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Southeast Region
Wisconsin counties include: Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington, Waukesha
Southeast Region
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Hilario Deleon on Republicans pursuing Latino voters in 2024
Republican Party of Milwaukee County Chairman Hilario Deleon discusses local efforts to cultivate voters in Latino and other communities to support former President Donald Trump in the 2024 election.
September 11, 2024
Harris, Walz rouse Milwaukee as the DNC rolls into Chicago
A month after the RNC gathered at the Fiserv Forum, Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Tim Walz rallied in Milwaukee in parallel with action at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
August 23, 2024
Vance invokes 2020 riots at a 2024 campaign stop in Kenosha
Republican candidate for vice president, Ohio U.S. Sen. JD Vance, recalled 2020 riots and stressed support for public safety at a Kenosha campaign event during the 2024 Democratic National Convention.
August 23, 2024
What will motivate Black men to vote for Harris — or Trump?
Vice President Kamala Harris has reset the 2024 presidential race, but questions remain about whether one crucial Democratic voting bloc will turn out compared to previous years — several Black men in Milwaukee shared what she needs to do to win their votes over former President Donald Trump.
August 23, 2024
Harris rallies thousands in Milwaukee as the Obamas speak at the DNC in Chicago
Vice President Kamala Harris spoke to thousands of people at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, where Republicans held their convention in July, on the same night former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama addressed the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
August 20, 2024
Vance focuses on crime at a campaign rally in Kenosha
During the second day of the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Republican vice presidential candidate U.S. Sen. JD Vance spoke in Kenosha, where protests turned violent in 2020, and used that setting to attack Vice President Kamala Harris on the issue of crime.
August 20, 2024
Supervisor Steve Taylor on Milwaukee County’s budget issues
Milwaukee County Supervisor Steve Taylor discusses a budget surplus swinging to projected deficits for the county's government despite federal funding, a boost in state aid and a sales tax increase.
August 9, 2024
The former warden at Waupun Correctional Institution where multiple inmates have died over the last year is pleading not guilty to a misconduct charge — five inmates have died at the maximum security prison since June 2023, with the latest found dead on Aug. 5.
August 6, 2024
Harris rallies Wisconsin Democrats in a 2024 campaign pivot
Two days after President Joe Biden withdrew from the 2024 presidential race, Vice President Kamala Harris stood on stage with Wisconsin Democrats in West Allis to reinvigorate their party's fortunes.
July 26, 2024
Harris says 2024 vote is ‘a choice between freedom and chaos’ at Milwaukee rally
A roaring crowd of voters greeted Vice President Kamala Harris in Milwaukee as she opened her political case against Republican former President Donald Trump in her first rally after locking up support from delegates in advance of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
July 23, 2024
With 2024 RNC convention over, Milwaukee weighs benefits of hosting political rivals
Deep-blue Milwaukee's downtown turned red as thousands of Republican National Convention delegates gathered — outside the security zone where the convention was held, residents of Wisconsin's largest Democratic stronghold grumbled, ignored or shrugged their way through the event.
July 21, 2024
Outside the RNC, small Milwaukee businesses tried to salvage a sluggish week
The Republican National Convention didn't deliver more customers to some small businesses in downtown Milwaukee, as while there had been earlier promises of an economic boost, there were bars, convenience stores and restaurants on the edge of the secure zone sat largely empty.
July 21, 2024
Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Milwaukee hosting the 2024 RNC
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson reflects on Milwaukee's experience as the 2024 Republican National Convention host city, from economic expectations to security considerations to political impacts.
July 19, 2024
Angela Lang on police killing Samuel Sharpe Jr. and 2024 RNC
Black Leaders Organizing for Communities Executive Director Angela Lang discusses the impacts of out-of-state police killing a Milwaukee resident during the 2024 RNC and implications for the city.
July 19, 2024
How Republicans are trying to woo more Black voters in 2024
The Republican Party seeks to extend the reach and visibility of efforts to build support in African American communities and attract more Black voters to back former President Donald Trump in 2024.
July 19, 2024
Why RNC business was mixed at downtown Milwaukee restaurants
Milwaukee restaurants within the Republican National Convention security zone hosted big crowds during the event as others outside saw business lag — hopes are high for long-term economic impact.
July 19, 2024
Milwaukee police, activists reflect on the 2024 RNC
Activists and law enforcement alike are trumpeting their efforts at the 2024 Republican National Convention, calling the event a success, despite protest crowd estimates falling short of estimates and as Ohio police are investigated for the shooting death of a Milwaukee man.
July 19, 2024
‘Here & Now’ from the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee: Day four
"Here & Now" senior political reporter Zac Schultz checks in from the 2024 Republican National Convention to discuss Wisconsin Republicans touting Milwaukee, the state and the Trump-Vance ticket.
July 18, 2024
Dale Kooyenga on bipartisan RNC plans, Milwaukee’s economy
Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce President Dale Kooyenga, a former Republican state legislator, discusses bipartisan support for hosting the 2024 RNC and impacts on downtown businesses.
July 18, 2024
Why people gathered in Milwaukee to protest the 2024 RNC
Protesters assembled to rally and march in downtown Milwaukee to add their voices to the national political discussion centered on the 2024 Republican National Convention and the Trump-Vance ticket.
July 18, 2024
Heavily armed security boats patrol the Milwaukee River during the RNC
Security planners for the Republican National Convention have had to contend with the winding river that snakes through downtown Milwaukee, with half a dozen police departments, along with state and federal agencies, patrolling the river 24-hours-a-day until the event ends.
July 17, 2024
‘Here & Now’ from the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee: Day three
"Here & Now" senior political reporter Zac Schultz checks in from the 2024 Republican National Convention to consider an incident involving U.S. Rep. Derrick Van Orden and Ohio police killing a man.
July 17, 2024
Gerard Randall on Republicans and Black voters in Milwaukee
Republican Party of Wisconsin first vice chair Gerard Randall touts efforts at the party's Black Community Center in Milwaukee to sway African American voters to support former President Donald Trump.
July 17, 2024
Ohio police officers fatally shoot a man blocks away from the RNC, angering Milwaukee residents
Officials say police from Columbus, Ohio have shot and killed a person in Milwaukee several blocks outside of the Republican National Convention's outer security perimeter — local residents came to the scene, many angry that officers in town for the event were involved.
July 16, 2024
‘Here & Now’ from the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee: Day two
"Here & Now" senior political reporter Zac Schultz checks in from the 2024 Republican National Convention to gauge business impacts on Milwaukee and police shooting a person past the security zone.
July 16, 2024
‘Here & Now’ from the 2024 RNC in Milwaukee: Day one
"Here & Now" senior political reporter Zac Schultz checks in from the 2024 Republican National Convention about bolstered security after the assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump.
July 15, 2024
A wide range of organizations and activists gathered in downtown Milwaukee outside the Fiserv Forum's security perimeter on the first day of the Republican National Convention to listen to speakers and march — the demonstrations were peaceful and without any major problems.
July 15, 2024
The 2024 Republican National Convention begins in Milwaukee
The Republican National Convention kicks off on July 15 with delegates gathering in Milwaukee to formally nominate former President Donald Trump as the party's 2024 presidential nominee — the event runs through July 18.
July 15, 2024
Activists in Milwaukee proceed with plans for RNC protests
Activists in Milwaukee for the first day of the Republican National Convention say they'll stick with protest plans following an apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, and are hoping to call attention to issues such as abortion rights, economic justice and the war in Gaza.
July 15, 2024
Deeply Democratic Milwaukee wrestles with hosting Trump and the 2024 RNC
Milwaukee's back-to-back selection by the Democratic and Republican parties for national nominating conventions speaks to Wisconsin's importance as a swing state, but the city is deeply blue and Republicans have long criticized its leadership by Democrats.
July 14, 2024
Steven Potter on security planning in Milwaukee for the RNC
"Here & Now" reporter Steven Potter discusses advance planning by multiple federal and state law enforcement agencies to provide security for the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
July 12, 2024
Public safety and the 2024 Republican National Convention
Federal, state and local law enforcement agencies have been collaborating in their efforts to implement security plans for the 2024 Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
July 12, 2024
A lawsuit argues Milwaukee Tool relied on forced labor in China to make gloves
A former prisoner at Chishan Prison in China’s Hunan Province says he was subjected to five months of forced labor for to manufacture products for the benefit of Milwaukee Tool — the company says the claim lacks merit in response to a lawsuit filed in federal court.
July 1, 2024
Motivating diverse religious voters in Milwaukee and Madison
Churches, temples and other faith-based groups in Milwaukee and Madison are encouraging people to vote and engage with public officials, extending a longstanding historical connection with the ballot.
June 28, 2024
Wisconsin Elections Commission rejects signatures in second attempt to recall Vos
The bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission has rejected another effort to force a recall election of Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos after determining not enough valid signatures were collected by organizers by a petitioning deadline.
June 27, 2024
Jefferson County judge rules boaters can’t use flooded private property
A Jefferson County Circuit Court judge issued a ruling in a case involving provisions in the Wisconsin Constitution that guarantee public access to navigable waters, ordering the state Department of Natural Resources to develop new policies on boats crossing flooded land.
June 26, 2024
Enough signatures collected within 2022 district to force recall election for Vos
The Wisconsin Elections Commission says a second campaign to recall Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos submitted enough valid signatures needed to force a recall vote, but only based on the legislative district map used in the 2022 election.
June 25, 2024
Sen. Chris Larson on Milwaukee Public Schools administration
State Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, discusses how consolidation in the administrative structure of Milwaukee Public Schools played a role in ongoing financial reporting issues for the district.
June 21, 2024
Local and federal law enforcement agencies have released a security plan for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee that allows people to carry guns inside an outer perimeter and establishes a parade route and stages for protests.
June 21, 2024
Trump voices ‘love’ for Milwaukee after referring to the RNC host city as ‘horrible’
Former President Donald Trump insisted he loves Milwaukee as he returned to the critical battleground state of Wisconsin just weeks before it hosts the 2024 Republican National Convention, nearly a week after he reportedly used the word "horrible" as he spoke of the state's largest city.
June 18, 2024
Americans celebrate Flag Day every year, a holiday that has roots in Wisconsin
Waubeka, in north suburban Milwaukee, lays claim to the first Flag Day in 1885 when a schoolteacher assigned his students essays on what the flag means — the holiday became a federal observance in 1949.
June 14, 2024
Former President Donald Trump reportedly called Milwaukee a "horrible city" during a meeting with Republican lawmakers — the comment drew disagreement among attendees about what he meant about the heavily Democratic city hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention in July.
June 13, 2024
Mayor Rohn Bishop on corrections officer jobs in Waupun
Waupun Mayor Rohn Bishop considers how impacts of Act 10 on unions and lagging pay rates have affected working conditions and morale of corrections officers in the community and around Wisconsin.
June 11, 2024
Angela Harris on the finances, future of Milwaukee’s schools
Black Educators Caucus MKE chairperson and teacher Angela Harris discusses financial struggles of Milwaukee Public Schools as top leadership changes prompt more calls for the district to be dissolved.
June 7, 2024
Political fallout from the arrests of Waupun prison staff
After nine employees of Waupun Correctional Institution were arrested on felony charges related to prisoner deaths, ongoing political disputes over the state budget and workers took on new intensity.
June 7, 2024
Vos says second recall petition effort against him failed
Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has challenged signatures on petitions filed seeking an election to recall him from office — the Wisconsin Elections Commission has until June 28 to determine whether enough are valid to trigger a recall election.
June 7, 2024
Relatives of inmates who died in Waupun prison shocked charges aren’t being filed in their cases
Relatives of two inmates who died in the aging maximum security Waupun Correctional Institution say they're stunned that prosecutors haven't filed charges in their cases after bringing multiple counts against the warden and other employees in connection with the deaths of two other prisoners.
June 7, 2024
Charges against warden and guards at aged Waupun prison renew calls to close it
Waupun Correctional Institution was built in the 1850s and has long been a target for closure amid concerns about deterioration, extended lockdowns and staffing shortfalls — charges against a warden and eight staffers related to two inmate deaths are leading to renewed calls to close the facility.
June 6, 2024
Roughly 30,000 visitors are expected at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July, and the head of the U.S. Secret Service says security plans are still being determined as groups planning to hold protests blasted restrictions they claim will violate free speech.
June 6, 2024
Waupun warden and eight staff members charged after probes into inmate deaths
The warden of the maximum-security Waupun Correctional Institution and eight members of its staff have been charged following investigations into the deaths of four inmates at the troubled facility over the past year.
June 5, 2024
Milwaukee staffing shake-up triggers doubts about city’s new elections leader
City officials are defending a decision to replace the experienced chief of the Milwaukee Election Commission after staff shared concerns about the experience level of their new leader.
June 3, 2024
Biden lauds Microsoft data center at same southeastern Wisconsin site where Foxconn project failed
President Joe Biden laced into Donald Trump over a failed project that was supposed to bring thousands of new jobs into Wisconsin as construction starts at the same location on a new Microsoft data center.
May 8, 2024
Milwaukee’s mayor replaces city’s elections leader months before the 2024 vote
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson announced that he would be replacing Milwaukee Election Commission Executive Director Claire Woodall with her deputy Paulina Gutierrez in a surprise move that comes just before Wisconsin's largest city will be in the spotlight in the 2024 presidential swing state.
May 6, 2024
Trump rails against hush money trial at rally in Waukesha
Returning to the campaign trail with a rally in Waukesha, former President Donald Trump called the judge presiding over his hush money trial "crooked" a day after being held in contempt of court and threatened with jail for violating a gag order.
May 1, 2024
Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds firing of Milwaukee police officer for racist social media posts
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that a former Milwaukee police officer was properly fired for posting racist memes related to the 2018 arrest of Sterling Brown, who played for the Milwaukee Bucks.
April 30, 2024
Peter Barca on foreign policy and the 2024 election
Peter Barca, a former U.S. Representative, discusses running for Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District seat when foreign policy related to Ukraine, Israel and more are prominent election year issues.
April 26, 2024
US Rep Bryan Steil on foreign policy and the 2024 election
U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, R-Janesville, discusses his positions on congressional votes on aid for Ukraine, Israel and more as foreign policy issues grow more prominent in the presidential election year.
April 26, 2024
Rebecca Blom on school library book selection and challenges
Elkhorn Area High School library media specialist Rebecca Blom describes how K-12 librarians seek to assemble a broad selection of books for students as the district changes standards for challenges.
April 23, 2024
Waukesha County prosecutor won’t charge Brandtjen over campaign finance laws
Waukesha County District Attorney Susan Opper said she would not be filing felony charges against state Rep. Janel Brandtjen, R-Menomonee Falls, who was accused of trying to evade state campaign finance laws in to unseat Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos in 2022.
April 22, 2024
Former US Rep. Peter Barca announces run for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District
Peter Barca, a Democrat who served one term representing Wisconsin's 1st Congressional District in the 1990s before going on to become a leader in the Assembly and state revenue secretary, announced he's running for the seat again in the 2024 election.
April 18, 2024
Wisconsin Elections Commission rejects Vos recall petition
The Wisconsin Elections Commission voted to reject a petition seeking a recall election of Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos after finding not enough valid signatures were submitted.
April 12, 2024
How Milwaukee’s top election official worked to restore trust after missteps
The Milwaukee Election Commission has instituted a 26-point checklist to ensure the integrity of ballot counting and reassure the public following criticism of its handling of the 2020 election, when real and perceived missteps fed into false allegations.
April 9, 2024
Wisconsin Supreme Court declines to clarify map question for potential recall election
The Wisconsin Supreme Court has refused to offer clarity on which legislative districts map should be used for a potential recall election of Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, saying the state elections commission has the responsibility to administer elections.
April 3, 2024
Anxiety, outrage dominate West Bend election education event
An informational session held in West Bend by the nonpartisan nonprofit group Keep Our Republic sought to teach voters about how elections work, but attendees focused largely on 2020 misinformation.
March 29, 2024
In Focus with Rev. Greg Lewis: The power of the Black church
Murv Seymour talks with Rev. Greg Lewis at St. Gabriel Church of God in Christ about bettering the Black community in Milwaukee and promoting voter engagement through the Souls to the Polls campaign.
March 25, 2024
Vos says Trump backers seeking to recall him don’t have enough signatures
Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has challenged the validity of thousands of signatures submitted in a recall effort conducted by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
March 21, 2024
Jury finds former Milwaukee election official guilty of election fraud, misconduct
A jury has returned guilty verdicts for former Milwaukee election official Kimberly Zapata, who was accused of obtaining fake absentee ballots before the November 2022 election, finding her guilty on one felony misconduct count and three misdemeanor counts of election fraud.
March 21, 2024
With public funding for stadium secured, Brewers executives sent maximum donations to Vos
Five executives with the Milwaukee Brewers made campaign donations at the maximum level allowed by state law to Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, two weeks after the Legislature approved $366 million in public funds to renovate the baseball club's stadium.
March 14, 2024
Biden announces billions in infrastructure funding in campaign visit to Wisconsin
President Joe Biden visited Milwaukee for the fifth time during a two-day campaign swing to Wisconsin and Michigan, announcing $3.3 billion in grants for 132 projects in disadvantaged communities across the nation, funded by the bipartisan infrastructure law enacted in 2021.
March 13, 2024
Wisconsin Elections Commission review finds recall effort targeting Vos falls short on signatures
Organizers of a campaign to recall Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos did not gather enough signatures to trigger an election under one scenario reviewed by elections officials, but it likely will be up to the state Supreme Court to ultimately decide the fate of the recall effort.
March 12, 2024
Trump backers submit signatures to force recall election of Vos
Supporters of former President Donald Trump have submitted petitions seeking to force a recall election targeting Wisconsin's top elected Republican, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, who vowed to fight the validity of the signatures and can challenge them on multiple grounds.
March 11, 2024
Trump supporters hoping to oust Vos say they have enough signatures for recall vote
Backers of an effort to oust Republican Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos from office say they've collected enough support to force a recall election and plan to present over 10,000 signatures from his district to the Wisconsin Elections Commission.
March 11, 2024
Feds investigating suspected smuggling at Waupun Correctional Institution
Federal authorities are investigating a possible smuggling ring at Waupun Correctional Institution, with 11 of the prison's employees placed on administrative leave since May 2023 in connection with the probe.
March 8, 2024
Scientists seek to understand impacts of historic lack of Great Lakes ice
An unusually warm winter has left the Great Lakes all but devoid of ice and sent scientists scrambling to understand the possible consequences as climate change accelerates, including bigger algae blooms, more evaporation and beach erosion.
March 7, 2024
Dodge County Medical Examiner says two Wisconsin inmates died of overdose, stroke
The Dodge County Medical Examiner is shedding more light on how two Wisconsin prison inmates died in 2023, with one man overdosing on fentanyl and another died of a stroke that occurred naturally.
March 6, 2024
Another inmate found dead at troubled Waupun Correctional Institution
An inmate found dead at Waupun Correctional Institution is the fourth death in the prison in the last eight months, one of those death was ruled a suicide while the other three are still under investigation.
March 5, 2024
Jon McCray Jones on ShotSpotter surveillance in Milwaukee
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin policy analyst Jon McCray Jones discusses Milwaukee's use of a gunfire detection system and its placement in predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods.
March 1, 2024
Wisconsin cities see a nearly 60-degree temperature swing in under 24 hours
A review of National Weather Service data shows the swing between high and low temperatures from Feb. 27 to Feb. 28 tied a record for Madison and may have set a record for Milwaukee.
February 28, 2024
Diversity in Wisconsin’s high schools and the future of DEI in higher education
As political battles churn over funding for diversity, equity and inclusion at the Universities of Wisconsin, changing demographics influence how K-12 educators prepare new generations of college students.
February 22, 2024
Alder Brienne Brown on impacts of immigration on Whitewater
Whitewater Common Council Alder Brienne Brown discusses communicating with state and federal lawmakers about migrants moving to the community and how immigration has played a role in its history.
February 14, 2024
Kay Robers and Kristine Zaballos on offering aid to migrants
The Community Space free store co-founders Kristine Zaballos and Kay Robers describe their efforts to provide food and household goods to migrants arriving in Whitewater from Nicaragua and Venezuela.
February 13, 2024
Warm conditions lead to first Wisconsin tornado recorded in February
The first tornadoes ever recorded in Wisconsin in the usually frigid month of February came on a day that broke records for warmth — at least one tornado was confirmed south of Madison and the National Weather Service is investigating reports of more.
February 9, 2024
Local officials, advocates seek help for Whitewater migrants
An influx of immigrants to a small southern Wisconsin city over the past two years is straining resources, motivating community members to pursue more public funding and provide direct assistance.
February 8, 2024
Jorge Islas-Martinez on delays, difficulties migrants face
Whitewater resident and immigrant advocate Jorge Islas-Martinez describes long waits that migrants experience in the immigration system and challenges they encounter when they do not speak English.
February 7, 2024
Chief Dan Meyer on growing numbers of migrants in Whitewater
Whitewater Police Chief Dan Meyer describes how a series of law enforcement contacts in early 2022 revealed an increase in migrant families from Nicaragua and Venezuela moving to the college town.
February 6, 2024
Migrants from Nicaragua, Venezuela make a home in Whitewater
Upwards of a thousand migrants from two countries in Latin America have made their way to a southern Wisconsin college town, drawn by hopes of safety and facing legal limbo in their search for work.
February 2, 2024
Milwaukee County banned Section 8 housing voucher discrimination, but landlords still do it
A 2018 ordinance to protect voucher recipients hasn't stopped landlords from categorically rejecting them, and Milwaukee County officials question whether they can enforce the provision.
January 31, 2024
Evers appoints longtime state Sen. Lena Taylor to be Milwaukee County judge
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has appointed Democratic state Sen. Lena Taylor, who was first elected to the Assembly in 2003 and the Senate in 2005, to be a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge.
January 26, 2024
Officials say the city of Milwaukee's past efforts to confront barriers for Black males fizzled due to a lack of coordination, metrics and resources, but a new nonprofit with a trusted leader is taking on the issue.
January 23, 2024
Harris targets Trump as she rallies for abortion rights in Wisconsin
Vice President Kamala Harris targeted Donald Trump for paving the way for abortion bans during a visit to Wisconsin, the first stop on a nationwide tour focused on abortion rights, a critical issue in the 2024 election.
January 22, 2024
Wisconsin’s ‘Smart Growth’ law requires planning to meet housing needs, but enforcement is lax
A lawsuit over a plot of land in Wauwatosa highlights limited enforcement mechanisms in Wisconsin's "Smart Growth" law requiring local governments to craft land use plans consistent with local zoning.
January 2, 2024
Milwaukee County pushes for affordable housing in suburbs to narrow disparities
Officials invest millions of dollars to tackle a mismatch between where residents work and can afford to live around Milwaukee and its suburbs, but experts say success will require loosening zoning laws.
December 27, 2023
Biden touts infrastructure work on lead pipes and tackles Trump in Milwaukee visit
In a visit to Milwaukee, President Joe Biden touted federal support for Black and Latino-owned businesses and work to replace lead water pipes, and rebuked former President Donald Trump's slurs about immigrants.
December 20, 2023
County Executive David Crowley on perceptions of Milwaukee
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley shares his perspective about how he hopes Wisconsinites will view the state's largest metro area as an economic hub and tourism destination in 2024 and beyond.
December 13, 2023
Aimee Schneidewent on peer support for student mental health
Brookfield East High School psychologist Aimee Schneidewent describes the importance of confronting stigma related to youth mental health and efforts by the HOPE Squad to provide support for students.
December 12, 2023
Evers signs $500 million plan to fund repairs, upgrades at Brewers stadium
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bill that spends half-a-billion in taxpayer dollars to help the Milwaukee Brewers cover stadium repairs over the next decade.
December 5, 2023
Sen. Melissa Agard on the Milwaukee Brewers stadium deal
State Sen. Melissa Agard, D-Madison, discusses bipartisan support for and opposition in the passage of legislation to provide taxpayer funding for improvements to American Family Field in Milwaukee.
November 17, 2023
JusticePoint continues jail alternatives work as Milwaukee tries to cancel contract
A Wisconsin Court of Appeals judge ordered the city of Milwaukee to continue paying JusticePoint as a lawsuit appeal continues, but the city lacks a plan to replace its incarceration alternative services if it succeeds in canceling the group's contract
November 15, 2023
Wisconsin lawmakers approve downsized Milwaukee Brewers stadium bill
The Wisconsin Assembly and Senate have approved a plan to spend nearly half a billion dollars in public funding for repairs to the Milwaukee Brewers stadium over the next three decades.
November 14, 2023
Brewers stadium plan amendment would reduce state funding, add ticket fee
Republicans in the Wisconsin Senate proposed tweaks to their plan for repairs at the Milwaukee Brewers stadium that would cut the state's contribution and impose a surcharge on non-baseball event tickets.
November 8, 2023
Milwaukee Public Schools did not distribute $500,000 the district allocated to reimburse parents for gas, bus passes and mileage, and parents say buses still run late in the first months of the 2023-24 school year.
November 6, 2023
Wisconsin Republicans float changes to win approval for funding Milwaukee Brewers stadium repairs
Republican lawmakers suggested changes to a Milwaukee Brewers stadium funding proposal, including a tax on non-baseball events, seeking to boost a plan intended to keep the team in the city until at least 2050.
October 25, 2023
Despite rising temperatures, Milwaukee schools lack air conditioning
About half of Milwaukee Public Schools buildings lack full or partial air conditioning, risking learning loss, but the district has no plan for major upgrades despite growing risks from extreme heat.
October 23, 2023
Helping build Black and Brown homeownership in Wisconsin
The Men of Color Initiative in Milwaukee and Own It: Building Black Wealth in Madison are working to educate and provide assistance to expand the ranks of people who can purchase their own homes.
October 20, 2023
UW to close Washington County, Fond du Lac campuses due to declining enrollment
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman announced the UW-Milwaukee Washington County and UW-Oshkosh Fond du Lac campuses are closing, with in-person instruction ending by June 2024.
October 17, 2023
Federal, local officials agree on $450 million deal to clean up Milwaukee waterways
A project funded by multiple agencies calls for removing almost 2 million cubic yards of contaminated sediment from Milwaukee's harbor and 12 miles of the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers.
October 13, 2023
Theresa Garrison on witnessing ‘urban renewal’ in Milwaukee
City of Milwaukee Bronzeville Advisory Committee member Theresa Garrison shares memories of growing up in a Black neighborhood that was razed in the 1960s in the course of "urban renewal" projects.
October 11, 2023
Waukesha begins pulling millions of gallons per day from Lake Michigan
The city of Waukesha began diverting water from Lake Michigan on Oct. 9, after spending years seeking approval from multiple states and Canadian provinces.
October 10, 2023
What ‘urban renewal’ meant for Milwaukee’s Black residents
A series of demolition and construction projects labeled "urban renewal" destroyed Black neighborhoods in Milwaukee, sparking the open housing movement in the 1960s to end housing discrimination.
October 10, 2023
Hearing considers $614 million public plan to fund Milwaukee Brewers stadium upgrade
The Wisconsin Assembly held a public hearing on a Republican plan to give the Milwaukee Brewers about $614,000,000 in public funding to repair and renovate its stadium and extend the team's lease to 2050.
October 5, 2023
Steve Frisque on the UAW strike and American labor movement
United Auto Workers Local 722 President Steve Frisque describes how a strike by the UAW reflects economic conditions that are motivating a wave of union organizing and labor actions across the nation.
October 4, 2023
UAW strike of Big Three auto manufacturers expands
The United Auto Workers expanded a strike against three large auto manufacturers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis (Chrysler) — with auto parts makers in Milwaukee and Hudson joining the action.
September 29, 2023
Milwaukee regulators can force landlords to fix lead hazards, but only if they can find them
The Milwaukee Health Department faces lead enforcement challenges as the city's ranks of rental property owners who are based outside of Wisconsin grows.
September 27, 2023
What to know about lead exposure as a tenant renting in Wisconsin
A guide offers background information and tips for renters in Milwaukee and across Wisconsin who are trying to navigate the risks of lead poisoning.
September 25, 2023
Milwaukee renters face higher lead poisoning risks as city struggles to hold landlords accountable
There are an estimated 200,000 aging housing units in Milwaukee that likely have paint made with lead, leading the city health department to develop a new approach for removing the potent neurotoxin.
September 25, 2023
Historians race to find Great Lakes shipwrecks as quagga mussels destroy them
Historians are racing to locate Great Lakes shipwrecks before the seemingly unstoppable invasive quagga mussel destroys them and erases physical traces of the region's centuries-long maritime heritage.
September 25, 2023
Republicans propose $614M in public funds for Milwaukee Brewers stadium upgrades
Under a plan released by Republican lawmakers, the state along with county and city of Milwaukee would contribute more than $614 million in public funding to renovate and repairs the Brewers stadium.
September 18, 2023
Planned Parenthood to resume offering abortions in Wisconsin, citing court ruling
A resumption of abortions at clinics in Milwaukee and Madison comes as a lawsuit challenging state law continues in county court, and is expected to eventually reach the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
September 14, 2023
Biden touts economic impacts in visit to Milwaukee in advance of Republican debate
President Joe Biden stopped at a clean energy manufacturer in Milwaukee to discuss how his economic policies are boosting the economy, timed one day before the first anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act.
August 15, 2023
Milwaukee Brewers make major lobbying push for stadium funding
The Milwaukee Brewers want hundreds of millions in public funds for stadium renovations — in the first half of 2023, the team spent nearly $600k in lobbying to make their case.
August 10, 2023
JusticePoint offers incarceration alternatives in Milwaukee — the city tried to end its contract
City of Milwaukee Municipal Court officials refuse to comment on efforts to cancel JusticePoint's contract without lining up an alternative provider, but a legal ruling allows the services to continue — for now.
August 1, 2023
Ixonia property owner sues to keep boaters off flooded private land
A lawsuit filed by a Jefferson County landowner would limit the reach of the so-called public trust doctrine provisions in the state constitution that guarantee public access to navigable waters.
July 28, 2023
Milwaukee County approves sales tax increase as part of plan to avoid bankruptcy
The Milwaukee County Board has voted to nearly double the county’s sales tax, two weeks after the city of Milwaukee approved a local sales tax increase as part of a bipartisan plan to avoid bankruptcy.
July 27, 2023
A Mukwonago mother on her trans daughter’s safety at school
Jane Doe #2, a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit challenging the Mukwonago Area School District over its bathroom access practices, describes trying to protect and advocate for her 11-year-old daughter.
July 18, 2023
Walmart pulls Milwaukee Tool gloves allegedly made by Chinese prisoners
The Congressional-Executive Commission on China is investigating the Brookfield-based tool company's supply chain following a Wisconsin Watch investigation into its supply chain practices.
July 17, 2023
The court fight over bathroom access in Mukwonago schools
After the Mukwonago Area School District required students use bathrooms according to their "original sex assigned at birth," the parents of an 11-year-old transgender girl filed a federal lawsuit.
July 14, 2023
Mayor Cavalier Johnson on Milwaukee’s 2% sales tax increase
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson discusses how the city's approval of a 2% bump to sales tax will avert service cuts and layoffs amid concerns about its conditions and impacts on low-income residents.
July 14, 2023
Alder Russell Stamper II on Milwaukee’s shared revenue terms
Milwaukee Alderperson Russell Stamper II discusses objecting to the state shared revenue deal with its policy directives for the city while still voting for a 2% sales tax increase the law authorizes.
July 14, 2023
Milwaukee council approves sales tax hike as part of plan to avoid bankruptcy
The sales tax in the city of Milwaukee will go up 2 cents per dollar next year after the Common Council voted July 11 to raise the rate as part of a bipartisan plan to avoid bankruptcy.
July 11, 2023
Why child care costs in Milwaukee County prompt parents to leave the workforce
More than 8,300 children in Milwaukee County lack any available professional child care, and the price of care for infants is higher than the vast majority of other counties across the nation.
July 5, 2023
Evers signs bipartisan shared revenue bill designed to prevent Milwaukee bankruptcy
Wisconsin’s Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has signed a bipartisan bill that sends more money to Milwaukee and gives both the city and county the ability to raise the local sales tax in an effort to avoid bankruptcy.
June 21, 2023
Milwaukee bankruptcy avoidance plan clears Wisconsin Legislature
The Wisconsin Legislature has passed a compromise shared revenue bill designed to prevent Milwaukee from going bankrupt that also boosts funding for all other smaller communities in the state.
June 15, 2023
Bipartisan deal reached to save Milwaukee from bankruptcy
Republican lawmakers and Democratic Gov. Tony Evers have reached a bipartisan deal to provide more funding to local governments across Wisconsin, including the county and city of Milwaukee.
June 8, 2023
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
‘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
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’
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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 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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 visited a Milwaukee elementary school to learn about in-person instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic.
September 17, 2021
‘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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
"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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
Law and Order becomes an issue for an Assembly race underway in Wauwatosa.
October 9, 2020
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
Cole Family Arrested and Injured During Wauwatosa Protests
The family's lawyer spoke out Friday during a news conference.
October 9, 2020
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Blake’s Family: ‘My Son Matters’
Jacob Blake's family holds their first news conference since Sunday's shooting.
August 25, 2020
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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”
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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?
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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 looks to be the favorite for the next Democratic National Convention, and the race for state Supreme Court hits the airwaves.
February 22, 2019
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, 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
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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