Michelle Witmer, a private stationed in Baghdad with the 32nd Military Police Company of the Wisconsin National Guard, was killed Friday, becoming the 16th Wisconsin soldier to be killed in Iraq, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
\For the first time since World War II, the Wisconsin National Guard has lost one of its own in active duty combat,"" said Gov. Jim Doyle in a press release. ""Her loss is one for all Wisconsin, and our hearts go out to her family and loved ones at this difficult time.""
Approximately 649 U.S. soldiers have died in Iraq since the war began March 2003.
Madison's Economic Development Commission voted 7 to 1 last week in approval of a compromised version of a city-wide smoking ban, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.
The compromise would ban smoking in all public places by July 2005, six months later than the original proposal.
""I think it will accommodate a fair period for implementation,"" Ald. Warren Onken, District 3 told the State Journal. 'It will put to rest some of the bitter feelings over whether someone has complied [with the current ban] and answer questions about enforcement.""
The Public Health Commission will review the proposed ban this week, and the City Council is set to vote April 20.
A Nevada company is offering eBay bidders the chance to send 22 pounds of personal cargo to the moon, according to CNN.com. The opening bid is $6 million.
The company, Orbital Development of Carson City, will send a lunar spacecraft packed with the auction winner's belongings, though it cannot guarantee the cargo's condition after the 4,000 miles per hour impact, CNN.com reported.
""The MoonCrash Project would probably be attractive to some bored rich guy, who is tired of playing with his radio-controlled model airplanes and wants to move up to the next level,"" Orbital Development president Gregory Nemitz told CNN.com.
