What you need to know: Wednesday
It’s Wednesday, May 13 and here is your day ahead:
In local news…
WEATHER: After a chilly start, today will be mostly sunny and milder with high temperatures in the lower to middle 60s. Full forecast
1. TONY ROBINSON
No charges: Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne says there will not be criminal charges brought against the Madison police officer who killed Tony Robinson. Ozanne made the decision after a review of the incident and examination of a report from the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation on the shooting. Robinson’s mother, Andrea Irwin, said she doesn’t think the investigation was thorough enough. Robinson’s family held a news conference Tuesday afternoon, and said they have a number of questions about the documents the DA reviewed. Irwin said the incident brought out a disgusting view of the city that she thought she would never see. The family may still file a civil suit against the police department. Meanwhile, before Officer Matt Kenny can consider returning to duty, an internal investigation has to be finished within the department. That review is expected to be completed in the next two to three weeks. More on this story
2. ROBINSON PROTEST
Black Out Wednesday: While the city of Madison remained quiet overnight, demonstrations over the charging decision in the Tony Robinson case are planned for today. At 9 a.m. the Young, Gifted and Black Coalition is leading a rally on Williamson Street where Robinson was shot. They’re calling it “Black Out Wednesday,” part of a national black lives matter campaign, and demanding justice for the 19-year-old. Robinson’s family urges the community to share their anger and frustrations but to remain peaceful. More on this story
3. THREAT AGAINST OFFICERS
‘Reliable sources’: Madison police officers may be facing some serious threats this morning. Madison police Capt. Kristen Roman emailed members of Madison’s common council to warn them about the situation. Roman wrote, “We have received information from reliable sources that threats to shoot and kill officers have been made. One such threat involves purported statements from gang members/associates that they intend to “riot” immediately following the DA announcement and that threats to “attack” and to “kill the first cop” seen have also been levied.” Police Chief Mike Koval said his department receives threats with these kinds of events, but that police can’t be paralyzed by this kind of threat. More on this story
4. STATE ASSEMBLY
Several votes today: The State Assembly plans to vote on several bills today. One would limit what food stamp recipients can buy in Wisconsin. Another bill up for a vote would require drug tests for some residents seeking unemployment or food stamp benefits. The Assembly also plans to vote on a bill to ensure Badger Exam test scores aren’t used against teachers or put on report cards measuring school performance.
5. BRETT FAVRE
Ceremony sold out: Approximately 67,000 tickets to view Brett Favre’s Packers Hall of Fame induction ceremony on the TundraVision video boards from the Lambeau Field seating bowl have been sold. The tickets, priced at $4 each, were on sale through Ticketmaster beginning at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, and grant admission to the seating bowl to watch the July 18 induction ceremony on the TundraVision video boards. During the evening, Favre will also make an appearance in the bowl to address the crowd. More on this story
In national news…
1. AMTRAK CRASH
Train derails: At least five people were killed last night when an Amtrak train traveling from Washington to New York derailed. Dozens were injured. Armed with flashlights, firefighters workers went from car to car, rescuing passengers from the train, which went off the tracks in Philadelphia. Mayor Michael Nutter called the scene “an absolute, disastrous mess.” Seven cars and the train’s engine were either turned over or found upside down. The FBI was on the scene, but as of last night there was nothing to indicate the incident was an act of terrorism. More on this story
2. NEPAL EARTHQUAKE
More misery: At least 65 have died in Nepal’s latest earthquake. The quake — a magnitude 7.3 — was weaker than the one that hit the region just over two weeks ago, but it was still deadly. It struck before dawn yesterday and aftershocks rocked the region throughout the day. At least 17 people died in India and a woman was killed in China when falling rocks hit her car. A U.S. military helicopter, in Nepal to support quake relief efforts, also went missing yesterday. The UH-1 Huey helicopter had six Marines and two Nepalis aboard at the time. More on this story
3. BOSTON BOMBING TRIAL
Closing arguments: Prosecutors and lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev have a final chance to make their case for life in prison or the death penalty. Closing arguments are scheduled for Wednesday in U.S. District Court. Prosecutors have portrayed Tsarnaev as a callous, unrepentant terrorist who carried out the deadly attack with his radicalized older brother, Tamerlan. They say he deserves the death penalty. Tsarnaev’s lawyers admitted he participated in the bombings, but told the jury he was heavily influenced by Tamerlan, who wanted to punish the U.S. for its actions in Muslim countries. They’ve asked the jury to spare his life. More on this story
4. NORTH KOREA
Death sentence: North Korea has reportedly executed the country’s defense minister after the regime accused him of treason. Hyon Yong Chol was killed April 30 with an anti-aircraft gun at a military school in front of hundreds of witnesses, according to South Korean media. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been accused of ordering the executions of as many as 15 top officials so far this year. However, during a rare trip to Pyongyang last week, a top official told CNN the allegations were “malicious slander.” More on this story
5. RELIGION
New study: Fewer Americans identify themselves as Christians, mainly because millennials are leaving the fold. That’s the takeaway from a new Pew Research Center study released yesterday. The study says the Christian percentage of the population has dropped from 78.4% in 2007 to 70.6% today. Hinduism and Islam made small but significant gains, but the big drop in Christianity comes from people who now identify themselves as unaffiliated with any faith, a category that’s up 10 percentage points since 2007. More on this story
