April 27, 2021

Mayor, Police Chief issue statements; Three arrested at Kenosha protest sit-in released on bond

A protest calling for the firing of the Kenosha police officer who shot Jacob Blake led to the arrest of three protesters Sunday, including Blake’s uncle.

The protesters held a sit-in outside the Kenosha Public Safety building Sunday evening, demanding that police department leadership meet with them to address their demands. At about 10 p.m., three protesters, including Blake’s uncle Justin Blake, Pastor Jonathan Barker and Joseph Cardinali, were arrested for disorderly conduct. Blake had an additional recommended charge of obstructing law enforcement because he refused to identify himself.

All three were later released on bond and are expected to return for an initial court appearance in May. All three men arrested have been active in social justice issues, including as members of the Wisconsin 7 who recently took part in a 22-day fast to support climate change legislation.

The rally Sunday began at 3 p.m. at Regimen Barber Collective, 1345 52nd St. before protesters marched to the Public Safety Building, 1000 55th St., blocking the main entrance in peaceful protest. The Public Safety Building, still boarded over from the civil unrest which rocked the city after the Blake shooting, was also the backdrop of speakers who called for their demands to be heard.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-updated-mayor-police-chief-issue-statements-three-arrested-at-kenosha-protest-sit-in/article_f931d97e-0b98-524d-a717-37ee4d1097bb.html

April 27, 2021

Ron Johnson disputes scientific consensus on the effectiveness of masks in preventing spread of

Ron Johnson disputes scientific consensus on the effectiveness of masks in preventing spread of COVID-19


MADISON - Despite broad scientific consensus, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson cast doubt Monday on whether masks prevent the spread of COVID-19, saying he thought there would have been fewer infections and deaths if they worked.

The Republican from Oshkosh said he supports wearing masks but expressed skepticism about their effectiveness.

"I think as more evidence comes in it’s becoming harder and harder to support that masks actually work," he told constituents in a conference call. "If they would have worked we probably wouldn’t have had as many infections, as many deaths as we did, but be that as it may, I was just on a plane and I wore a mask the entire time."

"So I’m not opposed to masks but I think we should really take a look at that and we should question, too, whether or not we should make really young children wear them as well. Again, these are legitimate questions to ask. We really should follow the science."

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2021/04/26/ron-johnson-disputes-scientific-consensus-effectiveness-masks/7389867002/

April 27, 2021

Powerful new supercomputer will open doors for research and education at UW-Eau Claire

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire unveiled a new supercomputer on its campus Monday, funded in part by a new public-private partnership between the college and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

The company, which has a site in neighboring Chippewa Falls, will put $362,426 toward the supercomputer. Faculty secured a $350,000 grant from the National Science Foundation and the university contributed another $20,000 through its College of Arts and Sciences and Office of Research and Sponsored Programs.

The $733,426 high-performance computer will allow the university to significantly expand research and teaching opportunities to students and faculty involved in computer and data science. But researchers on topics from health care to geography can use the technology in their studies.

UW-Eau Claire prides itself on offering a broad range of opportunities for undergraduate student research and the new computer will open doors to more hands-on learning for students, not just through coursework and research at UW-Eau Claire, but also through internships at Hewlett Packard.

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2021/04/26/uw-eau-claire-unveils-new-supercomputer-partnership-hp/7353222002/

April 27, 2021

Kaul reaches $242K settlement on manure spills

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Attorney General Josh Kaul has reached a $242,000 settlement with a factory farm and a manure applicator to resolve pollution violations stemming from manure spills several years ago.

Kaul announced the settlements with K&D Manure Handling, Inc., its owner, Kevin Hintz, and Wild Rose Dairy LLC in a news release on Monday. He brokered the deals earlier this month.

The settlements resolve state Justice Department allegations that Wild Rose and K&D caused manure spills in Otter Creek in Vernon County in 2017 and 2019, resulting in significant fish kills each time. The agency also alleged that K&D and Hintz caused a spill in Bostwick Creek in La Crosse County in 2019.

Republican lawmakers passed a lame-duck law in 2018 that requires Kaul to get permission from the Legislature’s GOP-controlled budget committee before he can enter into settlements. Kaul got around that requirement by brokering the deals without filing a lawsuit.

https://dailyreporter.com/2021/04/26/kaul-reaches-242k-settlement-on-manure-spills/
(no more at link)
(Milwaukee Daily Reporter)

April 27, 2021

Tony Evers: State's reduced financial commitment to Foxconn opens up opportunities

The new deal with Foxconn Technology Group has opened the door to a major windfall in state dollars that could spur other economic development opportunities across Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers said Friday.

In the short-term, the state now expects to be on the hook for an estimated $37.4 million that the Evers administration had not anticipated when crafting its 2021-23 budget proposal.

That’s because Foxconn wasn’t expected to qualify for any tax credits over the next two years, but now they likely will under the new deal.

But in the long-term, the state’s overall commitment to Foxconn under the new agreement has fallen from $2.85 billion in state tax subsidies down to $80 million. Due to a separate manufacturing tax credit that allows manufacturers to pay almost no corporate tax, the tax credit is paid almost entirely by state taxpayers.

Read more: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt-and-politics/tony-evers-states-reduced-financial-commitment-to-foxconn-opens-up-opportunities/article_2101032b-ecc0-507a-a2f2-94d00f28591d.html

April 27, 2021

Father Altman under fire for COVID protocols, vaccine misinformation

LACROSSE -- Alocal priest whose public condemnation of Democrats as “Godless hypocrites” sparked both outcry and defense last fall has now drawn new attention for his anti-vaccine rhetoric and largely maskless services.

A community member last week shared with the Tribune a photo from Easter Services at St. James the Less Catholic Church where Father James Altman presides, showing a crowded church, and a page from a church bulletin calling vaccines “an experimental use of a genetic altering substance that modifies your body — your temple of the Holy Spirit.”

The flyer, which was posted to the church’s website as of press time and reviewed by the Tribune, states it is “diabolical for anyone to virtue-signal/shame/compel you to take such an experimental drug, making you nothing other than a guinea pig,” and also says those recommending inoculation are “lying to your face.”

“God is still the best doctor and prayer is still the best medicine,” the missive closes.

Read more: https://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/father-altman-under-fire-for-covid-protocols-vaccine-misinformation/article_278faaa0-6815-58a7-9ab3-d31a1c5da4a4.html

April 27, 2021

Jimmy Kimmel on the 2021 Oscars & Guillermo on the Red Carpet!

April 27, 2021

UW-Madison engineering professor who led 'toxic' lab will resign this summer

A tenured UW-Madison professor at the center of a "toxic" engineering lab where one of his students died by suicide is resigning from the university this summer.

Akbar Sayeed, a professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering since 1997, will resign Aug. 1, according to an email sent by department chairwoman Susan Hagness on Monday.

Sayeed's resignation comes more than four years after the 2016 death of doctoral student John Brady, who left behind a trail of digital evidence documenting the damaging effect Sayeed had on the well-being of students working in his lab.

UW-Madison officials investigated Sayeed's behavior and found he violated a policy against hostile and intimidating behavior. A university report described the lab's environment as "toxic."

Read more: https://madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/university/uw-madison-engineering-professor-who-led-toxic-lab-will-resign-this-summer/article_f97d2db4-2afd-5568-b341-63a53d3a6f7a.html

April 27, 2021

Former Dallas cop Amber Guyger asking appellate court to toss murder conviction for killing Botham J

Former Dallas cop Amber Guyger asking appellate court to toss murder conviction for killing Botham Jean


Lawyers for former Dallas police officer Amber Guyger will make their case Tuesday before a panel of appellate justices to toss her murder conviction for killing Botham Jean in his own apartment. Dallas County prosecutors say the jury’s verdict should stand.

Guyger, convicted of murder in 2019 for shooting Jean, argued in court records that, at most, she should be convicted of criminally negligent homicide. That charge is a lesser felony and punishable by up to two years in prison.

Guyger testified she mistakenly entered the wrong apartment one floor above hers and shot Jean, believing he was an intruder, on Sept. 6, 2018. Guyger had just finished her shift and was still in uniform when she shot Jean with her department-issued weapon. Jean was eating ice cream on his couch when Guyger entered the apartment.

Jurors heard six days of testimony before convicting Guyger of murder in October 2019. She is serving a 10-year prison sentence.

Read more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2021/04/26/former-dallas-cop-amber-guyger-asking-appellate-court-to-toss-murder-conviction-for-killing-botham-jean/

April 26, 2021

Date rape drug allegation roils Texas Legislature; speaker vows to change Capitol culture

Amid a criminal investigation into an allegation that a lobbyist used a date rape drug on a legislative staff member, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Monday took steps to make it easier to report incidents of sexual misconduct in and around the Capitol.

"For too long, the culture of the House made victims of harassment feel like they can't or shouldn't come forward," said Phelan, a Beaumont Republican who began his career in the Capitol as a legislative aide before being elected to the House in 2014. He was elected to a first term as speaker in January.

"Victims shouldn't have to decide between their career and coming forward," he added in remarks to open Monday's session. "That has to change to make it easier for individuals to constantly come forward and report harassment.

"We can and we must do better when it comes to changing the culture."

Read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2021/04/26/speaker-phelan-addresses-allegations-date-rape-drug-used-lobbyist/7383791002/