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Racine Zoo mourns loss of 5-year-old African penguin Nelson
From The Journal Times.com:
Milana Doné
Milana Doné
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Nelson, an African penguin at the Racine Zoo, passed away June 3 following a terminal illness. |
RACINE — Nelson, a 5-year-old African penguin who was born at The Racine Zoo on March 6, 2021, and could be recognized by his orange band and hunched back, has died.
Two days after Nelson hatched, he was joined by his twin brother, Ozzy, according to a news release from the zoo.
The zoo described them as a sweet, chaotic pair that sought love, attention and trouble. The penguins continued to recognize each other as brothers even as they grew into adulthood.
When Nelson was a chick, he developed a spinal infection that impacted the growth of his spine and resulted in a hunched posture, the zoo said. Although medical intervention was able to cure his infection, the shape of Nelson’s spine was permanent.
Nelson was able to do everything a normal penguin would, and the zoo prioritized a happy, healthy and comfortable life through special veterinary care, such as acupuncture treatments.
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According to the zoo, Nelson formed more of a bonded relationship with hiskeepers than any of the other penguins. He clung to their shoes and responded to scratches with his own “preening” of the keepers’ fingers.
The zoo said animal care staff recently noticed changes in Nelson’s behavior and appetite that indicated something was wrong.
After exams determined a terminal illness, staff considered quality of life and declining condition. Nelson was euthanized June 3 surrounded by the animal care team, who the zoo said will remember and miss him.
African penguins live along the coast of South Africa and are the only species of penguins that live on the continent.
Their typical lifespan is 15-20 years in the wild and 20-30 years or longer in human care.
From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/article_a6fdf43b-88e6-4bfe-b2cb-929eec2ba897.html
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Teachers Gone Wild: Florida teacher tied to Milwaukee-area Catholic schools faces federal charges
From JSOnline:
Kayla Huynh
Kayla Huynh
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A former Milwaukee teacher and coach is facing two federal charges related to child sexual abuse images, according to court documents filed in Florida district court.
Authorities say Patrick Conor Russell, a 37-year-old teacher in south Florida, told federal agents he has never touched a child inappropriately but said he engaged in inappropriate conversations about children, some of which were sexual in nature, and requested images and videos of minors. He told agents he has been "battling" this for a while, the complaint said.
The FBI arrested Russell on federal charges involving the receipt and possession of child sexual abuse material.
The complaint, filed May 28 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, said Russell told another user on a private messaging app that he was a teacher and coach and wanted to find someone who could “bait” the students at his school into sending nude pictures.
Russell appeared to have sent the user images of students at his school and made sexually explicit comments about them, according to the complaint.
Before relocating to Florida, Russell worked in multiple educational and athletic positions within Milwaukee-area Catholic schools. The schools include Marquette University High School and Catholic Memorial High School in Waukesha, as well as Carmen Southeast High School, a public charter school, according to the advocacy group Nate's Mission.
In a statement, a Marquette High School spokesperson said Russell was a former assistant football and lacrosse coach from 2018 to 2024.
"Based on the information currently available, the reported charges relate to his time in Florida," the spokesperson said. "The charges do not indicate misconduct involving MUHS students, and we have not received any reports or allegations involving Mr. Russell during his time as assistant coach."
"We have also contacted the former students and families of teams that he coached," the spokesperson said. "The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority, and we encourage anyone who may have more information or concerns to report them and contact law enforcement."
In a news release, Nate's Mission, an advocacy group aiming to end clergy abuse in Wisconsin, urged state authorities to investigate Russell's work in the Milwaukee area.
"Wisconsin law does not require religious institutions to report suspected child abuse or related misconduct in the same manner as many other organizations serving children, creating significant gaps in accountability and oversight," the group said. "As a result, there is no assurance that allegations, concerns, or potential crimes would have been reported to law enforcement or disclosed when employees moved between institutions."
Caroline Clancy, a public affairs officer for the FBI's Milwaukee office, said the case is being handled in the Southern District of Florida and referred questions there.
Nate's Mission also referenced a series of sexual abuse cases within the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and past attempts to cover up misconduct. The group said law enforcement should independently review any serious allegations involving Catholic clergy or educators to determine whether earlier warning signs or victims may be connected to the case.
Russell is scheduled to appear in federal court June 12 for a preliminary hearing or arraignment, according to online court records.
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @_kaylahuynh.
Kayla Huynh's reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.
The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.
Milwaukee health officials monitoring 3 who returned from Ebola-affected area
From JSOnline:
Madeline Heim
Madeline Heim
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Milwaukee health officials are in communication with three people who recently traveled to the city from central Africa, where a fast-growing Ebola outbreak has infected more than 1,000 people.
The travelers are at very low risk of infection and there is currently no danger to the public, Milwaukee Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis said at a June 3 Board of Health meeting.
Ebola is a virus that causes severe inflammation, tissue damage and internal bleeding. It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids of an infected person, and has on average a 50% fatality rate.
The current outbreak, caused by a strain of the virus called Bundibugyo, is centered in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with cases also reported in Uganda. The first case was confirmed in April.
In May, federal agencies in the U.S. put in place screenings and other security measures for people traveling back from countries affected by the outbreak. They are being rerouted to four U.S. airports for additional screening in Virginia, Atlanta, Houston and New York.
Travelers without symptoms receive information about monitoring their health for 21 days after departing the affected areas and continue to their final destinations – as was the case with the three people now in Milwaukee, Totoraitis said.
Health department staff are checking in with the three people multiple times per week, Totoraitis said. None have needed further screening or any medical attention.
The city monitored several people returning from west Africa during the last Ebola outbreak between 2014 and 2016, Totoraitis said.
According to the CDC, there have been 62 confirmed deaths in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to the virus and one confirmed death in Uganda. Because the Bundibugyo strain is rare, initial surveillance and testing did not pick it up, leading to early uncontrolled spread.
The region is also fighting the outbreak amid active conflict and mistrust of health care and aid workers, according to World Health Organization officials.
The risk to the American public is low.
Madeline Heim covers public health and environmental issues for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at 920-996-7266 or mheim@usatodayco.com.
What's happening in Racine County this summer?
From The Journal Times.com:
The summer months have arrived and it’s time to start thinking of what to do and where to go to keep yourselves occupied.
There are many local events planned in Racine County this summer, including several which will continue for a number of weeks that may be of interest.
Among Racine and Racine County events are:
- Burlington Farmers Market (June 4 – Sept. 24): The Burlington Farmers Market, 517 Congress St., Burlington, will be held from June – September every Thursday from 3 – 7 p.m. Admission is free. The market will have various food items, food trucks, as well as weekly live music.
- Racine Farmers Market (May – Oct. 24): The Racine Farmers Market held at Festival Park, 5 Fifth St., Racine, began on May 9 and will run every Saturday through Oct. 24, with over 60 vendors offering a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and other delicacies. It is located at Festival Park, 5 Fifth St. in Racine.
- Fun & Food on First (June through Sept. 28): Fun & Foot on First will run through every Monday through Sept. 28 in Waterford, 100 First St. from 5 – 8 p.m. The annual tradition offers food trucks, vendor markets, and weekly entertainment.
- Bend & Brew (through Sept. 30): Bend & Brew is back for its ninth season in Racine. The events consist of free yoga every Wednesday and Saturday overlooking Lake Michigan. It will be held at the Reefpoint Marina’s grassy park area from 6-6:45 p.m. Wednesdays and from 8-8:45 a.m. Saturdays. Following each session, a certificate will be provided for a free coffee, beer, or drink at 10-plus local participating businesses.
- Free Kids’ Day: Art “250” at the Wustum Museum (Friday, June 12): This one-day event at the museum in Racine runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will offer hands-on projects, scavenger hunts, and games in and outside the museum revolving around 250 years of handcrafted creativity.
- Racine Harborfest (Friday, June 12, Saturday, June 13): Racine Harborfest, re-established in 2025, is back for a two-day music festival held at Festival Park from 4-11 p.m., including food and beverages. All money will go towards Pink Paddling Power, which provides education and support for breast cancer survivors throughout Racine and Racine County, and Relay for Life of Southeast Wisconsin (No One Faces Cancer Alone).
- Greater Racine BBQ Invitational (Saturday, June 27): The fourth annual Greater Racine BBQ will be held at Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave, from 2-9 p.m. on Saturday, June 27. The event supports the Veterans Outreach of Wisconsin. Award-winning barbeque vendors will be in attendance, as well as live music, craft beer, and yard games. No carry-in alcohol is allowed.
- Saturday Sounds (Saturdays, June 27 to Aug. 29): Saturday Sounds is an opportunity to jam out to some free, live music in Monument Square, 502 Main St, Racine, from 4:30-7:30 p.m. each Saturday. Tables and chairs will be provided, as well as drinks that are available for purchase.
- Summer Camp at the Wisconsin Humane Society (Monday, July 6, to Friday, Aug. 24): Available for kids first-nighth grade,animal lovers can enjoy crafts, games, and meet and interact with several animals throughout the week. Camp Critters (first- third grade) will be offered July 13-17 and Aug. 10-14. Camp Unleased (fourth-sixth grade) runs from July 6-10 and July 20-24. Junior Veterinary Camp (sixth-ninth grade) will be held Aug. 3-7. Location: 8900 16th St., Mt. Pleasant.
- Salmon-A-Rama (Thursday, July 9 through Sunday, July 19): The nine-day fishing tournament in Racine is open Lake Michigan-wide. The grand prize is $50,000 with a nearly a total of $200,000 in prize payouts. Held at Festival Park for 10 consecutive days, there will be two bands (The Cheap Shots, Broken Forty5), raffles, kid’s games, fireworks, kids fishing pond and food and beverages.
- Taco Fest of Racine (Saturday, July 18): Franksville Memorial Park, 9614 Northwestern Ave, will hold the seventh annual Taco Fest from 1-9 p.m. Taco trucks and Taco restaurants are invited and there will be 20-plus craft beers on tap. Live music will be playing throughout the day. Admission is free.
- Midwest Beach Championships (Saturday, Aug. 1): Open to junior teams and boys and girls, Epic Volleyball Club will be hosting the Midwest Beach Championships on North Beach in Racine from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1. Great Lakes Watercross will also be hosting a jet ski closed course through Aug. 1-2.
- Car, Truck, & Bike Show (Thursday, Aug. 5): The Racine Zoo, 2131 N. Main St., will be hosting the Car, Truck, & Bike Show for all ages from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be more than 250 vehicles with a total of 75 awards being handed out. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Racine man accused of inflicting fatal injuries on 22-month-old boy
From The Journal Times.com:
RACINE — A 28-year-old Racine man was charged Tuesday in connection with the death of his girlfriend's son.
Jordan Keith faces one count of first degree reckless homicide.
The charge is a count B felony, which could result in up to 60 years in prison upon conviction.
According to a Racine Police Department news release, Children's Hospital in Milwaukee contacted Racine dispatch at about 8:47 p.m. May 18 to report a case of alleged child abuse.
A 22-month-old boy, Joriel Ramirez-Rodriguez, who had suffered significant head trauma, had been taken to Ascension Hospital and then flown to Children's Hospital. The boy died May 27.
RPD arrested Keith, the mother's live-in boyfriend.
According to a criminal complaint, Ramirez-Rodriguez was brought to the hospital after he was unresponsive at home. He had injuries that included bleeding and swelling in brain, inflammation of the lung and extensive bruising.
The injuries were consistent with physical child abuse, the complaint said.
After interviewing Keith and Ramirez-Rodriguez's mother, investigators determined Keith was home with the child for about 20-30 minutes. They concluded that, based on the the day's events, the only time the injuries could have happened was when Ramirez-Rodriguez was solely in Keith's care.
Both Keith and the child's mother reportedly told investigators Keith did not cause the injuries.
Keith initially appeared in court Tuesday, where his cash bond was set at $100,000.
A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 10.
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