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WI National Guard general resigns after scathing report on botched sexual assault investigations

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The Wisconsin National Guard’s commanding officer is stepping down as a response to a scathing report over the mishandling of sexual assault investigations.

Adjutant General Donald Dunbar will be stepping down at the end of the year after a request from Governor Tony Evers. That’s in the wake of a report from the Pentagon that the National Guard mishandled a decade’s worth of sexual assault investigations. 

The Defense Department says the Guard failed to refer reports of sexual assault to outside law enforcement and failed to properly report and investigate numerous cases of sexual harassment. 

“I am extremely upset and concerned with the National Guard Bureau Office of Complex Investigations’ findings, especially with how the Wisconsin National Guard investigates sexual assault allegations,” said Evers. 

“Our service members deserve to be safe and supported while carrying out their important mission, which is why I have ordered the Wisconsin National Guard to implement top-to-bottom changes to ensure a safe workplace in the Guard, one that is free of sexual assault and harassment and the fear they might face retaliation for reporting sexual assault or harassment when it happens.”

Senator Tammy Baldwin agreed with the decision. “Our Wisconsin National Guard service members deserve leadership of unmatched integrity and a work environment free of sexual assault, harassment and the fear of retaliation. This National Guard Bureau report makes clear they have received neither. 

“The failure of leadership, wrongdoing, and lack of accountability that has been uncovered demands change at the Wisconsin National Guard, including new leadership and implementing all of the report’s recommendations on how best to prevent sexual assault and harassment, and confront it with accountability when it occurs. Now that the first steps of change are being taken, I support Governor Evers’ executive order to work towards true justice for the survivors of sexual assault and accountability for those that committed crimes against them.”

Brigadier General Gary Ebben will replace Dunbar on an interim basis, until a new commanding officer is selected. 

Capitol rotunda Holiday Tree is lit

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It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas – or the Holidays, if you will – at the Wisconsin Capitol. Over the noon hour on Friday, Governor Tony Evers flipped the switch to illuminate the Capitol Holiday tree.

The Medford High School choir sang a variety of Christmas carols, including “O Christmas Tree.” The rotunda evergreen was was officially called a Holiday Tree beginning in 1985, before Governor Scott Walker called it a Christmas tree in 2011.

This year’s 30′ tree comes from the Medford area and celebrates science, with ornaments made by Wisconsin school kids.
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Rhinelander City Hall on lockdown amidst investigation into public official

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Rhinelander City Hall has been locked down today as police executed search warrants.

WJFW TV reports that Investigators from Marathon, Oneida and Vilas Counties as well as a state digital forensics team were on site on Thursday executing state issued warrants for Tampering with Public Records and Misconduct in Public Office.

Oneida County chief deputy Dan Hess is leading the investigation, and says more information will be released later.

The person being investigated has not been named. 

WATCH: Salty Evers slams GOP over Pfaff firing

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The state Senate voted along party lines Tuesday to reject Brad Pfaff, Governor Tony Evers’ pick to head the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said his members were not comfortable with some of Pfaff’s actions since his appointment.

“Comments about Republicans and farmer suicide, certainly going back to some earlier changes that were made under DATCP, there’s a whole a slew of things that anybody could bring forth. But you’ve got to be comfortable. And I think as we stand here today there’s a number of members of the majority that just aren’t comfortable with Brad Pfaff.”

Pfaff was unanimously confirmed by the Senate Ag committee in February – but received zero Republican votes on the floor Tuesday, as GOP Senators essentially fired him as DATCP Secretary. The final vote was 19-14.

Democrats like Milwaukee’s LaTonya Johnson said Pfaff is extremely qualified, but had angered Republicans. “Let’s just say why we are really here. His tone and his words were not flattering to Republicans.”

In an unusual move, Evers, who picked Pfaff to lead DATCP, was in the chambers as the Senate debated his fate. Afterwards, he spoke with reporters. “There’s nobody who generates more enthusiasm and passion for Wisconsin’s agriculture industry than Brad Pfaff. Now we just threw that away, and for what reason, frankly I don’t know.”

Evers also said expectations that other appointees might need to “keep their mouths shut” in order to get Senate approval “is absolute bullshit.”
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Wausau cemetery shooting suspect faces numerous charges, $10 million dollar bond set

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A hefty bond has been ordered for the suspect of the Pine Grove Cemetery shooting in Wausau.

Henry West, 64, of Schofield has been charged with 17 counts for the murder shooting death of Patty Grimm. He is facing 11 counts of attempted homicide, arson, 3 counts of attempted arson, and obstructing an officer. During the initial appearance, the judge raised West’s bond from 1 to 10 million dollars.

According to court documents released today West is accused of rigging the apartments at 117 Fullmer St. for an explosion by damaging the natural gas line and placing containers with gasoline around it. The document estimates there would have been enough natural gas in the apartments that if it had combusted it would have caused an explosion capable of killing several to hundreds of people.

Documents also reveal that the manager of the apartment complex said West told them a week before he was set to be evicted that he was “going to make the news big time.” West had also previously made death threats to cemetery management as he was very upset with his firing in 2012.

The shooting happened on October 3rd as Grimm was shot multiple times and killed inside the doorway of the cemetery office. The other two victims, William Buhse and Rosemelia Short were also shot. Buhse is still in the hospital recovering from a shot to the head. While Short was released after being treated for her injuries.

West will next appear in court for a pre-trial hearing on November 21 at 9:20 a.m

WSAU

Climate crisis is global focus on Friday

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WRN photo

Young people are taking their climate change fears to the streets on Friday. Around the world, across the U.S. and in Wisconsin, they’ll be out for the Global Youth Strike for Climate. Sophie Guthier is executive director of Wisconsin’s Youth Climate Action Team.

“We’re going to continue fighting for this. They don’t get to just ignore and hope that we won’t say anything after this. This is going to be an ongoing fight, an ongoing struggle where we’re going to continue disrupting the status quo, until we get what we need to survive.”

Guthier says young people hold both political parties responsible for the failure to address the climate crisis, and after rallying at Madison Gas & Electric, they plan to occupy the Capitol.

Scott Blankman, Director for Energy & Air Programs with Clean Wisconsin, said climate change is already making itself felt in Wisconsin.

“We’re already seeing some of the impacts of climate change here in Wisconsin, with the historic flooding that we saw last summer, and even the flooding that we’re continuing to experience here in late August and into September her in Wisconsin as well as throughout the Midwest.”

In addition to Friday’s Global Youth Strike for Climate, the United Nations Climate Action Summit begins in New York City on Monday.

State Democrats introduce ‘red flag law’ bill, already face stiff opposition from Republicans

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State Democrats gathered at the capital on the anniversary of a mass shooting near Madison to push for gun control policies.

Governor Tony Evers says the bill will enact what’s called Extreme Risk Protection Orders, or so called ‘red flag laws’.

“In a state where nearly three of four gun deaths are suicide, having an ERPO process could be an important tool in helping us address firearm related suicides in Wisconsin.”

Evers says those ideas have broad support in the public, but not with elected Republicans. “Each and every day officials choose ideologies and false dichotomies over doing what’s right, that’s a choice that has consequences.”

In a joint statement in response, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald are calling it a non starter. “It’s widely known that we believe this legislation poses threats to due process and the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.”

Vos and Fitzgerald pointed instead to the 100 million dollars they passed in the budget that improves school safety, and say that they’re committed to improving mental health programs to prevent gun violence.

State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald announces run for Congress

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State Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald told WISN’s Jay Weber on Tuesday morning that he is running to fill Republican Jim Sensenbrenner’s seat in Congress. 

“I’ve been kind of watching and waiting for Congressman Sensenbrenner to see when he would actually think retirement was a good option for him. So as soon as I heard the news, I reached out to my wife and family members and supporters, and it didn’t take long for me to say I’m in this, 100 percent.”

Fitzgerald says he’s got the chops to make an impact in Washington DC. 

“I’ve driven a lot of conservative policies over the last 25 years, 12 years as Majority Leader. And I’d love the opportunity to be able to go out to Washington and hopefully make that same kind of impact.”

The announcement makes Fitzgerald the first to officially announce a run for Sensenbrenner’s seat. A number of other Republicans have floated their names as possibly making a run in the 5th District.

Data reveals impacts of suicide in Wisconsin

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If you or someone you know is struggling, call the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1.800.273.8255 or text “HOPELINE” to 741741.

New data shows the impact of suicide in Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services has released findings from its most recent analysis of state suicide deaths and suicide-related injury. It’s part of an effort to update Wisconsin’s suicide prevention plan and reduce the number of suicide attempts and deaths.

This analysis found:

The state’s suicide rate rose 40% between 2000 and 2017.
From 2013-2017, suicide rates in Wisconsin were highest among individuals ages 45-54.
Of all state deaths by firearm from 2013-2017, 71% were suicide deaths.
In 2017, the majority of individuals who died by suicide in Wisconsin were male.
In 2017, suicide was the second leading cause of death among adolescents in Wisconsin.

Tuesday is Suicide Prevention Day, and September is Suicide Awareness Month.

State Representative Joan Ballweg says suicide remains a difficult topic for people to grapple with. “I think one of the things that prevents people from reaching out for treatment is that there is a stigma, that there’s something wrong with you that is not going to be solved, that people are not going to be able to overcome,” said the lawmaker, who chairs the Speaker’s Task Force on Suicide Prevention.

“Encouraging people to get into treatment, whether it is a behavioral health condition, or suicidal ideation, that conversation should be normalized.”

The task force held its last hearing this week. Members expect to have recommendations ready for the legislature to consider this session.

JFC and AG Kaul reach agreement on settlement scuffle

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A stalemate between GOP leaders and the state attorney general’s office might be over.

Joint Finance Committee co chairs Alberta Darling and John Nygren announced on Thursday that they will be signing confidentiality agreements in order to take part in settlements being negotiated by Attorney General Josh Kaul.

Kaul says he needs those agreements in order to read in members of the Committee so they can approve the settlements, as required by one of the lame duck laws. Republicans still say Kaul is trying to undermine that law.