UNDATED, (WTAQ) - Authorities in Northeast Wisconsin are letting the public know about instances of credit card fraud that's been happening at a discount store throughout the state.

Brown County Sheriff's Department and the Green Bay Police Department says they've received reports from 4 separate victims who say their credit cards have been used at various Walmart locations in Wisconsin.

The card information is believed to have been stolen, possibly though a skimming device.

Authorities believe that re-encoded cards were used to commit the crimes.

Transaction records show that the fraud was used to mainly buy gift cards from the discount store through a self-checkout.

The victim's cards were used between March 18-21, 2017 at Walmart's in Appleton, Chilton, Sheboygan, Plymouth, De Pere, Hartford, Oshkosh, Green Bay, and Fond du Lac.

The cards have since be deactivated.

Officials believe there are more fraud victims out there, with loss estimated at tens of thousands of dollars.

Police have released photos from surveillance video of the 3 suspects they are looking for. 

If you have any information on this case please call the Brown County Sheriff's Office at 920-448-4230. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers at 920-432-7867 or text GBTIP and you tip to 274637 (crimes).

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - Charges have been filed against the 28-year-old Appleton man who was taken into custody after police responded to a shots fired complaint on the city's north side Tuesday.

Ger Thao faces one felony count apiece of Attempted First Degree Homicide and First Degree Reckless Injury, five felony counts of First Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety, and one misdemeanor Bail Jumping charge.

Officers found a 35-year-old Manitowoc man shot outside an apartment building when they arrived near the intersection on the 2900 block of North Union Street at 1:06 pm.

The victim was taken to the hospital with a lower-body injury that is non-life threatening.  

According to the criminal complaint, Thao went up to an apartment unit, shot the patio door, stepped inside, and fired another round.

The gun reportedly jammed, and people proceeded to flee the area.

Soon after, Thao allegedly reopened fire.

Prosecutors say Thao was angry with people in the building who "talk trash about him, give him a hard time, say he is crazy, and have talked about beating him up."

Thao reportedly bought the gun in March but waited to carry out the shooting until Tuesday, the day 401k funds cleared the bank and could be given to his mother.

After speaking with witnesses, officers quickly developed a suspect and took Thao into custody around 2:30 pm at the Riverside Cemetery. He was visiting his father's grave.

Thao's preliminary hearing is set for May 4.

He has also been charged with two misdemeanor counts of disorderly conduct for a pair of alleged March incidents.

Prosecutors claim he entered a woman's home and also pounded on a door with a wooden club. 

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WTAQ) - Sheboygan County officers say they dealt with an armed woman Thursday.

The sheriff's office notes dispatchers received a 911 call at 1:47 pm from a 38-year-old female in the Town of Lima who stated she was armed, committed a homicide, and was suicidal.

The phone line was then disconnected.

Sheboygan County Sheriff's officials dispatched a variety of resources to the scene, including SWAT, a negotiator, and rescue personnel.

They say the scene has been secured and is safe.

No further information is being released until Friday afternoon as an investigation is ongoing.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Some Brown County schools are starting to see the effects of 'going green.'

This school year, eight local educational facilities took part in a new milk carton recycling program.

The effort is coordinated by the county's Port and Resource Recovery Department and began with a grant from the Carton Council, an organization aimed at increasing carton recycling nationwide.  

Five of the eight schools involved in the pilot program are in the Ashwaubenon School District: Ashwaubenon High School, Cormier School and Early Learning Center, Parkview Middle School, Pioneer Elementary School, and Valley View Elementary School.

The others involved are De Pere High School, Green Bay's Wequiock Elementary, and Howard-Suamico's Bayview Middle School.

Those schools worked closely in the implementation with Tri-County Recycling, who provided recycling bins, signs, and toolkits.  

In this first year, Tri-County's Sarah Chisholm says the goals were to help the districts save money, decrease trash waste, and get students excited about recycling.

Resource Recovery Business Manager Mark Walter hopes the eight participants "demonstrate how impactful this carton recycling program could be for other school districts."

The Carton Council estimated the eight schools' participation in the recycling program would keep roughly 20,700 pounds out of landfills on an annual basis.

If all Brown County schools took part, officials say that number would increase to more than 220,000 pounds.

KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ) - Trespassing has become a problem at a Kimberly construction site.

The former NewPage Mill location between Main Street and Pine Street is being redeveloped into a mix of houses, businesses, and green space.  The 90-acre mill shut down in 2008.

Fox Valley Metro Police Officer Michael Lambie notes "we've seen an uptick in (trespassing) recently. The word has really spread throughout the Fox Valley that there's "cool" areas to explore here in Kimberly with the old mill site."

Lambie says there are safety concerns.

"These buildings are being demolished, a lot of them aren't very sturdy, we have a lot of debris that's unsteady.  (We want to) urge people this isn't a joke. We don't want people getting hurt in there, this is all about safety."

Lambie notes the fences and 'no trespassing' signs haven't been enough to keep people off the construction site as his department has received plenty of calls.

The Village of Kimberly owns the site, which is being cleared for demolition.

While redevelopment work should be done shortly, village leaders say the project won't be complete until 2022.

Lambie says anyone caught trespassing on the site will receive a $187 fine.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Renovations are complete on a downtown Green Bay property.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday for the Hibernia House on Broadway Street.

After being vacant for the last decade, the house has been renovated into 20 micro apartments.

Rent for each 400-500 square foot unit ranges from $550-$1,100 per month.

That pricetag includes high-speed internet, cable, utilities, and parking.

The Hibernia House was built in 1875. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A Green Bay alderman wants another month before deciding whether the city should have a policy for guns in city buildings. Right now there isn't one.

The delay was agreed upon Thursday night without a formal input session from the public.

Alderman Randy Scannell wanted to recommend a rule that only concealed carry weapons be allowed inside city buildings like city hall.

But, there is some question whether state law would allow that.

Scannell now wants to talk to state legislators about whether his recommendation is legal or whether state law could be changed.

Supporters of carrying a weapon, like Ed Foral tell WLUK they recommend simply posting a sign asking gun owners to conceal their weapon.

“I don't think they have the support from the council to pass a ban of all weapons. I don't think that would fly. Their only chance is if they would try a compromise.”

However, Scannell says a request without law leaves room for people to disobey the request without penalty.

“There is not teeth to that. That might work. It might not work, but if it doesn't work there is nothing you can do about it. Someone could still show up open carrying, maybe even purposely to try to intimidate someone.”

Out of the state's ten largest cities, Green Bay and Waukesha are the only ones that allow people to bring weapons into city buildings.

OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - The City of Oshkosh is looking to enhance its public schools' curb appeal, but it says it needs community help.

As the parent of an Oshkosh West High School student, Anna Ulman tells WLUK she has noticed the school's exterior needs a little TLC.

"There's a lot of nice things there, but I could see that it definitely needs an upgrade, a woman's touch!"

The city's education commission, Oshkosh4Education has heard the same thing about other schools from focus groups.

Chairperson Beth Wyman tells WLUK the commission has decided to do something about it.

"We had people say they aren't really happy about the exterior of our schools, they aren't inviting and they aren't neighborhood friendly"

Thursday kicked off the "Project Curb" campaign.

The big day will be September 23rd, when landscaping will be done at all district schools.

"We will be beautifying the exteriors of our 17 school sites in the community of Oshkosh," said Wyman.

Volunteers will remove dead trees, improve existing planters and beds, and add new plants.

"Plants that will look good, be inviting, but not have too much maintenance"

Wyman says Oshkosh4Education estimates it will need 1,000 volunteers on hand the day of and $200,000 in donations to get the job done.

"That will also include in-kind donations. We're going to our landscapers, we're going to our tree trimmers"

Ulman says as part of the community, she feels responsible.

"If we don't take care of it and show our kids how to take care of it, who's gonna take care of it ?"

School district officials say they're excited for the project.

DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - A familiar flyer has returned to the waterways of Northeast Wisconsin.

The American White Pelican is one of the biggest birds around, and the Green Bay area is one of the best places to watch the birds in action.

DNR District Wildlife Supervisor Jeff Pritzl tells WLUK the birds have actually been around for weeks.

"A few pelicans showed up already in the end of February. So they started trickling back in as soon as we had open water"

With an abundant fish supply and choice nesting grounds in the waters of Green Bay, Pritzl says the pelican has made itself right at home in Northeast Wisconsin.

"It's not uncommon for the pelican colonies to have hundreds of nests all together, and so, we've had as many as a thousand birds in one nesting colony"

Pritzl says in all, there are about 2400 nesting pairs in the Bay.

"They have rather specific needs for their nesting colonies, and most of those places are occupied now. So, I think the population is stabilizing" There are two species of pelicans in North America.

Biologists say many may be familiar with the Brown Pelican, which lives near the ocean, and typically dives out of the sky to catch fish below the surface, but the White Pelican has a much different strategy.

"They'll hunt from the air, looking for schools of fish. But once they see that school, they'll come down and land. And rather than individually dive, and try to grab fish, they work together and just kind of form a line and try to drive that school of fish into an area where it's easier for them to capture"

Pritzl says the synchronized scooping should continue all summer long.

"I think White Pelicans fall in the category of what we refer to in general, as a group of charismatic fauna. Big animals that are interesting to look at"

Pelicans are living in other areas too, including The Lake Winnebago System, Horicon Marsh in Dodge County, and near the Mississippi River in Southwest Wisconsin.

The birds are expected to be in the area until late November.

Ted Thompson maneuvered with his 29th pick in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft by trading to Cleveland for pick 33 in the 2nd round and pick 108 in the 4th round.  There is no new Packer to report in round one, but Ted liked the way things fell.

"Some things fell like what we feel were advantageous to us, especially over the next couple of days, and we didn't have to actually give up a whole lot to get a couple of breaks. We feel good where we are, but we didn't draft anybody. So we'll see about that tomorrow."  ~ Ted Thompson

The Packers will be first on the clock on Friday for sure, and as things stand now, are first on the clock on Saturday barring another trade. 

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - One of Wisconsin's Republican Congressmen is expressing some concerns with President Trump's proposed tax plan.

During a Thursday appearance on WTAQ's Jerry Bader Show, Sixth District Representative Glenn Grothman stated "it may be a little bit too generous: a lot to the people who don't work very much, okay to the very wealthy.  I want to make sure we're looking out for the average guy."

The plan calls for doubling the standard deduction for single people and married couples, from the current $6,350 and $12,700, respectively.

It would reportedly expand the number of low to moderate income families who do not pay taxes.

However, all other deductions, with the exception of mortgage interest and charitable contributions, would be eliminated.

As for companies, the tax rate for small businesses would drop from 39.6% to 15%.

In a similar decrease, the corporate tax rate would go from 35% to 15%.

Grothman supports providing relief for businesses because "as you reduce taxes, the economy will grow.  That will unquestionably happen to a degree.  Right now, high tax rates are particularly stifling businesses out."

He believes many international businesses are currently being unfairly punished.

"If you have an American multi-national company that's making money in Europe, we say 'don't bring that money back to expand your plant in the United States or we'll tax you.'"

The Trump Administration did not immediately release any information on how to pay for the tax cuts.

Grothman notes the importance of ensuring the plan balances to avoid adding to the nation's current deficit, which is nearing $20,000,000,000,000.

The Glenbeulah Republican also weighed in on the American Healthcare Act.

He says recent changes to the proposed GOP healthcare bill have made for "a more big-government bill than we were reportedly going to vote on a few weeks ago."

On March 24, Republican House leaders pulled the bill that aimed to repeal and replace Obamacare from the floor when they learned there was not enough votes for it to pass.

Since then, changes have been made in an attempt to gain support from the conservative Freedom Caucus and moderate Tuesday Group, two unofficial House Republican groups that opposed the AHA proposal in its initial form.

On Thursday, Grothman was especially critical of the Tuesday group, calling them "big government Republicans that want to keep Obamacare."

Grothman notes the Affordable Care Act needs to be done away with since it has left roughly 1/3 of United States' counties with only one healthcare provider. 

By next year, Grothman says there will be many counties without a single provider.

GOP leaders initially anticipated a vote this week, but that has been delayed.

House Speaker Paul Ryan says the vote will happen once the necessary votes have been secured.

SHEBOYGAN, WI (WTAQ) - Sheboygan Police believe a Thursday incident was a murder-suicide.

Officers responded to the 3100 block of Leynse Road in Town of Lima at 1:47 pm following a call from a 38-year-old female who stated she was armed, committed a homicide, and was suicidal.

Upon arrival, the SWAT team found the body of 64-year-old Thomas Rank, who appeared to have died from a gunshot wound.

They later discovered the body of 38-year-old Sarah Soucheck, whose cause of death looked to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Investigators say Rank was Soucheck's father.

Late Thursday afternoon, sheriff's officials declared the scene safe and secure.

The investigation is ongoing, and tape of the 911 call has not been released.

DOOR COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Two men have died after their kayaks capsized in Lake Michigan.

Around 11:30 am Friday, Door County Sheriff's officers responded to call of two kayaks that capsized roughly 100 yards from the shore at Cave Point County Park.

Responders found a 21-year-old Clintonville man and 29-year-old Sturgeon Bay man unresponsive and brought them to shore.

Both kayakers were pronounced dead at a local hospital around 2 pm.

No names have been released, and neither man was wearing a life jacket.

The water temperature was 43 degrees.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Good news for Green Bay Area Public School students.

District leaders have announced their will be no classes on Friday, May 12.

It's the result of the district only using two of its built in snow days this school year.

WAUPACA COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Boaters on one local waterway are urged to slow down.

Waupaca County Emergency Management officials have declared a flood emergency for waters south of New London, due to forecasted rain.

As a result, boaters on the Wolf River have to reduce their speeds.

Boats must travel at slow-no-wake speeds when within 500 feet of any permanent building.

The order takes effect Friday at 3 pm and continues until county officials determine waters are back to non-threatening levels.   

FOND DU LAC, WI (WTAQ) - A 17-year-old Fond du Lac High School student has been charged with threatening to shoot up his school.

Carlos Martinez faces one count apiece of felony Making Terrorist Threats and misdemeanor Disorderly Conduct.

According to the criminal complaint, another student heard Martinez make the threat Thursday afternoon.

When confronted about the threat by the school's principal, Martinez reportedly said people 'take things too seriously' and that we 'make a big deal out of everything nowadays.'

Cash bond has been set at $500, and Martinez has been ordered not to have any contact with the school or its property.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 12.

TWO RIVERS, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - An investigation is underway after the Two Rivers Police Department says a man threatened to shoot officers.

The incident started just before 10 a.m. Sunday on the 1100 block of Adams Street, in Two Rivers, as a domestic situation, according to police.

Authorities say the incident involved a woman and her boyfriend. The woman was able to get out of the apartment with her infant.

When police tried to contact the man inside the apartment, officials say he threatened to shoot them.

Police say the man claimed to have weapons in the apartment and refused to be arrested.

Officers set up a perimeter around the apartment complex and evacuated all of the residents within in the area.

The man was arrested at 1:20 p.m., according to officials.

APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) - Appleton Police are currently investigating reports of gunshots heard at a residence in the 1600 block of North Clark Street Sunday morning.

Police received multiple 911 calls around 4:09 a.m. about possible gunshots.

Officers who checked the area were able to track the gunshots to a residence in the 1600 block of N. Clark Street.

Appleton police say an investigation revealed multiple shots were fired, both inside and outside the residence.

No one was injured.

Authorities believe several adults and at least four children were inside the home at the time the shots were fired.

Investigators are currently looking for several people for interviews and are working with a child protection agency for the welfare of the children involved.

Police believe the incident is isolated and that there is no immediate threat the community.

Police are asking if anyone has any information to call Sgt. Schira at 920-832-5574.

If you'd like to remain anonymous you can text crimes (274-637) with the keyword APDTIPS at the start of your message.

GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - HSHS St. Vincent Hospital Auxiliary is inviting the public to a breakfast, silent auction, and special presentation all to benefit cancer research.

Hats Off to Women takes place on Wednesday, May 10th from at the Swan Club in De Pere. The doors open at 7a.m. and the event goes until 9:30a.m.

Executive Director of Cancer Services, Sally Luehring, says it's an inspiring event.

"I think it's a great time for people to come out with their friends and their neighbors or their co-workers."

Attendees will hear from Dr. Anthony Jaslowski, physician with Green Bay Oncology and Medical Director of HSHS St. Vincent Cancer Research Institute; Dr. John Taylor, pediatric intensivist with Prevea health at HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital; and a family whose young daughter is beating a rare and debilitating disease thanks to the experts of HSHS St. Vincent Cancer Research Institute and HSHS St. Vincent Children's Hospital.

"All in all the guests will really get a great feel for what St. Vincent Cancer Research Institute is and what it does and how we're really helping people here in Northeast Wisconsin," said Luehring.

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased at the hospital gift shop at 835 S. Van Buren St. in Green Bay or by calling 920-433-8561.

Proceeds from the 12th annual event will benefit HSHS St. Vincent Cancer Research Institute.

BROWN COUNTY, WI (WTAQ) - Brown County Executive Troy Streckenbach is putting the finishing touches on Tuesday's (today's) State Of The County speech.

It's a chance to remind everyone what the county has done and layout a vision for the future.

It may not be the most high profile item, but Troy Streckenbach says the hiring of a jail liaison worker, to help inmates successfully re-enter the community, is a great accomplishment.

"This person is meeting with individuals in the jail that have mental heath and addiction issues"

In the past year this person has helped 199 people, with only 4 returning to jail.

Streckenbach says Text to 9-1-1 services going online, and the Code Red Emergency Notification system are major public safety items.

Improvements to the New Zoo and the Adventure Park master plan are positive quality of life achievements.

As for the future...Streckenbach will talk about the start-up of High Tech Innovation Zones.

"Thee right and appropriate infrastructure allows us to actually be able to accomplish that"

That will attract businesses who demand high speed data.

He also points to significant debt reduction and tax relief plans. And addressing the future of the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena.

The address is at 5 p.m. in the Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena.