Wis. gunman who killed 3 at party, fatally shot self, was gang member with violent history

MENOMONIE, Wis. — A man police say shot and killed three brothers at a weekend party before fatally shooting himself was a member of a Minnesota gang who had been convicted of two previous violent attacks, including one on a 15-year-old boy in a park.

Milwaukee mayor released from hospital after getting beat up while trying to help grandmother

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett went home from the hospital on Monday after a man shattered his hand and knocked two of his front teeth out as the mayor tried to defend a grandmother who was screaming for someone to call 911.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle of Wisconsin announces he’s not running for third term in 2010

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday that he will not seek re-election next year and does not want to be considered for any positions within President Barack Obama’s administration at this time.

TJX Cos.’ second-quarter expected to show gains as consumers seek value

MILWAUKEE — Discount retail operator TJX Cos. reports results for the second quarter on Tuesday before the market opens. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

Police: Minn. man who killed 3 brothers in Wis. before shooting himself has died at hospital

MENOMONIE, Wis. — Police say a man suspected of fatally shooting three brothers at a birthday party in western Wisconsin died Monday morning at an area hospital.

MoneyGram International to start transfers in Cambodia

MILWAUKEE — Money transfer service MoneyGram International Inc. said Monday it will start its service in Cambodia, thanks to a new alliance with Advanced Bank of Asia, a growing bank in Cambodia.

Milwaukee mayor recovers from pipe attack that happened as he tried to aid grandmother at fair

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was recovering Monday from wounds he received after a man beat him on the head with a pipe after the mayor tried to assist a grandmother screaming for someone to call 911.

Milwaukee mayor hospitalized after being attacked with pipe while trying to help a grandmother

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett remained hospitalized Sunday after a man attacked him with a metal pipe as the mayor tried to assist a grandmother screaming for help near the Wisconsin State Fair.

Police: Gunman in western Wis. shoots and kills 3 brothers, then tries to kill himself

MENOMONIE, Wis. — A gunman opened fire on a group of people outside a trailer home in western Wisconsin, killing three brothers before critically wounding himself, police said Sunday.

Milwaukee mayor in hospital after being attacked by person with metal pipe near state fair

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was hospitalized with head and hand injuries on Sunday after he tried to assist a woman crying for help and was attacked by a man with a metal pipe near the Wisconsin State Fair, police said.

AP source: Wis. Gov. Jim Doyle will not seek re-election in 2010; will make it official Monday

MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle, whose approval ratings have plunged as he struggled with a weak economy and a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, will not seek a third term in 2010, a person informed of the decision told The Associated Press.

Earnings roundup: Wal-Mart 2Q income unchanged, Kohl’s profit dips in 2Q but still beats views

Among the earnings stories for Thursday, Aug. 13, from AP Financial News:

Kohl’s 2nd-quarter profit drops but sales rise; lifts full-year earnings forecast

NEW YORK — Department store operator Kohl’s Corp. on Thursday said better-than-expected sales of home products and accessories such as handbags helped it beat Wall Street predictions for its second quarter.

Vehicle maker Oshkosh raises $358 million in public share offering

OSHKOSH, Wis. — Vehicle maker Oshkosh Corp. said Wednesday it completed a public offering it had announced earlier this month and received net proceeds of $358 million.

ConAgra CEO got nearly 27 percent boost in fiscal 2008 compensation

MILWAUKEE — The chief executive of ConAgra Foods Inc. received a nearly 27 percent boost in compensation in 2009 in a package worth $10.1 million, according to an Associated Press calculation of figures filed with regulators. Most of it came in stock options and restricted stock that haven’t vested.

Cash-strapped states cut grants to college students despite booming demand for financial aid

MADISON, Wis. — Struggling with budget shortfalls that reach into the billions, several states are making deep cuts in college financial aid programs, including those that provide a vital source of cash for students who most need the money.

Austrian woman reports otter attack in Wis., says she doesn’t hold grudge against the animals

DRUMMOND, Wis. — An Austrian woman on vacation in Wisconsin is getting rabies shots after she said she was bitten by otters while swimming in a lake.

Woman says she was bitten several times by at least two otters while swimming in Wisconsin lake

DRUMMOND, Wis. — An Austrian woman on vacation in Wisconsin is getting rabies shots after she said she was bitten by otters while swimming in a lake. Brigitte France, 51, told the Duluth News Tribune that she was swimming on Lake Owen near Drummond last Wednesday when three otters suddenly appeared. Feeling concerned, she swam to shore.

Wis. girl, 13, charged with fatally stabbing step-grandfather for pouring her milk down drain

MILWAUKEE — A 13-year-old Milwaukee girl is accused of fatally stabbing her step-grandfather because he poured the milk for her cereal down the drain.

Woman accused in plot to punish boyfriend says motel meeting was to say ‘gig was up’

MILWAUKEE — A woman accused of helping lure a boyfriend to a hotel room and gluing his penis to his stomach as punishment for his cheating ways says she and the other women went to the motel to tell him “the gig was up.”

Outside magazine’s recommendations for the Great Lakes

NEW YORK —If you’re looking for a place to paddle your canoe, ride your mountain bike, dive, fish or climb, Outside magazine is recommending the Great Lakes.

Drunk Wisconsin police intern arrested after allegedly impersonating officer

MADISON, Wis. — A Madison police intern has been arrested after he allegedly impersonated an officer to detain three people. A police report said the 20-year-old intern was drunk early Friday morning when he approached three men. The man allegedly flashed his police intern badge, claimed he was an undercover detective, pantomimed a gun with his thumb and index finger and ordered the men to the ground.

Gun dealer who sold to V.Tech, NIU, health club killers: They could have shopped at Wal-Mart

MADISON, Wis. —An online weapons dealer who sold a gun or accessories to three mass killers, including a man who opened fire at a Pittsburgh-area health club this week, said Friday that any of the shooters could have just as easily found what they wanted at a Wal-Mart or another store.

Hundreds of organic farmers meeting in Mass. for annual conference to talk tips, trends

BOSTON —Barbara Wefing has been growing fruits and vegetables organically for nearly 60 years, ever since she kept most of the seed packets she was supposed to sell for her elementary school’s fundraiser.

Army National Guard tells 131,000 soldiers to look out for identity theft after laptop stolen

MADISON, Wis. — The Army National Guard is investigating why a contractor had data including Social Security numbers for 131,000 current and former soldiers on an unsecured personal laptop that was stolen, a spokesman said Thursday.

Wis. man alleged to have been tied up, abused by wife and lovers is accused of child abuse

FOND DU LAC, Wis. — A Wisconsin man who prosecutors say was tied up, humiliated and assaulted by his wife and three other women has been jailed on accusations of child abuse and other misdeeds.

Kraft Foods 2Q profit rise 11 percent, but sales fall on foreign currency translation

MILWAUKEE — Kraft Foods Inc. said Tuesday its second-quarter profit rose 11 percent even though its revenue slipped as the dollar’s strength weighed down international sales.

Publisher of Journal Sentinel to cut 92 jobs, or 6 percent of work force

MILWAUKEE — The publisher of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel is cutting 92 jobs as the current advertising slump continues to ravage the newspaper business.

Bus with Special Olympics athletes hits Wis. guardrail and tips over, seriously injures 2

WAUPUN, Wis. — Wisconsin authorities say a bus with about 20 adult Special Olympics athletes crashed while returning from Nebraska, leaving two people with serious injuries.

4 Wisconsin women accused of tying up, gluing married at center of alleged lovers’ quadrangle

WAUSAU, Wis. — A married man who planned to rendezvous with one of his handful of lovers at an eastern Wisconsin motel instead found himself bound, blindfolded and assaulted by a group of women out for revenge, according to court documents.