Wisconsin News and Sports
A man convicted in the death of a Milwaukee girl has gotten a lengthy prison term. Isaac Barnes, 27, one of two men charged in the shooting death of 13-year-old Sandra Parks, was sentenced Friday to nearly 51 years in prison, and another 25 years of extended supervision. He had changed his initial plea to guilty.
Sandra was killed when a bullet entered her home last November. Her death gained national attention due to a Martin Luther King Day essay she wrote – about gun violence.
Hope for new leads, in a decade old disappearance. The Polk County Sheriff’s Office in northwest Wisconsin has posted a video to Facebook, highlighting the search for Rose Marie Bly, who left her home near St. Croix Falls on August 21, 2009.
Her car was found five days later in Grantsburg. The mother of two young children has not been seen since. Anyone with information is asked to call 715-485-8300.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly received a ticket, following a collision that sent two people to the hospital. The Journal Sentinel reports that Kelly failed to yield August 9 at the intersection of Highways E and ZZ in Waukesha County.
Kelly told a sheriff’s deputy he didn’t see a van coming and he hit it, according to an accident report. Two people in the van were taken to a hospital, and the driver thinks they’d be dead, if not for air bags and seat belts.
The crash happened near Kelly’s home in North Prairie. He was given a ticket for $389.50 for failing to yield at a stop sign in an accident that caused bodily harm, according to online court records. A court hearing is scheduled for September 25.
Milwaukee Alderman Cavalier Johnson says his 9-year-old son was traumatized when shots were fired just outside his home on the city’s north side on Tuesday. “He was fearful, and he had tears in his eyes, and he was afraid, because somebody decided to act recklessly with a gun,” the District 2 Alderman said during a press conference at City Hall Wednesday.
“He just turned 9 two weeks ago. He just got a brand new bike. And now he’s afraid to go outside and ride his bike, because somebody decided to go out and shoot guns in our neighborhood.”
And Johnson criticized Republicans in the legislature who, he said, have been unwilling to even consider actions to restrict access to guns by people who shouldn’t have them. “Our leaders in Madison, those who control the Assembly and the Senate, they continue to allow this to happen. They won’t try to do something different. Even though the vast majority of people in this state say that they want to see some different action.”
Johnson was home with his children when two shots were fired at around 5:00 PM Tuesday. No one was hit, but police found a bullet hole in his car and shell casings on his property.
It’s a new twist on an old phone scam.
A new robocall scam making the rounds promises a free DNA testing kit. “The caller might say the test is a free way to get early diagnoses for diseases like cancer or just that it’s a free test and people are often interested in their DNA.”
State consumer protection administrator Michelle Reinen says all the scammers want is your social security information, because it’s covered by Medicare. That’s a lie.
“It’s really important to know that Medicare does not market DNA testing kits to the general public. Medicare doesn’t do random unsolicited phone calls to consumers asking for their personally identifiable information.”
Reinen says the scammers are spoofing their phone numbers to look like they’re calling from Washington DC.
If you get one of these phone calls, it’s best to just hang up or delete the voice mail.
A Caledonia police officer shot and killed a man Sunday evening. Police said they responded to a burglary in progress call. Caledonia police said a responding officer encountered a man who was armed with a knife and attacked the officer, injuring him in the head. The officer then shot the man, who died at the scene.
The officer’s injuries are serious, but he is expected to survive. More at WKOW 27 News
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Quintez Cephus WRN photo
Badger football player Quintez Cepuhs is again a student at UW Madison. The university announced Monday that Cephus has been reinstated, effective immediately. Cephus was acquitted of sexual assault charges earlier this month in Dane County Circuit Court.
A press release from the UW quotes Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who said her “decision is based on the availability of substantial new information” not brought out during an earlier review. Blank said she recognizes some people will disagree with the decision.
UW-MADISON STATEMENT ON QUINTEZ CEPHUS
UW-Madison has a responsibility to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct in a prompt and thorough manner, as directed by state and federal laws. The university applies its code of conduct impartially and consistently regardless of the identities of the individuals involved.
In the case of Quintez Cephus, this process functioned appropriately and in accordance with state and federal guidelines and proceeded based on the information available to UW-Madison at the time of the university’s investigation and hearing process.
UW-Madison obtained information following the criminal proceeding that was not provided to the university during the student conduct process. Chancellor Rebecca Blank conducted a review of this information and the petition for Quintez Cephus’ reinstatement as quickly as possible and in a complete and impartial manner.
As a result of this review, sanctions for Quintez Cephus have been reduced and his expulsion lifted. There were findings of responsibility of the student non-academic misconduct code that were upheld.
Mr. Cephus has been reinstated as a UW-Madison student, effective immediately.
“All three of the primary participants in this case are our students, and I know the past year has been painful for everyone involved,” said Blank. “My decision is based on the availability of substantial new information that wasn’t made available to us during the earlier process. I recognize that some will disagree with this decision.”
“To those in our community who have experienced sexual assault, I sincerely hope that there is nothing in this case that will deter you from coming forward for support,” she added. “Our university continues to be prepared to listen and respond.”
Monday’s announcement came one week after a press conference by Cephus’ trial attorneys, during which they pressured the UW to reach a timely decision on his request for reinstatement.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is in the process of developing a cleanup plan, for a bunker used by a fugitive for three years. The bunker was a quarter of a mile into the Ice Age Trail in Marathon County. People are being asked to stay away from the area.
The bunker used by 44-year-old Jeremiah Button included a bicycle powered generator and solar panels, an antenna for TV, a supply of non-perishable food and a makeshift stove. Investigators believe Button made trips to a local landfill for most supplies.
Button is facing charges in Portage County, including first-degree sexual assault of a child and possession of child pornography.
RELATED: Wanted Portage County man arrested after three years
A tip led investigators to Button’s hideout in the Town of Ringle. He’s currently being held in the Portage County jail.
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A woman shot Wednesday afternoon in the heart of downtown Madison was the victim of an accident. The woman’s name has not been released. Madison Police said she is in her 40’s and is in stable condition. Investigators said the woman was getting into an SUV on the 200 block of State Street, to accept a ride from someone she knows when the gun went off.
The driver of the SUV, Francis Kimani, has been arrested and will face a charge of negligent handling of a dangerous weapon. State Street reopened before 4:30 p.m.
WIBA
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WRN file image
Brian Hagedorn is now officially the newest member of the Wisconsin Supreme Court after his investiture on Wednesday. Hagedorn said the judiciary is separate from the legislative and executive branches for a reason.
“The power to turn policy ideas into law. That’s not my job, that’s the legislative branch,” Hagedorn said.
Hagedorn said he’s worked in private law and with the other branches of the government, but those days are behind him. “In exercising my judicial power, my days of advocating for particular issues or clients are no more.”
Hagedorn was sworn in by outgoing Justice Michael Gableman. Hagedorn defeated Lisa Neubauer in the April elections for his seat on the court. He will now serve a 10 year term as a Justice.