GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Another credit card skimmer found at a Green Bay gas station is prompting police to reiterate the importance of paying close attention when using their credit or debit cards.

Police say it was at a Shell station located at Webster Avenue and Radisson Street.

On Monday, police reported the arrests of two men in connection with a credit card skimming operation. Officers say the device was installed at the Shell gas station, 1146 W. Mason Street, at the intersection with S. Oneida Street.

These devices are used to steal credit and debit card information while customers pay for gas at the pumps.

"In addition to the skimmers, we have also discovered that these suspects have been surreptitiously recording video of consumers typing their pin numbers on pump keypads. These pinhole cameras have been mounted inside of homemade white metal camera housings in an attempt to make them blend in with the gas pumps so customers do not realize they are being recorded," police said in a news release.

If you want to avoid becoming a victim, there are several proactive measures you can take:

• Closely monitor your bank account transactions and report fraudulent activity to your banking institution in a timely manner
• Pay inside the gas station
• Purchase gas station gift cards in smaller denominations and use those for pay at the pump transactions
• Be on the lookout for items that do not appear to belong on the gas pump and report them to the station staff
• Avoid using gas pumps with no tamper evident sticker
• Cover your pin number entry with your other hand at all pumps, ATMs, or store registers

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection has a Credit Card Skimmer Fact sheet available here.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A woman has been arrested in connection with the death of her infant child.

On Friday, 26-year-old Keshia Waupoose was taken into custody with the assistance of the Shawano Police Department. Officials say Waupoose is in the Outagamie County Jail on a charge of second-degree reckless homicide.

Investigators say a 3-month-old female infant was not breathing when officers responded to 201 N. Story Street on August 27, 2015. The baby was declared dead at a local hospital following rescue efforts which were unsuccessful.

Waupoose was drinking with friends the night before they found the baby dead, investigators say. They believe Waupoose laid in the same makeshift bed that her child was placed in earlier in the night.

Appleton police say the arrest was delayed at the request of the Outagamie County District Attorney's Office. No specific reason was given.

According to the criminal complaint, child protective services investigated Waupoose back in 2008 and warned her about the consequences of co-sleeping. The complaint also states Waupoose's boyfriend told police she gave a child up for adoption because of her drinking.

Before she was arrested, Waupoose had two other children living with her.

In court Friday, Waupoose was issued a cash bond of $20,000.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Six people have been arrested in an undercover prostitution bust in Oshkosh.

On Thursday, police say they arrested four women and two men who are between the ages of 21 and 38. All suspects are from Milwaukee and Fond du Lac.

Officials say the six people are facing charges of prostitution, drug possession, drug paraphernalia, pandering and bail jumping.

The investigation continues and police say they will not release any more information.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - After being hacked about a month ago, the Manitowoc Police Department is now back on Twitter and is asking the community to once again follow them.

Police say someone took control of the account with the handle @ManitowocPD in early October and sent out several inappropriate tweets before it could be shut down.

Officials with the department took steps to ensure the account is more secure and reactivated it. They sent out their first tweet from the new account Nov. 10.

Manitowoc police say they use Twitter to distribute alerts and information to the community and media.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's not only time for Wisconsin's gun-deer season, it's also the time of year when deer are on the move and people, especially those driving, need to be more alert.

Cody Gustafson, driving to his Fox Crossing home after work early one morning this week, hit a deer on Highway 441.

"The car was totaled, the radiator was smashed. Luckily the deer didn't go through the windshield"

It took him a while to get over the shock.

"I've never had an adrenaline rush like that before. It took me a good three hours after it happened to just calm down"

The DOT's Mark Kantola says crashes between cars and deer can happen at anything time during the day, but they're more prevalent in the early morning hours and in the evening.

"The headlights at night almost freeze a deer. So don't think they're going to see you and get out of the way"

Police say it's another good argument to limit driving distractions and keep an eye out.

The DOT reports 4,621 cars versus deer crashes last year in Northeast Wisconsin.

Of those, 64 left people with injuries, one crash was fatal.

If you do hit a deer, the DOT says pull off the road onto the shoulder, turn on your emergency flashers and call police.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - What are some of the most sought-after electronics ahead of Black Friday?

"Your 4K TV's, gaming consoles, drones, virtual reality headsets and your connected home stuff," says Chris Starrett, Specialty Sales Manager at Best Buy in Ashwaubenon. 

Starrett's location, like most Best Buy stores nationwide, will open at 5 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day giving it more of a Black Thursday feel. They will remain open until 1 a.m. on Friday, November 25. After that, Best Buy will re-open seven hours later and close again at 10 p.m.

Some of the deeper discounts available are in those 4K TV selections.

"Price point at those have come down to allowing people the ability to get there versus the last few years when they've been $2,000 to $3,000," Starrett says.

A couple examples of great value for those televisions include:

• $199.99 Toshiba 49-inch 4K Ultra HD TV
• $479.99 (save $320) Samsung 55-inch LED 4K Ultra HD Smart TV

Starrett explains what makes these models superior to the traditional high-definition set.

"Your standard high-definition is your 1080p, that looks great, 4K looks even better," says Starrett. "It's four times the resolution of 1080p, so you get all those great details and HDR is going to get you more of a vibrant contrast of picture."

It seems like everyone either has or wants a drone to use for pretty much anything. According to one analyst, the consumer drone market worldwide is expected to grow more than 23% from 2016 to 2020. 

Best Buy believes they've got the best product to fill that need.

"The ones that we have here are going to get you longer flight times, as far as flight pattern and distance that they travel, so they're your bigger drones," Starrett says. "(Also) 4K video capabilities so they can actually record that great video that those TVs put out."

Appliances and laptop computers are also expected to be big sellers throughout the busiest shopping weekend of the year. 

UNIQUE RETAIL EXPERIENCE

Black Friday in 2016 is shaping up to be much like any previous crazy year, where loyal customers who've been planning their purchases carefully are willing to set up camp right outside the doors of their local Best Buy, chomping at the bit to grab "their precious".

"We've got people who will camp out, sometimes 2, 3, 4 days beforehand," says Starrett. "So when we come in the morning, there's positive energy around us, we're all getting pumped up."

For several weeks now, store officials have been busy getting stock in and preparing to not run out of that special discount customers will flock to.

Despite seeing several of these long workdays in his time, Starrett says the excitement he has for this unique run of commerce hasn't waned.

"I expect the best, they know they're going to come in here, it's a high energy environment, busy on their feet," Starrett recounts. "A lot of them are like, oh this is my first holiday. This will be my 9th, and I'm just as chipper as ever going into this one as I was for the first one."

As with anything these days, customers looking for these deals from home will be able to get nearly every one of them at BestBuy.com.

PULASKI, WI (WTAQ) - Pulaski police are investigating the theft of a statue from a grave site at the Assumption BVM Cemetery.

On Friday, police were notified about the theft. Family members believe the statue was stolen sometime between November 13 and 17.

If you have any information about this incident, you're asked to call the Pulaski Police Department at (920) 822-5613.

You may also contact the Green Bay Area Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-STOP (7867) or by visiting www.432stop.com.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The biggest shopping day of the year is only 4 days away and it's hard to know what the most popular toys of the season will be.

WTAQ made a stop at the Toys R US store at 1640 West Mason Street to find out which toys are flying off the shelves.

Store manager Joshua Whiting says layaway is an option for many folks as parents start planning for Christmas.

"We do have layaway. It runs until December 14 so you have time to pay for them. We just ask 10% down on your purchase and then just make payments. It's a really awesome way to get all your toys for Christmas and not have to worry about paying all up front."

Whiting says his story is ready for the Black Friday rush.

"Black Friday's are what we call the Super Bowl around here. It's one of the busiest days of the year," said Whiting. "Employees get pretty hyped up about it themselves. I always have people asking questions, employees asking me questions. A lot of them have been here a while, they know what to expect and they look forward to it every year."

Check out the top 5 hottest toys for the season (in no particular order):

1.) Nerf Modulus Tri-Strike (Ages 8+)- A multi-functional dart gun that shoots 3 different size darts. Retail price: $49.99

2.) Fisher-Price Code-a-pillar (Preschool 3-6)- It's a learning and development toy that helps with problem solving, critical thinking, planning and sequencing. Retail price: $49.99

3.) Zoomer Marshall and Zoomer Skye (Ages 3+)- Interactive robotic dog based off the cartoon Paw Patrol. It speaks to you with 150 phrases and sounds.

4.) Magic Tracks (Ages 3+) Glow in the dark flexible track with battery operated car. Retail price: $19.99

5.) DreamWorks Trolls Selfie Star- Video recording mic with selfie stick. You can sing, record and share. Retail price: 29.99

Click on the video above to get an interactive look at the top toys.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ ) - It's now been 30 years since the body of Lisa Holstead of Green Bay, was found in the Atkinson Marsh by the Bay of Green Bay.

Holstead had been strangled and found later by construction workers in August of 1986.

Although Green Bay Police Investigations Commander, Jim Runge wasn't on the case at the time, he and others revisit the homicide each year.

Runge takes a look back on that gruesome day.

"She had been out with her boyfriend. They had an argument the night she disappeared. The story was that she jumped out of the car and that's the last he saw of her. It was on the west side. The next day her body turns up in the marsh," said Runge.

Police say evidence found on Holstead could not be directly linked to her boyfriend. As time went on investigators continued interviewing friends, family and those close to her to find out more about Holstead.

"I think, in my experience in most homicides, people who know things and for whatever reason, whether they're involved or not, they are reluctant to be truthful...and I think in this case there was a lot of untruthfulness," Runge said.

So where is the investigation now and has new DNA technology revealed a break in the case?

Watch the entire interview with Commander Jim Runge in the latest episode of Green Bay Crime.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The nine-day gun-deer season started Saturday.

On Sunday, the DNR released preliminary harvest numbers from opening day.

According to the DNR, 40,169 antlered deer were killed statewide.

Of those, 20,223 antlered deer were killed in the central farmland deer management zone.

That area includes Brown, Outagamie, Calumet and Door counties.

When you include antlered and antlerless deer, the statewide harvest total so far is 68,756, according to the DNR.

We have added a link with detailed information on county by county harvest numbers. (See below)

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/wildlifehabitat/harvest/deerharvest.html

MOUNT MORRIS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Officials at Nordic Mountain say they fired up the snow machines Saturday afternoon.

Nordic Mountain owner Rick Schmitz tells WLUK it's not always easy playing mother nature, but it's something they've got down to a science.

"We basically need, obviously the colder the better, but also the lower humidity the better"

Schmitz says with the help of their snow machines, Nordic Mountain is on track to open the day after Thanksgiving.

And while snow making got a late start due to a warmer than normal November, he's expecting at least three of the main runs to open on time.

"We are probably right in our average start time, our goal is always to open on black Friday, or as we like to call it White Friday, so usually right in there when we get open"

He says this time of the year it also exciting for employees.

William Ringenoldus General Manager at the resort says snow making is one of the reasons why its never hard to make the first schedule.

"It's definitely exciting, very exciting, everyone hurries here, everyone wants to work the first day"

Ringenoldus also says this year in particular, they have put new snow machines on their hills, capable of putting out more power and more snow.

He says a total of around 1 foot needed to open each slope.

As for Schmitz, he says they're hoping that the temperatures stay on colder side for all those die hard winter sports lovers

"In spring people can't wait to get they're golf clubs out, in Fall they can't wait to get their skii's out"

If the temperatures remain favorable for snow making, Schmitz says Friday should be busy on the slopes.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Downtown Appleton's Christmas parade is on Tuesday, and officials are reminding attendees about some rules in the run up to the annual event.

Police say the Santa Scamper fun run is scheduled for 6:40 p.m., with the parade starting at 6:55 p.m.

Because of construction in Jones Park, the Santa Scamper route has been modified: It will start at the intersection of State Street and College Avenue, follow College Avenue east to Drew Street, and turn north on Drew Street and end at City Park.

The parade itself begins on State Street and turns onto College Avenue, ending at Drew Street.

The Appleton Police Department is also reminding spectators of the city's policy: Viewing spots may not be reserved before noon Tuesday. Beginning at noon, spots may be claimed, but someone must stay at that spot until the parade starts. Anything left before noon will be removed and donated to a local charity for resale, and there will be no opportunity to recover it.

Starting at 5 a.m. Tuesday, there will be restricted parking along:

• College Avenue (between S. Memorial Drive/N. Richmond Street and Lawe Street)
• Oneida Street (south of College Avenue)
• State Street, Walnut Street, Superior Street, Appleton Street, Morrison Street, Durkee Street and Drew Street (south and north of College Avenue)
• Division Street (north of W. College Avenue)

All vehicles must be removed from College Avenue by 4 p.m. Vehicles that remain will be ticketed and towed. At 4:30 p.m., State Street, along with side streets between Fourth Street and College Avenue will be closed for staging and setup. Vehicles in those areas will be ticketed and towed. At 5 p.m., W. Lawrence Street between S. Memorial Drive and S. Superior Street will become a one-way eastbound street.

At 5:30 p.m., these streets will close to traffic:

• College Avenue (between S. Memorial Drive/N. Richmond Street and Lawe Street)
• Oneida Street (south of College Avenue)
• State Street, Walnut Street, Superior Street, Appleton Street, Morrison Street, Durkee Street and Drew Street (south and north of College Avenue)
• Division Street (north of W. College Avenue)

After the parade, the area around City Park will be used for tear-down and pickup of floats and parade entries. Police remind drivers to watch out for increased traffic along:

• E. Franklin Street
• N. Drew Street
• N. Union Street
• E. North Street
• E. Eldorado Street
• N. Bateman Street

Drivers passing through downtown will be diverted onto W. Prospect Avenue and S. Memorial Drive. Police ask drivers to avoid the downtown area if possible from 5-10 p.m.

Finally, police remind parade-goers of these guidelines:

• No alcoholic beverage carry-ins allowed at the events
• No glass containers
• No animals are allowed at special events
• Pedestrians must obey all traffic laws at intersections around the event
• Individuals planning on consuming alcoholic beverages should plan a safe ride home

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - As the holiday shopping season is about to ramp up, local small businesses are excited about Small Business Saturday.

It's an annual day designed to get folks to shop at locally-owned retailers and eat at locally-owned restaurants.

"The business owners downtown have repeatedly said it's one of their best days of the year in terms of sales," said Anne Wiegman, Marketing Director for Appleton Downtown Inc. "And they also love the opportunity to talk with their customers and tell them personally, thank you."

Wiegman says 95 small businesses across the city will take the idea to another level, by taking part in the "Shop Appleton First Small Business Passport".

"This program has been very popular the last two years so we are excited to offer it again this year," Wiegman said. "By partnering with the city of Appleton and the Appleton Northside Business Association, it has proven to be a great way to make customers aware of the multitude of small businesses throughout the city who appreciate this kind of support all year long."

When people buy something at a participating business and present the passport, they will earn a stamp. They can earn one chance to win prizes for every 5 stamps. When a passport is filled with five stamps, it should be turned in to the retailer to be entered in the random drawing for prizes.

Wiegman says two grand prizes will be awarded this year, one for a $350 shopping spree at Appleton Northside businesses and the other for a $350 shopping spree at Downtown Appleton businesses.

You can get the passport, along with the participating businesses and their specials, as an insert wrapper in the Appleton Post-Crescent's Thanksgiving Day newspaper and at those participating businesses. Event details are also available on the Small Business Saturday Northeast Wisconsin Facebook page.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - In the aftermath of the shooting death of a Texas police officer, along with several other recent shootings of officers, Appleton Police Chief Todd Thomas is asking for national leaders to condemn the killings.

Thomas wrote an essay in reaction to the fatal shooting of San Antonio Det. Benjamin Marconi on Sunday; the shooting of a St. Louis police sergeant, along with the wounding of officers in Gladstone, Missouri, and Sanibel, Florida, on Sunday.

Chief Thomas wrote: 

"Mourning, pain, anxiety, fear, anger, confusion, disappointment, divisiveness, evilness, ignorance, lies, sacrifice, politics, and children and spouses crying themselves to sleep for God knows how long…but mostly HEROES…these are the things many of us in law enforcement are thinking about and feeling today.

Four more officers were shot yesterday in our country, one died; Detective Benjamin Marconi of the San Antonio Police Department was ambushed and assassinated, God rest his soul. Detective Marconi was writing a traffic ticket when another driver pulled up behind him, got out and walked to his passenger side window, and shot him in the head.

Detective Marconi’s two children will now be without a father; they join hundreds of other children and spouses who will be going into their first Thanksgiving and Christmas season without a father or mother. They will try to figure out what they should be thankful for and why someone would kill their mom or dad; who just wanted to help people. No good answer is available for these children. All we can tell them is there are some evil people in this world and their parent was one of the brave and courageous people; whose calling it was to protect the rest of us from them.

In 2015, over 50,000 police officers were assaulted in this country; over 10,000 of them assaulted by a firearm, knife, or other dangerous weapon. While we wait for our national leaders to condemn the 71% increase in the number of officers killed by gunfire this year, and a tamping down of any hateful rhetoric, we will continue to be resolute in doing our duties.

We are blessed to live in the Fox Cities and we truly appreciate the community support we have. We thank you for being great partners and allies of ours. If we haven’t won your trust yet please give us a chance; we think you will be glad you did.

Our officers and their families are affected when these tragic events occur, please take the time to say “thank you”, wave, or shake their hand when you see them. These small actions mean the world to us.

In the lobby of the Appleton Police Department we have blue ribbons available for the public to wear in support for law enforcement. We invite you to wear one and share them with family, friends, and co-workers."

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - A panel of federal judges has ruled Wisconsin’s 2011 legislative redistricting resulted in maps that are unconstitutional.

In a 2-1 decision, a federal court in Madison determined that the Republican-drawn maps created gerrymandered districts that favor the GOP by diluting the voting strength of Democrats.

The maps are redrawn every 10 years, based on census results. Voters who challenged the maps last year argued they create what’s known as an “efficiency gap” – a situation in which the weight carried by Democratic votes statewide is reduced by splitting them up in districts that are drawn to favor Republicans. The result is that Democrats win a handful of races with large margins, while Republicans are able to win more seats with smaller margins.

Democrats have pointed to the results of the 2012 and 2014 elections as evidence of this effect being carried out. In those elections, Republicans claimed only about half the votes in the state, but won 60 of the 99 Assembly seats in 2012 and 63 of 99 in 2014.

The court did not order an immediate remedy. Instead, both sides will have 30 days to file their recommendations for addressing the decision.

A spokesman with the state Department of Justice said the agency is currently reviewing the decision. A message to an attorney for plaintiffs in the case was not immediately returned.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It's the time of year when we reflect and remember what we are truly thankful for.

A plethora of people in Northeast Wisconsin echoed family and friends as reasons they are most grateful.

8-year-old Quincy from Green Bay is thankful for the necessities in life but also the extraordinary things as well.

"I'm thankful for water, food, and love, friends, family...pretty much everything that makes me happy and stuff," said Quincy.

WTAQ also asked Xenia Brehmer from Oconto Falls, what she's most grateful for this thanksgiving.

"I'm very thankful for my family and I'm thankful I live in the USA," Brehmer said.

Joan Reseburg from Kiel was enjoying time with her family Monday and says it's the simple things in life she doesn't take for granted.

"I'm thankful for my family and I'm thankful that I can live a comfortable life," said Reseburg

An ABC News/SSRS Poll, conducted online this month, asked people to share one word to describe what they are most thankful for, the vast majority of respondents said “family,” followed by “life” and “health.”

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - The Fox Valley Humane Association is asking the community to help out needy pets this holiday season.

The animal shelter is hosting its pet food drive through December 3. 

Shelter officials say they are in need of dog, puppy, and cat and kitten food. The shelter prefers Purina or IAMS brands.

Donation drop-off sites are located throughout the Fox Cities, including at the shelter on Two Mile Road in Appleton. You can also donate year-round at the shelter.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A Stevens Point man who admitted to robbing six bank and credit unions in Wisconsin learned his fate Monday.

39-year-old Jason Kiedrowski was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison, which will be served after the completion of his current state prison sentence on unrelated cases in 2022.

The judge also ordered Kiedrowski to pay $15,050.51 in restitution.

Prosecutors say Kiedrowski would demand cash from a teller, bike away from the scene to a waiting car and then drive off.

He committed these six robberies:

• Fox Communities Credit Union, Grand Chute, on Feb. 10, 2015
• Royal Credit Union, Eau Claire, on March 19, 2015
• Hometown Bank, Fond du Lac, on March 24, 2015
• Educational Employee's Credit Union, Janesville, on April 10, 2015
• First National Bank, Appleton, on June 18, 2015
• Unison Credit Union, De Pere, on July 7, 2015

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - Agencies have requested $693 million dollars more for 2016-17 than the state of Wisconsin is expected to collect in revenues over the two-year budget period.

The state Department of Administration reported the revenue outlook on Monday.

It means the Walker administration will face a $693 million shortfall when drafting a biennial budget. That “hole” represents projected state revenues from all sources minus spending requests from state agencies. Those requests inevitably include proposals that don’t end up making it into the governor’s proposed budget.

A Walker spokesman said the governor’s budget will include more money for K-12 education, technical colleges and the UW System.

MADISON, WI (Wisconsin Radio Network) - The state Supreme Court will has ruled against ordering an investigation into the leak of documents from a now-ended John Doe investigation.

The secret probe was looking into whether Governor Scott Walker’s campaign was illegally coordinating with outside groups during a recall effort against him.

The state had requested the appointment of a special master to oversee case, and to order an investigation into who leaked evidence to the Guardian U.S. newspaper. The leak provided an in-depth look at the secret investigation and the activities of its potential targets, including revelations that Walker helped raise funds for outside groups.

In a 3-1 ruling, justice wrote that while the court has the authority to protect and enforce its orders, it’s up to the executive branch to investigate and prosecute crimes. Justices noted prosecutors are still free to pursue charges against any individuals who may have violated the court’s secrecy order.

A spokesman with the state Department of Justice said the agency is still reviewing the decision.