Sunday, February 15, 2026
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Friday, February 13, 2026
Jury finds Racine man guilty of child sexual assault
Milana Doné
RACINE — A jury found a 39-year-old Racine man guilty of sexual assault charges Wednesday.
David Fisher was charged Feb. 12, 2025, with one count repeated sexual assault of the same child and one count of child enticement involving sexual contact.
Fisher pleaded not guilty to the charges in April 2025.
The jury deliberated for about 90 minutes.
According to a criminal complaint, the girl, who had recently turned 15, alleged that Fisher inappropriately touched her beginning in 2023 and engaged in sexual intercourse with her.
In the complaint, Fisher denied any inappropriate touching or intercourse, but reportedly said that he might have touched the girl in ways he shouldn’t have while they were “roughhousing.”
Fisher is scheduled for a sentencing hearing April 6.
Thursday, February 12, 2026
Lawmakers send bill criminalizing sexual grooming of children to Evers
Jessie Opoien
MADISON – An effort to criminalize and prevent the sexual grooming of children is on its way to Gov. Tony Evers' desk for his signature.
The state Senate voted unanimously to pass the measure Wednesday, and a spokeswoman confirmed the governor plans to sign it.
Under the bill, which passed the Assembly last month with six Democrats voting no, it would be a felony offense for an adult to engage in "a course of conduct, pattern of behavior, or series of acts with the intention to condition, seduce, solicit, lure, or entice a child" for the purpose of engaging in sexual intercourse or sexual contact, or to create and distribute child pornography.
Examples of behavior that could constitute grooming under the legislation include written or spoken communications as well as physical contact.
Bill author Sen. Jesse James, R-Altoona, said that adding the definition would assist law enforcement in fully prosecuting such cases.
"My time as a law enforcement officer has shown me that grooming is frequently a deliberate, gradual process that causes substantial harm and trauma," James told reporters before the vote on Feb. 11. "I am a grandpa. I can't bear to think of the many dangers my grandkids will face. However, with this bill, I can sleep just a little bit better. This has a powerful deterrence effect and says our kids are not targets."
If convicted, a person could face between 10 and 25 years in prison, depending on who the person is to the child and whether the child has a disability, among other factors that could increase penalties. Those convicted of grooming would be required to register with the Department of Corrections as a sex offender.
According to an analysis from the nonpartisan Legislative Reference Bureau, the crime does not apply to a person who is 18 or under if it involves a child who is not more than four years younger than the person, unless the violation involves force, coercion, or abuse of a position of trust or authority over the child.
In testimony on the bill last month, co-author Rep. Amanda Nedweski, R-Pleasant Prairie, commended previous efforts to crack down on sexual misconduct against children, including a bill signed into law by Gov. Tony Evers in 2024 criminalizing sexual misconduct committed against a student by a school staff member or volunteer.
But she noted there are still cases where prosecutors have lacked the proper authority to pursue strong penalties against predatory adults. This bill builds on that law by making grooming a crime "not just in schools, but in any other situation in which it may apply."
The bill "puts a clear definition" into law and gives law enforcement tools "to keep our kids safe," Sen. John Jagler, R-Watertown, said before the vote.
Jessie Opoien can be reached at jessie.opoien@jrn.com.
Wednesday, February 11, 2026
Tuesday, February 10, 2026
Monday, February 9, 2026
Sunday, February 8, 2026
Saturday, February 7, 2026
Rep. Yvette Clarke reacts to Trump account post with racist depiction of Obamas
Friday, February 6, 2026
Thursday, February 5, 2026
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Racine County secures $5 million in federal funds for mental health facility
Holly Gilvary
RACINE — Racine County has secured $5 million in federal funding to support the construction of its new mental health facility.
The funding was included in a bipartisan federal government funding package advanced by U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. Racine County applied for congressionally directed spending as part of the federal appropriations process.
In a news release, the county said the new mental health facility, currently under construction at 1720 Taylor Ave. in Racine, has utilized federal, state and local resources "to build critical infrastructure while maintaining Racine County's long-term fiscal responsibility."
Along with the newly awarded funds, the project uses prior investments from the American Rescue Plan Act, opioid settlement funds dedicated to addressing the opioid crisis, and county bonding.
While Racine County currently provides mental health and substance abuse services, a "critical gap" remains in residential treatment and crisis stabilization, with no residential substance use treatment programs within a 40-mile radius of Racine County, according to the release.
The county said the new facility will "directly address this gap by centralizing crisis stabilization, residential substance use treatment, mobile crisis response, and protective services under one roof."
Construction on the facility began in May 2025 and it is expected to open by the end of 2026.
Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki said in the release that this project "reflects how Racine County approaches major investments: with strong partnerships and respect for our residents and taxpayers."
"Through careful planning and strategically aligned resources, we're bringing significant outside investment to Racine County and delivering a facility that will serve our residents for decades to come," he said.
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
Dover man changes plea in 2025 child pornography case
Milana Doné
RACINE — A 42-year-old man changed his plea Monday in connection to 2025 child pornography accusations.
Michael Castagnino, from the Town of Dover, faced five counts of possession of child pornography.
He pleaded guilty to three counts. The remaining two counts were dismissed but read in to the court record.
Each is a class D felony and, upon conviction, can result in a maximum fine of $100,00, up to 25 years in prison or both. Additionally, the court can impose a $500 surcharge for each image recovered.
Castagnino was arrested in February 2025 by investigators with the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office and Wisconsin State Patrol troopers.
He originally pleaded not guilty in May.
Castagnino is scheduled for a sentencing hearing April 17.
Monday, February 2, 2026
What was the Milwaukee County Zoo rhino's prediction on Groundhog Day?
Hannah Kirby
The rhino has spoken.
Without a resident groundhog, the Milwaukee County Zoo had an eastern black rhino – one of its newest residents – handle its Groundhog Day prediction this year.
According to non-scientific tradition, if a groundhog emerges from its den on Feb. 2 and sees its shadow, it'll return to its burrow for six more weeks of winter. If it's a cloudy day and it doesn't see its shadow, there will be an early spring.
Rhino Kianga predicted "cloudy skies and an early spring forecast," the zoo posted on social media before 8:45 a.m. Feb. 2.
The zoo shared a video of a cloud poster and a sun poster propped up next to each other. Kianga is seen waltzing up to the posters and nudging the cloud one.
While the Milwaukee County Zoo's Groundhog Day prediction had been a media-only event since 2021, it went online-only for 2026.
Is Kianga on the same page as Punxsutawney Phil? Nope, Phil saw his shadow. But Jimmy the Groundhog in Sun Prairie didn't see his shadow.
Kianga, 22, from the Racine Zoo, joined the Milwaukee County Zoo in October, along with fellow eastern black rhino Zuri, 16, from the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden.
They reside in the new Ladish Co. Foundation Rhino Care Center and Robert Dohmen Hippo Indoor Haven. Female Zuri and male Kianga have been paired as potential breeding partners via the multi-zoo Eastern Black Rhino Species Survival Plan.
After the passing of the zoo's last groundhog, Gordy, in 2023, Humboldt penguins were consulted for the 2024 winter-weather prediction, and in 2025, Nigerian dwarf goats did the honors.
Getting a new groundhog is not a simple matter, explained Bridget Carpenter, assistant curator of the zoo's family farm, in a 2025 interview. Here's a look at why that is.
Jim Higgins of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report.
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