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• Slain woman's familyasks for amendment to death certificate
• Chancellor cites value of two-year colleges; state briefs
• Water research controversy settled; state briefs

By Judy Wiff, RiverTowns staff

Nearly 30 years after she died, a River Falls woman's death certificate may be changed to identify cause of death as "homicide" rather than "accident."

At the request of her family, Judge Robert Wing signed an order Nov. 13 adding the word "intentional" to a description of the 410-gauge shotgun discharge that took the life of Lila Margaret Clay, 28. The order to amend has been sent to the state Bureau of Vital Statistics.

Lila Clay died Jan. 16, 1980, in her home at 309 N. Grove St., River Falls.

Two years later her husband, Ronald John Clay, was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. He claimed the gun fired accidently. The prosecution alleged Ronald Clay shot his wife for insurance money.

The request to change the death certificate was made by Lila's daughter, Rhonda Jane Jensen, Ellsworth.

Ronald Clay, an inmate at Oakhill Correctional Institution, paid the $164 fee to amend the death certificate.

Read more detail in the Nov. 19 print edition of the River Falls Journal.

A ranking UW administrator says students who start out at two-year UW colleges and then transfer to four-year schools have higher graduation rates than the national average.

David Wilson, chancellor of the UW-Colleges and UW-Extension, is challenging the conclusions about two-year schools from a noted education critic.

Michael McPhearson is coauthor of "Crossing the Finish Line: Completing College at America's Public Universities."

Last month he brought his research to a meeting of the UW regents, and told them that students have a better chance of graduating if they head straight to a four-year university rather than starting at a two year school.

Wilson strongly disagrees, saying McPhearson's conclusion for Wisconsin is not an accurate one.

Wilson says he did his own study of Wisconsin graduation rates, and found that McPhearson's statistics might be correct for the rest of the country, but they don't apply to the UW-system. He says other states have community colleges with many missions, but colleges in Wisconsin have one mission, "undergraduate, liberal arts, high quality education."

Wilson's research shows that students who start their education at UW colleges and then transfer to a four-year university have significantly higher graduation rates than the national average, by a factor of 65 to 55 percent.

And he says in tough economic times, the lower cost two-year schools offer opportunity to many who could otherwise not afford it.

Wilson credits the high quality faculty and focused mission of the two-year colleges for their success.

-- Glen Moberg, WHRM/WLBL-Wausau

Soldier killed in Fort Hood shooting laid to rest

WONEWOC -- Monday afternoon in Wonewoc, family, friends and comrades honored Capt. Russell Seager.

The Wonewoc native was one of two Wisconsin soldiers killed in the Fort Hood shootings earlier this month.

As people entered the gym at Wonewoc Junior High School, old and young vets stood shoulder-to-shoulder outside in the parking lot.

Among them was American Legion commander Mark Lesko. He calls Seager's death of American soil a "total tragedy."

In the back of the gym, pictures of Seager, many with his family and friends, others with his fellow soldiers - were posted on Styrofoam boards.

Seager, a 51-year-old psychiatric nurse, was on his way to Afghanistan. He was part of a combat stress unit whose mission was to help soldiers cope with the stress of warfare.

During the service, Seager's family sat in the front of the gym, facing the coffin draped in an American flag. Seager's commander, Robert Lafountain gave the eulogy.

Lafountain called Seager a huge, gentle guy who reminded him of (movie character) John Rambo. He says like Rambo, Captain Seager had a commitment to duty, honor and country, and he sacrificed his life for those beliefs. Captain Seager's coffin was then carried to the Wonewac cemetery, just yards from the gym, where a trumpeter played taps.

Under a big purple sky, Seager's family and friends consoled each other in the parking lot before going home.

Capt. Seager joined the military in 2005, and had worked with veterans struggling with PTSD at a veterans' hospital in Milwaukee.

-- Kirk Carapezza, WHA/WERN-Madison

Kind visits Pakistan

Western Wisconsin Congressman Ron Kind of La Crosse says Pakistan is key to peace and stability in south Asia, and could be a great help in the war in Afghanistan.

Kind traveled to Pakistan last week as part of a small congressional delegation examining U.S. counter-terrorism efforts in south Asia.

Kind says the U.S. would do well to strengthen its ties with Pakistan. He says most of the leadership of al-Qaeda and the Taliban reside in its western provinces. Kind says Pakistan has done more than any other country to confront, capture and kill terrorists.

He says Pakistan is the center of the breeding ground of terrorist groups that pose a threat to the U.S., western Europe and much of the world. Kind says Pakistan is a fledgling democracy with an independent judiciary. He says if elections next year happen, it will be the first time in over 30 years there have been civilian elections without military intervention. Kind says Pakistan is interested in doing business with the U.S., based on mutual trust.

The Obama administration is asking Pakistan to get more involved in the Afghanistan war and help target al-Qaeda and Taliban forces.

-- Steve Roisum, WLSU/WHLA-La Crosse

Doctors group wary of legalizing medical marijuana STATE CAPITOL -- Supporters of a plan to legalize medical marijuana in Wisconsin say there's no longer any reason to delay. But the state's largest doctors group is still hesitant.

The bill introduced by Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, and Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, would let doctors prescribe marijuana if they think it's medically necessary.

Medically necessary conditions could include cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, Chrohn's disease, or post-traumatic stress disorder.

At a state capitol news conference, Erpenbach said once someone gets a prescription, they'd go on a registry maintained by the state. It would allow someone to use marijuana for medical purposes only.

Someone who's registered could either grow a limited amount of their own marijuana or buy it from a state licensed non-profit corporation.

Two recent developments shed new light on this old issue. The Obama administration decided last month not to prosecute users and suppliers of medical marijuana in the 14 states where it's been legalized.

And Gov. Jim Doyle told Wisconsin Public Radio that he would sign a medical marijuana bill as long as it requires a doctor's prescription.

Longtime advocates are optimistic. Gary Storck of Madison says he first used cannabis in the early 70s to treat severe glaucoma. He says the days when a lawmakers could oppose medical marijuana are over.

But the Wisconsin Medical Society's Dr. Mike Miller says the trouble with legalizing cannabis for medicine is that more people will smoke it. Miller says that introduces carcinogens and other unsafe toxins into the lungs. He says while most people could eat the product, he suspects most people will smoke it.

Miller says the medical benefits of marijuana and other cannabinoids should be studied more before lawmakers act.

-- Shawn Johnson, WHA/WERN-Madison

Medicare prescription plan choices reduced

Elderly in Wisconsin will have fewer choices of private insurers under Medicare's drug benefit in 2010 and costs are likely to be higher.

The period to sign up or change a Medicare drug plan started this week and goes through the end of December. There will be 48 plans available in Wisconsin, four fewer than in 2009.

The Coalition for Wisconsin Aging Groups runs a toll-free hotline to help people choose a drug benefit.

Help line counselor Carol Braun says a website at medicare.gov will assist consumers who want to compare different plans. She says people should not look for the lowest premium, but look for the best coverage for the lowest cost, which can vary depending on the medications seniors are on.

More seniors could qualify for a drug subsidy. Rules limiting income or resources have been eased for 2010. Wisconsin's own drug benefit plan, SeniorCare, will continue until 2012.

-- Shamane Mills, WHA/WERN-Madison

Bill would increase penalty for adults who harm children

Wisconsin law is harsher on adults who hurt other adults than when they hurt children. A bill going through the legislature now would change that inequity.

The bill is called "Emma's Law". It's named after 2-year-old Emma Manning of Spooner who was nearly killed by her mother's fianc e two years ago.

Washburn County Sheriff Terry Dryden says she was shaken and near death when they responded to the scene.

Dryden says Emma's life will never be the same. He says Emma will have to have continuous medical care the rest of her life, she has a feeding tube and can't see or walk.

Dryden says Emma has a life sentence, while the man who committed the crime, Michael Stoner, will spend a few years in prison.

While prosecuting Stoner, Dryden discovered the prison time is two and a half years less against people who hurt children than adults.

State Sen. Bob Jauch is the Senate's sponsor. He says Emma's law would equalize the penalty, although he's not sure this would deter child abusers.

Stoner is serving a 7.5 year sentence for causing great bodily harm to a child. Emma's Law would increase the penalty of a similar crime to 10 years.

-- Mike Simonson, KUWS-Superior

Milwaukee schools takeover alternative bill on the way

MILWAUKEE -- Teachers unions and some Milwaukee legislators say they'll introduce a takeover alternative bill for the Milwaukee Public Schools.

Under an MPS takeover bill backed by Governor Jim Doyle and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, the mayor would choose the school superintendent and control the school district budget.

A new plan from some Milwaukee Democrats and the WEAC teachers union would keep the school board in control of the budget but potentially let the mayor block school-related property tax increases of more than 8 percent.

The school board would choose the MPS superintendent, but the mayor could possibly veto the choice.

State Rep. Tamara Grigsby says the guidelines for the new federal race to the top funds tell school districts to form innovative partnerships.

The takeover alternative bill comes as Mayor Barrett launches his campaign for governor. Milwaukee State Senator Spencer Coggs says the new measure would give the school board more power and allow Barrett more time to campaign and serve as mayor.

But Doyle's spokesperson, Lee Sensenbrenner, says the alternative bill doesn't appear to eliminate structural problems of the Milwaukee schools

Backers of the alternative bill say legislative leaders have promised them a hearing in Milwaukee, perhaps at the same time testimony is taken on Barrett's takeover measure.

-- Chuck Quirmbach, WHAD-Delafield/Milwaukee

The state has discontinued funding for a water research coordinator in the UW System, after concerns were raised in Milwaukee.

Gov. Jim Doyle is traveling in Israel with Milwaukee business leaders who are trying to market the city as a freshwater technology center.

Doyle told Wisconsin reporters by telephone that after several days of controversy involving a UW System employee assigned to coordinate water research at many UW campuses, that the employee has been re-assigned back to the DNR.

That's welcome news to Milwaukee state Rep. Jon Richards, who worried that the UW System had been watering down efforts to make UW-Milwaukee the system's water research hub.

The UW System and DNR were sharing the one-year $100,000 salary of the water coordinator. Richards wants the UW's half of the remaining money to fund more researchers at UW-Milwaukee.

UW System spokesman David Giroux says the Milwaukee campus is already getting tens of millions of dollars for a new freshwater research center.

Giroux confirms that last week, Doyle spoke to UW System president Kevin Reilly about the matter.

-- Chuck Quirmbach, WHAD-Delafield/Milwaukee

Thousands already on waiting list for health program

More than 7,000 Wisconsin adults are already on a waiting list for a new state health care program that ran out of room in October.

The BadgerCare Core Plus program provides Medicaid coverage to adults without kids who earn up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. For a single adult, that's an annual income of close to $22,000.

State Medicaid Director Jason Helgerson told state lawmakers the program's waiting list could grow to 20,000 people by March, due in part to a surge of applicants who are unemployed.

To pick up the slack, Helgerson unveiled a draft proposal for a state insurance program.

Helgerson says it would let people buy in for between $100-$130 a month to get basic health coverage.

Helgerson says the department wants to make sure it won't cost taxpayers more than is currently being spent, yet there is also a moral imperative to help people who need help.

Depending on the type of plan a person chose, their deductibles might be as high as $7,500. Helgerson says it would only be open to those adults who qualify for BadgerCare Core, but can't get in.

Hospitals and doctors would be reimbursed at the same rates they are under regular Medicaid.

Republican lawmakers are skeptical that would work.

Rep. Kitty Rhoades, R-Hudson, says the state's already hundreds of millions short in its current Medicaid budget and it's paying hospitals less than it costs them to treat patients.

Rhoades asks how the state can expand the program, knowing it's a cost shift and the state isn't paying the bills it currently has.

The Department of Health Services could finalize the plan next month. It's hoping to get the full legislature's approval and start enrolling people as early as next spring.

-- Shawn Johnson, WHA/WERN-Madison

Barrett raises concern about state's financial situation

MILWAUKEE -- Gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett is expressing more concern about the state of Wisconsin's finances.

Barrett is Milwaukee's mayor and is campaigning for the Democratic nomination for governor, with the blessing of incumbent Democrat Jim Doyle, who is not running for re-election.

But Barrett is starting to put some political distance between the two men. For example, during an appearance at the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, Barrett lamented a recent national report that put the state's finances in a bad light.

The Doyle administration downplayed the Pew report and Mayor Barrett says the state's financial problems go back many years, stressing that more than one political party is responsible.

But Barrett says the fiscal picture, education and unemployment are the three key issues of the upcoming campaign. He says additional state incentives for businesses must be tied to job creation.

Barrett also spoke at length about his plan to takeover the Milwaukee Public Schools, even as teachers unions and some Democratic lawmakers are offering an alternative to the takeover.

-- Chuck Quirmbach, WHAD-Delafield/Milwaukee

Another Republican joins 8th Congressional District race

Next year's election for the 8th Congressional District is getting more crowded. Another Republican is in line to challenge incumbent Democrat Steve Kagen.

Now that Teri McCormick has joined the race that makes five Republicans who have declared their intentions to challenge U.S. Rep. Steve Kagen. Two more Republicans are said to be considering a run, and an Independent will be on the ballot as well.

McCormick is a former state lawmaker, a business consultant, and a newly published author. She says Kagen is out of step with conservatives in northeastern Wisconsin.

McCormick says Kagen's views don't match the district's demographics, which is why people have called on her to join the race.

In 2006 McCormick lost a GOP primary race against John Gard, who eventually lost to Kagen that year, and again in 2008.

The fact that John Gard has not declared has cleared the way for such an array of Republicans to get in line, according to UW Green Bay political scientist Tim Dale.

Dale says the district's main population center, Brown County, has been more of a swing district in the last two presidential elections.

George W. Bush won by 9 points in 2004 and Barack Obama won by 9 points in 2008. Dale says he doesn't believe there was a bigger swing anywhere else in the country.

He says the question Brown County Republicans must ask is how to get the county that voted for George W. Bush in 2004 to come back.

Dale says Kaukauna businessman Reid Ribble has the backing of the National Republican Congressional Committee. He predicts some of the Republicans will drop out of the race before next September's primary election.

-- Patty Murray, WPNE/WHID-Green Bay

Meditation shown to improve health

Clinical trials done at the Medical College of Wisconsin show transcendental meditation substantially lowers the rate of heart attack, stroke and death.

Doctors have known for decades that stress can contribute to heart disease. Preventing stress, however, can be easier said than done -- and measuring what's gained health-wise even harder.

Now researchers may have done that. Dr. Robert Schneider led a study of people with narrowing of the arteries. Those who practiced transcendental meditation had a 47 percent lower rate of heart attack or death.

He says while there's been a lot of research of negative mind-body connections, there's been little done on positive aspects. Schneider says the use of transcendental meditation is a specific technique that's objective, measurable and easy to do.

Schneider directs the Institute for Natural Medicine and Prevention at Maharishi University in Fairfield, Iowa.

He oversaw a nine year study conducted at the Medical College in Milwaukee. It involved 200 African Americans with heart disease. Some practiced transcendental meditation, others didn't. Instead they were told how to eat better and exercise. All of those who took medication continued to do so.

Neither group had to eat better or work out, and Schneider says few participants made significant lifestyle changes.

The study findings were presented this week at the American Heart Association's annual meeting.

-- Shamane Mills, WHA/WERN-Madison