States’ mitten debate takes high road

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Wisconsin and Michigan turned an argument over mittens into a constructive act of kindness. Wisconsin's Tourism Department has just given 3,100 pairs of mittens and other winter clothes to over 50 charities.

They were donated by folks who dropped them off at state travel centers and chambers of commerce. A Michigan travel Web site took issue in December when Wisconsin promoted its road-condition Web site with a mitten that was shaped like the Badger State.

Lower Michigan has promoted for years that it looks exactly like a mitten, and state officials there accused Wisconsin of stealing some of its thunder. After a few days of good-natured cajoling, the two states announced the Great Lakes Mitten Campaign.

Folks in both Wisconsin and Michigan donated mittens to the needy. Michigan officials asked people to give mittens to their favorite charities, so the "Mitten State" did not have a count of how many were given.

Tags: wisconsin, government, politics