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• Flu clinics continue
• Assembly takes up texting-while-driving bill; more state briefs

Health officials say they're concerned about the low number of people vaccinated for the H1N1 flu.

About 1.5 million Wisconsinites have received H1N1 flu shots, which means 72% of residents have not been vaccinated.

Wisconsin had two waves of flu cases last year, and many experts are talking about a third wave this spring.

In Ashland County, health officer Terri Kramolis said they've held surprise immunization clinics at school activities and places like senior citizen meal sites.

Bayfield County health officer Amelia Lindsey said she thought about running a mobile clinic at sporting events.

Douglas County Health Officer Deb Clasen said the private businesses, such as discount and grocery stores, could be used for impromptu clinics.

At last word, 50 Wisconsinites have died from the H1N1 flu.

These free clinics are scheduled in the Pierce/ St. Croix county area:

--Monday, Jan. 18, 3:30-6 p.m., River Falls Middle School Library, River Falls

--Thursday, Jan. 21, 4-6 p.m., Spring Valley Middle School/ High School, Spring Valley

--Thursday, Jan. 21, 1-6 p.m. (students) and 3-6 p.m. (public), Somerset Middle School

--Saturday, Jan. 23, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hudson United Methodist Church, 1401 Laurel Ave.

--Tuesday, Jan. 26, 1-6 p.m. (students) and 3:30-6 p.m. (public), St. Croix Central High School, 1751 Broadway St., Hammond

--Wednesday, Jan. 27, 4-6 p.m., Pierce County Public Health Office, Ellsworth

--Thursday, Feb. 25, 3-6 p.m., Hudson United Methodist Church, 1401 Laurel Ave.

For more information call 715-246-8224 or 715-273-6755 or go to the county Websites: www.co.saint-croix.wi.us or www.co.pierce.wi.us and click on the "Flu" link.

Texting while driving could soon be illegal in Wisconsin.

The state Assembly is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a bill to make Wisconsin the 20th to ban drivers from sending text messages from their cell phones while behind the wheel.

A similar bill passed the Senate last fall, and Assembly Majority Leader Tom Nelson expects approval from his house.

The Assembly bill includes fines of up to $400 for a first offense and up to $800 for subsequent offenses.

Nelson said distracted driving is the third leading cause of all traffic deaths. It ranks behind drinking and speeding.

The National Safety Council says cell phone and texting account for 28% of all crashes.

But the National Motorists Association of Waunakee claims inattentive driving laws already make texting illegal.

Adam Collins, a spokesman for the governor's office, said Gov. Jim Doyle supports a ban, but he won't commit to signing a bill until he sees the details.

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Vets struggle for college benefits

Wisconsin veterans are fighting a battle with bureaucracy to keep their educational benefits coming.

Since 2007 the state has had a GI bill that gives free college tuition to returning veterans.

But the demand was much higher than expected, and it will get even higher as the 3,200 members of the National Guard's Red Arrow Brigade return home from Iraq this month.

So to cut costs, the Legislature decided last year to make post-Sept. 11 veterans use up their federal education benefits first. That has created new rounds of paperwork plus delays in determining whether veterans already in school qualify for federal assistance.

Wisconsin was hoping to start the change last fall, but the delays forced officials to wait until the current semester, and even that's not enough time for many.

So University of Wisconsin campuses are giving veterans who applied for the benefit until the end of this semester to pay the aid they're expecting.

Some vets needed emergency loans to stay in school, and others are frustrated about the paperwork. Even those not getting federal benefits have to fill it out.

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Senate takes up election ad bill

The Wisconsin Senate will consider a bill Tuesday to make special interest groups say who's paying for the ads they run close to elections.

Those groups spend thousands to attack or praise candidates and their stands on issues, without having to say who put up the money or how much.

The bill would require groups to provide the information for ads that run within 60 days of an election. The state's Government Accountability Board is also considering administrative rules to regulate those ads.

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Estimate: Stimulus money meant 44,000 jobs

The White House estimates federal stimulus money has created or saved 44,000 Wisconsin jobs.

The report from the Council of Economic Advisors didn't break down the jobs by sector and cautions that the numbers are speculative and uncertain.

The governor's office said the figures represent statewide jobs created or saved over the last nine months. The jobs are being counted by a different method after the Associated Press found flaws in those reported last October.