OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say a man started an apartment fire after falling asleep while smoking a cigarette.
Fire crews get the call just after 3 a.m. Friday to a complext in the 1300 block of Clayton Court.
Everyone in the complex got out safely, and the fire didn't spread beyond the apartment where it started. Other residents were able to return to their apartments around 5:30 a.m.
The 28-year-old man has been referred to the district attorney's office for possible charges.
KEWAUNEE, WI (WTAQ) - The company that shut down the Kewaunee Nuclear Power plant a year ago is asking for an exemption from federal safety rules for spent fuel rods.
But five U.S. senators want the government to say no.
Dominion Resources will put the spent fuel rods in storage in 2016 -- and federal rules require a 50 mile emergency protection zone around the storage site.
Plant spokesman Mark Kanz tells the Green Bay Press-Gazette that the rule overstates the dangers. He said the spent fuel has been treated for 17 months, and it now shows just a limited impact on the plant's property and no impact off the site.
Kanz says Dominion will provide on site security until the federal government provides a national repository for spent fuel. That's been on the drawing board for years in Nevada, and it's not clear if that project will ever be developed.
In the meantime, four Democratic senators and an independent say Dominion's request should be denied -- along with similar requests for closed nuclear plants in Vermont, Florida, and California.
Senators Barbara Boxer, Kirsten Gillibrand, Patrick Leahy, Bernard Sanders, and Edward Markey all say the sites pose too many risks -- including a possible terrorist attack -- and they want the current rules to stay in force.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - City of Green Bay emails and documents requested by Madison's Freedom From Religion Foundation reveal that Mayor Jim Schmitt and his staff have planned and coordinated a campaign to bring the Pope to Titletown on city time.
"I think that the Mayor is clearly acting as if he's Mayor of the Catholics of Green Bay only," said group co-founder Annie Laurie Gaylor. "It does show that city of Green Bay staff have solicited the Pope's visit on city time and involved in this Catholic campaign during city hours."
According to the group, "The City of Green Bay Personal Policy Chapter 24.4 requires: “Employees must maintain a distinction between sharing personal and official City views,” and requires disclaimers for personal views and opinions, which were not employed by the mayor or his staff."
These comments come almost two months after the Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Mayor Schmitt objecting to his invitation for Pope Francis to visit the Our Lady of Good Help shrine in Champion.
Gaylor says residents need to know what Schmitt is doing during his day, rather than addressing other important issues. She also scoffed at the notion, which Schmitt has previously cited, that it's about economic development.
"It's not going to benefit taxpayers. They're going to get the bill," says Gaylor. "In terms of the security alone, this costs millions of dollars and there have been riots around the world by taxpayers who are upset when they have to fund a visit from the Pope."
WTAQ has reached out to Mayor Schmitt's office for comment, but we have yet to get a return call.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Brown County judge has sentenced one of two teens involved in fights outside of Preble High School to jail time.
17-year-old Trevon Massey agreed to a plea deal, where he was found guilty of substantial battery. He was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years probation.
During Friday's hearing, the judge called the fights inexcusable.
“No one should have to, when they send their child out to school in the morning, receive a phone call from the hospital saying that my son is in the hospital or daughter because they have been substantial battered,” said Brown County Judge Timothy Hinkfuss, according to FOX 11.
The fights back in February injured two students.
Another teen, Davion Austin, has also been charged in the case. He's due in court next month.
(Additional reporting by FOX 11).
FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A Laconia High School student is recovering from a serious freak injury while attempting a Facebook challenge.
16-year-old Kayla Jacob accepted a “cold water challenge” last Sunday in Lake Winnebago. When she jumped off the dock, she landed on a clump of razor sharp zebra mussel shells and split her knee open.
The challenge requires the recipient to perform the dare in 24 hours and nominate three others to complete the same task. If the participant fails to complete the challenge in the time frame, a $100 charity contribution is the alternative.
Family members tell the Post Crescent that her injuries will require several months of physical therapy and recovery. Jacob is also likely to miss her senior year sporting events in high school.
LITTLE CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A man from Little Chute has been arrested after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop while drunk.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a 52-year-old man was stopped by a trooper around 8:30 p.m. Friday. When the cop approached the vehicle, the man then sped off.
A chase ensued, where the trooper followed the suspect to his hom. That's when the man tried running away, but the cop was able to subdue him until backup arrived.
The man is currently behind bars at the Outagamie County Jail. He's facing tentative charges of 6th offense OWI, fleeing an officer and resisting an officer.
SHAWANO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A barn in Shawano County is a total loss after a fire that may have been caused by a lightning strike.
Fire crews were called to the storage barn in the Township of Almon around 5:30 a.m. Monday.
Officials say the barn housed mainly hay, grains and equipment. Crews continue to work on spreading out the hay so that it can burn out on its own.
No word on injuries.
(Additional reporting by FOX 11)
OCONTO, WI (WTAQ) - Oconto High School students are returning to their own digs for the first time Monday since a fire caused nearly $5 million in damage.
Since the April 16 fire, classes were being held at Oconto Middle School while crews cleaned up the building.
Authorities say a 16-year-old student sparked the blaze while smoking in the boys bathroom.
It remains unclear whether the Oconto County District Attorney will file any charges against the student.
RICHMOND, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Shawano County continue to investigate the finding of human remains in a wooded area.
On Saturday, the sheriff's department was called around 5:30 p.m. to some woods in the Town of Richmond..
“As with any situation as this, the case is being handled as a possible homicide at this time,” Sheriff Randall Wright told FOX 11.
According to deputies, a group of young adults found the remains along County Highway MMM. That's west of Shawano. Authorities continue to scour the scene Saturday night and through Sunday.
A group of young adults found the remains. However, few details are being released at this time – leaving many unanswered questions.
Residents told FOX 11 that not a lot of people use the road where the remains were found.
“The remains, artifacts, and evidence have been sent for a forensic exam and autopsy to the Wisconsin Crime Lab,” Sheriff Wright said.
Authorities said they won't release any further information until results of the forensic examinations come back.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin's Oneida Indian tribe will have a new leader come July.
Incumbent tribal chairman Edward Delgado was defeated over the weekend in a primary election.
Two others were nominated for the chair's post -- Greg Matson with 343 votes, and Cristina Danforth with 324. They'll square off in a general election on July 12th.
The primary had seven candidates for the top spot. Preliminary results showed Delgado with 147.
Earlier this year, Delgado won a tribal court battle against those who wanted him removed from office.
A tribal appellate court said there were not sufficient grounds for a removal.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
NEENAH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in the Fox Valley say they'll get plenty of use from a surplus military vehicle to handle high risk SWAT-type situations.
Neenah Police officials say there's been a negative public perception about the mine resistant Caiman multi-terrain vehicle.
It was first announced almost two months ago that Appleton Police and the Outagamie County Sheriff's Department were awarded the 37,000 pound unit, after they applied to get it. Neenah Police will also use it -- and Captain Tom Long tells the Appleton Post-Crescent that his city has averaged 52 to 54 high risk incidents each year over the past decade.
Neenah officials say the Caiman will replace its older armored vehicle, which does not stop high powered bullets. The area received the new unit from the Pentagon's excess property program.
At the time it was announced, Appleton Police said his department had to borrow vehicles from nearby Oshkosh and Green Bay to handle incidents involving high powered weapons -- and having its own unit will make response times faster.
The applicants only had to pay shipping costs, plus equipment to convert the vehicle to police standards.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The amount of cargo that went in and out of the Port of Green Bay was down by 70 percent in April, compared to the same month a year ago.
Record ice covers on the Great Lakes were blamed -- along with a cold and wet spring.
Dean Haen of Brown County's port agency said the drop was not caused by any drop in economic activity.
The port handled about 58,000 tons of cargo last month, down from 196,000 tons in April of 2013.
Only five ships went in or out of Green Bay's port last month, down from 15 boats the year before. The first ship arrived on April 18th, about three weeks later than normal.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Parts of western and southern Wisconsin are getting pounded by rain Monday.
The National Weather Service said 2.4 inches of rain fell near River Falls by mid-morning, and Prairie du Chien had 1.6 inches in just two hours. Colby had just over an inch-and-a-half overnight. Over an inch fell as far north as Clear Lake in Polk County.
In northeast Wisconsin, FOX 11 says thunderstorms are expected this afternoon and tonight with a chance for more strong or severe storms.
The main threats will be high winds, hail and heavy rain. With the rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches expected, there is a concern for flash flooding as well. A flash flood watch for much of the area is in effect until 1 a.m. Tuesday.
There is a dense fog advisory in effect for Lakeshore counties until 3 p.m. Visibility could be cut to a quarter mile or less in those areas.
Electric wires fell Monday morning at Deerfield in Dane County. Three-quarter-inch hail hit Lomira in Fond du Lac County, where a severe thunderstorm warning was in effect until 12:15 in an area from Jefferson to Sheboygan counties.
Much of southern Wisconsin was under a severe thunderstorm watch until 5 p.m. Flash flood watches were in effect until Monday evening in west central Wisconsin, and along Lake Winnebago.
Rain and storms remain in the forecast into early Tuesday. They're expected to head east out of the Badger State Tuesday morning.
(Additional reporting by FOX 11 and Wheeler News Service)
MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - An emergency siren is out of commission after it went off unexpectedly Monday morning in Manitowoc.
The siren at Stangel Elementary School sounded twice between 6:30 and 6:45 a.m.
According to Manitowoc Fire Chief Todd Blaser, the city's 10 sirens are tested every Saturday.
City sirens are activated with a changing tone for one minute in the event of a severe thunderstorm warning; three straight minutes in a single tone for a tornado warning. The rest of Manitowoc County's sirens will only sound in the event of a tornado warning.
Blaser told FOX 11 that city electricians have removed the defective siren's electronic components and are sending those parts back to the maufacturer.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Walmart isn't the only entity offering up a new vision for what a store in Green Bay's Broadway District might look like.
The city of Green Bay's economic development department analyzed Walmart's site plan submitted last week on its website.
According to officials, the new renderings shows little change from the original plan submitted back in January. In both, the retailer wants to build a 154,000 square foot store with 600 parking spaces.
The city then offers up its own plan, which is for a two-story, 150,000 square foot store. The alternate plan also has a parking ramp and four buildings designated for mixed-use development.
It also suggests an alternate site for Walmart's plan, like one on Velp Avenue less than a half-mile away.
The latest proposal from Walmart is scheduled to be discussed at a neighborhood meeting on May 28. Green Bay's Plan Commission will then likely take up the proposal on June 9.
Meantime, Green Bay Alderman Chris Wery on Monday told WTAQ's Jerry Bader that he believes there are enough votes to get the latest Walmart proposal passed. That includes overriding a potential mayoral veto.
"He (Mayor Jim Schmitt) has always been a big bluster guy so we'll see, I think we can overcome that," said Wery. "The anti-Walmart group is figuring if they can be loud and persistent, they'll be viewed as the majority, which I think they're not."
Supporters say Walmart will bring jobs, along with grocery and retail choices that are currently unavailable there.
ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - A Manitowoc man is arrested Monday morning after he was caught trying to meet up with an underage girl in Ashwaubenon.
According to Ashwaubenon Public Safety, investigators were engaged in an online conversation with James Nadeau Sr. for about a week. Officers replied to an online ad he allegedly had looking for sex.
Nadeau agreed to meet with whom he thought was a 15-year-old girl at an Ashwaubenon restaurant. But when he arrived to pick up the girl, officers swooped in.
Charges being recommended are child enticement and use of a computer to facilitate a sex crime. Nadeau is due to appear in court Tuesday.
This arrest is part of the agency's ongoing effort to combat internet crimes against children.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A judge has sentenced a man to six years in prison for robbing multiple Green Bay area convenience stores last year.
According to online court records, John McCabe was also given six years on extended supervision.
Authorities say McCabe confessed to robbing the Walgreens on E. Mason Street in Green Bay, as well as three gas stations in Bellevue, Oneida and Green Bay. It all happened during a four-day span last June.
Family members indicate McCabe lived at the Hilltop Apartments in Allouez, which was heavily damaged by fire the month before.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A man in Appleton has died after he was hit by a semi truck Monday.
Police say it happened on E. Northland Avenue around 4:15 p.m. when he was walking. The semi was driving westbound.
The victim was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police are not naming the victim at this time.
BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County Sheriff's Department says they're looking for a man who used a gun to rob a convenience store in Bellevue early Tuesday.
Sheriff's say it happened at the Grand Central Station on Manitowoc Road around 4:30 a.m.
The man showed a gun and took off with some cash.
Sheriff's say the suspect is described as 5’9″, 180 to 200 pounds, wearing a blue windbreaker jacket. He had a bandana covering his face and was wearing black gloves. We don’t know his age.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Brown County’s Sheriff’s Department at (920) 448-4230.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials now say almost five inches of rain fell in parts of southeast Wisconsin Monday -- and the most fell right outside the doorstep of the National Weather Service.
The state headquarters near Sullivan reported 4.39 inches from 7 a.m. Monday until 1 a.m. Tuesday. Almost 4.9 inches fell at nearby Rome in Jefferson County.
Much of eastern Wisconsin received at least an inch of rain Monday.
Appleton and Green Bay both set new rainfall records for the date -- Appleton with 2.1 inches, and Green Bay with just over an inch.
We Energies had up to 8,500 electric customers without power at one point Monday, amid reports of fallen trees and power lines in southeast Wisconsin with winds up to 60 miles an hour. Tuesday morning, the utility had only 13 outages.
The state's four largest utilities had a total of about 150 customers in the dark as of 6:45 a.m. Tuesday.
More rain is predicted for southeast Wisconsin Tuesday -- but it's supposed to dry and cooler in the rest of the Badger State, with highs in the 50's to around 60.
(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)
