MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state of Wisconsin and Milwaukee community organizations that filed a lawsuit related to the reconstruction of the Zoo Interchange have reached a settlement.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation announced Monday that the state will pay $13.5 million for additional bus routes and other services to alleviate congestion under the deal reached through court-sponsored mediation.
The federal lawsuit was filed in 2012 by Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin and the Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope.
The groups alleged that state and federal transportation officials were discriminating against urban minorities by not including public transit improvements in the $1.7 billion project.
The interchange includes the crossroads of Interstate-94, I-894 and U.S. Highway 45. Work is to begin next year and last through the end of 2018.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin officials say the first case of West Nile virus this year has been confirmed in a crow in Dodge County.
The Department of Health Services said Monday residents should use caution as dead birds can indicate infected mosquitoes are in the area. Residents can limit risk of infection by avoiding standing pools of water and by using bug repellant.
West Nile virus spreads to birds, animals and people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected birds.
There were 16 confirmed cases of West Nile virus in humans in Wisconsin last year. State data show cases are reported most heavily in August and September.
Symptoms from the potentially fatal virus include fever, headaches, swollen lymph glands and body aches.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Wisconsin will give more than $97,000 to the family of a man who died after he spent years fighting for money for the six years he spent wrongfully in prison.
Forest Shomberg spent six years in prison for the 2002 sexual assault of a University of Wisconsin-Madison student. He maintained his innocence and his conviction was overturned in 2009 based on new DNA evidence.
The state Claims Board unanimously denied Shomberg’s claim in December 2012. A circuit court in Eau Claire reversed that vote and said the board needed to compensate Shomberg.
Shomberg was found dead in a car in Madison two months after the circuit court ruling.
Shomberg had asked for $102,500. The claims board on Monday announced it was awarding $97,500.
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MADISON, Wis. (AP) - Prosecutors have charged a former state Department of Natural Resources warden with multiple counts of theft and misconduct in office.
Online court records show Monroe County District Attorney Kevin Croninger filed the charges against Dave Horzewski Monday in Sauk County. A DNR statement said Croninger is acting as a special prosecutor in the case.
The DNR’s statement said Horzewski served as a warden in Sauk County until he was fired in July 2013. DNR officials found evidence of misconduct after Horzewski was fired and turned the investigation over to state Capitol Police. The statement didn’t offer any further details. Chief Warden Todd Schaller declined to comment.
Croninger didn’t immediately return a message. Online court records didn’t list an attorney for Horzewski.
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