APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay police captain has been selected to be the next chief of police in Appleton.

The Appleton Police and Fire Commission have extended a conditional offer to Todd Thomas.

Thomas has spent the past 14 years in supervisory roles for the Green Bay Police Department and is currently the Captain of the Investigations Division. Overall, he has 27 years of law enforcement experience.

Thomas was born and raised in Appleton and served as a community service officer with the Appleton P.D. while attending Fox Valley Technical College from 1985 to 1986.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say one person is hurt following a crash Thursday at the Highway 41-172 interchange.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says it happened around 4:40 p.m. when a 26-year-old Green Bay man was driving his car too close to an SUV and rear-ended it on the off-ramp to 172 eastbound.

The SUV had slowed down in traffic due to a crash farther ahead.

The driver of the car suffered minor injuries. He asked for an ambulance, but then refused to be taken away.

The driver of the SUV, a 35-year-old Green Bay woman, was not hurt.

The exit ramp was closed for almost an hour due to the crashes. Officers continue to investigate.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Officials with the Green Bay Packers are sending out invoices to season ticket holders about playoff tickets and a new way to pay for them.

The team now has a "Pay As We Play" option that allows ticket buyers to set up credit card payments to be processed only for the next confirmed home playoff game, instead of having to pay upfront for all possible home playoff games.

Fans that choose to pay in full must buy the full package and can pay with cash, check or money order, by mail or in-person.

The invoices sent out reflect the best possible playoff scenario: a divisional round and NFC Championship game. Should the Packers not have a home playoff game, or have just one, or if they host a wild card game instead of a divisional playoff game, fans will get a credit toward next season's tickets.

Fans, who want a refund instead of a 2015 credit, need to contact the ticket office in writing.

Green package ticket holders have been invoiced for the same seats they hold during the regular season. Any seats not claimed by Green package ticket holders will be randomly allocated to Gold package ticket holders. Gold package ticket holders have been invoiced for the same number of seats, up to 4; they have during the regular season. Club seat and suite holders are required by contract to buy all their invoiced tickets.

The NFL set the ticket prices, which are based on respective prices for general seating in Lambeau Field. Tickets for a wild card game range from $84 to $108, for a divisional round game range from $111 to $138 and for the NFC Championship Game range from $178 to $219.

Payments are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 3, with tickets being mailed in late December.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - High levels of carbon monoxide led to the evacuation of De Pere City Hall Friday morning.

Workers had reported a strange odor and firefighters tracked the carbon monoxide problem down to a boiler room.

Work crews shut down the boilers so repairs could be made. Ventilation fans cleared the dangerous gas from the building.

People were allowed to re-enter Friday afternoon.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ) - An early morning fire has destroyed a garage in Two Rivers.

Firefighters were called just after 4:30 a.m. Saturday to the 3100 block of Prairie Street.

Authorities say a neighbor reported the fire. No one was injured and damage is estimated at $15,000.

Officials say the cause is unknown, but suspicious in nature pending further investigation.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - One person is dead, and two others are hospitalized following a head-on crash Saturday in Grand Chute.

Authorities say it happened on Northland Avenue (County Highway OO) between Mason Street and Lynndale Drive around 12:45 p.m.

The Wisconsin State Patrol says the driver of a minivan was heading eastbound on Northland, west of Mason. The minivan crossed the center line into the westbound lanes.

The driver of a pickup truck tried to steer to the right to avoid the van. Both vehicles crashed head-on on the westbound side.

Names are not being released at this time. The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash.

Green Bay, WI (WTAQ) - Red Cross volunteers from Northeast Wisconsin have their bags packed....and it's not because they're heading to grandma's house for Thanksgiving.   

At least 4 Red Cross volunteers have stepped up and are heading to Buffalo, New York...as that region deals with record snowfall, and now possible flooding.

Barbara Behling is with Red Cross commnuications and says this group of volunteers have backgrounds in nursing and mental health.

She says the oncoming holiday season makes things even more stressful for the people in western New York. 

More volunteers might be needed within a few days.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's back to winter in Wisconsin, after a mild but foggy weekend.

2 to 7 inches of snow are in the forecast through Monday night, thanks to a low pressure system approaching from the southwest.

Winter storm watches and warnings will begin around mid-morning in most of the state, and continue into early Tuesday.

The state's mid-section is expected to get the most snow, south of a line from Wisconsin Rapids to the tip of Door County. Places along Lake Superior in far northern Wisconsin can also expect up to 7 inches.

The National Weather Service says many areas will get rain first, and then snow -- along with gusts up to 35 miles an hour which could cause drifting.

The far north could get freezing drizzle first. You'll get dry weather for shoveling Tuesday, before a Clipper system from Canada brings another inch or two late Tuesday night into Thanksgiving Eve.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A UW-Oshkosh student will stand trial, accused of making the deadly poison ricin at his home.

On Monday, a Green Bay federal judge ruled there was enough evidence against 21-year-old Kyle Smith. 

Prosecutors say Smith, a senior majoring in biology at UWO, admitted he knew what he was making and shouldn't have been making it.

According to Smith defense attorney William Kerner, Smith never intended to use ricin on humans. Kerner adds that the ricin powder found in Smith's home was castor bean meal, which is used across the country and falls under different laws and regulations.

Authorities did not find lab equipment at his off-campus home.

The judge ruled that Smith is a danger to the public and that he will remain jailed. Smith was previously suspended by UW-Oshkosh and is also barred from going onto campus.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Black Friday won't be as black as in the past, thanks to the numbers of stores opening on Thanksgiving.

K-Mart plans to be open the entire day on Thursday, starting at 6 a.m. Other large chains will wait at least until late afternoon, when families will have had a share their holiday meals together -- or perhaps a football game.

H.H. Gregg plans to open at 4 p.m., to beat the competing Best Buy, which plans a 5 p.m. opening on Thursday evening. Other chains, like Walmart, plan to spread their doorbusters over a five-day period.

No matter when the bargains are offered, the shoppers will be there.

Steve Smith of the Mayfair Mall in suburban Milwaukee said the lines waiting to get into the major stores at 8 p.m. last year were about the same as the 6 a.m. lines of previous years.

Some big retailers still refuse to open on Thanksgiving -- including Costco and Cabela's.

Mills Fleet Farm used its radio ads during Sunday's Packer game to say it allows its employees to enjoy Thanksgiving with their families. The ad said its big bargains could wait for a day.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A Winnebago County judge ruled Monday that one of the suspects in a meth bust earlier this month will stand trial.

Shanon Nowak is facing five charges, including manufacture of amphetamines and possessing meth precursors. Nowak will enter a plea on December 15.

Her co-defendant, Werner Roggenbuck, is due in court Tuesday on similar charges.

According to authorities, officers were waiting to execute a search warrant on November 11 at their Franklin Street home around 5:30 p.m. when a car left the residence.

Cops ended up pulling the car over about a block away. Both Nowak and Roggenbuck were inside.

Inside the house, police say they found meth as well as the equipment needed to make more.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - Charges have been filed against a Waupaca doctor tied to what investigators call a prescription drug "kickback" scheme.

Waushara County authorities say Dr. Juan Preciado-Riestra used to practice in Wautoma, but moved to Waupaca.

Investigators say Preciado-Riestra would write prescriptions for Adderall. Patients who got the prescriptions filled would then return some of the pills to Preciado-Riestra. Adderall is a drug commonly used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The sheriff's department says at least 2 patients in Waushara County are involved. Earlier this month, the 41-year-old doctor was arrested as part of an undercover operation at his office.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - In the wake of several cancellations in other markets, officials with UW-Green Bay announced Monday they were cancelling troubled comedian Bill Cosby's April 12 concert at the Weidner Center.

According to a statement, the performance will not be rescheduled. A spokesperson for UWGB would not comment further and no one from the school was made available to answer questions Monday.

People who purchased tickets with a credit card will have it automatically credited with a full refund by December 10.

Those who purchased tickets with cash or check can bring their tickets to the Ticket Star box office at the Resch Center, 1901 S. Oneida St., Green Bay, or send them to: Ticket Star, P.O. Box 10567, Green Bay, WI, 54307.

Over the weekend, Cosby had his performance at the Treasure Island Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas on November 28 cancelled. A February show at the Desert Diamond Casino in Tucson, Arizona has also been scrapped. 

The cancellations come amid mounting allegations of sexual assault against the comedy icon. 

Cosby did perform a 90-minute show in the Bahamas last Thursday night - without mention of the controversy. He also performed a sold-out show in Melbourne, Florida the next night.

Cosby told "Florida Today" before his sold-out show in Melbourne, "I know people are tired of me not saying anything, but a guy doesn't have to answer to innuendos." He added, "People should fact check." 

Cosby reportedly received a standing ovation at Friday's show. 

Last week, Netflix pulled its comedy special starring the Cosby and NBC dropped a deal for a new Cosby sitcom. TV Land also removed reruns of Cosby's hit '80s sitcom "The Cosby Show" from its programming lineup in light of the allegations.

(Additional reporting from Metro Networks).

DAGGETT, MI (WTAQ) - Three children killed in a snow-related crash Monday night are being remembered in communities in Menominee County, Michigan. 

A candlelight vigil open to all families is set to happen Tuesday at 8 p.m. at Fellowship Bible Church on G-12 Road in Stephenson.

Menominee County Sheriff Kenny Marks says schools in Stephenson will be closed on Wednesday, after they did not open Tuesday due to the snow.

District officials, according to Marks, decided to cancel the scheduled half-day of classes for students to be with their families. Extra counselors will be on hand when school re-opens on Monday.

On Monday night, 40-year-old Susan Meade of Daggett was driving a van with her three children on U.S. 41 when she lost control and veered into the path of a semitrailer. Marks says the semi driver tried to avoid striking the van, but hit it in the side.

14-year-old Michael McCue, 12-year-old Maxwell McCue and 11-year-old Joelle McCue were killed in the crash. Meade remains hospitalized in fair condition at St. Vincent Hospital in Green Bay.

Marks tells FOX 11 that the crash is an, "enormous tragedy."

“It was a great loss of life for our community,” said Marks. “It can’t even be explained what it is for our community to lose three of our children.”

The McCue's attend Stephenson schools. 

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - A man found guilty of helping his uncle commit one of Wisconsin's most notorious murders is now asking a federal court to let him go free.

Brendan Dassey was 16 when he was accused of helping Steven Avery rape, shoot, and burn 25-year-old Teresa Halbach at the Avery family's auto salvage yard on Halloween of 2005.

Halbach was there to take photos of vehicles for Auto Trader magazine.

Dassey's lawyers from Northwestern University contend that he had an ineffective attorney during his trial -- and he was forced to make an involuntary confession.

Both Dassey and Avery were given life prison sentences.

Northwestern Legal Clinic attorney Laura Nieder said her team is asking that Dassey be freed, or at least be given a new trial. A state appeals court said no to a new trial in mid-2013. The State Supreme Court refused to consider the case.

The federal lawsuit contends that Dassey's constitutional rights were violated. The state Justice Department is challenging the defense request. It's not commenting on the case for now.

The Halbach killing drew national attention because Avery had been freed from prison after serving 18 years for a rape he didn't commit. He was among the first in the nation to be convicted with DNA evidence, after he was freed with the help of DNA.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say they're investigating a report of a man walking into a church this past weekend and trying to get a young girl to leave with him.

Authorities say it happened at Our Savior's Church, 1860 Wisconsin Street, around 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The girl didn't go with the man and instead her mother took her home.

Police say the man is white, in his 50's, about 6-feet tall, 250 pounds, with blond hair. He was seen wearing a green winter coat, blue jeans and a blue shirt. A second man in the area was described as also being in his 50's, about 5'11", wearing large glasses with black frames.

Authorities say the two men were last seen on the southeast corner of the church property.

Anyone with information is asked to call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5700.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - It was nearly a year ago when a Green Bay man was killed in a shooting outside a downtown Appleton nightclub.

Now the victim's mother is suing the club and its insurance companies.

On December 8, 25-year-old Joshua Richards was gunned down outside of the Luna Lounge on W. College Avenue.

Chong Lee has been charged and pled not guilty to firing the weapon. No trial date has been set.

Richards' mom, Jacquelyn Pische, says her son's death was due to the club not having enough security and properly trained security guards.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The man convicted of causing a fatal "road rage" crash last year has been sentenced.

On Tuesday, a Manitowoc County judge gave Shawn Lischka 4 years in prison. 

On November 19, 2013, Eric Neuman of Two Rivers was killed when the pickup truck he was driving crashed into a guardrail. The 19-year-old Neuman was thrown from the truck, but three other people inside the vehicle survived.

Two Rivers police say one of the occupants in Neuman's vehicle had a disagreement in Manitowoc. Authorities say they then drove to find the person at another location in Manitowoc, where they found Lischka. Lischka told the group the person they were looking for wasn't there.

“They jumped into the vehicle and took off. That’s when Shawn got in his vehicle and started chasing (them),” Two Rivers Police Chief Joe Collins said.

Police say Lischka sideswiped Neuman, causing him to lose control. Preliminary tests indicated that alcohol and drugs were factors in the crash.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Formal charges have been filed against an Omro man in connection with the death of a man whose body was found at an Oshkosh motel.

Roger Minter is charged with first-degree reckless homicide for the incident that happened October 9.

According to the criminal complaint, Minter and Andrew Hansen got into a fight at Minter's home in Omro.

During the fight, “Minter further described and demonstrated on the wall how he had done a choke slam of Hansen’s head into the AC unit in the barn. Minter stated that immediately after that, Hansen went down into a fetal position at which point he kick stomped him on the left side of his body,” the complaint states.

Hansen got a ride to the Oshkosh motel, where his body would be found.

The medical examiner says Hansen suffered a skull fracture and died as a result of blunt force trauma.

Online court records indicate that Minter had his bond set at $150,000 cash during an initial appearance Tuesday. A preliminary hearing is set for December 8.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)- Eat a little turkey, do a little shopping, then repeat!  Black Friday is almost upon us and after a big turkey feast many of us will be taking advantage of all the specials retailers will be offering.  Over the years the special discount day has evolved into a whole weekend of stores offering big savings for those looking for surperb deals.  With all the discounts at hand, there are a few things you should keep in mind before hitting the stores.

Sandy Chalmers is Division Administrator of Trade and Consumer Protection for  the state of Wisconsin.  She says to pay attention, read the fine print and know what you're walking into. Chalmers suggests keeping an eye on the cash register when you're checking out in case of any discrepancies.  It's a good idea to keep a store ad in hand while you shop so you can be sure of the deal you're getting.  Also, double check the return policies on your purchases and ask for a gift receipt to be on the safe side.

Chalmers reminds consumers that Wisconsin law requires stores to charge their lowest advertised price for a product and to refund any overcharge.  Be sure to review your receipts to make sure you were charged the advertised price.

Happy Black Friday shopping!