Dec. 11, 2022 12:30p
From WGTD News:
Just as he did following election to his first term, Gov. Evers will hold a listening session on budget issues in Kenosha this week. Evers--who defeated Republican Tim Michels last month--will host the forum at the Civil War Museum in Kenosha Tuesday evening from 5-7. Mimicking what took place nearly four years ago in advance of the 2019 budget deliberations, the format will include small group discussions. This time, the state is faced with a record budget surplus. In a news release, Evers said he anticipates that Tuesday's session will focus on inflation and other economic issues along with supporting public schools, ensuring that health care is affordable and accessible, investing in high-speed internet, improving the state's infrastructure and transportation systems and protecting the environment. The event is open to the public. Attendees are asked to register online at eventbrite.com. Search Gov. Evers.
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The Racine County Board will be asked this week to approve a $120,000 settlement in an excessive force case involving a man who was bitten by a deputy sheriff's dog. The incident was investigated and publicized by Racine Women for Racial Justice. The group obtained body camera video that shows Deandre McCollum being repeatedly bitten by the dog, even though McCollum was already handcuffed and on the ground. McCollum had tried to run following a traffic stop. McCollum filed a suit in federal court. In response, Racine County Sheriff Christopher Schmaling called the suit ridiculous and frivolous. According to county documents, the $120,000 settlement does not include an admission of liability or wrongdoing on the part of the county. The settlement is to be considered Tuesday night by the county board.
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A Kenosha jury sent a strong message last week in a 1st degree intentional homicide trial. The judge in the case will be able to send another message when he sentences Ranon Brownlee early next year. The jury convicted Brownlee as charged Friday after deliberating for just 15 minutes. The victim--26-year-old Charniese Brown--suffered some 35 stab wounds and was shot once in the chest. Brownlee's claim of self-defense was so weak that the judge in the case refused to allow the jury to even consider lesser-option verdicts. With the 1st degree murder conviction, Judge Jason Rossell is required by law to sentence Brownlee to life in prison, but he has the option of setting what amounts to a parole eligibility date.
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Court proceedings have been postponed for one of three suspects in the Graceland Cemetery shooting in Racine last summer. A Racine judge on Friday found Lamarion Blair incompetent to proceed. He'll be sent to a state mental health facility for treatment. A progress report is due in March. Blair and the others allegedly fired shots at a graveside funeral service for Da'Shontay King, hitting and wounding two women. King was killed by a Racine police officer in what was ruled to be a justifiable homicide. Both King and Blair were described by police as being opposing gang members.
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Kenosha Unified administration is presenting options for dealing with a worst-case budget scenario. One option--if enacted--could cost Unified employees hundreds of dollars. The outlook for the 2023-2024 budget is to be discussed by the school board Tuesday night. As federal COVID relief funds run out and enrollment drops, and if the state legislature doesn't provide a greater degree of support, the district is projecting to face a nearly $10 million deficit a year from now. The estimate comes as the state sits on a huge budget surplus. One-cost cutting option for the district is to eliminate altogether district contributions to employees' health savings accounts. Those cuts--if enacted--would result in losses of $600 for employees with single plan coverage and $1,200 for families. Administration is recommending that the board proactively adopt the cut and several others that would wipe out more than half of the projected deficit.
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A Kenosha County board committee this week is expected to discuss the looming budget crisis within county government. Layoffs and service cuts could occur without approval of the county's capital improvement borrowing plan for next year. The measure failed to get the necessary three-fourths super majority of the county board this fall. The dispute centered on the elimination of three positions in a move described by the minority as unnecessary and counter-productive. The budget is expected to be discussed Thursday evening by the county board's executive committee.
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Nearly 500 UW-Parkside students will be celebrating more than the holidays this month. They're all receiving new diplomas. Two-hundred of the 500 earned master's degrees. The mid-year commencement ceremony will be held this Saturday morning in the De Simone Arena.
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