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Personhood amendment proposed

November 24, 2011 By

A proposed amendment to the state constitution would confer personhood on a fertilized egg. State Representative Andre Jacque says the amendment will correct an existing loophole — namely that one most be born in order to gain rights outlined in the constitution. “A prohibition on abortion through statutory means alone is not sufficient,” says the Green Bay Republican. A future activist state supreme court could find some sort of constitutional right to abortion that could overturn the law that is currently on the books and would take effect, when Roe v. Wade is overturned.”

 AUDIO:  Bob Hague reports (:60)  [Read more...]

Filed Under: News, Politics & Government

Tips for tenants in the cold

November 24, 2011 By

Temperatures dropping may give rise to questions from renters about their heat policy. Brenda Konkel, Executive Director of the Tenant Resource Center, says they’re hotline gets a lot of calls asking when the landlords are supposed to turn on the heat. Konkel says there is no set date. “The landlord is required year round to have heating facilities that can reach 67 degrees.”

If the heat goes out, for whatever reason, there is no state law that lays out a specific time the landlord must address the problem. However most building inspectors agree the response should happen within 24 hours.

If the property owner is not living up their obligations, Konkel suggests contacting the city to complain.

If the tenant is responsible for shoveling the walk, Konkel suggests keeping an eye on the news to anticipate the weather.

Filed Under: News, Weather

Walker signs abuse reporting law

November 23, 2011 By

Governor Scott Walker has signed into law a bill that requires all employees of a school to report suspected child abuse or neglect. The bill expands an existing rule that previously only applied to teachers, administrators and counselors.

Walker signed the bill Wednesday at a Racine Oriented Policing, or COP house, taking note the idea for the bill stemmed from the abuse of a special needs child at a local elementary school, which an educational assistant did not report. He says it’s an issue that knows no partisan lines, and is a good example of an important idea that can come out of something that “wasn’t good.”

AUDIO: Governor Scott Walker (:18)

The bill received bipartisan support in the Legislature. It was one of seven pieces of legislation the governor signed in Racine this morning that are aimed at protecting children.

Others include allowing public schools to fire employees convicted of felonies and a bill that allows the state to revoke the licenses of teachers caught looking at pornography on work computers.

Tom Karkow, WRJN

Filed Under: Legislature, News Tagged With:

Janesville student prank raises alarms

November 23, 2011 By

Janesville School officials are investigating what appears to be a student prank that caused a panic.

District Administrative and Human Services director Steve Sperry says the hoax was started by a group of middle school student athletes, who posted online on Facebook that a bus had been involved in a rollover crash and a coach was killed.

AUDIO: Steve Sperry (:14)

No such crash actually occurred though and the district had to send an emergency alert out to parents.

Sperry says the seven students they believe are responsible have been cooperative, but they could still face disciplinary action for starting the hoax.

Stan Stricker, WCLO

Filed Under: Education, Fires/Accidents/Disasters, News Tagged With:

Arrest made in fatal Manitowoc County crash

November 23, 2011 By

Police in Manitowoc County have arrested a 43-year-old woman on charges tied to a fatal crash that claimed the lives of three people. Manitowoc County Sheriff Robert Hermann says Becky Holly was picked up on an arrest warrant Wednesday, after she was released from the hospital.

Holly is accused of being drunk behind the wheel of a van on October 13th, when she allegedly lost control of the vehicle and crashed into three people in the town of Kossuth who were watching a roofing project.

AUDIO: Sheriff Robert Hermann (:13)

Holly appeared in court Wednesday, with bail set as a $100,000 personal recognizance bond. She was also placed on electronic monitoring and ordered not to drink or drive.

Hermann says tests found Holly had a blood alcohol content of .209, more than twice the legal limit.

She faces eight felony charges, including three counts of homicide by intoxicated use of a vehicle. Holly is due back in court for a preliminary hearing on November 28th.

Brian Norton, WOMT

Filed Under: Crime & Courts, News Tagged With:
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