ALCOHOLIC ENERGY DRINKS

MillerCoors puts plans on hold

MillerCoors is putting on hold its plans for a new caffeine-infused alcoholic energy drink, pending a talk with the group of states that asked it earlier this week to abandon the launch of Sparks Red.

MillerCoors LLC said in a statement late Friday it won't go ahead with the launch of the drink, which had been scheduled for Oct. 1.

On Wednesday, attorneys general from 25 states asked the company, a joint venture between SABMiller's U.S. unit and Molson Coors Brewing Co., to abandon its plans, citing health risks to young drinkers.

HEALTH CARE

UW Hospital makes national ranking

UW Hospital is among the top five teaching hospitals in the country, according to a review of 88 academic medical centers by the University Healthsystem Consortium.

The hospital performed well on safety, mortality rates, effectiveness of treatments, being patient centered and having equally positive outcomes regardless of a patient's gender, ethnicity or economic status.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

WPL plans two area workshops

Wisconsin Power & Light will hold to area workshops called "Economic Gardening: Growing Your Own Jobs and Wealth," aimed at providing information to local government, community and business leaders. Chris Gibbons, director of business and industry affairs for the city of Littleton, Colo., will lead the workshop and discuss his techniques.

Sessions will be held Tuesday at the Belmont Travel Center in Belmont and Wednesday at the Exhibition Hall at the Alliant Energy Center. The program runs from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The registration fee is $45. More information is available at www.midwestsites.com.

BRIEFLY

APPLE BRANDY: A kick-off party for the new apple brandy product from Yahara Bay Distillers of Madison will be from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Old Fashioned Restaurant and Tavern, 23 N. Pinckney St. Made with Honeycrisp apples from Kickapoo Orchards in Gays Mills, the product will be available for a limited time at Madison-area liquor stores. Yahara Bay Distillers, 3118 Kingsley Way, produces spirits in small batches using local ingredients. More information is available online at www.yaharabay.com.

Gordmans has been acquired by an affiliate of private investment firm Sun Capital Partners. Founded in 1915, the Omaha-based apparel and home fashions retailer operates 65 stores, including one at East Towne Mall. Sun Capital Partners, based in Boca Raton, Fla., is a private investment firm specializing in leveraged buyouts and investments in market-leading companies. It has controlling ownership interests in a number of national chains including Shopko, Bruegger's Bagels and Fazoli's.

The American Farm Bureau Federation has given the "Friend of Farm Bureau" award to U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis.; and U.S. Reps. David Obey, D-Wausau, and Steve Kagen, D-Appleton,

— State Journal staff, wires