Wisconsin man accused of trying to join ISIS challenges finding that he's competent
MADISON — A Wisconsin man accused of trying to join ISIS is challenging a finding that he's competent to stand trial.A psychologist filed a report last month finding Joshua Van Haften competent.A federal magistrate judge in Madison gave Van Haften's attorney, Joseph Bugni, until Wednesday, February 24th to decide whether to accept the ruling or challenge it by conducting his own competency examination.Bugni sent a letter to the judge on Wednesday saying he'll evaluate Van Haften with his own expert by April 29.Van Haften was charged last year with trying to cross from Turkey to Syria to join the Islamic State.
"Jim: The James Foley Story" debuts on HBO: MU professor featured in the film speaks out
MILWAUKEE -- A documentary chronicling the live of Marquette University alumnus James Foley debuted this weekend on HBO.While working as a freelance war correspondent during the Syrian Civil War, Foley was abducted on November 22nd, 2012 in northwestern Syria.He was beheaded in August 2014 -- purportedly as a response to American airstrikes in Iraq, thus becoming the first American citizen killed by the Islamic State of Iraq (ISIS).Foley's close childhood friends are now making a new documentary called "Jim: The James Foley Story."Marquette University's own Thomas Durkin was featured in the film about his friend, and said it is a portrayal of a man with great achievements and heart."I agree with Brian Oakes, who directed it.
"Jim: The James Foley Story" documentary coming to HBO in February
MILWAUKEE -- A documentary about James Foley is coming to HBO in February.The freelance war correspondent was abducted in Syria and beheaded in 2014 by ISIS."Jim: The James Foley Story" is directed by Brian Oakes, Foley's close childhood friend.It includes interviews with friends, family members and colleagues.Foley was a graduate of Marquette University.The documentary is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival later in January.
"ISIS is good, ISIS is great" chants during sex? Story out of Brown Deer getting attention worldwide
BROWN DEER -- A small police incident in Brown Deer this past weekend is now getting attention worldwide.
How a hacking group is working on taking down terrorists
MILWAUKEE -- The hacker group Anonymous has targeted large companies before including PayPal and Sony.
"We take all threats seriously:" FBI investigating ISIS threat at WWE event in Atlanta
ATLANTA — FBI officials have confirmed to WSB-TV they are taking seriously a report about an ISIS threat at a WWE Survivor Series event in Atlanta on Sunday, November 22nd.The FBI released the following statement to WSB-TV:
Utah school apologizes for homework assignment to make propaganda poster for terrorist group
SALEM, Utah -- Students in 9th grade at Salem Junior High School were given a homework assignment where they were told to draw a propaganda poster for a terrorist organization.After parents complained, the assignment was canceled.
Report early Wednesday: 33 ISIS members killed in airstrikes over the last 72 hours
RAQQA, Syria — A Syrian activist group says airstrikes on the northern Syrian city of Raqqa and its outskirts over the past three days have killed at least 33 fighters with the Islamic State group.The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says the fighters were mostly killed when their checkpoints were attacked by French and other warplanes.France has launched waves of airstrikes against the IS group following attacks that killed at least 129 people in Paris on Friday.
"We were deceived:" Mother of James Foley, executed by ISIS, says family felt abandoned by government
WASHINGTON — The mother of American journalist James Foley, who was publicly beheaded in August 2014 by the Islamic State, says her family felt abandoned by the American government.She wants to see a review of the U.S. hostage policy.Testifying at a House hearing, Diane Foley of Rochester, New Hampshire, demanded proof that the current U.S. policy not to negotiate to seek the release of Americans held captive abroad is actually saving lives and decreasing the rate of Americans being captured.
James Foley's parents say 'Jihadi John' killing does nothing to bring back their son
MILWAUKEE -- The Pentagon says the face of ISIS terrorism was the target of a recent airstrike in Syria.
"'Black Lies Matter' will join forces with ISIS:" Comments made by Sheriff Clarke causing controversy
MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee County Sheriff David Clarke's recent commentary is causing some controversy not only here in Milwaukee, but across the country.
Scott Walker: United States should not take in Syrian refugees, and instead focus on ISIS
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Republican presidential candidate Scott Walker says the United States should not take in Syrian refugees.Wisconsin Public Radio reported Wednesday that Walker clarified his position after refusing to address the question when asked about it in New Hampshire.Walker told reporters following a business summit in Eau Claire that America should focus on taking out the Islamic State terrorist group to solve the humanitarian crisis in Syria.Walker says the U.S. is already putting plenty of resources into humanitarian efforts.
Marquette University remembers James Foley one year after his death; "He gave everything to help others"
MILWAUKEE -- The Marquette community is marking the one year anniversary of the death of one of the university's most well-known graduates.
Man says Walmart "has some explaining to do" after they printed ISIS flag on a cake
SLIDELL, Louisiana -- Walmart is defending an employee who created a cake with an ISIS flag on it for a customer.In a video published to YouTube on June 26th, Chuck Netzhammer says Walmart "has some explaining to do."Netzhammer says he ordered a customized cake with the Confederate flag on it -- and the words “Heritage Not Hate” from a Walmart store in Slidell, Louisiana.
Federally indicted: Madison man charged with attempting to provide material support to ISIS
MADISON (WITI) -- A 34-year-old Madison man has been federally indicted, charged with attempting to provide material support and resources, namely himself as personnel, to a foreign terrorist organization.A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin returned the indictment against Joshua Van Haften Thursday, April 23rd.
U.S. Air Force veteran tried to join ISIS, U.S. alleges
(CNN) -- A U.S. Air Force veteran tried to join ISIS in Syria but was turned back by Turkish authorities before he could get to the war-torn country, U.S. authorities allege in a two-count indictment announced Tuesday.Tairod Nathan Webster Pugh, accused of making the foiled attempt in January, was indicted by a grand jury this week on charges of trying to give material support to the terror group and obstruction of justice, the U.S. Justice Department said.Among the evidence, prosecutors allege: Investigators discovered on his laptop computer recent Internet searches for information on "borders controlled by Islamic state," and a chart of crossing points between Turkey and Syria, where ISIS controls some territory.Pugh was arrested upon his return to the United States in January and will be arraigned Wednesday in a federal court in New York, the Justice Department said."Pugh, an American citizen and former member of our military, allegedly abandoned his allegiance to the United States and sought to provide material support to ISIL," Assistant U.S. Attorney General John Carlin said, using an alternate acronym for the Islamist terror group that controls territory in parts of Iraq and Syria.Pugh will plead not guilty, his attorney, Michael Schneider, said.The defendant, a former avionics instrument system specialist in the Air Force, flew from Egypt to Turkey on January 10, weeks after being fired from a Middle East-based job as an airplane mechanic, U.S. authorities allege.But Turkey, for reasons the Justice Department didn't specify, denied him entry and sent him on a return flight to Egypt.
Sen. Ron Johnson: U.S. must send ground troops to fight ISIS
EAU CLAIRE (AP) — U.S. Sen.
Parents of Indiana man threatened by ISIS pleading with their son's captors to free him
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The parents of an Indiana man threatened with beheading by the Islamic State group are pleading with their son's captors to free him.Ed and Paula Kassig released their video message Saturday, October 4th -- a day after a video from the Islamic State group threatened to behead 26-year-old Peter Kassig.Ed Kassig says his son was taken captive on Oct. 1, 2013, in Syria, where he was providing aid for refugees fleeing the country's civil war through an organization he founded.He says the former Army Ranger grew up in an Indianapolis family with a long history of humanitarian work.Paula Kassig holds a photo of her son in the video and says, "We implore those who are holding you to show mercy and use their power to let you go."
Racine man decides to "do something" about ISIS
RACINE COUNTY (WITI) -- A video features the words of Jordan Matson, A Racine County man believed to be fighting against ISIS in Syria.The Sturtevant native says he joined forces with Kurdish fighters, and a spokesman for that army says Matson was wounded in battle."I am from Wisconsin in the United States.
ISIS video shows apparent execution of third Western captive
BEIRUT (AP) — A video has been posted online purporting to show the beheading by the Islamic State group of British aid worker David Haines, who went missing in Syria last year.The video emerged hours after the family of Haines issued a public plea on Saturday urging his captors to contact them.Islamic State militants have beheaded two American journalists and posted video evidence online.