MARINETTE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Congressman Mike Gallagher toured Marinette Marine for the first time since being elected to represented the 8th district.

Gallagher joined House Armed Services Chairman Rob Wittman, and others to talk about the future of the United States Navy.

The Congressman spoke to WLUK.

"In order to project power in a truly global fashion we're going to need a lean, lethal,and agile Navy, because that is one of the best ways we have of projecting power”

Gallagher was recently appointed to the House Armed Services Committee. The committee is responsible for funding and oversight of the nation's military.

"If you look at since the end of the cold war, threats have really increased both conventional and asymmetric," Gallagher said.

Since taking office, President Trump has said strengthening the U.S Military is a top priority.

Wittman says right now the Navy is made up of 274 ships and says the Littoral Combat Ships play an important role in the Navy.

"They (the Navy) pointed out that the small surface combatant ships are were critical in that role so they pointed out how many are needed there”

Wittman explained the Navy wants 52 Littoral Combat Ships in order to carry out its mission's worldwide.

"It does mind counter measures, it does surface warfare and it can do humanitarian ops, it can support a wide range of operations,” said Gallagher.

It costs an average of $360 million to build one LCS.

"I know all of this costs money, but a strong military is a bargain compared to a weak on that invites our adversaries to test us,” explained Gallagher.

Right now 13 Littoral Combat Ships are under contract at Marinette Marine.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Anxious moments as Green Bay Metro Fire crews were called to the Georgia Pacific paper mill on the city's west side.

The fire broke out around 2 a.m. on the east side of the plant on South Broadway.

Officials say the fire started by a fork lift and then spread to paper. The fire caused heavy smoke.

No one was hurt.

The incident is over and crews have been returned to normal service.

The call brought in mutual aid from additional fire and emergency crews, as well as county emergency management notification.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A man was rescued from the Fox River late Thursday night.

The Oshkosh Fire Department was called around 11:30 p.m. to the area where the Fox River flows into Lake Winnebago.

The call came in for someone yelling from the river.

Rescuers aren't sure how long he was in the water, but say he was pretty stiff when rescuers got to him.

Officials say the man was stuck under the ice but was able to get out from under it, by himself.

The man suffered hypothermia.

Fire crews say ice rescues can be difficult because the situations are fluid, especially in the dark and the river has lots of currents in that area.

The victim may have been walking across the ice to get home. Remember no ice is 100% safe.

Sturgeon spearing starts Saturday which means thousands of people will be on the ice.

"There are gonna be thousands of people out on the ice starting today and with the warmer temps. It is going to be extremely treacherous, again ice is never 100 percent safe. If you go out be safe," says Battalion Chief Brian Bending of the Oshkosh Police Department.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A man charged in an OWI crash that killed a Hobart couple last year is in court Friday for sentencing.

Daniel Boucher of Green Bay pleaded no contest to first-degree reckless homicide, homicide by intoxicated use of a motor vehicle, misdemeanor OWI second offense, and marijuana possession in December last year.

Prosecutors say Boucher caused the Feb. 19, 2016 crash on Packerland Drive which killed James and Wendy Rush.

Boucher's fiancée was also injured in the crash.

In court, the daughter of Wendy and James Rush just gave an emotional statement saying she just wants to hear her parents say, "I love you" one last time.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ) - The Manitowoc Police Department is notifying the public of a phone scam that recently affected one rural resident.

Police Captain Larry Zimney says the woman received phone calls on back-to-back days from someone claiming to be Chief Deputy Rob Barbier.

The scammer told the woman that Manitowoc officers were working with the New York Police Department to catch the people responsible for a series of scams in the Manitowoc area. She was further instructed that the scammers were trying to obtain a $600,000 payout from her late husband's life insurance policy.

To help catch the scammers, the person posing as Deputy Barbier asked the woman to send $900. She was told she would be eligible for the life insurance payout if she financially aided in locating the criminals.

After receiving the phone call, the woman contacted the Manitowoc Police Department to speak directly with Deputy Barbier. As a result, she learned it was a scam and did not lose any money in the case.

Manitowoc Police remind residents that they never ask for money to investigate a case.

If someone receives a suspicious contact from anyone claiming to be a police officer, they are encouraged to end the phone call and then call the law enforcement agency directly to speak with that officer or a supervisor.

Officers also encourage people to monitor elderly family members activity to ensure they do not fall victim to a scam, as the elderly are often targeted.

Similar scams have recently been reported in the greater Green Bay area.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - Lodge Kohler is looking to fill 200 positions before their summer opening in the new Titletown District in Ashwaubenon.

The four-diamond hotel will be hosting a career event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lambeau Field.

Jackie Luedtke, Director of Human Resources with Kohler Hospitality and Real Estate, says there are a multitude of positions they need to hire for.

"Food and beverage, we'll have a lot of that, guest services...we'll have a full service spa, so we will have a need for a lot of different spa skills, plus some administrative positions as well," said Luedtke.

Luedtke recommends bringing your resume to the event and also applying online at www.lodgekohler.com.

Although construction on the 144 room hotel isn't finished just yet, there's lots to look forward to inside.

"We're going to be having a restaurant on the 5th floor overlooking Lambeau Field. You can't beat that. There’s going to be 10 different suites so they will have the appeal and also access to the Titletown District and all the activities that will be here," Luedtke said.

Luedtke would not comment on the type of restaurant it would be or it's name. 

The premiere hotel is currently taking reservations available starting in July when construction is expected to be completed.

KAUKAUNA, WI (WTAQ) - A piece of land that has sat empty for more than two decades will soon get a new purpose.

Kaukauna city officials say Walmart is planning to build a store in the Commerce Crossing area at the corner of Interstate 41 and Highway 55.

The location is the former site of Fox Valley Greyhound Park, which closed in 1993.

Walmart needs to do soil testing and a traffic study before the plans can move forward.

GRAND CHUTE, WI (WTAQ) - Two cows were euthanized after the bottom of the trailer carrying them gave out on I-41.

It happened around 1:00 p.m. Friday near Lynndale Drive in Grand Chute.

Police say one of the cows was caught under the trailer and the other cow was injured inside the transport.

Officials aren't sure how many cattle were inside the carrier or where it was going.

Traffic was backed up for about an hour before the road was cleared.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - An intoxicated driver hit six vehicles and a house early Sunday morning in Green Bay.

Police responded to the call around 3:15 a.m. at the intersection of Bellevue Street and Juniper Drive.

The driver lost control of his vehicle and hit a parked car.

His vehicle then rolled and hit five other vehicles before coming to a rest up against a house.

All the vehicles were heavily damaged.

Officers say the driver then fled the scene, but was tracked by a K9 unit and arrested at his apartment.

The suspect is facing charges of OWI, hit and run and leaving the scene.

No one was injured in this incident.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay police say a woman involved in a hit and run car crash in the city Sunday afternoon is expected to be okay.

The crash happened at the intersection of Lombardi and Ashland Avenues.

Authorities believe that a car was traveling west on Lombardi Avenue when the driver ran a red light and drove through the intersection.

The driver collided with the woman's car that was traveling southbound on Ashland Avenue.

Police say the driver who hit the woman's car did not stop.

Police are still investigating the crash.

RUBICON, WI (WTAQ) - A Neosho man was hospitalized with serious injuries early Sunday morning after he lost control of his 2007 Lincoln sedan.

His car went into a ditch near the intersection of County Highway P and Grant Road in the Township of Rubicon.

The 33-year-old was thrown from the driver's seat as the car rolled over.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office responded to the crash at 3:23 a.m. and found that the man was able to get to a nearby residence.

The man was taken to Aurora Hospital in Hartford.

Authorities believe alcohol and ice covered roads are believed to be factors in the crash.

The crash is still under investigation.

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - With the second day of sturgeon spearing in the books, some people are already taking their shanties off the lake.

Shawn Schodrow spoke to WLUK as he moved his shanty closer to shore Sunday afternoon.

"I think last year's first weekend was better than this year's first weekend"

Schodrow and his friends have been sturgeon spearing together for years.

“It's nice camaraderie, we all get together and do the same thing every year, but the conditions are bad out there, especially today”

However, this year's opening weekend wasn't what the three men were expecting.

"We decided to pull off a little bit early just because of the high winds and the lake is kind of busting up bit,” explained Mark Rymer.

"It's going to get a little dangerous here in the next week,” explained Don Herman, with Sunk? Dive and Ice Service.

Herman said people heading out on the ice need to be careful of the changing ice conditions and also need to keep an eye out for spearing holes.

"The holes that they cut they mark with sticks, well in the warm weather they fall over. And so you're going to have to be careful and remember there's going to be 12-13,000 holes cut out there”

Herman added the warmer weather could also change how people drive to out to their shanties.

“I think it'll be four-wheelers for the rest of the season, I'm thinking most of the clubs will be pulling their bridges by next weekend”

The DNR's Davis Bartz said pulling those bridges out could impact the number of people heading out on the ice next weekend.

"It'll kind of limit the areas they can get to because depending on where the cracks are, they can't get over the cracks then they're kind of limited on movement and where they can go”

The season is scheduled to last through the end of the month.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-MT) - Media Trackers has learned that Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt was told a year ago that a campaign finance investigation against three aldermen had been closed but said nothing. Schmitt, in December 2015, requested the investigation after one was launched into his campaign finances. The probe into the Mayor’s finances ultimately led to misdemeanor conviction charges against him.

Aldermen Tom De Wane, Andy Nicholson and Chris Wery contended at the time that Schmitt’s request for an investigation into them was nothing more than retaliation for the probe against Schmitt. De Wane said that he had no involvement in requesting the investigation against Schmitt. Schmitt made the request to Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf, who was also investigating Schmitt’s campaign finances.

Throughout the past year, much of the media coverage of the Schmitt probe included mention of the ongoing investigation against the three aldermen.

Wery recently asked Milwaukee County District Attorney Bruce Landgraf of the status of the investigation against him. Landgraf responded by saying he had sent a letter to Schmitt dated February 2, 2016, informing him that “after a brief review of the campaign finance reports, I nevertheless note that any “business” contributions appear to have been made more than three years ago. In absence of information suggesting criminal misconduct, the statute of limitations has passed…In absence of further information, I am taking no further action at this time.”

Wery, Nicholson and Alderman Guy Zima requested the investigation into Schmitt’s campaign finances in January, 2015, a move Schmitt characterized as a baseless political attack.

In September 2016, Landgraf announced he was charging Schmitt with three misdemeanor offenses. Schmitt pleaded guilty Dec. 5 to misdemeanor charges of making false statements on campaign finance reports, attempting to accept funds from someone other than the reported contributor and attempting to accept funds in excess of the individual contribution limit. He was ordered to pay a $4,000 fine and serve 40 hours of community service.

A citizen has petitioned the Green Bay City Council for Schmitt’s removal from office. The Council will hold a hearing on that petition on Feb. 20. Media Trackers reached out to Schmitt via text message Friday afternoon seeking comment. As of Saturday morning, Schmitt had not responded.

Update: In response to a request from Media Trackers for comment, Alderman Chris Wery emailed the statement below.

We said right from the beginning that this was purely a revenge tactic, meant to cast a bad light on us and take the spotlight off himself.  It is very disheartening to hear that the mayor and his attorney have known for a full year that our campaign accounts were not going to be investigated, yet they sat back and let the news and social media have a field day, continuing to say we were ‘under investigation’.  I can use much stronger words, however suffice it to say their actions are dishonest, lack integrity and are petty in the extreme.  I expect an apology to myself, the people of my district, my family and friends for not clearing our names and allowing this false dark cloud to hang over us.

Original story at Media Trackers

MADISON, WI (WRN) - Republican lawmakers are looking to pull the plug on daylight saving time.

State Representatives Samantha Kerkman and Michael Schraa introduced a bill to eliminate it in Wisconsin.

"Well, right now it's something we have to do at the state level. It's federal law, we are on standard time right now and in March we will switch to daylight Saving Time"

Kerkma says Wisconsin adopted Daylight Savings following a 1957 statewide advisory referendum.

"This is something that was needed I suppose at the time, and it was done through referendum vote. And, now today people don't need to go into this"

Ending Daylight Savings would mean no longer setting clocks ahead an hour in the spring.

That would mean the sun would appear to rise earlier in the morning and set earlier on summer evenings.

Arizona and Hawaii currently don't observe daylight saving time.

MADISON, WI (WRN) - Governor Scott Walker's state budget includes an increase in aid for schools...if they are fully compliant with Act 10.

That condition could keep some districts from being able to access more than 400-dollars in new per student funding.

State Superintendent Tony Evers says not all districts require teachers to pay the full 12-percent in to their health insurance benefits that the collective bargaining law allowed.

"There may be districts that make cuts in other areas in order to continue to provide that level of coverage to their employees"

Walker says the plan is intended to make sure all of the new funding ends up in the classroom.

"These record new numbers we're putting into education, we want to make sure they're being spent in the classroom improving student success"

Madison is one district the requirement would effect for certain. It's unclear how many others are not fully complying with Act 10.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A local program has given people undergoing chemotherapy a new four-legged friend.

For the past three months, Molly Johnson has taken her therapy dog Fitzgerald William for weekly visits to ThedaCare's Regional Cancer Center in Appleton.

During the two hour stays, the four-year-old Basset Hound sees roughly ten patients, as well as family members and staff.

In addition to bringing joy and hope to the patients, Johnson says visits from a therapy dog are known to reduce incidents of depression and increase levels of oxytocin, a feel-good hormone released when doing something pleasurable.

While Fitzgerald has seen a number of patients, Johnson says he has formed a special bond with one 30-year-old police officer. Jackson Wilson of Clintonville has enjoyed Fitzgerald's visits so much that he has included pictures of him and the dog to his personal online health journal.

Johnson says Wilson's family and friends have started asking him more about the dog than about his illness, which he welcomes.

Although Fitzgerald is the only dog currently visiting patients at the cancer center, Johnson says they are looking to expand the program.

To be eligible, dogs must be registered through an approved therapy dog program, in addition to being at least one year old, calm, polite, and able to greet people with all four paws on the ground.

Anyone interested in learning more about the program can visit caninecomfort.us.

DENMARK, WI (WTAQ) - Hazardous materials used in the manufacturing of illicit drugs were found inside a Denmark home on Friday.

Brown County Sheriff's Department did not say where the home was located.

One person was taken into custody for a probation violation.

Charges haven't been filed.

WINNEBAGO, CO., WI (WTAQ) - The 2017 sturgeon spearing season kicked off on Saturday and already 100's of the pre-historic fish have been caught.

DNR Sturgeon Biologist, Ryan Koenigs, says within the first 2 days, 313 fish have been harvested on Lake Winnebago and another 183 pre-historic fish have been harvested from the upriver lakes.

"In relation to 2016, those numbers are up a fair amount...probably about a 100 fish over 2016 on Lake Winnebago but they're down slightly for the upriver lakes," Koenigs said.

Koenigs says they collect a tremendous amount of data from the harvested fish.

"The biggest things we get from the harvest and with the tag fish, is it allows us to estimate how many fish are in the population and then what percentage of those tag fish are harvested each year or what percentage of the population is harvested."

The 16 day sturgeon spearing season started on Saturday and will end on February 26.

CHICAGO, IL (WTAQ-WLUK) - The fate of convicted killer Brendan Dassey is in the hands of the U. S. Court of Appeals in Chicago.

The court will hear arguments Tuesday morning to decide whether Dassey's conviction should be overturned. Dassey along with his uncle Steven Avery were convicted in separate trials in the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach.

The successful prosecution of then 17-year-old Brendan Dassey in adult court hinged on Dassey's own words during several videotaped confessions.

Dassey was interrogated by investigators without his lawyer or another adult representative present. That confession helped authorities piece together the case against Dassey and his uncle Steven Avery. Prosecutors presented Dassey's videotaped confession as evidence in only his trial in 2007.

Dassey also took the stand during his trial, recanting that confession. But jurors took just four and a half hours to deliberate finding Dassey guilty of first degree murder, second degree sexual assault and mutilation of a corpse. He was sentenced to mandatory life in prison with a possibility of parole in November of 2048.

Dassey's legal representation filed a motion for a new trial in 2010. That motion would be denied.A writ of habeas corpus for the unlawful detention of Dassey was filed in federal court. Later that year the airing of the Netflix documentary Making a Murderer drew attention to the case raising new public concerns about the Dasey confession being coerced. Then this past August a Federal Judge ruled-- overturning Dassey's conviction.

At issue that confession... the judge in his decision wrote given Dassey's age, intellectual deficits, the absence of an attorney or other representation, and false promises made by investigators...."Dassey's confession was clearly involuntary."

The judge added "without Dassey's March 1, 2006 confession, retrial, reconviction, and re-incarceration are unlikely."

Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimmel filed an appeal to the ruling. The state rejects that authorities coerced Dassey into falsely confessing to Halbach's murder. And in its legal briefs indicate the judge erred in ruling the promises made to Dassey during interrogations make his confession involuntary.

In November the judge ordered Dassey's release, but Schimmel filed an emergency motion to stop the release.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago blocked Dassey getting out of prison while the appeal is considered.

Attorneys for both sides have filed written briefs with the court ahead of time. Their appearance in court will allow them 20 minutes each to verbally make their case. As for the U-S Court of Appeals-- there is no timetable for a decision--to either uphold or overturn Dassey's conviction.

In the meantime Dassey remains behind bars at Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage.

Written by FOX 11's Mark Leland

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Warmer temperatures are expected this week and that could mean dangerous conditions on the lakes for sturgeon spearers.

Don Herman, owner of Sunk? Dive and Ice service in Oshkosh, says ice conditions currently are good but things could change.

"Next weekend when we get to the 50's, yeah, we're going to have some issues on the lake. I'm sure most of the fishing clubs will decide to pull their vehicle bridge in," Herman said.

But for now, Herman says the ice is still 18-20 inches thick on Lake Winnebago and the upriver lakes.

"You just have to stay safe out there. I tell everybody the lake is never 100 percent safe. There's always a trouble spot."

Herman says they had to rescue 3 vehicles off the ice over the weekend but says it something that happens every year.

"Just the normal ones, by the mouth of the river and by Oshkosh and Neenah...that's where the vehicles have been falling in because they're getting too close. Normally in a good year you can get a little closer to the river but now the warm temperatures, the ice deteriorates there first," said Herman.

As of Monday, Herman says there are around 7,000 shanties and just as many cars on the ice.