How does a bill become a law? The answer to that is in the Wisconsin Blue Book and the stuff of fourth (I think this is when we all learned it) grade classrooms. But boy that lesson has been turned on its head in the past several weeks in Wisconsin! Now I'm not taking sides here, but the budget repair bill – has so many lawyers attached to it in the courts right now that one veteran reporter (not me) compared this week's hearing over a restraining order to "a five-headed hydra." [Definition of HYDRA:: a many-headed serpent in Greek mythology] So, court resumes tomorrow (with all the attorneys) to determine whether the judge will issue a "preliminary injunction" against the bill over an alleged violation of the opening meetings laws. That injunction is more lasting than the temporary restraining order (3rd) now in place. Oh, and the Supreme Court is also deciding whether to take the case (more lawyers). Stay tuned.

It's been a busy couple of weeks eventhough "In Wisconsin" hasn't been on the air. This week, we return to our regular Thursday at 7:30p time slot.

In Wisconsin Reporter Jo Garrett visits Milwaukee's Urban Ecology Center, a downtown oasis for birds migrating north. You will discover how this urban jewel has been reclaimed from drug dealers and criminals by birdwatchers and citizen scientists.

We also have a QUEST report by In Wisconsin Reporter Andy Soth as he looks at Wisconsin's first great scientist. Increase Lapham was a self-taught renaissance man who dabbled in botany, archaeology, forestry and climatology. Discover how his influence is still being felt in the state two hundred years after his birth.

You won't want to miss the teen musicians in the statewide Bolz Young Artist Competition. For several months, they have been auditioning but only four remained standing on the stage of Overture Hall in Madison. This week you'll meet cellist Elliott Yang of New Berlin. With the arrival of spring you can also discover a very urban section of Wisconsin's Ice Age National Scenic Trail in Janesville through the camera lens of videographer Mike Eicher.

In Wisconsin airs 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 24 on Wisconsin Public Television. The program also will air at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, March 27 on Milwaukee's MPTV and on WDSE-TV in Duluth at 4 p.m. Sunday, March 27.

This week on In Wisconsin we have several new reports and an oldie but goodie.

We will revisit a report from In Wisconsin's Jo Garrett. The Stormy Kromer is a hat that has been part of Wisconsin's history and culture for more than a century. The hat was invented by Kaukauna native Stormy Kromer. It's a clever combination of a baseball hat with pull-down earflaps and now it's taking on a Green Bay Packers twist.

We'll take you to one of Wisconsin's newest tourist attractions, the Canoe Heritage Museum. In Wisconsin Reporter Liz Koerner spotlights how this museum came to be in the small town of Spooner.

The 38th annual American Birkebeiner is the largest cross-country ski race in North America and this weekend more skiers than ever before will start the race. John Kotar, a Birkebeiner founder, talks about the beauty and tradition of the race, and the impact of climate change. Plus you'll get a humorous essay from Michael Perry about the calendar and that shrinking woodpile. It's all this week on In Wisconsin Thursday night at 7:30p on Wisconsin Public Television.

Tonight's episode (2/17) of In Wisconsin features the inspiring story of Dorothy Douglas, aka DJ Douglas, and her remarkable accomplishments. With a passion for flying, she disguised herself as a man to become a pilot and made a name for herself as "Sam Douglas" and wait until you see her other accomplishments including an appearance on the game show "To Tell The Truth."

Tune in and you'll meet Sam Thayer, one of the nations best foragers. He is the creator of the nation's first nature trail dedicated to teaching people about edible wild foods, the Standish Price Wild Food Interpretive Trail in Price County and then we'll go foraging for wild food in the heart of Madison. Nance Klehm is an urban forager who lives in Chicago. At Madison's Willy Street Coop class, she teaches students how to create an all-natural meal with edible wild plants found in the city.

In Wisconsin Reporter Andy Soth visits the forestry operation in the Menominee Reservation and explores the wisdom of Chief Oshkosh and his impact on a great northern forest. Those efforts have provided a living for Menominee Tribal Enterprises employees for 100 years and have resulted in an increase of trees in the harvested forest.

Our video postcard at the end of this week's show features a winter tour of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum. We hope you'll join us for a look at the people and places that make Wisconsin unique.

Last week prior to the Super Bowl In Wisconsin aired a report about the early days of the Acme Packers and how Curly Lambeau carried this team on his back. One of our viewers emailed to say his father Ed Huston played for the team in those early years.

Edwin Huston lived in Richland Center WI. He told his son how the uniforms had no padding and they played in a field of thorns. It was nothing like what the players have today. His son offered to send us a photo as the proof.

Besides playing football Edwin was also the Drum Major for the Richland Center, WI. band so he would march with the band and then play football all in one afternoon.

I found the story of Edwin Huston very intriguing and the photos are worth a thousand words. I'm sure Packer backers everywhere can appreciate what the players had to endure in those early years. Thanks for sharing Jim.

You'll find a lot of critters in this week's episode of In Wisconsin everything from white tail deer to bald eagles and you might even catch a few pine martens.

First, this month the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is launching the largest deer study ever in the State of Wisconsin. There's a growing concern among some hunters that the Wisconsin deer herd is being decimated by predators. In a related move the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently decided to go ahead with plans to remove the gray wolf from the federal endangered species list in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota. Wolves were hunted to near extinction in Wisconsin before they returned on their own.

You can find out more about deer research at the WI DNR site. They're also signing up volunteers to do deer research.

Once endangered but not anymore... the dramatic comeback of the American Bald Eagle in Wisconsin is an inspiration for other states. Every winter bald eagles are attracted to the open water and prime fishing on the Wisconsin River below the dam at Prairie du Sac. You can catch a glimpse of these majestic birds in videographer Frank Boll's video essay. If you'd like to see them soar this weekend is prime time. It's the 22nd annual Sauk Prairie Eagle Watching Days. To find out more click on this link http://www.ferrybluffeaglecouncil.org/eagledays/index.html And finally in this week's show they appear to be cute and ready to cuddle but pine martens can be vicious. This pint-sized predator is a member of the weasel family. The animal was driven from the state by excessive trapping around the turn of the century. Wisconsin researchers re-introduced pine martens in the late 1970's but it failed to take a foothold. At the same time martens in Minnesota and Michigan are thriving. In Wisconsin Reporter Jo Garrett gives you an update on the battles in a three year research project to find out why.

It's all this week on In Wisconsin, Thursday night at 7:30 on Wisconsin Public Television. Or catch the encore presentation Sunday night at 10:30. And if neither of those times are convenient you can always watch those reports right here on our website. Let me know what you think of the show.

I looked up the definition of "legacy" and found in The American Heritage Dictionary legacy is described as 1) money or property bequeathed to another by will 2) Something handed down from an ancestor or predecessor.

In the case of the University of Wisconsin Arboretum this pristine piece of property is a legacy. In 1934 it was bequeathed to the people of Wisconsin. A gift from Wisconsin's conservation leaders handed down to generations to come and the lessons learned on this property are still being gifted forward.

When the University of Wisconsin Arboretum was first founded the Arboretum committee introduced a groundbreaking concept known today as "ecological restoration." The focus is on re-establishing historic landscapes, with native plants and animal communities. But the work today is not about returning to the past but rather improving on Aldo Leopold's experiment known as Curtis Prairie.

So I invite you to join us for an all new In Wisconsin special called "Landscape Legacy", airing at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2 (tonight) on Wisconsin Public Television. If you are reading this blog at a later date you have another chance to watch the encore presentation at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 30.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! 7:30 p.m. Wisconsin Public Television

After you eat all that turkey, stuffing and desert turn on the tube for a feast for your eyes.

This week "In Wisconsin" reports on the historic work of Camp Madison's Civilian Conservation Corps. The University of Wisconsin Arboretum is the site of the nation's first restored prairie. This prairie restoration is the vision of Aldo Leopold and built by members of the Camp Madison CCC.

Plus new information about the largest DNR deer research study in Wisconsin history. In Wisconsin Reporter Frederica Freyberg looks at how the DNR is responding to hunter complaints.

And In Wisconsin Reporter Andy Soth goes in search of Increase Lapham as Andy kicks-off a new initiative titled "Quest. Named Wisconsin's first great scientist, Lapham was a self-taught renaissance man who dabbled in botany, archaeology, forestry and climatology. Discover how two hundred years after his birth Lapham's influence is still being felt in the state.

"Quest" is a project that delves into issues about Wisconsin's environment. For more information, visit QuestWisconsin.org on the Web.

This week I've slated several new reports for In Wisconsin. One of the more interesting is a new approach to burials, admittedly, not everyone is comfortable thinking about. It's called green or natural burial. Wisconsin is starting to provide options for this end of life choice. Find out what this eco-friendly option is all about and why it is being met with some opposition.

You'll also see an inspiring report about Andy Janiki. He's a quadriplegic but that's not stopping him from exploring the wilds of Wisconsin. Four different state parks are now offering rentals of adaptive kayaks made specifically for people with disabilities. It has allowed Janiki to regain his freedom.

Next week - Thanksgiving night -we take a look at a historic deer research project in Wisconsin, the making of the UW Arboretum by the boys in the Civilian Conservation Corps and a little trivia. Do you know who's considered Wisconsin's first scientist?

You'll get the answer on In Wisconsin Thursday's at 7:30 p.m. on Wisconsin Public Television.