Charges filed Thursday in the ongoing John Doe investigation into former and current aides of Gov. Scott Walker allege a pattern of illegal fundraising and what appears to be a systemic avoidance of campaign laws by Walker's inner circle.

A 53-year-old rural River Falls man is a suspect in a petition-shredding incident last Wednesday, Nov. 23, after 5 p.m., in front of EconoFoods on Main Street. After he pretended to sign a recall for Gov. Scott Walker, the man allegedly jabbed at the petition form with a pen and then ripped the paper. He was confronted by recall petition volunteers. As he walked away, the man gave his name as “George Washington.”

One witness snapped photos of the George Washington suspect’s car and license plate as he drove off.

By Tony Galli - bio | email

MADISON (WKOW) -- Edgewood College officials notified the campus community of the destruction of a recall petition against Governor Walker, but a campus official said the police were not notified.

But on the twitter account of the student believed responsible for the potentially criminal act, a confessional message was sent to the governor's account:  "Today I ripped up a petition form to recall you." 

In an email to students and staff, Edgewood College Dean of Students Maggie Balistreri-Clarke wrote campus security was notified someone had destroyed a recall petition with signatures.   The email notes such action is a felony crime.

Regardless of your political beliefs, prohibiting someone's rights to participate in the political process is wrong. Wisconsin is better than this.

A 17-year-old Sheboygan boy planning to run against Mayor Bob Ryan in a possible recall election can expect legal action after creating a Twitter account posing as Ryan and redirecting the mayor's campaign website to his own, Ryan's attorney said Friday.

Asher Heimermann — a high school senior with a voluminous social media presence — launched the fake Twitter account Thursday evening under the name @mayorbobryan.

Within the first hour, the "mayor" referred to himself as an "arrogant, obnoxious, incompetent fool," recapped Ryan's July alcoholic relapse in Elkhart Lake and referenced farting in the mayor's office. By Friday afternoon the tweets had progressed to saying the mayor was leaving to "get drunk as hell" and, "The rumor is that I'm cheating on my wife. Hehe. Shhh. Don't tell anyone that."

Thanks to Jonathan Anderson for the link

SHEBOYGAN- Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan faces a new challenge - a teenager who wants his job.

In what's become a bizarre battle over the Sheboygan mayor's office, a 17-year-old has now filed paperwork to run for the job.

Asher Heimermann says he's a better choice than embattled Sheboygan Mayor Bob Ryan.

"It's not joke. I'm 100% serious about running for mayor," Heimermann told TODAY'S TMJ4.

The high school senior sure sounds like a candidate, telling TODAY'S TMJ4, "I'm concerned about the future of Sheboygan."

But sometimes he acts more like a kid. A few weeks ago he shoved his cell phone in Mayor Ryan's face. Ryan shoved back.

"It was a mistake and if i could take that back, I would," said Heimermann.

Ryan's secretary's told TODAY'S TMJ4's Annie Scholz, the mayor had no comment about Heimermann filing.

But some council members say the whole process isn't helping an already awkward situation.

Alderwoman Jean Kittelson says, "It's a distraction to us council people who have a big job to do here as well."

Heimermann says his job is clear, "In the next few weeks and months, you will see me working the streets of Sheboygan and speaking to citizens and see what they have to say."

It might sound a heck of a lot like Morgan Freeman -- but the actor is adamant ... he did NOT lend his soothing voice to a dramatic right-wing Citizens for a Strong America" -- blasts Democrat Shelly Moore in the race leading up to the Wisconsin Senate recall elections ... and if you close your eyes, it almost sounds like a scene from "Shawshank Redemption."

But Morgan's rep tells us, it ain't the actor's voice -- "A political ad running in Wisconsin by a conservative group narrated by someone trying to sound like Morgan Freeman was not narrated by Mr. Freeman. Morgan Freeman did NOT narrate that ad."

It's not the first time Morgan's voice has been co-opted in Wisconsin either -- back in 2010, Gov. Scott Walker also ran a political ad using a voice that sounded suspiciously like the actor.

Calls to Citizens for a Strong America weren't returned.

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan sliced him [Chicago Bear's Quarterback Jay Cutler] up in a speech at the Economic Forum in Chicago.

"I want to thank you all for inviting me to speak. It was especially gracious of you to host me, even though I’m a Packers fan and I assume most of you are Bears fans," Ryan began.

"But that doesn't mean we can't work together. As chairman of the House Budget Committee, I stand ready to do whatever it takes to help you re-sign Jay Cutler. I'm here to talk about the economy today -- about the need to get four quarters of strong, consistent performance. That wasn't another Jay Cutler joke, I swear. It could be, but it's not," he continued.

The state Senate is giving a big pat-on-the-back to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater football team.

The Warhawks defeated Mount Union 31-21 in the Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl this past December to win their third NCAA Division III national championship in four years.

The Senate unanimously passed a resolution Thursday honoring the team. The resolution’s main author, Sen. Neal Kedzie, an Elkhorn Republican, says the Warhawks’ championships have put Whitewater on the national map.