MILWAUKEE, Wis. (WBAY) – A Milwaukee tow truck driver who was killed in a hit-and-run crash on Christmas Eve, has now been identified and the suspect made an appearance in court today.

39-year-old Christopher Sponholz is charged with felony hit-and-run involving death.

He was also ticketed for failing to notify police about the accident.

Prosecutors say Sponholz was estimated to be driving 80 miles per hour when he allegedly struck 40-year-old Hussain Farhat on interstate 94 in Waukesha county.

Sponholz then allegedly fled the scene.

Farhat was loading a disabled car at the time of the accident.

According to a criminal complaint, Sponholz told friends he thought he hit a deer.

A hit-and-run conviction can bring a sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

The bond for Sponholz has been set for $750,000.

He’s due back in court on Feb. 5.

Copyright 2024 WBAY. All rights reserved.

MILWAUKEE — From all over Milwaukee, hundreds of people celebrated the second night of Hanukkah with a special performance from a world-renowned Jewish singer and rapper.

Chabad of the East Side hosted Nissim Black, an American-Israeli rapper/singer at a Milwaukee venue. Nissim Black performed some of his most popular songs for an eager crowd who knew all the words to his songs. Along with the concert, there was a menorah lighting, prayer, dreidel playing, donut bar, music synthesizers, arcade games, and more.

Dec. 26 was the second night of Hanukkah. During the eight days and nights of Hanukkah, various celebrations are being organized by local Jewish groups. The Jewish Community Center hosted a Hanukkah dinner that was accompanied by live music. The Hoan is being lit each night. Also, a public menorah is lit on Whitefish Bay on Silver Spring Drive. Different groups will light it each night around 5:30 p.m., except for Friday when it’s at 4:00 p.m. Congregation Shalom in Fox Point will host a Hanukkah service, dinner, and activities on Friday starting at 5:00 p.m.

Watch the interviews to see what it was like at the concert.

Celebrating Jewish pride on the 2nd night of Hanukkah

The best moments from the Hanukkah concert in Milwaukee

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OUT: Bojan Bogdanovic (foot), De’Anthony Melton (knee), Cam Thomas (hamstring), Trendon Watford (hamstring), Ziaire Williams (knee)

QUESTIONABLE: Dorian Finney-Smith (calf), Ben Simmons (back)

OUT: AJ Johnson (illness), Chris Livingston (illness), Liam Robbins (Two-Way), Tyler Smith (G League)

QUESTIONABLE: Giannis Antetokounmpo (back), Damian Lillard (illness)

PROBABLE: Khris Middleton (ankle)

Each time the Brooklyn Nets have taken on the Milwaukee Bucks in the 2024-25 campaign, they’ve boasted vastly different lineups. In their first meeting on Oct. 27, Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroder combined for 61 points in a major upset victory.

Most recently, the Nets came up just short against the Bucks on Dec. 8 while riding Schroder’s 34 points to a five-point loss sans Thomas.

Neither Schroder nor Thomas will suit up for Brooklyn tonight, the former having departed for Golden State and the latter continuing to nurse a hamstring injury.

Trendon Watford and Ziaire Williams join Thomas as absentees, while Dorian Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons could enter that category themselves.

Milwaukee’s star trio of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Damian Lillard and Khris Middleton all may sit out this evening as well, forcing the Eastern Conference rivals to rely on a “next man up” mentality to secure the win.

As four key players carry the “questionable” tag ahead of tip-off, the third meeting this season may look quite different from its predacessors.

Nets-Bucks is slated for 8 p.m. EST.

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