Wisconsin Weekly: controversial doctor. A disputed abuse diagnosis. Two convicted Wisconsin men say they are innocent.

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Disputed diagnosis; employing immigrants; uncertain abortion laws; refinery explosion; Open and Shut

Of note: This week we highlight the latest installment of our investigation into Dr. Barbara Knox, the former University of Wisconsin pediatrician who faced suspension by hospitals in two states after colleagues accused her of bullying. Two Wisconsin men are serving lengthy prison sentences after Knox accused them of inflicting abusive head trauma upon children who died in their care. Both insist they are innocent. In both cases, Knox said the injuries happened within minutes of the child’s collapse, blaming the last person with the child. Police and prosecutors, confident in Knox’s credentials, looked no further. Critics say the diagnosis of abusive head trauma remains an untested hypothesis.

Access to some stories listed in the Wisconsin Weekly roundup may be limited to subscribers of the news organizations that produced them. We urge our readers to consider supporting these important news outlets by subscribing.

Thanks for reading!

Wisconsin Weekly straight to your inbox. Click the image to subscribe.

Dakota Black, then 23, hugs his girlfriend’s son, Brayden Turnbill, at a family gathering in September 2013, one month before the 5-year-old died. Black, the only adult home with Brayden in Sun Prairie, Wis., before the child was found unresponsive, was convicted of first-degree reckless homicide. He is serving a 30-year prison sentence and insists he is innocent. (Courtesy of Tina Judd)

A controversial doctor. A disputed abuse diagnosis. Two convicted Wisconsin men say they are innocent.

Wisconsin Watch — April 30, 2022

Dakota Black and Joshua Gehde are in prison for homicide after former University of Wisconsin Dr. Barbara Knox accused them of inflicting abusive head trauma.

Read more from Wisconsin Watch: Flawed Forensics

Mohammad Ali Afshar, right, and Hedaiatullah Azim participate in an English class on April 14, 2022, at Faith Lutheran Church in Allouez, Wis. Before fleeing the country, both defended the U.S. Embassy in Kabul as part of the Afghanistan military’s special operations, said Mike Ruminski, who has helped Afghan evacuees obtain their driver’s licenses, enroll in English classes and connect with job specialists. (Sarah Kloepping/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

‘They can bring so much’: Despite barriers, Afghan evacuees enrich Wisconsin’s workforce

Wisconsin Watch — May 5, 2022

Wisconsin is in a labor crunch. Evacuees and other immigrants can help — if they can navigate transportation and other obstacles.

Previously from Wisconsin Watch: ‘I don’t know what will happen’: After months at Ft. McCoy Afghan family resettled in separate states

‘This valve had been known to leak’: Documents show Superior oil refinery knew about equipment issues years before 2018 explosion

WPR — May 3, 2022

The blast injured workers and caused a mass evacuation. Investigators found no evidence key equipment had been inspected by the refinery for years.

Ken Hudson, shown at a motion hearing Feb. 27, 2001 in Outagamie County Circuit Court, was on trial on charges that he fatally stabbed Shanna Van Dyn Hoven, 19, Kaukauna, in June 2000. Hudson was convicted, but in several appeals has raised numerous questions about the actions of the police and District Attorney Vince Biskupic. (Dan Powers / USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin)

Two decades after high-profile murder trial, questions remain in the prosecution of Ken Hudson

Wisconsin Watch/WPR — May 4, 2022

A possible Miranda violation, a missing taped ‘confession,’ and an improperly charged girlfriend among the flaws in District Attorney Vince Biskupic’s case.

Attorney General Josh Kaul is seen here at the State Capitol in Madison, Wis. on Jan. 22, 2019. (Emily Hamer/Wisconsin Watch) Emily Hamer / Wisconsin Watch

Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul says he would not assist with enforcing abortion ban

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — May 3, 2022

Attorney General Josh Kaul says he won’t enforce a potential ban on abortion in Wisconsin as one of his GOP opponents signals would be ready to do so. Meanwhile, Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm says law enforcement shouldn’t be thrown into deciding whether to charge doctors who perform abortions.