Man accused of using AI to create nude photo of ex-girlfriend in court

By Hannah Hilyard

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — Artificial intelligence is right now at the center of a Milwaukee police investigation.

Prosecutors have accused Kevin Scholz, who lives in Franklin, of using AI to alter a selfie of his ex-girlfriend into a nude photo and then sending it to her.

Investigators said the two briefly dated in 2022 and the altered photo was sent to the woman in May of this year.

“(She) recognized the photo of a selfie she took at a Bucks game in a bathroom, actually,” Det. Del-Moral said. “And that photo was modified so she would be fully nude.”

When asked how the ex-girlfriend knew the photo was modified, Del-Moral explained, “Well, one, she took the photo of herself fully clothed. And there was actually a cleaning person in the background.”

A criminal complaint states that the phone number used to send the picture “links to the defendant.”

Scholz, who recently served on Governor Evers’ Autism Council, was “promptly removed from the council” following the charges, according to the Governor’s Office. Scholz also has a background in law enforcement, including a brief stint as a Milwaukee County Sheriff’s deputy 20 years ago.

Scholz’s attorney, Christopher Cherella, challenged the allegations during Wednesday’s preliminary hearing.

“You have no idea, as you sit here today where that picture was altered, correct?” Cherella asked Del-Moral

“Correct,” she replied.

“That picture was sent from the number previously affiliated with Mr. Scholz to her. Is that true?” Cherella asked.

Del-Moral responded, “That’s correct.”

The defense also noted that the picture was not posted on any form of social media, to which Del-Moral replied, “Not that I’m aware of.”

Attempts to reach Scholz at his home were unsuccessful, as no one answered the door, but someone was seen closing nearby blinds. Scholz is currently out on a signature bond as the case progresses.

Scholz is scheduled to be arraigned next month, facing one felony charge of capturing an intimate representation without consent and one misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. His attorney declined to comment on the case Wednesday.

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Viral video from Brewers game leads to Make-A-Wish Wisconsin board member’s resignation

By TJ Dysart

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    MILWAUKEE (WISN) — A confrontation at a Brewers game in Milwaukee, where a woman threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on a Dodgers fan, has gone viral and resulted in her resignation and job loss.

Ricardo Fosado, a Dodgers superfan and military veteran, recorded the incident during Game 2 of the National League Championship Series at American Family Field.

Fosado said the exchange began as friendly banter with Brewers fans but escalated when one fan took it too far.

“You know what, let’s call ICE,” the woman said, to which Fosado responded, “Call ICE, call ICE. I’m a U.S. citizen, war veteran, baby girl.”

Fosado captured the Dodgers taking a 3-1 lead and began cheering, which prompted the woman, wearing a Brewers shirt, to make the ICE comment.

She then appeared to swing at the camera. Fosado admitted to calling the woman an expletive off camera, after which security removed him from the stadium.

The video has since been viewed over 2 million times on social media.

“It just shows the level where a person’s heart is and how she really feels as a human being,” Fosado said.

12 News confirmed the woman is Shannon Kobylarczyk, an attorney at Milwaukee-based staffing firm Manpower. The company stated, “As soon as we became aware of this video, the individual was placed on immediate leave, and we began an investigation. As a result of this process, the employee is no longer with the organization.”

Make-A-Wish Wisconsin also announced that “Shannon resigned from our board of directors this afternoon effective immediately.”

Fosado said he did not intend for the video to go viral.

“Her heart is where it’s at, you know. I can’t do anything about it, nothing that I say that would change her thoughts about me.” Fosado said.

12 News reached out to the Brewers to see if they have seen the video, but has not yet received a response.

Kobylarczyk declined to comment for the story.

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VIDEO: Grain bin elevator collapses in Illinois, sending workers fleeing

By Sydney Hartman

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    MARTINTON, Illinois (WLWT) — A grain bin elevator collapsed in Martinton, Illinois, on Wednesday, sending workers scrambling for safety.

The incident happened just before 1 p.m. when the structure snapped in half, causing a cloud of dust to fill the air.

Videos captured the moment, showing the elevator collapsing and knocking down nearby power lines.

No injuries were reported, according to the Iroquois County Emergency Management Agency, but the entire power line structure will need to be rebuilt.

Residents in the area experienced power outages as a result. Power has since been restored.

Officials are investigating the cause of the collapse.

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Charges dismissed for man accused of 2022 deadly shooting of deputy

By Dacoda Wahpekeche

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    OKLAHOMA CITY (KOCO) — Charges have been dismissed for a man accused of shooting and killing an Oklahoma County deputy serving an eviction notice in 2022.

Benjamin Plank was accused of ambushing, shooting and killing Sgt. Bobby Swartz while deputies were serving an eviction notice on Aug. 22, 2022, at a southwest Oklahoma City home. Plank was charged with first-degree murder, multiple counts of shooting with intent to kill and using a vehicle to discharge a firearm.

Plank has been through many court proceedings in the years since the shooting, and a judge recently said Plank was incompetent due to a psychosis diagnosis and could not stand trial. There were some concerns in the case surrounding the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse and Plank’s access to court-ordered medication.

This week, all of Plank’s charges in connection with the deadly shooting have been dismissed.

Swartz’s family recently spoke with KOCO 5, saying there should be justice.

“My father deserves justice. He deserves better than what he’s gotten out of the system,” Austin Swartz said. “He gave 25 years of his life. Mark (Johns) almost gave his life for the same thing. And for that just to be a shoulder shrug – ‘Hey, we’re not going to hold anybody accountable’ – it’s unacceptable.”

While charges have been dismissed, Plank will remain in the state’s custody at a mental health facility.

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Woman pleads no contest in Oklahoma murders of two Kansas women

By Jason Burger

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    GUYMON, Oklahoma (KOCO) — Tifany Adams has pleaded no contest to six of the nine charges against her in connection with the murders of Veronica Butler and Jilian Kelley, two Kansas women found in the Oklahoma Panhandle, and will not face the death penalty.

Adams, who is in custody in Texas County, was accused of orchestrating a plot to kill Butler with four other suspects.

“Tifany’s thing was, she hated Veronica; she wanted her out of her life, she wanted her gone, so that she could raise her grandchildren, and the only way to do that, was to eliminate her,” said Ladonna Thompson, Veronica Butler’s aunt.

Since the spring of 2024, Veronica’s aunt, Ladonna Thompson, has been in touch with the media.

New court documents reveal that Adams will be spared the death penalty, stating, “In exchange for the defendant’s plea of no contest, the State of Oklahoma agrees that it will not file a bill of particulars or seek the death penalty in this case.”

The six charges include first-degree murder and desecration of a corpse in the deaths of Veronica and Jilian.

“Jillian was just along for the ride when they were headed to pick up the children for a birthday party,” Thompson said.

The two women were traveling together from Hugoton, Kansas, to pick up Butler’s children when they went missing in Texas County, Oklahoma. They were reported missing on March 30, 2024, and were found buried two weeks later.

“She’s loved, and she will never be forgotten. And that’s exactly what we say. She’s very loved and never forgotten,” Thompson said.

As part of the plea agreement, the state will drop three charges against Tifany Adams — two for child neglect and one for conspiracy.

She could still face life in prison without the possibility of parole. Her sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 28.

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Nebraska Republicans launch initiative to switch to ‘winner-take-all’ presidential elections, require vote counting by hand

By Aaron Hegarty

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    LINCOLN, Nebraska (KETV) — In November 2026, Nebraskans could vote on the future of the state’s elections.

Two ballot initiatives were announced Tuesday. One would switch Nebraska to “winner-take-all” presidential elections. Another would end the use of vote counting and voting machines.

Both would amend the state constitution, which requires 10% of all Nebraska registered voters to sign a petition.

A new group formed this summer, Advocates For All Nebraskans, announced the initiatives at a press conference at Lincoln’s Cornhusker Hotel on Tuesday.

The same organization announced ballot initiatives on property taxes in August. It’s now started five ballot initiatives.

Former Nebraska Republican Party Chair Eric Underwood led the news conference. He said Tuesday was chosen to honor Charlie Kirk, who traveled to Nebraska to push for winner-take-all in 2024.

Underwood and other sponsors said the initiatives are bipartisan issues. Underwood said all sponsors are Republicans.

Co-sponsor Danna Seevers said the organization has a “professional statewide effort that is built for success.”

Success in ballot initiatives often relies on funding, and AFAN is seeking the greater number of signatures required for constitutional amendments.

“I feel very confident saying is that the national presence is going to be there to support these movements,” Underwood said.

Underwood and other sponsors argued that switching to winner-take-all would give all Nebraskans a voice. He said candidates campaigning in Nebraska used to travel across the entire state, but now they only visit the Omaha area.

A change to winner-take-all would make it exceptionally difficult for a Democrat to win any votes in Nebraska. While Nebraska is not a swing state, the 2nd District is a swing area, opponents say, and the only reason presidential candidates spend significant resources in Nebraska. The state’s popular vote was last won by a Democrat in 1964, Lyndon Johnson.

Co-sponsor Kirk Penner said the initiative requiring votes to be counted by hand would ensure secure elections. Nebraska would be the only state that would do so. Penner said it would make Nebraska a “trendsetter” on election security.

Civic Nebraska is also opposed to winner-take-all in Nebraska and the vote-counting measure.

“Requiring hand-counting of ballots would dismantle a secure and proven system in favor of one that is slow and prone to error, simply to address conspiracy theories that have been repeatedly debunked. It would waste taxpayer money, invite chaos, corruption, and human error, and undermine trust in the very elections it claims to protect,” Civic Nebraska’s statement read in part.

Nebraska made the switch to give the winner of each congressional district one electoral vote in 1991. Two electoral votes still go on to the overall winner.

It took until Barack Obama in 2008 for a Democrat to win in any single district. Republicans rebounded in Nebraska’s 2nd congressional district in 2012 and 2016. The split vote has only ever been a factor in the Omaha metro area’s 2nd District.

Now, however, a Democrat has won in the district in two consecutive presidential elections.

When Kamala Harris won the district by four points last year, it was the first time a Democrat did not also go on to be elected.

Underwood said the initiatives have 45 co-sponsors. A list of the organization’s ballot initiatives and the precise language is here.

Nebraska Democratic Party Chair Jane Kleeb said in a statement to KETV: “Republicans know they do not have the votes to change our fair electoral vote system, so they are trying anything to rig the outcome from early redistricting and ballot campaigns. Nebraskans made it clear last year they support our fair electoral system. Our elected officials should instead be training other states to follow Nebraska and Maine, the only two states in the nation that give all voters a voice and a fair shot.”

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‘What were they thinking?’ Business owner on graphic haunted house billboard

By Mya Caleb

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    CHELSEA, Alabama (WVTM) — Some residents and business owners are finding a haunted house billboard distasteful in Chelsea.

The billboard can be seen near Snider’s Pharmacy while heading down Highway 280 towards Birmingham. It depicts what appears to be a woman urinating on herself for the Atrox Factory haunted house in Leeds.

Doug Snider, owner of Snider’s Pharmacy, expressed his shock at the imagery, emphasizing that Chelsea is a family-oriented community.

“Honestly, me and my wife rode by probably a week or so ago, and we’re just taken away by it. It was…both of us, it caught our attention right out of the gate, which that’s what a billboard should do. But it was…caught our attention at being disgusting and all that. What were they thinking?” Snider said.

Family members in the area also shared their concern with WVTM 13.

Efforts to reach the haunted house and billboard company for comment were unsuccessful, as both declined to comment.

The City of Chelsea was also contacted but did not respond.

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Parents plead for answers in son’s unsolved murder, claim no response from police

By Michal Higdon

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    BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (WVTM) — A mother is begging for a response from the Birmingham Police Department.

Roderick Gray Jr. died three years ago on October 15, 2022. He was shot outside a club in downtown Birmingham and his mom, Myrtis Piggue, says she has heard nothing from police.

He was found in an alleyway outside of Playhouse Gentleman’s Club on 4th Street. While a person of interest was detained that night, no one has been charged.

Roderick Gray Sr. remembers that day like it was yesterday.

“Even to this day we don’t even have the coroner’s report because when we try and get the coroner’s report they were saying, ‘Oh, it’s an active investigation,'” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she hasn’t heard from Birmingham police since last year when she got an email saying security video from three cameras was collected from the area. They say a possible suspect vehicle was seen leaving the area but it was a common make and model and difficult to track. Police say the four shell casings collected from the scene were not found to be connected to any other crime.

Since that email, Piggue says she has called and emailed repeatedly for an update.

“They never responded to us,” Piggue says. ” We never got a call back or anything. Nothing. And then when I continually called back, I found out that a couple of the people that were working on the case are not even there anymore, so I need another person. It’s just been the run around the whole time.”

We’re approaching the anniversary of his death and even just doing this interview is hard because I have to spend most of the year trying to find a way to deal with it,” Gray Sr. says.

Piggue says she appreciates the new chief’s effort to deter criminal activity but she has a message for him.

“We applaud his effort in regards to crack down on crime because that’s that’s something that Birmingham needs,” Piggue says. But don’t forget the people at the crimes that have already been committed… Don’t forget about the people that are still here trying to get answers.”

Piggue says she just wants to know that someone is at least still working on this case.

Now, three years since their son lost his life they want to keep his memory alive.

“Mystic,” Piggue says. “His father nicknamed him that because he was a mystery. And he truly lived up to his name because he was a real himself type person. And once he got to know you, he was like the life of the party. He was just a real warm, loving person.”

I reached out to the Birmingham Police Department as well to get an update and talk with the detective over the case but have not received a response.

Piggue and Gray Sr. are begging, if you know anything about the case, to please come forward. If you have any information, police ask you to contact the B.P.D. Homicide Unit at 205-254-1764 or CrimeStoppers at 205-254-7777.

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Off-duty officer hailed for life-saving measures during crash

By Tim Nazzaro

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    RANDOLPH, Massachusetts (WCVB) — Norwood police are recognizing one of their officers for providing life-saving aid to a person who was hit by a car in Randolph on Tuesday morning.

Officer Rick Bekerian, who was off-duty at the time, happened upon the crash around 6:25 a.m. on Warren Street, according to police.

He immediately checked the injured person’s condition and found that they didn’t have a pulse.

Bekerian then performed CPR on the victim until EMS arrived.

Randolph police say the victim survived the collision.

“We’re proud of Officer Bekerian for his professionalism and dedication — both on and off duty,” Norwood police wrote in a social media post. “His actions are a true reflection of the commitment shown every day by the men and women of the Norwood Police Department.”

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Paul McCartney makes Iowa fan’s birthday unforgettable during Des Moines stop

By Abigail Kurten

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    DES MOINES, Iowa (KCCI) — Hours before Paul McCartney’s Des Moines stop in his Get Back Tour, the Beatles legend made one fan’s birthday wish come true.

Doors for the show opened at 6:30 p.m., but fans had already begun lining up outside the loading deck by 3 p.m. They ranged from younger fans to seasoned supporters.

“I woke up at 3 a.m. yesterday, traveled all day, and here I am now,” said Megan Gray, who traveled from Utah for the show.

“He’s the top of my Mount Rushmore,” Jeremy Potirala of Beach Park, Illinois, said. “The music means a lot.”

All of the roughly 40 fans gathered with the hope of catching a glimpse of the music legend as he arrived at the venue.

But no one wanted it more than Dan Myers, a lifelong fan from Sioux City who happened to be celebrating his 65th birthday.

“Every song has a personal meaning for me and every song is different,” he said. “I sing along like I did 40 years ago to all these songs.”

Tuesday’s show marks the third time Myers has seen him in Des Moines — and the 19th time total.

He waited almost three hours in the cold and rain for a chance to see McCartney, and by some stroke of luck, he got his birthday wish:

Paul McCartney wished him a happy birthday as he rolled into the venue — and it might have been one of the best birthday gifts he could have asked for.

“It’s just really cool to be that close to a living legend,” Myers said.

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