http://www.channel3000.com/-/1656/7679118/-/uiu3ff/-/index.html en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. Home Home en-US © 2011 Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. http://www.channel3000.com/-/1656/102954/-/nygvjo/-/index.html Wed, 01 Jun 2011 01:22:11 GMT 102954 2011-06-01T01:22:11Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Experts-stress-ATV-safety-after-fatal-crashes/-/1648/13428690/-/h8sn08z/-/index.html A string of fatal all-terrain vehicle crashes has Department of Natural Resources wardens and doctors urging people to get proper safety training. Each year, 40,000 children across the country are injured in ATV crashes. In Wisconsin, three people, including a child, have died in ATV crashes since April. The details of the three deaths are unknown, but DNR wardens said that in general, most people involved in ATV crashes in Wisconsin have not had any kind of safety training. Wardens said the way ATVs shift and bounce around often catches inexperienced riders off guard, resulting in a crash. Carrie Nolan lost her two sons, Austin and Justin, in a 2005 ATV crash. She now works to promote proper safety equipment and training for those who ride. "When I see my children's classmates, they're growing up. No other parent should have to go through something like that. They would have been turning 16 and 14 this year, and they probably would have been driving their first car," Nolan said. Experts said that too many crashes result from small children riding big, adult-sized ATVs. "People are jumping on these vehicles for the first time. It'll catch them off guard," said Gary Eddy, a DNR conservation warden. "People go too fast too soon, and it all has to go with your personal limits and your experience." ATVs come in a variety of sizes, but doctors said a smaller ATV doesn't mean it's safer. "There is no safe ATV, and kids can unfortunately be seriously injured by rollovers with the ATV crushing them, and certainly suffer head injuries," said Dr. Joshua Ross, of American Family Children's Hospital in Madison. Ross, who specializes in pediatric emergency medicine, said he recommends no child younger than 16 ride an ATV. "There's over 40,000 injuries last year by ATVs in children under 16, so if you think about that, that's 110 a day. That's a lot," Ross said. Doctors said they want anyone who rides an ATV to wear a helmet. They said head injuries frequently result from ATV crashes when the rider is tossed off, and wearing a helmet often makes a big difference in the severity of that person's injuries. The DNR has a number of $10 safety courses available for ATVs. For more information, go to www.dnr.wi.gov.  Thu, 17 May 2012 03:26:24 GMT 13428690 2012-05-17T03:26:24Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Reality-Check-Walker-touts-job-numbers-from-quarterly-census/-/1648/13423562/-/7te2ye/-/index.html Following the release of better jobs figures by Gov. Scott Walker's administration, which job numbers should Wisconsin residents believe? And what's the truth about the timing? The new figures Walker issued on Wednesday come less than three weeks before voters will decide whether he should stay in office or be replaced with Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Walker took the unusual step Wednesday of releasing fourth-quarter data due out in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' June 28 national employment report. Walker's administration said the numbers show Wisconsin added 23,300 public- and private-sector jobs last year instead of losing 33,900. First, it's important to understand the difference between the numbers released Wednesday by the Walker administration and the monthly jobs figures. The job ups and downs that are released for every month are based on a survey of 3.5 percent of businesses. The federal Department of Labor calls a pre-set sample of companies and asks them how many people are employed. Those numbers are put into a formula that estimates preliminary jobs numbers for the state that can be revised later. The monthly numbers are used across the country because they're the quickest way to get an economic picture of an area. It's an indicator the governor has relied on and touted before when it is to his benefit. "The good news for us is in the state of Wisconsin in the month of June, we saw a new job increase of 9,500 jobs," said Walker in July of 2011 to applause. The figures released by the Walker administration Wednesday are called the "Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages." These numbers are based on actual reports from more than 96 percent of businesses. They're reported four times a year and are typically used to "benchmark" or adjust those monthly numbers. Which numbers should you rely on, or which are more accurate? WISC-TV found the monthly numbers come fast and are as accurate as they can be at the time. Technically the census data is the most complete picture of employment because it's an actual accounting of jobs. Can the monthly jobs figures really be more than 57,000 jobs off? It's possible, but the difference is larger than it has been in the past. Since 2006, the numbers have been adjusted up or down, but never more than 1 percentage point. In this case, the change would be more than 2 percent. A spokesman for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics told WISC-TV that numbers can be off because the numbers are just a survey. It's also important to know that the jobs figures Walker released Wednesday have not been verified, nor are they usually released at this point. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics would typically work with the state for about 30 days to verify and edit the numbers. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release the final jobs count on June 28, three weeks after the recall. While the Walker administration is sticking to these figures, the month-to-month numbers for April should be released Thursday.  Thu, 17 May 2012 02:46:22 GMT 13423562 2012-05-17T02:46:22Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Walker-releases-better-jobs-numbers/-/1648/13413802/-/luy8ap/-/index.html Gov. Scott Walker is touting new positive jobs numbers, but Democrats are questioning the timing of the early release of the figures ahead of the recall election. READ: Reality Check: Walker touts job numbers from quarterly census Walker's administration released updated employment figures that show the state actually added a small number of jobs during his first year in office. The new figures Walker issued on Wednesday come less than three weeks before voters will decide whether he should stay in office or be replaced with Democratic Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. Walker took the unusual step Wednesday of releasing fourth-quarter data due out in the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' June 28 national employment report. Walker's administration said the new numbers, taken from the state's Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, show Wisconsin added 23,300 public- and private-sector jobs in 2011 instead of losing 33,900. The numbers are preliminary and subject to revision by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The final count comes out June 28, three weeks after the recall. The more commonly used standard for measuring Walker's progress on job creation based on a monthly survey by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a loss of 33,900 jobs over 2011, which would rank worst in the nation. The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, which released the new numbers early Wednesday morning, said they reflect reports from nearly 160,000 employers. VIDEO "These numbers are the unemployment insurance records of virtually all employers in the state of Wisconsin -- approximately 160,000 employers," said Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson. The Walker campaign didn't skip a beat -- touting the new positive jobs numbers in a new ad. The TV ad released Wednesday includes footage of Walker touting new jobs data that the state made public just hours earlier. "Obviously (it's) a much more accurate reflection of what the jobs numbers looked like in 2011," Walker said. "I think that's good news -- not only for me, but I think it's good news for the employers who are looking to expand their businesses in the state." Newson told WISC-TV that while he had discussed these new jobs numbers with Walker in the days leading up to Wednesday, he said there was no directive by Walker to release them. Newson said the decision to release new jobs numbers early was his alone. Newson said the pending recall had no effect on his unusual decision to release the data early. Walker appointed Newson to his post. But the Barrett campaign said Walker is cooking the books by releasing the figures before they have been reviewed by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. "So here we are, 20 days before an election, and he creates his own set of numbers that he wants us to believe," Barrett said. Barrett said these numbers have never been used in the past, and he called the Walker administration move purely political. "This jobs report that (Walker) is putting out is really about one job -- his job," Barrett said. "Because he knows that the public is now understanding that in 2011, under his leadership, Wisconsin lost more jobs than any other state in this country." Because of the timing of the new ad, Democrats are accusing the governor's campaign of collaborating with the state Department of Workforce Development on the release of the data, and using taxpayer dollars for political gain. The Wisconsin Democratic Party has filed a complaint against Walker over his latest television ad, which includes footage of Walker touting new jobs data that the state made public earlier in the day. The Democratic Party alleges in the complaint sent to the Dane County district attorney and the state elections board that Walker illegally used state time and resources to craft a political message in violation of the law. Walker's campaign spokeswoman Ciara Matthews dismissed the charge, saying Walker shot various versions of the ad in advance of when the final numbers were known. She said the final version of the ad was completed Thursday morning before being electronically sent to stations. Economists said new the jobs numbers being reported by Walker's administration are a more accurate reflection of how the state is doing. But even if the figures released Wednesday are accurate, the 23,300 jobs created in 2011 are far from the 62,500 needed per year for Walker to meet his 2010 campaign pledge to create 250,000 by 2015. And the new figures cover both private and public jobs while Walker's promise was only for public sector jobs. University of Wisconsin-Madison economist Andrew Reschovsky said the data is more accurate. Wells Fargo Fund Management economist Brian Jacobsen agreed.  Thu, 17 May 2012 02:44:02 GMT 13413802 2012-05-17T02:44:02Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Boy-11-struck-killed-by-vehicle-in-Milwaukee/-/1648/13428290/-/sei5f7/-/index.html An 11-year-old boy has died after he was struck by a truck on a Milwaukee street. The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office was called on a report of a child killed in a crash on Milwaukee's north side. WTMJ-TV reported the boy was a student at HOPE Christian School. Witnesses said the boy tried running across the street to meet a family member around 4 p.m. Wednesday, but was hit by a truck. The driver is cooperating with police and has not been cited. Thu, 17 May 2012 02:02:31 GMT 13428290 2012-05-17T02:02:31Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Jobs-economy-major-issues-in-Wisconsin-recall/-/1648/13419570/-/buhu8/-/index.html Jobs and the economy are a hot topic in the recall race, with Gov. Scott Walker touting new data showing that Wisconsin added jobs in 2011 despite previous reports that jobs were lost. That news comes as a new Marquette University Law School poll shows voters believe Walker would do a better job than Democrat Tom Barrett in creating jobs, 48 percent to 41 percent. The poll also shows Walker ahead of Barrett 50 percent to 44 percent of 600 likely voters, with a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points on that question. The random telephone poll of 704 registered voters has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points and was conducted between May 9 and Saturday. Marquette Law School Poll Director Charles Franklin said that while both parties show unusual levels of involvement in the campaign, Republicans appear to hold an advantage in likely turnout, although Democrats are more likely to have been contacted by a campaign.  "We know that there are some differences in turnout now. Republicans seem to have an advantage. About 91 percent of Republicans said they're certain to vote (compared to) 83 percent of Democrats and independents. So if Democrats move up and get mobilized to the polls that will help them," Franklin said. Turnout for last week's primary was 30 percent. The Government Accountability Board has not yet released its turnout estimates for the June 5 recall election. Wed, 16 May 2012 23:00:03 GMT 13419570 2012-05-16T23:00:03Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Workforce-secretary-says-recall-had-no-effect-on-data-release/-/1648/13420570/-/wbapbwz/-/index.html Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson said the decision to release new jobs numbers early was his alone and not made in consultation with Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Newson released the figures Wednesday, less than three weeks before Walker faces Democrat Tom Barrett in a June 5 recall vote. Walker appointed Newson to his post. Newson said the pending recall had no effect on his unusual decision to release the data early. The new numbers show Wisconsin added 23,300 jobs last year instead of lost 33,900. The numbers are preliminary and subject to revision by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The final count comes out June 28, three weeks after the recall. Wed, 16 May 2012 20:09:02 GMT 13420570 2012-05-16T20:09:02Z http://www.channel3000.com/health/Officials-concerned-about-spike-in-whooping-cough-cases/-/1652/13412146/-/8g40b1z/-/index.html Whooping cough is a contagious disease that can be deadly among infants and the elderly, and cases in Dane County are off the charts. Public Health Madison and Dane County said Dane County normally sees about 30 cases of whooping cough -- or pertussis -- each year. This year, public health officials seeing more than seven times the normal -- and it's only mid-May. Whooping cough is an infectious disease that can affect just about anyone. It causes intense coughing spells that are hard to control, often times causing the infected person to pass out because they can't catch their breath. Officials said the number of cases this year is staggering. Since January, cases in Dane County have steadily risen, peaking last month at 101 cases. So far, the county has seen 253 cases -- more than the last four years combined. "Whooping cough is not a pleasant illness for anyone, but it's especially dangerous for infants," said Amanda Kita-Yarbro, epidemiologist for Public Health Madison and Dane County. "They're just not as strong. So if they get this really serious cough, they can't catch their breath and they could get brain damage or die." It's why medical professionals, such as Meriter pediatrician Dana Johnson, are preaching prevention. "One of the concerns is that we're seeing a lower vaccination rate, and when they're not vaccinated, they're not protected and they're more likely to spread it," Johnson said. Video Johnson said children should get the vaccine when they're 2, 4, 6 and 15-18 months old and again at 4 to 6 years old, but she said it does eventually wear off. It's why adolescents and adults are recommended to get the vaccine as well. Public Health officials said if people are ever around children, they should get vaccinated. "We want to immunize parents, siblings, grandparents, day care providers -- anyone who has contact with infants, to try to keep the infants safe," Kita-Yarbro said. People can get the vaccine from their doctor as well as from many pharmacies in the area. If people can't afford the vaccine, Public Health Madison and Dane County can help. For information on free clinics and details about the pertussis vaccine, go to: http://www.publichealthmdc.com/disease/immunizations/clinics.cfm.  Wed, 16 May 2012 16:29:03 GMT 13412146 2012-05-16T16:29:03Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/One-dead-following-rollover-crash-in-Rock-County/-/1648/13413750/-/s6p74oz/-/index.html A rollover crash in northern Rock County has left a 71-year-old Edgerton man dead, according to the Rock County sheriff's department. The incident happened just after 11 p.m. on north U.S. Highway 51, just north of county highway M in Fulton Township. According to the sheriff's department, a truck driven by Ronald Johnson of Edgerton was heading south on 51 when the vehicle drove into gravel on the shoulder. Sheriff's deputies said Johnson overcorrected, causing the vehicle to skid across the road before the vehicle rolled over. Johnson was ejected from the vehicle, according to sheriff's deputies. Coroner Jennifer Keach pronounced Johnson dead at the scene. Johnson wasn't wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, according to deputies. Deputies said neither alcohol nor speed appear to be factors in the crash.   Wed, 16 May 2012 13:05:53 GMT 13413750 2012-05-16T13:05:53Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Madison-woman-to-face-trial-in-fatal-moped-crash/-/1648/13413298/-/1ygi62/-/index.html A Madison woman accused of driving drunk and killing a moped driver in Madison has been ordered to stand trial in Dane County. Police said 27-year-old Ekaterina Topolkaraeva was driving in the wrong lane on a frontage road last October when she struck and killed 37-year-old Jeffrey Droster of Madison. Officer Kelly Powers testified in court Tuesday that he smelled alcohol on the woman's breath, but she passed most of the sobriety tests she performed and was not arrested. A blood analysis about two hours later found her blood alcohol content was half the legal limit. The State Journal reported a crime lab analyst testified that Topolkaraeva's blood alcohol content at the time of the crash would be about twice that. A Dane County judge found probable cause that Topolkaraeva committed a felony. Wed, 16 May 2012 12:00:27 GMT 13413298 2012-05-16T12:00:27Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Vehicle-strikes-pedestrian-in-Sun-Prairie/-/1648/13412044/-/138serm/-/index.html A vehicle struck a 15-year-old pedestrian in Sun Prairie on Tuesday night. The incident happened just before 9:30 p.m. near Davison Park at the corner of Davison Drive and Emerald Terrace. Dispatchers said the victim was conscious and talking at the scene. The victim was taken to a hospital with unknown injuries. Police closed the area to traffic but the scene has been cleared Tuesday night.   Wed, 16 May 2012 03:46:47 GMT 13412044 2012-05-16T03:46:47Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Teen-assaulted-by-group-of-girls-near-school/-/1648/13411926/-/qgeg0cz/-/index.html A teenager said she was attacked and beaten by three classmates near East High School. Two 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-old girl were arrested last week in connection with the assault. The victim, Alana Krupp, 15, said she knows the girls involved but maintains she wasn't talking trash about them. The incident happened last Wednesday at the intersection of Fourth Street and Winnebago Street a block south of East High School. Krupp arrived at the bus stop like any other day, but in a few seconds an otherwise OK freshman year at East High School was turned upside down when she was confronted by the girls. "She said, 'I wanted to fight you.' And I said, 'I'm not going to fight you, because there's no point in it. I never did anything to you,'" Krupp said. "She hit me in the face, and I got pulled down to the ground by my hair." Krupp said she was repeatedly punched and kicked in the head. She said she was thrown to the ground and basically unable to defend herself during the attack. She said she doesn't think the attack would have happened on the school campus, but just a block away from school no one, including her classmates, stepped in to stop it. "I couldn't really talk, because they were hitting my face, and I didn't even know what to say. I think I said stop once or twice, but there wasn't much I could do. They weren't going to stop," Krupp said. Police said the girls recorded the attack and posted the video to Facebook. The video has since been removed. "It wasn't really until that afternoon when the police officer called me (and told me) that there was a video, that these girls were really vicious," said Sarah Krupp, the victim's mother. Sarah Krupp hasn't seen the video, but police have. On the video clip, one of the girls said, "It don't matter if you want to fight or not ... she gonna hit you," according to Madison police. "It's scary. You send your kids to school to learn and to learn lessons from school, not to learn these kinds of lessons that people are just going to watch you get beat up and not going to help you," said Sarah Krupp. Alana Krupp said her bruises have healed but she is still emotionally scarred by the incident. As for the school, a district representative said that when incidents happen off campus, the district works with the police and sometimes set up a student safety plan after the fact. The district said it couldn't comment specifically on this case. Alana Krupp has another meeting scheduled with the school. Her mom said she heard girls on the bus threatening her daughter and emailed the school. Last Tuesday, school officials met with Alana and another girl and everything seemed OK but by Wednesday that had changed. The three girls arrested face different charges. One was arrested on a battery charge, another on a charge of disorderly conduct and a third on a charge of being party to a crime.  Wed, 16 May 2012 03:34:43 GMT 13411926 2012-05-16T03:34:43Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/National-Weather-Service-to-send-weather-warnings-as-text-alerts/-/1648/13410346/-/1078dlm/-/index.html The National Weather Service will soon send weather warnings directly to cellphone users when severe weather happens. The National Weather Service has teamed up with cellphone carriers to send emergency alerts via text messages. The Wireless Emergency Alerts Service begins in June. WISC-TV and Channel 3000 currently offer severe weather text alerts, which people can sign up for by clicking here. The Wireless Emergency Alerts Service text alerts will warn people about severe weather such as tornadoes, flash floods and blizzards. In extremely dangerous situations, such as a tornado, the alert will also contain advice urging people to take shelter immediately. "Nearly everybody has some type of cellphone or electronic device, so it's a way of reaching out and getting the warning information out. The bottom line is we want to have multiple ways for the user to receive warning information," says Rusty Kapela, warning coordination meteorologist for the National Weather Service near Sullivan. Meteorologists with the National Weather Service are constantly watching for severe weather that may pose a threat. "You'll get the warning message and you'll have about 12-14 minutes of lead time," Kapela said. "Basically, every second counts." Rock County Emergency Management Coordinator Shirley Connors said in the past few years, Rock County has seen several major weather events. VIDEO "In 2008, we had numerous things. We had the ice blizzard. We had the snow storm and we had the flooding," Connors said. Connors said giving families a few extra minutes could save lives. "We are a mobile society and a lot of people, the majority, have cellphones, and I think this will be a wonderful, valuable feature to have," Connors said. Kapela said the messages will be about 90 characters long and will have a different sound than a typical text message indicator. The messages will be specific to a person's location. Anyone with a cellphone capable of receiving text messages will automatically be signed up for the alerts. Kapela said the government will all so use the system to send out Amber Alerts and messages from the Department of Homeland Security, but people will be able to opt out of some of the messages by talking with their cellphone provider. For more information, people can visit the National Weather Service's website.  Wed, 16 May 2012 02:09:28 GMT 13410346 2012-05-16T02:09:28Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Barrett-demands-Walker-explain-legal-defense-fund/-/1648/13407404/-/j6kuvez/-/index.html Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett wants Republican Gov. Scott Walker to explain why he was allowed to create a defense fund in connection with a secret probe into his associates. Barrett, a Democrat, is challenging Walker in a June 5 recall election. He sent the governor a letter Tuesday demanding Walker explain what's going on. The investigation has centered on people who worked for Walker during his stint as Milwaukee County executive. Five people have been charged; allegations range from campaigning on county time to embezzlement. The governor hasn't been charged and has said he isn't the focus of the probe. However, Walker has set up a legal defense fund -- a move allowed only for officeholders who have been charged or are under investigation for election or campaign violations. Walker said he has said all he can and that Democrats are using the issue as a distraction. "I think it's a bogus issue," said Walker at a stop in Wauwatosa. "We've talked in every way. We've released all the information and we've done it without request." The attorney for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and Barrett said voters deserve to know who allowed Walker to use their $60,000 to pay criminal defense lawyers and why. "(Walker) stiffs the (Government Accountability Board) and the public with this generic lump sum entry on his campaign finance report and that report is specifically designed to give voters information they might want to consider in deciding who to vote for," said Attorney Jeremy Levinson. VIDEO "(Walker) has repeatedly said he is not a target of the investigation, so if he's not a target, then there's no reason for him to withhold this important information," Barrett said. But the governor said he's disclosed everything he needed to. "(Barrett) is a lawyer. He knows the law better than I do, and the fact is that we're complying with the law," Walker said. "Nothing has changed, but that he's trying to use this as a distraction." The governor would not say whether he would release names of the people who allowed him to transfer money to his defense fund. A spokesman for the Government Accountability Board said finance laws allow Walker to make a general transfer of funds without disclosing specifically the donors the money is coming from.   Tue, 15 May 2012 23:38:34 GMT 13407404 2012-05-15T23:38:34Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Emails-from-Barrett-s-wife-violated-MPS-policy/-/1648/13387868/-/l4lek6/-/index.html Milwaukee Public School officials said the wife of Mayor Tom Barrett sent three emails last year that violated district policy. Kris Barrett was a teacher who was laid off by the district along with more than 300 other teachers last June. The emails were first revealed Monday by Media Trackers, a suburban Milwaukee conservative group. The three emails were sent from a school system account and involved county or state politics. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that district officials did not know about the emails until after Media Trackers requested them. Tom Barrett is a Democrat running against Republican Gov. Scott Walker in a June 5 recall election. The mayor noted during a campaign stop Monday that the emails had nothing to do with his current campaign.  "Of course they're going to try and bring my wife into this. I wouldn't be surprised if they try to drag my kids into this. They will do anything they can because they are fighting for their life," Tom Barrett said. Tue, 15 May 2012 23:29:15 GMT 13387868 2012-05-15T23:29:15Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Local-leaders-can-ban-hidden-guns-at-polls/-/1648/13407358/-/r5up92z/-/index.html Wisconsin elections officials have shifted their rationale for banning concealed weapons at the polls. Local election clerks have asked the Government Accountability Board whether voters can carry concealed guns at the polls. GAB attorney Mike Haas concluded local governments can ban concealed weapons at the polls because elections qualify as special events. Haas told the board Tuesday his staff has adopted a cleaner analysis from the state Justice Department. That agency concluded a provision in the concealed carry law that allows local governments to ban weapons in spaces they occupy extends to polling places, whether the sites are on government property or not. Haas said his staff will advise municipalities to develop their own policies. He wasn't sure they would have time to make decisions ahead of the June 5 recall, however. Tue, 15 May 2012 20:12:04 GMT 13407358 2012-05-15T20:12:04Z http://www.channel3000.com/news/Walker-advised-to-limit-Thompson-inaugural-role/-/1648/13407306/-/est8k7/-/index.html Newly released emails show that Gov. Scott Walker was advised to keep former Gov. Tommy Thompson at arm's length during Walker's 2010 inaugural ceremonies. Walker emailed his advisers saying Thompson wanted to be involved, and asking them what a good role might be for Walker's Republican predecessor. Two advisers expressed concerns that Thompson might force Walker to share the spotlight or create public-relations issues with his candor. The emails were released to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in response to an open-records request. Walker had suggested the role of honorary chair of the inaugural ceremonies. Adviser R.J. Johnson cautioned that a chairmanship could invite comparisons and insinuations of control. Walker's administration and his campaign told the Journal Sentinel they couldn't point to an official role Thompson had in the inauguration. Tue, 15 May 2012 20:06:44 GMT 13407306 2012-05-15T20:06:44Z