Green Bay News

GREEN LAKE COUNTY – A man was arrested on suspicion of his fifth OWI offense afetr he told police he had used heroin 10 minutes earlier.

Green Lake County sheriff’s officials say they heard from neighboring Fond du Lac County that a man was seen inside a vehicle, passed out, with a needle in his arm. Before authorities could get to him, he woke up and drove into Green Lake County. He was found at a home, where he was arrested.

The 27-year-old, who lives in Fond du Lac County, was taken to the hospital for treatment, then to the Green Lake County Jail. Besides the OWI charge, sheriff’s officials are also recommending charges of operating after revocation. He is also being held on a probation violation.

The man has not been formally charged.

MADISON (AP) – The Legislature’s finance committee has approved a plan that would tie a greater portion of technical colleges’ state aid to performance.

Currently 90 percent of state aid is distributed to the colleges based on property values. Ten percent is distributed based on performance in multiple areas, including placing students in jobs related to their fields and degrees awarded in high-demand fields.

Gov. Scott Walker’s budget calls for basing 40 percent of state aid on performance beginning in 2017, 50 percent in 2018 and 100 percent in 2019. The finance committee voted unanimously Friday to tie 30 percent of state aid to performance beginning in 2017 and holding at that rate annually.

GREEN BAY – An annual meeting held Friday by the Port of Green Bay included an update on the Fox River Cleanup Project.

The project got underway late last month for a seventh season. The eight-year, $1 billion project is removing harmful PCBs from a 13-mile stretch of the Fox River.

Richard Feeny – an engineer with Tetra Tech, the company handling the cleanup – says work is on schedule.

The Port of Green Bay held its annual Port Symposium at the Titletown Tap Room in Green Bay, April 17, 2015. (WLUK/Andrew LaCombe)

The project has moved north this year toward downtown Green Bay, which is a busier section of the river. Feeney says that brings extra concerns about safety.

He says they’ve communicated with area shipping companies and recreational boaters in an effort to keep everyone safe on the water.

FOX 11’s Andrew LaCombe will have a complete story tonight on FOX 11 News at Five.

BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraqi officials said Friday they believe that government forces killed Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the former deputy of Saddam Hussein who for over a decade was the top fugitive from the ousted regime and became an underground figure involved in Sunni insurgencies, most recently allying with Islamic State militants.

It was not the first time Iraqi officials have claimed to have killed or captured al-Douri, who was the “king of clubs” in the deck of playing cards issued to help American troops identify key regime fugitives after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion ousted Saddam. DNA tests were underway to confirm whether a body recovered from fighting around the city of Tikrit was al-Douri’s.

Reports of al-Douri’s death came as Iraqi forces are trying to push back Islamic State group fighters in Salahuddin province, where Tikrit is located. Government troops took back several towns near the country’s largest oil refinery at Beiji in the province, officials said.

Further north, a large car bomb exploded Friday afternoon next to the U.S. Consulate in the northern Iraqi city of Irbil, a rare attack in the capital of the Kurdish autonomy zone. An Associated Press reporter at the scene said the powerful blast went off outside a cafe next to the building, setting several nearby cars on fire.

There was no immediate word on casualties. A U.S. official said no consulate personnel or guards were killed or injured in Friday’s blast. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk to the press.

The governor of Salahuddin province, Raed al-Jabouri, told the AP that al-Douri was killed by Iraqi troops and Shiite militiamen in an operation in the Talal Hamreen mountains east of Tikrit, Saddam’s hometown, which was retaken from the Islamic State group earlier this month.

Troops opened fire at a convoy carrying al-Douri and nine bodyguards, killing all of them, according to Gen. Haider al-Basri, a senior Iraqi commander speaking to state TV.

The government issues several photos showing a body purported to be al-Douri. The body had a bright red beard, perhaps dyed, and a gingerlilgh-colored moustache. Al-Douri was a fair-skinned redhead with a ginger moustache, making him distinctive among Saddam’s inner circle.

DNA tests were underway to confirm the identity of the body, Iraqi intelligence officials told The AP, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. In 2013, the Iraqi government said it arrested al-Douri, circulating a photo of a bearded man who resembled the former Baathist. It later said it was a case of mistaken identity.

Col. Pat Ryder, spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said the U.S. has no information to corroborate the reported death of al-Douri.

Al-Douri was officially the No. 2 man in Iraq’s ruling hierarchy. He served as vice chairman of Saddam’s Revolutionary Command Council, was one of Saddam’s few longtime confidants and his daughter was married briefly to Saddam’s son, Odai, who was killed with his brother, Qusai, by U.S. troops in Mosul.

When Saddam’s Baathist regime collapsed as U.S. troops occupied Baghdad, al-Douri disappeared. He was No. 6 on the most-wanted list of 55 Iraqis after the invasion. When Saddam was killed months later and more regime figures were caught, al-Douri became the most prominent fugitive – and U.S. authorities soon linked him to the Sunni insurgencies that erupted against the American occupation and the Shiite-led government that replaced Saddam.

Early in the war, U.S. authorities linked al-Douri to Ansar al-Islam, a militant group with ties to al-Qaida, and he was accused of being a major financier of the insurgency. Sunni former officers from Saddam’s military and police were believed to have played large roles in the insurgency, whether with al-Qaida or other factions.

Al-Douri emerged as a leader of the shadowy Army of the Men of the Naqshabandi Order. The group depicts itself as a nationalist force defending Iraq’s Sunni minority from Shiite rule and as an alternative to the extremist version of Islam championed by al-Qaida. But last year, when the Islamic State group – the successor to al-Qaida’s branch in Iraq – launched a blitz across much of western and northern Iraq, al-Douri, the Naqshabandi Army and other former Saddam-era officers reportedly entered a shaky alliance with it.

When Tikrit was overrun by the Sunni militant group last June, witnesses said fighters raised posters of Saddam and al-Douri. Fighters loyal to his Naqshabandi Army as well as former members of Saddam’s Baath Party were the main militant force in Tikrit at the time of its capture, local residents told The AP at the time. Still, the Naqshabandi Army criticized IS atrocities, including the persecution of religious minorities and the burning of a Jordanian coalition pilot in Syria.

Iraqi security forces recaptured al-Douri’s hometown of Dawr in March as part of its large-scale offensive to retake Tikrit. Government forces seized control of Tikrit on April 1.

Meanwhile, north of Tikrit, Iraqi security forces gained full control over a contested area south of the Beiji refinery Friday as part of their push to secure the rest of Salahuddin province.

General Ayad al-Lahabi, a commander with the Salahuddin Command Center, said the military, backed by coalition airstrikes and Shiite and Sunni militias dubbed the Popular Mobilization Forces, gained control of the towns of al-Malha and al-Mazraah, located 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) south of the Beiji oil refinery, killing at least 160 militants with the Islamic State group.

Al-Lahabi said security forces are trying to secure two corridors around the refinery itself after the Sunni militants launched a large-scale attack on the complex earlier this week, hitting the refinery walls with explosive-laced Humvees.

Extremists from the Islamic State group seized much of Salahuddin province last summer during their advance across northern and western Iraq. The battle for Tikrit was seen as a key step toward eventually driving the militants out of Mosul, Iraq’s second-largest city and the capital of Nineveh province. In November, Iraqi security forces said they had recaptured the town of Beiji from the militant group. The refinery had never been captured by the militants but has been subjected to frequent attacks by the group.

In Iraq’s western Anbar province, Iraqi special forces maintained control of the provincial capital, Ramadi, after days of intense clashes with the Islamic State group left the city at risk. Sabah Nuaman, a special forces commander in Anbar, said the situation had improved early Friday after airstrikes hit key militant targets on the city’s fringes.

Sabah al-Karhout, head of Anbar’s provincial council, said there were no major attacks on the city Friday but that the militants still maintained control of three villages to the east of Ramadi, which they captured Wednesday, sending thousands of civilians fleeing for safety.

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Associated Press writer Sameer N. Yacoub contributed to this report from Baghdad.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota’s Great Umlaut Crisis is over — and without Gov. Mark Dayton having to use his paint and brushes.

At Dayton’s order, road crews on Thursday restored the two small dots above the ‘o’ in Lindström on two highway signs on the edge of the central Minnesota city.

He got involved Wednesday when he issued an executive order directing the Minnesota Department of Transportation to change the signage.

People in the city, nicknamed “America’s Little Sweden,” had complained when highway signs without umlauts were put up two years ago to suit federal guidance.

The umlauts had appeared on earlier signs erected for a centennial celebration in a gesture of respect for the visiting Swedish king and queen, said city administrator John Olinger.

Prior appeals were denied. Then Dayton chimed in.

Dayton, who has German heritage, offered to paint a new set of accent marks on the signs himself. But transportation department spokesman Kevin Gutknecht said the simple fix was made, for less than $65, before it came to that.

Olinger was elated by the fix and flattered by the international attention the umlaut scandal has generated for his town.

“Maybe it says something that heritage is important,” he said, “even though we are a melting pot.”

Dayton said a governor has to be responsive to even the smallest of concerns.

“I’ll take a drive by Lindström sometime soon,” Dayton said.

MADISON (AP) – Two people have been taken to the hospital after suffering apparent carbon monoxide poisoning at the Midwest Horse Fair in Madison.

First responders were called to the fair at the Alliant Energy Center about 10 a.m. Friday. Authorities say a generator in a camper is the likely source of the carbon monoxide that sickened the two.

Midwest Horse Fair spokesman Paul Nemec tells WISC-TV that one of the vendors noticed some horses weren’t being cared for and alerted authorities who checked the owners’ camper.

TOMAH (AP) – A veterans’ medical center in Tomah is eliminating overnight hours for its urgent care clinic amid staffing shortages.

Tomah clinic spokeswoman Charity Anderson tells the La Crosse Tribune that the reduction in hours is due to the recent departure of three nurses. The clinic is currently under federal investigation for overprescribing narcotics, and Anderson says she isn’t sure if that has impacted staff recruitment.

Initial findings by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs said Tomah patients were more likely to receive high doses of narcotics than patients at other VA facilities, and that employees who spoke out feared retribution.

The facility says new hours take effect April 27 and will likely last three months. Veterans with after-hours emergencies are told to call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.

HORTONVILLE – The current municipal judge has been appointed to that stay in that position in an interim basis after the candidate who won the post earlier this month decided to take a spot on the Village Board instead.

Peter Olk won two positions on April 7 – one seat on the village board and the municipal judge job. But he could only serve in one office, and chose the board.

This week, the board appointed Judge Norbert Dallman to fill the position until a special election can be held April 5, 2016, according to Clerk-Treasurer Lynne Mischker.

Dallman, who has been the judge for 14 years, didn’t run for election. His term would have ended April 30, but will be extended for another year.

The winner of the 2016 election will fill the job for the term’s remaining three years. Mischker said.

BOSTON (AP) — The parents of the youngest victim of the Boston Marathon bombing are urging federal authorities to consider taking the death penalty off the table for the man convicted in the case.

Bill and Denise Richard, whose 8-year-old son, Martin, was one of three people killed by the April 2013 explosions at the marathon’s finish line, say in a front-page piece in Friday’s Boston Globe that sentencing Dzhokhar Tsarnaev to death “could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives.”

“We are in favor of and would support the Department of Justice in taking the death penalty off the table in exchange for the defendant spending the rest of his life in prison without any possibility of release and waiving all of his rights to appeal,” they wrote.

The Richards’ daughter, Jane, lost a leg in one of the explosions, and they both suffered injuries.

“We understand all too well the heinousness and brutality of the crimes committed. We were there. We lived it. The defendant murdered our 8-year-old son, maimed our 7-year-old daughter, and stole part of our soul. We know that the government has its reasons for seeking the death penalty, but the continued pursuit of that punishment could bring years of appeals and prolong reliving the most painful day of our lives,” they said.

They wrote that when Tsarnaev fades from the media spotlight and public view they can start “rebuilding our lives and family.”

The Richards never mention Tsarnaev by name, simply calling him “the defendant,” and stressed that they are speaking only for themselves.

• Click here to read the full essay

U.S. Attorney for Boston Carmen Ortiz says she is aware of the Richards’ view but cannot comment on the specifics.

“But as I have previously assured both Bill and Denise, I care deeply about their views and the views of the other victims and survivors,” Ortiz said.

Jennifer Lemmerman, the sister of Massachusetts Institute of Technology police officer Sean Collier who was killed by Tsarnaev and his older brother days after the explosions, has also spoken out against the death penalty on her Facebook page, in posts that have since been removed.

Relatives of other victims have expressed support of the death penalty.

When it announced its decision to seek the death penalty, the Justice Department cited the killing of a police officer, the death of a child and the choice of the Boston Marathon as a target because its huge crowds provided an opportunity for maximum bloodshed.

Robert Blecker, a New York Law School professor and death penalty expert, said it’s highly doubtful the statement by the Richards will sway the Justice Department.

“Victims and the survivors play a role — they should have a voice — but the reason they don’t get a veto and shouldn’t get a veto is because often there are larger interests at stake,” said Blecker, who said he supports the death penalty for Tsarnaev.

“The question here is one of terrorism and partly a statement of denunciation of terrorism because that is one of the purposes of the death penalty,” he said.

The penalty phase of Tsarnaev’s trial starts Tuesday, the day after this year’s marathon.

The annual sturgeon spawning run was in full swing April 17, 2015, at Bamboo Bend in Shiocton.

WAUPACA – A 37-year-old man was arrested after an overnight motorcycle crash.

Police say they were called to the intersection of School and 6th streets just after 12:30 a.m. for the one-vehicle crash. The driver of the motorcycle had been thrown off the motorcycle and was hurt. He was wearing a helmet. He was taken to the hospital, where he was treated and released.

Investigation showed he was headed west on School St. when he lost control.

Police are recommending charges of third-offense operating while under the influence, operating without a motorcycle endorsement, operating a motor vehicle without insurance, operating a motor vehicle while revoked, misdemeanor bail jumping and failure to maintain control of a vehicle.

The man’s name was not released.

Green Bay – UW-Green Bay will be recognizing Earth Day all next week.

Students Anthony Sirianni and Anna Gribova joined Pete on the weather deck this morning to talk about all of the events.

Monday, April 20th: “Making Stuff Wilder” documentary
*8 p.m. at Christie Theater

Tuesday, April 21st: UW-Green Bay Earth Forum
*3-4 p.m. = Environmental organization convention
*4-4:45 p.m. = Erin Wilcox, Water Resource Specialist
*5-6 p.m. = Locally sourced meal provided by Trust Local Foods
*6-6:45 p.m. = Robert Atwell, President/CEO Nicolet Bank

Wednesday, April 22nd: Earth Day Picnic
*11 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Student Services Plaza
*6 p.m. = Justin Kroening speaks on native plants

Thursday, April 23rd & Friday, April 24th: Planting Project
*5:30 p.m. at Student Services Plaza

Saturday, April 25th: Cleanup Projects
*9 a.m. – 12 p.m. = University Arboretum
*8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. = Fox-Wolf Alliance Headquarters in Appleton

For more information, contract University Student Life at (920) 465-2720

ASHWAUBENON- It’s Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin.

The National Weather Service in Ashwaubenon is taking us behind the scenes to show us around.

FOX 11 Meteorologist Phil DeCastro has more. Click on the video to learn more.

For more on severe weather, click here.

MILWAUKEE- Two people are dead after a house fire overnight in Milwaukee.

The fire broke out around 3 a.m. Friday on the city’s northwest side.

One other person was injured.

Officials say there were heavy flames and explosions when they arrived.

Firefighters say there were oxygen tanks inside, and some had exploded.

The fire spread to two neighboring homes.

SHIOCTON – The Sturgeon spawning season is underway!

FOX 11’s Emily Deem spent Friday morning along the Wolf River in Shiocton to check out all of the action.

Most of the state is listed in the very high fire category.

Just a few counties in the southeastern part of the state is in the high category.

The Department of Natural Resources is preparing for possible fires this weekend.

Four air tankers are headed to the central part of the state.

GREEN BAY- Dry weather will continue for the next two days then much-needed rain develops on Sunday.

Temperatures will soar into the low 70s Friday with mostly sunny skies. Winds turn to the southwest at 5 to 10 mph.

Cooler weather moves in for the weekend with highs tomorrow near 60 under partly sunny skies. Breezy northeast winds at 10 to 15 mph will gust to 25 mph in the afternoon.

A slow-moving storm system pushing up from the south will impact us on Sunday with periods of rain and then hang around the region through the beginning of the work week.

CHICAGO (AP) – A passenger aboard a Southwest Airlines flight from Chicago to Manchester, New Hampshire, was removed after allegedly poking a snoring passenger with a pen.

Airline officials say the woman was removed Thursday for “causing a disturbance.”

The Chicago Fire Department was called to evaluate the man. Southwest spokeswoman Brandy King said in a statement that the man was not injured. He continued on the flight to New Hampshire, which was scheduled to leave Chicago’s Midway International Airport at 1:15 p.m., but didn’t depart until 3:04 p.m.

King said the woman who was removed was accommodated on another flight.

VATICAN CITY (AP) – The Vatican says Pope Francis is considering adding a stop in Cuba to his U.S. trip in September but that no decision has been made.

Francis has been credited with having helped the United States and Cuba reach their historic rapprochement by writing to the leaders of both countries and having the Vatican host their delegations for the final negotiations.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, said Friday that Francis “is considering the idea of a Cuba leg” but that discussions with Cuba are at an early stage. He said it’s too early to say that a decision has been taken or that there is an operational plan under way.

The possibility of a Cuban stop was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

SHEBOYGAN – Sheboygan police are looking for a missing 11-year-old boy.

Police say Lucas Talbot was last seen at Grant Elementary School in Sheboygan at about 3:00 p.m. Thursday.

Authorities say Talbot has shaggy blond hair, and was last seen wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black sweatpants and white shoes. He was also carry a red and black backpack.

If you have any information, call Sheboygan Police at (920) 459-3333.