GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Brown County’s District Attorney’s office is dealing with a backlog of over a thousand referred charges, and now the County Board is looking at tossing $150,000 to them to get caught up. 

Last week, the Brown County Public Safety Committee approved the funds to hire a second attorney to handle the backlog that is mostly referred drug related charges. 

For years, DA’s office has been severely understaffed.  There are only half of the 24 recommended attorneys, because the state isn’t pulling their weight with funding.

District Attorney David Lasee says it is a statewide issue with a shortage of more than 200 prosecutors.   

The County Board of Supervisors has the final say on the funds and will take up a vote at their next meeting. 

The Brown County Drug Task Force is doing its job and Lasee says they want to make sure they can do theirs.  One case could have several charges referred.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A homeless Green Bay man has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide charges involving a heroin overdose death. 

Prosecutors say 22-year-old Richard Kellogg provided the drugs that killed 29-year-old Joshua Olson from De Pere.

Kellogg told investigators that “Josh couldn’t handle the H”. 

Olson and Kellogg met a rehabilitation center. 

Kellogg pleaded guilty last week. 

Sentencing is scheduled for next month where Kellogg is facing up to 25-years in prison.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Special recognition was handed out Monday to the Village of Howard for being a good place to do business.

A 77-acre property on Marley Street has been selected as a Wisconsin Certified Site. That means it's pre-approved for large industrial development.

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation officials were on hand at Mills Center, which was one of nine recognized certified sites in the state.

"This is a place where individuals that want to site businesses, coming into Wisconsin or relocating in Wisconsin or expanding in Wisconsin can look and say this is a good site, so I think the Village of Howard has an advantage over other communities,” Reed Hall, interim CEO of WEDC, told FOX 11.

The selection program was announced back in February, as part of Governor Scott Walker's "Ready, Set, Build" initiative.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Changes are coming for the ACES Xavier Education System in Appleton.

That could mean the closure of some elementary schools.

Catholic leaders say the changes, which includes a new name and moving 5th grade students to the middle school, are meant to better utilize the space available in their buildings.

Starting next school year, the ACES Xavier Catholic School System will be known as the St. Francis Xavier Catholic School System. But that is just the beginning.

"It is very much a longer range plan. We want this to be viable for the long term," ACES Xavier president, Deacon Ray DuBois told FOX 11.

To achieve that goal, Deacon DuBois says a committee is studying the closure of two of the four elementary schools in the system.

"Catholic Central was one of two schools officials looked at closing in 2009. Deacon DuBois would not say if Central is on that list this time. But he did say any decision to close a school would be more than just a financial decision."

Enrollment in the Xavier schools has been approximately 1,700 students for the last five years. Some parents are concerned about the closing of elementary schools. But others say they support the changes that will shore up the school system as a whole for the long term.

Starting with the 2014-15 school year, fifth grade students would move to St. Joseph's Middle School. Deacon DuBois says the move will create more educational opportunities for those students. Parish pastors will make a final decision on the plan by the end of January.

KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ) - A Fox Valley boy battling a rare skin disease may be able to return to his preferred school district soon.

6-year-old Charlie Knuth is recovering from his second stem-cell transplant after undergoing the procedure in Minnesota, where he spent months before returning home to Darboy in October.

While in Minnesota, Knuth was dis-enrolled from the Kimberly School District, where he attends Sunrise Elementary through open enrollment.

His mom, Trisha Knuth, says Charlie has been open enrolled in the Kimberly district since 2010. She says Kimberly terminated his enrollment while he was in the hospital, then denied re-enrollment. She brought the issue in front of the Kimberly School Board Monday night.

"It's so important Charlie stays in the same school district with the people that know him, he feels he belongs there," Knuth said.

"We want Charlie here," said Kimberly Superintendent Bob Mayfield. "So it's never been an issue about that, it's about following the rules."

Mayfield says there are various factors behind the decision - primarily, following state law. He says one factor is that the family lives in another district and the regular open enrollment period has closed.

However, he says there are exceptions to state law, and that's what the district is trying to work out.

"Charlie is from the Kaukauna School District and in order to do any open enrollment conversation, we need everyone to be involved to talk about the plan," Mayfield said.

Either way, Knuth says she feels deceived by a district she trusted. However, both sides do plan to meet Tuesday morning.

The superintendent says he has a plan. "We think they're going to like it very much," Mayfield said.

Charlie's mom says he would need more home-bound services at first, then would slowly return to a classroom.

And that, Mayfield says, has also been a big challenge. However he hopes Tuesday's meeting will address that.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - At a special meeting of the Green Bay Protection and Welfare Committee Monday night, city leaders and officials from St. John the Evangelist Homeless Shelter aired out issues regarding operation of the shelter.

The shelter's executive director Alexia Wood say it's not out of the ordinary for the shelter to present it's operational and overflow plan to the committee, since it has to do so 4 times a year. But Wood called this meeting one week early out of the ordinary and the fact that it's listed as the only agenda item.

Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt last week raised concerns that the St. John homeless shelter was operating over-capacity, which is currently 64 beds. Also at issue, is the more than 30 police calls to the shelter since it opened in November.

"It's not working as well as it should – in my opinion," said Schmitt.

The St. John's homeless shelter provides temporary overnight emergency shelter for adults from November through April, from 5 p.m. until 9 a.m.

"The other shelters are full,” said SJEHS corporation president and Green Bay Diocese Deacon Timothy Reilly. “So people don't have a place to go, they're going to come to St. John's.”

"I work for the police, I work for the downtown neighbors, I work for the homeless people and I think we need to have a discussion,” said Schmitt. "They give them a nice dinner and a great facility and they kick them out at 9 in the morning. Freezing cold, no place to go,” said Schmitt. “And I think that's un-Christian."

Captain Jim Runge – who is in charge of the downtown district – tells FOX 11 many of those calls for service come from the shelter itself regarding the discovery of outstanding warrants for potential guests during the intake process.

He says there have been very few calls to the shelter for disturbances and the shelter has been active in limiting those calls during its operating hours.

Hours after a special meeting, the committee says the shelter is not in violation of its Conditional Use Permit (CUP).

But some who live in the community are none-to-pleased at how the Catholic shelter has grown in their back yard.

After hearing nearly four hours of concerns and ideas for possible solutions, the three city aldermen who make up the Protection and Welfare Committee decided the shelter was not violating its CUP.

"We just thought that there was some knee jerk reactions out in the community,” said PWC Chairman and District 10 Alderman Mark Steuer. “And it's very difficult to say, well, we're going to make a knee-jerk decision on it."

The committee did motion to create a sub-committee to look into the concerns the public has when it comes to homelessness in the downtown area. Steuer says that could open the possibility of re-starting the task force on homelessness. The motion must be approved by the city council.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Gas prices are heading downward in Wisconsin – and there’s a chance that regular unleaded could go below $3 a gallon for the first time in two years.

Pam Moen of the Wisconsin AAA tells WKOW-TV in Madison that it’s not out of the question that prices will dip below the $3 mark.

Tuesday morning, the AAA’s statewide average is just over $3.32 a gallon for regular unleaded. That’s down almost a nickel from last Tuesday, and it’s 7 cents cheaper than a month ago.

Green Bay Gas Prices.com reports the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded Tuesday morning is $3.41 a gallon, with some stations charging as low as $3.31.

Milwaukee Gas Prices.Com reports an average of $3.24 Tuesday in the state’s largest metro. That’s 13 cents less than a month ago. Milwaukee stations are charging as low as $3.16.

Experts say that supplies exceed the demand, in spite of shortages in the Northeastern U.S, a month ago due to Hurricane Sandy.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Residents on Green Bay's west side are being reminded to lock up following a series of thefts from vehicles and garages.

Police think the suspects are checking car and garage doors at night.

Here are the locations where the thefts and burglaries have occurred:

• 400 block of Fairview Ct.
• 1000 block of Marshall Ave.
• 1100 block of Marshall Ave. (3 incidents)
• 1200 block of Thrush St.
• 900 block of N. Locust St.
• 1000 block of N. Locust St.
• 800 block of N. Locust St.
• 1400 block of Dousman St.
• 700 block of Wilson Ave.
• 1200 block of Shawano Ave. (5 incidents)

Based on the close proximity of the victims and similar patterns, investigators believe the suspects will continue this crime trend.

Police say one of the first steps to make your house less attractive to a burglar is to harden the target. This can be done by leaving outdoor lights on, having motion detector lights around your outside doors, having solid core doors and heavy-duty locks.

Police encourage the use of a secondary blocking device on patio doors. Also, don’t forget to close and lock your garage door at night and check your doors at night before you go to sleep. If you have valuables in your garage make sure they are not visible through a garage window. Lock your vehicle and don’t leave valuables inside.

Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3208 or call Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-STOP.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Will you wear an Aaron Rodgers jersey Wednesday?

Some bosses will let their employees wear the green and gold Number 12, as part of Wisconsin’s official observance of Aaron Rodgers Day – the date of which is 12-12-12.

The state Legislature designated the special day earlier this year, to honor the NFL’s most valuable player from last season and the MVP of Super Bowl 45.

Some groups are urging $12 donations to one of Rodgers’ favorite charities, the Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer. Also, a mall in Green Bay is offering special deals – like a $20 Rodgers jersey for $12.

Green Bay’s last Super Bowl-winning quarterback, Brett Favre, never had a special day on 4-4-of-2004. But he didn’t have an advocate like Jennifer Brilowski of Stevens Point. She came up with the idea of honoring Rodgers Wednesday – and she kept promoting it on Facebook and convinced lawmakers to pass a resolution. 

CALUMET COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin's Incorporation Review Board has approved a petition from part of the town of Harrison, bringing it one step closer to becoming a village.

The petition now goes to would-be village residents in the Calumet County town to vote on. However, a vote on a binding referendum has not been scheduled.

If a referendum is approved, the village would be 5 square miles. It would be located in the northwest portion of the current town. That area is about 70 percent of the population of the town.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the town of Harrison's population in 2010 was 10,839.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - As Michigan adopts right-to-work legislation, could Wisconsin be far behind?? 

Governor Scott Walker didn't rule it out, but says it's not a good idea for the Badger State.

At a "Talk with Walker" event at Surface Mount Technologies in Grand Chute, Governor Walker says people are ready to move past the divisiveness of the Act 10 changes made in 2010, which curtailed collective bargaining for most public employees.

The Republican said the right-to-work movement is different than what the Wisconsin Legislature passed. 

"We really didn't target unions, what we did was stand up for taxpayers," Walker said, adding it would be a huge distraction. 

However, State Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber (D-Appleton) says she doesn't believe that means right-to-work won't still come up in the Legislature. 

"Their passing this and they way they did it is not good from my perspective. I think Michigan being the first state in the Midwest to do it could give other states 'oh well maybe we should think about this, maybe we could do this.' I don't think it's a good idea, I don't support right-to-work laws." 

Walker did not say he wouldn't sign right-to-work legislation if it crossed his desk, just that he wouldn't push it as part of his agenda. Still, Bernard Schaber says she and other Democrats will be ready for the possibility. 

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A student at UW-Oshkosh who is diagnosed with cancer will get the chance of a lifetime.

19-year-old Aly Wolff of McFarland will get to meet pop sensation Justin Bieber.

Wolff had a tumor discovered on her liver. To help cheer up the McFarland woman, her friends started a social media campaign for her to meet pop singing sensation Justin Bieber. For the Facebook page, click here. The hastag is #BiebsMeetAly. 

That hard work has paid off, as Aly will get to meet the singer when she goes to his concert Saturday in Chicago. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It’s no accident that a new clock outside of Green Bay’s Lambeau Field is always 15 minutes fast.

The clock faces Lombardi Avenue – and the hands show what’s commonly known as “Lombardi Time.”

Legendary Packers’ coach Vince Lombardi expected his players to be 15 minutes early for practices and meetings. And it’s one of those nuances that helped the Packers win numerous NFL championships and the first two Super Bowls in the 1960’s.

The clock’s been up since July, and the Packers never said anything about it until now. Some people called the team’s offices to report that something was amiss outside 1265 Lombardi Avenue.

Team president Mark Murphy said they considered putting the words “Lombardi Time” under the clock – but they wanted to let folks could figure it out for themselves.

NBC mentioned it during last Sunday night’s broadcast of the Packer-Detroit game. The clock is located atop the new Bellin Health Gate at Lambeau.

It’s part of the latest $143 million renovation package that was partially funded by additional sales of Packer stock. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A fire at Lambeau Field is now out.

The call went out around 2 p.m. Wednesday after flames were spotted in a void between walls on the 4th floor, where construction on the stadium is taking place. 

Construction crews were cutting a metal beam near a finished area between the Oneida Gate and new Shopko Gate entrances.  Sparks fell into inside a stairwell wall and sparked insulation on fire. 

Fire crews had to let the fire burn a little bit before getting water to the 5th floor.  A ladder truck needed to be brought in to pipe in water because empty pipes used by fire crews to put of fires were not operational yet because of construction. 

Authorities from Green Bay and Ashwaubenon reported to the scene.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Funeral services will be held Saturday for a Marine from Manitowoc who spent three-and-a-half years as one of Japan’s prisoners-of-war during World War Two.

91-year-old Lester Ruzek died this past week.

He enlisted in the Marines in 1940, hoping to make enough money to share with his family after his father died in a traffic crash.

Ruzek was in the Philippines when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941 – and most of his remaining time there was spent in Japanese prisons and work camps. He was freed by his fellow Americans who took back the Philippines in 1945.

Ruzek returned to his home town of Manitowoc to work in the construction industry and raise a family.

WAUKESHA, WI (WTAQ) - Thousands of Wisconsinites wore Aaron Rodgers’ shirts to celebrate the 12-12-12 day.

But a babies in Waukesha and Green Bay took things one step further. Trae Roger Allen was born at Aurora BayCare Medical Center at 12:12 p.m. Wednesday to a De Pere couple.

The 6lb, 7oz baby boy wasn't due until the 27th, but apparently he decided that was just too long to wait.

"Little bit early, but we're happy for that. Not so close to Christmas," Shanna Allen told FOX 11.

"All of a sudden it was two big pushes and they lifted him up and looked at the clock and it was 12:12:40 and that was it," said his father Roger Allen.

In Waukesha, Teagan George Hoeffler entered the world at 12:12 p.m. Wednesday.

His mother Holli insists it was not planned. She said it was the baby who had the plan to, “hit that cool day.” Teagan had been due Wednesday – and his mother was scheduled to have induced labor on Friday.

But the labor pains started, and Holli made it to Waukesha Memorial Hospital around 3 a.m. Wednesday. She started pushing for the baby at 12:06 – and he came out six minutes later.

Holli and her husband Jon had only thought it would be nice to have the child on Aaron Rodgers’ Day – and they even thought about naming the baby after the Packers’ quarterback. But their game plan was to name the child Teagan – and that’s what they went with. 

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Lawrence University of Appleton is getting its next president from the Ivy League.

The school has named 51-year-old Mark Burstein to replace Jill Beck. She retires on June 30th after nine years as Lawrence’s president.

Burstein will start his new post on July first. He’s currently an executive vice president at Princeton University – a post he’s held since 2004.

Lawrence officials said they were impressed with Burstein’s development of an almost two-billion-dollar fund-raising campaign – and his ability to secure gifts for various academic, athletic, and campus life projects at Princeton.

Burstein said he was impressed with what he called Lawrence’s “rigorous academic environment,” its commitment to provide an individualized learning experience, and the school’s nationally-known conservatory of music.

Burstein was among more than 100 candidates to become the next Lawrence president. He’ll be introduced to the community at an event on January third.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - State auditors say the agency that runs the public employee pension system is not doing enough to enforce the rules for those who retire, get rehired, and collect both a pension and a paycheck.

The Legislative Audit Bureau found that 2,800 UW employees retired, and were later rehired from 2007 through last year.

The audit said the Department of Employee Trust Funds does not have the ability to determine when and where the system’s being abused. And the auditors suggested written procedures to perform investigations when needed.

The law lets retirees return 30 days after they leave – but the rehiring must not be planned in advance. The idea is to make sure the work gets done, in situations where it takes longer than expected to replace a retiree. And indeed, the audit showed that most returnees worked fewer hours in their second stints, and were employed for less than a year.

The audit found four cases of abuse. The practice drew heavy criticism last year, when it was learned that a UW-Green Bay vice chancellor retired from a $131,000 a year job – and came back a month later and got both his salary and a large pension. It was all pre-arranged, and that led to allegations of double-dipping. It was also the case that triggered the audit and today’s findings.

The Green Bay incident happened during the controversy over the law which limits public union bargaining – and thousands of public employees retired for fear that Republicans would cut their pensions if they didn’t seize them first.

That never happened, just as Governor Walker promised it wouldn’t. And after the Green Bay incident, there were reports that many retirees had quietly returned, and got paid twice with their salaries and pensions. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - In the wake of the tragic shooting in Connecticut, local school officials were busy taking precautionary measures.

The Green Bay Area Public School District sent out an automated message to parents Friday night from their child's principal either by phone or email.

In the message, each principal says the district is working with police to ensure school security. The message also warns parents to keep an eye on how much media coverage their child is exposed to this weekend.

District officials sent an email to all school administrators shortly after the mass shooting informing them of what happened and reminding them of the security measures in place.

District officials say any situation like this will make them reevaluate their own security protocol. 

“We are always examining and learning from every single situation, how can we get better and make sure our kids are safe,” said Barbara Dorff, executive director of pupil services.

“When a tragedy like this occurs it’s hard to ignore it, it’s hard to pretend that it doesn't exist. I think it’s even difficult for parents to pretend to their children that this isn't a difficult event,” Jeffery Stumbras, behavioral care therapist at Prevea Health, tells FOX 11.

The Prevea therapist says it's important to talk to your children about this event, but to keep as normal of a routine as possible.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - What is security like at Green Bay schools?  Executive Director of Pupil Services Barbara Dorff says all of the doors of a school are locked from the inside and access is monitored through the main entrance at every school. 

All classroom doors are locked during class time just in case if someone, like a gunman, does get inside. 

Schools are also equipped with cameras and panic buttons. 

All students, from elementary to high school, practice at least three level three lockdown drills every school year to prepare for an event.  The lights are turned out; students get behind or beneath their desks and remain quite. 

Just last month, the district partnered up with Green Bay Police Department.  All patrol officers have walked the halls to get to know the layout of schools. 

Dorff says after any situation in the nation, they review their security plans to look for best practices that can be incorporated. 

There are ten liaison officers, all of them sworn police officers.  They are stationed at middle and high schools, but not at elementary schools. 

Dorff says she will be attending an active shooter seminar very soon.  She says there has been a lot of talk about how to deal with a shooter and best practices like if getting out of the school is the best way to ensure safety for students.  But Dorff says that is a fine line of putting someone in harm’s way and creating panic by running through the schools.