SIGNS OF THE TIMES: State employees stunned by request for $250 million in concessions. Plus, Changes sought in funding system for Wisconsin state employee pensions. “The two funds that feed public employee pensions lost more than $26 billion over the past year, falling to a total market value of $61.8 billion, according to preliminary results announced by the state. That means tens of thousands of retirees will be stung by cuts ranging from 2.5 percent to 20 percent or more in their pension checks this spring.”