Kenosha County’s New District Attorney Optimistic And Confident, Despite Mass Exodus Of Liberal Prosecutors

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Xavier Solis – Kenosha County District Attorney-Elect
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

For the first time in many decades, Kenosha County has a conservative Republican at the helm of the DA’s office. Prosecutors in the office, staffed by mainly liberal Democrats, have been giving notice of their resignations. Eight have officially given notice that they will be leaving the office. Several more have been rumored to be leaving. When the smoke clears, the office will have about half (or less) of the prosecutors left upon the commencement of the Solis administration.

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Under District Attorney Mike Graveley (D), all prosecutors had near-full autonomy over their cases with little to no oversight. This led to over generous plea deals, political prosecutions, and giving political allies big breaks. Solis, during his campaign, pledged change. He promised to end the political charging decisions.

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Solis’ vision for the office of holding defendants accountable for violent crimes and dangerous drug deliveries has apparently scared off the prosecutors on the left. Not one conservative Assistant District Attorney has left.

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When asked about the mass exodus, Solis had the following to say:

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“I anticipated that some individuals might choose to step away from their roles. Change, while often intimidating, is what I promised this community. The coming months will undoubtedly bring challenges, but I am fully prepared to meet them head-on. Together, we will press forward, upholding justice for victims and ensuring that those who commit violence or spread poison in our community are held accountable,” Solis told KCE Thursday evening.

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Here are the prosecutors that are leaving:

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T. Clair Binger (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

The prosecutor who infamously tried the Kyle Rittenhouse case and brought shame and embarrassment to the County, T. Clair Binger(D) gave his notice and is going to prosecutor a for the liberal Walworth DA, Zeke Wiedenfeld.

Alexandra Smathers (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Alexandra Smathers (D), the prosecutor who wrote a false letter to get a beloved SANE nurse fired, gave her notice. She is the sexual assault prosecutor. She gave minimal notice to the office and left many victims of sexual assault hanging, including many small children. A grandfather of one of the victims who was allegedly raped, and later passed away, was very upset at the news, saying “She should have stayed to finish her cases. She doesn’t care about my grandbaby, ” he told KCE today.

Carli McNeill (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Carli McNeill (D), who lost against Solis, gave her notice and is going to Rock County to prosecute.

Jessica Krejcarek (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Prosecutor Jessica Krejcarek (D) is leaving to go work with her best friend, Carli McNeill in Rock County.

Drew Lehman (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

One of the more reasonable and tough-on-crime democrats, Drew Lehman (D), is leaving to be closer to family. He had a long commute every day. He is the only one leaving that many defense attorneys say they will miss.

Kelly Birschbach (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Kelly Birschbach(D), who has many decades of time as a prosecutor is resigning.

Emily Gaertner (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Prosecutor Emily Gaertner, who has a terrible trial record is also leaving, but allegedly has had no luck finding a new place to work. She refuses to tell DA-Elect when she is leaving.

Alexis Bauer (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

One of the newest prosecutors, Alexis Bauer, is also leaving the office before Solis takes the Oath.

Rhonda Mrnak (D)
(File Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Rhonda Mrnak, a victim/witness specialist, who once threatened her step-daughter with a gun and had a restraining order slapped against her is also leaving. Mrnak was not disciplined for this, but she was disciplined for bringing a gun to serve a subpoena on a witness, which was against policy. Her disciplinary file is here. Kenosha County Eye had to sue the DA’s office to get it.

Many in the legal community believe that the seemingly orchestrated departure of half of the prosecutors is intentional. They are leaving in protest of a DA that doesn’t align with their ideals of keeping bad guys out of prison. The prosecutors, who constantly say they care about the victims seemingly no longer care, or never did. Many cases will be delayed and there is a chance some victims could not get the outcomes they want, due to the shortage.

But Solis, however, wants Kenosha County residents to know that he expects his office to be fully staffed in a matter of months from when he takes office on January 6, 2025. Solis has vowed to work “around the clock,” and personally handling cases until staffing is at a better level.

If you’re a lawyer and want to apply to be an Assistant District Attorney in Kenosha, please visit this website. There are open positions. There are also internship opportunities.

https://wisc.jobs/Pages/Agency/DISTRICTATTORNEYS.aspx?unit=47500

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  1. I’m confused about how this article makes sense, considering the marijuana mistrial article. They seem to be completely contradictory.

    This article says about the DAs:
    – “Liberal Democrats”
    – “Over generous plea deals”
    – “All prosecutors had near-full autonomy over their cases with little to no oversight.”

    Compare this to the weed retrial case:
    – “Retry a 25-year-old Milwaukee man for a minor marijuana case.” Haven’t liberal Democrats been trying to legalize weed forever?
    – “Mizrain-Aguilar has a clean record, but the Kenosha County DA’s office wanted to brand him as a felon.”
    – “Michael Graveley (D) made the decision to put Mizrain-Aguilar through another trial.”

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  2. No bond for the repeat offender drug dealers… they can afford the large bonds so they can get back to business.

    No bond initially for sex offenders/child molesters. Make them sit in jail for a while.

    Prosecute all the crimes committed while in jail. Battery, theft, destruction of property charges are almost always dismissed… as if it’s just expected during lockup. Force them to face up to everything they do.

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    1. What a concept !

      Don’t get me wrong, I agree wholeheartedly !!

      But that is a lesson that was supposed to be taught at home ! From age two when we start throwing our toys at our brothers and sisters.
      As we grew up we are supposed to learn that wrong actions are not acceptable. Parents are supposed to teach their children to be respectful of others. Starting in the home. Then at the playground. Then at school.

      “ Face up to everything they do !! “ You bet !
      But they wouldn’t be in jail learning those lessons if they were taught them at home.
      It’s easy to have children. It’s takes work to raise them.
      But if you start early and remain consistent, it gets easier over time. As a citizen and a parent, you have to do the work for the benefit of your children and the rest of the society you are sending them out into.

      You

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      1. It’s unfortunate we can’t go back and fix others (poor) parenting skills and change the trajectory of a child’s life that led them to crime. And it’s also unfortunate that once reprimanded, convicted or set free that an adult can’t/wont change as well. We are all products of our environments and not all environments are healthy or conducive to raising good humans.

        1. By that do you mean the part of town you live in ? If so, move.

          Can’t move because you can’t afford higher rent ? Get a better job.

          Can’t get a better job because you have kids that need taking care of ? Get your spouse to get a job opposite yours. One of you work days, the other nights.
          Work 4-10s and the other works 3 days.

          If because of that work you don’t see each other ? Well then maybe you shouldn’t have had kids.

          If you don’t have a spouse, get one.
          Kids should be raised in a two parent household.

          Need help ? Go live near your parents. Not with them but near them. Ask them to “help” watch the kids. Not every day but one or two days. At least till they go to school.

          Whatever your “environment” is, it can be changed.

          Stop smoking. Stop drinking. Stop eating out 4 times a week. Stop $250. Cable bills. Cut expenses until you get control of them. Hopefully before the kids graduate out of high school.
          And even then, have the kids pay rent. If they are not in college, they pay rent to live at home. School or work. They have to do one. This goes for high school dropouts too. No school, then get a job.
          No school or work, then no room at home.

          Environment ?
          Don’t like winter? Move south.
          Point is, you control your environment.
          By working harder and making it happen.

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  3. Bye bye all you corrupt employees. Thank you God we have solis and a new un corrupt team that we will build in are Da office.

    make Kenosha Great again !!!

    Binger be careful out there in Walworth your drunken days on lake geneva in a boat may catch up with you .

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  4. Now we finally have proof that the Kenosha DA’s office was nothing more than a nest of hardcore, 100% partisans who never gave a damn about the citizens of Kenosha County and only cared about advancing the goals of the lunatic fringe of the Democratic Party. Let’s not forget the decades of endless denials from our previous DAs about how partisan the office has been, either. Good riddance!

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    1. To have this exodus from the DAs office shows not only that they disagree with the obvious new direction of the office but that they are not willing to take direction from their superiors !
      (Put that on your resume)

      It’s obvious that they were given free rein to follow an agenda that they thought in their own minds was correct and are unwilling to change that direction when told to by the people that pay their salaries.

      Maybe they should go out in the private sector and open up their own shops if they feel so confident in that decision. But ultimately they will just find another public trough to feed off of regardless of the drive or even if they have to move.
      A consistent government pay check is hard walk away from.

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  5. Sad it took this long to get this done, it just goes to show that one bad seed plant another and another and another.
    Thankyou goodness for are new Police Chief that seems to be by the book and no grey area when it comes to his dept.
    a lot of them bad seeds are gone and soon to be gone, great job chief cleaning up your deot , Kenosha respects you .

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    1. It is profoundly disheartening to witness the much-discussed mass exodus of zealots taking place. How tragic that an entire county has been held captive by these contemptible individuals who, offended by the overwhelming verdict of the ballot box and driven by political motivations, have chosen to abandon their posts, leaving the prosecutor’s office in disarray.
      The Attorney General must take decisive action to ensure that none of these parasitic entities ever again secure employment funded by hardworking taxpayers. The incoming prosecutor shall be compelled to scrutinize their past dealings with utmost diligence, forwarding all findings to the capital. Meanwhile, we pray that justice shall prevail for the innocent infant who perished in the bitter cold beneath the bridge. Unlike the guilty vermin who flee from their accountability

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        1. You are right!
          Similar to the situation that led to Solis’ election, there appears to be growing concern among Madison law enforcement community regarding case follow-through. Some Agents have expressed frustration when their investigations don’t result in prosecutorial action by the Attorney General’s office. There are questions about whether case prioritization is being influenced by non-legal factors. Worst EverS and his AG will be a bitter memory after the next elections.

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  6. so, we have 8 people that are leaving?
    it just goes to show that are system and these people are broken and corrupt.
    i never ever thought that we would have DA that lie like these people do.
    and cover up and manufacture false claims to get their ego boosted, so glad and proud that Kenosha has finally seen and realized we need a change. Gravely should be held
    accountable for some of this and be investigated for all his wrongdoing
    We see it all in the Rittenhouse case. Attorneys from all over the US commented on the unprofessional behavior and tactics of Binger.
    and Krause, it was sickening that this case was not a open shut case.
    However great for Kenosha that these people are leaving are city, but what Damage are they going to do and cause in another city.

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  7. This article seems to hint the resignations are a bad thing; a loss to Kenosha. Just the opposite is true. What is needed in that office is common sense and a lack of a political agenda, justice is supposed to be blind. The DA’s office should not have a goal of advancing a radical agenda of either the radical left or right, but finding the truth and if someone has committed a crime, prosecuting not persecuting that person, and there being appropriate consequences for their actions based on the nature of the infraction. Penalties should not be excessively harsh not soft based upon the prosecuting attorney’s ideology.

    just an observation from the peanut gallery!

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  8. I hope the new ADAs don’t try to come in trying to prove something by winning at all costs. Every case is unique and Kenosha has been very hellbent on winning, they often overlooked all case details just for the win. Too many innocent people are being charged and sentenced. It’s a tough job if you actually care about justice.

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    1. This is so true. People often don’t have all the details and assume guilt, but if they knew how little evidence if any… some of these DAs were using to slap charges against people, they would have a different perspective. Hoping the new crew is more about innocent until proven guilty and less about their winning record. If you watched them in the courtroom you didn’t see professionalism either!

  9. OMG These DA are not seasoned, and they are not leaving for any other reason than they are corrupt as hell and don’t want to be exposed, please get off your high horse and see the real reason. They have been exposed for unethical behavior and moral standards numerous times. They are a Joke to Kenosha and to their profession,

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    1. Exactly, they’re leaving because they will actually have to answer to the rule of law and a district attorney who is serious about the job. The light has been turned on and the cockroaches are screwing to get out of it. None of them are a great loss, and we’ll just have to pick and choose who to go after in the near future and everybody in the hopefully not so distant future. Looking forward to the new district attorney taking over.

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  10. This exiting batch has been coddled by the judges for a long time. The prospect of having an actual boss is apparently a shock to their system. Some things, I suppose, just can’t be tolerated.

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  11. but why not Tim Martin?? he’s not great at his job.. Oh maybe its because he is on of the higher paid da’s in Kenosha and has it made? Make that make sense

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  12. XAVIER Don’t worry about the SCUM leaving that office, Do the best you can and what you promised when elected,
    take the time and hire good professionals, attorneys to assist you in your success, we Kenosha stand with you!

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  13. Good riddance don’t let the door hit you in the @&) on the way out!
    One step toward sanity in Kenosha County government.

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  14. Good riddance. Shows how little they care about their community. Honestly prosecuting is the easiest type of law to practice. They just have to present evidence, the police have already done all the work. Defense attorneys have the hard job. And public defenders are the only ones that don’t have any discretion. DAs can choose not to prosecute, police can choose not to charge, but public defenders have to deal with what they’re given.

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  15. Bye Bye Binger! Don’t let the door hit ya where the good lord split ya! This is the best news I have heard all year!

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  16. Correction: They were very generous with defendants… unless the defendant was a legal gun owner. Check out what Binger tried to do to Guy Smith.

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  17. Look at the swamp draining itself. You’ve got to love it. Bye bitches.
    Best wishes to Mr. Solice, it’s the beginning of making Kenosha great again. After so many years of liberal reign, it will take
    some time so people have to have patience, but we are on the right track!

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  18. Looks like the swamp is starting to drain itself. About time! Hopefully they ALL go down the drain, and NEVER come back!!! We The People can not ever let this happen again! We have to secure our elections to stop the selections!

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    1. Mr. Mathewson will have to investigate how this happened. He knows many details already, just trying to complete the puzzle. This nightmare begun back in 2020 when Gabrielle and Wagner decided it.

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  19. Just wondering- will Solis charge Jacob Blake’s girlfriend with filing a false police report? Since he supposedly didn’t break in through the window and jam his fingers into her vagina without consent? That’s what the warrant was for… why did she lie about such a nice feller?

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  20. All those gang members on the run shouldn’t forget to take Tinder Angie Gabrielle with them. After all, it was HER idea to promote loyal Carli to Deputy. Moreover, she has been controlling everything that’s been happening at the Molinaro building ever since she left, becoming untouchable by hiding behind her judge’s robe.

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  21. I get it, they didn’t win. They are being petty. All they are doing is hurting the community. Which in the end is all the proof you need to know they didn’t really care about it in the first place.

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  22. How unfortunate for everyone. These positions should not be dictated by party lines. They should be non-partison positions, as should judges, Sheriff and County Exec. They are all to be serving our community fairly and and honestly for all. Not by how their party sees fit. Sad how much politics has gotten in the way of how best to serve the people.

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  23. The attorneys who have, or are leaving will likely bring their juvenile petulant attitudes to their new employer.
    They are not professionals.

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  24. I’m going to miss Binger the most. I have never planned to be charged with any criminal offense, but if I were, I’d want T. Clair Binger to prosecute. Guaranteed acquittal for me! 😁

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Man Accused of Looting During Kenosha Riots Arrested Three Years After Skipping Court

Davonte M. Musgrove-Miller, 27, in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A man charged with looting a Kenosha liquor store during the 2020 riots was arrested early Tuesday morning—more than three years after failing to appear in court. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Trudell Sues Kenosha County Over Arrest at Board Meeting, Alleges Free Speech Retaliation

Joel P. Trudell. 46, of Kenosha Resisting Arrest on June 21, 2022(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. — Liberal activist and failed Kenosha Aldermanic candidate Joel Trudell has filed a civil rights lawsuit against Kenosha County Board Supervisor Gabe Nudo, claiming his 2022 arrest at a County Board meeting was an act of political retaliation that violated his First Amendment

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Teen Charged With Felony After Fleeing Police on ATV Through Busy Shopping Center

Waylon M. Ware, 17, of Pleasant Prairie in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – A 17-year-old Pleasant Prairie resident is facing two felony charges after allegedly fleeing police on an ATV through a crowded shopping center parking lot on a Saturday afternoon. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Woman Accused of Nearly Hitting Girl with SUV, Then Beating Another Child in Front of Witnesses: Video

Simone R. Turner, 36, of Kenosha in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha woman is facing serious criminal charges after allegedly driving her SUV toward a group of children, nearly hitting one, and then exiting the vehicle to physically attack another girl during a chaotic altercation on the city’s north side. You must be logged in

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Contractor Charged in $63K Theft From Servpro, Ordered to Post $5,000 Bail

Rafael Mercado, 54, of Milwaukee in Court Today(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Milwaukee contractor was taken into custody Monday after a warrant was issued last month in connection with an alleged $63,000 theft from a Kenosha-based restoration company. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Driver Allegedly Intoxicated With Two Young Children in Car, Open Beer Can at His Side

Jorge Micheal Rodriguez, 35, of Pleasant Prairie(Kenosha County Sheriff) PLEASANT PRAIRIE, Wis. – A 35-year-old Pleasant Prairie man is facing a misdemeanor charge after police say he was caught driving drunk with two small children in the back seat and an open can of Modelo beer beside him. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Gurnee Man Pleads Guilty in Fatal Kenosha Overdose Case

Terrell I. Christor, 36, of Gurnee(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. — Nearly a year after a Kenosha father was found dead from a drug overdose, the man accused of delivering the fatal dose has pleaded guilty in court. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Drunken Crash Seriously Injures Woman and Two Children; Kenosha Man Held on $25,000 Bail

Juan R. Reyes Moreno, 26, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha man is facing six criminal charges, including two felonies, after allegedly plowing through a stop sign while intoxicated Saturday night, severely injuring a woman and two children. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Safe Haven Baby Box Installed in Trevor, Thanks to Grassroots Effort Led by EMT

TREVOR, Wis. – In a heartfelt ceremony Monday afternoon, community members, officials, and first responders gathered outside the Salem Lakes Fire and Rescue station to celebrate the installation and blessing of Wisconsin’s fifth Safe Haven Baby Box — a secure, anonymous way for parents in crisis to safely surrender a newborn. The box, located at 11252 254th Ct., is now fully operational, giving

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Felon Caught with Gun, Knife, and Suspected Drugs During Salem Lakes Traffic Stop

Ian C. Glover, 32, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A 32-year-old Kenosha man with a prior heroin conviction is facing five new criminal charges after sheriff’s deputies allegedly found him with a loaded handgun, a switchblade knife, and suspected narcotics during a traffic stop Saturday evening in Salem Lakes. You must be logged in to view the rest of this

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Silver Lake Woman Arrested on Warrant After Seven Months on the Run

Tara A. Rodriguez, 31, of Silver Lake(Kenosha County Sheriff) SALEM LAKES, Wis. — A 31-year-old Silver Lake woman who skipped court late last year was taken into custody Friday and brought before a court official Monday afternoon to face charges of obstruction, disorderly conduct, and bail jumping. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

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Kenosha Woman Begins Jail Sentence in Animal Cruelty Case

Lanette Jones, 44, of Kenosha(Kenosha County Sheriff) KENOSHA, Wis. – A Kenosha woman reported to the Kenosha County Jail this morning to begin serving a 30-day sentence after pleading guilty to mistreating one of her dogs, a case that prompted disturbing findings by police and humane officers earlier this year. You must be logged in to view the rest of this article.

Drug-Using Therapist Spirals Out of Control, Crashes SUV in Drunken Wreck

KENOSHA, Wis. — A Kenosha licensed therapist and former foster parent with a history of drug abuse, suicide attempts, and criminal behavior was arrested late Friday night after allegedly running a stop sign and crashing her SUV while under the influence. Jacqueline Niccolai, 37, was behind the wheel of a green 2019 Ford Expedition at around 10:02 p.m. on Friday, July 11, when

One Dead, One Hospitalized After Burglary Turns Deadly in Racine

RACINE, Wis. — A 52-year-old man is dead and a 21-year-old man remains hospitalized following a late-night shooting that stemmed from an apparent burglary on Racine’s north side. Police were called to the 800 block of St. Patrick Street at approximately 11:26 p.m. on Friday, July 11, for reports of gunfire. Upon arrival, officers located two males—ages 52 and 21—both suffering from gunshot

Behind the Walls: Restoration of Courthouse Ceremonial Courtroom Unveils Hidden History

KENOSHA, Wis. – Tucked behind dust-covered scaffolding and protective plastic sheeting, craftsmen are peeling back the past in Kenosha’s century-old Courthouse. The building’s grandest space—the Ceremonial Courtroom—is undergoing a meticulous historic restoration, revealing architectural gems hidden from public view for more than half a century. Once adorned with an inlaid glass skylight and intricate ornamental plasterwork, the room was largely concealed in the

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