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Luke Pautz holding the gold ball trophy after Roncalli wins the Division 4 title.
WIAA Division 4 Championship: Roncalli's second half performances leads to championship win
MADISON (WKOW) — Roncalli claimed the 2022 WIAA Boys Division 4 State Basketball title with a win over Milwaukee Academy of Science.
Roncalli, making their first appearance in the tournament since 2019, took the gold ball this year with a final score of 55-45 over the Novas.
Neither team dominated over the other in the first half, and the largest gap between the leading team was only five points. The lead changed over three times and the game was tied three times in the half.
Milwaukee Academy of Science found 12 of its first half points from three-point shots taken by Agape Keys Jr., Devin Brown and Jamarion Batemon. Roncalli also sank four three-pointers, at the hands of Ryan Fischer, Brayden Yanda, Reece Stangle and Joseph Witczak.
A layup right before the clock ran out from Stangel put Roncalli up 24-22 going into halftime.
Roncalli’s Luke Pautz put up four points and Witczak two, making it 30-22 — an eight-point lead that’s the largest margin of the game so far.
It took until 10:41 was left on the clock for Milwaukee Academy of Science to score in the second half, making it 35-24 after Brown made two free throws. Hannah's free throws knocked down Roncalli’s lead to eight with 2:29 left, but they got no closer to taking the title.
For Milwaukee Academy of Science, they were led by Keys Jr and Hannah who both scored 12, and Tayshawn Bridges who had 11.
Pautz scored the most of everyone, with 17. | 2022-03-19T21:46:55Z | www.wkow.com | WIAA Division 4 Championship: Roncalli's second half performances leads to championship win | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-4-championship-roncallis-second-half-performances-leads-to-championship-win/article_a7694498-a7bd-11ec-9666-b346aa72b26d.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-4-championship-roncallis-second-half-performances-leads-to-championship-win/article_a7694498-a7bd-11ec-9666-b346aa72b26d.html |
International Festival returns to Overture Center
Madison (WKOW) -- Sights, sounds and smells from around the world returned to the Overture Center for the first International Festival since 2020 this Saturday.
There, people were able to purchase their favorite dishes, or try new cuisines at the International Café.
They were also able to purchase unique gifts that highlighted different cultures at the International Market.
Plus, they could tune in to 30 different live performances.
"We feature all sorts of cultures that are found in Dane County," Kara Beach Director of Broadway Engagement Programming at the Overture Center said. "All of the performers come from the Dane County area. A lot of people will come just for the group that they know, but end up staying all day to watch all the other performers that come through."
Last year, the Overture Center held their International Festival virtually. This year, they also offered virtual opportunities to tune in.
Dane County Area | 2022-03-20T00:10:33Z | www.wkow.com | International Festival returns to Overture Center | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/international-festival-returns-to-overture-center/article_7d90f148-a7d6-11ec-ac27-87ae76270039.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/international-festival-returns-to-overture-center/article_7d90f148-a7d6-11ec-ac27-87ae76270039.html |
Loved ones remember Mary Reed
MADISON (WKOW) -- People in Madison are remembering Mary Reed a week and a half after she died in a hit-and-run crash in Florida.
Dive Inn held a fundraiser this Saturday to give back to a woman who has supported so many others.
"When you needed Mary to be right there for you, she was always ready to lend an open ear or a shoulder to cry on, and that was what was great about Mary," said Reed's coworker Adam Zirerten.
Those who remember Mary Reed came to support at the Dive Inn, because she was more than a bartender; she was a friend.
"I'm really happy that I got to know her, and I got to know her for a really long time, since we were little kids," said childhood friend Jay Moran.
Dennis Wright, Reed's coworker said, "I looked up to Mary. Whenever I was going through something, I could go to her."
Because of Mary, where there would normally be a room full of strangers, coworkers say now there's just one big family.
"We've been packed shoulder-to-shoulder with people that knew Mary, sharing stories and just coming together. Like, I've met so many new people, amazing people," said Wright.
Mary was multi-dimensional: a mom, a business owner, a big personality and now to loved ones, an undying spark.
"Her spirit never left. It's never going to leave," said Zirerten.
A memorial service for Mary Reed will be held Thursday, March 24 at the East Side Club in Madison at 2 p.m.
You can donate to Mary Reed's family through her GoFundMe account.
Adam Zirerten
Dennis Wright | 2022-03-20T00:10:39Z | www.wkow.com | Loved ones remember Mary Reed | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/loved-ones-remember-mary-reed/article_498850b8-a7da-11ec-ad89-d35f9a9ff901.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/loved-ones-remember-mary-reed/article_498850b8-a7da-11ec-ad89-d35f9a9ff901.html |
Lake Country Lutheran players lift the gold ball after winning the Division 3 title.
WIAA Division 3 Championship: Lake Country Lutheran takes lead in second half to win title
MADISON (WKOW) — Lake Country Lutheran claimed the 2022 WIAA Boys Division 3 State Basketball title with a win over West Salem.
The Lightning took the title with a final score of 67-56 over the Panthers.
It’s the first gold ball in school history.
West Salem and Lake Country Lutheran both struggled with scoring droughts in the first half. The lead went back and forth four times before West Salem held onto, despite Luke Haertle tying the game 29-29 with 1:01 to go. Brett McConkey followed Haertle’s score with a layup, putting West Salem up 31-29 at halftime.
Lake Country Lutheran immediately tied the game again in the second half, with a layup from Ben Lubbers. Then a three from Noah Howard gave them the lead for the first time since 10:06 was left in the first half, 34-31 with 15:40 to go.
The Lightning grew their lead to 14 with 10:16 left after a layup from Lubbers followed by another three from Howard. The Panthers shrank the lead to six, 51-45, after a three pointer from Carson Koepnick with 4:51 left.
But West Salem got no closer, despite draining two three-point shots in the final minutes, to winning the title.
Howard, who only scored two points in the first half, found his stride in the second. He ended up scoring 16 total. Haertle ended up with 14 and Lubbers 22.
Peter Lattos scored the most out of any player, giving the Panthers 23 points.
Notre Dame knocks off Onalaska in D2
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‘Trusting what I can do’: UW sprinters prepare for Olympic trials | 2022-03-20T00:10:57Z | www.wkow.com | WIAA Division 3 Championship: Lake Country Lutheran takes lead in second half to win title | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-3-championship-lake-country-lutheran-takes-lead-in-second-half-to-win-title/article_5fc8da30-a7cd-11ec-b556-9f2a94f133ff.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-3-championship-lake-country-lutheran-takes-lead-in-second-half-to-win-title/article_5fc8da30-a7cd-11ec-b556-9f2a94f133ff.html |
Festivities in Milwaukee for Badger fans ahead of Iowa State game
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- After Wisconsin's first-round win Friday in the NCAA tournament, Wisconsin Athletics is inviting Badger fans to the Deer District in downtown Milwaukee on Sunday to continue enjoying March Madness.
The Badgers will face Iowa State Sunday at 5:10 p.m. at Fiserv Forum.
You can get ready for the game at the MECCA Bar and Restaurant, where you can enjoy all the NCAA Tournament action leading up to Wisconsin's big game.
The UW Band, Spirit Squad and Bucky Badger will all perform at 3:15 p.m. inside and, weather permitting, outside before the game. There will also be free Badger giveaways while supplies last.
The MECCA opens at 10 a.m., and fans are encouraged to arrive early.
You can make reservations here, and you will be able to get general admission seating at the bar while space is available.
Bucky Badger
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DIGGING DEEPER: Could the VA have done more to prevent the suicide of a Wisconsin Dells native? | 2022-03-20T02:25:29Z | www.wkow.com | Festivities in Milwaukee for Badger fans ahead of Iowa State game | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/festivities-in-milwaukee-for-badger-fans-ahead-of-iowa-state-game/article_ded19ae2-a7dc-11ec-b9e9-47e9df234245.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/festivities-in-milwaukee-for-badger-fans-ahead-of-iowa-state-game/article_ded19ae2-a7dc-11ec-b9e9-47e9df234245.html |
Pewaukee players Ashton Janowski (right) and Josh Terrian (left) hold the gold ball trophy up to fans after winning the Division 2 final.
MADISON (WKOW) — Pewaukee claimed the 2022 WIAA Boys Division 2 State Basketball title with a win over La Crosse Central.
The defending champion’s took the gold ball this year by a final score of 67-48 over the Riverhawks
Pewaukee took an early lead with two threes from Milan Momcilovic, a three from Ashton Janowski and a three from Nick Janowski.
Nic Williams kept La Crosse Central competitive by sinking three two-point shots. Between Williams, Noah Compan and Devon Fielding’s scores, Pewaukee's lead stayed within four points for the first eight minutes of the game.
A three from Williams gave La Crosse Central their first lead with nine minutes left in the half. The leading team changed over eight times, but ultimately Pewaukee was up 30-25 going into the half.
The Janowski brothers contributed 17 of Pewaukee’s 30 points, with 15 of them coming from the three-point line. The rest of the points came from Momcilovic.
Nick Janowski started the second half with yet another three, which was followed soon after by a three from Ashton. With two points from Momcilovic sandwiched between the three’s, Pewaukee’s lead grew to 11, 38-27 with 15:31 to go.
With 10:02 left Logan Dobberstein sunk a three of his own, expanding Pewaukee’s lead to 46-30.
La Crosse Central took about as many shots as Pewaukee but struggled to send the ball through the net, finding themselves in an over four-minute scoring drought. Fielding ended the drought with a three, but his score followed immediately by a three from Nick Janowski and a three from Kollen Osterman. Then Fielding drained a three again, making it 54-42 with 5:47 left.
Two minutes later, and with two more successful three-point shots, Pewaukee’s lead was out to 22 points, which proved to be unsurmountable for La Crosse Central.
Both Nick and Aston Janowski scored 19 points, Momcilovic ended with 17 points for Pewaukee.
La Crosse Central's lead scorer was Fielding, with 17. | 2022-03-20T02:25:53Z | www.wkow.com | WIAA Division 2 Championship: Pewaukee wins back-to-back titles | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-2-championship-pewaukee-wins-back-to-back-titles/article_3e497078-a7ea-11ec-b779-9b12634c1a16.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-2-championship-pewaukee-wins-back-to-back-titles/article_3e497078-a7ea-11ec-b779-9b12634c1a16.html |
Famous Waunakee cartoonist John Kovalic sells signature posters to support Ukraine
Famous Waunakee cartoonist John Kovalic sketches a comic strip at his home.
WAUNAKEE (WKOW) -- Even if you've never heard the name John Kovalic before, you've almost definitely heard of one of his most famous accomplishments. Kovalic was one of the four original designers of the game Apples to Apples. Now, he is putting his talent toward the cause to help the people of Ukraine.
The cartoonist lives in Waunakee and has designed thousands of game characters for dozens of board games. He spends most of his time doodling at his desk for his next online comic strip or book.
"Most people can draw, they just grow out of it. They just stop at some point," Kovalic said. "That point is normally around 10, 11, 12. I just never stopped."
However, when Russia invaded Ukraine last month, Kovalic said he felt the need to do something to help.
"Saturday night after the invasion, I was just sitting here at the desk and came up with this [drawing]," Kovalic said. "And I just took a picture of it and sent it out to Twitter, and people started saying, 'I want to buy that, you know, will you auction that off?'"
The sketch depicts the cartoon character Paddington staring down a much larger, angrier Russian bear. Kovalic said the inspiration came when he found out Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy voiced the character in Ukraine.
Kovalic eventually put the sketch up for auction, where its highest current bidder is offering more than $1,600 for the piece. He plans on donating the money from its sale to World Central Kitchen, an organization that's on the ground in Ukraine helping feed refugees.
But then, Kovalic thought of another idea to help.
"I thought, well, I've done this kind of thing before, maybe what would be better or what would raise more funds for Ukrainian relief charities would be drawing it up as a proper poster," Kovalic said.
So, he did, and he's sold more than 300 prints of the sketch, raising more than $3,000 for Ukrainian refugees.
Kovalic says he'll keep selling and signing the prints for anyone who wants them until the war ends. You can find them on his website.
"It was just very nice to draw this image, which was intended simply to help me cope with things," Kovalic said. "And have it resonate with enough other people that we could all come together and raise money for a really amazing organization."
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Alliant Energy Center site officials prepare to administer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine | 2022-03-20T07:38:41Z | www.wkow.com | Famous Waunakee cartoonist John Kovalic sells signature posters to support Ukraine | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/famous-waunakee-cartoonist-john-kovalic-sells-signature-posters-to-support-ukraine/article_182450be-a7e7-11ec-b6b8-3ba17d111c72.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/famous-waunakee-cartoonist-john-kovalic-sells-signature-posters-to-support-ukraine/article_182450be-a7e7-11ec-b6b8-3ba17d111c72.html |
WIAA Division 1 Championship: Neenah takes home the gold ball in 28th tournament appearance
MADISON (WKOW) — Neenah claimed the 2022 WIAA Boys Division 2 State Basketball title with a win over Brookfield Central.
Returning to the tournament for the 28th time, they took the gold ball home with a final score of 64-52 over the Lancers
It’s the fourth gold ball in school history.
Neenah got ahead in the first half, but it stayed pretty close initially. The team's largest lead was 5 points, which lasted until there was 10:01 left in the half — when Jack Daugherty scored to make it 12-9.
Neenah later scored 12 straight points in the course of three minutes, bringing the score to 28-14. The team found most of its first-half points in three players: Chevalier Emery Jr., JJ Paider and Carter Thomas.
Brookfield Central relied on Andrew Rohde, who had 18 points in the first half, 12 of which game from threes.
Neenah went into the half with a nine-point lead, 31-22.
Brookfield Central worked to knock down Neenah’s lead, and going three-for-three did just that — putting only five points between them with 12:46 left.
Just as quickly as the Lancers knocked the gap down, the Rockets brought it back out. A three from Brady Corso made it 46-37 with 10:13 left.
Brookfield Central struggled to score throughout the second half, seeing Rohde’s opportunities to score become limited. They went over eight minutes without adding to their point total. At that same time, Neenah had a 10-point run.
The drought ended after Drew Edmond scored with 2:35 to go, but the Lancers still couldn’t catch up to Neenah’s ever-growing lead.
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Badgers RB coach Gary Brown delivers X’s and O’s of life following cancer battle | 2022-03-20T07:38:54Z | www.wkow.com | WIAA Division 1 Championship: Neenah takes home the gold ball in 28th tournament appearance | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-1-championship-neenah-takes-home-the-gold-ball-in-28th-tournament-appearance/article_e8e8be06-a7f6-11ec-8f93-fffe0c15b184.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/wiaa-division-1-championship-neenah-takes-home-the-gold-ball-in-28th-tournament-appearance/article_e8e8be06-a7f6-11ec-8f93-fffe0c15b184.html |
Capital City Sunday: Vos meets with election deniers, Congress torn on addressing gas prices
MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin's most powerful elected Republican met this week at the State Capitol with a group calling for lawmakers to overturn the 2020 election -- a move legal experts and the legislature's own lawyers say is impossible and illegal.
Former Menomonee Falls Village President Jefferson Davis organized the meeting, which was held Wednesday.
Davis maintained lawmakers had the authority to reclaim the state's electoral votes. He claimed his group was being misunderstood in that they weren't called for former President Donald Trump to be put back in the White House.
"Reclaim the electors, get the simple majority in both houses, seat a new slate of electors, which the constitution says you can do, or simply do a do-over and we will beat Joe Biden like a drum," Davis said.
Conservative lawyers, including Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL), have long maintained even taking back the electors would be an illegal and impossible maneuver.
"There are ways to raise the question of election fraud if, say, tomorrow, we found out the election actually was stolen," Esenberg said. "But that vehicle is impeachment. It's not decertification."
Davis said in the interview he wasn't working with former state supreme court justice Michael Gableman, who Vos has given a $676,000 taxpayer-funded contract to review the 2020 election.
"Wouldn't know them if they walked in the front door," Davis said of Gableman's team.
Yet, during the presentation at the Capitol, David said the exact opposite.
"We have to be careful because we've got to keep a little bit of our powder dry because we're working closely with Justice Gableman's investigation," Davis told the group Wednesday.
During the interview, Davis rehashed some of the either baseless or debunked claims he and others made during Wednesday's presentation.
Reviews by the Legislative Audit Bureau and WILL found the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued guidance that ran afoul of state law because issues like drop boxes and nursing home voting should have been established as formal rules instead of written guidance.
However, Davis and his group have gone further, accusing Claire Woodall-Vogg, Director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, of concocting a plan with the Center for Tech and Civic Life to steal the election.
The organization, largely funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, gave more than 200 Wisconsin communities more than $10 million; more than 85 percent of it went to the state's five biggest cities.
Davis, based solely on an email exchange, accused Woodall-Vogg of knowing how many votes were needed for Biden and delivering the win for Biden.
"Damn, Claire, you have a flair for drama," Elections Group worker Ryan Chew wrote Vogg after Milwaukee reported its absentee ballot count, which put Biden ahead of Trump.
Woodall-Vogg has said her response to the email, obtained by conservative Empower Wisconsin, was a joke in poor taste. She wrote back "Lol. I just wanted to say I had been awake for a full 24 hours!"
Davis leaned on that email when asked why, if Democrats had concocted a grand plan to steal an election, they hadn't managed to win more seats in the GOP-controlled state legislature.
"Don't ask me," Davis responded. "Ask Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein and Ryan Chew and Claire Woodall-Vogg and the Wisconsin Five clerks, mayors and communications directors and those folks, you ask them."
Federal courts dismissed previous challenges to whether it was legal for cities to accept the outside money for election administration.
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Two members of Wisconsin's congressional delegation said Friday that they will not support the idea of establishing a no-fly zone in Ukraine.
Clerk makes case for early absentee count
While Republicans in both the Senate and Assembly passed bills allowing clerks to start counting absentee ballots one day early, the legislation never got final approval.
The Senate originally passed an early canvassing bill February 22. Because the Assembly tucked the counting provision into a different, broader bill that gave whistleblower protections to clerks, the bill went back to Senate where Republican then decided not to act, citing blowback from conservatives who feared it make the absentee counting process less secure.
Janesville City Clerk-Treasurer Lori Stottler said it's a measure clerks had long thought would be helpful but the pandemic, combined with a high-turnout presidential election, brought those concerns to the forefront. Stottler said in a community the size of Janesville's, that mean going from about 2,000-4,000 absentee ballots to more than 20,000.
"We would want to be able to have the ability to either do true in-person absentee voting or counting absentee ballots the day before," Stottler said. "And, so, clerks have been looking for solutions long before the pandemic came along."
The bill Republicans initially passed had other wrinkles. Democrats voted against the bill, saying the opposed a provision that moved up the deadline for mailing out absentee ballots.
While the League of Wisconsin Municipalities supported the bill, the Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association, of which Stottler is a member, was against it. The group was sought a different version of legislation, called the Absentee Voting Efficiency Option and felt they didn't have enought time to review the bill lawmakers took up, which had the support of the county clerks association.
"We wanted to make sure the bill was flexible enough to meet the needs of the municipalities but also engage the trust of the electorate," Stottler said. "Getting to keep [early counting] at the central count [location] was the best way to do it."
Stottler pushed back on the claims Davis and his group repeated this week at the Capitol, repeating late-night surges in reported vote totals are not surprising in larger cities especially when early counting is not allowed.
"In a city our size, sometimes we're not done processing ballots at 8:00 and so when results start scrolling across the TV, you maybe having certain wards that having some very heavy party activity one way or the other," Stottler said. "We can't just assume that is ballot tampering."
Stottler acknowledged growing mistrust from voters, particularly Republicans, remains a significant concern. To address that, she said any skeptical citizens should sign up to staff polling places during elections and should also make a point to attend the public testing of voting machines, which always happens before elections.
"Become an election worker," Stottler said. "Take the training and be boots on the ground with the process so that you've actually been able to see it for yourself hands-on, not just through an observer's lens and not just what you hear on TV."
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Wisconsin crops improving, but still lagging | 2022-03-20T17:26:15Z | www.wkow.com | Capital City Sunday: Vos meets with election deniers, Congress torn on addressing gas prices | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-vos-meets-with-election-deniers-congress-torn-on-addressing-gas-prices/article_3430e1c8-a715-11ec-982e-1b39b6b401e0.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-vos-meets-with-election-deniers-congress-torn-on-addressing-gas-prices/article_3430e1c8-a715-11ec-982e-1b39b6b401e0.html |
UW LaCrosse student Hamud Faal laid to rest Sunday
MADISON (WKOW) Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon for 25-year-old Hamud Faal.
He was a u-w lacrosse student and Thursday night LaCross Police recovered his body from the Mississippi River nearly a month after he went missing.
"We are grateful that we were able to find him. Our hope was to be able to find him alive. The fact that that wasn't what we got, is heartbreaking to the family," said Jerreh Kujabi, Faal's stepfather.
Loved ones say at least now they can start grieving
"Within a period of four weeks, we were able to find him. That by itself, you know, is a good thing, because the family can have closure now," said family friend State Rep. Samba Baldeh (D-Madison).
"As a family dealing with that alone, I wouldn't know how we would have been able to handle that. And so the community that rallied around us, the friends that made all this possible," said Kujabi.
Faal's parents say they are working with UW-LaCrosse to have his degree in psychology awarded posthumously. | 2022-03-20T23:10:24Z | www.wkow.com | UW LaCrosse student Hamud Faal laid to rest Sunday | Sport | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/sport/uw-lacrosse-student-hamud-faal-laid-to-rest-sunday/article_905c58ce-a8a0-11ec-b5d2-438847580bf6.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/sport/uw-lacrosse-student-hamud-faal-laid-to-rest-sunday/article_905c58ce-a8a0-11ec-b5d2-438847580bf6.html |
Local music venue seeks to put Village of Brooklyn on the map
VILLAGE OF BROOKLYN (WKOW) -- After two years of COVID-19, many businesses didn't know if they were going to make it. However, one small town music venue in the Village of Brooklyn held on to hope and is hoping to bounce back and put the town on the map.
Main Street Music is the town's local music venue. Its owner, Andy Meyer, says he started the venue in honor of his son.
"What really got me going is finding my spirit after I lost my son to a heroine overdose in January of 2018," Meyer said. "So I wrote a song about him and the addiction and it just kind of turned into this whole musical journey I'm on."
Meyer got the ball rolling and opened the business in February 2020, not knowing just a month later the world would change and shut his business down.
"After a few months, I tried to open back up and it was just not worth it," Meyer said. "Because nobody wanted to come in. And it was a very heavy hit on me."
Now that things are turning back around, Main Street Music is open again and finally bringing back big crowds and big acts from across the country.
He's hoping the music can bring people joy, and himself some peace of mind in honor of his son.
"It feels great and feels like this is why you never give up on your dreams," Meyer said. "Even though you get beat down once in a while, you just got to keep plugging away."
Andy Meyer
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‘A good start’: Checking in on WI’s contact tracing app | 2022-03-21T04:19:06Z | www.wkow.com | Local music venue seeks to put Village of Brooklyn on the map | Coronavirus | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/local-music-venue-seeks-to-put-village-of-brooklyn-on-the-map/article_4293765a-a8ae-11ec-8a5e-5761cac85999.html | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/local-music-venue-seeks-to-put-village-of-brooklyn-on-the-map/article_4293765a-a8ae-11ec-8a5e-5761cac85999.html |
Man killed after car hits trees in Dodge Co.
TOWNSHIP OF CHESTER (WKOW) -- An 87-year-old man was killed in a crash in Dodge County on Sunday night.
According to a news release from the Dodge County Sheriff's Office, officials responded to CTH C west of CTH I, in the Township of Chester shortly after 6:30 p.m.
The release says initial investigation indicates the man was driving a 2008 Mercury east on CTH C approaching a curve in the roadway to the left. The Mercury then "failed to negotiate the curve" and the car then traveled off of the roadway, and hit several trees, the release says.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. His identity wasn't released.
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Amber Alert: Child taken from Milwaukee home | 2022-03-21T14:02:26Z | www.wkow.com | Man killed after car hits trees in Dodge Co. | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/man-killed-after-car-hits-trees-in-dodge-co/article_59a60582-a913-11ec-aa75-236fd8ca48d7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/man-killed-after-car-hits-trees-in-dodge-co/article_59a60582-a913-11ec-aa75-236fd8ca48d7.html |
Two people killed after car strikes building in Town of Albion
TOWN OF ALBION (WKOW) -- Two people were killed in a single-vehicle crash in the Town of Albion on Sunday night.
According to a news release from the Dane County Sheriff's Office, deputies responded to Albion Road, just south of Edgerton Road around 9:30 p.m.
The release says the investigation indicates the driver of a black Chevy with one other person inside was traveling south on Albion Road. The driver then lost control, resulting in the vehicle hitting a building, and the two people inside being ejected.
Life-saving efforts were attempted, but both people were pronounced dead at the scene. Their identities haven't been released, pending family notification.
Authorities say speed and alcohol are believed to be factors in the crash, which remains under investigation.
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Cancer advocates urge lawmakers to improve patient-centered care | 2022-03-21T14:02:32Z | www.wkow.com | Two people killed after car strikes building in Town of Albion | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/two-people-killed-after-car-strikes-building-in-town-of-albion/article_a0785d98-a8f5-11ec-a3db-938782a09b29.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/two-people-killed-after-car-strikes-building-in-town-of-albion/article_a0785d98-a8f5-11ec-a3db-938782a09b29.html |
Accused burglars charged after hospitalization
MADISON (WKOW) -- A man and a woman have been charged for burglarizing a Madison home after they were hospitalized when the getaway car was rammed by a truck driven by the victim's son.
Lance Ott, 33, of Cottage Grove appeared from the Dane County Jail for an initial court hearing Monday. He's charged with felony burglary. Court records show Ott and a woman are accused of getting into the garage of Brian Sanderson's east side home in February and stealing a $700 snow blower.
Records show Ott's getaway from the home was stopped when Sanderson's son, Corey, took his truck and followed the car, ramming into it on Milwaukee Street. Authorities say Ott and a woman in the car were hospitalized. Corey Sanderson was charged with felony reckless endangerment. The snow blower theft was the second theft of a snow blower from the home's garage within 72 hours. Sanderson is free on a signature bond and barred from driving while his case is pending.
A criminal complaint against Ott says the stolen snow blower was in Ott's crashed, Volkswagen Golf sedan.
Ott was released from jail on a signature bond. Ott's bail prevents him from having any contact with the Sanderson family.
At the time of Corey Sanderson's arrest in February, a Madison Police Department incident report posted online stated there was probable cause to arrest Ott and the woman, his suspected burglary accomplice.
But Dane County Sheriff's records show Ott's arrest did not take place at the time of a discharge from a hospital. Records show Ott was arrested Friday at 1:18 a.m. by Madison Police officers at North High Point Road and Copper Circle on the city's west side. It's a residential area of single-family homes. Police officials have yet to explain the circumstances of Ott's arrest.
Ott's alleged accomplice, Ronda Granja, 42, of Madison has also been criminally charged. Granja faces felony burglary as a repeater and felony bail jumping.
Granja now has four, open criminal cases in two counties alleging varieties of theft. Granja's other Dane County felony case alleges she stole two TVs and an air mattress from Target in April. In Jefferson County, Granja is charged with helping to steal more than $1,000 in merchandise from a Walmart store in February 2021.
In 2020, Granja was sentenced to two years probation in Dane County for stealing someone's credit card and using the card to purchase gas and merchandise, including a more than $3,000 watch at a Madison retail store.
Court records in the Corey Sanderson case show Granja was unconscious when transported to a hospital following the February collision after the home break-in and burglary.
A warrant for Granja's arrest was issued Monday.
Madison Police officials have yet to comment on whether Granja was discharged from the hospital. It's also unclear whether Granja is at another medical facility, or why an arrest warrant was needed if Granja remains a patient. Authorities have yet to comment on whether Granja, like Ott, was allowed to be discharged from a hospital and not arrested, despite open, criminal cases. | 2022-03-22T02:31:01Z | www.wkow.com | Accused burglars charged after hospitalization | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/accused-burglars-charged-after-hospitalization/article_50675192-a972-11ec-9ffe-e7959505e6ad.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/accused-burglars-charged-after-hospitalization/article_50675192-a972-11ec-9ffe-e7959505e6ad.html |
'Will you tell this gentleman who won the election': 2020 election looms over Steil town hall
CLINTON (WKOW) -- If a congressman's listening session here on Monday was any indication, the 2020 election will remain as big a topic as any during the 2022 mid-term campaigns.
Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) made the first of three scheduled stops in his district at Clinton Village Hall. At its peak, only seven people sat in the audience; four of them filled out forms seeking to ask a question and all four brought up the 2020 election with Steil.
Sheila John and Lee Schubert of Delavan pressed Steil to publicly denounce unproven claims that clerks in the state's biggest cities collaborated with outside groups to steal the 2020 election.
"I'm concerned," John said with a wavering voice. "I have grandchildren and I need you, as my representative, to let people know that the election was not rigged."
The claims of collusion had a platform at the State Capitol last Wednesday when Assembly Speaker Robin Vos met behind closed doors with a group led by former Menomonee Falls Village President Jefferson Davis.
Following the meeting with Vos, Davis and a group of statisticians and attorneys repeated unsubstantiated claims of widespread, coordinated voter fraud.
Schubert compared Americans accepting what he called election misinformation to Russians accepting state media accounts justifying the invasion of Ukraine.
"We have a credibility problem here in America," Schubert said to Steil. "There is one party, in particular, that will not admit to the truth. They won't admit Donald Trump lost the election."
Steil did not speak out against the ongoing efforts to reclaim the state's electoral votes, saying only during the listening session that President Joe Biden had won the election in his eyes.
He referred speakers to read reviews by the Legislative Audit Bureau and conservative Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty, which found the Wisconsin Elections Commission issued guidance that ran afoul of state law because issues like drop boxes and nursing home voting should have been established as formal rules instead of written guidance.
Those reviews also both state there was no evidence of widespread fraud that would've changed the election's outcome.
Schubert and John sat next to Mark Madson, a Clinton-based limestone producer. Madson said he was troubled by pandemic voting policies that allowed more voters to mark themselves 'indefinitely confined,' which allowed them to obtain absentee ballots without presenting a photo ID.
State records showed a surge in the provision's use in both Democratic and Republican counties.
"I guess the only possibility is that it was what you call 'legal' voter fraud where you didn't have to really have any voter ID," Madson said.
Following the meeting, Schubert and Madson both approached Steil.
"Will you tell this gentleman who won the election, by the way? Can you do that?" Schubert asked Steil, who declined to respond, saying he needed to get to other town hall meetings he had scheduled.
In an adjacent room, Steil then took questions from media and, when pressed on the claims of widespread voter fraud, said he had not seen proof of clerks working with outside funders to swing the election.
"I have challenges with many things that played out in the last election, including the investment of funds by [Facebook founder Mark] Zuckerberg into some of our cities," Steil said. "I have not seen evidence of a collusion in that context."
Steil held two more listening sessions Monday in Sturtevant and Oak Creek. He said he was flying back to Washington, D.C. for meetings Tuesday about possible sanctions targeting Russian access to cryptocurrency. | 2022-03-22T02:31:20Z | www.wkow.com | 'Will you tell this gentleman who won the election': 2020 election looms over Steil town hall | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/will-you-tell-this-gentleman-who-won-the-election-2020-election-looms-over-steil-town/article_673df23a-a969-11ec-b535-6fb21e539da3.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/will-you-tell-this-gentleman-who-won-the-election-2020-election-looms-over-steil-town/article_673df23a-a969-11ec-b535-6fb21e539da3.html |
State plans to compost millions of dead chickens from Jefferson County farm
JEFFERSON COUNTY (WKOW) -- State agriculture officials are in the process of killing nearly 3 million chickens at a Jefferson County farm, where they found bird flu.
People at the facility in Palmyra are wearing protective clothing and masks.
Officials say the dead birds will be taken to a field about 8 miles away to be composted.
Crews are now digging in the field.
One woman who lives across the street wants to know why the composting can't be done on the egg farm.
"The biggest concern of our neighbors and us is what is the process that is going to occur on that land and who is going to be monitoring the groundwater because that's the water we drink," said Kay Braaten.
The state says composting is the most efficient and environmentally responsible way to dispose of the birds.
They say the site will be inspected for leaks, odor or disruption.
The bird flu discovery in Jefferson County led to closures at the Milwaukee County Zoo.
Nearly every building or exhibit that includes birds of any kind is temporarily shut down.
"None of our animals have exhibited symptoms, and none have passed away," veterinarian Dr. Pam Govett told WISN. "We have a lot of birds here that are endangered species and we just do not want to have that happen."
Staff at the zoo will monitor all of their birds and test them if any show signs of symptoms.
They will be challenged by the many wild birds on the property, since ducks and geese can spread bird flu.
Milwaukee County Zoo
Five down, one to go; Wisconsin close to meeting criteria needed for ending “Safer at Home”
Scammers are using medicare cards to take people’s money | 2022-03-22T04:32:52Z | www.wkow.com | State plans to compost millions of dead chickens from Jefferson County farm | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/state-plans-to-compost-millions-of-dead-chickens-from-jefferson-county-farm/article_38d5deee-a982-11ec-9da6-93ca8a514e9d.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/state-plans-to-compost-millions-of-dead-chickens-from-jefferson-county-farm/article_38d5deee-a982-11ec-9da6-93ca8a514e9d.html |
How police were able to use OnStar to stop teens in stolen vehicle
MADISON (WKOW) -- A police chase with a stolen car on the Beltline ended in a crash and extensive search for one of the car thieves on Friday. But police say it could have been a lot worse if it weren't for cutting edge technology that allowed them to track and slow down the vehicle remotely.
Police were first able to use the vehicle's OnStar system to track it down using GPS to a point near Whitney Way and Schroeder Road. From there, they spotted the vehicle, but the six teens inside sped off down the Beltline.
"As these kids steal these vehicles, they don't know the end game," MPD Capt. Mike Hanson said. "They don't know how this is going to happen, whether it's going to be their own crash, not obeying traffic laws and crash into somebody."
But before a serious crash could occur, police were able to use the OnStar system again to slow down the vehicle remotely and prevent the teens from speeding off anymore.
The teenaged driver still crashed, but it was not as serious as it could have been, police say.
"It's amazing no one was killed," Hanson said.
Automotive instructor Marty Prew from Madison College explained how it happened.
"The police can make a request to OnStar saying 'Hey, please shut down this vehicle,' then OnStar could send a command to the engine computer and it will not rev up," Prew said. "Step on the gas pedal all you want. But the command has been sent and it won't let the engine rev up."
Marty Prew
Mike Hanson
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Officer faces more serious charge in Daunte Wright death | 2022-03-22T06:26:18Z | www.wkow.com | How police were able to use OnStar to stop teens in stolen vehicle | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/how-police-were-able-to-use-onstar-to-stop-teens-in-stolen-vehicle/article_e3936e4a-a988-11ec-bd00-dfd32aa1a6f5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/how-police-were-able-to-use-onstar-to-stop-teens-in-stolen-vehicle/article_e3936e4a-a988-11ec-bd00-dfd32aa1a6f5.html |
Potholes become problem as warmer weather sets in
MADISON (WKOW) -- With spring upon us, that also means it's the season of puddles and potholes.
Potholes are popping up more and more as we're going through a freeze-thaw cycle.
Hannah Mohelnitzky, City of Madison Engineering Division Public Information Officer, says this time of the year, water seeps into the cracks, freezes, expands, and that in turn creates all of the potholes we see on our roads.
Not only are they on eyesore on the roads, but they can also cause serious damage to your car.
Mohelnitzky says it's important people report potholes, so they can be fixed as quickly as possible.
"As soon as they're reported, they're (crews) always on it, and that's what makes me proud to work for the city is we're of service to the community, so soon as people see them, we will be out there," said Mohelnitzky.
You are able to report any potholes you see on the "Report a Problem" portal on the City of Madison website.
When reporting potholes, it's also important to make sure you have a specific location, so crews are able to assess and fix them as soon as possible.
With crews busy this time of the year, Mohelnitzky asks for the public's patience while they are being filled.
Hannah Mohelnitzky
Freeze-thaw
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Man arrested after throwing punches inside Madison pizza restaurant | 2022-03-22T15:38:44Z | www.wkow.com | Potholes become problem as warmer weather sets in | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/potholes-become-problem-as-warmer-weather-sets-in/article_473cf866-a9df-11ec-9833-7b9bba3d76f7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/potholes-become-problem-as-warmer-weather-sets-in/article_473cf866-a9df-11ec-9833-7b9bba3d76f7.html |
Molly Seidel: How distance runner overcame 'imposter syndrome' and 'blew away' her expectations in the marathon
(CNN) -- Mastering the art of marathon running is a lifetime pursuit for some, but it seemed to take Molly Seidel roughly two-and-a-half hours on one windswept morning in Atlanta a couple of years ago. | 2022-03-22T17:45:10Z | www.wkow.com | Molly Seidel: How distance runner overcame 'imposter syndrome' and 'blew away' her expectations in the marathon | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/molly-seidel-how-distance-runner-overcame-imposter-syndrome-and-blew-away-her-expectations-in-the/article_008907ea-a9e7-11ec-b750-abf681414cee.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/molly-seidel-how-distance-runner-overcame-imposter-syndrome-and-blew-away-her-expectations-in-the/article_008907ea-a9e7-11ec-b750-abf681414cee.html |
Courtesy: MGN Online / Pixabay
MADISON (WKOW) -- Henry Vilas Zoo in Madison is taking precautions to protect animals from a highly contagious avian flu that has reached Wisconsin.
The zoo's aviary will be closed through April. The zoo's flamingos, chickens and penguins will be kept indoors, and sandhill cranes will be relocated to the Animal Health Center.
At this time, only animal care staff will be allowed to enter bird spaces, and staff will wear PPE.
“We have many endangered birds species on grounds and our main priority right now is to do everything we can to protect them,” Deputy Zoo Director Joseph Darcangelo said. “We have instituted our disease outbreak protocols to protect our high-risk bird species who live at the Zoo. This includes moving certain birds indoors to prevent the transmission of HPAI from wild birds, especially waterfowl.”
Recently, a commercial flock of three million birds in Jefferson County had to be euthanized after chickens on the farm tested positive for the bird flu. | 2022-03-22T21:36:05Z | www.wkow.com | Henry Vilas Zoo taking steps to protect animals from bird flu | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/henry-vilas-zoo-taking-steps-to-protect-animals-from-bird-flu/article_d8b7d5bc-aa0d-11ec-ba5f-2b80efd1a67e.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/henry-vilas-zoo-taking-steps-to-protect-animals-from-bird-flu/article_d8b7d5bc-aa0d-11ec-ba5f-2b80efd1a67e.html |
Johnny Davis named finalist for Naismith Player of the Year
ATLANTA (WKOW) -- Badgers' star guard Johnny Davis is a finalist for the 2022 Jersey Mike's Naismith Trophy for Player of the Year in men's college basketball.
Other finalists include senior guard Ochai Agbaji of Kansas, sophomore forward Keegan Murray of Iowa and junior forward Oscar Tshiebwe of Kentucky.
Fans can vote for their favorite by clicking here. The fan vote will take place until Tuesday, March 29.
The men’s ceremony to award the 2022 Jersey Mike’s Naismith Trophy for Men’s Player of the Year will take place Sunday, April 3, at the Naismith Awards Brunch during the Final Four in New Orleans. | 2022-03-22T21:36:11Z | www.wkow.com | Johnny Davis named finalist for Naismith Player of the Year | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/johnny-davis-named-finalist-for-naismith-player-of-the-year/article_3be78496-aa1f-11ec-8a02-d3f38de89068.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/johnny-davis-named-finalist-for-naismith-player-of-the-year/article_3be78496-aa1f-11ec-8a02-d3f38de89068.html |
Wet, breezy and cool weather continues
More rain, plus mix/snow chances to continue throughout the work week along with cooler temperatures.
MADISON (WKOW) - After a sunny, dry day and the 70s big changes took place overnight into Tuesday and continue to bring wet weather to southern Wisconsin.
The first round of rain moved in early-to-mid morning. While a dry slot moved in for portions of the region, more rain has moved in and began to fall.
Brisk, southeasterly winds continue throughout Tuesday.
Temperatures will likely remain and vary from the mid-to-upper 40s.
Widespread rain is expected this evening, with showers becoming more moderate to heavy at times overnight into early Wednesday morning. A few rumbles of thunder are possible, although storms are expected to stay below severe limits. If any, just a general thunderstorm is the consensus.
Wednesday morning will make up the wettest part of the day, although chances of light scattered to a few showers continue into the evening.
Overnight into Thursday, temperatures will drop even more with highs maxing out in the upper 30s. Thursday brings more of a rain mixed with snow chance, light snow/mix possible once again with another quick moving system Friday late-evening overnight into early Saturday.
Little to no snow accumulations are expected. As far as projected rain totals, anywhere from 3/4" to over 1" of rain is possible through Thursday. Higher totals towards the W/NW since that's where most of the moisture is expected to be throughout the week.
Dry weather returns Saturday. While it'll be sunny, it'll be cooler still with highs in the low-to-mid 40s expected. | 2022-03-22T21:36:36Z | www.wkow.com | Wet, breezy and cool weather continues | Meteorology | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/meteorology/wet-breezy-and-cool-weather-continues/article_140defdc-aa10-11ec-ac12-e350b5752ca1.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/meteorology/wet-breezy-and-cool-weather-continues/article_140defdc-aa10-11ec-ac12-e350b5752ca1.html |
Tony Robinson's grandmother requests court to file homicide charges against the officer who shot her grandson
MADISON (WKOW) -- Sharon Irwin-Henry submitted a petition to the Dane County Court Monday asking for a judge to file a criminal complaint against the Madison police officer who shot and killed her grandson, Tony Robinson, in 2015.
Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne ruled Officer Matthew Kenny's use of deadly force in the shooting was justified after a two-month long investigation into Kenny's actions the night of March 6, 2015.
Under Wisconsin Statute 968.02 if a district attorney does not issue a complaint, "a circuit judge may permit the filing of a complaint, if the judge finds there is probable cause to believe that the person to be charged has committed an offense after conducting a hearing."
Irwin-Henry requested Kenny be charged with first-degree reckless homicide or second-degree reckless homicide.
"My grandson deserves his day in court," Irwin-Henry says.
In coming to his decision, Ozanne relied on evidence from the scene and Kenny's account the unarmed, erratically behaving teen punched him in the head.
But after Ozanne's decision, the Robinson family filed a federal lawsuit against Kenny. The lawsuit was settled for more than $3 million and the court process produced additional information on the shooting.
The court filing maintains the civil process exposed inconsistencies in Kenny's account of the deadly encounter. "We cannot simply take Kenny at his word," the filing states.
Irwin-Henry says there's more than sufficient probable cause to believe Kenny committed reckless homicide.
But former prosecutor and Madison attorney Chris Van Wagner says the low threshold of probable cause must be evaluated along with the much, higher burden of proving a criminal case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Irwin-Henry says she's urged Ozanne to consider the civil court information. Van Wagner says if the district attorney has reviewed the civil case and remains unmoved in his decision, there's the risk the appeal to a judge would create a "shadow prosecutor." Van Wagner says the statute allowing for someone to ask a criminal charge be lodged "is not supposed to step on the proper discretion of a district attorney."
But Van Wagner acknowledges the time that's passed since Robinson's fatal shooting is also a factor.
"We today are looking at the conduct of police officers in a very different light and through the lens of the killing of George Floyd," Van Wagner says.
"We know more about systemic bias," Van Wagner says. "That is going to weigh on any judge's mind."
This matter is assigned to Judge Nia Trammell.
A spokesperson for Ozanne says he is unavailable for comment.
Irwin-Henry says she hopes a judge approves a charge and the case goes to trial.
"That's all I've been looking for - a jury of twelve to decide."
Matthew Kenny
Chris Van Wagner | 2022-03-22T23:31:00Z | www.wkow.com | Tony Robinson's grandmother requests court to file homicide charges against the officer who shot her grandson | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/tony-robinsons-grandmother-requests-court-to-file-homicide-charges-against-the-officer-who-shot-her/article_b0eb5b6e-aa1f-11ec-9612-5b11e6a75f35.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/tony-robinsons-grandmother-requests-court-to-file-homicide-charges-against-the-officer-who-shot-her/article_b0eb5b6e-aa1f-11ec-9612-5b11e6a75f35.html |
Dane Co. supervisor proposes ending prayer, Pledge of Allegiance before board meetings
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Dane County Board committee is set to vote Thursday on a proposal removing both prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance from the list of actions held at the start of meetings.
Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner, whose district covers part of Madison's near east side, proposed the changes as part of a two-year cycle where supervisors can alter the structure of board meetings.
Wegleitner said the proposals were meant to make meetings more inclusive to residents who are not United States citizens and to avoid making anyone feel forced to show national loyalty.
"I think that in a functioning democracy, we shouldn't be asking people to pledge loyalty to a flag," she said. "There's many people who participate in our local government who are non-citizens."
Other supervisors have pushed back on the idea. Supervisor Jeff Weigand, whose district includes Marshall as well as land immediately north and east of Sun Prairie, said he believed the long-standing tradition of saying the pledge fostered unity.
"There's a lot of things that try to divide us in this country but I think reciting the pledge is actually one of those things where we can come together as Americans," he said. "Because we do believe in a country that is all about liberty and justice for all."
If the board opts to remove prayer and/or the pledge, it would not be out of step with other governmental bodies in the area.
Neither Madison nor Middleton list a prayer or the Pledge of Allegiance on their meeting agendas. Fitchburg lists only the pledge on its agendas.
At the county level, agendas for both the Rock and Sauk county boards list an 'invocation' as well as the Pledge of Allegiance. The Grant County Board lists only the pledge on its agendas.
Under Wegleitner's proposal, the three-minute 'inspirational message' would remain on agendas. Currently, a rotation among the 37 supervisors decides who delivers the prayer or inspirational message before meetings.
Wegleitner said she would want supervisors to deliver a prayer as their inspirational message if they so chose but did not want to keep codifying prayer as a standard part of board meetings.
"I'm open to other suggestions on wording," she said. "I do think having the word 'prayer' in our county board rules sends a certain message of endorsement of prayer or religion."
Weigand maintained both the act of prayer and the term itself should remain a staple of meetings.
"By taking prayer out of the equation, we're essentially tying our hands behind our back as we go into battle against evil," he said.
The board's executive committee is set to vote on Wegleitner's proposed amendments Thursday. Should the committee approve the changes, they'll go before the full board next month.
Board Chair Analiese Eicher, who also chairs the executive committee, did not immediately respond to questions about the proposal Tuesday.
Dane Co.
Jeff Weigand
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Disney issues seizure warning for scenes in ‘Incredibles 2’ | 2022-03-23T02:51:34Z | www.wkow.com | Dane Co. supervisor proposes ending prayer, Pledge of Allegiance before board meetings | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-co-supervisor-proposes-ending-prayer-pledge-of-allegiance-before-board-meetings/article_d3691faa-aa33-11ec-9d7a-2bd5f8fbf69a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/dane-co-supervisor-proposes-ending-prayer-pledge-of-allegiance-before-board-meetings/article_d3691faa-aa33-11ec-9d7a-2bd5f8fbf69a.html |
Door County candle company receives national attention, thousands of new orders
DOOR COUNTY (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Company that's making candles to benefit Ukraine is getting overwhelmed with orders.
We first told you about Door County Candle Company. It was featured on World News Tonight With David Muir. Since then, the company has received more than 10,000 additional orders since the middle of last week.
"Our website crashed after we appeared on David Muir, so my husband had two all nighters trying to help the site get back up, which he did. And yes, we’ve got 22,000 orders in the system that we have to pack up and ship. So yeah, it’s been incredible," owner Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani said.
In an interview with WBAY-TV, the business owner said they've hired another candlemaker and added new equipment to speed up the production process.
She said they'll keep making these candles as long as people want to keep buying them to help Ukraine.
Christiana Gorchynsky Trapani
Wisconsin Company | 2022-03-23T04:31:46Z | www.wkow.com | Door County candle company receives national attention, thousands of new orders | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/door-county-candle-company-receives-national-attention-thousands-of-new-orders/article_62a46468-aa52-11ec-955f-ab5330a40362.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/door-county-candle-company-receives-national-attention-thousands-of-new-orders/article_62a46468-aa52-11ec-955f-ab5330a40362.html |
Republicans hold National Agriculture Day panel
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Republican National Committee and the Republican Party of Wisconsin held a panel discussion on National Agriculture Day Tuesday.
Their goal was to discuss how the agriculture community is fairing under the Biden and Evers administrations.
During the panel, lawmakers shared concerns over inflation--saying high prices of things like fertilizer and diesel fuel could negatively impact farmers.
"The projections right now are that farm income is going to be down about 8%," U.S. Congressman Tom Tiffany said. "Those increased prices do not translate into increased farm income, into the farmer's pockets so that they can make improvements in their operation."
Several local farmers also shared that while consumers may be seeing increased prices for things like milk and corn at grocery stores, that doesn't necessarily benefit them. Therefore, they hope that could change.
"I would say the past five years have been very nerve wracking when it comes to agriculture--especially dairy farming here in Wisconsin because we are such a small farm," Rachel Schroeder, a Wisconsin Dairy famer said.
On Tuesday, Governor Tony Evers signed a bill designed to increase dairy exports from Wisconsin into law.
The new law invests nearly $900,000 into a newly created agricultural exports program. | 2022-03-23T04:31:58Z | www.wkow.com | Republicans hold National Agriculture Day panel | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/republicans-hold-national-agriculture-day-panel/article_672d240c-aa34-11ec-8332-6ffbd96d6ad9.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/republicans-hold-national-agriculture-day-panel/article_672d240c-aa34-11ec-8332-6ffbd96d6ad9.html |
Thursday at 10: Rae of Hope
STOUGHTON (WKOW) -- A Stoughton family that went through an unimaginable tragedy is turning their heartbreak into hope.
Nevaeh Rae Wallace was just one year old when she passed away from complications of a congenital heart defect.
"She just was this bright light in our family and she just, I think with going through so much... she had this presence about her that I can't really explain because she just, like, knew the world in a different way," said her mom Jamie.
Her parents and siblings are coping with their grief of her loss, by helping other families.
"I think just from a standpoint of how we walked through it, and I'm not saying we did it perfectly, but we're able to show you can get through it and you can make something good come out of something really bad," said her dad Matt.
They've started a nonprofit to help other families who've lost children.
Tonight on 27 News at 10, how Nevaeh's Rae of Hope is helping others heal. | 2022-03-23T15:33:38Z | www.wkow.com | Thursday at 10: Rae of Hope | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/thursday-at-10-rae-of-hope/article_41f6caec-aaae-11ec-9f81-4b82d066e59a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/thursday-at-10-rae-of-hope/article_41f6caec-aaae-11ec-9f81-4b82d066e59a.html |
The tan Cavapoo that is missing after a vehicle break-in.
The truck police identify as the suspect vehicle in at least one of the break-in's.
Lake Delton investigating armed robberies of vehicles, dog missing
LAKE DELTON (WKOW) — Police in Lake Delton are investigating a string of robberies that may be connected.
According to a press release from Lieutenant William Laughlin, authorities responded to the Outlets of the Dells parking lot around 1:46 p.m. Wednesday for a report of a man brandishing a weapon while breaking into a work van.
According to Laughlin, the owner of the work van confronted the suspect, then the suspect pointed a gun at the victim while continuing to remove tools from the van and load them into his truck.
Officers tried to follow the suspect when he drove away, but stopped their pursuit due to unsafe conditions.
Prior to this call, Laughlin said officers were on scene of multiple vehicle break-ins at Home Depot and outlet mall parking lots. One of the vehicles broken into had a dog in it, a 16-month-old Cavapoo, that is currently unaccounted for.
In at least one of those break-ins, the suspect vehicle matches the description of the suspect vehicle at the Outlet of the Dells. Laughlin describes the vehicle as a blue Ford F250 with a black bag over the driver's side window and a large placard in the back that says "Fully Insured." The license plate, PJ8907, was recently stolen.
Anyone with information in these break-ins are asked to contact Sauk County dispatch at 608-254-8331.
William Laughlin
Lake Delton Police | 2022-03-23T23:27:56Z | www.wkow.com | Lake Delton investigating armed robberies of vehicles, dog missing | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/lake-delton-investigating-armed-robberies-of-vehicles-dog-missing/article_5c006f36-aaec-11ec-836a-dfeaca6b568c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/lake-delton-investigating-armed-robberies-of-vehicles-dog-missing/article_5c006f36-aaec-11ec-836a-dfeaca6b568c.html |
'Let's sit down and talk about it': Clerks prepare for public testing of voting machines
JANESVILLE (WKOW) -- Lori Stottler knows there's never been so much public interest in the accuracy of the machines her office uses to count Janesville's ballots. To be sure everything is in order ahead of the April 5 spring election, she's conducting three days of pretesting on the city's machines before a public testing.
27 News observed Wednesday's session. Stottler said ongoing skepticism from some conservatives over the 2020 general election leaves her hoping more people will attend Saturday's public test.
"Just like anything in life, when it comes to politics, religion, and now, elections, let's sit down and talk about it," Stottler said. "Maybe I can help you understand better and you can help me understand what I need to be doing differently to make sure that I have your trust."
A series of legal challenges and recounts in Dane and Milwaukee counties upheld President Joe Biden's victory in Wisconsin. Still, skeptics have pushed unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud, including theories of foreign actors hacking voting machines.
Stottler said that would be impossible because the machines aren't connected to the internet. Dane County Clerk Scott McDonell said he didn't understand how outsiders could rig machines at least six years old to alter elections.
"How do they know the ballot order of candidates six years in the future? Nothing's connected to the internet," McDonell said. "I mean that's just really stupid."
Stottler said she viewed the claims as a reason to emphasize the public testing of voting machines. Wednesday got off to a rocky start. The first ballot got stuck in the machine. After partially deconstructing the machine, Stottler slightly bent a tray inside to ensure the ballots would not jam and instead drop right into the bin.
From there, it was a question of ensuring the machines could read the pre-marked ballots and deliver an accurate count.
"The only way that one person would get the vote for another is if we programmed it wrong so we want to make sure that we process that," Stottler said.
Concerns about machine malfunctions, either by accident or because of nefarious acts, have led some to call for election officials to bring back hand counts of ballots. Both Stottler and McDonell defended Wisconsin clerks' use of machines to tally election results.
"For me, in all my years working elections, every mistake I've seen is a human error," McDonell said. "The idea that we would have hand counts means that the error rate would go through the ceiling and it would take days and days to get results."
Bringing in Badger Books
The tabulation machines weren't the only equipment items undergoing testing this week. The April election will be the first for which Janesville uses Badger Books, an electronic version of the poll books voters sign when they arrive at their polling place.
Stottler said the switch would make the sign-in process more smooth and also more accurate. She said the electronic system would reduce the odds of someone being signed in under the wrong name or delays caused by workers being unable to find a voter's name because they had moved.
"It's popular with clerks because it's more accurate and it's faster, reduces a lot of the workload after the election," McDonell said.
In the Badger Books, a voter is immediately flagged if they show up in the wrong location. They can either leave or, if they had recently moved, re-register under their new address with proof of their new residence.
"Now when you go to the grocery store, you don't sign a credit card receipt on paper," Stottler said. "We're simply asking that you move to the grocery store format of signing your name on the screen."
Janesville will have Badger Books at four of the city's 10 polling places for the April 5 election. Stottler said the goal was to add a fifth for the August statewide primary before having 10 Badger Books in place for the November mid-term election.
Like the voting machines, Badger Books are not connected to the internet. Instead, they're hooked to a modem that ties each of a city's books to an in-house server. Stottler said the machines could back up the information so if one machine went down, the voter data could still be reached on another.
Both Janesville and Madison have scheduled public testing of their machines for Saturday, March 26 beginning at 9 a.m. The Madison test will take place at 2713 E. Washington Ave. | 2022-03-24T01:38:34Z | www.wkow.com | 'Let's sit down and talk about it': Clerks prepare for public testing of voting machines | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/lets-sit-down-and-talk-about-it-clerks-prepare-for-public-testing-of-voting-machines/article_3b055a0e-aaff-11ec-b37b-ff4bd7aec0cc.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/lets-sit-down-and-talk-about-it-clerks-prepare-for-public-testing-of-voting-machines/article_3b055a0e-aaff-11ec-b37b-ff4bd7aec0cc.html |
Madison artist shocked by Overture Center encounter, claims racial targeting
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Black Madison artist is still reeling from an encounter she had with an Overture Center For The Arts manager over access to the center complex.
Lilada Gee says she was preparing for an April exhibit of her work and those of other artists in a show titled 'Ain't I a Woman?' before the jolting experience.
"To be able to participate in a show with other Black women in spaces we don't often...we're not often invited into, very excited about it," Gee said.
But that excitement vanished March 9 when Gee briefly left her work space in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art to retrieve supplies and returned to Overture Center doors only open to the public during certain hours.
Museum staff member Annik Dupaty arrived at the doors to escort Gee into the center building.
"This woman jumped right in front of me and into Lilada's face and really yelled at her and just got inches away from her face and said, 'You can't come into this door, you've got to go around to the other side, you can't come in this way,' " Dupaty recounts. "I was so taken aback. I was absolutely shocked," Dupaty says.
"I knew I had a right to be in the building," Gee says.
Gee says the Overture manager continued to deny Gee access until Dupaty interceded to reiterate she was an employee escorting the working artist. Both women say it should have been clear from the outset to the Overture worker that the artist's access was being properly facilitated.
Gee says the fact she's Black, Dupaty bi-racial and the Overture manager white was a factor in what happened.
"I absolutely believe race played a major role," Gee says. "Had it been a white woman that let me in, had I have been a white woman, what happened, wouldn't have happened."
"I think she ignored my authority as a person of color, as a Black bi-racial woman," Dupaty says. "She completely ignored my presence...having keys, a swipe card. And the way she treated Lilada...I do believe it was racially motivated."
"We are deeply sorry...guests were made to feel unwelcome at Overture Center," Chief Overture Center Development and Communications Officer Emily Gruenewald says.
"In the incident, an Overture employee denied access to a person attempting to enter the building through a door not typically open to the public. The guest felt racially targeted and unwelcome in our building after the encounter. Upon learning of the incident, Overture’s leadership and human resources teams responded quickly in conducting an investigation and concluded that the employee’s behavior was not consistent with our commitment to provide a welcoming environment for all. The person is no longer employed at Overture," Gruenewald says.
Records show the employee was formerly the Overture Center For The Arts Guest Services Manager. She has yet to respond to a request for comment from 27 News.
"We have reached out to the individuals involved to discuss next steps towards restorative justice," Gruenewald says.
As a Black woman, Gee says the experience was a triggering event.
"I feel like I can't even get in this building. I can't even walk in this building to paint," Gee says.
Gee says the encounter has stopped her planned work for the April exhibit in its tracks.
"Ever since then, I would try to paint these beautiful pictures of these Black girls, the stories I was to tell, and I feel...the pain of the experience and I don't want to put that in a stroke in the face of a Black girl," Gee says.
Gee says she believes she will finish the exhibit work, but being denied building entry will influence how she completes the art.
Lilada Gee
Annik Dupaty
Emily Gruenewald | 2022-03-24T01:38:40Z | www.wkow.com | Madison artist shocked by Overture Center encounter, claims racial targeting | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-artist-shocked-by-overture-center-encounter-claims-racial-targeting/article_f3181226-ab04-11ec-a1ce-3befc4f73f21.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-artist-shocked-by-overture-center-encounter-claims-racial-targeting/article_f3181226-ab04-11ec-a1ce-3befc4f73f21.html |
UW doctors say Moderna pediatric vaccine development possible thanks to little heroes
MADISON (WKOW) -- "When it was getting close to them, starting 5K, we were just a little more worried," said Tony Rodriguez.
So he and his wife Anne Rodriguez enrolled their four-year-old twin boys in Moderna's COVID-19 pediatric vaccine trial during preschool.
"If it's a choice of doing nothing at all, or doing something that might help us, that's not really a choice at all," said Rodriguez.
The four-year-olds participated in this weeks-long clinical trial to help people they'll never meet. UW Health lead COVID-19 vaccine investigator Dr. William Hartman said that makes them heroes.
"Nobody wants another shot, but these kids said that they were willing to give it a try," said Dr. William Hartman.
"If we could give some other families some peace of mind because of the small risks that we took, I think that's completely worthwhile," said Rodriguez.
The trial showed side effects of this pediatric vaccine appear to be mild.
Dr. Hartman said, "The worst side effect that we saw was a fever in the kids."
Doctors say the effectiveness of this shot for kids five and under is not as clear-cut against coronavirus variants.
"It is about 40% efficacy rate. The Omicron variant has mutations that's made it more invasive to our vaccines and to natural immunity. That being said, we see in this Moderna trial, a very robust antibody response similar to what we see in the adults. We feel that this is a very effective vaccine."
"It's obvious there's no 100% guarantee that somebody wouldn't still get sick. I'm glad that there are vaccines available. I'm glad that they were able to participate in a study," said Rodriguez.
Dr. Hartman says there have been no cases of myocarditis in this pediatric clinical trial group. This side effect had been previously recorded in the middle-teen group.
William Hartman
Anne Rodriguez | 2022-03-24T01:38:58Z | www.wkow.com | UW doctors say Moderna pediatric vaccine development possible thanks to little heroes | Medicine | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/uw-doctors-say-moderna-pediatric-vaccine-development-possible-thanks-to-little-heroes/article_2eda9d16-aaff-11ec-a766-6b4b175daea8.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/medicine/uw-doctors-say-moderna-pediatric-vaccine-development-possible-thanks-to-little-heroes/article_2eda9d16-aaff-11ec-a766-6b4b175daea8.html |
UW Volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield advocates for same TV exposure as women's basketball tournament
MADISON (WKOW))-- The NCAA Volleyball Championship set a record for TV viewership last December as 1.2 million spectators watched Wisconsin win the national title in five sets over Nebraska on ESPN2.
Saturday's @NCAAVolleyball Championship on ESPN2, delivered nearly 1.2M viewers for @BadgerVB's thrilling 5-set win over @HuskervballThe most-viewed women's college volleyball match ever on ESPN networks - capping a record #NCAAVB event pic.twitter.com/vSpfPkWbnw
— ESPN PR (@ESPNPR) December 21, 2021
That is despite not having any games televised through the first two rounds.
"Basically, we went dark," Wisconsin Volleyball Coach Kelly Sheffield said. "Our sport went dark to the general public. We can do better. We need to do better. Without that momentum, we still had the best viewership we've ever had."
Been reading his quotes and agree with @KellyPSheffield of @BadgerVB. The sport needs more national attention. Saw the @NCAAVolleyball Final Four a few years ago in Minnesota and it was one of the best championships I've been to in terms of environment, passion and excitement. https://t.co/ES73vPexYv
That is a stark difference from women's college basketball, with all of its first and second-round match-ups distributed nationally.
"This isn't year one," Sheffield said. "This has been happening for quite a few years where every single women's basketball game is being televised, as it should be. It's incredibly entertaining. Me and my family are having a lot of fun watching it, but you can't help but ask the question, how come we did not have a single game on linear television throughout the first two rounds?"
Women’s basketball on ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPN News, & ESPNU. Meanwhile, only way to watch volleyball during first weekend of our tourney was on streaming service. The difference in coverage of the two sports is a slap in the face. No way there’s that much difference in viewership.
— Kelly Sheffield (@KellyPSheffield) March 19, 2022
"We are seeing how people are responding positively to women's basketball, and let's get the same type of exposure for women's volleyball and watch what happens," Sheffield added.
He knows some of the logistics will have to change.
"We do go up against the mammoth sport of football but then put us on Monday, put us on Tuesdays, put us on Wednesdays, come with us with some type of solution of how can we elevate."
Coach Sheffield has the platform, and he'll continue to use it to make a difference.
"If not us, then who?"
"We are heading in the right direction, things have never been more exciting in that front than what it is right now, and we have not arrived yet," Sheffield said.
Ncaa Volleyball Championship
Bucks center Brook Lopez undergoes back surgery, out indefinitely
Happ scores 30 as Wisconsin pulls away from Xavier 77-68
Longtime coach Jerry Petitgoue records 1000th career win
Giannis scores 27 on 25th birthday, Bucks rout Clips 119-91 | 2022-03-24T03:40:42Z | www.wkow.com | UW Volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield advocates for same TV exposure as women's basketball tournament | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/uw-volleyball-coach-kelly-sheffield-advocates-for-same-tv-exposure-as-womens-basketball-tournament/article_4e952566-ab10-11ec-a1b9-e71ab2d04935.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/uw-volleyball-coach-kelly-sheffield-advocates-for-same-tv-exposure-as-womens-basketball-tournament/article_4e952566-ab10-11ec-a1b9-e71ab2d04935.html |
Jefferson County Neighbors near dead chicken disposal site outraged over lack of information
JEFFERSON COUNTY (WKOW) -- In Jefferson County, nearly three million chickens are being destroyed after bird flu was found in a flock at a farm in Palmyra.
Then they'll be composted on a disposal site about six miles from the infected farm.
People who live near the composting site are worried about its impact on neighboring homes and groundwater.
They say they've been hitting a wall when they try to get answers from the state.
"All they've reached out and done to us is sent us some emails with general information that I can find off the web," Lyle Braaten told WISN.
"No one wants to meet us. It's like there is a conspiracy going on," said Kay Braaten.
State agriculture officials have been updating a website with information about the bird flu.
They say they delivered a document with frequently asked questions to people who live near the composting site. | 2022-03-24T05:42:27Z | www.wkow.com | Jefferson County Neighbors near dead chicken disposal site outraged over lack of information | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/jefferson-county-neighbors-near-dead-chicken-disposal-site-outraged-over-lack-of-information/article_f121108e-ab23-11ec-8f8e-0b0ec2ad0fc8.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/jefferson-county-neighbors-near-dead-chicken-disposal-site-outraged-over-lack-of-information/article_f121108e-ab23-11ec-8f8e-0b0ec2ad0fc8.html |
By Rebecca Ribley
No Ride the Drive in Madison in 2022
MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison's annual Ride the Drive biking event has been canceled this year.
In a blog post, Madison Parks superintendent Eric Knepp said staffing shortages are to blame.
Knepp said it was a difficult decision, but right now, Madison Parks is looking to fill about 100 jobs. The agency is hosting a hiring fair this Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center (details here).
Knepp says there are "additional potential service level impacts" on the horizon due to the staffing shortages, but says the department is working to reduce those as much as possible.
Knepp says Madison Parks looks forward to working with community partners and stakeholders to plan for a return of Ride the Drive next year. | 2022-03-24T05:42:33Z | www.wkow.com | No Ride the Drive in Madison in 2022 | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/no-ride-the-drive-in-madison-in-2022/article_8b50c4ec-ab24-11ec-86ca-9359dcbb350a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/no-ride-the-drive-in-madison-in-2022/article_8b50c4ec-ab24-11ec-86ca-9359dcbb350a.html |
Courtesy: Youtube.com | The Prom
The Prom comes to the Overture Center
MADISON (WKOW) -- You're invited to The Prom at the Overture Center in Madison.
The hit Broadway musical is in town through March 27. Two of the stars of the show appeared on Wake Up Wisconsin Thursday morning.
The Prom features catchy songs and a storyline about making the world a more inclusive place.
"This show is about a group of washed up Broadway stars who are trying to revamp their reputations. So they latch on to this girl's cause in Indiana, and go down to help her get her prom back," explained Kalyn West who plays the role of Alyssa.
The show means a lot to the cast members who are telling the story each night.
"I think it's really important that we continue to tell queer stories in a time when, you know, there's a lot of backlash happening around the country. And it's important to tell a story about acceptance," said Kaden Kearney, who plays Emma.
Tickets are still available. If you want to learn more about the show, visit overture.org.
UW-Whitewater disputes analyst’s reference to ‘nowhere schools’
Fort Atkinson man faces attempted homicide charges in Janesville fire
The Latest: Evers calls Flynn ‘sad,’ in ‘downward spiral’ | 2022-03-24T10:20:56Z | www.wkow.com | The Prom comes to the Overture Center | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/the-prom-comes-to-the-overture-center/article_196021bc-ab4b-11ec-955c-c3db3063c194.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/the-prom-comes-to-the-overture-center/article_196021bc-ab4b-11ec-955c-c3db3063c194.html |
Armed robbery suspect shot during January arrest charged with attempted homicide
MADISON (WKOW) — An amended criminal complaint is providing more information into what led to an armed robbery suspect getting shot during a January arrest.
The complaint for Syngleton Smith-Harston was filed in Dane County Circuit Court on March 24. The original complaint was filed the same day as his arrest, January 11.
Smith-Harston faces 16 charges, including two counts of armed robbery, six counts of felony bail jumping, possessing a firearm as a felon and misappropriating ID information to obtain money. In the amended complaint two new charges were filed: two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide.
The Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne confirmed Smith-Harton's new charges come as a result of a Department of Justice investigation into the shooting.
Smith-Harston's, along with co-defendant Cameron Smith, arrest came as the result of two armed robberies.
One of the robberies took place at Mobil Gas Station on North Sherman Avenue on January 10. The criminal complaint alleges Smith took approximately $800 out of the register while pointing a gun at the cashier. Smith-Harston stayed outside the store.
The robbery listed in the complaint was of a Green Cab driver, which took place on January 9. There, Smith and Smith-Harston are accused of robbing the cab driver at gunpoint, initially asking for the money in his wallet, then asking for his phone and the wallet itself. In the criminal complaint, the driver said he "believed he was lucky to still be alive." His cards were later used three times at the same Mobile station robbed by the defendants.
When it comes to the arrest, Smith was apprehended without incident. As previously reported, Smith-Harston jumped from a balcony and a chase ensued.
The criminal complaint alleges that during the pursuit, Smith-Harston pointed a handgun directly at the officers who were attempting to take him into custody. One stated she was "looking directly down the barrel" of the gun and "feared for her life and the life of the other officers."
Smith-Hartman allegedly shot several times while running, then continued to fire after he fell following a volley of shots from police.
The criminal complaint alleges the gun found on Smith-Harston is consistent with the weapon used in both armed robberies.
The Old Fashioned launches GoFundMe to get through the winter
Wisconsin dairy farmers seek creative solutions to stay alive
Pet of the week: Meet Eggroll!
Police: 16-year-old arrested after attacking Madison Metro Bus driver
Fan accused of surreptitiously adding sports channel to Lake Delton restaurant cable package
Madison Police seeking community assistance in locating wanted person | 2022-03-25T00:17:20Z | www.wkow.com | Armed robbery suspect shot during January arrest charged with attempted homicide | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/armed-robbery-suspect-shot-during-january-arrest-charged-with-attempted-homicide/article_24075344-abbc-11ec-b164-6b9c8fe78105.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/armed-robbery-suspect-shot-during-january-arrest-charged-with-attempted-homicide/article_24075344-abbc-11ec-b164-6b9c8fe78105.html |
Department of Health Services breaks ground on expansion for Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center
MADISON (WKOW) — The Wisconsin Department of Health Services broke ground on an expansion for the Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center (MJTC) Thursday, looking to grow in order to offer services to girls too.
According to a news release from DHS, this $65.9 million renovation will expand the facility on the Mendota Mental Health Institute that currently only offers services to boys. DHS secretary-designee Karen Timberlake said the expanded services will allow MJTC to help more kids in need throughout Dane County.
"We are looking forward to the expanded opportunity to provide treatment for more boys, and the new opportunity to begin to provide treatment for girls. Youth treated at MJTC find themselves at the deepest end of the youth justice system and need the services and supports MJTC offers to successfully reintegrate into their communities," Timberlake said in the release.
MJTC was first founded in 1995 for juvenile offenders who need additional help beyond the traditional "sanctions-based approach," per DHS. The facility aims to help young people develop more autonomy and skills to rejoin society and avoid reoffending.
The new construction project will add 102,000 square feet of space for bedrooms and more areas for therapy, education and medical services. With this expansion, the new facility will be able to house 93 patients.
“Research results from MJTC stand in contradiction to the common belief that nothing works to help these youth. In fact, the model of care at MJTC is effective with helping youth in the worst of circumstances," Mendota Mental Health Institute director Dr. Gregory Van Rybroek said in the release.
The expansion is expected to be fully up and running by early 2025.
Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center
Gregory Van Rybroek | 2022-03-25T00:17:26Z | www.wkow.com | Department of Health Services breaks ground on expansion for Mendota Juvenile Treatment Center | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/department-of-health-services-breaks-ground-on-expansion-for-mendota-juvenile-treatment-center/article_7ba245b0-abac-11ec-8c6c-3f6b9abd1641.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/department-of-health-services-breaks-ground-on-expansion-for-mendota-juvenile-treatment-center/article_7ba245b0-abac-11ec-8c6c-3f6b9abd1641.html |
Group claiming cell phone GPS data show election problems gets hearing at Capitol
MADISON (WKOW) -- A Texas group claimed it had proof of widespread voting irregularities in 2020 but declined to show all of its evidence during a hearing Thursday before the Assembly's elections committee.
True the Vote presented cell phone GPS data to back its claims during the hearing. Individuals and organizations are able to purchase the location data through third-party organizations that buy the GPS info from telecommunication companies.
The group alleged it had zeroed in on 138 "target devices" in Milwaukee, Green Bay, and Racine that had "pinged" near drop boxes at least 26 times during the two-week period of early in-person voting in 2020.
True the Vote Founder Catherine Englebrecht and Gregg Phillips, who works with the organization and founded a fraud-reporting app called VoteStand, testified before the committee.
They told lawmakers the honed in on those who had been near drop boxes 26 times while also pinging near "non-governmental offices." Englebrecht and Phillips declined to say who they defined as a non-governmental office.
Based on those limited details, the group said it was proof of widespread irregularities in 2020. Englebrecht and Phillips said the ballots themselves may have been legally cast but the GPS data indicated possible ballot "trafficking" or "harvesting" where people collect other voters' ballots and drop them off.
"Based on everything we've seen, I think 2020 was sort of a perfect storm of changes and irregularities that led themselves to be exploited," Englebrecht testified.
WEC responds; cell phone claims rejected in GA
The Wisconsin Elections Commission released a statement before the committee hearing casting doubt on the group's central claim. The commission said GPS data placing someone near drop boxes is not, on its own, proof of crime.
The agency added many drop boxes were placed in public locations like libraries and city halls which are also near restaurants and businesses, making it impossible to say for certain the cell phone pings were proof the individuals had dropped off ballots.
True the Vote had previously lodged similar complaints last fall in Georgia regarding cell phone data it obtained. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation told the group the location data was not enough evidence to prompt a criminal review.
Democrats on the committee questioned what exactly True the Vote was concluding if it was saying the ballots in question may have been legally obtained and filled out.
"You don't think that that process should have happened but you're not alleging that the votes were actually illegal or that any particular voter voted more than once or voted when they weren't eligible to do so?" Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) asked.
Englebrecht said it amounted to abuse of the system. She said, in her view, people should have to deliver their own ballots in-person with limited exceptions.
"Maybe a few percentage points of your population needs to vote legitimately by mail because, certainly, we don't want to see anyone deprived," Englebrecht said. "But that tips over into an indefinitely confined list and it becomes theater of the absurd."
The question of process is at the heart of a case before the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Justices will decide whether drop boxes are legal under state law and if people are allowed to deliver another voter's ballot.
While the case is pending, the court has banned the use of drop boxes and are only allowing voters themselves to deliver their ballot for the April 5 spring election.
Catherine Englebrecht | 2022-03-25T00:17:32Z | www.wkow.com | Group claiming cell phone GPS data show election problems gets hearing at Capitol | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/group-claiming-cell-phone-gps-data-show-election-problems-gets-hearing-at-capitol/article_2ca6c816-abbe-11ec-a607-e7e546ed7d97.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/group-claiming-cell-phone-gps-data-show-election-problems-gets-hearing-at-capitol/article_2ca6c816-abbe-11ec-a607-e7e546ed7d97.html |
Report: Wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling will not return to Green Bay, signs contract with Kansas City
GREEN BAY (WKOW) — After a surprise breakout from day three draft pick to one of the fastest receivers in football, former Packer Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be moving on.
According to a tweet from NFL Network reporter Tom Pelissero, MVS signed a three-year deal worth up to $36 million with the Kansas City Chiefs Thursday, just a day after the Chiefs pulled off another blockbuster this offseason by trading star wideout Tyreek Hill to Miami for five draft picks.
Valdes-Scantling will join former Pittsburgh Steeler JuJu Smith-Schuster as the Chiefs try to keep their offense stocked in a division that has suddenly morphed into a juggernaut. With Russell Wilson now on the Broncos, Davante Adams reunited with college quarterback Derek Carr on the Raiders and the Chargers trading for superstar pass rusher Khalil Mack to join Joey Bosa, the Chiefs need all the help they can get.
In his four seasons in Green Bay, Valdes-Scantling acquired a reputation as one of the NFL's most volatile deep threats, able to run by just about any defender put on him. However, he also acquired a reputation for inconsistent hands, often struggling with drops, and he was injured for much of the 2021-22 season.
For the Packers, their time to sign a premier talent off the free agent market is running out. The only premium players still available and in what could be considered their prime are Jarvis Landry and Will Fuller, who have struggled with injury history and a PED suspension, respectively. Green Bay could also look to some older talents, like Julio Jones and AJ Green, whose best days are behind them but may still have some gas left in the tank.
As of 3:30 p.m. Thursday, the Packers have two receivers on the roster with substantial NFL experience in Randall Cobb and Allen Lazard, as well as second-year player Amari Rodgers. Look for Green Bay to make a major push for wideout talent in this year's draft, where experts say as many as five receivers could go in the first round, where the Packers hold two picks.
Wideout | 2022-03-25T00:17:44Z | www.wkow.com | Report: Wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling will not return to Green Bay, signs contract with Kansas City | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/report-wideout-marquez-valdes-scantling-will-not-return-to-green-bay-signs-contract-with-kansas/article_e3f1c1ee-abad-11ec-a128-130ab00cacbd.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/report-wideout-marquez-valdes-scantling-will-not-return-to-green-bay-signs-contract-with-kansas/article_e3f1c1ee-abad-11ec-a128-130ab00cacbd.html |
Wisconsin unemployment rate falls below three percent
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development published Bureau of Labor Statistics data Thursday showing Wisconsin's unemployment rate has dropped below 3%.
According to a news release from the DWD, the 2.9% rate ties Wisconsin's all-time lowest unemployment levels. The private sector added 20,700 jobs from January 2022 to February 2022.
"These numbers show that Wisconsin's economy is growing as it continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, but with global unrest threatening markets, job number fluctuations could be more common in the coming months as companies navigate changing supply lines and continued economic uncertainties," DWD secretary-designee Amy Pechacek said in the release.
Wisconsin's labor force participation rate sits at 66.4%, 4.1% higher than the national average.
The department's chief economist, Dennis Winters, said the number of jobs the state added in February was higher than they expected.
"We're opening up a lot of venues, especially on the leisure and hospitality side, and things are returning to somewhat normal," he said.
He does expect the numbers to fluctuate a bit in the coming months, but says the numbers show that the state's economy continues to move forward.
Dennis Winters
Doctor weighs in on COVID-19 outlook
All lanes reopen on westbound Beltline following rollover crash
Unopened absentee ballots found in Wauwatosa
Off-duty officer shot in Milwaukee
Dubuque Police reveal new information on big prostitution bust
Everyone gets out safely during fire in town of Dunkirk | 2022-03-25T00:17:50Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin unemployment rate falls below three percent | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wisconsin-unemployment-rate-falls-below-three-percent/article_44697b3a-abb7-11ec-a148-334635a04a62.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wisconsin-unemployment-rate-falls-below-three-percent/article_44697b3a-abb7-11ec-a148-334635a04a62.html |
Madison College hosts EMS/Fire Career Expo
MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison College is trying to help the next generation of emergency responders find jobs.
The school had its second annual EMS-Fire Career Expo Thursday.
The director of Madison College's fire program says there is an increased demand for people in these roles, because pre-hospital healthcare has grown tremendously.
"What used to just be emergency response 911 has evolved into so many different things. We're doing community medicine, there's home health care that ambulance services are providing. And that job market has expanded because of that," said Chad Powell.
More than 30 organizations were at the expo, including EMS agencies and fire departments.
Ems-fire Career Expo | 2022-03-25T06:49:16Z | www.wkow.com | Madison College hosts EMS/Fire Career Expo | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-college-hosts-ems-fire-career-expo/article_66e0abfc-abee-11ec-b498-13f29e562e68.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-college-hosts-ems-fire-career-expo/article_66e0abfc-abee-11ec-b498-13f29e562e68.html |
Sheriff: Sleepover, mother's drug use led to teen overdose
COLUMBIA COUNTY (WKOW) -- A Columbus mother was charged Thursday with two counts of neglecting a child after authorities say a visiting teenager mimicked the woman's behavior and snorted an opioid and overdosed.
A criminal complaint states Alicia Derouin's brother administered Narcan to the 13-year-old girl Tuesday and she was revived.
The complaint says Derouin's daughter "...walked into her mother's...bedroom and saw Derouin snorting a grey powder off of a picture frame using a plastic tube." The complaint says the girl told her 13-year-old friend at the home for a sleepover about the drugs and the two children later found the substance and snorted it in a barn.
"(Daughter) Reported that she woke up and didn't feel well so went to tell her grandpa what she had done because she was scared," the complaint states. "That's when she noticed that (her friend) was not responding."
Court records say as Derouin's brother helped the teenager, "Derouin went back upstairs and he believed she was doing so to hide or dispose of any drugs she had before the police arrived."
Derouin is also charged two felony counts of bail jumping.
"The defendant has two, other drug-related cases already," says Columbia County Assistant District Attorney Jonathan Ross. "And now it is alleged the conduct has continued and has put the wellbeing of another at risk."
Court records show Derouin allegedly attacked her mother in July after her mother woke her following opioid use. Records state in August, Derouin was found in a ditch after allegedly using an opioid.
After Tuesday's teenage overdose, the complaint says a Columbia County Sheriff's deputy questioned Derouin. "Derouin admitted that she had Narcan for her own personal use and because fentanyl was getting more prevalent, but denied having any heroin in her bedroom," the complaint states. Authorities say they suspect the teenager's overdose involved heroin.
The overdose at Derouin's home on Sydo Road took place one day after she missed a court appearance in one of her previous drug cases. Her attorney, Assistant State Public Defender Claire Edwards, said the absence was due to Derouin being placed in a medically-induced coma at St. Mary's Hospital.
Judge Troy Cross expressed skepticism that Derouin could be home within 24 hours of such a procedure. Cross said neither Derouin nor her attorney in that case communicated to the court her inability to appear for the hearing before he issued an arrest warrant.
Cross quashed the arrest warrant Thursday. He set Derouin's bail at $1,500.
Part of Derouin's bail conditions bar her from any contact with the teenager who accepted the invitation for a sleepover at Derouin's home and later overdosed.
Troy Cross | 2022-03-25T06:49:28Z | www.wkow.com | Sheriff: Sleepover, mother's drug use led to teen overdose | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/sheriff-sleepover-mothers-drug-use-led-to-teen-overdose/article_01ad2d2a-abd3-11ec-94f8-37d1ae6aba97.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/sheriff-sleepover-mothers-drug-use-led-to-teen-overdose/article_01ad2d2a-abd3-11ec-94f8-37d1ae6aba97.html |
Konwent returns to UW Softball: 'Life is full of second chances'
MADISON (WKOW)-- One of the most decorated Wisconsin softball players returned to the Badgers' lineup this season.
During her Badgers softball career, Kayla Konwent experienced the highest of highs and lowest of lows.
A shoulder injury cut her freshman and sophomore seasons short. Back healthy her junior year, she soared, earning the 2019 Big Ten Player of the Year and First Team All-American.
"It was a year like you have never seen, and the team just thrived," UW Softball Head Coach Yvette Healy said. "That was three consecutive NCAAs in a row so back-to-back-to-back, and she was at the forefront."
Konwent carried that momentum into her senior year before COVID put an early end to the 2020 season.
"To leave all that unmet potential that we still had left, yeah it was just devastating, so after that season I just kind of thought it was over," Konwent said.
She spent 2021 coaching a U14 softball team and playing in recreation softball leagues before an opportunity came calling from the Badgers' coaching staff.
"Hearing that Kayla was playing rec league, we all just said she should play," Healy said. "That girl is the most gifted hitter I have ever seen."
"They are like do you want to play again, and I was like yeah I do, this is what brings me ton of joy, so yeah," Konwent said.
She was able to use her medical hardship year, granted to her because of the COVID waiver, and told Coach Healy she decided to come back.
"I cried, and you know it was a team effort of so many people at Wisconsin loving and caring about the athletes and providing opportunity," Healy said.
Konwent hopes her journey back to the playing field serves as an inspiration to others.
"For people who are giving up, or people who don't think they can do it anymore, life is full of second chances, and so I am incredibly grateful to be able to be a Badger again," Konwent said. "I just want other people to be relentless in pursuing her dreams."
Kayla Konwent
Yvette Healy
‘Sports Extra’ Episode 6: Oct. 11
Cubs hold off Brewers 6-4, boost NL Central lead to 4 games
High expectations in 2018 for Badgers, RB Taylor
Matt DiGiorgio gets the steal and two points | 2022-03-25T06:49:41Z | www.wkow.com | Konwent returns to UW Softball: 'Life is full of second chances' | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/konwent-returns-to-uw-softball-life-is-full-of-second-chances/article_008a332e-abd4-11ec-b21a-87d2d7d919fa.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/konwent-returns-to-uw-softball-life-is-full-of-second-chances/article_008a332e-abd4-11ec-b21a-87d2d7d919fa.html |
Owner's desperate plea for stolen puppy's safe return
LAKE DELTON (WKOW) -- A Wisconsin Dells-area family is pleading for the safe return of their puppy, Maybel.
Police think she was stolen during a series of vehicle break-ins Wednesday in the Lake Delton area near the Outlets at the Dells.
Maybel's family is distraught and hopes someone recognizes her and can help bring her home
"She's like family to us," cries Kraig Knudson, Maybel's owner.
Knudson says he's heartbroken after the nine-month-old Cavapoo was stolen from a Lake Delton Home Depot.
Knudson says he was parked in the Home Depot when someone broke his truck's window and stole his best friend.
"A lot of times, I work from home and she wants to do is sit on my lap. Or she puts her head down on the desk and just sits there. We really just want her back," said Knudson.
Maybel's disappearance is especially hard because she was a gift after their previous dog died from old age.
"My wife had a dog that she had for 17 years and he passed away. Maybel was a surprise birthday present so we've only had her since August," said Knudson.
Not knowing where Maybel is or how she's doing has been all-encompassing the past 24 hours.
"It's been horrible. We don't know if she's hungry or cold or safe, if she's dead. We just want to know where she's at, what happened," said Knudson.
Maybel's easy to recognize because she has a white beard and a white chest.
Knudson has this message for those responsible for her disappearance and a reward to anyone who can bring Maybel home: "Leave her someplace safe at a veterinarian office, gas station, school. We have a $1,000 reward leading up to her safe return."
Please email and tips to: bringmaybelhome@gmail.com
Lake Delton police say the suspect vehicle is a blue Ford F-250 with a black bag over the driver's side window and a large placard in the back that says "fully insured."
The Wisconsin license plate on the truck PJ8907 was recently stolen.
The suspects may be in the Illinois area.
Anyone with information should call Sauk County Dispatch at 608-254-8331.
Maybel
Lake Delton Home Depot | 2022-03-25T06:49:53Z | www.wkow.com | Owner's desperate plea for stolen puppy's safe return | Motor Vehicle | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/motor_vehicle/owners-desperate-plea-for-stolen-puppys-safe-return/article_274c7734-abce-11ec-979b-77c8c4e51a56.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/motor_vehicle/owners-desperate-plea-for-stolen-puppys-safe-return/article_274c7734-abce-11ec-979b-77c8c4e51a56.html |
Former Madison anchor talks about journey with epilepsy after seizures on-air
MADISON (WKOW) -- Saturday is Purple Day to raise awareness for epilepsy.
More than 3 million people are living with the brain disorder in the US.
Friday on Wake Up Wisconsin, the team caught up with a former Madison news anchor and 27 News employee, Sarah Carlson.
Carlson struggled with her epilepsy diagnosis while she was a broadcaster. She had several seizures on-air and eventually had to leave the career she worked so hard to build.
"The worst part of having epilepsy is the moment after, and when you're coming to. And when you realize, oh, no, it's happened again," she remembered.
Carlson found treatment years later by working with Dr. Michael Smith, Director of the Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush Medical College.
Dr. Smith prescribed a medication called XCOPRI and since then, Carlson has been seizure-free.
If you want more information about treatment or resources for people struggling with epilepsy, visit www.epilepsy.com. | 2022-03-25T15:18:44Z | www.wkow.com | Former Madison anchor talks about journey with epilepsy after seizures on-air | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/former-madison-anchor-talks-about-journey-with-epilepsy-after-seizures-on-air/article_6138132c-ac1e-11ec-b4e2-4fc74e14e8f5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/former-madison-anchor-talks-about-journey-with-epilepsy-after-seizures-on-air/article_6138132c-ac1e-11ec-b4e2-4fc74e14e8f5.html |
Chandler Halderson moved to maximum security facility
MADISON (WKOW) -- Chandler Halderson was transferred from the Dane County Jail to the Dodge Correctional Institution Friday, according to the Department of Corrections' website.
The Dodge Correctional Institution is a maximum security facility located in Waupun.
Halderson was found guilty of killing his parents, Bart and Krista Halderson, last summer and then dismembering their bodies.
He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Dodge Correctional Institution
Commission gives final approval on absentee ballot application mailing
Set up for Fantasy in Lights holiday display at Olin Park begins
Pet of the Week: Meet Garyetta! | 2022-03-26T02:46:37Z | www.wkow.com | Chandler Halderson moved to maximum security facility | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/chandler-halderson-moved-to-maximum-security-facility/article_a63d913a-aca6-11ec-8f1b-0b70bf2a6fdb.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/chandler-halderson-moved-to-maximum-security-facility/article_a63d913a-aca6-11ec-8f1b-0b70bf2a6fdb.html |
Students keep up pressure in hopes of saving Richland Center teacher's job
RICHLAND CENTER (WKOW) -- Students Friday at Richland Center High School staged a second walk-out to protest a school board decision to turn loose a civics teacher at the end of the spring term.
"He's a great teacher. He's a great person," said senior Sarah Brown, one of thirty-five students who held signs outside the school entrance in support of teacher Mark Chambers.
School parent Jason Ketchmark said that he's known Chambers since their college days together.
"Mark is the most compassionate person I've ever known," Ketchmark said. "He supports the kids."
Support for Chambers has spilled over into the greater community of Richland Center. Several downtown storefronts sport signs showing solidarity with the teacher.
"We're just a small community and we all just care about the students," said Shelley Ferguson, owner of Advanced Pump & Well Solutions.
"I think he stands out as a good teacher, genuinely cares," Ferguson said.
"We just want some answers as to why this has happened."
In January, Chambers won a community group's "Educator of the Year" award.
27 News spoke with Richland School Board President Bennie Green on the phone Thursday. He confirmed that the board isn't renewing Chambers' contract, but he didn't specify why.
In an statement emailed later that Thursday, Green acknowledged the "difficult situation" facing the school district and community.
"State law requires that a school board hold a 'private conference' to not renew a teacher's contract," he said. "We do not have the luxury of being able to disclose information from an employee's private conference, even if they choose to publicize that information themselves. We are responsible for preserving the integrity of that process."
Green Friday declined to add anything to his earlier statement.
Chambers has also yet to comment. A Richland Center School District directory also lists his wife as a teacher in the district.
Senior Ashton Wallace says Chambers has been proactive in seeking the best possible school operations.
"He goes to the school board meetings, and he questions the budget spending," Wallace said. "And it's a very fair thing to question."
Wallace said that students will continue to protest to try to get school board members to reconsider their contract decision.
"We want to show the school board that everybody does care," Wallace said.
RCHS parents have started a change.org petition urging the school board to renew Chambers' contract.
Richland Center High School
Ashton Wallace
Madison church invites community to light candles, pray on Christmas Eve
Dem. senator expects some Democrats to vote for state budget bill
Flooding in DeForest stabilizes
Trump campaign files for recount in Dane, Milwaukee counties
Portage man arrested on multiple drug charges, animal neglect | 2022-03-26T02:46:43Z | www.wkow.com | Students keep up pressure in hopes of saving Richland Center teacher's job | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/students-keep-up-pressure-in-hopes-of-saving-richland-center-teachers-job/article_c2ae6f08-ac90-11ec-b095-a3716e5c412c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/students-keep-up-pressure-in-hopes-of-saving-richland-center-teachers-job/article_c2ae6f08-ac90-11ec-b095-a3716e5c412c.html |
New era, same goal for defending champion Wisconsin volleyball
MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin volleyball begins a new era heading into their first true spring season since 2019. Head coach Kelly Sheffield is looking forward to seeing his younger players develop.
"One of the cool things about this time is people are expanding their roles so you're seeing who's ready for an increased role," said Sheffield.
Those young playmakers will have big shoes to fill following the departure of many key contributors from the 2021 National Championship team. With that in mind, the word 'rebuild' isn't one Sheffield has referenced during spring practices.
"Those aren't words that we worry too much about. No matter who was here or what year or what happened the previous year, let's go win the day -- and bring it."
Rather than attempt to fill the voids of National Player of the Year Dana Rettke and All-Americans Sydney Hilley and Lauren Barnes, Sheffield is encouraging his younger stars to create their own paths this spring.
"You can't micro-manage leadership but you can certainly guide them. [We] try to pull some things out. Hopefully over time, they find their place."
Wisconsin's 2021 starting rotation included rising junior Devyn Robinson and rising sophomores Julia Orzol and Anna Smrek. The underclassmen have all accepted the challenge since the start of spring camp.
"Dana was a big role model for me and I [don't want] replace her but I want to do what she did. She was a really positive source of energy in the gym and I want to be that for everybody," said Robinson, who was named to the 2021 NCAA All-Tournament team.
While it's bittersweet, Julia Orzol also fueled by the inspiration the graduating seniors passed on.
"We had to say goodbye to a number of great leaders and now, we're doing this time. We are trying to find our voices," said Orzol, the 2021 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
2021 NCAA Tournament MVP Anna Smrek is ready to help the Badgers spring forward as they begin to fine tune the little things over these next few weeks.
"We know how our team was last year and we can't make that the exact same with those people that we lost so it's just kind of finding our way of working," said the freshman middle blocker.
Wisconsin opens their spring season playing UW-Green Bay on Tuesday, March 29. The game will be hosted at Beaver Dam High School. Tickets are sold out for the contest.
Julia Orzol
Dana Rettke
Anna Smrek
Devyn Robinson
Darvish takes no-hitter into 7th, Cubs beat Brewers 4-2
Gabi Heuser gets her second goal
State Baseball: Sun Prairie beats Oak Creek with help of trick play
Thames hits walk-off homer, Brewers top Davis and Rockies
Lambeau Field shovelers needed Sunday | 2022-03-26T02:46:44Z | www.wkow.com | New era, same goal for defending champion Wisconsin volleyball | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/new-era-same-goal-for-defending-champion-wisconsin-volleyball/article_6a6472c0-ac95-11ec-869b-bf482dff03f4.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/new-era-same-goal-for-defending-champion-wisconsin-volleyball/article_6a6472c0-ac95-11ec-869b-bf482dff03f4.html |
UPDATE: 'Suspicious object' found on McKee Road determined to be nonfunctioning
Wyatt Bandt,
MADISON (WKOW) -- The "suspicious object" found in the area of McKee Road and Maple Grove Drive Friday evening was a "nonfunctioning indeterminate object," according to a Dane County Sheriff's Office official.
Lt. Ira Simpson tells 27 News the object was collected, and then destroyed by the Dane County Hazardous Device Unit.
The Madison Police Department began investigating the object shortly after it was found in the 6600 block of McKee Road around 7:15 p.m.
Ira Simpson | 2022-03-26T15:54:46Z | www.wkow.com | UPDATE: 'Suspicious object' found on McKee Road determined to be nonfunctioning | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-suspicious-object-found-on-mckee-road-determined-to-be-nonfunctioning/article_baca8abc-acb1-11ec-9962-cb7b4e99dcf0.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-suspicious-object-found-on-mckee-road-determined-to-be-nonfunctioning/article_baca8abc-acb1-11ec-9962-cb7b4e99dcf0.html |
Baked goods from around the world to benefit Ukrainian refugees
MADISON (WKOW) -- A unique and delicious fundraiser was held to benefit Ukrainian refugees at the Goodman Center in Madison Saturday.
That fundraiser was a bake sale -- complete with donations of baked goods from all over the world.
"The lovely thing about Madison is that its such a diverse community and everyone has brought a little something from their background," Una Baker, one of the organizers said.
Money from the bake sale will benefit Global Giving, a non-profit that has been providing humanitarian assistance to disaster-hit areas for more than two decades.
"They collect all the funds from donations around the world and then they distribute them to local charities in the affected areas," Baker said.
Baker said their bake sale raised more than $1,000 for the cause on Saturday alone.
"The response from the community is phenomenal. We've had so much support. It's been wonderful having everyone coming out to support us and baking things and bringing people along," Baker said.
More information about Global Giving, including opportunities to donate to the cause can be found here.
Una Baker | 2022-03-27T02:39:00Z | www.wkow.com | Baked goods from around the world to benefit Ukrainian refugees | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/baked-goods-from-around-the-world-to-benefit-ukrainian-refugees/article_66c48fbc-ad56-11ec-b60a-3bca7e4862f7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/baked-goods-from-around-the-world-to-benefit-ukrainian-refugees/article_66c48fbc-ad56-11ec-b60a-3bca7e4862f7.html |
Fitchburg eighth-grader wins the 2022 Badger State Spelling Bee
MADISON (WKOW) -- Maya Jadhav won the 2022 Badger State Spelling Bee this Saturday.
Jadhav is an eighth-grader from Fitchburg who is homeschooled, and this is her fifth time qualifying for the national bee.
Jadhav's winning word was 'obrotund,' an adjective that means “nearly spherical but with one diameter slightly exceeding the others.”
The competition had 54 spellers from public, private, and home schools and took place at the Mitby Theater on the Traux campus of Madison Area Technical College.
As champion, Jadhav will receive $500 from the State Journal, which also is awarding $300 and $200 to the second and third place winners: Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya, a sixth-grader at Blessed Sacrament School in Madison, and Maadhav Karun, a seventh-grader at Wisconsin Hills Middle School in Brookfield.
Jadhav will now be heading to the D.C. area to compete in the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee over Memorial Day week.
Aiden Wijeyakulasuriya | 2022-03-27T02:39:06Z | www.wkow.com | Fitchburg eighth-grader wins the 2022 Badger State Spelling Bee | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/fitchburg-eighth-grader-wins-the-2022-badger-state-spelling-bee/article_0d661fcc-ad5a-11ec-9475-1f1bda2dad74.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/fitchburg-eighth-grader-wins-the-2022-badger-state-spelling-bee/article_0d661fcc-ad5a-11ec-9475-1f1bda2dad74.html |
Souper Bowl benefits Habitat for Humanity
MADISON (WKOW) -- Countless types of soup lined tables at Madison West High School Saturday in honor of the 26th annual Souper Bowl.
The community soup feast was hosted by the UW-Madison chapter of Habitat for Humanity of Dane County.
It included live music, locally made ceramic bowls and several types of soup.
Over the years, Valerie Renk, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Dane County, said their Souper Bowl has grown to become a local tradition people look forward to.
"Its the community coming together to build homes, community and hope," Renk said.
Last year's Souper Bowl was a drive-thru because of the pandemic. Even so, they served more than 200 gallons of soup to more than 1200 people.
This year, Renk said she was glad to see people support the cause in person again.
"They really get to understand why we do this and why its important," Renk said.
Katie Denecke, the president of this year's Souper Bowl, reiterated that she was happy to see crowds come together for a good cause.
"I think that Habitat is doing a lot of great things with the community and helping to raise up families so its really great to have everyone come out and help support us," Denecke said.
The Souper Bowl is the largest fundraiser for the UW-Madison chapter of Habitat for Humanity.
Each year, they raise thousands of dollars to make their work possible.
Valerie Renk
Katie Denecke
Humanity Dane County | 2022-03-27T02:39:25Z | www.wkow.com | Souper Bowl benefits Habitat for Humanity | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/souper-bowl-benefits-habitat-for-humanity/article_c132948c-ad5e-11ec-a237-7783f802b9e6.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/souper-bowl-benefits-habitat-for-humanity/article_c132948c-ad5e-11ec-a237-7783f802b9e6.html |
Beloit organization receives $1 million grant and reinvests in community
BELOIT (WKOW) -- Wisconsin received $57 million to fund the "Diverse Business Assistance Program" as part of President Joe Biden's American Rescue Plan. Some of that money is going to the Rock County Jumpstart Program in Beloit.
"We were able to help those business owners just keep moving, push through the pandemic," said Genia Stevens, Rock County Jumpstart Executive Director.
Stevens' program was awarded a $1 million grant by the Department of Administration to help minority businesses bounce back from the pandemic.
"These grants are really targeted to help those that were hit the hardest and give them the tools and the support and the financial assistance," said Kathy Blumenfeld, Secretary-designee with the Department of Administration.
Blumenfeld said the Rock County Jumpstart program received a grant because the organization has experience developing small businesses that in turn boost the local economy.
"These businesses really know their customers," Blumenfeld said. "They provide support."
"The pandemic started and then small businesses were just like, where do we go," said Stevens.
She says the Jumpstart program helps business owners like Paquita Reddish, the owner of Divine Creations, with funding, training and guidance.
"I'm quite shy, but during my time being mentored, not only for my business, they've helped me to come out of my shell, to be more confident in my business," said Reddish.
With mentoring from Stevens, Reddish gained the courage to move her shop into its first storefront, which is now bringing in big bucks.
"Business before, we were probably around $12,000 and now our numbers were up to $58,000," she said.
"I'm getting a lot more traffic," said Shatoria Teague, the owner of Always and Forever.
Teague said the Jumpstart program helped her sales increase, but it's the invaluable lessons from Stevens that's made her successful.
"Everybody is taught how to run a business and how to run a business correctly," said Teague.
"Minority-owned businesses can build their wealth and they also contribute to the local economy," said Stevens.
All Rock County Jumpstart services and memberships are free.
Kathy Blumenfeld | 2022-03-27T02:39:31Z | www.wkow.com | Beloit organization receives $1 million grant and reinvests in community | Commerce | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/commerce/beloit-organization-receives-1-million-grant-and-reinvests-in-community/article_418ca1d2-ad45-11ec-b080-4baceebac357.html | https://www.wkow.com/townnews/commerce/beloit-organization-receives-1-million-grant-and-reinvests-in-community/article_418ca1d2-ad45-11ec-b080-4baceebac357.html |
Capital City Sunday: Redistricting sent back to SCOWIS, disability advocates concerned ahead of April election
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court is once again tasked with deciding the state's legislative voting maps for the next decade. The U.S. Supreme Court issued an ruling Wednesday that sent the maps back to the state court; an unsigned majority opinion wrote Wisconsin justices did not have enough rational for adopting Governor Tony Evers's maps, particularly its creation of a seventh majority-Black Assembly district in the Milwaukee area.
The nation's high court upheld the congressional maps Evers submitted and the state court adopted.
Republicans argued Evers violated the Voting Rights Act by placing such an emphasis on race in the map's creation. SCOTUS agreed, saying there wasn't enough evidence to justify the role race played in creating another "opportunity" district, which had also rankled some Black Democrats, including Sen. Lena Taylor (D-Milwaukee) who felt the move watered down Black votes.
As for what comes next, UW-Madison Election Law Professor Rob Yablon said Evers had different options while Republicans would push the state court to take their maps, which would enhance their built-in advantage when it comes to controlling the legislature.
"First of all, one thing that the governor might try to do is say the U.S. Supreme Court did not declare the governor's maps to be improper, only that there was not enough evidence shown to say they were, in fact, proper," Yablon said.
Yablon added another option was Evers redrawing the lines around Milwaukee to bring the number of majority-Black districts back to six. The GOP map has five majority-Black districts.
Legislative candidates can start collecting signatures on April 15 so the decision to send back the maps may well end up disrupting clerks' process of preparing ward lines ahead of the August primary.
"We're at the point now where Wisconsin really does need maps for this year's elections," Yablon said. "And so for the court to have issued a decision that creates a little bit of disarray this late in the game is a little bit unexpected."
Critics compared the decision to SCOTUS ruling against a lower court's ruling saying Alabama's congressional map violated the Voting Rights Act. In that case, the court said last month it was too close to the May primary to act without disrupting the election.
"It probably is that difference in election date [May in Alabama versus August for Wisconsin] that was the main reason the court engaged in different treatment here," Yablon said. "Although the court didn't explain much about that in its order."
A nomination that would mean multiple firsts
Senators concluded their questioning this week of Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson. While much has been made about Jackson's nomination fulfilling President Joe Biden's pledge to nominate a Black woman for the high court, there's been less publicity around another milestone Jackson's appointment would signify; she'd be the first former federal prosecutor appointed to SCOTUS.
John Gross, who directs the Public Defender Program at the UW-Madison Law School, said that would send a significant message given who traditionally populates the nation's highest courts.
"There are not many public defenders who are appointed to the bench," Gross said. "Far more prosecutors and lawyers who've represented the government wind up making decisions in criminal cases."
Republicans grilled Jackson about her judicial philosophy on sentencing at a time when a number of U.S. cities are experiencing significant increases in homicides. Gross said Jackson's appointment could bring up a forgotten dimension of conversations about balancing public safety with the rights of the accused.
"Their clients are poor," Gross said of public defenders. "Their clients are the people who more than anybody else are actually impacted by rising crime rates. They are people who, while accused of a crime today, may have been a victim of a crime in their past. They probably were."
Disability rights advocates fear depressed April turnout
Marilee Adamski-Smith needs someone else to physically drop off her absentee ballots for each election. The Brookfield woman was born without arms or legs.
"For me to be able to send my absentee ballot [on my own] would be impossible," Adamski-Smith said. "I rely on other people to help me put my ballot into the mailbox."
Until now, that hasn't been an issue for Adamski-Smith. However, an order for the Wisconsin Supreme Court has left her fairly certain she won't be able to vote in the April 5 spring election.
The state's high court is currently weighing a case that will decide whether drop boxes for absentee ballots are legal in Wisconsin. Oral arguments in the case are scheduled for April 13.
While the case is pending, the court decided in February on a 4-3 vote to ban the use of drop boxes. The question for the court is whether to uphold a Waukesha County judge's ruling that banned drop boxes in January.
The ruling also states voters are not allowed to deliver anyone else's ballot, which is the point of contention for voters like Adamski-Smith.
"Many people rely on a friend, a neighbor, or a care worker to assist them with completing an absentee," Barbara Beckert, Director of Disability Rights Wisconsin's Milwaukee office said. "The lawsuit does not prohibit assistance with completing the ballot but it does restrict their right to have a person of their choice return their ballot."
The change comes amid criticism from conservatives who believe some local governments took advantage of pandemic guidance from the Wisconsin Elections Commission, opening the door to "ballot harvesting" where outside groups collect voters' ballots and deliver them without an established chain of custody.
Riley Vetterkind, a spokesman for the Wisconsin Elections Commission, said state law currently allows only two exceptions for when a voter can have someone else drop off a ballot on their behalf: when that voter is hospitalized or if they're on a jury that has been sequestered.
Since she fits neither of those descriptions, Adamski-Smith said she was worried the current court order would leave her unable to vote in the April 5 election - and possibly others depending on what the supreme court's final ruling says.
"If this order comes into place, we won't be able to vote," Adamski-Smith said. "And it's our constitutional right to be able to vote."
Beckert said voters with questions about what type of accommodations they might be able to receive should call their municipal clerk. She said Disability Rights Wisconsin also wanted to hear their stories as it compiles examples of voters possibly becoming disenfranchised by the order.
COVID-19 cases fall but hospitals still full
The daily rate of new COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin continues to plummet, now at around 300 per day. Heather Schimmers, Chief Operating and Nursing Officer for Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, said the drop in cases was providing little to no relief for strained workers.
Gundersen's hospital in La Crosse has gone from treating 40-50 COVID-19 patients at once to fewer than 10.
"What has happened, however, is there's so many people that have delayed their care," Schimmers said. "So the acuity of the patients that are presenting, they're so high acuity and so ill that our beds are just continuously being filled up with just really ill people."
That ongoing strain on workers is a driving a shortage of health care workers, according to a report from the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
According to the report, 13 of the 17 positions the association tracks year over year had experienced an increase in the number of vacancies. The nursing shortage in particular was the worst Wisconsin has seen since 2005.
Schimmers blames much of that on nurses being stretched beyond their specialties, leading to burnout.
"We've got nurses that, frankly, we need to get them back to practicing nursing and making sure that they really are functioning at the top of their scope," Schimmers said. "And that's hard to do when you're short-staffed."
Schimmers acknowledged better pay and benefits could also play a role in allowing health care systems to attract and retain talent but maintained hospitals had already moved to improve compensation.
She said, ultimately, finding ways to reduce workloads and let nurses and other specialists focus on what they do best would improve outcomes and keep people in the profession.
"It's hard," Schimmers said. "It is really because people are exhausted and I keep saying there is no amount of money that is gonna take away what the pandemic has done to us because you're just tired."
Majority Opinion
Marilee Adamski-smith
Arson suspect pleads no contest in Sauk County restaurant fire
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Non-essential businesses open for delivery and curbside pick-up
Art Fair on the Square artist creates original piece on Wake Up Wisconsin
Janesville man arrested for 7th OWI | 2022-03-27T16:34:54Z | www.wkow.com | Capital City Sunday: Redistricting sent back to SCOWIS, disability advocates concerned ahead of April election | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-redistricting-sent-back-to-scowis-disability-advocates-concerned-ahead-of-april-election/article_6438f470-ac95-11ec-8b4a-fba8dfd04ea5.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/capital-city-sunday-redistricting-sent-back-to-scowis-disability-advocates-concerned-ahead-of-april-election/article_6438f470-ac95-11ec-8b4a-fba8dfd04ea5.html |
Aluminum spill starts fire starts at Mercury Marine plant
FOND DU LAC (WKOW) -- Spilled molten aluminum caused a fire at the Mercury Marine plant early Sunday morning, according to Fond du Lac Fire/Rescue (FDLFR).
Around 1:30 a.m., FDLFR was dispatched to the Mercury Marine plant 17 at 545 W. Pioneer Road for a report of a fire near a machine inside the facility. Upon arriving, crews found a small fire on the floor area next to an industrial machine and a moderate amount of smoke throughout the plant.
The fire was caused by spilled molten aluminum, and fire personnel worked with Mercury Marine maintenance personnel for around 1.5 hours to contain and remove the spilled material from the floor next to the machine. Smoke was then ventilated from the facility.
Fire personnel used dry chemical fire extinguishers to extinguish the fire to eliminate any potential hazard / explosive interaction with applying water to the molten aluminum.
The fire alarm system alerted 30 employees working in an adjacent facility, and all employees safely evacuated prior to the arrival of fire rescue. There were no injuries.
The Fond Du Lac Police Department, Mercury Marine Facility Engineers and Mercury Marine Security assisted on-scene with scene operations and mitigation. | 2022-03-27T22:01:30Z | www.wkow.com | Aluminum spill starts fire starts at Mercury Marine plant | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/aluminum-spill-starts-fire-starts-at-mercury-marine-plant/article_4e8cbc66-adde-11ec-b729-c348fa70a76b.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/aluminum-spill-starts-fire-starts-at-mercury-marine-plant/article_4e8cbc66-adde-11ec-b729-c348fa70a76b.html |
Man dies in Darlington house fire
DARLINGTON (WKOW) -- Jacob Boegli, 28, of Darlington is dead after an early morning house fire in Darlington.
According to Darlington Police Chief Jason King, the Darlington Police Department and Fire Department responded to a fire on North Street shortly after 4:15 a.m. after a 911 call from a local who saw smoke coming from the home.
When they arrived at the scene, the home was already engulfed in flames. Law enforcement was able to identify the source of the fire, but entry was not possible as the fire already covered half of the home.
King says Boegli was removed from the house by firefighters. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Lafayette County Coroner's Office.
The fire is still under investigation, but initial findings suggest the fire started in the area of the kitchen stove. The house is considered a total loss.
Potential Winter Storm Shifting
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Fueling the future: How one Madison company's new technology could revolutionize travel | 2022-03-27T22:01:42Z | www.wkow.com | Man dies in Darlington house fire | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/man-dies-in-darlington-house-fire/article_acb305dc-addb-11ec-8f84-9724f8111b40.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/man-dies-in-darlington-house-fire/article_acb305dc-addb-11ec-8f84-9724f8111b40.html |
Retired Columbia County Sheriff's Office K-9 passes away
COLUMBIA COUNTY (WKOW) -- Retired K-9 Maverick of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office passed away Sunday afternoon at 11 years old, according to a Facebook post by the Sheriff's Office.
Maverick retired in 2017.
"For the ones that had met Maverick, you know that he was the most gentle and loving dog ever," the post said. "Thank you Darrell Ward and family for caring for Maverick after he retired. Our condolences and thoughts are with your family."
Darrell Ward | 2022-03-28T00:55:46Z | www.wkow.com | Retired Columbia County Sheriff's Office K-9 passes away | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/retired-columbia-county-sheriffs-office-k-9-passes-away/article_a2e451da-ae14-11ec-a5eb-673ca8385c7a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/retired-columbia-county-sheriffs-office-k-9-passes-away/article_a2e451da-ae14-11ec-a5eb-673ca8385c7a.html |
Longtime Badgers announcer makes groundbreaking NBA debut
MADISON (WKOW) -- If you place a mic in front of Bonnie Oleson, she'll feel right at home.
For nearly two and a half decades, Bonnie Oleson has been the public address announcer for several UW sports including volleyball and women's basketball. She added another team to the mix on March 24: the 2020-2021 NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
Oleson received the nod for Women's History Month and became the first female PA announcer in franchise history. She recalls social media taking off once the Bucks made an official announcement but that impact went past state lines.
"A guy walks up to me and he says, I'm with the [Washington] Wizards. I have three daughters and I told them to watch the game because you're announcing."
Oleson also mentioned the Washington Wizards' radio announcer approached her to congratulate her on the groundbreaking feat.
"I never thought I would announce for the Bucks. That wasn't even on my radar, and to have people rally behind me like this, it's been crazy."
Many of Oleson's friends suggested taking a moment to look around and enjoy what's around her before getting swept up in the action. She's grateful she took that chance.
"I sat back at one point and I just kind of scanned the stadium. You see those 20,000 faces looking and going, 'Wow, I have an impact on them.'"
One of Oleson's favorite part is how forgiving and fun the crowds always are, saying fans are "always rooting for you." In return, she wants to show the next wave of young girls there's room on any roster.
"I'm not going to be able to dunk a basketball. I'm never going to hit like Dana Rettke, but I can sit on the sidelines and be a part of the game day experience. I hope the story is that in 10 years, there's somebody who said, I heard you when and is able to get behind the mic, or have the guts to at least try it. Because that would be pretty cool."
Today, Oleson is setting a trend in the hopes of creating a norm for tomorrow.
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Montello woman dead after Marquette County crash | 2022-03-28T07:40:03Z | www.wkow.com | Longtime Badgers announcer makes groundbreaking NBA debut | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/longtime-badgers-announcer-makes-groundbreaking-nba-debut/article_16747124-ae43-11ec-bc94-03929b3f1411.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/longtime-badgers-announcer-makes-groundbreaking-nba-debut/article_16747124-ae43-11ec-bc94-03929b3f1411.html |
Stoughton woman from Kenya fulfills her American dream and opens her own cafe
STOUGHTON (WKOW) -- More than 15 years after Kenyan-American Priscah Norton officially became a US citizen, she's fulfilling her dream of opening her own business.
Norton's café, "Coffee 4 All," opens Monday in Stoughton. She said it's a dream come true.
"It's been a journey," Norton said. "Because I remember a voice which was always telling me 'you need to venture into business.'"
Norton says she found the location on Facebook marketplace, and she knew it was an immediate fit. She's opening the café in honor of her late husband, Ray Norton, who died in December after a years-long battle with the rare disease, scleroderma.
"Though my husband's condition was so bad, the business spirit was in him," Norton said. "He did even some interviews last year for employees when he was laying in his bed."
While Norton says it's tough not seeing her husband by her side to open the new business, she says she knows he'll be watching down on her as she takes this big step.
"I did what nobody would have believed, nobody believed that I could make it," Norton said. "But I did it. Yes, I am sad, but I am excited that through my pain, through my struggles, Coffee 4 All was born."
Coffee 4 All
Kenyan-american Priscah Norton
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Two cars, credit union hit by gunfire from passing car in Madison | 2022-03-28T07:40:15Z | www.wkow.com | Stoughton woman from Kenya fulfills her American dream and opens her own cafe | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/stoughton-woman-from-kenya-fulfills-her-american-dream-and-opens-her-own-cafe/article_576887a8-ae37-11ec-9d26-23a9a94d5f8e.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/stoughton-woman-from-kenya-fulfills-her-american-dream-and-opens-her-own-cafe/article_576887a8-ae37-11ec-9d26-23a9a94d5f8e.html |
'Try Sled Hockey' event held at Madison Ice Arena
MADISON (WKOW) -- Kids who are unable to play stand up hockey had the opportunity to try sled hockey Sunday.
The Wisconsin Sting and the Wisconsin Skeeters hosted a 'Try Sled Hockey' event at the Madison Ice Arena.
Makenzie Morris, a sled hockey player of several years, said she was excited to see others try the sport that she first tried when she was 6 years old.
"My parents looked up sports for disabled people, and they saw sled hockey, so we tried it, and I fell in love with it," Morris said.
Stuart Smith, the father of another sled hockey player, added that it is a great opportunity for kids to be in a team environment.
"Its a great opportunity for any parents and obviously kids that aren't able to play stand up hockey to come out and try the sport, jump in a sled, get out there with the other kids, skate around, have fun and, you never know -- it might stick, and they might want to come back the next week and keep playing," Smith said.
The event was free and open to the public.
Another 'Try Sled Hockey' event will be held next Sunday, April 3rd from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Makenzie Morris
Try Sled Hockey
Madison Ice Arena | 2022-03-28T07:40:21Z | www.wkow.com | 'Try Sled Hockey' event held at Madison Ice Arena | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/try-sled-hockey-event-held-at-madison-ice-arena/article_ddec1488-ae38-11ec-951a-2f7030a03687.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/try-sled-hockey-event-held-at-madison-ice-arena/article_ddec1488-ae38-11ec-951a-2f7030a03687.html |
Janesville man arrested for allegedly burglarizing multiple businesses
JANESVILLE (WKOW) — Janesville Police have taken a suspect into custody they say is responsible for a recent string of overnight business burglaries.
In a Nixle from Lt. Joshua Norem, Janesville Police have taken 12 reports of burglaries to businesses since March 18. Norem said the suspect used a similar point of access to gain entry and called all the burglaries related.
On March 27, Janesville Police responded to a burglary alarm at Bumper to Bumper Auto parts around 1:10 a.m. There, officers noticed forced entry into the building and a "disturbed cash register." Norem said money was taken, but did not specify how much. An employee of the business was able to provide police with the suspect's physical and clothing description.
Later, around 2:45 a.m., officers encountered a man matching the suspect description and in possession of stolen property from the burglary as well as narcotics. The man was identified as Joseph Olson, 37, of Janesville and he was arrested.
Norem said evidence recovered from Olson links him to other burglaries.
Olson has been taken to Rock County Jail on pending charges of burglary, theft, criminal damage to property, possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia and a probation violation.
The investigation into the burglaries remains open. | 2022-03-28T16:22:02Z | www.wkow.com | Janesville man arrested for allegedly burglarizing multiple businesses | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/janesville-man-arrested-for-allegedly-burglarizing-multiple-businesses/article_1f3e2b0a-ae9e-11ec-ace6-bb0a9b345fb3.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/janesville-man-arrested-for-allegedly-burglarizing-multiple-businesses/article_1f3e2b0a-ae9e-11ec-ace6-bb0a9b345fb3.html |
Toby Keith performing on first night of Wisconsin State Fair
MADISON (WKOW) — Country music icon Toby Keith is coming to the Wisconsin State Fair this August.
Keith, alongside opener Alex Miller, perform on the main stage August 4 — the first night of the fair.
Tickets go on sale on April 7 at 9 a.m. They are available at WiStateFair.com for $65-75 and include entry into the State Fair for the day of the show when purchased in advance. | 2022-03-28T16:22:08Z | www.wkow.com | Toby Keith performing on first night of Wisconsin State Fair | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/toby-keith-performing-on-first-night-of-wisconsin-state-fair/article_e08c72fe-ae98-11ec-aab1-cb2772b7c899.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/toby-keith-performing-on-first-night-of-wisconsin-state-fair/article_e08c72fe-ae98-11ec-aab1-cb2772b7c899.html |
Human Rights Campaign awards UW Health top score in 2022 Health Equality Index
MADISON (WKOW) -- LGBTQ+ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign (HRC) awarded UW Health a top score of 100 in its 15th annual Healthcare Equality Index (HEI) Monday.
According to a news release from UW Health spokesperson Emily Kumlien, HRC scores healthcare facilities on four different criteria:
“As an LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader, we work to have robust, comprehensive inclusive policies as our standard practices,” UW Health chief diversity officer Shiva Bidar-Sielaff said in the release. “I hope this designation is an affirming message to our patients, our staff and our community that we see them, and we are here for them.”
UW Health is one of just 496 healthcare facilities across the US to be named a 2022 LGBTQ+ Healthcare Equality Leader facility, and the only one in south-central Wisconsin. Each of the 496 earned the same 100 grade as UW Health.
Kumlien said the figures in the 2022 HEI show "remarkable progress" in equitable healthcare. The 2022 HEI report reflects that 93% of facilities are completing more than 200,000 hours of staff training for LGBTQ+ patients; 99% of facilities now include clauses for sexual orientation and gender identity in non-discrimination policies; 81% of facilities are offering transgender-inclusive benefits to employees.
"LGBTQ+ people are often subject to discrimination in all spaces, including healthcare facilities, which leads to members of the community avoiding care and anticipating our voices will not be respected in an incredibly vulnerable environment,” Tari Hanneman, director of Health & Aging at The Human Rights Campaign said. “The Healthcare Equality Index strives to ensure LGBTQ+ people are protected and affirmed by their healthcare providers and feel safe seeking services.” | 2022-03-28T20:47:48Z | www.wkow.com | Human Rights Campaign awards UW Health top score in 2022 Health Equality Index | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/human-rights-campaign-awards-uw-health-top-score-in-2022-health-equality-index/article_55c2a604-aea5-11ec-ace3-f76b038662b7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/human-rights-campaign-awards-uw-health-top-score-in-2022-health-equality-index/article_55c2a604-aea5-11ec-ace3-f76b038662b7.html |
Weather creating challenges for area farms tapping maple trees
CROSS PLAINS (WKOW) -- It's the time of the year for maple tree tapping, and many area farms have been busy gathering their share of sap to be cooked into syrup.
The weather, however, is creating some unexpected challenges this year.
It has been a relatively cold winter, and that has made things difficult for producers at Open Kettle Farms in Cross Plains.
The sap is tapped from maple trees and then cooked into syrup in what is known as the "Sugarhouse."
In order to be able to tap trees for maple syrup, the weather needs to be above freezing during the day and below freezing at night, which hasn't happened much recently.
Despite the weather challenges, Open Kettle Farms owner & sugarmaker Tim Noll says they've produced some of their best product.
"We can't control the weather but what we can control is the quality of our tapping in the woods, and making sure that it's leak free, and make sure that we don't have spills and unnecessary losses, and follow our procedures to the letter, so that we're making really high quality maple syrup," said Noll.
Noll is also hopeful that expected warmer temperatures will help them ramp up their operation.
"We look like we've got a good opportunity here for the next seven days to really have good sugar-making weather," said Noll.
Noll describes their signature syrup flavor as "maple, buttery, with a slight note of vanilla."
You can find their products at the Westside Community Market, the Verona Farmers Market and the Mt. Horeb Farmers Market.
Owner & Sugarmaker Tim Noll
Tim Noll | 2022-03-28T20:48:00Z | www.wkow.com | Weather creating challenges for area farms tapping maple trees | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/weather-creating-challenges-for-area-farms-tapping-maple-trees/article_8c53eabe-aeac-11ec-b525-fbb9730d9620.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/weather-creating-challenges-for-area-farms-tapping-maple-trees/article_8c53eabe-aeac-11ec-b525-fbb9730d9620.html |
Courtesy: Madison Indie Comedy
Comedy community concerned over Oscars incident
MADISON (WKOW) -- The sun has set on one of the most controversial Oscar ceremonies in history and now, the video of Will Smith slapping Chris Rock has been seen across the globe.
While many were horrified by what happened, Shauna Jungdahl, producer for Madison Indie Comedy, said the slap is particularly concerning for those who perform stand up comedy because of potential copycats.
"We didn't expect Will Smith to do this, we didn't expect any of that to happen--especially at such a public event like the Oscars," Jungdahl said. "Who's to say it wouldn't happen in a small venue here in Madison, Wisconsin?"
Jungdahl has been in the comedy industry for many years. She started as a stand up comedian and eventually transitioned to a producer position. Over time, she said she has seen her fair share of heckling and even threats that required additional security, but she believes Smith crossed the line.
"I think comedy in and of itself does push boundaries," Jungdahl said. "There always is a fine line that triggers somebody, but it is how they react that, you know, kind of defines how comedy works and how far comedy can go."
Following the Oscars incident, she said she will pay even closer attention to crowds to ensure her comedians are safe at upcoming shows.
"One of the biggest things to do is watch over the audience," Jungdahl said. "We can never tell who may or may not do something, so it's almost like be suspicious of everybody."
Jungdahl said she will also be stricter with unruly guests.
"If there is an audience member or a group or anything where, you know, some of them are getting a little talky or somebody is starting to heckle a comedian, you want to pay extra close attention to them because sometimes that heckling can escalate," Jungdahl said. "Give them one strike and then after that, kick them out."
Right now, Jungdahl said these additional safety measures are crucial for comedy because it takes courage to get up on a stage and now, some may be scared to do so.
"Stand up is a whole monster. I mean, you have to get the audience to enjoy your material, you have to get the audience to laugh at your stuff for an extended period of time and if they don't, if they're not into it, you have to just keep going," Jungdahl said.
Jungdahl hopes additional safety measures for comedians gives them peace of mind and keeps their talent thriving for years to come.
"We just want to respect and keep our comics safe, and our shows fun," Jungdahl said.
Shauna Jungdahl
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More than 165,000 people have already voted in Dane County | 2022-03-29T00:38:10Z | www.wkow.com | Comedy community concerned over Oscars incident | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/comedy-community-concerned-over-oscars-incident/article_f405e0cc-aee8-11ec-af9f-23716411dfe3.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/comedy-community-concerned-over-oscars-incident/article_f405e0cc-aee8-11ec-af9f-23716411dfe3.html |
As coronavirus pandemic recedes, experts say mental health crisis just beginning
MADISON (WKOW) -- As coronavirus cases and deaths drop dramatically across the country, many health experts are worried another mental health crisis may just be beginning.
"We're certainly seeing an ever-increasing demand for behavioral health services of all kinds," UW Health psychologist Dr. Victoria Egizio said.
Egizio says since the pandemic began, UW Health has been inundated with patients, something healthcare facilities across the country have reported.
According to a recent study by the World Health Organization, there was a 25% increase in the prevalence of anxiety and depression worldwide during the first year of the pandemic. Egizio says at UW Health, it's been even more dramatic.
"We're seeing a lot of the same things we always saw, but to almost a two- to threefold worsening in volume and severity," Egizio said. "I mean, our waiting lists are stretching out."
But other mental health experts are warning the struggle may just be beginning. Rogers Behavioral Health psychiatrist Dr. Tyler Rickers says the long-term impacts on mental health post-pandemic could be one of the worst crises the field has ever faced.
"Unfortunately, I think it's going to have a far larger impact than perhaps 9/11, especially for the the health workers," Rickers said. "I think you're going to see some of the most caring people, nurses, doctors, hospital staff, suffering the most with PTSD."
Rickers also warns the impact could be severe on children and adults who have spent prolonged periods of time in isolation and on those hospitalized with COVID-19 for lengthy time periods.
"I worry about the long-term effects of you know, children not being able to go to school in person," Rickers said. "Our technology will have to get better in terms of how we manage myocardial issues. Hopefully, we can come up with strategies to help with any of the long-term effects that might be associated with this. So yes, it's going to have a major impact."
Rickers says waitlists are also getting longer as people struggle to adjust back to normal life. While patients used to only wait a couple weeks for care, now they face months-long waitlists.
Egizio says there's no end in sight, but she's hoping with the use of telemedicine and computer-based therapies, things might eventually get better.
"We want to be helpful for all the people who are in need of services," Egizio said. "And we're doing the best that we can with the resources we have."
Tyler Rickers
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Madison animal shelter moves to online adoptions | 2022-03-29T07:04:51Z | www.wkow.com | As coronavirus pandemic recedes, experts say mental health crisis just beginning | Coronavirus | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/as-coronavirus-pandemic-recedes-experts-say-mental-health-crisis-just-beginning/article_3d8fa76c-af04-11ec-ba2b-13dc353b28d5.html | https://www.wkow.com/coronavirus/as-coronavirus-pandemic-recedes-experts-say-mental-health-crisis-just-beginning/article_3d8fa76c-af04-11ec-ba2b-13dc353b28d5.html |
Jersey Mike's Subs to donate 100 percent of sales to Special Olympics Wednesday
(WKOW) -- Stop by Jersey Mike's Subs Wednesday to help Special Olympics.
The national chain is giving its full day's sales on March 30 to the 2022 Special Olympics USA Games and Special Olympics state Programs.
"Every four years, dedicated athletes come together to compete at the Special Olympics USA Games,” said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mike’s founder and CEO. “Please join us and make a difference this Wednesday, March 30, when 100 percent of sales from all Jersey Mike’s Subs locations will be donated to help raise up these athletes.”
This marks the 12th Annual Day of Giving for the company. More than 2,000 Jersey Mike's restaurants will donate 100 percent of sales to the organization, which is expected to be over $10 million.
Some locations in southern Wisconsin include:
434 Gammon Pl Suite 3, Madison, WI 53717
1601 Deming Way, Middleton, WI 53562
4704 E Towne Blvd, Madison, WI 53704
485 S Legacy Way, Sun Prairie, WI 53590
1116 W Main St, Whitewater, WI 53190
2228 Humes Rd, Janesville, WI 53545
Peter Cancro | 2022-03-29T16:39:25Z | www.wkow.com | Jersey Mike's Subs to donate 100 percent of sales to Special Olympics Wednesday | Wake Up Wisconsin | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/wake-up-wisconsin/jersey-mikes-subs-to-donate-100-percent-of-sales-to-special-olympics-wednesday/article_33bd4f92-af62-11ec-a005-5724efe3fbb7.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/wake-up-wisconsin/jersey-mikes-subs-to-donate-100-percent-of-sales-to-special-olympics-wednesday/article_33bd4f92-af62-11ec-a005-5724efe3fbb7.html |
'Wrong number' text could be scam bot
MADISON (WKOW) — The Wisconsin Better Business Bureau is warning of a new scam involving a seemingly innocent text from an unknown number.
Con artists are using the phony "wrong number" messages to lure people into a conversation, said the BBB.
Once the scam bot is engaged in conversation, it tries to trick you into registering for dating or adult websites that will ask you to hand over credit card information.
You receive a text that reads something like this: “Hey is this John? It’s Amanda. We chatted on Tinder before when I came to visit my cousin but we never met irl. I’m back in town if you want to meet up this time, are you free?”
The BBB provided the following information on how to avoid chat bot scams:
If you think you may have fallen for the scam, you can report the incident to law enforcement and the Federal Trade Commission. | 2022-03-29T16:39:37Z | www.wkow.com | 'Wrong number' text could be scam bot | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/wrong-number-text-could-be-scam-bot/article_864c7f0c-af5e-11ec-848d-efe748ddd08a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/wrong-number-text-could-be-scam-bot/article_864c7f0c-af5e-11ec-848d-efe748ddd08a.html |
Downtown Madison Starbucks workers file petition to unionize
MADISON (WKOW) -- Hourly workers at a Starbucks location in Madison want to unionize.
The employees from the store on East Main Street filed a petition to organize with the National Labor Relations Board.
They want to join a union known as Workers United.
"We've built a lot of support had a lot of conversations where there's been a lot of latent support for unionization, to get better working conditions, better pay definitely exacerbated by the pandemic and rising costs of living," said shift supervisor Lee Marfyak.
The workers expect the labor board to schedule a union vote in about a month or two.
In response, a spokesperson for Starbucks said this in a statement:
"We are listening and learning from the partners in these stores as we always do across the country. From the beginning, we've been clear in our belief that we are better together as partners, without a union between us, and that conviction has not changed."
Lee Marfyak | 2022-03-30T03:27:19Z | www.wkow.com | Downtown Madison Starbucks workers file petition to unionize | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-madison-starbucks-workers-file-petition-to-unionize/article_0e910c6a-afce-11ec-beb0-176d22975f30.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/downtown-madison-starbucks-workers-file-petition-to-unionize/article_0e910c6a-afce-11ec-beb0-176d22975f30.html |
Madison College students have direct path to UW business degree under new agreement
MADISON (WKOW) -- Madison College students now have a direct path to a bachelor's degree in business with UW-Madison.
UW and Madison College signed new transfer agreements that guarantee admission into select Wisconsin School of Business online programs for students who meet the requirements.
"It's a great day for our students. And it's a great day for two outstanding institutions who've come together to provide what students will actually need as they move forward," said Madison College president Dr. Jack Daniels.
Officials say additional UW-Madison schools and colleges, as well as other two-year colleges, will be involved in future agreements.
Eau Claire ‘fish family’ becomes Internet sensation
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Police identify Lake Geneva drowning victim | 2022-03-30T03:27:25Z | www.wkow.com | Madison College students have direct path to UW business degree under new agreement | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-college-students-have-direct-path-to-uw-business-degree-under-new-agreement/article_6605e654-afca-11ec-bbcb-cf5662c8eafe.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/madison-college-students-have-direct-path-to-uw-business-degree-under-new-agreement/article_6605e654-afca-11ec-bbcb-cf5662c8eafe.html |
Gov. Evers signs bill increasing awareness of cardiac arrest among youth athletes
MILWAUKEE (WKOW) -- Student athletes in Wisconsin will now learn about the dangers of cardiac arrest.
Governor Tony Evers signed the Kai 11 bill into law Tuesday.
It's named for Kai Lermer, a 16-year-old Waukesha North student who died three years ago from an undiagnosed heart condition while playing basketball.
The legislation will require awareness for all youth sports in Wisconsin and encourage students and their families to get an EKG test.
That test would have detected Kai's condition.
"Kai would be proud of today. He gave back when he was an athlete and as a student, he made everyone laugh and I know he didn't want other families to deal with the tragedy we dealt with," his father Mike Lermer told WISN.
The state and WIAA will work with doctors to develop the exact information that will be given to student athletes. | 2022-03-30T05:07:21Z | www.wkow.com | Gov. Evers signs bill increasing awareness of cardiac arrest among youth athletes | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gov-evers-signs-bill-increasing-awareness-of-cardiac-arrest-among-youth-athletes/article_3069e2e6-afdb-11ec-ae0f-9f12927b1252.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gov-evers-signs-bill-increasing-awareness-of-cardiac-arrest-among-youth-athletes/article_3069e2e6-afdb-11ec-ae0f-9f12927b1252.html |
UPDATE: Deputy hurt, suspect arrested after head-on crash on Hwy. 26 near Janesville
UPDATE (WKOW) -- A deputy from the Rock County Sheriff's Office was hurt after they were hit by another vehicle in a head-on crash.
It all started when police in Janesville were investigating suspicious activity Tuesday night. The Rock County Sheriff's Office says the suspect, identified as 38-year-old Jesse Seales of Janesville, drove off. Police chased Seales for a bit, but stopped as he was going northbound on Highway 26 near Highway 14.
A Rock County deputy at Hwy. 26 and McCormick Drive saw Seales' vehicle go around their squad and continue going northbound on Hwy. 26 in the southbound lanes.
The Sheriff's Office says the deputy tried to stop Seales, but Seales kept going in the wrong direction of traffic.
Eventually, authorities say Seales turned and began driving south in the northbound lanes of Hwy. 26. The deputy activated their emergency lights to warn traffic behind them and that's when authorities say Seales' vehicle hit the squad car head-on.
The Sheriff's Office says Seales ran off, but was later arrested.
The deputy was taken to the hospital, where they were treated and released.
The Wisconsin State Patrol will be investigating the crash. The Rock County Sheriff's Office and the Janesville Police Department are both expected to refer charges against Seales.
UPDATE (WKOW) -- Hwy. 26 between Janesville and Milton reopened after a police investigation shut down the highway for a couple of hours. | 2022-03-30T05:07:27Z | www.wkow.com | UPDATE: Deputy hurt, suspect arrested after head-on crash on Hwy. 26 near Janesville | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-deputy-hurt-suspect-arrested-after-head-on-crash-on-hwy-26-near-janesville/article_3b110c42-afc7-11ec-b369-4be6fda19ff9.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/update-deputy-hurt-suspect-arrested-after-head-on-crash-on-hwy-26-near-janesville/article_3b110c42-afc7-11ec-b369-4be6fda19ff9.html |
Green County Sheriff's Office connects teenagers to at least 16 burglaries
MONROE (WKOW) -- Authorities in Green County have identified suspects in a string of burglaries throughout summer and fall of 2021 into winter of 2022.
According to a news release from Green County Sheriff Jeff Skatrud, multiple businesses in Monroe, Brodhead and Albany reported forced entry into their buildings along with stolen cash, tools and at least one AR-15 rifle.
Skatrud said a recent tip from a community member led Monroe Police to conduct search warrants which recovered an AR-15, chainsaw, fireworks, suspected burglary tools, face coverings and clothes authorities believe were worn by the burglary suspects or taken during the crimes.
The Rock County Sheriff's Office Dive team also recovered a safe taken in one of the break-ins from the Sugar River just off the intersection of State Highway 11/81 and Mount Hope Road outside Brodhead. Another safe was found by a citizen.
Another search turned up several BB pistols that resembled real guns. Brodhead Police and the Stateline Area Narcotics Team also lent help during the searches.
The same teenage boys were also implicated in a burglary in Rock County and two others in Stephenson County, Ill. At this time, the suspects are implicated in 16 burglaries or attempted burglaries in Green County, along with three burglaries and two thefts in Monroe. Losses from the burglaries are estimated to be $26,000.
"As of the time of this report, evidence is being processed, business owners are being contacted and interviews are concluding. Due to the ages of the alleged suspects, reports will be forwarded to the Green County District Attorney for a charging decision," Skatrud said in the release.
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Portage man sentenced to 9 years for robberies of Madison bank, credit unions | 2022-03-30T18:36:51Z | www.wkow.com | Green County Sheriff's Office connects teenagers to at least 16 burglaries | Crime | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/green-county-sheriffs-office-connects-teenagers-to-at-least-16-burglaries/article_4c0a238c-b033-11ec-bb38-3f13531821f0.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/green-county-sheriffs-office-connects-teenagers-to-at-least-16-burglaries/article_4c0a238c-b033-11ec-bb38-3f13531821f0.html |
The Denny's restaurant and Best Western hotel on South Frontage Road.
Two hospitalized after Wisconsin Dells shooting
WISCONSIN DELLS (WKOW) -- Two people were taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds after a shooting in the Wisconsin Dells early Wednesday morning.
According to a news release from Wisconsin Dells police chief Nicholas Brinker, police and EMS responded to the Denny's restaurant and Best Western hotel on South Frontage Road for two people with gunshot wounds at 6 a.m. Both of them were hospitalized and are reportedly in stable condition.
Brinker said initial investigation shows the shooting itself happened on the 600 block of Vine Street. Officers found a bullet casing in that area as well.
Police have identified a suspect in the case, but are not naming them or the victims at this time, citing the "sensitive nature" of the investigation.
The Lake Delton Police Department, Columbia County Sheriff's Office and Sauk County Sheriff's Office have all assisted with the investigation, along with "other state and federal resources."
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Police investigating shots fired cases on Madison’s east and west sides | 2022-03-30T21:04:49Z | www.wkow.com | Two hospitalized after Wisconsin Dells shooting | Crime | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/two-hospitalized-after-wisconsin-dells-shooting/article_97c50b0c-b051-11ec-b347-7f209c9e33d6.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/crime/two-hospitalized-after-wisconsin-dells-shooting/article_97c50b0c-b051-11ec-b347-7f209c9e33d6.html |
Shon Barnes providing an update on the homicide outside the Dane County Jail
MPD names person of interest as a suspect in Madison homicide, charges forthcoming
MADISON (WKOW) — Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes provided new information on a homicide outside of the Dane County Jail Wednesday.
A man in his 30s was shot while walking on S Carroll Street. Barnes said the victim was leaving the jail at the time. An officer was able to provide immediate aid to the victim, but he died of his injuries at the hospital.
"Multiple rounds; multiple rounds were fired last night," Barnes said. "We located more than a dozen shell casings at the scene."
On Wednesday, two people were taken into custody as "persons of interest." Now, Barnes said one of them is considered a suspect, and homicide charges will be referred. The other person is still being held in jail on a parole violation.
"We believe that this is a premeditated and pre-planned, targeted incident," Barnes said. "We're still working to determine a motive. It's to early to determine if this is gang related or not."
Barnes said a weapon has been recovered around the time the persons of interest were taken into custody, but officers are still working to determine if it was used in the shooting.
Barnes said there will be extra patrols in the area of the shooting, and there are counseling resources for city or county employees.
Barnes asks anyone with information on the shooting to call Madison Police at (608) 255-2345 or Madison Area Crime Stoppers at (608) 266-6014.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway later released a statement on the shooting, thanking MPD for their rapid response and pointing to the shooting as part of a larger gun violence trend.
In the statement, Rhodes-Conway encouraged any witnesses to seek out any mental health support required. She said MPD, public health, courts and community organizations are working together to keep Madison safe.
"The safety of Madison residents is our top priority, and we will continue to work to make Madison a place where everyone can thrive," Rhodes-Conway said in the statement.
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Marquette Law School Poll finds tight races for governor, Senate | 2022-03-31T21:44:00Z | www.wkow.com | MPD names person of interest as a suspect in Madison homicide, charges forthcoming | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/mpd-names-person-of-interest-as-a-suspect-in-madison-homicide-charges-forthcoming/article_a88cbe2c-b122-11ec-ab1d-a3c794395e8a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/mpd-names-person-of-interest-as-a-suspect-in-madison-homicide-charges-forthcoming/article_a88cbe2c-b122-11ec-ab1d-a3c794395e8a.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Merrimac Ferry resumed service for the 2022 season Thursday.
The ferry, officially named the COLSAC III, carries passengers and cargo 24 hours a day, seven days a week from Okee in Columbia County to Merrimac in Sauk County.
The ferry is free for all passengers, and the trip takes about seven minutes. Last year, the COLSAC III made 44,540 trips carrying 264,728 vehicles. For more information about the ferry, click here.
Merrimac Ferry
Colsac Iii
Fallen Mineral Point firefighters remembered by city's rescue squad
Evers on hand to help roll out grant funding for tourism landmarks | 2022-03-31T21:44:07Z | www.wkow.com | Merrimac Ferry opens for season | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/merrimac-ferry-opens-for-season/article_4c448750-b12a-11ec-b642-4f1c98240f1b.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/merrimac-ferry-opens-for-season/article_4c448750-b12a-11ec-b642-4f1c98240f1b.html |
DNR confirms avian influenza in wild birds
MADISON (WKOW) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has again confirmed cases of avian influenza, this time in wild birds.
According to the DNR, EA H5 Avian Influenza has been found in wild birds in Wisconsin. Two of the samples came from Dane County, and a sample each came from Columbia County, Grant County, Milwaukee County and Polk County.
The strain is highly pathogenic for poultry.
Previously, the virus was found in a flock of domestic birds in Jefferson County.
The DNR is increasing efforts to monitor the strain of highly pathogenic bird influenza. They ask the public to contact the department if they notice waterfowl, waterbirds, raptors (especially bald eagles) and avian scavengers such as crows, ravens and gulls showing tremors, circling movement or holding their heads in an unusual position.
These symptoms may be a sign of HPAI. The tips can be summitted to DNRWildlifeSwitchboard@wi.gov or leave a voicemail at 608-267-0866.
Avian influenza is a common virus in wild birds and strain classification is classified by how lethal it is to domestic poultry.
According to the CDC, the virus does not present immediate concern to humans. | 2022-03-31T23:37:21Z | www.wkow.com | DNR confirms avian influenza in wild birds | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/dnr-confirms-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds/article_4490f540-b132-11ec-b2ca-83624ffa1978.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/dnr-confirms-avian-influenza-in-wild-birds/article_4490f540-b132-11ec-b2ca-83624ffa1978.html |
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson presents an official city declaration recognizing Transgender Day of Visibility
Wisconsin elected officials celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility
MADISON (WKOW) — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers proclaimed March 31 as International Transgender Day of Visibility Thursday, and elected officials across the state commemorated the occasion.
This is the second year the holiday has been recognized in Wisconsin. State Lawmakers Rep. Lee Snodgrass (D-Appleton), Rep. Marisabel Cabrera (D-Milwaukee), Sen. Tim Carpenter (D-Milwaukee), Rep. Greta Neubauer (D-Racine) and Rep. Mark Spreitzer (D-Beloit) issued a statement commemorating the occasion.
"As we honor International Transgender Day of Visibility, we recognize there is still work to be done to make our state a place of true equality. We believe everyone should be able to be their authentic selves and be welcomed, supported, and have the opportunity to thrive without fear or discrimination," the members said in a news release.
Milwaukee mayor Cavalier Johnson also held an event commemorating the occasion, saying the day represents the "beauty and resilience of transgender and non-binary people throughout history."
"Too often the trans community is told we have to wait, that it will get better soon, that trans rights need to be on the back burner or that they need to wait to be prioritized until it's the 'right time...' I'm here to remind everyone that when life gets better and easier for the most marginalized people, it gets better for everyone," transgender advocate Alex Corona said at the event.
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Warmer weather moves in early this week | 2022-03-31T23:37:33Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin elected officials celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wisconsin-elected-officials-celebrate-transgender-day-of-visibility/article_3a9cd7fa-b12f-11ec-a00e-dbc561c021eb.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/wisconsin-elected-officials-celebrate-transgender-day-of-visibility/article_3a9cd7fa-b12f-11ec-a00e-dbc561c021eb.html |
Newly-appointed Rock County Circuit Court judge making history
ROCK COUNTY (WKOW) -- Ashley Morse became the first woman of color to be appointed to the Rock County Circuit Court.
Governor Tony Evers made the announcement last week, placing Morse in the judge's seat.
Morse tells 27 News she has been reflecting on the kind of judge she wants to be.
"Making sure that people that come to my courtroom and when they leave my courtroom, hopefully they feel seen, heard, you know, believe that they've been treated fairly, even if, you know, the decision might not ultimately be one that they like," Morse said.
She said her experience as a public defender gives her a unique perspective.
Morse will take over the position from Judge Daniel Dillon next week.
Ashley Morse | 2022-04-01T01:26:01Z | www.wkow.com | Newly-appointed Rock County Circuit Court judge making history | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/newly-appointed-rock-county-circuit-court-judge-making-history/article_50a56b62-b142-11ec-9eb6-972d2c5e0568.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/newly-appointed-rock-county-circuit-court-judge-making-history/article_50a56b62-b142-11ec-9eb6-972d2c5e0568.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- Governor Tony Evers used his veto pen Thursday on seven bills sent to his desk.
One would have created new penalties for attending a riot. Evers said the language could create ambiguity that infringes on First Amendment rights.
Another bill would have required the police and fire commissions in Madison and Milwaukee to include members appointed by both the police and fire unions. The governor said that could create conflicts of interest that undermine public trust.
Evers also vetoed a bill to eliminate the minimum age for voucher schools. He said it would lead to more students in those schools and rising property taxes to cover their subsidies.
.@GovEvers has vetoed 7 bills, including a measure that would define "riot" as an unlawful assembly that includes violences or the threat of violence - and make it a felony to participate in one that causes damage/injury.
— A.J. Bayatpour (@AJBayatpour) March 31, 2022 | 2022-04-01T04:50:17Z | www.wkow.com | Gov. Tony Evers vetoes seven bills | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gov-tony-evers-vetoes-seven-bills/article_62b99400-b16e-11ec-ace4-57f9f74515fe.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gov-tony-evers-vetoes-seven-bills/article_62b99400-b16e-11ec-ace4-57f9f74515fe.html |
Brad Davison, Wisconsin Badgers, WKOW photo
Badgers' Davison teases one last year in Madison in April Fools' video
MADISON (WKOW) -- After an illustrious career with the Wisconsin Badgers, senior guard Brad Davison gave fans one last joke on the way out the door.
The UW Basketball twitter account posted Friday morning that Davison would return for a sixth season in cardinal and white, much to the surprise of some Badger fans in the replies.
"Brad has always said he wants to squeeze every drop out of the college experience and I guess he wasn't kidding. We've never had a player go through three Senior Days," head coach Greg Gard "said" in the fake article referencing Davison's imaginary NCAA medical hardship exemption.
In a video posted later Friday morning, Davison bid farewell to the UW program he'd played in for five seasons, starting 157 games and setting the school record for threes made in a career. His announcement came just a day after teammate Johnny Davis declared for the NBA Draft.
"I wish I could come back to try and win another Big Ten title for our program. The best is yet to come for this Badger program under Greg Gard," Davison said.
Davison has not made any announcements about whether he will pursue a professional career, be it in the US or abroad. | 2022-04-01T18:50:41Z | www.wkow.com | Badgers' Davison teases one last year in Madison in April Fools' video | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/badgers-davison-teases-one-last-year-in-madison-in-april-fools-video/article_2fdddb50-b1d6-11ec-be14-d7738d38fb66.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/badgers-davison-teases-one-last-year-in-madison-in-april-fools-video/article_2fdddb50-b1d6-11ec-be14-d7738d38fb66.html |
One dead, one arrested following single-car Monona crash
MONONA (WKOW) — One person died and another person is in police custody after a single-car crash in Monona Thursday.
According to a news release from Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney Austin, police responded to a single-car crash on the Beltline and found two passengers in cardiac arrest. Good Samaritans, later identified as nurses, were performing lifesaving efforts prior to the arrival of police and EMS. Austin said passengers conditions were "possibly as a result of an overdose."
Both passengers were taken to a nearby hospital, where one was pronounced dead. There was also a "young child" in the car, although they were not injured in the crash.
The driver, 66-year-old Domingo Cardenas, was arrested on potential charges of OWI — 5th offense with a passenger under the age of 16 and operating while revoked. Austin said Cardenas may be subject to additional charges as well, and that the investigation is still ongoing.
Three children injured at Waukesha Christmas parade released from Children's Hospital of Wisconsin
City of Madison adds new ambulance to answer emergency calls on southeast side
UPDATE: I-39/90 ramp to Beltline reopens following roadwork closure
SSM Health donates medical equipment to free clinic in Madison
UW-Madison suicide prevention training helps students support peers facing mental health challenges | 2022-04-01T18:50:53Z | www.wkow.com | One dead, one arrested following single-car Monona crash | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/one-dead-one-arrested-following-single-car-monona-crash/article_767e7e4e-b1e4-11ec-811c-274187b020e8.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/one-dead-one-arrested-following-single-car-monona-crash/article_767e7e4e-b1e4-11ec-811c-274187b020e8.html |
America's job market is on fire. Here's why it doesn't feel like it
America's economic recovery from the historic shock of the pandemic has been nothing short of extraordinary.
There are no two ways about it: America's job market is very strong right now.
That's remarkable and puts the nation on track to recover from the pandemic recession a gobsmacking eight years sooner than it did following the Great Recession.
"We're experiencing the fastest labor market recovery in more than a generation, adding nearly 8 [million] jobs since [President Joe Biden] took office—which comprise 93% of jobs lost during the pandemic," wrote Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in a tweet Friday.
Data from the government's monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey shows that while Americans quit in droves, they are overwhelmingly moving on to new jobs for better pay or benefits.
Yet, despite millions of available jobs and rising wages, things don't necessarily feel great for everyone.
Coronavirus cases surged at the start of the year as the highly infectious Omicron variant took hold, rampant inflation showed no sign of abating, prices at the gas pump surged -- and then Russia invaded Ukraine, throwing the global economy for a loop.
While the Omicron surge did abate, there's already a new variant to worry about. The other fear factors of early 2022, however, continue to cast their shadow as the second quarter begins. This confluence of anxiety-inducing factors obscures how well things were actually going.
Energy prices, which have risen steadily over the past 12 months, jumped following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A conflict halfway around the world is therefore tangible every time Americans fuel their cars. This especially affects lower-income workers, who drive more and are less likely able to work remotely.
The contradiction is a dilemma that the Biden administration will have to address. In a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday, 30% of Americans said they consider inflation to be the most urgent issue facing the country at the moment. Just 14% named the war in Ukraine. The same poll showed that just one in three Americans approve of Biden's handling of the economy.
The Federal Reserve, which is independent from the White House, announced the end to its pandemic stimulus late last year. In March, it raised interest rates for the first time since 2018 in order to get a handle on the nation's inflation problem. | 2022-04-01T21:23:01Z | www.wkow.com | America's job market is on fire. Here's why it doesn't feel like it | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/americas-job-market-is-on-fire-heres-why-it-doesnt-feel-like-it/article_41931c76-75b8-5d02-94bd-6500924642b3.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/americas-job-market-is-on-fire-heres-why-it-doesnt-feel-like-it/article_41931c76-75b8-5d02-94bd-6500924642b3.html |
Student loan payments to start up again May 1st
MADISON (WKOW) -- The pandemic put federal student loan payments on pause for over two years for millions of Americans.
Now, barring any additional relief, federal student loan payments are slated to start up again on May 1st.
But many are not ready.
"Next to maybe your rent payment, your mortgage payment, it's probably the most expensive payment you have in any given month," student loan debt payment expert Mary Jo Lambert-Terry said.
To prevent yourself from becoming overwhelmed, Lambert-Terry recommends getting ahead of payments by going to studentaid.gov to find out who and what you owe.
"Over these last two years, loan servicers have changed, they've moved around, some have jumped out, some have jumped in. So, you kind of want to know who's servicing your loan, how much you owe, and what your payments going to be," Lambert-Terry said.
She said the next step is figuring out whether you want to pay the minimum payment or more than the minimum payment.
"If you can afford a lower payment today and a higher payment tomorrow, do it. If you can afford to pay off your student loans, and it's a big accomplishment financially do it," Lambert-Terry said.
Another important factor to consider is how you want to pay. Lambert-Terry said this is especially relevant if you had automatic payments set up that could cause you to overdraft if you do not revisit your loans to find out what you owe and when it's due each month.
"It's really key that people scheduled those payments when they get paid," Lambert-Terry said.
If you are still struggling financially, Lambert-Terry said there are ways to get help, including applying for an income driven re-payment plan, which bases your monthly payment off of your income. Or, consolidating your loans, which allows you to combine your debts into one single debt to lessen the burden of bills.
"Make sure you just spend 15 or 20 minutes doing the research and taking this back into your control," Lambert-Terry said.
If the Biden administration does extend the moratorium on student loans again, Terry-Lambert said you can make the decision to pause your payments again.
"The great news is, we don't know what's going to happen. The bad news is, we don't know what's going to happen. So, in the midst of this, if you set yourself up on an income driven repayment program, or auto debit, or whatever, and they decide: 'We're not going to send you into repayment as of May 1st, or we're going to forgive loans,' you do have the ability to not make those payments," Terry-Lambert said. | 2022-04-01T21:23:26Z | www.wkow.com | Student loan payments to start up again May 1st | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/student-loan-payments-to-start-up-again-may-1st/article_29138498-b1f2-11ec-b18a-5bd44394c78c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/student-loan-payments-to-start-up-again-may-1st/article_29138498-b1f2-11ec-b18a-5bd44394c78c.html |
Waukesha will construct permanent monument commemorating Christmas parade tragedy
WAUKESHA (WKOW) — Just over four months after a man drove an SUV through a Christmas parade in Waukesha, killing six people and injuring over 60 others, the city announced plans to build a permanent memorial.
According to a story by our ABC News affiliate WISN, the city of Waukesha will construct a monument for the tragedy in Grede Park. Tamara Rosentreter, a member of the Milwaukee Dancing Grannies who was injured in the incident, acclaimed the site choice.
"I think Grede Park is going to be amazing. There's so much open space. We're able to kind of structure it to formulate what we need in Waukesha," Rosentreter told WISN.
The park is on Riverwalk Drive near downtown Waukesha, across the street from the site of the original temporary memorial in Veteran's Park. The items from that commemoration are now preserved at the Waukesha County Historical Society.
The stated goal of the memorial is to offer a space for community members to heal and reflect on the events from November.
Darrell Brooks currently faces more than 70 charges after he allegedly drove his car through the parade. He is set to appear in court next April 4.
Madison garage fire causes $21,000 in damage
Police arrest man suspected of robbing Janesville convenience store
After nearly 70 years, Smoky's Supper Club closes its doors
Madison woman accused of using food stamp benefits of homicide victim | 2022-04-01T23:50:43Z | www.wkow.com | Waukesha will construct permanent monument commemorating Christmas parade tragedy | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/waukesha-will-construct-permanent-monument-commemorating-christmas-parade-tragedy/article_2c0daa0a-b1fe-11ec-97c6-3336b27fe231.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/waukesha-will-construct-permanent-monument-commemorating-christmas-parade-tragedy/article_2c0daa0a-b1fe-11ec-97c6-3336b27fe231.html |
GOP lawmaker calls decertification 'nutty;' maintains WEC officials should face criminal charges
On that, at least, Sanfelippo said he agreed.
"Are we, as legislators, a little bit culpable? Yes. I'm not gonna deny that," the New Berlin Republican said. "We should've been on top of these things right from the start and the minute they issued guidance that said you don't have to have these special voting deputies in the nursing homes, we should've at that point stepped up." | 2022-04-02T02:05:17Z | www.wkow.com | GOP lawmaker calls decertification 'nutty;' maintains WEC officials should face criminal charges | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-lawmaker-calls-decertification-nutty-maintains-wec-officials-should-face-criminal-charges/article_6b0df68e-b211-11ec-8b1f-97d5941f7677.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/gop-lawmaker-calls-decertification-nutty-maintains-wec-officials-should-face-criminal-charges/article_6b0df68e-b211-11ec-8b1f-97d5941f7677.html |
Soaring housing prices and decreasing affordability have some concerned about a housing bubble in Wisconsin
Wisconsin's housing market is booming and prompting concerns that a housing bubble is brewing.
"We hit record price levels when it comes to home sales," said David Clark, Wisconsin Realtor Association (WRA) consultant and Marquette University economist.
A recent Wisconsin Policy Forum report shows single-family home prices rose 34-percent over 11 years. The biggest jump happened in the last two years.
Wisconsin median single-family home prices in 2016 were $126,000 and in 2021, $170,000.
"When a house goes on the market, it's not uncommon for a seller to have an accepted offer within 24-48-72 hours, if it's priced accurately," said Clark.
Clark said in February Wisconsin had just about 2 months of inventory of houses.
Six months of inventory indicates a healthy market.
"If you have less than six months, then the advantages tilting towards sellers. If you have more than six months, then then you have a buyer's market," said Clark.
Rising home prices often mean the dream homeownership dwindles and some are wondering if Wisconsin is headed for a housing bubble.
"I tend to disagree with that a little bit," said Mark Eppli, a UW commercial and residential real estate expert.
He says there is some confusion over what a housing bubble is.
"Housing supply and housing demand would be out of whack. So you might have too much supply relative to demand or too much demand relative to supply," said Eppli.
Eppli said rising interest rates will stabilize prices but may make it hard to enter the market.
In February, interest rates were 3.76% and in March 4.67% for a fixed 30-year loan.
"If interest rates continue to increase in the coming weeks and months, that makes housing less affordable, and the demand will start to drop and that's where we could start to see what you might consider a bubble," said Eppli.
The Wisconsin policy forum report says that real estate sales grew statewide but mostly in the state's large urban counties.
That includes Milwaukee, Dane, Brown, Outagamie, Winnebago, Kenosha and Rock counties. | 2022-04-02T02:05:29Z | www.wkow.com | Soaring housing prices and decreasing affordability have some concerned about a housing bubble in Wisconsin | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/soaring-housing-prices-and-decreasing-affordability-have-some-concerned-about-a-housing-bubble-in-wisconsin/article_d3cc1568-b20f-11ec-b22b-3f64f7803bef.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/soaring-housing-prices-and-decreasing-affordability-have-some-concerned-about-a-housing-bubble-in-wisconsin/article_d3cc1568-b20f-11ec-b22b-3f64f7803bef.html |
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson speaks from the White House at her Supreme Court Nomination announcement
Courtesy of PBS Newshour
Sen. Baldwin supports Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nomination, Sen. Johnson to decide after meeting judge
(WKOW) -- Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) says he wants to meet with Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson before he makes a final decision on her nomination.
Johnson was in Madison Friday for a listening session with Dane County parents. Afterward, the Republican senator told reporters he wants a judge who will apply the law and not alter it.
"My concern with justices on the liberal side of the spectrum on the Supreme Court is they're judicial activists. They're going to insert their policy preferences and they will alter the law rather than apply it and that would be my concern with Judge Jackson as well," Johnson said.
Johnson said he hasn't been encouraged by the answers he's heard from Jackson at her nomination hearings.
On the other hand, Jackson has the full support of Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI). The two met Monday in Washington. After the meeting, Baldwin said Jackson is well qualified and has strong experience working as a federal judge.
Here is the full statement Baldwin released after the meeting:
“Judge Jackson is extremely well qualified and has strong experience working as a federal judge. She has a proven record of being an impartial, fair and independent judge guided by the rule of law, and the Senate hearings made that clear. Judge Jackson’s lifetime of hard work and perseverance has prepared her well for this inspiring moment and I believe she has the character, temperament, and experience we want in a Justice on our highest court. I will proudly vote for the historic confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the United States Supreme Court.”
Senator Tammy Baldwin | 2022-04-02T06:09:04Z | www.wkow.com | Sen. Baldwin supports Brown Jackson's Supreme Court nomination, Sen. Johnson to decide after meeting judge | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/sen-baldwin-supports-brown-jacksons-supreme-court-nomination-sen-johnson-to-decide-after-meeting-judge/article_a3423286-b239-11ec-8f90-a72dbbad428a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/sen-baldwin-supports-brown-jacksons-supreme-court-nomination-sen-johnson-to-decide-after-meeting-judge/article_a3423286-b239-11ec-8f90-a72dbbad428a.html |
Wisconsin Elections Commission implements recommendations to improve election administration
MADISON (WKOW) -- The Wisconsin Elections Commission (WEC) announced Friday evening it has fully implemented many of the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau's (LAB) recommendations to improve election administration.
The WEC considered all 30 of the LAB's recommendations and has implemented several already.
Some of these actions include additional measures to prevent duplicate voter registration, additional clerk training and ensuring that clerks receive proper training, and affirming that the WEC is fully compliant with the requirement that the WEC obtains the signatures of online voters.
The LAB also recommended that the WEC update and create several administrative rules. The WEC has begun the process for nearly all of these, including holding public hearings where required.
In response to the LAB's recommendations on administrative rules, the WEC began writing several scope statements in addition to taking other actions.
One of these scope statements is for an emergency rule for completing missing witness address information on absentee ballot certificate envelopes. Several other scope statements are being created for permanent rules related to emergency planning and the certification and training of municipal clerks.
All of these statements have been approved by the governor and are currently being drafted or are awaiting formal Commission approval prior to drafting.
The WEC also said it reminded lawmakers that LAB’s audit report misrepresented some aspects of elections administration, particularly regarding the Commission’s collection of ERIC data that helps maintain accurate voter rolls.
You can read the full memorandum here. | 2022-04-02T06:09:10Z | www.wkow.com | Wisconsin Elections Commission implements recommendations to improve election administration | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-elections-commission-implements-recommendations-to-improve-election-administration/article_7a559c2c-b226-11ec-8263-53d2f8454a02.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/wisconsin-elections-commission-implements-recommendations-to-improve-election-administration/article_7a559c2c-b226-11ec-8263-53d2f8454a02.html |
Friends of UW Libraries hosts Spring Book Sale
MADISON (WKOW) -- If you are looking forward to making a summer reading list, you are not alone.
Crowds flocked to the Friends of UW Madison Libraries' semi-annual book sale this weekend.
There, readers had the opportunity to purchase books donated by faculty, students and community members for low costs.
Libby Theune, Friends Administrator for Friends of UW Madison Libraries, said the goal of the event is to make reading more accessible and affordable for people.
"Its a four day sale," Theune said. "Every day, the prices fall so you get the best selection on the first day and the best prices on this day."
Theune said another goal is to raise money for UW Madison's academic libraries.
"We typically bring in about $25,000 in four days, and and that's selling the average book for about $2.00 a book, so we get a lot of traffic," Theune said.
In addition to countless donations, more than 80 volunteers make the book sale possible.
Libby Theune | 2022-04-03T00:39:31Z | www.wkow.com | Friends of UW Libraries hosts Spring Book Sale | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/friends-of-uw-libraries-hosts-spring-book-sale/article_117aef54-b2d5-11ec-86f0-bfc16b7492e1.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/friends-of-uw-libraries-hosts-spring-book-sale/article_117aef54-b2d5-11ec-86f0-bfc16b7492e1.html |
Maple sugaring practices on full display at Makenzie Maple Festival
POYNETTE (WKOW) -- After a two year hiatus, the history and magic of maple sugaring practices was showcased at the MacKenzie Maple Festival Saturday.
The festival was held in Poynette and included interpretive displays, horse drawn carriage rides and maple sugaring activities.
"The Maple Festival celebrates the wonders of maple syrup here in Wisconsin," Aaron Loenhorst, park manager for the MacKenzie Center said.
The festival is typically held to mark the end of the MacKenzie Center's maple program, which takes place in the month of March. The goal is to educate the community.
"The maple program is designed to teach about the science, the ecology, the history, the cultural history and the actual process of maple syrup," Loenhorst said.
The festival was cancelled the past two years because of the pandemic.
Aaron Loenhorst
Mackenzie Center | 2022-04-03T00:39:37Z | www.wkow.com | Maple sugaring practices on full display at Makenzie Maple Festival | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/maple-sugaring-practices-on-full-display-at-makenzie-maple-festival/article_5410000a-b2d2-11ec-acbe-d7c3c04e401a.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/maple-sugaring-practices-on-full-display-at-makenzie-maple-festival/article_5410000a-b2d2-11ec-acbe-d7c3c04e401a.html |
UW-Madison researchers race to contain bird flu outbreak in Wisconsin
MADISON (WKOW) -- Wisconsin Department of Agriculture officials confirmed Saturday that a second domestic Wisconsin bird flock has been infected with the highly pathogenic avian influenza, or bird flu. At UW-Madison, researchers are working around the clock to contain the disease.
"We're testing to make sure we aren't seeing any movement," Dr. Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (WDVL), said.
Poulsen and his team of researchers have been working seven days a week since the initial outbreak of bird flu in Jefferson County last month. They sequence DNA samples from birds across Wisconsin every day, making sure flocks near current outbreaks don't contaminate other flocks unknowingly.
"There's an extensive team of people, whether it's state, federal, animal and public health officials that are working on this," Poulsen said. "To contain it as much as we possibly can and to make sure that we have a stable food supply."
Poulsen said the strain of the disease is 100% fatal in most bird species, and poses a major threat to flocks across the state. Since the first case was identified, farmers and bird owners have scrambled, trying to keep their flocks safe from wild birds like waterfowl that could carry the disease between flocks and lead to outbreaks.
Last week, several zoos in Wisconsin announced they'd keep their birds indoors and restrict access to their bird populations for safety.
At the WVDL, Poulsen and his staff also take things very seriously. They have to go through several screening and cleansing procedures before handling samples and wear special clothing and shoes to prevent contamination.
If there's suspicion of the disease in samples received by the lab, those samples must be tested in multiple different locations to confirm they're "non-negative" and results match because the consequences are so high.
"It changes the economy, it changes animal movement, it changes animal health immediately, it changes the status of that farm to be able to move or sell any products," Poulsen said. "So we want to be absolutely sure what that result is."
Poulsen says the only way to prevent the disease from spreading further once it's detected in a flock is "depopulation," which essentially means killing off all of the flock and disposing of the bodies.
He expects the bird flu to infect more Wisconsin flocks in the future, and urges bird owners to be extra vigilant if their birds show any of the following symptoms:
"What we want to know is if you're seeing high levels of mortality, are you seeing one or two of your birds suddenly die or become sick very quickly and die?" Poulsen said. "Those are the birds that we want."
Keith Poulsen | 2022-04-03T03:19:59Z | www.wkow.com | UW-Madison researchers race to contain bird flu outbreak in Wisconsin | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/uw-madison-researchers-race-to-contain-bird-flu-outbreak-in-wisconsin/article_b1822060-b2f0-11ec-9353-77b4be9fcc8c.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/uw-madison-researchers-race-to-contain-bird-flu-outbreak-in-wisconsin/article_b1822060-b2f0-11ec-9353-77b4be9fcc8c.html |
MADISON (WKOW) -- A benefit with live music took place in Madison Saturday night to raise money for Ukraine.
The "Yellow and Blues" benefit was held at the East Side Club and sponsored by Community Shares of Wisconsin.
In addition to live music, people could buy a variety of items to show their support for the people of Ukraine.
A $15 donation was suggested at the door.
Proceeds from the event will go to several organizations helping provide aid to refugees, including UNICEF Protect Children in Ukraine, UNHCR Ukraine and the CARE Ukraine Crisis Fund.
Yellow And Blues | 2022-04-03T03:20:05Z | www.wkow.com | "Yellow and Blues" benefit raises money for Ukraine through music | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/yellow-and-blues-benefit-raises-money-for-ukraine-through-music/article_80d93ec4-b2f2-11ec-88ca-2b29e45f9748.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/yellow-and-blues-benefit-raises-money-for-ukraine-through-music/article_80d93ec4-b2f2-11ec-88ca-2b29e45f9748.html |
MADISON (WKOW)-- Wisconsin's standout sophomore has more hardware to bring home. Johnny Davis was named the winner of the 2022 Jerry West Award by the Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday.
This award is given to the nation's best shooting guard. Davis is the first player to win the award in school history.
Davis also won the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award. He is a finalist for the Naismith Player of the Year and the Wooden Award.
Earlier this week, Davis announced that he declared for the 2022 NBA Draft.
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Women’s college hockey: No. 1 Badgers complete series sweep over St. Cloud | 2022-04-03T03:20:17Z | www.wkow.com | Johnny Davis wins 2022 Jerry West Award | Sports | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/sports/johnny-davis-wins-2022-jerry-west-award/article_6c7c5858-b2f2-11ec-99ad-77980553a8a3.html | https://www.wkow.com/sports/johnny-davis-wins-2022-jerry-west-award/article_6c7c5858-b2f2-11ec-99ad-77980553a8a3.html |
Inflation hitting rural communities especially hard
DEERFIELD (WKOW) -- As prices continue to rise on everything from the gas pump to the grocery store, a new study suggests that rural communities could be feeling the impact of inflation more than their urban counterparts.
According to a study from the Congressional Budget Office, rural communities in the U.S. saw an inflation rate 130% higher than urban areas.
Deerfield resident Vicky Woider has lived in the small town for more than 30 years now and says she's feeling the impact.
"I've never seen anything like this," Woider said. "I'm 62 now, and I've never lived through anything like this before."
To top it off, Woider says her husband travels more than 100 miles for work every week, and they aren't close to local gas stations or grocery stores.
"It takes us seven miles, just one way, to get to a grocery store," Woider said. "The gas stations in Deerfield are usually 20 cents higher. It's not easy for us out here in the rural area. We have very limited options."
Gavin Luter, Managing Director at UW-Madison's Univercity Alliance, says these types of disparities have always existed.
"Access to health care is a big one, access to childcare, affordable housing in rural communities," Luter said.
In his time working with rural communities in Wisconsin, Luter says times of high prices hit especially hard for them.
"There's no question if you have to drive further and you need more gas and gas prices are higher, then you're going to feel it in your pocketbook in a way that other people do not," Luter said.
As for Woider, she's struggling every day to afford basic things, forcing her to question what she'll do to make it work.
"It forces me to think about going back out in the workforce," Woider said. "But I have health issues, so that's not the greatest thing for me to do."
Vicky Woider
Gavin Luter
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Field narrowed for race to be Rock County’s next sheriff | 2022-04-04T06:05:29Z | www.wkow.com | Inflation hitting rural communities especially hard | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/inflation-hitting-rural-communities-especially-hard/article_ab6774fa-b395-11ec-af62-eb90a0c3b347.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/inflation-hitting-rural-communities-especially-hard/article_ab6774fa-b395-11ec-af62-eb90a0c3b347.html |
LAKE DELTON (WKOW) -- A Wisconsin Dells-area family has been reunited with their puppy Maybel, who was stolen from their car more than a week ago.
"There's just no words. We're so happy to have her back," said Julie Knudson.
"It's still unbelievable. It's like winning the lotto," said Kraig Knudson.
The Knudsons said it's been an unforgettable journey for their puppy Maybel, from the day she was stolen from Kraig's truck in Lake Delton to being reunited in Chicago, and Julie says at times this 11-day adventure was disheartening
"The more days that passed, we were losing more and more hope because we thought, you know, the chances are she could be anywhere by that point," said Julie.
Kraig said that when Maybel was taken from this parking lot there were several false leads and he started to lose hope.
"This tip came in Sunday and when that fell apart about last Wednesday. It was devastating that this was all a bogus story," said Kraig.
"We were just talking about if we can't get her back, we just hoped that she was with a family with kids because she loves our grandkids.
The Knudsons said their hope rekindled when they received an email from a man saying he had their dog, but this time they asked for proof.
"Could you send me a couple more pictures than the one that he had? We were pretty sure from that one," said Kraig.
The man who sent the email said he'd bring Maybel to the Chicago Police Headquarters and be dressed very distinctively.
"He said, I'll be the man wearing church clothes with a pink duffel bag," said Kraig.
"At first we didn't think that she was there," said Julie.
The Knudsons said their hearts sank once again.
"We couldn't see any pink bag or any dog and Julie said is this another false lead," said Kraig
"And all of a sudden, they brought this little pink backpack and I saw her little head and I just ran out of the truck. It was crazy and then I grabbed her," said Julie.
Finding a dog in Lake Delton is tough, and the odds of finding a puppy in Chicago are virtually impossible, so the Knudsons think Maybel's return is truly a miracle.
"I truly believe that God was with us all the way," said Julie.
"It was such a long shot to find her and so many people didn't believe we could," said Kraig.
Because of Kraig's dogged determination this 'furry tale' has a happy ending.
Police are still investigating how Maybel ended up in Chicago.
The Knudsons say they're thankful for the people who helped bring her home, particularly the Lake Delton and Chicago Police Departments.
Kraig Knudson
Julie Knudson
Knudsons
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Wisconsin State Superintendent stresses significance of career and technical education | 2022-04-04T06:05:30Z | www.wkow.com | 'It's truly a miracle': stolen puppy reunited with owners | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-truly-a-miracle-stolen-puppy-reunited-with-owners/article_9855efce-b39d-11ec-bc56-33a2a43e8b61.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/its-truly-a-miracle-stolen-puppy-reunited-with-owners/article_9855efce-b39d-11ec-bc56-33a2a43e8b61.html |
Study with UW Health shows lower blood pressure in mothers protects against birth illnesses
MADISON (WKOW) — A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine shows that treating slightly elevated blood pressure in pregnant mothers reduces the risk of life-threatening ailments.
According to a news release from UW Health spokesperson Emily Kumlien, the study took roughly 2,400 pregnant women with slightly elevated blood pressure and randomly gave half of them medicine for hypertension. Researchers found the medicated mothers were less likely to develop serious conditions like preeclampsia or required premature birth less than non-medicated mothers.
At present, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists only calls for medicating pregnant women's blood pressure if it's classified as severely high, at or above 160/105. UW School of Medicine and Public Health associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology Dr. Kara Hoppe said the results of this study may change how pregnant women are medicated for hypertension.
“This is important additional evidence that treating chronic hypertension at a lower threshold leads to better outcomes for the mothers, and subsequently, their babies,’’ Hoppe said in the release. “It also tells us that this treatment is safe for women.”
Of the 2,400 patients, 780 developed preeclampsia, placental abruption, death of the fetus or newborn baby or other complications that required inducing birth before 35 weeks. Of those 780, 353 of the mothers had been medicated while 427 had not. 12.2% of the treated group had to deliver early, while 16.7% of the untreated group had to as well.
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Madison Police Department, Dane County Sheriff's Office confirm their officers did not fire weapons in shooting | 2022-04-04T15:44:32Z | www.wkow.com | Study with UW Health shows lower blood pressure in mothers protects against birth illnesses | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/study-with-uw-health-shows-lower-blood-pressure-in-mothers-protects-against-birth-illnesses/article_312e3224-b425-11ec-8a84-7fc21dcc0bbf.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/study-with-uw-health-shows-lower-blood-pressure-in-mothers-protects-against-birth-illnesses/article_312e3224-b425-11ec-8a84-7fc21dcc0bbf.html |
MILTON (WKOW) -- The level of interest here in Tuesday's school board race is apparent from a look down Madison Avenue. Each of the four candidates has multiple yards signs on display in front of different homes.
As is the case in many communities across Wisconsin, policies related to the COVID-19 pandemic and how schools teach sensitive subjects like race and sexual orientation have piqued interest in this school board race.
Alicia and Nicholas Klos said they pulled their three kids out of the district because they opposed pandemic protocols, including a mask policy adopted last August.
"I am a big fan of leaving that choice up to the individual, personally, but I understand not everybody is like that," Nicholas said Monday.
The race in Milton features four candidates running for two seats. Vice President Rick Mullen is the only incumbent in the field. Mullen voted in favor of adopting the mask policy in August, which passed on a 4-3 vote.
Mike Verran, Tracy Hannah and John Dummer are also seeking to join the board on platforms that touch on the pandemic policies but more broadly seek to improve transparency and communication from the board.
The issues of transparency and responsiveness have come up often on the issues of masking, returns to in-person learning and controversial lessons. It's led to school board races tying into the broader political debate.
Republican candidate for governor Rebecca Kleefisch has endorsed more than 100 candidates for local offices, including Hannah in the Milton school board contest.
During that August meeting, Hannah spoke against the proposed universal masking policy.
Alicia Klos said the school board subjects' ties to larger political debates could sometimes make for uncomfortable conversations but was confident the disagreements were not hurting any of her relationships.
"I have friends who do not see eye to eye," she said. "One does completely understand our point of view of things and has never actively tried to persuade us differently."
While Nicholas had been involved with politics, attending common council meetings prior to the pandemic, Alicia said she did not start following any type of politics until the pandemic hit and school boards grappled with how to react.
She said a silver lining was, outside of the debates, she was learning about issues she previously hadn't considered like school bus routes.
"That was one of the biggest shockers, I think too, was going and hearing other peoples' questions and concerns about something that wasn't just the top two topics that we hear about," she said. "Which is the masking, obviously COVID, and the curriculum."
In February, the Milton school board voted unanimously to drop the masking requirement for inside the schools, making it optional for students and staff. Masks are still required on school buses. | 2022-04-05T02:59:00Z | www.wkow.com | Pandemic policy, curriculum debates bring politics into school board races | News | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/pandemic-policy-curriculum-debates-bring-politics-into-school-board-races/article_589c2bf2-b46d-11ec-a228-dfc552bb70e8.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/pandemic-policy-curriculum-debates-bring-politics-into-school-board-races/article_589c2bf2-b46d-11ec-a228-dfc552bb70e8.html |
Richland Center students continue protest in support of beloved teacher following contract non-renewal
RICHLAND CENTER (WKOW) -- Groups of students in Richland Center continue to show support for a teacher being let go from the school district.
Citing legal reasons, the school board will not say why it's not renewing Mark Chambers' contract, and there have been several walk-outs and protests since the decision.
Today, students rallied outside the district administration office. One student told 27 News re-adjusting to school as the COVID-19 pandemic winds down won't be easy with Chambers gone.
"He's kind of like a rock for everyone to kind of lean on. And so I feel like with us coming back, back from COVID, and wanting normalcy, and not having masks anymore. This is kind of just like one little wrench to throw in it," student Ellie Falk said.
27 News is still investigating why Chambers' contract was not renewed. Richland Center police said he is not under investigation "for any reason." | 2022-04-05T02:59:12Z | www.wkow.com | Richland Center students continue protest in support of beloved teacher following contract non-renewal | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/richland-center-students-continue-protest-in-support-of-beloved-teacher-following-contract-non-renewal/article_4686f11a-b466-11ec-bd50-6752ed25c002.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/richland-center-students-continue-protest-in-support-of-beloved-teacher-following-contract-non-renewal/article_4686f11a-b466-11ec-bd50-6752ed25c002.html |
UPDATE: Death investigation leads to hazmat response in Monona
UPDATE (WKOW) — Monona Police Chief Brian Chaney Austin says a death investigation at an apartment complex triggered a response by hazardous materials crews.
He says police and firefighters were called to the complex on Owen Road just after 3 p.m. after receiving a report of someone dead inside an apartment.
Austin says information regarding a possible hazardous substance was found at the scene, which required a hazmat response.
The apartment building was evacuated. People were allowed to re-enter just after 7 p.m. Monday after the building was deemed safe.
Austin says there is no indication the death was suspicious.
MONONA (WKOW) — Firefighters from Madison and Monona are responding to a hazmat situation in Monona Monday afternoon.
According to Dane County Communications, crews responded to the 300 block of Owen Road Monday for a hazardous materials call. Monona fire, EMS and police were joined by the Madison Fire Department.
Details as to the nature of the hazardous materials have not been made public at this time. | 2022-04-05T02:59:18Z | www.wkow.com | UPDATE: Death investigation leads to hazmat response in Monona | Top Stories | wkow.com | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/update-death-investigation-leads-to-hazmat-response-in-monona/article_cd4b17e6-b45f-11ec-b578-fb088733abdf.html | https://www.wkow.com/news/top-stories/update-death-investigation-leads-to-hazmat-response-in-monona/article_cd4b17e6-b45f-11ec-b578-fb088733abdf.html |
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