Emotional Idol

No, Paula Abdul wasn’t sent home from Fox’s “American Idol” Wednesday night.

That honor fell to Brooke White, 24, of Mesa, Ariz., who began the competition strong but has been slipping steadily in recent weeks.

She increasingly seemed frightened and on the verge of tears during her performances, and of course, was crying Wednesday night even before the results were announced.

White was hardly able to sing one more time, struggling through Neil Diamond’s “I Am . . . I Said.” She had to start the song twice, something she’s done before.

Surviving again at the bottom of the voting heap was Syesha Mercado, 21, whose performances have been getting stronger over the past few weeks.

Jazz festival announces line up

Saxophonist Warren Hill, guitarist-singer Nick Colionne, East Bay Soul featuring trumpeter Greg Adams and saxophonist Tom Scott, and Soul Express featuring vocalist Phil Perry are among the acts scheduled to perform at the 11th annual Kettle Moraine Jazz Festival, Sept. 5 and 6 at Riverside Park in West Bend.

37% of city restaurants cited for serious health violation

In most cases the violations occur behind the scenes and the inspection reports are written up without fanfare, meaning that diners have little way of knowing about the cockroaches, mold and other unsanitary conditions that may have been cited by city health inspectors that same day.

Manufacures feeling the strain

By July, manufacturers can expect to pay as much as $1,200 a ton for hot-rolled steel, about twice the cost in January, according to the Kiplinger Letter, a Washington, D.C., newsletter that makes economic predictions.

Metal fabrication companies expect business conditions to weaken in the next three months, according to a new report from the Precision Metalforming Association, a trade group based in Cleveland. Precision Metalforming has widespread membership in Wisconsin.

UW recuit named Minnesota Player of the year

Madison – Jordan Taylor, an incoming recruit for the UW basketball team, was recently named Minnesota’s Mr. Basketball.

The Wow Factor

A rhythmic, textured, wood-slat wall creates a visually complex experience within the space, adding a sense of drama, dropping from the second-tier mezzanine into the main area. A ribbon of back-lit, cellular plastic panels is woven through the two-story space, washing it in sultry, orange light.

Latino numbers rise 4.3% in Wisconsin

Wisconsin’s Hispanic population grew faster last year than the nation’s, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today. From 2006 to 2007, the Hispanic population in Wisconsin increased 4.3% to 271,830 people from 260,552, according to Census Bureau estimates.