GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An Oshkosh man jailed for alleged possessing the deadly toxin ricin is now facing a second charge.

Online court records show that Kyle Smith is due to enter a plea Thursday on two charges, one of which carries a possible life prison term, if convicted.

The indictment, which was filed Wednesday, offers slightly different descriptions for each count:

Count 1 alleges Smith “did knowingly develop, produce, retain, and posses a toxin, Ricin, for use as a weapon and did attempt to do the same.”

Count 2 alleges Smith “did knowingly possess a toxin, Ricin, which was not in its naturally occurring form and was of a type and in a quantity that, under the circumstances, was not reasonably justified as a prophylactic, protective, bona fine research, or other peaceful purpose.”

Count 1 carries a potential sentence of life in prison, while Count 2 has a 10-year maximum sentence. The original criminal complaint only included the second count.

According to the complaint, 2 of Smith’s UW-Oshkosh professors contacted police, concerned he was making the poisonous ricin.

The Oshkosh Police Department and Wisconsin National Guard found a vial of white powder and a lab notebook during a search of Smith’s home. Those items were analyzed by the Department of Homeland Security in Maryland. According to the criminal complaint, those tests confirmed the white powder was active ricin.

Ricin is manufactured from the bean of the castor plant. Owning the plant is not illegal.

The search warrant says Smith’s roommate told police the suspect has three castor plants in the backyard of the home. However, according to the search warrant, no plants were recovered.

Officials say the public was never in danger of being exposed to the deadly poison.

The court documents say Smith admitted to police he began the process to make ricin. Smith is quoted in the complaint as saying he was fascinated by “using something living to harm something living.” It goes on to say, Smith told police he wanted to test the ricin on mice or insects and that he did not make plans to harm any people with it.

Smith’s defense attorney, William Kerner, said at a previous court hearing his client is in treatment for depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Kerner argued Smith is not a danger to the public, because there is no proof he wanted to hurt anyone with the Ricin.

UW-Oshkosh placed the student on emergency suspension.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities say a second man has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery in Ashwaubenon.

Public Safety officials say the 24-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday. He, along with another man, are suspected of robbing the PrePlayed store on S. Oneida Street last Friday. PrePlayed sells used CDs, movies and video games.

Neither man has been formally charged.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A judge has ordered a man accused of causing another man's death during a fight in Omro to stand trial.

Online court records show that Roger Minter will enter a plea to charges of reckless homicide and aggravated battery on December 22.

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 did get a ride to an Oshkosh hotel, where his body was found.

The medical examiner says Hansen suffered a skull fracture and died from blunt force trauma.

Kaukauna, WI (WTAQ) - Details are few, but the Park Community Charter School in Kaukauna, that's at 509 Lawe Street, is closed for the day because of a police situation at a residence in the neighborhood. 

No word yet on what sparked thre police response.....but a man inside the in the 300 block of Taylor Street has surrendered without incident, and no one was hurt.  

Bob Schaffer, business manager for the Kaukauna School District, says police first contacted them a little after 5:30.

Police believed the man inside the home was is armed. 

Two women were in the home, but left without any problems.

Dozens of officers were on the scene.....but never asked neighbors to leave or stay inside their homes.

Washington D.C. (WTAQ) - The Pentagon has decided not to cancel a troubled shipbuilding program with important economic connection to northeast Wisconsin.  

The Navy will upgrade its Littoral Combat Ship program, instead of cancelling it entirely.

Marinette Marine builds many of those advanced fighting ships but the program was in jeopardy due to the viability of the ships in combat and how expensive they can be.

Earlier this year defense secretary Chuck Hagel approved a plan to reduce the number of LCS's being built.  Now, he's agreeing to upgrade the ship program rather than scrap it. 

U-S Senator Tammy Baldwin calling this great news, because there won't be any breaks in production in Marinette where the work is done.  

Marinette Marine has six Littoral Combat Ships currently being built.

Oshkosh, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh P-D continues to investigate a hit run crash from late Thursday afternoon.  

This happens a little after 5:30 in the intersection of Oshkosh Ave and North Westfield Street. 

The suspect vehicle is described as white station wagon with wood grain paneling.  It's similar to the one you see above this article.

The vehicle should have entensive front end damage and may be missing the front bumper. 

The driver and four kids were in the vehicle that was hit.  A 12 year taken to the hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

No injuries to the others in the vehicle that was hit. .

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The man convicted of the fatal hit and run crash involving a bicyclist in Appleton last year will spend eight years in prison.

James Erdmann Jr. was also given 10 years of extended supervision. During each of those 10 years, Erdmann will spend a day in prison on the anniversary of the crash (November 9) and on Robert Joosten's birthday (March 2).

Joosten was riding his bicycle near E. Wisconsin Avenue and N. Ballard Road during the early morning hours of November 9, 2013. Erdman struck Joosten and didn't stop. He was also driving with a suspended license.

KESHENA, WI (WTAQ) - The Menominee Indian Tribe complete work to reduce flooding along parts of the Wolf River on Friday afternoon.

The National Weather Service has a flood warning in effect until 8 p.m. Saturday.

Tribal officials used heavy equipment to help break up an ice jam on the Wolf River. However, environmental experts say it will be several days before high water goes away in downtown Keshena.

“Using an excavator to open up a channel on the eastern side of the river that would allow water to flow along the near shore of the main channel of the river and bypass the jam,” Jeremy Pyatskowit, the tribe’s director of environmental services, said to FOX 11.

Mechanical work started at 9 a.m. Friday and finished by late that afternoon. Explosives were not used and about 10 people were involved in the effort.

The jam is about three-quarters of a mile south of the Keshena area. The section of the river is about 100 feet wide and up to 7 feet deep.

“One of the factors that also play into this is the weather conditions that we’re going to have this weekend,” Pyatskowit told FOX 11. “It’s supposed to be a little bit warmer, and there is potential for some rain. So that may in fact actually help the situation in terms of getting some of that ice to melt down in the actual ice jam.”

Nearly a dozen homes and businesses in Keshena have been threatened by the water.

Ben Warrington, the Menominee Tribe’s Emergency Management Coordinator, tells FOX 11 people downriver were notified before the work began, and emergency crews were on standby.

The tribe says ‘frazil ice’ is responsible for the jam.

“What you’ll see is little cakes of ice floating down, and those can actually clump together enough, they’ll adhere to the bottom. And when they get into the right situation, they can form a dam – usually from the bottom up,” said Pyatskowit.

He says the ice buildup is different than one that might develop in the spring.

“Without having gone out and drilled holes, you would have just gone past it and went, ‘Well jeez, this doesn’t really look like much, it’s just a little irregularity on the surface.’ But as we went out and drilled holes to test them, there was no current going by any of those holes,” he said. “So that’s how we determined that’s where the actual site of the jam was located.”

Warrington says thousands of sandbags have been filled for people to use. Thousands of additional sandbags were set to arrive Friday.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

BUFFALO, NY (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Packers offense had problems all day, as the Buffalo Bills downed the green and gold 21-13 Sunday.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers finished the day 17-of-42 for 185 yards and 2 interceptions. Rodgers came into the game with just 3 interceptions on the season.

Rodgers' inaccuracy, coupled with multiple drops by receivers, made for a rough day for the Packers (10-4) offense. Eddie Lacy scored the lone touchdown for the Pack, and finished with 97 yards on 15 carries.

Bills running back Marcus Thigpen returned a punt 75 yards in the first quarter for the lone TD for Buffalo (8-5). Kicker Dan Carpenter added 4 field goals.

The Bills iced the game after defensive end Mario Williams stripped the ball away from Rodgers and it rolled into the end zone for a safety. The play came inside of 2 minutes left in the game, and by rule the ball is blown dead at the spot of the recovery, made by Lacy.

Get a full recap of the Packers loss with Mark Daniels and Matt Z on the 5th Quarter, Monday at 5 p.m. on 1360/97.5 WTAQ News Talk Sports.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Police have arrested a man following a chase Saturday that eventually led to a multi-vehicle crash.

Authorities say they responded just before 10 a.m. for reports of someone tampering with mailboxes near Western Meadows Drive on Green Bay's west side.

Officers arrived and the suspect fled in a vehicle. The chase began, but the cops called it off once it became too dangerous. The suspect was going as fast as 105 miles per hour while weaving in and out of traffic on W. Mason Street, according to police.

Authorities followed the suspect in the last direction they saw him going and called off the chase. Then, the multi-vehicle accident happened on Highway 41 near Lombardi Avenue.

It happened on US 41 southbound at Lombardi Ave. Officers responding to that crash located the suspect. The 31-year-old Milwaukee again tried to flee, but he was chased down on foot and taken into custody.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - A fire at a Grand Chute truck dealership causes heavy damage on Saturday.

Crews from Grand Chute and the Appleton Fire Department helped contain the fire at Fox Valley Truck.

No word yet on a cause or how much damage was done.

Fox Valley Truck repairs heavy duty truck and trailers.

TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ) - A fire late Saturday has put a family of seven out in the cold.

Crews were called to a home just before 11:30 p.m. to the 2100 block of 10th Street.

Firefighters say the blaze started in a second floor bedroom and was under control in about 20 minutes.

The cause of the fire is not known, but it caused about $20,000 in damage.

The Red Cross is assisting the family.

WITTENBERG, WI (WTAQ) - Seven people were injured Sunday in a two vehicle crash during heavy fog on the Highway 29 four-lane at Wittenberg in Shawano County.

Sheriff's deputies said a westbound truck crossed a median near an overpass, and collided head-on with an approaching minivan.

The truck driver and all 6 people in the minivan were taken to hospitals with undisclosed injuries.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

KESHENA, WI (WTAQ) - A flood warning has been extended until noon Wednesday for southern Menominee County.

Crews used heavy equipment on Friday to loosen up three ice jams on the Wolf River. But officials say it could still take a few days to remove all the flood waters from downtown Keshena -- where the river overflowed onto Highway 47 Sunday.

The National Weather Service said runoff from melting snow, and light rain through tonight could produce fluctuating water levels on the Wolf River at least through mid-week.

Ben Warrington, the emergency management coordinator for the Menominee Indian tribe, said crews went out Sunday to survey the river. They were looking for exact spots where the water's being held up, plus other possible reasons for the flooding.

The survey results are expected to be released Monday afternoon at a news conference.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Police in De Pere are investigating a tavern robbery over the weekend where two people were held against their will.

It happened at Replay Bar and Grill, 1731 Fort Howard Avenue, around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. 

Police say three people broke in to the business and took an undisclosed amount of money.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Sgt. Steve Yedica at (920) 339-4078. Anonymous tips can also be left with Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 432-7867, by text message with the keyword GBTIP to 274637 or online.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a man has been arrested in connection with the death of a four-month-old child.

Authorities say the investigation began after the baby's death in June. 

On Monday, the P.D. issued a statement announcing the arrest of 20-year-old Queondrai Leondarus Farris in Milwaukee.

Farris faces charges of first-degree reckless homicide and reckless child abuse with the probability of causing great harm.

According to the criminal complaint, police and paramedics responded to a home on University Avenue on June 25. There, police found the lifeless child and efforts to revive her were unsuccessful.

The autopsy showed she “died of compressional asphyxia.” The girl also suffered from a variety of bruises on her head and face. “It is possible the pattern of the bruising to the infant’s scalp was inflicted by a hand forcefully pressing down on the side of the infant’s head in a prone position,” the complaint states.

During questioning, Farris said he was trying to keep the child quiet – and he held the girl’s head against his chest to do so – but that the death was an accident, according to the complaint.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Drivers in Wisconsin will get to use a new interstate starting next fall.

Inside the federal omnibus appropriations bill approved in Washington D.C. last week was a provision to allow a stretch of U.S. Highway 41 to be converted to Interstate status.

The road stretching from the Illinois border to the Green Bay area needed special approval because the current weight limit of 100,000 pounds is higher than the general Interstate weight limit of 80,000 pounds. Area businesses say their trucks routinely carry more than 80,000 pounds.

Officials with the Wisconsin DOT say they plan to replace or modify 3,500 signs along the route beginning next September. The project is expected to begin after coordination with the Illinois Dept. of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration and a bid process.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The man accused of killing a resident during a burglary in the Town of Menasha is pleading not guilty.

In Winnebago County court Monday, Sean Oehlke entered that plea to charges of first-degree reckless homicide, burglary and felony murder. No trial date was set, but a court official says Oehlke is due back in court for a plea hearing February 16.

On October 24, Town of Menasha police say Oehlke broke into an apartment on Wilson Court and a confrontation led to the death of William Summers. 

According to the criminal complaint, Oehlke put Summers in a headlock until the victim went limp.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A no contest plea was entered Monday by a woman who was behind an attempted child abduction later found to be a hoax.

Jessica Schmitzer of Oshkosh was charged with misdemeanor obstruction, but her case will be expunged as part of a deferred prosecution agreement, if she stays out of legal trouble.

Back in mid-August, Schmitzer posted on Facebook that someone tried to steal her child in the parking lot of the Walmart store in Darboy.

The original post read: “Pay close attention to your children at Walmarts in the area. When I was unloading my car a woman told me how cute my son was. A man came up behind me, telling me I dropped my wallet. When I turned to him, his wife tried to steal my son out of the cart. The post goes on to say, “The Appleton police department are aware and will be viewing tapes. Please watch your children closely.”

The criminal complaint showed that police investigated the woman's claims and they turned out not to be true.

“Jessica’s false account of an alleged attempted abduction of her child squandered a great deal of (Appleton Police Dept.) time and resources. This also complicated the duties of APD PCT staff in responding to the plethora of calls from citizens and news agencies alike demanding information and updates about this hoax. Additionally, by way of social media and news agencies, Jessica created an environment of fear and concerns for safety and security throughout the community,” states an Appleton police report attached to the complaint.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin will get a small dose of winter Tuesday, with possible snow and falling temperatures.

Northwest winds will replace a low-pressure system that's moving east. Mixed precipitation is in the forecast for the entire state later Tuesday -- including freezing rain in some spots.

For the latest forecast and radar, click here.

Places along Lake Superior can expect a few inches of lake effect snow into Wednesday. Highs are supposed to be about 10 degrees cooler than Monday, in the 30's in most places.

A high-pressure system is due in Wednesday, bringing dry weather and even colder temps. By Thursday, no place in Wisconsin might be any warmer than the mid-20's.

Highs will moderate to around 30 by Friday, as partly cloudy skies continue into the weekend.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)