WISCONSIN DELLS, Wis. (AP) — Police say a 12-year-old girl was seriously injured on a "free fall" amusement ride when a net that was supposed to catch her failed. Lake Delton Police Chief Thomas Dorner says the girl was participating in the "terminal velocity" ride at Extreme World in the Wisconsin Dells. Dorner says a net that was supposed to catch her and break her fall was not high enough above ground and she hit the ground. In all, she fell at least 40 feet. The ride is described as an "unattached, controlled free fall." Extreme World Owner Bill Anderson says it is the first accident in the ride's eight-year history.

Dodge County authorities evacuated a two block square area of North University Avenue and Bogert Street in Beaver Dam Friday afternoon as a precautionary measure due to a major natural gas leak. Dodge County Sheriff Todd Nehls says some of the affected properties included Dodge Central Credit Union and the Shoe Box Apartments. Alliant Energy and other contractors repaired the leaking gas main. Assisiting at the scene were the Dodge County Sheriff’s Department, Dodge County Emergency Management, and the Dodge County Emergency Response Team.

Starting August first judges in Fond du lac County have another tool in sentencing drunk drivers. The circuit court and municipal court judges have approved the use of Victim Impact Panels for first time owi offenders. Lakeside Municipal Court Judge, Jerry Jaye, says four victim impact panels will be held per year and victims of drunk drivers will speak to the panel and share their experiences. Judge Jaye says hopefully the victim’s story provides motivation to not drunk and drive. Jaye says the timing is ironic with all of the changes in the state’s owi laws that went into effect last month. ast year the circuit courts had 305 first offense owi cases and Lakeside Municipal Court had 234 cases. The first victim impact panel will be held November 11th.

Fond du Lac County’s newest circuit court judge will officially be sworn into office during a special ceremony this weekend. Retired judge, Steven Weinke, will administer the oath to new judge, Gary Sharpe, during a ceremony Sunday at the Windhover Center for the Arts. "Well, you know, I have a lot to learn...I have a lot of work to do but I'm very excited," Sharpe said. Sharpe says he has been preparing to assume the gavel since he was elected to the post four months ago. The swearing in ceremony is scheduled for 1:30 Sunday afternoon.

LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a West Salem man with killing his parents. According to online court records, 40-year-old Eric Koula faces two counts of first-degree intentional homicide and one count of felony forgery. Investigators say Koula went to his parents' town of Barre home May 21 and shot 65-year-old Merna Koula and 68-year-old Dennis Koula. They say money drove him to do it. Probate records show the Koulas left their $500,000 home to their son and daughter.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Dane County's sheriff says the man fatally shot by deputies this week near Stoughton told a friend that he "intended to die." Authorities say 42-year-old William Sorenson was shot by deputies who returned his gunfire outside his garage Wednesday in the town of Dunkirk. Sheriff Dave Mahoney said at a news conference Friday that Sorenson had either texted or phoned a friend while he was in the garage, said he was armed with a shotgun and intended to die. Dane County Coroner Barry Irmen says Sorenson was intoxicated and was shot multiple times. It's the second fatal shooting by Dane County sheriff's deputies in as many weeks. A McFarland man was killed by deputies' gunfire on July 20.

IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (AP) — A man convicted of ambushing a group of teens on the Wisconsin-Michigan border in 2008 and killing three now faces lawsuits from two victims' families. The families of 19-year-old Bryan Mort and 18-year-old Anthony Spigarelli are suing 40-year-old Scott John Johnson. They know he has few assets and will spend the rest of his life in prison but say they don't want him profiting from his story. The lawsuits were filed in Michigan's Dickinson County. Each seeks $5 million. Johnson responded with handwritten notes calling the lawsuits absurd. His mother says her son can't find a lawyer to help him understand the civil lawsuits. Johnson pleaded no contest to firing on the youths at a secluded swimming spot along the Menominee River.

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin officials say a new unofficial survey suggests that nearly four out of five motorists buckle up. That would be an all-time high. The State Patrol's Bureau of Transportation Safety says a statewide survey last year found seatbelt use around 73 percent last year. State Patrol Maj. Dan Lonsdorf says the improvement to 79 percent is encouraging, although the state still ranks below the national average of 84 percent. He credits the improvement to a law last year that allows officers to ticket unbuckled drivers and passengers even if the officer didn't witness another violation. Lonsdorf says young drivers still need to be educated. He says only about 69 percent of drivers ages 16 to 25 buckle up. Women are also more likely than men to use seatbelts.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Swimmers are finding the waters of the Great Lakes milder than usual this year, and scientists worry that may not be a good thing. All five Great Lakes have been at or near record-high temperatures for the 30 years such measurements have been taken. And there's still a month left before the lakes typically hit their warmest levels of the summer. Jay Austin, a physics professor at the Large Lakes Observatory in Duluth, Minn., says the water is warmer because there was little or no ice cover last winter to reflect sunlight. Scientists don't know if it's a blip or the new normal. A more swimmable Lake Superior might be good for tourism, but it might be bad for fishing, wildlife habitat and water levels.