MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - The state jobs agency has filed a half-dozen lawsuits against businesses which have not paid back tax money loaned to them.

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation is reportedly trying to get back a total of $3.4 million.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel said $1 million of that was loaned in 2012 to a businessman who had settled a federal lawsuit in Michigan, which alleged that he helped hide an associate's assets from creditors.

Nine months before, a federal judge wrote that the suit had merit, and it showed what he called "the earmarks of fraud."

In April, the WEDC filed suit in Dane County against Tim Flaherty and his Oconto County business North American Finishing, to try and get back what the agency loaned.

The episode was among a number of accountability issues raised in the WEDC, which Governor Scott Walker helped create in 2011. He recently stepped down as its board chairman.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney has released his final report into the March 24 shootout which killed Wisconsin State Patrol Trooper Trevor Casper.

During a press conference Thursday, Toney laid out a timeline summary and facts of the fatal shooting involving the 21-year-old Casper and bank robber Steven Snyder.

You can read that report by clicking here.

Toney says that Casper's use of force was justified, and that he made a heroic decision to protect Fond du Lac County after initially being wounded by a gun shot while inside his vehicle.

"It is certain that more innocent lives would've been endangered or lost had Trooper Casper not ended an active and ongoing threat that the suspect posed to the community," said Toney.

Toney indicated the interaction between Casper and Snyder began when Casper followed Snyder in a police car without lights and sirens, waiting for police assistance. At no point did Casper attempt a traffic stop with Snyder.

Toney says Snyder fired the first shot at Casper while both were seated in their vehicles. That fact disputes the account put out by the Newaygo County (Mich.) Sheriff's Office earlier this week.

Toney went on to say that Snyder fired at Casper nine times, Casper fired back 12 times. Casper was struck by three rounds.

Toney says the gunfire exchange lasted about 17 seconds.

"Trevor Casper did more in 17 seconds than most will do in a lifetime and is undeniably a hero," said Toney.

Casper succumbed to his injuries before a medical helicopter could take off at the Fond du Lac airport.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Police say one person was killed in a car crash this morning.

The vehicle was going east when it veered into oncoming traffic and hit a house.

The SUV also hit a gas meter causing a gas leak.

Several people were evacuated.

Police say it appears alcohol was a factor.

One person also suffered minor injuries.

East Mason Street between Baird and Hartung will be closed for several hours.

People are asked to use Main Street.

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OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A crash Thursday night in Oconto County has killed one person.

Authorities say it happened on Highway 41 and Moody Road in the Township of Pensaukee around 9:30 p.m.

A 51-year-old Sobieski man died in the one vehicle rollover crash.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - You'll probably want to keep that air conditioner running all weekend.

The National Weather Service says more thunderstorms will roll across the Badger State Friday afternoon and evening as a front moves through. And then it's supposed to get warmer again for the weekend, with highs in the upper 80s forecast statewide under sunny to partly cloudy skies.

Rainstorms were going into western and southwest Wisconsin Friday morning, but not with the intensity they were having in Minnesota -- where parts of the Gopher State were getting dump with up to 3.5 inches of rain.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Planned Parenthood continues to insist it does not sell or donate tissues from aborted fetuses in Wisconsin.

But that's not stopping two of the state's most conservative lawmakers from proposing a bill to ban the sale of fetal body parts -- and take away millions of dollars in federal aid from Planned Parenthood if it doesn't comply.

GOP Representatives Andre Jacque of De Pere and Joel Kleefisch of Oconomowoc want colleagues to co-sponsor the measure -- a response to a recent video that shows a Planned Parenthood official in California posing with potential buyers of fetal specimens.

The sale of fetal tissue is against federal law, but not donations of tissue to non-profit scientific researchers with the mother's consent.

Since the video, Planned Parenthood has insisted that such donations are against the law -- and the agency is following that law.

That doesn't appease Kleefisch. In his words,"I have no reason to believe a word that comes from their collective mouth."

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

WAUPACA, WI (WTAQ) - A charge of first-degree reckless homicide has been made against a New London man in connection with the death of a 3-year-old child.

A judge set bond Friday at $500,000 for John Brush, who also faces 7 other counts. Online court records indicate Brush returns to court August 11.

According to the criminal complaint, police responded to New London Family Medical Center on June 14, where the child was transported. The child's mother said she left her son in the care of her boyfriend Brush. Brush had told her the child fell down the stairs.

The child died June 25.

However, autopsy results show the child died from blunt force trauma not consistent with such a fall. 

"None of Brush's multiple explanations of the cause of injuries to the child are consistent with expert medical opinions, and the child could not have received life threatening injuries in the manner described by the only person present with him when the injuries occurred," the complaint states.

(Additional reporting from FOX 11).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - An Omro man was sentenced to 12 years in prison for bashing another man's head during a fight, causing his death.

On Friday, Winnebago County Judge Barbara Key also put Roger Minter on 10 years extended supervision following his prison term.

Minter was convicted of second-degree reckless homicide for the death of Andrew Hansen.

Police say both men got into a fight at Minter's home October 9. Minter slammed Hansen's head into the AC unit. Hansen was given a ride to an Oshkosh hotel, where his body was later found.

Officials say Hansen died of a skull fracture.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police are investigating a call about shots fired early Sunday morning.

Authorities say it happened around 3:45 a.m. Sunday at the intersection of Cherry Street and N. Webster Avenue on the city's east side.

According to investigators, 3 to 5 shots were fired with at least one of those striking a house. No one is believed to have been hurt.

No arrests have been made and police are calling this an isolated incident.

MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ) - Shipbuilders in northeast Wisconsin are about to construct a warship named for the home of Baseball's Hall of Fame.

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus says the USS Cooperstown is about to be built by Lockheed Martin at Marinette Marine's shipyard along Lake Michigan.

The 388-footer is the latest among a number of littoral combat ships built at Marinette -- underwater boats that operate close to shorelines.

The announcement is made during the weekend, at a ceremony in Cooperstown in advance of Sunday's Hall of Fame's induction ceremony.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton police say two suspects were arrested for an alleged attack on a man because he didn't give them cigarettes when asked for one.

Police say they were called around 1:30 a.m. Monday to the intersection of W. College Avenue and S. Superior Street. Officers found a 52-year-old man, initially reported to be unconscious, but was in fact conscious.

Officers spoke with that man and the two others, ages 20 and 15, while one official looked at traffic camera video from the area. The video showed a confrontation between the two suspects and the victim. It showed them kicking and punching the victim, but later asking a city employee to help the man.

An investigation found that both suspects asked the man for cigarettes. When the man refused, they beat the man until he was unconscious and then stole his cigarettes. During a police interview, one of the suspects said they thought they may have killed the victim.

Police also found the victim's cigarettes in the pocket of one of the suspects.

Police are recommending charges of robbery, battery, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest against 20-year-old Malik Tews. Authorities say the 15-year-old was a runaway, having cut off an electronic monitoring bracelet. Officers are recommending charges of battery and disorderly conduct against him.

The victim received medical attention at the scene and refused further treatment.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Details of the funeral arrangements for a Fox Valley doctor found dead in Door County have been released.

According to his obituary, a service to celebrate the life of Dr. Jeffrey Whiteside will happen at 2 p.m. Friday at First Congregational United Church of Christ on E. South River Street in Appleton.

The 63-year-old Whiteside was found Wednesday in the Town of Liberty Grove, just east of Ephraim. That's where the Grand Chute pulmonologist was last seen walking away from his wife following an argument.

The obituary describes Whiteside as "a shy, private man who loved his patients, his friends, his children, his grandchildren and his wife." Whiteside had 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Investigators have not said how Whiteside died.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Brown County need your help locating the suspects involved in an attack which left a 66-year-old man with significant injuries.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office said the victim was walking in the area of Lenwood Avenue in the Village of Howard on July 12. A car stopped and two men got out, then beat the man with golf clubs.

The attackers left the scene in a car (pictured above) when neighbors came to help the victim. The two men stole personal items from the victim, but nothing of significant value.

The following description of the attackers were provided by the victim and witnesses:

• The driver of the car is a Hispanic man with a bald head.
• One of the attackers is a Hispanic or black man in his late 20's with short dark hair and no facial hair. He is stocky, approximately 5'8'' to six feet tall.
• The other attacker is a Hispanic man in his late 20's, slightly smaller in size than the other attacker, with short dark hair and a full sleeve dark-inked tattoo on his left arm. The tattoo contained some type of floral design.

Two days after the attack, investigators tracked down the getaway car at a nearby address on Green Bay's west side.

Authorities spoke with a woman at the residence where the car was parked, and she told them the registered owner of the car didn't live there any longer and she didn't have any information on their current whereabouts.

The registered owner has not come back to claim the car.

Police got a search warrant and took custody of the car. Inside the car were a number of items, including golf clubs, submitted for forensic examination.

If anyone has any information regarding this case, please call the Brown County Sheriff's Office at (920) 448-4230. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for reward by calling Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text GBTIP and your tip to 274637 (crimes).

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Oshkosh are investigating an overnight burglary.

Authorities would not say what was stolen in the burglary that happened around 12:50 a.m. Monday in the 500 block of Pratt Trail.

The suspect, pictured above, is an older white man. 

If anyone has any information about the burglary or has information on the person in the photos, please contact Detective Paul Frey at (920) 236-5267.

BELLEVILLE,WI (WTAQ) — The search is on for a Dane County man.

76-year-old Connie Smith may have dementia.

Smith left his home around 5 p.m. Monday to go to a gas station, but he never got there.

Smith never came home.

He's about 5', 6" weighing 150 pounds.

Smith was wearing a yellow short sleeve shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and a hat.

If you see Smith, call 9-1-1 or the Belleville Police Department at (608) 424-3129.

MENASHA, WI (WTAQ) - An armed robbery in the Fox Valley Tuesday morning leaves a 21-year-old Neenah man injured.

Menasha police say the victim was walking home from work in the area of Racine and Broad Streets around 4:30 a.m.

Authorities say 3 men got out of a red minivan, possibly a Chevrolet, punched and kicked the victim. They also stole personal property and threatened the man with a knife. 

The van, according to police, was last seen heading west on Broad Street.

The victim was taken to ThedaClark medical center and has been treated and released.

Anyone who may have seen the attack, or has any information, is asked to call the Menasha Police Department at (920) 967-3500.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Thousands of Packers shareholders attended Tuesday's annual meeting at Lambeau Field.

The owners come in from all around to talk with other fans and get ready for the upcoming season.

"I'm from Williamsburg Indiana," said Rod Turner, who drove 9-and-a-half hours to attend his first ever shareholders meeting. "I've never been to a game...I don't know about this year, but I'm going to come sometime. It's on my bucket list."

Turner wasn't the furthest traveler that I ran across. Marcia Cogswell came in from Pensacola Florida.

"Oh but the weather is so nice up here...it's so hot down there," said Cogswell.

They were two of the approximately 12,000 shareholders who attended the annual gathering, according to Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy.

Inside the stadium, Murphy and other team officials discussed some of the financial specifics of the Packers. 

"We're very excited about development in our Titletown District," Murphy said.

The Packers, however, remain quiet about development coming to the west side of Lambeau. Murphy said an announcement will be made in the next few weeks.

The team also unveiled its third alternate uniform, based on uniforms Packers players wore from 1937-1949. The shoulders are gold along with the number. The rest of the jersey is blue.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - An autopsy performed on the Fox Valley doctor found dead in Door County last week will take some time.

"We're waiting on the medical examiner's office to make the determination of cause and manner of death and I think they're waiting on the toxology report which typically takes 2 to 4 weeks," said Door County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Pat McCarty on Tuesday.

McCarty did confirm that the .22-caliber handgun found near the body of 63-year-old Jeffrey Whiteside had been fired, but wouldn't say how many times it had been fired.

The jury is still out on whether a crime occurred near some trees near German Road and State Highway 57 in the Town of Liberty Grove. Although McCarty says it appears there wasn't a crime committed.

"Not at this point," said McCarty. "But it would be premature for us to make that final judgement until we have a cause and manner of death."

Whiteside was last seen June 29 when he and his wife, Kathi Whiteside, got into an argument at the Ephraim Yacht Harbor Marina. Authorities say Kathi Whiteside drove back to their residence in Grand Chute at that time.

Jeffrey Whiteside was not reported missing until July 1.

While they await the medical examiner's report, McCarty isn't sure whether investigators want to still take a look at the couple's Grand Chute home.

"I haven't spoken with our investigators if that's something they want to pursue or not," McCarty said. "Right now we're trying to follow up to determine ownership of the gun."

McCarty had previously stated that all of the handguns owned by Whiteside were accounted for. 

"That's one of the things we need to figure out because we had conflicting reports about the firearms that he owned," said McCarty.

There is also the possibility that witnesses could still come forward with reported sightings of Whiteside. The crime scene in the Town of Maple Grove is about 2 miles east of Ephraim.

"None that have been completely confirmed, we have some reports, but they're unsure of the time they saw Dr. Whiteside so we haven't validated any of those," McCarty said.

Whiteside, who worked for Fox Valley Pulmonary Medicine, is survived by his wife, three children and several grandchildren. A celebration of life for Whiteside takes place Friday.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Lambeau Field's historic name will not change -- not under Mark Murphy's watch.

That's what the Packers' president tells 11,000 fans at the team's annual stockholders' meeting Tuesday in Green Bay.

In Murphy's words, "We will not sell the naming rights to the stadium ... We will never do that." He vows the iconic Lambeau will have the same name as when the Packers won title after title in the 1960s, and Super Bowl championships in the 1996 and 2010 seasons.

The Packers do sell corporate names for Lambeau's large entrance gates.

Also, Murphy has led the organization to new revenue vehicles that include large land sales and commercial leases beyond the stadium.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Great weather and a better economy are credited for what could be the largest crowds in a decade at the EAA's AirVenture.

According to the final numbers, 550,000 people attended the week-long international aviation convention ending last Sunday in Oshkosh. That's around 2 percent more than a year ago.

Some aviation milestones and a world record skydiving attempt also helped bring out the crowds -- along with the usual displays, speakers, air shows, and other entertainment.

EAA Spokesman Dick Knapinski says 2,300 people from a record 80 countries registered at the event's international tent.

Knapinski says organizers are not getting much of a break. Planning is already underway for the 2016 AirVenture.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)