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AG Kaul says lawsuit will continue against Postmaster General in USPS case

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Even as the Postmaster General takes a step back from changes that hamstrung mail delivery, Wisconsin’s attorney general is still moving forward with a lawsuit to stop them.

Attorney General Josh Kaul says that Louis DeJoy needs to follow through with his promises, not just make them. 

“Because if there are other changes besides those that are suspended that’s something we’re going to look into and also there have been changes that have been made that have already had an impact and we are asking for those changes to be reversed as well.”

Kaul says there’s already been irreparable damage done to U S P S, and that Louis DeJoy needs to answer for it. 

“There are procedures that the postal service is supposed to go through specifically so that the public has an opportunity to comment on them. That didn’t happen here.”

Mail sorting machines and post boxes were removed or destroyed across that country, without consultation with Congress or the public. 

Kaul joined a multistate lawsuit to stop the changes at the postal service that included cutting back overtime, destroying and removing mail sorting machines, and removing postboxes.

President Trump has admitted that the changes that were being made would hamper mail-in and absentee voting. 

Top Dem senator accuses FBI of preferential treatment in favor of Sen. Johnson in Biden investigation

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Senate Democrats are accusing the FBI of showing preferential treatment to Senator Ron Johnson and GOP leadership in their investigations into the Biden family.

Senator Ron Wyden of Oregon is spearheading the complaint against the FBI and director Christopher Wray.

Wyden says GOP leadership, including Ron Johnson, was given access to sensitive files and investigation documents without also giving Democrats access to those files, and in several cases didn’t even inform Dems that the files were being accessed.

Wyden says this shows a pattern of behavior from the FBI that would damage the Democratic candidate for president.

Senator Johnson was not available for comment on Monday. 

Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission removes Alfonso Morales from police chief position

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Alfonso Morales has been removed from his role as Milwaukee’s police chief.

The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission has demoted Morales to a captain rank, and promoted Assistant Chief Michael Brunson to acting chief.

Morales had come under fire ever since he was hired in February of 2018. Members of the Commission called on him to fire one of the officers involved in the violent arrest of Milwaukee Bucks player Sterling Brown.

When the Black Lives Matter protests started this spring, Morales was called in front of the commission for the use of tear gas and pepper spray on demonstrators. He was called to make sweeping changes to the department.

Morales says the commission didn’t give him enough time to comply with the requests.

Two arrested for OWI after weekend boat crash on Lake Butte Des Morts

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A boat collision that sent eight people into the water near Lake Butte Des Morts over the weekend resulted in no serious injuries – and two being arrested for OWI.

Winnebago County Sheriff’s Patrol Captain Greg Ciancolo says alcohol wasn’t the only factor.

“Both boats in this scenario did have legal lighting on them, but certainly being on the waterway at night, depth perception becomes an issue as well as reaction time.”

A larger boat was going just 2-3mph when it was hit by a much faster, smaller vessel – which ended up on top of it.

Wisconsin DOJ warns of sophisticated counterfeiting ring in Wisconsin

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A statewide crime alert has been issued over an apparent counterfeiting ring that’s making its way through the state.

Brown County Sheriff’s detective Roman Aronstein says the group of criminals has been passing extremely well made fake 100 dollar bills that even have a security thread inside.  

“What they’ll do as though I use chemicals to remove the ink off of that currency and then they will print a different, higher level denomination bill to that such as a $100 bill. When you are looking at the security thread don’t just look for the thread itself. When held up to the lights the thread will reveal the actual denomination that the bill should be.”

Aronstein says the fakes are extremely sophisticated, and will pass most basic checks against phony bills including testing markers.“There’s absolutely no shame in missing one of these. These individuals travel the state and frequently the country and they’re good at what they do. It’s okay for you to miss some of the signs.”

So far the bills have mostly been passed in big box stores like Walmart, where the crooks prefer to buy small gift cards in order to get as much change as possible.  

If anyone has information concerning this case, please call the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at 920-448-4230.

Suspect in attack on state senator on leave from school counselor job

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A woman who turned herself in to Madison police this week in connection with the June assault on state Senator Tim Carpenter is on leave from her job as a social worker with the Mount Horeb Area School District.

A representative with the school district said 26-year-old Samantha R. Hamer was placed on administrative leave following her arrest.

In separate hearings on Wednesday, Hamer and 33-year-old Kerida O’Reilly were  charged today in Dane County Circuit Court with one felony count each of substantial battery intending bodily harm, party to a crime.

Carpenter was assaulted after he videotaped a June 24th protest of racial inequity near the State Capitol, a night which also saw the toppling of two statues on the state Capitol grounds, and the tossing of an incendiary device into the Dane County Law Enforcement Center.

Carpenter was later hospitalized and treated for a broken nose and concussion. Hamer was previously cited and fined in June 2018 after refusing to stop blocking travel and commerce on State Street during a protest.

WIBA

‘Operation Legend’ will deploy federal agents to Milwaukee

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Operation Legend is deploying to Milwaukee, and official in charge of the initiative insists it’s not about reining in the activities of peaceful protesters in the city.

During a Wednesday press conference in Milwaukee, U.S. Attorney Andrew Krueger announced that up to 30 federal investigators will focus is on the city’s most violent crimes.

“The news that it would be coming to Milwaukee last week got out ahead of things, which resulted in a lot of concern,” Krueger said. “And frankly a lot of the media stories, I think led to the confusion. I would strongly encourage you, when you report on this story, do not roll ‘B footage’ of Portland, Oregon. Because that’s an entirely different situation.”

Krueger said investigators participating in Operation Legend will not be patrolling streets or going after protesters, but will assist with investigations into violent crimes.

“Everybody here recognizes and cherishes the 1st Amendment rights that we have in this country, to be able to speak peacefully. As Operation Legend proceeds, we will take the care that is always taken to respect constitutional rights and allow peaceful protests to continue. This has nothing to do with protest response.”

Milwaukee is closing in 100 homicides, including the June 30 murder of a 16-year-old girl in which the FBI is offering a reward.

While other local and state elected officials have voiced concerns, Milwaukee County Sheriff Earnell Lucas is fully on board with Operation Legend.

Lucas spoke passionately during the press conference announcing the deployment. The sheriff said every part of the community needs to be on board with ending violent crime. “We as a community have got to put an end to this madness, or this madness will put an end to us,” Lucas said.

The Milwaukee Common Council Tuesday approved two measures, including one to ban federal agents from not wearing name badges in the city. The “One Milwaukee” Task Force, which includes Milwaukee County and Milwaukee school leaders, doesn’t want President Donald Trump to escalate violence.

Krueger said ten investigators are already assigned to Milwaukee temporarily, the others will be assigned permanently over the coming year.

Two women arrested in assault on state Senator Tim Carpenter

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Two Madison women have been arrested for beating a state Senator last month.

Twenty-six-year-old Samantha Hamer and 33-year-old Kerida O’Reilly turned themselves in to Madison Police, in connection with the June 24th assault on Milwaukee Democrat Tim Carpenter during a violent protest in Madison.

Both women were tentatively charged with substantial battery and robbery with use of force as party to a crime, according to a police incident report updated Monday afternoon.

The beating left Carpenter with a concussion and a broken nose for which he required surgery.

Governor Evers opposes White House plan to send federal agents to Milwaukee

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The White House has announced that Milwaukee is on the list of cities where President Trump will be sending federal agents to “make law enforcement stronger”.

Governor Tony Evers says he doesn’t want them here. 

“Amping up the Federal presence will I believe create more turmoil and and less successful approaches to making sure the people have a chance to express their First Amendment rights while doing it safely.”

In his press briefing on Thursday, Governor Evers says there’s no need for federal agencies to be doing the policing in Wisconsin. 

“I have full faith and trust not only in the people of Wisconsin, but also the folks that serve in our police forces whether it’s at the county or local level.”

There’s been no specific timetable given for what troops will be arriving when. Other cities on the President’s list include Detroit, Chicago and Cleveland.

Milwaukee police chief Morales keeps his job for now

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Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales keeps his job – for now.

The city’s Fire and Police Commission gave Morales 11 directives Monday and if those aren’t met he could still be fired, suspended, or demoted. 

All of the directives received unanimous approval by the commission. 

They include full audits and reports about high-profile incidents like those involving Sterling Brown and Vaun Mayes.  He will have to submit a report about the use of force by his officers during the recent protests in Milwaukee. 

Chief Morales will have to give an update on the progress he has made by August 6th.