News from around Wisconsin at 6:58 p.m. CDT

Associated Press

Updated: Sep 11, 2012 8:03 PM

Father, his brother charged in fatal Wis. fire

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- A southwestern Wisconsin man set his house on fire in hopes of killing his family because his wife was always complaining about money and he wanted a fresh start, according to a criminal complaint filed Tuesday charging him and his brother with killing his three sons.

Armin Wand III was apparently so desperate to wipe out his family he nearly put his 2-year-old daughter back in the fire after his wife rescued her, the complaint said.

Attorneys with the state Justice Department charged Armin Wand III, 32, and his brother, Jeremy Wand, 18, each with three counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of arson with intent to defraud.

They also charged Armin Wand III with three counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, accusing him of trying to kill his wife and trying to kill his daughter twice. Jeremy Wand faces two counts of attempted first-degree intentional homicide in connection with the wife and daughter.

The men were set to make initial appearances Wednesday in LaFayette County Circuit Court. Online court records didn't list defense attorneys for them Tuesday evening.

The men's father, Armin Wand Jr., told the Wisconsin State Journal newspaper in Tuesday's editions his sons never would have tried to hurt their family. The Associated Press could not reach him for comment; his phone number was not listed.

The fire broke out early Friday in the house Armin Wand III rented with his wife, Sharon Wand, their three sons and their daughter in Argyle, a village of about 850 people 45 miles southwest of Madison, the state capital.

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Obama to begin advertising in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- President Barack Obama plans to begin airing television advertisements in Wisconsin starting on Wednesday, another sign of the state's increasing importance in the race.

The ads are the first in Wisconsin from Obama's campaign and they come after Republican Mitt Romney started running his own spots on Sunday.

Obama for America spokeswoman Gillian Morris said Tuesday the campaign will not provide details about the scope or size of the buy. She says the ad would not be made public until Wednesday.

The announcement comes as both Obama and Romney's campaigns are placing greater emphasis on Wisconsin and its 10 electoral votes. Romney running mate Paul Ryan planned to be in Green Bay on Wednesday and Vice President Joe Biden was to be in Eau Claire on Thursday.

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Ryan visits Milwaukee area on Sept. 11 anniversary

OAK CREEK, Wis. (AP) -- Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan is thanking military and fire officials for their service.

Shortly after landing in Milwaukee Tuesday, Ryan spoke to about 80 members of the Wisconsin 128th Air National Guard refueling wing. He thanked them for their service and shook their hands.

The Janesville congressman also went to a fire station in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek where he had lunch with about two dozen fire department officials.

He said he wanted to tell them on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks just how thankful Americans are for those of them who put their lives on the line every day.

They then ate lasagna with salad and bread, along with apple juice and milk.

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Thompson: Aide's message about Baldwin was mistake

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Republican U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson says it was a mistake for an aide to send a message about Democratic opponent Tammy Baldwin dancing at a gay pride festival.

Thompson says his political director, Brian Nemoir, "shouldn't have done it."

Nemoir sent the email and tweet in advance of Baldwin's speech at the Democratic National Convention last week.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (http://bit.ly/S8HLRv) reports Thompson spoke to reporters Tuesday after appearing at a luncheon of the Rotary Club of Milwaukee.

Baldwin is looking to become the first openly gay candidate elected to the Senate.

Baldwin spokesman John Kraus criticized Thompson for remaining silent until now about "the divisive, personal attack his own campaign launched."

Thompson's campaign consultant said Nemoir acted on his own and was not representing the Thompson campaign.

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