Cybersecurity event shuts down systems at The Journal Times

From The Journal Times.com:

Journal Times Staff

Lee Enterprises, the parent company of The Journal Times, was the victim of a cybersecurity event that shut down many of its networks this week.

In a statement to employees, Lee President and CEO Kevin Mowbray said the company is focused on investigating what information, if any, was affected. Lee has notified law enforcement. The company is working to identify and implement steps to help prevent this from happening again.

 Mowbray thanked employees for “above-and-beyond efforts to continue reporting the news and maintaining our operations under challenging circumstances.” 

The outage prevented The Journal Times from producing printed papers or e-editions earlier this week. Since then, the newspaper has produced a smaller newspaper and an e-edition each day.

The newsroom continues to post the latest news, sports entertainment and more on journaltimes.com.

Editors and designers have worked day and night this week to ensure that news is delivered to readers. Some of the processes that are typically automated had to be completed manually, taking more time. To ensure the newspaper was delivered, The Journal Times is temporarily printing a smaller two-section paper. The newspaper will return to its regular format when the issues are resolved.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/cybersecurity-event-shuts-down-systems-jt/article_17f65110-e631-11ef-adb0-ef2f5f2ba146.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

We're working to get things back on track

Mike Boyd

Mike Boyd

One of the phrases bantered around the newsroom when I was working as an editor for one of the global tech giants was, “Technology’s great — until it isn’t.”

This week, a serious technology outage has delayed the production of both the daily print and e-editions of The Journal Times and Kenosha News. We’re working to resolve these issues.

It’s not unusual to receive a couple calls about missed paper delivery because nothing is ever truly perfect.

This week the phone has been ringing more than usual — and understandably so. You expect a paper outside your door in the morning or that the e-edition will be available when you visit journaltimes.com or kenoshanews.com.

It would be difficult to fully express how touching it is that you have been kind, empathetic and understanding when learning about the issues we’ve been dealing with. Our reporters and editors have continued to focus on making sure we provided the latest local news on the websites.

I’m very proud of the professionalism and commitment they display every day in working to give you information that will help you navigate your daily life.

I also appreciate all our papers’ readers and subscribers, and am thankful for your patience and understanding as we work to resolve these technology issues.

Mike Boyd is executive editor the Racine Journal Times, Kenosha News and Lake Geneva Regional News. He can be reached at mike.boyd@journaltimes.com.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/journal-times-kenosha-news-technology-outage/article_9034d394-e4ca-11ef-bac5-27e75e872044.html

Potential school shooting thwarted, student arrested after attempting to enter elementary school

State Supreme Court rules former Kenosha woman can practice law despite drug conviction

 Adivided Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a former Kenosha woman will be able to practice law despite being less than forthcoming about a past drug charge for attempting to smuggle more than 100 pounds of marijuana from Oregon to Wisconsin.

The court ruled 4-3 Tuesday to reverse a Board of Bar Examiners decision that Abby Padlock was unfit to practice law in Wisconsin, directing the board to certify Padlock’s admission to practice law in the state.  "We again choose to exercise our prerogative and afford this applicant the benefit of the doubt," the court wrote.

Padlock

The state bar had earlier ruled that Padlock did not have the “character andfitness” to practice law in the state because she did not fully disclose the circumstances of her arrest on drug smuggling charges on her law school application or when she applied for admission to the Wisconsin State Bar.

Padlock was an all-state volleyball player at Tremper High School who went on to play volleyball at college. When she was 24, Padlock and a friend were driving from Oregon to Wisconsin in October 2015 when they were stopped by a Minnesota police officer who found 76 individual packages of marijuana that, all together, weighed 114 pounds. During the subsequent investigation, police found $30,000 in cash in Padlock’s home, that cash seized in a civil forfeiture.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/state-supreme-court-rules-former-kenosha-woman-can-practice-law-despite-drug-conviction/article_0f2ea775-ba5b-5a1e-b57c-6710c10a0089.html

Summer 2021: Outdoor music in the Racine area

 Summer means spending time outside.

And that time is more fun when you add live music.

Here are places to find outdoor music all season long in the Racine area:

Racine Zoo music series

Music at the zoo this summer includes the 34th annual Animal Crackers concerts, along with the debut of Animal Crackers Junior and Music at the Zoo concerts.

“After a year of no music, we are back," said Beth Heidorn, Racine Zoo executive director. "We are so excited for all three of our concert series this year. We have some amazing artists that will be making music at the zoo and we want you to join us. These events will be done safely and they will get everyone together for friendship, good food and drinks and more importantly the music. These concerts benefit the zoo and our animals and are one more great thing to do in Racine.”

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/summer-2021-outdoor-music-in-the-racine-area/article_c7d3cfef-bcaf-5070-8fe9-ed6940c20db2.html

Michael Bell & Me

 Yep - and as we all know - I am a Pedophile - or so Kenosha PD claimed and violated my rights while my adoptive Parents applauded the false claims. Meanwhile - actual pedophile Curtiss Johnson was exonerated in the false system of injustice practiced by the Evil State of Wisconsin. The State is hate - and they love to employ evil Actors.

https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/michael-bell-continues-push-for-new-investigation-with-grievance-filed-against-prosecutor/article_faa4ac45-8e7d-503f-8fca-6622467015f7.html

May God bless Michael Bell's Father - and may the demand for justice in the most corrupt and degenerate SE WI continue.

- - - - -

Bell’s investigator Russell Beckman accuses Graveley of being “dishonest, fraudulent, deceitful” in his statement about DNA.

NO SHIT!

30-plus photos from Kenosha's Chrysler days

 

See more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/photo_galleries/30-plus-photos-from-kenoshas-chrysler-days/collection_6140cf88-7f63-5c1a-bf20-de020294d64e.html#13

Businessman files lawsuit challenging ballot drop boxes, other election practices in Wisconsin Supreme Court

An official absentee ballot collection box located outside of Madison Fire Department Station No. 4 on Monroe Street.

RUTHIE HAUGE, CAPITAL TIMES ARCHIVES

 

A conservative Wisconsin businessman who has previously challenged state elections procedures has filed another lawsuit this month directly with the Wisconsin Supreme Court, this time challenging the use of absentee ballot drop boxes and other practices used in November’s presidential election.

Jere Fabick, a prominent Republican donor and president of Fabick Cat, the Caterpillar equipment and engine dealer, appealed directly to the state’s high court this week to stop cities and towns from using absentee ballot drop boxes as well as filling in missing witness address information on absentee ballots.

Fabick also wants the court to deem illegal the practice of accepting the return of absentee ballots from individuals other than the electors themselves.

Those practices were used widely by cities and towns during the November election and had been cleared by the Wisconsin Elections Commission, which oversees elections administered by thousands of Wisconsin cities and towns. The practices were heavily scrutinized both before and after the November election, and were also included in lawsuits filed with state and federal courts by former President Donald Trump and others challenging President Joe Biden’s win in the state.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/businessman-files-lawsuit-challenging-ballot-drop-boxes-other-election-practices-in-wisconsin-supreme-court/article_6a0a25db-003f-59f0-89f8-f9e479073aa9.html

Woman told boyfriend he needed to move out in the days before her murder

Why we need Forced Sterilization

Speaks for itself - two irresponsible idiots who should have been paid to not breed. Welfare 4 Life!

In the days before she was killed, Charniese Brown had told her boyfriend, Ranon Brownlee, that she was breaking up with him.

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, in a series of text messages Brownlee had accused Brown, 26, of cheating on him last weekend, and sent her a series of angry and threatening messages.

“Charniese, in the text messages, denied the accusation but repeatedly told the defendant their relationship was over and that he needed to move out,” the complaint states.

Brownlee, 51, of Kenosha, was formally charged Thursday with first-degree intentional homicide, alleged to have killed Brown Monday while in a jealous rage.

According to the criminal complaint, Brown called 911 at about 5:30 p.m. Monday from the couple’s home, 1704 73rd St., saying Brownlee was trying to kill her. As Brown begged for help, the dispatcher could hear what sounded like someone being stabbed and then the sound of a shotgun being fired. The dispatcher could hear a man repeatedly yelling at the woman, accusing her of sleeping with someone, as the sounds of violence continued.

When Kenosha Police arrived minutes later, Brownlee “walked out of the front door of the residence with his arms raised,” the complaint states. “The defendant’s hands, clothing, shoes and knees of (his) pants were covered in blood.”

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/woman-told-boyfriend-he-needed-to-move-out-in-the-days-before-her-murder/article_16c7718b-5a34-5168-8a40-4a4580e6def9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1

Founder of Black Lives Matter chapter in Lake County charged with felony stemming from Kenosha protests

 KENOSHA COUNTY, Wis. - An activist who participated in protests following the August police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha was charged Friday with a felony for allegedly kicking in a door at the Kenosha Public Safety Building and saying he wanted to break an officer’s fingers.

Clyde McLemore, 62, of Zion, Illinois, was charged Friday with a felony count of attempted battery to a law enforcement officer and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. A warrant was issued for his arrest.

McLemore founded the Black Lives Matter chapter in Lake County, Illinois, and was active in many protests after Blake’s shooting. He told the Kenosha News on Friday that he had just learned of the charges.

"Kenosha County is refusing to charge the officer that shot Jacob Blake, but now they want to charge Clyde McLemore," he said.

Officers were trying to arrest Blake on an outstanding warrant on Aug. 23 when a pocketknife fell from his pocket. Blake picked it up and was going to a vehicle with two of his children inside when Kenosha Officer Rusten Sheskey shot him seven times. Blake has said he was prepared to surrender after putting the knife in the vehicle, but Sheskey said he feared Blake was going to stab him. Sheskey was not charged.

Read more: https://www.fox32chicago.com/news/activist-charged-with-felony-stemming-from-protests

Kenosha News Editorial: Legalize marijuana in Wisconsin

 Gov. Tony Evers said last week he will propose legalizing marijuana for Wisconsin residents in his state budget as part of a plan to generate $166 million in revenue to help fund rural schools and programs for marginalized communities.

Predictably, it was met with a bucket of cold water from state Republicans who can’t seem to spell the word Evers without putting a capital N in front of it.

So, no, we don’t expect Evers’ proposal will come within a wisp of gaining passage from the GOP-controlled Legislature.

But it’s probably a good time for state Republicans to do a reality check.

The reality is this:

Across the country there is a boom in marijuana legalization — both for recreational and medical purposes. In November, voters in Arizona, New Jersey, Montana and South Dakota approved ballot measures to legalize, tax and regulate recreational marijuana. Currently recreational marijuana is legal in 15 states and 36 states allow medical marijuana. Next up will be New York, Virginia, New Mexico and Connecticut where strong pushes for legal recreational use are expected in the coming weeks.

Closer to home, neighbors Michigan and Illinois were already on that list — along with Canada to the north and Mexico is expected to go that route shortly.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/opinion/editorial/kenosha-news-editorial-legalize-marijuana-in-wisconsin/article_566bb455-f8f4-54f3-80bc-3be6e65d75c0.html

Man arrested for punching store security staff who reminded him to wear mask; city mask mandate in effect through March 31

 Kenosha Police arrested a Paddock Lake man after he allegedly punched a grocery store security staff member who reminded him of the store’s mask requirement amid the pandemic.

The incident was reported after 7 p.m. at Woodman’s Food Market, 7145 120th Ave., on Saturday, police stated.

“Somebody from the store approached them and the guy said some choice words and … that’s when the punching started,” Kenosha Police Capt. Brent Sagedal said Sunday.

Officers took the man, in his 50s, into custody and have recommended charges of misdemeanor battery and disorderly conduct, according to Sagedal.

Emergency personnel called to the scene treated the employee for minor injuries.

The weekend episode comes on the heels of a political showdown last week over Wisconsin’s mask mandate in which Republicans in the Assembly passed a resolution rescinding the governor’s public health order requiring masks be worn to prevent spread of COVID-19. That order was set to expire March 20. Republicans have argued that the governor does not have the authority to issue emergency orders successively without legislative approval.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/man-arrested-for-punching-store-security-staff-who-reminded-him-to-wear-mask-city-mask/article_1c4e6e96-be03-5344-854a-c88b1f8c1845.html

Attorneys say they were advised by law enforcement not to share where Rittenhouse would be living with court

*BEWARE* of TEA-TARDS Partying in Mount Pleasant WI Where Village Idiot David DeGoof Rules!

"The motion also points to the GoFundMe effort that raised the cash used to bail out Rittenhouse, along with what it considers 'his carefree attitude by going to a bar immediately after his arraignment on Jan. 5, 2021, and drinking three beers in the company of known "Proud Boys" while flashing white supremacist signs and wearing a "Free as (expletive)" shirt.'"

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/attorneys-say-they-were-advised-by-law-enforcement-not-to-share-where-rittenhouse-would-be/article_a6eb6319-5e32-519e-a453-108aa0248cdd.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Racine man, woman charged after 50+ pounds of drugs found in home, police say

Pictured is the evidence collected during the residence search in the 1100 block of Marquette Street in Racine. Agents located 7.5 pounds of green marijuana, 46.5 pounds of assorted marijuana edibles, 53 marijuana vape cartridges, 5 grams of psilocybin (mushrooms), a digital scale, packaging materials, food saver vacuum sealer, numerous labels/THC stickers, and one box of 9 millimeter ammunition.

Racine County Sheriff’s Office photo

 RACINE — A 20-year-old Racine resident was allegedly found to have more than 50 pounds of assorted drugs worth about $40,000 in his home, many of which resembled candy and most of which involved marijuana. A woman who was also in the home, where a 1-year-old was also found by law enforcement when they carried out a search warrant there, is facing criminal charges.

According to a criminal complaint and a release from the Racine County Sheriff’s Office:

Hansen

On Tuesday, an agent was contacted by an inspector from the U.S. Postal Service regarding a suspicious package. The package was addressed to 19-year-old Ashley L. Hansen of the 1100 block of Marquette Street.

Agents with the Racine County Metro Drug Unit executed a search warrant on Wednesday at around 11 a.m. Inside, they found Hansen and 20-year-old Anthony E. Luna with a 1-year-old child. There was also glass pipe in the living room with marijuana in it.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/state_and_regional/racine-man-woman-charged-after-50-pounds-of-drugs-found-in-home-police-say/article_b75ba7ce-2bc7-5404-9060-60fc3a49f261.html

Plaintiffs drop federal suit in Kyle Rittenhouse case

The plaintiffs in a civil suit filed against Kyle Rittenhouse, Facebook and the Kenosha Guard dropped their suit this week.

Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Ill., is accused of killing two men and severely injuring a third during the August protests that occurred in the aftermath of the shooting of Jacob Blake by a Kenosha police officer. He has pleaded not guilty, arguing that he fired in self-defense

The suit, filed in September, had sought to use Reconstruction-era federal law inspired by the rise of the Ku Klux Klan to seek damages from: Rittenhouse; the Kenosha Guard militia and its “commander” Kevin Mathewson; the Boogaloo Bois, a far-right, antigovernmental organization; and a West Bend man who identified himself to the media as a member of the Boogaloo Bois and said he was in Kenosha during the August protests.

The suit alleged that Facebook was negligent in allowing Mathewson and the Kenosha Guard to put out a call for militia members to come to the city, and alleged that the defendants had conspired to violate their civil rights.

Plaintiffs in the suit included Hannah Gittings, the girlfriend of Silver Lake resident Anthony Huber, one of two men killed in the Rittenhouse shootings on Aug. 25. Also named as plaintiffs were three people who were at the protests who said they were harassed and threatened by militia members.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/plaintiffs-drop-federal-suit-in-kyle-rittenhouse-case/article_8fda21ff-b5f7-5ae6-a762-9ef0a0ca3dfa.html#tracking-source=home-trending

Kenosha Police drop plan to purchase automated license plate scanners

This photo atop a squad car is an example of a mobile license plate reader. The Kenosha Police Department had been considering a contract with Vigilant Solutions, a Livermore, Calif.-based corporation that develops and designs advanced software systems for photographing vehicles, as well as capturing license plate data with date, time and GPS coordinates. On Wednesday, Police Chief Dan Miskinis said the department would not proceed with the contract.

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS

The Kenosha Police Department is withdrawing plans to purchase an automated license plate reading system for the city.

The department had planned to use a $49,000 state grant to purchase two license plate readers — one fixed high-speed camera and one mobile camera — used in conjunction with software that scans the plates as a tool to help the department track and recover stolen vehicles.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/kenosha-police-drop-plan-to-purchase-automated-license-plate-scanners/article_b98c143c-e935-59fc-a703-8a0d1fff6bb9.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Better watch your back! What they really mean is that Open Records threaten their intended role as Secret Police! The truth is NOT their friend - just like the KPD CHief has no problem with one of his Officers shooting an African American male 7 times in the back or executing Michael Bell. Lawsuit for defamation seems appropriate and will Talking Ratcine take on the challenge of challenging Kenosha Alderman Kennedy?

Kennedy, who sits on the Finance Committee and had initiated the committee's deferring action on the license plate readers, which eventually led to the council's deferral, agreed with Miskinis' assessment. He said he understood the positions of both the police department need to have access to technology for crimefighting and the public's concerns for how it might be misused.

Kennedy said police laid out the case for efficiency in solving stolen vehicle crimes and areas where the technology could be used effectively and saw justification for voting in favor of the license plate readers.

"But, I also could vote `no' because of the weaponization of the Wisconsin Open Records laws and Freedom of Information Act that certain actors in our community have engaged in," he said.

WATCH NOW: Rally calls for officer's firing; Blake family scheduled to meet with Biden on police reforms

 

Family and friends of Jacob Blake, along with other local activists marched on City Hall Monday night demanding the termination of the officer who shot Blake multiple times, and who the Kenosha County District Attorney declined to criminally prosecute a week ago.

Erica Ness, Leaders of Kenosha’s director of community engagement, said the organization and Blake’s family would continue to demand justice for Blake despite the decision. During a press conference held outside the city Municipal Building, 625 52nd St, they called for Officer Rusten Sheskey to be fired from the Kenosha Police Department.

“We’re here to let the mayor know and to let the Kenosha Police and Fire Commission know that Kenosha’s not safe with Rusten Sheskey continuing to be on the police department,” she said. “And, in addition to long-term reform, so we do not have any police officers shooting Black men in the back anymore, we need him gone.”

“We’re not going to stop marching until we make sure Kenosha is safe and protected by the police officers, instead of (people) fearing for their lives,” she said.

Read and see more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/watch-now-rally-calls-for-officers-firing-blake-family-scheduled-to-meet-with-biden-on/article_ee496fc9-8d76-5f3d-b3cd-f2de95eab261.html

Kenosha mayor, police chief prepare for results of Jacob Blake shooting investigation

Online store stops selling "Free Kyle" merchandise to pay for defense after Kenosha shooting

ANTIOCH, Ill. -- An online store has stopped selling merchandise supporting an Illinois teen who killed two people and wounded a third during a Wisconsin protest.

Prosecutors have charged 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse with multiple counts in the August shootings in Kenosha.

Rittenhouse maintains he fired in self-defense and some conservatives have praised him.

The Kenosha News reports that his family started selling "Free Kyle" merchandise through Printify last week, saying the money would go toward his legal defense.

According to a statement on Twitter, Printify terminated the family's account. The company says it doesn't want to be associated with such a contentious case.

Kimberley Motley, an attorney for one of the men Rittenhouse shot called the merchandise "disgusting."

From: https://abc7chicago.com/kenosha-shooting-kyle-rittenhouse-merchandise-free/9036370/

Rittenhouse family selling branded merchandise to raise cash for defense

Shown are examples of some of the merchandise available at the FreeKyleUSA.com website. Proceeds are being used to fund the defense costs for Kyle Rittenhouse, who is charged with killing two men and seriously injuring a third during the Kenosha August riots.

FreeKyleUSA.com

Kyle Rittenhouse’s family is selling “Free Kyle” branded merchandise online.

On the website FreeKyleUSA.com — which according to the site is owned and operated by the Rittenhouse family — those interested can purchase a Free Kyle trucker hat for $24.99, a Free Kyle “women’s relaxed T-shirt” for $20.99 or Free Kyle logo stickers for $6. There are also sweatshirts, laptop sleeves, mugs and iPhone covers. The merchandise is being sold as part of fundraising efforts for the teenager’s defense.

In a statement on the site, Rittenhouse’s mother Wendy Rittenhouse thanks supporters and states “I alone control this website and Kyle’s defense fund” and states that the proceeds of the site, including donations, will go toward defending Rittenhouse at trial.

“We estimate Kyle’s defense costs for trial to be approximately $2 to $2.5 million and after turning over the $2 million dollar cash bail we are essentially starting at zero,” she states. The site states that the effort raised about $17,000 of the $2 million goal.

Read more: https://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/rittenhouse-family-selling-branded-merchandise-to-raise-cash-for-defense/article_6b7d6f44-139e-517b-9f82-ebd7dc9f1ce3.html

Kenosha News journalist quits: 'At the core of my decision was one person, Jacob Blake'

From JSOnline:

Rory Linnane

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Daniel Thompson

Daniel Thompson, who said he was the only full-time Black journalist at The Kenosha News, resigned Saturday after objecting to a headline he called "grossly negligent" about a rally for the family of police shooting victim Jacob Blake. 

He joins a wave of journalists of color across the country who have publicly shared stories in recent months about challenges in newsrooms led predominantly by white people. Like Thompson, many protested headlines, prompting public apologies from the Philadephia Inquirer and The New York Times. 

At the Saturday event, Jacob Blake Sr. spoke about visiting his son in the hospital, a retired reverend sang songs about unity, and thousands marched behind the Blake family calling for social justice.

The large-font headline that topped the Kenosha News website for several hours quoted an unnamed participant: "Kenosha speaker: ‘If you kill one of us, it’s time for us to kill one of yours.’”

Thompson, who had attended the event, said he felt it was dangerous to headline the quote, which didn't represent the event or the messages from the family and other speakers.

The top editor at the news organization, Bob Heisse, confirmed Thompson’s resignation but did not answer questions about the dispute or why he ultimately changed the headline. 

“Nothing was wrong,” Heisse said. “I just felt after a while that I would just change the headline.”

Heisse also declined to answer questions about diversity at the Kenosha News. Many news organizations recently started sharing information about diversity as part of commitments to make newsrooms reflect the communities they serve.

“It’s crucial for news organizations and news leaders to be transparent about their diversity numbers,” said LaSharah Bunting, journalism director for the Knight Foundation. “You can’t solve a problem if you're not willing to admit the extent of the problem.”

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/09/02/journalist-quits-kenosha-news-over-headline-after-jacob-blake-rally/5682387002/