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Neaubauer concedes state Supreme Court election

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Judge Brian Hagedorn

There will be no re-count in the race for Wisconsin Supreme Court. Lisa Neubauer is conceding the race to Brian Hagedorn. Unofficial results showed Hagedorn with about a 6,000 vote lead after the April 2nd election. That didn’t measurably change during canvassing.

Hagedorn’s win means the conservative majority on the court will increase to 5-to-2 when he begins his ten-year term in August.

ICE seeking to open detention center in St. Croix County

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ICE may be opening a detention center in western Wisconsin. According to a post on its Facebook page, the City of New Richmond has received a request from ICA, Immigration Centers of America, to rezone a parcel of land in the city for for a detention center through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Program.

According to their website, Immigration Centers of America (ICA) is solely focused on providing exceptional detention and transportation services for the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Founded in 2008, ICA has established itself as one of the leading providers of civil immigration detention services in the nation. With a proven track record, ICA has been recognized as providing DHS with unmatched facilities that adhere to the highest standards of medical care, safety and recreation.

The City of New Richmond is committed to a transparent process and will be providing information related to this request in a timely manner. Prior to a formal public hearing, the City will request a community conversation, which is tentatively scheduled for April 25 at 5:00 pm. 

New Richmond is St. Croix County about 45 minutes east of the Twin Cities.

Three members of Kenosha family killed in apparent drunk driving crash

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Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth says the suspect in a Friday evening crash that killed three members of a Kenosha family is believed to have been drunk, and was seen driving recklessly. “This truck may have been traveling about 100 miles an hour when it struck the jeep. It ran directly into the back end of the jeep, flipped it over into the ditch, causing three fatalities,” Beth said during a Monday press conference,

Killed were brothers, 67-year-old Dr. Michael Rizzo, 76-year-old Dr. Vincent Rizzo, and Vincent’s wife, 74-year-old Mary Rizzo. A third Rizzo brother, 72-year-old Gerald, survived the crash and is stable condition at a hospital.

“They were well-known, influential people in Kenosha, and it is with heavy hearts that all of Kenosha lost these three people,” said Beth.

The suspect, 40-year-old Timothy Vandervere of Beach Park, Illinois, will face multiple charges when he’s released from a hospital. According to the sheriff’s department, Vandervere has a prior OWI charge. Although he has a valid Illinois license, his Wisconsin driver’s license was revoked.

Columbia County District Attorney’s office mysteriously closed on Monday

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The Columbia County District Attorney’s office was closed Monday – no one seems to know why. The D.A.’s office has been short-handed since at least March. Three employees resigned after Governor Walker appointed Tristan Eagon as District Attorney.

It’s not clear whether the closure is related to Friday’s unanimous decision by the County Board’s Human Resources Committee, that an employee has filed a credible harassment complaint against someone else in the D.A.’s office.

Court proceedings were canceled Monday afternoon because of the closure. Even judges and other court officials were caught by surprise. Calls to the D.A.’s office on Tuesday went directly to voice mail.

WIBA

Kahl nixes new trial for Avery

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Wisconsin’s attorney general says a motion for a new trial for convicted killer Steven Avery “must be denied.” Josh Kaul says the usefulness of the evidence testing Avery’s attorney wants is questionable and the claims should have been raised before.

Avery is appealing his 2007 conviction for the murder of freelance photographer Teresa Halbach. Avery’s attorney says some bones returned to Halbach’s family are evidence the bones found in a burn pit on Avery’s property were planted.

DNR seeks information in shooting of bald eagle

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PHOTO: Jackie Johnson

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is asking for help to find out who shot a bald eagle in Marathon County. According to the DNR Bureau of Law Enforcement, the eagle was found lying in a ditch on the roadside of the intersection between County Highway Y and Hansen Road in the Township of Harrison.

Conservation Warden for Marathon County Joshua Litvinoff said he was contacted by the Raptor Education Group in Antigo. “They brought it in and there were lead fragments, gunshot wounds to the eagle. That’s why we put it out there to hopefully get the word out.”

Investigators would like to know about any gunshots or suspicious vehicles in the area where the eagle was found, although Litvinoff said it’s unclear whether the bird was shot there or somewhere else and them thrown from a vehicle.

Anyone with information on the situation is encouraged to call the Wisconsin DNR Violation Hotline at 1-800-847-9367.

WSAU

Bail set at $1 million for suspect in Manitowoc homicides

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Bail is set at $1 million cash for a 35-year-old Appleton man who investigators believe is responsible for the shooting deaths of a Manitowoc father and his daughter. Karl Hess is facing two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the September 2018 murders of 51-year-old Richard Miller and 19-year-old Jocelyn Miller.

They were found fatally shot in their home in the 3700 block of Dale Street. Police say Hess was acquainted with the two victims, and that theft was the motive for the crimes.

Hess “knew Mr. Miller, was acquainted with him, and premeditated this crime,” said Manitowoc County District Attorney Jacalyn LaBre said Thursday.

“The one million dollar request really points to simply not set bond and keep him in custody,” Court Commissioner Patricia Koppa said. “That’s the reality of these cases.”

Formal charges are expected to be filed in the next few days. Hess remains in the Manitowoc County Jail and his initial appearance is scheduled for Monday afternoon at 1:30.

WOMT

 

Protest spurs cancellation of Erik Prince event at Beloit College

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A lecture by Blackwater Worldwide founder Erik Prince at Beloit College was canceled Wednesday night after students piled chairs onto the stage where he was supposed to speak and pounded percussion instruments in protest.

Students draped a banner reading “ERIK PRINCE = WAR CRIMINAL” across the stage about 45 minutes after the lecture was scheduled to begin. The event was canceled shortly after.

Prince is widely known as the founder of Blackwater, a private military company. The company has been heavily criticized for its role in the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In 2007, Blackwater guards shot and killed 17 Iraqi citizens in Baghdad. U.S. military investigations after the incident found the Blackwater guards were at fault in the incident. Four guards were tried and convicted in U.S. federal court on charges stemming from the massacre.

Young Americans for Freedom, a conservative student organization, expected to host Wednesday’s event in Moore Lounge in Pearsons Hall. About 175 people had filled the room for the lecture. Some left visibly upset after more than a dozen students swarmed the empty stage.

After a Beloit College representative announced the cancellation, protesters celebrated by cheering and beating drums. A statement from the college condemned the actions. “As an institution of higher learning, open dialogue on all topics is one of our core principles. Tonight’s events fell unacceptably short of this core principle, and we condemn the behavior of those who disrupted the event. The college will begin an investigation immediately.”

WCLO

Late season flu spike in Wisconsin

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It’s still flu season in Wisconsin. Public health officials say they’re seeing a spike in late-season flu cases. An increasing number of those cases involve a strain of the flu virus that this season’s vaccine is ineffective against.

The Wisconsin Department of Health Services recommends the usual precautions, such as washing your hands.There have been 36 influenza-related deaths in Wisconsin this season.

Manitowoc police seek public help in double homicide

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The Manitowoc Police Department is requesting the public’s help for information in connection to the deaths of two people last September. Captain Dave Vorpahl said police have been actively investigating, and have developed several leads.

Police responded the morning of September 9th to 3709 Dale Street for a report of two people who were deceased. The victims were Identified as 51-year-old Richard Miller and his 19-year-old daughter Jocelyn Miller. Both died from gunshot wounds.

Investigators want to identify a male subject that was seen in the area the night of the homicides, along with a vehicle described as an early 2000’s model Toyota Highlander possibly tan or gold in color.

A reward of up to $2000 may be offered for information that helps solve this case. Call Manitowoc Police at 686-6551or if you choose to remain anonymous call Crime Stoppers at 683-4466.

WOMT