Monday, February 28, 2022
Racine apartment fire under investigation; 5 firefighters injured
RACINE, Wis. - Crews were called to the report of a fire at a 16-unit apartment building on Anthony Lane in Racine around 10:45 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25.
First arriving companies encountered heavy smoke and fire conditions in the basement that were rapidly spreading to the first and second floors. The search for victims was carried out in very challenging conditions. Five Racine firefighters received minor slip/trip injuries due to icy and slippery conditions with temperatures just above 0.
After battling the flames for 50 minutes, Fire Command ordered all firefighters to evacuate the building with concern for structural stability after a hole was discovered burned through the floor of a first-floor apartment. Defensive operations continued into the early morning hours.
A Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) Box was requested with assistance from Caledonia, Oak Creek, and South Shore Fire Departments in addition to an emergency recall of all off-duty Racine Firefighters to bolster on-scene resources and staff empty fire stations.
Red Cross is assisting displaced tenants.
No civilian injuries were reported.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Damage estimates are a total loss to the structure of $433,000 and $200,000 of contents.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-apartment-fire-under-investigation-5-firefighters-injured
Racine apartment fire, lost puppy sought
RACINE, Wis. - A group that searches for lost pets is asking for your help to find a puppy missing after a devastating apartment fire in Racine Friday night, Feb. 25.
The fire happened at a 16-unit apartment building on Anthony Lane in Racine around 10:45 p.m. Five firefighters were hurt, suffering minor slip/trip injuries due to icy conditions. At one point while fighting the fire, crews had to evacuate because a hole was found in the floor of a unit on the first level.
The group Billy's Posse, Inc. Lost Dog Search and Recovery reports a few animals died in the fire, and Luna apparently got out.
Luna
Four-month-old Luna was last seen on Saturday morning around 9 a.m. in the Anthony Lane neighborhood, but there have been no sightings since.
According to the group, Luna's family lost everything in the fire and were devastated when they couldn't get Luna out, even more so when they learned she had apparently gotten out amid the fire.
Luna is a German Shepherd mix. She's wearing a collar with tags including her owner's phone number.
Anyone with information is asked to reach out to Billy's Posse at 262-833-7480.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/racine-apartment-fire-lost-puppy-sought
Christopher Lalor, murdered Racine firefighter, remembered at vigil
RACINE, Wis. - A prayer vigil took place Sunday night, Feb. 27 in honor of Racine firefighter Christopher Lalor.
Investigators say Lalor was found dead in the basement of his home by his mother Feb. 20.
Peter Lui; Christopher Lalor
Peter Lui is accused of shooting and killing Lalor.
The Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office in Florida found Lui dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Lalor's family told police the two were long-time friends and former roommates.
Lalor served 21 years with the Racine Fire Department.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/christopher-lalor-murdered-racine-firefighter-remembered-at-vigil
Did NATO Just Declare War on Russia?
“No matter who tries to stand in our way… they must know that Russia will respond immediately, and the consequences will be such as you have never seen in your entire history…. I hope that my words will be heard.” Vladimir Putin issues warning to any country that tries to stop Russia’s “Special Operation” in Ukraine
In a move that can only be regarded as a major escalation, NATO officials announced on Friday that they would deploy troops from its Combat-Ready Response Force to support the Ukrainian regime in its war with Russia. The Alliance will also send additional weapons which will be used to blunt the Russian offensive that has already seized large parts of the country and obliterated most of Ukraine’s defensive capability. It is impossible to overstate the gravity of NATO’s action which assigns such importance to preserving its ‘junta regime’ in Kiev that they would willingly pit NATO against a nuclear-armed Russia in what could become a much broader regional war. Clearly, the strategic objectives of this murky conflict go far beyond the mere control of an ethnically-divided, failed state situated between Europe and Asia. Ukraine is no longer just a geopolitical trophy for western elites, but a last-gasp effort for Washington to prove it still controls the levers of global power. Here’s the story from Reuters:
“NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday the alliance was deploying parts of its combat-ready response force and would continue to send weapons to Ukraine, including air defences, while saying that Russia was trying to topple the Ukrainian government.
“We see rhetoric, the messages, which is strongly indicating that the aim is to remove the democratically elected government in Kyiv,” he told a news conference following a virtual meeting of NATO leaders.
(“NATO allies to provide more weapons to Ukraine, Stoltenberg says”, Reuters)
Stoltenberg’s decision gives Russian president Vladimir Putin no choice but to locate and destroy whatever weapons or troops enter the country that could be used to kill or injure Russian servicemen. Naturally, the killing of NATO personnel could be used to further escalate the conflict plunging the region into a much wider and more violent conflagration. Here’s more from Stoltenberg’s press conference on Friday:
Read more: https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/did-nato-just-declare-war-on-russia/
City leaders go mute as a scandal involving heroin, a CPD chief’s car, a confidential police informant, and the city’s police oversight agency brews
A scandal is brewing, and city officials appear to be battening down the hatches. Tuesday, three city offices involved in the story, the mayor, the police department, and the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) all failed to respond to questions about it.
Let’s get you up to speed quickly.
Last week, news broke that a man with a long list of felony drug convictions was charged with felony heroin distribution after he allegedly threw $6,300 worth of heroin from a Lexus owned by CPD’s chief of internal affairs, Yolanda Talley.
Talley was not in the car. Her niece was driving it at the time.
When cops pulled the Lexus over, the niece told them, “My auntie’s probably your boss,” the Sun-Times reported last night. The man who allegedly threw the heroin from the car’s passenger seat is in a relationship with Talley’s niece, according to the report.
CWB reported exclusively on Monday that the man who allegedly threw the heroin from the car, Kenneth Miles, is identified in public records as the confidential police source whose bad information led to the wrongful raid of Anjanette Young’s home in February 2019. The city cut a $2.9 million settlement check to end litigation with Young just two months ago.
Sunday, February 27, 2022
Saturday, February 26, 2022
Vote on the names for Racine Zoo's emperor tamarin twins
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Photo by: Racine Zoo |
RACINE — The Racine Zoo is asking for the public's help in naming its emperor tamarin twins.
The baby tamarins were born on December 22 to Amelie, who also was born at the Racine Zoo, and Pitino. According to the zoo, the pair is the fifth and sixth offspring in the past three years.
"These girls are important to the overall North American population of emperor tamarins, which happens to be male-heavy. Once old enough, they will each likely be paired up with their own mates for breeding,” said Racine Zoo’s Primary Primate Specialist, Crystal Champeau.
Now, the baby girls just need names. The zoo has compiled a list of names for the public to vote from starting now! The zoo will then announce the winning names on March 2.
So, what are your options? Gabriella / Gianna, Giulietta / Giovanna, Zarina / Zita, and Caterina / Carmella.
You can head to the zoo's survey monkey to vote on your favorite name pairing.
The Racine Zoo has also put together a baby shower wish list for anyone who wants to support the babies and the rest of the tamarins at the zoo. If you purchase any items, you can ship them directly to the zoo.
From: https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/vote-on-the-names-for-racine-zoos-emperor-tamarin-twins
Friday, February 25, 2022
Racine mask mandate temporarily suspended, permanent suspension heads to common council
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| Photo by: Pexels |
RACINE — Racine Mayor Cory Mason announced Thursday that he signed an executive order suspending the mask mandate, effective at noon.
Now, the common council will vote on making the suspension permanent during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
“I have been in discussion with the Public Health Department for several weeks, monitoring the trend of the case rate of COVID-19 in our community. With the decline in cases, the Public Health Department is comfortable suspending enforcement on the City’s mask ordinance and recommend the ordinance be permitted to expire at next week’s meeting of the Common Council,” said Mason.
The mayor emphasized that this does not mean the pandemic is over, and his executive order could be repealed on Tuesday.
"I encourage everyone to continue to take precautions they feel are best to protect themselves and their loved ones,” said Mason.
Snow keeps Racine Douglas Hardware staff busy
RACINE, Wis. - A winter weather advisory remains in effect for all of southeast Wisconsin until Friday morning, Feb. 25, with the heaviest snow expected near the lake and 2-4" expected in most areas.
Ahead of the storm, FOX6 stopped by Douglas Hardware in Racine. The owner said after the storm is when he expects to get busiest, so they made sure to be stocked up on salt and ready for lots of customers Friday.
Owner Jim Seeger said it helps to plan ahead.
Thursday, February 24, 2022
WEC Receives Election Bribery Complaint About Racine City Officials
Center For Tech and Civic Life, City of Kenosha, City of Madison, City of Milwaukee, City of Racine, CTCL, Mayor Cory Mason, Michael Spitzer-Rubenstein
Racine Mayor Mason And Racine Clerk Coolidge Accused Of Violating The Prohibition On Election Bribery In A Criminal Complaint Filed With The Wisconsin Elections Commission
Outside consultant Ryan Chew to Milwaukee Elections Clerk – “Damn Claire, you have a flair for drama, delivering just the margin needed at 3:00 a.m.”
City of Milwaukee wanted to spend outside private money on edgy campaign to “harness current protests”
Feb. 23, 2022
By Brett Healy
Two Racine residents, Sandy Weidner and Kim Morrison, filed a complaint with the Wisconsin Election Commission on Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2022 against the Mayor of Racine alleging he illegally took over $900,000 from an outside private group, the Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), to “facilitate in-person and absentee voting.”
The complaint alleges that taking the private money and using it for get out the vote (GOTV) efforts which campaigns normally pay for, using it to pay for clearly illegal drop boxes and using it to target only certain individuals within the city rather than every city resident to vote violates “the election bribery prohibition of Wisconsin Statutes ss 12.11.
CTCL approached just five cities originally in Wisconsin to offer substantial private money to supposedly assist with elections and election administration during a pandemic. The five cities – Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, Kenosha and Racine – are thoroughly controlled by Democrats and have historically overwhelmingly supported the Democratic candidate in Presidential elections. While CTCL did eventually hand out money to municipalities in other parts of the state, including some areas considered conservative leaning, the vast majority of the money, $8.8 million out of the $10 million total, CTCL handed out in Wisconsin went to the five cities. CTCL referred to them as the “Wisconsin 5,” in documents provided with the complaint.
Suspect dead; sought in Racine firefighter death, officials say
RACINE, Wis. - The Racine Police Department said on Wednesday, Feb. 23 that a suspect who was identified in the homicide of Racine Firefighter Christopher Lalor is dead.
A Florida sheriff's office found the suspect, identified as 51-year-old Peter Lui, dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Racine Police Chief Maurice Robinson on Tuesday offered few details on the investigation – hoping to protect it.
"Rest assured that we are working on this, we are working on this diligently," Robinson said Tuesday. A criminal complaint told more of the story.
According to investigators, Lalor was found dead in the basement of his Pinehurst Avenue home by his mother on Sunday morning, Feb. 20. She was worried when he did not text her back.
Christopher Lalor
Police said they found five spent casings near Lalor's body, but did not find a gun.
Using a neighbor's doorbell camera, investigators saw someone driving an orange SUV go to Lalor's home Friday afternoon, Feb. 18 and leave a few hours later. They tracked the registration of that SUV to Lui. Lalor's family told police that the victim and suspect in the homicide case were long-time friends and former roommates.
Peter Lui; Image allegedly posted to Peter Lui's Facebook page following homicide of Christopher Lalor
The complaint also stated Lui lived at an apartment on Racine's north side, and he had changed his Facebook profile picture after leaving Lalor's home Friday to an image that read: "That which does not kill me should run."
Police believe Lui did run, which was confirmed Wednesday by the Jacksonville County Sheriff's Office in Florida. He was found dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound after a warrant had been issued for his arrest.
As Lalor's colleagues continue to mourn, firefighters are planning a service to honor Lalor for his 21 years of service.
"Let the legacy of firefighter Chris Lalor motivate you to lift up the community around you. Firefighter Chris Lalor will not be forgotten," Racine Fire Captain Craig Ford said Tuesday.
Racine police investigators are interested in any additional information that anyone may have about this incident. Any witnesses, or citizens with information, are urged to call the Racine Police Department Investigations Unit at 262-635-7756. Those who wish to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 262-636-9330, or through the P3 app.
From: https://www.fox6now.com/news/suspect-dead-sought-racine-firefighter-death-officials
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