Stories you might have missed from around Wisconsin.
Superior: Mayor and citizens opposed to natural gas plant.
It may seem surprising that a mayor would be opposed to a project that would bring 350 construction jobs, 25 permanent jobs and $1 million dollars in annual tax revenue to their town but that’s exactly how Superior’s mayor Jim Paine as well as other city officials and citizens feel. The proposed natural gas plant is a cooperative venture of Minnesota Power, Dairyland Power Cooperative from LaCrosse and Basin Electric Power Cooperative of North Dakota. The biggest concerns being voiced are public and environmental issues. There have been numerous legal battles, the most recent dealing with the power of the city to restrict the plant’s construction via zoning regulations. Full Story
Washburn: City voted best in state for bicyclists.
If you’re an avid cyclist, you might want to head north to Washburn on the banks of Lake Superior and start pedaling. Washburn has been named the sixth best place in the world for bicyclists according to a new global ranking. Washburn also ranked fifth in the country and the overall best in the 64 communities evaluated in Wisconsin by People For Bikes, an organization working to improve conditions for cyclists. Washburn, the only city in Wisconsin to break into the top 10 nationally, scored an 89 out of 100 “Network Score” for proximity , by bike, to a large number of amenities. Full Story
Madison: There’s only one Hooters in Wisconsin. Will it close?
For decades, the ubiquitous orange running shorts, tight white tee-shirts and chicken wings have lured customers both hungry and curious into Hooters restaurants across the country. In recent years the sauce-covered fortunes of the wing slinger have changed and this week in a statement to USA Today the chain announced it would be closing “underperforming restaurants”. That announcement struck fear into wing aficionados in Madison, where the only remaining Wisconsin Hooters is located. That store is currently still open and according to the manager is planning on staying that way. You might remember that Milwaukee was formerly home to a number of Hooters including one in the former Grand Avenue Mall where Milwaukee counterculture icon Bob Watt announced his mayoral candidacy. Full Story
