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Funerals set for teacher and student killed in Wisconsin school shooting

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Funerals set for teacher and student killed in Wisconsin school shooting


MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Funerals have been set for the student and teacher who were shot and killed by at 15-year-old at a religious school in Wisconsin, while police on Thursday pursued their investigation into the motive.

Abundant Life Christian School student Rubi Patricia Vergara, 14, of Madison and teacher Erin West, 42, of DeForest were killed in the attack Monday. Police say student Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow killed herself at the school and died at a Madison hospital. Two other students who were shot remained hospitalized Thursday in critical condition.

Vergara’s funeral was set for Saturday at City Church, which is adjacent to the school, and West’s funeral is Monday at Doxa Church in Madison, where she was a member, according to obituaries published Wednesday and Thursday.

West had worked at the school for four years and is the mother of three daughters, according to her obituary. She enjoyed camping with family, attending school sporting events, serving at Doxa Church and spending time with her daughters and the rest of her family, the obituary said.

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“ALCS is a better school for the work of Erin West,” the school said in a statement.

West worked three years as a substitute teacher before accepting a staff position as the sub coordinator and in-building substitute teacher, according to the statement.

“She served our teachers and students with grace, humor, wisdom, and — most importantly — with the love of Jesus,” the school said. “Her loss is a painful and deep one and she will be greatly missed not just among our staff, but our entire ALCS family.”

Vergara was a freshman at the school and “an avid reader, loved art, singing and playing keyboard in the family worship band,” according to her obituary.

The school described her as gentle and loving.

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“Rubi was a blessing to her class and our school,” the school said. “She was not only a good friend, but a great big sister. Often seen with a book in hand, she had a gift for art and music.”

Attempts to obtain comment from relatives of West and Vergara have been unsuccessful.

The shooter brought two guns to the school. A man in California told authorities he had been messaging her about attacking a government building with a gun and explosives, according to a restraining order issued against him Tuesday under California’s gun red flag law. The order required the 20-year-old Carlsbad man to turn his guns and ammunition in to police within 48 hours, but it’s unclear Thursday whether he complied, would be charged or was in custody.

The order didn’t say what building he had targeted or when he planned to launch his attack. It also didn’t detail his interactions with Rupnow except to state that the man was plotting a mass shooting with her.

A spokesperson for the Carlsbad Police Department said federal authorities were leading the investigation and “we do not believe there is a threat to our city.”

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Police, with the assistance of the FBI, were scouring online records and other resources and speaking with the shooter’s parents and classmates in an attempt to determine a motive, Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said on Wednesday.

Police don’t know if anyone was targeted or if the attack had been planned in advance, the chief said.

While Rupnow had two handguns, Barnes said he does not know how she obtained them and he declined to say who purchased them, citing the ongoing investigation.

No decisions have been made about whether Rupnow’s parents might be charged, but they have been cooperating, Barnes said.

Online court records show no criminal cases against her father, Jeffrey Rupnow, or her mother, Mellissa Rupnow. They are divorced and shared custody of their daughter, but she primarily lived with her father, according to court documents.

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Abundant Life is a nondenominational Christian school of about 420 students that offers prekindergarten classes through high school.

Adam Rostad, who lives near Madison, went to ALCS from kindergarten through high school. His grandfather was pastor of the church that helped establish the school and his mother and aunt both worked there.

Rostad said Thursday that even though he graduated about 20 years ago and doesn’t even consider himself a “church person” any longer, ALCS is family.

He has collected a list of about 440 people who are eager to either cook meals or buy gift cards for those affected, and is coordinating with the school and church to make sure that’s the best way to help.

“Bullets don’t really care what your faith is, or if you have one,” Rostad said. “They really don’t.”

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Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis and Ryan J. Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, contributed to this report.





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Wisconsin

Missing Apple Valley pizza delivery driver’s car found in Wisconsin

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Missing Apple Valley pizza delivery driver’s car found in Wisconsin


Search continues for missing pizza delivery driver

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Search continues for missing pizza delivery driver

01:56

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MINNEAPOLIS — The car of a missing 42-year-old Apple Valley pizza delivery driver has been found in Wisconsin, police say.

A witness told authorities they believe they saw Shuefuab “Shue” Xiong in the red Toyota Camry in Superior around 4 p.m. Saturday.

The Camry was found, unoccupied, by police in Superior on Sunday. Superior is around 170 miles north of Apple Valley. 

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Shuefuab Xiong had been driving a red Toyota Camry with a Minnesota plate CWT545.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension

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Police also say a friend of Xiong spoke to him in Roseville Saturday around 8 p.m. It’s unknown how he traveled from Superior to Roseville. 

Investigators believe Xiong may be having a mental health crisis. He is not believed to be a threat to others, but authorities say he is known to carry a firearm and has a permit to carry.

Xiong reported to work at Domino’s in Apple Valley on Jan. 14, but didn’t make four scheduled deliveries.

He is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall and 215 pounds. He is bald and has a black mustache, black beard and brown eyes, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension says.  

His family is offering a $20,000 reward for his safe return.  

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Anyone who has seen Xiong or knows his whereabouts is asked to call the Apple Valley Police Department 952-953-2700.  


Note: The above video first aired on Jan. 17, 2025

Mental Health Resources: Crisis services are available around the clock if you or someone you care about is having a mental health crisis. Call **CRISIS (**274747) from a cell phone to talk to a team of professionals who can help you. Text “MN” to 741741. More info here.

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Wisconsin women’s basketball continues to slump with little hope for a comeback

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Wisconsin women’s basketball continues to slump with little hope for a comeback


The Wisconsin women’s basketball team is in a terrible slump and has now lost six games in a row. They have only pulled off one win in the Big Ten, and it was over Rutgers back at the beginning of December, which feels like a lifetime ago at this point. The season is falling apart on head coach Marisa Moseley, and as you look down their schedule, there are so few winnable games with the way they are currently playing basketball.

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Wisconsin women’s basketball are 10-8 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten.

As we look into the standings of the Big Ten, four teams still have yet to win a conference game: Northwestern, Purdue, Penn State, and Rutgers. Therefore, Wisconsin is not last in the Big Ten but is close to it with their lone win. The problem with the women’s Big Ten is that there are three tiers of programs this year: the good, the mediocre, and the bad. Teams like Ohio State, UCLA, and USC are all in that undefeated and really good category. At the same time, teams like Nebraska, Minnesota, Michigan State, and Washington are all in the middle of the road.

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Wisconsin is firmly in the bad category. That’s not where they want to be, and it only seems like the trajectory is headed even further in that direction. They need a turnaround, and the schedule does not look promising. According to ESPN BPI, there is only one game left that Wisconsin is favored to win, and that’s against Northwestern. The rest are all predicted to go against Wisconsin. There are some winnable games in there against Purdue and Penn State, but with those being on the road, the predictions favor the home team.

The concern is that the program is slipping into being a doormat program in the Big Ten, and it’s fair to ask if it will be time for a coaching change if the above results hold out. Wisconsin should not be happy or content with these results and should be willing to ask for more out of the women’s basketball program.

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Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Jan. 19, 2025

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Wisconsin Lottery Pick 3, Pick 4 results for Jan. 19, 2025


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The Wisconsin Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 19, 2025, results for each game:

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Winning Pick 3 numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

Midday: 0-3-5

Evening: 0-9-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

Midday: 0-4-3-1

Evening: 9-7-1-5

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Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning All or Nothing numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

Midday: 02-03-05-07-08-09-12-15-16-19-21

Evening: 03-07-08-10-11-13-14-15-16-18-19

Check All or Nothing payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Badger 5 numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

06-11-13-15-26

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Check Badger 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning SuperCash numbers from Jan. 19 drawing

07-14-15-26-29-30, Doubler: N

Check SuperCash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

  • Prizes up to $599: Can be claimed at any Wisconsin Lottery retailer.
  • Prizes from $600 to $199,999: Can be claimed in person at a Lottery Office. By mail, send the signed ticket and a completed claim form available on the Wisconsin Lottery claim page to: Prizes, PO Box 777 Madison, WI 53774.
  • Prizes of $200,000 or more: Must be claimed in person at the Madison Lottery office. Call the Lottery office prior to your visit: 608-261-4916.

Can Wisconsin lottery winners remain anonymous?

No, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Due to the state’s open records laws, the lottery must, upon request, release the name and city of the winner. Other information about the winner is released only with the winner’s consent.

When are the Wisconsin Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 10:00 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
  • Super Cash: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 3 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 3 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 4 (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • Pick 4 (Evening): 9:00 p.m. CT daily.
  • All or Nothing (Day): 1:30 p.m. CT daily.
  • All or Nothing (Evening): 9 p.m. CT daily.
  • Megabucks: 9:00 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Badger 5: 9:00 p.m. CT daily.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Wisconsin editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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