Pentagon drops 180 faiths from military’s recognized religions list

SE Wisconsin religious organizations preparing to provide support during possible ICE operations

Woman charged in shooting of Concordia student says the two became paranoid after smoking pot

From JSOnline:

David Clarey

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Prosecutors say a 32-year-old Milwaukee woman grew paranoid after smoking marijuana and shot a Concordia pharmacy student and herself on Nov. 4.

Jamica Simone Mills, who was 31 at the time of the shooting, is charged with first-degree reckless homicide by use of a dangerous weapon in the shooting that killed 26-year-old Ariel Spillner, who she described as her friend to authorities, and led to her injuring herself accidentally.

The prosecutor's Nov. 8 criminal complaint details what Mills told police the evening the shooting occurred at her home after the two smoked marijuana together and both became paranoid.

Spillner was expected to cut Mills' dog's hair with scissors, but Mills retrieved a handgun from her bedroom after becoming paranoid. She later shot Spillner, after the victim made a "hand motion," Mills then accidentally shot herself in the abdomen, according to the criminal complaint.

Mills told police Spillner did not threaten her, she did not "observe" the scissors, and she did not mean to kill the other woman, according to the complaint.

The complaint shows Mills having other adverse, seemingly strange reactions to smoking marijuana. When first responders arrived, she was not wearing clothes and was combative, including to hospital staff who treated her injuries. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner has not released an autopsy report for Spillner's death.

Mills initially gave police a different narrative of events, where she was not the shooter, but later said it was incorrect, according to the compliant.

Online tributes to Spillner described her as an accomplished college basketball player at Clarke University in Iowa and "a light to everyone who knew her." A fundraiser for Spillner's family has raised nearly $12,500 as of Nov. 10.

Spillner was enrolled in the School of Pharmacy at Concordia University Wisconsin, a Lutheran university in Mequon. The university said in a statement it was "deeply saddened" of her death and was offering counseling and pastoral care to students.

"Our hearts and prayers are with Ariel's family, friends, classmates, and all who knew and loved her," the statement said. "We take comfort in the promise of Christ’s presence and pray for God’s peace to surround all who mourn Ariel’s passing."

Milwaukee County Court Commissioner Katharine Kucharski set Mills' bail at $150,000, according to online court records. Mills next court appearance is for a preliminary hearing on Nov. 17 at 1:30 p.m.

David Clarey is a public safety reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. He can be reached at dclarey@gannett.com.

From: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2025/11/10/woman-paranoid-after-smoking-pot-shoots-friend-milwaukee-da-says/87196397007/

The Demon weed strikes again!

'George Floyd Challenge' causes outrage at Racine high school

From WISN12ABC:

'Open racism is just wrong. It really is. I thought we squashed this years ago,' a Racine Lutheran parent said.



RACINE, Wis. —

For the second time in a month, parents and students are raising concerns about racism at Racine Lutheran High School.

A post Monday night on a Racine Lutheran High School Snapchat group showing two students doing a so-called "George Floyd Challenge," stunned some students and their parents. One student was kneeling on the other's neck.

"I'm like, 'You're kidding me.' If you're on an open forum like that with all the students. That's a problem," a Racine Lutheran parent said.

The parent, who didn't want to be identified, said the post was especially insensitive given that last month students, parents and activists publicly called out the school leadership after some students wore racially charged T-shirts to school and a swastika and a racially insensitive term were found in a bathroom.

"Open racism is just wrong. It really is. I thought we squashed this years ago," a Racine Lutheran parent said.

The principal emailed parents to say he was aware of the new post and said the students pictured were disciplined but offered no detail.

"Somebody needs to try to get people to open their eyes that it's not right. I mean, it really isn't," the parent said.

"Do you feel like the school's not doing enough?" WISN 12 News reporter Nick Bohr asked.

"In my opinion, yeah," the parent said.

After last month's student action, the school did host an assembly but student advocates say that only scratched the surface.

"This was just one of those symbolic one-and-done type of events. When you look at the depths of the hate and the words that are being used here, it goes much deeper. It needs a truly comprehensive approach to solve this problem," Forward Latino National President Darryl Morin said.

WISN 12 News reached out to Racine Lutheran High School for comment, but the principal did not respond.

From: https://www.wisn.com/article/george-floyd-challenge-causes-outrage-at-racine-high-school/38138991

Wisconsin Lutheran High School teachers and parents protest health department's directive to keep schools closed

From JSOnline:

Meg Jones

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Students and teachers hold signs outside the home of Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett during a march in Milwaukee on Sunday that was organized by Wisconsin Lutheran High School staff and teachers protesting the Health Department enacting stricter guidelines for when in-person classes may resume. The group was protesting the new rules which bar all schools and universities from opening until the city enters Phase 5 — which won't happen until the city meets several benchmarks, including seeing a downward trend in COVID-19's spread.

Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference teachers and students who expected to walk in their school buildings and finally return to classes next month protested on Sunday a City of Milwaukee Health Department directive that all schools will start with virtual learning.

The group of around 100 parents, teachers and students walked to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett's home to speak to him about the health department quietly enacting stricter guidelines for when in-person classes may resume.

Brian Gottschalk, a Wisconsin Lutheran High School math teacher, said in-person education is important and teaching upper-level mathematics courses such as calculus is much better in actual classrooms instead of virtual ones.

"We should have the opportunity to open up schools. Yes, we can do it virtually but we did surveys with kids and their parents and they want to come back to school,"  Gottschalk said as he walked from Wick Park to the mayor's house.

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2020/07/19/wisconsin-lutheran-high-parents-protest-demand-person-classes/5469616002/