Ashwaubenon, WI (WTAQ) - A familiar travel name in Brown County could be changing...at least a little.

There's a push on to include "Green Bay " in the formal name of Austin Straubel International Airport. 

Brown County Executive Troy Strekenbach says with today's social media technology, making it easy to find Green Bay's airport, 3rd largest in the state, makes sense.

If anyone wants to come fly into town for a Packers game, or is considering doing business with a local firm, it'll be much easier to google Green Bay airport and get where you need to go.

Austin Straubel is a Green Bay war hero, so keeping his name as part of the title is a must.

The County Planning Committee will discuss it November 30th.

The plan is for the full County Board of Supervisors to have the name change on its agenda for the December 16th meeting.

Any name change must be approved by the F-A-A.

That's a process that could take from 6 - to - 9 months.

Madison, WI (WTAQ) -  The lower house is scheduled to act Tuesday on a bill to require recipients' photos on the Quest cards used to obtain the state's Food-Share benefits.

They'll also consider nullifying benefits which are not used within a year.

The Assembly will also decide whether to stop giving replacement cards to those who lose them six times in 12 months, unless there's an adequate explanation.

Warnings would be given out after the fourth replacement.

Wausau Republican Dave Heaton says he proposed the measure after reports that Milwaukeeans were buying and selling Food-Share cards on Facebook, at a time when two-thousand recipients claimed to have lost their cards six times or more in a one-year span.

Sherri Tussler of Milwaukee's Hunger Task Force says there's not enough fraud to justify Heaton's bill.

She also calls the photo requirement a "waste of money" because the law allows people in the same household -- including unrelated roommates -- to use the same benefit cards.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The family of a young Green Bay boy now says he didn't die suddenly from viral meningitis.

Last month, 5-year-old Jack Natzke died from what doctors believed was viral meningitis. 

However, the family on Facebook said the autopsy did not find meningitis.

Instead the family says Jack had some sort of rare brain degeneration.

FOX 11 reports that a family friend says they're doing well but it remains a difficult time for them.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Brown County need your help finding the men behind the beating of a 66-year-old Howard man with a golf club.

The Brown County Sheriff's Department has released sketches of the persons of interest in this case.

Deputies say the attack happened on July 12th around 6 p.m. as the man was walking through his neighborhood. They say a car pulled up and two men got out. One of those men was armed with a golf club, and severely beat the victim.

The victim has undergone surgery for his injuries.

Investigators say they were able to find the car believed to be involved 2 days later. While searching the vehicle, deputies found a golf club and some of the victim's property.

This is an active and ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Brown County Sheriff's Department at (920) 448-4230. If you wish to stay anonymous, you can call Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text GBTIP and your tip to 274637 (crimes).

DENVER (WTAQ) - Bye weeks can help teams, and it appears this past week off didn't help the Packers as the Denver Broncos dominated every phase of the game in a 29-10 win Sunday night.

Quarterback Peyton Manning finished 21-of-29 for 340 yards and one interception. Running back Ronnie Hillman ran for 60 yards on 19 carries and 2 touchdowns.

The Packers (6-1) offense was held to 140 total yards on the night. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers was 14-of-22 for 77 yards. Running back Eddie Lacy scored the lone TD for the Pack.

The Broncos (7-0) also had a safety and played stifling defense.

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

OCONTO COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - One man is dead after being struck by a car early Sunday.

Authorities in Oconto County say it happened on Highway 32 in the Township of Lakewood around 12:45 a.m.

Sheriff's deputies say a 20-year-old Wabeno man was a passenger in a vehicle that hit a deer. He got out of the vehicle and walked into the road to look for the deer.

The Wabeno man was then struck by a vehicle driven by a 58-year-old Crivitz man.

The victim died at the scene, while the Crivitz man was not hurt.

The accident remains under investigation.

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - State lawmakers are going after Wisconsinites guilty of food stamp fraud this week.

Another bill would crack down on those who try to scam the unemployment system.

But paying for those investigations is taxing many cash-strapped counties.

So, while the Wisconsin Assembly prepares to take up bills this week dealing with welfare reform, legislation is being planned that would help counties recover some of the money they spend investigating cases of fraud.

Wisconsin Rep. Andre Jacque (R-De Pere) is gathering support for a bill that allows counties to re-coup about 20-percent of the money they track down.

He says by giving counties a financial incentive, more welfare fraud cases would be investigated...and that would save taxpayer's money. That cash would be used to fund further investigations.

Jacque says in Brown County, welfare fraud investigations have led to dozens of prosecutions in the past several years, to the tune of more than a million dollars.

Unfortunately, the county’s costs to conduct these activities are typically well over double what they are able to recoup in payments -- basically, Brown County taxpayers are paying the state and federal government for fraud they have uncovered.

Brown County Executive Troy Strekenbach says the county could use the cash incentives to pay for additional investigators, and hire more attorneys to prosecute the cases.

BELLEVUE, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities in Brown County are releasing new sketches of three suspects believed to be involved with the beating of a 66-year-old man in Howard this summer.

Sheriff's officials say the armed robbery attack took place on Lenwood Avenue on July 12.

According to deputies, the victim was walking when a car stopped and two men got out, then severely beat him with a golf club. The two men stole property from the victim and took off.

The victim and witnesses describe the driver of that car as a Hispanic man with a bald head. 

The attacker with the golf club is described as a Hispanic or black man in his late 20's, with short dark hair, a stocky build and between 5'8" and 6'0" tall.

The second attacker is described as a Hispanic man in his late 20's, slightly smaller than the golf club holder, short dark hair with tattoos on his left arm from the shoulder down past the elbow. The tattoo had some type of a floral design.

Two days after the attack, investigators located the car involved at a residence on Green Bay's west side. The woman at the home was uncooperative and investigators say that woman has not come forward to claim her vehicle, despite it being registered to her.

Investigators are asking the public to come forward with any new information and are following up on numerous leads.

Anyone with 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).

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - As former Brown County D.A.R.E. officer Kevin Vanden Heuvel faces multiple felonies related to stealing thousands of dollars from the program, he's getting slapped down from a state group.

The Wisconsin D.A.R.E. Officers Association (WDOA) said Monday they have revoked Vanden Heuvel's lifetime membership with the group and his 2002 Officer of the Year Award.

"One bad apple shouldn't ruin what people's perception is of what the other officers are like," said WDOA Board President Pete Ehlert. "All the other D.A.R.E. officers in the state are working hard to send a message to kids to make good choices, and we want to make sure everybody knows that that's not how all of us want to be looked at."

In a statement released Monday, the WDOA says they fully support the Brown County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office during the criminal investigation.

The criminal complaint states Vanden Heuvel and a former D.A.R.E. program volunteer stole money while they helped park vehicles in the D.A.R.E. parking lot near Lambeau Field for seven years.

ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - The Catholic Diocese of Green Bay says there is a Bishop David Ricken impostor asking for money on social media.

A fake Twitter account claims it's the real deal, but if you look closely, it is one character different than Ricken's actual account.

Following Pope Francis' lead, Ricken joined Twitter in February 2013.

"He uses it for such things as prayer, prayer requests, engaging with people throughout the 16 counties in the Diocese of Green Bay and just general inspiration," said Matthew Livingstone, the social communications director for the diocese.

Livingstone says Ricken tries to tweet once a day. His tweet on Monday read, "Friends, please know that someone is impersonating me using the account @BpDavid_Ricken & falsely soliciting donations. Please unfollow."

The only difference between the two accounts is the fake account has an underscore between David and Ricken.

The diocese says it is working with Twitter to try and have the fake account suspended.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Raw milk lovers are about to try again to legalize it in Wisconsin.

Assembly Republican David Murphy of Greenville says he'll introduce a new bill in the next couple of weeks. He says people should have the freedom to buy unpasteurized milk directly from farms.

Those who drink it cite health benefits not found in the pasteurized product.

Shawn Pfaff of the Wisconsin Safe Milk Coalition says raw milk is not safe -- and there's no way it can be made safe. His group helped strike down the most recent effort to legalize raw milk two years ago.

Former Senate Republican Glenn Grothman of Campbellsport led that charge, but he has since moved on to Congress.

A similar bill reached former Governor Jim Doyle's desk in 2010. He considered signing it, but Doyle changed his mind after last-minute lobbying convinced him that illnesses from raw milk could taint Wisconsin's worldwide reputation as "America's Dairyland."

Earlier this year, a farm near Durand lost its state milk production permit for 30 days after it was tied to a raw milk disease outbreak which made almost 40 people sick.

Governor Scott Walker's office says he'll review a raw bill if it reaches his desk -- but as in the past, it would need safeguards to protect people's health and the integrity of the dairy industry.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Appleton is getting closer to financing the extreme makeover of Erb Pool.

Over the weekend, the city's finance committee approved an amendment to add more than $6 million in funding to the project.

Should that amendment pass the full council next week, it will bring Appleton's borrowing up to over $9 million for the project.

Meantime, Appleton's Parks and Recreation Committee has recommended going with the 25 meter pool option. Officials say that's because a 50 meter pool would be too costly to build and maintain.

Now the final decision will be made by the full common council.

"When you look at what's feasible and possible for the city of Appleton and its taxpayers, it's something that has to be limited. It's a lot of money considering that we have a short climate," Dean Gazza of Appleton Parks and Rec told FOX 11.

According to city leaders, this funding will affect taxpayers for the next 10 years.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - Manitowoc police have arrested a man following a garage burglary overnight.

Authorities were called to the 2000 block of Western Avenue around 4 a.m. Tuesday. The homeowner says someone went into his garage and stole some tools.

Investigators say evidence at the scene led them to the 28-year-old suspect, whom they arrested at a south side home. Also found were the stolen tools.

Police are seeking charges of burglary, drug possession and bail jumping.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Voters in seven Wisconsin school districts are deciding the fate of almost $73 million of building projects and revenue cap exemptions Tuesday.

Peshtigo has the largest proposal by far -- almost $33 million for a new middle and high school.

The Unity district in Balsam Lake has a $17.5 million bonding plan for additions to its science classrooms, auditorium, and gym -- plus various renovations.

Shawano school residents are voting on $9.25 million for a middle school remodeling.

Boscobel in southwest Wisconsin seeks $6.9 million for various upgrades and energy efficiency projects. Potosi wants $2.3 million for facility upgrades.

Tomorrow River and Tigerton are asking residents for about $2 million each, above their state revenue caps, for operating costs.

The referendums were scheduled before last week, when we first heard that Republicans want to limit them to the spring and fall election days for other contests, when turnouts are much higher.

Two lawmakers are seeking co-sponsors from colleagues for that measure -- plus one to make schools wait two years before bringing back a proposal that voters reject, and end the energy effiency exemption from state school revenue limits.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Online court records indicate a second suspect involved in a Green Bay arson has been convicted.

18-year-old Jesse Jones pled no contest to charges of arson, recklessly endangering safety and receiving stolen property on Monday. A burglary count was dismissed. 

Jones will be sentenced on December 15.

The other defendant, 18-year-old Jordan Gardner-Shedrick, was convicted last month for his role in the fire at the Danz Ave. apartments on April 27. He will be sentenced on December 4.

Court documents reveal Jones and Gardner-Shedrick went to the apartment complex to confront a rival gang member. They went into the basement, where they found flammable spray cans, soaked a rag and started it on fire. 

No one was hurt in the blaze, but over 60 residents were displaced.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Metro Fire Department crews had a tough time dealing with a fire at Green Bay Packaging Tuesday morning.

Firefighters were called to the facility at 831 Radisson Street around 9:30 a.m. for a fire in the dust collection system on the roof of the plant.

"What's happening was the smoke from the fire inside the air handler was pumping through the building, so it smoked up the building pretty good," says Green Bay Metro Fire Dept. Battalion Chief Steve Sellin. "And that's a challenge for a building that big, we ended up calling the Sheriff's Department for their air boat because that puts out so much air, it helped push some of that smoke out of the building. It really worked nice."

Sellin said that this was the second time a local fire department had to use the Brown County Sheriff's Department's air boat, after a fire at an Ashwaubenon warehouse last year.

Crews were on the scene for about 4 hours. The blaze caused about $70,000 in damage. 

No one was hurt.

We have just learned the missing Army veteran Bruce Windorski of Gillett has been found safe.

Officials at the Oconto County Sheriff's Department confirmed he was found safe, but it's not known where.

Windorski's wife Courtney hadn't seen him since October.

We're hoping to learn more information later today.

UNDATED (WTAQ) - Three of Wisconsin's five school building referendums were approved Tuesday, but the largest one was defeated.

In Peshtigo, 52 percent of almost 1,700 voters said no to borrowing $33 million for a new middle and high school.

In Boscobel, a $6.9 million package of upgrades and energy effiency projects was rejected. That vote was close, 567-536.

The Unity School District in Balsam Lake had the largest building project that was approved. 56 percent of more than 1,200 voters said yes to $17.5 million for additions to Unity's science classrooms, gymnasium, and auditorium -- plus various renovations.

In Shawano, almost two-thirds of 2,000 voters okayed $9.25 million in bonding for middle school renovations.

In Potosi, more than 5 of every 6 voters said yes to $2.3 million for security upgrades. And in Tigerton, three-fourths of voters agreed to raise their local taxes by $2 million over five years for school operating and maintenance costs.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)

MARINETTE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - A federal grand jury has indicted an Illinois man accused of defrauding about 70 people, including four from Marinette County.

According to prosecutors, 55-year-old Gregory J. Kuczora of Elgin, Illinois, stole over $1 million from his victims. 

Kuczora allegedly promised business loans in exchange for up-front fees. He claimed to be an agent of a United Kingdom-based financial investment firm, but the firm turned out to be little more than a website registered in Panama.

Kuczora faces up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

MILWAUKEE (WTAQ) - Three Appleton men could go to prison for life if they're convicted of firearms charges handed down by a federal grand jury.

35-year-old Cory Yant, 32-year-old Zachary Sternhagen, and 21-year-old Kong Vang have been indicted for possessing firearms after being labeled as "armed career criminals."

That means they have each been convicted of three previous violent felony crimes. The U.S. Attorney's office did not say what those crimes were.

Yant and Sternhagen would go to prison for 15 years to life if they're convicted of their original charges, with fines of up to $250,000 apiece.

Vang could get 10 years to life if he's found guilty.

(Story courtesy of Wheeler News Service)