Wisconsin State Journal Local News

Public education is one of the great American designs. Thomas Jefferson wrote that public schooling would help “rake a few geniuses from the rubbish” leading to an informed voting base and str…

Gov. Scott Walker proposed changing the UW''s  mission statement, deleting the “Wisconsin Idea” and replacing it with a mandate to provide an education meeting the state's “workforce needs.” T…

Whenever a government entity refers to sending our military troops overseas to fight, they invariably talk about "boots on the ground."

Gov. Scott Walker’s attempt to change the language of the University of Wisconsin System mission statement, its articulation of the Wisconsin Idea of outreach to the state, has prompted a huge…

The mission statement of the University of Wisconsin System contains some lofty goals, but also some glaring omissions.

I am happy to see that Wisconsin Rep. Jim Ott, R-Mequon, is again going to introduce tougher drunken driving laws for Wisconsin. He introduced a package of laws last session that would have ch…

More than a century of farming history was on display Sunday as the Verona Future Farmers of America Alumni chapter held its 28th annual Greater Madison Area Farm Toy Show.

MONROE - Ruth Mae Breisath, age 92, of Monroe, died Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, in Monroe.

PLATTEVILLE - Jean E. Spensley, age 93, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2015, in Platteville. She was born in Prescott, Wis., on June 20, 1921, the daughter of John Peter and Elizabeth (Wolf…

VERMONT TOWNSHIP - Marcella I. Cushman, age 84, of Vermont Township, Wis., died on Sunday, Feb. 8, 2015, at her home with family at her side. Funeral arrangements are pending at the Ellestad C…

LODI - Minnie "Min" Oyen, age 100, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015. Memorial services are pending. A full obituary will follow in Sunday, Feb. 15, 2015, paper.

ARGYLE - Tom B. Ritschard, age 59, of Argyle, passed away on Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at Monroe Clinic in Monroe. He was born on Nov. 6, 1955, to Delbert H. and Darlene J. (Boeck) Ritschard in Monroe.

MADISON - Marjorie Elaine "Marge" Golden, age 97, died peacefully surrounded by her family at Attic Angels Nursing Home in Middleton, on Saturday morning Feb. 7, 2015.

MONONA / LAKE GENEVA - Edward D. “Ed” Gile, age 67, of Monona, passed away on Saturday, Feb. 7, 2015, from complications due to elective heart surgery. Ed was born on June 11, 1947, in Elkhorn…

Greg Smithback, vice president of Business Development at Bachmann Construction, started his relationship with wood when he 8 years old working with his grandfather at Capitol City Lumberyard …

People decide on a career for any number of reasons: personal interest, natural talent, suggestions from friends or family. Yet, an important factor — the market need for workers in a particul…

John Hildebrand’s elegant book of essays, “The Heart of Things,” offers readers a year’s worth of meditations on life in the Midwest. As part of the State Journal Book Club’s coverage of his b…

The movie “The Princess Bride” provided dozens of classic quotes to suit nearly any occasion, as any true child of the late ’80s will attest. For instance:

The speakers offered differing views on exercising freedom of expression following the Jan. 7 attack on the satirical French weekly.

It's been almost 50 years since Lake Redstone in northwest Sauk County was filled and now an effort is underway to write its history.