MILWAUKEE, WI (WTAQ-WRN) - Thousands of people filled the streets of Milwaukee Monday, as part of an effort to highlight the impact Latinos and other immigrants have in communities around the state.

Demonstrators marched through the heart of downtown Milwaukee during the Day Without Latinos event – and then held a rally on the steps of the county courthouse.

Several speakers talked about the need to push back against renewed efforts by the federal government to crackdown on those who enter the country illegally.

There was also resistance to recent executive orders from President Donald Trump designed tighten border security and to penalize so-called sanctuary cities.

City leaders in both Milwaukee and Madison have taken steps in recent weeks to stress that local police resources will not be used to help enforce federal immigration actions.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A federal judge denied Monday a request by a group a landlords to stop the City of Oshkosh from starting implementation a rental unit inspection plan.

The city plans to inspect all rental properties one time during a five-year cycle. The program is expected to start this week.

The Winnebago Apartment Association filed suit, seeking to stop the program - on grounds it violates the Fourth Amendment's search clause - including a request for a temporary restraining order halting the program while the case is tried.

But in an 8-page decision issued Monday, Judge William Griesbach denied the restraining order request.

It is true that an inspector could nevertheless proceed to enter an apartment under the Ordinance without obtaining proper consent or a warrant. But this is not enough to show that the Ordinance is facially invalid. It is also noteworthy that the City has indicated an intent to amend the ordinance prior to its implementation to make even more clear the need to obtain consent from the person in lawful possession of the premises or a warrant before entry can be made. (ECF No. 14-1.) Under these circumstances, I conclude that Plaintiffs are unlikely to prevail on their Fourth Amendment claim. And although they have also alleged that the Ordinance does not comply with certain state statutes limiting municipal authority to regulate landlords, they have failed to make any showing of a likelihood of success on the merits as to those claims as well. I therefore conclude that the required showing for the preliminary relief Plaintiffs seek has not been made. Their motion for a preliminary injunction must therefore be denied.

The city council votes today (Tuesday) on the proposed changes to the ordinance Griesbach referred to.

No trial date has been set. A scheduling conference has been set for March 1st.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Jayson Stache of Green Bay contracted the flu, "It sucked. It ended up lasting almost four days."

And Stache isn't alone.

Ellen Roy, infection preventionist at Bellin Health, tells WLUK there has been an increase in flu cases

"We'll we've seen that our emergency room visits have certainly been up, and we've had a couple patients hospitalized."

Overall, health departments say it's been a busy season.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services' most recent report:

Since September through Feb. 4, 2017- 837 people were hospitalized with the flu.An increase of more than 700 people, compared to the 163 reported this time last year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control -- our area is considered in the "high" category for the number of cases.

Roy says patients are seeing aggressive symptoms.

"You literally feel fine one minute, and next minute you feel like you've been hit by a truck; that's what many people will share."

She says another trend that they're beginning to see is that the peak of flu season is coming even later in the year.

"Typically we see the peak in December, January but it seems like it's coming later and later. Last year, we did see it through May which is very unusual"

She says with the recent uptick going around, it's not too late get vaccinated

"We continue to offer the flu vaccine, especially now that we're starting to see so much of it in the area."

According to state health officials, there have been no flu-related deaths in the state this year.

MANITOWOC, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - What was once a staple of manufacturing in the city, is now piles of rubble and broken windows.

Corey Peterik lives right across the street from the Mirro Building and spoke to WLUK.

"There have been several different owners that have had it, a lot of different people come in and strip stuff, and you're left with this"

He calls it a big black-eye for the entire community.

"You want to come to Manitowoc and see the biggest eye sore in the county it's right here. How would feel living across the street from that?"

On Monday, the Manitowoc Common Council unanimously approved a demolition bid on the vacant building.

The city took ownership of the former aluminum cookware plant last July.

Bradenburg Industrial Services out of Chicago submitted the bid for the project. The contract states the building must be demolished between March 1 and July 1.

The total cost of demolition is estimated to more than $2.5 million.

"The citizens knew how much we budgeted, how much we expected, it came within budget, and we're still aggressively looking for other funds," said Mayor Justin Nickels.

Brandenburg's portion is about $1.4 million; the city will also consider awarding a $585,000 contract to Waste Management for disposal of waste.

The city already has a separate $583,516 contract with Holian Environmental Cleaning Corp. for removing asbestos. That process is already underway.

Overall, city leaders say the bids would make the project come in more than $128,000 under budget.

A federal grant of nearly $400,000 is helping offset the city's costs. The city is also applying for a $500,000 state grant.

"It's about time, but it's a win win situation for Manitowoc," said Alderman Jim Brey.

The Mirro building sits in Bery's district. He says he is already looking towards the future for the site.

"I see the frontage part on Washington Street being small retail stores, or something like that"

Once the contract is approved, the city plans to schedule a demolition ceremony with a first swing at the building.

The city says it has not made the decision on whether to sell wood or bricks from the building yet, but said it will issued a press release once more is known.

The Mirro Building, located at 1512 Washington Street, has been vacant for more than 13 years.

TOWN of GRANT, WI (WTAQ) - Two people are dead after a two vehicle crash in the Town of Grant.

The Shawano County Sheriff's Office says the crash was around 4 Monday afternoon.

They say a westbound vehicle on Leopolis Road was in the intersection of County Trunk G, when a log truck traveling northbound collided with it.

No word on what led to the crash.

The westbound vehicle was driven by a 77-year-old man from Marion- he died.

His passenger, a 76-year-old woman from Marion was also killed.

The driver of the other vehicle, a 57 year old male from Bowler wasn't hurt.

CRANDON, WI (WTAQ) - Several people have been charged in connection with a drug bust in Crandon.

Forest County sheriff's officials say officers searched a home on N. Prospect Avenue February 1st after making several controlled buys from the people who live there.

Investigators say they found marijuana, hash oil, prescription pills, drug paraphernalia, guns and cash.

The most serious charges have been filed against 22 year old Christopher W. Leach who faces six felony and four misdemeanor counts, including manufacturing or delivering THC (the active ingredient in marijuana), possession with intent to deliver THC and maintaining a drug trafficking place.

21 year old Skyler H. Hennes and 25 year old Charli L. Brownell face misdemeanor counts of possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Two other men, ages 18 and 25, were also arrested but have not been formally charged yet.

A 17-year-old girl was also found in the home, and investigators are referring her to the district attorney's office for adult charges.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - A second person has been charged in connection with a Sept. 11, 2016, homicide on the city's east side.

47 year old Michael McCalvin is charged with being party to first-degree intentional homicide for the shooting death of Guled Hirsi.

Richard McKinney is charged with shooting Hirsi during a drug deal at a Cherry Street home. McKinney is scheduled to go on trial April 3rd.

Charges against McCalvin were filed last week.

According to the criminal complaint, McCalvin told investigators that he called McKinney to let him know that Hirsi was at the residence - and kept Hirsi there so McKinnery could try to get money back from a robbery a few days before.

While there, McKinney killed Hirsi, McCalvin said.

McCalvin is currently serving a prison term for drug charges in another Brown County case from 2015.

A probation term was revoked last month and an 18-month prison term was ordered, according to court records.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - During the past 3 1/2 years, Frank Lamping has been battling prostate cancer.

The 60-year-old Union Grove man says his Green Bay Packers have helped him immensely during that time by giving him somewhere else to focus his attention and allowing him to forget about any internal problems.

Earlier Tuesday at Lambeau Field, Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy announced Lamping would be the 19th member of the team's 'Fan Hall of Fame.'

Lamping was nominated by a friend, who submitted the necessary 500-word-maximum essay, and late last year was named one of ten finalists.

Throughout January, fans could vote on which finalist deserved to have their name permanently displayed in the team's Hall of Fame. Over 60,000 votes were received.

In addition to being enshrined in the Lambeau Field museum, Lamping will receive a prize package that includes four club seats to a 2017 home game; a road trip for two to a 2017 away game, including game tickets, airfare, and hotel accommodations; a $500 gift certificate to the Packers Pro Shop, and a one-year subscription to Packers Plus.

Lamping says he's been a season ticket holder ever since the Packers moved their home games to Lambeau Field from Milwaukee's County Stadium.

The inductee says his favorite Packers moment came at an alumni game in the late 1990's when legendary quarterback Bart Starr nearly signed his jersey before being whisked away by security.

"I love Bart Starr, he's my hero. To have him that close to me, almost signing my jersey, was the thrill of a lifetime."

Lamping says he is the first one inside Lambeau Field at every home game and stands behind the goalpost in the south endzone catching field goals during pregame warmups.

Like many fans, Lamping has his own superstition. He purchased a pair of cleats worn during a game by ex-Packer quarterback Ty Detmer and sports them each time he visits the Frozen Tundra.

The Packers Fan Hall of Fame was established in 1998 to honor devout and longtime fans of the Green and Gold.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Three Green Bay Alderman recently discovered they are no longer being looked at for campaign violations by Milwaukee County Assistant District Attorney Bruce Landgraf.

Tom De Wane, Chris Wery, and Andy Nicholson held a press conference Tuesday at City Hall.

De Wane says he spoke with Mayor Jim Schmitt Tuesday and Schmitt told him that he requested the probe because he was asked to by a constituent.

The aldermen say Mayor Schmitt knew a year ago that the investigation had been closed.

"It's very disheartening to hear that the mayor and his attorney have known for a full year that our campaign accounts are not going to be investigated," Wery said.

In a written statement released to the media, Wery states that he reached out to Landgraf inquiring why the investigation was taking so long. Wery stated that he received an e-mail reply last week from the Assistant D.A. that included a letter dated one year prior, February 2, 2016. The letter was addressed to Mayor Schmitt's lawyer Matthew O'Neil.

Wery has questions.

"Why, when he was notified there would be no investigation did he withhold that information, especially when a public news story was done when he was asked about it?"

Wery calls Schmitt's "deceitful, dishonest tactics" a way to distract the spotlight off of Schmitt's own campaign finance violations. He says tactics like this have affected the relationship between the city council and the mayor.

"Well, I think you can see over the past couple of years there's been a mistrust. There's been this tit for tat type of thing...it's been negative. We need to be a team," Wery states.

Wery wants an apology from Schmitt for not clearing their names.

WTAQ went to Mayor Schmitt's office Tuesday but he was not around for comment.

MADISON, WI (WRN) - Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker tweeted yesterday about the private pep talk he gave GOP lawmakers in Iowa who’re poised to narrow bargaining rights for public sector workers.

In 2011, Walker enacted major changes in that state’s collective bargaining law. Walker spoke with reporters in Wisconsin today about his advice to Iowa Republicans.

“Ultimately they’re going to face some of the same things we faced in terms of attention and potentially protests, but I told them to look at where we’re at over the last six years,” Walker said. “We’ve saved some $5 billion. Our economy is dramatically better and we have a ‘reform dividend’ that we’re able to reinvest into schools, into higher education, into tax relief, into welfare reform.”

More than 4600 people passed through the public entrances to Iowa’s capitol Monday. A fiery public hearing featured strong criticism from union workers. Walker told Republican legislators he faced the same opposition six years ago in Wisconsin.

“I encouraged them to look at the facts, not just the hype,” Walker said.

Jodie Butler of Ankeny, an advisor to Governor Terry Branstad in the 1990s, criticized Walker’s moves during last night’s public hearing.

“Iowa does not need to follow Wisconsin’s bad example where 28 percent fewer students choose education as a profession as a result, teacher shortage areas have been exacerbated, rural schools can’t attract or retain teachers,” Butler said, “and fewer candidates apply.”

The Iowa House and Senate are starting to debate the GOP’s collective bargaining plan.

The Iowa Democratic Party and other groups opposing the bill are urging people to go to the statehouse or watch the debate online.

HORTONVILLE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The Hortonville Police Commission has suspended Police Chief Michael Sullivan for two weeks-- with another possible six weeks of suspension held open for violating department policies.

In the 15-page decision issued Wednesday morning, each of the six allegations are addressed.

Count 1, Inappropriate Discriminatory Conduct:

We have weighed Respondent’s explanations and interpretations, but we remain disappointed in the lack of professionalism, civic sensibility, carelessness, and simple rudeness that this conduct displayed... We expect more from our officers, and of course we expect our Chief to establish, demonstrate, and maintain a high standard on all phases of his work.

Count 2, Inappropriate Disclosure of Confidential Information:

We believe that Respondent was careless in failing to recognize the applicability and importance of principles of confidentiality underlying this count. We do not find that a preponderance of the evidence in our record supports the imposition of discipline directly for this conduct but we reflect our concerns and expectations for the future within the framework of the discipline we impose.

Count 3, Violation of the State Transaction Information for Management of Enforcement (T.I.M.E.) System:

The preponderance of the evidence in our record establishes clearly that these violations occurred, substantially as alleged... In this instance we are not persuaded by the Respondent’s explanations and interpretations of events; in short, he was wrong.

Count 4, Violation of Employee Rights to Grieve and Engage in Concerted Protected Activity:

We note that our record does not show any actual grievance filings by affected individuals or unions, and we are very aware that we are not the appropriate body or tribunal to resolve labor-management issues. However, we expect our Chief to respect fully the established, statutory rights and procedures for dealing with the Village’s employees generally and department employees specifically.

Count 5, Violating the Directive Not To Discuss the Investigation during the Course of the Investigation:

Respondent has defended or explained much of his conduct as resulting from frustration, confusion, and uncertainty. We accept the reality of this explanation, but not its validity. He should not have engaged in his inquiries and conversations about the investigation, just as he and we would expect a police officer to respect strictly an order not to reveal or discuss a professional standards investigation. He should have remained uncomfortable, frustrated, curious, and worried, without probing into and thereby at least potentially undermining the investigation.

Count 6, Not Being Truthful During an Internal Investigation:

In our judgment a preponderance of our evidence does not support the core allegation of untruthfulness in Count 6.

In the end, the commission rejected the village's request to fire Sullivan:

Although commissioners have declined to terminate Chief Sullivan as proposed by Complainant, the several sustained allegations are sufficiently serious that we have imposed a substantial suspension penalty," the decision states. "In this case we received a clear recommendation of termination from the Complainant, but our consideration of the Chief’s admirable record of service, our confident anticipation of his renewed and improved leadership, and our judgment of the best interests of the department and our community cause us to temper the penalty we impose to that of a very significant suspension of eight weeks, holding six of those weeks in abeyance for a period of two years contingent upon non-recurrence of the elements of these charges and on non-retaliation against any person for any connection with the instant case. We have confidence moving forward that the Chief can now lead and our officers can follow.

Sullivan has been on administrative leave since October. A two-day hearing was held in December to determine his fate.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - "We're taking it day-by-day."

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary's Senior Animal Keeper Matt Rupnik says it's still too early to make a long-term prognosis on the bald eagle that arrived at their Green Bay facility Tuesday night.

A park-goer at Kaukauna's La Follette Park first saw the bird laying on the ground, not moving, around 11:30 am Tuesday. When the person returned to the park hours later, the eagle was in the same spot and had not moved.

That's when a call was placed to both Bay Beach and the Department of Natural Resources.

Rupnik says his organization gave it some time before picking up and transporting the animal.

Prior to putting a bald eagle through the process of restraint and capture, he says it's important to ensure it is not in the process of digesting food or merely resting.

From the time it arrived at the wildlife sanctuary, Rupnik says the bird has been under close observation and has received supportive care through oral feeding and fluids.

According to Rupnik, Bay Beach treats over 5,000 animals annually, typically including between two and ten bald eagles per year.

Anyone who sees an animal that appears to be injured, ill, or distressed is encouraged to contact Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary at 920-391-3671.

ASHWAUBENON, WI (WTAQ) - If you receive a refund check in the mail from Walmart, don't cash it.

Ashwaubenon Public Safety says it's a scam looking to gain access to your bank accounts and routing numbers.

Officials posted a photo of the letter and check on its Facebook page Wednesday.

Police are also instructing those who receive a check not to call the number in the letter.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Along the Fox River in downtown Green Bay, you'll see a monument dedicated to those who died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

"It's an important memorial, not many people have one outside of New York," said Green Bay alderman Randy Scannell.

The memorial was donated to the city of Green Bay in 2005.

Scannell tells WLUK there's even a piece of the World Trade Center in the memorial.

"The girder came from one of the towers. So it is really important in that sense since we do actually have a piece of one of the towers."

Scannell is one aldermen who says the monument is falling apart, he is also on the newly created Public Arts Commission.

"The names, you can barely read this, the corners are broken off, and then over here it's busted up pretty bad"

Scannell added, aside from the cracks there's some wrong information etched on the granite.

The flight number of the plane that hit the Pentagon and one of the planes that struck the World Trade Center were switched.

On Wednesday, the Park's Committee voted to put the care and the future of the memorial in the hands of the Public Arts Commission.

"This would be one of their first projects to take this on," said Green Bay alderman Chris Wery.

Wery said it would cost $80,000 to repair the memorial as is, and it would cost $20,000 to remove it.

"You're looking at some pretty hefty prices, hopefully they can get some community interest"

The Public Arts Commission says depending on the cost there are many options, one option is to build a new memorial elsewhere.

"The skies the limit in many ways, that is respectful and honors the memory of the people who died in 9/11 as well as the police and firefighters who gave their lives there," said Celestine Jeffreys, who is also on the Public Arts Commission.

The Public Arts Commission says the first step in fixing the monument is assessing the extent of the damage.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The Green Bay Parks committee is exploring other options to improve Colburn Pool.

Some of the options include building a new Olympic-sized pool, building a recreation pool or removing the pool entirely.

Alderman Chris Wery requested fourth option Wednesday night to consider renovating the current pool.

The committee rejected it.

Mayor Jim Schmitt vetoed spending nearly $6 million to rebuild the pool in December.

The council tried to override the veto in January, but fell short of the necessary votes.

Some of those who donated money to the failed rebuilding effort say they want their money back.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The case against President Donald Trump's hold on refugees continues to work it's way through the court system and as it does, people on both sides of the debate continue to talk.

Wednesday, Appleton's League of Women Voters held an educational presentation on local refugees.

Tami McLaughlin, the director of World Relief Fox Valley, was there to teach. She spoke to WLUK.

"They are fleeing what we are afraid of. So they are being persecuted and in the midst of the violence that we don't want in this country either"

According to McLaughlin, there are 25 million refugees the world over, 50% are children, 1% are resettled yearly. The U.S. took in 85,000 last year.

Locally World Relief Fox Valley has been settling refugees for five years.

"Congolese are our largest population, Burmese second and Iraqi is our thid population. And then we have some other ethnicities also that we're resettling"

McLaughlin did discuss President Trump's desire to put a 120 day hold on the country's refugee program.

She said she and her organization have the utmost respect for the President, but they are concerned.

"However we do wish that maybe the executive order wasn't so severe"

But Republican State Representative Ron Tusler says many agree with the President.

"It's an issue that President Trump brought up while he was on the campaign trail and his constituents and the people of our country are concerned about who these people are"

Tusler said the executive order is simply about making sure the vetting process for refugees works.

"I think that's all that's trying to be accomplished by this order. It's great to bring people here that we know who they are, they're hard working, they wanna be Americans"

But according to McLaughlin, the United States's vetting process for refugees is already very intense. It lasts between one and a half to three years.

"That checks their backgrounds, where they're from, includes interviews, health screenings, even biometrics, a lot of different agencies. So when they get here we know who they are, we know where they come from"

McLaughlin says the Fox Valley is typically welcoming to refugees.

"For the most part people seem to be very receptive. They want to learn" McLaughlin says sometimes the more people learn about the refugee program, the fewer fears they have.

MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Wisconsin Republican U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy says he's out and won't be challenging Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2018.

That clears the way for other Republicans who had been waiting for his decision to get in the race.

Duffy announced today (Thursday) that he decided against challenging Baldwin, who will be up for re-election for the first time next year.

Duffy is in his fourth term representing north-central Wisconsin's 7th Congressional District.

Duffy says in a statement that "this is not the right time for me to run for Senate."

He and his wife have eight children and Duffy says "family always comes first."

Several other Republicans have been considering a run.

That includes state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald and Madison businessman Eric Hovde.

GREEN BAY (WTAQ) - Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt wants a judge to stop a proceeding which could result in his removal from office.

Schmitt was convicted of three misdemeanor counts for improperly accepting and reporting campaign donations. He was fined and ordered to perform community service.

In December, Green Bay resident Scott Vanidestine filed a petition, requesting that Schmitt be removed from office as a result of those convictions.

The City Council is planning to review that request Monday.

But in court filings, Schmitt claims the council lacks jurisdiction to proceed "because the petition fails to allege any misconduct by Schmitt that meets the definition of 'cause' for removal" under state law.

Schmitt's attorney has repeatedly said the violations were actions done as a private citizen running for office and are not related to the duties of mayor.

The case was assigned to a Brown County judge.

However, as with what happened in the criminal case, none of the county's judges will hear the case. Instead, it has been assigned to Outagamie County Judge John DesJardins, court records show.

No hearings have been scheduled, however.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The new name of Brown County's disposal building reflects changes that have been made of the years.

That's according to Resource Recovery Department Technician Chris Blan who explains why signage was unveiled at a Thursday morning ceremony to officially change the county's 'Household Hazardous Waste Facility' to the 'Hazardous Material Recovery Facility.'

Since opening in 1996, Blan notes the facility has undergone a number of changes.

He says the word 'household' needed to be removed since items are now accepted from businesses that qualify as Very Small Quantity Generators as well as hobbyists and residents of neighboring counties.

The term 'hazardous waste' was replaced with 'hazardous material' since the facility changed its policy over time to also accept universal wastes and non-regulated wastes.

According to Blan, the word 'recover' was added to reflect that 75-80% of the materials received at the facility gets recycled or recovered. He says the other 20-25% is incinerated.

Blan says there is no cost to dispose of hazardous waste. Non-hazardous waste is taken at a rate of $0.25 per pound, $0.25 per bulb, or $5-$15 per qualifying household appliance.

The Hazardous Material Recovery Facility is located at 2561 South Broadway in Green Bay. Hours of operation are Thursdays from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - "We feel bad it didn't progress, but this was not unexpected."

Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary Director Mike Reed says it was no surprise that the bald eagle brought to the facility on Tuesday night died Thursday morning.

Reed says the bird, which was found motionless on the ground at Kaukauna's La Follette Park on Tuesday, was unresponsive to supportive care, which included providing the animal with warmth and oral feeding/fluids.

The eagle's condition throughout its roughly 36 hours at Bay Beach was described as 'weak and lethargic.'

While the exact cause of death won't be known until test results are available, Reed says the condition that caused the bird's illness and loss of life was likely one that came on quickly.

According to Reed, chronic injuries such as a wing problem or broken leg prevent eagles from hunting. Due to the bird's normal weight, he says that was not the case with this bird.

When at Bay Beach, Reed says the eagle was able to stand but never picked up its head and was unresponsive to people entering the room.

Wildlife sanctuary officials credit Karen Barto for notifying them of the downed eagle on Tuesday. While efforts to save the animal were unsuccessful, they say her actions 'gave the bird a chance to survive.'