A former UW Hospital nurse was convicted Thursday of stealing morphine while working at the hospital in 2013 and 2014.
Former nurse pleads guilty to drug thefts
Wisconsin State Journal
Category: Crime and safety
Family: DNA match in Zimmermann homicide more than year old
WKOW TV
The mother of former UW-Madison student and 2008 homicide victim Brittany Zimmermann tells 27 News a DNA match in Zimmermann’s case was made in 2014.
Jean Zimmermann tells 27 News she was also informed of the match by authorities in 2014, and knows the name of the person associated with the DNA, but is not divulging the name at this time.
The existence of the DNA match in the high-profile killing of the 21- year old university student in a campus-area apartment was first reported on WIBA’s The Vicki McKenna show last week.
‘DNA match’ found in Brittany Zimmermann killing, parents say
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Madison police have a “DNA match” in their investigation into the unsolved 2008 killing of college student Brittany Zimmermann, her parents said this week, but that alone does not appear to be enough to support charges in the case.
DNA not enough for arrest in college student’s homicide
AP (via WKOW TV)
The parents of a slain University of Wisconsin-Madison student are renewing their plea that anyone with information about the 2008 homicide contact police.
Family: DNA match confirmed in Brittany Zimmermann homicide
Channel3000.com
The family of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student who was killed in 2008 said they have a DNA match related to the homicide investigation. Kevin and Jean Zimmermann, parents of 21-year-old Brittany Zimmermann, said in a statement to News 3 Tuesday that while they have a DNA match in their daughter’s case, they will not release the name because authorities are not filing charges against him.
Family says DNA match found in Brittany Zimmermann homicide case
Wisconsin State Journal
Brittany Zimmermann, a UW-Madison junior at the time of her death, was killed by strangulation and stabbing in the middle of the day in her Downtown apartment on April 2, 2008. She had just returned from morning classes and was followed into her apartment by someone who forced entry through an outside door.
Officials: Gorham Street fire source not known yet
WKOW TV
Noted: Schuster says today, the fire department focused on making sure the affected residents were getting what they needed to “start getting their lives back.” She tells 27 News, “The UW Dean of Students’ office has kindly reached out to any students impacted to help get them temporary replacement necessities such as laptops and text books.”
She says at least 10 people were totally displaced from the fire.
Leader and last of campus marijuana dealers gets 3 years in federal prison
Wisconsin State Journal
A UW-Madison student described as the “primary driving force” behind a group of young male participants in a marijuana distribution ring has been sentenced to three years in federal prison.
Coat on toaster brought firefighters to UW dormitory
Wisconsin State Journal
A tossed winter coat on top of a toaster in a dorm room brought firefighters to the UW-Madison campus on Wednesday, with nobody injured in the blaze.
UHS unveils $400,000 initiative to curb sexual assault, gender-based violence
Badger Herald
University Health Services announced Tuesday it is seeking funding for initiatives focused on gender-based violence prevention within Greek life and the campus community as whole.
Sarah Van Orman, UHS executive director, unveiled plans at a press conference to address 12 issues a UW task force identified to curb sexual assaults. Using new and existing programs, UHS aims to improve prevention strategies, increase bystander intervention and change the culture around gender-based violence, she said.
The new efforts UHS suggested would be implemented in the fall and cost University of Wisconsin $400,000, Van Orman said. UHS requested a $45 increase to student segregated fees Monday.
UW-Madison develops plan to address sexual assaults
Channel3000.com
In the wake of the AAU Sexual Assault and Misconduct Climate Survey that revealed one in four undergraduate females were sexually assaulted, University of Wisconsin-Madison officials have developed a plan to address the issue. UW-Madison was one of 27 campuses that participated in the survey.
UW task force advances ideas to fight campus sexual violence
Wisconsin State Journal
UW-Madison University Health Services will spend an extra $400,000 next academic year for additional staffing and new or expanded programs aimed at reducing student-reported rates of campus sexual violence.
UHS seeks to improve mental health, sexual assault services — but at an increased cost to students
Badger Herald
At a University of Wisconsin student government committee meeting Monday, University Health Services proposed a two-year plan to financially back support for expanded mental health and sexual assault services — a change that would cost students almost $45 more per semester.
The Student Services Finance Committee, a branch of Associated Students of Madison, also unanimously approved WSUM’s budget proposal of $376,599 Monday.
NFL player, former Badger in court for allegedly beating girlfriend
Channel3000.com
A former Badger turned NFL player was in court Monday for allegedly battering his girlfriend early Friday morning. Madison police said Montee Ball, 25, was at the Hampton Inn and Suites on West Johnson Street at 3:43 a.m. when he was physically violent toward his girlfriend.
Montee Ball charged with misdemeanors for incidents at hotel, in vehicle
Wisconsin State Journal
Former NFL and University of Wisconsin running back Montee Ball won’t face felony charges related to an incident early Friday in which police say he injured his girlfriend during an argument at a Downtown hotel.
Property rights measures top busy agenda for Assembly Tuesday
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: SB 276: Allow the UW System to use parking fines and fees to help pay for campus safety. Now, that money can be used only for parking and transportation facilities and enforcing parking regulations. The measure would also bar the UW System from building new parking facilities using bonds backed by general taxes.
Former UW running back Montee Ball charged with two misdemeanors
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Former Wisconsin tailback Montee Ball on Monday was charged with two misdemeanors — battery and disorderly conduct — for his alleged actions during two incidents involving his girlfriend.
Property rights measures top busy agenda for Assembly Tuesday
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: AB 808: Prevent law enforcement from issuing underage drinking tickets to sexual assault victims and those assisting them. It would also bar the University of Wisconsin System from suspending them or taking other actions against them.
SILVER ALERT CANCELED: Man has been found safe
WKOW TV
Police from the University of Wisconsin-Madison are searching for a man who was last seen leaving UW Hospital & Clinics Sunday morning. Campus police spokesman Marc Lovicott says a Silver Alert has been issued for Larry Campbell, 63, of Madison.
NFL player, former Badger accused of battering girlfriend
Channel3000.com
A former Badger turned NFL player is accused of battering his girlfriend early Friday in Madison, police said. Madison police said Montee Ball, 25, was at the Hampton Inn and Suites on West Johnson Street at 3:43 a.m. when he was physically violent toward his girlfriend.
Former UW running back Montee Ball arrested
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Former University of Wisconsin and NFL running back Montee Ball was arrested early Friday after a woman reported he threw her, injuring her leg.
Former Capitol cop accused of stealing state painting
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Noted: All of the artwork was accounted for except a piece by Bohrod, a former UW-Madison artist-in-residence who died in 1992. The painting in its gold and velvet frame was missing from the security room of the residence, the complaint said.
‘Pro rape’ events canceled; Police say concept still ‘very concerning’
Channel3000.com
Noted: UW Madison police spokesperson Marc Lovicott said the website’s values go against everything the department and campus stands for. He says the department was made aware of the possible meetings this week, and in response, officers were in communication with other departments around the state.
Lovicott said there is no indication a meeting like this will take place in Madison, but he said the idea of “pro rape” events is disappointing.
“The fact that there’s an organized group that promotes this, I think that’s really disappointing and really disturbing,” Lovicott said. “What we can do as a community, though, is stand up against it and make sure people realize that this type of behavior, this mentality, just won’t be tolerated here.”
Metro Market homicide suspect tried to kill himself in 2014, ex-girlfriend says
Wisconsin State Journal
Noted: Joers said she met O’Kroley in eighth grade when they rode the same bus to school in Cottage Grove. She became pregnant by O’Kroley when she was a sophomore in high school, she said, but noted she went on to graduate from UW-Madison with a double major in physics and philosophy — in May 2015, according to the university registrar’s office — “while mental illness prevented Christopher from maturing into a functional adult.”
Lead ‘investor’ gets 30 months in prison for Madison marijuana operation
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The lead “investor” in a student-run drug business that bought marijuana in California and Colorado to sell around University of Wisconsin-Madison has been sentenced to 30 months in prison.
‘Undetermined’ listed as cause of $100,000 roof fire at UW Memorial Union
Wisconsin State Journal
“Investigators cannot rule out the possibility of a pipe fitter’s hot work in the area of the origin, or an unspecified electrical fault,” said spokeswoman Cynthia Schuster.
Second fire in 2 days on UW campus
Wisconsin State Journal
Madison firefighters were sent to the UW-Madison campus for the second time in two days on Friday, after a burning smell was reported on the 16th floor of Van Hise Hall, 1220 Linden Drive.
Student reports sexual assault at UW-Madison residence hall
NBC15
The UW-Madison Police Department says a sexual assault was reported at a school residence hall. The assault reportedly happened to a student sometime between Jan. 22 and Jan. 24 at a school residence hall.
UW student reports sexual assault in residence hall, police say
Wisconsin State Journal
A UW-Madison student told campus security she had been sexually assaulted in a dormitory last weekend, but since she didn’t report it to local or school police, no criminal investigation is being done.
UWPD K9 Campus Training
NBC15
UW Police’s K9 Unit is a regular attendee at large campus events for explosive and narcotics detection. This afternoon, NBC 15’s Saira Anwer got to watch the unit show off their skills in a residence hall exercise.
Today’s drill was the first time the UWPD K9 unit trained with students present.
UPDATE: Cause of Memorial Union fire still unknown
WKOW TV
Fire investigators are still looking into what caused a fire at the Memorial Union on the UW-Madison campus Thursday afternoon.
Memorial Union reopens after fire under roof tiles, officials say
Channel3000.com
Memorial Union was evacuated Thursday afternoon as crews worked to put out a fire in the attic, officials said.
UW-Madison’s Lori Berquam, Susan Riseling and Dr. Sarah Van Orman: We’re constantly improving sex assault discipline process
Capital Times
A recent article, “UW-Madison sex assault discipline process leaves both sides crying foul,” raised questions about how the university responds to allegations of sexual violence.
Appeals court upholds UW-Eau Claire library porn citation
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A state appeals court says a man didn’t have a constitutional right to view pornography on a University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire library computer.
Bill would provide amnesty for sexual assault victims
Channel3000.com
Noted: The bill is supported by Attorney General Brad Schimel and University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who said avoiding citations for victims and their supporters is already policy on campus.
“We have been telling them if you are drinking but helping a friend we will focus on the sexual assault issue and not the drinking issue,” Blank said. “But I think being able to say under the law of Wisconsin this is not just our practice but this is the law does have a certain depth of convincingness to it.”
Bill aims to remove barriers from reporting sexual assaults by Wisconsin college students
Capital Times
Victims of sexual assault in Wisconsin wouldn’t get in trouble for underage drinking under a bill introduced by Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, backed by the University of Wisconsin and Attorney General Brad Schimel.
Wisconsin bill would give amnesty to sexual assault victims
Madison.com
Wisconsin legislators are proposing a bill that would ensure sexual assault victims and others who report such crimes can’t be cited or disciplined for underage drinking.
UW, law enforcement back bill to give victims of sexual assault amnesty from drinking tickets
Wisconsin State Journal
Victims of sexual assault and bystanders who call for help would not have to worry about citations or university discipline for underage drinking if a bill introduced Monday with support from UW-Madison and state law enforcement officials becomes law.
Lawmakers Look To Shield Sexual Assault Victims From Underage Drinking Citations
Wisconsin Public Radio
Wisconsin legislators are proposing a bill that would ensure sexual assault victims and others who report such crimes can’t be cited or disciplined for underage drinking.
Wisconsin bill would provide amnesty for sexual assault victims
AP
Wisconsin legislators are proposing a bill that would ensure sexual assault victims and reporters can’t be cited or disciplined for underage drinking.
Bill provides ticket amnesty for UW System students who report sexual assault
Wisconsin Radio Network
Legislation being proposed at the Capitol provides “ticket amnesty” for underage drinkers who report sexual assaults on UW campuses. With sexual assault remaining the most under reported crime, Attorney General Brad Schimel backs the legislation.
UW-Madison sex assault discipline process leaves both sides crying foul
Capital Times
UW-Madison is among 161 college campuses across the country that are the target of federal inquiries for their handling of sex assault investigations. Under the Obama administration, the OCR put the nation’s college campuses on notice in a 2011 letter that they were responsible for investigating allegations of sexual violence and harassment and sanctioning anyone found to have done wrong. Now sex assault survivors are speaking out about that process. Five of them visited Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel in December, asking that UW procedures for investigating reports of sexual assault and disciplining students found responsible for such misconduct be made more transparent.
UW students, faculty react to campus carry bill
Daily Cardinal
The national conversation on how to reduce gun violence has continued after more than 300 mass shootings in 2015, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker. In Madison, the debate has resulted in proposed legislation that would allow concealed weapons in university buildings.
On Campus: Professor says ‘Making a Murderer’ shows justice system flaws beyond Steven Avery case
Wisconsin State Journal
The UW-Madison law professor who helped free Steven Avery after a wrongful conviction in the 1980s says “Making a Murderer,” the Netflix documentary about his 2007 homicide trial, illustrates problems in the criminal justice system that affect many cases beyond Avery’s.
UW and Madison College discuss hoverboard bans
WKOW TV
More and more colleges across the country are saying no to hoverboards.
But UW Madison spokesman Marc Lovicott says the university is hovering over what to do.
“You’re allowed to possess them for now but you can’t use them here.”
UW-Madison, MATC say no to riding hoverboards on campus
Wisconsin State Journal
The two campuses are among at least 20 other colleges and universities across the country where administrators have banned or restricted the self-balancing scooters, citing the risk of falls and warnings from consumer groups that the batteries that power hoverboards could catch fire.
Few examples exist of armed civilians preventing mass shootings on campuses
Inside Higher Education
Days after two shooters killed 14 people and injured 22 others in San Bernardino, Calif., Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, stood in front of 10,000 students, faculty and staff and urged them to bring guns onto campus. In his back pocket, the president said onstage, he carried a small pistol.
UW police release name of coconut doughnut sender
AP (via Channel3000.com)
University of Wisconsin-Madison Police have identified the California man who sent officers coconut doughnuts after he was kicked out of a football game.
Like Steven Avery’s conviction, his attorneys now in the limelight
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Dean Strang grew up wanting to become an editorial cartoonist for a newspaper.
UW police identify man who sent them 240 coconut doughnuts
Wisconsin State Journal
The department initially refused to identify L.A. resident Eyal Binshtock, as he was never arrested or cited, but provided his name in response to an open records request.
UW-Madison under review for handling of 3 sexual assault complaints
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
A federal complaint against the University of Wisconsin-Madison about its handling of a sexual assault report — one of three such complaints filed against UW-Madison in 2015 — alleges the victim was subjected to a sexually hostile environment because the university failed to respond promptly and equitably.
Feds launch third investigation into handling of sexual assault claims at UW-Madison
Wisconsin State Journal
Federal authorities have launched another investigation into UW-Madison’s handling of a sexual violence allegation, bringing to three the number of cases on the campus now under review by the U.S. Department of Education.
Assembly speaker Robin Vos: Campus carry bill probably won’t happen
Wisconsin State Journal
A bill that would allow concealed carry permit holders to bring guns into college and university buildings probably won’t come up for a vote during this session of the state Legislature, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos said Tuesday.
UW-Madison now under federal investigation for handling of three sex assault cases
Capital Times
The instigation of a new probe last month means the University of Wisconsin-Madison is under federal investigation for its handling of three sexual violence cases, among the highest for any college campus in the nation.
“Making a Murderer” Driving Discussion on Wisconsin Criminal Justice
CBS 58, Milwaukee
A Netflix documentary focusing on a Wisconsin criminal case is lighting up the internet this Christmas season. The documentary called “Making a Murderer” is centered on the case of Steven Avery.
In 2003, The Wisconsin Innocence Project helped prove Steven Avery was not guilty of sexual assault, which came after Avery already spent 18 years behind bars for the crime he didn’t commit.
Badger football player Corey Clement pays fines in disorderly conduct cases
WKOW TV
Badgers football player Corey Clement paid over $800 in fines in connection with two disorderly conduct citations.
Authorities say Clement punched a man at a downtown apartment building Nov. 8 after the man and his friends argued with Clement.
Madison Municipal Court officials say $878 has been paid to satisfy Clement’s citations. Clement has a Jan. 5 court date in the cases. An official says the cases can be closed on that date, unless Clement fights the citations.
Police: Man drops pants, gropes woman near UW-Madison campus
Channel3000.com
A woman was groped by a man near the UW-Madison campus early Monday morning, according to a release.
Police said the man dropped his pants and rubbed up against the victim, a 21-year-old woman, near the corner of North Bassett and West Washington Streets.
UW sexual assault survivors meet with AG, seek meeting with UW system leaders
Channel3000.com
A number of sexual assault survivors from four University of Wisconsin campuses and their lawyer are asking UW System officials for an opportunity to share their concerns about how they were treated and to provide ideas on how future cases should be handled. So far, their request has been denied.
Dairy, police projects approved at UW
WKOW TV
Two projects at UW-Madison are going forward after approval Wednesday by a state panel.
The state building commission approved the renovation of the Babcock Hall dairy plant so it can house the Center for Dairy Research.
The building commission also okayed money for an addition to the UW-Madison police department on Monroe Street.
On Campus: Tammy Baldwin hears from UW sexual assault task force
Wisconsin State Journal
Baldwin met with the University of Wisconsin System Task Force on Sexual Violence and Harassment for an hour on Friday. The discussion came as the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee — of which Baldwin is a member — discusses changes to the Higher Education Act, a sweeping 1965 law that covers the federal financial aid system.