GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - If you thought the sun was giving us less light than usual Tuesday, you're probably right.

The National Weather Service says massive forest fires in northern and central Canada have blown smoke into much of Wisconsin and much of the Midwest.

Radar photos posted Tuesday morning showed that virtually the entire state had at least some smoke -- even though many folks couldn't smell it.

The far northern part of Wisconsin had the most haze, and it began disappearing during the 8 a.m. hour.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel photographer Mike De Sisti tweeted a photo of a dimmed orange sun in a brown, hazy, cloudless sky around mid-morning.

Weather Service officials said the haze could have dropped temperatures by a few degrees -- but you'd never know it by the early afternoon, which were in the 70's and 80's.

La Crosse was the warm spot with 87 at 1 p.m., under partly cloudy skies.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

Suamico, WI (WTAQ) - A meeting last night between property owners and Suamico Village trustees may have provided the first step in smoothing over what had been a festering issue involving unpaid bills and charges of incompetence.

David Kapic started the ball rolling when he was hit with a 9 year old water hook-up bill from the Village for $472, and a near $200 interest fee if the account wasn't settled by the end of June.

The surprise bill and lack of a sensible explanation didn't go over well.

Village president Patricia Jelen says people need to be given more notice about bills, even if the law doesn't require it.

Reprimands have been handed down to the Village's administrator and finance director.

Other changes in dealing with residents will be made as well...and that sits well with Kapic.

As for the 9 year old water bill ? It still needs to be paid, but Village Board members will discuss extending the June 30th deadline at next Monday's meeting.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - A federal prisoner pleaded guilty Tuesday to killing a former suburban Milwaukee man and hiding his body.

33-year-old Erik Smith, who's serving time in Colorado for child pornography, struck a plea deal in the death of 28-year-old Eric Volp of New Berlin.

Authorities said the two left a bar together in Iron Mountain Michigan in the fall of 2008 -- and Volp was not seen after that. The following summer, his body was found in a creek at Dunbar in Marinette County.

An autopsy showed that he was beaten to death.

Smith was reportedly a suspect from the outset -- but he was not arrested until after a tipster provided new information in 2011.

Prosecutors said Smith drove over the victim, then hid his body in the creek where a fisherman found it.

In his plea deal, Smith was convicted of homicide by negligent driving, hit-and-run resulting in death, and hiding a corpse. A reckless homicide count was dropped.

Smith will be sentenced on the other counts August 14th.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police continues their investigation Wednesday into the shooting death of Krystal Torres-Smith.

Early Monday morning, the 39-year-old Torres-Smith was found inside an SUV parked at the Lambeau Cottage parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. That's on the UW-Green Bay campus.

Today, members of the Green Bay P.D.'s Dive Team searched the nearby water.

Green Bay Police Lt. Chad Ramos said Tuesday that this homicide case is the agency's top priority, and that investigators are following all possible leads. No arrests have been made and a weapon has yet to be found.

According to investigators, the death of Torres-Smith was not random. Detectives are working to put together a timeline of events in the hours leading up to her being discovered.

Anyone with information regarding this incident should contact the Green Bay Police Department at (920) 448-3200. If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can call (920) 432-7867.

Meantime, funeral arrangements for Torres-Smith have been made. The Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory in De Pere confirmed that it’s assisting the family.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - We're learning more about a large marijuana growing operation uncovered in Winnebago County.

Sheriff's deputies say almost 500 marijuana plants and more than 40 pounds of pot were found inside a Town of Vinland home. Authorities believe the marijuana found has a street value of between $500,000 and $1.5 million.

Gerald Walters, 64, has been arrested and charged with manufacturing and delivering marijuana. Sheriff John Matz says Walters has no criminal history, so he was not on their radar.

Walters has posted bond and is out of jail.

The investigation began last month after the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office got a tip from the Oneida County Drug Task Force. 

Matz says it's the largest marijuana bust he's seen.

“I have not, not in Winnebago County and we are very concerned, but very relieved that we were able to put an end to this operation. He, the defendant, Mr. Walters, appeared to be very experienced in the trade, had quite a system going. We believe this was going on for quite some time,” said Matz, according to FOX 11.

Matz says more arrests could be made in this case.

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - A Waupaca woman has been arrested for allegedly selling heroin and methamphetamine to undercover cops.

21-year-old Tori Clark sold the drugs to undercover investigators three different times since April, according to deputies.

Clark is jailed on multiple charges including manufacturing/delivery of methamphetamine and heroin, along with bail jumping.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Green Bay committee has given the green light to a project which aims to bring high end housing and retail to the Broadway District.

The city's Redevelopment Authority approved recommending the project at its meeting on Tuesday.

The Barracks at Fort Howard, which will be located at 321-325 N. Broadway, is developed by New Town Redevelopment, LLC, contractor DeLeers Construction, Inc. and Creative Business Services / CBS-Global.

Developers say it will feature Euro-style one, two and three bedroom condominiums with an interior design along with private and shared balconies. Secure, underground parking will also be available for residents.

The cost of construction is estimated at $5.5 million with ground expected to be broken in spring 2016.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Advocacy groups say the hazardous, uncontrolled growth of industrial dairy pollution is running rampant in Kewaunee County.

That's the finding of a new 140-page report by local, state and national organizations led by the Socially Responsible Agricultural Project, or SRAP.

SRAP teamed up with organizations Family Farm Defenders and Kewaunee CARES to research, publish and provide recommendations for the report, which cites multiple violations, hundreds of manure management failures and a host of operational problems at the 16 large industrial dairy concentrated animal feeding operations, or CAFOs.

"We came to Kewaunee County because industrial dairies are out of control and the Wisconsin DNR is out of touch," according to SRAP Regional Coordinator Scott Dye. "The ongoing contamination of Kewaunee County's land, water and air and people right under the nose of the state agency meant to protect them is indefensible, has created a public health emergency and requires immediate action."

Lynn Utesch, who's a grass-fed beef farmer in Kewaunee County, help start the community group Kewaunee CARES.

"Wisconsin DNR has failed to carry out its most basic mission: to protect the health of Wisconsinites and the Walker Administration needs to read this report, admit its shortcomings, and change policy now," said Utesch.

The groups say the blame goes beyond the DNR and the governor's office, saying part of the issue is the geological makeup of Kewaunee County. The county, in addition to all or part of 40 other counties, sits upon karst. Karst is the highly fractured, shallow carbonate bedrock that allows pollutants to easily enter shallow groundwater supplies.

However, both men point the finger at a history of the DNR not enforcing permit laws, lack of oversight of the CAFOs and the adoption of the 2004 Livestock Facility Siting Law.

"This nation has an enormous industrial dairy pollution problem," says Dye. "But our report is hard evidence that the pollution of Kewaunee County ranks among the most hazardous of any community in the United States."

Both men likened the conditions in Kewaunee County to a third-world country.

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - A new summary report on last month's Trestle Trail shooting has been released to the public on Thursday by Menasha police.

The May 3 incident claimed the lives of Jon Stoffel, his 11-year-old daughter Olivia and Adam Bentdahl.

Stoffel's wife Erin survived the shooting, which happened on the Trestle Trail Bridge near Fritse Park on the Town of Menasha.

In the reports' conclusion, authorities found that, "the investigation does show the shooter had a long history of depression, alcohol dependency and suicidal (and sometimes homicidal) thoughts. Based upon the disagreement the shooter had earlier in the day he made the decision to become intoxicated, arm himself with two handguns and take the lives of three people and physically injure one."

You can read the entire summary report by clicking on the PDF above.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brown County residents who have trouble getting affordable dental care now have a new way to help with that.

Through an agreement with the National Association of Counties, citizens can take part in a program which offers the uninsured discounts at local dentists and orthodontists.

“So many people have full time jobs, have insurance and everything but they don’t have a dental plan. So this is going to benefit all those people,” Brown County Board Supervisor Bernie Ericson said.

People will now be able to pay a yearly fee for either individual or family plans. For individuals, the fee is $59 per year, or $6.95 per month. Families will pay $69 per year, or $8.95 per month.

“Most senior citizens, when they get to be 65, Medicare doesn’t offer dental assistance. It’s a great plan, especially for seniors,” said Ericson.

But participating dentists warn that these discount programs may not cover everything at every dental office.

Ericson says hopefully the program will be an incentive for more people to have preventive care and perhaps avoid more costly procedures.

Information sheets can be picked up at all Brown County Library locations, as well as many Brown County office buildings.

You can search a list of participating dentists by clicking here.

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Allegations of safety violations and misconduct as a public official have been outlined in a complaint filed against Village of Bellevue Fire Chief Brad Muller.

WTAQ has received a copy of the complaint, filed on behalf of the union members of the department. 

"The fire chief represents the community, so I hope the views of the fire chief aren't representation that the Village of Bellevue would like," says Green Bay Firefighters Local 141 President Chad Bronkhorst. "It's pretty troubling to read some of things that have happened there. We're in a time and place where there's a clear line of things you can and can't do, and it's pretty obvious that that line has been crossed."

Bronkhorst says they've delivered this complaint to village officials and the fire commission, who's scheduled to take up the issue June 23. 

The Village of Bellevue has released a statement which reads in part, "Prior to this submittal, neither the Village nor the Fire Commission have received any formal grievances regarding the performance of the Fire Chief."

You can read the entire complaint by clicking on the PDF above.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say two men have been arrested in connection with the armed robbery of a convenience store.

On Tuesday morning, officers arrested a 32-year-old man and a 29-year-old man in the 600 block of Monroe Street. Both are suspected in the April 12 robbery of the Blue Moose convenience store at 1623 Bowen Street.

Authorities also say the 32-year-old suspect is believed to be involved in a separate burglary and three thefts in the city of Oshkosh, along with a burglary in another part of Winnebago County.

Police have not released their identities.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Bellin Run organizers say 15,884 people have registered for tomorrow's race as of this morning.

Time, however, is running out to register. You can still register in person at the Health and Wellness Expo from 3 to 8 p.m. today at Astor Park in Green Bay. In-person registration is also available before the race on Saturday morning.

Organizers are expecting an influx of runners on race day because of a favorable weather forecast.

The current total of people signed up included about 7,000 Corporate Challenge program participants and nearly 1,900 Kids for Running program participants.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - At least one Wisconsin county has issued an advisory to boaters, in the wake of recent heavy rains.

The Outagamie County sheriff's department in Appleton has urged boaters on the Fox River to be careful -- especially near rapidly moving waters at spillways and dams.

Sheriff's officials also urge boaters to watch for submerged debris and obstructions which could damage their boats. The department says the advisory is temporary.

The Appleton area had 1.3 inches of rain Thursday night and Friday morning. Parts of southern and central Wisconsin had twice that much.

The National Weather Service says the storms have moved out for now, and most parts of the state had sunny skies at mid-day.

The next round of storms is due in late Saturday and into Sunday.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The city of Appleton has reached agreements in principle to buy two properties for a proposed new library.

In a release Friday, city leaders announced they have deals in place to buy the properties where Fox Banquets Rivertyme Catering and Trinity Lutheran Church reside.

Appleton's Common Council will now hold a special session on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at City Hall to vote on the acquisition. Officials say there will be time for public input at the meeting.

City leaders are set to discuss whether to buy two properties for a proposed new library.

The proposed $37 million library project would be built on the Fox River Bluffs, contingent upon the city buying those 2 properties.

Some council members and residents have raised questions about the need for a new library, as well as location and cost. 

The council decided earlier this month to hold off on scheduling a citywide advisory referendum on the proposal.

HOBART, WI (WTAQ) - Firefighters say one person is dead following a house fire in the Village of Hobart Friday evening.

The call went out around 6:30 p.m. to a home on Overland Drive and Silas Drive. That's just west of Austin Straubel International Airport.

Upon arrival, crews say the house was fully engulfed in flames. Smoke could be seen for miles around.

Authorities say two people live at the home, but could not give a condition on the second person.

The cause of the blaze remains unknown and the Brown County Task Force was called in to investigate.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The 39th annual Bellin Run takes place in the Green Bay area today.

The race, which is one of the largest 10K events in the country, will start and finish on Webster Avenue in front of Bellin Hospital. The course takes runners around the streets of Green Bay and Allouez.

Last year, more than 18,200 people took part, including walkers, runners and wheelchair participants.

New for the 2015 Bellin Run is that runners will use time chips attached to their racing bibs. In the past, participants wore timing chips attached to their shoes.

Spectators can also track runners via text alerts, Facebook and Twitter.

TOWN OF LAWRENCE, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Brown County say a semi-truck driver got distracted before causing a hazardous material spill in a rollover crash early Monday.

Brown County Sheriffs were called to the northbound lanes of Interstate 41 near Apple Creek Road just after 3:30 a.m. 

The driver, a 53-year-old Appleton man, became distracted which caused the truck and tanker to leave the road and roll over in the ditch.

The tanker leaked liquid aluminum sulfate, which is a potentially dangerous chemical. The county's hazmat team says the liquid was counteracted with a neutralizing agent.

The crash caused traffic backups throughout the morning commute, and I-41 reopened by 8 a.m.

The driver was hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. The crash remains under investigation.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A motorcycle crash Sunday night in Green Bay leaves one man dead.

Green Bay police say it happened around 7:15 p.m. on Finger Road near E. Mason Street. 

Authorities say the motorcycle with two people on board was driving westbound on Finger Road when it missed a curve. 

The 60-year-old driver was taken to a local hospital where he died. The 49-year-old female passenger suffered life-threatening injuries.

At this time police aren't sure what caused the crash.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Not all cities allow food trucks to do business on their streets -- but Green Bay might be doing away with that ban.

The city council is scheduled to take an initial vote Tuesday on an ordinance that would let food trucks operate for most hours of the day and night.

Right now, Green Bay only allows food trucks on private property. Officials say they'd like to see more of them, in an effort to draw more people downtown.

The Green Bay ordinance would include a number of regulations -- including a ban on running food trucks with 150 feet of restaurants.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)