Category Archives: Green & Gold
How about Green Tier II for Foxconn?

The Wisconsin win of the gigantic Foxconn manufacturing plant for Southeastern Wisconsin creates as opportunity to apply some new thinking about how to regulate the environmental side of its operations. Instead of the adversarial model that most environmentalists and regulators … Read the rest
Packers’ gold goes to more charities

Are your ready for some Green Bay Packers’ football? I am especially ready this year because The Packers have stepped up the philanthropic nature of the corporation. The Pack is about more than football. When you buy your ticket, it’s … Read the rest
Trump wrong-footed on Great Lakes action

President Trump likes bold executive orders to shake things up. So here are a couple that could endear him to the voters in the Midwestern fly-over states who put him in the Oval Office. He could order the closure of … Read the rest
Packer charity agenda better than Super Bowl win

The Green Bay Packers had a solid year on the field in 2014, but enjoyed -- a few player indiscretions notwithstanding -- a great year off the field. Its annual report reported a 16% increase in revenue to $376 million, … Read the rest
Will legislature take heed of conservation majorities?

There hasn’t been much public talk in GOP ranks about the fates of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Fund and the Natural Resources Board since the release of Gov. Walker’s proposed budget that puts them out of business. But Republican legislators must … Read the rest
Can a presidential candidate be anti-conservation?

Here we go again with the Wisconsin Republican Party and its war on conservation. With polls on conservation matters almost always showing three-quarters of the population in favor of conservation of water and sensitive lands, even when noted that taxes … Read the rest
Passions remain high on Penokee mine

CABLE -- It would be a mistake to under-estimate the passion that opponents bring to the conflict surrounding an open-pit iron mine in the Penokee Range of northwestern Wisconsin. I walked into a “community conversation” on the mine last week … Read the rest
On the Way to Grade A for Milwaukee River

The impressive and encouraging improvements along the 100 miles of the Milwaukee River didn’t just happen. They are the results of a half-century of far-sighted leadership, dedicated efforts of thousands of citizens and intentional, innovative and expensive projects. Our metropolitan … Read the rest
The amazing nexus of Digger Crayfish and land trusts

A surprising thing happened this year on the way to trapping salamanders and prairie crayfish in Ozaukee County as part of a county and land trust project to map and inventory existing wildlife species. Gary Casper and his volunteers discovered … Read the rest
Small ball vs. long ball on environment

One of the advantages of being an old cocker is that you can bear witness to what’s worked over time and what hasn’t. With three-quarters of a century under my belt in Wisconsin, I have been privileged to witness some … Read the rest