Green Bay News

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) – The parents of Michael Brown filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Thursday against the city of Ferguson over the fatal shooting of their son by a white police officer, a confrontation that sparked a national protest movement.

Attorneys for Brown’s parents, Lesley McSpadden and Michael Brown Sr., filed the complaint at the St. Louis County Courthouse and called a news conference to announce the case, which had been expected for months.

Messages seeking comment from Ferguson Mayor James Knowles III, city spokesman Jeff Small and an attorney for Darren Wilson, the officer who shot Brown, were not immediately returned.

Brown, 18, was unarmed and walking in the street with a friend on Aug. 9 when Wilson told them to move to the sidewalk. That led to a heated confrontation and a scuffle between Wilson and Brown inside Wilson’s squad car.

Wilson shot Brown after the scuffle spilled into the street. Some witnesses said Brown was trying to surrender, but Wilson said Brown was moving toward him aggressively, forcing him to shoot.

Brown’s shooting led to sometimes-violent protests and spawned a national “Black Lives Matter” movement calling for changes in how police deal with minorities. In the end, local and federal authorities ruled that the shooting was justified.

A St. Louis County grand jury and the U.S. Justice Department declined to prosecute Wilson, who resigned in November. But the Justice Department released a scathing report citing racial bias and profiling in the Ferguson Police Department and a profit-driven municipal court system that frequently targets black residents.

Several city officials resigned following the review, including the city manager, police chief and municipal judge. The municipal court clerk was fired for racist emails.

Civil cases generally require a lower standard of proof than criminal cases. Jurors must find a preponderance of evidence, not proof beyond a reasonable doubt needed to convict in a criminal trial.

Two decades ago, football star O.J. Simpson was acquitted of the killings of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. But a civil jury awarded the Brown and Goldman families $33.5 million in wrongful-death damages.

The family of Amadou Diallo, an unarmed man killed by police in 1999, settled with New York City for $3 million in 2004 after filing a $60 million lawsuit. The city did not admit any wrongdoing. The settlement came after four officers indicted in his shooting were acquitted of second-degree murder and reckless endangerment.

Wrongful-death lawsuits have been filed in other recent high-profile cases, too.

In New York, the family of Eric Garner is seeking $75 million in damages. Garner, who was black and had asthma, died in July after a white plainclothes officer applied what a medical examiner determined was a chokehold after Garner was accused of selling loose, untaxed cigarettes on a city street.

WASHINGTON (AP) — An American and an Italian held hostage by al-Qaida, as well as two Americans working with the terror group, were inadvertently killed by CIA drone strikes early this year, the government revealed Thursday.

President Barack Obama said he took full responsibility for the counterterror missions and offered his “grief and condolences” to the families of the hostages, Warren Weinstein of Rockville, Maryland, and Giovanni Lo Porto.

Watch video of the full speech above.

Here is a statement released by White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest:

“It is with tremendous sorrow that we recently concluded that a U.S. Government counterterrorism operation in January killed two innocent hostages held by al-Qa’ida. Our hearts go out to the families of Dr. Warren Weinstein, an American held by al-Qa’ida since 2011, and Giovanni Lo Porto, an Italian national who had been an al-Qa’ida hostage since 2012. Analysis of all available information has led the Intelligence Community to judge with high confidence that the operation accidentally killed both hostages. The operation targeted an al-Qa’ida-associated compound, where we had no reason to believe either hostage was present, located in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan. No words can fully express our regret over this terrible tragedy.

“We also believe two other Americans were recently killed in U.S. Government counterterrorism operations in the same region. We have concluded that Ahmed Farouq, an American who was an al-Qa’ida leader, was killed in the same operation that resulted in the deaths of Dr. Weinstein and Mr. Lo Porto. We have also concluded that Adam Gadahn, an American who became a prominent member of al-Qa’ida, was killed in January, likely in a separate U.S. Government counterterrorism operation. While both Farouq and Gadahn were al-Qa’ida members, neither was specifically targeted, and we did not have information indicating their presence at the sites of these operations.

“The President directed that the information being shared today, which was properly classified until now, be declassified and shared with the American people. He takes full responsibility for these operations and believes it is important to provide the American people with as much information as possible about our counterterrorism operations, particularly when they take the lives of fellow citizens. The uniquely tragic nature of the operation that resulted in the deaths of two innocent hostages is something we will do our utmost to ensure is not repeated. To this end, although the operation was lawful and conducted consistent with our counterterrorism policies, we are conducting a thorough independent review to understand fully what happened and how we can prevent this type of tragic incident in the future.

“Many within our government spent years attempting to locate and free Dr. Weinstein and Mr. Lo Porto. The pain of their deaths will remain with us as we rededicate ourselves to adhering to the most exacting standards in doing all we can to protect the American people.”

WASHINGTON (AP) – A 73-year-old American hostage killed by a CIA drone strike in Pakistan was an international development worker whose family described him as passionate about helping people out of poverty.

President Barack Obama announced Thursday that Warren Weinstein was killed in January, when the U.S. targeted an al-Qaida compound where Weinstein was held hostage. Weinstein’s family was notified of his death Wednesday.

In a statement Thursday, Weinstein’s wife, Elaine Weinstein, said the family is devastated.

“We were so hopeful that those in the U.S. and Pakistani governments with the power to take action and secure his release would have done everything possible to do so, and there are no words to do justice to the disappointment and heartbreak we are going through,” Elaine Weinstein said.

“But those who took Warren captive over three years ago bear ultimate responsibility. I can assure you that he would still be alive and well if they had allowed him to return home after his time abroad working to help the people of Pakistan.”

Warren Weinstein, of Rockville, Maryland, was a business development expert working in Pakistan on a contract with the U.S. Agency for International Development. He lived in Pakistan from 2004 until he was kidnapped in 2011. He was abducted four days before the end of his seven-year assignment.

Weinstein was “focused on helping Pakistani families escape poverty and have a better life for their children,” Obama said at the White House. He was working as the country director in Pakistan for J.E. Austin Associates, an Arlington, Virginia-based firm advising Pakistani businesses and government.

While working in the country, Weinstein wore traditional Pakistani garments and spoke Urdu.

Elaine Weinstein blamed the Pakistani government for not doing more to help.

“Warren’s safe return should have been a priority for them, based on his contributions to their country, but they failed to take action earlier in his captivity when opportunity presented itself, instead treating Warren’s captivity as more of an annoyance than a priority,” she said. “I hope the nature of our future relationship with Pakistan is reflective of how they prioritize situations such as these.”

Ever since Weinstein was captured, his family held out hope he would return home.

“If I give up hope, I won’t get up in the morning,” his wife told The Associated Press last year. She kept their home tidy but refused to redecorate without her husband there.

Weinstein appeared in a video in late 2013, appealing to Obama to negotiate his release. Weinstein said he felt “totally abandoned and forgotten.” It was impossible to tell whether the statement was scripted by his captors.

“Nine years ago I came to Pakistan to help my government, and I did so at a time when most Americans would not come here, and now when I need my government it seems that I have been totally abandoned and forgotten,” Weinstein said during the 13-minute video. “And so I again appeal to you to instruct your appropriate officials to negotiate my release.”

APPLETON – Officers looking into an apartment break-in discovered suspicious material and are now investigating, according to Appleton Police Lt. Dave Lund.

Police were called to an apartment in the 2600 block of S. Kerry Lane on the city’s south side just after midnight this morning for a disturbance.

A suspect was arrested at the scene, and appeared to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. As police were investigating, the suspicious material was found in the suspect’s apartment.

Appleton police, the county drug unit and state crews are on scene.

No neighbors have been told to evacuate.

FOX 11’s Laura Smith is working on the story and will update it throughout the day.

MADISON (AP) – Republicans in control of the state Assembly say they will pass a bill next month that ensures results from the Badger Exam being taken by grade school students this spring will not be used against teachers or schools.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and other Republicans said Thursday they will pass a bill similar to the one that already cleared the Senate that puts off publishing report cards for schools with results from the tests.

The scores would also not be used as part of teacher evaluations.

The scores would still be reported to comply with federal law, and parents could see how their children and schools fared.

The Badger Exam has been beset with numerous implementation problems and Gov. Scott Walker is calling for it to be replaced next year.

BARABOO (AP) – A fugitive who was the target of numerous manhunts around Wisconsin has been arrested at a casino.

Sauk County Sheriff Chip Meister says the 39-year-old man was found at the Ho-Chunk Casino near Baraboo late Tuesday night. He’s wanted in numerous jurisdictions on charges of burglary and vehicle theft.

Authorities in Wood, Chippewa and Jackson counties have searched for him since last summer. At one point, he led law enforcement in Chippewa County on a high-speed chase, but escaped.

Juicy Lucy Burger:

2 4 oz beef patties
Wisconsin sharp cheddar
Barley bun
Lettuce, tomato for topping

stuff desired amount of cheese in between the two patties and create a seal. Cook burger until done and serve on bun with lettuce and tomato.

Drunken Brewer Burger:

8 oz all beef patty, cooked
Beer bread
Leo Frigo Dip (beer cheese dip recipe below)
French’s fried onion
Bacon

Leo Frigo Dip:

1 lb cream cheese
1/2 cup shredded cheddar
1/3 cup Titletown Johny Blood Red beer
1 packet dry ranch seasoning

Heat ingredients in pot until melted together.

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama said Thursday he takes “full responsibility” for a U.S. counterterrorism mission that inadvertently killed an American and an Italian held hostage by al-Qaida. He defended the legality of the January drone strike against an al-Qaida compound and said there had been no information suggesting the hostages were at that location.

“Based on the intelligence that we had obtained at the time, including hundreds of hours of surveillance, we believed that this was an al-Qaida compound, that no civilians were present and that capturing these terrorists was not possible,” Obama said in remarks from the White House. “And we do believe that the operation did take out dangerous members of al-Qaida.”

Among the al-Qaida operatives believed killed in the strike was American Ahmed Farouq, who the White House says was an al-Qaida leader. U.S. officials have also concluded that Adam Gadahn, an American who had served as a spokesman for the terror network, was killed in a separate operation in January.

The president made no mention of Farouq and Gadahn. Instead, he focused his remarks on American Warren Weinstein, who had been held by al-Qaida since 2011, and Italian Giovanni Lo Porto, who had been held since 2012.

Obama expressed regret for the deaths of the two men and offered his “grief and condolences” to their families.

“I realize there are no words that can ever equal their loss,” he said.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – One of the couples at the forefront of efforts to overturn Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban is fighting a new legal battle.

The Milwaukee area parents want both of their names on their daughter’s birth certificate. Kami Young gave birth to the couple’s child, Olyvia, last year after getting pregnant with donated sperm. Young’s name is on the birth certificate, but not the name of her partner, Karina Willes.

Young tells WISN-TV the matter is simple. She and Willes got married and had a child, so Willes should be on the birth certificate.

The American Civil Liberties Union has taken the matter to a federal judge on behalf of the couple.

MADISON (AP) – Authorities have launched a homicide investigation into the death of a 76-year-old Madison man.

Madison police say the man was found dead inside his apartment Saturday morning after neighbors noticed several newspapers outside.

The Wisconsin State Journal reports suspicious circumstances surrounding the death have prompted police to investigate it as a homicide.

Lt. Kelly Donahue says detectives believe the man was specifically targeted. But she says there isn’t a threat to the public.

The cause of the man’s death has not been released.

OCONTO – An Oconto Falls woman charged in connection with a fatal heroin overdose case pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

No trial date has been set for Tiffany Gerrits, according to online court records. She returns to court July 8.

She is suspected in the death of Donald J. Hudson, who was 21 when he died last Aug. 29 at his home. Investigators say an autopsy showed he died of a heroin overdose.

Gerrits is charged with first-degree reckless homicide by delivering drugs, manufacturing or delivering heroin and possession of heroin with the intent to deliver.

GREEN BAY – It WILL get warmer.  And it WILL be a great weekend to fire up the grill!  Chef Josh Swanson from Waseda  Farms Market came up with two great ideas for us: tenderloin kebabs and a special sauce for brats.

MISO MARINATED TENDERLOIN KEBABS
Serves 4

Ingredients:

2# Grass-fed Beef Tenderloin
8 ounces Button Mushrooms
1 large Red Onion
1 tbsp Red Miso
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Tamari
½ tsp Sherry vinegar
1 tbsp Honey
½ tsp Sesame oil
½ cup Sunflower oil
1 clove of minced Garlic
8 10 inch skewers

Preparation:

For the Marinade combine Miso, Mustard, Tamari, Sesame oil, Sherry vinegar, Honey and Garlic in a bowl mix well.  Slowly add Sunflower oil to bowl while mixing with a whisk.  Cut Beef Tenderloin into approximately one inch cubes.  Combine Tenderloin and half of the marinade in a large zip locked bag, refrigerate for one to two hours.  Soak skewers in water for at least 20 minutes.  Clean mushrooms, trim stems and cut in half.  Peel onion then cut into quarters.  Combine mushrooms and onions with reserved half of the marinade.  Thread a mushroom then a piece of onion then a piece of beef onto skewer repeat until skewer is mostly full leaving some room on both ends.  Grill Kabob over medium high heat turning frequently until beef is medium rare (about 5 minutes) enjoy!

BEER MUSTARD

Ingredients:

¼ cup Whole Grain Mustard
¼ cup Dijon Mustard
¼ cup Craft Beer
1 tbsp Honey
¼ cup Sunflower oil

Preparation:

Combine mustards, beer and honey in a bowl mix well.  Slowly add sunflower oil to mixture in bowl while whisking.  Serve on Waseda Farms Ham and Swiss Bratwurst.

Waseda Farms Market
330 Reid St.
De Pere, WI 54115

920-632-7271

MENASHA- Celebrate Astronomy Day 2015 at Wisconsin’s First Major Planetarium, the Barlow.

There are special exhibits and shows throughout the day on Saturday, April 25.

Alan Peche, the director of the Barlow Planetarium joined Good Day Wisconsin with a preview.

GREEN BAY – A woman charged in connection with the murder of a Howard contractor has pleaded not guilty.

No trial date has been set for Katie Heller; a status conference is set for June 2. She pleaded not guilty Tuesday, according to online court records.

Heller and Matthew Moore allegedly killed Thomas Wick in 2012 because they did not have the money they owned Wick for a home.

Both five counts, including first-degree intentional homicide and perjury, for allegedly lying under oath about the case.

Moore is scheduled to enter a plea May 4.

Traffic is backed up in the Green Bay area after a semi crash.

The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 41 at Memorial Drive, near Velp Avenue.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation is sharing a couple alternate routes.

Drivers will either need to take the Highway 29 exit or Highway 172, east to Interstate 43, north back to Interstate 41.

We’ll continue to follow this story all morning long.

FOX VALLEY- A woman accused of shooting a co-worker in the Fox Valley will be sentenced Thursday.

The shooting happened in 2013 at the Neenah Wal-mart.

Justine Boyd pleaded no contest in February to attempted murder charges. But during her trial, she argued she should be found not guilty by reason of mental disease.

However, the jury decided Boyd knew her actions were wrong.

The shooting victim was injured, but survived.

DANBURY, Conn. (AP) – A Connecticut nanny accused of beating and burning a 3-year-old girl on a stove has pleaded not guilty to charges of assault, risk of injury to a child, and criminal mischief.

Lidia Quilligana was arrested on March 20 after police say she was caught on a hidden camera force-feeding the child, physically abusing her, and pressing her hands and leg to a stove burner.

Police say the Danbury nanny told the victim’s mother the girl was injured when she pulled a chair up to the stove, touched the burner and then fell and hit her head on a stove knob.

The 31-year-old Quilligana, originally from Ecuador, was the full-time baby sitter for the girl and her two younger siblings.

She is due back in court May 27.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A jury has ruled a former Wisconsin sheriff’s deputy with Lou Gehrig’s disease was not legally responsible for killing his wife and sister-in-law.

Forty-year-old Andrew Steele pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease to two counts of first-degree intentional homicide in the Aug. 22 shooting deaths of his 39-year-old wife, Ashlee Steele, and her sister, 38-year-old Kacee Tollefsbol of Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

Defense attorneys argued that ALS damaged Steele’s brain, making him not criminally responsible for the deaths. Prosecutors believed Steele planned the killings.

After an eight-day trial, the 12-member jury deliberated for about 10 hours until all but two of them reached the verdict early Thursday.

Steele will remain in the Rock County Jail until a disposition hearing is held.

GRAND CHUTE – There is a new restaurant in the Fox Valley!

FOX 11’s Emily Deem spent Thursday morning at Parma to see what the place has to off.

Parma is an Italian Kitchen and Tap House — serving farm to table Italian food!

Click here to learn more about Parma.

GREEN BAY- Warmer weather is moving into the region.

We’ll see sunshine Thursday morning with a mix of sun and clouds in the afternoon.

The high will be 49 degrees.

Winds will be out of the northwest at 10-15 mph.