Regions


Southeast Region

Southeast Region

Wisconsin counties include: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha


Southeast Region

Latest Stories

Robin Vos and speaks to reporters while standing in front of U.S. and Wisconsin flags, with a blurry person in the foreground on the right side of the image.
Robin Vos and speaks to reporters while standing in front of U.S. and Wisconsin flags, with a blurry person in the foreground on the right side of the image.

Budgets

Vos floats removing Milwaukee funding provisions from shared revenue plan

Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos says if a deal not is reached on bill boosting state aid to local governments, he would support removing provisions related to Milwaukee and moving ahead without them.

June 7, 2023

Street signs for N. St. Paul Av. and East Interstate 94 stand at the corner of an intersection of a multi-level highway entrance, with vehicles parked at a lower level and buildings and trees visible at an upper level in the background.
Street signs for N. St. Paul Av. and East Interstate 94 stand at the corner of an intersection of a multi-level highway entrance, with vehicles parked at a lower level and buildings and trees visible at an upper level in the background.

Politics

How would widening Milwaukee’s I-94 affect residents near the highway?

Milwaukeeans discuss potholes, noise pollution and public transit shortcomings as the Wisconsin Department of Transportation advances a $1.2 billion project to widen the I-94 East-West Freeway corridor.

June 5, 2023

Interior and exterior lights on numerous buildings and streetlights along roadways illuminate a dense urban area at dusk under a partly cloudy sky.
Interior and exterior lights on numerous buildings and streetlights along roadways illuminate a dense urban area at dusk under a partly cloudy sky.

Budgets

Milwaukee faces bankruptcy, police cuts if shared revenue plan isn’t approved

Wisconsin state lawmakers are being warned that not reaching a deal on a massive bill increasing state aid to local governments will only increase the chances that Milwaukee runs out of money.

May 23, 2023

A still image from a video shows Tracey Dent in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with a graphic at bottom reading 'Milwaukee,' 'Tracey Dent' and 'Peace for Change Alliance.'
A still image from a video shows Tracey Dent in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with a graphic at bottom reading 'Milwaukee,' 'Tracey Dent' and 'Peace for Change Alliance.'

Politics

Tracey Dent on efforts to stop reckless driving in Milwaukee

Peace for Change Alliance Director Tracey Dent considers the growing problem of reckless drivers taking lives and causing fear on Milwaukee's streets as Wisconsin sets stronger penalties for offenses.

May 19, 2023

Janice Agnew walks along a sidewalk, with houses on one side and a tree-lined street on the other.
Janice Agnew walks along a sidewalk, with houses on one side and a tree-lined street on the other.

Politics

As voting has gotten harder in Wisconsin, organizers have found ways to help

Two different research initiatives have documented the ways it's now more difficult to vote in Wisconsin, from disparities in access to added barriers.

May 15, 2023

Milwaukee, suburbs fight to contain wave of opioid overdoses
Milwaukee, suburbs fight to contain wave of opioid overdoses

Health

Milwaukee, suburbs fight to contain wave of opioid overdoses

First responders, addiction counselors warn the still-expanding crisis of overdose deaths fueled by drugs tainted with fentanyl and xylazine requires testing kits and Narcan to encourage safer use.

May 4, 2023

A parking lot sign for Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. includes arrows and signs pointing toward access for Emergency, Hospital Entrance, Medical Office Bldg. 3, Main Parking Structure, and Receiving needs, with parked cars and trees in the background.
A parking lot sign for Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center of Aurora Health Care Metro, Inc. includes arrows and signs pointing toward access for Emergency, Hospital Entrance, Medical Office Bldg. 3, Main Parking Structure, and Receiving needs, with parked cars and trees in the background.

Health

Whistleblower claims Milwaukee doctor performed unneeded surgeries

A complaint says Aurora St. Luke's physician Dr. Scott Kamelle endangered patients at the hospital — and drove up costs — with extra surgeries and a product not approved for internal use.

May 3, 2023

An eviction notice is taped on a door.
An eviction notice is taped on a door.

Social Issues

What happens to a tenant’s property after an eviction in Milwaukee?

State law and leases determine what landlords in Milwaukee County and around Wisconsin may do with items owned by renters being evicted, with provisions for pets, prescription drugs and medical equipment.

May 1, 2023

Dave Polachowski on firefighter responses to drug overdoses
Dave Polachowski on firefighter responses to drug overdoses

Health

Dave Polachowski on firefighter responses to drug overdoses

Milwaukee Fire Department Captain Dave Polachowski explains how firefighters work to provide assistance and services to people suffering addiction as fentanyl causes opioid overdose deaths to surge.

April 25, 2023

A close-up photo shows the Microsoft logo at an angle.
A close-up photo shows the Microsoft logo at an angle.

Economy

Microsoft agrees to buy $50 million Foxconn parcel in southeastern Wisconsin

Microsoft plans to build a $1 billion data center on the 315-acre parcel in Mount Pleasant, and a company official says the facility could employ 300 to 400 people.

April 20, 2023

Dan Knodl speaks while standing outside the front door of a house, with trees in the background.
Dan Knodl speaks while standing outside the front door of a house, with trees in the background.

Elections

Knodl wins Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District, creating Republican supermajority in chamber

A victory by state Rep. Dan Knodl over Jodi Habush Sinykin in a special election for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District means a Republican supermajority in the chamber could be used to impeach certain office holders.

April 5, 2023

Dan Knodl turns to speak while walking along a road, with houses, trees and lawns to his right.
Dan Knodl turns to speak while walking along a road, with houses, trees and lawns to his right.

Elections

Impeachment power at issue in Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District race

A special election to fill an open Wisconsin Senate seat will determine whether Republicans gain a supermajority that would allow them to impeach state office holders.

April 3, 2023

A graphic shows two side-by-side images of Dan Knodl and Jodi Habush Sinykin walking outside with houses in the background.
A graphic shows two side-by-side images of Dan Knodl and Jodi Habush Sinykin walking outside with houses in the background.

Elections

The stakes in the 2023 race for Wisconsin Senate District 8

Republican Dan Knodl and Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin are vying for a suburban Milwaukee seat in the state senate that will determine whether Republicans will be able to wield impeachment powers.

March 23, 2023

A still image from a video shows Dan Knodl sitting in a room with windows and a U.S. flag in the background, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Dan Knodl' and '(R) Candidate for 8th Senate District.'
A still image from a video shows Dan Knodl sitting in a room with windows and a U.S. flag in the background, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Dan Knodl' and '(R) Candidate for 8th Senate District.'

Elections

Dan Knodl on the Wisconsin Senate and impeachment

Wisconsin Senate District 8 special election candidate Dan Knodl, a Republican, discusses the prospect of retaining a supermajority for the party in the chamber and its powers of impeachment.

March 21, 2023

A still image from a video shows Jodi Habush Sinykin sitting in a room with a fireplace and window in the background, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Jodi Habush Sinykin' and '(D) Candidate for 8th Senate District.'
A still image from a video shows Jodi Habush Sinykin sitting in a room with a fireplace and window in the background, with a graphic at bottom reading 'Jodi Habush Sinykin' and '(D) Candidate for 8th Senate District.'

Elections

Jodi Habush Sinykin on the Wisconsin Senate and impeachment

Wisconsin Senate District 8 special election candidate Jodi Habush Sinykin, a Democrat, discusses the prospect of blocking a Republican supermajority in the chamber and its powers of impeachment.

March 21, 2023

A sandwich board sign with the logo of the city of Mequon and the words Vote Here Tuesday stands on a sidewalk, with a street, trees and buildings in the background.
A sandwich board sign with the logo of the city of Mequon and the words Vote Here Tuesday stands on a sidewalk, with a street, trees and buildings in the background.

Elections

How a shifting electorate is shaping the 2023 race for Wisconsin’s 8th Senate District

Changing partisan preferences among suburban voters is playing a role in the prominence of a special election between Republican candidate Daniel Knodl and Democratic candidate Jodi Habush Sinykin for an open state Senate seat north of Milwaukee.

March 14, 2023

Two side-by-side images show portraits of Dan Knodl and Jodi Habush Sinykin.
Two side-by-side images show portraits of Dan Knodl and Jodi Habush Sinykin.

Elections

Knodl advances in Senate District 8 primary to face Habush Sinykin

State Rep. Dan Knodl defeated two other Republicans in a primary for Wisconsin's 8th Senate District to run against Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin in the April 4 election.

February 21, 2023

A temporary basketball court is set up on the infield of a baseball stadium, with fans in the first two levels of seating and the game displayed on a large screen situated above center field.
A temporary basketball court is set up on the infield of a baseball stadium, with fans in the first two levels of seating and the game displayed on a large screen situated above center field.

Budgets

Evers wants to use budget surplus to give Brewers $290 million for stadium repair

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers says his 2023 executive budget would provide the Milwaukee Brewers $290 million for repairs to its stadium — in exchange for the funds, the team would extend its lease through 2043.

February 14, 2023

Four side-by-side images show portraits of Janel Brandtjen, Dan Knodl, Van Mobley and Jodi Habush Sinykin.
Four side-by-side images show portraits of Janel Brandtjen, Dan Knodl, Van Mobley and Jodi Habush Sinykin.

Elections

Meet the candidates running in the 2023 Wisconsin Senate District 8 special election

Republican candidates Janel Brandtjen, Dan Knodl and Van Mobley are running in the primary to face Democratic candidate Jodi Habush Sinykin for a state Senate seat in the northern suburbs of Milwaukee.

February 7, 2023

Davonta Sellers stands outside next to a wood pillar and in front of a painted concrete block wall with two windows featuring vertical blinds.
Davonta Sellers stands outside next to a wood pillar and in front of a painted concrete block wall with two windows featuring vertical blinds.

Social Issues

Former foster youth seeks stability after facing homelessness in Milwaukee

With help from the nonprofit Pathfinders, a 22-year-old aspiring chef tries to escape a cycle of homelessness that ensnares many who age out of the foster system.

February 6, 2023

A two-story house with two apartment flats has a banner on its second-floor balcony reading Block by Block Amani Training Center with logos of sponsoring organizations.
A two-story house with two apartment flats has a banner on its second-floor balcony reading Block by Block Amani Training Center with logos of sponsoring organizations.

Economy

Labor shortage, outside investors strain affordable housing efforts in Milwaukee

Out-of-state investors are buying up and renting single-family homes and duplexes in the city, while construction businesses are shorthanded on staff.

January 17, 2023

Richard Shaw on another proposed I-94 expansion in Milwaukee
Richard Shaw on another proposed I-94 expansion in Milwaukee

Politics

Richard Shaw on another proposed I-94 expansion in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Inner-city Congregations Allied for Hope President Reverend Dr. Richard Shaw describes why a coalition of groups opposes a plan to expand the number of lanes on Interstate 94 in the city.

January 13, 2023

Lia Knox sits on one of two couches in a room with stone masonry walls, low round tables, an access ramp and a painting on an easel.
Lia Knox sits on one of two couches in a room with stone masonry walls, low round tables, an access ramp and a painting on an easel.

Health

Milwaukee groups seek to destigmatize mental illness in Black communities

As the number of suicides among Milwaukee County's Black residents rises in 2022, health advocates are working to provide resources for people seeking help.

December 21, 2022

An aerial photo shows a river with with multi-story buildings on other side and a skyline of taller buildings in the background.
An aerial photo shows a river with with multi-story buildings on other side and a skyline of taller buildings in the background.

Politics

Milwaukee challenge says 2020 census undercounted Black and Hispanic populations

The 2020 official count recorded Milwaukee as having its lowest population since 1930, and local officials argue that the census undercounted communities of color in the city.

December 21, 2022

More than one dozen people, many clad in religious garments, stand on a stage with two podiums, with a rabbi standing behind one and speaking into a microphone.
More than one dozen people, many clad in religious garments, stand on a stage with two podiums, with a rabbi standing behind one and speaking into a microphone.

Social Issues

Shining a light on the growing problem of antisemitism in Wisconsin

Political conflict, the pandemic and the casual malice prevalent in social media are all factors contributing to the rise in statements and acts of bigotry and hatred toward Jewish communities — groups in Milwaukee and Madison are working to emphasize the extent of this trend around the state.

December 20, 2022

A sign with a relief seal of Milwaukee County and letters spelling Milwaukee County Medical Examiner sit on the side of a brick wall of a building.
A sign with a relief seal of Milwaukee County and letters spelling Milwaukee County Medical Examiner sit on the side of a brick wall of a building.

Health

Unhoused and underserved: Milwaukee sees increase in homeless resident deaths

At least 52 Milwaukee County residents died while experiencing homelessness in 2021 — a significant increase that's likely undercounted, officials say.

December 5, 2022

Angela Lang on the 2022 vote and Wisconsin’s racial politics
Angela Lang on the 2022 vote and Wisconsin’s racial politics

Elections

Angela Lang on the 2022 vote and Wisconsin’s racial politics

Black Leaders Organizing for Communities Executive Director Angela Lang evaluates Wisconsin's midterm election for senator and the roles of racism and political polarization in driving voter turnout.

November 11, 2022

How the Milwaukee metro’s electorate is shifting in 2022
How the Milwaukee metro’s electorate is shifting in 2022

Elections

How the Milwaukee metro’s electorate is shifting in 2022

Changes to prevailing election patterns in Wisconsin's largest metro stand out in 2022 as Democratic and Republican campaigns seek to boost turnout among Black, Hispanic and suburban women voters.

October 25, 2022

A sign reading Día de elecciones and Vote Aquí on two lines and another sign reading Vote with an arrow pointing to the left are taped to a wood door with a tall, narrow window that is propped open, with the entryway leading to a gym with basketball hoops and backboards, a cargo net pulled up to the ceiling, and a series of folding chairs and voting privacy booths at its far end.
A sign reading Día de elecciones and Vote Aquí on two lines and another sign reading Vote with an arrow pointing to the left are taped to a wood door with a tall, narrow window that is propped open, with the entryway leading to a gym with basketball hoops and backboards, a cargo net pulled up to the ceiling, and a series of folding chairs and voting privacy booths at its far end.

Elections

Milwaukee County judge dismisses Republican open records lawsuit over get-out-the-vote campaign

Republicans were seeking records from the Milwaukee Election Commission and mayor's office related to a get-out-the-vote campaign that conservatives said was attempting to bolster turnout in favor of Democrats.

October 11, 2022

A sign reading Vote Here and City of Milwaukee with a U.S. flag graphic and an arrow is placed in front of a masonry and brick building with two sets of double doors.
A sign reading Vote Here and City of Milwaukee with a U.S. flag graphic and an arrow is placed in front of a masonry and brick building with two sets of double doors.

Elections

Wisconsin Republicans file open records lawsuit over ‘Milwaukee Votes 2022’

The Milwaukee lawsuit seeks records related to a get-out-the-vote effort in the city, and is one of several filed by the state Republican Party and a conservative law firm that focus on 2022 campaign issues.

September 28, 2022

A setting sun in a partly cloudy sky shines over the Daniel Hoan Bridge, with a riverside safety railing, sidewalk and lawn in the foreground and buildings in the background.
A setting sun in a partly cloudy sky shines over the Daniel Hoan Bridge, with a riverside safety railing, sidewalk and lawn in the foreground and buildings in the background.

Elections

Milwaukee socialists mark a return to prominence in Wisconsin politics

More than a century after socialists first won elections in the state and several decades since any held office in the state Legislature, unopposed 2022 candidates Ryan Clancy and Darrin Madison Jr. are poised to take seats in the Assembly.

September 27, 2022

Kamala Harris stands in a classroom and speaks to students seated in rows of tables, with banners for UW-Milwaukee and its School of Information Studies in the background.
Kamala Harris stands in a classroom and speaks to students seated in rows of tables, with banners for UW-Milwaukee and its School of Information Studies in the background.

Elections

Kamala Harris talks abortion, appeals to voters in Milwaukee

The vice president met with students and local Latino leaders at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in an attempt to energize two groups that don't always turn out to vote in large numbers.

September 23, 2022

Paru Shah on recent Black voter turnout in Wisconsin
Paru Shah on recent Black voter turnout in Wisconsin

Elections

Paru Shah on recent Black voter turnout in Wisconsin

As the community organizing group BLOC works to mobilize Black voters in southeast Wisconsin, UW-Milwaukee political science professor Paru Shah explains their influence on the state's politics.

September 20, 2022

Black votes matter: BLOC’s organizing in southeast Wisconsin
Black votes matter: BLOC’s organizing in southeast Wisconsin

Elections

Black votes matter: BLOC’s organizing in southeast Wisconsin

In advance of the 2022 midterm elections, a Milwaukee-based community outreach group is expanding its efforts to Racine and Kenosha to engage voters long overlooked by campaigns and politicians.

September 15, 2022

2022 AG candidates spar over expanding prosecution authority
2022 AG candidates spar over expanding prosecution authority

Elections

2022 AG candidates spar over expanding prosecution authority

Republican attorney general candidate Eric Toney seeks to expand the power of the office to prosecute crimes in Milwaukee, while Democratic incumbent Josh Kaul prefers statewide prosecuting authority.

September 9, 2022

Joe Biden speaks behind a podium with the seal of the President of the United States of America and in front of an audience holding signs that read Union Strong, Unions. and USA with U.S. and Wisconsin flags and a banner reading Milwaukee Laborfest in the background.
Joe Biden speaks behind a podium with the seal of the President of the United States of America and in front of an audience holding signs that read Union Strong, Unions. and USA with U.S. and Wisconsin flags and a banner reading Milwaukee Laborfest in the background.

Elections

Biden touts unions, assails ‘Trumpies’ at Labor Day rally in Milwaukee

Labor Day traditionally kicks off political crunch time, with campaigns scrambling to excite voters for Election Day on Nov. 8 — in Milwaukee, President Joe Biden paid tribute to organized labor and criticized those who have taken Trump's "Make America Great Again" campaign cry to dangerous or hateful lengths.

September 5, 2022

An aerial photo shows the shore of a lake with a wall constructed of boulders at the base of a tall bluff covered with vegetation, with a switchback path running from its base to the top in front of buildings and parking lots.
An aerial photo shows the shore of a lake with a wall constructed of boulders at the base of a tall bluff covered with vegetation, with a switchback path running from its base to the top in front of buildings and parking lots.

Environment

Concordia University Wisconsin’s massive seawall frustrates downstream neighbors

Erosion concerns and seawall feuds span the Great Lakes and the globe, and 15 years after it was built, a Mequon university's lakeside fortification has left neighbors bitter.

August 29, 2022

Freda Wright walks on a sidewalk next to a chain-link fence with trees, buildings, street sights and a parked car in the background.
Freda Wright walks on a sidewalk next to a chain-link fence with trees, buildings, street sights and a parked car in the background.

Health

As Midwest summers get hotter, Milwaukee’s most at risk have an unmet need: air conditioning

Wisconsin's primary energy aid program focuses mostly on winter heating, leaving few summer cooling options, but a neighborhood community group in the state's largest city is stepping up.

August 24, 2022

Valerie Langston sits in a gymnasium in front of closed retractable wooden bleachers, with another person holding a campaign sign in the foreground.
Valerie Langston sits in a gymnasium in front of closed retractable wooden bleachers, with another person holding a campaign sign in the foreground.

Elections

Democratic candidates rally around abortion — are they reaching Black voters?

Democratic hopefuls in Wisconsin see abortion as the issue that will carry them to election wins in November, but efforts to reach Black voters on the topic are sparse, with several organizing groups saying it's a complicated issue.

August 9, 2022

Claire Woodall-Vogg on voters and the 2022 partisan primary
Claire Woodall-Vogg on voters and the 2022 partisan primary

Elections

Claire Woodall-Vogg on voters and the 2022 partisan primary

City of Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall-Vogg details how local clerks are preparing for Wisconsin's 2022 partisan primary, offering absentee ballot and in-person voting guidance, testing equipment and handling threats.

August 5, 2022

Local clerks test machines to bolster confidence in election
Local clerks test machines to bolster confidence in election

Elections

Local clerks test machines to bolster confidence in election

Municipal clerks publicly test voting machines in advance of the 2022 partisan primary to show they are properly counting ballots and to address concerns of election fraud — West Bend city clerk Lizbet Santana demonstrates the process.

August 5, 2022

Skyscrapers and other buildings line the east and west shores of the Milwaukee River as it flows through the city's downtown.
Skyscrapers and other buildings line the east and west shores of the Milwaukee River as it flows through the city's downtown.

Elections

Republicans pick Milwaukee to host 2024 national convention

The decision, announced at the Republican National Committee's summer meeting on Aug. 5 in Chicago, follows months of wrangling by Wisconsin and Tennessee to land the convention where the party's next presidential candidate will be officially nominated.

August 5, 2022

Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Milwaukee and the 2024 RNC
Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Milwaukee and the 2024 RNC

Politics

Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Milwaukee and the 2024 RNC

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses expectations the city will be selected to host the 2024 Republican National Convention and what it means after the 2020 DNC was disrupted by the pandemic.

July 22, 2022

The glass facade of the Fiserv Forum overlooks an empty streetscape with buildings and trees in the background.
The glass facade of the Fiserv Forum overlooks an empty streetscape with buildings and trees in the background.

Politics

Milwaukee gets recommendation to host 2024 Republican convention

The Republican National Committee still needs to approve Wisconsin's largest city as the location for its 2024 presidential convention at an Aug. 2-5 meeting in Chicago. Nashville could still be selected, but that city's chances hit a roadblock when opposition led proponents to withdraw a proposed agreement about how to host the event.

July 15, 2022

Chrystul Kizer stands in front of an open front passenger door of a car.
Chrystul Kizer stands in front of an open front passenger door of a car.

Social Issues

Wisconsin Supreme Court permits immunity defense in alleged sex trafficker’s death

Prosecutors allege Chrystul Kizer shot Randall Volar at his Kenosha home in 2018 when she was 17. She contends Volar was trafficking her for sex and wants to argue that she's immune from prosecution under a state law that absolves trafficking victims of any offenses resulting from being trafficked.

July 6, 2022

An eviction notice is posted on a door.
An eviction notice is posted on a door.

Social Issues

A legacy of past choices: Milwaukee’s housing crisis explained

Milwaukee's homeownership gap, housing shortage, and burdensome level of evictions all flow from the city's past policy decisions, local housing experts say.

June 14, 2022

A sculpture depicts a sleeping person wrapped in a blanket laying on a wood park bench.
A sculpture depicts a sleeping person wrapped in a blanket laying on a wood park bench.

Policy

‘Housing First’ cut homelessness in Milwaukee — can it work across Wisconsin?

As the state faces an affordable housing shortage, Gov. Tony Evers has designated $200 million in federal funds toward addressing homelessness and related issues.

June 8, 2022

A crop of a map shows municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin color-coded to reflect their inclusion or exclusion from the 5th Congressional District following the 2022 redistricting.
A crop of a map shows municipalities in southeastern Wisconsin color-coded to reflect their inclusion or exclusion from the 5th Congressional District following the 2022 redistricting.

Politics

The Fitzgerald brothers once again both reside in the 5th Congressional District after a decade apart

Jeff Fitzgerald, a Republican lawmaker who held office in the Wisconsin Assembly from 2001 to 2013 and served as Speaker for one session, lives in Horicon — following court battles, the municipality was redistricted into the 5th Congressional District, represented by his brother Scott Fitzgerald, also a Republican.

May 24, 2022

Gun violence in Milwaukee is ‘out of control’
Gun violence in Milwaukee is ‘out of control’

Politics

Gun violence in Milwaukee is ‘out of control’

State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, reflects on the May 13 shootings by the Deer District, the politics of guns and criminal justice, and how the trauma of violence harms the city and its people.

May 20, 2022

Cavalier Johnson stands behind a podium mounted with multiple news microphones, with police officers and other individuals standing on each side, with an intersection and buildings in the background.
Cavalier Johnson stands behind a podium mounted with multiple news microphones, with police officers and other individuals standing on each side, with an intersection and buildings in the background.

Social Issues

Three shootings, one mass shooting in Milwaukee following Bucks game

Twenty-one people were injured in a series of shootings around the Deer District following a Milwaukee Bucks playoff game on May 13 — the city subsequently set a curfew for people under the age of 21 for the rest of the weekend, and police announced they had taken at least 10 people into custody.

May 14, 2022

Republicans anticipate the end of Roe v. Wade
Republicans anticipate the end of Roe v. Wade

Politics

Republicans anticipate the end of Roe v. Wade

State Rep. Barbara Dittrich, R-Oconomowoc, discusses abortion law and policies Wisconsin's Republican lawmakers may be considering in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade.

May 13, 2022

A contractor wearing a safety helmet carries plywood in the hallway of a house while approaching a drop-down ladder extending from an attic entrance.
A contractor wearing a safety helmet carries plywood in the hallway of a house while approaching a drop-down ladder extending from an attic entrance.

Economy

Home retrofits are a burgeoning business in the campaign against climate change

Entrepreneurs and government programs in Wisconsin are connecting with homeowners to improve the energy efficiency of buildings and reduce carbon emissions – in Milwaukee, this work connects with efforts to improve community equity.

May 10, 2022

A crop of a map shows municipalities in Walworth County and adjacent counties color-coded to reflect their inclusion or exclusion from the 1st Congressional District following the 2022 redistricting.
A crop of a map shows municipalities in Walworth County and adjacent counties color-coded to reflect their inclusion or exclusion from the 1st Congressional District following the 2022 redistricting.

Elections

Democrats’ sole redistricting victory: Paul Ryan’s old congressional district in southeastern Wisconsin

The state Supreme Court chose the governor's congressional maps, which might make the 1st District competitive.

May 4, 2022

Fixing Wisconsin’s criminal court case backlog
Fixing Wisconsin’s criminal court case backlog

Politics

Fixing Wisconsin’s criminal court case backlog

Chief Judge Mary Triggiano, who administers Milwaukee County circuit courts, describes how the pandemic created a backlog of criminal cases and how federal aid is being deployed to address the issue.

April 29, 2022

The dissonance of another rise in COVID-19 cases
The dissonance of another rise in COVID-19 cases

Coronavirus

The dissonance of another rise in COVID-19 cases

Kirsten Johnson, commissioner of health for the city of Milwaukee, discusses growing COVID-19 case rates more than two years after the pandemic started and what can still be done to protect people.

April 29, 2022

Moore, Steil discuss housing inequities in Milwaukee
Moore, Steil discuss housing inequities in Milwaukee

Economy

Moore, Steil discuss housing inequities in Milwaukee

Wisconsin U.S. Representatives Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, and Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, met with the chair of the U.S. House Select Committee in Milwaukee to discuss housing inequities.

April 15, 2022

Cavalier Johnson’s agenda for Milwaukee
Cavalier Johnson’s agenda for Milwaukee

Politics

Cavalier Johnson’s agenda for Milwaukee

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses his plans after being elected to the position, including building a new relationship with the Wisconsin Legislature and addressing violent crime in the city.

April 8, 2022

What a ‘new day’ looks like in Milwaukee
What a ‘new day’ looks like in Milwaukee

Politics

What a ‘new day’ looks like in Milwaukee

Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, considers the historic vote for the first elected Black mayor of Milwaukee and what the city's needs are going forward.

April 8, 2022

Milwaukee mayoral candidates talk crime, schools and jobs
Milwaukee mayoral candidates talk crime, schools and jobs

Elections

Milwaukee mayoral candidates talk crime, schools and jobs

The two candidates for mayor of Milwaukee – former Alder Bob Donovan and Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson – share their positions on a variety of issues, including rising crime and violence, police officers in schools, racial disparities in employment and plans for job development in an excerpt from a forum hosted by Milwaukee PBS and its media partners in advance of the April 2022 election.

April 1, 2022

Fast Facts: Replacing Wisconsin’s juvenile detention centers
Fast Facts: Replacing Wisconsin’s juvenile detention centers

Policy

Fast Facts: Replacing Wisconsin’s juvenile detention centers

The city of Milwaukee is slated to be the site of a new state juvenile correctional facility, replacing the Lincoln Hills and Copper Lake institutions in north-central Wisconsin. The legislative path toward this replacement plan took years, though, interrupted by the pandemic and enmeshed in politics even amid bipartisan support. Here's a summary of how it happened.

March 30, 2022

Fentanyl test strips get decriminalized in Wisconsin
Fentanyl test strips get decriminalized in Wisconsin

Health

Fentanyl test strips get decriminalized in Wisconsin

Immediately after the state of Wisconsin decriminalized an inexpensive drug testing technology, the city of Milwaukee started dispensing this harm reduction tool as overdose deaths hit record levels.

March 25, 2022

A phone is mounted on a cinder-block wall inside a room in a jail.
A phone is mounted on a cinder-block wall inside a room in a jail.

Policy

Free calls plan for people incarcerated in Milwaukee County jails hits a snag

'It has been set back years now': The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors has been considering a proposal that would cover a certain level of phone costs for jail inmates, but a delay intended to examine budget impacts is frustrating advocates who object that per-minute fees hurt families.

March 14, 2022

Banning no-knock warrants in Milwaukee
Banning no-knock warrants in Milwaukee

Policy

Banning no-knock warrants in Milwaukee

Ed Fallone, chair of the Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission and a law professor at Marquette University, discusses the city's ban on no-knock warrants and the impacts of this decision so far.

March 11, 2022

Julie Valadez stands in front of a building with the sign Waukesha County Courthouse.
Julie Valadez stands in front of a building with the sign Waukesha County Courthouse.

Social Issues

She said her husband was abusive. A judge took away her kids and ordered her arrest.

The judge in Julie Valadez's custody case found her disruptive, questioned her credibility and put out a warrant for her arrest. A rare appellate victory is now giving her case a fresh look, but Valadez still is fighting for her four children.

March 10, 2022

A island with a dirt surface is surrounded by calm waters, with a bridge, cityscape and more water in the background.
A island with a dirt surface is surrounded by calm waters, with a bridge, cityscape and more water in the background.

Policy

Speeding cleanup of pollution at ‘Areas of Concern’ on Wisconsin’s waterways

One target of the 2021 federal infrastructure package is a decades-long effort to remediate industrial contamination in five locations in the state where rivers and estuaries flow into the Great Lakes — conservationists are hopeful the funding will accelerate this restoration process.

March 8, 2022

A sign in a parking lot reads Road Test Parking Only.
A sign in a parking lot reads Road Test Parking Only.

Social Issues

Milwaukee eyes driver education to combat reckless driving crisis

Thousands of Milwaukee Public Schools students get low-cost instruction: "Our goal is to reach as many students as we can to give them the tools to be a safe driver."

March 2, 2022

Finding more teachers for Wisconsin students
Finding more teachers for Wisconsin students

Policy

Finding more teachers for Wisconsin students

State Sen. LaTonya Johnson, D-Milwaukee, discusses a slate of bills before the state Legislature that seek to address the state's teacher shortage through improving pay and benefits.

February 25, 2022

Noon Wednesday: Voting for a new Milwaukee mayor
Noon Wednesday: Voting for a new Milwaukee mayor

Elections

Noon Wednesday: Voting for a new Milwaukee mayor

Milwaukee voters are going to choose a new mayor for the first time in nearly two decades. Following the Feb. 15, 2022 primary, one candidate moved forward after assembling a nascent multiracial coalition, while another rallied the city's conservative voters. John D. Johnson, a research fellow at Marquette Law School, and Wisconsin Public Radio reporter Christine Hatfield discuss the election.

February 16, 2022

Two side-by-side portraits of Cavalier Johnson and Bob Donovan
Two side-by-side portraits of Cavalier Johnson and Bob Donovan

Elections

Milwaukee mayoral primary voters select Johnson, Donovan to face off

A field of seven candidates of Wisconsin's largest city was narrowed to two in a low-turnout vote, with the acting mayor and a former alder moving on to the spring election on April 5.

February 16, 2022

Impacts of fraud on prenatal health programs
Impacts of fraud on prenatal health programs

Health

Impacts of fraud on prenatal health programs

Bria Grant, executive director of UniteWI and a community health advocate in Milwaukee, describes how Medicaid fraud hurts prenatal care programs that focus on Black infant and maternal mortality.

February 11, 2022

A struggle to slow down violence in Milwaukee
A struggle to slow down violence in Milwaukee

Social Issues

A struggle to slow down violence in Milwaukee

Jamaal Smith, a manager in the Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention, discusses the city's challenges following two consecutive years of record homicides and describes efforts to stop the killing.

February 4, 2022

Vice President Harris visits Milwaukee
Vice President Harris visits Milwaukee

Politics

Vice President Harris visits Milwaukee

Vice President Kamala Harris visited Milwaukee to promote the Biden administration's plans to remove lead pipes connecting the city's water system to buildings.

January 28, 2022

The top floors and spires of Milwaukee City Hall contrast with a cloudless, blue sky.
The top floors and spires of Milwaukee City Hall contrast with a cloudless, blue sky.

Elections

Meet the 7 candidates running in Milwaukee’s 2022 mayoral primary

Marina Dimitrijevic, Bob Donovan, Ieshuh Griffin, Cavalier Johnson, Earnell Lucas, Michael Sampson and Lena Taylor are squaring off in the Feb. 15 primary to run in the spring 2022 election for mayor of Milwaukee.

January 27, 2022

Darrell E. Brooks, seen through as glass window pane, sits in a courtroom while wearing a medical mask.
Darrell E. Brooks, seen through as glass window pane, sits in a courtroom while wearing a medical mask.

Policy

Wisconsin debates cash bail changes in wake of Waukesha parade tragedy — as some states ditch system entirely

Somewhat lost in a revived debate involving the rights of the accused and protecting the public: Wisconsin's cash bail system wasn't created to protect public safety.

January 18, 2022

An adult and child walk on an icy sidewalk toward doors covered by an entrance tent, with a sign at right noting the location of COVID-19 testing.
An adult and child walk on an icy sidewalk toward doors covered by an entrance tent, with a sign at right noting the location of COVID-19 testing.

Coronavirus

Milwaukee, Madison health officials roll out response to omicron wave

In a pair of news conferences, the health departments for Wisconsin's two largest counties by population shared how they're deploying increased testing availability, higher-quality masks and vaccination clinics to fight the surging omicron variant of COVID-19.

January 11, 2022

Some schools remain closed after break as covid cases rise
Some schools remain closed after break as covid cases rise

Education

Some schools remain closed after break as covid cases rise

Multiple large school districts in Wisconsin, including the Madison and Milwaukee districts, temporarily moved back to virtual instruction after winter break due to record spread of COVID-19 and staffing shortages.

January 7, 2022

Four students wearing masks sit at a table and look at textbooks and write in notebooks.
Four students wearing masks sit at a table and look at textbooks and write in notebooks.

Education

MATC broadens access for students amid Milwaukee’s inequities, dropping enrollment

Milwaukee Area Technical College offers free tuition, debt forgiveness, early credit to make college cheaper and more available to a diverse student population.

December 20, 2021

The First Lady visits Waukesha following its parade tragedy
The First Lady visits Waukesha following its parade tragedy

Politics

The First Lady visits Waukesha following its parade tragedy

First Lady of the United States Dr. Jill Biden traveled to Wisconsin to visit with community members in Waukesha as they try to recover after the vehicle attack on its Christmas parade.

December 17, 2021

Noon Wednesday: What does healing Kenosha mean?
Noon Wednesday: What does healing Kenosha mean?

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: What does healing Kenosha mean?

After two shootings pushed Kenosha into the national spotlight for more than a year, will the people who live there find a chance to heal? James Hall, interim president of the Urban League of Racine and Kenosha, shares his perspective on healing and what he sees for the community moving forward.

December 15, 2021

A health care worker attends to an intubated COVID-19 patient in an ICU room as seen through it's glass door.
A health care worker attends to an intubated COVID-19 patient in an ICU room as seen through it's glass door.

Coronavirus

Wisconsin’s Covid Condition: State moves to help struggling hospitals, Milwaukee numbers reflect vaccination gaps

A months-long surge in COVID-19 patients is making for minimal hospital capacity across the state, prompting Gov. Tony Evers to request help from FEMA, while pandemic conditions in southeast Wisconsin underscore the protective power of vaccines.

December 10, 2021

The shared trauma of Waukesha
The shared trauma of Waukesha

Social Issues

The shared trauma of Waukesha

Scott Webb, trauma-informed care coordinator with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, discusses how people may be experiencing difficulties handling the tragedy in Waukesha and what they can do to cope.

November 26, 2021

Charges filed following Waukesha tragedy
Charges filed following Waukesha tragedy

Social Issues

Charges filed following Waukesha tragedy

Local officials have arrested and filed charges for a person who is accused of deliberately running over people at the Waukesha Christmas parade, killing at least six and wounding dozens more.

November 26, 2021

A bouquet of flowers is attached to a metal poll on a sidewalk with cars driving down the adjacent road.
A bouquet of flowers is attached to a metal poll on a sidewalk with cars driving down the adjacent road.

Social Issues

Waukesha endures heartache, requires healing from parade tragedy

City authorities announced that criminal charges are being filed in response to the vehicular attack on a Christmas parade on Nov. 21 that has left at least 6 people dead and dozens injured, as community members impacted by the senseless act try to overcome their feelings of fear and shock.

November 23, 2021

A blurry red SUV drives down a street with onlookers watching from the sidewalk.
A blurry red SUV drives down a street with onlookers watching from the sidewalk.

Social Issues

Local and state leaders share responses to Waukesha parade incident, with dozens injured and at least 5 killed

After an SUV drove through a Christmas parade in the city of Waukesha, city officials, the Milwaukee Archdiocese and Gov. Tony Evers shared updates and their support and sympathy for the community and those affected by the tragedy.

November 21, 2021

What’s next after the Rittenhouse trial?
What’s next after the Rittenhouse trial?

Social Issues

What’s next after the Rittenhouse trial?

Milwaukee-based activist Angela Lang, executive director of Black Leaders Organizing for Communities, considers lessons from the Kyle Rittenhouse trial as jurors issue a not-guilty verdict in Kenosha.

November 19, 2021

Kyle Rittenhouse stands in a courtroom with observers seated in the background.
Kyle Rittenhouse stands in a courtroom with observers seated in the background.

Social Issues

Jury finds Rittenhouse not guilty, courthouse crowds respond to outcome

After nearly a week of deliberations and a bustling scene of demonstrations outside the courthouse, Kenosha County jurors acquitted the Illinois teenager on all counts, finding that his shooting of three men during unrest in August 2020 was in self-defense.

November 19, 2021

Kenosha braces for the Rittenhouse verdict
Kenosha braces for the Rittenhouse verdict

Social Issues

Kenosha braces for the Rittenhouse verdict

PBS Wisconsin reporter Will Kenneally describes anticipation for the end of the Kyle Rittenhouse trial and how the community of Kenosha is preparing for a verdict.

November 12, 2021

A wooden staircase stands alone on a sandy beach in the foreground with a house and wooded shoreline in the background.
A wooden staircase stands alone on a sandy beach in the foreground with a house and wooded shoreline in the background.

Environment

As Lake Michigan’s Shoreline Vanishes, Wisconsinites Fight Waves With Walls

Wisconsin sees a surge in barriers to slow lakefront erosion, but such structures are temporary and may harm downstream beaches.

November 9, 2021

The Rittenhouse Trial Starts in Kenosha
The Rittenhouse Trial Starts in Kenosha

Social Issues

The Rittenhouse Trial Starts in Kenosha

Wisconsin Public Radio reporter Corri Hess recounts the first week of the trial of Kyle Rittenhouse, who is claiming self-defense in two counts of murder and other charges in Kenosha County court.

November 5, 2021

Mequon-Thiensville School Board Recall Results
Mequon-Thiensville School Board Recall Results

Elections

Mequon-Thiensville School Board Recall Results

All four incumbents on the Mequon-Thiensville school board facing a contentious recall attempt won in elections against challengers connected to Wisconsin Republicans.

November 5, 2021

School board members sit at tables arranged in a semi-circle in front of seated audience members and a cart holding audio-visual equipment.
School board members sit at tables arranged in a semi-circle in front of seated audience members and a cart holding audio-visual equipment.

Elections

Mequon-Thiensville School Board Members Retain Seats in Contentious Recall Vote

While Republicans made gains in partisan statewide races in an off-year election at the national level, a GOP-connected recall campaign failed in an effort to replace four school board members in a suburban Milwaukee district, with each incumbent winning by double-digit margins.

November 3, 2021

Pandemic Politics in an Ozaukee County School Board Recall
Pandemic Politics in an Ozaukee County School Board Recall

Education

Pandemic Politics in an Ozaukee County School Board Recall

Reporter Will Kenneally examines how national partisan conflict over responding to COVID-19 and other issues is igniting at the local level, as a Republican-aligned campaign in suburban Milwaukee seeks to replace four members of the Mequon-Thiensville Board of Education.

October 29, 2021

Noon Wednesday: Milwaukee’s Historic Violence During the Pandemic
Noon Wednesday: Milwaukee’s Historic Violence During the Pandemic

Health

Noon Wednesday: Milwaukee’s Historic Violence During the Pandemic

Most large cities across the country have seen a rise in homicides and other violent crimes during the pandemic, and this trend is particularly acute in Milwaukee as its murder rate reaches a historic level in 2021. Jamaal Smith and Kweku TeAngelo Cargile Jr. from the city's Office of Violence Prevention discuss their work to interrupt and impede violent behaviors.

October 13, 2021

Helping Wisconsin Felons Who Seek Pardons
Helping Wisconsin Felons Who Seek Pardons

WisContext

Helping Wisconsin Felons Who Seek Pardons

Megan Morrisey, coordinator of the Expungement/Pardon Clinic, a program of Marquette University Law School and Milwaukee Bar Association, discusses growing interest in its legal services as eligibility for pardons and expungements of criminal records expands in Wisconsin and the process is expedited for applicants to bypass the Pardon Advisory Board and appeal directly to the governor.

October 4, 2021

First Lady Jill Biden Visits Milwaukee School
First Lady Jill Biden Visits Milwaukee School

Education

First Lady Jill Biden Visits Milwaukee School

First Lady Jill Biden visited a Milwaukee elementary school to learn about in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.

September 17, 2021

Nazir Al-Mujaahid fills a water bottle from a water system as seen in a mirror above a kitchen sink.
Nazir Al-Mujaahid fills a water bottle from a water system as seen in a mirror above a kitchen sink.

Health

‘It’s Criminal’: Milwaukeeans Call for Speedier Lead Pipeline Removal to Cut Childhood Poisoning

Wisconsin home lead investigations rarely test water amid focus on paint, while replacing all lead service lines in Milwaukee would take 70 years at the current pace.

September 9, 2021

One Year Since the Blake Shooting in Kenosha
One Year Since the Blake Shooting in Kenosha

Social Issues

One Year Since the Blake Shooting in Kenosha

Reporter Will Kenneally talks to Kenosha residents about the past year and their hopes for the future as this week marked one year since the Jacob Blake shooting.

August 27, 2021

A Wisconsin Tribute to Negro Leagues Baseball
A Wisconsin Tribute to Negro Leagues Baseball

Social Issues

A Wisconsin Tribute to Negro Leagues Baseball

Special projects reporter Murv Seymour goes to the ballpark to explore a tribute to the Negro Leagues and their deep ties to Wisconsin as the Madison Mallards collegiate team took the field in unique uniforms evoking a special era of baseball.

August 6, 2021

Paul Burke sits at a raised judge's bench and speaks in an eviction proceeding
Paul Burke sits at a raised judge's bench and speaks in an eviction proceeding

Social Issues

Evictions in Wisconsin Dipped During a Federal Moratorium — What’s Next for Renters and Landlords?

Here & Now extra: A nationwide halt on evicting tenants during the pandemic simultaneously slowed down and uncovered deeper fissures in a housing crisis faced by lower-income renters.

August 3, 2021

Madison Area Technical College sign on stone wall with blue sky and clouds in background
Madison Area Technical College sign on stone wall with blue sky and clouds in background

Education

Technical Colleges in Madison, Milwaukee Deploy Aid to Erase Debt, Boost Enrollment

About $10 million in federal assistance is being deployed to help upwards of 13,000 students at two Wisconsin technical colleges cover unpaid tuition, fees and fines to be able to reenroll in classes.

August 2, 2021

House in Milwaukee with boarded windows
House in Milwaukee with boarded windows

Economy

Milwaukee’s Pandemic Aid Plan Seeks to Address Persistent Urban Woes

City leaders are proposing priorities for spending a historic infusion of federal support that they hope will improve racial equity in Wisconsin's largest and most diverse city.

July 27, 2021

Pandemic Recovery Funding in Milwaukee
Pandemic Recovery Funding in Milwaukee

Economy

Pandemic Recovery Funding in Milwaukee

PBS Wisconsin reporter Will Kenneally examines additional funding for Milwaukee in the American Rescue Plan and how that aid will be implemented in the coming years.

July 23, 2021

How the 2021 Bucks Championship Boosts Milwaukee’s Economy
How the 2021 Bucks Championship Boosts Milwaukee’s Economy

Economy

How the 2021 Bucks Championship Boosts Milwaukee’s Economy

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley reacts to the Milwaukee Bucks' NBA Championship and how the team and its home at the Fiserv Forum in the city's downtown are boosting the local economy.

July 23, 2021

A For Rent sign in front the porch and entrance to a house
A For Rent sign in front the porch and entrance to a house

Economy

Long Waits for Federal Rental Aid Leave Milwaukee-Area Residents Fearing Eviction

Some renters say they waited months to find out whether they qualified for thousands of dollars in emergency help to pay past-due rent. Some are still waiting.

July 16, 2021

Underwater photo of divers looking down at a shipwreck
Underwater photo of divers looking down at a shipwreck

Policy

How the Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast Emerged From a Sharp Political Squall

A National Marine Sanctuary established off the shores of Lake Michigan to protect and promote dozens of sites where historic sunken ships sit at the bottom followed a years-long saga of local disputes and whiplash in support at the state and federal levels.

July 13, 2021

First Responders for Mental Health Incidents
First Responders for Mental Health Incidents

Health

First Responders for Mental Health Incidents

Milwaukee Common Council Alder Chantia Lewis explains an effort to change first responder policy by sending unarmed specialists instead of police for incidents involving mental health issues.

July 9, 2021

A Federal Proposal to Replace Lead Pipes
A Federal Proposal to Replace Lead Pipes

Health

A Federal Proposal to Replace Lead Pipes

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, speaks to federal infrastructure proposals and potential funding to replace lead pipes connecting to many homes in Wisconsin's largest city.

July 2, 2021

ralliers
ralliers

Social Issues

March from Milwaukee to Madison Draws Attention to Immigrant Rights

Voces de la Frontera is leading a walk across Wisconsin for access to driver licenses and citizenship for migrant workers.

June 22, 2021

A digital traffic sign over a highway reads Slow Your Roll.
A digital traffic sign over a highway reads Slow Your Roll.

WisContext

Where Traffic Deaths Surged In Wisconsin During the Pandemic

State transportation data from 2020 shows that even while traffic volume fell, crash fatalities spiked as more drivers engaged in speeding and reckless driving, particularly in Milwaukee.

June 17, 2021

Front entrances of houses along street with lawns and trees in the front yards.
Front entrances of houses along street with lawns and trees in the front yards.

Economy

Homeownership Gap for People of Color in Wisconsin Is Wide — Communities, Nonprofits Try to Close It

Historical redlining, racial covenants and modern-day barriers including lower incomes keep most residents of color in Wisconsin from owning homes.

June 14, 2021

Southern Wisconsin’s Deepening Drought
Southern Wisconsin’s Deepening Drought

Agriculture

Southern Wisconsin’s Deepening Drought

UW-Madison agronomy and environmental studies professor Chris Kucharik details how limited rain and hot weather are contributing to drought conditions across southern Wisconsin.

June 11, 2021

An illustration with two figures from the Wisconsin coat of arms leaning on a shield with a button reading COVID-19 vaccinated.
An illustration with two figures from the Wisconsin coat of arms leaning on a shield with a button reading COVID-19 vaccinated.

WisContext

The Peculiar Divergence In COVID Vaccinations Around Milwaukee’s Republican Hinterland

A link between partisan politics and coronavirus vaccinations at the national level has become increasingly recognized, but a slew of additional factors are playing a role in Wisconsin's largest metro area.

June 10, 2021

Noon Wednesday: Police Reform or Return to Status Quo?
Noon Wednesday: Police Reform or Return to Status Quo?

Policy

Noon Wednesday: Police Reform or Return to Status Quo?

After a year of protests demanding reforms to policing, where does Wisconsin’s largest city stand with its own moves toward bettering law enforcement practices? A new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum details strides being made in a national context. Wisconsin Policy Forum president and an author of the report Rob Henken joins to discuss progress and pitfalls of police reform.

June 9, 2021

Cracks in dry soil on footpath surrounded by green grass and weeds
Cracks in dry soil on footpath surrounded by green grass and weeds

WisContext

A Wet Decade Shifts To Drought In Southern Wisconsin

Following the state's wettest decade on record, lower-than-normal precipitation in the spring of 2021 is leading drought conditions to emerge in agricultural areas reliant on steady rains.

June 7, 2021

Park bench overlooking lakeshore and eroding sand beach with exposed roots
Park bench overlooking lakeshore and eroding sand beach with exposed roots

Social Issues

Ancient Human Remains Unearthed at Proposed Kohler Golf Course Site

The rapidly eroding Lake Michigan shoreline is raising questions about the future of the controversial project adjacent to Kohler-Andrae State Park.

May 24, 2021

Milwaukee Pharmacist Aids in Pandemic Vaccinations
Milwaukee Pharmacist Aids in Pandemic Vaccinations

Coronavirus

Milwaukee Pharmacist Aids in Pandemic Vaccinations

"Here & Now" special projects reporter Murv Seymour covers how local Milwaukee pharmacist Lauren Chars has gone from filling pharmacy prescriptions to aiding in enhanced services to help with the pandemic.

May 14, 2021

Components of computer server motherboard
Components of computer server motherboard

Economy

Foxconn Plans to Make ‘Digital Infrastructure Hardware’ in Wisconsin — What’s That?

Here & Now Extra: Under its revised tax incentives contract with the state, the global electronics giant proposes to manufacture products essential to conducting business and living life in "the cloud."

May 10, 2021

The New Agreement with Foxconn
The New Agreement with Foxconn

Economy

The New Agreement with Foxconn

Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation Secretary and CEO Missy Hughes discusses the state’s new agreement with Foxconn to offer tax credits for developing manufacturing and technology jobs.

April 30, 2021

Profile portait of Jared Cain
Profile portait of Jared Cain

Social Issues

In Wake of Wisconsin’s Racial Justice Protests, Curfew Tickets Raise Equity and Speech Questions

In Milwaukee, Black residents accounted for about two-thirds of curfew citations. Kenosha and Wauwatosa defend curfew arrests in federal court.

April 26, 2021

Milwaukee Residents Respond to Derek Chauvin Verdict
Milwaukee Residents Respond to Derek Chauvin Verdict

Social Issues

Milwaukee Residents Respond to Derek Chauvin Verdict

"Here & Now" reporters Will Kenneally and Murv Seymour report from Milwaukee moments after people peacefully took to the streets with joy following the Derek Chauvin verdicts.

April 23, 2021

Front entrance doors and facade of Foxconn factory building in Mount Pleasant
Front entrance doors and facade of Foxconn factory building in Mount Pleasant

Economy

How Much Smaller is the New Contract Between Wisconsin and Foxconn?

The state's economic development agency has announced a new tax incentive package with the Taiwan-based tech giant that is an order of magnitude smaller than the original signed in 2017.

April 21, 2021

Expanding Vaccine Access for Hispanic Wisconsinites
Expanding Vaccine Access for Hispanic Wisconsinites

Coronavirus

Expanding Vaccine Access for Hispanic Wisconsinites

Racine County Supervisor Fabi Maldonado explains the need for distributing more coronavirus vaccines among Hispanic residents in southeast Wisconsin.

March 26, 2021

Noon Wednesday: Equitably Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine
Noon Wednesday: Equitably Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine

Coronavirus

Noon Wednesday: Equitably Distributing the COVID-19 Vaccine

Despite an early intentional focus of equity in distributing the COVID-19 vaccine, there are daily challenges health officials face toward this goal. Dr. Zeno Franco, associate professor of Family and Community Medicine at the Medical College of Wisconsin, joins us to talk about what this looks like on the ground.

February 24, 2021

Noon Wednesday: A Town Torn by Racism
Noon Wednesday: A Town Torn by Racism

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: A Town Torn by Racism

Over the last year, the Burlington community has had to reckon with racial discrimination and equity, and the debate has divided many in the community. Darnisha Garbade, president of the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism, talks about her push to bring acts of prejudice to light.

February 10, 2021

Equity in Milwaukee
Equity in Milwaukee

Social Issues

Equity in Milwaukee

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley discusses ways to bolster equity in the state’s largest county, and how a new presidential administration may help those goals.

January 22, 2021

Noon Wednesday: No Charges in Shooting of Jacob Blake
Noon Wednesday: No Charges in Shooting of Jacob Blake

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: No Charges in Shooting of Jacob Blake

In the aftermath of news that no cimrinal charges will be brought against the Kenosha police officer responsible for shooting Jacob Blake, we speak with Tanya McLean, executive director of Leaders of Kenosha, about reactions and what comes next for Blake and Kenosha.

January 6, 2021

Donald Trump
Donald Trump

Here and Now 2020

Trump Rallies in Kenosha on Eve of Election

The president cast aspersions on the results of absentee ballots and said that bad things can happen "in the streets" with an angry population that questions the results.

November 2, 2020

Trump sign
Trump sign

Here and Now 2020

Trump Rallies in Waukesha 10 Days Out from Election

The president promised a big win in Wisconsin, continued economic prosperity during a second term.

October 24, 2020

The Latino Vote in Milwaukee
The Latino Vote in Milwaukee

Politics

The Latino Vote in Milwaukee

Patricia Gomez of Milwaukee PBS talks with members of the Latino community about the issues and preferences in the race for President.

October 23, 2020

Mike Pence
Mike Pence

Here and Now 2020

Pence Stops in Waukesha 3 Weeks Before Election Day

Vice President Mike Pence spoke to a crowd of supporters during a campaign stop at Weldall Manufacturing in Waukesha Tuesday. Pence weighed in on the political news of the day—the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court—among his familiar campaign stalwarts of the economy and law and order. ...

October 13, 2020

Wauwatosa Protests for Alvin Cole and the Suburban Vote
Wauwatosa Protests for Alvin Cole and the Suburban Vote

Here and Now 2020

Wauwatosa Protests for Alvin Cole and the Suburban Vote

Law and Order becomes an issue for an Assembly race underway in Wauwatosa.

October 9, 2020

Wauwatosa Officer Free of Charges
Wauwatosa Officer Free of Charges

Social Issues

Wauwatosa Officer Free of Charges

Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm has decided not to charge Wauwatosa police officer for the shooting and killing of 17-year old Alvin Cole outside Mayfair Mall in February. An independent investigator hired by the city says the officer should be fired.

October 9, 2020

Alvin Cole’s mother Tracy Cole speaks to protesters Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, outside of the Milwaukee County Safety Building. (Courtesy: Angela Major / WPR)
Alvin Cole’s mother Tracy Cole speaks to protesters Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020, outside of the Milwaukee County Safety Building. (Courtesy: Angela Major / WPR)

Social Issues

Cole Family Arrested and Injured During Wauwatosa Protests

The family's lawyer spoke out Friday during a news conference.

October 9, 2020

Alvin Cole’s family members walk down the stairs of the Milwaukee County Safety Building on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (Courtesy: Angela Major / WPR)
Alvin Cole’s family members walk down the stairs of the Milwaukee County Safety Building on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. (Courtesy: Angela Major / WPR)

Social Issues

No Charges Filed Against Wauwatosa Officer

Joseph Mensah will not be charged in the shooting death of 17-year-old Alvin Cole.

October 7, 2020

Former Police Chief Reviews Jacob Blake Shooting
Former Police Chief Reviews Jacob Blake Shooting

Social Issues

Former Police Chief Reviews Jacob Blake Shooting

Former Madison Police Chief, Noble Wray, brought in to review the Jacob Blake shooting investigation by State DOJ to reach a charging decision. Wray says no timeline has been established for a complete review.

September 25, 2020

Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul

Social Issues

Kaul Announces Former Madison Police Chief as Expert in Jacob Blake Investigation

Former Madison Police Chief Noble Wray will serve as an independent use of force expert, providing analysis of the investigation's findings before it heads to the Kenosha County DA for a final decision on charges.

September 21, 2020

Trump and Biden Visit Kenosha Following Weeks of Protests
Trump and Biden Visit Kenosha Following Weeks of Protests

Social Issues

Trump and Biden Visit Kenosha Following Weeks of Protests

Following the shooting of Jacob Blake, protests in Kenosha this week have been largely peaceful. President Trump and democratic challenger Joe Biden visited Kenosha. Here & Now Reporter Will Kenneally has the story.

September 4, 2020

Burnt building in Kenosha
Burnt building in Kenosha

Politics

Biden to Visit Kenosha Same Week as Trump

Joe Biden announced he will be in Kenosha Thursday, two days after President Donald Trump toured damage and met with law enforcement.

September 2, 2020

Attorney General Josh Kaul on the Kenosha Shooting
Attorney General Josh Kaul on the Kenosha Shooting

Social Issues

Attorney General Josh Kaul on the Kenosha Shooting

The state Department of Justice is investigating the shooting of Jacob Blake. Attorney General Josh Kaul provides detail about the probe.

August 28, 2020

Kenosha Residents Protest for Jacob Blake
Kenosha Residents Protest for Jacob Blake

Social Issues

Kenosha Residents Protest for Jacob Blake

As National attention is drawn to Kenosha after Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back by police, “Here and Now’s” Will Kenneally reports on the ongoing protests and calls for change.

August 28, 2020

Josh Kaul
Josh Kaul

Social Issues

AG Releases New Details on Jacob Blake Shooting

Attorney General Josh Kaul released details from the state's investigation into the shooting, including the name of the officer that shot Jacob Blake.

August 26, 2020

national guard troops
national guard troops

Social Issues

Additional National Guard Members to be Sent to Kenosha, Federal Response May Be Next

The situation in Kenosha remains volatile after the killing of two protesters and the wounding of another that was captured on video late Tuesday night. A 17-year-old male from Illinois is being held without bond at a juvenile detention facility in Vernon Hills, Illinois, as he awaits extradition to Wisconsin. ...

August 26, 2020

Family of Jacob Blake
Family of Jacob Blake

Social Issues

Blake’s Family: ‘My Son Matters’

Jacob Blake's family holds their first news conference since Sunday's shooting.

August 25, 2020

Kenosha protests
Kenosha protests

Social Issues

Evers Calls for Special Session in Wake of Kenosha Shooting

Wisconsin officials are calling for action in the wake of the shooting of Black Kenosha resident Jacob Blake. Gov. Tony Evers issued an executive order Monday that would call the Legislature into special session Aug. 31. Recent attempts by the governor to bring the Legislature back to Madison have ended ...

August 25, 2020

Kenosha Police
Kenosha Police

Social Issues

Kenosha Police Shoot Man, Airlifted to Hospital in ‘Serious Condition’

Kenosha Police shot a man Sunday evening, who has been taken by Flight for Life to a Milwaukee hospital in serious condition according to the department. In a video published by the Kenosha News that reportedly describes the scene, a Black man was walking away from officers and entering a ...

August 23, 2020

Mike Pence
Mike Pence

Here and Now 2020

Pence Visits Wisconsin to Tout Economy and Jobs

The vice president visits two days after the president held a rally in Oshkosh, and the same weeks Democrats hold their national nominating convention.

August 19, 2020

Evers and Barnes Say Milwaukee Still Relevant to DNC
Evers and Barnes Say Milwaukee Still Relevant to DNC

Here and Now 2020

Evers and Barnes Say Milwaukee Still Relevant to DNC

Milwaukee was supposed to be the center of the political world when it hosted the Democratic Nat'l Convention. Now it's been virtually hollowed out, another victim of the pandemic. But that doesn't mean Wisconsin's politicians won't try to salvage something from this week. Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. Governor Mandela Barnes discuss if there's still something to be gained from the Milwaukee DNC.

August 14, 2020

Dem. Nat’l Convention No Longer Taking Place in Milwaukee
Dem. Nat’l Convention No Longer Taking Place in Milwaukee

Politics

Dem. Nat’l Convention No Longer Taking Place in Milwaukee

Milwaukee was set to share the national political spotlight. That was until the Democratic National Committee announced the party's national convention is going all virtual. No national speakers on site. No Joe Biden at the podium. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett was disappointed saying he "wanted to show off" the city.

August 7, 2020

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore on Women’s Suffrage
Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore on Women’s Suffrage

Elections

Milwaukee Congresswoman Gwen Moore on Women’s Suffrage

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore appears in an excerpt from a Here and Now special, “Wisconsin Women Vote.” She reflects on the power of the woman’s vote and reflects on her career to date in politics.

August 7, 2020

Marc Levine on the State of Black Milwaukee
Marc Levine on the State of Black Milwaukee

Social Issues

Marc Levine on the State of Black Milwaukee

UW-Milwaukee Emeritus Professor Marc Levine’s recent report spells out the inequality Black Wisconsinites face in the state’s largest city. He says the inequities represent, “the archetype of modern-day metropolitan racial apartheid and inequality.” Levine explains the importance of doing metric studies to fully understand the city’s disparities, such as black poverty and incarceration rates.

August 7, 2020

Facade of a police station in Milwaukee
Facade of a police station in Milwaukee

Politics

Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales Demoted

The Milwaukee police chief was demoted by a vote from the city's Fire and Police Commission Thursday. Morales spoke with Here & Now's Zac Schultz about his relationship with the commission.

August 7, 2020

Milwaukee skyline.
Milwaukee skyline.

Politics

Speakers Cancelled for Milwaukee DNC

The Milwaukee portion of the Democratic National Convention is effectively cancelled as the Democratic National Committee pulls the remaining speakers from the already paired-down convention. The cancelled speeches include presidential candidate Joe Biden, who will receive the party’s nomination from his home state of Delaware. “We followed the science, listened ...

August 5, 2020

Milwaukee
Milwaukee

Politics

U.S. Attorney Provides Details on Federal Officers in Milwaukee

The U.S. attorney for the area that covers Milwaukee gave details on the deployment of federal officers to the city, saying Wisconsin was not going to see the same federal response as in Portland, Oregon. “You will not see federal agents amassing on the streets of Milwaukee,” said U.S. Attorney ...

July 29, 2020

milwaukee police
milwaukee police

Politics

Wisconsin Officials Decry Federal Officers in Milwaukee

State officials are decrying the Trump administration’s announcement to deploy federal agents to Milwaukee to assist in local law enforcement. Earlier this month, federal officers made national headlines for detaining protesters in Portland, Oregon without identification and using unmarked vehicles. The administration said this week that Milwaukee would be included ...

July 24, 2020

protesters
protesters

Social Issues

Wisconsinites Join National Strike

The group called for racial and economic justice.

July 21, 2020

Person wearing mask
Person wearing mask

Health

Milwaukee Approves Mask Mandate

Milwaukee will join the neighboring Village of Shorewood and Dane County in requiring residents to wear masks in public places. The unanimous vote from the Milwaukee Common Council will require residents 3 years and older to wear masks in public buildings and outdoors where maintaining six feet of distance is ...

July 14, 2020

Racine Co. Rule is On-Off-On, Dane Co. Tightens Restrictions
Racine Co. Rule is On-Off-On, Dane Co. Tightens Restrictions

Coronavirus

Racine Co. Rule is On-Off-On, Dane Co. Tightens Restrictions

A civil suit filed by a Racine business owner alleging 'Safer Racine" order would lead to business closings and significant loss of revenue resulted in ruling by Racine Co. judge to end order earlier this week. At 3pm July 3, Wisconsin Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Racine. Ordinance remains in effect while city’s appeal is argued in court. Madison and Dane Co. enacted stricter COVID-19 rules.

July 3, 2020

Youth Activist Group Marching 65 Miles, Demanding Reform
Youth Activist Group Marching 65 Miles, Demanding Reform

Social Issues

Youth Activist Group Marching 65 Miles, Demanding Reform

Young Wisconsinites with the 50 Miles More activist group are marching 65 miles from Milwaukee to Madison calling for action from Governor Tony Evers and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos on police and gun reform, banning the use of tear gas and rubber bullets and violence prevention. The group will finish their march at the state Capitol on July 4th.

July 3, 2020

Black Leader Sees Narrative Shift Across US, Feels Different
Black Leader Sees Narrative Shift Across US, Feels Different

Social Issues

Black Leader Sees Narrative Shift Across US, Feels Different

Black Leaders Organizing for Communities leader Angela Lang discusses the status of the racial justice protests and where the state is now—whether demonstrations are continuing with the same energy or whether things are ‘returning to normal.’ She also talks about political organizing ahead of the 2020 presidential election and amid the pandemic.

July 3, 2020

Pence Rallygoers in Pewaukee Mostly Maskless
Pence Rallygoers in Pewaukee Mostly Maskless

Politics

Pence Rallygoers in Pewaukee Mostly Maskless

While masks were available, most of the crowd attending the campaign rally with Vice President Mike Pence in Pewaukee forwent wearing masks. Tickets to the rally required a disclosure statement saying no one would sue the campaign if they became infected. The Trump campaign has said the economy is the key to re-election, and Pence highlighted that in his remarks.

June 26, 2020

Donald Trump
Donald Trump

Elections

Trump Campaign Doubles Down on Wisconsin

Many national election observers describe Wisconsin as a tipping-point state, meaning whomever wins this state will likely win enough electoral votes to win the presidency.

June 26, 2020

Tom Barrett
Tom Barrett

Elections

2020 DNC in Milwaukee Dramatically Downsized

In light of the continued spread of COVID-19, the upcoming 2020 Democratic convention will largely be held virtually.

June 25, 2020

Coronavirus Affecting New Communities in Milwaukee
Coronavirus Affecting New Communities in Milwaukee

Coronavirus

Coronavirus Affecting New Communities in Milwaukee

The largest spike in COVID-19 cases is now among the Latinx population in the state’s largest city, where Milwaukee’s Black community had previously suffered the brunt of the pandemic. Milwaukee Commissioner of Health Jeanette Kowalik discusses the city’s current response and testing capacity.

June 19, 2020

Sooner Bad Cops Off Force, Sooner No Longer “Bad Apples”
Sooner Bad Cops Off Force, Sooner No Longer “Bad Apples”

Politics

Sooner Bad Cops Off Force, Sooner No Longer “Bad Apples”

Republican U.S. Representative James Sensenbrenner from Wisconsin's 5th Congressional District sits on the Judiciary Committee, which took testimony this week on the House bill on police reform. During the hearing, Sensenbrenner said legislation must look at police unions to get rid of what he calls "bad cops."

June 12, 2020

Gwen Moore on George Floyd, Structural Racism
Gwen Moore on George Floyd, Structural Racism

Social Issues

Gwen Moore on George Floyd, Structural Racism

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore of Milwaukee discusses efforts by congressional Democrats to pass national police reform policy in the wake of the death of George Floyd in police custody. She also discusses ways to tackle systemic racism and inequality.

June 12, 2020

Wisconsin Responds to George Floyd
Wisconsin Responds to George Floyd

Social Issues

Wisconsin Responds to George Floyd

The death of George Floyd in Minneapolis sparked protests around Wisconsin, advocating change in police practices. Here & Now's Will Kenneally shows how Wisconsinites expressed their frustration with another black man dying in police custody.

June 5, 2020

A boarded-up storefront has been repainted to say stronger together.
A boarded-up storefront has been repainted to say stronger together.

Social Issues

Boarded-up Storefronts Become Canvas of Healing

Boarded-up storefronts are being turned into pieces of art as business owners pick up the pieces from vandalism during protests.

June 4, 2020

Protesters in Madison
Protesters in Madison

Social Issues

Protesters Say They Are Ready for Long Haul

Organizers of the Madison protests in the wake of George Floyd’s death say they are prepared to keep going for the foreseeable future. “People are going to rebel until they are not going to rebel,” said M. Adams, a co-executive director of the Madison-based Freedom Inc. “It’s simple, you stop ...

June 1, 2020

Milwaukee protesters
Milwaukee protesters

Social Issues

Protesters Rally in Milwaukee over George Floyd’s Death

Milwaukee residents called for change in the wake of three contentious days of protest in Minneapolis over the death of George Floyd in police custody.

May 29, 2020

Image of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden
Image of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden

Politics

Biden Makes Two Virtual Stops in Wisconsin

The Democratic presidential candidate made virtual stops in La Crosse and Milwaukee, discussing plans for rural Wisconsin and criticizing the president's response to the coronavirus pandemic.

May 20, 2020

Choropleth map of Wisconsin showing each county sorted by name.
Choropleth map of Wisconsin showing each county sorted by name.

Policy

Counties Rescind Orders over Legal Concern from Supreme Court Ruling

The Supreme Court order striking down the state's "Safer at Home" order has caused confusion among counties that issued their own stay-at-home orders. Now counties are rescinding their orders in fear of legal retribution.

May 15, 2020

New Report Highlights Racial Divide in COVID-19 Outbreak
New Report Highlights Racial Divide in COVID-19 Outbreak

Coronavirus

New Report Highlights Racial Divide in COVID-19 Outbreak

A new report from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shows how coronavirus is spreading along lines of segregation in north Milwaukee, and African-Americans are being disproportionately impacted. Rep. David Bowen, D-Milwaukee, says, “This does not end the story about us. This is a continuation of just how much we have been through and how much farther we have to go.”

May 1, 2020

Noon Wednesday: Lessons Learned from Milwaukee
Noon Wednesday: Lessons Learned from Milwaukee

Elections

Noon Wednesday: Lessons Learned from Milwaukee

Some have already moved on from last week's election, but its impacts linger. Health officials are looking into the effect in-person voting had on the spread of the coronavirus and state lawmakers are debating how elections should be administered in the future. Neil Albrecht, executive director of City of Milwaukee Election Commission joins us to talk about the lessons learned from Milwaukee.

April 16, 2020

A visit to Wheelhouse Studios in the Memorial Union at UW-Madison, as seen in this photo from 2014, is the kind of activity that was supported by the bridge builders of Living Our Visions (LOV Inc) before the COVID 19 crisis. (Courtesy Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)
A visit to Wheelhouse Studios in the Memorial Union at UW-Madison, as seen in this photo from 2014, is the kind of activity that was supported by the bridge builders of Living Our Visions (LOV Inc) before the COVID 19 crisis. (Courtesy Jeff Miller / UW-Madison)

Social Issues

Nonprofit Sector to Be Challenged and Changed by COVID-19

Non-profit organizations face new challenges as the COVID-19 outbreak affects their daily operations and bottom line.

April 14, 2020

Homeless woman on a bench near the state Capitol in Madison July 11, 2016.
Homeless woman on a bench near the state Capitol in Madison July 11, 2016.

Health

Wisconsin Bands Together to Address Homelessness and COVID-19

Advocacy groups in Wisconsin work to help the homeless amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 11, 2020

Milwaukee voters in line
Milwaukee voters in line

Elections

State Increases Contact Tracing After In-Person Voting

In-person voting could have exposed more Wisconsinites to COVID-19, as health officials become concerned about the disease's disproportionate impact on the state's African-American population.

April 10, 2020

A stack of requested absentee ballots returned to the Village of Fox Point April 7, 2020. (Courtesy: Scott Botcher)
A stack of requested absentee ballots returned to the Village of Fox Point April 7, 2020. (Courtesy: Scott Botcher)

Elections

Fox Point Absentee Ballots Not Sent to Voters

Absentee ballots requested by voters in the Village of Fox Point went undelivered by the United States Postal Services ahead of Tuesday’s elections. The ballots were repeatedly returned to village offices despite USPS saying there was nothing wrong with them, according to Scott Botcher, manager of the Milwaukee County village. ...

April 7, 2020

Candidates Vie for Mayoral Seat
Candidates Vie for Mayoral Seat

Elections

Candidates Vie for Mayoral Seat

Tom Barrett has been mayor of Milwaukee for 16 years and he's looking to make it an even two decades of running Wisconsin's largest city. “I'm very, very excited about the future of the city because, first of all, there's a lot of great things that are going on in ...

April 1, 2020

Milwaukee skyline
Milwaukee skyline

Health

COVID-19 Threatens Black Communities on Milwaukee’s North Side

"It's been tough to see such a concentration of the virus focusing on [the] African-American community," said state Rep. David Bowen. Milwaukee's African-American community faces the brunt of the COVID-19 disease.

March 30, 2020

A U.S. Navy officer wears a medical face shield during a teeth cleaning. (Courtesty: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet)
A U.S. Navy officer wears a medical face shield during a teeth cleaning. (Courtesty: U.S. Naval Forces Central Command/U.S. Fifth Fleet)

Economy

Industry Steps Up But Far from Scale Needed

Necessity being the mother of invention, Justin Webb, CEO of Franzen Graphics in Sheboygan, saw a need and with his colleagues invented a simple solution. The company specializes in printing on plastic for items like in-store displays and saw a new application for the material they usually print on. Now ...

March 25, 2020

State Street in Madison
State Street in Madison

Economy

Workers Feel Pressure from Coronavirus

It’s something you’d never expect to find in a city, the sound of silence. A surreal scene that played out across Wisconsin this week: bars, museums, performance venues, all closed. Savannah Bierma works part-time for the Pabst Theater Group in Milwaukee. They have cancelled all events through May 15. That ...

March 20, 2020

Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.
Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway.

Health

New Dane County Restrictions, Fond du Lac Numbers, Voting in Milwaukee

With new state numbers, Wisconsin has 33 confirmed cases of novel coronavirus. In response, Dane County announces new restrictions on public gatherings.

March 15, 2020

Sign at Molson Coors campus in Milwaukee.
Sign at Molson Coors campus in Milwaukee.

Social Issues

Update: Six Dead in Milwaukee Shooting

A 51-year-old Milwaukee man killed five others, then himself in a shooting at the Molson Coors campus in the city's "Miller Valley."

February 26, 2020

Republican Party logo over the Milwaukee skyline.
Republican Party logo over the Milwaukee skyline.

Politics

New GOP Office Opens in ‘Heart’ of Milwaukee

In the 2020 presidential election, the Republican Party of Wisconsin wants to make inroads into the African American vote in Milwaukee. As part of its effort, the party just opened a field office in the heart of the city. “This is the first Republican Party of Wisconsin office in the ...

February 10, 2020

Person wearing a hazmat suit
Person wearing a hazmat suit

Health

WisContext: The Novel Coronavirus and How Isolation and Quarantine Authority Works in Wisconsin

In the arsenal of weapons available to public health officials for combating outbreaks of infectious disease, quarantines are among their most serious options. As a result, quarantines are usually reserved for the most serious — or potentially serious — public health threats.

February 5, 2020

Shoreline Damage in Racine Co. Washes Up Need for Aid
Shoreline Damage in Racine Co. Washes Up Need for Aid

Environment

Shoreline Damage in Racine Co. Washes Up Need for Aid

David Maack is the Racine County Emergency Management Coordinator. Maack reviews the need for FEMA assistance in the aftermath of shoreline damage caused by severe storms earlier this month.

January 31, 2020

Trump Rallies in Milwaukee
Trump Rallies in Milwaukee

Politics

Trump Rallies in Milwaukee

President Trump’s campaign rally packed UW-Milwaukee's Panther arena this week. Some guests waited for in line for hours to get a front-row seat. Here & Now reporter Zac Schultz said that despite Trump’s long record of failed fact checks, attendees continue to support the incumbent because he is emotionally honest.

January 17, 2020

Foxconn Contract to be Renegotiated?
Foxconn Contract to be Renegotiated?

Politics

Foxconn Contract to be Renegotiated?

State Secretary of Administration Joel Brennan breaks down the current status of Wisconsin's Foxconn contract. Newly released correspondence between Foxconn, Gov. Evers’ Administration and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation show growing conflict over the Taiwanese company’s ability to collect public tax subsidies.

December 20, 2019

Sex Trafficking Awareness organization Opens New Safe House
Sex Trafficking Awareness organization Opens New Safe House

Social Issues

Sex Trafficking Awareness organization Opens New Safe House

Co-Founder of Selah Freedom Elizabeth Melendez Fisher Good discusses the opening of her organization's new safe house in Wisconsin. Selah Freedom is an organization devoted to helping victims of sex trafficking resume a normal, healthy life. The new safe house will allow young women a fresh start through a “holistic approach to restoration.”

December 6, 2019

Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap Persists
Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap Persists

Education

Wisconsin’s Achievement Gap Persists

This week The National Assessment of Educational Progress, also known as the Nation's Report Card, released results finding Wisconsin has the widest achievement gap in the country. Scores show the gap between Black and white students increasing in both math and reading.

December 4, 2019

African American Alliance Fosters Upward Mobility
African American Alliance Fosters Upward Mobility

Economy

African American Alliance Fosters Upward Mobility

According to studies, there are significant disparities between black and white people in the way of income, unemployment and homeownership in Wisconsin. The African American Leadership Alliance In Milwaukee (AALAM) actively seeks solutions, including developing and supporting African American leaders. Former State Assemblymember Antonio Riley talks about the newly formed alliance.

November 29, 2019

Wisconsin Hunters on Chronic Wasting Disease
Wisconsin Hunters on Chronic Wasting Disease

Health

Wisconsin Hunters on Chronic Wasting Disease

A look at Marquette poll numbers on the spread of Chronic Wasting Disease in the state. Four hunters explain differing reasons why some get their deer tested for CWD and the overwhelming reason why most do not. The poll shows that of the people who have heard of CWD, 64% feel it represents a threat to the future of deer hunting in Wisconsin.

November 22, 2019

New WEDC CEO Talks Foxconn, Agency Priorities
New WEDC CEO Talks Foxconn, Agency Priorities

Economy

New WEDC CEO Talks Foxconn, Agency Priorities

With new leadership at the head of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, the agency’s new CEO Missy Hughes discusses the future of projects like Foxconn and other top priorities.

October 25, 2019

Congressional Elections Heating Up in Wisconsin
Congressional Elections Heating Up in Wisconsin

Politics

Congressional Elections Heating Up in Wisconsin

Two Democrats, Wausau School Board President Tricia Zunker and Businessman Lawrence Dale, join the 7th congressional district race in Northwest Wisconsin. Outside of Milwaukee, a 5th congressional district candidate state Sen. Scott Fitzgerald (R) receives a major endorsement from former Gov. Tommy Thompson.

October 18, 2019

DNC Host Committee Finance Chair Shares Plans for Convention
DNC Host Committee Finance Chair Shares Plans for Convention

Politics

DNC Host Committee Finance Chair Shares Plans for Convention

DNC Host Committee Finance Chair Alex Lasry gives updates on the 2020 Convention and all that it will bring to the state. Next August, Lasry says the convention will bring over 50,000 people to Milwaukee, many of whom have never been to Wisconsin before. He said he thinks the national spotlight will put Wisconsin on the map.

October 18, 2019

Noon Wednesday: How We Got Off-Track
Noon Wednesday: How We Got Off-Track

Politics

Noon Wednesday: How We Got Off-Track

Building a high-speed rail line between Madison and Milwaukee was a proposal that reached the end of its line but the topic still divides people. Special projects reporter Bridgit Bowden is talking to us about “Derailed,” a new podcast from Wisconsin Public Radio that goes full-steam into the history of the line and what it says about our state.

October 16, 2019

Milwaukee Communities Cope with Gun Violence
Milwaukee Communities Cope with Gun Violence

Social Issues

Milwaukee Communities Cope with Gun Violence

The story of Milwaukee's Mosbey family focuses on the reality of gun violence after teenager Tyrese Mosbey was shot in the head while at a bus stop after school. His family is coming to terms with his present and future recovery. Milwaukee Office of Violence Prevention Director Reggie Moore also weighs in on the issue of gun violence and its impact on the broader community.

October 11, 2019

State Legislators Discuss Decline in Statewide Test Scores
State Legislators Discuss Decline in Statewide Test Scores

Education

State Legislators Discuss Decline in Statewide Test Scores

The Republican Chair of the Assembly Education Committee, State Rep. Jeremy Thiesfeldt and Democratic Committee Member Rep. LaKeshia Myers address the declining school test score results. The 2018-2019 statewide test score results show a decline in student performance overall. Scores from tests such as the ACT also show that the achievement gap between Black and white students persists.

September 20, 2019

US Rep. Sensenbrenner Retires, Milwaukee Mayor Race Picks Up
US Rep. Sensenbrenner Retires, Milwaukee Mayor Race Picks Up

Politics

US Rep. Sensenbrenner Retires, Milwaukee Mayor Race Picks Up

Longest serving Wisconsin Congressman, U.S. Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner (R) announced that he will not seek another term. Sensenbrenner was first elected to his Waukesha-area seat in 1978. Meanwhile, Democratic state Senator Lena Taylor announced she is running for Mayor in Milwaukee. Incumbent Mayor Tom Barrett has yet to announce if he's running for re-election.

September 6, 2019

Foxconn Road Plans Jeopardize Homeowners’ Land
Foxconn Road Plans Jeopardize Homeowners’ Land

Economy

Foxconn Road Plans Jeopardize Homeowners’ Land

WPR reporter Corrinne Hess discusses the rift between Foxconn and home and property owners in Mt. Pleasant. The company has taken a major toll on locals who have sold their property to accommodate plans for a new road. Hess reported that the land acquisitions began this spring. Many property owners are worried that more of their land may be taken to make space for the company’s plans.

September 6, 2019

Milwaukee Seeks to Improve Juvenile Incarceration
Milwaukee Seeks to Improve Juvenile Incarceration

Policy

Milwaukee Seeks to Improve Juvenile Incarceration

Milwaukee County is looking into ways to change juvenile incarceration, proposing a $42 million renovation to its existing facility. County supervisor Marcelia Nicholson talks about how the county wants to improve conditions for its juvenile inmates, saying they want to use evidence-based solutions that go “beyond detention.”

July 12, 2019

Brakes on Hop 2020 Expansion for Now
Brakes on Hop 2020 Expansion for Now

Elections

Brakes on Hop 2020 Expansion for Now

As Milwaukee gets ready to host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, some city officials are pushing to extend the streetcar line to reach the convention site. A committee vote this week tables the expansion for now, putting into question whether the expansion could be finished by next summer.

May 24, 2019

Noon Wednesday: Undocumented Immigrants and College
Noon Wednesday: Undocumented Immigrants and College

Social Issues

Noon Wednesday: Undocumented Immigrants and College

Julio Gumeta came to Wisconsin when he was seven years old. Now, 17 years later, he wants to attend UW-Milwaukee but cannot afford the out-state-tuition rates that undocumented immigrants are required to pay. He says he would like to give back to his community in Wisconsin, but finds that difficult without proper education.

May 8, 2019

Democrats Will Flock to Milwaukee for 2020 Convention
Democrats Will Flock to Milwaukee for 2020 Convention

Politics

Democrats Will Flock to Milwaukee for 2020 Convention

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Milwaukee, says she is “over the moon” that the Democratic National Committee chose her home city as the location for their 2020 national convention. She says Milwaukee “really demonstrates our Democratic values,” and that she is looking forward to showcasing the city’s diverse population.

March 15, 2019

New Analysis Shows Challenges Milwaukee Faces
New Analysis Shows Challenges Milwaukee Faces

Economy

New Analysis Shows Challenges Milwaukee Faces

Marc Levine of UW-Milwaukee’s Center for Economic Development, discusses his new analysis on one of Milwaukee’s most impoverished ZIP codes: 53206. He says the area feels the effects of multiple disadvantages piled on top of one another, and that while the job market is improving, many are working at poverty-level employment.

March 15, 2019

Milwaukee Seeks DNC Bid, Supreme Court Race Hits Air
Milwaukee Seeks DNC Bid, Supreme Court Race Hits Air

Politics

Milwaukee Seeks DNC Bid, Supreme Court Race Hits Air

Milwaukee looks to be the favorite for the next Democratic National Convention, and the race for state Supreme Court hits the airwaves.

February 22, 2019

What’s Next for Foxconn?
What’s Next for Foxconn?

Economy

What’s Next for Foxconn?

News broke this week that Foxconn considered scaling back production of LCD screens in the state, yet the week ended with the company doubling down on its commitment to produce screens in Wisconsin and create 13,000 jobs. Weighing in on the news are Tim Sheehy, President of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, and Assembly Minority Leader Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh.

February 1, 2019

Carolyn Stanford Taylor is new State School Superintendent
Carolyn Stanford Taylor is new State School Superintendent

Education

Carolyn Stanford Taylor is new State School Superintendent

Carolyn Stanford Taylor, the newly-appointed State School Superintendent of Public Instruction says "we will focus on closing gaps." Taylor served the past 17 years as Assistant State Superintendent for the Division of Learning Support. She has an education degree from UW-Madison, was a teacher and principal in the Madison School District and served as president of the local teachers union.

January 11, 2019

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Speaks to Government Shutdown
Congresswoman Gwen Moore Speaks to Government Shutdown

Economy

Congresswoman Gwen Moore Speaks to Government Shutdown

U.S. Representative from the 4th Congressional District, Democratic Gwen Moore, responded, "That's the problem. They're not being received by the Senate" when asked about how the House of Representative bills currently being passed - that would fund the government - are being received by the U.S. Senate during this federal government shutdown.

January 11, 2019

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