KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - A Fox Cities business development group is announcing the first in what's aiming to be a continued flow of job expansion in the area.

An empty part of a Kaukauna industrial park land will soon be home to a 59,000 square foot facility for PolyFlex. The Walworth-based plastics manufacturer is doing the $4 million expansion thanks to the prodding of the Fox Cities Regional Partnership.

“This one represents the first time we have been able to work on somebody coming from outside the area into this region so we are very pleased about it,” Larry Burkhardt with the Fox Cities Regional Partnership tells FOX 11.

40 jobs will be brought to the facility right now, but PolyFlex has plans to double in size over the next few years. Company president Bill Lechner says it was an easy decision to come to the Fox Valley.

“Good business climate, good people and it also fits into our wheelhouse with certain expansion plans as far as customers that we plan on attacking.”

Burkhardt says while luring PolyFlex to the area was the first success for the organization, it has successfully helped several other companies grow and expand since the PolyFlex announcement in February.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Three people, including two children, were taken to the hospital after a fire in Green Bay early Friday.

The call went out just after 3 a.m. at a home in the 900 block of Howard Street on the city's west side.

An adult and two kids were hospitalized for smoke inhalation. 

The fire caused about $15,000 in damage. It's unclear what sparked the blaze.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - An investigation is underway after an early morning apartment fire in Fond du Lac that's put at least four families out of their homes.

The call goes out around 3 a.m. Friday to the Hometown Harbors apartment building. 

Crews say there was heavy fire and smoke on the second floor. Everyone was able to escape safely without injury.

Authorities say the fire was mainly contained to the four apartments on the north end of the building and a firewall helped keep the fire from spreading to the other eight units.

Officials said it was too early to say what exactly happened.

“All I can tell you is that we’re going to do a fire investigation,” Division Chief Troy Haase of the Fond du Lac Fire Department told FOX 11. “We don’t know anything. It’s a lot of hearsay in a lot of cases. There’s no facts yet and when we go through, we’ll investigate and we’ll see what we can come up with.”

Both Alliant Energy and the Red Cross are helping those displaced by the fire.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Charges have been filed against two men in connection with the armed robbery of a Manitowoc convienence store.

The robbery took place at the A-Store Clark gas station, 732 N. 11th Street, on Tuesday morning.

According to police, 21-year-old Tyler Higgins robbed a pregnant clerk at knifepoint. That happened while 37-year-old Eric Blanchette allegedly waited in the parking lot. Both took off with an undetermined amount of cash.

Authorities say one of the suspect was arrested Wednesday, the other turned himself in Friday.

JUNEAU, WI (WTAQ) - Court officials in Door County have completed jury selection in the retrial for Brian Cooper.

Cooper is accused of murdering Alisha Bromfield and her unborn child in 2012 at a Door County resort. Cooper claims he was so intoxicated, that he couldn't form intent to kill Bromfield.

A previous trial ended in a hung jury on the charge of first-degree intentional homicide. That jury did find Cooper guilty of sexual assault for having sex with Bromfield after he shot her.

Officials traveled to Dodge County Friday to pick the jury.

Judge Todd Ehlers ruled Thursday that the jury can be presented with instructions for a lesser offense of first-degree reckless homicide, according to online court records. A decision will be made later if the jury may also be allowed to consider a second-degree reckless homicide count.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Public Service is teaming up with the Environmental Protection Agency and the American Lung Association to help save you money while becoming more green.

It's a wood stove exchange program, where people can get rebates for replacing their old heating appliances with high efficiency products.

WPS has allocated up to $2 million for the program, which has already doled out almost $600,000 in rebates.

“Just getting one of these old conventional stoves out of commission is equivalent to getting five old dirty diesel trucks out. That’s how much particle pollution they emit,” Dona Wininsky with the American Lung Association told FOX 11.

People can get up to $4,000 in rebates, while low income families can receive up to $10,000 for replacing their old stove or furnace.

You can get more information about the program and where you can find a participating retailer here.

BIRNAMWOOD, WI (WTAQ) - A large indoor marijuana growing operation was uncovered in Shawano County Friday morning.

Shawano County sheriff's officials say they were tipped off about the facility in the village of Birnamwood on Thursday.

During a search of the home, deputies removed 30 marijuana plants, growing equipment and other supplies.

The department continues to investigate a 29-year-old man who lives at that home. No arrests have been made.

NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Bergstrom Automotive has announced that it has bought two Kia franchises in the Appleton and Fond du Lac areas.

Terms of the sale were not disclosed Friday.

Bergstrom says it acquired the dealerships from the Russ Darrow Group.

The Neenah-based Bergstrom says it will build a new Kia sales and service facility in the Appleton market within the next year.

In the meantime, that franchise will be located at 1000 S. Nicolet Road in Grand Chute. The Fond du Lac dealership is at 416 N. Rolling Meadows Drive.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Symphony Orchestra will play its final notes during the 2014-15 season.

On Friday, orchestra leaders announced they are ending their run after a century of music.

“It was a very difficult decision to make,” GBSO Executive Director Dan Linssen said in a news release. “However, we cannot continue offering high quality, professional performances not knowing from concert to concert if we’ll be able to cover our costs.”

Several reasons were given for shutting it down, including insufficient financial support, dwindling attendance and season-ticket subscribers and the cost of concerts.

Orchestra leaders point out that in recent years, they have cut staff, worked with musicians to cut costs and reduce rehearsal time, hired professional fundraisers and adjusted programming to try to increase attendance and attract new audiences.

While music director Donato Cabrera plans to step down, orchestra leaders are moving ahead with plans for at least four performances taking place between September and April. If a sponsor is found, they could add a fifth performance.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a 54-year-old man has been arrested and charged after allegedly offering money to a 13-year-old boy for a sex act.

Investigators say Thomas Matuszak followed two teenage boys in his car across the Walnut Street bridge around 3:15 p.m. Thursday. He approached one of the teens in the 100 block of South Broadway, where Matuszak propositioned the boy. The teen refused and just walked away. He told cops that the car drove past him at least another three times.

Police say at this point, another citizen who was following Matuszak's white Ford Taurus notified them of the suspicious activity. Authorities found Matuszak at the corner of Mather Street and Broadway where they made the arrest.

Police are still looking for anyone else who might have information about this incident. Anyone with information is asked to call (920) 448-3208 and refer to case number 14-205141.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The man who drunkenly crashed into a Green Bay police squad car last summer, injuring an officer, learned his fate Friday.

In Brown County court, 26-year-old Ryan Rivard was sentenced to 9 years in prison along with 11 years of extended supervision.

Rivard had pled no contest to several charges, including injury by intoxicated use of a vehicle in March. Five other counts were dismissed as part of that plea deal.

Last August, Rivard was driving 96 miles an hour down Lombardi Avenue when he struck the squad car driven by Officer Tracy Liska.

Liska suffered a broken collarbone, broken rib and punctured lung.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

TOWN OF MORGAN, WI (WTAQ) - Oconto County officials say the Machickanee Forest Shooting Range has been temporarily shut down.

On Thursday night, a handful of residents complained about rapid fire coming from the range and bullets going through some of their yards.

This happens just two days after a town hall meeting was held because neighbors spoke up about stray bullets damaging their property.

Two people told the county bullets came through their yards.

“I did talk to the person that did the complaining and they’re pretty certain,” Bob Skalitzky, the head of the Oconto County Forestry Department, told FOX 11. “He said with 100% certainty it was rapid fire, might have been two or three people.”

According to county officials, as many as a hundred people could be at the range on a typical weekend day. They say it can make it sound sometimes like someone is shooting rapid fire. However, Thursday night's complaints were a bit different.

“If people were using the range properly, shooting at the targets, the backstops would stop the bullets from leaving the range,” Skalitzky told FOX 11.

The county runs the range and they say the earliest it could reopen is Thursday, after the county forestry’s committee meeting.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

BERLIN, WI (WTAQ) - A slow down in business is leading Grede Foundry to lay off 77 workers in Berlin.

The 65 hourly workers and 12 salaried employees affected were notified Friday morning. The layoffs will be completed before July 1.

The foundry will continue to employ 136 workers.

A company spokesman tells FOX 11 that business has been down recently.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters have controlled a fire at an apartment in downtown De Pere.

The call went out Monday afternoon before 2 p.m. to 132 S. Broadway, which is where Century Lanes is located.

Fire officials say it was contained to an apartment on the second floor above the bowling alley. The residents were not home at the time, but several cats were inside. No word on the condition of the pets.

Traffic has been backed up in that area of Broadway and the Claude Allouez Bridge. Drivers are asked to avoid the area.

Stay tuned to WTAQ on air and online for the latest in this developing story.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A crash involving a Green Bay school bus Monday morning leaves one child with minor cuts and scrapes.

An email sent to families from the Green Bay Area Public School District says It happened around 11:30 when the bus, carrying Head Start students, hit a tree as it was traveling on a curved section of Aspen Lane near Burns Avenue.

The bus was heavily damaged, but no one else was hurt.

Officials including the Green Bay Police Department and the State Patrol are investigating.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Shawano County Sheriff's officials say a man who was reported missing last year was found dead in a pond over the weekend.

Family members of 42-year-old Paul Hudson say he had not been seen since last July; however it wasn't unusual to go for long periods of time without hearing from Paul.

But by October, his absence had friends and relatives concerned. Sheriff's investigators say they searched for Hudson unsuccessfully for several months. 

On Sunday around 3 p.m., a body was pulled from a pond near Shawano Lake in the Town of Wescott. Authorities say an initial analysis indicates the body is that of Hudson.

Investigators don't suspect foul play. An autopsy is scheduled for Monday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt met with Walmart officials Monday to discuss some new renderings for a proposed 154,000 square foot store in the Broadway District.

The new designs of the store includes a more unique and retro look to the facade of the Supercenter. 

"We've made some changes that add a little bit more to the density to our plan," said Walmart spokesperson Lisa Nelson. "And also reflect some design changes to fit into the Broadway area to achieve that vision."

But the major sticking point continues to be the size of the store. It's something that both sides are not budging on.

"For 18 months we've been very clear that we can't go down on store size, we can't build a multi-level store here," said Nelson. "This is about building a successful store that will serve our customers in Green Bay."

Nelson would not share with the media those designs. Mayor Jim Schmitt said about the plan after the meeting.

"I did not hear a plan today that I could support that would be in unison with the downtown plan," said Schmitt. 

Also at city hall was Green Bay City Council President Tom DeWane, who likes the work that Walmart has put into these new renderings.

"I think after today, if this doesn't get approved by the council, I think it is done," said DeWane. "They went above and beyond, I don't know what more they could do."

DeWane wouldn't go so far as to say there are enough votes to override a mayoral veto.

Walmart's purchase agreement is up June 14. Mayor Schmitt expects this debate to return to the council at some point.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The car ferry that crosses Lake Michigan at Manitowoc will open its season on May 16th with a cleaner burning coal, as ordered by the federal government.  

The owners of the SS Badger spent over a million dollars to install new combustion controls, as part of a consent decree with the federal EPA and the U.S. Justice Department.  

The boat must reduce its coal ash emissions this year, and eliminate them next year.  

The Badger has carried vehicles for decades between Manitowoc and Ludington Michigan. It's the nation's last steam fired coal burning vessel. CEO Bob Manglitz said the new controls were installed over the winter -- and after the Badger sets sail, they'll know if it will reduce coal usage by the goal of 10 to 15 percent.  

Manglitz said it would not only meet the terms of the consent decree, it would also save on fuel costs.

The Badger was ordered a few years ago to stop dumping coal ash into Lake Michigan. It has received federal extensions while looking for the most efficient method.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

STURGEON BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The murder case that convinced the governor and Legislature to ban "voluntary intoxication" as an allowable defense is having its second trial this week in Door County.  

Testimony began Monday in the case of 37-year-old Brian Cooper of Plainfield Illinois. He's charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and sexual assault in the raping and strangling of 21-year-old Alisha Bromfield and her unborn child in August of 2012.  

Cooper's first trial ended in a hung jury. Authorities said Bromfield had joined Cooper at his sister's wedding in Door County, and she was not interested in rekindling a romance.  

In February, state Assembly Republican Steve Nass of Whitewater told fellow lawmakers that Cooper claimed to be too drunk to have intended to kill Bromfield and her unborn child. Both houses later approved Nass' bill to ban voluntary intoxication as an acceptable defense in future homicide cases.

The governor signed the law in mid-April, about two weeks after the Senate's final passage.

Prosecutor Raymond Pelrine told jurors in his opening statement Monday that Cooper loved Bromfield and "if he couldn't have her, no one could." The defense said the two were a couple at one time, but she got pregnant by another man when she went to college.  

The re-trial is expected to last most of the week.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Menasha are investigating the death of a baby born prematurely back on April 26th.

But that's just where the questions begin.

Menasha officers were not notified about questions surrounding the baby's death until Saturday. They then waited for the parents outside of a local funeral home.

“At no time did we disrupt the services and certainly it is not an ideal situation for us or the family, but following the law and following the procedures, we did have to be there,” Menasha Police Officer Aaron Zemlock told FOX 11. “There was simply information brought forward that there was bruising on the baby, but that can be due to a number of different medical conditions and that is why we have to wait for the autopsy report.” 

The baby boy was born by emergency C-section at Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah back on April 26. Zemlock also says the medical examiner’s office was never contacted by Theda Clark, or Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin in Neenah where the baby died.

“Is it strange that the medical examiner wasn’t notified? I think we are all asking that question, we’re not exactly sure why,” said Zemlock. “We don’t even know that a crime has occurred. As with any suspicious death, once we are notified we have to follow through with certain protocols and complete those investigations.”

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).