New TSA policy could mean fewer Wis. freebies

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Now that federal officials plan to let passengers carry pocketknives on planes, that could mean fewer freebies for Wisconsin agencies.

In the past, some confiscated items were offered to Wisconsin agencies and charitable groups through the state's surplus system. For example, pocketknives might have gone to scout troops while scissors went to health agencies.

But fewer items are likely to be confiscated starting next month. That's when blades less than 2.36 inches long will be allowed on planes.

Bill Wilson supervises the federal surplus sales program that brought in confiscations from airports in Wisconsin and upper Michigan. He says thousands of knives and other items got auctioned off to benefit the Wisconsin Technical College System Foundation.

A Wisconsin State Journal report (http://bit.ly/Ykgv5O ) says those auctions raised about $18,000.

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Information from: Wisconsin State Journal, http://www.madison.com/wsj