Green Bay News

BROWN COUNTY – A crash has closed Hwy. 41 southbound at Hwy. S in the De Pere area.

The Department of Transportation says drivers should exit at S, head west to U, then south back to 41.

FOX 11 has crews on the way to the scene and will update this story as more information becomes available.

MADISON – State lawmakers continue their push to revise the governor’s budget plan. The Legislature’s budget committee is holding briefings this week with state agencies on how the state’s next two-year budget would affect them.

A meeting Tuesday includes leaders of the UW System. Gov. Scott Walker has proposed to cut $300 million dollars from the system over two years while giving it more freedom from state oversight.

The lawmakers on the Joint Finance Committee plan to listen to UW System President Ray Cross about how the governor’s proposed budget would affect state universities.

Department of Natural Resources leaders are also speaking Tuesday. The governor wants to transform the DNR’s board into an advisory panel. That would end its ability to set policy for the DNR and allow the governor to control the agency directly through a secretary he appointed. Walker also wants to freeze the state’s land stewardship program.

Another budget briefing is planned for Wednesday, and then the budget committee plans to hold four public hearings on the budget outside of Madison. They’ll then return to the Capitol to begin revising the budget that will likely be around $70 billion. The 2015-17 budget cycle begins July 1.

FOX 11’s Andrew LaCombe is at today’s meeting and will have the latest on FOX 11 News at Five.

MADISON (AP) – University of Wisconsin students opposed to Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to give the System more autonomy from state oversight and laws plan to “occupy” a legislative hearing because they say they’ve been ignored.

Students say in a press release that they plan to speak out at Tuesday’s budget briefing before the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee.

UW President Ray Cross is expected to testify in support of making the UW System a public authority, which would give it independence from most state laws and oversight. The students say that they are not being consulted as the change which Walker and UW leaders back is being pushed.

Walker is also proposing a $300 million cut to UW, something campus leaders and students have been arguing strenuously against.

MADISON (AP) – The Wisconsin Supreme Court has upheld the conviction of a Milwaukee man who is serving a life sentence for killing his girlfriend with an ice pick, saying the evidence against him was overwhelming.

The court on Tuesday affirmed the 2010 conviction of Eddie Lee Anthony in the stabbing death of Sabrina R. Junior.

According to court records, Anthony stabbed Junior 45 times during an argument in their Milwaukee home while their children hid in a closet in the other room.

Anthony claimed he acted in self-defense and planned to testify at trial. But the judge didn’t allow it. That formed the basis of his appeal.

The Supreme Court upheld the conviction 6-1, saying it was not wrong for the lower court to disallow his testimony. Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson dissented.

The regular season is completed and the postseason tips off Tuesday for boys basketball, although many of the premier tams are off until regional semifinals on Friday.

Before we start the postseason, there’s more FOX 11 Top 11 to take care of. Seymour, No. 1 last week, enters the postseason No. 1 after clinching the Bay Conference title outright. After Seymour there is some reshuffling as last week’s No. 2 Kaukauna lost.

The rest of the top five is: Kimberly (FVA champs), De Pere (FRCC champs), Kaukauna (FVA runner-up) and Xavier (Eastern Valley champ).

Neenah, off its big win at Kaukauna checks in at No. 8 this week, while Brillion left the rankings after losing to Roncalli.

Here’s a look at the last regular season FOX 11 Top 11 boys rankings:

BOYS
1. Seymour (20-2): Thunder enter the postseason feeling pretty good about itself. Last week: No. 1.
2. Kimberly (19-3): Papermakers end up FVA champs. Last week: No. 3.
3. De Pere (19-3): Redbirds look like they are in good position entering postseason. Last week: No. 4.
4. Kaukauna (19-3): Ghosts are OK, despite losing piece of FVA title. Last week: No. 2.
5. Xavier (19-3): Hawks seem primed to make long postseason run. Last week: No. 5.
6. Ripon (19-3): Tigers have won 10 of 11 games entering the playoffs. Last week: No. 7.
7. Freedom (19-3): Irish could meet Xavier in regional final. That would be fun. Last week: No. 8.
8. Neenah (18-4): Rockets end regular season on string note, winning at Kaukauna. Last week: unranked.
9. Ashwaubenon (17-5): Jaguars have tough playoff opener, hosting West De Pere. Last week: No. 9.
10. West De Pere (16-6): Phantoms looking to make second straight state tournament. Last week: No. 10.
11. Roncalli (18-4): After beating Brillion, Jets share Olympian title with Valders. Last week: unranked.
Dropped out: No. 11 Brillion (18-4); No. 6. Luxemburg-Casco (17-5).

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

MADISON (AP) – Gov. Scott Walker has thrown his support to a bill that would eliminate Wisconsin’s 48-hour waiting period for handgun purchases.

Walker said he wants the state to be a leader on the issue. The Wisconsin State Journal reported Tuesday that Walker’s remarks came in an interview last week with the National Rifle Association’s news network.

A bill before legislators would eliminate Wisconsin’s 40-year-old law that requires the wait between the time a background check is submitted to the Department of Justice and a handgun is acquired.

“We’ve been the leader when it comes to freedom over the last four years,” Walker said in the interview, citing Wisconsin’s passage of a concealed-carry law and another law that protects homeowners from prosecution when they shoot people they perceive as a threat. Of dropping the waiting period, Walker said, “I think we want to be a leader in this area as well.”

An assembly committee held a hearing on the bill last week. It has support from the NRA and several hunting groups. The city of Milwaukee and groups fighting domestic violence oppose it.

Rep. Fred Kessler, a Milwaukee Democrat on the committee, says he supports an amendment that would create an exception for people arrested multiple times for domestic abuse.

Sen. Van Wanggaard, a Racine Republican sponsoring the Senate version of the bill, said the waiting period law dates to a period when law enforcement had to search through index cards in filing cabinets to conduct background checks. Modern criminal background checks can be done in a few hours via electronic databases.

A public hearing on the bill is planned for March 11 in the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee.

GREEN BAY- We’re enjoying the morning at the Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary.

Click on the video to see what the otters are up to.

GREEN BAY – Do you believe in ghosts?  That’s the question posed in the documentary film “Haunted State: Whispers from History Past.” Executive Producer Michael Brown says the film took more than two and a half years to make and had it’s premiere showing last October in Appleton.  Now he’s taking the film on the road with the next two screenings scheduled for the De Pere Cinema. The documentary explores paranormal folklore and claims at several historic buildings, including the former Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee and the Stone Cellar Brew Pub in Appleton.

Haunted State
Screening Dates

De Pere Cinema
March 5th & March 11th
7pm

Tickets: $10

POST SHOW PARTY
George Street Connection
614 George Street

*bring your ticket stub and a non-perishable food item which will go to local food pantries

HOLMEN, Wis. (AP) – Police in western Wisconsin are investigating the death of a woman as a homicide.

Officers in Holmen, north of La Crosse, were asked to do a welfare check on the woman Monday night. Officers entered the woman’s residence about 7 p.m. and found her dead.

They have not identified her. Police are looking for a 29-year-old man who is a suspect in the death. Officers say he could be driving a white Oldsmobile Intrigue with the license 993-SWC.

BAYFIELD COUNTY- A popular winter destination in northern Wisconsin will temporarily close because of the storm.

Officials say the Apostle Islands ice caves in Bayfield County will close Tuesday at 6 p.m.

The caves are along the lakeshore of Lake Superior.

Thousands of people have already gone to the caves since they opened over the weekend.

Officials say the ice conditions have to be just right to allow access to the caves.

“In mid-January, there was a lot of pack ice that blew in and it formed, and we thought, okay, this may stay. But then it blew out and then that happened again, and then this last time, was the first time we actually had the conditions enough that we were able to allow access. This time of year, it’s anyone’s guess how long it will last,” said Julie Van Stappen of the National Park Service.

The ice conditions will be checked as soon as possible after this storm. But officials say the earliest the caves will re-open is Thursday.

MILWAUKEE (AP) – Salt trucks hit the roads in southeast Wisconsin early Tuesday as snow began to fall just in time for the ride to work or school.

About 2 inches of snow was expected during the morning hours across Wisconsin. Meteorologist Brian Gotter at WTMJ-TV in Milwaukee says the snow will likely turn to sleet later Tuesday as temperatures warm. Freezing rain was expected later in the day.

Temperatures could reach the upper 30s by the weekend, forecasters said.

Southern and eastern Wisconsin have been dry this winter. Although snowfall from December through February was below to slightly below average, the National Weather Service says the liquid equivalent of melted snow was “way below average,” with the snow that fell mainly dry, light and fluffy.

RACINE, Wis. (AP) – Authorities are searching for a 27-year-old Racine man accused of killing his roommate at an apartment on the city’s north side.

Jacob Wayne Rogers has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the death of a 27-year-old man, whose name hasn’t been released by police.

Police say the victim was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds in an apartment Monday morning.

Rogers is considered armed and dangerous. Police believe he’s traveling with his 22-year-old girlfriend, who may be in danger. She’s also considered a person of interest in the case.

Anyone with information regarding the man’s death or Roger’s whereabouts is asked to call the Racine Police Department.

We’re checking out road conditions this morning.

All of Northeast Wisconsin is under a Winter Weather Advisory.

Director of Meteorology Pete Petoniak will have updates throughout Good Day Wisconsin.

FOX 11’s Pauleen Le is checking out road conditions. Click on the videos to learn more.

WASHINGTON (AP) – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is seizing the bully pulpit of the U.S. House to deliver his stern message about the danger Iran poses to his nation’s survival and voice reservations about any nuclear deal President Barack Obama and international negotiators might sign with Israel’s archenemy.

Netanyahu insists he is privy to emerging details of a deal and is expected to lay out specific concerns in Tuesday’s speech to a joint meeting of Congress. It will be a last-ditch effort for Netanyahu to speak out against any agreement that would leave open a chance for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons.

The controversial speech comes just two weeks ahead of a tight national election in which Netanyahu is fighting to hold onto his job. It has already aggravated strained relations between Israel and the Obama administration and it comes as negotiators are rushing to reach a nuclear agreement by the end of the month.

“I plan to speak about an Iranian regime that is threatening to destroy Israel, that’s devouring country after country in the Middle East, that’s exporting terror throughout the world and that is developing, as we speak, the capacity to make nuclear weapons – lots of them,” Netanyahu told America’s leading pro-Israel lobby on Monday in what amounted to a warm-up to his speech to Congress.

The Israeli leader is deeply suspicious of international efforts to reach a nuclear deal. Netanyahu fears the U.S. and its negotiating partners will give Iran too many concessions, leaving it on the cusp of developing an atomic bomb.

Iran is sponsoring terrorism across the world – enveloping the world with its “tentacles of terror,” Netanyahu said.

“Imagine what Iran would do with nuclear weapons,” he added.

Netanyahu is expected to use even harsher rhetoric on Capitol Hill. The Israeli leader is personally vested in the outcome of the nuclear talks with Iran, putting him on a collision course with Obama, who has put his prestige on the line to pursue a deal.

Obama does not plan to meet with the Israeli leader while he’s in Washington, saying he wants to avoid any perception that he is meddling in Israel’s election.

Netanyahu believes that preventing a nuclear-armed Iran would be a crowning achievement – and that a bad deal would be a setback and far worse than no deal at all. While powerful, his speech to Congress also might sound a note of desperation as he appears almost out of options.

As many as 40 members of the House and more than a handful of senators are expected to skip the speech, which many have labeled a partisan political stunt. Vice President Joe Biden, president of the Senate, also won’t be there. He’s on a trip to Central America and his seat on the dais will be filled by Sen. Orrin Hatch, president pro tempore.

Hatch, R-Utah, said Monday that Congress should complement the prime minister’s address with the threat of more sanctions.

“I am deeply troubled that our president’s solution won’t work,” Hatch said. “This administration has opted for a policy of conciliation that does nothing to curb this growing threat. And all the while, the threat to Israel grows stronger every day.”

Netanyahu expressed frustration that his speech has created such controversy. He insisted that his speech to Congress was not meant to show any disrespect toward Obama or the Oval Office. He also said it was not intended to “inject Israel into the American partisan debate.”

But that is what’s happened.

Members of Congress who are expected to be no-shows at the speech blame House Speaker John Boehner for inviting Netanyahu without consulting with the White House or congressional Democrats. Obama’s national security adviser Susan Rice has said the speech is destructive to the fabric of U.S.-Israeli relations.

In a pre-emptive pushback against Netanyahu’s appearances in Washington, Secretary of State John Kerry said last week that Netanyahu might be wrong about his opposition and that he should hold his criticism before he knows the details about a deal – if one materializes.

Kerry said Monday in Geneva that negotiators are seeking a verifiable set of commitments that its nuclear program is peaceful. He said that “any deal must close every potential pathway that Iran has towards fissile material, whether it’s uranium, plutonium, or a covert path. The fact is only a good, comprehensive deal in the end can actually check off all of those boxes.”

Kerry is meeting this week with Iran’s foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif.

GREEN BAY- All of Northeast Wisconsin is under a Winter Weather Advisory. Click here for more information.

Snow will fall throughout the day Tuesday with moderate snow at times. Most areas will receive 2 to 4 inches of snow by Tuesday afternoon. Driving will be difficult at times as snow falls and the wind increases.

Winds will shift west in the afternoon at 10 to 20 mph. That could lead to some blowing snow. High temperatures will be near 31.

Director of Meteorology, Pete Petoniak will track the storm all morning long on Good Day Wisconsin.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Public testimony has ended after more than 11 hours in a Wisconsin state Assembly committee on a right-to-work bill.

Opponents spent hours Monday speaking out against the fast-tracked measure that’s expected to pass the Republican-controlled Assembly on Thursday or early Friday. Gov. Scott Walker has promised to sign it into law by the end of the week.

Union members and others against the bill waited hours for the chance to speak up to four minutes on the measure which would make it a crime to force nonunion members to pay union days when working for private-sector companies.

Electricians, carpenters, pipe fitters and others testifying against the measure far outnumbered supporters. Those who back the bill say it’s about giving workers freedom to choose whether to pay union dues.

APPLETON – A feature film with local ties made its Wisconsin premier in Appleton Monday .

“It was great. I mean anytime I get a chance to bring my ties back to the Midwest, it’s a great experience,” said Garth Neustadter, the score composer for the movie, called “Pilot Error.” The Lawrence-grad and Manitowoc native was just one person from the area that helped out.

“Pilot Error” tells a fictionalized account of a real life tragedy. In 2009, Air France Flight 447 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, killing the 228 people on board.

“People have to die before you get the attention and make the changes that are needed so other people don’t die,” said Bob Hesselbein a technical consultant for the movie.

The film highlights what went wrong on that flight and what changes were made because of it. Shot mainly in Wisconsin and partly in Michigan, you see a lot of familiar sights, like General Mitchell Airport in Milwaukee. There’s even a shot at the Outagamie Regional County Airport.

As a Madison-based pilot Hesselbein lent his expertise.

“You need to have someone that can translate that technology into something that someone who’d be watching the movie could understand,” he explained.

Lawrence University graduate and Manitowoc native Neustadter wrote more than an hour of music for the score.

“It’s really doing its job best if it’s sort of playing at a subconscious level that enhances the film, but doesn’t pull focus too much to the music,” said Neustadter.

28-year-old Neustadter won an Emmy for work on another project

Producer Roger Rapoport told FOX 11 that’s why Neustadter was chosen, his talent and local ties.

Rapoport shot another feature film called “Waterwalk” in Wisconsin and says it’s the perfect place.

“Terrific talent. The locations are great and also we have great audiences in Wisconsin,” he explained.

Rapoport told us it’s good to make movies in places that aren’t Hollywood with cast and crew who are not from Hollywood.

“One of the sad things is, is a lot of artists, when they train here, unfortunately they can’t make a living here. We’d like to change that,” he said.

Neustadter, who mostly works in L-A now, agrees.

“These kinds of independent films that come from outside Hollywood offer a lot of fresh perspectives and just a unique take on independent film,” he told FOX 11.

Tom Boldt of the Boldt Company was also a producer on “Pilot Error.”

There will be two screenings at the Green Bay Marcus East Cinema on Wednesday. Then two more screenings at the Oshkosh Marcus Cinema Thursday.

GREEN BAY – The Green Bay Packers have repeatedly said signing the team’s own free agents would be a priority this off-season. With less than a week to go before free agency begins, the team declined to use an option that would force negotiation with wide receiver Randall Cobb and offensive tackle Bryan Bulaga, instead letting the process play out.

The Packers did not use the franchise tag on either player, meaning unless the team comes to a new deal with either player, they could become unrestricted free agents at the end of the NFL fiscal year on March 10th.

Had the Packers used the franchise tag, the player they tagged would be bound to the team for a one year contract at the average rate of the top five players at the tagged player’s position. For both Cobb and Bulaga, that number would be between 12 and 13 million.

The Packers are still free to negotiate with Cobb and Bulaga, and may be willing to let the market decide how much they are worth, since neither will likely command a top five salary.

While some reports say Cobb could be looking for a salary between 9 and 12 million dollars a season, it may be unlikely the Packers would want to pay more than the 9 million dollar a year average they are paying pro-bowler Jordy Nelson, even though Cobb did set personal highs in receptions, yards and touchdowns last year.

Agents are able to start contacting teams about their clients on Saturday, though non can sign until Tuesday, March 10th. Until Saturday, Cobb and Bulaga cannot negotiate with any team other than the Packers.

KAUKAUNA – Fire crews say an improper burning chimney started a fire at a Kaukauna home Monday night.

The Kaukauna Fire Department was dispatched to the home at 1118 Crooks Avenue at 5:45 p.m.

When crews arrived they said they saw heavy black smoke coming from the chimney. Crews found the fire was contained to the chimney and light smoke was entering in the home.

The fire was extinguished from the hearth and closed.

Crews say the cause of the fire was an improperly working flu.

No one was injured during the fire and crews estimate about $1,000 in damage was caused.

GREEN BAY – A potentially dangerous situation for a toddler in De Pere was quickly resolved Monday morning.

Police say a woman called authorities after seeing a toddler wandering outside, near the intersection of O’Keefe and Erie streets.

Officers say the boy got out of his house without his mother realizing. She had locked the door, but he managed to unlock it. The mother found the child before police arrived. Police say the little boy is doing well.

This isn’t the only instance of very young children getting out of their locked homes recently. It led to a much more tragic situation last month in Tomah.

Recent incidents of toddlers getting past locked doors and venturing outside may trouble parents. So we asked a family living educator how that can happen.

“Actually, it can be relatively easy for a young child to get outside. They learn quickly how to open door knobs and if there is a lever door knob, they open really quickly. They move fast and they can quickly get out. That is certainly a concern this time of year because of the weather, and the fact that once they get out, they don’t always know how to get back in again.

That tragically happened in Tomah. Two-year-old Raelyn Mazur died after being accidentally locked out on her family’s patio overnight. She and her five-year-old sister sneaked out to play, but Raelyn couldn’t open the screen door to get back in.

Now her mother is advocating for parents to install door alarms.

“It’s just heartbreaking to think that if I would have done this sooner, that my baby could still be here,” said Courtney Mazur, her mother.

But Kundsen says alarms aren’t right for every family.

“Sometimes these are great products, but you need to determine the cost,” said Knudsen.

We came here to Ace Hardware in Ashwaubenon to see what kinds of child safety products are available locally. There are simple door knob covers, which run about five dollars, or more elaborate alarm systems, which can run up to thirty dollars.

Family living educators say it’s best for parents to do their homework.

“It’s really worthwhile doing some research, before you run out to pick up some of these devices and realize your toddler can figure them out,” said Knudsen.

Knudsen says if your child has gotten outside in the past, alarms might be the best option for keeping them safely inside.