SHEBOYGAN, WI (METRO) - A Sheboygan woman is planning to enter a guilty plea in federal court after being accused of defrauding the IRS of almost a half-million dollars.

Court records show 35-year-old Lesley Anzures is expected to plead guilty to a charge of structuring a financial transaction on February 27th, and faces three years in prison.

She will also have to pay back all the money stolen along with a potential fine of 100-thousand dollars.

She helped undocumented immigrants claim tax refunds through her Lesley's Tax Service in downtown Sheboygan.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Public school open enrollment time is here.

For Beth Mader of Allouez, participating in open enrollment was in the best interest for her children. She spoke to WLUK.

"It's a great tool that parents can have in deciding where their kids go to school"

Mader says her oldest daughter's passion for basketball was one of the reasons why they decided to explore other options outside of the Green Bay Public School District.

"Our kids like sports, and with the changes in the district to Washington, and East turning into an Arts Academy things like that really wasn't our bent"

When students transfer districts, it also affects school funding.

According the most recent numbers for the 2015-2016 school year:

1. The Green Bay Area School District gained 384 new students, and lost 1,933 to other districts.That is a net loss of 1,549 students, and a loss of more than 8 million dollars in aid.

2. Appleton gained 1,639 students, and lost 587 other students through open enrollment.That is a net gain of 1052 students, and working out to more than 6 million dollars more in aid.

Tom McCarthy Communications Director for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction says state-wide open enrollment has continued to grow

"By far the largest and most popular version of choice in the State of Wisconsin, bigger than private, bigger than charter, very popular option for parents."

And as for parents like Mader, she says it's a program she will continue to use.

"You can really customize your child's education"

Under public school open enrollment, parents may apply during a three-month application process to the school district they wish their children to attend using the online application website, openenrollment@dpi.wi.gov.

Open Enrollment application is open until April 28th. Districts will notify parents by June 9th whether their open enrollment applications have been approved or denied.

In the 2015-16 school year 55,737 students transferred.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Authorities are looking for the person who stole a donation jar from an Oshkosh restaurant.

On Thursday, February 2, a woman walked into Perkins, 2005 W. 9th Ave. grabbed the jar and took off.

Investigators released a surveillance image of the suspect.

The jar was part of the Perkins Hugs for Hope program which benefited the Give the Kids the World Village, a nonprofit resort in Florida for kids with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at (920) 236-5700. Anonymous tips may be left with Winnebago County Wide Crime Stoppers by phone at (920) 231-8477, by text message with the keyword IGOTYA to 274637 or online. Crime Stoppers tips may be eligible for a cash reward.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man wanted in an armed robbery of a Green Bay pharmacy was ordered Tuesday to stand trial.

23-year-old Joshua Carreras faces four counts, including armed robbery, for the January 17 incident at the Walgreens store on East Mason Street.

An arraignment was set for February 20 at Tuesday's preliminary hearing.

Carreras was spotted running from the store by officers, and, as he fled, slipped on some ice, fell and was arrested - and the stolen drugs recovered.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The city of Green Bay has asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Oneida Seven Generations Corp., seeking damages from a failed waste-to-energy plant project.

In 2010, the Oneida Seven Generations Corp. (OSGC) received city permission to build a power plant fueled by municipal solid waste.

However, after construction started, the City Council revoked the conditional use permit.

Now, the tribal corporation is seeking to recover damages. It is seeking $5 million to recover expenses and $16 million in lost profits, plus other costs.

Instead of responding to the OSGC claims, the city's attorneys make a two-fold argument for why the case should be dismissed: the tribal company failed to exhaust its options in state court, and it doesn't make a valid due process violation claim.

On the first point, the city notes that after the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in May 2015 that the city improperly revoked the plant's permit, OSGC never followed up with the courts to have the court order implemented.

On the second point, the city argues that OSGC fails to meet the federal standards for making a due process violation claim.

"OSGC has failed to allege facts that show the City acted arbitrarily in the constitutional sense and has, therefore, failed to state a claim for a violation of substantive due process," the city argues.

The city's brief also argues that the OSGC wasn't authorized by the Oneida General Tribal Council to pursue the lawsuit.

The tribe has several weeks to respond to the city's filing, and the city gets to reply to that before any hearings would be scheduled or decision made by the judge.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - 60 employees from an Oshkosh manufacturer are on strike.

The employees, who are part of a union, say they were not able to reach a contract deal with their employer, AxleTech.

In drizzle and rain Tuesday, workers with picket signs stood in front of AxleTech International.

Bob Mitchell is the president of the United Auto Workers local union chapter 291, and works for AxleTech. he spoke to WLUK.

"We're out here because we do not have a labor agreement at this time. We're out here because we feel that's our only option at this point."

Mitchell says he and other workers asked the company for higher wages and more affordable healthcare.

Multiple messages to the company were not returned on Tuesday.

The group of people on strike say that they'll be out here until they can come to an agreement with AxleTech.

"We're willing to meet the company and help them stay here in Oshkosh, and keep these jobs for all our members. We just gotta find some middle ground and work off of that," Mitchell said.

They say there is a rally planned for Saturday morning with union members from around the state expected to attend to show their support.

GREEN BAY, WTAQ (WTAQ-WLUK) - In a marathon meeting, Green Bay's city council members expressed anger, frustration, and demanded answers on what is going on with the $44 million Hotel Northland project.

Alderman Joe Moore accused Mayor Jim Schmitt and city leaders of making changes to the project's development agreement without committee or council approval.

Schmitt defended the changes as being typical administrative moves.

“One of them makes like a 25 percent reimbursement that I think somehow turned into cash up front, I don't know how that is administrative,” said Moore.

“Our intent has always been to get a successful project,” said Schmitt. “That's what we have to do.”

City Council President Tom DeWane asked for an outside financial audit of the project after accusations were made public that the Northland developers defaulted on their largest loan.

The senior lender for the project has pulled its $12.8 million loan. The developers have said they do not accept those claims.

“There is a process involved in approving all payments to the project, “said Brigette Breitenbach, a spokesperson for the Northland project.

“That process is thorough. It makes the review and the approval of all the stakeholders that are involved in the project.”

Speaking on behalf of Northland developer Keith Harenda, Breitenbach asked to talk more about the project in closed session.

Before that happened, Harenda's former partner, Mike Frantz, stepped forward to share his side of the recently dissolved development team.

“It's been like a lot of partnerships, you have your ups and your downs. You disagree and so on.”

Frantz says issues with the project's former top bank could have been avoided if Harenda had listened to him.

However, Frantz also admitted his own financial problems might be preventing the project from landing a new senior lender.

“My credit wasn't as strong as when we first started. That is just a fact. I'm going to lay it all out there and tell you exactly what is going on so we don't have to go in this closed session or whatever.”

Despite his differences with Harenda, Frantz wants to see the project to its end. However, he admits, it's not the same project city council members signed off on.

“I just feel a little duped that we voted on something and we're getting a different bill of goods now,” said Alderman Mark Steuer.

After a lengthy closed session discussion with the developers, council members returned to say they'll wait 30 days before deciding whether an outside financial audit is necessary.

The goal is a deal with a new senior lender will be finalized in that time.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ- WLUK) - A hearing regarding a petition attempting to remove Mayor Jim Schmitt from office will be held on February 20th.

The vice president of Green Bay’s city council, Mark Steuer, announced the date at the beginning of Tuesday night’s meeting.

Patrick Knight, Schmitt's attorney, has said he believes the council has no legal authority to remove the mayor from office.

Green Bay resident Scott Vanidestine submitted the removal petition after Schmitt was convicted of three campaign finance crimes.

The council agreed to hire an outside attorney to guide it on the removal process.

Council President Tom DeWane tells WLUK he has picked Milwaukee Attorney Jeremy Levinson.

“We talked to three or four other attorneys. We felt he was....that he had the most valuable experience on doing something like this.”

Council members say they should be able to sign off on that hire.

“My concern is there is obviously some friction between members of the council and the mayor and I don't want that to be part of his proceedings,” said Alderman Bill Galvin.

De Wane says the attorney will charge the city $285 an hour for his work. De Wane says that money will likely be taken out of the city's general fund.

LAKEWOOD, WI (WTAQ) - The Lakewood Hatchery will continue its operation and raise brown trout.

The trout rearing station is run by local volunteers.

Scott VanLaanen with the Northern Oconto County Trout Alliance says they had fears the Lakewood site would close after the DNR closed the Thunder River Hatchery in Crivitz last year.

That facility closed as part of a budget cut.

Thunder River staff oversaw the Lakewood facility since it re-opened in 2015.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A vehicle hit a restaurant in Fond du Lac early Wednesday morning.

It happened shortly before 6 a.m. at Boda's restaurant.

Officials with the business say they have remained open.

No one was injured.

No word on a damage estimate.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A 19-year-old Green Bay woman has been arrested on prostitution and drug charges in Oshkosh.

Authorities say the bust happened Tuesday in the 1500 block of Planeview Drive.

Investigators say they found about 65 grams of cocaine, 50 Alprazolam pills, marijuana and Adderall.

A 28-year-old Fond du Lac man was also arrested on a probation hold in the investigation.

Neither person's name was released.

MADISON, WI (WISCONSIN RADIO NETWORK) - Governor Scott Walker has announced his budget proposal for the next two years.

“This budget moves Wisconsin forward,” the Republican governor told a joint session of the legislature on Wednesday. “Our priorities fall into three categories: student success, accountable government, and rewarding work.

Our budget makes major new investments in each of these areas.”

The governor’s 2017-2019 spending plan includes increased K-12 funding and a 5 percent tuition cut for students at UW System campuses.

That tuition cut is included in $592 million in tax and fee cuts. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos is already indicating that the tuition cut is a non-starter in the Republican-controlled chamber.

Walker is proposing $648.9 million in per-pupil aid for K-12 schools. Part of that would be paid for by projected savings from moving to a self-insurance model for state employees, which was approved by a state board shortly before the governor delivered his remarks.

The governor said that includes a request by the state Department of Public Instruction for a $200 per pupil increase in the first year, and $204 in the second.

In order to get the aid, Wisconsin school districts would need to show that they are compliant with Act 10. Under the terms of the 2011 law which effectively eliminated collective bargaining for public employees, district employees are required to contribute a portion of their compensation to cover pension costs.

Walker said his budget includes overall tax relief of $592.7 million, and will eliminate state property tax levy for the first time since 1931.

The budget includes some $6.1 billion for transportation funding, including a $40 million increase in general transportation aids to Wisconsin counties and municipalities. There’s also $669.8 million to allow several ongoing major highway projects to remain on schedule.

Walker said his budget plan is based on what he calls “the reform dividend” from Act 10.

“This is a solid budget built on a strong foundation,” he said.

The budget proposal now goes to the legislature’s joint finance committee.

Written by Bob Hague

GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Additional off-site camping sites are now available during Oshkosh's EAA AirVenture this summer.

Appleton International Airport says it will offer camping during the event at its new campground, Camp Flying Fox, from July 22 to July 30.

An hourly shuttle will run to and from EAA grounds in Oshkosh from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily.

"We are thrilled to offer camping this summer during EAA AirVenture," said Abe Weber, airport director. "Pilots have been asking for on-site camping for years."

Camping sites cost $20 per night, including shower facilities, charging stations, barbecue grills and charcoal. On-site rental cars are also available.

Guests can make reservations online at PlatinumFlightCenter.com/Camping-At-ATW

Appleton International Airport will continue to offer aircraft parking.

Last year, the airport hosted 585 aircraft and over the past three years, aircraft landing at Appleton International Airport has grown more than 12 percent during EAA.

EAA AirVenture is July 24-July 30 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Milwaukee Bucks' affiliate in the NBA Development League will be in Oshkosh.

The Bucks will own and operate the team in Oshkosh beginning with the 2017-18 season.

A group called Fox Valley Pro Basketball, led by Greg Pierce, is building a 3,500-seat arena for the team. The Oshkosh Common Council approved plans for the arena last month.

Season ticket information is available at foxvalleybasketball.com. The Bucks are also taking suggestions for the Oshkosh team's nickname at the website.

For Oshkosh basketball lovers, Wednesday's announcement from the Bucks is a dream come true.

Oshkosh dad Jeremy Normington tells WLUK....

"I grew up going to games. There's just something magical about seeing these teams work together to play ball"

And a lot of people worked as a team to bring a new Bucks Developmental League club here. Oshkosh city leaders, local investors and Bucks leadership.

"It's kind of our day, thanks to the Bucks!" exclaimed Mayor Steve Cummings.

Now that the decision's been made, the hard work begins.

Plans for a privately funded, $15 million arena need to get off the ground. The 3,500 seat arena will be on South Main Street at the former Buckstaff Furniture site.

"We've got a tight deadline to get this building up or this team that we just announced today doesn't have a place to play," explained Greg Pierce the President of the Fox Valley Basketball organization.

Construction on the arena is scheduled to start in just 12 days and the first season is scheduled to start in November.

The Bucks have a 6 year lease with the arena.

And Mayor Cummings says the team's presence will spur millions of dollars of investment in that area of town and along the water front.

"It's almost like a boom town again. We were a boom town 100 and some years ago during the lumber industry and we're a boom town again with all this development"

While the future is bright, the city is happy to relive part of its past. Two basketball teams called Oshkosh home decades ago.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WSAU) -- In an interview with CNN on Tuesday, Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-7) said that white terrorism is "different" from Muslim terrorism.

On The Jerry Bader Show, Duffy clarified that the policies around both are different from a government perspective while defending the travel ban from seven Muslim-majority nations.

Duffy said, "The difference that I was trying to point out is we don't have extremists on the white supremacy side trying to infiltrate America through a refugee program, and if we did, we would all try to stop them from getting into America."

"I think the rollout of the pause was ham-handed, was clumsy. It could have been done way better, it could have been more clear. But, I don't think anyone who reviews the authority of the President would argue against the point that he has the right and the authority to defend the homeland," said Duffy.

Duffy said there are good people coming from those countries, but President Trump ordered a pause to figure out the best way to sort the good from the bad.

"There's also good people there who need a break, and we don't know how to distinguish the good people from the bad people. That's why Donald Trump said, 'We need a pause to look into this program and make sure that it's working, because my first responsibility is keeping America safe."

The congressman said a ban on the Muslim religion would be wrong, but the executive order from the President does not fall into that category.

FOND DU LAC COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - When a meteor streaked across the sky earlier this week, it disappeared almost as fast as it appeared.

So what happened to it?

One Fond du Lac County family says it may have found a piece of the meteor on its property.

Since a bright fireball streaked across Monday morning's dark sky, there's been some incredible videos capturing it.

But footage from Tina Goebel in Dotyville is even more unique.

On security footage, right after a big flash of light, there appears to be some debris falling onto Goebel's property.

"We were pretty shocked, and we realized we might have something out there"

Sure enough, Goebel and her husband found what looks to be a piece of the meteor.

They sent it to UW Madison to be examined further.

John Valley, a Geoscience Professor at UW Madison, spoke to WLUK.

"I always approach these things pretty cautiously. But the footage of the security camera showing something striking the ground, immediately after the flash of the fireball, is very persuasive."

Valley, an expert on the subject, says he'll have to make certain the chunk found by the Goebels is indeed a meteor.

"We start by looking at it with naked eye, and then with a lens, and then with microscope"

Also in Fond du Lac County, high school teacher Jim Prosser found some new insights on the Monday morning meteor.

"One of my students asked if we had picked it up on my seismograph, which we have in the classroom. So we looked, and sure enough, there was a spike on our seismograph at the same time that the sonic boom had happened"

The seismograph is designed to pick up vibrations from earthquakes. Prosser says he's never seen readings from a galactic event.

Experts say researching everything they can from these events makes all the difference.

Valley says...."To have it to study is just immensely valuable to science."

Valley says if the sample does turn out to be a meteorite, it would be the 14th known meteorite to hit Wisconsin.

Valley says if anyone else finds a potential sample, even if you don't want to donate it, he's in the Geo-science Department at UW Madison, and would still like to know about it.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - One of the teens charged in making threats against two Oshkosh high schools pleaded not guilty Wednesday.

18-year-old Andrew Monroe of Waupaca is charged with two counts of making terrorist threats.

North and West high schools were closed for one day as a result of the calls.

A trial date has set for April 18. 

17-year-old Dylan Bird was also charged in adult court. He returns to court February 27 for a motions hearing.

A 15-year-old was also referred to juvenile court in the case.

No one was injured during the incident.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ) - Valentine's Day is next Tuesday and if you're struggling with what to get your sweetie for a gift, you can never go wrong with chocolates from Seroogy's.

Marjorie Hitchcock has been with the De Pere based candy shop for 25 years and says their heart boxes are very popular.

"We probably have at least a couple dozen patterns, different sizes, from 2 ounces to 2 pounds," said Hitchcock.

Hitchcock says it's the quality and consistency of their product that keep people coming back.

"We pay very careful attention to our production with quality ingredients, good training of our employees and patience...it takes time to make it come out good."

Seroogy's goes through tons of chocolate during the busy seasons like Valentine's...literally. Hitchcock says they can go through a ton of chocolate a day.

The popular chocolate shop has fans from all over the state not just here in the Green Bay area.

Elizabeth Brelsford is from Port Washington and frequents Green Bay for the Packers and a stop at Seroogy's.

"Seroogy's is almost as well known as the Packers and I love their chocolate, as do my kids and grandkids so, I come here always looking for something for a special occasion," Brelsford said.

Seroogy's has two locations, at 144 N. Wisconsin Street in De Pere and in the Village at Bay Park on Willard Dr. in Ashwaubenon.

WINNEBAGO CO., WI (WTAQ) - People who hit Lake Winnebago for this year’s sturgeon spearing season will see multiple changes.

In past years, spearers needed to tag the sturgeon upon harvest and leave the tag on until the fish was brought to a registration station.

While carcass tags still need immediate validation for the season that starts Saturday, the tag does not need to be attached to the sturgeon unless the spearer leaves the fish unattended.

The DNR is also asking spearers to donate the heads of their sturgeons. Officials say they need sturgeon earbones for a comprehensive aging study that looks at different methods of determining the age and growth of the fish.

DNR Biologist Ryan Koenigs says conditions to start this year’s season are not ideal.

When measured Wednesday, Lake Winnebago’s water clarity ranged from four to 12 feet with an average of 9 ½ feet. Koenigs says an average clarity of 12 feet or greater typically makes for a better harvest.

He says this year’s numbers are similar to last season, which ended with a reduced harvest of 400 fish from 2015.

Before hitting the waters, spearers are encouraged to contact their local conservation group to learn more about ice conditions.

Nearly 13,000 licenses were issued this season, down roughly 600 from last year’s total. While the adult and juvenile female caps stayed level at 950 and 430, respectively, the male quota dropped slightly to 1,175.

Koenigs does not expect that will make a difference as it is typically the adult female cap that effects whether the season closes before the full 16 days are complete.

MADISO, WI (WRN) - Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel says the state needs to ramp up efforts to fight methamphetamine abuse in the state.

Lawmakers previously took steps to limit access to key ingredients in meth, which Schimel says helped close large-scale labs.

However, he told a legislative committee Thursday that Mexican cartels have stepped in since then to fill the void, and use of the drug has risen dramatically in recent years, between 250-300 percent from 2011 to 2015.

“We are all aware of the devastating effects of the opiate epidemic on every county in our state,” Schimel said. “But in some of our western and northern counties, officials describe the meth problem as even worse.”

Schimel says the state needs to tackle the issue in a way similar to how Wisconsin has battled opioid abuse – by targeting supply lines for the drug, while also working to educate the public about the dangers of meth and reduce demand.

He’s already directing Department of Justice resources to a public awareness campaign, and he’s calling on law enforcement agencies to turn their attention to the issue as well.