Dikeman in court for preliminary hearing

 LA CROSSE (WKBT) -- A woman accused of killing a six-year-old boy in Medary was in court Wednesday morning.

31-year-old Josie Dikeman is facing an intentional homicide charge for the death of Alexavier Pedrin. She’s also facing charges of chronic neglect of a child, physical abuse of a child and repeated acts of bodily harm. 

On Wednesday morning, medical examiner Dr. Reade Quinton testified to a full courtroom about what he saw on a Pedrin's body.

“Cause of death in this case was blunt force trauma," said Quinton. 

Dr. Quinton stated Pedrin had multiple bruises.

“I would say if you look at the totality of the face, scalp, neck – it’s well over 10, roughly 15 or so," he said. 

According to the 16-page criminal complaint, investigators say Dikeman called 9-1-1 in February. When deputies arrived on the scene, Pedrin was on a bed, unresponsive. In his testimony, Dr. Quinton says Pedrin’s brain was swollen and there was a tear in his liver.

“So, there’s about a hundred milliliters of blood just free within his abdominal cavity. There was also a lot of hemorrhage and bleeding along the head of the pancreas," said Quinton. 

Quinton says the Xanax in Pedrin’s system also contributed to his death.

“It’s a drug this child, as far as I’m aware, is not prescribed and should not be in his system," said Quinton. 

Dikeman’s attorney argued that her bond should be waived because there are no direct witnesses that can testify Dikeman caused harm to Pedrin.

“There are no direct witnesses that will testify – who will testify claiming Ms. Dikeman was the individual who inflicted these injuries on the child in question," said attorney Chris Zachar.

Zachar also argued that Dikeman does not pose a risk to community members. District Attorney Tim Gruenke disagrees.

“To say she’s not a danger, I think, is false. She’s objectively a danger to children. Multiple children in her care have ended up with fractures, fallen down stairs, and a death," said Gruenke. 

Judge Elliot Levine said there is enough evidence to keep bond at $1 million cash.

The preliminary hearing will continue on June 9. 

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Cyberattack forces Idaho hospital to send ambulances elsewhere

A hospital in Idaho has been diverting ambulances to other hospitals for more than 24 hours because of a cyberattack, a hospital spokesperson confirmed to CNN on Wednesday in the latest example of a hacking incident complicating health care in the US.

The cyberattack took place on Monday and has forced nurses and doctors at Idaho Falls Community Hospital, an 88-bed hospital in the east of the state, to use pen and paper rather than computers for patient charts, hospital spokesperson Brian Ziel told CNN.

The hospital is still caring for patients and staffers are “working around the clock” to fully restore computer systems, he said.

It was not immediately clear if the hack involved ransomware which locks computers so that hackers can demand payments. Ziel said he was not aware of any ransom demand made to the hospital.

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, ransomware and other cyberattacks hampered patient care at American hospitals that are often ill-equipped to deal with them.

It’s also unclear when the hospital will be able to accept patients by ambulance or how many ambulances have been diverted, Ziel said, adding that the emergency department is accepting walk-in patients.

The cyberattack has also hampered computer systems at nearby Mountain View Hospital, which is under the same ownership as Idaho Falls Community Hospital.

“Both hospitals remain open and are safely caring for all their patients and the vast majority of clinics are seeing patients as usual,” the hospitals said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon.

Hackers from North Korea, Russia and Iran have all targeted health care providers in the US in recent years, often in a bid to wring money out of organizations that can ill-afford to be disrupted. Some industry insiders suspect hospitals are quietly paying ransoms to hackers in attacks that go unreported.

Tech giant Microsoft in April used a federal court order to try to cut off cybercriminals’ access to a hacking tool that has been used in nearly 70 ransomware attacks on health organizations in more than 19 countries.

Federal officials and health care experts have long been concerned that ransomware attacks can degrade the quality of care that patients receive at hospitals. A recent study by doctors at the University of California, San Diego, found that a ransomware attack on a local health system has ripple effects on regional hospitals, increasing emergency waiting room times and extending patients’ stay in the hospital.

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The Ford Bronco is being recalled because people may get ‘discouraged’ trying to use the seatbelts

 Ever have a car with a difficult-to-reach seatbelt? This recall is for you.

Ford is having to recall 176,000 of its Ford Bronco SUVs, model years 2021 to 2023, because the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that drivers and front seat passengers can have difficulty reaching the metal portion of the belt when it is in the retracted position.

“The customer may experience some dissatisfaction or be discouraged if they are unable to easily access the seatbelt… in its stowed position. Driving without the use of a seatbelt increases the risk of injury in a crash,” said the notice from the federal safety regulator.

The recall involves only the five-door version of the Bronco.

Ford didn’t have any comment on the recall except to say that the problem is only when the front seats are in one certain position, not all positions, though the company did not specify the offending seat position. The issue can be addressed by putting a barrette clip, or a sliding clip latch, on the belt itself to keep the latch portion of the belt in position.

Most recalls are due to complaints being filed by car owners to NHTSA or the automaker itself. But in this case the problem only came up during a standard examination of the Bronco by NHTSA.

“Ford is not aware of any customer warranty or field reports of seatbelt… accessibility concerns,” said the agency’s notice.

The problem is far less serious than many other recalls, including another one with a group of 1,400 2023 Bronco SUVs and Rangers pickups that could have had the lug nuts on the driver’s side improperly tightened, creating a risk that the wheels could fall off.

Ford is aware of one case in which the wheel came off, although fortunately no one was injured in that case.

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House passes debt limit deal as lawmakers race to avert default

 The US House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly on Wednesday to pass a bill to suspend the nation’s debt limit through January 1, 2025, as lawmakers race to prevent a catastrophic default.

The bill will next need to be passed by the Senate before it can be sent to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. In the Senate, any one lawmaker can delay a swift vote and it is not yet clear when a final vote will take place.

The timeframe to pass the bill through Congress is extremely tight and there is little room for error, putting enormous pressure on leadership in both parties.

Lawmakers are racing the clock to avert a first-ever default ahead of June 5, the date the Treasury Department has said it will no longer be able to pay all of the nation’s obligations in full and on time, a scenario that could trigger global economic catastrophe.

The debt limit bill faced backlash from the far right and the far left, but in the end it passed the House by a wide margin with significant bipartisan support.

The final tally for the vote was 314 to 117. There were 149 Republicans and 165 Democrats who voted for the bill and 71 Republicans and 46 Democrats who voted against it.

Suspending the debt limit through 2025 takes the threat of default off table until after the presidential election. In addition to addressing the debt limit, the bill caps non-defense spending, expands work requirements for some food stamp recipients and claws back some Covid-19 relief funds, among other policy provisions.

The bipartisan debt limit deal struck between the White House and House Republicans was announced over the weekend – the culmination of long days and late nights of contentious negotiations that at times looked like they might breakdown and fall apart entirely. The effort to secure a debt limit deal has proven to be a major leadership test for both House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and Biden.

“I have been clear that the only path forward is a bipartisan compromise that can earn the support of both parties,” Biden said, praising the House vote in a statement moments after the bill’s passage. “This agreement meets that test. I urge the Senate to pass it as quickly as possible so that I can sign it into law, and our country can continue building the strongest economy in the world.”

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DNR's Free Fun Weekend

MADISON, Wis. -- If you're looking to get out to one of Wisconsin's state parks, there's no better time than this weekend.

June 3 and 4 will mark the 11th annual Free Fun Weekend, the Department of Natural Resources announced. State park admission fees, fishing licenses and trail passes will be waived during the weekend.

"Free Fun Weekend is always a great opportunity for the DNR property crews to welcome summer visitors back," DNR Bureau Director of Parks and Recreation Management Steve Schmelzer said. "If you’ve never visited a state park, forest, trail or recreation area, this is the perfect weekend to find your outdoor adventure."

All state parks and trails will be open from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. ATVs, UTVs and OHM's will not need to be registered and a trail pass won't be required to ride state ATV trails.

Fishing regulations such as bag and length limits will still apply, but a fishing license and trout or salmon stamps won't be necessary. All DNR boat launches will also be open.

You can find a state park, forest or trail by clicking or tapping here.

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Wisconsin DNR warns of increased fire threat as temps climb, if dry conditions continue

 

MADISON, Wis. -- The Department of Natural Resources is warning of elevated fire risks as temperatures creep into the upper 80s and low 90s throughout much of the state this week.

Within the past week alone, the DNR and fire departments responded to more than 90 wildfires around the state which burned roughly 30 acres.

While greener foliage statewide has helped crews stop blazes quickly, recent dry weather and low relative humidity have improved conditions for wildfires around the state.

As of Tuesday afternoon the vast majority of counties were under a high fire risk, according to the DNR's fire danger map; only 14 counties -- all in the western and northern parts of the state -- faced a moderate risk. The remaining 58 counties faced at least a high risk, with three of those counties (Florence, Marinette and Oconto) facing a very high fire risk.

In order to prevent as many fires as possible, DNR officials plan to suspend burn permits for areas they regulate that are under increased fire threat.

Earlier this year prior to much of the state's vegetation turning green, a wildfire broke out along Fort McCoy's northern border burning more than 3,000 acres in the process.

The exact cause of that fire is still under investigation, but much of the state faced extreme fire dangers and red flag warnings when it began.

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Minnesota governor signs bill to legalize marijuana, effective this summer

 

Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday that legalizes recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21

ST. PAUL, Minnesota — Surrounded by dozens of cheering people in green clothes, Minnesota Democratic Gov. Tim Walz signed a bill Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana for people over the age of 21, making Minnesota the 23rd state to legalize the substance for adults.

“This has been a long journey with a lot of folks involved,” Walz said.

Among them was one of the first governors in the U.S. to openly support marijuana legalization.

“For me personally, it’s very wonderful to see a dream of yours over 20 years ago finally happen today, and I’m still alive to see it,” said Jesse Ventura, Minnesota's governor from 1999-2003.

Under the new law, cannabis will be legal by Aug. 1 to possess, use and grow marijuana at home. Possession of cannabis flower will be limited to 2 pounds (0.9 kilos) at home and 2 ounces (56 grams) in public. Other possession caps include 800 milligrams of THC in gummies and other edibles and 8 grams of cannabis concentrate.

Retail sales at dispensaries will probably be at least a year away. Once licensed, stores will charge sales tax plus a 10% cannabis tax.

Minnesotans who have been convicted of misdemeanor or petty misdemeanor possession will also get their records automatically expunged. However, the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension has estimated it will take until August of next year to process all cases. Others with more serious convictions, such as those with possession offenses that exceeded even the new limits, may also be able to apply for reduced sentences.

Democrats took full control of state government when the Legislature convened for its 2023 session, marking the first time in eight years they have held the “trifecta” of the Senate, House and governor's office. With that power, they passed a long list of legislative priorities — including legalization — that the previous Senate Republican majority had blocked.

Walz has long been a supporter of legalizing recreational marijuana for adults. In 2021, the Democratic-controlled House passed a legalization bill with several Republicans voting yes, but the GOP-controlled Senate never gave it a vote.

Last year, the Legislature passed a bill legalizing THC in edible or drinkable form if it’s derived from hemp. Many lawmakers apparently didn’t realize what they were doing as it sailed through under the radar. Low-strength gummies and beverages have been on sale since July.

Former Gov. Ventura said in November that Walz had called him up the day after his reelection and said he expected a new legalization bill to pass. Ventura, an independent who doesn’t usually make endorsements, backed Walz over Republican Scott Jensen, and said legalization was one of the many reasons why.

Trisha Ahmed is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Follow Trisha Ahmed on Twitter: @TrishaAhmed15

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Doe at Sauk County deer farm tests positive for CWD

 

BARABOO, Wis. -- A 10-year-old doe at a Sauk County deer farm has tested positive for chronic wasting disease, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection said Tuesday.

In a news release, the department said the 22-acre farm where the doe was located has since been placed under quarantine following the positive test. Officials from DATCP and the U.S. Department of Agriculture will now conduct an epidemiological investigation into the case.

The release did not name the farm in question or say when the positive test was confirmed.

CWD is a deadly disease that affects deer, elk and moose.

Source: WKBT News8000

The parents of a 3-month-old girl found dead in the Bronx have been arrested in connection with her death

(CNN) — The parents of a three-month-old girl who was found dead in a wooded area in the Bronx have been arrested in connection with her death and the concealment of her body, a law enforcement source tells CNN.

Ivana Paolozzi, 20, and Damion Comager, 23, were both arrested Monday night, according to the New York Police Department.

The arrests came nearly 24 hours after the body of an infant, identified as Genevieve Comager, was found near the Major Deegan Expressway Sunday night.

The medical examiner ruled the baby’s death a homicide, police said Tuesday. Investigators believe Comager violently shook the baby because she wouldn’t stop crying, the law enforcement source said.

Comager was arrested on charges of murder, manslaughter and concealment of a human corpse, police said. Paolozzi was arrested on charges of concealment of a human corpse and obstructing governmental administration, according to police.

CNN was unable to determine whether they have legal representation as of Tuesday morning.

The investigation began when Genevieve was reported missing around 1 p.m. Sunday, according to the NYPD, which declined to say who made the report. The law enforcement source said the city’s Administration for Children’s Services alerted detectives the child was missing.

The infant’s body was found about seven hours later and she was declared dead at the scene, police said.

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Memorial for Onalaska native killed in Afghanistan unveiled at American Legion

ONALASKA, Wis. (WKBT) - The friends and family of Nick Dewhirst remembered and celebrated his life and service as a memorial in his honor is unveiled at the Onalaska American Legion.

Dewhirst's West Point Military Academy uniform is now on display in a custom-built case.

Dewhirst's parents, Randy and Susie Dewhirst, say Nick was a good kid. 

"Going to the service academy and being in the service was his idea, we didn't push it at all, and it made us very proud," said Randy.

Army 1st Lt. Nick A. Dewhirst served in the army for roughly two years after graduating from West Point, joining the 101st Airborne Division. He was killed in Afghanistan in 2008.

His uniform, photos, and a military biography with Dewhirst's medals and badges are now on display, thanks to members of the American Legion and community members who helped design and build the case from locally harvested wood.

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Former La Crosse doctor pleads guilty to child sexual assault

A former La Crosse pediatrician pleads guilty to two counts related to child sexual assault on Friday.

Joseph Poterucha pleaded guilty to felony second-degree sexual assault of a child, and a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree sexual assault.

The second fourth-degree sexual assault charge was dismissed but read in during Friday's hearing.

The sexual assaults were not related to his treatment of patients during his time as a doctor.

The judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation.

A sentencing is scheduled for July 31. Poterucha faces up to 40 years and nine months in prison.

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Registration open for Mississippi River cleanup in Trempealeau Co., La Crosse

This will be the 30th year of the annual River Clean Up in La Crosse and Trempealeau County.

Registration is open for volunteers wanting to help keep the waterways clean of litter.

There are two clean up days this year.

On Friday, June 2, volunteers will gather at the Trempealeau Boat Landing at 8 a.m. to grab a map, a shirt, and trash bags.

Lunch will be provided after the cleaning is finished.

The La Crosse clean up will happen the next day, June 3.

Check-in will also be at 8 a.m., and lunch will be provided at Copeland Park after the clean-up.

Over the decades, the group has picked up nearly 750,000 pounds of debris and trash from the banks of the Mississippi.

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Air travel hits new post-pandemic record

Memorial Day air travel just reached the highest level in nearly three and a half years.

The Transportation Security Administration reports screening 2,658,057 passengers on Thursday, besting by only a few thousand the pandemic-era high set just last Friday. This Friday is expected to be even busier.

The last time TSA reported a higher screening number was in the Thanksgiving travel period in 2019.

TSA Administrator David Pekoske said at a news conference this week that the agency expects to screen 10 million passengers over the Memorial Day period.

We figure that we will see 2.6 million people on a regular basis across this holiday weekend,” Pekoske said. “From TSA’s perspective, we are ready. We have more staff on hand this year than last year which is a good thing because we have more passengers this year than we had last year.”

About 10 million people are expected to travel through airports over the course of the holiday weekend, he said.

Pekoske said the TSA expects to maintain standard wait times of 30 minutes or less on average in regular security screening lines and 10 minutes or less in TSA PreCheck lanes.

The agency this week announced an expansion of the PreCheck program to include teens traveling with their parents or guardians.

Source: WKBT and CNN News

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Teacher retires on 95th birthday after 75 years of teaching: ‘Every child is a winner’

CAMILLA, Ga. (WALB/Gray News) - After 75 years of teaching, Grace Adkins is calling it a career.

WALB reports Adkins, a Westwood Schools educator, decided to retire on Thursday, a day when she also turned 95.

“Well, it’s been a great life with people that are learning,” Adkins said.

Adkins received love and support from former and current students along with her co-workers. She celebrated her birthday and teaching career together on Thursday.

My motto is every child is a winner. And they don’t mind getting help,” she said.

Adkins was born on May 18, 1928, in Doerun, Georgia. She grew up inspired by her mom, who was also a teacher.

The Colquitt County native started teaching at a young age while she was still in the 11th grade.

After graduating valedictorian, she went off to college for a year but came back home after learning there was a teacher shortage. She quickly learned how to cater to each of her students.

“I never say a child can’t learn. I find out how they learn. I don’t give up,” Adkins said.

And not giving up has helped her touch so many students’ lives.

“She really truly wants to change students’ lives and she did. She changed my life,” Meghan Singleton, a former student, said.

Throughout her 75 years of teaching, she’s taught thousands of students at all grade levels and at different schools.

“It’s rewarding to be able to help children grow and become confident in what they can do,” Adkins said.

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Fundraiser for victims in buggy crash

TREMPEALEAU COUNTY (WQOW) - Eight people and a horse were injured on May 11 in Trempealeau County when a car hit an Amish buggy. Now people are raising money to help out the victims.

David and Clara Mast and their six children were all injured in the crash. They were waiting to make a left turn when their horse-drawn buggy was hit from behind by a car.

The crash happened on Highway 53 in the town of Pigeon.

One of the kids was airlifted to the UW Hospital in Madison with head injuries and two others were taken to different hospitals. Now everyone is back home and recovering.

Shelby Manor, a friend of the Mast family, and others are raising money to help them get back on their feet.

Manor said the initial goal of the GoFundMe was to raise $1,000 to cover the cost of the buggy that was totaled. So far they have raised just over that goal and now are hoping to cover some of those other costs.

Click here for more about the GoFundMe fundraiser.

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Fort McCoy celebrates Armed Forces Day 2023

FORT McCOY, Wis. Every third Saturday of May, Fort McCoy recognizes those who have served through their Armed Forces Day celebration.

U.S. Army Garrison Commander at Fort McCoy, Col. Stephen Messenger, said that visitors can explore military equipment and learn from the soldiers.

"What I see is pride in the people who have served and I see wonder and opportunity in the kids that are planning to serve in the future," Messenger said. "Just to see them play on the vehicles and experiment the different stuff the military has to offer. "

Kolton Kamakian attended the event and said he has many family members currently serving as well as veterans.

He added that the activities keep him coming back each year and thinks there may be a future for him in the U.S. Army.

"I've been here like the past three years and I have always loved the rock wall and when I heard the rock wall was coming back and the bounce house I was really excited so I just wanted to come back here and relive it," Kamakian.

Every second and fourth Friday of the month you can view the Fort McCoy Commemorative Area and History Center.

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Names of two police officers killed in the line of duty added to Wisconsin's Law Enforcement Memorial

MADISON, WI: Two police officers killed in the line of duty decades ago now have a permanent ‘thank you’ at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

Their names were added to the 287 names that grace the wall of Wisconsin’s Law Enforcement Memorial during the 33rd annual Wisconsin Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony Friday. 

One of the names to be added was Joseph Gaber. He worked for the Marinette County Sheriff’s Office. He was killed on May 10, 1929, when a car hit his motorcycle as he was returning home from work.

The other name to be added was Lincoln Edwards. He worked for the Florence County Sheriff’s Office. He was killed on February 1, 1957, after falling through the ice of the Menominee River while assisting with a search.

A total of 289 police officers killed in the line of duty are now honored on the memorial. You can read more about each of them here.

"Each of these heroes are more than a name on a wall,” Harold Weinke, retired police officer and father of fallen Deputy Harold Weinke said. 

Harold knows the pain of adding a name to the memorial all too well.

“My son Richard Weinke’s was the very first name to be engraved on this wall,” Harold said.

Richard was killed in a car crash in the line of duty in Sauk County in 1998.

“Richard Weinke was more than a name on a wall to me," Harold said.

Harold sees his son and all who died in the line of duty as true heroes.

"It's not how they died that made them heroes. It's how they lived," Harold said.

David Raddatz, retired police officer and Vice President of the Wisconsin COPS chapter, said his name could have been added to the wall.

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Students learn on the go with "Careers on Wheels"

ONALASKA, Wis. - On Friday morning, some third grade students in Onalaska learned a special lesson outside the classroom.

"[We're] learning about all these different careers, and we get to listen to all these cool people and what they do," Bo Miller said.

Kids from Irving Pertzsch Elementary and St. Paul Lutheran School got up close and personal with a number of impressive vehicles for careers on wheels at Onalaska City Hall. Each vehicle provided an opportunity for the kids to not only see how they work but also a firsthand lesson from the professionals who operate them.

Maybe it will tell us if you want to do this job and what the job is like," said Jakaylah.

"It's really fun to learn about how all these different vehicles work and what they look like inside," Elliot added.

The kids said it's not only an excuse to get outside the building but also a good way to explore their interests.

"I'm excited about the police station because I get to turn the siren on. It's so loud and fun to turn on," Landon said.

Takumi added, "Garbage trucks only have to push one button, but they used to have to dump the garbage in the garbage truck by hand."

Some who stopped by the News 19 station also expressed interest in reporting.

"Because you get to interview people and it's really cool to interview," said Olive.

Thanks to the teachers and organizers for having News 19 as part of Careers on Wheels. Our thanks as well to the kids for attentive listening and some great questions!

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Woman dead, man and two children injured in crash with parked semi

A woman is dead and a man and two children were injured after a crash on U.S. Highway 151 Saturday morning in Dodge County.

Emergency crews were called to the northbound area of the highway near County Highway M just before 8:30 a.m. for a report of a two-vehicle crash.

Dodge County Sheriff's officials said a 2017 Chevy Sonic had drifted and collided with a semi pulling double trailers that was parked on the paved shoulder. A 38-year-old Fall River woman, who was a passenger in the front seat, died at the scene.

The driver of the Chevy, a 59-year-old Fall River man, was taken to UW Hospital by Med Flight with serious injuries. A 14-year-old girl was ejected from the Chevy during the crash and sustained serious life-threatening injuries. A nine-year-old girl sustained minor injuries.

The driver of the semi, a 32-year-old Oshkosh man, was uninjured. The crash remains under investigation.

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The Weeknd is no more. The Canadian singer has reverted to his birth name on social media.

 (Madison WI Local News Story)

The Weeknd is now officially known online by his real name — Abel Makkonen Tesfaye — after following through on plans to update his social media accounts.

On Monday, the Canadian artist's Twitter and Instagram accounts had updated to display his birth name rather than his artistic name.

And the change is part of a wider plan to "kill The Weeknd," Tesfaye told W Magazine in an interview published May 8.

"I'm going through a cathartic path right now," he said.

"It's getting to a place and a time where I'm getting ready to close the Weeknd chapter. I'll still make music, maybe as Abel, maybe as The Weeknd. But I still want to kill The Weeknd. And I will. Eventually. I'm definitely trying to shed that skin and be reborn."

And Tesfaye revealed that his upcoming album might well be The Weeknd's swansong.

"The album I'm working on now is probably my last hurrah as The Weeknd," he told W Magazine.

"This is something that I have to do. As The Weeknd, I've said everything I can say."

In March, Guinness World Records (GWR) announced that the singer-songwriter is statistically the most popular musician on the planet.

The 33-year-old took two new Guinness World Record titles. He had the most monthly listeners on Spotify, with 111.4 million as of March 20, and also became the first artist to reach 100 million monthly listeners.

A surge in listens was fueled in part by the fact that a remix of "Die for You," featuring Ariana Grande, went viral on TikTok, according to GWR.

The track went to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 — The Weeknd's seventh time at the top spot. The original "Die for You" was released in 2016 on his album "Starboy."

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Hours long stand off in Janesville ends in arrest

 

( Madison,Wisconsin ) News

Police took into custody a wanted person in Janesville Friday evening after an hours long stand off. 

The incident took place on the 300 Block of East Memorial Dr. Officers were initially called to the scene around five, arriving to a person barricaded in an apartment. A perimeter was place around the area with residents being told to avoid the neighborhood. 

The suspect was reportedly on the phone with officers, refusing to exit the apartment. A SWAT team was later brought in to execute a search warrant however, a short time after they arrived the suspect came out of the apartment without incident. 

A search was conducted with officers locating a stolen handgun. 

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Hundreds of police among mourners for slain Wisconsin deputy sheriff

HUDSON, Wis. (AP) — Hundreds of law enforcement officers from several states joined other mourners in paying final respects Friday to a Wisconsin sheriff’s deputy who was fatally shot by a suspected drunken driver during a traffic stop.

The funeral for St. Croix County Sheriff’s Deputy Kaitlin “Kaitie” R. Leising was held in the gymnasium of Hudson High School while a montage of photos from her life were shown on a large screen overhead. Leising's family, including her wife, Courtney, and their 3-month-old son, Syler, stood to the side of the casket, hugging visitors.

Mourners included a large delegation from the Pennington County, South Dakota, Sheriff’s Office, where Leising worked before moving to St. Croix County last yearAfter the funeral, a law enforcement procession was scheduled to take her casket from the high school in Hudson to a church in Baldwin.

Leising, 29, was slain May 6 in Glenwood, about 60 miles (97 kilometers) east of Minneapolis. Leising and the driver she pulled over, Jeremiah Johnson, were discussing field sobriety tests when he drew a handgun and shot her, the Wisconsin Department of Justice has said. She discharged her weapon three times, but none of the rounds hit Johnson before he fled to a nearby wooded area. Leising was pronounced dead at a hospital.

An hour after the shooting, an officer heard a gunshot in the woods. Johnson, 34, killed himself, investigators said.

Leising’s death was the third fatal shooting of an on-duty law enforcement officer in western Wisconsin in a month, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported.

Gundersen Health System hosts active shooter emergency training

A mass shooting is defined as having at least four people who have been hit by gunfire.

So far this year, there have been over 200 mass shootings in the U.S.

In order to properly equip its employees, should a mass shooting occur in a hospital, Gundersen Health System (GHS) is hosting five, thirty-minute information sessions.

Known as A.L.I.C.E (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate), these brief but informative "symposiums" are led by GHS Emergency Manager Tom Wright.

"When these happen in schools, and churches, etc., everybody's saying, 'Well what do we do when it comes here?'" said Wright.

According to Wright, the current gun violence climate forces people to prepare for an active shooter emergency; it's not a matter of if, but when.

"This [session] is about things staff can do to protect themselves, protect the patients...can they actually go up against somebody, and what can they do?" said Wright.

According to Wright, the leading causes of mass shootings in hospitals are "targeted domestic violence," and "disagreements with a diagnosis."

"I ask nobody to run into harm's way...but sometimes harm's way find them."

Wright explained that he strictly teaches GHS-related sessions, however programs like A.L.I.C.E are available.

"Reach out to your local police departments and law enforcement," said Wright, "they often offer active shooter trainings as well."

For information on active shooter emergency trainings, click here.

Story Source: WKBT News8000

Janesville woman arrested after kids found unattended in 'deplorable' living conditions

A 29-year-old woman faces more than half a dozen charges, including child neglect, after police officers in Janesville found two children inside a home where the living conditions were "deplorable," the city's police department said Friday.

In a news release, the Janesville Police Department said its officers conducted a welfare check at a home in the 400 block of North Washington Street around 4 p.m. Thursday. When officers got to the home, they found the kids unattended and their mother, 29-year-old Hailey Brown, asleep in bed.

Inside the home, officers saw drug paraphernalia, marijuana and heroin in plain sight; the release described the home's living conditions as deplorablePolice turned the children over to family members and arrested Brown on charges of child neglect, possession of narcotic drugs, possession of THC, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of bail jumping.

During an initial court appearance Friday afternoon, Rock County court commissioner Jack Hoag set Brown's bond at $10,000 cash with conditions.

A preliminary hearing in the case is scheduled for May 22.

Story Source: WKBT News8000

A truly devastating time': Student killed while waiting to board school bus outside of Reedsburg

REEDSBURG, Wis. -- A student in Reedsburg was hit and killed by a truck while waiting a to board a school bus Friday, according to authorities in Sauk County.

The crash happened at about 7:23 a.m. on Highway 23/33 near Northwoods Drive in the Town of Excelsior. According to the Sauk County Sheriff's Office, a bus for the School District of Reedsburg was stopped on the westbound side of the highway to pick up a student on the north side of the highway.

A person driving a Ford F150 was also headed westbound but failed to slow down in time to stop behind the school bus, instead swerving to the right of the bus to try to avoid hitting the bus. Investigators say the truck sideswiped the rear right side of the bus before continuing across the driveway on the north side of the highway, hitting the student who had not yet gotten on the bus. The truck ultimately came to a stop in the ditch.

First responders tried to save the life of the student, but the child was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck had minor injuries from the crash. Nobody on the school bus was hurt in the initial collision, authorities said.

As of Friday morning, authorities have not identified the name or age of the student killed or the driver of the pickup truck, saying that information is being withheld until family can be notified.

The superintendent of Reedsburg schools, Roger Rindo, sent a letter to parents on Friday morning informing them of the incident.

"This is a truly devastating time for our entire community and it will have far reaching effects," Rindo said in the letter.

Rindo did not identify the student outside of saying they attended Webb Middle School.

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Veterans prepare for Freedom Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.

( LA CROSSE  Wisconsin )

Area veterans prepared for the flight of a lifetime on Friday.

On May 13, Freedom Honor Flight will be flying 100 veterans to Washington, D.C. to see memorials built in their honor.

The single-day visit includes trips to various district memorials like the Korean War Veterans Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

According to Freedom Honor Flight's President-Elect, Kevin Kuchar, volunteers play a big role.

"People want to volunteer every flight," said Kuchar. "After they experience the return, they say 'well let's see if we can volunteer', so we have lots of people who are willing to help, so we really appreciate that."

Nationwide, Freedom Honor Flight has flown nearly 2,500 veterans to Washington, D.C. 

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