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Updated: Assembly passes state budget, heads to Senate

MADISON — The state Assembly has passed the state budget on a 55-42 vote.

• 1:07 PM

Points of Pride: Mark Toyota Scion owner serves local organizations, causes (with video)

There is a stack of letters on Mark Olinyk's desk that overlooks the showroom floor of Mark Toyota Scion, some thanking him for his support of various causes or organizations while others are asking for it.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Police looking for person responsible for thefts following fire

Plover police are looking for information about a fire and series of thefts that occurred at a Plover residence in April.

• 5:20 PM

School district, police say protocol followed after May incident with explosive

Stevens Point police and school district officials say they were following protocol after an incident in which a teen lit a homemade explosive near the high school in May.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Energy Fair offers new workshops this year (with video)

People curious about sustainability solutions for their community will find something of interest at the Energy Fair this weekend.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Black Sox throw Sixers for a loss

Logan Mallek looked unhittable through the early innings Tuesday night.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Wisconsin weather forecast for Wednesday (video)

• 7:41 AM

TIF district's outlook remains uncertain

Plans to amend the downtown special taxing district could be in jeopardy after Monday's failure to sell the city-owned Edgewater Manor.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Man given 35-year sentence for child sexual assault

A man convicted of sexually assaulting his daughter's best friend will spend two decades behind bars.

• Jun. 18, 2013

To do: Stevens Point City Band concert

The Stevens Point City Band, under the direction of Kathryn Kawleski, will present its third concert of the summer season at 7 p.m. today in the band shell at Pfiffner Pioneer Park.

• 7:24 AM

Today's weather: Sunny

Today: Sunny, with a high near 77. South wind 5 to 8 mph.

• 7:12 AM

Today's government meetings

Portage County Human Resources Committee, 3 p.m., Conference Rooms 1&2, Portage County Courthouse Annex Building.

• 7:14 AM

Bail bondsmen plan could make it harder to collect fines

A provision included in Wisconsin's next budget bill could make it harder for counties to collect unpaid fines and for victims to receive restitution.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Our view: Gay rights event to put focus on equality

A lot of cities have gay pride parades and somehow the world keeps spinning. The same thing will be true in Wausau, where the announcement of a parade has raised questions and stirred up controversy.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Column: No bounty hunters in our backyard

'Dog the Bounty Hunter' is a bail bondsman who has his own television show on cable. I have to admit that I have watched it and even found the show entertaining ... he seems to embody that ideal of the rough-and-tumble 'good guy' always overcoming the

• Jun. 18, 2013

Have it your way with grilled Greek chicken salad

Salad recipes that have fussy lists of ingredients generally irritate me.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Walgreens customers donate to awareness campaign

As a part of Mental Health Month Observance in May, the Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Awareness Committee of Portage County organized its third annual 'Ribbons of Hope Campaign.'

• Jun. 18, 2013

Learn more about Arabia tour

Learn more about a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point-sponsored trip to the United Arab Emirates and Oman through presentations held in Stevens Point and Wausau.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Thomas column: Then what next in Syria?

Two recent newspaper editorials illustrate the double-mindedness some feel about President Obama's decision to provide small arms and ammunition to Syrian rebels.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Dinner to benefit oncology department

The Breast Cancer Awareness Committee of Plover will host a spaghetti dinner fundraiser at 4:30 p.m. Thursday at Veterans of the Foreign Wars Post 10262, 2970 Hickory Drive, Plover. Doors open at 3 p.m.

• Jun. 18, 2013

At the card table

Friday Duplicate Bridge Club: North-South winners during play last week were Jean Singh-Lillian Paul, Rose Jirous-Mary Jacobson, and Harriet Pfeiffer-Jan Ellefson.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Hermitage offers day retreat

A day retreat will be offered June 30 at Our Lady of the Blessed Sacrament Hermitage, 3500 Highway J N., Custer. Registration begins at 9:15 a.m.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Nominations sought for Honorary Survivor

The community is invited to nominate a courageous breast cancer survivor from Langlade, Lincoln, Marathon, Portage, Taylor, Wood or a portion of west Shawano County to serve as the Hononary Survivor during the Central Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure’s Race for the Cure on Aug. 11 in downtown Wausau.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Letter: We must embrace our smallness

Our Earth — and Earth Day was and is a good idea — is a small island in the universe. There may be multiple universes and dimensions according to recent science.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Letter: Walker's job growth plan gets F

When Gov. Scott Walker survived the recall election a year ago, he predicted huge job growth numbers for Wisconsin.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Funding available for caregiver respite

Caregivers of Alzheimer's patients and loved ones can apply for respite-specific funding for adult day programs, in-home assistance, meal delivery and visiting nurse assistance through Saint Michael's Foundation.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Police

Fail to yield: An 18-year-old woman was cited with operating without a license, without insurance and failing to yield the right of way at 4:54 p.m. Thursday following an accident on Patch Street.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Astros power past Brewers to easy win

Matt Dominguez hit a grand slam and drove in a career-high five runs to back another solid performance by Jordan Lyles, and the Houston Astros rolled to a 10-1 win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Tuesday night.

• Jun. 18, 2013

City OKs domestic partner benefits for its employees

City of Stevens Point employees will be able to get health insurance for their domestic partners later this summer.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Sixers baseball endures for 50 years

Stevens Point Post 6 manager Lucas Suchon was 8 or 9 years old when he experienced his first American Legion baseball game.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Acuity donates $100K to local anti-heroin effort (story, video)

Prompted by the Gannett Wisconsin Media I-Team's Deadly Doses special report that chronicled the increasing scourge of heroin addiction statewide and in Sheboygan, Acuity has announced it will contribute $100,000 to support efforts in the Sheboygan County

• Jun. 18, 2013

Route 66 Diner adds Memphis BBQ (with video)

Mike Moum he's always been a fan of food, particularly barbecue, and has traveled across the country tasting the best he can find.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Yard MD Tip of the Week: How to divide daylilies

Yard MD Rob Zimmer shows you how to divide and plant daylilies in this week's tip of the week.

• Jun. 7, 2013

Summer heat brings increased risk for pets (with video)

As summer heat begins to set in, it's important to remember that humans aren't the only ones affected by the rise in temperature.

• Jun. 18, 2013

Democrats urge moderate Republicans to join them against state budget

Democrats in the state Legislature called Monday for moderate Republicans to join them in voting against the state budget this week, and one of Wisconsin's most conservative lawmakers became the first in his party to publicly say he was casting a 'no' vot

• Jun. 18, 2013

Voucher expansion a flashpoint in state budget

Wisconsin lawmakers expect to approve as early as today a state budget that includes expansion of a private school voucher program, while local Democratic legislators say they intend to fight the proposal.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Corrected: City Council nixes Edgewater Manor sale

Edgewater Manor will remain city-owned housing for seniors.

• 10:56 AM

Column: Thanks to golfers, sponsors for Y support

After eight years in Stevens Point, I'm probably known for a few things: My likeness to Ray Romano (from 'Everybody Loves Raymond'), my love of all things Cincinnati Reds and Oakland Raiders, and my designer business attire (OK, kidding on that last one).

• Jun. 17, 2013

St. Hedwig's donates to choir

• Jun. 17, 2013

Concert for cancer raises $3,600

The Concert for a Cure for Cancer raised $3,600 for cancer treatment, care and research to be donated to Ministry Saint Michael's Foundation, University of Wisconsin-Carbone Cancer Center and Breast Cancer Recovery, Infinite Boundaries Retreats.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Almond man faces charges of running Stevens Point drug house

A Portage County man appeared in court on charges of running a drug house in Stevens Point.

• Jun. 17, 2013

River a thread to weave generations

Once upon a time, the Plover River ran sparkling, vibrant and full. The Plover River once was prized for native brook trout as a class 1 trout stream. This is the river I visit in this article.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Donor credited in dam deal (with video)

Standing in front of McDill Pond on Saturday, Bob Spoerl called his donation of nearly $60,000 to purchase the nearby dam in order to help refill the pond after nearly two years a 'no-brainer.'

• Jun. 16, 2013

Gay pride parade doubts arise in Wausau

One member of Wausau's gay community is planning a 'march for equality' this weekend as questions have arisen about the city's upcoming gay pride parade and its organizer.

• Jun. 17, 2013

On the Job: Citizens Bank officially becomes FirstMerit

Citizens Bank officially unveiled its new name and look this past week.

• Jun. 16, 2013

Work on new parking lot nears start

The new downtown parking lot designated for where CenterPoint MarketPlace once stood has cleared almost all hurdles necessary for the construction phase.

• Jun. 16, 2013

Replay: Yard MD Rob Zimmer's chat on irises

Garden Specialist Rob Zimmer, Gannett Wisconsin Media's Yard MD, chats weekly at 8 a.m. You can also follow him at www.twitter.com/YardMD and 'Like' him at www.facebook.com/YardMD. This week's topic: The World of Irises.

• Jun. 17, 2013

Sentry awards scholarships to attend UWSP

The Sentry Insurance Foundation has awarded scholarships to attend the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point to four Sentry Insurance employees' dependents: Amy Piotrowski, Bryana Reisenauer, Alyson Sweno and Marissa Warzynski.

• Jun. 13, 2013

Campus news

Alyssa Corcoran has graduated from Vanderbilt Law School with a doctor of jurisprudence degree.

• Jun. 13, 2013