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Vehicle strikes, kills boy in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) - An 11-year-old boy has died after he was struck by a truck on a Milwaukee street.

The Milwaukee County medical examiner's office was called on a report of a child killed in a vehicle accident on Milwaukee's north side.

Witnesses say the boy tried running across the street to meet a family member around 4 p.m. today, but was hit by a truck.

The driver is cooperating with police and has not been cited.

Racine auctions off trolleys

RACINE (AP) - One of Racine's two trolleys will stay in town, thanks to a local car dealer.

The city today auctioned off the 20-year-old trolleys after deciding it could no longer afford to run them.

Mark Porcaro, president of Porcaro Ford, bought one of the trolleys at auction. Porcaro said he spent $27,500 for one trolley and spare parts, including a $400 auction fee.

Porcaro didn't know who bought the other trolley and where it is going. But according to the city, the second one sold for $23,100.

Carbon monoxide buildup evacuates business

High carbon monoxide levels detected in an office building Wednesday afternoon in the Business Park of Kenosha forced evacuation of the occupants, eight of whom sought hospital treatment.

For more, check www.kenoshanews.com or see Thursday's newspaper.

Boresch still on top in PBA Senior Tour event

Trying for his second Professional Bowlers Association Senior Tour title of the season, Kenosha's Lennie Boresch retained his lead after the second round of the Dayton Classic Wednesday at Capri Lanes in Kettering, Ohio. Boresch completed qualifying with a 3,869 16-game pinfall total (241.8 average) to top the 32 players who advanced to match play which begins this morning. In Wednesday's second eight-game round Boresch had games of 268, 258, 245, 213, 195, 237, 236 and 213.

Harris, Willems wins News Match Game Bowling Tournament titles

Larry Willems won the Super Senior Men's crown while Tammy Harris took the Women's Division championship in the Kenosha News Match Game Bowling Tournament at Surfside Bowl on Wednesday.

I-94 reduced to one lane

Unstable pavement in the right lane of southbound I-94 from Highway 142 to Highway 158 forced the lane to be closed as of 6:45 p.m. Wednesday for emergency repairs.

It is expected to remain closed through 6 a.m. Thursday, leaving only a single lane open for through traffic, according to Kenosha Sheriff's Department Sgt. Steve Beranis, who added drivers are experiencing long delays due to the closure.

Economy shows improvement

WASHINGTON (AP) - Maybe the U.S. economy's strength this winter wasn't just weather-related after all.

Home construction is near a three-year high. And factory output has risen in three of the year's first four months. The data released today suggest growth in the April-June quarter is off to a good start, helped by falling gas prices and solid hiring gains. See Thursday's Kenosha News for more details.

Illinois panel OKs higher minimum wage

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Illinois lawmakers are considering a plan to increase the minimum wage and let it rise automatically in the future.

The state Senate's Executive Committee approved the plan 9-5 today. But even the sponsor says more work is needed before it could become law.

The current minimum wage in Illinois is $8.25. The legislation would increase that by about 50 cents a year until it reaches $10.55. That matches the buying power of the minimum wage back in 1968, when it was just $1.60.

Poll says Walker leading Barrett

MADISON (AP) - Jobs and the economy are a hot topic in the recall race, with Gov. Scott Walker touting new data showing that Wisconsin added jobs in 2011 despite previous reports that jobs were lost.

That news comes as a new Marquette University Law School poll shows voters believe Walker would do a better job than Democrat Tom Barrett in creating jobs, 48 percent to 41 percent.

The random telephone poll of 704 registered voters has a margin of error of 3.8 percentage points and was conducted between May 9 and Saturday.

The poll also shows Walker ahead of Barrett 50 percent to 44 percent of 600 likely voters, with a margin of error of 4.1 percentage points on that question.

Fugitive shot while fleeing authorities in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (AP) - An armed fugitive has been shot and critically wounded while fleeing U.S. marshals on Milwaukee's south side.

Authorities had blocked an intersection this afternoon and are investigating.

Milwaukee police said they are on the scene but that it is a U.S. marshals case.

Homeowner tackles stranger in home invasion

PLEASANT PRAIRIE - Pleasant Prairie police were able to locate and arrest a suspect Tuesday morning after the victim tackled him in his yard following a home invasion early Monday morning.

The homeowner reported he had woken up to find a stranger in his residence in the 4100 block of 96th Street around 3:20 a.m. Monday, according to Pleasant Prairie police reports.

The suspect, Gregory Miller, 30, of Lake Villa, Ill., then fled the home but was tackled by the homeowner in the yard. A struggle occurred, but Miller eventually got away after striking the homeowner in the head with a flashlight.

During the struggle, the homeowner gained possession of the suspect's cellphone, which led the police to Miller. He was taken into custody Tuesday for burglary and battery.

For more, see tomorrow's Kenosha News.

Dollar continues to rally on fears about Greece

NEW YORK (AP) - Worries that Greece will drop out of the euro currency union continued to push the dollar higher against most other currencies today.

The dollar index, which compares the U.S. dollar against six other currencies, has rallied over 3 percent since April 30 as traders seek the safety of the U.S. currency on growing concerns about Greece.

With Greece's political future still uncertain, traders are more comfortable holding the dollar, says Geoffrey Yu, currency strategist at UBS in London. The dollar is considered a safer bet during times of international turmoil.

The euro fell to $1.2722 in afternoon trading from $1.2734 late Tuesday. Earlier, the euro fell to $1.268, a four-month low against the dollar.

Newson says recall had no effect on data release

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development Secretary Reggie Newson says the decision to release new jobs numbers early was his alone and not made in consultation with Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Newson released the figures today, less than three weeks before Walker faces Democrat Tom Barrett in a June 5 recall vote. Walker appointed Newson to his post.

Newson says the pending recall had no effect on his unusual decision to release the data early.

The new numbers show Wisconsin added 23,300 jobs last year instead of losing 33,900.

The numbers are preliminary and subject to revision by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The final count comes out June 28, three weeks after the recall.

Defense rests without calling Edwards, mistress

GREENSBORO, N.C. (AP) - John Edwards' defense team rested today without calling the two-time Democratic presidential candidate or his one-time mistress to the witness stand, a sign of confidence after presenting little more than two days of testimony and evidence.

The defense had called a series of witnesses aimed at shifting the jury's focus from the lurid details of a political sex scandal to the legal question of whether the Edwards' actions violated federal campaign finance laws.

Prosecutors spent nearly three weeks trying to convince a jury that Edwards masterminded a conspiracy to use nearly $1 million secretly provided by two wealthy donors to help hide his pregnant mistress, Rielle Hunter, as he sought the White House in 2008.

Many people watching the case believed Edwards would testify so the jury could hear directly from the former U.S. senator and trial lawyer, who had a reputation for his ability to sway jurors. But putting Edwards on the stand was also a gamble: It would have exposed him to withering cross-examination about his past lies and personal failings.

Most experts were convinced calling Hunter to testify would have dredged up more negatives and lies. The defense also elected not to question Edwards' oldest daughter, Cate, who has sat behind Edwards nearly every day of the trial and could have helped humanize him.

Activists gathering in advance of NATO summit

Dozens of activists have gathered in Chicago's financial district to protest evictions and foreclosures.

The protest today is among several demonstrations leading up this weekend's NATO summit. Activists are beating drums and chanting "Fight, fight, fight; housing is a human right."

Twenty-three-year-old college student Gabriel Fisher says he'll participate in protests the rest of the week and believes many of the causes are connected. They include opposition to war and advocacy of immigrant rights.

The protests will culminate on Sunday, when thousands of people are expected for rallies and a march.

Walker touts new numbers showing '11 job growth

Gov. Scott Walker is touting new positive jobs numbers he says is a more accurate reflection of how the state's economy is turning around.

But his Democratic challenger Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett says Walker is cooking the books by releasing the figures before they have been reviewed by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The figures based on a census of businesses released today show Wisconsin gained 23,300 public and private jobs in 2011. Previous totals based on a smaller survey of businesses showed the state lost 33,900 jobs over the year.

Barrett says he has no idea whether the new figures are accurate.

Groom wanted for murder in new wife's death

A groom whose bride had sought to keep their impending wedding secret from most of her family is wanted on a murder charge after his new wife was found stabbed to death in a bathtub in her suburban Chicago home just hours after the ceremony, still dressed in silver sequins.

A manhunt is under way for 30-year-old Arnoldo Jimenez, who is accused of first-degree murder in the slaying of Estrella Carrera, 26, shortly after they celebrated their marriage on Friday with friends, said police in the Chicago suburb of Burbank.

Carrera's body was found in a bathtub in a silver sequin cocktail dress that she wore at the wedding reception.

UW sex assault investigation costs $43,700

A law firm has charged the University of Wisconsin-Madison about $43,700 to investigate an athletic official who resigned amid a sexual-assault investigation.

The investigation was conducted by Patrick Fiedler, a former Dane County Circuit judge and current attorney with Axley Brynelson. He was hired to conduct the inquiries into John Chadima.

Fiedler's work from Jan. 9 to March 26 involved meetings and interviews with UW officials, witnesses and reporters. Fiedler submitted two reports in which he documented allegations from student employees accusing Chadima of making inappropriate sexual advances and improper touching.

Private equity firm buys Wis. foundry

A New York private equity firm plans to buy ThyssenKrupp Waupaca Inc., described by industry experts as the largest independent iron foundry in the world.

KPS Capital Partners says it will rename the company Waupaca Foundry Inc. Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed.

The company makes millions of tons of iron castings a year and is North America's largest supplier of castings to the auto, truck, agriculture and construction industries.

ThyssenKrupp Waupaca has six manufacturing plants in Wisconsin, Indiana and Tennessee.

Obama raises $44 million in April

President Barack Obama raised a combined $43.6 million in April for his campaign and the Democratic Party as he faces a unifying Republican effort around Mitt Romney for the White House.

Obama's April fundraising haul fell short of the $53 million he raised in March. That's as his campaign said more than 400,000 people contributed to the campaign last month, including 169,000 new donors.

Second downtown workshop planned for next week

The Lakota Group is holding their second downtown workshop May 24 at the Rhode Center for the Arts. Downtown residents and stakeholders are invited to review the analysis of downtown, see a presentation of strategy and design concepts and participate in an interactive discussion. The workshop will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. next Thursday.

U.S. housing market beginning to heal

U.S. builders began work on more homes last month, evidence that the battered housing market is slowly healing. The Commerce Department said today that builders broke ground at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 717,000 homes in April. That's 2.6 percent more than March's total, which was revised higher. Construction rose for both single-family homes and apartments.

Sunny, spring day today

Today's forecast calls for a mostly sunny day today with highs in the low 60s. Tonight's low will be in the 40s.

For more information, see today's Kenosha News. Visit this website regularly for up-to-the-minute weather data. You can also sign up for free News Now weather alerts.

Wilmot boys win two relays at SLC track and field meet

The Wilmot boys won the 800- and 400-meter relays at the Southern Lakes Conference track and field meet Tuesday at Burlington.

Wilmot's Justin Schweitzer, Bennett Kothe, Jacob Hinzpeter and Matt Svejnohe won the 800 relay in 1:32:61. Hopkins, Hinzpeter, Svejnohe and Keith Hopkins won the 400 relay in 44.73.

The Central boys took third with 93 points while Wilmot was fifth with 66.50 points. In the girls meet, Central was fourth and Wilmot was seventh.

For more on this meet, see Thursday's Kenosha News.

Zimmerman had 2 black eyes, nose fracture after shooting

MIAMI (AP) - Court records show George Zimmerman had a pair of black eyes, a nose fracture and two cuts to the back of his head after the fatal shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

The medical records were part of evidence released today that prosecutors have in the second-degree murder case against Zimmerman. He has entered a plea of not guilty and claims self-defense in the Feb. 26 shooting.

Zimmerman was treated Feb. 27 at Altamonte Family Practice.

Cheaper gas unlikely to boost summer travel

NEW YORK (AP) - Cheaper gas won't be enough to get many more Americans on the road this summer. They're still too worried about their jobs and the economy. See Wednesday's Kenosha News for more details.

Brewers shut out Mets 8-0

NEW YORK (AP) - Zack Greinke overcame his road woes and ran his scoreless streak to 15 innings, Travis Ishikawa homered twice and drove in a career-high five runs, and the Milwaukee Brewers beat the New York Mets 8-0 Tuesday night for a split of the two-game series. For more, see Wednesday's Kenosha News.

Romney wins GOP presidential primary in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) - Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney was won Tuesday night's Republican Party presidential primary in Nebraska.

Executive Jim Kreuser bullish on county's future

Kenosha County Executive Jim Kreuser delivered his annual state of the county address to the County Board tonight, saying he is "bullish" about the area's future.
"The state of Kenosha County is strong," Kreuser said. "We in county government have proven to be flexible and resilient -- we've been able to adapt to change swiftly in these uncertain times."
For more on this story, check later at kenoshanews.com or see Wednesday's Kenosha News.

District, union reach agreement on debt

Kenosha Unified and the local teacher's union have reached a settlement on a five-year-old debt involving salary for the union president and his replacement in the classroom. Tina Schmitz, the district's chief financial officer, said Unified had attempted to collect more than $69,000 in reimbursement for salary and wages it paid for the two union positions under contract. Kenosha Education Association Executive Director Joe Kiriaki contended the debt had already been settled and it wasn't one the union owed. Both sides, however, said Tuesday that to avoid further litigation the settlement as reached. The union agreed to pay half and the district wrote off the other half of the debt.