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Emphasizing the importance of bats this Halloween week

Take a moment this week to consider a mammal that has struggled in this region in recent years: bats. As the only mammal capable of true flight — the others all glide — bats are not just unique and fascinating but also extremely important members of our natural world, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "They are vital to many ecosystems and provide significant positive environmental, economic and public health benefits. For example, insectivorous (bug-eating) bats consume large numbers of agricultural pests, saving farmers and forest-owners billions of ...

Some advice for navigating the health insurance marketplace

With the Medicare open enrollment period and upcoming health insurance marketplace open enrollment period set to begin Nov. 1, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection and Office of the Commissioner of Insurance of Wisconsin has some information for consumers. During open enrollment periods when time is limited, it is important to understand the differences between health insurance and medical discount plans. These plans are sometimes mistaken for insurance; but in other cases, they are misrepresented by dishonest sellers. The DATCP advises in a news ...

Your taxes, your schools, your safety: Why your local news matters

I am a journalist. And proud of it. I hope my readers, whether in newspapers, magazines or online, also feel that’s a title worthy of pride. True, journalists and the news media are being targeted and maligned, and polls show public trust in the press is declining. But what isn’t up for serious debate is the essential role that we play. I appreciate how Dale Anglin, the executive director of the Knight Foundation’s Press Forward initiative, describes the situation — not as a plea to “save struggling journalism” but as a call for the citizenry to “support trusted ...