An 11-second, 6.4-magnitude earthquake erupted in southern Iran Tuesday, ravaging the mountainous region and affecting 30,000 people. An estimated 500 victims have already been declared dead according to BBC News, but this number is suspected to rise as rescue and aid missions regain road access to the numerous villages destroyed by the quake's tremors. Heavy rain and snow have also confounded relief efforts and intensified the suffering of the thousands that lost their homes.
Madison
More than 75 percent of state residents support an increase in the state cigarette tax according to a statewide public opinion poll.
The cigarette tax in Wisconsin is now 77 cents per pack and a measure to increase the tax by $1 per pack is being promoted in the state Assembly.
Depending on when the new cigarette tax would take effect, it is estimated the tax revenue would range from $250 million to $340 million.
Milwaukee
In an act some alders hope will send a message to the Wisconsin Legislature, the Milwaukee City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to raise the city's minimum wage from the current $5.15 per hour to $5.70 per hour, according to WisPolitics.com.
The change will take effect in October. The minimum wage will increase again a year later, this time to $6.50 per hour.
Milwaukee Ald. Tony Zielinski, District 14, said the city would not raise the minimum wage if the state decides to enact a statewide hike before October.
Madison
The state Assembly voted 67-31 Tuesday to condemn University of Colorado Professor Ward Churchill, who is scheduled to speak at UW-Whitewater March 1, over controversial comments associating Sept. 11 victims with Nazis.
The resolution, authored by Rep. Stephen Nass, R-Whitewater, also requests UW-Whitewater cancel his upcoming speech.
\I am proud that a bipartisan majority of members in the Assembly were courageous enough to take a stand against the anti-American hate speech spewed by Prof. Ward Churchill,"" Nass said in a statement.
But Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said the Assembly stepped out of its place Tuesday.
""I find Ward Churchill's remarks about 9/11 reprehensible, but I think it's a dangerous action for the state Legislature to tell the University of Wisconsin who can and cannot speak at the university,"" Black said. ""That strikes at the very heart of academic freedom.\
