The Milwaukee Post

AAA predicts travel over Memorial Day to be second-highest in nation's history MADISON — The American Automobile Association is projecting that more than 38 million Americans will travel this Memorial Day weekend — the second-highest Memorial Day travel volume in history and the most since 2005. According to AAA's Leisure Travel Index, reasons contributing to the expected high travel volume include the lowest gas prices in more than a decade, decreasing airfares and expenses on rental cars. According to the AAA, as long as there is no obvious increase in the price of crude oil, the summertime gas cost will hit the lowest point in 11 years. The average airfare for the top 40 domestic routes will be 26 percent cheaper this Memorial Day and daily car rental rates will also be 3 percent lower than last year, according to the AAA. A recent AAA survey suggests that 55 percent of Americans say they are more likely to take a road trip this year due to lower gas prices. Locally, more than 755,000 Wisconsin residents will travel, a 2.2 percent increase over last year. Correspondingly, other modes of transportation including cruises and trains will fall 2.3 percent, to 1.6 million travel- ers. The Memorial Day holiday travel period is between May 26 to May 30. Travel destinations such as Orlando, Miami, Honolulu and more are top options for travelers as they have comparatively warm weather. A condition-check of batteries, lockouts and flat tires is recommended for motors as well as other traveling vehicles. AAA's mobile app offers automotive-related services and other functions including identifying gas prices, booking hotels, mapping routes and more. — Special to the Post 4 • Milwaukee County Post • May 27, 2016 WEEK IN REVIEW STATE AND LOCAL STORIES OF INTEREST Geyser's bail remains at $500K in Slender Man case WAUKESHA — Bail for Morgan Geyser, one of the girls accused in the Slender Man stabbing case, will remain at $500,000. The state Court of Appeals issued the decision in response to a petition from Geyser's attorney Anthony Cotton earlier this month that claimed Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Michael Bohren misapplied state statutes in rejecting the defense's motion for bail modification last month. In April, Bohren denied motions filed on behalf of both 13-year-old Geyser and 14-year-old Anissa Weier that had sought to reduce each girl's $500,000 cash bail so they could be released into the community under family supervision. Geyser has been held at the Washington County Juvenile Detention Center and the Winnebago Mental Health Institute for more than 23 months since her arrest. Geyser — a diagnosed schizophrenic — and Weier allegedly stabbed their friend 19 times and left her to die in the woods off Big Bend Road nearly two years ago in an attempt to appease the fictional online horror character known as Slender Man. In making his decision last month, Bohren acknowledged the work that's been done to improve Geyser's mental health, but also noted her history of running away and the need to protect the public and prevent witness intimidation. Cotton, however, argued that under state statutes, cash bail may only be used to ensure a defendant's continued appearance in court. 10 of 11 names released for state Supreme Court; list includes three Wisconsin appellate judges MILWAUKEE — Appeals Court Judge Mark Gundrum is one of the applicants vying to succeed retiring Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser. Gov. Scott Walker released the names of 10 of 11 applicants seeking the state Supreme Court position being vacated by Justice David Prosser, who will retire July 31. They include state appellate Judges Mark Gundrum, Brian Hagedorn and Thomas Hruz; attorney Andrew Brown of River Falls; Madison attorney Claude Covelli; Jefferson County Circuit Judge Randy Koschnick; Marinette County Circuit Judge James Morrison; and Wisconsin Public Service Commission Chairwoman Ellen Nowak; Milwaukee attorney Paul Scoptur; and Madison attorney Jim Troupis. An 11th candi- date requested confidentiality, Walker's office reported, which must be granted under state law. DPI surveying districts on teacher shortage effects MILWAUKEE — Amid a widely reported national teacher shortage, the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction is seeking input from districts across the state on whether they are seeing its effects. Last month, the DPI requested that all public districts in the state complete a survey about the extent to which they are having teacher shortages and how they are address- ing those issues. Regional meetings have been held in various Cooperative Educational Service Agencies regions to explore the results and gather feedback. Districts from CESA 1, which encompasses southeastern Wisconsin, met May 19. MPD: Man shoots, kills his uncle on North Side MILWAUKEE — A 27-year-old suspect shot his 45-year-old uncle at about 7:40 p.m. Monday during an argument in the 3100 block of North 24th Place, police said. The vic- tim died at the scene, police reported. Police arrested the suspect nearby and a firearm was recovered, according to police. The investigation is ongoing. Deputies, passenger reported hit, thrown into freeway lane by fleeing vehicle at traffic stop MILWAUKEE — Two sheriff's deputies and a passenger who had exited a vehicle at a traffic stop on Interstate 43 at West Loomis Road were struck by the vehicle when the driver put the car in reverse, quickly accelerated, rammed the squad and fled the scene at about 10 a.m. May 15, the Sheriff's Office reported. Both deputies reported sustaining injuries and narrowly missed being struck by oncoming traffic. The passenger, who was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, got out of the vehicle while waiting for a tow called for by a deputy, the Sheriff's Office said. The woman had provided false identification and the passenger refused to identify her, the Sheriff's Office said. Sheriff's detectives investigated and arrested Kelvina D. Freeman, 23, of Milwaukee, on May 18, who had a suspended driver's license. Charges being sought are three counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, fleeing an officer, resisting an officer and criminal damage to property. If convicted of all counts, she faces up to 45 years in prison. Alert given for family member phone ransom scam MILWAUKEE — The Police Department is alerting the public to a recent phone scam seen locally and nationally in which a person is told a family member is being held for ransom. Victims of the scam receive phone calls from a caller demanding money be wired in exchange for the release of the family member. Further investigation of these incidents has shown that family members were not actually taken hostage and that the claims of the suspect are false, police reported. Calls like these are frequently coming from the phone number 631-827-1544. The Police Department is encouraging anyone who receives a call like this to contact the MPD at 414-933-4444 immediately to investigate. Police: Shooting on Grant Street investigated MILWAUKEE — A 36-year-old Milwaukee man was shot at about 10:15 a.m. Tuesday in the 2500 block of West Grant Street during circumstances that remain under investiga- tion, police said. The victim suffered serious injuries and was treated at a local hospital, police reported. The Police Department continued to seek a motive and search for sus- pects on Wednesday. Geyser

• Cover