Green Bay News

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Tickets in North Carolina, Puerto Rico and Texas have matched all six numbers to split a $564.1 million Powerball jackpot.

Sue Dooley, senior drawing manager for the Multi-State Lottery Association, says the Puerto Rico ticket was the first Powerball jackpot winner ever sold outside the continental United States. Puerto Rico joined Powerball less than a year ago.

Dooley had no immediate information on the specific locations of where the tickets were sold.

Should the winners select the lump sum option, each would get a one-third share of $381,138,450.16 before taxes.

The jackpot was the third-largest in Powerball history and the fifth-largest U.S. lottery prize. The jackpot now goes back to $40 million.

The winning numbers in Wednesday’s drawing were: 11, 13, 25, 39, 54 and the Powerball 19.

With a jackpot of $500 million, the Powerball numbers are in.

The numbers for Wednesday February 11, 2015 are; 25, 11, 54, 13, 39, Powerball: 19

No one has won the Powerball jackpot for more than two months, increasing the prize from it’s starting point of $40 million.

According to the Powerball website, the one-time cash payout value is worth $337.8 million before taxes.

The odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 175 million. The game is played in 44 states as well as Washington, D.C., the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

MILWAUKEE — Brandon Knight scored 20 points, powering a third-quarter surge that helped the Milwaukee Bucks to a 111-103 victory over a Sacramento Kings team on the brink of yet another coaching change on Wednesday night.

The Bucks moved to 30-23 on the season and they became the first team in NBA history to double their win total from the prior season before the next All-Star break.

DeMarcus Cousins had 28 points and 19 rebounds for the Kings, a team about to make its second coaching change of the season.

Before the game, the Kings and George Karl agreed to the framework of a deal for him to take over as coach, according to a person familiar with the negotiations. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the discussions were private.

That meant the game was the last for coach Tyrone Corbin. Karl will be Sacramento’s third coach this season, as the Kings fired Michael Malone in December.

FOND DU LAC – Powerball tickets are printing as fast as buyers can snap them up. The Jackpot is at $500 million.

A lot of lottery players found their way to Fond du Lac Wednesday. They wanted to buy tickets on what’s known as the “Miracle Mile.”

The largest Miracle Mile payoff was $208-million to a group of Sargento Foods employees in 2006.

Does it still have its lure? It certainly seemed to Wednesday as fans lined up by the dozens at the former Ma and Pa’s.

They came from as far as Madison and Pewaukee…

“Miracle Mile!” exclaimed David Haferkorn who drove in from Pewaukee.

“Miracle Mile!” followed Korinne Hejhal who came up from Madison.

And many stopped in from as near as down the street hoping some of the miraculous magic will rub off.

“I guess it’s supposed to be lucky!” exclaimed Joe Gappa of Fond du Lac.

This Korneli was once the famed Ma and Pa’s, made famous by big lottery ticket payouts, including that 2006 $208 million.

Wednesday most customers came away with a Powerball ticket or two, even those who don’t usually play.

“We’ll play the big ones and then right afterwards, because my husband swears that somehow the odds are better right afterwards,” explained Hejhal.

“Only when it gets big,” added Haferkorn.

For some, there’s no superstition around numbers.

“Just let ‘em pick ‘em,” said Haferkorn.

“Just let it go, let it ride,” agreed Hejhal.

For others, there is a lot of tradition to consider, from the right numbers to the right store.

“I have my specific place and this is where she wants me to get hers,” said Gappa, whose wife won $40,000 on a Badger Five from the Ma and Pa’s locale.

And with a one in 175 million chance of winning the big money, some were hoping to sway the odds.

“I bought 50! I drove 50 miles, one for every mile!” exclaimed Haferkorn.

Clerks told us they’ve sold as much as $400 worth of Powerballs to one customer.

Some had big plans for the big payout.

“Oh, it’d probably be the kids, the grandkids and then I might take a vacation!” said Haferkorn, laughing.

“Probably travel a lot,” said Hejhal.

Others told us they’ll leave the planning to their better halves.

“I’ll let Linda decide that,” said Gappa.

So we had to ask, do you feel lucky? Do you?

“50-50, how’s that?” asked Haferkorn.

“Everyone’s a winner! Either I will or the state will!” exclaimed Gappa.

Who knows? Maybe this mile will perform another miracle.

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — Keifer Sykes hit an 11-foot runner with 17 seconds to play to lift Green Bay to a 63-62 win over Youngstown State in a Horizon League men’s basketball game Wednesday.

Sykes scored 11 points, all in the second half, as the Phoenix overcame a 10-point second-half deficit to jump into a three-way tie in the Horizon with Valparaiso and Cleveland State with 9-2 marks.

Green Bay trailed 58-48 with less than seven minutes to play, but then authored a 13-0 run, capped off by a Carrington Love 3-pointer, to grab a 61-58 lead.

Green Bay was led by Greg Mays’ 15 points, while Alfonso McKinnie added 14 and Love 12.

The Phoenix has 20 wins this season, making it two years in a row Green Bay won at least 20 games. Last year, the Phoenix was 24-7.

• Up next: Green Bay plays at Valparaiso on Friday at 6 p.m.

GREEN BAY 63, YOUNGSTOWN ST. 62
GREEN BAY (20-5)
Fouse 3-5 1-1 7, Mays 7-12 0-0 15, McKinnie 6-11 1-1 14, Love 4-10 2-3 12, Sykes 3-9 4-6 11, Botz 0-1 0-0 0, Humphrey 0-0 0-0 0, Francis 1-2 0-0 2, Findlay 0-1 0-0 0, Lowe 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 25-52 8-11 63.
YOUNGSTOWN ST. (10-17)
Amiker 3-7 4-6 11, Hain 5-10 0-0 10, Keene 7-13 2-2 21, Cole 3-7 3-4 10, Vaughn 1-3 0-0 3, Stewart 2-6 0-0 6, Johnson Jr. 0-0 1-2 1. Totals 21-46 10-14 62.

Halftime—Youngstown St. 33-31. 3-Point Goals—Green Bay 5-17 (Love 2-6, McKinnie 1-2, Mays 1-3, Sykes 1-3, Botz 0-1, Findlay 0-1, Fouse 0-1), Youngstown St. 10-18 (Keene 5-8, Stewart 2-4, Amiker 1-1, Cole 1-2, Vaughn 1-2, Hain 0-1). Fouled Out—None. Rebounds—Green Bay 27 (McKinnie 10), Youngstown St. 28 (Hain 7). Assists—Green Bay 12 (Fouse 5), Youngstown St. 5 (Amiker 2). Total Fouls—Green Bay 15, Youngstown St. 11. A—2,599.

DE PERE – “It’s such a big part of their lives that I have to figure out how to be a part of it and monitor it,” said Brent Quirk, a parent with two teen girls.

Teens posting to social media might seem like harmless fun. But police say one wrong click or post could ruin your child’s reputation, especially if they post an explicit picture.

“Once you send it, you can’t pull it back. It could be out there forever. It could affect them in the future for jobs, for colleges. And it is child pornography,” said Detective Sergeant Thomas Shrank of the De Pere Police.

Shrank held this sexting forum for parents Wednesday night. The panel at De Pere High School included local judges and the brown county district attorney.

Parents we spoke with say they fear what’s out there.

“You’d go through some of her emails and texts and you were shocked,” said Quirk.

School administrators say parents play a vital role in teaching children what’s appropriate online.

“With the cell phone or with a hand held device, it’s a magnificent tool. But with that comes some responsibility, because if it doesn’t there are a lot of victims,” said Ben Villarruel, the De Pere School District Administrator.

Both De Pere Schools and police say parents should be checking in on what students are doing with their devices.

“My child gives me the user name, the password, and I see everything coming and going. But more importantly, we talk about that ahead of time,” said Shrank.

And parents we spoke to say snooping is ok with them.

“I know the kids don’t like it, but you have to be aware of what they’re doing,” said Dan Walsh, a father of three teen girls.

Hopefully preventing their children from making an online mistake they can’t erase.

While state law makes it a felony punishable by possible prison time to possess child pornography, De Pere now has a city ordinance that treats anyone under 18 differently. If they’re caught sexting, the device containing the material will be destroyed. The individual could also face community service.

NEW YORK (AP) – CBS says longtime ’60 Minutes’ correspondent Bob Simon has been killed in New York City car crash.

He was 73 years old.

The crash happened Wednesday in Manhattan. Police say a town car in which he was a passenger hit another car.

Simon and the town car’s driver were taken to a hospital, where Simon was pronounced dead.

Simon covered stories including the Vietnam War and the Oscar-nominated movie “Selma” in a career spanning five decades.

SHEBOYGAN – A Sheboygan alderman accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting a teenage boy, has resigned from his position.

33-year-old Kevin Maticheck wrote the following letter to the Sheboygan Common Council:

“Dear Colleagues:

In light of the criminal accusation against me, it is clear that I am currently unable to effectively serve in my position as alderman for the City of Sheboygan. Because I do not want the charge to detract from the City’s business, please accept this letter as my official resignation as Fourth District Alderman on the Sheboygan Common Council.

Very truly yours,

Kevin Matichek”

Matichek was arrested Friday and faces one count of repeated sexual assault of a child.

According to the criminal complaint, the boy told investigators the two had sex in Matichek’s car and Matichek’s bedroom at his mother’s Sheboygan home, where he lives, from June through September of 2014.

Matichek is due back in court later this month.

GREEN BAY – Lawmakers representing Wisconsin in Washington provided FOX 11 with mixed reaction to the President’s plan for the Islamic State.

President Barack Obama says he doesn’t want another costly war, but he warns it will take time to dismantle the Islamic State.

“But our coalition is on the offensive,” said Obama. “ISIL is on the defensive and ISIL is going to lose.”

To make that happen, the President needs congress to sign off, under the War Powers Resolution.

“I’m convinced the United States should not get dragged back into another prolonged ground war in the Middle East,” said Obama. “That’s not in our national security interest and it’s not necessary for us to defeat ISIL.”

Republican Senator Ron Johnson disagreed with that theory in a Tuesday interview.

“Every military expert would tell you we need ground troops if we’re going to be successful in defeating Isis,” said Johnson.

Unlike Johnson, fellow Republican, Rep. Reid Ribble, of the 8th Congressional District, says he isn’t sure ground troops are needed.

“I think that determination needs to be done by the joint chiefs and by the military you’re going to send to fight the war,” said Ribble.

Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin provided a statement on Obama’s plan:

“Over two months ago, in December, I called on President Obama to submit for Congressional consideration a proposed Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) specific to the war against ISIL.  This debate is long overdue, and I’m pleased the President has taken this step; however, I believe Congress must ask tough questions and work together to improve the President’s proposal.  I’m concerned that the vague language of the Administration’s draft proposal may leave the door open to putting boots on the ground for combat operations and put the United States at risk of repeating the mistakes of the past and becoming bogged down in an open-ended conflict. I’m also concerned that the draft AUMF would authorize action for 3 years without establishing measurable goals, benchmarks of success and a clear scope  in the battle against ISIL.  To be clear: ISIL is a group of barbaric terrorists, and their extreme tactics display a shocking brutality that must be confronted.  Congress will now have the critical debate that the American public deserves and I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to improve the Administration’s proposal and ensure that U.S. military and diplomatic efforts remain part of an international coalition combating the threat posed by ISIL.”

Johnson also issued a statement on Wednesday:

“I appreciate President Obama presenting language for his request to Congress for an Authorization of the Use of Military Force (AUMF).  The Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC), on which I serve, will consider this request in a thoughtful and expeditious manner. It is important to understand an AUMF is really the last step in a process that begins with acknowledging reality, fully defining the goal based on that reality, and then developing a strategy to achieve that goal.   Once we have a clear demonstration from the president that he understands the threat posed by Islamic terrorism, a clear definition of what he means when he says “degrade and ultimately destroy” ISIS, and a clearly outlined strategy to achieve that goal, we can judge his request. I look forward to him providing this needed information promptly.”
One thing both sides agree on is the President’s request is timely. Without a timetable, both sides say they hope to reach an agreement soon.

FOX 11 reached out to Republican Rep. Glenn Grothman, of the 6th Congressional District, but have yet to hear back from his office.

Seymour’s Asia Danforth talks about 38-32 win over New London in Bay Conference girls basketball action Tuesday.

SEYMOUR — It’s pretty obvious to the Seymour girls basketball team this week, win and the Bay Conference title is its.

Tuesday night, the Thunder hosted New London with the winner maintaining at least a share of the league’s lead the Seymour battled, as it completed a season sweep with a hard-fought 38-32 win.

The win clinches a share of the Bay title and Seymour can win it outright Friday with a win at West De Pere.

“It’s very big,” Seymour senior Asia Danforth said. “We’ve been looking to this game since we beat them the first time.”

It wasn’t easy for Seymour (17-4, 13-2), ranked No. 11 in the FOX 11 Top 11. The Thunder trailed 17-14 at halftime as the defense of the Bulldogs (12-8, 12-3) never allowed Seymour to get in a groove.

“They were daring us to shoot the ball and we were kind of doing that,” Seymour coach Nick Darnick said. “We weren’t making shots. At halftime we talked about being aggressive and taking it to the hoop. Once we go that going in our offense and spread the floor, our offense got rolling again.”

Seymour outscored New London, 24-15, in the second half and the second half surge is something Darbick has witnessed this season.

First half was a battle and the second half was kind of what we’ve been doing this year and that’s playing tough defense,” Darnick said. “Holding a real good New London team to 15 points in the second half is amazing.”

New London is now on a three-game losing streak, but the Bulldogs had revenge on their minds after Seymour won at New London earlier this season, 36-29. However, Seymour knew it needed a repeat performance to sweep the Bulldogs.

“We knew we had to play even harder than the last time,” Danforth said. “Everything just worked out.”

Friday’s game at West De Pere is the regular-season finale for Seymour and no question the Thunder wants to own the Bay title alone. Playing in these types of games is what the players dream of.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Danforth said. “Last year was fun, but we weren’t winning as much. We’re more of a team. This year, we all connect together and we’re having so much fun with it.

“We have something going for us. We can definitely can make it work.”

“I continue to praise my kids in what they’re doing,” Darnick said. “They want to get that. It’s big having some momentum especially after losing to Denmark. That’s going to be big for us.”

Follow Doug Ritchay on Twitter @dougritchay

GREEN BAY – Deputies in Brown County are searching for two suspects they say were involved in a theft incident at Fleet Farm West Feb. 5.

The Brown County Sheriff’s Office says at 6:15 p.m. the woman pictured took a small pair of Harley Davidson audio speakers (valued at $99.00) and shoved them in her purse and left the store without paying for them.

The woman then ran away from loss prevention staff outside the store and was seen get in a dark colored four-door smaller SUV driven by one of the men pictured.

If anyone has any information or the identity of either of the suspects, please call the Brown County Sheriff’s Office at (920) 448-4230. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward by calling Crime Stoppers at (920) 432-7867 or text “GBTIP” and your tip to 274637.

CINCINNATI (AP) – A retired teacher who sued a school district, saying administrators discriminated against her because of a phobia that makes her fear young children, lost her appeal in the federal case on Wednesday.

A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati upheld a lower-court decision that had dismissed Maria Waltherr-Willard’s breach-of-contract claim against Mariemont City Schools. The U.S. District Court in Cincinnati also had ruled in favor of the school district on her other claims, including age and disability discrimination.

Attorney Brad Weber, who represented Waltherr-Willard, did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The 63-year-old teacher, who had taught Spanish and French at Mariemont High School in Cincinnati since the 1970s, said she was transferred to a middle school in 2009. Her lawsuit said the seventh- and eighth-graders triggered her phobia, causing her blood pressure to soar and forcing her to retire in the middle of the 2010-11 school year. Her lawsuit sought unspecified damages.

An attorney for the school district had said Waltherr-Willard was transferred because the French program at the high school was being turned into an online one and the middle school needed a Spanish teacher. A message seeking comment was left for the district’s attorney on Wednesday.

The appeals court said in its ruling that the lower court was correct in ruling in the school district’s favor on the various claims. On the breach-of-contract issue, the court said Waltherr-Willard contended that her correspondence with several unidentified school officials created a contract that required Mariemont to keep her at the high school.

“But the Mariemont School Board undisputedly never ratified such a contract, which means for our purposes that there was not one,” the appeals court said in its ruling.

DE PERE – It’s not your typical setup.

For brothers Ricardo and Luis Plaza, it doesn’t matter where they play ball, just as long as they get the chance.

Dwight Hancock is the Unit Director at the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay.

“The kids we deal with, they’re low income-based. They don’t get to do a lot of the things that the other kids get to do in the community,” said Dwight Hancock, unit director at the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay.

During the winter, Hancock got a call from De Pere native Jason Berken, a professional pitcher.

“He said that he wanted to sponsor numerous amounts of kids – as many as we get,” Hancock said.

It’s all for Berken’s annual baseball camp held at his alma mater, West De Pere High School.

• Click here to learn more about the Berken Baseball Camp

“First year we had 40 kids, now we have 240 kids this year,” Berken said.

It’s the eighth year for the camp.

“Twelve major league players in this year, 27 guys as a whole for staff, area college coaches,” Berken said.

Kids are able to learn from some of the best.

“We do infield, outfield, pitching, hitting and catching. We cover every aspect of the game,” Berken said.

But this year, Berken wanted to go beyond the diamond. He wanted to give back to those who can’t afford the camp.

“We had Tom Monahan at Resource 1 and Casey Cuene at Broadway Automotive step up”

Fifteen kids from the Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay received a sponsorship, making it possible to attend the camp, free of charge.

“Some of these kids that are out here from the club have never touched a baseball in their life, so for them to be able to come out here and get to do this it’s a great opportunity,” Hancock said.

Berken says the camp teaches more than just baseball.

“We tell the kids to dream big,” Berken said. “If you have dreams of playing in the major leagues, go for it, put everything into it and anything is possible, so hopefully some of these kids will be following in my footsteps and playing in the major leagues some day.”

Making this camp a home run for the Plaza brothers.

As for Berken, he is currently a free agent. He appeared in 110 games for Baltimore and the Chicago Cubs between 2009 and 2012.

New London visited Seymour in a Bay Conference girls basketball game on Tuesday.

Seymour won, 38-32.

TOWN OF NEENAH – In just a few days, people will be back out on the ice huddled in tiny shacks on the Lake Winnebago System.

The 2015 sturgeon spearing season begins Saturday morning, but what are the chances of actually getting a fish?

Experts say water clarity is key.

A steady stream of pickup trucks pulling ice shanties crept onto Lake Winnebago Wednesday near Payne Point in the Town of Neenah.

“Definitely, people are getting excited. People are starting to get their shacks staged out here. Everybody’s coming out and looking at clarity for themselves,” said Darryl Lehman, Paynes Point Hook & Spear Fishing Club President.

Lehman says he checks the water clarity in this part of the lake daily.

“People are seeing anywhere between 16-17 feet, so it’s fairly good,” he said.

Lake Winnebago has a maximum depth of about 20 feet, so what about other parts of the 215 square mile lake?

“Sturgeon, because of their feeding behavior, they mostly relate to the bottom. They’re bottom feeders, so if you can’t see more than five to six feet down, you’re going to have a hard time seeing the fish,” said Ryan Koenigs, D.N.R. Sturgeon Biologist.

Koenigs says D.N.R. crews checked water clarity at 20 locations on Lake Winnebago Tuesday.

“The East shore, and North shore had clear water. However, the South shore, and the West shore, had much more variable conditions with some areas with clear water, but a lot of areas that was only five to ten feet of visibility,” said Koenigs.

Biologists say those conditions could mean fishermen could reach the quota in seven to 12 days, and the 16-day season would end early.

Koenings says improvements in habitat, and management have led to fishermen seeing more fish, and bigger fish too.

“The record is 212 pounds. That was speared in 2010. Nine of the top 11 fish on record have been harvested since 2008,” he said.

Darryl Lehman hopes to add to that list.

“I’ve gotten two and I’ve missed three or four of them. The last two years, is the only years I haven’t thrown at one,” said Lehman.

He and 13,000 others will have their first chance, Saturday morning.

The D.N.R. expects to have 60 workers at 11 registration stations throughout the Lake Winnebago System.

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Republican-controlled Congress has cleared a bill approving the construction of the Keystone XL oil pipeline. That sets up a confrontation with President Barack Obama, who has threatened to veto the measure.

The House voted 270-152 on Wednesday to send the bill to the president. Neither chamber has enough votes to overcome a veto.

The vote caps weeks of debate on a top priority for Congress after the GOP took control last month. Supporters are already planning on using other means to secure the pipeline’s approval.

First proposed in 2008, the Keystone XL pipeline would connect Canada’s tar sands to Gulf Coast refineries.

Republicans argued it was a jobs bill that would boost energy security. Democrats said it was a gift to the oil industry that would worsen global warming.

NEW YORK (AP) – In handing Brian Williams a six-month suspension for misleading viewers, NBC Universal chief Steve Burke says his chief anchor deserves a second chance. Whether he actually gets one is an open question.

Time is renowned for its healing powers but in this case, time also offers reasons for the split to become permanent. NBC Universal bought time with the suspension, hoping to remove an unflattering spotlight on its most prominent personality after he falsely reported flying in a helicopter hit by an enemy grenade in the Iraq War.

Veteran Lester Holt will fill in. With “Nightly News” atop the ratings for almost all of Williams’ decade-long tenure as its lead anchor – and back into the 1990s with Tom Brokaw – Holt will be watched closely to see if he can maintain that lead. If he can, that may lessen NBC’s desire to bring back a more costly anchor with doubts cast on his trustworthiness.

ABC in the past year maintained and even improved its “World News Tonight” ratings after replacing well-known anchor Diane Sawyer with David Muir. That indicates viewers care more about the content of the broadcasts than its anchors, said Andrew Tyndall, a consultant who monitors the evening newscasts.

“Not only is (Williams) dispensable, the business model is wrong,” he said.

Even with the suspension, NBC has kept open its investigation into Williams’ tendency to embellish stories of his work experiences. NBC News President Deborah Turness said that NBC Universal’s general counsel has joined investigative editor Richard Esposito in the probe.

Some critics believe Williams is already so ethically compromised that it would be difficult for him to work an election campaign, whether viewers would accept him asking a presidential candidate, for example, to account for conflicting statements on an issue.

“The suspension so wounds him,” said Frank Sesno, a George Washington University professor and former CNN Washington bureau chief. “If the offense is sufficiently severe to warrant a six-month suspension, how does one recover stature and credibility?”

Williams has declined to comment on his suspension, and the head-spinning aspect of his fall from grace may have precluded him from thinking about his future. He may decide he doesn’t want to continue in his present role, or at NBC, with the six months offering him and NBC Universal a chance to negotiate a settlement.

Williams’ hiring as chief anchor predates Comcast’s takeover of NBC Universal, which would leave some question about the loyalty of its executives toward him. Embarrassing headlines about NBC News also aren’t welcome at a time Comcast Corp. is still seeking federal approval of its purchase of Time Warner Cable.

With all these caveats, and the strong words of Williams’ bosses about his wrongdoing, a clear pathway back was publicly offered.

“I know Brian loves his country, NBC News and his colleagues,” Burke said. “He deserves a second chance and we are rooting for him. Brian has shared his deep remorse with me and he is committed to winning back everyone’s trust.”

Comeback stories are popular, as are stories about the downfall of powerful people. Williams’ explanation of misremembering some facts ignited online ridicule of him. A more humble apology, admitting he fudged a story to make himself look good, may strike viewers as more believable.

NBC’s handling of the apology, and Saturday’s curious announcement from Williams that he was taking himself off the broadcast – as opposed to his bosses ordering him to – has also cast negative attention on NBC News management.

Turness has had a rough run as NBC News president: the “Today” show has shown little progress chasing “Good Morning America,” and was embarrassed by the quick hiring and firing of an executive who created backstage turmoil; medical correspondent Nancy Snyderman angered the public by violating a quarantine for Ebola exposure proved ; “Meet the Press” has sunk in the ratings and David Gregory’s exit as moderator played out uncomfortably in public, and now Williams, who had been the network’s bright spot.

Not all are her fault, yet managers of losing teams get only so many chances.

President Obama on Wednesday asked Congress for support in the fight against the Islamic State. Obama pointedly asked for the use of military force in a resolution.

The White House plans to continue with air strikes, but the administration wants to leave open the door to put boots on the ground.

The President stressed it will not be a ground war – putting a three year deadline on all military action.

“Our coalition is on the offensive,” President Obama said from the White House. “ISIL is on the defensive and ISIL is going to lose.”

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) said the proposal comes after months of bad policy.

“What has been very troubling, watching the administration’s approach to ISIS is that it is disjointed and half-hearted and ineffective,” Cruz said.

The Center for Security Policy in Washington laid out its own plan, which officials said focuses on having better understanding of who the enemy actually is.

“We’re not dealing with an Islamic state in isolation,” said Frank Gaffney, founder and president of the Center for Security Policy.  “We’re dealing with a global jihadist movement.”

This may be evidenced in newly released reports by the Associated Press that show that despite thousands of airstrikes aimed at fighting ISIS, the terrorist organization is recruiting new members at a record rate.

SANAA, Yemen (AP) – As Western diplomats and staff fled Yemen on Wednesday, concern widened over the increasing turmoil in the impoverished nation, with Saudi Arabia arming loyal tribesmen across its southern border and Egypt readying a military unit to intervene if needed.

The U.S., British and French moved to close their embassies, signaling a belief that conditions in Yemen would only deteriorate further as the rebels, who have taken over in nearly half the provinces, try to expand their control.

In a show of bravado, the rebels seized about 20 vehicles left by U.S. diplomats and Marines at Sanaa’s airport, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press. The Americans evacuated after destroying documents and heavy weapons at the embassy.

The rebels also seized weapons found in the U.S. vehicles, the officials added, – apparently referring to personal sidearms that the Pentagon said the Marines left behind because they could not take them on their departing commercial flight.

While Yemen has been in chaos for years, events took a dramatic new turn when the rebels, known as Houthis and suspected of being backed by Iran, took over the capital last fall and have spread over more of the country.

In January, the rebels put U.S.-backed President Abed Rabbo Mansour Hadi and his Cabinet ministers under house arrest, leading to their resignations. Subsequently, the Houthis, who are followers of the Shiite Zaydi sect in Sunni-majority Yemen, dissolved parliament and declared they were taking over the government.

The turmoil is starting to resonate around the Middle East, already shaken by bloody conflicts in Syria, Libya and Iraq.

As Houthi fighters advance to take more ground, Yemeni officials said Saudi Arabia, a staunch U.S. ally, was sending arms and funds to tribesmen in Yemen’s Marib province to bolster them against the rebels.

Saudi Arabia has in recent months repeatedly stated its concern over the Houthis’ power grab, but the deeply secretive oil-rich kingdom has said nothing about arming or funding tribesmen there to fight the Shiite rebels.

Marib is an exclusively Sunni, energy-rich desert area on the border with Saudi Arabia where tribes have long been close to the Saudis. It is also home to a sizable number of militants from the local branch of al-Qaida, the Houthis’ sworn enemy.

Marib’s tribal leaders, like many others in Yemen, have been on the receiving end of Saudi largesse for decades, and some of them hold Saudi nationality.

“Marib is the heart of Sunni tribal power,” said Majid al-Modhaj, a Yemeni analyst. “Fighting there will take the Houthis away from their comfort zone in mountainous areas and into plain and flat desert land they are not used to.”

Egypt has set up a special rapid deployment force that could intervene if the Houthis threaten shipping lanes in the strategic Red Sea, according to three Egyptian security officials. The force, they said, is drawn from the 3rd Army, which has been running security and intelligence operations in the Red Sea from its headquarters in Suez.

Yemen lies on one side of Bab al-Mandab, the narrow southern entrance of the Red Sea. The corridor leads up the Egyptian and Saudi coasts to Egypt’s Suez Canal, a key sea route for oil traffic from the Gulf region.

The Egyptians and Saudis were coordinating a joint military response to deal with any eventuality in Yemen, including the disruption of shipping, the officials said.

The officials in both Yemen and Egypt spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.

“Yemen is like the moon to Egypt, but it is important because of Cairo’s close ties with Saudi Arabia, to whom Yemen is a priority issue,” said Michael W. Hanna, a Middle East expert from the New York-based Century Foundation.

Egypt and Saudi Arabia have forged close military ties since Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi took office in June, with frequent joint war games, including naval exercises in the Red Sea. Thousands of Egyptian special forces are embedded with their Saudi counterparts on the kingdom’s border with Iraq as a precaution against militants of the extremist Islamic State group, according to the officials.

As the region’s two most powerful Sunni nations, Saudi Arabia and Egypt view the rise of the Houthis with alarm, seeing them as a new geopolitical triumph by non-Arab Iran after it consolidated its influence in Iraq, Syria and Lebanon.

The Houthis deny links to Iran, and it has been difficult to determine with any accuracy Tehran’s role in the latest events.

Still, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and a senior Foreign Ministry official made it clear in separate comments Wednesday that the Islamic Republic looks approvingly at events in Yemen.

“The power that assisted the people of Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen against terrorist groups was the Islamic Republic of Iran,” Rouhani told a large crowd in Tehran. He did not elaborate.

Deputy Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian said the developments in Yemen “have increased stability in the region and made the situation difficult for terrorists in that country.” The chief of staff of Iran’s military, Gen. Hassan Firouzabadi, said Sanaa was now “one of the safest places in the region” after the Houthi takeover.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt are not new to military involvement in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia fought a brief border war against the Houthis in 2010 to halt incursions over the frontier. Egypt in the early 1960s deployed thousands of troops in Yemen to support a republican coup that toppled a monarchy subscribing to Zaydi Shiism, like the Houthis.

Houthi rebels seized the province of Bayda, south of Sanaa, on Tuesday with help from government forces still loyal to Ali Abdullah Saleh, the autocratic president who was ousted in the country’s 2011 Arab Spring uprising.

Bayda is widely viewed as the gateway to the country’s south, but taking over that region is unlikely to be easy.

Hadi – a southerner – commands armed militias that fought al-Qaida militants in the province of Abyan in 2011 and 2012. Moreover, a key political faction in the south, the Nasserists, have close ties with Egypt, whose intelligence and security agencies have stepped up their activities in the south in anticipation of a Houthi attempt to capture the region, according to the Egyptian officials.

The Houthis’ advances are also fueling secessionist movements in the south, once a separate nation.

“They won’t have a friendly environment in the south,” said Baraa Shiban, a Yemeni analyst. “Any attempt by the Houthis to take over the south will lead to secession.”

Houthis have captured territory largely because of deals with provincial powers and massive help from army and police units loyal to Saleh. Effective battlefield resistance against their advances might finally come in Marib or in the south.

“The Houthis are spoiling for a fight, thinking that a battlefield victory will grant them a measure of legitimacy,” said Sarah Gamal, a Yemeni political activist. “So far, they have just been assaulting peaceful protesters in Sanaa and elsewhere who reject their rule.”

___

Hendawi reported from Cairo. Associated Press reporters Sagar Megani in Washington, Ali Akbar Dareini in Tehran, Iran, and Adam Scheck in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.