June 3, 2019 9:55p
(WGTD)---A Kenosha judge says it's too risky to ever allow the release from prison of a 26-year-old man who fatally shot two brothers following an altercation at a Twin Lakes tavern in 2017. Nathan Kivi's two mandatory life prison terms will be served without the possibility of parole. In passing the sentence Monday, Judge Bruce Schroeder cited Kivi's eight prior convictions, and the fact the Kivi at the time of the shooting was out of jail on bond in an unresolved case and had been specifically ordered not to possess a gun in the first place. During his trial, Kivi claimed that he fired the shots in self-defense. Kivi's attorney disclosed in court Monday that autopsies revealed that one of the brothers had a blood-alcohol content of nearly four times the legal limit while the other had a mix of alcohol and cocaine in his bloodstream.
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(WGTD)---Kenosha's new city administrator has a definite learning curve to conquer. 54-year-old Randy Hernandez flubbed a question on the dark store issue at Monday night's City Council meeting. The issue refers to the habit of big box retailers--in search of lower property taxes--comparing themselves to empty buildings. Still, the council voted unanimously to confirm Mayor Antaramian's appointment of the former Kenall Manufacturing executive. Hernandez--who currently lives in Racine County but plans to move to Kenosha--says he's gotten to know the city as a volunteer for numerous initiatives. Antaramian--who usually presides over council meetings and would've presumably come to the defense of Hernandez--is out on sick leave while he continues to recover from a recent heart attack. Hernandez replaces Frank Pacetti, who retired about six months ago.
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(WGTD)--There was something new at a forum on state budget issues that was organized by several Democratic legislators and held in Racine Monday night. A Republican showed up. First term State Representative Robert Wittke accepted an invitation that had been extended by State Senator Bob Wirch and two state representatives, Greta Neubauer and Tip McGuire. About 50 people attended the session that was held in a conference room on Gateway's campus. Wirch chaired the meeting, calling on members of the audience to pose questions to the legislators. Although Wittke disagreed with most of the positions taken by his Democratic counterparts, the discussion was low key and polite. Wittke, a former Racine School Board member, left the session before it was over, saying he had another commitment. He told a reporter on his way out that he had no regrets over showing up, and said he'd do it again.
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