TOWN OF WRIGHTSTOWN, WI (WTAQ) - A barn fire in Brown County is now under control.

Crews were called just after 12:30 a.m. Sunday to a farm at 2768 Poplar Street in the Town of Wrightstown.

Authorities say the fire happened in a feed storage barn. No one is hurt.

It's unclear right now what started the fire or an exact damage amount.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police have taken a man into custody for allegedly crashing his vehicle into a house.

Calls came in to the P.D. around 5 p.m. Sunday about a crash on Highway 41 near W. Mason Street.

The vehicle struck a concrete barrier, spun out and was facing the wrong direction.

Police say the man then drove off the highway on just three wheels. He continued onto Mason with more pieces of the vehicle flying off.

Cops say the man went on to N. Military Avenue, when he slammed into a house. No one was home at the time. 

The driver was not hurt, but officers say he was drunk.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - It appears that Wisconsin's largest police departments will lose the ability to investigate their own officers involved in the deaths of suspects.

And that's got officials bracing for a culture shift.  

Governor Scott Walker has indicated that he'll sign a bill requiring all Wisconsin law enforcement to use outside investigators in officer-involved deaths. That's standard procedure for smaller agencies -- but for the first time, the Milwaukee, Madison, and Green Bay police departments will be judged by outsiders.  

The Associated Press quotes experts who say those outside investigators could be treated with animosity.

Green Bay police lieutenant Chad Ramos expects a number of unknowns. He said his department has transparent investigations, and he wonders why his officers cannot be trusted to investigate themselves.

Dane County and Madison have a pool of investigators that can look into any officer-involved death throughout the county. Milwaukee County has been talking about the same thing.  

Lawmakers of both parties proposed the requirement after three high profile deaths of suspects by officers in Milwaukee, Madison, and Kenosha.  

The state Justice Department said officers killed 41 people from 2008 through last April -- and all were found to be justified.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

PITTSFIELD, WI (WTAQ) - A candlelight vigil and other events are planned this week to remember the one-year anniversary of a woman's disappearance in northeast Wisconsin.  

60-year-old Victoria Prokopovitz of Pittsfield vanished a year ago on Friday.

The family says it hopes the anniversary will cause somebody to remember anything that will help find Prokopovitz. Daughter Stacy Deer says she's losing hope that her mother will ever turn up.  

A reward for information on her whereabouts recently grew from $1,000 to $2,500.

Propokovitz was last seen at her home on April 25th of last year. Authorities said she left her purse, cell phone, and ID behind. She had no medications when she vanished, and her family said at the time that she might be a harm to herself, as she suffers from depression.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - As thousands of runners from around the world were hitting the streets of Boston for the 118th Boston Marathon, athletes in Green Bay were showing solidarity for those affected one year since that tragic bombing attacks.

Dubbed "The Run as One Boston Marathon Tribute Run", about 120 people went to the City Deck in downtown Green Bay wearing blue and yellow, the official colors of the Boston Marathon.

"What a great way to honor the people that were killed and injured in the race last year," said runner Bruce Barris. "I'm thinking I might even have some tears in my eyes when I start, the remembrance of what took place last year and the significance of it all."

Runners and walkers chose between a one, two and three-mile course along the Fox River Trail. Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt led the proceedings and three members of Green Bay West High School's choral group sang the National Anthem.

Megan Brock, who along with her husband ran in the 2013 Boston Marathon, talked about the great connection among runners here in Green Bay, to those in Boston and around the globe.

"It's a very tight knit community. Our connection grew even stronger as a result of the attack that occurred last year," says Brock. "It's actually kind of a healing thing to come here and be a part of this today."

The short event was a cooperative effort involving the Bellin Run, the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon, Downtown Green Bay and the City of Green Bay, the run/walk will honor those killed or injured in the 2013 Boston Marathon tragedy while also celebrating the perseverance and strength of those in the Boston community and across the nation.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Seven more Wisconsin counties are being added to the state's Family Care program, which provides Medicaid-funded long-term care to the elderly and disabled.  

Governor Scott Walker went to a facility in Green Bay Monday morning to announce the expansion.

Family Care is designed to keep more seniors in their own homes, and out of nursing homes.

Enrollments were frozen in 2011, soon after Republicans took control of state government. The federal government ordered the caps to be removed, and the state did that -- but it still limited the numbers of counties using Family Care to its previous 57.  

In a statement, the Republican Walker pointed out that long-term care costs could be reduced by almost $35 million over ten years by expanding the program to the seven new counties. Those counties are Brown, Door, Kewaunee, Marinette, Oconto, Shawano, and Menominee counties.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A former Wisconsin lawmaker has officially announced he will seek the state Senate seat being vacated by Mike Ellis.

Roger Roth issued this statement Monday:

"I am encouraged by the tremendous outpouring of support from my friends, family and neighbors across the Fox Valley and I know that I can once again be a strong voice in Madison. I have always believed that it is an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Wisconsin and I greatly look forward to doing my part as a citizen legislator to continue moving our great state forward."

Roth, who lost in a 2010 primary for the 8th Congressional District to eventual winner Reid Ribble (R-Shorewood), gave up his Appleton-area seat in the Wisconsin Assembly.

The military veteran is the lone Republican to enter the 19th state Senate district race. Appleton's Penny Bernard Schaber is the only Democrat that has announced a bid for that seat.

Ellis chose not to seek re-election in the wake of an undercover video showed him making some controversial comments.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Cell phone video involving Green Bay police is making the rounds on social media.

Now a police lieutenant says the department is investigating whether one of its officers acted inappropriately.

The person who shot the video says it is from an incident after bar close on Friday night in downtown Green Bay. 

In the video, you can hear a person yelling profanities at an officer. The officer then pins the person on a squad car and then takes him down to the ground.  

Police could release more information on this case later Tuesday.  

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - State lawmakers are raising concerns, after reports that Green Bay Police have occasionally confiscated driver's licenses and mailed them back to people with their traffic citations.  

Chris Develice of Fond du Lac tells FOX 11 that an officer kept his driver's license after he failed to follow traffic directions when leaving a Packers' playoff game -- and his license got lost in the mail and he had to apply for a duplicate.

He said he needed the license not only to drive home, but as an ID for an upcoming cruise he was planning to the Bahamas.  

Green Bay Police Chief Tom Molitor said that the officer couldn't get his pen to work, so he couldn't write a citation on the spot. The chief defended the officer's decision to confiscate the license and mail it with the ticket.  

After the license got lost, Molitor said he wouldn't have a problem with his agency paying to replace it.  

State Senate Republican Rick Gudex of Fond du Lac says it does not appear to be a statewide problem -- but if something needs to be clarified, chief of staff Tim Lakin told FOX 11 they would propose a bill to address it.  

Senate GOP President Mike Ellis of Neenah said seizing the license broke state law and could have opened the driver to being an identity theft victim.  

Molitor told the station he's not encouraging officers to confiscate licenses, but he's not ruling it out.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man was hospitalized Monday after he collapsed in a large fuel storage tank in Green Bay.  

Firefighters were called just after 11 a.m. to the U.S. Oil Company's tank farm.  

Rescuers said they were challenged by a floating floor inside the tank, which moves up and down to prevent explosive gas vapors from building up.

The man was put in a rescue basket, and was then brought up to the roof of the fuel tank.  

A ladder truck brought him to the ground, an ambulance then took him to a hospital. His condition was not disclosed at last word.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Two more people announced their candidacies today for the Sixth District U.S. House seat to be given up by long-time GOP incumbent Tom Petri.  

As expected, state Senate Republican Joe Leibham of Sheboygan became the third Republican in the race. Winnebago County Executive Mark Harris of Oshkosh was the first Democrat to join the field.  

Leibham noted that Tuesday is Wisconsin's Tax Freedom Day -- the day you start working for yourself, after making enough since the first of the year to pay the average tax obligations. Leibham called that "unacceptable," and he pointed to over $2 billion in state tax relief that he supported while in the Legislature.  

Harris says he'll campaign on raising the minimum wage, making college more affordable, and more funding for highway repairs and to preserve Social Security.

Leibham joins state lawmakers Glenn Grothman and Duey Strobel in the Republican field.

Manitowoc Mayor Justin Nickles has said he's considering a Democratic bid. It's the first time in 35 years that Petri's House seat has opened up.  

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - Ten people were arrested during a drug sweep in Fond du Lac yesterday. Police say the arrests were a result of joint investigation with the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit. Nine of those arrested were wanted on arrest warrants. The ten are facing cocaine trafficking and heroin trafficking charges. Eight others are still being sought. Police Chief Bill Lamb says his department is continuing to investigate and arrest those individuals who choose to deal illegal drugs in the community.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Businesses affected by the downsizing of the Oshkosh Corporation will get the state's help to replace the military business they'll lose.  

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation says it will issue short-term loans and loan guarantees of up to a quarter-million dollars each. The agency said it was planning to begin a pilot loan program sometime after July -- but it's proceeding now, in order to help companies affected by new layoffs at the Oshkosh plant.  

That firm recently said it would lay off 760 people. It's because of a slowdown in military vehicle production, due to the ending of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.  

Suppliers like metal fabricators and machine shops will also feel the pinch.  

WEDC leader Reed Hall says it's imperative for companies that rely on dwindling defense contracts to diversify, and explore new products and markets.  

The agency said the loan program could eventually expand to help other Wisconsin companies.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - Shawano County prosecutors are expected to file charges by the end of the week against a man arrested for holding a McDonald's manager hostage.  

The 28-year-old suspect from Gillett was sent to jail after he was checked out at a mental health center.

Authorities said he had symptoms of severe depression during Tuesday's incident at a combined Mickey-D's and Shell gas station in Wittenberg.

The man reportedly allowed everyone else to leave before he held the 26-year-old restaurant manager at gunpoint for about an hour on Tuesday afternoon. The male hostage was let go without injury, and officials said the suspect surrendered an hour later after negotiations with officers.  

He did not ask for money from the store, and there's no apparent relationship between the gunman and the hostage.  

Online court records showed that the man only had previous traffic offenses on his record -- including first-time OWI and driving with a revoked license.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A statewide tornado drill is still on for Thursday.

It would have been called off had severe weather been predicted for real.  

With rain in the forecast, the National Weather Service said it consulted with state officials and the broadcasters association -- and they agreed to go ahead with the drill.  

It gives schools, businesses, and residents a chance to practice what they'd do in the event of a real twister. A simulated tornado watch will be issued at 1 p.m. -- and you should hear the sirens go off when the test tornado warning goes out at 1:45 p.m. The drill will be finished by 2 p.m.  

It's part of Wisconsin's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week.

The Badger State averages 23 tornadoes each year, but it only had 16 a year ago. The weather service says most tornadoes occur in May and June, but they can happen anytime when conditions are right. Most twisters touch down between 3 and 9 p.m.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say a woman was mugged and had her purse stolen outside a bar overnight.

Police were called around 2:20 a.m. Thursday from a 29-year-old woman who was waiting for a cab in the back parking lot of Screwballs, 216 N. Main Street. She called to report she had been in a dispute with another woman inside the bar.

While on the phone, she told dispatchers "they're coming back," and dispatchers heard her yell "get off me."

The victim said her purse was taken. Police indicate she was also punched in the attack. 

The two women ran north on State Street after the robbery.

She told authorities that she first encountered the two women who stole her purse inside the bar, but did not know them.

The purse, which contained personal belongings and some money, was black and made of leather.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5742. Anonymous tips can also be left with Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers at (920) 231-8477, online or by sending a text message with the keyword IGOTYA to 274637.

OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - Oconto police said Thursday that a fire which heavily damaged Oconto High School was caused by a student smoking in the boys' bathroom.

In a press release, the Oconto Police Department identified a 16-year-old student as a person of interest after reviewing surveillance video and interviewing students and staff members. Firefighters interviewed the student, who said he left class early and went to the bathroom, where he smoked a home-rolled cigarette.

About 10 to 15 minutes later was when the fire was discovered. According to investigators, no one else used the bathroom after the boy.

Police believe the fire is accidental from the cigarette being used close to a toilet paper dispenser.

Authorities say the boy is being referred to the Oconto County Department of Human Services.

SHAWANO, WI (WTAQ) - Charges have been filed against a Black Creek man who allegedly assaulted a Gillett man outside of a bar last weekend.

According to court documents, 22-year-old Cody Chapin has been charged with second-degree reckless injury in the attack that left 27-year-old Kyle Patzer with multiple skull fractures, blood clots and bleeding on the brain.

“We’ve had quite a bit of success since the investigation began,” Shawano County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Tom Tuma told FOX 11. “The public exposure – via social media – and the television media did help in getting some of these folks convinced that it was time to bring an end to some of these activities.”

Chapin appeared in court Thursday and is free on a $15,000 signature bond.

According to the criminal complaint, Chapin admits to having drunk too much, lying to police and grabbing Patzer by his chest and shoving him. Court documents say Chapin thought Patzer was hitting on his girlfriend – which she denies.

The incident took place on Warrington Avenue in Cecil around 1 a.m. Saturday. Cops arrived to the scene and found Patzer.

Authorities say some people are still not cooperating with investigators. They continue to interview witnesses and expect more arrests to be made.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Officials in the Appleton area say they're ready for this year's tornado season.  

Outagamie County emergency management officials were heavily criticized last August, after outdoor tornado sirens failed to sound in advance of six tornadoes which hit the region. Those twisters caused over $31 million in damage.  

There was statewide tornado drill Thursday afternoon as part of Wisconsin's Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week. It's not only designed to test responses by homes and institutions in the event of a real tornado -- it's also designed to make sure the sirens work.  

Outagamie County Emergency Management Director Julie Loeffelholz said sirens are tested each Saturday during the summers, and the first Wednesday of every month. She tells FOX 11 that sirens and their software are also tested inaudibly each day.  

Meanwhile, county Public Safety Committee chair Jim Duncan says he now feels confident that folks can be warned in a number of ways -- including on Facebook and Twitter.  

A repeater tower and a backup generator are online, and a backup repeater is being created as well.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An open carry advocate is planning to bring some gun-toting friends to downtown Green Bay this weekend in response to a police incident last weekend.

Charles Branstrom says he'll be with a small group at bar close early Sunday morning on Washington Street openly carrying firearms.

“Everybody I know has a cool head, I don’t see a problem with it,” Branstrom told FOX 11. “I guess it’s up to Green Bay police if it’s going to turn bad or not.”

Branstrom says it's designed to show opposition to how Green Bay Police Officer Derek Wicklund acted in a now viral cell phone video.

FOX 11 asked Branstrom why he is holding the event, and what his gun-rights message has to do with the video.

“We’re doing this just to show that we’re not going to stand by and let police brutality happen,” said Branstrom. “It seems to be a growing trend.”

Branstrom says police acted inappropriately toward him last year while he was legally carrying a gun.

Green Bay Police Department Lt. Chad Ramos is reacting to the plans from Branstrom and his group.

"Unfortunately maybe Charles and some of these other advocates are looking for a reaction out of police," said Lt. Ramos. "We just want to make sure we are ethically and morally doing what's correct and right on the street and not to be driven by emotion."

Ramos says their concern isn't open carry; it's holding this event where people are drinking and possibly emotional about the issue.

"I hope that those individuals understand going into this, while they may have some supporters, with the emotionally charged incidents that just happened, there's certainly going to be some intoxicated people down there that may not agree," Ramos said.

Police won't comment on what, if any, action they plan to take. However, Ramos says the words of Branstrom could be taken a certain way.

"An inference can be taken from their comments that if they see something they deem inappropriate, being there exercising their 2nd Amendment right, they're not going to stand by and let it happen," Ramos said. "You're suggesting that your action may include that firearm. Now I hope a cooler head would prevail."