Thursday, 12.30
Gov.-elect Scott Walker names his cabinet, including: state Rep. Mike Huebsch as head of Administration, former state Sen. Cathy Stepp as secretary of the Department of Natural Resources, former Dane County Sheriff Gary Hamblin as head of the Department of Corrections, and Manny Perez, who headed a company that ran seminars on how to "Keep Your Business Union Free," as secretary of the Department of Workforce Development.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture recalls more than 34,000 pounds of ground beef suspected of being contaminated by E. coli, which was shipped to Wisconsin and five other states.
Mary Extrom, 62, is killed after being hit by an SUV on East Washington Avenue near the pedestrian bridge.
Dane County Circuit Judge Juan Colas dismisses a lawsuit challenging the Common Council's approval of the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment project.
Friday, 12.31
The Wisconsin State Journal reports that the state Department of Justice is investigating a sexual assault complaint by a female Madison employee against Ald. Brian Solomon. The alleged incident happened after an April council meeting, when Solomon drove the woman home and stayed for a while at her apartment. He strongly denies the accusation, saying "nothing happened that wasn't completely consensual."
Saturday, 1.1
A stellar season ends on a disappointing note as the Badgers lose 21-19 to the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs, before 20.6 million television viewers in the prestigious Rose Bowl. Better luck next year, guys.
Monday, 1.3
Scott Walker is sworn in as Wisconsin's 45th governor, declaring the state "open for business." See Bill Lueders' report on the ceremony and Emily Mills' report on the protests it prompted.
Gov. Walker calls a special session of the Legislature to consider economic initiatives. One will make it harder to sue companies and health-care providers, including nursing homes.
Tuesday, 1.4
Archbishop Jerome Listecki announces that the Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy because some 200 sex-abuse lawsuits have left the diocese with $29 million in debt. Listecki says the abuse goes "against everything the church and the priesthood represents." But a lawyer representing abuse victims says the bankruptcy is an attempt to delay ongoing lawsuits and shield records from scrutiny.
Madison Water Utility workers take samples at three city wells to test for chromium-6, the carcinogen that an environmental group found in the city's water last spring. Results are expected in about two weeks.
Wednesday, 1.5
Marquette University announces that outgoing Sen. Russ Feingold will join the law school as a visiting professor in the spring semester. "Marquette Law School is a dynamic place, and I look forward to being part of it," says Feingold, who also plans to write a book. Suggested title: My Brain Bone's Connected to My Spine Bone: Anatomy of a Maverick.
Compiled (In part) from local media
