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Warrant issued for suspect in shooting outside Beloit Memorial High School
BELOIT (WKOW) — The City of Beloit has issued a warrant for a suspect in the deadly shooting outside Beloit Memorial High School after a basketball game.
According to a press release from City of Beloit spokesperson Sarah Lock, a warrant has been issued for Amaree Goodall, 19, of Madison. A picture of Goodall was not immediately provided.
Goodall is charged with 1st degree reckless homicide in a January 29 shooting where 19-year-old Jion Broomfield was shot and died at the hospital.
“We appreciate the community’s ongoing support and sharing of information in this homicide investigation,” said Chief Andre Sayles in a statement. “The City of Beloit Police Department has followed upon every tip provided and is using all tools in these violent crime investigations. The department has a proven track record in clearing violent crimes when the community helps with providing the information they know.”
Information about Goodall’s whereabouts can be provided to dispatch at (608) 757-2244 or through the Greater Beloit Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 362-7463.
Former caregiver explains how to cope with combination pandemic, flu season stress
Former Portage teacher charged for alleged sexual relationship with 17-year old student
Monroe police arrest stabbing suspect
Teen shot during armed robbery
Brett Favre repays $600,000 to Mississippi after state auditor says he received illegal funds. He still owes $228,000, state says | 2022-02-17T06:22:17Z | www.wkow.com | Warrant issued for suspect in shooting outside Beloit Memorial High School | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/warrant-issued-for-suspect-in-shooting-outside-beloit-memorial-high-school/article_ea9761d0-8f46-11ec-8d28-37e8e243e9fa.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/warrant-issued-for-suspect-in-shooting-outside-beloit-memorial-high-school/article_ea9761d0-8f46-11ec-8d28-37e8e243e9fa.html |
Mother said her son was punched in the jaw by 17-year-old on Tuesday at school
MADISON (WKOW) -- "I'm afraid of one day not hearing his voice and that would devastate me," said Heather Colbert, who now fears for her son's life after she says her son was beaten up at school again.
Madison Police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said a 17-year-old-student was cited Tuesday for the attack.
The first attack happened at La Follette high school in January. Heather Colbert's son "J" was seriously injured in that attack and three students face charges.
"My son actually was just sitting at a table with a teacher and this kid came up out of nowhere and just struck my son in his jaw," said Colbert.
Colbert says her son is on the autism spectrum and believes he may have been targeted because other students mistake his demeanor as confrontational. "With 'J's' disabilities, he could just kind of stare off into space and give a person the wrong impression."
Colbert also wonders if these altercations are connected.
"He was just attacked a month ago does this kid know the other you know, these other individuals," said Colbert.
"We are now working to determine an alternative learning environment for the student," MMSD spokesperson Timothy LeMonds said in a statement.
MPD has issued a citation to the 17-year-old involved in Tuesday's incident but Colbert says some wounds may never heal. "My son is already emotionally and mentally scarred. He thinks about suicide on a constant basis."
MMSD spokesperson LeMonds says the two attacks aren't connected.
Timothy Lemonds | 2022-02-17T06:22:54Z | www.wkow.com | La Follette student attacked again and mother wants answers | Medicine | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/la-follette-student-attacked-again-and-mother-wants-answers/article_3d2d4784-8f88-11ec-9a4e-cbfa4131b59c.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/la-follette-student-attacked-again-and-mother-wants-answers/article_3d2d4784-8f88-11ec-9a4e-cbfa4131b59c.html |
Fatal crash shuts down US 14 in southern Dane County
UPDATE (WKOW) -- One person is reportedly dead following a crash Thursday morning.
According to a tweet from the Dane County Sheriff's Office, one fatality has been reported at the scene of the multi-car crash. As of 9:50 a.m. Highway 14 was still closed in both directions.
RUTLAND (WKOW) - A two-car crash has caused US 14 to close in both directions at Waterman Rd. in the town of Rutland.
Dane County dispatch told 27 News emergency crews are on scene and diverting traffic. Northbound travelers will have to exit at Rome Corners Rd. and southbound travel will get off at CR-A. Then, continue on CR-MM to detour around the incident.
The crash happened around 7:30 am and there is no word if anyone was injured. | 2022-02-17T19:23:43Z | www.wkow.com | Fatal crash shuts down US 14 in southern Dane County | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/fatal-crash-shuts-down-us-14-in-southern-dane-county/article_2ee4d490-8ffa-11ec-a392-5f0c4c59a2a4.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/fatal-crash-shuts-down-us-14-in-southern-dane-county/article_2ee4d490-8ffa-11ec-a392-5f0c4c59a2a4.html |
Ask a Doctor: Mental health issues spiking in children
MADISON (WKOW) — As many people know, there has been a spike in mental health cases during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, it's not just adults feeling the burden.
Dr. Mala Mathur from UW Health sat down with the Wake Up Wisconsin team for this week's segment of 'Ask a Doctor' to talk more about children being affected by mental health issues.
"It's really affected their schooling," Dr. Mathur said. "Most were virtual last year and many fear that will happen again. It's interrupted sports and other activities that children participated in and really altered milestone celebrations like birthdays, graduation and prom."
Dr. Mathur says another reason children are struggling is because of the anxiety surrounding getting or passing the virus along to loved ones. However, there are things that we can do to help mitigate the stress and anxiety that children are facing.
"Connect with your child," said Dr. Mathur. "So setting aside one-on-one time without screens 10 minutes a day makes a big impact. Also helping manage their fears, really talking to them. Practicing deep breathing and muscle relaxation. Using mindfulness can be helpful and really building healthy habits."
Doctors also say eating healthy foods, getting plenty of sleep, limiting screen time and being outside in nature can really make a difference. But what if your child's anxiety doesn't go away or gets worse?
"Get back in touch with your doctor and also consider looping in your teacher or guidance counselor at your school, so you can try to develop a plan to help manage your child's anxiety," Mathur said. | 2022-02-17T19:23:55Z | www.wkow.com | Ask a Doctor: Mental health issues spiking in children | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/ask-a-doctor-mental-health-issues-spiking-in-children/article_8c9386bc-8ffb-11ec-a4d0-0b962c67cbf7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/ask-a-doctor-mental-health-issues-spiking-in-children/article_8c9386bc-8ffb-11ec-a4d0-0b962c67cbf7.html |
Police respond to string of shootings across Madison
MADISON (WKOW) -- In a span of nearly four hours, four separate shots fired incidents were reported by police.
Incident #1:
Madison Police say the first happened Wednesday night around 8:40 p.m. near the 3500 block of Strauble Street.
Police say the victim was cut off on the road by a white Mercedes. Shots were fired at the victim, one shot hitting his car and another hitting an unoccupied vehicle. The victim tried to get away, but the suspect continued to follow him until they turned off on a side street. The victim was not injured.
The second happened around 9 p.m. Wednesday near the 3000 block of Todd Drive.
Police say multiple people called 911 about hearing several gunshots outside and someone driving away from the area.
Officers say they didn't find any damage to homes or vehicles and there were no reports of anyone injured.
The third happened around 10:30 p.m. near the 1900 block of South Park Street.
Police say multiple people called 911 about hearing gunshots. Witnesses told officers they saw a vehicle leaving the area after those shots were fired. Police say they checked the area and found an unoccupied vehicle that had been hit by at least one round.
There were no damage to homes and no injuries were reported. Police say they did find shell casings from two different caliber firearms.
The fourth and final incident happened early Thursday morning around 12:30 a.m. near the 1200 block of Colby Street.
Like the previous incidents, police say multiple people called 911 about hearing gunshots in the area.
Officers say they found several shell casings in the 700 block of Olin Street near the intersection of Whittier Street. Police say there was no damage to homes or vehicles and no one was injured.
Call police if you have information about any of these incidents.
This is a developing story, we will update when more information becomes available. | 2022-02-17T19:24:07Z | www.wkow.com | Police respond to string of shootings across Madison | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-respond-to-string-of-shootings-across-madison/article_cf9e8f3a-8fd1-11ec-ae22-1706e34bcd45.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-respond-to-string-of-shootings-across-madison/article_cf9e8f3a-8fd1-11ec-ae22-1706e34bcd45.html |
Assembly GOP passes new work search rules
MADISON (WKOW) -- Republicans in the state Assembly passed a series of bills Thursday creating new requirements for people seeking to receive unemployment benefits, penalties for people who turn down jobs, and forcing the Evers administration to enforce work search rules already on the books.
The bill's sponsors presented the package a way to address the concerns of business owners statewide who have, for months, said they've struggled to fill open jobs.
Democratic critics said the bills made scapegoats of workers who want to work but need assistance with needs like transportation or child care.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is likely to veto the bills, creating another potential campaign issue ahead of the mid-term election in November.
One bill authored by Rep. Warren Petryk (R - Town of Washington) would rebrand the unemployment program, changing its name from "unemployment insurance" to "reemployment assistance."
The bill also would require people receiving unemployment pay to start having two direct contacts each week with possible employers by their third week of getting unemployment pay.
By a recipient's second week on unemployment, they'd be required to post their resume on the Wisconsin Jobs Center website.
Another bill would force the Evers administration to enforce current state law requiring job search requirements for people receiving food stamps. Evers has waived the program due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
"If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents, you need to be looking for work if you're on the FoodShare program," Rep. Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) said. "The governor's decided to waive that unilaterally because of the pandemic, acting like there's not enough jobs available for people."
Democrats in a pre-session availability slammed the package of bills as out of touch with the challenges keeping many people from accepting jobs.
"A daughter who's taking care of her elderly mother with dementia who wants to return to work but she can't find affordable care for her mother or a formerly incarcerated individual who finds work but can't get there because it's not on a bus line," Rep. Kristna Shelton (D-Green Bay) listed as examples.
The GOP package also included a proposal to make people ineligible for the BadgerCare health program if they turn down a job or promotion. The law would apply to able-bodied adults without dependents currently working fewer than 40 hours a week.
Another bill would require the Department of Workforce Development to investigate reports from employers stating a candidate no-showed a job interview or didn't respond to a job offer. Those found to have "ghosted" an interview or offer would be unable to receive unemployment pay for the week in question.
"These are supposed to be programs that help you get back on your feet and get back to work," Born said. "To be able to avoid looking for work and collect these benefits just seems wrong to average people when you get outside the Madison bubble."
Shelton countered the legislature would fill more jobs by investing some of the state's projected $3.8 billion surplus in programs that would remove hurdles from re-entering the workforce.
"Housing and childcare, transportation, criminal justice reform, broadband - this is what we should be taking up on the floor," she said. "Why? Because we support and we grow our workforce and our economy by directly investing in people."
Assembly Gop | 2022-02-18T06:07:04Z | www.wkow.com | Assembly GOP passes new work search rules | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/assembly-gop-passes-new-work-search-rules/article_241eff8c-9049-11ec-a854-1f4b338e56db.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/assembly-gop-passes-new-work-search-rules/article_241eff8c-9049-11ec-a854-1f4b338e56db.html |
Keonte Furdge is briefly detained in June by Monona police after a neighbor reported him sitting on the steps of a home he had just moved into with a friend.
Judge: 2020 arrest of Monona man constitutes "clear-cut violation of the Fourth Amendment"
MADISON (WKOW) -- A federal lawsuit against two Monona police officers will be heard in front of a jury after a judge ruled their actions in a 2020 arrest were a Fourth Amendment violation.
Keonte Furdge's lawsuit against the two officers will move forward with charges of unlawful search and seizure after the court said he did not have grounds for punitive damages related to excessive force. Furdge was handcuffed and detained by two armed officers in a home he had been invited to in June 2020.
Judge James D. Peterson said the two officers' entry into the house and subsequent detainment of Furdge marked "a clear-cut violation of the Fourth Amendment." However, since he also determined that the officers were not acting with malice, Furdge was not entitled to punitive damages.
According to records from the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin, Furdge was staying with a friend at a house in Monona owned by their former high school football coach.
The coach's parents, who had owned the house previously, had recently died, and he had offered the house to former player Toren Young as a place to stay while he looked for a job in the Monona area.
Young had told Furdge he could stay with him for a few nights, as Furdge had recently been laid off, and he was staying with friends in the meantime. Young had moved in June 1, and when he left the house to go to a job interview the next day, Furdge took a phone call on the house's porch.
Later that morning, the Monona Police non-emergency line received a call from a Monona woman reporting "suspicious activity." She told the dispatcher that her neighbor had "passed away, the house is empty, and now there is an African-American with sweatpants, flip-flops and a white shirt sitting [at] the front door."
The dispatcher provided this information, minus the identifier of Furdge's race, to officer Jared Wedig over the radio. Wedig headed over to the house on Arrowhead Drive in Monona. Upon arriving, the original caller's boyfriend told Wedig that the house had been vacant for a year, but that Mark Rundle, Furdge and Young's former coach, had been maintaining it. He also told Wedig that a car had been parked at the house that morning but had since left.
Wedig approached the front door, finding it unlocked, then waited outside for more officers with his gun drawn. When two more officers, Luke Wunsch and Kevin Schneider, arrived on the scene, Wedig and Wunsch entered the house with their guns drawn.
They found Furdge and handcuffed him. When Furdge asked why he was being detained, Wunsch told him "because you don't live here. And the person that lived here passed away." Wunsch and Wedig later confirmed that Furdge was allowed to be in the house, removed his handcuffs, apologized and left.
Furdge filed the lawsuit in September 2020. It originally named the City of Monona as one of the defendants, but the city was dismissed from the case on the summary judgement.
Keonte Furdge
Jared Wedig
Toren Young
Luke Wunsch
Jury begins second day of deliberations in the trial over the killing of Ahmaud Arbery
Madison police investigating shooting as homicide after victim dies Monday
10 charges filed against Blooming Grove gas station homicide suspect
Chandler Halderson pleads not guilty to all charges in parents’ deaths | 2022-02-18T06:07:16Z | www.wkow.com | Judge: 2020 arrest of Monona man constitutes "clear-cut violation of the Fourth Amendment" | Crime | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/judge-2020-arrest-of-monona-man-constitutes-clear-cut-violation-of-the-fourth-amendment/article_1eb1c0d6-9042-11ec-a611-d3285df5bef8.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/judge-2020-arrest-of-monona-man-constitutes-clear-cut-violation-of-the-fourth-amendment/article_1eb1c0d6-9042-11ec-a611-d3285df5bef8.html |
Doctors: Kindness is good for your health
MADISON (WKOW) -- On National Random Acts of Kindness Day, doctors with SSM Health are stressing that kindness is good for your mental and physical health.
Dr. Bhawani Ballamudi says that when we think about, witness or engage in kind acts, our brain releases a chemical called Oxytocin.
Not only does Oxytocin promote a sense of bonding, but research shows it can protect your health by releasing something into your body called nitric oxide.
"Nitric oxide actually dilates your blood vessels within thereby, you know, it reduces your blood pressure and actually improves heart health," she said.
Other research has shown that Oxytocin, among other neurotransmitters like it, can reduce inflammation. By reducing inflammation, that can help protect people from some chronic diseases like obesity, diabetes, and cancer.
Dr. Ballamudi also says being kind to yourself is key, too. Negative emotions and self-talk can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression.
"Being kind with yourself actually also reduces the stress hormone Cortisol, which then improves your mood as well," she said. "Being kind with yourself is also as important as it is to be kind with other people."
Bhawani Ballamudi
Stress Hormone | 2022-02-18T06:07:29Z | www.wkow.com | Doctors: Kindness is good for your health | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/doctors-kindness-is-good-for-your-health/article_366e3bb6-904a-11ec-803a-1398519431a5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/doctors-kindness-is-good-for-your-health/article_366e3bb6-904a-11ec-803a-1398519431a5.html |
Downtown Madison celebrates Lunar New Year
MADISON (WKOW) -- Lions danced in downtown Madison Thursday night to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Madison's Central Business Improvement District hosted the celebration at Lisa Link Peace Park on State Street. The Zhong Yi Kung Fu Association performed a Chinese Lion Dance.
"We're kind of bringing happiness and joy to the community," said the martial arts group's Nelson Ferreira. "We're throwing out some tangerines and the tangerines are supposed to represent good luck, you know, money. And then greens are supposed to also represent fortune and wealth. So the idea is actually spreading the good luck, wealth, prosperity and all of those good things to the whole community."
After the performance at the park, the dancers also visited some businesses on State Street to bless them.
Some businesses on State Street had specials on their products as part of the celebration. | 2022-02-18T06:07:35Z | www.wkow.com | Downtown Madison celebrates Lunar New Year | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-madison-celebrates-lunar-new-year/article_84897fe0-9077-11ec-88b2-5fcc9b19c498.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-madison-celebrates-lunar-new-year/article_84897fe0-9077-11ec-88b2-5fcc9b19c498.html |
First 50s of the Season Right Around the Corner?
After a quick taste of Spring-like air on Wednesday, many may be hoping that Spring is right around the corner. Southern Wisconsin, along with the Midwest, will feel another warm up before the weekend ends... but Spring is far from being sprung.
Another low pressure system is going to ride through the Midwest as we kick off the weekend; the main center of circulation will stay off to our north which means our means of snow will come along its cold front. While most of Friday will be partly sunny, skies will become more cloudy towards the late afternoon which is when a line of snow may move through.
Don't expect much in the way of accumulations though, most will accumulate around a half an inch or snow. A cold night follows as skies clear but winds will quickly turn out of the south and usher in our next warm up.
While some popped into the 50s on Wednesday, many of us will have a better chance on Sunday. That's when southerly winds move warm air north as a high exits and a low scoots by to our north. Behind that low, though, another blast of cold air is set to return as next week begins with a chance for a wintry mix returning Monday and Tuesday. | 2022-02-18T06:07:47Z | www.wkow.com | First 50s of the Season Right Around the Corner? | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/first-50s-of-the-season-right-around-the-corner/article_c0baf058-903f-11ec-90c8-776db97dc734.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/first-50s-of-the-season-right-around-the-corner/article_c0baf058-903f-11ec-90c8-776db97dc734.html |
Milwaukee considered finalist to host 2024 RNC
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- Officials with the Republican National Committee toured Milwaukee Thursday.
The city is a finalist to host the party's 2024 convention.
RNC officials toured venues like the Wisconsin Center and Fiserv Forum.
Former Governor Scott Walker and former White House Chief of Staff Reince Preibus were part of the city's pitch.
"I think it's a big deal. Reince obviously is a homer as am I, but I think having been involved in many conventions before, understands what it takes makes a big case," said Walker.
The other finalist cities are Nashville and Salt Lake City. The RNC is expected to decide by August. | 2022-02-18T06:08:17Z | www.wkow.com | Milwaukee considered finalist to host 2024 RNC | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/milwaukee-considered-finalist-to-host-2024-rnc/article_fcd6d08c-9069-11ec-84e5-472649fa03fc.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/milwaukee-considered-finalist-to-host-2024-rnc/article_fcd6d08c-9069-11ec-84e5-472649fa03fc.html |
Person killed after fire at mobile home park in Monroe
MONROE (WKOW) -- Monroe Fire Chief Bill Erb revealed one person was found dead after a fire at a mobile home park Tuesday morning.
The home where the fire started was destroyed. Firefighters found the body inside that home.
The fire spread to a second home. The fire also destroyed that home. No one was inside that home at the time of the fire.
The fire caused minimal damage to a third home. | 2022-02-18T06:08:24Z | www.wkow.com | Person killed after fire at mobile home park in Monroe | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/person-killed-after-fire-at-mobile-home-park-in-monroe/article_b53732dc-9044-11ec-a5e3-b3fe68c2e2da.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/person-killed-after-fire-at-mobile-home-park-in-monroe/article_b53732dc-9044-11ec-a5e3-b3fe68c2e2da.html |
Wisconsin Sturgeon, spearing season and numbers, are doing well
LAKE WINNEBAGO (WKOW) - According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) tells 27 News that as of February 16th, a total of around 1,000 fish have been harvested since the season started. Over 600 of those fish have been taken out of Lake Winnebago while over 300 fish have been taken out of Upriver Lakes.
Since the Upriver Lakes pulled out over 300 fish, most of which were male, the season is closed due to the number of female fish allowed to be harvested was reached. DNR says the season wrapped up on the 15th and spearers with unfilled tags are unable to use them on the Upriver Lakes. If spearers do have tags left for Winnebago, they can spear there.
The largest fish out of the Upriver Lakes was a 148.2lb female speared on the third day. The 2022 Upriver spearing season ended four days sooner than the 2021 season with a smaller harvest as well. There's a higher allotment for males because recent surveys show higher numbers of male fish compared to female fish.
The sturgeon in Lake Winnebago and connecting waterways are unique; according to John Lyons, a fish biologist with the University of Wisconsin Madison, the lake sturgeon population within Lake Winnebago is the single largest population of lake sturgeon in the world.
Lyons estimates that, in total, there's a very healthy adult fish population estimating numbers in the thousands. Which is good news for many reasons, he says.
Sturgeon live long lives at the bottom of lakes or rivers. Feeding primarily on insect larvae, clams or worms in the mud, these fish search the mud using its taste buds near its mouth. Living up to 150 years old, females tend to live longer than males, these fish grow in size quickly but not in maturity.
Female sturgeon reach maturity between 18 and 33 years of life while male sturgeon will reach maturity within the first 15 years of life. Given the large amount of adult sturgeon in Lake Winnebago and connecting waterways, Lyons says the young sturgeon are surviving their early stages of life and go on to becoming reproducing adults.
A healthy sturgeon population also indicates that the water they live in is healthy too. A sensitive fish, Lyons says that polluted water is not suitable for sturgeon and they'll leave to find cleaner water. While suitable, efforts continue across Wisconsin to make sure water quality is improving.
Despite sturgeon numbers being relatively, a word Lyons uses, in Wisconsin overall sturgeon numbers across the Northern Hemisphere are not doing well. Due to habitat loss, pollution, dam construction, overfishing and poaching have lead to dwindling populations; the ICUN, International Union for Conservation of Nature suggests that over 85% of sturgeon species are at risk of extinction.
READ ABOUT A CAVIAR CRACKDOWN IN WISCONSIN
To make sure that sturgeon in Wisconsin have a chance to mate and lay their eggs successfully, a volunteer program has been created by the Wisconsin DNR. The program is called Sturgeon Guard where volunteers make sure mating sturgeon are not poached throughout the month of April. Shifts and mating times vary as the mating occurs within a 10 day period and is unknown until it's happening.
John Lyons, a fish biologist with the University of Wisconsin Madison, said these "living dinosaurs" have an important role in the water ecosystems they inhabit. Sturgeon were incredibly important to the Indigenous tribes that lived in Wisconsin before settlers arrived, specifically the Menominee tribe.
Catching sturgeon was eventually stopped in Wisconsin due to overfishing in the early 1900s. The spearing season that Wisconsinites know today began back in the early 1930s on Lake Winnebago with the spearing eventually being extended to the Upriver Lakes in the 1950s.
Sturgeon Spearing Season
John Lyons | 2022-02-18T06:08:48Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin Sturgeon, spearing season and numbers, are doing well | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-sturgeon-spearing-season-and-numbers-are-doing-well/article_191c2f88-9030-11ec-9ed6-2367cc8e67f3.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-sturgeon-spearing-season-and-numbers-are-doing-well/article_191c2f88-9030-11ec-9ed6-2367cc8e67f3.html |
Doctor weighs in on COVID-19 outlook
MADISON (WKOW) — As the country works to push past the COVID-19 pandemic, there are questions about what the long-term outlook may look like.
Doctors say new variants may come along, but they will be less severe. They also say, as we develop stronger immunity to COVID-19 through vaccinations, we are going to be able to handle the virus similar to how we do the flu.
"So I think over the years, what we're going to see is the coronavirus is going to be kind of our new flu that's in the background," said Dr. James Taylor, founder of COVID Treatment Clinics & COVID Testing Solutions. "We understand it's there. It affects those extremes of age and those who have medical conditions. But for the majority of us, if we have a healthy lifestyle and do prudent things, we can protect ourselves from it. And it won't have much repercussion on our life in the future."
Taylor also says COVID-19 immunity can vary from person to person and can depend on how severe of a case you originally contracted.
When treating COVID patients, Taylor says he first looks at them as though they are a house on fire, meaning he tries to find out where coronavirus has infected the body.
"We take this very seriously and we want to do two things: One, we want to try to put the fire out. And the second: we want to minimize and start healing the damage that the fire has already done," said Taylor.
Doctors say monoclonal antibodies and diluting the virus out of the nose and mouth through nasal washings are ways to treat COVID-19.
To help the body heal, doctors recommend creating a low-inflammatory diet and a stress-free environment. They also suggest supplements like Vitamin D and Vitamin C, along with Melatonin.
UPDATE: Missing Janesville teen returns home safely
Three Beloit residents accused of stealing $31,000 worth of copper wire
DHS reports 2,098 COVID-19 cases
A snowy weekend ahead | 2022-02-18T14:58:13Z | www.wkow.com | Doctor weighs in on COVID-19 outlook | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/doctor-weighs-in-on-covid-19-outlook/article_689fd05e-90bd-11ec-aa0d-3ff4c414f98e.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/doctor-weighs-in-on-covid-19-outlook/article_689fd05e-90bd-11ec-aa0d-3ff4c414f98e.html |
Breezy Start to Weekend Which Will End Abnormally Warm
We're nearing the end of February and for the second to last weekend, it'll start off breezy and cold with the threat for snow squalls and will end abnormally warm with 50s possible. It's that time of year that we start to enter the transition period between Winter and Spring.
A low pressure system is spinning to our north and is bringing windy conditions to nearly all of Wisconsin. Most of the state is sitting under a wind advisory that lasts, locally, until 4am on Saturday. Until then, expect gusts between 30 and 45 miles per hour.
A band of snow will be moving southeast too. Coupled with the strong winds, snow squall warnings may be issued across parts of southern Wisconsin, which would be the first warnings this part of the state has seen ever. Timing for the snow: in the Madison area starting between 4:30-5pm and will continue southeast... pushing into the Milwaukee area around 6pm.
Should a warning be issued where you live, expect white out conditions along with poor road conditions for a brief amount of time. If you're on the road, pull over and wait it out. Weather radios along with phones will alert you if you're placed under a snow squall warning.
Saturday's weather conditions are calm but the wind is still persistent, this time out of the south. Those southerly winds will help push temperatures on Sunday into the low to mid 40s for most... but a few may break into the low 50s. Enjoy the warmth because as we kick off the final week of February, a wintry mix moves on in for Monday and Tuesday.
Wkow Forecast
Lafayette County begins fundraising for new fair site
UPDATE: 1 person dead after head-on crash in Dodge Co.
Fitchburg gas station burgled overnight
Car crashes into Janesville daycare with children inside
Ford recalls 1.3M vehicles for suspension, transmission woes
Edgerton firefighters on the scene of residential fire | 2022-02-18T22:22:07Z | www.wkow.com | Breezy Start to Weekend Which Will End Abnormally Warm | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/breezy-start-to-weekend-which-will-end-abnormally-warm/article_475c2af2-90f7-11ec-aac6-eb06ca28865f.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/breezy-start-to-weekend-which-will-end-abnormally-warm/article_475c2af2-90f7-11ec-aac6-eb06ca28865f.html |
DNR reminds Wisconsinites how to properly recycle batteries, electronics
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is recognizing National Battery Day by reminding everyone to dispose of used batteries and electronics safely.
According to a news release from the DNR, this warning comes after a rise in fires inside collection trucks and recycling and disposal sites. Many batteries still hold a charge even when they don't have enough energy to power a device, and the batteries can spark and start fires if damaged.
“When you put electronics or rechargeable batteries in your recycling or trash container, you’re putting workers at risk. Taking batteries or electronics to a drop-off site may be an extra step, but it’s really important," Brown County Resource Recovery Technician Chris Blan said in the release.
The danger with putting used batteries, especially lithium-ion batteries, in the trash comes at the collection plant. Collecting and sorting trash and recyclables involves many pieces of heavy machinery that are liable to damage used batteries, which can easily lead to fires.
To keep workers safe, the DNR recommends taking the following measures with used batteries and electronics:
"With so many devices in our homes powered by so many different shapes and types of batteries, we know it can be confusing,” DNR E-Cycle Wisconsin coordinator Sarah Murray said in the release. “We want to help everyone understand how to identify their batteries and where you can recycle batteries and electronics.” | 2022-02-18T22:23:08Z | www.wkow.com | DNR reminds Wisconsinites how to properly recycle batteries, electronics | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/dnr-reminds-wisconsinites-how-to-properly-recycle-batteries-electronics/article_9c1e0d34-90d0-11ec-b5a6-f77438ce1505.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/dnr-reminds-wisconsinites-how-to-properly-recycle-batteries-electronics/article_9c1e0d34-90d0-11ec-b5a6-f77438ce1505.html |
Drug charge filed against Quadren Wilson, man injured in officer-involved shooting
Peter Culver,
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Dane County District Attorney's office has filed a drug charge against a Beaver Dam man who was apparently shot during his arrest in Madison earlier this month.
The complaint against Quadren Wilson was filed Friday for one count of Delivery of a Schedule I or II Narcotic, Repeater. During his initial court appearance Wilson's bail was set at $1,000 cash.
A criminal complaint alleges Wilson sold heroin to two people in April, 2021. One of the individuals died of an accidental overdose after using the drug at a McDonald’s on Milwaukee Street. The victim’s autopsy report confirms his cause of death was the combined effect of acetyl fentanyl, fentanyl, gabapentin, methadone, chlordiazepoxide and ethanol toxicity.
The surviving person told police Wilson became a drug source for her after he gave her two phone numbers to contact while she was panhandling. She said she used him as a source for heroin twice. She described the dealer as a light skinned black man with green or hazel eyes, 6'0" tall and around 250-300 pounds. Authorities found this description is similar to that of Wisconsin the Dane County Records Management System, according to the complaint.
When investigating the numbers provided, detectives say the traced it back to Wilson. Authorities also found three inmates called the cellphone, including Wilson's brother.
The criminal complaint does not provide details on Wilson's arrest.
Wilson was arrested February 3. Two state Department of Criminal Investigation officers fired their weapons during the traffic stop. The Dane County Sheriff's Office stopped short of saying the DCI agents shot Wilson, but his family claims he was shot five times in the back. They also claim Wilson complied with orders during the arrest and was not armed.
The Dane County Sheriff's Office did confirm Wilson was taken to the hospital and later transferred to the jail.
The handling of the arrest has sparked protests in the Madison area.
When investigating the numbers provided, authorities found three inmates called the cellphone, including Wilson's brother.
Department Of Criminal Investigation | 2022-02-18T22:23:14Z | www.wkow.com | Drug charge filed against Quadren Wilson, man injured in officer-involved shooting | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/drug-charge-filed-against-quadren-wilson-man-injured-in-officer-involved-shooting/article_2c17d0a4-90eb-11ec-8b57-3f1260523633.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/drug-charge-filed-against-quadren-wilson-man-injured-in-officer-involved-shooting/article_2c17d0a4-90eb-11ec-8b57-3f1260523633.html |
State dismisses charge against Middleton man who hit grandmother with car door
MADISON (WKOW) -- Prosecutors dismissed charges against a Middleton man Friday after investigation could not prove any criminal action in the case.
Thomas Wilke, 27, was charged with first degree recklessly endangering safety by use of a dangerous weapon in December after hitting his grandmother, Susan Wilke, with a car door while backing up. Susan Wilke hit her head in the fall, later dying from her injuries.
According to court records obtained by 27 News, Assistant District Attorney Awais Khaleel's motion to dismiss the charge was granted. The motion to dismiss states the DA's Office has met with the Medical Examiner's Office and law enforcement to discuss evidence and findings.
"The State no longer believe we can prove Mr. Wilke engaged in criminal conduct that resulted in the death of Ms. Susan Wilke. Consequently, criminal prosecution is not appropriate at this time," Khaleel said in the written motion to dismiss.
Wilke told investigators he had thought the vehicle was in drive and mistakenly put it in reverse. At his initial court hearing in December, Wilke's attorney said the evidence in the case pointed to an accident, and the state's investigation found a lack of criminality in the incident. | 2022-02-18T22:23:26Z | www.wkow.com | State dismisses charge against Middleton man who hit grandmother with car door | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/state-dismisses-charge-against-middleton-man-who-hit-grandmother-with-car-door/article_35eb5ca0-90e0-11ec-b7c5-7bb26cfe0779.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/state-dismisses-charge-against-middleton-man-who-hit-grandmother-with-car-door/article_35eb5ca0-90e0-11ec-b7c5-7bb26cfe0779.html |
GOP, Dems both flip-flop on election year tax cuts
MADISON (WKOW) -- Whether Republican and Democratic leaders in Wisconsin support cutting taxes in an election year seems to depend on who controls the governor's office.
"How shameless the governor's attempt is in an election year to address low poll numbers in an election that doesn't bode well for the governor's re-election hopes," Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz said when Walker shared the idea in his 2018 State of the State address.
LeMahieu said in an interview Friday Republicans will gavel in and out of the special session Evers called. Republicans have done the same for special sessions, including last year on Evers' call to expand Medicaid coverage. | 2022-02-19T04:40:01Z | www.wkow.com | GOP, Dems both flip-flop on election year tax cuts | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-dems-both-flip-flop-on-election-year-tax-cuts/article_53bc1e86-911c-11ec-91b1-f73f25684476.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-dems-both-flip-flop-on-election-year-tax-cuts/article_53bc1e86-911c-11ec-91b1-f73f25684476.html |
Sheriff's office identifies agents in Quadren Wilson shooting, confirms he did not have weapon
MADISON (WKOW) -- A spokesperson with the Dane County Sheriff's Office released Fthe names of the agents who fired their guns during Quadren Wilson's February 3 arrest Friday.
Special Agent Mark Wagner and Special Agent Nathan Peskie were responding with the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI). Sheriff's investigators said they were the two officers who fired.
DCSO spokesperson Elise Schaffer also added Wilson did not have a weapon when he was arrested.
DCI agents were working with federal and local agents to arrest Wilson for violating his parole. He was also a person of interest in an ongoing drug investigation.
The shooting happened near the intersection of American Parkway and East Park Blvd. in Madison.
The Wisconsin Department of Justice confirmed that Wagner and Peskie have been on paid administrative leave since February 3.
The officers were identified after two weeks of calls for answers from Wilson's family about who shot him and why.
"Why did the police shoot him and who shot him? That's all we want to know," Stacy Morris, mom, told 27 News Friday afternoon. "Obviously they know who did it. We don't know if he's still out here walking the streets. We don't even know who he is."
Wilson's Attorney, Steve Eisenberg, has also been pressing for answers about the incident.
"I understand out of 21 police officers at the scene, not one at a body cam, so there's no video of what happened. We don't precisely know what happened," Eisenberg said. "The family wants justice. They want their son and brother out of jail. And they want answers to what happened to them."
Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett asked anyone who may have witnessed the shooting and arrest or anyone who may have video recordings to call the Dane County tip line at (608) 284-6900.
Nathan Peskie | 2022-02-19T04:40:25Z | www.wkow.com | Sheriff's office identifies agents in Quadren Wilson shooting, confirms he did not have weapon | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/sheriffs-office-identifies-agents-in-quadren-wilson-shooting-confirms-he-did-not-have-weapon/article_977eae8a-910e-11ec-b30a-0738493baf4c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/sheriffs-office-identifies-agents-in-quadren-wilson-shooting-confirms-he-did-not-have-weapon/article_977eae8a-910e-11ec-b30a-0738493baf4c.html |
Students in Monroe make care packages for SSM Health patients, employees
MONROE (WKOW) -- Students at Northside Elementary in Monroe are putting a lot of love and joy into small packages.
This is the school's annual day of service, and it all started with one of the first grade teachers.
"She wanted an opportunity to teach our kids giving back to the community," said school counselor Katlyn Trumm. "We do have a fall day where we have community days to give back to our neighborhoods, but we wanted to do another one in the spring to continue fostering that giving back and generosity for our students."
This year, students put together about 150 gift bags for employees and patients at Monroe-based SSM Health facilities.
They included SSM Health Monroe Hospital, Monroe Clinic Medical Group, and SSM Health Monroe Hospice Home.
Trumm said the students wanted to show kindness to those who may be having a tough time right now.
"It's going not only to patients, but to staff members who maybe are feeling the burnout of this year and the really tough couple of years that we've all been having," she said. "So just taking a moment to appreciate them and know that they're not alone."
Chelsea Hardacre, the chief nursing officer for SSM Health Monroe, said the staff and patients were grateful for such a thoughtful and heartfelt gesture.
"My favorite bag was one that said 'You are my sunshine,' because I just felt like that was from a child's heart and very sincere," she said.
Katlyn Trumm
Ssm Health Monroe Hospital
Monroe Clinic | 2022-02-19T04:40:32Z | www.wkow.com | Students in Monroe make care packages for SSM Health patients, employees | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/students-in-monroe-make-care-packages-for-ssm-health-patients-employees/article_e9a281a8-910b-11ec-bff0-17d64410e16f.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/students-in-monroe-make-care-packages-for-ssm-health-patients-employees/article_e9a281a8-910b-11ec-bff0-17d64410e16f.html |
Crash blocks all lanes on I-39/90 near Edgerton
ROCK COUNTY (WKOW) -- A crash on I-39/90 near mile marker 166 blocked all lanes Friday evening, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Wisconsin State Patrol responded to the crash.
The roadway is expected to be cleared within 2 hours, according to the Wisconsin DOT. | 2022-02-19T04:40:56Z | www.wkow.com | Crash blocks all lanes on I-39/90 near Edgerton | Highway | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/highway/crash-blocks-all-lanes-on-i-39-90-near-edgerton/article_df880236-912b-11ec-b44c-039f66304ce1.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/highway/crash-blocks-all-lanes-on-i-39-90-near-edgerton/article_df880236-912b-11ec-b44c-039f66304ce1.html |
Nursing homes and assisted living facilities facing persistent staffing challenge
MADISON (WKOW) -- Nursing homes and assisted living facilities have faced COVID-19 outbreaks, rising supply costs and staffing shortages over the past two years. Now, one nursing home administrator says at least some of that is getting better.
Danielle Sigler is the administrator of Ingleside Communities in Mount Horeb. She says COVID-19 cases aren't having as big of an impact now as they were 24 months ago.
"During our first outbreak, there was a lot of us, myself included, working the floor, working all kinds of hours, just to meet the needs of the residents," she said. "Now, we're able to pretty much keep things stable, and there's not a lot of intense changes happening."
Sigler credited a lot of that improvement to the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and booster shots.
"Prior to vaccines, people were sick still on day 20 sometimes, and we're not seeing that anymore," she said.
Data from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services shows nearly 40% of fully vaccinated workers in Wisconsin nursing homes have gotten a booster shot. That's higher than the national average of 34.6%.
But keeping workers health hasn't completely solved staffing issues because the industry is still dealing with a shortage of workers.
"All across the board, we're having a very difficult time trying to recruit and retain staff at assisted living facilities," Mike Pochowski, the president and CEO of the Wisconsin Assisted Living Association, said.
He said the industry is struggling to compete with other jobs that offer higher wages, and Sigler said many current staff members are struggling with burnout.
However, both said they're optimistic about what coming months will bring.
"Because of the vaccines' availability [and because] PPE is more available, we're able to feel a little more peace versus the chaos that was happening before," Sigler said.
Danielle Sigler
CDC: Dane County back to 'high' COVID-19 transmission risk
77 more dead from COVID-19 in Wisconsin; 183 more hospitalized
Wisconsin offers COVID-19 Pfizer booster shot | 2022-02-19T09:57:28Z | www.wkow.com | Nursing homes and assisted living facilities facing persistent staffing challenge | Coronavirus | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/nursing-homes-and-assisted-living-facilities-facing-persistent-staffing-challenge/article_c32aab80-9139-11ec-ae7c-0f8188df90af.html | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/nursing-homes-and-assisted-living-facilities-facing-persistent-staffing-challenge/article_c32aab80-9139-11ec-ae7c-0f8188df90af.html |
Welcome to the Transition Period Between Winter and Spring
That's right - it's that time of year when the jet stream begins its move northwards for Summer. During this time, which usually lasts through late Spring, our temperatures will go from cold, to warm, to cold again before the jet finally settles north for Summer. And we're going to get a little taste of that as we end the weekend.
A low pressure system is beginning to get more organized and in doing so, it's going to bring unseasonal warmth to much of the Plains and the Midwest. Our temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 40s to low 50s on Sunday thanks to sunny conditions, a low snow pack and southerly winds. But that same low is going to bring back Winter... quickly.
Starting Monday, our temperatures will be around 20 degrees cooler as cloud cover takes over. Winds will still be breezy and by the mid afternoon onwards, a wintry mix will develop and continue throughout the rest of Monday, turning over to snow overnight into Tuesday.
The threat for a wintry mix will continue throughout Tuesday too but will taper off as the day unfolds, leaving us with windy and cold conditions for Tuesday night.
Right now, snow accumulations don't look to be super impressive but some may pick up a few inches. Farther south, towards the state line, a small amount of ice could accumulate too as well as rain. Expect a dry morning commute on Monday and a possibly slick evening commute Monday.
Madison PD looking for teens who assaulted 17-year-old girl
Hundreds reach out to help Ochsner Park Zoo after fire destroys animal enclosure
Badger basketball team honors referee, AAU coach
Janesville police make arrest in early morning robbery, hostage incident
Madison police investigating reported sexual assault downtown | 2022-02-20T00:49:15Z | www.wkow.com | Welcome to the Transition Period Between Winter and Spring | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/welcome-to-the-transition-period-between-winter-and-spring/article_9ce907b0-91c4-11ec-9f24-471d36b00b0b.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/welcome-to-the-transition-period-between-winter-and-spring/article_9ce907b0-91c4-11ec-9f24-471d36b00b0b.html |
Major gas leak on Madison's east side
UPDATE (WKOW) -- A Madison Fire official told 27 News crews were still on scene of the gas leak as of 8:30 p.m. Saturday waiting for the building to self-ventilate.
The fire official added that they would not be surprised if ventilation continues until morning.
They said crews do not yet know the cause of the gas leak.
The fire department is asking the public to continue avoiding the area. | 2022-02-20T03:34:45Z | www.wkow.com | Major gas leak on Madison's east side | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/major-gas-leak-on-madisons-east-side/article_17b31872-91d5-11ec-a8e0-1ff1d1158010.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/major-gas-leak-on-madisons-east-side/article_17b31872-91d5-11ec-a8e0-1ff1d1158010.html |
Remembering Asher through his heart foundation
SUN PRAIRIE (WKOW) -- We're in the middle of American Heart Month, which also recognizes congenital heart defects. One in 100 babies is born with a congenital heart defect and the pandemic has made a difficult situation even harder.
For the last seven years, one Cottage Grove family has made it their mission to help.
"One of the big things that really kind of gave me the motivation to start all of this is that I don't get to walk this journey anymore with my son," said Angela Steinhayer.
On February 2, 2015, Angela and Tony Steinhayer welcomed a son, Asher.
"He was born with a very rare condition called Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome," said Steinhayer.
The right-sided structures of little Asher's heart didn't function properly, and he put up a brave fight for 24 days.
"He ended up passing away. We decided in his honor to start this fund," Steinhayer.
Shortly after losing their son, the Steinhayer's started the Asher Heart Foundation, which helps other families who have kids with congenital heart defects through encouragement cards, heart pillows, and beads of courage.
"We actually received the Asher's heart beads of courage, and it meant so much to our family that I'm inspired to give back to families," said Sam Steinich, who now volunteers with the Asher Heart Foundation.
Steinich said this past year her daughter was born with a congenital heart defect which was especially scary during the pandemic.
"She had open-heart surgery in June and just such an intense stream of emotions going through something like that," said Steinich.
For people with heart conditions, this pandemic has been a double-edged sword.
Angela said, "Those families that do feel like they can't take the vaccine because of medical concerns, but yet they have medical concerns that it could be very severe for them."
Angela continues to silently count Asher's birthdays and wonders what he would think about his foundation.
"Hopefully that he's proud of us. It's, hard to think about him running around here and playing basketball with his brothers. This is a way that I get to care for him and live his legacy on to hopefully help others."
In its seven years, Asher's Heart Foundation has raised over $130,000
Angela Steinhayer
Sam Steinich
Asher Heart Foundation
Tony Steinhayer | 2022-02-20T03:34:57Z | www.wkow.com | Remembering Asher through his heart foundation | Medicine | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/remembering-asher-through-his-heart-foundation/article_4c617e58-91e7-11ec-bcb4-23803b735014.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/remembering-asher-through-his-heart-foundation/article_4c617e58-91e7-11ec-bcb4-23803b735014.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- As tensions rise between Russia and Ukraine, U.S leaders are warning of the consequences of a potential invasion. Sen. Ron Johnson said Saturday that while he doesn't think Russia will invade, the country should face consequences if it does.
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris both addressed rising tensions over the weekend, warning of "swift, severe and united" consequences if Russia invades.
"Let me be clear," Harris said. "I can say with absolute certainty if Russia further invades Ukraine, the United States, together with our Allies and partners, will impose significant, and unprecedented economic costs."
Sen. Johnson addressed Russia-Ukraine tensions while speaking to a crowd of supporters at Madison's Esquire Club Saturday. He said he didn't believe the Biden administration had done enough to prevent an invasion.
"When our adversaries are opportunistic, when they see a weakened America, a divided America — when they see an administration that has further divided, furthering the divide, they take advantage of it," Johnson said.
But Johnson added that he didn't think Russia would invade Ukraine, despite the Biden administration's warnings.
"I'm a ranking member of the European Subcommittee on Foreign Relations," Johnson said. "I'm talking to the ambassadors and surrounding nations, to an ambassador, — they don't believe Putin will invade. It's been interesting the way Zelensky has been quite calm. The Ukrainians are quite calm. I'm hoping they're right."
Sen. Johnson said he also supports swift economic sanctions in the event that Russia does invade.
"There will be severe sanctions," Johnson said. "I think the most effective ones will be levied against Putin and his cronies and their wealth overseas." | 2022-02-20T06:02:33Z | www.wkow.com | Ron Johnson speaks on Russia-Ukraine tensions, says he doesn't think Russia will invade | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/ron-johnson-speaks-on-russia-ukraine-tensions-says-he-doesnt-think-russia-will-invade/article_534c517a-91f6-11ec-af82-4b4d1df69c2d.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/ron-johnson-speaks-on-russia-ukraine-tensions-says-he-doesnt-think-russia-will-invade/article_534c517a-91f6-11ec-af82-4b4d1df69c2d.html |
Capital City Sunday: LeMahieu unsure Biden win was legitimate; Assembly Dems force vote on resolution to decertify 2020 election
MADISON (WKOW) -- The top Republican in the Wisconsin Senate says he cannot say for certain President Joe Biden legitimately won the state's electoral votes in 2020.
Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) said while Biden clearly had more votes than former President Donald Trump, questions about whether state elections officials acted in accordance with state law on certain issues left him unwilling to say for certain Biden had indisputably won the election.
"By a raw vote count, yes, Biden did get more votes in the state of Wisconsin but we don't know - there was obviously a lot of concerns with how those votes were cast," LeMahieu said.
"I don't think we could ever know for certain what went on in nursing homes, with [ballot drop-off event] Democracy in the Park, things like that so it's tough to give a certain answer to that," LeMahieu said when pressed on whether he viewed Biden as the legitimate winner in Wisconsin.
Republican legislative leaders are under pressure from the far-right to decertify the 2020 election based on claims of election fraud for which the deniers have provided no real evidence.
Conspiracy theorists have rallied around Rep. Timothy Ramthun's resolution to decertify the 2020 election. Ramthun announced last weekend he was running for governor.
Assembly Democrats on Thursday forced Republicans to vote on whether the resolution should come up for a vote. The Assembly Rules Committee, with its GOP majority, voted unanimously against bringing the resolution up for a vote.
"We're very clear that is resolution is undemocratic and it's illegal," said Assembly Minority Leader Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) "And we felt that it was critical our Republican colleagues, Republican leadership in the Assembly be very clear about that and be on the record."
Republicans are fast-tracking another set of election bills next week. One noticeable change, though, is Assembly bills now going through the state affairs committee instead of the elections committee.
Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), who chairs the elections commission and has used it to give a platform to election conspiracy theorists, accused Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) of "kneecapping" her efforts to improve election laws.
"It's not my caucus so I don't know about all those internal dynamics but it'll be interesting what happens next week," Neubauer said. "I'll just leave it at that."
Both parties flip-flop on tax cuts
Whether Republican and Democratic leaders in Wisconsin support cutting taxes in an election year seems to depend on who controls the governor's office.
LeMahieu said Republicans will gavel in and out of the special session Evers called. Republicans have done the same for special sessions, including last year on Evers' call to expand Medicaid coverage.
Conspiracy theorists continue push to decertify
When pressed, GOP leaders have made clear they cannot move to "reclaim" the state's 10 electoral votes based on guidance they've received from their Legislative Council. Still, that hasn't stopped Ramthun and other election deniers from continuing their calls to for the legislature to decertify the election.
"We can't do that as a legislature," LeMahieu said. "We make laws. We can't decertify elections. Our attorneys have told us that; it would have to be done by the court system."
A group of about 200 people demanding decertification rallied at the Capitol on Tuesday. Brandtjen and Ramthun both addressed the crowd - which including other speakers who pushed wild non-election conspiracy theories such as a "eugenicist cartel" taking over medical schools.
"This is becoming a thorn in the side of the speaker," Cap Times Political Reporter Jack Kelly said. "Now, I think it's a small one. I think the speaker is obviously very influential and will continue to be but it is notable."
After the event, Ramthun took questions from reporters for about 20 minutes in his first media availability since announcing his run for governor. When pressed on who should ultimately oversee elections in Wisconsin, Ramthun suggested each arm of state government could potentially be involved.
"Who has the ultimate authority? I think at least one branch, if not two in this building to participate in that process - executive and/or legislative would have to do it," he said. "And maybe even the judicial, what the heck, get 'em all three involved and see what happens."
Kelly said he was also struck by Ramthun's response, when asked if he would've moved to decertify the election in 2016 when Trump won Wisconsin based on Ramthun's claim election improprieties may date back to the 1996 election when Bill Clinton won a second term.
"He stumbled on the answer a little bit and eventually got to the point, saying that if he had the "evidence" he does now, then he would have and should have done something in 2017 following the 2016 election," Kelly said.
Ramthun's supporters have had far sharper words to this point for GOP leaders than for Evers and other Democrats. LeMahieu said his message was for the party to find a way to realign after the August primary.
"We can be like Georgia, where voters were frustrated and stayed home [losing two U.S. Senate seats in 2021] or we can be like Virginia where voters, Republican voters, rallied and elected a Republican governor," LeMahieu said. | 2022-02-20T17:34:05Z | www.wkow.com | Capital City Sunday: LeMahieu unsure Biden win was legitimate; Assembly Dems force vote on resolution to decertify 2020 election | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-lemahieu-unsure-biden-win-was-legitimate-assembly-dems-force-vote-on-resolution/article_9bade570-9122-11ec-9d70-2fa05b9ea5df.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-lemahieu-unsure-biden-win-was-legitimate-assembly-dems-force-vote-on-resolution/article_9bade570-9122-11ec-9d70-2fa05b9ea5df.html |
UPDATE: Building near major gas leak on Madison's east side ventilated
Wyatt Bandt,
UPDATE (WKOW) -- A Madison Fire official told 27 News that the ventilation of a building near where a gas leak was reported Saturday afternoon on the city's east side has finished.
The official says a homeless man told firefighters he could smell gas around 3:00 p.m.
Crews worked Saturday afternoon into Sunday morning to enter and ventilate the vacant building on the 1700 block of Eagan Road.
"The situation could have been worse, if it were not for the gentleman alerting the crew," the official said.
Crews do not yet know the cause of the leak. | 2022-02-20T17:34:12Z | www.wkow.com | UPDATE: Building near major gas leak on Madison's east side ventilated | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-building-near-major-gas-leak-on-madisons-east-side-ventilated/article_17b31872-91d5-11ec-a8e0-1ff1d1158010.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-building-near-major-gas-leak-on-madisons-east-side-ventilated/article_17b31872-91d5-11ec-a8e0-1ff1d1158010.html |
Devils Tower National Monument in Wyoming saw record visitation in 2021.
forcdan/Adobe Stock
Sunsets at Arches National Park in Utah are stunning. The park has set up a timed entry program from early April to early October.
aheflin/Adobe Stock
You don't have to go national to see epic wilderness. For example: New York's Letchworth State Park.
Matt/Adobe Stock
A boardwalk leads down a dune at Indiana Dunes National Park, which will be instituting an entry fee.
Jon/Adobe Stock
A brown bear rests along a river in Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska.
Paul Souders/Adobe Stock
Glacier National Park in Montana will have a ticket system in place for peak season.
Snehit Photo/Adobe Stock
A tourist visits an overlook at Grand Canyon National Park in Arizona. You have to plan really far out to raft the Colorado River at the bottom.
Matteo Colombo/Moment RF/Getty Images
Joshua Tree National Park is taking public comment on a new entrance station.
Doug Oglesby/Adobe Stock
• And the first US national park, Yellowstone, saw a staggering 4,860,537 recreation visits in 2021, making it the busiest year on record. That's as if the entire state of Louisiana -- plus the city of Des Moines, Iowa -- came to visit. And a lot of that visitation is packed into a few months of the peak warm weather season.
At California's Yosemite National Park, North Pines Campground is so popular during peak summer season that they have tested a pilot program for campers: A lottery in which winners get a chance to make early reservations. The lottery ended on February 6. There was a $10 nonrefundable fee to enter.
The application period ends on February 22. The NPS says follow-up lotteries are "held as needed throughout the remainder of the year to reassign canceled and/or left-over river trips."
• Glacier National Park (Montana): Visitors in 2022 "can expect to use a ticket system to access portions of the park from May 27 through September 11. This will be the second year of the pilot ticket system in the park, designed to manage high traffic volumes within the park and avoid gridlock." Visitors will need to set up an account on Recreation.gov to get tickets.
Top image: At Sequoia National Park in California, a hiker enjoys a bit of solitude -- a sometimes rare commodity at popular national parks in peak season. (Maygutyak/Adobe Stock)
Environmental Cleanup And Prevention
Summer (season) | 2022-02-20T20:02:06Z | www.wkow.com | Want to visit a popular US national park this summer? Start planning yesterday | Tourism | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/tourism/want-to-visit-a-popular-us-national-park-this-summer-start-planning-yesterday/article_4a8e23b3-a23b-5ef7-886c-d8ec12b84d0a.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/tourism/want-to-visit-a-popular-us-national-park-this-summer-start-planning-yesterday/article_4a8e23b3-a23b-5ef7-886c-d8ec12b84d0a.html |
Icy Conditions To Kick off Final Full Week of February
After climbing into the 50s for the first time this year, wouldn't it make sense that we slip right back into Winter? Mother Nature has planned a winter storm for us where we'll see a rain/snow mix, breezy conditions, freezing rain and snow all before the middle of the week.
The same low that has brought up the warmth is going to be bringing back the cold and a wintry mess, to say the least, as we move into the start of the upcoming work week. Until then, clouds will be increasing throughout Sunday night with temperatures dropping by half - going from the 50s to the mid 20s.
Cloudy conditions will be sticking around throughout Monday. The morning commute will be dry but by the evening commute, mix precipitation will begin. This will start off as a rain/snow mix with freezing rain possible starting by the early overnight hours. The mix and ice will continue through most of the day on Tuesday.
Eventually, the mix and freezing precipitation will turn over to snow by the evening hours on Tuesday with minimal accumulations expected locally. Most will pick up between a half an inch to two inches, with higher amounts of snow found farther north while higher amounts of ice will be found farther south.
Plan for slick conditions on Tuesday. There is a winter weather advisory for nearly all of the forecast area starting Monday 5pm through Tuesday 6pm. | 2022-02-21T00:23:06Z | www.wkow.com | Icy Conditions To Kick off Final Full Week of February | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/icy-conditions-to-kick-off-final-full-week-of-february/article_73e87c30-9299-11ec-959e-a3e6e597ea8b.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/icy-conditions-to-kick-off-final-full-week-of-february/article_73e87c30-9299-11ec-959e-a3e6e597ea8b.html |
Quadren Wilson's family holds policing discussion
MADISON (WKOW) -- Quadren Wilson's family held a community discussion about policing Sunday, just two days after the Dane County Sheriff's Office released the names of the two state agents who fired their weapons during Wilson's arrest.
They fired up the grill and invited the community to have a peaceful conversation about civil rights and policing.
Mane Morris, Wilson's brother said, "We just want justice and we want peace in our community, especially by police officers."
Morris also said his family wanted to thank the community for their support.
Wilson remains in Dane County jail, and his family says his condition remains unchanged.
Stacey Morris, Wilson's mother said, "Quadren's still in a lot of pain and now he's got an infection in the back. He did say there was one nurse that was, you know, really good to him."
The DCSO is in the process of a painstaking investigation so release of information has been measured leaving family members frustrated.
"It's a lot that they're not releasing, why?," said Mane Morris.
Leaving family members with wondering about the events on February 3rd.
"There's no reason why they should have shot him there," said Stacey Morris.
Law enforcement confirmed Wilson was not armed but family members say this admission is a hollow victory.
"I can really say this situation is honestly unjustifiable. He didn't resist and there was no reason for them to do what they did to him," said Wilson's brother.
Wilson remains in Dane County jail and his next court appearance is March 11. | 2022-02-21T00:23:19Z | www.wkow.com | Quadren Wilson's family holds policing discussion | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/quadren-wilsons-family-holds-policing-discussion/article_1d95a71e-92a7-11ec-aaf5-e3087ae61ad7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/quadren-wilsons-family-holds-policing-discussion/article_1d95a71e-92a7-11ec-aaf5-e3087ae61ad7.html |
'We are going to find Parker': 7 months later, mother of missing boater Parker Kruse won't stop searching
SPRING GREEN (WKOW) -- More than seven months have passed since 22-year-old Parker Kruse fell into the Wisconsin River after saving another boater. His family and friends continue to search for him, even as winter takes its toll on the environment.
Kruse's mother, Jackie Johnson-Kruse, says the search has changed her life forever, but she won't give up until she finds her son.
"We're going to find Parker," Johnson-Kruse said. "It's just like, it's not an option not to find him, like, it's going to happen. We are going to find him. It's just taking a little longer than I thought."
Johnson-Kruse and a few other close friends continue the search when they can, but winter weather and a frozen river have made things more complicated.
Before the river froze, the family would search the river by boat. Now, they search along the riverbank using poles and ice fishing cameras.
Through the murkiness, they're hoping to find his body and bring the family closure.
"We don't have Parker, but it's crazy, because I can feel him," Johnson-Kruse said. "I can feel him in our house that he is still there, but you can't see him."
After seven months, Johnson-Kruse says hope and her love for her son keep her going.
"You don't realize how much your parents love you until you are a parent yourself," Johnson-Kruse said. "You will do whatever to keep them safe, bring them home, and be there for them. And that's what I'm doing for Parker."
Wisconsin’s rural hospitals struggle to provide critical care
Defense rests without calling any witnesses in Chandler Halderson murder trial
Potential for violence sparks unease in downtown Madison
Beloit man arrested after July stabbing in Janesville
Madison police seek help finding man accused of ‘violently victimizing’ people
FBI warning: How to protect your video meeting from ‘Zoom-bombers’ | 2022-02-21T08:47:57Z | www.wkow.com | 'We are going to find Parker': 7 months later, mother of missing boater Parker Kruse won't stop searching | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/we-are-going-to-find-parker-7-months-later-mother-of-missing-boater-parker-kruse/article_8923e81e-92c1-11ec-b562-6be9b02fab78.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/we-are-going-to-find-parker-7-months-later-mother-of-missing-boater-parker-kruse/article_8923e81e-92c1-11ec-b562-6be9b02fab78.html |
New information released on Omicron sub-variant, BA-2
MADISON (WKOW) -- As many people prepare for life without mask mandates, there are new findings about the Omicron sub-variant, "BA-2".
According to lab experiments in Japan, the variant could spread faster, may cause more severe disease and could resist some of the abilities we have now to fight off COVID-19.
Dr. Margaret Harris, the spokesperson for the World Health organization, said the sub-variant has been on its radar.
"We are certainly watching this BA-2 sub-lineage of Omicron because it is showing some kind of level of transmission advantage," said Dr. Harris.
BA-2 has been spotted in 47 states and 74 countries, becoming the dominant strain in 10 of those countries.
"We certainly don't want it to run rampant just like we don't want Omicron to run rampant," said Dr. Harris. "We really want countries to step up the vaccination to beat all these variants."
The study found BA-2 appears to escape immunity created by COVID-19 vaccines, but health experts say a booster restores protection. | 2022-02-21T20:28:25Z | www.wkow.com | New information released on Omicron sub-variant, BA-2 | Coronavirus | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/new-information-released-on-omicron-sub-variant-ba-2/article_9884b8e0-9313-11ec-b495-ebb89404fccd.html | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/new-information-released-on-omicron-sub-variant-ba-2/article_9884b8e0-9313-11ec-b495-ebb89404fccd.html |
Man arrested after breaking into woman's home while drunk
MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison police arrested a man early Monday morning after he broke into a woman's home, and she found him on the couch.
According to an incident report from the Madison Police Department, the woman ran out of her house when she found the man sitting on her couch after he broke in. She called her granddaughter and police after she ran to a park.
By the time police arrived on the scene, the woman's granddaughter had chased the man out of the house, and officers found him just down the street, identifying him as intoxicated. He was arrested on pending charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.
Marshall man identified as shooting victim who showed up at Madison clinic
Competency hearing ordered for Montana fugitive arrested in New Glarus
Police search for suspects in downtown burglary
Town of Beloit squad car hit, two taken to the hospital
Police: Madison Arboretum killings were ‘targeted’
Stolen SUV nearly rolls during chase with police | 2022-02-21T20:28:37Z | www.wkow.com | Man arrested after breaking into woman's home while drunk | Crime | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/man-arrested-after-breaking-into-womans-home-while-drunk/article_9a35ea62-9339-11ec-bb92-b3651c88d290.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/man-arrested-after-breaking-into-womans-home-while-drunk/article_9a35ea62-9339-11ec-bb92-b3651c88d290.html |
Milwaukee man killed by falling tree branch
CNN, WISN
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- A Milwaukee man is dead after a tree branch fell on top of him.
Authorities say the home owner and a crew were doing yard work Sunday afternoon.
They were trying to cut down a tree when one of the branches fell nearly 20 feet and hit and killed the man.
Fire officials said he had substantial injuries when they arrived. A wind advisory was in effect at the time.
Officials have not yet released the man's name, but family members tell our Milwaukee affiliate, WISN, that he was 42 years old. | 2022-02-21T20:28:50Z | www.wkow.com | Milwaukee man killed by falling tree branch | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/milwaukee-man-killed-by-falling-tree-branch/article_5ce938ba-9318-11ec-891a-535d43157369.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/milwaukee-man-killed-by-falling-tree-branch/article_5ce938ba-9318-11ec-891a-535d43157369.html |
Police searching for driver after car crashes into Madison home
MADISON (WKOW) -- Police are looking for the driver of a car that crashed into a Madison home.
According to a Madison Police Department incident report, the crash happened on the 3000 block of Nessling Street around 2:30 Monday morning.
Police said the driver of the vehicle fled the scene after the crash. A passenger, who was not injured, stayed on scene and spoke with officers.
There was no structural damage to the house, but police are still looking for the driver.
Christmas tree pick up begins in January, here's what you need to know
Snowmobiler injures 2 Wisconsin sled dogs in hit-and-run
Tommy Thompson gives farewell address to UW Board of Regents | 2022-02-21T20:29:02Z | www.wkow.com | Police searching for driver after car crashes into Madison home | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-searching-for-driver-after-car-crashes-into-madison-home/article_70486ba6-9331-11ec-a10b-6f1f26f3ca00.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-searching-for-driver-after-car-crashes-into-madison-home/article_70486ba6-9331-11ec-a10b-6f1f26f3ca00.html |
Sheriff responds after Dane County Executive calls for transparency in Quadren Wilson investigation
UPDATE (WKOW) -- Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett released a statement Monday afternoon responding to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi's call for more transparency in the Quadren Wilson investigation.
In the statement, Barrett said community's calls for transparency and questions about the investigation are "understandable," but he said the department looks to prioritize "the integrity of the investigation".
"The mission of our investigation is to determine the facts and report the truth. Doing anything less risks jeopardizing the investigation; denying the community of the truth and accountability they expect and deserve," Barrett said in the statement.
Barrett said the Dane County Sheriff's Office will continue to share information on the investigation "with great care." He said if anyone witnessed the incident or has video to share with investigators, they should contact the Dane County tip line at (608) 284-6900. | 2022-02-22T01:11:15Z | www.wkow.com | Sheriff responds after Dane County Executive calls for transparency in Quadren Wilson investigation | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/sheriff-responds-after-dane-county-executive-calls-for-transparency-in-quadren-wilson-investigation/article_b8ad7304-9332-11ec-b350-cbc463925afc.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/sheriff-responds-after-dane-county-executive-calls-for-transparency-in-quadren-wilson-investigation/article_b8ad7304-9332-11ec-b350-cbc463925afc.html |
DCI agent involved with Wilson incident killed suspect in 2002
MILWAUKEE (WISN) - A State Justice Department agent who Dane County Sheriff's officials have identified as firing his gun during the Quadren Wilson shooting incident fatally shot a suspect in Milwaukee two decades ago.
Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) Agent Mark Wagner has been identified as one of two DCI agents to have opened fire during Wilson's Feb. 3 drug arrest and shooting in Madison, as more than twenty law enforcement officers deployed to capture Wilson during a traffic stop. Sheriff's officials say Wilson was unarmed. Family members say Wilson was shot five times in the back and provided 27 News with medical records on his injuries.
Court records show Wagner shot and killed suspect Edward Pundsack, 28, in Milwaukee Dec. 23, 2002, when Wagner was a sergeant with the Milwaukee Police Department.
During an inquest into the shooting, Wagner maintained Pundsack's reckless driving during an attempted get away left him with no choice but to resort to deadly force.
"The driver of the vehicle put the shifter down into reverse, the car accelerated back at a high rate of speed, it jolted," Wagner testified during the 2003 inquest. "I knew the only place it could have traveled was the area between the squad and the parked car where Officer Frank was," Wagner said. "I knew he was going to be killed. I fired four rounds at that time," Wagner testified.
"It disgusts me to know that all that it would take was for someone to jump out of the way for him to be alive," one of Pundsack's family members said following the shooting.
Pundsack's father, wife, and juvenile daughter filed a lawsuit against the city of Milwaukee over his shooting death. Records show the lawsuit was dismissed by a federal court judge April 13, 2007, after city officials agreed to pay a $50,000 settlement.
Wilson's attorney, Steve Eisenberg says Wagner's history is concerning, even though his use of deadly force was deemed justified.
"I don't what happened twenty years ago happened today, things would be different because times were different twenty years ago," Eisenberg says.
Eisenberg says Wagner's past experience should have informed his approach to Wilson's arrest and led to more caution.
"Mr. Wagner knew what could happen when he approached a vehicle because he already killed somebody before and that is frightening," Eisenberg says.
27 News has been unable to reach Wagner to request his comment.
Sheriff's officials have only said Wagner and fellow DCI Agent Nathan Peskie fired their guns, but they've not commented on whether that gun fire wounded Wilson.
There were no available records as of Monday on the length of Wagner's tenure with the Milwaukee Police Department and the reason for his separation from the force, and the date of his hire with the state justice department. Wagner was a DCI agent last year when a non-profit group made him the beneficiary of the gift of a religious item to recognize his service in law enforcement.
Edward Pundsack | 2022-02-22T11:20:25Z | www.wkow.com | DCI agent involved with Wilson incident killed suspect in 2002 | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/dci-agent-involved-with-wilson-incident-killed-suspect-in-2002/article_0d4ba08c-9385-11ec-a35a-fb22419524eb.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/dci-agent-involved-with-wilson-incident-killed-suspect-in-2002/article_0d4ba08c-9385-11ec-a35a-fb22419524eb.html |
Democrats introduce bills raising minimum pay for teachers
MADISON (WKOW) -- A group of Democratic state lawmakers introduced a series of bills Monday aimed at attracting and maintaining teachers across the state.
The package of eight bills includes measures that would set new minimum pay levels for educators and their assistants, as well as guaranteed bonuses for those who remain in the profession.
One bill would set the minimum salary for Wisconsin teachers as the equivalent of what state legislators make, now at $56,264 according to the state's 2021-23 employee compensation plan.
Another bill would create a recurring $7,000 bonus teachers would receive for every five years of service while another measure set a $15/hour minimum wage for student teachers. The bills would also:
Set teachers' health benefits as the same lawmakers receive
Create a state program that covers up to 25 percent of a teacher's student loans
Mandate school districts give teachers 45 minutes a day of preparation time
Require each school board to have one teacher serve as a representative on the board; that teacher would not be considered a board member and would not have a vote on board issues
"For too long, some elected officials have refused to maintain the investment in our state's public schools and neglected the importance of our educators in our communities," Wisconsin Education Association Council President Peggy Wirtz-Olsen. "These same leaders are now wondering why there's a teacher shortage."
Democratic lawmakers announcing the bill drafts did not know how much the legislation would cost taxpayers. They said they were waiting for a fiscal note that would come once the bills were formally introduced; the measures went into circulation Monday for potential co-sponsorships through February 28.
The bill's co-authors suggested the funding could come from the state's projected surplus of $3.8 billion as well as the legislature lifting caps on how much local governments can levy in property taxes for school funding - something the GOP-controlled legislature has repeatedly said it would not do.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has proposed increasing K-12 funding by $750 million as part of the surplus plan for which he's called a special session. Republican leaders have said they will gavel out of Evers' session without acting on his plan, instead wanting to pursue income tax cuts next year.
Evers' communications director did not answer questions Monday about whether the governor would be open to using surplus funding to pay for the teacher recruiting plans.
Republicans meanwhile have moved toward making it easier for families to send kids to private schools, introducing a bill that would lift income caps on eligibility for the School Choice program.
Sen. Alberta Darling (R-River Hills), who chairs the Senate's education committee, did not respond to questions about whether she'd support any of the Democratic proposals.
Sen. LaTonya Johnson (D-Milwaukee) said the decline in college students earning degrees in education would only be worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic unless lawmakers make the profession more attractive.
"You often hear in this building from our Republican colleagues, talk about the learning loss," Johnson said. "But we have to remind them constantly that the fact there was any learning at all was due to our teachers." | 2022-02-22T11:20:31Z | www.wkow.com | Democrats introduce bills raising minimum pay for teachers | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/democrats-introduce-bills-raising-minimum-pay-for-teachers/article_45d04eec-9373-11ec-b3e6-ab0846f8bf51.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/democrats-introduce-bills-raising-minimum-pay-for-teachers/article_45d04eec-9373-11ec-b3e6-ab0846f8bf51.html |
'It's not a great day to die': Truck drivers, officials urge drivers to stay off road ahead of winter storm
COTTAGE GROVE (WKOW) -- At 4 p.m. on Monday, truck driver Christina Moore was already hunkering down in her semi truck ahead of the incoming winter storm.
"I've been over on the east coast when they had that last storm and just all kinds of trucks in the ditch," Moore said. "That's not safe. You could kill yourself, you could kills someone else."
Moore is from Texas, but she's seen her fair share of winter storms since she's been driving. She says her company is very supportive when conditions deteriorate.
"Well Roehl always says safety first so stop, pull over, find a safe place to park and wait it out," Moore said.
And although Moore was parked hours ahead of the storm, City of Madison Streets Division spokesperson Bryan Johnson said that decision might not be so over-the-top.
"Ice storms aren't great and we don't see them all that often here in Wisconsin thankfully," Johnson said. "With this particular storm, we are like asking people to really restrict their travel. Only be out tonight and tomorrow, if you absolutely have to."
Johnson and his team of plow drivers can only salt the roads because they can't plow ice. And because the storm will be long-lasting, things are even trickier.
"We're going to have these waves of this freezing rain all night long, and all through the day tomorrow," Johnson said. "So any work we've done now will just get covered over and frozen over again."
Because of that, plow drivers will be salting the roads over and over again all night.
As for Moore, her advice to anyone thinking of hitting the road is pretty simple.
"Pull over," Moore said. "There's no lode worth a life. It's a great day but it's not a great day to die." | 2022-02-22T11:20:49Z | www.wkow.com | 'It's not a great day to die': Truck drivers, officials urge drivers to stay off road ahead of winter storm | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-not-a-great-day-to-die-truck-drivers-officials-urge-drivers-to-stay-off/article_0512e482-9387-11ec-aa15-d744279b125f.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-not-a-great-day-to-die-truck-drivers-officials-urge-drivers-to-stay-off/article_0512e482-9387-11ec-aa15-d744279b125f.html |
Road America offers winter driving course
PLYMOUTH, WI (WKOW) -- Road America is known for racing, but drivers are taking a detour to the race track this winter.
From January to March, Road America offers a winter driving course.
It's open to new drivers and those looking to sharpen their skills.
Larry Boyer is the chief instructor.
He tells WISN when we see rain, snow or ice, a tire's grip decreases.
"When it rains, we have about 70% of that effective grip of that tire. When it snows, it goes to 30% and when it's icy it goes to 10%."
Road America supplies the vehicle for the course.
Larry Boyer | 2022-02-22T11:20:55Z | www.wkow.com | Road America offers winter driving course | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/road-america-offers-winter-driving-course/article_06e18aae-938f-11ec-81ea-c7952b936ada.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/road-america-offers-winter-driving-course/article_06e18aae-938f-11ec-81ea-c7952b936ada.html |
By Nick Buffo
More than 30 vehicles stopped during Beltine speed enforcement Monday morning
MADISON (WKOW) — On Monday, the Madison Police Department conducted a traffic enforcement project on the Beltline that led to 32 stops.
According to a MPD blotter post, the enforcement took place on W. Beltline Hwy near Old Sauk Road from 7-11 a.m. The project's purpose was focusing on speeding, seat belt violations and hazardous violations.
During the four hour enforcement, 32 vehicles were stopped — all traveling at least 20 miles an hour over the speed limit.
According to MPD, enforcement efforts like this are made possible through grants, and enforcement zones are targeted based on crash data. | 2022-02-22T20:55:32Z | www.wkow.com | More than 30 vehicles stopped during Beltine speed enforcement Monday morning | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/more-than-30-vehicles-stopped-during-beltine-speed-enforcement-monday-morning/article_5cdd7228-9408-11ec-afa0-8f7575cf97d4.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/more-than-30-vehicles-stopped-during-beltine-speed-enforcement-monday-morning/article_5cdd7228-9408-11ec-afa0-8f7575cf97d4.html |
GOP approves education bills: Mask opt-outs allowed, vouchers expanded, race lessons in college regulated
MADISON (WKOW) -- Republican lawmakers passed a series of education bills Tuesday, including measures allowing parents to opt their kids out of school mask orders, making all families eligible for private school vouchers, and regulating how universities teach about race.
The K-12 bills received votes in the Assembly Tuesday afternoon. Under one bill authored by Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester), school districts could not require students to wear a mask if their parents notify the district they've chosen to opt their child out of the requirement.
While The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends universal masking in schools for everyone older than two, Vos said he believed, at this stage of the pandemic, it's a decision best left to parents.
"It certainly is possible that the vast majority of parents would say they want to have their children wear a mask," Vos said. "But the freedom for parents who disagree with that or see a different set of science or understand the reality there's such a small, infinitesimal chance where a child would actually have a negative reaction to where we are with COVID, that they want a different answer. I think that's really what parenting is about."
Democrats countered families already had a voice through their local school boards.
"Certainly, parents in our local communities elect their school board members to make these decisions," Rep. Lisa Subeck (D-Madison) said. "And they're in the best position to make decisions that are responsive to the health conditions in any local area."
The mask opt-out bill, which also requires school districts to guarantee a full-time, in-person option, passed on a party-line vote.
That bill passed on a 59-34 vote with Rep. Joel Kitchens (R-Sturgeon Bay) siding with Democrats in opposition to the measure.
Republicans in the Assembly also passed a bill that would prohibit school districts from promoting students to the fourth grade until they pass a standardized reading test.
Requiring police in certain schools
Republicans on a near party-line vote passed a bill that would set standards for when schools would be required to station a police officer in the building.
Rep. Steve Doyle (D-Onalaska) joined GOP legislators in passing the bill, which states if any school reports 100 or more incidents in a single semester, such as batteries, burglaries, or arson, and there were at least 25 associated arrests during that time, that school would be required to have an armed school resource officer present.
"Nothing replaces someone who's in the building on a regular basis, getting to know the students," Rep. Cindi Duchow (R-Town of Delafield) said. "They're quicker at knowing where the problems are going to occur, they try to stop the problem before they happen."
The Madison Metropolitan School Board voted in 2020 to remove officers from the district's schools. A massive fight last fall at Madison East High School has prompted some calls for the district to bring back the officers.
Democrats countered local governments should be left to decide whether they believed officers made schools safer.
"Let's give our local schools the tools that they need to be successful but let the decision-making be made on the local level," Subeck said. "Certainly, if the folks in a community are not happy with the decision that their school board is making, they have recourse and that's called the election."
Higher ed. bills regulate race lessons, make it easier to sue professors
Republicans in the Assembly also passed on party lines a bill that would make it easier to sue university officials and professors over alleged infringements on their freedom of expression.
"This bill just makes it so our higher learning institutions are better atmospheres, safer spaces for all schools of thought, regardless of your political affiliation," Rep. Clint Moses (R-Menomonie) said.
PROFS, a faculty organization on the UW-Madison campus, said on Twitter Tuesday it opposed the Republican higher education bills.
Subeck said the bills would only make it easier to sugarcoat uncomfortable realities about American and world history.
"There is no neutral way to teach about, for example, the Holocaust or to teach about slavery," she said. | 2022-02-23T00:46:14Z | www.wkow.com | GOP approves education bills: Mask opt-outs allowed, vouchers expanded, race lessons in college regulated | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-approves-education-bills-mask-opt-outs-allowed-vouchers-expanded-race-lessons-in-college-regulated/article_854afb62-9404-11ec-b826-cfbc8c66d051.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-approves-education-bills-mask-opt-outs-allowed-vouchers-expanded-race-lessons-in-college-regulated/article_854afb62-9404-11ec-b826-cfbc8c66d051.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Madison woman is backing nurses at UW Health hoping to unionize in a big way.
Kim Herman bought a mobile billboard that reads: "UW Health should put patients before profits."
The billboard will drive around UW Health for the next three days leading up to a picket that nurses are holding on Thursday.
"I thought this would be a good way to get some community involvement," Herman said.
Herman bought the $4,000 billboard after hearing stories from her family members about being overworked amid staffing shortages.
"It was just too important to me," Herman said.
Pictured on the billboard are three local healthcare workers. One is Herman's brother-in-law and the other is Herman's sister, Shari Signer, who has been an employee of UW Health for nearly 20 years.
"I am so excited and grateful to my sister for sponsoring this," Signer said.
Over time, Signer said staffing shortages have worsened, negatively impacting herself and others.
"We're not able to give that exceptional care that we are used to giving," Signer said.
Recently, she said conditions have been especially bad.
"I'm just tired of seeing my fellow co workers and myself crying on daily basis is because we're not able to give the care that we we can," Signer said.
Because of this, Signer would like to see UW Health recognize a union and plans to participate in a nurse's picket on Thursday from 4:00-8:00pm.
In addition to the mobile billboard, Herman has also created a petition on behalf of her family members and other healthcare workers. As of Tuesday, it had over 1,000 signatures.
"I do this for more than my family. I know there are nurses across the state and across the country but I guess change starts at home," Signer said.
UW Health shared the following statement with 27 News in response to the mobile billboard:
Kim Herman | 2022-02-23T00:46:20Z | www.wkow.com | 'I do this for more than my family': Madison woman buys billboard supporting nurses' effort to unionize | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/i-do-this-for-more-than-my-family-madison-woman-buys-billboard-supporting-nurses-effort/article_0f72f0f2-9431-11ec-89c6-ef888d2e9887.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/i-do-this-for-more-than-my-family-madison-woman-buys-billboard-supporting-nurses-effort/article_0f72f0f2-9431-11ec-89c6-ef888d2e9887.html |
Driver cited for alcohol in rig after semi's crash into Belleville home
BELLEVILLE (WKOW) -- A Wisconsin State Patrol spokesperson says the driver of a semi-truck that crashed into the kitchen of a Belleville home and narrowly missed the four family members inside has received traffic citations, including one involving alcohol.
Belleville Fire Department officials say it was fortunate the truck's tractor-trailer had no load when it barreled into the home at 424 North Harrison Street February 4. Even with a lighter vehicle, the home was heavily damaged and the family is currently displaced.
"We'd walk across the street, catch up with each other," neighbor Tom Lamboley says. "Not sure where they are but they're great people. Hopefully they come back."
State Patrol Spokesperson Jennifer Fedie says the driver of the semi-truck was Kim Larson, 67. Fedie says there's no indication Larson was debilitated by a medical emergency.
"At this time, investigators have not found any medical conditions that factored into this crash," Fedie tells 27 News.
"Two citations have been issued to Kim Larson for inattentive driving and open intoxicants in a commercial motor vehicle. Further enforcement action may be possible, pending test results," Fedie says.
Fedie says results of testing for Larson's blood alcohol level at the time of the crash will likely not be available until at least April. She says Larson maintains his driver's license.
27 News has been unable to reach Larson for comment on the enforcement against him.
Authorities say the crash took place just before 6:30 a.m. Larson's employer says he was travelling to Cambridge and was scheduled to pick up a load of grain.
Online court records show Larson was cited for speeding in a semi-truck in 2020.
Lamboley says he's a retired truck driver who believed driver fatigue was not a factor in the crash. But he did think a heart attack or stroke were possible causes.
Lamboley says he remains relieved his neighbors were not seriously hurt, and that his home also escaped the big rig's path over a street's median, off the road and through snow cover.
"Another 250, 300 hundred feet, it could have been me."
Kim Larson
Tom Lamboley
Jennifer Fedie
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TRAFFIC ALERT: Eastbound Interstate traffic backed up for miles near Johnson Creek | 2022-02-23T04:10:17Z | www.wkow.com | Driver cited for alcohol in rig after semi's crash into Belleville home | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/driver-cited-for-alcohol-in-rig-after-semis-crash-into-belleville-home/article_84bc8210-9440-11ec-aed6-2b82e82f9d48.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/driver-cited-for-alcohol-in-rig-after-semis-crash-into-belleville-home/article_84bc8210-9440-11ec-aed6-2b82e82f9d48.html |
Why Madison Edgewood's Andrew Budzinski is a finalist for the Jeff Sauer Award
WKOW (MADISON)-- The Jeff Sauer Award recognizes good hockey players being great people. That is an excellent description for Madison Edgewood's Andrew Budzinski.
"He's tough as nails, not afraid of anyone, really genuine, very team oriented and selfless," Edgewood Hockey Coach Pete Rothering said.
"He is going to put everybody else before himself," Senior Captain Parker Murn said.
That's why many people may not know what he did for four years off the ice.
"I think it would definitely come as a surprise to some people," Budzinski said.
When he was not on the ice, the senior defenseman volunteered at the Jefferson Retirement Home.
"Before my grandma passed away, she always really wanted to learn how to use new technology, so I helped her out with that a lot, and I thought that was really cool," Budzinski said. "So after she passed away, I reached out to the retirement home, and I asked if I could help other elderly people to learn how to use technology."
Budzinski volunteered there for four years. During the pandemic when he couldn't volunteer in person, he wrote letters to the residents. The letters served as a boost in morale during an uncertain time.
"We were on lockdown for a long time where everything was in their apartments," Jefferson Assistant General Manager Dani Hoskin said. "We couldn't have activities. We couldn't have guests in so just getting a letter even from somebody you didn't know can really boost your spirit."
Winning this award would be the icing on top of his high school career.
"Ultimately our success ten years from now probably won't be remembered that much, but I think it's very important people don't forget what type of a person you were, how you interacted with them, and that's something that's very important to me," Budzinski said.
The award will be presented March 3 at the Wisconsin High School Hockey Coaches annual banquet prior to the state tournament.
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Former Badger hockey broadcaster raising funds to combat Alzheimer’s | 2022-02-23T04:10:30Z | www.wkow.com | Why Madison Edgewood's Andrew Budzinski is a finalist for the Jeff Sauer Award | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/why-madison-edgewoods-andrew-budzinski-is-a-finalist-for-the-jeff-sauer-award/article_7d40b5e0-92bc-11ec-acba-a3a8a406c487.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/why-madison-edgewoods-andrew-budzinski-is-a-finalist-for-the-jeff-sauer-award/article_7d40b5e0-92bc-11ec-acba-a3a8a406c487.html |
Looking back on Wisconsin's 'Great Ice Storm,' exactly 100 years later (Courtesy: Heidi Raab Antoni)
Several animal species suffered during the 1922 ice storm.
Al Ringling Mansion in 1922
Looking back on Wisconsin's 'Great Ice Storm,' exactly 100 years later
BARABOO (WKOW) -- People across Wisconsin woke up to an unusual amount of ice on Tuesday, causing slick surfaces and dangerous travel conditions. But the storm of 2/22/2022 was nothing compared to the monster ice storm experienced in the same area exactly 100 years ago.
Paul Wolter, executive director of the Sauk County Historical Society, has put in years of research into the "Great Ice Storm" of 1922. It just so happened that 100 years later, a similar but less severe, weather system moved through Wisconsin again.
"it was really strange and it was gigantic," Wolter said. "And it ranged everything from a thunderstorm at first to, you know, ice, sleet and then a full on blizzard up north."
Wolter has amassed dozens of post cards, pictures and newspapers from the time period, depicting mass chaos. Animals and trees were all but decimated and estimates suggest dozens of people died.
"The February 21 through 23, 1922 storm was probably the worst storm that you probably could get in the state of Wisconsin as far as ice goes," National Weather Service meteorologist Jeff Boyne said. "Transportation came to a stop. There was numerous train wrecks across the state where they just logistically slid off the rails."
The ice storm caused an estimated $10 million in damage in 1922, equivalent to over $167 million today. While this year's Feb. 22 storm dropped about a quarter of an inch of ice across southern Wisconsin, the 1922 storm dropped up to four inches in some places.
Wolter first heard about the storm 20 years ago when he stumbled upon photos of the Al Ringling mansion and other landmarks in downtown Baraboo during the storm. He even had a presentation planned for Tuesday on the storm for people interested in the event.
The 2022 icy surprise just made the day of his presentation a little more meaningful.
"I love to celebrate things on the day of, or remember them on the day," Wolter said. "But it's kind of a nice touch that it's a little bit like it was 100 years ago."
If you missed Wolter's presentation and are still interested in seeing some of his research from the Great Wisconsin Ice Storm, he plans on holding another virtual presentation on March 2. You can find details on how to join here.
Paul Wolter
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Report: COVID-19 pandemic driving alcohol sales in Wisconsin | 2022-02-23T07:08:39Z | www.wkow.com | Looking back on Wisconsin's 'Great Ice Storm,' exactly 100 years later | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/looking-back-on-wisconsins-great-ice-storm-exactly-100-years-later/article_9e0ae972-945a-11ec-95e7-a734377c07d5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/looking-back-on-wisconsins-great-ice-storm-exactly-100-years-later/article_9e0ae972-945a-11ec-95e7-a734377c07d5.html |
Courtesy: Jane Swiggum Family
Monroe clown featured on ABC's 'To Tell the Truth'
MONROE (WKOW) -- A longtime resident of Monroe with a colorful career made her primetime debut on ABC's To Tell the Truth Tuesday.
Jane Swiggum, also known as Dotty, has been a clown for more than 30 years and has no plans of winding down.
“As long as I can stand up, I'll be a clown,” Swiggum said.
It all began when the former librarian at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School received a grant from the National 4H Foundation to attend Clown school.
“It's a direction I never ever expected,” Swiggum said. “I love it though.”
In her home, Swiggum has an entire room on the first floor dedicated to makeup, wigs and favors like face paint and balloons.
Down a flight of stairs in the basement, which she calls the dungeon, she has hundreds of puppets and costumes as well.
“Around home, when the work has to be done, I'm myself, but I usually feed a little of Dotty in there too,” Swiggum said. “My husband always supported me being a clown. And if the work here didn't get done, he knew I was out having fun.”
While out at a performance one night, Swiggum received a life changing call.
“It was after doing eight or nine bubble shows,” Swiggum said. “It was a casting associate with ABC. They thought that I might be a good fit for the show 'To Tell the Truth.'”
Though she typically prefers jokes and fun, the 80-year-old agreed to the challenge. And, while the pandemic delayed filming by several months, she eventually got it done.
“It was a lot of fun. The judges were really fun. And they were all notable people too,” Swiggum said. “I kind of can't wait to see it.”
Despite being on national television, gracing the cover of magazines and earning a place in the Midwest Clown Hall of Fame throughout her incredible career, Swiggum says one thing in life makes her happiest.
“Watching people smile,” Swiggum said.
Swiggum has no plans of winding down. She has several gigs booked in the coming months and plans to attend the World Clown Convention in Illinois this March.
Jane Swiggum
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Pelosi says House will impeach Trump, pushes VP to oust him | 2022-02-23T07:08:45Z | www.wkow.com | Monroe clown featured on ABC's 'To Tell the Truth' | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/monroe-clown-featured-on-abcs-to-tell-the-truth/article_5d6917ba-939a-11ec-87cf-8bb787b2fecd.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/monroe-clown-featured-on-abcs-to-tell-the-truth/article_5d6917ba-939a-11ec-87cf-8bb787b2fecd.html |
Madison Common Council okays officer hiring grant
MADISON (WKOW) -- Just after midnight Wednesday, the Madison Common Council accepted a federal grant that would allow the Madison Police Department to hire six new officers in 2023.
The Department of Justice Hiring Program grant would pay $750,000 to fund the salaries and benefits of the officers for three years.
It requires a 25% match of city funds in the 2023 budget. Eventually, the city would be on the hook for the entire cost.
Some alders had concerns that the budget couldn't handle the additional financial obligation.
"Looking at our structural deficit, I think it's an incredible mistake for us to set ourselves up to spend additional money in this way," said 19th District Alder Keith Furman, who voted no on the grant.
Alder Sheri Carter, District 14, voted to pass the resolution, but said there needs to be a discussion among alders about what they want to see from the police department.
"I think we need to really take a deep dive and look at where we want the police department to be and and how we can assist them in getting there," she said.
Chief Shon Barnes says the grant would be used to start programs to connect and build trust with Madison's youth.
According to the Wisconsin State Journal, whether the positions are created will depend on this fall's budget process, where spending on the $80-million-plus police budget has been controversial in recent years.
Madison Common Council
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MLK Day celebration honors hit-and-run victim who’s still giving back | 2022-02-23T21:30:28Z | www.wkow.com | Madison Common Council okays officer hiring grant | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-common-council-okays-officer-hiring-grant/article_c92247be-949f-11ec-a00b-b33ef207ec38.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-common-council-okays-officer-hiring-grant/article_c92247be-949f-11ec-a00b-b33ef207ec38.html |
Tow plows allow one truck to clear two lanes of highway at the same time in a single pass.
Dane County to use new plow equipment during Thursday snow
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Dane County Highway Department is showing off new plowing equipment ahead of this week's predicted snowfall.
Tow plows allow one truck to clear two lanes of highway at the same time in a single pass. This is the first winter the tow plows have been used by the Department to help clear snow and apply salt and brine to the Interstate and the Beltline.
“This new equipment will help the Highway Department keep pace with Dane County’s growing infrastructure and clear our roads of ice and snow more efficiently during winter weather events,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi.
Parisi included $2 million in his 2020 budget to purchase four tow plows and heavy-duty quad-axle trucks, as well as $1.4 million to buy four more tri-axle highway trucks to help clear the roads. Three of the tow plows swing to the right and one can swing to the left or right.
Give snowplow trucks plenty of room to operate. The truck’s plow is wider than one traffic lane. The snowplow truck has the ability to distribute salt across three lanes of traffic. Give snowplow drivers room to work.
Stay 300 feet behind snowplow trucks. Snowplow operators often have to stop, turn, and back up if they are clearing an intersection. If you are following too closely, the snowplow driver may not be able to see you.
When you come upon a snowplow, reduce your speed. The traveling speed of a snowplow truck ranges from only 5 to 35MPH.
During winter weather events, people need to slow down and give themselves more time to get to work. Bridges tend to get slippery. Don’t change lanes on a bridge.
When you are driving in winter conditions, don’t get yourself in a position where you have to apply your brakes. If the road is slippery and you apply the brakes, you may lose control of your vehicle.
Do not use your cruise control in slippery road conditions, it may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. | 2022-02-24T02:13:06Z | www.wkow.com | Dane County to use new plow equipment during Thursday snow | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-county-to-use-new-plow-equipment-during-thursday-snow/article_2a88ea1a-94f2-11ec-82c6-432e937e8b59.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-county-to-use-new-plow-equipment-during-thursday-snow/article_2a88ea1a-94f2-11ec-82c6-432e937e8b59.html |
Police arrest man suspected of robbing Janesville convenience store
JANESVILLE (WKOW) -- Janesville police arrested a man Tuesday afternoon after he allegedly robbed a convenience store.
According to an incident report from the Janesville Police Department, officers responded to a convenience store on the 1800 block of Beloit Avenue at 1 p.m. Tuesday following a report of armed robbery. A man, later identified as Kevin Rolseth, came into the store with a shotgun, demanded money and drove away in a Subaru car.
Officers found the vehicle in a parking lot on nearby Dupont Drive and arrested Rolseth on pending charges for armed robbery and operating a motor vehicle without owner's consent. Rolseth is currently in custody at the Rock County Jail. | 2022-02-24T02:13:36Z | www.wkow.com | Police arrest man suspected of robbing Janesville convenience store | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-arrest-man-suspected-of-robbing-janesville-convenience-store/article_ab337be2-94ef-11ec-9f9b-ff66c1b7c5e0.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/police-arrest-man-suspected-of-robbing-janesville-convenience-store/article_ab337be2-94ef-11ec-9f9b-ff66c1b7c5e0.html |
Experts warn of dangerous conditions as lake temps warm
MADISON (WKOW) -- Mother Nature has dealt temperatures this year like lottery numbers.
One day it's 12 degrees and the next day it's 40 degrees; making for dangerous conditions for anglers.
On Tuesday, Blue Ribbon Outdoors rescued an ATV that fell through the ice on Lake Mendota.
"We were able to just hook the ATV up with tow straps and winches and kind of pry it out and get it back up on the ice forum," said Austin Ragotzkie, owner of Blue Ribbon Outdoors.
In the past two days, Dane County Marine and Trail reported two ATVs have gone through the ice on Lake Mendota. On Monday, the WI DNR informed deputies of someone's ATV that broke through the ice just off Mendota County Park. The operator was able to escape to solid ice; however, his ATV is now in the lake at a depth of approximately 20 feet.
On Tuesday, deputies responded to a man whose ATV broke through the ice between Picnic Point and Bishop’s Bay. He was also able to get to safety thanks to the flotation on his ATV.
Many ice-anglers are trying to hook a few days of fishing before warmer temperatures, and DNR Lieutenant Chris Hagen said to be careful. "There's no safe ice out there and as we're getting closer to spring, the ice is becoming thinner in areas that have been thicker throughout the rest of the season."
Only people with extensive experience should attempt to head out on the ice right now because the shifting temperatures make travel dangerous.
Ragotzkie, owner of Blue Ribbon Outdoors, southern Wisconsin's premier tour guide service, and outfitter said, "An area where there was a crack a week ago, maybe it was you know, just a crack like this big and you could drive right over it. Now, because of the temperature changes, it's pulled apart. So now it could be 20- 30 feet wide."
Professionals like Ragotzkie keep track of changing ice conditions on lakes to help make the end of the ice-fishing season safe for novices.
"It's definitely not the time to just, you know drive across the lake knowing nothing about it because you could hit one of those bad spots and you will put your machine through," said Ragotzkie
The DNR said ice strength cannot be determined by how it looks, or the temperature, especially when the ice is snow covered.
Officials say you should never go ice fishing alone.
Three ATV Rescues on Lake Mendota This Week
Austin Ragotzkie
Chris Hagen | 2022-02-24T02:13:49Z | www.wkow.com | Experts warn of dangerous conditions as lake temps warm | Fishing | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/fishing/experts-warn-of-dangerous-conditions-as-lake-temps-warm/article_8d8c18f4-9505-11ec-9040-6f0ed28bc03c.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/fishing/experts-warn-of-dangerous-conditions-as-lake-temps-warm/article_8d8c18f4-9505-11ec-9040-6f0ed28bc03c.html |
Vos says he supports allowing early count of absentee ballots but won't guarantee a vote on it
MADISON (WKOW) -- Republican and Democratic leaders this week have both said they support allowing clerks to start counting absentee ballots before election day. Yet, it's uncertain as to whether both chambers will pass a bill allowing an early count - at least in a manner that would be acceptable to Gov. Tony Evers.
Following the 2020 election, one of the most commonly spread conspiracy theories surrounded the late night shift in Milwaukee's vote count. Experts had warned ahead of the election such a late night "ballot dump" could happen as the city waited to process its absentee ballots at its central count location.
In the Wisconsin Senate Tuesday, Republicans passed a bill that would allow clerks to start counting absentee ballots on the Monday before election days.
On Wednesday, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said he supported the concept but could not schedule the Senate bill for a vote because it hadn't had a public hearing in the Assembly's elections committee.
"I support the Monday count. I have supported it for a long time," Vos said. "But, according to our process, a bill that comes from the Senate has to have had a hearing in the elections committee because that's the committee of jurisdiction. It hasn't had a hearing yet."
When pressed on whether he was blaming that committee's chair, Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), Vos said it was her decision to make.
"I support the bill. We try not to micromanage any of the committees; they work their own process," Vos said. "The committee chairs have the jurisdiction. Just so people know, just because I support something doesn't mean I can snap my fingers and make it happen."
Less than a week ago, Vos defended his own decision to direct a package of election bills away from Brandtjen's committee. That prompted Brandtjen to accuse Vos of "kneecapping" her committee. Brandtjen did not respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday.
Vos said he made that decision to ensure the bills would be on the Assembly's packed calendar this week as it wraps up this two-year session and lawmakers move into campaign mode.
As is often the case in politics, there are even more complications.
In the Senate vote, Democrats all voted against the bill allowing absentee ballots to be counted early, even though they support the idea.
Democrats cited language in the bill that also altered deadlines for absentee ballots and made it possible for rural communities to consolidate their polling places - something Democrats worried would make it harder for some to vote.
"If this was a clean bill that allowed clerks to count ballots early on the Monday before an election, that would be great," Sen. Melissa Agard (D-Madison) said. "Instead, Republicans continue to play games by sneaking items into the bill, like changing timelines for sending absentee ballots that could be confusing and against federal guidance."
Sen. Andre Jacque (R-DePere) joined Democrats in voting against the bill. Sen. Kathy Bernier (R-Chippewa Falls), who authored the bill, blasted Democrats for voting against the measures she put forth.
"Who opposes more training for clerks or clean-ups to our voter information rolls? Why vote against allowing clerks to process absentee ballots early to avoid late-night reporting," Bernier said in a statement. "It is clear Democrats in the Senate would rather play pretend than actually do their jobs."
The Wisconsin Counties Association and League of Wisconsin Municipalities registered in favor of the measure while the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association and the AARP came out against it.
So, could the measure still become law this year? Yes. Will it? Doubtful.
The Assembly is set to take up a number of Republican election bills on Thursday in what could be its final session day of the year.
Vos said GOP lawmakers could tuck the absentee ballot language into another bill and pass it on Thursday.
"It's possible we could amend one of the bills with that but we have not had a caucus discussion to see where our people are at yet," Vos said ahead of Wednesday's session. "That's what we'll do [Thursday]."
Assembly Democrats have called for the measure to come up for a standalone vote. Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), the ranking Democrat on the Assembly's elections committee, said Wednesday Democrats would consider their own amendments including early absentee ballot counting.
Spreitzer called Vos' reasoning for not putting the bill on the calendar himself "disingenuous garbage."
If Vos and other Republicans do add the absentee ballot language to another bill on Thursday's calendar, it's all but guaranteed to then be vetoed by Evers.
That's because almost all of the GOP bills on Thursday's slate either give the legislature more control over how elections are run, tighten the laws around absentee voting, or ban local governments from accepting outside money for election administration.
Republicans have said the changes are necessary to help restore confidence in elections while Democrats call it an extreme overreach in response to unfounded claims of widespread voter fraud. | 2022-02-24T06:16:28Z | www.wkow.com | Vos says he supports allowing early count of absentee ballots but won't guarantee a vote on it | Politics | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/politics/vos-says-he-supports-allowing-early-count-of-absentee-ballots-but-wont-guarantee-a-vote/article_d2683d3a-9506-11ec-9c92-fb680e7f3746.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/politics/vos-says-he-supports-allowing-early-count-of-absentee-ballots-but-wont-guarantee-a-vote/article_d2683d3a-9506-11ec-9c92-fb680e7f3746.html |
Two Iowa County teens charged with stalking, inappropriate sexual contact with younger student
VILLAGE OF HIGHLAND (WKOW) — Two Iowa County teenagers are facing charges for stalking and underage sexual activity after being accused of repeatedly grabbing a younger student by his genitals.
According to two criminal complaints, the grabbing began in December 2021. A sophomore at Highland Schools, identified as John Doe, came home from school December 17 and told his parents an older student had come up to him and grabbed his penis.
Initially, Doe asked his parents to not do anything about it because he thought the situation would resolve itself. However, the grabbing continued, and Doe said a second older student began taking part as well. Four days after the initial incident, Doe's mother reached out to the school principal to address the situation, but didn't hear anything back.
She then followed up with the school superintendent, meeting with him for two hours that same night. The morning after, Doe received a text message from the first boy saying he was sorry for grabbing him.
Doe told investigators that after his parents reported the incident, he was treated worse at school. Other students were calling him names and spreading rumors, and it got bad enough that Doe's parents pulled him out of Highland Schools and are looking to move him to another district.
In an interview with police, Doe said two other students had talked to him about inappropriate sexual contact from the two older students as well, although neither of those students agreed to talk to police. Doe did clarify that he didn't think either of the older students gained any kind of sexual gratification from the touching, and school officials initially described it as "horseplay that went too far."
The older of the two students served an in-school suspension and missed a wrestling field trip to UW-Platteville, but was allowed to continue competing in athletic events. According to the criminal complaint, the student was initially meant to miss a wrestling match as punishment, but his parents disputed it.
His wrestling coach suggested that he miss the field trip instead, and he also would work community service at youth wrestling practices and tournaments for the remainder of the year. Doe's parents felt this was an inadequate punishment, and investigators pointed out a potential conflict of interest in that the school principal's daughter was in a relationship with the student in question.
Neither of the older students accused of groping Doe would consent to an interview with law enforcement.
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Home invasion reported near West Towne Mall | 2022-02-24T18:18:37Z | www.wkow.com | Two Iowa County teens charged with stalking, inappropriate sexual contact with younger student | Crime | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/two-iowa-county-teens-charged-with-stalking-inappropriate-sexual-contact-with-younger-student/article_c9f4b240-9589-11ec-b76a-f7490eefa534.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/two-iowa-county-teens-charged-with-stalking-inappropriate-sexual-contact-with-younger-student/article_c9f4b240-9589-11ec-b76a-f7490eefa534.html |
Wisconsin politicians issue statements on Russia's invasion of Ukraine
MADISON (WKOW) — Overnight, Russia announced military operations in Ukraine.
Thursday morning, Wisconsin politicians began issuing statements condemning the invasion.
“Weakness tempts tyrants and totalitarians to seek more power. People who only want to live in peace suffer the consequences. Ultimately, there is only one group of people responsible for the tragedies unfolding - Vladimir Putin and his cronies. They have stolen wealth from the Russian people, destabilized and done great harm to their European neighbors, and now they’ve crossed another line that will yield untold horrors. Europe must act with strength and resolve to prevent risking a wider conflict, and the U.S. must support our NATO allies and freedom loving people in this moment of extreme peril.”
“My prayers are with the people of Ukraine as they face an unprovoked attack from Russian military forces. This week I'm in London for meetings with officials from the UK government and members of the British Parliament about this aggression, focusing on coordination of sanctions. Now is the time for the United States and our allies to stand united in condemning Putin's unjustified actions towards Ukraine and hold Russia accountable. I couldn’t be more pleased with the level of cooperation and coordination that we are receiving from our British and European allies.”
“Vladimir Putin is a KGB thug who understands no language except force. He has brought war to Europe because he believes he will secure a quick and decisive victory. Our task is to ensure that he is disappointed, by aiding the Ukrainians who are taking up arms to defend their homeland and imposing economic costs now, not after the inevitable humanitarian disaster. Unfortunately, throughout this crisis—as during the Afghanistan fiasco—the Biden Administration has demonstrated little urgency, creativity, or willingness to admit errors and adapt. The president must change course, or our deterrent posture will continue to collapse, chaos will continue to spread, and eventually no one will trust America’s promises or fear American power."
Rep. Gwen Moore
No one will lose more than the people of Ukraine and my heart goes out to them. The United States and its partners and allies must remain unified as they consider options for responding to Russia’s dangerous escalation and for providing support to the people of Ukraine and those displaced from their homeland. ”
Rep. Bryan Steil
“Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked and unjust attack on the people of Ukraine must be condemned and met with severe consequences. Putin cannot be allowed to profit from his evil and ruthless actions. As the people of Ukraine strive for democracy and freedom they need to know America stands with them.” | 2022-02-24T18:18:56Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin politicians issue statements on Russia's invasion of Ukraine | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-politicians-issue-statements-on-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/article_b330e5fa-958a-11ec-a2af-77ae85688108.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-politicians-issue-statements-on-russias-invasion-of-ukraine/article_b330e5fa-958a-11ec-a2af-77ae85688108.html |
Rogers, Kristie
Janesville 2021 crime rates fell by highest rate in 40 years
JANESVILLE (WKOW) -- The Janesville Police Department reported a 14% decrease in crime in 2021, the sharpest decline the city has seen in 40 years.
According to a news release from chief David Moore, Janesville's falling crime rate outpaced a nationwide decline from 2020-21. He credited a variety of factors for bringing the numbers down.
"It takes an entire community to drive down crime with the help of our schools, the Human Services Department, the YWCA / YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, connected and involved neighborhoods, and of most importance – good parenting; just to list a few," Moore said in the release.
In 2021, Janesville saw a 16% decrease in property crime and a 2% decrease in violent crime. Over the course of the year, Janesville saw one criminal homicide, nine fatal traffic crashes and 10 opiate overdose deaths.
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Boys and Girls Club of Dane County to start distributing masks Wednesday | 2022-02-24T20:37:55Z | www.wkow.com | Janesville 2021 crime rates fell by highest rate in 40 years | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/janesville-2021-crime-rates-fell-by-highest-rate-in-40-years/article_64bc6406-9596-11ec-b182-938499f34240.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/janesville-2021-crime-rates-fell-by-highest-rate-in-40-years/article_64bc6406-9596-11ec-b182-938499f34240.html |
Family questions dismissal of criminal case in Middleton woman's death
MIDDLETON (WKOW) - Family members of a Middleton woman who died after a confrontation with her grandson are questioning the dismissal of a criminal case against that grandson connected to the death.
Thomas Wilke, 27, was charged with felony recklessly endangering safety after the death of his grandmother, Susan Wilke, 77, on Dec. 2.
Court records show Wilke and her grandson had a heated argument in the office of Susan Wilke's business on Terrace Avenue. Records state Thomas Wilke left and got into his car in the business' parking lot, with his grandmother coming outside and trying to continue to talk.
"James Booth stated that he had observed Thomas come out of suite 300 and get into his car and short time later Susan came out after Thomas," according to a Probable Cause Statement. "Thomas then opened the driver's door knocking Susan back. Booth went to tell his co-workers and when he returned Susan was down on the ground and the car was backed into the sign," the statement says.
Bystander Dave Brown did CPR on Susan Wilke in an unsuccessful attempt to revive her. Brown also spoke with Thomas Wilke.
"He said, 'I'm sure they're going to try to pin this on me,' " Brown tells 27 News.
Court records say Thomas Wilke told police officers he intended to put his car into drive but inadvertently put it into reverse and into contact with his grandmother.
Prosecutors last week successfully petitioned a judge to dismiss the case.
"Over the last week, we have met with the Medical Examiner's Office and confirmed their staff's findings," wrote Assistant District Attorney Awais M. Khaleel. "We have also met with law enforcement and confirmed all of the available evidence. The State no longer believe we can prove Mr. Wilke engaged in criminal conduct that resulted in the death of Ms. Susan Wilke."
Wilke's sister, Nancy Reyzer of Waunakee tells 27 News she met with a prosecutor and investigators in connection with the dismissal decision. Reyzer says one of the factors they cited was the medical examiner's disclosure of significant blockage of arteries to her sister's heart. Reyzer says investigators shared they lacked evidence to document events in the parking lot, such as the absence of deployment of air bags in the car.
Wilke's brother, Robert Deters of West Bend is a former prosecutor. Deters tells 27 News the case against Thomas Wilke could have gone forward, even with the challenges cited to Reyzer.
"I believe you cannot contribute to coincidence my sister's death and Thomas Wilke's behavior," Deters tells 27 News. "I believe his behavior caused the death of my sister."
"If he hadn't been there, if he hadn't been angry and violent and driving his car in an unsafe fashion, she would have been here...today," Deters says.
"I firmly believe that, too," Reyzer says, noting Thomas Wilke's actions may not have been intentional, but put her sister at risk.
Deters maintains the elements of the felony reckless endangerment charge could have been proven, based on his knowledge of the case against Wilke.
Wilke was released from the Dane County Jail after his charge was dismissed. 27 News has tried to reach him for comment through his girlfriend and father but attempts have been unsuccessful.
Witness Booth has yet to respond to a request for comment from 27 News.
An attorney filed Susan Wilke's will last month as part of a Dane County Probate Court case to settle her estate. Thomas Wilke is listed in the will as in-line for a potential inheritance.
The judge dismissed the criminal case against Wilke without prejudice. If new evidence of a crime surfaced, prosecutors would not be barred from mounting another criminal case.
Robert Deters
Nancy Reyzer
James Booth
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Child found wandering alone on Madison’s south side in frigid temperatures | 2022-02-25T04:40:37Z | www.wkow.com | Family questions dismissal of criminal case in Middleton woman's death | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/family-questions-dismissal-of-criminal-case-in-middleton-womans-death/article_74212718-95de-11ec-8277-3f97002c4c08.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/family-questions-dismissal-of-criminal-case-in-middleton-womans-death/article_74212718-95de-11ec-8277-3f97002c4c08.html |
Derek Hammer appears in Green County court on several felony charges
MONROE (WKOW) -- Derek Hammer appeared in Green County court via video on Thursday on several felony charges.
During Hammer's court appearance he expressed frustration with getting a speedy trial and in an outburst responded, "I'm not willing to waive any time limits I've been locked up since Halloween for some Mickey Mouse charges and allegations I'm ready to move forward with this. I feel as though all these charges should be dismissed at prelim. So that's what I want to do is get I'm ready tomorrow."
Judge Faun Phillipson set cash bond totaling $83,000. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for February 25, 2022 at 01:30 pm.
Derek Hammer outburst video
Faun Phillipson | 2022-02-25T04:40:49Z | www.wkow.com | Derek Hammer appears in Green County court on several felony charges | Law | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/law/derek-hammer-appears-in-green-county-court-on-several-felony-charges/article_fc5a3ac6-95d8-11ec-b652-0b47f05bb6bb.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/law/derek-hammer-appears-in-green-county-court-on-several-felony-charges/article_fc5a3ac6-95d8-11ec-b652-0b47f05bb6bb.html |
'It's a way that Fred stays alive:' Madison mom honors son with cake for strangers
Neuschel described those slices of self-help as one of the few sources of solace for Diarra. He had stopped taking his medication and Neuschel said his family could not and the courts would not change that.
"The day, actually, that I found Fred, his dad and I were going to his apartment to really try to convince him to go to the hospital," she said.
Fred Diarra died on November 10, a little more than one month after his 26th birthday. The cause of death remains under investigation pending toxicology results. For Neuschel, there are some certainties.
"The system, I think, in many ways failed him and he didn't get the treatments that he needed but when he was on medication," she said. "It made a huge difference."
After Fred's death, Neuschel recalled the lunches and cake slices she shared with her son and approached the bakery's managers. She would create her own mini-system to keep Cake Wednesdays alive.
Neuschel paid up front for 40 slices with a request for the bakery: give out 10 of those slices each Wednesday and make sure they go to someone who looks like they need them.
Cake Wednesday lived on throughout the past month.
R.J. Savic, a manager at the bakery, leaned into the idea. He told stories of cheering up a distraught daughter who was with her mom and a stressed delivery driver who told staff of the hundreds of packages she still had to deliver.
"When we give slices away, they kind of give themself away," Savic said, "Like we just know; we just know the people that need it."
Even though Fred didn't say much on those Wednesdays, Savic said he could still hear Fred's message each time he handed out a card for a free slice.
"It's almost like these people are highlighted," Savic said. "Fred's like 'hey, this guy, or this person.'"
Cake Wednesdays are now just part of what's become "Fred's Kindness Fund." Madison Sourdough matched the donation that paid for the cake slices, giving it to the Fritz Food Pantry. Neuschel said the family also received enough donations to buy a second plot at the Farley Center where Fred is buried.
"The next family who has a son of color who dies prematurely, that their burial plot will be paid for," she said.
Neuschel said she hopes to renew the bakery tradition again next February, especially after hearing stories of how the cake slices lifted the spirits of others. Neuschel added it was especially touching to hear Savic relay the story of how he felt Fred was pointing out who most needed the free slice.
"Oh my gosh. Honestly, it's hugely impactful and it brings me great joy," she said. "Because I'm sure, I'm actually sure it's true."
"You are on a space rocket"
Fred Diarra's obituary concludes with a note he wrote to his cousin in 2020. Neuschel said she wanted to include it because it embodied her son's mind and spirit, which often times gave much thought beyond his own life:
I’d like you to know that time never stands still and that things exist in a whole wide mess of different contexts, in a world full of interesting and beautiful things and within a universe that is unfathomably vast and mysterious. And as a rule, troubles and sadness and heartbreak get better with time. The world has a lot to give… Never forget you are on a space rocket flying around the sun!
The Journey Mental Health Center offers crisis services, including a 24/7 hotline: 608-280-2600 | 2022-02-25T06:29:20Z | www.wkow.com | 'It's a way that Fred stays alive:' Madison mom honors son with cake for strangers | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-a-way-that-fred-stays-alive-madison-mom-honors-son-with-cake-for-strangers/article_f7c1c602-9513-11ec-9f25-9b08c8995876.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-a-way-that-fred-stays-alive-madison-mom-honors-son-with-cake-for-strangers/article_f7c1c602-9513-11ec-9f25-9b08c8995876.html |
'Signing Day' in Madison for future teachers
MADISON (WKOW_ -- It's signing day in Madison, but it's for teachers, not student athletes.
Dozens of student teachers and practicum students signed early hire contracts with the school district.
They're now guaranteed a teaching job in the district for next school year, so they don't have to worry about finding a job while they finish their last few months of school.
One student teacher who graduates from UW-Madison in May told us she loves having the job security.
"I'm currently learning how to juggle so many things. I'm making a billion decisions a day. And to know that in the end, it is, like there's a job waiting for me, it feels even more worth it," said Dianna Murray.
The soon-to-be teachers will get an official contract and their school assignment after they graduate and interview with the district.
School Assignment | 2022-02-25T06:29:27Z | www.wkow.com | 'Signing Day' in Madison for future teachers | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/signing-day-in-madison-for-future-teachers/article_e2f6c92e-95e6-11ec-b8da-979e784d39fa.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/signing-day-in-madison-for-future-teachers/article_e2f6c92e-95e6-11ec-b8da-979e784d39fa.html |
UW Health nurses rally for union recognition
MADISON (WKOW) -- UW Health nurses have not had a union since their previous contract expired in 2014. They've been trying to change that for two years and rallied Thursday across from American Family Children's Hospital in support of the effort.
"I know what life was like as a nurse at UW when we were unionized, and it was fantastic," Shari Signer, who has been a nurse at UW Hospital for 15 years, said. "UW was the place to work. It was hard to get in. Once you got in, you stayed. It was a coveted spot. It was a lifelong job."
However, she said things have changed in the past eight years.
"We have not gotten a cost of living raise since 2014, which is definitely leading to retention issues and people are leaving to go other places," she said.
Mary Jorgensen, a nurse who has worked in the inpatient OR for 17 years, said staffing issues are starting to affect the level of care patients receive.
"There have been so many people that have left the operating room that we have staff that are doing cases they're not proficient in, and it's just not the way to run a good OR at all," she said. "It's scary."
Jorgensen said the pandemic only made that tough situation worse.
"Instead of two staff people in the operating room, [treating a patient with COVID-19] takes six," she said. "it's taken much more people, and we don't have them. So, it's been pretty stressful."
In a statement, a spokesperson for UW Health said the health system can't recognize the union because of state law.
"While the law is clear that we cannot recognize a union and collectively bargain a contract, we will continue working directly with our nurses through our nursing councils to address workforce challenges and continue improving the patient care we provide," UW Health press secretary Emily Kumlien said.
The health system has said since 2014 that Act 10 prohibits recognizing the nurses union. In May, the non-partisan Wisconsin Legislative Council agreed with that assessment. However, the council published a new analysis in October that found while the health system has no duty to recognize the union, nurses can ask to be voluntarily recognized.
John Ashworth, the husband of a nurse, said he doesn't think the current situation of nurses working without a union contract is sustainable for his family.
"My wife's been a nurse for 20 plus years," he said. "She's over 50. There's only so much she can handle. … She has no rights, she has no say, and every year, that's just gotten a little worse, a little bit worse, a little bit worse."
Mary Jorgensen
John Ashworth
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Injured puppy undergoes successful surgery after donors exceed $5,000 fundraising goal | 2022-02-25T06:29:39Z | www.wkow.com | UW Health nurses rally for union recognition | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/uw-health-nurses-rally-for-union-recognition/article_68a93494-95f1-11ec-86be-2b67e3251672.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/uw-health-nurses-rally-for-union-recognition/article_68a93494-95f1-11ec-86be-2b67e3251672.html |
MPD locates guns, drugs during search warrant execution
MADISON (WKOW) — A search warrant execution led to the seizure of drugs, guns, ammunition and cash Thursday.
According to an incident report from Madison Police Department spokesperson Stephanie Fryer, the SWAT team served a search warrant near the intersection of Blackwolf Drive and Junction Road. Fryer said they were assisting the violent crimes unit investigate a weapons violation that took place on Sunday.
As a result of the search, authorities found "three firearms and large quantities of ammunition, cash and drugs."
Fryer said two people have been taken in for questioning but no charges have been filed. | 2022-02-25T19:54:25Z | www.wkow.com | MPD locates guns, drugs during search warrant execution | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/mpd-locates-guns-drugs-during-search-warrant-execution/article_30bec6c4-9651-11ec-b35b-7b6738831b14.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/mpd-locates-guns-drugs-during-search-warrant-execution/article_30bec6c4-9651-11ec-b35b-7b6738831b14.html |
March - In Like a Lamb
After our most recent snow brought between 2-4" for most across southern Wisconsin, southern Wisconsin is going to be sitting quietly as the end of February gets closer and March begins. Unlike the saying, it looks like March is going to start like a lamb... will it end like a lion or lamb?
Totals from Thursday into Friday range from over an inch and a half in Monroe to 3.6" in Janesville; many picked up between 2-4" from lake effect snow Thursday morning to a more organized round of snow Thursday evening through flurries on Friday morning. And looking ahead, the weather is going to be quiet.
A high pressure system is going to be in control of the weather through the weekend. A low pressure system will move through the Great Lakes region on Monday, the last day of February, but southern Wisconsin won't see precipitation... just cloud cover. Cloud cover continues to stick with us through the rest of the week.
There is a chance for flurries/a mix by next Thursday but that chance doesn't look too impressive. The atmospheric river looks to be slowing down for a few days... let's enjoy the quiet. | 2022-02-25T22:43:56Z | www.wkow.com | March - In Like a Lamb | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/march---in-like-a-lamb/article_204570ea-966f-11ec-8c04-cbb90663b308.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/march---in-like-a-lamb/article_204570ea-966f-11ec-8c04-cbb90663b308.html |
Vos asks state supreme court to take over Gableman case
MADISON (WKOW) -- Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is asking the state's highest court to take over a lawsuit challenge whether the man he hired to investigate the 2020 election can force officials to answer questions in private.
Vos' lawyers filed a petition Thursday with the Wisconsin Supreme Court calling for justices to take the case. The lawsuit, filed by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul on behalf of the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), is currently before Dane County Circuit Judge Rhonda Lanford.
At the core of the lawsuit is the question of whether Michael Gableman, a former state supreme court justice hired by Vos to review the 2020 election, has the authority to command state and local officials to attend depositions at this private office in Brookfield.
The petition argues nothing in Wisconsin law sets boundaries for how a legislative subpoena can be executed.
"Whether testimony occurs at the Special Counsel's office or at the State Capitol provides WEC no basis to evade its ultimate responsibility to inform the Assembly," the petition, filed by Green Bay attorneys George Burnett and Kurt Goehre, read.
WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe, along with local officials who's received subpoenas, including Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Green Bay Mayor Eric Genrich, have said they're willing to answer Gableman's questions in a hearing at the Capitol but reject the idea of being deposed in private.
Gableman's contact calls for taxpayers to pay him and his team $676,000. The contract ended December 31 and in the two months since, Vos has only said he's "finalizing" negotiations for a new contract. Vos has also said he wanted Gableman to finish his investigation by the end of February.
The lack of a contract hasn't stopped Gableman from asking a Waukesha County court last week to jail Rhodes-Conway, Genrich, and others after they didn't show up for depositions Gableman scheduled. | 2022-02-25T22:44:14Z | www.wkow.com | Vos asks state supreme court to take over Gableman case | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/vos-asks-state-supreme-court-to-take-over-gableman-case/article_e29aa6d8-966f-11ec-a7b7-7700bd426a2d.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/vos-asks-state-supreme-court-to-take-over-gableman-case/article_e29aa6d8-966f-11ec-a7b7-7700bd426a2d.html |
Farley resting comfortably after surgery to repair fractures in his hind legs.
Courtesy of DCHS
Dane County Humane Society shares progress of injured puppy
Thanks to your generous support, Farley gets a little better every day! Read his full story at www.giveshelter.org/farley.
MADISON (WKOW) — A little over a month after initially asking for the community's help to save a severely injured puppy, the Dane County Humane Society has an update.
The community rallied around Farley, a pit bull puppy found on the side of the road who was likely hit by a car. Farley had serious trauma to his mouth and nose as well as his back legs. And after a call for help, the community funded Farley's successful surgery, and then some.
Now, DCHS is sharing a video to show just how far this puppy has come and thanking the community for their help. Farley started physical therapy on January 20, and the video shows him walking, playing and even swimming.
But, DCHS said there has been a setback: his left knee has some healing complications that aren't uncommon with these types of injuries.
"Farley may always have a slightly unusual gait, but he is still able to use his left leg," DCHS wrote in a blog post. "And even with these minor complications, his progress has been amazing given the severity of his initial injuries."
After veterinarians give the all clear, Farley's next step will be adoption. | 2022-02-26T01:16:19Z | www.wkow.com | Dane County Humane Society shares progress of injured puppy | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-county-humane-society-shares-progress-of-injured-puppy/article_ae60f1c8-9684-11ec-9d31-6fb06b1d86c5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-county-humane-society-shares-progress-of-injured-puppy/article_ae60f1c8-9684-11ec-9d31-6fb06b1d86c5.html |
Department of Corrections lifts ban on in-person visits
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Corrections announced that in-person visits will be allowed starting March 1 due to a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
According to a news release from DOC spokesperson John Beard, there were 104 active cases across prisoners and staff throughout Wisconsin as of February 24. 83% of prisoners have completed their vaccine schedule, and more than 69% of those eligible for a booster have gotten one.
“We appreciate the patience and understanding of those in our care and their loved ones as we have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic,” DOC Secretary Kevin A. Carr said in the release. “Family connection during incarceration has shown to have a positive impact on success upon return to the community, and in-person visitation is one way of maintaining that connection.”
This is the second time the DOC has re-opened in person visitation during the pandemic. Visits first resumed in July 2021, but were shut down again in December due to the rapid spread of the omicron variant.
“Of course, we’re happy to resume many normal operations, and we hope there are no more suspensions of those operations. However, we have and will continue to follow the science in our COVID-19 mitigation efforts," Carr said.
Visitors to DOC facilities must adhere to all current COVID regulations.
Kevin A. Carr
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Funeral services for Major Harris held in Madison | 2022-02-26T01:16:37Z | www.wkow.com | Department of Corrections lifts ban on in-person visits | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/department-of-corrections-lifts-ban-on-in-person-visits/article_7991adcc-9682-11ec-b6a0-0364499963cf.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/department-of-corrections-lifts-ban-on-in-person-visits/article_7991adcc-9682-11ec-b6a0-0364499963cf.html |
Jion Broomfield (center) with friends.
Photo Courtesy of Jion Broomfield's family
'You need to turn yourself in': Beloit shooting victim's mother appeals for suspect's surrender
BELOIT (WKOW) - The mother of a fatal shooting victim last month after a Beloit high school basketball game is appealing to the suspect to turn himself in.
Authorities are looking for Amaree Goodall, 19, of Madison for the reckless homicide of Jion Broomfield, also 19.
"If you are scared, I understand," Broomfield's mother, Teresa Jackson said in a direct appeal to Goodall. "But you need to turn yourself in because you're just making it harder on yourself, your family. You need to think about your family. You need to think about my family."
Court documents state after a boys basketball game between teams from Madison La Follette and Beloit Memorial High School, a fracas took place outside the gym and Goodall shot Broomfield, apparently randomly.
Goodall is a former, admired basketball player at James Madison Memorial High School. But Jackson says he's also someone who allegedly had a gun at a high school basketball game. She's concerned for the safety of her family and herself.
"Yes, anything is possible at this point," Jackson said. "I don't know what kind of person I'm dealing with at all."
Broomfield's sister, Shaleika Griffin, says the nature of the shooting at a crowded, post-game scene was especially dangerous.
"It could have been a pastor, a teacher, it could have been an alumni, it could have been a baby," Griffin said of the random gunfire's possible victims. "It really could have been anybody."
After the shooting, Beloit's police chief urged the many witnesses to cooperate and help lead investigators to the person responsible.
"The students at the high school, I don't want to leave them out because they were probably scared to talk," Jackson said. "I...want to thank them, who were at the game that wasn't scared to tell what they saw."
Beloit Police Spokesperson Sarah Lock says all available resources are being used to try to apprehend Goodall.
"I want to commend the police because they never get enough credit," Jackson said.
Several of Goodall's former high school teammates called Goodall a friendly and calm teenager. One of Goodall's family members declined comment to 27 News on the homicide accusation against the teen.
Griffin says a surrender might help explain Goodall's alleged need to have armed himself at that prep game. A criminal complaint says Goodall fired his gun after a friend was knocked down.
"Maybe we can get a chance to see what was going on in his head," Griffin said.
Teresa Jackson
No votes expected in special session on police reform
3 people dead, 2 hurt in Kenosha shooting | 2022-02-26T01:16:43Z | www.wkow.com | 'You need to turn yourself in': Beloit shooting victim's mother appeals for suspect's surrender | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/you-need-to-turn-yourself-in-beloit-shooting-victims-mother-appeals-for-suspects-surrender/article_a8303032-968b-11ec-bb82-375d7fb9d0f1.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/you-need-to-turn-yourself-in-beloit-shooting-victims-mother-appeals-for-suspects-surrender/article_a8303032-968b-11ec-bb82-375d7fb9d0f1.html |
AHA hosts annual Go Red for Women Madison event
MADISON (WKOW) -- Women came together Friday to reclaim their rhythm and take charge of their heart health.
The American Heart Association held its annual Go Red for Women Madison event, virtually this year.
The goal is to raise awareness of the number one killer of women, heart disease.
A survivor spoke about the moment a cardiac arrest nearly took her life.
Two nurses performed CPR on Ana Maria Peralta for 32 minutes.
"I didn't have pulse. So they were trying hard. And finally, they used the doctor used the defibrillator three times. And the third time I finally they got pulse, they got me back."
Amber Noggle served as emcee of Go Red and WKOW is a proud sponsor.
If you want to support the mission, you can donate here. | 2022-02-26T03:35:21Z | www.wkow.com | AHA hosts annual Go Red for Women Madison event | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/aha-hosts-annual-go-red-for-women-madison-event/article_39940d14-969b-11ec-a015-47c099bf2fa7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/aha-hosts-annual-go-red-for-women-madison-event/article_39940d14-969b-11ec-a015-47c099bf2fa7.html |
Best in show: Wisconsin Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend in Madison
MADISON (WKOW) -- If dogs interest you more than sports, then you might want to check out the Wisconsin Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend in Madison.
It runs through Sunday at the New Holland Pavilion at the Alliant Energy Center.
More than 1,500 dogs are competing per day.
Almost all of them are AKC recognized breeds.
"We have a little bit of everything going on today, junior showmanship, an all-breed dog show just like you see at Westminster Kennel Club and puppies," said Edward Fojtik, president of Renaissance Cluster Dog Shows.
Visitors can also check out vendor booths.
The entry fee is $5 per person. Kids 10 and under get in for free.
Edward Fojtik
Wisconsin Kennel Club Dog Show | 2022-02-26T03:35:27Z | www.wkow.com | Best in show: Wisconsin Kennel Club Dog Show this weekend in Madison | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/best-in-show-wisconsin-kennel-club-dog-show-this-weekend-in-madison/article_b4bb06cc-9692-11ec-8e52-8b79fc2f1009.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/best-in-show-wisconsin-kennel-club-dog-show-this-weekend-in-madison/article_b4bb06cc-9692-11ec-8e52-8b79fc2f1009.html |
Graduation date change forces some Sun Prairie student athletes to make a tough decision
SUN PRAIRIE (WKOW) -- One day is making a big difference to some Sun Prairie student-athletes.
"Would I want to go to sectionals and try and compete for state? Or would I want to walk the stage at graduation? Both of these things are extremely important," said Morgan Cross, a Sun Prairie student athlete.
Student-athletes are upset because the Sun Prairie School District changed Sun Prairie High's graduation date from May 27th to May 26th.
"We have a big track meet student-athletes are going to be impacted," said Maddie Wirtz-Olsen, a Sun Prairie student-athlete.
The School District reported the affected sports includes: girls' soccer, baseball, track and field, and potential lacrosse, softball, and boys' tennis.
This date change forces some student-athletes like Wirtz-Olsen and Cross to choose between walking in graduation or participation in post-season championship runs.
"Having those things overlap graduation and sectionals determining if you go to state, it was very frustrating," said Cross.
So Wirtz-Olsen started a petition to change Sun Prairie's graduation date. To date, it has nearly 1,500 signatures and counting.
"People who have no affiliation to this year's graduation at all have been able to say, wow, these students have had a difficult two years. They have had battles they've overcome, and they've worked really hard and it's really unfair for these student-athletes," said Wirtz-Olsen.
Now a school district spokesperson said the graduation date was changed because of a double-booking conflict on the part of the Alliant Energy Center. The Sun Prairie School District is now forming a graduation committee to explore better options for graduation.
So the Sun Prairie School District is now forming a graduation committee to explore better options for graduation.
In an email to parents, District leaders say the Alliant Energy Center requested them to reschedule because of Brat Fest and the Memorial Day Carnival:
To the Parents, Caregivers, and Students of the Sun Prairie High School and Prairie Phoenix Academy Graduating Class of 2022:
It is always our intention to make the very best decisions on behalf of our students and families. And, we don’t always get it right. Please accept my apologies and my commitment to exploring other options for the 2022 Sun Prairie High School and Prairie Phoenix Academy Graduation that may better meet the needs of our students, our families, and our community.
I will be forming and facilitating a 2022 Graduation Committee, which will include parents and caregivers of graduating seniors, senior students, senior class staff advisors, high school administration, and the high school Board liaison. This committee will determine feasible graduation options and then solicit feedback through a survey.
The charge of the 2022 Graduation Committee is: To understand school district system and event constraints and limitations; explore and determine the viability of possible graduation options; formulate, distribute, and analyze a survey; and make a final recommendation to the administrative team no later than March 15, 2022.
We understand that high school graduation is one of the most important events for our students. It is a family celebration. It is a milestone event that we want our students and families to remember fondly. We are committed to making the best of this difficult situation. Please look for more information next week as this committee works to best meet the needs of our graduates and families.
In Gratitude,
Graduation Date Change Forces Tough Decision
Morgan Cross | 2022-02-26T03:35:33Z | www.wkow.com | Graduation date change forces some Sun Prairie student athletes to make a tough decision | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/graduation-date-change-forces-some-sun-prairie-student-athletes-to-make-a-tough-decision/article_4cf8a098-9698-11ec-a10b-cfd5b32c2702.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/graduation-date-change-forces-some-sun-prairie-student-athletes-to-make-a-tough-decision/article_4cf8a098-9698-11ec-a10b-cfd5b32c2702.html |
UPDATE: All lanes of Highway 19 near DeForest are now open
UPDATE (WKOW) -- All lanes of Highway 19 are now open, according to WisDOT.
DEFOREST (WKOW) -- All eastbound lanes of Highway 19 are closed at US 51 due to a crash Friday evening, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Dane County Sheriff's Department was dispatched to handle the incident.
The roadway should be clear in around an hour, according to WisDOT.
Wisconsin Department | 2022-02-26T03:35:39Z | www.wkow.com | UPDATE: All lanes of Highway 19 near DeForest are now open | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-all-lanes-of-highway-19-near-deforest-are-now-open/article_c8ccebbc-969c-11ec-bb43-97f650ef7729.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-all-lanes-of-highway-19-near-deforest-are-now-open/article_c8ccebbc-969c-11ec-bb43-97f650ef7729.html |
What bail reforms would Gov. Evers favor? He won't say
MADISON (WKOW) -- On an issue that has drawn much of potential opponents' focus, Gov. Tony Evers declined to say whether he would support bail reforms or if he thinks cash bail should exist.
Evers has come under fire from conservatives over his decision to not remove Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. Chisholm said his office set an "inappropriately low" $1,000 bond for Brooks, which he posted days before the rampage.
13 Assembly Democrats voted in favor of the resolution.
Evers also mum on cash bail
Other legislative Democrats who opposed the constitutional amendment, including Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit), have said they support pretrial detention for defendants considered to a threat to the public while still being troubled by the concept of cash bail.
"I think there's some disagreements specifically around whether we ought to use cash bail as the means to do that or move to a system of pre-trial detention that is purely based on a judge making a decision of 'should this person be held or should this person be released,'" Spreitzer said. "Rather than trying to guess how much money will be effective in securing someone." | 2022-02-26T03:35:45Z | www.wkow.com | What bail reforms would Gov. Evers favor? He won't say | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/what-bail-reforms-would-gov-evers-favor-he-wont-say/article_c947248e-9699-11ec-a83e-03874d029080.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/what-bail-reforms-would-gov-evers-favor-he-wont-say/article_c947248e-9699-11ec-a83e-03874d029080.html |
Police shoot man who opened fire at officers in Milwaukee police station
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- Milwaukee's police chief said officers shot a man who opened fire at officers inside a police station.
Chief Jeffrey Norman said several community members were inside the District 5 station's lobby when a 23-year-old man started shooting.
An officer shot back and the suspect ran off.
Police chased him and shot him several times.
He was taken to the hospital and is expected to survive.
Chief Norman said having this happen inside of a police lobby is a sensitive situation.
"There is a lot of shaken up staff. So my heart is out to my staff. I'm very proud of how they're handling themselves. I know that we're wrapping our arms around them," Norman said.
No police officers or community members were hurt.
The West Allis Police Department will be investigating the incident.
West Allis | 2022-02-26T07:47:42Z | www.wkow.com | Police shoot man who opened fire at officers in Milwaukee police station | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/police-shoot-man-who-opened-fire-at-officers-in-milwaukee-police-station/article_4c3762b2-96bf-11ec-9aeb-8bad3346176a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/police-shoot-man-who-opened-fire-at-officers-in-milwaukee-police-station/article_4c3762b2-96bf-11ec-9aeb-8bad3346176a.html |
Wisconsin updates COVID-19 mask, testing requirements for state employees
MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin's Division of Personnel Management has updated its COVID-19 mask and testing requirements for state employees, saying the new rules will be consistent with guidance from federal, state and local public health officials.
Starting March 1, many employees will not have to wear masks inside state facilities. However, employees who work at the Departments of Corrections, Health Services and Veteran's Affairs, who work in congregate care facilities must continue to wear masks until April 1.
The state's weekly COVID-19 testing program will run through March 12 and will be suspended on March 13.
The state said the changes were made in light of decreased levels of COVID-19, the dramatically decreased number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and the availability of COVID-19 tests. Additionally, more than 77% of Wisconsin state employees have completed their vaccination series, so their symptoms tend to be milder and there is a lower risk of hospitalization.
While there are some changes regarding masking and testing, the isolation/quarantine and vaccination requirements remain unchanged.
All state employees must continue to provide information on their vaccination status.
The state government encourages any unvaccinated state employees and state employees who have not received a booster to schedule a vaccine.
Additionally, government agencies will continue to provide KN95 or N95 masks to anyone who requests one.
Wisconsin reports record-breaking 1,165 new COVID-19 cases; 6 more dead
American Players Theatre postpones 2020 season
Harley-Davidson temporarily suspending production in the U.S.
Allowing UI waiting period to resume costing state $1.3M per week
Walmart to start taking employees’ temperatures
Six more die in Wisconsin from COVID-19, 186 more confirmed infections | 2022-02-27T00:19:24Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin updates COVID-19 mask, testing requirements for state employees | Coronavirus | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/wisconsin-updates-covid-19-mask-testing-requirements-for-state-employees/article_f723d356-973f-11ec-94bb-2be0fc63bdab.html | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/wisconsin-updates-covid-19-mask-testing-requirements-for-state-employees/article_f723d356-973f-11ec-94bb-2be0fc63bdab.html |
Pedaling for a cause: Local gym rats take to the bike to raise money for American Heart Association
MADISON (WKOW) -- Some of Madison's fitness junkies took to stationary bikes to raise money for the American Heart Association on Saturday.
Basecamp Fitness, a local Madison gym with three locations, hosted a day of pedaling workouts that organizers called "pedaling for a cause."
Every mile ridden during the classes translated to a one dollar donation to the American Heart Association.
Jenn Costin, head coach at Basecamp Fitness, said more than $500 was raised at her gym on Saturday.
"We work so hard during the week," Costin said. "And a lot of people prep all quarter to hit that goal. So if you hit 5,6,7 miles on a bike you get a t-shirt. So a lot of people do some crazy stuff for that t-shirt, but at the end of the day it's all about raising money for charity."
The money raised at Costin's gym will be added to the other two gym location's totals and donated later this year.
Basecamp Fitness
Jenn Costin | 2022-02-27T15:06:52Z | www.wkow.com | Pedaling for a cause: Local gym rats take to the bike to raise money for American Heart Association | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/pedaling-for-a-cause-local-gym-rats-take-to-the-bike-to-raise-money-for/article_6285ce04-978d-11ec-a350-bb4adbdaa070.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/pedaling-for-a-cause-local-gym-rats-take-to-the-bike-to-raise-money-for/article_6285ce04-978d-11ec-a350-bb4adbdaa070.html |
Stoughton's Nicolar Rivera announces his commitment to UW-Madison after winning the 126 Division 1 title.
WIAA local wrestlers claim state titles
MADISON (WKOW) -- The greater Madison area was well-represented on championship Saturday at the Kohl Center for the WIAA Boys' State Wrestling Individual Finals.
Nicolar Rivera (Stoughton, 126), Aedon Sinclair (Milton, 170), and Jackson Mankowski (Madison Lafollette, 220) claimed titles in the Division 1 bracket.
Charlie Medut (106) and Reid Spurley (113) went back-to-back for Dodgeville in Division 2. Danny Heiser (Evansville, 120) and Zane Licht (Lodi, 152) also finished at the top of the D2 brackets.
The WIAA 2022 State Team Wresting Tournament will be held on March 4-5 at the UW Field House. The quarterfinal and semifinal rounds will take place on Friday, March 4 and the championship will be on Saturday, March 5 beginning at 3 p.m.
Wiaa Boys
Team Wresting Tournament
GOP committee approves spending $680K on election investigation; Evers calls vote “outrageous”
Police: Agent shot, wounded in Racine is in stable condition
Two people arrested for fight in Madison park | 2022-02-27T15:06:58Z | www.wkow.com | WIAA local wrestlers claim state titles | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wiaa-local-wrestlers-claim-state-titles/article_32cf4c1e-9786-11ec-82cc-53ccc06bd8a5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wiaa-local-wrestlers-claim-state-titles/article_32cf4c1e-9786-11ec-82cc-53ccc06bd8a5.html |
Photo Courtesy: Instagram/Sarah Nurse
'Believe You Belong': Former Badger Sarah Nurse discusses diversity in hockey following historic Olympic run
(WKOW) -- Former Wisconsin Badger hockey star Sarah Nurse made a statement in Beijing helping lead Team Canada to a 2022 gold medal. She's also been a playmaker well before then by using her voice to promote diversity and inclusion in the sport.
"[When I was growing up,] I remember my family was the only Black family in any arena," Nurse said.
Nurse, who is half Black, hardly saw anyone who looked like her on the ice. That's motivated her to become a trailblazer.
During her run with Team Canada, Nurse collected 18 points over 5 games played, which is the single Olympic tournament record in women's hockey. She's also Team Canada's first Black female hockey player.
The Canadian winger is grateful she's one of 23 who made the national roster for "the country's sport."
"We are a very diverse, multicultural nation as is the United States so for us to have our national sport be hockey, I think that it should be representative of the people," said Nurse.
"Realistically, when you look at hockey right now it is a very male dominated, white sport. The only way it’s going to really grow is if we bring people from under represented communities, people of different races, genders, abilities into the sport."
Off the ice, Nurse's likeness has appeared on special edition 'Cheerios' and a 'Barbie' doll inspired to look like Nurse. Honored by the recognition, she's looking at it beyond face value.
"I put myself back to when I was five or six years old. You know I was never able to see those things so I think what makes me so proud and makes me so happy about those different forms of representation it's just the fact that kids nowadays can see that."
To inspire the next generation, Nurse recalls advice she was given from a former Team Canada captain: believe that young belong.
"You may not always feel welcome and you may not always be welcomed but you have to believe that you belong because you belong in any room, any rink, in any place in the world you want to be in."
Nurse graduated from UW-Madison in 2018 and won the silver medal in Pyeongchang with Team Canada that same year. | 2022-02-28T03:04:37Z | www.wkow.com | 'Believe You Belong': Former Badger Sarah Nurse discusses diversity in hockey following historic Olympic run | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/believe-you-belong-former-badger-sarah-nurse-discusses-diversity-in-hockey-following-historic-olympic-run/article_64fbe590-9834-11ec-a02e-e3278c66c26c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/believe-you-belong-former-badger-sarah-nurse-discusses-diversity-in-hockey-following-historic-olympic-run/article_64fbe590-9834-11ec-a02e-e3278c66c26c.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- A spokesman for Michael Gableman said the former state Supreme Court justice will deliver his final report Tuesday on the 2020 election in Wisconsin.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos announced in June he was hiring Gableman to lead the Assembly's review of the 2020 election, in which President Joe Biden won Wisconsin by nearly 21,000 votes. The result withstood a series of legal challenges and recounts in the state's two most populous counties.
Gableman spokesman Zak Niemierowicz said while Gableman initially planned to turn in the report Monday, he was taking another day to polish up the final product with plans to deliver copies to both Vos and Rep. Janel Brandtjen (R-Menomonee Falls), who chairs the Assembly's elections committee.
Gableman was already scheduled to testify before the committee Tuesday morning. Niemierowicz said Gableman planned to briefly summarize the report before the committee before delivering a PowerPoint presentation outlining more of its findings.
Vos and Assembly Republicans approved in September giving Gableman and his team $676,000 to review the election. The contract ended December 31 but Gableman kept working without a new written agreement.
During that time, Vos would only say his office was finalizing a new agreement and hoped to have a final report by the end of February. Vos' office did not immediately respond to questions Monday.
During his investigation, Gableman initially focused on voting machines, drawing criticism from a Republican state senator who questioned whether he understood how elections work.
It is expected Gableman's report will reflect many of the already-raised concerns about the elections commission's guidance in 2020. | 2022-03-01T13:05:10Z | www.wkow.com | Gableman final report to be presented Tuesday | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gableman-final-report-to-be-presented-tuesday/article_8d571f6a-98d3-11ec-b0f4-4fed8669a8c6.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gableman-final-report-to-be-presented-tuesday/article_8d571f6a-98d3-11ec-b0f4-4fed8669a8c6.html |
Researchers at UW-Madison work to recycle masks
MADISON (WKOW) -- Throughout the pandemic, we've all thrown away our fair share of masks, but now, researchers at UW-Madison are working to make recycling masks a reality.
“We've developed a new technology to be able to recycle waste plastics," George Huber, professor of chemical engineering and the director of the Center for Chemical Upcycling and Waste Plastics at UW-Madison, said.
The technology, which Huber and his team call 'Strap' or Solvent Targeted Recovery and Precipitation, can be applied to facemasks, plastic bags or other types of plastic mixtures.
It works by grinding recycled masks down and then pulling polypropylene out of them using a solvent.
The polypropylene can then be used to make more masks or other items like yogurt cups.
“In this laboratory here, we have a team of graduate students, undergraduates and postdoctoral researchers who are developing new, what we call disruptive technologies that will allow us to recycle more types of plastics,” Huber said.
One postdoctoral student working on the project is Jiuling Yu, who is excited to be a part of the historic effort and hopes it helps prevent a growing number of masks from ending up in landfills.
“We definitely need a strategy to evaluate how to recycle the facemask using a very novel and technical and environmental-friendly process,” Yu said.
The group of Huber and about a dozen students has been working on the entire recycling plastics project for about 18 months now and focusing on masks, specifically, for about six.
“We're only doing this in the small-scale batch process, but we're working on building this into a continuous process in scaling this technology up to a commercial scale,” Huber said.
Before recycling masks becomes a common practice, the City of Madison asks people to throw them away rather than recycle them to avoid tampering with equipment.
“How your recycling gets sorted on the back end with all the machines and robots and people and these rolls screens, all our masks and gloves, and that can really tangle up that equipment,” Bryan Johnson, Streets Division Recycling Coordinator for the City of Madison, said.
The city also asks that people don't litter or burn their masks.
“It gets tangled in trees, it could hurt wildlife,” Johnson said. “There can be hazards when you're trying to burn things, especially plastic stuff, particularly vinyl plastics, because it has chlorine in it. If you burn that, you can very well be making like dioxins or other kinds of hazards,” Johnson said.
Right now, UW-Madison researchers say they have enough masks for their project. In time, however, they may collect more.
"We have a whole team of engineers here looking at every single aspect about plastic recycling," Huber said. "UW-Madison is one of the world's global leaders in plastic recycling."
George Huber | 2022-03-01T13:05:41Z | www.wkow.com | Researchers at UW-Madison work to recycle masks | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/researchers-at-uw-madison-work-to-recycle-masks/article_faca6ed6-98f5-11ec-aecf-2b24e9243674.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/researchers-at-uw-madison-work-to-recycle-masks/article_faca6ed6-98f5-11ec-aecf-2b24e9243674.html |
UW Pancreas Cancer Prevention Program now monitoring more than 1,000 patients
MADISON (WKOW) -- UW Health's Pancreas Cancer Prevention Program has grown steadily since 2020, with more than 1,000 high-risk patients now monitored by professionals.
According to a news release from UW Health spokesperson Sara Benzel, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest versions of the disease, behind lung cancer. UW Health surgical oncologist Dr. Rebecca Minter said it was essential to develop a better way to track pancreatic cancer, because widespread screening is not as effective.
“We needed a better way to identify pancreas cancer earlier in those who are at the highest risk of developing it,” Minter said. “Because pancreas cancer presents in patients too late for a surgical option about 75% of the time.”
MRI and CT scans can both identify cysts that can indicate pancreatic cancer, even if the scan is performed for a different reason. These cysts are not necessarily confirmation of pancreatic cancer, but it does indicate an increased risk.
Minter said her goal is to develop a new screening process that is less invasive than an MRI scan and an endoscopic ultrasound. She said developing a process to identify pancreatic cysts via a blood draw would be "a gamechanger."
“We approach this work with hope,” Minter said. “We won’t give up on preventing this deadly cancer and we don’t want our patients or our community to either."
UW Health's Pancreas Cancer Prevention Program consists of surgical oncologists, gastroenterologists, radiologists, genetic counselors, a nurse navigator and more.
Rebecca Minter
Medical examiner announces cause of death for three-year-old Major Harris
Avisail Garcia heading to Miami on four-year deal
Wounded Milwaukee police officer receives Super Bowl tickets
Second Harvest offering $200,000 in community-directed food equity grants | 2022-03-01T13:06:11Z | www.wkow.com | UW Pancreas Cancer Prevention Program now monitoring more than 1,000 patients | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/uw-pancreas-cancer-prevention-program-now-monitoring-more-than-1-000-patients/article_f336827a-98b1-11ec-b482-cb63927a7688.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/uw-pancreas-cancer-prevention-program-now-monitoring-more-than-1-000-patients/article_f336827a-98b1-11ec-b482-cb63927a7688.html |
Door County business selling candles for Ukraine
DOOR COUNTY (WBAY) -- A Door County business is trying to raise awareness about the situation in Ukraine.
Door County Candle Company is selling blue and yellow candles to represent the Ukrainian flag. They also have a vanilla scent.
The owner of the business is Ukrainian and still has family living there.
All of the proceeds from the sales are going to a nonprofit that supports several projects, including an emergency response fund.
"Not knowing what to do, I think was the worst feeling and hearing your family cry on the phone and sending you videos of bombings and being terrified, and being here it was the worst feeling. So, being able to channel that into something that is making a difference means everything," the candle company's owner, Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani, told WBAY TV.
They sold the first 300 candles they made in one day. At least 3,000 more orders have come in.
Wbay Tv | 2022-03-01T22:26:13Z | www.wkow.com | Door County business selling candles for Ukraine | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/door-county-business-selling-candles-for-ukraine/article_30f3cd38-9917-11ec-951a-7f6086173ea1.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/door-county-business-selling-candles-for-ukraine/article_30f3cd38-9917-11ec-951a-7f6086173ea1.html |
Madison woman worries, keeps close contact with family members in besieged Ukraine
MADISON (WKOW) - City of Madison worker Nataliya Akulenko is consumed by concern over family members in Ukraine as the war in that country intensifies.
"I'm very concerned, very scared," Akulenko said.
Akulenko said her parents and her teenage nephew left homes in the capital Kyiv before invading Russian troops crossed the border into Ukraine. But she says her brother Andrii and his wife remained there until Saturday, when destroyed bridges, roads and a scarcity of gasoline made their departure harrowing.
"And they miraculously found a gas station that still had gas," Akulenko said. "They then drove three hundred miles and they also helped someone else's kids get out Kyiv."
Akulenko's family is now intact in a village near Kyiv in western Ukraine. She allowed a 27 News reporter to be part of a video chat with her mother, Zhenya Akulenko, 76, Monday.
"It's quiet, it's calm, we're all together," Zhena Akulenko said as her daughter translated.
"My brother is joining the local resistance there," Nataliya Akulenko said. "He has his own weapons. He spent six hours patrolling with them."
Akulenko most recently visited her family members in Kyiv in 2019. She said long history of Russian aggression against Ukraine prepared her and others for the current conflict. But she says the escalating war is frightening.
Akulenko retains faith civilians such as her family members and the Ukrainian military will repel the advance of Russian troops. She says the stakes could not be higher.
"It's about not just preserving our culture and our democratic system, political system, but about survival," Akulenko said.
She says a building near her parents' high-rise apartment building in Kyiv was heavily damaged in a bombing. Akulenko says many of her friends in that city are regularly huddling for hours in basements and the subway.
The onslaught has not destroyed her optimism.
"I really hope we'll have a victory soon," Akulenko said. "We'll have to rebuild our country, our infrastructure, rebuild everything."
Akulenko proudly wears a pin with the colors of the Ukrainian flag at her workplace. She's also participated in rallies to show solidarity with those in Ukraine.
Zhenya Akulenko says her time along with her family members removed from their home of Kyiv is temporary.
"We hope to go home soon," she said. "It can't be any other way. We're going to go home."
Zhenya Akulenko | 2022-03-01T22:26:36Z | www.wkow.com | Madison woman worries, keeps close contact with family members in besieged Ukraine | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-woman-worries-keeps-close-contact-with-family-members-in-besieged-ukraine/article_e3ddde08-9966-11ec-9a5d-0bfbeebaaf49.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-woman-worries-keeps-close-contact-with-family-members-in-besieged-ukraine/article_e3ddde08-9966-11ec-9a5d-0bfbeebaaf49.html |
Downtown business vacancy rate dropping as Dane County's mask mandate expires
MADISON (WKOW) -- Businesses in downtown Madison are hoping the expiration of Dane County's mask mandate will help them with their bounceback.
Dozens of downtown businesses closed during the pandemic.
Heather Ewing, the vice chair of Madison's Central Business Improvement District, says things are on an upward trend. Ewing says the vacancy rate is going down. It's at 10% right now. Ideally, they'd be at 7%.
Ewing says she thinks not having a mask mandate will be beneficial for businesses.
"It'll allow them to grow their business and to really fulfill their niche versus trying to patrol, 'Can you please put your mask on?'... having people upset at them, things of that nature. So I think there will be a freedom. And also with the warmer weather, I think people are going to be getting out more, spending more, experiencing more," Ewing told 27 News.
Ewing says on State Street there is typically one end that's busier than the other. But right now, she says there's a lot of activity across the entire street.
Heather Ewing | 2022-03-02T06:16:58Z | www.wkow.com | Downtown business vacancy rate dropping as Dane County's mask mandate expires | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-business-vacancy-rate-dropping-as-dane-countys-mask-mandate-expires/article_410e6d58-99e5-11ec-b01c-9378cf21b3f7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-business-vacancy-rate-dropping-as-dane-countys-mask-mandate-expires/article_410e6d58-99e5-11ec-b01c-9378cf21b3f7.html |
Fitchburg police officer hurt during arrest
FITCHBURG (WKOW) -- A Fitchburg police officer was taken to the hospital after being hurt while responding to a disturbance.
The Fitchburg Police Department says officers were called to the 4500 block of Thurston Lane for a report of a disturbance.
At the scene, officers determined Edgar Ceballos Alfaro was involved in the disturbance. Police say Alfaro refused to cooperate and resisted when an officer tried to arrest him.
During the struggle, police say the officer was hurt. The officer was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, where they were treated and released.
Alfaro was taken to the Dane County Jail on charges of resisting and obstructing officers causing a soft tissue injury, attempting to disarm a peace officer and other charges related to the disturbance.
Edgar Ceballos Alfaro | 2022-03-02T06:17:10Z | www.wkow.com | Fitchburg police officer hurt during arrest | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/fitchburg-police-officer-hurt-during-arrest/article_d761c43e-99e6-11ec-a7e5-8f93c78eb856.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/fitchburg-police-officer-hurt-during-arrest/article_d761c43e-99e6-11ec-a7e5-8f93c78eb856.html |
Gableman delivers election recommendations, claims roadmap exists to decertify 2020 election
MADISON (WKOW) -- The investigator hired by Wisconsin Assembly Republicans suggested Tuesday lawmakers should pursue decertification of the state's 2020 election results. Legal experts and the legislature's own lawyers have said such a course of action would be illegal.
Labeling the 136-page document a second "interim report," Gableman's team said they're "just getting started." Gableman and his staff, operating on a $676,000 taxpayer-funded budget, had their initial contract end December 31.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has publicly said he's "finalizing" a contract extension with Gableman.
In his report, Gableman, a retired state supreme court justice, released a set of recommendations for lawmakers and clerks. While that list did not explicitly call for lawmakers to overturn the 2020 election, Gableman said in his two-hour presentation Tuesday lawmakers should seriously consider it.
"I believe the legislature ought to take a very hard look at the option of decertification of the 2020 Wisconsin presidential election," Gableman said.
Gableman's report concludes by offering a road map for how state lawmakers could reject popular election results and choose their own slate of presidential electors. It's an argument that runs counter to the vast majority of legal experts' views on the question and, in Gableman's report, relied vaguely on "common law" to back up the assertion.
The first recommendation from Gableman is for lawmakers to dismantle the Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC), which Republicans created in 2015 after dismantling the Government Accountability Board.
Vos has defended WEC as currently constructed. Both he and other GOP leaders have swatted away claims the legislature could overturn the 2020 election.
A series of legal challenges and recounts in the state's two most populous counties have upheld President Joe Biden won the state by more than 20,000 votes in 2020.
Democrats said the complaints raised by Gableman - which mirror what conservatives have said in the 16 months following the election - amount to complaining about the rules of the game once that game's been concluded.
"The fact is there were plenty of opportunities to contest the 2020 election before it was certified," Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) said. "There were audits, there were recounts, there were legal challenges. They all held up and so the election was certified and it will remain certified."
Gableman report raises issues around funding for clerks, access to voter rolls, nursing home voting
Gableman's report claims state and local officials violated numerous election laws. The issued raised center around issues conservatives either did not challenge in court until after the 2020 election, like the placement of dropboxes, or challenges courts had already thrown out, including private grants Wisconsin cities and villages received - the vast majority going to the state's five largest cities.
"No, the law didn't prohibit it because no reasonable person would ever anticipate that such a thing would be done and we didn't think we had to write it down," Gableman said.
The report also targeted guidance from WEC to clerks waiving the Special Voting Deputy requirement for nursing homes. On bipartisan votes, WEC offered that guidance in the spring and summer of 2020 citing pandemic restrictions on non-essential visitors.
During the hearing, Gableman played videos of alleged voters and their family members being interviewed by Erick Kaardal, a Minnesota lawyer who represented that Wisconsin Voters Alliance, which unsuccessfully sued to block the 2020 election from being certified.
The interviews showed elderly people struggling to comprehend what they were being asked. Gableman said it was proof of voter fraud since those nursing home residents cast ballots when they may not have had any idea they were voting.
Wisconsin law states concerned family members must get a judge to order a resident is not lucid enough to vote.
"Whether any of them were taken advantage of in terms of their vote, that is something we should get to the bottom of," Spreitzer said. "But it's important to remember that people retain their right to vote unless a court takes it away."
Gableman's report also called for WEC to make the state's voter list readily available and free of charge to any Wisconsin resident. WEC Chair Ann Jacobs has previously said such a change would need to come from the legislature passing a law eliminate the $12,500 fee currently charged.
Questions over Gableman's contract, authority
Gableman argued his contract, the one that ended December 31, was still active. He offered no evidence as to why that would be the case. Gableman acknowledged he could see why others might believe the initial agreement had expired and added he was in talks with Vos about a new agreement.
Vos has said for weeks he was still finalizing details for a new contract. Lawyers representing the city and state election officials have questioned in court how Gableman can execute subpoena when his only contract on record has expired.
In a statement Tuesday, Vos thanked Gableman for the report but did not comment on the specifics it contained, particularly the call for lawmakers to look into decertifying the election. Vos has previously maintained he would not pursue decertification because it'd be illegal.
However, Assembly Majority Leader Jim Steineke (R-Kaukauna) said he wanted no part of any decertification effort.
"Handing authority to partisan politicians to determine if election fraud exists would be the end of our republic as we know it," Steineke, who's not seeking re-election, said in a tweet.
Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul both blasted Gableman's report as a purely partisan effort.
"This circus has long surpassed being a mere embarrassment for our state," Evers' statement said. "From the beginning, it has never been a serious or functioning effort, it has lacked public accountability and transparency, and it has been a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars."
WEC Administrator Meagan Wolfe responded to Gableman's calls for the agency to be dismantled and for her removal from the post. Wolfe maintained she would be willing to meet with Gableman in a public forum to answer his questions about WEC's guidance for the 2020 election. | 2022-03-02T06:17:16Z | www.wkow.com | Gableman delivers election recommendations, claims roadmap exists to decertify 2020 election | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gableman-delivers-election-recommendations-claims-roadmap-exists-to-decertify-2020-election/article_d07bb0ce-9989-11ec-a3ba-db75e7d06645.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gableman-delivers-election-recommendations-claims-roadmap-exists-to-decertify-2020-election/article_d07bb0ce-9989-11ec-a3ba-db75e7d06645.html |
Evers: Gableman investigation has 'never been a serious or functioning effort'
MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and Attorney General Josh Kaul released statements regarding Michael Gableman's election audit Tuesday, calling on legislative Republicans to bring it to an end.
Evers statement cites multiple prior reviews confirming the election's integrity in the statement, saying Gableman's investigation is responsible for widespread misinformation. He also pointed to the audit as a leading cause behind harassment directed at election officials.
"This circus has long surpassed being a mere embarrassment for our state. From the beginning, it has never been a serious or functioning effort, it has lacked public accountability and transparency, and it has been a colossal waste of taxpayer dollars," Evers' statement said in part.
Evers said condemnation of the audit by itself was not enough, that politicians should not be permitted to throw out elections results because the outcome was unfavorable.
"The right to vote is a fundamental core value of our democracy—it should not be subject to the whim of politicians. No politician should be able to abuse their power to prevent eligible voters from casting their ballots or to cheat our election results just because they didn’t like the outcome of the last election," the statement said.
Senator Ron Johnson's statement says Gableman's report raises "severe issues" that need to be taken seriously.
"The goal of our efforts moving forward is to restore confidence in our election system. That starts by following established law – which the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) failed to do multiple times during the 2020 election. The lack of cooperation by WEC and some local election officials is not only troubling, but their obstruction of his investigation raises other serious issues. I will continue to study the Special Counsel’s findings and work to make sure no legitimate vote is cancelled by a fraudulent one.”
Kaul's statement refers to the investigation as a "shameful, deeply embarrassing episode", as well as a "train wreck" and a "preposterous fake investigation."
"The report provides a roadmap for attempting to overturn the will of the voters based on a fringe legal theory. It includes recommendations that would restrict access to voting and make it harder to detect fraud. And it disparages due process and public records requests because they are inconvenient to certain individuals with power," Kaul said.
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House passes Paycheck Protection Program extension
Capital City Sunday: GOP refusal to vote down Gov. orders, 50% of restaurants at risk of closing & rural counties enter ‘crisis mode’
Trump, Biden visit Wisconsin in final days of 2020 campaign | 2022-03-02T06:17:28Z | www.wkow.com | Evers: Gableman investigation has 'never been a serious or functioning effort' | Politics | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/politics/evers-gableman-investigation-has-never-been-a-serious-or-functioning-effort/article_9ef4702e-9991-11ec-b665-7b095378e938.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/politics/evers-gableman-investigation-has-never-been-a-serious-or-functioning-effort/article_9ef4702e-9991-11ec-b665-7b095378e938.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- The City of Madison started the "Streatery" program to allow establishments to turn parking lots and parking meter spaces into outdoor dining areas.
The city's street vending coordinator says it's made a huge difference.
"From what I've heard, and the feedback I received from business owners is that it truly kept them in business, and it helped them survive, and is helping them lean towards the thriving side," said Meghan Blake-Horst, street vending coordinator for City of Madison.
A proposal is on the table to make the program permanent. The city council will vote on it March 15. | 2022-03-02T06:17:40Z | www.wkow.com | 'Streatery' program has helped restaurants & bars survive | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/streatery-program-has-helped-restaurants-bars-survive/article_6e359bc6-99bd-11ec-8de1-d73f07018a36.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/streatery-program-has-helped-restaurants-bars-survive/article_6e359bc6-99bd-11ec-8de1-d73f07018a36.html |
Joseph Hecht leaving court in 1985.
WKOW-TV file footage
Scene photo from when Hecht was captured on Madison's Glenway Golf Course.
A Police vehicle on scene near the Hudson home on Madison's east side in 1983 after Carolyn Hudson was killed.
A hitman's bid for parole three decades after his crimes
PRAIRIE DU CHIEN (WKOW) - A hitman who killed a Madison woman and later escaped from prison during a brief transport off-site is set to ask state officials to be released on parole - a prospect that concerns those touched by his crimes three decades ago.
But officials say Joseph Hecht, 61, has made progress in reform over the years and meets some of the criteria for release.
In October 1983, Hecht fatally shot Carolyn Hudson in her east side Madison home. Hecht received money for the killing from Hudson's former husband through a middle man. Hecht was helped by a get-away driver. But the victim's teenage daughter ran after Hecht when her mother was shot and was able to memorize the get-away, rental car's license plate, helping to lead to Hecht's capture in Milwaukee.
The get-away driver, middle man and the former husband were all brought to justice, served prison sentences and have been released.
In November 1985, as Hecht was at the beginning of a life term, he escaped from UW Hospital during a medical visit after sneaking a gun into the facility. Hecht commandeered a pick-up truck and took Earl Reiner of Madison and his infant son hostage.
UW Police Officer Charlie Flad was on patrol and received the dispatch Hecht escaped and others were a risk. Flad says he processed many things quickly.
"A lot of things," Flad said. "Number one - the guy's a murderer."
Riener was able to escape with his son when Hecht stopped the truck and forced a mechanic to cut his prison shackles. Hecht's run eventually was on foot and Flad pursued him onto Madison's Glenway Golf Course.
"I told him to drop the gun, or I'd shoot him," Flad said.
Flad says Hecht tried to fire at him but no rounds were discharged. Hecht flung the handgun away and was captured by Flad.
"There was a reason it misfired," Flad said. "There must have been a reason I was where I was and the gun didn't go off."
Flad participated in an interrogation of Hecht. He says Hecht boasted of committing other murders and had a consistent demeanor.
"Cocky," Flad said.
Hecht's return to prison involved him serving time in different institutions. He's now in minimum security at the prison at Prairie Du Chien.
Hecht will ask for his release on parole in May.
Mr. Hecht is parole-eligible," said Parole Commission Offender Records Associate Oliver Buchino.
Hecht has failed to achieve a grant of parole several previous times, most recently in September.
"The Commission assessed that Mr. Hecht had satisfied the conduct and programming requirements for a grant," Buchino said.
But Buchino notes commissioners must also be satisfied that Hecht's risk reduction, time served and release plan qualify him for release on parole.
"The Commission takes many factors into consideration, including the severity of the underlying offenses, and input by victims," Buchino said.
"Hecht travels over 1000 miles for the purpose of killing Caroline Hudson," Reiner said of the hit man's '83 arrival in Madison from Texas. "What would Hecht do if he was released? How can you guarantee that he will not return to violent crime?"
"That's what he knows," Flad said.
Flad does not qualify as a victim. But Flad says when he became aware of Hecht's impending, May parole release possibility, it angered him.
"It kind of struck me, 'You people are really kidding me. Look at this man's history,' Flad said, referring to Hecht's claims of other killings.
27 News asked for an opportunity to interview Hecht. But a state corrections department spokesperson denied the request, citing an interview's potential impact on the victims of Hecht's crimes. Hecht also did not respond to a letter from 27 News.
Flad is retired and living in Florida. Reiner lives in Dane County. His son also remains in Wisconsin and is a church pastor.
Reiner fears state officials are poised to release Hecht after September's parole consideration was left unresolved with a ten-month deferment.
"Have you made up your mind to release Hecht," he asks of parole commissioners. "This is why you have his hearing in less than a year?"
"Commission assessments are current at the time of a given review, so we cannot speculate what the recommendation will be," Buchino said.
Hit Man
Oliver Buchino | 2022-03-03T18:53:22Z | www.wkow.com | A hitman's bid for parole three decades after his crimes | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/a-hitmans-bid-for-parole-three-decades-after-his-crimes/article_9941d694-9a8b-11ec-8079-f7390f283201.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/a-hitmans-bid-for-parole-three-decades-after-his-crimes/article_9941d694-9a8b-11ec-8079-f7390f283201.html |
Picture provided by Richland County Sheriff's Department
Authorities seek help to find missing Richland County man
RICHLAND COUNTY (WKOW) -- The Richland County Sheriff's Department is asking for help to find a missing man.
Officers say 60-year-old Francis Johnston was last seen Monday when he left home to go to an appointment in Viroqua.
Johnston may have been seen later that day not far from his home in the Boaz area.
Johnston is driving a brown 1992 Cadillac.
If you've seen him or his vehicle, call the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 608-647-2106.
Health care needs will increase as aging population grows
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Gunfire enters two homes in Fitchburg, no one hurt
$67,000 worth of marijuana, $15,000 of cocaine seized in Rock County raid
1 arrested with possible hazardous device in Beaver Dam | 2022-03-03T18:53:28Z | www.wkow.com | Authorities seek help to find missing Richland County man | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/authorities-seek-help-to-find-missing-richland-county-man/article_606514fc-9a96-11ec-ad8e-73f86c20999a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/authorities-seek-help-to-find-missing-richland-county-man/article_606514fc-9a96-11ec-ad8e-73f86c20999a.html |
Biden visit spurs debate about spending amid inflation
MADISON (WKOW) -- One hundred days after signing the $1 trillion infrastructure bill into law, President Joe Biden visited Wisconsin Wednesday to tout the projects the federal funding will make possible.
The dollars flow into states at a time when inflation is at a 40-year high. Biden and other prominent Democrats say the infrastructure spending will combat rising costs by providing more jobs and, in the long term, lowering businesses' costs by expanding, repairing, and maintaining roads and bridges.
"When you have improved infrastructure, you can also bring more businesses into areas," Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison said in an interview Wednesday. "More businesses into your areas, for small businesses, if you're a restaurant owner and you're able to attract more folks, then there are more people who are gonna move into those areas."
Republicans argue the increased federal spending will only worsen inflation by adding to the deficit. Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) said he agreed many of the nation's roads and bridges need repair but believed a $1 trillion package that covered other projects was excessive.
"We need to get inflation under control and we do that by controlling government spending," Steil said. "The president's approach is to continue to accelerate government spending; I think that's the wrong move."
Biden's visit came on the same day a new Marquette Law poll found 43 percent of Wisconsin voters approve of his performance as president compared to 52 percent who disapprove.
The poll also revealed inflation is a serious concern for the vast majority of Wisconsin voters. 68 percent of respondents said they're 'very' concerned about inflation and 28 percent said they're at least 'somewhat' concerned about it. Only four percent said they were either not too concerned or not at all concerned about inflation.
"You can walk and chew gum at the same time," Harrison said. "We can handle inflation and everything else."
Harrison mirrored Biden's remarks in his first State of the Union address Tuesday. He said Democrats' plan would combat inflation by lowering costs, echoing Biden's calls for Congress to do the unlikely and get moderate Democrats on board with additional social spending, including enhanced child care subsidies and allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug costs.
Steil said the spending Biden has already committed to had helped drive inflation and any additional packages would push prices even further upward.
"The exact people that this administration claims they're trying to help, they're actually clobbering through excessive spending and rising inflation," Steil said.
For Wisconsin, the infrastructure bill will bring $5.2 billion for road and highway projects. The state also projects to receive:
$841 million for water quality improvements
$592 million for public transit
$225 million for bridge repairs and replacements
$100 million for broadband | 2022-03-03T18:53:34Z | www.wkow.com | Biden visit spurs debate about spending amid inflation | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/biden-visit-spurs-debate-about-spending-amid-inflation/article_5266319e-9a85-11ec-8c0b-b37fab705b38.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/biden-visit-spurs-debate-about-spending-amid-inflation/article_5266319e-9a85-11ec-8c0b-b37fab705b38.html |
Common Council approves plan for Imagination Center at Reindahl Park
MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison's Common Council approved the operating plan for the Imagination Center at Reindahl Park during its meeting Tuesday night.
Alder Gary Halverson says this move clears the path for the design to be finalized this year and construction to begin next year.
The center is expected to open in 2024.
The Imagination Center will be a Madison Public Library location, but it will be different than a typical library site. It will be "a safe place for social interaction, civic engagement, and cultural expression" and will "focus on holistic health and expanding economic opportunities for library visitors," according to the library's website. | 2022-03-03T18:53:46Z | www.wkow.com | Common Council approves plan for Imagination Center at Reindahl Park | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/common-council-approves-plan-for-imagination-center-at-reindahl-park/article_efb2e60e-9aad-11ec-8d19-7bb27812fd9d.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/common-council-approves-plan-for-imagination-center-at-reindahl-park/article_efb2e60e-9aad-11ec-8d19-7bb27812fd9d.html |
Local groups call on state legislators to invest in education
MADISON (WKOW) -- Several local groups in the Madison-area want state lawmakers to invest more money in Wisconsin's schools.
The state has a projected surplus of $3.8 billion, and lawmakers are split over how to handle it.
At a press event Wednesday in Madison, representatives from schools, organizations and businesses say they think it should be used for students.
They recommended using a portion for an inflationary adjustment of $343 a student, as well as a 50% reimbursement to support students with disabilities.
"Let's just share the wealth," said Madison Metropolitan School District Superintendent Dr. Carlton Jenkins. "I can't think of a better way to support our entire state, and help our nation to help the world out by making this type of investment."
Former Madison Common Council alder Mark Clear said he was thrilled to see businesses and other organizations coming together for the effort to support public schools.
"Businesses and organizations know that great public schools help produce the workforce that's needed to make these businesses run," he said. "Supporting these public schools is absolutely critical to solving our workforce challenges and making our businesses successful."
More than 200 groups have signed a letter supporting these proposals. They include the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, the Madison school district, and the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance.
Governor Tony Evers has called a special session for March 8 to discuss how to spend the surplus.
Mark Clear
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Police seek hate-crime enhancer following threats to officer | 2022-03-03T18:53:52Z | www.wkow.com | Local groups call on state legislators to invest in education | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/local-groups-call-on-state-legislators-to-invest-in-education/article_a9a97e38-9a81-11ec-b923-9f9d05e0d2b8.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/local-groups-call-on-state-legislators-to-invest-in-education/article_a9a97e38-9a81-11ec-b923-9f9d05e0d2b8.html |
Madison Police K9 unit trains at former SSM Health clinic building
MADISON (WKOW) -- Local law enforcement officers have a new space to hold training exercises.
The Madison Police Department's K9 unit is using the former SSM Health building on Fish Hatchery Road.
Officers are doing search and discovery scenarios.
The Madison Police Department and other agencies depend on using vacant buildings to create unique situations.
"Dogs can be just like humans in the way that they can be contextual in the way that we can't train them at the same place every single day. If we as humans train at the same place every single day, we're going to start cheating and looking for things that may have been there in the past," said Sgt. Chad Crose.
The Dane County Bomb Squad and other agencies have training exercises scheduled in the coming weeks.
Madison Police K9 Unit
Chad Crose | 2022-03-03T18:54:10Z | www.wkow.com | Madison Police K9 unit trains at former SSM Health clinic building | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-police-k9-unit-trains-at-former-ssm-health-clinic-building/article_986279a2-9a83-11ec-a29d-cf2fa058d335.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-police-k9-unit-trains-at-former-ssm-health-clinic-building/article_986279a2-9a83-11ec-a29d-cf2fa058d335.html |
Prepping for Weekend Storm
As we begin to wrap up the work week, our next big weather system is on our heels. This system will move through the region beginning Saturday and wrap up by Sunday afternoon in which southern Wisconsin will experience record warmth, windy conditions, rain, storms... some could be severe, along with a wintry mix.
Compared to the weekend, Thursday and Friday are going to be relatively quiet. Other than an isolated, light snow shower across southwestern Wisconsin on Thursday and evening rain showers on Friday, skies are going to be a mix of partly sunny skies on Thursday to more cloud cover on Friday. Winds will remain light and steadily turn from the north to the south.
Starting Saturday, the low moves through. Throughout Saturday, winds will be breezy and will bump up our temperatures into the upper 50s to low 60s, not to mention our dew points will be in the 50s as well. As this low continues eastward, showers and thunderstorms will develop across parts of Iowa and continue eastward... impacting western Wisconsin by Saturday evening/night.
Some of these storms could be severe with wind being the main threat. However, those in southern Wisconsin should have a plan in case we experience all modes of severe weather. The storms move through Saturday night with colder air moving in early Sunday morning.
That'll steadily turn the remaining rain over to a rain/snow mix along with breezy conditions Sunday morning. By later Sunday, skies will quiet down and our temperatures will be falling. | 2022-03-03T18:54:29Z | www.wkow.com | Prepping for Weekend Storm | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/prepping-for-weekend-storm/article_48da4cee-9ad2-11ec-81fd-a7b55e6e2695.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/prepping-for-weekend-storm/article_48da4cee-9ad2-11ec-81fd-a7b55e6e2695.html |
Authorities identify man killed in Tuesday tree trimming accident
MADISON (WKOW) — The Dane County Medical Examiner's Office has identified a man killed in a Tuesday tree trimming accident.
According to a release from the DCME, Dustin Gurney, 38, of Janesville died at the scene Tuesday.
According to an Madison Police Department incident report after a power line snapped and came into contact with the truck Gurney was leaning on.
According to MPD, the incident happened at 12:19 p.m. Tuesday, at the intersection of West Broadway and Hoboken Road. A worker was trimming trees when a branch got stuck on a power line. While dislodging the branch, the power line snapped and swung down into the truck, electrocuting Gurney.
Preliminary investigation indicated that Gurney died as a result of his injuries at the scene. His death is still under investigation by the Madison Police Department and DCME.
Dustin Gurney | 2022-03-03T18:54:36Z | www.wkow.com | Authorities identify man killed in Tuesday tree trimming accident | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/authorities-identify-man-killed-in-tuesday-tree-trimming-accident/article_268bad62-9a79-11ec-86ea-db5fe70e6bf7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/authorities-identify-man-killed-in-tuesday-tree-trimming-accident/article_268bad62-9a79-11ec-86ea-db5fe70e6bf7.html |
12-year-old Madison girl starts her own non-profit to help out city's homeless population
MADISON (WKOW) — Audree Brunke is already beyond her years — at only 12 years old, she's already in high school and plans on graduating from MIT or Rice University at age 18.
But Brunke's ambitions don't stop there. Just recently, she launched her own non-profit: Happy Feet Madison.
Brunke says the goal of the business is to provide socks to as many homeless people in Madison as possible.
"A family friend, he was homeless before, and he said that like a big thing with the homeless is that they need clean socks," Brunke said. "So I thought, why not just do this? You know, how hard can it be?"
After getting the idea, Brunke approached her parents who helped her get through the legal hurdles to make it happen. Since, the 12-year-old has partnered with several Madison area-businesses and organizations to set up drop boxes and donation bins.
Brunke's parents said it was no surprise to see she wanted to do this.
"Audrey is pretty ambitious," Brunke's mom Rebecca Eastmead said. "She definitely is a natural go getter."
Brunke and her parents said a lot of people have been shocked to hear that someone so young is making such a big move.
"Everyone's been like, almost shocked," Brunke said. "And like surprised that I'm doing this at 12. Which, I mean, if someone told me that a 12-year-old kid that is in high school and also starting a nonprofit organization, I wouldn't believe that either."
So far, Brunke has collected more than 650 socks for the homeless through donations from partner organizations like Madison Top Company and drop boxes at places like the YMCA.
"We love working with nonprofits, and we do it often," Madison Top Company associate Megan Frank said. "But we really like working with nonprofits that have good people behind it. And she's not a greedy, money hungry person. She's a teenager wanting to make a difference."
Brunke says she's been overwhelmed by the positive response since the business launched. She's hoping that by providing the homeless population with a little bit of comfort, she can make a big difference.
"I want to give socks to like literally everyone in Madison, and you know, help them be more comfortable," Brunke said. "Because who doesn't want everyone to have just a basic level of comfort?"
Audree Brunke
Rebecca Eastmead
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Mount Horeb couple waits weeks to see newborn after testing positive for Covid-19 | 2022-03-04T13:18:37Z | www.wkow.com | 12-year-old Madison girl starts her own non-profit to help out city's homeless population | Features | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/features/12-year-old-madison-girl-starts-her-own-non-profit-to-help-out-citys-homeless/article_6a2f6628-9a9f-11ec-bbb3-cf2eb244f6cb.html | https://www.wkow.com/features/12-year-old-madison-girl-starts-her-own-non-profit-to-help-out-citys-homeless/article_6a2f6628-9a9f-11ec-bbb3-cf2eb244f6cb.html |
Private plane with Miles and family taking off from the Baraboo airport on it's way to Boston.
Charity flies infant critical heart patient to Boston for treatment
MADISON (WKOW) — A young boy from Reedsburg is getting treatment in Boston for a critical heart condition.
Miles and his family boarded a private plane Thursday morning in Baraboo.
An organization called AeroAngel provided the flight at no cost to the family. The Denver-based charity provides free transportation, usually for children, traveling far distances for life-saving medical care.
Miles is diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. According to the CDC, it's a type of congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart does not form correctly, impacting blood flow through the organ.
A fundraiser set up by the family states he has spent his first months of life in a hospital and has had multiple open-heart surgeries, but there is more treatment to come.
Boston Children's Hospital is one of the few centers in the country that is equipped to perform surgery for Miles' condition.
Miles' mother, Jodie Sherwood, says she's thankful for all the support her family's received.
"To my family, to strangers, to the GoFundMe page, the complete strangers that blow your mind," Sherwood said. "It's honestly so heartfelt and touching, I can't, I don't even have the words to describe it."
Once he arrives in Boston, doctors will determine the next steps of treatment.
Click here visit the fundraiser for Miles' medical bills.
Open-heart Surgery
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Postmaster General delays changes to USPS, Wisconsin and other states still file lawsuit | 2022-03-04T13:18:49Z | www.wkow.com | Charity flies infant critical heart patient to Boston for treatment | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/charity-flies-infant-critical-heart-patient-to-boston-for-treatment/article_9b81423e-9b38-11ec-a836-2bc522967da4.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/charity-flies-infant-critical-heart-patient-to-boston-for-treatment/article_9b81423e-9b38-11ec-a836-2bc522967da4.html |
Silver Alert issued for missing Richland County man last seen Monday
RICHLAND COUNTY (WKOW) -- The Richland County Sheriff's Department issued a Silver Alert for a man who has not been seen since leaving a club in Viroqua Monday evening.
According to the alert from the Wisconsin Crime Alert Network, Francis Johnston left his home on February 28 to go to a doctor's appointment. From there, he went to the Eagles Club in Viroqua, leaving at around 5 p.m. He has not been seen since.
Johnston's wife, Lisa, told 27 News that this absence is not in character for him, and she said he may have hit his head while playing a pull tab machine at the club.
Johnston stands 6'4" and weighs 250 pounds, with long gray hair and a beard. He was last seen wearing a plaid short-sleeve button-up shirt, blue jeans and a gray and black cloth jacket. His right foot was in a black open-toed walking boot, and his left foot was in a brown loafer.
He drives a 1992 brown Cadillac Brougham, Wisconsin plates 3HRT0UR.
Anyone with information on Johnston's whereabouts is asked to contact the Richland County Sheriff's Department at 608-647-2106.
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UPDATE: pedestrian hit by semi on I-39 SB dies | 2022-03-04T13:19:13Z | www.wkow.com | Silver Alert issued for missing Richland County man last seen Monday | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/silver-alert-issued-for-missing-richland-county-man-last-seen-monday/article_6f0c01b6-9b48-11ec-889f-6353c4256034.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/silver-alert-issued-for-missing-richland-county-man-last-seen-monday/article_6f0c01b6-9b48-11ec-889f-6353c4256034.html |
Roland Sahli (far left), CEO of Gourmino AG, holds Gourmino Le Gruyère AOP, declared the 2022 World Champion Cheese at the World Championship Cheese Contest in Madison, Wisconsin. The cheese is made by Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus in Bern, Switzerland for Gourmino AG. Also pictured with Sahli are (from left) Jim Mueller, Chief Judge of the World Championship Cheese Contest, and Tim Czmowski, an Assistant Chief Judge of the World Championship Cheese Contest.
Swiss gruyère wins second consecutive World Cheese Championship
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Swiss gruyere took home the 2022 World Championship Cheese crown for the second straight competition Thursday.
According to a news release from the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, the Gourmino Le Gruyère, made by Michael Spycher of Mountain Dairy Fritzenhaus in Bern, Switzerland notched a score of 98.423 points out of a possible 100.
Spycher just edged out runners-up Appenzeller Mild-Würzig, made by Käserei Niederbüren AG of Niederbüren, Switzerland with 98.331 points, and Erzherzog Johann, made by Obersteirische Molkerei eGen of Knittelfeld, Steiermark, Austria with 98.254 point.
“Cheesemakers worldwide have always been deeply committed to excellence in their craft,” Executive Director for the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association John Umhoefer said in the release. “That commitment is abundantly clear in the work of this year’s winners. We congratulate them all on this outstanding achievement.”
29 nations made an appearance at this year's championship, with American cheeses notching 94 Best in Class awards. Each cheese class is awarded a gold, silver and bronze medal. Switzerland is taking home 10 golds and Dutch cheesemakers brought in seven.
There were 33 US states represented at the championships, with Wisconsin cheesemakers bringing home 45 Best in Class titles, almost triple the next-best state showing (New York, 12).
Michael Spycher
Appenzeller Mild-wurzig | 2022-03-04T13:19:19Z | www.wkow.com | Swiss gruyère wins second consecutive World Cheese Championship | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/swiss-gruy-re-wins-second-consecutive-world-cheese-championship/article_8b893548-9b34-11ec-abcd-239d74d65f9c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/swiss-gruy-re-wins-second-consecutive-world-cheese-championship/article_8b893548-9b34-11ec-abcd-239d74d65f9c.html |
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