Kenosha real estate sales continue to improve, but prices fall
Real estate sales in Kenosha County are up strongly over last year, but the median sales price continue to decline. According to data from the Wisconsin Realtors Association, home sales in the county have increased nearly 22 percent through April, compared with the same time last year. While sales increased, prices fell here while increasing in the region and statewide. In the county, the median sale price in the first four months of the year was $100,000, a 9 percent decline compared to the same period last year.
Tornado hits elementary school in Oklahoma
MOORE, Okla. (AP) - Authorities say an elementary school in an Oklahoma City suburb took a direct hit from a mile-wide tornado.
Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department says there is no word of injuries from the elementary school. Knight says the school suffered "extensive damage" this afternoon. He did not say which school was hit.
Work requirement would reduce state food stamp recipients
MADISON (AP) - A proposed work requirement for food stamp recipients in Wisconsin is projected to knock half of the people off the program.
Gov. Scott Walker's proposal is scheduled to be voted on Tuesday by the Legislature's Joint Finance Committee.
Judge reduces jury award in retaliation case
A federal judge ordered a Kenosha man to accept a $1.35 million reduction of the $1.8 million jurors awarded him or retry part of his retaliation case against the Department of Veterans Affairs.
District Judge William Conley ruled last week that $1.5 million in punitive damages and $300,000 compensatory damages jurors awarded Gary Wistrom last September was excessive compared to similar cases.
Two groups benefit from Randall School's fundraising efforts
Staff members put their hair on the line as an incentive for Randall School students to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
Students from the classrooms that raised the most money in the Pennies for Patients Project lopped off the locks of fourth-grade teacher Renee Sproul and pre-kindergarten aide Susie Rogness today. The school raised more than $2,900 for the cause.
More on this story at kenoshanews.com and in tomorrow's Kenosha News.
Attorney facing 5th OWI lands new charge for drinking
An attorney charged with drunken driving has been unable to abstain from alcohol, police say, racking up five bail jumping cases after being caught drinking when he had been ordered to abstain.
Charles Labanowsky, 62, was initially arrested April 30, 2012, after police said he was drunk when his car jumped a curb. He was charged with his fifth drunken-driving offense after that. The bail jumping case filed against him last week was the fourth since his 2012 arrest.
Conditions of his release from jail included that he not drink any alcohol. He is currently under a deadline of June 3 to decide whether to accept a plea deal the District Attorney's Office has offered him; if he does not accept by then, he will be heading to trial. In court today, he said he had not yet had time to contact the attorney representing him on the prior cases, and asked for two more days to line up representation.
Read more later at www.kenoshanews.com or in Tuesday's Kenosha News.
Man dies after fall from back door of party bus in Ellsworth
ELLSWORTH, Wis. (AP) - A River Falls man has died after falling out of the back of a party bus.
Police say 23-year-old Joel Velure fell out of the back door of the bus on Saturday in Ellsworth and was pronounced dead at the scene. The death remains under investigation.
New approach to local EMS training shows success
A joint effort between three community entities has seen success in a new approach to a traditional emergency medical service training program.
Students this year have been exposed to the new training process organized by leaders from the Kenosha Fire Department, Gateway Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
Kenosha Fire Department's Division Chief of EMS Jim Poltrock said in the past, Gateway had its students complete their field time with the department, but there was little organization and consistency to the process. The new approach to the program now assigns students to work with a specific EMS preceptor in order to establish a relationship and better develop their skills and evaluate students more accurately.
For more information, go to kenoshanews.com later today or see tomorrow's Kenosha News.
I-94 resurfacing extends to KR
Beginning today, I-94 from Highway 142 to Highway KR will be resurfaced.
As part of the I-94 North-South Freeway Project, I-94 will be resurfaced from WIS 142 to Highway KR in Kenosha County.
I-94 will be restricted to 2 lanes in each direction during the day and 1 lane in each direction overnight.
These lane restrictions will extend the existing Highway 50 - Highway 142 work zone north to Highway KR.
The lane closures are expected to last until early July.
All I-94 EAST (southbound) lanes will be open between 12 p.m. on Friday until 6 a.m. on Tuesday for the Memorial Day holiday.
Today's Weekday Report is up at kenoshanews.com
Take a look to find out more on our top stories, including the potential purchase of two buildings by Kenosha County and HarborMarket moving back outdoors.
Trial begins for man accused of strangling Trevor woman at Illinois Burger King
Jury selection began today for the murder trial of James Ealy, accused of killing a Trevor woman seven years ago.
Mary Hutchison was beaten and strangled in the Nov. 27, 2006 attack. She was the manager of a Burger King in Lindenhurst, Ill. She was found stabbed and strangled with her uniform's bow tie. Police arrested Ealy, a former employee of the store, and charged him with her murder.
Alligator captured after running loose in Kenosha
An alligator was found loose in Kenosha late Sunday night and was captured.
A Kenosha resident reported seeing a large lizard in the 4600 block of 19th Place around 11 p.m. on Sunday, according to Kenosha police reports. Officers found the alligator in a ditch line along 47th Avenue south of 19th Place.
It was captured on scene and held in a crate before it was transported to the Racine Zoo. Zoo staff identified the reptile as an American alligator, approximately 4 to 7 years old. It measured around 3 feet long and was approximately 20 pounds.
For more information, go to kenoshanews.com later today or see tomorrow's Kenosha News.
GOP move gives state more control on construction
MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Democrats say a move to standardize erosion control rules for commercial construction sites is simply another Republican effort to take away local authorities' power.
The Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee added the provision to the state budget last week. It would keep local governments from enacting ordinances that are stricter than rules enforced by the state Department of Natural Resources. Democratic Rep. Cory Mason, of Racine, told the Wisconsin State Journal that the provision caters to corporate interests by letting the state set standards as low as possible. Mason also says it would prevent communities from offering developers incentives to encourage green development. Republicans, however, say the measure would save cities money because they won't have to set up their own standards.
Gasoline price rise
Average retail gasoline prices in Wisconsin have risen 13.2 cents per gallon in the past week, averaging $3.92/gallon Sunday, according to GasBuddy's daily survey of 3,112 gas outlets in Wisconsin.
This compares with the national average that has increased 8.9 cents per gallon in the last week to $3.67/gallon, according to gasoline price website GasBuddy.com.
Budget committee to consider DNA expansion
MADISON (AP) - Wisconsin lawmakers are to consider Gov. Scott Walker's plan to take DNA from anyone arrested for a felony and anyone convicted of any crime.
Wisconsin currently collects DNA only from convicted felons and sex offenders. Walker's executive budget lays out nearly $6 million for the initiative.
Twenty-five other states and the federal government take DNA upon felony arrests.
Civil rights advocates, though, still see Walker's plan as an invasion of privacy.
Committee to consider double dipping changes
MADISON (AP) - Gov. Scott Walker's proposal to more than double the amount of time a public employee must stay retired before being hired for another job is up for consideration this week by the Legislature's budget committee.
The Joint Finance Committee is to consider Walker's proposal on Tuesday.
School districts and others oppose the move lengthening the required break in service from 30 to 75 days, saying it will make it more difficult to fill high-need positions.
The proposal would also disallow anyone who is re-hired from collecting their retirement benefits during the time they are employed, if they are working at least two-thirds time.
Trial in 2006 slaying of Trevor woman begins
WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) - The trial of a man charged in the strangling death of the manager of a Lindenhurst restaurant is set to begin - nearly 7 years after the slaying.
The (Arlington Heights) Daily Herald reports that jury selection begins this morning in Lake County for the trial of 48-year-old James Ealy of Lake Villa.
Authorities contend Ealy strangled 45-year-old Mary Hutchison of Trevor, with his bow tie during a November 2006 robbery of the Burger King where she worked.
The trial has been delayed several times.
Officials investigate house explosion
TOWN OF WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) - Investigators are looking for the cause of an explosion that leveled a house in Eau Claire County.
The explosion Sunday shook the neighborhood and sent debris flying. Town fire official Mark Porter says fortunately no one was killed or injured.
All that's left of the house is a huge pile of lumber and debris.
Authorities say five other houses sustained damage.
Afternoon thunderstorm
A strong thunderstorm this afternoon. High: 83; Low: 61.
Changes planned for ChocolateFest
ChocolateFest 2013 with be both gooey and groovy.
"Peace, Love and Chocolate" is the theme for the 27th annual festival, Friday through Monday. After a slight downturn in revenue and attendance last year, organizers have made some changes for this year.
For more, see www.kenoshanews.com.
Tornado levels homes in Oklahoma
EDMOND, Okla. (AP) - One of several tornadoes spawned by a powerful storm system rumbling through the Plains and Midwest has leveled several mobile homes in an area southeast of Oklahoma City.
Reports of injuries in the mobile home park near Shawnee about 35 miles southeast of Oklahoma City couldn't immediately be confirmed.
State lawmaker wants ban on mandatory flu shots
MADISON (AP) - Wisconsin employers, including hospitals, nursing homes and other health care agencies, could no longer require workers to get flu shots under a bill pending in the Legislature.
Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt, R-Fond du Lac, said he began drafting the legislation after several hospital workers and health care contractors in his district complained they were fired after refusing to be vaccinated.
Amtrak reports minor train derailment in Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) - Amtrak officials said a train departing from New Orleans derailed not far from Chicago's Union Station.
Amtrak spokeswoman Christina Leeds said no one was injured and the train remained upright. The derailment happened around 9:30 a.m. Sunday.
Spurs rout Grizzlies in Game 1
SAN ANTONIO (AP) - Tony Parker had 20 points and nine assists, Kawhi Leonard scored 18 points and the San Antonio Spurs struck first in the Western Conference finals by beating the Memphis Grizzlies 105-83 on Sunday.
Memphis rallied to get within six in the second half, but the Spurs stabilized and both teams pulled their starters with over 5 minutes left and the Spurs leading by 21. Game 2 is Tuesday night.
Holy Rosary nun marks 50 years
After 50 years of her commitment to her faith, Sister Lucille Puntillo was recognized by multiple generations of her community on Sunday.
For more, check www.kenoshanews.com or see Monday's newspaper.
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