1410 WIZM

One year ago, swine flu was a major health concern in Wisconsin, and around the world...

But now, the pandemic has run its course, according to the World Health Organization. Many government agencies in the U-S stopped keeping count of H-1-N-1 cases, according to La Crosse County health director Doug Mormann, so there's no good estimate on how many people in the county got the illness.  Health workers believe the general flu vaccine offered this fall will provide protection against H-1-N-1 as well as the seasonal virus.

A fourteen year-old has been arrested for stealing a car after a slow-speed chase in La Crosse. Cops say they followed the fourteen year-old and his two buddies in the stolen Chrysler 300 for just a few blocks on the southside yesterday before the kid pulled over. They say he'd apparently stolen the car over the week-end and was out for a joy ride with his friends, just squealing tires on the car with the vet's plate and an NRA sticker on the back. Police say the chase never went over forty. The boy will be referred on juvenile charges only.

The pads are starting to go on at high school football fields everywhere. In La Crosse, Logan high school Rangers start their practices today. Along with tackling techniques, sprints, and formations, coaches will keep a keen eye out for concussions. One of the best ways the team prevents concussions, says athletic director Steve Hole, is to outfit guys with state of the art helmets.  Which is what the school does, replacing about 20 helmets every year.  Hole says every football player also is given a cognitive test before the season. Take a lick to the head, he takes it again. Can't get back on the field until he gets the same score he got before a concussion.  Simplest way to avoid concussions, though; Hole says; just wear a mouthpiece. 

Yes, the state of Wisconsin faces a massive budget deficit. But that's not preventing the UW system and the tech college system in the state from asking for more money for financial aid. La Crosse democratic state rep, Jennifer Shilling is on the state's powerful joint finance committee.   She says the higher education requests amount to items on a wishlist.   In an ideal world, she says, those wish lists would be fulfilled and Shilling agrees that higher education should be a priority in the state. But those needs have to be consider with all the other areas of state spending.   Especially in light of Wisconsin's looming $2.7 billion deficit.