News 9.22.17
22 September 2017 News
UW Oshkosh police say the attack of a student near campus this week is a reminder that people need to be aware of their surroundings. A 27 year old Oshkosh man was arrested in connection with multiple incidents Sunday including a sexual assault. UW Oshkosh police captain Chris Tarmann says bystanders thwarted an attack of a student near Campus Sunday morning when they intervened. Tarmann says there are a number of safety options for students including a UWO Mobile app and easy to use “blue lights” emergency kiosks that are a direct link to university police. Tarmann says the UW Oshkosh police department also has a CSO Safe Walk program for students. He says when you walk, choose an open, well-lit and well-traveled area, be aware of your surroundings at all time, make eye contact with passers-by and glance occasionally behind you. If a person starts chasing you run to the nearest place where there are other people and call for help.
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A transient worker from Texas convicted of attacking a Waupun woman is going to prison. At a hearing Tuesday Fond du Lac judge Peter Grimm sentenced Juan Antonio Arriaga to a total of seven years and nine months in prison and seven and a half years of extended supervision. In July a Fond du Lac jury found Arriaga guilty of multiple charges including attempted kidnapping. District Attorney Eric Toney says Arriaga approached the 22 year old woman from behind as she was walking home from a bar last November 25. Toney says fortunately for the victim a police officer on routine patrol spotted the incident and returned to the scene to investigate. Toney says before the attack Arriaga was watching the victim walk by his apartment. Toney had recommended a 16 and a half year prison sentence. The defense argued for probation noting Arriaga’s lack of a criminal record.
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Gov. Scott Walker vetoes a provision in the state budget that would have allowed low-spending public school districts to raise more money. Walker announced the veto Wednesday, saying the move would have resulted in schools being able to levy more in property taxes without voter input. The provision was spearheaded by the Republican co-chair of the Legislature’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, Rep. John Nygren. It increased the maximum that low-spending, mostly rural, districts can spend from a combination of local property taxes and state aid per student from $9,100 to $9,300 this year and $9,400 the next. The increased spending would have been paid for with a mixture of state aid and higher local property taxes. Nygren has not yet commented.
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With the first day of autumn right, experts predict recent weather conditions in Wisconsin could mean fall colors will be less vibrant. Colleen Matula is a forestry specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources in Ashland. She says the increased rain this year means many trees are getting fungal diseases on the leaves. Matula says fungal diseases can affect the color and volume of leaves. Southwest Wisconsin is dealing with a different type of weather problem. The National Weather Service in La Crosse says southwest Wisconsin recently has had abnormally dry conditions. Dorothy Lenard is administrator for natural science and mathematics at Viterbo University. She says leaves will turn brown due to a lack of water.
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Republican legislators are circulating a bill aimed at ending the federal requirement to use reformulated gas in six southeastern Wisconsin counties. The legislation asks President Donald Trump’s administration to grant a reprieve from use of the specially formulated gas that reduces ozone pollution. The requirement was implemented in 1995 in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, Washington, Racine and Kenosha counties. Supporters say the gas is no longer needed because of advancements in emission control equipment. Reformulated gas has long been controversial because it costs more and some drivers say it affects their vehicle’s performance. The reformulated gas legislation is one of four bills that Republican legislators began circulating on Wednesday that would have an impact on air quality.
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