Month: June 2020

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Demonstrators protesting a Black man's arrest in the Wisconsin capital say they pulled down two statues with no ties to racist history because the sculptures send a false message that the state and the city have achieved racial equity. In reality, Madison remains as deeply segregated and troubled by racial disparities as any other American city.  Studies show Black students lag significantly behind their white peers, […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An assault on a biracial woman in Wisconsin is being investigated as a hate crime after the woman told police she was burned by lighter fluid thrown at her and ignited by a white man. The reported attack came in Madison just a few blocks from violent protests around the state Capitol. The woman told police she was driving near the Capitol at about 1 a.m. […]

A  man has been sentenced in Portage County to nine years in prison for his role in a fatal drug overdose. Forty-six-year-old Jason Meisel earlier pleaded guilty to first-degree reckless homicide in the death of Gary Mayek of Junction City. A criminal complaint says Meisel and Mayek were together Jan. 5, 2019, at the Super 8 Hotel in Plover doing drugs when Mayek died. The complaint says an autopsy found […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin appeals court has ruled that taking blood samples without a warrant from incapacitated drivers suspected of driving drunk is unconstitutional. The 4th District Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a provision in state law that allows for such samples to be taken violates the Fourth Amendment that protects against unconstitutional search and seizure. The decision throws out a long-standing state law provision stating that […]

Following the recent drowning of a Fond du Lac man in the Fond du Lac River and with the Fourth of July holiday right around the corner Fond du Lac County law enforcement and first responders are getting the message out about being safe when out on the water.   Fond du Lac Fire and Rescue Division Chief of Fire Prevention Garth Shumacher  says with many pools closed this summer due to the pandemic […]

A former Mayville police officer convicted of misconduct in office has avoided prison.   Dodge County Circuit Court Judge Brian Pfitzinger has withheld sentence and placed Mark Forster on five years probation with nine months in the county jail.   Forster was also ordered to undergo sex offender treatment.   According to a criminal complaint Forster had a relationship with a 17 year old girl, including sexual contact with the girl when he was on duty.   Earlier […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A new Wisconsin poll finds that 61% of respondents support Black Lives Matters protests happening across the nation. The latest Marquette Law School poll released Wednesday was conducted before protests in Madison saw two statues torn down and a state senator assaulted by protesters. The Wisconsin State Journal reports the poll also found 72% of respondents said they have a favorable view of police compared with […]

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources board has approved allowing allow the agency to begin drafting regulations implementing restrictions on firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals. Wisconsin Public Radio reports Wednesday's vote was unanimous. Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill in February that bans the use of firefighting foam except in emergencies and testing at facilities with DNR-approved containment and disposal protocols. The DNR must write regulations […]