Green Bay News

MADISON (AP) – Teachers, teaching students and Democratic lawmakers say approving a budget measure that would allow Wisconsin to certify teachers who don’t have bachelor’s degrees would hurt students.

The group presented a petition with more than 37,000 signatures opposing the measure to Gov. Scott Walker’s office Wednesday. Walker hasn’t said whether he would support the measure.

Under the provision, anyone with relevant experience could be licensed to teach non-core academic subjects in grades six through 12. They wouldn’t need a degree or even a high school diploma to teach non-core subjects.

The measure’s supporters say it was proposed to help rural schools find and retain teachers.

The state budget committee last month approved the provision. The budget must pass the Senate and Assembly, and be signed by Walker before becoming law.

Photos of storm damage in Northeast Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says the United States will send up to 450 more troops to Iraq to boost the training of local forces. It’s a response to recent setbacks at the hands of the Islamic State and Baghdad’s appeals for more help.

Under the plan, the number of U.S. training sites in Iraq would increase from four to five, enabling a larger number of Iraqis to join the fight against the Islamic militant group. Most of the fighters would be Sunni tribal volunteers.

The White House says President Barack Obama made the decision at the request of Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and based on advice from Pentagon leaders.

Obama continues to resist demands for combat troops or for more U.S. soldiers on the ground to call in air strikes.

MADISON (AP) – Patience Roggensack is presiding over a Wisconsin Supreme Court rules conference as chief justice for the first time.

Roggensack sat at the head of the conference table in the Supreme Court chambers Wednesday, leading the meeting with five of the six other justices present. Justice Shirley Abrahamson has filed a federal lawsuit challenging Roggensack’s election as chief justice, replacing her after 19 years in the job.

Abrahamson sat to Roggensack’s right during the meeting, which began with a debate over protecting information in court records.

There were no signs of tension related to the ongoing court fight over who is chief justice. Although, Justice Annette Ziegler initially referred to Abrahamson as “the chief,” but later called her justice.

Voters in April gave justices the power to elect the chief justice.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The parent company of Assurant Health says it has reached agreement to sell some business lines and assets to National General Holdings Corp. as it exits the health insurance market.

The Milwaukee-based Assurant Health has struggled financially since the introduction of the federal Affordable Care Act. The company specializes in health insurance for small employers and individuals.

Assurant Inc. said Wednesday it will be completely out of the health insurance market by the end of 2016.

The company says the first phase of layoffs will involve about 300 of its 1,700 Assurant Health employees this summer.

The Affordable Care Act negated one of Assurant Health’s strengths – determining which customers are the best risk. The law bars insurers from turning away customers because of pre-existing health conditions.

The man who abducted a former co-worker outside a Walmart in Mukwonago before she escaped told her she had broken his heart and that the kidnapping was the only way they could be together, court records show.

Twenty-four-year-old Mitchell Owens, of Burlington, was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot Tuesday in a wooded area near Eau Claire. The 21-year-old woman he had abducted escaped the day before when they stopped at a Kwik Trip in Eau Claire.

The victim told investigators she recognized Owens as a former co-worker when he walked up to her Monday about 3 a.m. outside the Walmart and ordered her into his car at gunpoint, according to a criminal complaint filed against Owens in Eau Claire County Tuesday. The woman said Owens told her that he would shoot her if she didn’t get into the vehicle.

The woman said she tried to convince Owens that she would break up with her boyfriend so the two of them could hang out again, court records say, but Owens didn’t believe the woman.

After the woman escaped Monday, Owens led authorities on a high-speed chase east of Eau Claire. He crashed his vehicle in the town of Seymour and took off into the woods on foot.

More than 200 officers and 30 agencies from northwestern Wisconsin were part of the search for Owens, the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram reported. Some residents in the area were evacuated as a precaution.

“We pulled out all the resources for the safety of the community,” Eau Claire County Sheriff Ron Cramer said. “Had (Owens) gotten out of the area, we don’t know what he would have done.”

GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Police Department Dive Team returned Wednesday to the area where 39-year-old Krystal Torres-Smith was found dead Monday morning.

Torres-Smith was found with multiple gunshot wounds in a car at the Lambeau Cottage parking lot at UW-Green Bay.

Divers could be seen in the water near the lot both Tuesday and Wednesday.

Green Bay police said Tuesday that investigators were still following all possible leads, and no arrests had been made.

Funeral arrangements have been made. The Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory in De Pere confirmed that it’s assisting the Torres-Smith family.

Investigators say based on the information they have they do not think the Green Bay woman’s death was random. The department says it will continue to search for more information and the public is not in any danger.

If you have any information regarding this incident, contact the Green Bay Police department at 920-448-3200. If you’d like to remain anonymous, you can call 920-432-7867.

On another day of turmoil for FIFA and the World Cup, the bidding contest for the 2026 tournament was put on hold.

FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke said Wednesday it would be “nonsense” to begin the next bidding process on schedule this week amid the American investigation into soccer corruption.

Valcke, speaking at a news conference in Russia hosted by organizers of the 2018 tournament, also defended his role in a $10 million bribery scandal linked to the 2010 World Cup.

“I will answer all the questions. I have nothing to hide,” Valcke said.

The storm unleashed by separate U.S. and Swiss federal investigations has already further sullied FIFA’s image and led to the resignation of its president, Sepp Blatter.

The favorite to succeed Blatter, former protege turned adversary Michel Platini, criticized soccer’s governing body later Wednesday while also welcoming a delay in 2026 business.

“Today there is no leadership at FIFA so it’s normal that it’s been suspended,” the UEFA president and former France great said at a news conference in Paris.

The United States is among the expected contenders in the May 2017 vote.

FIFA also said Wednesday its executive committee will meet to choose an election date in a special session next month – possibly July 24 in St. Petersburg, where Swiss and American investigators won’t get the chance to ask questions. The 209 FIFA member federations will vote for a new president four months after a deadline set for would-be candidates to apply.

Blatter’s prolonged departure is “not doing himself and the whole of football a favor,” said Wolfgang Niersbach of Germany, who is on the executive committee.

FIFA has been in crisis since the U.S. Department of Justice indicted 14 people on corruption charges ahead of Blatter’s re-election at the FIFA congress two weeks ago. Seven of them were arrested in Zurich and face extradition.

One of the seven has appealed for bail, but Swiss authorities did not identify which one. The Federal Criminal Court will rule on whether he will remain in custody, authorities said Wednesday in a statement.

Although Blatter was not named in a 164-page indictment – which alleged $150 million in bribes linked mostly to non-FIFA tournaments in North and South America – officials familiar with the case have said he is a target.

Valcke, however, has been scrutinized for his direct links to payments totaling $10 million from FIFA accounts which the U.S. Department of Justice says were bribes to FIFA executive committee members to vote for South Africa as 2010 World Cup host.

In an impassioned voice Wednesday, Valcke repeated previous FIFA statements on his behalf: That he merely signed off on money transfers agreed to by South African officials from their World Cup funds, and authorized by the then-chairman of the FIFA finance panel, Julio Grondona of Argentina, who died last year.

“I’m signing all the contracts of FIFA,” said Valcke, who began his job several months before the money transfers in early 2008 to accounts controlled by disgraced former FIFA vice president Jack Warner.

Valcke insisted that the alleged bribe money did not belong to FIFA and questioned why he was targeted by international media.

“You have decided that after Blatter, my head is to be cut. Fine,” said the former television journalist from France. “But don’t say it is because of this $10 million.”

Valcke and Russian sports minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also a FIFA executive committee member, repeated that the 2018 hosting victory was won clean.

The Swiss attorney general’s office is using a report by former FIFA ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia. His investigation team was denied key evidence because Russian bid officials did not provide an archive of emails, and also used computers which were leased and later destroyed.

Both Russia and Qatar, which was awarded the 2022 World Cup, risk losing their hosting rights if evidence of wrongdoing emerges.

DICKINSON COUNTY- Some areas had severe storms overnight.

The main damage was in Dickinson County, in Upper Michigan.

We spoke with officials with the Dickinson County Parks Department, they tell us they have a lot of trees down in the Lake Antoine Park area, which is in the Iron Mountain.

No one was injured.

We talked with the National Weather Service in Upper Michigan, they tell us the damage was very localized to the Lake Antoine area.

Suamico – We visited with Neil Anderson and the animals at the NEW Zoo this morning.

Neil talked to us about a couple new additions to the zoo: a baby lynx and a fawn.

Click on the video above for more on the young ones.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Strong opinions were expressed at a public hearing over the Milwaukee County executive’s plan to sell 10 acres adjacent to a proposed new Bucks’ arena to the team’s majority owners for $1.

A county appraisal says the downtown land is worth nearly $9 million.

County Executive Chris Abele wants to sell the vacant land to a development group led by the Bucks’ owners. The hearing Tuesday evening packed a hall at the War Memorial Center. Supporters say the sale will create jobs, property tax revenue and attract people downtown. The team’s owners have plans to build a practice facility, commercial and residential building and retail space on the land.

Opponents say the $1 sale amounts to another “giveaway for out-of-state billionaires.”

The Journal Sentinel reports the land sale requires county board approval.

STEVENS POINT (AP) – A man accused of selling heroin to a University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student who died of an overdose has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison.

Twenty-eight-year-old Erik Olsen, of Hancock, earlier pleaded no contest to second-degree reckless homicide in the death of Jordan Peterson. The 21-year-old student from Markesan died in November of 2013. He was a senior biology student at UW-Stevens Point.

Prosecutors recommended five years in prison for Olsen, who accepted responsibility for his actions and had no criminal background. Stevens Point Journal Media says Olsen faced up to 25 years in prison.

Cormier Road under Interstate 41 closes at 7 p.m. Wednesday.

It will be closed to pedestrians and vehicles through Saturday.

Then it will be closed to just vehicles until July 3.

Crews will be demolishing the old I-41 overpass and building a new one.

LAKE HALLIE, Wis. (AP) – A northwestern Wisconsin woman faces a charge of ninth-offense drunken driving after authorities say she was found unresponsive with her foot on the brake of an SUV with two little girls in back.

A criminal complaint says 44-year-old Lisa Marie Badciong of Chippewa Falls was found in her SUV June 2 outside a fast-food restaurant in Lake Hallie. The complaint says a Chippewa Fire District member reached in to put the vehicle in park and shut off the engine.

According to the complaint, Badciong couldn’t speak or stand, and a half-empty bottle of vodka was found on the passenger seat.

Court records say Badciong has posted an $800 cash bond, and made an initial court appearance Tuesday.

A message seeking comment was sent to an attorney listed as representing Badciong.

GREEN BAY – The Farmers Market on Broadway is ready for another week!

FOX 11’s Emily Deem spent Wednesday morning with vendors to see what you can find at the market.

This is every Wednesday, June through October.

The market opens at 3:00 p.m.

Click here for more information.

IRON MOUNTAIN- The National Weather Service in Upper Michigan tell us they have received several reports of trees down in Dickinson County.

The area mainly affected is in the northern part of Iron Mountain, in the Lake Antoine area.

We Energies is reporting some outages in the area.

We will continue to follow this story and share updates as we learn them.

We Energies is reporting multiple outages Wednesday morning.

Strong storms rolled through some areas overnight.

We Energies is reporting multiple outages in Dickinson County, Michigan.

The utility tells us many of their customers say the storm knocked over trees.

Crews are working to restore power.

We’ll continue to follow this story.

MILWAUKEE- Milwaukee police are investigating a shooting that injured a 14-year-old boy.

It happened around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The boy suffered minor injuries.

Police say shots were fired from a vehicle.

No one is in custody.

Ingredients:

1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1 ripe mango, peeled and diced
1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
1/4 cup red bell pepper, diced
1 jalapeno, finely diced (optional)
Juice of 1 small lime
Pinch of salt to taste
2 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro

Directions:

After rinsing and draining the beans in a colander, pour into a large mixing bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well blended. Refrigerate for at least an 1-2 hours before serving. Serve with tortilla chips.

PITTSBURGH (AP) – Taylor Jungmann expected the nerves. It’s the part where they disappeared the second he stepped onto a major league mound for the first time that surprised him.

His funky delivery baffling the Pittsburgh Pirates for seven strong innings, the Milwaukee Brewers rookie breezed to his first win in the big leagues in a 4-1 victory on Tuesday night.

Called up earlier in the day, the 2011 first-round pick looked every bit the contributor the Brewers expected when they took him with the 12th overall pick four years ago. Jungmann gave up one run on three hits, striking out five against just one walk. Heady stuff for a guy who was just 2-3 with a 6.37 ERA in Triple-A this spring.

“That’s as good as it gets,” Milwaukee manager Craig Counsell said. “He just did a real nice job. The most impressive thing is he pounded the strike zone. He really did a good job in the strike zone, getting his fastball in the strike zone.”

The way Jungmann did it helped, too. The towering 6-foot-6 right-hander throws the ball across his chest. It can give the impression that he’s throwing it right at you instead of over the plate. The Pirates certainly looked baffled as they dropped their second straight.

“You have to give him credit,” Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer said. “He was keeping us off-balance with his curveball and missing barrels. We hit a few balls hard off him, but nothing to show for it.”

Starling Marte’s 12th home run in the second was the only mistake by Jungmann. The 25-year-old admitted he might have been a little “overanxious” while warming up in the bullpen, but he appeared firmly in control as last-place Milwaukee sapped whatever momentum remained from a 13-3 surge by the Pirates that provided their season with a needed jolt.

The Brewers shut out Pittsburgh 2-0 behind Jimmy Nelson on Monday and Jungmann was nearly as sharp 24 hours later. His first major league strikeout was a pretty fastball on the inside corner to Andrew McCutchen to end the bottom of the first, and Jungmann kept right on going. Save for a brief stretch in the second when he gave up a solo homer to Marte, a double to Pedro Alvarez and hit Francisco Cervelli with a pitch – Jungmann had little trouble keeping the Pirates in check. He threw 61 of his 92 pitches for strikes.

“They were aggressive at the plate, which helped me out,” Jungmann said. “It just made me want to throw more strikes and stay in the zone.”

Jason Rogers and Aramis Ramirez each hit solo homers and drove in two runs for Milwaukee, which has won four of five. Francisco Rodriguez worked a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

Francisco Liriano (3-5) was nearly as crisp save for an 0-2 breaking ball that Rogers tucked into the first row of seats in left for a home run in the second and a quick strike by the Brewers in the seventh. Ryan Braun led off with a walk and went to third on a single up the middle by Carlos Gomez. Braun scored on a chopper back to the mound by Ramirez and Rogers singled to center to make it 3-1.

Liriano ended up working eight innings, giving up three runs on five hits.

DRAFT DAYS

The Pirates went pitching heavy in the second day of the amateur draft, taking six collegiate pitchers in rounds 3-10, including RHPs Jacob Taylor (Pearl River Community College), JT Brubaker (Akron), Seth McGarry (Florida Atlantic), Brett Helton (Utah), Logan Sendelbach (Tiffin) and LHP Brandon Waddell (Virginia). Infielder Mitchell Tolman (Oregon) and OF Casey Hughston (Alabama) were the only position players taken by Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Helton’s father Barry spent four years as a punter in the NFL, winning a pair of Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers in 1989 and 1990.

Milwaukee took a younger approach to the second day of the draft. The Brewers grabbed three high schools on Tuesday: RHPs Nash Walter (Lindale, Texas) and Karsen Lindell (West Linn, Oregon) and OF Demi Orimoyle (St. Matthews HS, Ontario, Canada). Milwaukee also selected collegiate players SS Blake Allemand (Texas A&M), RHP Eric Hanhold (Florida), 3B George Iskenderian (Miami), RHP Nate Griep (Kansas State) and LHP Jake Drossner (Maryland).

UP NEXT

The series wraps up on Wednesday when Kyle Lohse (3-6, 6.59) faces Charlie Morton (3-0, 2.84). Lohse is 11-5 with a 4.02 ERA in 25 games against the Pirates but is 0-2 versus Pittsburgh this season. McCutchen is a career .311 hitter against Lohse, with three homers and 11 RBI. Morton is unbeaten since coming off the disabled list last month following hip surgery. He went 0-2 against Milwaukee last season, with both defeats coming when Lohse started for the Brewers.