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Wisconsin man Travis King’s family wonders why the U.S. soldier crossed border into North Korea

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Wisconsin man Travis King’s family wonders why the U.S. soldier crossed border into North Korea


KENOSHA, Wis. — Family members of the U.S. Army private who sprinted across the border into North Korea said Wednesday that he may have felt overwhelmed as he faced legal troubles and his possible looming discharge from the military.

Relatives described Pvt. Travis King, 23, as a quiet loner who did not drink or smoke and enjoyed reading the Bible. After growing up in southeast Wisconsin, he was excited about serving his country in South Korea. Now King’s family is struggling to understand what changed before he dashed into a country with a long history of holding Americans and using them as bargaining chips.

“I can’t see him doing that intentionally if he was in his right mind,” King’s maternal grandfather, Carl Gates, told The Associated Press from his Kenosha, Wisconsin, home. “Travis is a good guy. He wouldn’t do nothing to hurt nobody. And I can’t see him trying to hurt himself.”

What we know about Travis King, the American soldier detained in North Korea

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King was supposed to be returned to the U.S. this week to face military discipline after serving nearly two months in a South Korea prison on assault charges. But instead of boarding a flight for Texas on Monday, as planned, King slipped away and quietly joined a civilian tour group on Tuesday morning headed for the Demilitarized Zone that divides South and North Korea.

Even with legal troubles hanging over him, King’s relatives said they are at a loss to explain why he acted as he did.

King’s uncle, Myron Gates, questioned whether his nephew was experiencing a mental problem.

“I don’t understand why he would do that, because it seemed like he was on his way back here to the United States,” Myron Gates said. “He was on his way home.”

Another relative said King was despondent over the recent loss of a young cousin. Lakeia Nard said King was close with her 7-year-old son, King’nazier Gates, who died in February of a rare genetic disease.

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Carl Gates said his grandson joined the military three years ago out of a desire to serve his country and because he “wanted to do better for himself.” He has an older brother who is a police officer and a cousin who is in the Navy.

King served as a cavalry scout with the 1st Armored Division.

SEE MORE: US soldier facing military disciplinary actions flees to North Korea while touring a border village

“He’s a nice, quiet guy,” Carl Gates said. “He doesn’t bother anybody. He keeps to himself.”

King was facing discharge from the Army because he was convicted of a crime in a foreign country, according to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

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In February, a court fined King 5 million won ($3,950) after he was convicted of assaulting an unidentified person and damaging a police vehicle in Seoul last October, according to a transcript of the verdict obtained by the AP.

The ruling said King was also accused of punching a 23-year-old man at a Seoul nightclub, though the court dismissed that charge because the victim did not want the soldier to be punished. King served 47 days in prison.

According to the U.S. official, King was escorted to the airport on Monday by two U.S. service members. He was supposed to board an American Airlines flight to Texas that was scheduled to leave at 5:40 p.m. Upon arrival, he was to be met by military personnel who would escort him to Fort Bliss.

On the way to his departing flight, King was escorted as far as customs but left the airport before boarding the plane. It was unclear how he spent the hours until joining the tour in the border village of Panmunjom and running across the border Tuesday afternoon.

Sarah Leslie, a tourist from New Zealand, said King was in her tour group and was traveling alone. He initially acted like any other tourist, buying a DMZ hat from a gift shop. He was casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt.

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As the tour was ending, the group members were milling about and taking photos. That’s when Leslie saw King running “really fast.” She thought it was a stunt.

“I assumed initially he had a mate filming him in some kind of really stupid prank or stunt, like a TikTok, the most stupid thing you could do,” Leslie said. “But then I heard one of the soldiers shout, ‘Get that guy.’”

SEE ALSO: North Korea news

Before soldiers could catch him, King was across the border. It took just a few seconds.

U.S. officials were saying little about what may have motivated King.

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“We are still gathering facts,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration was trying to figure out where King was being held, his condition and his reason for crossing into North Korea. She said administration officials would work to ensure his safe return to his family.

King’s mother, Claudine Gates, told reporters outside her Racine, Wisconsin, home that all she cares about is bringing her son home.

“I just want my son back,” she said in video posted by Milwaukee television station WISN. “Get my son home.”

King’s grandfather called on his country to help rescue his grandson.

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“We’re the United States. We make things happen. If they get him out of there, we appreciate it as a family,” Carl Gates said. “Save my grandson.”



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Ad wars begin in closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race

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Ad wars begin in closely watched Wisconsin Supreme Court race


It marks the first spending on TV ads in the closely watched race in the presidential swing state.

MADISON, Wisconsin — Ad wars in the hotly contested race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court are beginning.

Republican-backed candidate Brad Schimel is launching a $1.1 million television ad buy statewide on Tuesday, marking the first spending on TV ads in the closely watched race in the presidential swing state.

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Schimel, a Waukesha County judge, faces Dane County Circuit Judge Susan Crawford in the race for an open seat on the state’s highest court. The election is April 1.

If Crawford wins, liberals will maintain their 4-3 majority until at least 2028. If Schimel wins, conservatives will win back the majority they lost in 2023.

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The race that year shattered national spending records in a judicial contest, with more than $51 million spent on both sides, based on a tally by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign. The group, which tracks spending on campaigns, is estimating that a new record will be set this year.

The two candidates in this year’s race have raised more money so far than at the same point in the 2023 campaign.

Crawford last week reported raising $2.8 million from individual donors since getting into the race, compared with $2.2 million for Schimel.

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Spending by outside groups, including the Democratic and Republican parties, is expected to far exceed what the candidates spend.

Races for Wisconsin Supreme Court are officially nonpartisan, but partisan interests line up behind their preferred candidates. The Wisconsin Democratic Party has endorsed Crawford, and Schimel is a former Republican attorney general who supports President-elect Donald Trump. Schimel served one term from 2015 to 2019.

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The liberal-controlled court delivered a major win to Democrats in 2023 by striking down Republican-drawn legislative maps. Pending cases backed by liberals seek to protect abortion access in the state and impede Republican attempts to oust the state’s nonpartisan elections leader. A looming fight over the future of public sector union rights also has intensified interest in the Supreme Court race.

Schimel’s ad that launches on Tuesday will run on broadcast and cable TV in Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay, La Crosse and Wausau, his campaign said Monday.

The winner of the April 1 election will serve a 10-year term.

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A look at the record, top wins of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard as he closes in on win No. 200

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A look at the record, top wins of Wisconsin basketball coach Greg Gard as he closes in on win No. 200


MADISON – Bo Ryan, Harold “Bud” Foster, Walter “Doc” Meanwell and …. Greg Gard.

The Wisconsin men’s basketball program has been around since 1898 and during 127 seasons only three coaches have had enough success and longevity to win 200 games.

Gard is on the cusp of joining the fraternity.

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The Badgers’ coach holds a 199-110 record heading into the team’s game against Ohio State on Tuesday night (8 p.m., Peacock). Reaching win No. 200 would not only put him in rare company at UW but also in the Big Ten, where only four other coaches have won 200 games at their current school.

Here is more about the Badgers’ coach.

How old is Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Greg Gard?

Gard is 54 years old. He was born on Dec. 3, 1970.

Has Greg Gard won a Big Ten title?

The Badgers have won two Big Ten championships under Gard’s leadership. The 2019-20 team finished with a 14-6 record and tied Maryland and Michigan State for the conference title. Two years later Wisconsin went 15-5 and shared the league championship with Illinois.

How much is Greg Gard’s salary?

According to USA Today, Gard had a yearly salary of $3,765,875 last season, which ranked fifth in the Big Ten. His contract runs through the 2028-29 season.

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Who are Wisconsin’s men’s basketball coaching leaders

Bo Ryan, 2002-15: 364-130, .737

Harold “Bud” Foster, 1935-59: 265-267, .498

Walter “Doc” Meanwell, 1912-17, 21-34: 246-99, .712

GREG GARD, 2015-present: 199-110, .664

Steve Yoder, 1983-92: 128-165, .437

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John Erickson, 1960-68: 100-114, .467

Dick Bennett, 1996-2000: 94-68, .580

John Powless, 1969-76: 88-108, .449

Bill Cofield, 1977-82: 63-101, .384

Emmett Angell, 1905-08: 43-15, .741

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Where does Greg Gard’s record stand among Big Ten coaches

Gard ranks fifth in victories among Big Ten coaches at their current school and ranks sixth in longest tenure. Here is the list. Records are through Sunday.

Tom Izzo, Michigan State: 721-297, 30th season

Matt Painter, Purdue: 460-207, 20th season

Dan Altman, Oregon: 360-154-, 15th season

Fran McCaffery, Iowa: 292-195, 15th season

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GREG GARD, WISCONSIN: 199-110, 10th season

Chris Collins, Northwestern: 187-180, 12th season

Brad Underwood, Illinois: 155-92, eighth season

Steve Pikiell, Rutgers: 140-130, ninth season

Mick Cronin, UCLA: 126-58, sixth season

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Mike Woodson, Indiana: 76-44, fourth season

Fred Hoiberg, Nebraska: 75-98, sixth season

Kevin Willard, Maryland: 50-34, third season

Ben Johnson, Minnesota: 49-62, fourth season

Mike Rhoades, Penn State: 28-22, second season

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Jake Diebler, Ohio State: 18-8, second season

Dusty May, Michigan: 13-3, first season

Eric Musselman, USC: 10-6, first season

Danny Sprinkle, Washington: 10-7, first season

What is Greg Gard’s year-by-year record?

Year Rec. Pct. Conf. Rec. Finish Postseason
2015-16 15-8 .652 Big Ten 12-6 T3rd NCAA Sweet 16
2016-17 27-10 .730 Big Ten 12-6 T2nd NCAA Sweet 16
2017-18 15-18 .455 Big Ten 7-11 9th
2018-19 23-11 .676 Big Ten 14-6 4th NCAA Tour. (1st round)
2019-20 21-10 .677 Big Ten 14-6 T1st NCAA Tour.* 
2020-21 18-13 .581 Big Ten 10-10 T-6th NCAA Tour. (2nd round)
2021-22 25-8 .758 Big Ten 15-5 T-1st NCAA Tour. (2nd round)
2022-23 20-15 .571 Big Ten 9-11 T-11th NIT semifinals
2023-24 22-14 .611 Big Ten 11-9 5th NCAA Tour. (1st round)
2024-25 13-3 .813 Big Ten 3-2
Totals 199-110 .664 Big Ten 107-72

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*auto bid – NCAA tournament canceled.

Top wins of the Greg Gard era

No. 1: Wisconsin beat UW-Green Bay, 84-79, Dec. 23, 2015

Gard’s first victory almost wasn’t. Wisconsin lost all but three points of a 30-point second-half lead before closing out the game with a crucial blocked shot by junior Vitto Brown and 8-for-9 shooting from the free throw line. Junior Nigel Hayes finished with 24 points. Redshirt freshman Ethan Happ posted 16 points and eight boards. Brown finished the night with 15 points and team highs in rebounds (nine) and blocks (three).

No. 15: Wisconsin beats Xavier, 66-63, March 20, 2016

This is one of the most iconic victories of the Gard era and it gave the Badgers a spot in the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16. Junior Bronson Koenig is remembered for his last-second three-pointer from the corner. It was part of a breakout performance from a prolonged shooting slump. The La Crosse native drilled 6 three-pointers, including the bucket that tied the game with 14 seconds left.

No. 42: Wisconsin stuns No. 1 Villanova, March 17, 2017

The Badgers rallied from a seven-point deficit with 5½ minutes to play to defeat a Wildcats squad loaded with future NBA players Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, Mikal Bridges and Donte DiVincenzo. Bronson Koenig hit 2 threes and score eight points during the comeback. Nigel Hayes had two buckets, including the go-ahead score with 11.4 seconds left. This victory sent the Badgers to the Sweet 16 for the fourth straight season to tie a Big Ten record shared with four other programs.

No. 101: Wisconsin beats Indiana, clinches Big Ten title share, March 7, 2020

The Badgers finished the season in a three-way tie for the Big Ten title with Maryland and Michigan State, but they won their share first, rallying from a seven-point deficit with 7 minutes to play to win their eighth straight game. Junior Nate Reuvers finished with 17 points for UW, Junior Micah Potter posted 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Brad Davison, also a junior, sealed the win with two free throws with 7.1 seconds to play.

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No. 143: Wisconsin beats Purdue to gain Big Ten title share, March 1, 2022

Chucky Hepburn banked in a three-pointer with 1.5 seconds to play to lift Wisconsin to a victory that assured it of a share of the Big Ten crown. The points capped what was at the time a career-high 17 points for the freshman point guard. Junior Tyler Wahl led Wisconsin in points (19) and steals (five). Hepburn went 4 for 6 from three-point range and sophomore guard Johnny Davis flirted with a double-double (16 points, eight rebounds).



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Wisconsin women’s hockey team works hard for weekend sweep of Minnesota State

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Wisconsin women’s hockey team works hard for weekend sweep of Minnesota State


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The Wisconsin women’s hockey team buried Minnesota State in shots and completed a weekend sweep Sunday with a 3-1 victory at LaBahn Arena.

Kelly Gorbatenko, Lacey Eden and Casey O’Brien scored two goals apiece during the weekend.

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The top-ranked Badgers (22-1-1, 16-1-1 WCHA) had 53 shots on goal Sunday, and Hailey Hansen made 50 saves for Mavericks (10-11-2, 4-11-1), topping her career best of 42 set a day earlier. It wasn’t until early in third period Sunday that Eden scored the winning goal.

Both of Gorbatenko’s goals came Saturday in a 6-2 victory that was the 650th for Mark Johnson as Wisconsin’s head coach. Eden’s goal Saturday included another milestone, O’Brien’s 150th assist. O’Brien scored on the power play each day.

UW had a combined 101-50 advantage in shots on goal in winning its 19th and 20th straight games between the teams.



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