ALLOUEZ, WI (WTAQ) - State investigators say the cause of the massive apartment building fire is "undetermined".
Last month, the blaze caused about $3 million in damage to the Hilltop Place Apartments. It displaced about 100 residents.
The state fire marshal's office was called in to help investigate.
However, officials say there was so much damage, they can't give a concrete explanation of what sparked the fire.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The Oshkosh Corporation says fewer employees will be laid off than expected.
The firm said a few weeks ago that 700 military vehicle makers would be let go on June 14th, due mainly to a scaling back of U.S. operations in Afghanistan.
Tuesday, Oshkosh said the actual layoffs are down to 535. That’s because dozens of people have found other jobs or took early retirements.
The Oshkosh Corporation will hold a job fair exclusively for the defense division employees who are leaving on Thursday. Fourteen area companies will be on hand – and they have over 540 job openings, mostly in manufacturing.
After the layoffs, Oshkosh will still have 2,800 defense division employees with a total statewide workforce of 5,500.
Production of military vehicles will have dropped by 30 percent.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Six of every seven people arrested for marijuana possession in Wisconsin are black.
That’s according to a new study by the American Civil Liberties Union – which is using a similar report nationally to push for a legalization of pot.
The ACLU said it used 2010 census and FBI data to come up with its figures. It only counts individual arrests and does not take repeat offenders into account.
The report said that in Waukesha County, 12 blacks were arrested for pot possession for every white in 2010.
In Brown County, the ACLU said 7 blacks get marijuana raps for every white offender.
Other ratios are 6.5 to 1 in Dane County, in the Madison area – and 4.7 to 1 in Milwaukee County.
The ACLU contends that blacks and whites smoke marijuana at about the same rate.
Its surveys showed that 14 percent of blacks admitted getting high on pot in 2010, and 12 percent of whites.
State and local law enforcement officials have not commented on the report.
The ACLU says government should tax and regulate marijuana. Chris Ahmuty, the group’s state director, admits such changes would be hard to pass.
So in the meantime, he says local police should make pot users a low priority. Ahmuty says getting guns off the streets should be a bigger priority.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The group that hosts an annual air show in Oshkosh says they're being "held hostage" by a $500,000 bill from the Federal Aviation Administration.
A spokesman for the Experimental Aircraft Association says the FAA demands the payment to cover air traffic control and staff at the annual AirVenture convention, held each summer.
EAA says the FAA now bills for staff because of sequestrations in April, but the EAA claims money to pay for staffing air shows across the country were exempt from those cuts.
EAA says a letter of support from 20,000 aviators across the country was signed by members of the U.S. Senate in the last 48 hours, including Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin.
While contesting the bill, EAA says they will provide air traffic control and security during the event and will work with the FAA for a solution.
SHEBOYGAN, WI (WTAQ) - A Sheboygan man was charged Wednesday with a dozen felony theft charges for allegedly using company credit cards to rack up a more than $117,000 for a start-up escort service in Las Vegas.
Forty-six-year-old Kirk Riddle was a Kohler Company employee.
According to the criminal complaint, when approached by Kohler security he said he was in the process of starting an escort services in Las Vegas.
Investigators say $72,000 was used to buy online and yellow page ads for an “adult VIP entertainment” business in Sin City. Another $15,000 was spent on airfare, car rental and lodging for six Las Vegas women to come to Wisconsin.
If convicted, Riddle is facing more than 31 years in prison.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Green Bay Area Public School officials are lashing out at Republican lawmakers for approving a statewide expansion of the private school voucher program.
"It truly was government of, by and for special interests," says Green Bay School Board Trustee Mike Blecha, who was in Madison for the Joint Finance Committee meetings. "So one of the most significant public policy changes affecting public education in its history, was written and discussed entirely in secret."
During a media conference Wednesday, Superintendent Michelle Langenfeld opened with a statement of the districts' continue opposition to the expansion and funding of the program at the expense of the public school system.
"We continue to question how the expansion of the 20-year-old failed Milwaukee voucher program will help to better educate the children of Green Bay and the state of Wisconsin," says Langenfeld. "We're also worried about the fiscal impact, and the ability to afford or not afford a two-tier system and where that will take us into the future."
On a 12-4 party line vote earlier that morning, the finance committee approved the plan which would allow 500 choice students the first year and 1,000 students the second year. The plan also increases per pupil funding in school districts by $150 over each of the next two years.
Leaders also expressed concern over the lack of accountability the private schools involved in the program will face.
Another issue was the per pupil funding, which district Chief Financial Officer Alan Wagner said would mean an additional $3 million in revenues. That, Wagner said, still leaves the district with a $2 million shortfall.
Langenfeld went on to say that they will continue to, "stay the course" when it comes to working with lawmakers to try and have the voucher program taken out of the biennial budget.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - A contractor from Oshkosh has been cited in the death of a worker last fall at a paper recycling plant in Virginia.
CR Meyer and Sons of Oshkosh and ST Tissue of Franklin Virginia are both challenging citations issued by Virginia’s Labor and Industry department.
38-year-old James Denny III of Fayetteville North Carolina died after he was hit by an overhead crane last October at the recycling facility in Franklin.
The Virginian-Pilot recently obtained the citations. They said the crane’s operator was not trained to run the machine.
Also, the operator apparently could not see where the crane was going at the time.
CR Meyer faces $70,000 in penalties. ST Tissue faces $32,000 in fines.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Despite media reports earlier this week saying the investigation into the massive Allouez apartment fire was closed, Green Bay Metro Fire Lt. Nick Craig says they it is a very "active and ongoing" investigation.
"We are actually the lead agency and there is still a chance we could find out what caused it," Craig says. "They (Wisconsin state fire marshal's office) have a piece of the report, we have a piece of the report, and all the other assisting agencies help put our reports together. That's why we initially said four to six weeks for completion."
The Green Bay Press-Gazette was the first to report that spokeswoman Dana Brueck said her office's final reports would show the cause of the May 23 fire as "undetermined", and that investigators had completed their work.
"Their reports are based on what they saw when they were here," Lt. Craig clarified. "So their report may reflect undetermined on their end because that what they saw with the evidence they had before them."
The Brown County Fire Investigation Task Force is also assisting in the investigation.
Craig says they continue to follow leads in the case, and are working with the property's insurance company to gain further access to the area where the fire at Hilltop Place Apartments is believed to have started.
"We have good reason to believe that the building's insurance company will pay some money to get that heavy equipment needed out and put it on nice, solid ground so we're able to look at it," Craig said.
The blaze caused over $3 million in damage and displaced more than 100 people. Craig says that in no way are they downplaying the importance of help they've received into this probe, because they appreciate the aid into trying to solve what he calls a, "once in a 20-year fire."
"The report that came out may be troubling to some of the residents thinking it's just two weeks after the fire and already the fire department is saying that the case is closed and their done looking at it," Craig says. "People want answers and we're gonna try our hardest to get them a good solid answer, and at this point we're still working towards that."
Craig says that nothing at this point can be ruled out as a cause, even arson.
"At this point, there's nothing blatantly obvious that would lead us to believe its arson," said Craig. "That's not to say that once we hopefully get those pieces of the building out on the lawn that that's not something we'll find."
There's also a chance that the investigation with be stamped as "undetermined" once authorities reach that conclusion.
"Undetermined is a cause, that's the final stamp you put on a report when you put it to bed for a while," Craig adds. "It may be opened up years later if a tip should come in, and this case may never be solved."
Firefighters from all over the region responded to the six-alarm blaze that gutted the 40-year-old residential property.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ)-A string of armed robberies around the Green Bay area. The first was just before midnight at the Oneida One Stop on W. Mason St. 20 minutes later, the Lombardi Express gas station at the corner of Ashland Ave. and Lombardi was held up by a man with a gun. And just after 2:30 a.m., Brown County Sheriff department says a man with a gun robbed the Grand Central Station on Allouez Ave. in Bellevue. Suspect in all three crimes is a white man about 6-feet tall, dressed in dark clothing and wearing a blue bandana.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Police in Oshkosh are on the hunt for a man they consider armed and dangerous.
31-year-old Jeffrey Alan Harnish was involved in a domestic disturbance Thursday and is suspected of stealing a truck from an area auto body shop.
Police say they were called to the 300 block of North Westhaven Drive just after 6 a.m. for a domestic disturbance, where they believe Harnish slashed the tires on a vehicle with a knife. A little while later, police believe Harnish stole a pickup truck from a shop in the 1800 block of South Westhaven Drive.
The truck, described as a black 2005 GMC Sierra with Wisconsin license plate number GV6759, was seen headed south from the shop.
Harnish is from the Chicago area and had a switchblade knife with him, police say. He is described as 5'9", weighing 150 pounds, with long dark hair. He was last seen wearing a dark-colored jacket over a red hooded sweatshirt and black jeans.
Police say anyone who sees Harnish should not approach him. Instead, call Oshkosh police at (920) 236-5700, or your local police.
WASHINGTON D.C. (WRN) - The Federal Aviation Administration has issued a response regarding a $500,000 charge to the Experimental Aircraft Association for costs associated with AirVenture in Oshkosh this summer.
In a statement, the FAA says they are not instituting new user fees and requests the amount to cover "incremental costs" associated with the event during a difficult budget environment.
The FAA says the request covers travel and cost of staffing the home positions of employees working at the event.
The FAA says they have received the letter from State Senators Tammy Baldwin, Ron Johnson and 26 other U.S. Senators and are drafting a response.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The 37th annual Bellin Run has reached a record number of runners who have pre-registered ahead of Saturday's event.
Executive Director Randy Van Straten says 18,851 registered online and expects overall race participation around 19,500.
Online registration has closed, but Van Straten says Friday's in-person registration could include up to 1,000 people.
Police will be providing video surveillance for the event this year in response to the bombing at the Boston Marathon. Spectators and runners should have an airport mentality.
"Don't leave your bags lying around, keep things with you, maybe travel light," says Van Straten. "If you see something, say something."
Race officials say they'll have enhanced video surveillance along the course. Participants will also see increased law enforcement.
And there will be GPS tracking with emergency and medical personal.
Van Straten it will be good race weather, with low temperatures and no rain. No real course changes, so expect to see the same hills and grade throughout the race.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A Minnesota woman charged for her role in the death of a Greenville woman has pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutors say 38-year-old Rosie Campbell was hired to kill Lara Plamann, but Campbell told investigators that she backed out.
In 2007, Lara Plamann was killed.
Plamann’s domestic partner, Dianna Siveny, and Siveny’s daughter Kandi, are also charged. They are due in court Monday to enter pleas.
APPLETON, WI (WTAQ) - A man is charged with a hate crime in the city of Appleton.
Police Sgt. Dave Lund tells FOX 11 the alleged incident happened Monday night.
Lund says Thomas Pruett was with a group of people at Jones Park, including a person who was born a man, but now identifies as a woman.
According to Lund, Pruett started verbally attacking that person.
"There were slurs towards the victim's gender identity at the time of the incident," explained Lund.
Authorities say Pruett attacked the victim for using what he said was the wrong bathroom.
"They were gong into the men's bathroom, the person came up to the victim and kicked the victim in the ribs, started beating the victim," explained Kathy Flores, the Diversity Coordinator for the City of Appleton.
According to Flores, the victim was left with a broken eye socket bone, cuts and bruises.
Pruett is now facing substantial battery and disorderly conduct charges, both with hate crime enhancers. That means Pruett could face an additional 6 years in prison if convicted on both charges.
Gender identity falls under Wisconsin hate crime statutes.
"The hate crime enhancer is out there to protect people," explained Lund.
Appleton recently started a campaign called INCLUDE to show support for the LGBT community. The campaign featured events like an anti-bullying film screening.
Pruett's preliminary hearing is scheduled for next week.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - Brett Favre continues to warm up to the idea of getting his Number 4 retired by the Green Bay Packers.
After his 2008 blowup with the team, and his subsequent indifference to being honored in Titletown, Favre now tells a Buffalo radio station he’s “honored” by the thought of being a Green Bay immortal.
Favre says it will happen – though he’s not sure when.
He said Packers’ president Mark Murphy has talked with him on numerous occasions. Murphy says he wants to honor the future Hall of Fame quarterback when he’s ready – although Favre says he would never tell the Packers what to do in that regard.
The three-time league MVP said time heals a lot of wounds. He said all sides, including himself, were to blame for what happened in 2008 when he retired, decided he wanted to come back, and was rejected after Aaron Rodgers was named the Pack’s starting quarterback.
Favre ended up playing 3 more seasons with the New York Jets and Minnesota before retiring two years ago.
Favre made his latest remarks while in Buffalo for a charity auction put on by former Bills’ quarterback Jim Kelly.
GREENVILLE, WI (WTAQ) - Calumet County Sheriff's have arrested a 30-year-old man in connection with a heroin overdose death.
According to investigators, 24-year-old Damon Coe was found dead last month at his Town of Harrison home.
Following a five week investigation, the suspect was arrested in the Town of Greenville.
Sheriff’s officials are referring reckless homicide charges to the Calumet County District Attorney’s Office.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - The Oshkosh City Council will take up a plan Tuesday night which would ban certain offenders from parks.
Oshkosh police officer Joe Nichols tells FOX 11 there recently has been some issues.
"Rude and indecent behavior, and people were being arrested on a continuous basis," said Nichols.
According to Parks Director Ray Maurer, police were called to 575 disturbances at city parks in 2011. In 2012, that number jumped to about 700 calls. Among those disturbances were people drinking alcohol in parks after hours, sleeping in bathrooms and vandalism.
So Maurer and the police department are asking the city council to pass an ordinance.
"Hopefully it'll cut down on some of the police calls here in the parks and let them do some of their other duties," said Maurer.
Maurer says people could be banned for as short as three days for minor, first-time offenses, to as long as life for felonies.
Under the proposal, the parks director would ultimately decide the punishment. Offenders would be able to appeal.
"It's a privilege to be able to use the city parks system, so that's one of the reasons we feel there is case law that supports this park suspension policy," explained Maurer.
When it comes to enforcement, the ban would be handled much like driving with a revoked license. If a banned person is caught in a park, he or she would face harsher citations or punishments.
"If you're getting to the point of a park suspension, you're probably not seeing the police for the first time. So they're aware of who you are and what you've been doing," said Maurer.
"With this ordinance, hopefully we'll be able to return the parks back to the families.," said Nichols.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Want to buy an ethanol plant?
The former Utica Energy plant near Oshkosh is going up for bids this summer. The facility stopped making corn-based ethanol last September, as the business got $30 million in debt.
Dougherty Funding of Minneapolis filed foreclosure proceedings last December.
The Utica plant went into receivership – and the receiver hired Ascendant Partners of Colorado to sell the ethanol facility, a grain elevator, and a grain drying plant.
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) - The sale and redevelopment of a downtown Green Bay hotel has been green lighted by city leaders.
The city paid almost $3 million for the 146-room Clarion Hotel earlier this year, after being in foreclosure. The city's Redevelopment Authority approved the sale to a developer, who's currently operating it, for $2.7 million.
The full city council still needs to approve the deal.
Green Bay Mayor Jim Schmitt previously said the purchase ensures the planned KI convention center expansion crossing Adams Street can happen.
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ) - Purple Hearts have been awarded to two members of the Oshkosh-based 1157th Transportation Company.
During a ceremony Friday at the Wisconsin Army National Guard's Oshkosh armory, Spc. Lindsay Peterson of Green Bay, and Spc. Chase Crull of Hollandale, were presented the medals.
Days after arriving in Afghanistan in May 2012, Peterson and Crull were injured when a 150 pound IED exploded and flipped their vehicle on its side.
Peterson suffered knee, head, facial, back, and arm injuries as a result of the blast, while Crull suffered face, head, and back injuries of his own.
The Purple Heart is awarded to military service members wounded in combat.
Both soldiers say they were honored to receive the medal, but never sought to be awarded it.
"Right now I feel like it's an award that you don't want. It's an award that nobody expects," said Peterson in a release. "Everyone goes downrange with the expectation that maybe something could happen, but you always think that maybe it's not going to happen to you. And then it does, and you get this award and you feel grateful for all the support and everything, but it's not something that you ever wanted."
The 1157th returned home from Afghanistan in January 2013.
