The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources discovered a carnivorous, land-walking fish in the Rock River near Janesville, Wis., the Associated Press reported Wednesday.
The fish is an Asian native known as the giant snakehead. The DNR discovered a single two-footlong snakehead in the Rock River during a routine survey Sept. 4. Officials said it was the first one discovered in Wisconsin.
DNR Director of Fisheries Mike Staggs said the fish was probably released into the river by a hobbyist after it outgrew its aquarium. A DNR employee re-released the snakehead into the river after mis-identifying it as a native bowfin.
The giant snakehead could introduce diseases and otherwise interfere with the existing fish population if left unchecked.
Three Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers received non-life threatening injuries when a bomb exploded while they patrolled in Baghdad, Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col. Tim Donovan said Wednesday.
The soldiers' names have not been released, but Donovan said the two men were treated and released from the hospital. One is a 33-year-old staff sergeant from Waukesha, Wis., and the other is a 24-year-old sergeant from Grafton, Wis.
A 44-year-old woman from Franklin, Wis., remained in the hospital with facial injuries and shrapnel in her eye.
Meanwhile, the investigation into the death of Spec. Paul Sturino of Rice Lake, Wis., continues. Sturino died Monday of a non-specified non-combat weapons discharge.
After heavy criticism from UW System officials and the media, the UW Board of Regents will review their decision to increase salary ranges for top university executives at their next board meeting in Oshkosh, Oct. 10.
The decision was panned three weeks ago because it was made by barely a quorum of regents during a telephone conference call, of which the media were not aware.
The teleconference took place two days before a regularly scheduled board meeting, raising criticisms that members tried to keep the decision out of the public eye.
Board President Toby Marcovich said the Oct. 10 meeting will be an open and public discussion.
Board members will receive background information about the decision, which includes research comparing the UW System's pay scale to other institutions.
Part of the controversy was the posting of notices for the meeting. Since then, UW System administrators have begun e-mailing the media the required public notices of any meetings instead of the regular posting at Van Hise Hall and the state Capitol.
