Kenosha is losing its Sears store in Pershing Plaza. The location is one of eight Sears stores closing nationally, along with 35 Kmart stores, according to the web site of parent company Sears Holding Corp. The CEO says the moves are the result of changes in consumer behavior. He says that Sears will concentrate on smaller-format concept stores. The Kenosha Sears will close in early October. The adjacent auto center will close later this month, according to the web site.
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The number of Democrats seeking to replace Paul Ryan in the 1st Congressional District dropped from three to two Friday. Political activist and consultant David Yankovich is throwing his support behind ironworker Randy Bryce. The pair made a joint announcement at a cafe in Racine. The third candidate is Janesville School Board member Cathy Myers. In endorsing Bryce, Yankovich said he believes Bryce has the best chance of unseating Ryan. Yankovich, who moved to Kenosha from Ohio recently, says he plans to stay in the state.
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Speaking to reporters in Madison Friday, Paul Ryan disclosed that he met with Foxconn officials at the request of Gov. Walker. Foxconn is the Taiwanese company that wants to build a huge electronics manufacturing plant somewhere in the U.S. Wisconsin is said to be competing with several states. Ryan said he wouldn't comment on where Foxconn could potentially locate in Wisconsin, but that he's working closely with the state's congressional delegation to find them a "good fit." Racine County officials have been working to assemble a suitably large tract of land for the company, or potentially another large manufacturer should Foxconn take a pass.
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The Racine County Town of Dover has lost its battle with a pair of homeowners who wanted to challenge their tax assessment but were told they couldn't because they didn't let an assessor inside their homes. The state Supreme Court ruled Friday that the state law which the refusal was based on is unconstitutional. No immediate comment from the town's attorney.
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The man killed in a crash on Highway 20 in Racine County Thursday has been identified as 24 year-old Armando Garcia. According to the Sheriff's Dept., Garcia lost control after his vehicle veered onto the gravel shoulder and was struck by an oncoming SUV.
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U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Madison) will hold a town hall on health care at Gateway Technical College in Racine Saturday from 11:45 to 1:00. The event is co-sponsored by Citizen Action of Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Federation of Nurses and Health Professionals. Pocan, a Kenosha native, held a similar event a few months ago at UAW Local 72 in Kenosha. A news release says Speaker Ryan has been invited but is not expected to attend.
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