Green Bay News

TOMAH – Members of two Congressional committees will be in Tomah Monday for a field hearing evaluating serious concerns at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Tomah.

The VA in Tomah is the subject of several investigations into the alleged overprescribing of pain medication to veterans.

An Inspector General report last year also indicated some workers had a fear of retaliation if they were to speak out. Although no retaliation or criminal wrongdoing was found.

But earlier this month the Deputy Secretary of the VA said those problems remain at the facility.

Wisconsin Senators Tammy Baldwin and Ron Johnson will take part in the hearing.

“The main goal of all of my activity in regards to what has been troubled in Tomah VA is trying to prevent this from ever happening, this type of tragedy from ever happening again to any veteran or those vererans families,” said Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin).

Monday’s Congressional field hearing gets underway at 1 p.m. FOX 11 will be there and have the latest on FOX 11 News at Five and Nine.

Girls basketball didn’t lack for excitement this season, so finding the six best players in the Large Division (Divisions 1-2) and Small Division (Division 3-5) was no easy task as the area is loaded with talent.

The best among the talent this season, eventually stood out and in the Large Division the player of the year was a major reason. Natisha Hiedeman of Green Bay Southwest “wowed” crowd every game and is the Large Division player of the year as she led the area in scoring at 25.6 points per game and the Trojans to a sectional final.

Furthermore, the Marquette recruit became the area’s all-time leading scorer, boys or girls basketball, by finishing a stellar career with 1,773 points.

Joining Hiedeman on the Large Division team are:

• Pulaski’s Mariah Syzmanski, who led the Red Raiders with 18  ppg. She was as tough to defend as it is to spell her name.
• De Pere’s Margaret Miller, who led a balanced Redbirds team with 12.3 points per game as the Redbirds made a sectional final. And, yes, Miller could play defense, too.
• Hortonville’s Maddie Dunathan was the FVA player of the year as the Polar Bears won the FVA. Dunathan averaged 14.6 points per game.
• Manitowoc’s Alyssa Fischer. The UW-Milwaukee recruit averaged almost 19 points per game and 8 rebounds per game.
• New London’s Payton Mix. The Bay Conference player of the year averaged 15.7 points and 5 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs.

In the Small Division, St. Mary’s Springs’ Kelli Schrauth is the player of the year after leading the Ledgers to their second straight state tournament. Schrauth led the Ledgers with 17 points and 8 rebounds per game.

Despite not being long, the 5-10 Schrauth always positioned herself inside for putbacks and easy baskets. She excelled by always being in the right place at the right time.

Joining Schrauth on the Small Division team are:

• Xavier’s Peyton Ufi, who averaged 13 points and 5 rpg. for the Division 3 state runner-up.
• Erin Powers of Xavier is also on the team after averaging almost 14 points and 5 rebounds per game.
• Fox Valley Lutheran’s Bailey Diersen led the Foxes and the Eastern Valley Conference at 17 ppg.
• Little Chute’s Abbie Botz did a little bit of everything for the Eastern Valley champs. She averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds per game for the Mustangs.
• Algoma’s Baleigh Delorit. She was the Packerland Conference player of the year and averaged almost 16 points per game for the conference champs.

The coaches of the year are:

• Casey Zakowski in the Large Division. Zakowski led the Trojans to a Division 2 sectional final and found a way for players to fill roles around Hiedeman.
• Xavier’s A.C. Clouthier in the Small Division. Clouthier led Xavier to its first silver ball in the WIAA and his team was always tough-minded.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

Lots of great basketball players were in action this season and now that the final game has been played, here’s FOX 11’s all-area boys team, player of the year and coaches of the year.

So many good players to consider so there will be six players each on Large Division (Divisions 1-2) and six each on Small Division (Divisions 3-5) teams.

In the Large Division where there were plenty of options for player of the year. In the end, though, it was West De Pere senior Cody Schwartz who stood out the most. Schwartz led the Phantoms to their second straight Division 2 state tournament and the San Jose recruit averaged 20.2 points and 7 rebounds per game.

Schwartz was especially huge this season as the Phantoms suffered major injuries that saw three starters miss significant time. Schwartz was the constant and was tough to defend with his deep 3-point range and his ability to go inside at 6-8.

Joining Schwartz on the Large Division team are:

• Neenah senior Matt Heldt. The Maquette recruit averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds per game.
• Kaukauna sharpshooter Carter Belling, who averaged 13 points per game for the fast-paced Ghosts.
• Kimberly’s Ben Boots, who led the Papermakers to the FVA title and averaged 15 ppg.
• De Pere’s Brevin Pritzl led the area in scoring at 25.5 ppg. and led the Redbirds to the FRCC title.
• Ashwaubenon senior Kyle Monroe, who could go inside and outside and averaged 22 ppg. for the Jaguars.

Now to the Small Division which is led by player of the year Sam Burkart of Xavier. The junior led the Hawks to the 3 state title game in Division 3, while averaging 15 points and 6 rebounds per game.

Burkart’s clutch moment this season came at the state tournament when he sank two free throws with six seconds left to give Xavier a one-point win over East Troy in a state semifinal.

Following Burkart on the team are:

• Ripon sophomore Luke Loewe, who should be called Mr. Smooth. He averaged almost 19 points per game for the Tigers.
• N.E.W. Lutheran senior Noah Gosse, who led the Blazers to the Division 5 state tournament. He scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds per game.
• Kewaunee’s Logan Brusky at times was a scoring machine. Brusky averaged close to 18 points per contest for the Storm.
• Brillion’s Tyler Lemke, who averaged 13.8 ppg. and led the Lions to a sectional final.
• Valders’ Thomas Schwoerer, who averaged 19 points and led the Vikings to a co-championship in the Olympian Conference.

The coaches of the year are:

• West De Pere’s Andy Werner in the Large Division. Werner was able to keep the Phantoms near the top in Division 2 all season despite injury problems.
• Matt Klarner in the Small Division. Klarner led Xavier to its first state title game securing a silver ball.

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

If you liked the look of last year’s Final Four, you will love the 2015 edition.

One game – Kentucky vs. Wisconsin – is not only a matchup of two No. 1 seeds, it’s a replay of last year’s semifinal won by Kentucky 74-73.

Seventh-seeded Michigan State will face Duke, a four-time national champion led by coach Mike Krzyzewski, who is in his 12th Final Four, tying the legendary John Wooden.

It is the fifth time at least three No. 1 seeds reached the Final Four.

This is the third straight year one conference has had two teams in the Final Four with Wisconsin and Michigan State coming from the Big Ten. The Southeastern Conference did last year with Kentucky and Florida and the Big East had Louisville and Syracuse in 2013.

HOUSTON (AP) – A special group of freshmen is taking Duke and Coach K back to the NCAA Final Four.

The Blue Devils and their trio of freshmen starters are going to their 16th Final Four after a 66-52 win Sunday in the South Regional over Gonzaga.

Justise Winslow, the freshman playing home in Houston, had 16 points, including a big 3-pointer in the closing minutes. Matt Jones had also had 16 points while freshman Tyus Jones had 15 points, while Jahlil Okafor nine points and eight rebounds.

Duke (33-4), the region’s No. 1 seed, is going to Indianapolis to play Michigan State in the Final Four. The other national semifinal game Saturday matches undefeated Kentucky and Wisconsin.

Coach Mike Krzyzewski is going to the Final Four for the 12th time, matching UCLA’s John Wooden for the most by a head coach.

Duke’s last Final Four and national title was in 2010, when the Blue Devils were also the No. 1 seed in the South Regional and had to go through Houston.

“This is a magical moment for us, but we played a magical team in Gonzaga,” Krzyzewski told the crowd.

No. 2 seed Gonzaga (35-3) had taken a 38-34 lead less than 4 minutes into the second half, putting the Blue Devils in their largest deficit of this tournament.

The young Blue Devils responded with nine straight points and never trailed again. They had stretched it to 60-51 when Winslow made a 3-pointer from the left wing with 2:28 left.

“I want to thank Houston for giving Justise a huge birthday present,” Krzyzewski said of the forward who turned 19 on Thursday, the day before he had 21 points and 10 rebounds in a 63-57 win over Utah.

Gonzaga, in its 17th consecutive NCAA Tournament, was trying to get to the Final Four for the first time.

This was only Gonzaga’s second regional final, and its first since 1999, when the mid-major Bulldogs were a No. 10 seed that lost to top-seeded UConn. Mark Few was an assistant coach on that squad, and took over as head coach the following season.

The Zags, a No. 1 seed only two years ago before losing to Wichita State in their second NCAA game, missed out again.

It was the final game for seniors Kevin Pangos and Gary Bell Jr., who had both played at least 135 games for Gonzaga. They were a combined 4-of-14 shooting for nine points.

Kyle Wiltjer, the transfer from Kentucky who as a freshman was part of the Wildcats’ 2012 national championship, had 16 points for Gonzaga. Byron Wesley had 10.

Wesley, the other Gonzaga senior starter who had transferred from USC for his final season, picked up a loose ball and made a layup while being foul. His free throw made it 38-34 with 16:20 left.

Duke’s comeback stretch included a tiebreaking 3-pointer by Matt Jones on an assist from Tyus Jones, who then had a nifty play to get Duke the ball back after Przemek Karnowski had initially grabbed a defensive rebound before falling to the floor. Tyus Jones leaped in the air to grab the loose ball, and dropped it straight down on Karnowski laying out of bounds.

Okafor then made a jumper to put the Blue Devils back up 43-38.

TIP-INS

Gonzaga: Domantas Sabonis had seven points in a 14-4 run that got the Bulldogs with a point before they didn’t score in the last 3:50 of the half. The 6-foot-10 freshman then had a spurt of less than 2 minutes when he lost a pass out of bounds, missed a point-blank shot, drew a charge, and then had two offensive fouls.

Duke: It was the 103rd NCAA Tournament win for Duke, third all-time behind Kentucky (119) and North Carolina (112). … The Blue Devils led 31-26 at the break, even while making only two of their last 15 field goals of the half after a three-point play by Okafor that put them up 23-12 with 11:44 left.

UP NEXT

Gonzaga: Season over.

Duke: Play Michigan State (27-11) on Saturday at the Final Four in Indianapolis.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) – Coach Tom Izzo and the Michigan State Spartans capped an improbable run to the Final Four with an overtime win.

Senior guard Travis Trice scored 17 points and the seventh-seeded Spartans clamped down on defense to pull out a 76-70 victory over fourth-seeded Louisville in a thrilling NCAA Tournament East Regional final Sunday.

The Spartans (28-11), who were nearly counted out of the tournament conversation in February, won for the 12th time in 15 games. It’s a run that included them knocking off second-seeded Virginia last weekend and third-seeded Oklahoma in the regional semifinal on Friday.

Michigan State advances to face the winner of the South Regional final between Duke and Gonzaga.

Wayne Blackshear had 28 points for the Cardinals (27-9) in a game that featured 11 lead changes.

It’s the ninth Final Four appearance for the Spartans, and first since 2010, when they lost 52-50 to Butler in the national semifinals. Izzo has led them to seven Final Fours including the 2000 national championship.

The Spartans did it with perseverance and with a roster that was regarded as having less talent than the team that lost in the regional final to Connecticut a year ago. Michigan State lost three of its top four scorers.

“Everybody doubted us. Everybody had us down and out,” said junior forward Denzel Valentine, who had 15 points. “They didn’t have us making the tournament. We just kept strong. We believe in ourselves.”

Trice was so elated and drained following the victory that he fell to his knees at center court and began sobbing. He was joined by his teammates and members of his family.

The Spartans rallied from a 40-32 halftime deficit to eventually build a 61-59 lead with 3:57 left, when Trice hit two free throws.

The Cardinals rallied and had a chance to pull out the victory in regulation. Down 65-64, Mangok Mathiang hit one of two free throws with 4.9 seconds left.

Michigan State took control in overtime, starting with Bryn Forbes hitting a 3-pointer 26 seconds in.

The Spartans then sealed it in the final 31 seconds. Branden Dawson did what Izzo’s teams have done well over the years: He put back a 3-point miss by Forbes to put Michigan State up 74-70.

Valentine batted away a pass on the Cardinals’ next possession, and Trice sealed the win by hitting two free throws with 10.1 seconds left.

Michigan State’s defense – Izzo’s other trademark – played havoc with the Cardinals. After hitting 17 of 32 attempts in the first half, Louisville managed to make six of its final 32.

It is the third straight year one conference has had two teams in the Final Four. The Southeastern Conference did last year with Kentucky and Florida and the Big East had Louisville and Syracuse in 2013.

The last time the Big Ten did it was 2005 with Michigan State and Illinois.

Though Blackshear stepped up his performance in what became his final collegiate game, Cardinals junior forward Montrezl Harrell struggled.

Harrell missed his final five shots and missed five of nine free throw attempts in what was also his final game. Harrell has already indicated his intention to enter the NBA draft.

Forbes added 14 points for Michigan State and Dawson had 11 rebounds, including the huge one on Trice’s missed 3.

The game was played at such a frenetic pace late in the first half that the Carrier Dome scoreboard had difficulty keeping up. It was down a point for Louisville and had one too many for Michigan State. And then the time clock was off, with officials taking 26 seconds off during one timeout.

Blackshear had his nose bloodied with 3:57 left, when he hit a driving layup and was fouled hard by Matt Costello. Dillon Avare came off the bench to hit the free throw while Blackshear missed a few possessions while being tended to on the bench.

TIP-INS

Michigan State: Izzo improved to 13-9 when facing a higher seed in the NCAA Tournament. … The Spartans evened their tournament record against Louisville to 2-2. The Cardinals beat the Spartans in the 2012 West Regional semifinal, while the Spartans beat the Cardinals in the 2009 Midwest Regional final. Louisville also beat Michigan State in 1959.

Louisville: The Cardinals dropped to 52-10 when facing a lower seed in the NCAA Tournament, while coach Rick Pitino dropped to 53-18. … Buffalo Bills center Eric Wood, a Louisville alum, was among those in attendance.

UP NEXT

Michigan State: Advances to Final Four to play South Regional champion Duke or Gonzaga.

Louisville: Season over.

GREEN BAY – Green Bay police are advising motorists to expect traffic congestion near parts of downtown due to a power outage.

The affected area is on Main Street between North Baird Street and North Irwin Avenue.

Another affected area is North Baird Street between East Walnut and Main Streets.

According to Wisconsin Public Service, power is expected to return for traffic signals in the area, and a portion of affected residences, within the next few hours.

Repairs bringing complete power back to residences may take more than eight hours.

According to the WPS website, approximately 2500 WPS customers have reportedly been affected.

WASHBURN, Wis. (AP) – Authorities have recovered the body of a missing 77-year-old fisherman from a lake in northern Wisconsin.

Bayfield County authorities say Louis Bickel of Mason had gone ice fishing on Perch Lake in the Town of Drummond on Saturday. His wife reported that night that he had not returned home.

Deputies arrived to find Bickel’s vehicle as well as a hole in the ice about 50 yards off shore with some ice fishing equipment in and near the hole.

Due to unsafe ice, the search was postponed until Sunday morning. WDIO-TV reports Bickel’s body was discovered in about 18 feet of water at 10 a.m.

DE PERE – For some St. Norbert College baseball players, it’s been a long wait.

“Being a senior now this year, we only really played my home games my freshman year,” said Green Knights senior infielder/pitcher Troy Rottier.

The lack of home games was because of a $2 million renovation of SNC’s baseball stadium Mel Nicks Field, paid for by the school and donors. The new field’s debut was supposed to be this weekend, but a Saturday home doubleheader against UW-Stevens Point and Thursday’s home doubleheader against Ripon were both switched to road games.

“We knew it might happen it’s not quite ready,” said St. Norbert head coach Tom Winske. “Just got a lot of rain late last fall, it backed up the project by a couple weeks. That hurt the roots [of the sod] going in.”

Much of the outfield’s sod has not taken hold making it unsafe to play on. The hope from school officials is that it’ll be ready next Saturday for a scheduled home doubleheader against Ripon.

“We heard for the last couple years we were going to be able to get a new facility, so now it’s getting pushed back,” said Rottier. “It’s a long time coming but, hey, it’ll come.”

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin project that shows regional differences in how Americans use the English language is running low on money.

The Dictionary of American Regional English was founded at the University of Wisconsin-Madison more than a half-century ago. The dictionary pulls together regional words from 1,002 communities across the country.

The dictionary has survived previous financial crises. But the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports this time, the project will begin the fiscal year in July with a little under $100,000. That’s not even 20 percent of its usual annual budget.

John Karl Scholz, dean of the College of Letters and Science, declined to comment.

Chief editor Joan Houston Hall, who has devoted almost 40 years to the project, recently sent layoff and nonrenewal notices to all five staffers, including herself.

FOND DU LAC – Ripon College’s former IT director was sentenced to three years in prison for stealing more than $428,000 from the school.

Ronald Haefner was also placed on extended supervision for one year during Thursday’s sentencing hearing, according to online court records.

Haefner pleaded guilty to 10 counts of theft or fraud, with another 54 counts being dismissed.

Haefner used a college credit card to buy things for himself, his family and even gifts for another college. That college is headed by a former Ripon College president.

The criminal complaint is a laundry list of purchases 18 pages long. Items range from iTunes purchases to thousands of dollars for Apple computers. In all, the fraud totalled more than $428,000.

Many of the items donated to Brevard College were returned.

Haefner was employed by the college from 1999 until he was fired last November.

MARINETTE – A former county park worker who stole more than $40,000 in public funds was sentenced to three years in prison.

Judge James Morrison also placed David Marquardt on extended supervision for five years during the hearing Thursday, according to online court records.

According to the criminal complaint, one of his duties was to handle user fees collected for camping, firewood, park use, and other items. Marquardt admitted taking as much as $40,000 to fund a gambling habit and to help pay bills at a daycare he operated.

Marinette County fired him the day after charges were filed.

A memorial service took place in Kiel Sunday to honor fallen trooper Trevor Casper.

NEW YORK (AP) – A body was found Sunday in the rubble left behind by an apparent gas explosion three days earlier in Manhattan’s East Village, police said.

The remains were discovered Sunday afternoon, according to police. No identification was immediately released.

Emergency workers were looking for signs of two missing men, both believed to be in the ground floor sushi restaurant in the building where the explosion took place: 26-year-old Moises Lucon, who worked at the restaurant, and 23-year-old Nicholas Figueroa, a bowling alley worker who had been there on a date.

The search of the rubble was still continuing. Workers raked through piles of loose brick, wood and debris with tools and their hands and using dogs to search the rubble where the explosion and subsequent fire on Thursday leveled three apartment buildings.

Authorities acknowledged the chances of finding anyone alive were slim.

An official with knowledge of the operation told The Associated Press that rubble removed from the scene would be taken to a secure location and screened again for human remains.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the operation was ongoing, said workers had reached the basement level at the blast site.

The official said workers would stop digging when they get close to the front wall of the restaurant because that section of the building must be examined as possible evidence of what caused the explosion, which authorities suspect was the result of a natural gas leak.

Mayor Bill de Blasio said someone may have improperly tapped a gas line before the explosion that injured 22 people, four of them critically.

Consolidated Edison said utility workers had discovered in August that the gas line to the restaurant had been illegally tapped. The discovery led Con Edison to shut down gas service to the building for about 10 days while the building owner made repairs. Gas service was restored after the utility deemed it safe, the utility said.

Inspectors from Con Ed had visited that building about an hour before Thursday’s explosion and determined work to upgrade gas service didn’t pass inspection, locking the line to ensure it wouldn’t be used and then leaving, officials said.

Fifteen minutes later, the sushi restaurant’s owner smelled gas and called the landlord, who called the general contractor, Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce said. Nobody called 911 or Con Ed.

The contractor, Dilber Kukic, and the owner’s son went into the basement and opened a door, and then the explosion happened, burning their faces, Boyce said. Kukic, who has pleaded not guilty to an unrelated charge of bribing a housing inspector, declined through his lawyer to comment on the circumstances surrounding the explosion.

The work underway was to put in a bigger line to serve the entire building, Con Ed President Craig Ivey said.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – An 18-year-old Milwaukee man is charged in the deaths of two teenagers killed when authorities say he crashed a stolen car into another vehicle.

Gerald Harper was charged Friday in Milwaukee County court with two counts of homicide by negligent operation of a vehicle in the deaths of Jamar Canady and Marquise Tate. Both victims were 16.

The crash happened about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday on Milwaukee’s west side. Police say the crash also injured Harper and a 17-year-old boy who was in the car as well as a 47-year-old man who was driving the other vehicle.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Harper is also charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle with a revoked driver’s license causing death. He’s due back in court April 3.

JANESVILLE, Wis. (AP) – A southern Wisconsin man is accused of a felony fifth offense OWI.

Rock County authorities say a sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to a stalled vehicle on Interstate 39/90 just before 4 a.m. Sunday and noticed the 34-year-old man was showing signs of impairment.

The sheriff’s office says the suspect failed field sobriety tests and was arrested for felony fifth offense OWI and other outstanding warrants.

The man was taken to Rock County jail, where his blood was drawn. Test results are pending.

An appearance in jail court is set for Monday.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended the new state law that’s garnered widespread criticism over concerns it could foster discrimination and said Sunday it wasn’t a mistake to have enacted it.

Pence appeared on ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” to discuss the measure he signed last week prohibiting state laws that “substantially burden” a person’s ability to follow his or her religious beliefs. The definition of “person” includes religious institutions, businesses and associations.

Since the Republican governor signed the bill into law Thursday, Indiana has been widely criticized by businesses and organizations around the nation, as well as on social media with the hashtag #boycottindiana. Already, consumer review service Angie’s List has said it will suspend a planned expansion in Indianapolis because of the new law.

Pence did not answer directly when asked six times whether under the law it would be legal for a merchant to refuse to serve gay customers. “This is not about discrimination, this is about empowering people to confront government overreach,” he said. Asked again, he said, “Look, the issue here is still is tolerance a two-way street or not.”

Pence told the Indianapolis Star on Saturday that he was in discussions with legislative leaders over the weekend and expects a clarification bill to be introduced in the coming week. He addressed that Sunday, saying, “if the General Assembly … sends me a bill that adds a section that reiterates and amplifies and clarifies what the law really is and what it has been for the last 20 years, then I’m open to that.”

But Pence was adamant that the measure, slated to take effect in July, will stick. “We’re not going to change this law,” Pence said.

Some national gay-rights groups say it’s a way for lawmakers in Indiana and several others states where such bills have been proposed this year to essentially grant a state-sanctioned waiver for discrimination as the nation’s highest court prepares to mull the gay marriage question.

Supporters of the law, including Pence, contend discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds. They also maintain courts haven’t allowed discrimination under similar laws covering the federal government and 19 other states. Arkansas is poised to follow in Indiana’s footsteps, with a final vote expected next week in the House on legislation that Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson has said he’ll sign.

Josh Earnest, President Barack Obama’s spokesman, appeared on “This Week” just after Pence, and said the debate isn’t a political argument.

“If you have to go back two decades to try to justify what you’re doing today, it may raise questions,” Earnest said, referring to the 1993 federal law Pence brought up. He added that Pence “is in damage-control mode this morning and he’s got some damage to fix.”

State Rep. Ed DeLaney, an Indianapolis Democrat, told a large, boisterous crowd Saturday gathered outside of the Statehouse to protest that the law creates “a road map, a path to discrimination.” Rally attendees chanted “Pence must go!” several times and held signs that read “No hate in our state.”

Pence addressed the critics Sunday, saying: “This avalanche of intolerance that’s been poured on our state is just outrageous.” Asked if he would be willing to add sexual orientation to the list of characteristics against which discrimination is illegal, he said, “I will not push for that. That’s not on my agenda, and that’s not been an objective of the people of the state of Indiana.”

U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly, a Democrat, released a video statement on his Facebook page Saturday, saying: “We’ll work together to reverse SB101 and we’ll stand together to make sure that here in Indiana, we welcome everyone, every day.”

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, a Republican who opposed the law, has said he and other city officials will talk with businesses and convention planners to counter the uproar.

Angie’s List had sought an $18.5 million incentive package from Indianapolis’ City-County Council to add 1,000 jobs over five years. But founder and CEO Bill Oseterle said in a statement Saturday that the expansion was on hold “until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees.”

The Indianapolis-based NCAA has expressed concerns about the law and has suggested it could move future events elsewhere; the men’s Final Four will be held in the city next weekend.

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia (AP) – An Air Canada plane made an “abrupt” landing in bad weather and skidded off the runway at the airport in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and officials said Sunday that 23 people were taken to a hospital for observation and treatment of minor injuries.

The airline said Flight AC624, an Airbus 320 that left Toronto late Saturday, had 133 passengers and five crew members. Canada’s Transportation Safety Board called it an accident and provided pictures that showed significant damage to the plane with the nose torn off and what appears to be an engine crumpled under a damaged wing.

Passengers said they believe the aircraft hit a power line as it came in to land and described the plane skidding on its belly for some time before it came to a stop. Power went off at the airport, but officials didn’t confirm the cause. Passengers said they left the plane immediately but were left standing on the tarmac, some in their stocking feet, for more than an hour as they were lashed by wind-whipped snow before buses arrived.

Air Canada said Sunday morning that 18 people who were taken to the hospital had been released. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening, the airline said.

The airline, Canada’s largest, didn’t make anyone available for comment and only issued news releases and tweets. Spokeswoman Angela Mah said Air Canada’s chief operating officer had arrived at the scene.

Airport spokesman Peter Spurway said the aircraft touched down in stormy conditions at 12:25 a.m. Sunday.

“It came down pretty hard and then skidded off the runway,” Spurway said. He said he didn’t know whether runway conditions played a role.

The Halifax region was under a snowfall warning, with an Environment Canada alert saying, “Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow.”

The flight crew had told passengers that conditions at the airport weren’t good and they would circle for an hour to see if things improved, said passenger Dominic Stettler, 31, a father of three.

“And then there was a window of visibility and we went for it,” Stettler said.

Randy Hall and his wife Lianne Clark were on their way home from a Mexican vacation when he said he believes the jet hit a power line before it landed hard on the runway. There were sparks but no fire, he said.

“We were just coming in to land and there was a big flash,” said Hall. “The plane came down, bang! It jumped up in the air again.”

The aircraft skidded for a long time before coming to a stop, said Hall, who is retired. “We were sliding along on our belly,” he said.

Hall said the aircraft hit so hard, the landing gear and at least one of the engines were ripped from the plane.

“I was looking out and I saw the landing gear go and I saw an engine go,” he said.

The couple, who were wrapped in blankets as they spoke, said they saw some people with bloody faces, but it didn’t appear that anyone was seriously injured.

Mike Magnus, a businessman who was sitting in the first row, said the aircraft was at the “furthest tip of the airport” when it stopped. He says he heard that the plane may have clipped a power line that caused the power outage at the airport.

The 60-year-old Magnus added that the snow covering the runway likely deadened any sparks that might have caused the plane to catch fire.

“The snow caused it and the snow saved it,” he said by telephone from Halifax.

Magnus said he was fine after being treated for minor injuries to his shoulder and jaw. “I’m safe and that’s all that matters. I’m going to have a glass of wine,” he said.

Flight tracking site Flightradar24 listed several cancelled flights at the airport Sunday morning.

A spokesman for the Transportation Safety Board of Canada said investigators will likely provide an update Sunday evening.

Canadian Transport Minister Lisa Raitt thanked the first responders “for their quick and decisive action” in a statement and said the airport will review its response to the incident.

JERUSALEM (AP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that he has “deep concern” over a pending nuclear deal the West appears close to signing with Israel’s arch-enemy Iran.

Netanyahu said that he conveyed those fears to visiting American lawmakers, warning that the looming deal appears to “corroborate all our concerns and then some.”

Netanyahu has been a fierce critic of American-led efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran and publicly has clashed with the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama over the issue.

Negotiators in the Swiss town of Lausanne are working on an initial agreement just three days before their self-imposed deadline.

“The Iran-Lausanne-Yemen axis is very dangerous for humanity and must be stopped,” the Israeli premier said, referring to Iran’s backing of Shiite rebels who have conquered most of Yemen.

The West fears Iran’s nuclear program will allow it to build an atomic bomb. Iran says its nuclear research is for peaceful purposes.

Netanyahu depicted Israel and Middle Eastern countries as unified in their view of Iran’s involvement in the Yemen unrest as “a strategic move to dominate the region.” He criticized continued negotiations with Iran at a time when “Iran is rampaging through Yemen,” saying that “talks continue as usual and go on, on a deal that from everything that we hear paves Iran’s way to the bomb.”

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon said Iran was responsible for the fall of the pro-Western government in Yemen, and “instead of punishing it for that, Iran is getting a prize” with the negotiations.

“The West is allowing Iran through the front door of the family of nations,” Yaalon said.

Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell, heading a delegation of U.S. senators visiting Israel, said the delegation supported legislation to require Congress to approve any agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, or to increase sanctions on Iran if no agreement is reached.

KIEL – People are invited to pay their respects to Trooper Trevor Casper at Kiel High School starting at noon. A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m.

Local officials say thousands of people from across the country are expected to attend.

Casper was killed during a shootout with a bank robbery and murder suspect in Fond du Lac on Tuesday.

FOX 11’s Bill Miston and Gabrielle Mays will have the full story tonight on FOX 11 News at Nine.