APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A pilot program through the state department of corrections is looking to help inmates who may be addicted to heroin.

The program aims to treat the inmates before they go back out in the community, in hopes of keeping them from using again.

Some doctors say the question of how to solve the problem of addiction has a medical answer.

ThedaCare's Dr. Eric Smiltneek is the medical consultant for the local program, and spoke with WLUK.

"Addiction is really a medical, chronic brain illness, much more so than a character failing or a criminal offense."

That's why, the state Department of Corrections has partnered up with ThedaCare on a pilot program.

Michael Meulemans is the D.O.C.'S program policy analyst

"We want to make sure that we exercise all possible alternatives before we incarcerate somebody."

Offenders are given the opportunity to receive an injection of Vivitrol.

"It helps people resist cravings. A lot of times it's those cravings that bring people back to want to use again," Smiltneek said.

The unique thing about Vivitrol is that patients only need to get an injection about once a month, so doctors say that makes it easier to manage.

54 people have been going through the program since March. The program takes 12 months to complete.

So far Smiltneek says they have seen some patients with side effects such as pain, nausea, or depression.

"There are always a few people who have had some issues."

But Meulemans says the D.O.C. hopes the treatment can keep more people from returning to jail in the future.

"They have a sense of hope, they have a sense that they can contribute to society in a productive manner."

The D.O.C. says if all continues to go well, they'll look at expanding the program to other parts of the state.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - You've heard of white-collar crime. This might be classified as white-tooth crime.

Green Bay police say in the past month, they've had six reports of thefts at area drugs stores.

Missing: $6,612 worth of Crest White Strips.

Police say in the six cases, store employees later discovered that boxes on the shelves were empty, with the thief taking out the product inside.

Surveillance photos of a suspect in one of the thefts were posted on the department's Facebook page.

Investigators don't know why the tooth-whitening strips are being targeted.

Officers are recommending stores that stock strips do the following:

Stock the white strips like you do tobacco or baby formula productsPlace security devices on the strips to ensure the boxes are not openedStock the strips in a location directly under a video surveillance cameraPlace the strips in a secure locker and remove upon request

Anyone with information is asked to call Green Bay police at (920) 448-3200. Anonymous tips may be left with Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 432-7867, by text message with the keyword GBTIP to 274637 or online. Those who submit tips through Crime Stoppers may be eligible for a reward.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)  - An Oregon company will manage the renovated Hotel Northland in downtown Green Bay.

Developer KPH Construction announced Tuesday that Provenance Hotels of Portland, Oregon, will run the 160-room hotel's operation and its food and beverage outlets.

KPH Construction developer Keith Harenda has bought Frantz Community Investors' share of the project and is now the sole owner of the Hotel Northland.

Meanwhile, the renovations of the historic hotel are about 70 percent finished.

Major mechanical systems, including new heating, cooling, plumbing and electrical, are in place. Framing is finished and drywall is now being hung. Crews are also working to restore historic lighting fixtures, wood-paneled walls and mosaic tile floors; and recreate damaged plaster, front desk and other areas.

The goal remains to open by summer.

A website has been set up for those interested in booking rooms or events after August.

HOWARD, WI (WTAQ) - Southbound lanes of Interstate 41 have reopened after a fatal crash shut them down near Shawano Avenue Tuesday afternoon.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office says the crash was between a car and a dump truck.

Several lanes of the highway were closed for about four hours as authorities investigated and cleared the scene.

The first notice of the crash was sent out just before 12:30 p.m.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - It was a football game one young boy and 3 Green Bay Police Officers won't forget anytime soon.

During half-time at Sunday's Wild Card game at Lambeau Field, Captain Kevin Warych was approached by man who wanted him to round up a couple of officers to give Levi Glaze a special Clay Matthew's jersey.

What officers didn't realize right away was that Levi was the son of fallen Rusk County Deputy Daniel Glaze.

Warych explains why the jersey was so important.

"Deputy Glaze was a big fan of Clay Matthews and always wore his Matthews jersey often. Tom (friend of the family) and his friends wanted to present a Clay Matthews jersey to Levi to keep his father's memory alive."

Warych along with Officer Steve Meisner and Officer Scott Salzmann had the privilege of handing over the symbolic #52 jersey.

Emotions were high.

"It really pulled at our heartstrings. I don't think any of us knew what we were about to do...and when we handed that jersey to Levi and saw his smile and saw his emotion, time almost stopped."

Warych says he doesn't know if it was luck or divine intervention but he knows this moment and Levi's smile that won't be forgotten soon.

"It's an honor for me to be part of that. Speaking with Officer Meisner and Officer Salzmann, all of us are honored to be part of that," said Warych.

Glaze was shot and killed in the line of duty on October 29, 2016.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Green Bay's redevelopment authority discussed a plan Tuesday afternoon to build high-end apartments on the city's northeast side.

The University Heights at Baird's Creek apartments are proposed for the old Packerland Packing site on University Avenue.

Green Bay's redevelopment authority says it wants more information and possibly a change in plans before approving a term sheet for the apartment project.

The $37 million development would create 374 new apartment units in 16 buildings over a five-year period. The developer is asking for up to $5.5 million in city assistance.

Todd DeVillers of TMD Properties, the owner of the land and developer for the project, spoke to WLUK.

“The market study indicated that this northeast side had a market demand for over 300 units”

Brad Hopp's home is near the site. He told the Redevelopment Authority that a quick internet search turned up 250 open rental units within a few miles of the area's zip code.

“Imagine being a homeowner in that area. What is that going to do to our property values just by adding more of that rental property?”

Alderman Joe Moore believes the land is at its marketing peak with the recent nearby addition of a Festival Foods grocery store.

He believes adding commercial elements to the project would maximize the 30-acre site.

“If it's office, medical, dental, I think that also provides some services for that area, for people that currently live in the community as well”

“The east side has been neglected for a long time,” said DeVillers. “I think the Festival is going to be the catalyst for a lot more commercial development.”

The developers say they do have other area land they intend to use for commercial development in the future.

The Redevelopment Authority is expected to consider the term sheet again next month.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A house fire in Oshkosh is being called "suspicious" and is under investigation.

Firefighters were called to 317 W. 6th Ave. just after 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Crews reported heavy smoke and flames coming from the back of the house.

They were able to get the fire under control quickly, but the house had extensive smoke and heat damage.

Eight people were home at the time and all made it out safely.

One man was treated at the scene for a hand injury. No other injuries were reported.

The Red Cross is helping the family.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Oshkosh police say a man has been arrested, accused of physically abusing his infant daughter.

Authorities say the 31-year-old man took his two-month-old daughter to Mercy Medical Center Tuesday.

Health officials say an exam showed the infant had injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome.

The infant was eventually transported to Children's Hospital in Milwaukee.

The condition of the child is unknown.

Oshkosh police say they continue to investigate the incident.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A man arrested for his 11th drunk driving offense was ordered Wednesday to stand trial.

One police officer testified at the preliminary hearing Wednesday for 42-year-old Steven Johnson of Fond du Lac.

An arraignment date has not been set, according to court records.

Johnson was arrested Jan. 1 after a traffic crash in downtown Appleton.

The preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol three times the legal limit for driving.

Despite the ten previous drunk driving suspensions, revocations or convictions between 2006 and 1990, police say Johnson had a valid driver's license at the time.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities have released the name of the man killed in a crash Tuesday on Interstate 41.

The Brown County Sheriff's Office says 23-year-old Jason Brockel of the Howard area, died in the crash with a dump truck driven by 42-year-old Jason Setzer, from the Green Bay area.

The crash shut down several lanes on I-41 southbound near Shawano Avenue for several hours.

Sheriff's officials say the crash is still under investigation and have not said what caused the crash.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The "unconfirmed" threat that closed Oshkosh's two public high schools Thursday has been resolved.

A social media post by the district reads: "All district operations have returned to normal and regularly scheduled after-school activities will resume as scheduled. Both High Schools will reopen at 3:30pm today."

Elementary and middle schools - which were not mentioned in the threat - had planned to keep students indoors during recess as a precaution.

In a Facebook post Thursday morning, the district said the threat - which was made to the high schools only - was "unconfirmed."

Police say the threat was made in a 9-1-1 call to the Waupaca County Sheriff's Office.

"It was in the best interest of safety that the schools were closed during the investigation of this incident," said Officer Joe Nichols of the Oshkosh Police Dept.

Oshkosh police are investigating whether the threat may be related to a threat received Wednesday, also by sheriff's officials in Waupaca County.

North and West high schools were not closed Wednesday, but extra police patrols were placed outside the school.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A day after proposing a tuition cut for University of Wisconsin undergraduate students in his State of the State address, Governor Scott Walker offered more details about the plan during stops across the state.

Speaking to The Jerry Bader Show on WTAQ Wednesday, Walker did not say how large of a cut he plans to seek in the budget he will propose later this spring.

However, he said the effects of any tuition reduction on UW finances would be covered by the state.

“We’ll pay for the reduction, so it’s not going to come out of existing University of Wisconsin funds,”

Walker also said that the UW will likely get at least some of the $42 million in new funding it asked for in its budget request, which will be tied to performance.

“Things like how many are not only enrolled, but how many graduate, how many graduate in a reasonable amount of time”

UW leaders have voiced caution about the proposal to cut tuition, which makes up a major portion of campus operating budgets.

The system has been under a tuition freeze for much of Walker’s tenure as governor.

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank released a statement Tuesday, saying they share the goal of making sure college is affordable and accessible to all students.

“It is our hope that the governor and legislature will not only fully fund the proposed tuition reduction but also provide additional investment in the UW System in line with the modest request made by the Board of Regents, which is critical if we are to continue providing an outstanding educational experience to our students”

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Driving isn't the only concern while the roads are icy. Area hospitals say ice-related injuries are on the rise.

At ThedaCare Regional Medical Center in Neenah, eight people were treated Tuesday for injuries and at least another five sought care Wednesday.

In Appleton, more than two dozen people have been treated in the last couple of days.

Hospital officials say they've seen everything from bumps and scrapes to broken wrists.

Jocko Zifferblatt, director of emergency services at HSHS St. Vincent Hospital, spoke to WLUK.

"If you don't have to go out, don't go out. That's the simplest thing. But if you need to go out, pay attention when you're getting in and out of your car. Do it slowly, test the ground when you're sitting. If it's really slick, don't get out of the car, move to a different spot"

Hospital officials also recommend wearing a bulky coat along with gloves and a hat.

They say these things can protect you in the case of a fall.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - There were more than 13-thousand calls last year, to the Helpline operated by the Wisconsin Council on Problem Gambling

WCPG Executive Director Rose Blozinski (blow-ZIN-ski) says the total number of calls only tell part of the story about problem gambling in Wisconsin

"Lots of time when they make that first phone call they are many times thousands of dollars in debt, they may have family issues, they may have gotten in toruble legally because of their gambling....they may be suicidal"

The Helpline report shows the average debt of callers was over 38-thousand dollars among those willing to share that information.

And Blozinski notes, not all problem gamblers are adults

"12 to 20 percent of our youth are showing that they may have some sort of gambling problem. They're young adults, but they can get addicted as well"

Blozinski says long-term recovering from gambling is possible, but challenging because "gambling is everywhere we look."

If you need help with problem gambling, or know someone who does, call this number 1-800-GAMBLE-5

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-KFIZ) - Officials at Fond Du Lac High School have learned the identity of the students responsible for a written threat found in a hallway Wednesday afternoon.

Principal Michelle Hagen sent out a voice mail to parents, updating them on the situation.

They found out today (THUR) who was responsible for the note.

"We received information regarding the threat that was discovered yesterday. Through that conversation we were able to identify the students involved. Although there was never any intent to harm by these students, the seriousness of making the threat will be addressed"

She also thanked parents for their patience through this.

"We recognize how stressful these types of situations are for everyone. Again, I'd like to thank you for your support"

Police and school administration never did believe the threat was credible.

School went on as scheduled, but with an increased police presence.

Hagen says student and school staff safety is of the utmost importance to them and they take all threats seriously even if they don't consider them credible.

FOX CROSSING, WI (WTAQ) - Police say the man whose body was found dead in a ditch likely died of something natural or health related - and likely was not hit by a car.

54-year-old John Schaus, was found dead Jan. 2 near the hotel where he lived.

Police had said a possible cause was that Schaus was struck by a car, but that seems less likely, according to Jason Weber of Fox Crossing police.

Final toxicology results won't be complete until February. 

Police also want to examine his medical history records.

UNDATED, (WTAQ) - A newly released study shows meth use is way up in the Badger state.

The 2016 Wisconsin Methamphetamine Study released on Wednesday, shows use of the highly addictive drug likely increased between 250 and 300 percent from 2011 to 2015.

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says price factors into the rampant use across the state.

Meth is cheaper to purchase than heroin.

"Costs have dropped because what's happening is production has switched to coming from the Mexican cartels...and they're able to produce these illegal drugs very cheaply."

Schimel says meth in Wisconsin is being produced in Mexico and trafficked to the state via California or the Twin Cities in Minnesota.

The study also shows that methamphetamine use is highest in Northwestern Wisconsin and rural areas of the state.

"I think methamphetamine got a hold early in rural areas because it used to be made in larger production labs in Wisconsin, it's easier to do it in a rural area. There are odors and things that if you did that in urban areas somebody would make a complaint to the local health department about the chemical smells that are coming out of your building. They can do it out in the middle of the woods and nobody is going to notice," said Schimel.

Schimel says county departments of human services are dealing with another big challenge with the increased use of this drug in the state. They're seeing a dramatic increase of the number of children that are having to be placed in other homes. 

"Frequently, as much as 70 or 80 percent of the time those increases are linked to parents abusing drugs and more and more it's methamphetamine," Schimel said.

Schimel says addiction is addiction and it seems like there's a shift from heroin to meth in the state.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Eight Green Bay police cars parked in front of Willow Creek Behavioral Health Hospital Thursday morning.

Inside, police officers were easy to spot and it was clear the department supported the new facility.

Police Chief Andrew Smith tells WLUK

"Last year, officers responded and took into custody 595 different times individuals that were going through some type of emergency medical psychological difficulties."

And, that's where officer Barb Gerarden comes in. She works as a temporary mental health officer and many times, the people she encounters need treatment.

"We encounter people everyday that are in crisis and it's really important to have the resources to be able to help them at the time they're in need"

The police department plans to hire two full-time mental health officers and she's in the running for one of those positions.

During its celebration and ribbon cutting, Willow Creek's Doug Ginn talked about the building.

"We have the flexibility with our building design to move populations around. We also have distinct population units where we're not mixing people with different diagnoses"

With 72 beds, Willow Creek will also cater to children, adults and seniors in need.

Erik Pritzl, executive director of Brown County Human Services Department , says he's seen an increase in people who need treatment when existing providers don't have the room.

"If we don't have capacity locally, then we have to look outside the community... if we can have more resources more locally, that helps keep people local which helps their treatment"

With a staff of 80, Willow Creek says in all 250 jobs could be available in the future.

The facility is expected to open Tuesday.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - With the recent appointment of a new attorney to the case, the trial for the man who allegedly initiated the hostage situation at a Neenah motorcycle store has been postponed.

Brian Flatoff faces 16 counts, including two of attempted homicide, for the Dec. 5, 2015, incident at Eagle Nation Cycles.

Angela Henderson became the sixth attorney assigned to the case easlier this month.

She requested a delay of the March 13 trial, which was granted at a hearing Thursday, according to court records.

The new trial date is Sept. 18 before Winnebago County Judge John Jorgensen. A motions hearing is scheduled for June 21.

Flatoff is also charged with taking hostages, false imprisonment, and an additional count of being a felon in possession of a firearm.

One man, M.L. Funk, was shot and killed by police officers during the incident.

Flatoff is charged with felony murder for Funk's death, as the death was allegedly triggered by Flatoff's crime of false imprisonment, the complaint states.

VILLAGE OF SUAMICO, WI (WTAQ) - Crews from multiple departments braved icy, cold conditions while battling an overnight house fire.

At about 12:45 a.m., Friday, crews responded to a call on the 13000 block of Velp Avenue.

Upon arrival, all residents had left the home. Fire officials did not comment if any of the residents had injuries.

A Suamico fire official said no crews were injured, and the fire was under control in about 30 minutes.

Officials are still investigating what caused the fire.

Crews from the Village of Suamico, Howard, Pulaski, Green Bay and Hobart responded.