEDERAL PRESCRIPTION PLAN
WHICH DOESN'T ALLOW IMPORTING
DRUGS AND WHAT'S CALLED THE
DONUT HOLE.
A GAP IN COVERAGE.
FOR THE FIRST $2,000 SPENT ON
DRUGS MEDICARE COVERS A SHARE.
AFTER THAT, IT PAYS NOTHING.
AFTER ABOUT $5,000 TOTAL HAS
BEEN SPENT ON DRUGS, MEDICARE
AGAIN PAYS A PORTION.
>> THE FIRST TWO MONTHS OR TWO
1/2 MONTHS I'M COVERED AND THE
LAST TWO MONTHS I'M COVERED BY
INSURANCE.
IN BETWEEN THAT, NO WAY.
>> WHILE THEY'RE NOT HAPPY
FILLING PRESCRIPTIONS WITH
MEDICARE PART D SENIORCARE GETS
BETTER REVIEWS.
>> IT'S AN OPTION FOR PEOPLE
BUT OVERALL BY AND LARGE
SENIORCARE IS A MUCH BETTER
PROGRAM.
>> THE STATE PROGRAM DOESN'T
HAVE THE DONUT HOLE AND IT
NEGOTIATES PRICES WITH
MANUFACTURERS, SOMETHING
MEDICARE IS NOT ALLOWED TO DO.
IT MAY BE FORCED TO END BECAUSE
IT'S OPERATING UNDER A SPECIAL
WAIVER FROM THE U.S. GOVERNMENT.
>> OUR SENIORCARE PROGRAM IS
GOOD UNTIL THE END OF 2009
THANKS TO SOME FABULOUS
MANEUVERING BY OUR
CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.
ONCE THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND
CONGRESS TAKES OFFICE, OF
COURSE, WE'LL BE REVISITING THE
ISSUE OF SENIORCARE.
WE'D LIKE TO HEAR FROM
CANDIDATES WHERE THEY STAND ON
THE ISSUE OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
>> THE CANDIDATES HAVE NOT
COMMENTED SPECIFICALLY ON
SENIORCARE.
BUT DO HAVE POSITIONS ON
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS.
DEMOCRAT HILLARY CLINTON VOTED
AGAINST MEDICARE PART D,
SUPPORTS LEGAL DRUG IMPORTATION
AND NEGOTIATING WITH DRUG
COMPANIES.
DEMOCRAT BARACK OBAMA ALSO
SUPPORTS DRUG IMPORTATION AND
NEGOTIATING PRICES.
DEMOCRAT MIKE GRAVEL ADVOCATES
COVERING ALL AMERICANS, NOT
ONLY SENIORS, PAID BY A
NATIONAL SALES TAX.
MIKE HUCKABEE PROPOSES A
NATIONAL SALES TAX TO FUND
MEDICARE AND SEES STATES AS
LABORATORY FOR DEVELOPING NEW
HEALTHCARE APPROACHES.
REPUBLICAN JOHN MCCAIN VOTED
AGAINST MEDICARE PART D.
HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE
BENEFIT LOWERED FOR WEALTHY
SENIORS.
HE SUPPORTS DRUG IMPORTATION AS
WELL AS PRICE NEGOTIATION.
REPUBLICAN RON PAUL ALSO VOTED
AGAINST PART D SUPPORTS
NEGOTIATION AND IMPORTATION AND
MUCH LESS FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT.
ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES WILL
HAVE A LOT TO SAY ABOUT
SENIORCARE WHETHER IT'S
EXTENDING OR ENDING THE PROGRAM.
>> SOMETIME THIS YEAR CONGRESS
IS EXPECTED TO PASS A FIVE-YEAR
FARM BILL WHICH WILL
EFFECTIVELY LOCK IN U.S.
AGRICULTURE POLICY FOR THE
ENTIRE FIRST TERM OF WHOEVER
GETS ELECTED IN NOVEMBER.
SOME FARM ORGANIZATIONS ARE
FOCUSING ON A SIDE ISSUE
INVOLVING AGRICULTURE.
BIOFUELS SUCH AS ETHANOL.
AL PAULSON OPERATES A 1200 ACRE
FARM NEAR COLUMBUS.
HE USED TO SELL HIS CORN TO A
LOCAL GRAIN ELEVATOR BUT NOW
HE'S HAULING A LOAD OF CORN 40
MILES UP THE ROAD TO AN ETHANOL
PLANT.
>> WHEN THEY FIRST STARTED
BUYING CORN, IF YOU COMPARE
WHAT THEIR PRICE WAS COMPARED
TO THE LOCAL ELEVATOR THEY
COULD BE AS MUCH AS A DIME MORE.
>> THAT DIME A BUSHEL BONUS
COULD NET HIM UP TO $18,000 A
YEAR IN ADDED INCOME.
WISCONSIN NOW HAS SEVEN ETHANOL
PLANTS.
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIST RANDY
SAYS THEY'VE MADE A SIGNIFICANT
IMPACT ON THE STATE'S ECONOMY.
>> DOCUMENTED INCREASES IN THE
LOCAL CORN PRICE AND THE PLANTS
HAVE GENERATED RELATIVELY
HIGH-PAYING JOB IN SOME OF THE
RURAL COMMUNITIES AND THE
MULTIPLIER JOBS FROM OTHER
BUSINESSES THAT DO BUSINESS
WITH THE ETHANOL PLANTS.
>> THOSE JOBS HAVE COME AT A
PRICE TO FEDERAL TAXPAYERS.
THE GOVERNMENT MANDATES THE USE
OF ETHANOL IN GASOLINE.
OIL COMPANIES GET A 51 CENT A
GALLON TAX CREDIT FOR EVERY
GALLON OF ETHANOL THEY SELL.
PAULSON SAYS THE TAX CREDIT IS
FINE AS IT S. HE WOULD LIKE TO
SEE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TRY
SOMETHING NEW.
>> THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO
SPEND MONEY ON IS EDUCATING THE
PUBLIC.
>> ETHANOL'S CRITICS CLAIMS IT
TAKES MORE ENERGY TO PRODUCE
THE FUEL THAN IS SAVED BY USING
IT.
MORE RECENT STUDIES HAVE ARGUED
THERE IS AN ENERGY GAIN.
IT'S ALSO BEEN BLAMED FOR
DRIVING UP THE PRICE OF CORN
FOR THE FOOD SOURCE.
HE SAYS ETHANOL IS ONLY A SMALL
FACTOR IN THE PRICE OF CORN.
>> THE EXPORT MARKET HAS BEEN
HOT.
THE OTHER THING THAT'S HAPPENED
IS WE HAVE VERY LARGE AND
OFTENTIMES RECORD POSITIONS OF
SPECULATORS IN THE COMMODITY
FUTURES MARKET FOR CORN AND
THAT'S DRIVEN THE PRICE HIGHER.
>> HERE IS WHAT THE CANDIDATES
FOR PRESIDENT ARE SAYING ABOUT
ETHANOL AND OTHER BIOFUELS.
HILLARY CLINTON IS CALLING FOR
AN ENERGY FUND TO RESEARCH AND
DEPLOY RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES.
BARACK OBAMA WANTS TO MAKE
ETHANOL FROM CELLULOSE FROM
WOOD AND GRASSES INSTEAD OF
CORN KERNELS.
MIKE GRAVEL IS CONCERNED
ETHANOL MAY REQUIRE FOR ENERGY
PRODUCE THAN IT YIELDS.
HE FEELS HYDROGEN MAY OFFER FOR
PROMISE.
JOHN MCCAIN OPPOSES SUBSIDIES
FOR ETHANOL AND FEELS THEY
COULD COMPETE ON A LEVEL
PLAYING FIELD.
RON PAUL SUPPORTS WHAT HE CALLS
A TOTAL FREE MARKET IN ENERGY.
MIKE HUCKABEE SUPPORTS EXPANDED
FEDERAL RESEARCH FUNDING IN THE
CELLULOSEIC ETHANOL.
AL PAULSON IS CONVINCED CORN
FARMERS WILL CONTINUE TO PLAY A
ROLE IN ENERGY PRODUCTION IF
GIVEN THE CHANCE.
>> WE CAN PRODUCE THE FUEL FOR
THE COUNTRY AND FEED THE
COUNTRY AS WELL.
WE HAVE TO TRY TO MAKE A LIVING
AT IT, TOO.
>> BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE TIME
TO GO THROUGH ALL THE POSITIONS
OF THE CANDIDATES, WE'VE POSTED
LINKS ON THE WISCONSIN VOTE
WEBSITE.
THERE YOU CAN READ THROUGH ALL
THE INITIATIVES THE CANDIDATES
HAVE OFFERED ON AGRICULTURE,
HEALTHCARE AND EDUCATION.
YOU CAN FIND THE WEBSITE BY
LOGGING ONTO THE ADDRESS ON
YOUR SCREEN, WISCONSIN
VOTES.ORG.
YOU CAN ALSO WATCH STREAMING
VIDEO OF ALL OF OUR
PRESIDENTIAL REPORTS.
MANY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO
PITCH IN TO HELP A GOOD CAUSE.
BUT WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO
JUMP IN?
WELL, APPARENTLY PLENTY OF
PEOPLE ARE.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO SIGN UP
FOR THE ANNUAL POLAR PLUNGE TO
BENEFIT SPECIAL
OLYMPICS-WISCONSIN.
LAST YEAR INDEPENDENT PRODUCER
ALEX ANDRE CAUGHT THE FOLKS ON
TAPE AND CONFIRMS HELPING
OTHERS CAN BE A WHOLE LOT OF
FUN.
>> LIKE TO THANK THE SPONSORS
FOR HELPING OUT.
>> MADISON HAS BEEN DOING THIS
FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WE'RE
CROSSING THE MILLION DOLLAR
MARK JUST FROM MONEY RAISED IN
THE PLUNGE IN MADISON EACH YEAR.
SPECIAL OLYMPICS USES THAT
MONEY TO EXPEDITE
TRANSPORTATION, EQUIPMENT
COSTS, A LOT OF THE THINGS
NECESSARY TO KEEP OUR 75
COMPETITIONS A YEAR THAT WE DO
FOR SPECIAL OLYMPICS AFLOAT.
WE HAVE TO SAY WE'RE MOST
IMPRESSED WITH JAPANESE THRILL
SEEKERS SENDING 42 PEOPLE AND
RAISED NEARLY $20,000 AND
SURPASS THAT SINCE THE LAST
UPDATE.
>> RAISING MONEY FOR SPECIAL
OLYMPICS.
BEEN DOING IT FOR THREE OR FOUR
YEARS NOW.
WE'RE THE THRILL SEEKERS.
>> A VERY GOOD CAUSE.
>> I GET TO WEAR A DRESS.
>> THERE IS PLENTY OF TIME TO
MEET THE THOUSANDS HERE.
ALL THE TENTS ARE WARM.
CERTAINLY YOU DON'T HAVE TO
FREEZE FOR MULTIPLE HOURS.
THEY CAN GO IN THE HEATED
CHANGING TENT AND GET INTO
THEIR COSTUMES OR SUITS,
WHATEVER THEY'RE WEARING.
>> WE JUST KIND OF STUCK WITH
IT.
>> WE'RE PLUNGING BECAUSE IT'S
A GOOD CAUSE.
>> WE THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO
BE ABLE TO HELP THE
ORGANIZATION.
>> SOMETHING FUN AND EXCITING
AND CRAZY.
>> WILL YOU DO THAT?
>> YEAH.
>> I'M REALLY NERVOUS.
I THINK MY HEART IS PROBABLY
GOING TO STOP.
[SCREAMING AND YELLING]
>> IT'S LIKE AN EIGHT SECOND
BULL RIDE.
YOU'RE IN THE HOT TUB AFTER
THAT AND EVERYTHING IS WARM
AGAIN.
>> I THINK IT WAS COLDER THIS
YEAR.
>> IT WAS SO COLD.
>> IT'S KIND OF A MOMENTARY
LACK OF SENSATION.
IT IS SO OVERWHELMING THAT YOU
REALLY DON'T FEEL ANYTHING.
>> I'LL PROBABLY BE SICK ON
MONDAY.
>> ONE, TWO, THREE, PLUNGE!
>> THIS YEAR'S POLAR PLUNGE IN
MADISON WILL TAKE PLACE AT OLIN
TURVILLE PARK ON SATURDAY,
FEBRUARY 16th.
THE PROCEEDS WILL GO TO BENEFIT
SOME 10,000 SPECIAL OLYMPIANS
IN WISCONSIN.
THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.
JOIN US NEXT TIME WHEN
UNIVERSITY RESEARCHERS TAKE THE
PULSE OF A NORTHERN WISCONSIN
LAKE BUILDING ON STUDIES
STARTED IN THE 1920s.
WE'LL ALSO TOUR THE TOWN IN A
CAR WE DON'T ACTUALLY OWN.
IT'S CALLED A COMMUNITY CAR.
AND WE'LL HEAD OUT TO THE
COUNTRY TO FIND OUT IF THERE
ARE ENOUGH YOUNG DAIRY
VETERINARIANS WILLING TO TAKE
ON THIS DIFFICULT JOB.
THAT'S NEXT WEEK.
IN THE MEANTIME, WE LEAVE YOU
WITH A TRIP TO A ROCKY GORGE IN
THE DELLS OF THE EAU CLAIRE
RIVER.
FOR "IN WISCONSIN" I'M PATTY
LOEW.
SEE YOU NEXT TIME.
>> MAJOR FUNDING FOR "IN
WISCONSIN" IS PROVIDED BY THE
PEOPLE OF ALLIANT ENERGY, WHO
BRING SAFE, RELIABLE AND
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ENERGY
TO KEEP HOMES, NEIGHBORHOODS
AND LIFE IN WISCONSIN RUNNING
SMOOTHLY.
ALLIANT ENERGY, OFFERING
ENERGY-SAVING IDEAS ON THE WEB.
UW HEALTH, PROVIDING SPECIALTY
AND PRIMARY CARE FOR ALL AGES
THROUGHOUT WISCONSIN.
INFORMATION ON UW HEALTH
PHYSICIANS AND CLINICS AND ON
UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN
HOSPITAL IS AVAILABLE ON THE
WEB.
AND BY THE ANIMAL DENTAL CENTER
OF MILWAUKEE AND OSHKOSH.
A VETERINARY SPECIALIST WORKING
WITH PET OWNERS AND FAMILY
VETERINARIANS THROUGHOUT
WISCONSIN PROVIDING CARE FOR
ORAL DISEASE AND DENTAL