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• Recession fuels unclaimed property searches; other state briefs

MADISON -- The state treasury paid a record number of claims to Wisconsin residents in 2009 - returning close to $27-million in unclaimed property to more than 26,000 people. And there's still more to be delivered.

State Treasurer Dawn Marie Sass says there's nothing better than reuniting people with their cash. And that's what the Unclaimed Property Department in her office does.

Sass travels to all of Wisconsin's counties at least once a year to help people find out if the state is holding onto any of their money - in the form of things like un-cashed paychecks, stock dividends, or inheritances. She never planned to travel to each county every year, but Sass says it's been successful, and she wants to help people more each year.

Sass says since 2007, claim requests and claim payouts have set new records every year. She says it's partly because of her department's outreach, but the recession may be another reason for the spike in claims. Sass says until last year, there weren't many claim forms filed for $10 claims, but in Milwaukee, one percent claimed a $. 28 paycheck.

Sass says once someone finds they have unclaimed property, they must verify that they are the rightful owner.

People can find out if they have unclaimed property online at http://statetreasury.wisconsin.gov.

-- Meghan Wons, WPR

Another candidate joins the lieutenant governor GOP primary

MADISON -- The Republican primary for lieutenant governor added another candidate Tuesday.

Several Republicans are already in the contest including the mayor of Superior Dave Ross and State Rep. Brett Davis. Today comes the entrance of Rebecca Kleefisch of Oconomowoc, the wife of a state representative Joel Kleefisch.

Rebecca Kleefisch is a former television reporter in Milwaukee, who has also worked in public relations. She says the state of Wisconsin needs a marketing vice president who can craft compelling, articulate messages for why job creators should come to the state. On her website, Kleefisch also mentions being trained to use a gun.

Kleefisch plans to announce her candidacy in a closed-circuit internet presentation later this morning. She says she also plans to join other politicians in texting and tweeting messages and fundraising appeals.

-- Chuck Quirmbach, WPR

Senate considers regulation of issue ads

MADISON -- On Tuesday, the State Senate was expected to consider oversight of certain political ads close to an election.

The efforts to control issue ads goes way back, when political watchdog group Common Cause first proposed regulation in 1997. The power and prevalence of the ads has increased, although candidates don't always agree with the groups working on their behalf. This sometimes leading to complaints about elections 'being hijacked.'

Technically, the ads don't endorse a particular candidate so they are currently exempt from disclosure. A bill considered by the state senate would change that. In addition Mike McCabe from the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign says the bill also would require interest groups to follow the same campaign contribution limits as candidates and political action committees. He calls that a "critical" change since the groups don't have to disclose anything now.

Wisconsin Right to Life has challenged previous campaign reform attempts and says state senate action should wait for an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision. That landmark case, says the group's Susan Armacost, could possibly negate state efforts on issue ads. She says it's "foolish" for Wisconsin politicians to spend time on this until the Supreme Court has ruled. Armacost hopes the court will give citizens and organizations "more leeway."

Under the bill, disclosure and regulation would apply to ads broadcast within 60 days an election.

-- Shamane Mills, WPR

Doyle talks education at King celebration

MADISON -- Gov. Doyle says Wisconsin is making progress in helping more young people get a better education, but says there's more work to be done. At the state's Martin Luther King Day commemoration in Madison Monday, the Governor said about 70-percent of the state's students have access to four-year-old kindergarten, and that the state has boosted financial aid for college students.

He says "despite the worst economic conditions since the Great Depressions, we have more students in higher education in this state than at any time in our nation's history."

Gov. Doyle says the state needs to work harder to narrow the academic achievement gap that exists between white and minority students, and it also needs to improve standardized test scores in Milwaukee. They're among the lowest in the nation for urban districts.

-- Michael Leland, WPR

Efforts underway to discourage drinking and snowmobiling

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is introducing a special sticker for snowmobilers in hopes of getting them to pledge to avoid drinking while snowmobiling.

The "Zero Alcohol" campaign isn't law, it's more of a hope. DNR Snowmobile Safety Administrator Gary Eddy hopes that their "zero alcohol" stickers will use peer pressure to get snowmobilers to have no drinks while driving.

Last year, 23 people were killed in Wisconsin while snowmobiling, and 70 percent of those cases involved alcohol. Eddy says they've heard from snowmobilers who don't go out on weekends or at night. He says it's a shame people are afraid to snowmobile on a public trail because of problems with alcohol.

But at least one up north bar owner thinks a zero alcohol campaign may send the wrong message to snowmobile enthusiasts. Sue Slominski of Slo's Pub at Big Arbor Vita Lake says the Northwoods economy depends on snowmobiling, and campaigns like this one may discourage people from coming to the area.

Slominski says they sponsor an annual poker run requiring snowmobilers to stop at five bars, although not necessarily on the same evening. She says they don't push booze, they're just as much restaurants as pubs. And they encourage safety, she says.

Conservation wardens will be distributing the Zero Alcohol stickers to snowmobilers who pledge not to drive with John Barleycorn or Jack Daniels.

-- Mike Simonson, WPR