Most of the money will be directed to help those hurt by the foreclosure crisis, with funds used to compensate people with bad mortgages or who lost their homes because of industry practices. However, about $26 million is being placed directly in the state’s general fund to help cover a projected budget deficit at the end of the biennium.

Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says the move is “unacceptable and is certainly a violation of the spirit of the settlement.” Barrett says all of the money should go to help those hurt by the scandal, particularly hard hit areas of Milwaukee where many foreclosed homes remain vacant and in disrepair.

AUDIO: Mayor Tom Barrett (:21)

Barrett compared the diversion to the same “bait and switch” that was used to trick many people into refinancing loans, which ultimately caused the meltdown in the mortgage industry.

Governor Scott Walker on Thursday defended the decision. Walker says there was “direct damage done to the state of Wisconsin” by the financial crisis, and many other states are taking a similar approach with at least a portion of the settlement money.

AUDIO: Gov. Scott Walker (:13)

Walker also notes the majority of the money will go directly to those most impacted by deceptive industry practices.

The governor also deflected criticism that he attacked previous administrations for using one-time funding in similar ways, such as raids on the tobacco settlement fund. Walker says those previous issues had “nothing to do with the economy,” unlike the direct impact the foreclosure crisis had on Wisconsin.

WUWM contributed to this report.

WEDC has reshaped the former commerce department’s positions of regional development managers into regional account managers with an emphasis on local engagement.

Jadin recalled during his time as Green Bay mayor he had little communication with the regional commerce representative, “I probably ran into him more at church than I did my office.”

WEDC has added regional account managers in the “New North” and “M-7″ area of Milwaukee.

The agency head talked of expanding markets globally. The state has offices in Canada, Mexico, Brazil and China but Jadin said they are looking into similar expansions in Africa, Europe, the Middle East and Russia. 

Jadin said this spring the state will take trade missions to Vietnam, Thailand and Singapore; to India; and to Brazil, Chile and Colombia.

State Representative Paul Farrow (R-Pewaukee) is a co-author of the measure, which keeps a recall election from taking place unless there’s a clear reason for one, such as if an official is facing criminal charges or is accused of an ethical violation.

In the past year, 13 state lawmakers, Governor Scott Walker, and Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch have faced recall efforts because of the debate over changes to the collective bargaining powers of public employees. Last summer, two Republican lawmakers lost their seats in recalls. Election officials are still reviewing petitions against the governor, lieutenant governor, and four GOP state senators.

During a hearing Thursday on the proposed amendment, Farrow said “it’s not healthy for our state or our society when the recall process is misused and on a constant cycle of repeat.” Supporters of the change point to the millions of dollars the recalls cost taxpayers, such as an estimated $9 million price tag for a statewide election to remove the governor.

State Representative JoCasta Zamarripa (D-Milwaukee) accused Republicans of pushing the change because they are afraid of being held accountable to voters. Zamarripa says it looks bad that lawmakers want to repeal the rights of the people because “they fear the will of the people.”

Farrow argues recalls can still happen, as long as there is a clear reason for them, but a single vote on an issue should not be the basis for removing someone from office before their term is up. He says lawmakers should “not have to look over their shoulders” every time they take a vote.

The proposal is a constitutional amendment, which requires it to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before going to a statewide vote.

AUDIO: Andrew Beckett reports (1:07)

A judge found enough evidence Thursday to bind 47-year-old John Lund over for trial on charges he dealt marijuana over the last three years. A county drug investigator testified that Lund bought the drug at least twice from his brother-in-law and also sold it to another man.

Lund’s attorney tried to get two of the charges dropped, but prosecutors filed an amended criminal complaint which they said resolved the defense’s issue.

Lund will be arraigned March 19th. He quit his job with the school district last month.

Matt Lehman, WSAU

The latest tragedy came in Fond du Lac County last weekend, when three teenage girls were killed while out driving with a group of friends. Officials say the driver lost control of the vehicle, rolling it multiple times in a farm field and ejecting several passengers.

Despite the latest incident, state Traffic Safety Director Sandy Huxtable says crashes and fatalities involving teens have declined in the past decade. She credits a 2000 law that created a graduated drivers license in Wisconsin.

AUDIO: Maj. Sandy Huxtable (:19)

The graduated drivers license program restricts the ability of teens to drive for their first two years behind the wheel. It’s intended to give them more experience by controlling who can ride in the vehicle with them and the hours they can drive.

Since the law’s passage, Huxtable says crashes involving drivers between 16 and 18 are down about 25-percent, while fatalities have decreased nearly 50-percent.

WIBA’s John Colbert contributed to this report.

Eight different players scored the goals for the Green Knights, who will host UW-Stout tonight in the regular season finale.  A win or a tie would give the Green Knights the point they need to clinch the NCHA regular season title and give them home ice advantage in the upcoming NCHA playoffs.

The Knights are seeking their 13th NCHA regular season title.

Jordan Taylor

helping the Badgers beat the Minnesota Gophers 68-61 in overtime on Thursday night at Williams Arena in Minneapolis.

The Badgers (19-6, 8-4 Big Ten) let a 13-point second half lead get away.  They failed to score for the final 7+ minutes of the second half and watched as Minnesota tied things up and forced overtime.

AUDIO: Asst. Coach Gary Close says they regrouped in OT :16

Ryan Evans added 17 points and 11 rebounds for the Badgers.  The win allowed the Badgers to move into a 3rd place tie with Michigan.  Both teams trail second place Michigan State by just 1/2 game.  They’re 1 1/2 games behind first-place Ohio State.

The Badgers are off until next Thursday when they travel to East Lansing to face the Michigan State Spartans.

Shareta Brown scored 24 points and Senee Shearer added 23 to lead Detroit past the 9th ranked Phoenix (20-1, 10-1 Horizon League), handing them their first loss this season.  That leaves Baylor as the only unbeaten team in Division 1 women’s basketball.

Green Bay struggled offensively.  They made just 29% of their FG’s and made just three of their first 18 shots.  They shot just 22% in the first half. 

Julie Wojta had 16 for the Phoenix in defeat.

Detroit beat the Phoenix in Green Bay for the first time since 1997.

Gamblers Teddy Bear Toss

pediatric patients at Green Bay’s Aurora BayCare Medical Center and clinics as well as other community organizations this Saturday night.

The Gamblers host the Chicago Steel in USHL action at the Resch Center in Green Bay on Saturday night (7:05 faceoff).  Every fan is asked to bring a new teddy bear to the game.  When the Gamblers score their first goal, the fans get to toss their Bears onto the ice.  They’ll be collected to donated to the pediatric patients.

A record 7,066 teddy bears were tossed on the ice by a record regular season crowd of 7,778 people at last years event.

The coaching staffs made their selections for the all-star reserves and the announcement of the full squads came last night on “TNT”.  Jennings, who is averaging 18.9 points and 5.3 assists a game had a chance to make the Eastern Conference squad.  He’ll have to wait until next year.

The Bucks had the day off on Thursday.  They’ll return to action tonight in Cleveland against the Cavaliers.