Saturday, March 5, 2022
Racine Firefighter Christopher Lalor funeral, service remembered
RACINE, Wis. - Longtime Racine Firefighter Christopher Lalor was laid to rest Friday, March 4 after he was found killed in his home last month.
People who worked alongside Lalor remember him as helpful, hardworking and caring toward his community. His community cared for him, too, and came out for a service in his memory at Racine's Festival Hall.
There, a procession began – paying tribute to the firefighter who had more than 20 years of service with the Racine Fire Department. While firetrucks lit up the streets, a reception awaited outside his old station.
Lalor was like a brother not just to Racine firefighters, but to those from surrounding departments as well.
"When a tragedy like this happens, it reminds us that we lost a brother today," said South Shore Firefighter Nathan Elderbrook. "Tragedy like this reaches deep enough – they felt the need to come out here and pay their respects."
Christopher Lalor
Friday's funeral procession was an example of solidarity.
"We might not have known him, (but) we can imagine if we did how hard that would be," Elderbrook said. "I can only imagine what the guys that worked with him every day are feeling."
Elderbrook and other South Shore firefighters were not part of the procession. After the loss of Lalor, they had another role to fill. The department took over services at Lalor's old station, so the firefighters he worked with could attend Friday's services.
"If that would happen with one of our crew members, we’d love to be able to do the same thing," said South Shore Firefighter Corey Pipp.
It was a helping hand they were glad to extend.
"It was sad but very rewarding at the same time, knowing we’re giving the members that served with him their time to grieve undistracted," South Shore Fire Lt. John Omelina said.
Procession for Racine Firefighter Christopher Lalor
That time to grieve was all made possible by those in service – keeping the lights on at Lalor's old station.
"Though we might not all work together under the same roof, or even know each other personally, when a tragedy like this happens it reminds us all we all serve the community in the same purpose," said Elderbrooks.
As to what led up to Lalor's death, his family told police that the suspect was a long-time friend and former roommate. That suspect, identified as Peter Lui, is also dead – found in Florida with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-funeral-firefighter-christopher-lalor-honored
Friday, March 4, 2022
New Study: COVID Can Infect Men's Genitals, Cause Infertility and Erectile Dysfunction
It's been some months since Nicki Minaj and others amplified the falsehood that COVID vaccines made men's testicles swell up. And now some researchers have found that the COVID-19 virus gets into the penis, prostate, and testicles of some men, and can cause long-term problems with their sexual health and fertility.
There's a good deal of Venn diagram overlap between anti-vaxxers, COVID deniers, and macho Republican and libertarian men who think the virus is no match for them and their great, Trumpian personal strength. But wait til they hear their bouts with COVID might give them some trouble getting their dicks hard!
A pre-print, non-peer-reviewed study in the journal Northwestern Medicine reveals that "multiple tissues of the male genital tract can be infected with SARS-CoV-2," and the finding is based on PET scans of COVID-infected rhesus macaques. (The primates have been found to have similar disease progression to humans when infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and are therefore used as study subjects.) Researchers say they expected mostly to find the virus present in the upper nose and brain area — which would be the reason that COVID patients often lose their sense of taste or smell. But they found it also present in 10 to 20 percent of male subjects' genitals — specifically in the prostate, the vasculature of testicles, the penis and the testicles.
Green Bay Common Council reduces penalties for possession of marijuana
GREEN BAY (NBC 26) — The Green Bay Common Council voted unanimously Tuesday to lower the penalty for possession of marijuana. The council approved an ordinance that reduces the citation for possession of 28 grams or less down to $0, excluding $61 in court costs. The same change applies to the citation for consumption of marijuana so long as it’s in a private space.
The penalties for consumption of marijuana in public and possession of more than 28 grams, which both carry a maximum citation of $500, will remain the same.
In addition, the ordinance also sets a new penalty for possession of marijuana paraphernalia. While it previously carried the same penalty as possession of all other drug paraphernalia, this ordinance will make it so that the citation for possession of marijuana paraphernalia is equivalent to the citation for possession of marijuana.
A separate section of the ordinance addresses persons under 21 years of age. Anyone under 21-years-old who is in possession of 28 grams or less, is in possession of marijuana paraphernalia, or who consumes marijuana may receive a maximum citation of $100, or $187 including court costs, regardless of whether they are in a public or private space.
One reason why many support loosening the penalties for marijuana use is that they disproportionately affect people of color. Last week, the Green Bay Law Department released demographics surrounding the city's marijuana charges. While the Black community represents just 5% of Green Bay’s population, they make up about 26% of cannabis related-arrests.
However, others may be more hesitant to relax the restrictions. Alderperson John Vanderleest voiced his concern about reducing the fines at a Protection and Policy Committee meeting last week, citing an accident involving marijuana consumption that killed two on Packerland Drive two years ago.
"We should keep it a little bit higher so that people realize that it’s not really a legal drug to be using,” Vanderleest said.
Lieutenant Steve Mahony says the Green Bay Police Department will continue to enforce marijuana penalties as normal. Although fines may be lower, he says officers will continue to use their discretion when issuing citations.
“We’re not going to change any of our enforcement action," Mahony said. "We’re going to instruct our officers to enforce it the way they have before. We don’t set the fines, we just enforce the ordinances.”
Assistant City Attorney Rachel Maes says the amended penalties need to have a second reading, which will take place on March 15th. The changes would go into effect upon publication within a few days of the second reading.
How close is Wisconsin to legalizing medical marijuana? TMJ4 takes a 360 look
MILWAUKEE — More people than ever in Wisconsin want to see pot legalized, according to a new poll. The Marquette Law School poll shows 61 percent of voters want marijuana to be legalized compared to 50 percent of voters back in 2013.
When it comes to legalization of marijuana by party affiliation, 51 percent of Republicans and 75 percent of Democrats support it.
Marquette did not ask specifically how people felt about medical marijuana like it has done in the past. There are two competing bills by Democrats and Republicans in Madison over whether to legalize medical marijuana. Both offer different restrictions on legalizing pot for medical purposes.
TMJ4 News takes a 360 look, examining all sides of the issues of medical marijuana, by talking to a local sheriff worried about the legal problems it could bring to the state, lawmakers on both sides of the aisle who have now put up bills, and a mother whose daughter suffers from a rare disease and wants to try marijuana as a treatment.
Megan Lowe’s 13-year-old daughter Nora likes butterflies and gardening. Nora also suffers from a rare neurological disorder called Rett Syndrome.
“My daughter could be seizure free if we drove 75 miles in either direction“ said Lowe.
Megan says her daughter, who is confined to a wheelchair, faces a variety of symptoms along with seizures, including uncontrollable hand motions, painful involuntary muscle contractions, breathing issues and gastrointestinal problems. Megan says Rett Syndrome attacks every system of the body, but there have been children who have seen their symptoms improve with medical marijuana.
"If she could get off some prescriptions that she's on that make her a complete zombie during the day, and then she's up all night,” said Megan Lowe.
Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth understands those concerns, but also worries medical marijuana could be a gateway drug leading to more drug-related crimes.
"You have the black market. You have the cartels from Mexico coming up, and rather than shipping it up, they start producing it in those home states and they just do black market. They don't do it like Wisconsin would like to do or like Illinois likes to do,” said Beth.
On top of that, Beth anticipates Wisconsin’s problem with driving under the influence to get worse with more drugged driving.
"Legalizing it is not going to make Wisconsin better, and for the legislators that are looking forward to one point, whatever billion dollars that Illinois makes in throwing that into the coffers here in Wisconsin, you're just adding more complications,” said Beth.
Wisconsin is one of 13 states where marijuana is not legalized either medically or recreationally.
In a 2019 Marquette Law School poll, 83 percent of Wisconsin voters said they support legalizing medical marijuana. And so do many top Democrat and Republican leaders.
Republican State Representative Pat Snyder sponsored a bill that would create a medical marijuana regulatory commission.
"The commission would then be able to certify licenses to medical doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners,” said Snyder. “This has to be certain considers, ALS, cancer, PTSD and some things the medical society deems fit under this."
Patients would be able to get marijuana in either pill, liquid or ointment form, but they would not be allowed to smoke it or grow it in homes.
A bill sponsored by Democrat Senator Jon Erpenbach allows both of those things. His bill also would include a licensing process overseen by the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection.
"There would be regulation involved, there would be oversight involved. There would be a list of what would qualify and what wouldn't. And that would be decided by doctors,” said Erpenbach.
The Democratic sponsored bill would not include a tax. The Republican sponsored bill would tax producers who sell to dispensaries. But not patients.
"I don't know why you would call something medical and then tax it. If you call it somebody's medicine you shouldn't be taxing it,” said Erpenbach.
Neither party’s bill has received a hearing in Madison, which is a crucial next step.
“If we get a hearing and hear the positives and negatives we might be able to really attack it next January and get it done,” said Snyder.
The Assembly has already said they are done with floor session for the year. The Senate plans to be in session until March 9th. But it remains unlikely that either will be get a hearing. That means any medical marijuana law is unlikely to be voted on before 2023.
First Black historical museum, cultural center being planned in Racine
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| Photo by: mahoganygallery.com/aboutmbacc |
RACINE, Wisc. — A Racine non-profit is planning to build the city's first Black historical museum and cultural center.
Mahogany Black Art & Cultural Center Incorporated is planning to create Racine's first permanent and physical home for the preservation, research, and exhibition of Racine County Black history.
According to a news release, a lot of historical contribution of the Black experience in Racine County has disappeared or not sufficiently been documented and preserved.
The center will feature physical exhibits, artifacts, photographs, art, literature, an archive of digital oral histories.
"Now is an exciting time to reinvigorate the legacies by educating and sharing our historical experiences as a Black community. We have been an integral part of the history of Racine County since its humble beginnings and now, more than ever is the time to create a permanent, physical home for the preservation, exhibition and research of Racine County Black history" states CEO and founder Scott Terry.
Thursday, March 3, 2022
Marquette poll shows 61% of Wisconsinites in favor of marijuana legalization
51% of Republicans now in support
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Photo by: Paul Sancya/AP |
MILWAUKEE — A new Marquette Law School Poll survey of state voters found that 61% of Wisconsinites, the highest number yet, are in support of marijuana legalization.
Results of the poll were announced Wednesday.
The poll also revealed 51% of Republicans now support it. When the question was first asked in 2013, only 43% of Republicans were in support of marijuana legalization. Democrats were at 53% in 2013 and jumped to 75% in 2022.
Trends show 31% of people in Wisconsin are currently opposed to legalizing marijuana.
- Legalizing marijuana gaining momentum in Wisconsin
- Wisconsin's border states are making big revenue on legalized marijuana
- Evers vetoes bill increasing marijuana penalties
Earlier this month, the push to legalize marijuana in the state was given bipartisan support. However, backers of the bills that would make it legal for either medical or recreational use say it won't happen this year.
Every neighboring state has legalized marijuana to some degree. There are bills from Democrats and Republicans that would legalize medical marijuana, from Democrats that would also legalize it for recreational use, and a bipartisan measure that would decriminalize the possession of marijuana.
To view the detailed results of the February 2022 Marquette Law School Poll, click here.
Study finds Aaron Rodgers to be the 'most despised person' in the NFL
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Photo by: Aaron Gash/AP |
Who is the most hated person associated with the NFL?
It isn't the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Antonio Brown, though he came in second. It also isn't longtime New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. (He came in third).
A semi-scientific Twitter study found our very own Aaron Rodgers to be the most despised person in the NFL.
The Green Bay Packers quarterback has made national headlines on and off the field for the past year. In return, that generated a lot of buzz on Twitter.
According to BetOnline's staff who conducted the study, the conclusion was derived after more than a million tweets were analyzed by keyword association.
"Negative phrases such as "I hate Aaron Rodgers," "Antonio Brown sucks," "F**ck Roger Goodell," "Cam Newton is horrible," etc. were included in the study that spanned the month of December," Stuff Media Group said in a statement. " January and February were not included so the findings wouldn't be swayed by the playoff participants."
Rodgers had 266,850 negative tweets about him during the month of December. That is more than double the amount Brown had in second place. Brown had 107,379 negative tweets.
Non-players also made the top 20, including Roger Goodell, Jackson Mahomes, Dan Snyder, Robert Kraft, and Brittany Matthews.
Judge rules against Vos, Gableman in open records lawsuit
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| Robin Vos; Michael Gableman |
MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin judge on Wednesday ruled that Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos and former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman denied or delayed access to requested public records related to the investigation into the 2020 presidential election.
Dane County Circuit Judge Frank Remington put his ruling on hold pending a hearing on Tuesday.
Remington also ruled that Vos and Gableman would be responsible for covering legal costs of the liberal group American Oversight that brought the lawsuit. He also fined Vos, Gableman and the Assembly $1,000 each, fines that would likely be paid by taxpayers if they stand.
Remington in January ordered that records requested by American Oversight be turned over by Jan. 31 and he would decide at next week's hearing whether to make them public.
American Oversight has filed three lawsuits seeking records related to the investigation. Gableman presented his latest report on Tuesday and said the investigation would continue.
Remington said in his ruling Wednesday that Vos's and Gableman's "denials, delays, and refusals violate the letter and the spirit of Wisconsin’s public records law."
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/judge-vos-gableman-open-records-lawsuit
Kenosha Walmart disorderly conduct charges: Racine woman accused
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| Magdalena Ciechanowski |
KENOSHA, Wis. - A 42-year-old Racine woman is now charged in connection with an incident that was captured on video at a Kenosha Walmart. The accused is Magdalena Ciechanowski – and she faces the following criminal counts:
- Criminal damage to property
- Disorderly conduct
According to the criminal complaint, Kenosha County sheriff's deputies responded to the Kenosha Walmart around 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28 regarding a "disorderly conduct complaint." The court paperwork says a "female was throwing candles and yelling 'Black lives matter' in the store. She left in a white vehicle with Illinois plates prior to the deputies arriving.
A detective reported that cellphone video was captured of the incident involving the woman. It had been posted to social media.
The complaint says the manager at the Walmart stated the woman had damaged "a considerable amount of merchandise at the store." He told investigators the woman was "throwing candles down the aisle and yelling."
On Tuesday, March 1, still photographs of the woman were taken from the video and placed on the Kenosha County Sheriff's Department Facebook page. A tip indicated a woman was at a Walgreens in Racine when "the same female acted in a similar manner, throwing items at patrons and staff," the complaint says. In this instance, law enforcement was able to get a license plate from the vehicle the woman was driving. With this license, they were able to identify the woman as Ciechanowski.
Another tip later came into law enforcement saying Ciechanowski was at a halfway house in Racine. A deputy with Racine police officers responded to that halfway house -- and placed her under arrest. The complaint says the "defendant denied being at Walmart and asked to speak with her lawyer."
Ciechanowski made her initial appearance in Kenosha County court on Wednesday, March 2. A signature bond of $500 was set by the court. Ciechanowski is due back in court on April 1.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/kenosha-walmart-disorderly-conduct-charges-racine-woman
Wednesday, March 2, 2022
9-year-old Racine boy fights for his life in Mexico, the family's desperate cry for help
RACINE, Wis. — A Racine family is in desperate need of bringing their 9-year-old relative home.
Fernando Duran was vacationing in Mexico when he was severely injured in a four-wheeler accident. Now, this boy is fighting for his life in Mexico while his family in Wisconsin fights to get him home.
Fernando, also known as Nando, was known to be an energetic fourth-grade student at Gilmore Fine Arts, but now he is fighting for his life thousands of miles away in Mexico.
"He was on a four-wheeler with a cousin of his, I believe, and he fell off. He was on the back and he fell off, almost hit his head, and just had a really bad headache from it," said Katie Castaneda, Nando's aunt.
Hours later, Nando's symptoms worsened. His family rushed him to a nearby hospital in Teocaltiche, Mexico where they learned he had a brain bleed that would require surgery followed by a medically induced coma.
"Seeing him there in the bed, because he was always happy, it's just hard," said Vanessa, Nando's mother holding back tears.
To make matters more difficult, the family is now struggling with insurance issues.
"Their insurance here said if there is an emergency that happens in a different country, they would cover it but the hospital is saying that they won't take that insurance anymore that they're not accepting that insurance. Every day they're paying about $5,000 a day to the hospital, " said Castaneda.
Their hope is to fly Nando home back to the U.S in a medical helicopter. The family has created a Go Fund Me page to help cover costs.
"They're saying the cost for that is $28,000," said Castaneda.
Doctors expect Nando to be in a coma for at least the next two days. His cousins back home in Racine hope he wakes up soon and can get back to being his goofy self.
"I just hope that everything is oksy and that he comes back as himself," said Angelina Garcia, Nando's older cousin.
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Milwaukee assistant city attorney who backed Putin on Russia Today TV, worked for anti-Islamic groups is fired
The Milwaukee assistant city attorney who last week backed Russian President Vladimir Putin in an appearance on Russia Today TV and who previously worked for anti-Islamic "hate groups" is out of a job.
City Attorney Tearman Spencer's termination notice to the city's Department of Employee Relations on Monday cited only "Job performance. Poor fit." as the reason to end Jennifer DeMaster's employment with the office. The notice did not contain additional details, and neither DeMaster nor Spencer immediately responded to requests for comment Monday.
Assistant City Attorney Nicholas Zales also had his employment in the office terminated Monday, according to Department of Employee Relations Director Makda Fessahaye. That notice cites only "job performance" as the reason.
A voicemail left at a phone number listed as associated with Zales and a message through LinkedIn were not immediately returned.
Both were on a probationary status, Fessahaye said.
"I am not aware of anyone else being terminated during probation in the City Attorney's Office during my tenure," said Fessahaye, who was confirmed to her position in January 2021.
Read and see more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/02/28/milwaukee-assistant-attorney-who-backed-putin-russia-today-tv-fired-jennifer-demaster/9322215002/