Ideas

Persistently low-performing public schools would be turned into charter schools and state funding would be cut off for problem private schools, under school accountability legislation introduced Wednesday.

The League of Wisconsin Municipalities is proposing a better way to fund local roads in the state.

Partnership is the key to economic success. Wisconsin's villages and cities invite the Wisconsin Legislature to become partners in the state's prosperity. Instead of debating whether and how the state can or should limit local government authority, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities is proposing a partnership focusing on the future.

Business activity indicators in the metro area posted strong results in November as 19 of 22 available indicators registered improvement over year-ago levels, according to a monthly report by the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).

Now that the last chorus of Auld Lang Syne has been sung and the champagne and noise-makers have all been put away, many of us turn our attention to making New Year's resolutions.

Wauwatosa-based accounting and consulting firm Wipfli LLP has acquired two audit, tax and consulting firms that will expand its presence in the northeastern and northwestern United States.

Reed Hall will be reappointed by Gov. Scott Walker as secretary and chief executive officer of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp.

Milwaukee-based Douglas Dynamics Inc. announced that it has completed the acquisition of Henderson Products Inc. of Manchester, Iowa, for approximately $95 million in cash, subject to post-closing adjustments. The signing of the definitive purchase agreement for the acquisition was previously announced in late November.

Milwaukee-based Plant Equipment Group is under agreement to be sold to Global Equipment Company Inc. for $25 million in cash.

BizTimes Media LLC will host the annual Northern Trust Economic Trends Breakfast on Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee's Historic Third Ward.