News 04.27.18
27 April 2018 News
Wisconsin police failed to submit scores of sexual assault evidence kits for DNA tests despite a state law requiring submissions. Legislators included language in the 2011-13 state budget that requires police to submit kits for testing in cases with unknown perpetrators. The state Department of Justice says about 400 untested kits since 2011 are connected to cases with unknown suspects. Milwaukee police collected but left untested 200 kits involving unknown suspects after the law passed. Madison police didn’t submit 83 cases. Appleton, Green Bay and Fond du Lac police each chose not to submit eight kits. Stevens Point, Janesville and Kenosha police departments each didn’t submit a handful of kits. Some agencies said it was unclear which kits had to be submitted under the law.
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Prosecutors have charged two former University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh officials in connection with a financial scandal involving building projects. Former Chancellor Richard Wells and former Vice Chancellor Tom Sonnleitner were each charged Thursday in Winnebago County with five counts of misconduct in office. UW System regents accused Wells and Sonnleitner of theft in a civil lawsuit last year. The lawsuit alleged the pair concealed millions of dollars in improper financial transfers to the school’s nonprofit foundation to help the organization execute five real estate development projects. The lawsuit also alleged the pair told various banks that if the foundation wasn’t able to make bond payments that the university would help. Wells and Sonnleitner’s attorneys have not responded.
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A veterans home in central Wisconsin is getting $55 million in federal funding for a new nursing facility and several maintenance projects. Congress’ latest federal spending bill gives the Wisconsin Veterans Home in King $52 million for a new nursing facility and $3 million for maintenance projects. Gov. Scott Walker signed legislation in 2014 to build a new 200-bed facility at the home. The state Department of Veterans Affairs has since been on the waiting list for federal funds. Veterans Affairs Department spokeswoman Carla Vigue says the agency recently asked the state building commission for permission to start accepting bids for the project. The state is also providing $28 million for the new building. The facility is expected to be completed by 2020.
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The state Department of Natural Resources has approved the city of Racine’s request to pull 7 million gallons of water daily from Lake Michigan for a Foxconn Technology Group manufacturing plant. The agency approved the request Wednesday. The Taiwanese company expects to break ground by next month on a $10 billion flat-screen plant in Mount Pleasant. The City of Racine asked the DNR permission to divert lake water to serve the facility. Under the Great Lakes Compact, all water diverted from Lake Michigan must be returned minus what’s lost to evaporation or what’s incorporated into Foxconn’s manufacturing processes. The city’s application estimated about 2.7 million gallons daily will be consumed and won’t return to the lake.
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