UP: Freakfest. The Madison Police Department reports that costs for securing the annual Halloween bash - once known nationally for riots and vandalism - have declined 58% since 2006, when the city began managing the party, now called Freakfest. Police spent $156,000 supervising this year's peaceful event.
DOWN: State employee unions. State employee unions, representing 39,000 workers, were finally close to inking a contract after 18 months of negotiations and $100 million in concessions. But their hopes were dashed when an apparent ally, Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker (D-Weston), voted against the deal. Union leader Marty Beil responds by calling Decker "a whore." Now, boys....
