Madison schools closed for second day

Wisconsin's second largest school district canceled classes for a second day as teachers prepared spend another day at the Capitol in protest of Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to strip government workers of nearly all collective bargaining rights.

Nearly two dozen other school districts canceled classes Thursday as well, including La Crosse, Mosinee, Watertown, Verona, Stoughton, Columbus and Edgerton. District officials are telling teachers and staff to report to school.

The Legislature's budget committee passed Walker's bill on a partisan vote just before midnight. Several opponents in the crowd broke into tears as Democrats on the committee encouraged them not to give up the fight. Up to 20,000 people filled the Statehouse on Wednesday to demonstrate.

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