Saturday, October 23, 2021
All Wisconsin phone calls will require dialing the area code starting Sunday
Starting Sunday, Oct. 24, people in Wisconsin will have to dial local numbers using 10 digits — the area code and the seven-digit phone number.
Currently, people in Wisconsin can place a call to a number in the same area code without dialing the area code. That option will end Oct. 23.
This will affect both landlines and cellphones and all of Wisconsin's six area codes — 262, 414, 534, 608, 715 and 920 — as well as more than two dozen other states that have not already switched to 10-digit dialing.
The change is because the Federal Communications Commission is establishing 988 as the new nationwide phone number for suicide prevention and mental health help. Until the two-year transition is complete in July 2022, people in need of the hotline should continue to dial 800-273-8255 (800-273-TALK).
AT&T and Verizon want practice start
AT&T and Verizon asked their customers to begin practicing 10-digit dialing starting April 24. Those who forget and dial just seven digits will still have their call completed for now.
Starting Oct. 24 "local calls dialed with only seven digits may not be completed, and a recording will inform you that your call cannot be completed as dialed," Verizon said in its release to customers.
Those who hear that recording must hang up and dial again using the area code.
People who've programmed seven-digit phone numbers into speed dial functions or cellphone contact lists will need to reprogram those as 10-digit numbers in order to make a phone call after that point.
Bart Starr will have a Green Bay bridge renamed in his honor on Saturday
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| Photo by: Eric Crest |
GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) - On Saturday morning at 11:00 am, legendary Packer's quarterback Bart Starr will be honored in Green Bay with the renaming of the Walnut Street Bridge. The ceremony will take place on the east end of the Walnut Street Bridge, now known as Cherry Landing; a reference to Starr's wife who is scheduled to be in attendance.
At the ceremony, guest speakers from Starr's family and local politicians will address Packer's fans in attendance and announce the bridge's new name, The Bart Starr Memorial Bridge. All are welcome and local businesses are optimistic that it will bring some additional traffic to the downtown region.
Friday, October 22, 2021
NIH Admits Funding Gain-Of-Function COVID Experiments; Gives EcoHealth Five Days To Report Data
A top NIH official admitted in a Wednesday letter that the US-funded so-called "gain-of-function" research in Wuhan, China - and that the US nonprofit which conducted it, EcoHealth Alliance - led by the controversial Peter Daszak, "failed to report" that they had created a chimeric bat coronavirus which could infect humans.
In a letter addressed to Rep. James Comer (R-KY), NIH Principal Deputy Director Lawrence A. Tabak cites a "limited experiment" to determine whether "spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model." According to the letter, humanized mice infected with the modified bat virus "became sicker" than those exposed to an unmodified version of the same bat coronavirus.
Daszak failed to report this finding, and has been given five days to submit "any and all unpublished data from the experiments and work conducted" under the NIH grant.
Rutgers University Board of Governors Chemistry Professor Richard H. Ebright sums it up. :
While Tabak's letter goes to great lengths to insist that EcoHealth's work couldn't have produced SARS-CoV-2, it absolutely vindicates Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who Fauci repeatedly called a liar in July for accusing him of funding GoF research in Wuhan, China.
As we noted in September, proof that the US funded of GoF research was blown wide open thanks to materials (here and here) released through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by The Intercept against the National Institutes of Health, revealing that EcoHealth was paid to make chimeric SARS-based Covid that they confirmed could infect human cells.
While evidence of this research has been pointed to in published studies, the FOIA release provides a key piece to the puzzle which sheds new light on what was going on.
"This is a roadmap to the high-risk research that could have led to the current pandemic," said Gary Ruskin, executive director of U.S. Right To Know, a group that has been investigating the origins of Covid-19 (via The Intercept).
We also learned in September that 18 months before the Pandemic, Daszak applied for a grant to release enhanced airborne coronaviruses into the wild in an effort to inoculate them against diseases that could have otherwise jumped to humans, according to The Telegraph, citing leaked grant proposals from 2018.
New documents show that just 18 months before the first Covid-19 cases appeared, researchers had submitted plans to release skin-penetrating nanoparticles containing “novel chimeric spike proteins” of bat coronaviruses into cave bats in Yunnan, China.
They also planned to create chimeric viruses, genetically enhanced to infect humans more easily, and requested $14million from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa) to fund the work.
Daszak hoped to use genetic engineering to cobble "human-specific cleavage sites" onto bat Covid 'which would make it easier for the virus to enter human cells' - and included plans to commingle high-risk natural coronaviruses strains with more infectious, yet less deadly versions. His 'bat team' of researchers included Dr. Shi Zhengli from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, as well as US researchers from the University of North Carolina and the US Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center.
Darpa refused the contract - saying "It is clear that the proposed project led by Peter Daszak could have put local communities at risk," while warning that Daszak hadn't fully considered the dangers involved in enhancing the virus via gain-of-function research, or by releasing a vaccine into the air.
Angus Dalgleish, Professor of Oncology at St Georges, University of London, who struggled to get work published showing that the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) had been carrying out “gain of function” work for years before the pandemic, said the research may have gone ahead even without the funding.
“This is clearly a gain of function, engineering the cleavage site and polishing the new viruses to enhance human cell infectibility in more than one cell line,” he said. -Telegraph
In short, after a massive drop of receipts proved that Fauci, and his boss Francis Collins, lied, the NIH itself has finally acknowledged funding Gain-of-Function research.
About 440 Advocate Aurora Health workers leave over mandate
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DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — About 440 employees at Advocate Aurora Health have either left the health care company or have been fired for not complying with a vaccine mandate.
The hospital group said Thursday that the affected workers who represent less than 1% of Advocate Aurora's workforce "were not in compliance and have parted ways with the organization." About half of the 440 employees were not full-time employees and were scheduled on an "as-needed basis." Advocate Aurora Health represents 26 hospitals and 500 care sites in Illinois and Wisconsin.
From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/about-440-advocate-aurora-health-workers-leave-over-mandate
Officer-involved shooting in Kenosha Co.; K-9 wounded, suspect in custody
BRISTOL, Wis. - Kenosha County Sheriff's Department deputies and detectives are investigating an officer-involved shooting at the Benson Corners gas station. That is at the corner of State Highway 50 and US 45.
Officials say the suspect – a white male – is in custody. There is no threat to the community.
According to officials, deputies were called to the gas station around 11 a.m. in an attempt to find a stolen vehicle that was reportedly involved in a Chicago homicide. The suspect was located at a Shell gas station in the homicide victim's vehicle.
Officer-involved shooting at Kenosha County gas station
According to Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth, three deputies arrived on the scene -- and conducted a high-risk traffic stop. They called out orders to the suspect to put his hands up. The suspect did not follow those orders -- and took off running. Deputies were heard on body camera video shouting to the suspect to drop his weapon.
At some point, K-9 Riggs was released and captured the suspect just before running onto State Highway 50 -- while the suspect still had a gun in his hand. Riggs took the suspect to the ground. Unfortunately, Riggs suffered a gunshot wound.
Kenosha County K-9 Riggs
Sheriff Beth said deputies did fire more than one shot at the suspect. The suspect was hit -- and did suffer a couple of gunshot wounds. Deputies then immediately handcuffed the suspect and immediately began first aid. The suspect was then transported to the hospital for treatment.
K-9 Riggs was taken to an emergency vet – and underwent surgery.
"Riggs has done an outstanding job -- and in a lot of ways, he's a hero today because he at least initially took the suspect down, kept him from running onto Highway 50, a felon with a handgun," said Sheriff Beth. "Who knows what the felon would have done? Who knows if he would have gone up there and tried carjacking somebody at gunpoint? In my world, Riggs is a hero and possibly saved someone else from being injured today."
The Racine County Sheriff’s Office has been asked to investigate the incident. All the deputies involved in this matter will be on administrative leave, the sheriff said.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/officer-involved-shooting-in-kenosha-county-suspect-in-custody
Thursday, October 21, 2021
Man fatally shoots 2, injures 2, then kills himself: Kenosha police
KENOSHA — Three people including a pregnant woman were killed and two others critically injured in a mass shooting in Kenosha late Tuesday night. Police described the shooting was a result of a domestic dispute.
Police said in a statement the three people who were fatally shot were 18-year-old Marian Pizarro, 17-year-old Sebastian Perez-Alvarez, and 24-year-old suspect Jostin Gutierrez-Pagan. The two surviving victims have been identified as 35-year-old Luz Pizarro-Perez and a 14-year-old juvenile, who will not be named, police said.
Police say Jostin Guitierrez-Pagan shot his girlfriend, Luz Pizarro-Perez, and three of her children, before turning the gun on himself.
Luz survived the shooting, but is in critical condition. Her daughter, Marian Pizarro, did not survive the shooting.
Police confirm Marian was pregnant. Marian’s boyfriend, Sebastian Perez-Alvarez, was also killed in the shooting.
Luz’s 14-year-old son also survived the shooting, but has critical injuries.
All of the victims and the suspect lived together at the home where the crime occurred, on 40th Place between 6th and 7th Avenues. Neighbors describe it as a very quiet, tight-knit neighborhood just blocks from Lake Michigan. They are in shock.
“I heard a woman screaming ‘my daughter, my daughter, my baby, my daughter,’” said one neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
“I could hear the woman screaming blood curdling screams saying, ‘It’s not supposed to be this way,’” said another neighbor.
Police say all that could be heard in the initial 911 call was unintelligible screaming.
Kenosha Police also confirm to TMJ4 that they did respond to a domestic disturbance at the same home last December. They say in that case, Jostin Gutierrez-Pagan had broken a window of a car in the driveway, and was sitting in the house with a handgun and loaded magazine next to him. He was allegedly angry after being stopped by Racine Police for a traffic violation. Kenosha Police say he had the proper conceal-carry permit, and had no criminal record. No arrests were made.
“No one would expect this,” said Juanita, who lives a few houses down. “I’m just praying for everyone involved, and that things get better.”
But for so many, it seems like things are only getting worse.
Not far away, in Racine, six people were shot and wounded Sunday.
And it’s been a particularly tough year for Kenosha County. With Tuesday night’s mass shooting, Kenosha County has now recorded at least 15 homicides this year. The county typically sees about five homicides total per year.
This is also the second mass shooting in Kenosha County in the past six months. On April 18, a gunman walked into a bar in the Village of Somers and shot six men. Three of them died.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian released a statement Wednesday acknowledging the current hardships people are facing - including the pandemic - are escalating conflict in many households:
“As a community, we are shocked and saddened by this senseless loss of life. This year we have had 12 homicides and two-thirds of the cases have been results of domestic violence. The current hardships people are facing – including the pandemic – seems to haveescalated conflict in some households. If you know of someone in crisis, please consider sharing community resources to find them the help they need."
Police reminded those struggling with mental illness or other stress-related conditions, a Crisis hotline can be reached at 262-657-7188. Women and Children’s Horizons offers help for those dealing with domestic violence and can be reached at 262-652-9900.
Racine Police find guns, drugs, and money after performing 18 search warrants
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Racine Police Photo by: Racine PD |
RACINE — Racine Police performed 18 search warrants on members of the gangs, Gangster Disciples, and Vice Lords, on Wednesday.
According to Racine Police a "large amount of controlled substances, currency, weapons, and assets were recovered as part of the investigation." Officials did not specify what kind of substances, weapons, or other assets were found.
In addition to the seizures, "numerous federal indictments" were made.
Agencies ranging from the F.B.I to the Tennessee Highway Patrol participated in the search warrants.
Kenosha shooting: 3 dead, 2 wounded in domestic-related incident
KENOSHA, Wis. - Three people are dead and two others in critical condition following a shooting in Kenosha near 6th Avenue and 40th Place on Tuesday night, Oct. 19.
Kenosha authorities identified those killed as Marian Pizarro, 18, who was pregnant; Pizarro's boyfriend, Sebastian Perez-Alvarez, 17; and Jostin Gutierrez-Pagan, 24 -- identified as the shooter. The two surviving victims were identified as Luz Pizarro-Perez, 35; and a 14-year-old who will not be named.
It was about 10:40 p.m. when the first 911 call came in. Officials said all that could be heard on the initial call was a lot of unintelligible screaming. Dispatchers were able to locate an address and sent officers.
Police arrived to find three people dead inside the home, along with two other individuals with critical injuries. One surviving victim was taken via Flight For Life to a hospital. The other surviving victim was transported to a nearby hospital.
Officials said this appears to have been a domestic-related incident. Police believe the shooter lived in the home with the victims, including his girlfriend, Luz Pizarro-Perez.
"It’s so close to home. It’s shocking. It’s… I don’t know," said Juanita Sykes. "I started crying, you know. It’s just sad."
"It’s kind of sad that people are on that much of an edge that they’re acting violently like that," said Ned Leuchter.
"A tragedy like this is beyond comprehension," said Interim Kenosha Police Chief Eric Larsen.
Kenosha Mayor John Antaramian issued the following statement in a news release:
"As a community, we are shocked and saddened by this senseless loss of life. This year we have had 12 homicides and two-thirds of the cases have been results of domestic violence. The current hardships people are facing – including the pandemic – seems to have escalated conflict in some households. If you know of someone in crisis, please consider sharing community resources to find them the help they need."
Resources for victims of domestic violence
With investigators piecing together what happened Tuesday night in Kenosha, domestic violence victims' advocates say the need for prevention has only increased amid the coronavirus pandemic and that domestic violence is a problem that's not unique to Kenosha.
"Domestic violence and sexual violence have always been issues, and they’re always in the community and they’re something you can never stop working," said Byron Wright, interim director at Women and Children's Horizons in Kenosha.
The organization aims to prevent domestic violence.
"What we’ve kind of told people about COVID is ‘safe at home,’" said Wright. "Well, if you’re in a domestic violence situation, you’re not safe at home, and then you’re spending more time at home."
Wright says it's important for victims to reach out and be aware of their situation – and to also realize they're not alone, because help is out there.
For those struggling with mental illness or other stress-related conditions, a Crisis hotline can be reached at 262-657-7188. Women and Children’s Horizons offers help for those dealing with domestic violence and can be reached at 262-652-9900.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/kenosha-shooting-3-dead-2-wounded-in-domestic-related-incident