What you need to know: Friday
It’s Friday, April 17 and here is your day ahead:
In local news…
WEATHER: Today will start with mostly clear skies and temperatures in the 40s. It will be quite mild this afternoon with partly sunny skies and highs in the middle 70s. Full forecast
1. ANDREW STEELE
Inside today: The double homicide trial for Andrew Steele continues today, with his parents and medical experts expected to testify. The state plans to question one expert and two doctors who treated Steele right after he allegedly killed his wife and sister-in-law. Steele claims he was insane at the time of the killings due to suffering from ALS. The defense finished presenting its portion of the case yesterday morning. Steele declined to testify at this stage. Prosecutors say Steele is criminally responsible for the crimes and called the victims’ family members as witnesses. They say Steele was troubled by his ALS diagnosis but hadn’t acted strangely. More on this story
2. MIDWEST HORSE FAIR
Begins today: It’s all about the horses at the Alliant Energy Center this weekend. The Midwest Horse Fair begins today and runs through Sunday. Dane County officials are warning drivers of possible delays on the Beltline Friday morning because of extra traffic heading to the Midwest Horse Fair. Authorities expect east- and westbound lanes of the Beltline to be congested, according to the release. The Dane County Sheriff’s Office asks that motorists avoid the Beltline near the Park Street, Rimrock Road and John Nolen Drive exits if they can. More on this story
3. GOV. WALKER
Ratings drop: The latest Marquette Law School poll shows Gov. Walker’s approval rating has dropped here in Wisconsin. It was at 49 percent in October, but the new poll has it at 41 percent. Fifty-six percent disapprove of Walker’s performance. Meanwhile, Walker’s likely presidential campaign is getting some more help. Two former campaign staffers have created a super PAC that can raise unlimited amounts of money toward a possible run for the White House. He said he will not officially make a decision until after he signs the state budget into law, which will likely happen in June. More on this story
4. TINA STROMMEN
Sentencing: Sentencing is scheduled today for a grandmother convicted of killing her grandchild. Tina Strommen has pleaded guilty to reckless homicide and to delivering methadone. She gave methadone to her daughter, Tallie, who then gave it to her 13-month-old daughter, who died as a result. Last month, Tallie was sentenced to 5 years in prison and another 5 years probation. More on this story
5. FARMERS’ MARKET
Opening weekend: The Dane County Farmers’ Market returns to the Capitol Square on Saturday. The first market of the season features 12 new vendors selling everything from pickles and relishes to gathered wild flowers, and Italian baked goods like biscotti. The Farmers’ Market runs every Saturday and Wednesday through the summer. More on this story
In national news…
1. HERNANDEZ VERDICT
‘Indifference’: Members of the jury that sent Aaron Hernandez to prison for the rest of his life used that word a lot when they sat down with Anderson Cooper last night to talk about the trial. They used it when talking about how Hernandez simply walked away when his friend — murder victim Odin Lloyd — was shot and killed. They used it in expressing their surprise that Hernandez and his two friends were sunbathing at a pool hours after the murder. That perceived indifference is part of what led them to look beyond Hernandez’s football fame and fortune and convict him of first-degree murder. Lesa Strachan, the jury foreperson, said the months-long trial and deliberations — 35 hours reviewing 130 witness statements and 400 pieces of evidence — took an “incredibly emotional toll.” More on this story
2. JULIAN ASSANGE
Meeting planned: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who has been holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for almost three years, may soon be talking to Swedish prosecutors. Assange, accused of sex assaults in Sweden, said he’s willing to be questioned by Swedish investigators, but only if they’ll see him in London. They would prefer to question Assange in Sweden — in case there would need to be a trial in the case — but some of the alleged crimes are subject to statute of limitations this summer, so this may be their last best opportunity to talk to him. Assange has not been charged. He fears Sweden would send him to the United States, where he could be charged for publishing government secrets on WikiLeaks. More on this story
3. JAMEIS WINSTON
Lawsuit filed: The woman who accused former Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston of rape is taking him to court. Erica Kinsman’s lawsuit alleges sexual battery and false imprisonment in a December 2012 incident in which Kinsman says Winston raped her after a night of drinking. A prosecutor decided against bringing criminal charges in the case. Kinsman had already sued Florida State back in January. Winston is expected to be a top pick during the NFL draft on April 30. More on this story
More problems?: The Arizona police officer who slammed his car into a fleeing, armed suspect previously faced an excessive force lawsuit in New York. Officer Michael Rapiejko was one of the defendants in a suit filed in 2008 by a man who alleged that Rapiejko pointed a gun, threatened to shoot him, handcuffed and choked him in front of his family during a 2005 arrest. Rapiejko was with the New York Police Department at the time. The suit was settled for $20,000, and the defendants didn’t admit to any wrongdoing. Rapiejko’s actions in Arizona — captured on video tape — have spurred debate about what type of force police should use in certain situations. More on this story
5. APPLE WATCH
Delay: You’re not getting the Apple Watch next week. No one is. The tech giant now says the much-hyped watch won’t be available until June. Apple didn’t give a reason for the unexpected delay, but many tech observers believe a supply shortage is to blame. Almost 1 million Americans pre-ordered the Apple Watch on April 10, the first day it was available for online ordering. Apple has faced supply shortages in the past, typically when it launched a completely redesigned model of an iPhone or an iPad. More on this story
