Wisconsin
Can parents be held responsible for their childs’ gun violence in Wisconsin?
WAUSAU, Wis. (WSAW) – In a significant legal development, the parents of school shooter Ethan Crumbley were both sentenced on four counts of involuntary manslaughter. The verdict, delivered on Tuesday, marks a potential shift in legal precedent regarding parental responsibility in cases of gun violence.
According to authorities, the parents’ culpability in the shooting stemmed not from direct involvement in the attack, but from their failure to prevent their son from accessing the firearms used in the assault. This case has sparked a broader discussion on gun access nationwide, including in Wisconsin, about what is needed to convict a parent.
“Causation in Wisconsin is defined as a substantial factor in bringing about a result,” John Gross, a Clinical Associate Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin Law School, said. “The fact that the parents stored the gun in a way that allowed the child to access it would be viewed as a substantial factor in bringing about the ultimate harm.”
Wisconsin law sets a clear age threshold for parental responsibility when it comes to gun access, with obligations ceasing at age 14.
Safe storage, as outlined by Gross, includes using trigger locks, locked containers, and/or gun safes. Failure to comply with these standards constitutes a crime under Wisconsin law, whether a minor gains access to the firearm or not.
“The crime is not storing it safely and it doesn’t matter whether a child ultimately is able to reach the gun. It’s if they could,” Gross said.
More than half of the states, including Wisconsin, have implemented laws aimed at promoting safe gun storage practices.
Gross emphasized the importance of these measures, stating, “It’s really important to store the guns properly just to avoid something that could be really horrific and tragic, and easily preventable.”
While the Crumbley case may set a precedent, Gross noted that it may not directly influence Wisconsin law due to distinct differences between Michigan law, where the case was tried, and Wisconsin law.
Copyright 2024 WSAW. All rights reserved.
Wisconsin
Cult-classic filmed in central Wisconsin returns to big screen, with enhancements, this weekend
STEVENS POINT, Wis. (WSAW) – A giant spider isn’t actually invading central Wisconsin this weekend.
But an enhanced, big-screen version of the cult-classic 1975 film The Giant Spider Invasion is crawling back into local theaters — and it’s bringing some central Wisconsin nostalgia with it.
The movie was famously filmed in Merrill and Stevens Point, and the updated 2026 release adds enhancements designed for a modern theatrical experience.
What’s new in the 2026 enhanced version?
Executive Producer J.B. Thompson says the team took the original 1975 film and enhanced it for the big screen in 2026, giving audiences a refreshed way to experience a movie that’s long been a Wisconsin oddity — and a point of pride.
Actor and Producer Dan Davies is featured in newly filmed scenes created specifically for this updated release.
Stevens Point’s role in the original film
While much of the film is associated with Merrill, Stevens Point Mayor Mike Wiza says Point also played a major role in the production — another reason the film’s return matters to local history buffs and movie fans alike.
Why does this movie still capture attention 50 years later?
Whether it’s the over-the-top creature feature story, the uniquely Wisconsin filming locations, or the nostalgia of seeing familiar places on screen, the group says the film’s staying power is real — even five decades later.
Screenings this weekend
The enhanced version of The Giant Spider Invasion is set for local screenings this weekend in Central and North Central Wisconsin. To purchase tickets for showings in Stevens Point, Marshfield or Waupaca, click here.
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Copyright 2026 WSAW. All rights reserved.
A Wisconsin man has been arrested in Colorado in connection with a fatal north suburban hit-and-run earlier this year that left a 50-year-old woman killed.
According to the Winthrop Harbor Police Department, Travis Kern, 35, of Pleasant Prairie, turned himself into police in Lakewood Colorado on an arrest warrant. Kern was charged with two felonies, police said, and remains in custody in Colorado pending extradition proceedings.
About 11:10 p.m. on February 26, a pedestrian was struck in the 1400 block of Sheridan Road in Winthrop Harbor by a driver of a vehicle heading northbound. The vehicle then fled the scene, police said.
The pedestrian, later identified as Shanna White, 50, of Waukegan, was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead.
According to court documents, Kern’s next scheduled court date is set for July 22.
WHITEWATER, Wis. (WMTV) – The Kids from Wisconsin troupe is kicking off its 56th annual tour this week.
Kids from Wisconsin is a traveling show with 22 singer-dancers and 14 band members. The troupe performs across Wisconsin, hosting workshops for kids and helping fundraise for youth arts programs.
This year’s theme is “America’s Soundtrack: The Pulse of a Nation.” The theme honors the 250th anniversary of America and features music by all-American composers, bands and performers.
Kids from Wisconsin bassist and student leader Alex Coller said that range is what makes this year’s tour stand out.
“The theme is really just celebrating American music. And I think it’s definitely one of the most cohesive and like diverse shows I have played with this organization,” Coller said. “Even though its just American music it’s really cool to see. Anyone no matter who you are, or what your musical background is, or whether you like music or not, there is something here for everyone to enjoy.”
Kids from Wisconsin’s artistic and choral director, Taras Nahirniak, said audiences won’t want to miss it.
“Find a show near you, you are not going to want to miss this show. It’s just spectacular, the kids are so talented,” Nahirniak said. “We are just finishing up our camp right now, and they are just working their tails off. To really go around the state and show the state what they have.”
The tour premieres Thursday night at Young Auditorium in Whitewater. For tickets, tour dates or to find a show, visit kidsfromwi.org.
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Copyright 2026 WMTV. All rights reserved.
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