News 01.19.17
19 January 2017 News
A man convicted of killing a toddler and severely injuring a second child by standing on top of the children will spend the rest of his life in prison. At a hearing Wednesday, Fond du lac judge Dale English sentenced 30 year old Daniel Griffin to 65 years in prison and 35 years of extended supervision. Griffin was found guilty last September of reckless homicide and child abuse. The incident happened in July of 2015 at the Maplewood Commons apartments on Pioneer Road and Martin Avenue. Police say Griffin stood on top of both infants putting his full weight on them. The mother, Airealle Smart, is scheduled to go on trial in March on charges of neglecting a child and neglecting a child causing death.
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Two lucky players including one from Fond du lac will split the weekend Badger 5 jackpot. The players matched all five numbers in the Badger 5 drawing on Saturday, January 14 to split the $179,000 jackpot. Saturday’s winning Badger 5 numbers were 2, 4, 14, 17 and 29. The lucky winners purchased their tickets in Madison and from the West Johnson Street Speedway in Fond du lac.
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The University of Wisconsin System regents have filed a lawsuit against UW-Oshkosh’s former chancellor and chief business officer over alleged improper financial transactions with the school’s foundation. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday, alleges Chancellor Richard Wells and Chief Business Officer Thomas Sonnleitner illegally transferred millions of dollars from the university to its foundation between 2010 and 2014 to help the foundation participate in five real estate projects. Neither of them properly recorded those transfers in the school’s accounting records. The lawsuit also alleges they executed illegal guarantees pledging the university would back foundation loans related to the projects. The state constitution and UW System policies don’t allow a public entity to support a private organization.
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A broad array of liberal advocacy groups are calling for repeal of a manufacturing tax credit and increases in taxes on capital gains to free up $900 million in the Wisconsin state budget. The groups on Wednesday argued that the money could be diverted to invest in public schools, health care and worker training programs. The coalition called A Wisconsin Budget for All released its proposal at a Capitol news conference weeks before Gov. Scott Walker was to propose his two-year state budget. The coalition includes groups representing teachers, the elderly, social workers, nurses and others. Republicans who control the Legislature have championed the tax changes the groups are pushing to undo, making it unlikely their proposals will find much traction. Walker is expected to release his budget next month.
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Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says gas taxes will “probably not” be increased by the Legislature to pay for roads. Vos and other Assembly Republicans have been urging Gov. Scott Walker to at least consider raising gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to help plug a nearly $1 billion transportation budget shortfall. Walker has refused to consider raising gas taxes without a corresponding cut elsewhere. Vos says odds are against gas taxes going up. Vos says “it’s not impossible” but Walker is likely to prevail in stopping a gas tax increase. Vos is in favor of toll roads. Walker is proposing delaying projects and borrowing more money to deal with the shortfall. Vos made the comments at a luncheon sponsored by the website Wispolitics.com.
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University of Wisconsin-Madison disciplinary documents allege a fraternity was suspended for providing alcohol to minors and teaching members a song glorifying sexual assault. The university’s Committee on Student Organizations announced Tuesday it has suspended the Sigma Chi chapter until March 1. A news release says the fraternity was accused of providing alcohol to minors at an Oct. 1 event. UW officials released more documents later Tuesday that allege students passing by the house that night complained they heard a song glorifying sexually assaulting dozens of women at once. The fraternity has not commented.
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