Wisconsin State Journal Local News

BELLEVILLE - Virginia F. "Ginny" Nichols died peacefully at home on Friday, July 29, 2016. She was 84 years old, having been born on July 30, 1932, in Delavan, Ill. She moved to Woodstock, Ill., in 1937 with her parents,…

VERONA - Sofia Helena Luna, age 12, passed away after a 6 month fight with cancer. Her struggle ended on July 25, 2016, at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego with her family at her side. She was born May…

MADISON - Judith McCollough, age 76, passed away one year ago on July 31, 2015. She is survived by her children, Lisa Pope, John Pope and Frank Pope; grandson, Corey Pope; siblings, Newton McCollough, Meredeth Chiles, MacCarthy McCollough and Beth…

MONTFORT / COBB - Sophie J. Moen, age 92, died on Friday morning July 29, 2016, at the Bloomfield Healthcare in rural Dodgeville. Sophie was born on Dec. 19, 1923, in Ardoch, N.D., the daughter of John and Mary (Czapiewski)…

MADISON - Benjamin T. Blum, age 92, of Madison, Wis., died Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at UW Hospital due to injuries from an automobile accident. He was with three of his buddies going to do what he loved - golf.

MAZOMANIE - Albert Henry Pierantoni, age 97, of Highwood, Ill., passed away on July 26, 2016, at his daughter's home, surrounded by family. He was born on Oct. 25, 1918, in Litchfield, Ill. He was the beloved husband of the…

STOUGHTON - Colette M. Oxley, age 75, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, following a brief illness. She was born in Eureka, Calif., on April 21, 1941, the daughter of Otto and Rachel Steinhofer.…

ITHACA - Janice "Jan" "Granny Toots" Huebsch, age 72, of Ithaca, died Thursday, July 28, 2016, at Meriter Hospital in Madison.

PLATTEVILLE - David P. "Dave" McWilliams, 57, of Platteville, died on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, at his home, following a long illness.

OREGON - Judith A. "Judy" Watzke, age 75, of Oregon, passed away peacefully at home, on Thursday, July 28, 2016. She was born on Oct. 24, 1940, in Portage, the daughter of Warren and Laverne (Lindsay) York. Judy graduated from…

MIDDLETON - Erna C. (Ziegler) Esser, age 92, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2016. Arrangements are pending.

MCFARLAND - Christina M. Duerst, age 38, of McFarland, passed away July 29, 2016. She was born Aug. 22, 1977, to Mary Goldade and Jeff Duerst. She is loved by many family and friends. Private services to be held. She…

MADISON - Dr. Fidelis Ifeanyi Ikegwuonu Jr., M.D., Ph.D., was born on May 10, 1946, in Sapele, Delta State, Nigeria, to Fidelis Ifeanyi Sr. and Augustina Ekwughanwa. He passed away on Sunday, July 10, 2016. Fidelis was a resident of…

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Madison City Clerk's office is scrambling to prepare for next month's primary after flooding and humidity damaged the city's voting equipment.

SAN FRANCISCO — Facebook is once again getting pushy about how people message one another.

In response to the State Journal’s heart-wrenching story “3 adults, 8 children, 1 motel room,” about a homeless family of 11 living in a local motel, the Boys and Girls Club of Dane County did what we could to lend…

NEW YORK — On a recent weekday, Hollywood director Ivan Reitman was in the bowels of the Madame Tussauds wax museum here talking up an unlikely passion.

“I read a survey awhile ago where they asked people ‘What brings you to the North Woods?’ and fishing was No. 11 on the list,” said Leon “Buckshot” Anderson, who retired in 2012 after guiding fishermen for 60 years.

This State Journal report ran on July 31, 1876:

The first minimum wage was established by the U.S. Congress in 1938 and set at 25 cents per hour.