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Merrill Fire Department highlights benefits of Wisconsin Fire Dues Program – Merrill Foto News

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Merrill Fire Department highlights benefits of Wisconsin Fire Dues Program – Merrill Foto News


State presents check for $50,000 to Merrill Fire Chief

Merrill Mayor Steve Haas (far left), Merrill Fire Department (MFD) Chief Josh Klug (middle in white shirt), and Merrill City Administrator Rod Akey (middle in red shirt) accept the ceremonial check for the MFD’s portion of the Fire Dues Program. Photo courtesy of Merrill Fire Department.

On Sept. 3, 2024, Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) Secretary Dan Hereth and Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance Nathan Houdek presented a ceremonial check for more than $50,000 to City of Merrill Fire Department Chief Josh Klug. The check representes the department’s share of funding from the Wisconsin 2% Fire Dues Program.
“Safety is a vital part of our department’s mission, and our state fire departments are the backbone of safety in Wisconsin communities,” said DSPS Secretary Dan Hereth. “Ensuring that safety means funding our fire departments, and the Fire Dues Program is a major source of funding.”
The 2% Fire Dues Program requires insurers to pay 2% of premiums collected for insurance against loss from fires. The Office of the Commissioner of Insurance (OCI) collects the dues, and DSPS distributes the dues to hundreds of cities, villages, and towns across Wisconsin according to a prescribed formula. This summer, Wisconsin professional, volunteer, and hybrid fire departments received a total of $32.2 million, a nearly $4 million increase over 2023.
“This program is all about prevention. Fire departments across our state can take their share of the Fire Dues funding and put it towards the programs that best serve their communities. We’re proud to play a part in this collaboration,” said Commissioner Houdek.
Wisconsin fire departments can use the Fire Dues funding in a variety of ways to keep communities safe, including buying and replacing equipment, producing fire prevention programming, training crews, and more. Merrill has used some of its annual funding to keep a dedicated Fire Inspector on staff.
“Previously, we had employees filling in that role on a rotating basis,” said Merrill Fire Chief Josh Klug. “Having someone dedicated to that job allows our other fire staff to concentrate on their work, and for our local businesses it provides consistency. There is no question about whom to contact with questions about fire inspections.”
Chief Klug and Fire Inspector Joe Bozinski joined Merrill Mayor Steve Hass and City Administrator Rod Akey to accept the ceremonial check for $50,872.26.
DSPS issues more than 240 unique licenses, administers dozens of boards and councils that regulate professions, enforces state building codes, and maintains the Wisconsin Enhanced Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, which is a key tool in the multi-faceted public health campaign to stem excessive opioid prescribing. A fee-based agency, DSPS is self-sustaining and receives no general fund tax dollars for its day-to-day operations. With two offices and roughly 250 employees, DSPS collaborates with constituents and stakeholders across a wide range of industries to promote safety and advance the economy.

Merrill Fire Department Chief Josh Klug speaks at the short check presentation ceremony. Photo courtesy of Merrill Fire Department.



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Wisconsin

Powerful storms move through SE Wisconsin

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Powerful storms move through SE Wisconsin


Severe storms move through southeast Wisconsin bringing damage and flooding.

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Powerful storms move through SE Wisconsin

Severe storms move through southeast Wisconsin bringing damage and flooding.

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>> FROM WEATHERWATCH 12. THIS IS A SEVERE WEATHER UPDATE. >> GOOD EVENING. AND WEATHERWATCH 12 CHIEF METEOROLOGIST MARK BADEN NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING AND NEW FLASH FLOOD WARNING TO TALK ABOUT HERE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN. SO WE STILL HAVE THIS LINE OF STORMS. THE NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS PRETTY MUCH ALL OF WANT TO STOP THIS AND TALK ABOUT THE WARNINGS THAT WE DO HAVE IN PLACE RIGHT NOW. TALK ABOUT THE LATEST WARNING. THAT’S THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR WALWORTH COUNTY GOES ALL THE WAY UNTIL 9:00. THE STORMS ARE STILL OUT TO THE WEST. THAT’S GOING TO BRING WITH IT POSSIBLY SOME STRONGER WINDS AND SOME HAIL. THERE’S ALSO A NEW FLASH FLOOD WARNING THAT CONTINUES UNTIL 11:00. I’M GOING TO ZOOM IN ON THIS AREA BECAUSE IT LOOKS A LITTLE IT’S KIND OF HARD TO FIND WHERE THIS IS. LET’S TAKE YOU BACK INTO SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AND WE’LL BRING YOU BACK IN TO THIS AREA THAT WE ARE SEEING HERE. IT’S SO WE’VE GOT THIS LITTLE AREA AND THAT’S ON TOP OF THIS OTHER FLASH FLOOD WARNING. BUT THIS IS THE NEWEST ONE. THIS INCLUDES DOWNTOWN MILWAUKEE. THIS INCLUDES WAUWATOSA AND WEST ALLIS, BROOKFIELD, ELM GROVE AND PEWAUKEE. WHY? BECAUSE WE KEEP GETTING THIS SAME RAIN OVER THE SAME PLACES, GETTING HIT AGAIN AND AGAIN AND AGAIN. ADD UP. WE’RE SEEING SOME FLOODING ISSUES. WE’VE HAD FLOODING ISSUES ALONG I-43 IN NORTHERN MILWAUKEE COUNTY. WE’VE HAD SOME FLOODING ISSUES IN MEQUON, AND I’M SURE WE’RE HAVING FLOODING ISSUES ALSO INTO PARTS OF WASHINGTON COUNTY EXTENDING BACK INTO DODGE COUNTY, WHERE WE CONTINUE TO SEE THIS SAME AREA. THEN THE NEXT PART OF THIS STORM, AGAIN, THIS AREA HASN’T HAD ANY RAIN AT ALL. SO YOU’RE STILL PRIMED FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE SEVERE WEATHER. THAT’S WHAT THIS NEW SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING IS INTO PARTS OF WALWORTH COUNTY. AGAIN, THAT GOES UNTIL 9:00 TONIGHT. AND WE’LL CONTINUE TO SEE THIS HEAVY RAIN. WE NEED TO MAKE IT THROUGH ANOTHER HOUR OR TWO, AND THEN WE SHOULD START SEEING OURSELVES ON THE OTHER SIDE, AT LEAST OF THIS THREAT. BUT IT’S NOT DONE JUST YET. STAY WITH WEATHERWATCH 12. WE’LL CONTINUE TO HAVE UPDATES.

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Powerful storms move through SE Wisconsin

Severe storms move through southeast Wisconsin bringing damage and flooding.

Updated: 8:15 PM CDT Apr 14, 2026

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Severe storms move through southeast Wisconsin bringing damage and flooding.

Severe storms move through southeast Wisconsin bringing damage and flooding.

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}

function refreshWeatherIframe(containerId) {
var iframeId = ‘weather-iframe-‘ + containerId;
var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId);
if (iframe && iframe.src) {
var originalSrc = iframe.src;
iframe.src = originalSrc + (originalSrc.indexOf(‘?’) > -1 ? ‘&’ : ‘?’) + ‘t=” + Date.now();
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function initializeWeatherBox(container) {
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var isWeatherBoxV2 = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’;

function switchWeatherTab(tabName, clickedElement) {
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tab.classList.remove(‘open’);
tab.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘false’);
});

clickedElement.classList.add(‘open’);
clickedElement.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘true’);

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container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-content-id]’).forEach(function(content) {
content.style.display = ‘none’;
content.setAttribute(‘hidden’, ‘true’);
});

var targetContent = container.querySelector(‘[data-content-id=”‘ + tabName + ‘”]’);
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targetContent.style.display = ‘block’;
targetContent.removeAttribute(‘hidden’);
}
}

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// If weather data is already being loaded, wait for it
if (window.weatherDataPromise) {
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if (data && data.data) {
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
}
});
return;
}

var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

try {
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location = locations[0];
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} catch (e) {}

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var apiUrl = (window.DEWY_HOSTNAME || ”) + ‘/api/v1/weather/full/’ + location.zip;

if (window.fetch) {
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var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
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weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
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return data;
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function updateWeatherAlertsBar(weatherData) {
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var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
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if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
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if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = `Weather Alerts (${weatherData.alerts_count})`;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
if (!weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’)) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-href’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘href’));
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘onclick’) || ”);
}
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wisn.com/alerts”);
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, “return handleWeatherLinkClick(event, ‘click_alerts’, ‘click’, ‘mobile-weather’, “https://www.wisn.com/alerts”);”);
}
} else {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’ ? ‘Watch Latest Forecast’ : ‘Latest Forecast’;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
var initialHref = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’);
var initialOnclick = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’);
if (initialHref) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, initialHref);
}
if (initialOnclick) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, initialOnclick);
}
}
}
}

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function updateCurrentWeather(weatherData) {
if (weatherData.current) {
var tempValue = weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;
var skyValue = weatherData.current.sky || ”;
var feelsLikeValue = weatherData.current.feels_like_f || weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;

var tempEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-temp-value’);
if (tempEl) {
tempEl.textContent = tempValue;
tempEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
if (iconEl && weatherData.current.icon_name) {
iconEl.className=”weather-grid–current-icon weather-current-icon icon icon-weather-” + weatherData.current.icon_name;
}

var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
if (skyEl) {
skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
}

var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
if (feelsEl) {
feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

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var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
skyValue + ‘, feels like ‘ + feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees’;
weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
}

updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
}
}

function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
}
}

function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

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for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

`;
}

function refreshWeatherIframe(containerId) {
var iframeId = ‘weather-iframe-‘ + containerId;
var iframe = document.getElementById(iframeId);
if (iframe && iframe.src) {
var originalSrc = iframe.src;
iframe.src = originalSrc + (originalSrc.indexOf(‘?’) > -1 ? ‘&’ : ‘?’) + ‘t=” + Date.now();
}
}

function initializeWeatherBox(container) {
var containerId = container.getAttribute(“data-container-id’);
var isWeatherBoxV2 = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’;

function switchWeatherTab(tabName, clickedElement) {
container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-tab-id]’).forEach(function(tab) {
tab.classList.remove(‘open’);
tab.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘false’);
});

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clickedElement.classList.add(‘open’);
clickedElement.setAttribute(‘aria-selected’, ‘true’);

container.querySelectorAll(‘[data-content-id]’).forEach(function(content) {
content.style.display = ‘none’;
content.setAttribute(‘hidden’, ‘true’);
});

var targetContent = container.querySelector(‘[data-content-id=”‘ + tabName + ‘”]’);
if (targetContent) {
targetContent.style.display = ‘block’;
targetContent.removeAttribute(‘hidden’);
}
}

function loadWeatherData() {
// If weather data is already being loaded, wait for it
if (window.weatherDataPromise) {
window.weatherDataPromise.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
}
});
return;
}

var location = { zip: window.DEFAULT_ZIPCODE };

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try {
var storedLocations = localStorage.getItem(‘hrst.zip.history’);
if (storedLocations) {
var locations = JSON.parse(storedLocations);
if (locations && locations.length > 0) {
location = locations[0];
}
}
} catch (e) {}

var apiUrl = (window.DEWY_HOSTNAME || ”) + ‘/api/v1/weather/full/’ + location.zip;

if (window.fetch) {
window.weatherDataPromise = fetch(apiUrl)
.then(function(response) { return response.json(); })
.then(function(data) {
if (data && data.data) {
var article = container.closest(‘.article–wrapper’);
var weatherContainer = container.closest(‘.weather-box-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
weatherContainer.style.display = ‘flex’;
updateCurrentWeather(data.data);
updateForecastTabs(data.data);
updateWeatherAlertsBar(data.data);
}
return data;
}
})
.catch(function(error) {
console.error(‘Error loading weather:’, error);
// Reset to unknown background on error
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function updateWeatherAlertsBar(weatherData) {
var weatherWatchHeader = container.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-header’);
if (!weatherWatchHeader) return;

var weatherWatchText = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-text’);
var weatherWatchLink = weatherWatchHeader.querySelector(‘.weather-watch-link’);

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if (weatherData.alerts_count > 0) {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header has-alerts”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = `Weather Alerts (${weatherData.alerts_count})`;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
if (!weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’)) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-href’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘href’));
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’, weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘onclick’) || ”);
}
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, “https://www.wisn.com/alerts”);
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, “return handleWeatherLinkClick(event, ‘click_alerts’, ‘click’, ‘sidelist-weather’, “https://www.wisn.com/alerts”);”);
}
} else {
weatherWatchHeader.className=”weather-watch-header”;
if (weatherWatchText) {
weatherWatchText.textContent = containerId === ‘home-weather-v2’ ? ‘Watch Latest Forecast’ : ‘Latest Forecast’;
}
if (weatherWatchLink) {
var initialHref = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-href’);
var initialOnclick = weatherWatchLink.getAttribute(‘data-initial-onclick’);
if (initialHref) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘href’, initialHref);
}
if (initialOnclick) {
weatherWatchLink.setAttribute(‘onclick’, initialOnclick);
}
}
}
}

function updateCurrentWeather(weatherData) {
if (weatherData.current) {
var tempValue = weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;
var skyValue = weatherData.current.sky || ”;
var feelsLikeValue = weatherData.current.feels_like_f || weatherData.current.temp_f || ”;

var tempEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-temp-value’);
if (tempEl) {
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tempEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var iconEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–current-icon’);
if (iconEl && weatherData.current.icon_name) {
iconEl.className=”weather-grid–current-icon weather-current-icon icon icon-weather-” + weatherData.current.icon_name;
}

var skyEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–sky’);
if (skyEl) {
skyEl.textContent = skyValue;
skyEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, ‘Current condition: ‘ + skyValue);
}

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var feelsEl = container.querySelector(‘.weather-grid–feels’);
if (feelsEl) {
feelsEl.textContent = feelsLikeValue + ‘°F’;
feelsEl.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit’);
}

var weatherContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-temp-container’);
if (weatherContainer) {
var summary = ‘Current temperature ‘ + tempValue + ‘ degrees Fahrenheit, ‘ +
skyValue + ‘, feels like ‘ + feelsLikeValue + ‘ degrees’;
weatherContainer.setAttribute(‘aria-label’, summary);
}

updateWeatherBackground(weatherData.current.icon_name);
}
}

function updateWeatherBackground(iconName) {
try {
var bgPath = weatherImages.backgrounds[iconName] || weatherImages.backgrounds.unknown;
container.style.backgroundImage=”url(” + bgPath + ‘)’;
} catch (e) {
console.log(‘Error updating weather background:’, e);
}
}

function updateForecastTabs(weatherData) {
var visibleItems = isWeatherBoxV2 ? 6 : 5;

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if (weatherData.hourly) {
var hourlyContainer = container.querySelector(‘.weather-hourly-forecast’);
if (hourlyContainer) {
var html=””;
var maxHours = Math.min(visibleItems, weatherData.hourly.length);

for (var i = 0; i 0 ? currentIndex – 1 : tabs.length – 1;
tabs[prevIndex].focus();
break;
case ‘ArrowRight’:
e.preventDefault();
var nextIndex = currentIndex

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Wisconsin

A tornado touched down in Taylor County on April 13, NWS confirms

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A tornado touched down in Taylor County on April 13, NWS confirms


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The National Weather Service station in La Crosse confirmed a tornado touched down in Gilman, a town in Taylor County, Monday evening, April 13.

La Crosse station meteorologist Alex Ferguson said they have not received any potential damage reports yet, but are working with local authorities in the Taylor County to confirm more details about the tornado.

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Speed and severity are usually calculated after the fact based on potential damages, Ferguson said.

There is an enhanced risk of further severe thunderstorms in southwest and east central Wisconsin Tuesday evening, April 14, according to the NWS.



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Texas man charged for producing child pornography using 3 juveniles from Wisconsin

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Texas man charged for producing child pornography using 3 juveniles from Wisconsin


(WLUK) — A Texas man is accused of sex crimes involving Wisconsin minors.

Last week, a federal grand jury indicted 21-year-old Axis Williams from Aransas Pass, Texas, on two counts of production of child pornography.

Court records indicate Williams connected online with three juveniles, all from the Eastern District of Wisconsin. He allegedly coerced the trio to engage in sexually explicit conduct, record it and send him the videos.

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If convicted of either charge, Williams faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison and up to 30 years behind bars.



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