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CHICAGO - Gay couples in Wisconsin could find out soon if they can legally marry in the state.
Federal appeals judges heard arguments on Wisconsin's gay marriage ban in Chicago Tuesday.
A federal judge struck down the ban in June, but the state is appealing to a higher court. The case has been combined with a similar case coming from Indiana, which also has a constitutional ban on gay marriage.
RHINELANDER - In the last three years, ArtStart in Rhinelander grew from an idea to a highly successful gallery and event space.
This month, ArtStart took its next step.
The organization hired its first full-time employee - development director Melinda Childs.
NORTHWOODS - Fishermen catch about 60 million panfish per year in Wisconsin.
But the size of those panfish has been getting smaller.
Overharvest seems to be part of the problem on many lakes.
BOULDER JUNCTION - One thousand people live in Boulder Junction. Small businesses may struggle in towns that are a similar size. But that's not necessarily the case for the small Northwoods community.
"We're working hard at it. It's been good," said Coontail Market co-owner Steve Coon.
ONEIDA COUNTY - A 28-year-old Merrill woman faces a felony for illegally keeping a gun. She also sold it to an undercover police officer.
Bonnie Wolff was arrested earlier Tuesday morning for selling a stolen assault rifle officer in Rhinelander. Wolff is a convicted felon. She's not allowed to have a gun under state law.
STURGEON BAY - Three boats have been destroyed by fire at a marina in Door County.
Crews worked overnight to clean up the damage left by the fire at Skipper Bud's Quarterdeck Marina in Sturgeon Bay.
NORTHWOODS - Changes could come to public transportation in a few Northwoods counties.
Last week, the Oneida and Forest County boards approved supporting the creation of the Northwoods Transit Commission. The commission would improve and offer more transportation options for people in Oneida and Forest Counties.
MADISON - Wisconsin wildlife officials are planning an online chat for waterfowl hunters.
The Department of Natural Resources has scheduled the chat for noon on Aug. 27. Participants can log on through the DNR's website by searching for the keyword ``chat.''
WAUSAU - We'll know the sentence today for a Merrill woman accused of trying to have her former fiance killed.
33 year old Jessica Strom of Merrill accepted a plea deal to avoid a trial.
At first, she had been charged with conspiracy to commit first degree murder.
MERRILL - A woman died in a crash near Merrill Tuesday morning.
The Lincoln County Sheriff's office got a call just after six this morning.
The accident happened in the Town of Pine River on County Road G east of French Ridge Road.
TOMAHAWK - Tomahawk's Sgt. Einar Ingman received the Medal of Honor 63 years ago. Just a few weeks ago, the U.S. Postal Service honored him and 12 other Korean War Medal of Honor recipients.
"He was just a normal dad," said Mary Ingman, Sgt. Ingman's daughter. "He was just a dad that taught us how to ride a bike, tie our shoes. He took us fishing."
MILWAUKEE - U.S. Attorney James Santelle says the federal government is behind gay couples who are suing to have the right to marry.
The federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of Wisconsin spoke Monday at a rally in Milwaukee before gay couples and their supporters boarded a bus to Chicago, where arguments will be held Tuesday in Wisconsin's gay marriage case.
RHINELANDER - You might get to launch a boat this month at a new landing near Rhinelander, but it's not finished just yet.
On Monday the Parks, Building and Grounds committee listened to MSA professional services about changes that should be made at the site.
The team leader for MSA made suggestions after the initial construction. Those could include taking down some dead trees and adding geotextile to firm the soil in the area.
PLYMOUTH - The city of Plymouth wants to use the phrase ``World's Cheese Capital'' in marketing and tourism materials.
But officials say someone else already has the trademark on a similar phrase.
Plymouth is home to Sargento, Sartori, Masters Gallery and a Great Lakes Cheese ``cut and wrap'' facility. The Sheboygan Press Media reports (http://shebpr.es/1nr94qT ) that in the 1940s and 1950s, the city used the slogan on billboards.
ARCADIA - An Ashley Furniture official tells the state's business lobby the Wisconsin-based company has no plans for any layoffs and instead plans to add jobs.
That's despite a published report saying Ashley Furniture sought $6 million in state tax credits on condition the company be allowed to retain only half of its workforce in Wisconsin.
RHINELANDER - Firefighters saved a garage after just cleaning up a fire down the street in Rhinelander earlier Monday morning.
Crescent and Newbold Fire Departments rushed to a garage fire on Highway 17 South in Rhinelander around 3:30 in the afternoon.
RHINELANDER - Fire fighters don't know what started a house fire in Rhinelander Monday morning.
Fire departments had to deal with a fire at 3108 Boyce Drive. Firefighters say the fire was getting worse when they arrived at the home.
IRONWOOD - "We're going to get on the chairlift, and it's an 800 foot ride up the chairlift," says Paul Belmas. "And from there, we'll go up to the observation deck, but the chairlift ride will get us there."
Ski jumpers stopped flying off Copper Peak's jump north of Ironwood two decades ago.
RHINELANDER - Downtown Rhinelander won't get bike lanes just yet.
Rhinelander's City Council will vote in September on a proposal to change downtown Rhinelander.
The original proposal would change the downtown's slanted parking spots to parallel spots.
WISCONSIN - Annie Bartosz lost her twin brother Jack to childhood cancer in August 2012.
Bartosz lives near Milwaukee, but has family in the Northwoods.
Losing her brother motivated Annie to start the foundation Gold in September.
MERRILL - A new law could save you money this year.
The new Agritourism Limited Liability Law, signed in April, places a limit on liability for businesses that offer agriculture tourism activities.
With the start of fall comes the start of agricultural tourism.
RHINELANDER - Some people driving to work in Rhinelander will need to change their route this week.
Some parts of Kemp Street will be closed starting Monday August 25th to Friday August 30th. Public works crews will be putting on a top layer of pavement.
ACROSS WISCONSIN - The American Heart Association (AHA) didn't give e-cigarettes the nod of approval in its first publication released Monday related to the product.
The release says that "although firm evidence is lacking, there are concerns that e-cigarette use and acceptance of e-cigarettes has the potential to renormalize smoking behavior, sustain dual use, and initiate or maintain nicotine addiction."
MANITOWISH WATERS - If you like to run, overcome obstacles, and get muddy, the Northwoods Bad Dash is for you.
Manitowish Waters will host the 3rd annual Northwoods Bad Dash which will take place next Saturday, August 30th. People will get the chance to run the four-mile course with 12 obstacles.
RHINELANDER - Northwoods organizers working on Multiple Sclerosis issues hope a second-year event grows even bigger.
Last year, the first-ever Walk MS Rhinelander was a major success.
It drew about 300 walkers and raised $35,000.
LAC DU FLAMBEAU - A husband and wife from Lac du Flambeau get long prison terms for being involved in a drug ring.
Both 28 year old Andrew Meshigaud and 25 year old Charlie Sunn Meshigaud pled guilty to distributing Oxycodone.
MADISON - The rights of same-sex couples during medical emergencies will be part of court arguments over the ban on gay marriage in Wisconsin and Indiana.
The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals will hear the combined case Tuesday.
GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers started the final week of the preseason with two big losses.
Coach Mike McCarthy confirmed after practice Sunday that veteran nose tackle B.J. Raji suffered a significant biceps injury two days earlier in the Packers' preseason win over the Oakland Raiders.
McCarthy also said center JC Tretter sustained a significant knee injury in the same game.
EAGLE RIVER - More than 100 golfers hit the greens in Eagle River to raise money for the Wounded Warriors. The money will help purple heart recipients do outdoor sporting activities.
The Wounded Warriors Golf Outing raised $14,000 last year. All of the money raised at the event stays in the Northwoods.
RHINELANDER - Millions of families choose between a thing like fuel or groceries. Many can't completely choose both. A new study shows one in seven Americans rely on food pantries each year.
Food pantry workers in Rhinelander feel like they live up to the saying "It takes a village to feed a family".
"If anything there's more people hungry than that," said Rhinelander Area Food Pantry General Manager Jane Motowski.
