MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) — The pilot of a U.S. Air Force fighter jet that crashed in the state of Wisconsin on Tuesday was able to eject safely, officials said.

The pilot was conducting a routine training flight with an F-16 Fighter Falcon jet aircraft from the Wisconsin Air National Guard 115th Fighter Wing over Adams County, Wisconsin, when the accident occurred at around 1:20 p.m. local time.

The unnamed pilot was able to eject safely and was recovered south of Chester, Wisconsin, around 70 miles northwest of Milwaukee. The pilot was being medically evaluated, the U.S. Air Force said.

The aircraft was also found in Chester, as emergency teams were deployed to recover the aircraft. An Air Force team will be investigating the incident to determine the cause of the accident.

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MADISON, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) — Democrat Senators on Thursday left the Wisconsin Capitol to boycott the passage of the governor’s union bill while protests continued in Madison, WISC-TV reported.

The Democrats left the Capitol in order to prevent the vote on the legislation proposed by Governor Scott Walker that intends to strip public employees of collective bargaining rights.

The Republican majority sought to pass the bill on Thursday but it cannot be approved unless there is at least one Democrat present. The 14 missing senators were found in a Rockford, Illinois hotel.

Governor Walker called for the missing lawmakers to return as the Senate. Police officers could be dispatched to retrieve the senators but so far no action has been decided as it involves crossing state lines.

“I am calling on Senate Democrats to show up to work today, debate legislation and cast their vote. Their actions by leaving the state and hiding from voting are disrespectful to the hundreds of thousands of public employees who showed up to work today and the millions of taxpayers they represent,” said Walker.

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said that President Obama considers that the bill proposed by the Governor is more like an assault on unions but understands the fiscal challenges and the need to make tough budget decisions.

“The President believes that the best way to deal with this is for people to address these problems by sitting down at the table to collaborate and work out a solution,” added Carney.

Governor Walker introduced his union bill last week. He said that the legislation will help close Wisconsin’s $137 million shortfall in the state’s current budget and a projected $3.6 billion deficit in the next two-year budget.

By eliminating collective bargaining rights, the state would save $30 million by July and $300 million over the next two years to address a $3.6 billion budget shortfall, according to Walker’s proposal.

In addition, the legislation also would make public workers pay half the costs of their pensions and at least 12.6 percent of their health care coverage as well. In this way, state employees’ share of pension and health care costs would go up by an average of 8 percent.

Meanwhile, protests continued for the third day as the area surrounding the Capitol was crowded by protesters, including teachers, prison guards and others. The building itself was also packed with demonstrators who were chanting pro-union slogans. The session began with only 17 Republican lawmakers.

Wisconsin police estimated that around 25,000 people were protesting and nine demonstrators were arrested. The rallies gathered 13,000 people on Tuesday and 20,000 on Wednesday.

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NEW YORK (BNO NEWS) — A New York man is facing charges for allegedly handcuffing a woman who answered to his Craigslist ad of a free room, beating her, and keeping her as a ‘sex slave’ for 8 days, local media reported Tuesday.

John Hopkins, 45, of Brooklyn, New York, was arrested Saturday night after holding a Wisconsin woman for eight days in his apartment, constantly beating and raping her until she was able to call her mother, who informed the police, the New York Post reported.

Hopkins posted an ad on Craigslist, offering a free room in East Williamsburg in exchange of cleaning his apartment and cooking for him. The woman who accepted the deal, was picked up at New York City’s international airport earlier in the month and was driven to Hopkins’ Humbolt Street apartment.

However, upon arrival, Hopkins reportedly told the woman that she would become his slave. He then repeatedly physically and sexually abused the 27-year-old woman, and even handcuffed her to a radiator while continuing his assaults for eight days.

According to reports, the woman was allowed to attend a job interview in a Manhattan restaurant. The woman went on to call her mother, who informed the police.

On Monday, Hopkins, who is currently being held in custody with bail set at $350,000, was charged with first degree rape, committing a criminal sexual act, among other charges that included assauld and unlawful imprisonment.

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MARINETTE, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) — The armed teenage gunman who shot himself at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin on Monday evening after holding two dozen hostages for more than four hours, died on Tuesday morning, officials said.

“The student who held classmates hostage yesterday passed away at 10:44 am today. He has been identified as Samuel O. Hengel, age 15, of rural Porterfield,” said Kathy Frank, a spokeswoman for the Marinette County Emergency Management office.

Police on Monday responded to the school after a 911 call was received at 3.48 p.m. local time, stating that a 15-year-old male student had taken several students and a female teacher hostage inside a classroom.

One student was allowed to leave at approximately 3:40 pm when the high school principal checked on the classroom.

Hours later, at around 7.40 p.m. local time, five students were able to escape after convincing the gunman that they needed to use the bathroom. Soon after, at 8.03 p.m. local time, law enforcement personnel stormed the building after three shots were heard.

Officials later said that the gunman was not firing at students or himself but were unable to say what he did fire at. When officers approached him, however, he turned the gun on himself.

Two hand guns were recovered at the scene as well as shell casings from both weapons. Students reported that the suspect had fired a weapon in the classroom before law enforcement arrived.

“Remaining students and the teacher were evacuated safely,” said Frank. “Law enforcement continues to investigate the incident,” she added.

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MARINETTE, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) — An armed teenage gunman shot himself at Marinette High School in Marinette, Wisconsin on Monday evening after holding two dozen hostages for more than four hours.

Police responded to the school after a 911 call was received at 3.48 p.m. local time, stating that a 15-year-old male student had taken 23 students and a female teacher hostage inside a classroom.

Hours later, at around 7.40 p.m. local time, five students were able to escape after convincing the gunman that they needed to use the bathroom. Soon after, at 8.03 p.m. local time, law enforcement personnel stormed the building after three shots were heard.

Officials later said that the gunman was not firing at students or himself but were unable to say what he did fire at. When officers approached him, however, he turned the gun on himself.

“Remaining students and the teacher were evacuated safely,” said Kathy Frank, a spokeswoman for the Marinette County Emergency Management office. “Emergency rescue personnel on stand-by treated the suspect and transported him to Bay Area Medical Center.”

The condition of the young gunman, who was not immediately identified by officials, was not known as of early Tuesday morning.

Two hand guns were recovered at the scene as well as shell casings from both weapons. Students reported that the suspect had fired a weapon in the classroom before law enforcement arrived.

An explosives detection dog was brought in from the Brown County Sheriff’s Department as a precaution to conduct a safety sweep of the entire building, with negative results.

Marinette Police Chief Jeffrey Skorik said investigators have interviewed the parents of the hostage-taker but said they are still unsure what his motives were.

Officials said that Marinette High School will be closed on Tuesday and arrangements are being made to provide counseling to students, families and staff members.

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WAUSAU, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) — A Wisconsin mother, her boyfriend and a convicted sex offender have been arrested in connection with the repeated sexual abuse of a young girl, police said on Friday.

Officials with the Wausau Police Department said that two men and one woman have been arrested in connection with the abuse, which involved a 9-year-old girl. It is believed the abuse had been taking place over a period of at least several weeks prior to the arrests.

One of the men, identified as 38-year-old Clyde R. McCollum, was previously convicted in 1998 of aggravated child sexual abuse on a victim under the age of 13. Other details about that case were not immediately available.

The other man was said to be the boyfriend of the mother of the victim, who was arrested because she allegedly allowed the abuse to take place. It was not immediately clear, however, if she was directly involved with the abuse.

Authorities began to investigate the case after they received a report that McCollum was bragging about having a relationship with a 9-year-old girl and wanting to have a child with her.

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MADISON, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) – Calumet County, Wisconsin District Attorney Ken Kratz on Monday announced that he would be resigning after coming under fire for sending sexually suggestive text messages to a domestic abuse victim while prosecuting her former boyfriend, CNN reported.

Kratz’s attorney, Robert Craanen, did not indicate when Kratz would resign. Kratz apologized to the press two weeks ago at a press conference for sending personal texts to a domestic abuse victim. At the time, however, he said he wouldn’t step down from office. The Wisconsin Department of Justice said that some of Kratz’s texts had “crossed the line and can be construed as sexual harassment.”

Specifically, he identified her in a text as a “tall, young, hot nymph,” and in another he told her “You are beautiful and would make a great partner someday.” Emails dated back to 2009 between Kratz and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, showing how Kratz had denied wrongdoing for weeks before finally admitting that his behavior was “inappropriate.”

Kratz has recently been on medical leave, which is notable, since in recent months a number of local and state domestic violence organizations have called on him to resign as district attorney.

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MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) – Milwaukee Brewers’ ace pitcher Yovani Gallardo was robbed at gunpoint on early Friday in the south side of the city, hours after pitching against Los Angeles Dodgers, WTMJ Radio informed.

Gallardo was accompanied by Alex Sanchez, the team’s clubhouse attendant. They were intercepted by a man carrying a gun. Galalrdo and Sanchez handed over money and jewelry. Sanchez was then struck in the head with the gun and suffered a minor bump.

The Brewers’ ace was not hurt in the incident but denied giving further declarations. He only confirmed the robbery.

“We are aware of it, but we do not have any other details other than Yovani and Alex do not care to discuss it further,” said Tyler Barnes, the Brewers’ vice president of communications.

Police officers did not give more details, such as the location of the robbery. However, the Major League Baseball said that the crime took place in the parking lot of Jalisco’s Supermarket around 2:30 a.m. local time.

Gallardo pitched on Thursday night in a losing effort against the Dodgers. Brewers were beaten 7-1 in their own Miller Park.

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FOND DU LAC, WISCONSIN (BNO NEWS) – A Fond du Lac, Wisconsin priest was forced to remove the ‘God Squad’ logos from his car after Electronics retailer Best Buy claimed it was too similar to its ‘Geek Squad’ logos, Fox 11 television reported on Wednesday.

Reverend Luke Strand of Holy Family Catholic Church was ordered by Best Buy to stop using the ‘God Squad’ logo due to its resemblance with its own ‘Geek Squad’ logo. Strand began using his modified logo and gained unprecedented attention in the area.

The electronics retailer sent a letter to the Fond du Lac priest who was shocked after reading it and didn’t know what to do next.

“He’s very aware that every company has to protect its trademark and that ‘Geek Squad’ is a protected trademark,” Rev. Bob Stiefvater, a co-worker of Strand, said.

Strand took the idea from the premise of the ‘Geek Squad’ of geeks hitting the streets to serve and applied to preaching the gospel in the area. Best Buy reportedly said they were not concerned with the name but the resemblances with its own logo.

Best Buy said it was a tough decision but necessary to set a precedent for other groups trying to violate their trademarks. Strand continues to drive the car but without the logos. He is hoping to come up with a new design and has many members of the community offering help.

The church says the story has gained national attention. Its phone has been ringing off the hook with people offering help with designing a logo, or simply their opinions.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) – Former U.S. House Rep. Dan Rostenkowski, powerful Chicago Democrat and architect of congressional tax policy during the Reagan administration before going to federal prison for corruption, died on Wednesday at his Wisconsin home.

Rostenkowski died at age 82, surrounded by his family at his Lake Benedict, Wisconsin home. He had been fighting a battle with prostate cancer since the early 1990s. Rostenkowski served 18 terms in the U.S. House before losing in 1994 and was chairman of the notable Ways and Means Committee. He was a prominent Chicago Democrat and was known as a consensus builder and legislative genius; he is credited with leading the effort to save Social Security and overhauling U.S. tax policy during the Reagan administration.

However, his legacy is most widely known for its flaws, specifically the Federal corruption charges against him. His political career was ended in 1994 after the conclusion of a two year investigation by the U.S. Justice Department led by future U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. He was accused of using congressional funds to purchase gifts for friends, keeping “ghost” employees on his payroll, and trading in officially purchased stamps for money at the House post office. Rostenkowski pleaded guilty in 1996 to mail fraud and served 15 months in prison before being pardoned by President Bill Clinton.

Former President Gerald Ford was among those calling for Rostenkowski’s pardon, saying “Danny’s problem was he played precisely under the rules of the city of Chicago. Now, those aren’t the same rules that any other place in the country lives by, but in Chicago they were totally legal, and Danny got a screwing.”

Rostenkowski noted in a 1998 interview with Robert Novak and Mark Shields that he knows that his legacy would be tainted due to the federal charges against him. “I know that my obituary will say, ‘Dan Rostenkowski, felon,’ and it is something that I have to live with,” he said.

It was widely stated that the practices that landed Rostenkowski in prison were practices that a large majority of U.S. House members had been practicing for a long time, and the Federal charges against Rostenkowski were notable sign of changing standards for the House.

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