Walker Aide Convicted... But you have to dig down to read that in the J-S.

[mojowork_n]

Breaking News, 12:08pm, Friday 12/7:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/vets-group-treasurer-charged-in-john-doe-sent-to-prison-for-embezzlement-2m7uong-182560791.html

The headline says, "Vets Group Treasurer Charged in John Doe Sent to Prison"

A former veterans counselor and treasurer of a local veterans organization was sentenced Friday to two years in prison and two years extended supervision for embezzling more than $51,000 from donations intended for veterans and their families.

Kevin Kavanaugh, 62, of Cudahy, also must pay back the full amount he stole from the group, Circuit Court Judge Michael Goulee ordered.

The judge said prison time was necessary as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to steal from charities, because of Kavanaugh's lack of remorse and as punishment for pocketing the cash, despite Kavanaugh's previously clean criminal record and testimonials from some who said that Kavanaugh had helped them.

But you have to go way down in the article to find the (minimized) connection to the Walker "Campaign Group."

Kavanagh's charges grew from a secret John Doe investigation into aides and associates of Walker. Suspicions over the $11,000 missing from the '06 Operation Freedom money led Walker to have his chief of staff report the matter to prosecutors.

....I think that's a very disputable claim, that Tom Nardelli, Walker's chief of staff, reported 'the matter" to prosecutors, following any instructions from Walker. Not what I remember reading. Nardelli resigned almost immediately afterward (?)

In any event, one more procedural step out of the way. Let's see what's going to follow.....

Best reporting on the general subject is at:

http://cognidissidence.blogspot.com/

[Scuba]

1. The Urinal still endorses Walker, covers up his malfeasance and directs criticisms at others ...

... but of course the Urinal is owned by the same people who own Walker, so I guess it's to be expected.

[Indykatie]

2. Walker Trying to Do As Much Damage as He Can before the Law Catches Up With Him n/t

[mojowork_n]

4. There's been a very sizable drop in circulation.

http://urbanmilwaukee.com/2012/11/19/murphys-law-journal-sentinels-circulation-problem/

Since the merger of the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel in the mid-1990s, the paper’s circulation has been in a free fall: the Sunday paper has gone from 466,000 subscribers to slightly more than just over 299,000 in 2012, while the daily paper dropped even more drastically, from 328,000 to about 175,600...

...The key value of the newspaper — the main thing that can drive readership — is the community’s trust in its accuracy and fairness. The newspaper has been undermining its reputation with its run of increasingly ridiculous stories...

The article talks about the declining interest in print news among younger readers, but I'd be curious to know what the geographic breakdown looks like. Has the paper managed to hold on to a greater percentage of their Waukesha (and Washington and Ozaukee) county subscribers -- the higher income demographic? -- as they've thrown the best interests of their Milwaukee readers under the bus.

Has it been worth it?

How much do they get for printing columns by Heritage Foundation P.R. flacks, like Christian Schneider? How much do they get for never taking a really hard, honest swipe at any of the Republican ideologues?

A poster in the comments that followed this story summed it up:

The MJS is a biased, right-wing paper, pretending to be fair.

[Scuba]

5. I'll bet 95% of subscribers do so for the sports coverage.

[mojowork_n]

6. It's likely near that high a percentage for the XY population...

...not to overlook the XX readership, which maybe has respectable numbers following local arts and entertainment and general life-issue reporting.

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_X_and_Y_chromosomes

[midnight]

3. K&R So many plea requests... I hope the info. that was given in exchange for

these pleas will give the people of Wisconsin relief.