Afternoon News Brief - Waukesha West High locked down this morning after report of man nearby with a gun

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Waukesha West High School was locked down for about 25 minutes this morning, after police were told there was a man crouched with a gun nearby. As it turns out, the man was looking for a coyote in his neighborhood. Waukesha city police and county sheriff’s deputies were called to where the man was located. After he explained the situation, authorities said it was no problem – and the high school lockdown ended a little before nine a.m.

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Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett accuses the governor of waging a war against Wisconsin’s largest city. Barrett and Governor Scott Walker are enmeshed in a campaign for office right now, with the governor facing a recall vote June 5th. Barrett says Walker wants to divide the state and put people against Milwaukee. He says Walker is discouraging people from visiting locations like the Milwaukee Art Museum and Summerfest. Barrett told members of the Rotary Club the governor is telling people, quoting here, “Don’t go to Milwaukee.” The Walker campaign responded, saying Barrett has failed the people of Milwaukee, and is attacking the governor to avoid answering questions about those failures.

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Two men are due back in court July 24th, after they pleaded innocent to the murder of a young La Crosse woman for her purse and a random drive by shooting at an elderly woman’s house. 19 year old Kong Vue and his 21 year old uncle Pao Choua Vue are both charged with homicide and attempted homicide. Both incidents occurred March 26th. Prosecutors said an 83 year old woman was celebrating her birthday with her family when the two defendants fired several shots into the home on La Crosse’s north side. No one was hurt. Then the Vues allegedly drove to the city’s south side. Authorities said Kong Vue walked into Sara Hougom’s unlocked apartment, went looking for her purse because he needed money, and then shot the 20 year old Hougom when she started moving off a couch. The defendants could learn their trial dates the next time they go to court.

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An arbitration panel has awarded JP Morgan Securities to pay almost $2 million dollars to Ashley Furniture of Arcadia. Ashley complained to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, after it got into a dispute over auction rate securities, that Morgan had sold to the Wisconsin furniture maker. Ashley said Morgan never disclosed that the securities were not liquid, safe, short term investments and Morgan committed a possible conflict by never disclosing its own involvement in the auction rate securities market. Ashley had sought almost $27 million dollars, and the arbitration award was much smaller. Ashley is the nation’s largest furniture retailer, and among the largest manufacturers of home furniture.

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There’s another sign today that the economy’s getting better. Financial analyst Robert W. Baird andCompany said more of Harley Davidson’s motorcycles are selling at or above the suggested retail prices. And it’s the first time since 2008 that a majority of Harley bikes in the US are not being sold below what the manufacturer suggests. The Milwaukee motorcycle legend has had a strong recovery, after taking some big financial lumps during the Great Recession. Baird analyst Craig Kennison surveyed 40 Harley dealers around the nation and he found that the demand for new bikes was up by 4 to 5 percent, compared to 25% earlier in the spring. He said dealer inventories have gotten lower.

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The treasurer for the Reedsburg Youth Hockey Association being accused of stealing more than $144,000 dollars over the last 10 years. Fifty four year old Daniel Lehman is being held in the Sauk County Jail. Reedsburg police were told earlier this month by association board members that they suspected he had taken a lot of money from the association’s bank account. Lehman told investigators he intended to repay the money, saying he was using it to cover personal financial problems he had suffered recently.

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A pharmaceutical company has named Republican US Senate candidate Tommy Thompson as the new chairman of its Board of Directors. The CEO of Therapeutics MD says the firm is happy to have Thompson on board because of his experience in the health care industry. He’s on a number of health related company boards, and he’s a former secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services. Therapeutics MD is a subsidiary of Vita Med MD, which makes dietary supplements and other products focusing on women’s health. Brian Nemoir of Thompson’s Senate campaign says it’s expected to be a short term appointment for the former governor. Thompson reported in January that he was given at least $5,000 dollars by 33 companies and groups to deliver speeches and or consulting services. Thompson has said he’s in the process of leaving his board and company positions. And if he’s elected to the Senate in November, Thompson said he would give up all of them. Thompson is running against three other Republicans in the August 14th primary. The winner goes up against House Democrat Tammy Baldwin in November, for the Senate seat to be given up by the retiring Herb Kohl.

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Wisconsin is no longer one of the Top Five friendliest states for bicycles. But it’s still the 6th best in the nation, according to an annual ranking today from the League of American Bicyclists. The Badger State was 3rd best a year ago, and second best in 2010. The League’s report noted that Wisconsin spends a low amount of its federal transportation funds on bicycle projects and accommodations, not even 1.2%. The national average is about 1 3/4%. The League recommended the state set up funding criteria to encourage things like safe bike trails. It said that Wisconsin’s bicycle ridership, while good, “must continue to increase.” The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin said other states are increasing their funding on cycling, while the Badger State cut $3 million dollars in state cycling funds in the current two year budget passed by Republicans in 2011. The state DOT issued a statement touting its #6 national ranking. It did not mention the funding issue. But DOT bicycle and pedestrian coordinator Jill Mrotek Glenzinski did mention recent state laws which improve safety like allowing signal turns with either hand, and using red rear lights instead of reflectors. Also, she said the state is implementing one of the nation’s first “complete street” laws, which require bike and walking accommodations in road-building projects.

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