1410 WIZM

Officially, La Crosse etched a record into the books by getting nearly five inches of rain on Saturday. But that was just for rainfall at the airport. A record of four and a half inches. Rain totals varied dramatically, however, across the city and region, according to the National Weather Service. The La Crosse weather station above the city measured just about an inch. The Onalaska-Holmen area had about three and half inches. Most of the city of La Crosse got about two inches. The National Weather Service says one measuring station in the city only got a half inch of rain.

Gov. Mark Dayton says a Republican offer to drop $200 million in tax cuts they wanted and spend it on his priorities is a ``non-proposal'' that gets the two sides no closer to a budget deal that would avert a government shutdown in two weeks.

Republicans made the offer to the Democratic governor Thursday. They say it's a tough move for Republican lawmakers across the board, but Dayton points out it still doesn't move them above a $34 billion cap for the next two years of state spending they say they won't exceed. Dayton wants another $1.8 billion to avoid some spending cuts and reductions.

Dayton says he was expecting a more substantive offer and is the most disappointed he's been after months of budget talks with Republicans.

Opponents of school vouchers fear Gov. Scott Walker could use his expansive veto powers to expand the program statewide under language added to the state budget early on Thursday morning by Assembly Republicans.

As it's currently written, the language outlines criteria that would only apply to Racine. A lobbyist for voucher advocates School Choice Wisconsin says the intention is only to have vouchers expand from Milwaukee to Racine and Milwaukee County but nowhere else.

Walker spokesman Cullen Werwie said Thursday that the governor will not use his veto power to expand the program statewide. And Republican Sen. Mike Ellis says a bill will be passed later to make clear the vouchers can't expand beyond Racine.

Two protesters at the state Capitol have been arrested after they used rigid bike locks to chain themselves to railings in the Senate chamber.

The demonstrators were among several dozen in a public gallery Thursday morning. When the Senate gaveled to order, they began shouting ``Kill the bill,'' and locked themselves to separate posts.

The protesters positioned the U-shaped locks around the back of their necks and secured the front prongs around the rails. Authorities used a special cutting device to free them after about an hour.

Capitol police identified the two as a 20-year-old Beaver Dam man and a 23-year-old Elroy woman.

Police say six others were also arrested on disorderly-conduct charges.

Authorities also added bike locks and handcuffs to the list of items prohibited in the Capitol.