text stringlengths 237 126k | date_download stringdate 2022-01-01 00:32:20 2023-01-01 00:02:37 ⌀ | source_domain stringclasses 60 values | title stringlengths 4 31.5k ⌀ | url stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ | id stringlengths 24 617 ⌀ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Franklin Public Schools has selected three finalists for its superintendent position, and could have its next superintendent by the end of this week.
The finalists are Annalee Bennin, Corey Golla and Stephen Plank. One of the three finalists will replace outgoing Superintendent Judy Mueller, who announced in January in a district newsletter her plans to retire at the end of the 2021-22 school year.
Mueller has been the district's superintendent for the past five years and has been an employee in the district for 34 years in various roles, including as a teacher, associate principal, principal and director of human resources since 1988, according to an email from Franklin Public Schools' communications specialist Chad Kafka.
Bennin is superintendent for the Sheyboygan Falls School District. She previously served in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District as an assistant superintendent, director of curriculum and instruction and principal. She holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Marian University, a bachelor's degree from St. Norbert's College and is pursuing her doctorate through Cardinal Stritch University, according to a document posted on the district's website.
Golla is superintendent for the Menomonee Falls School District. Previously, he was the district's director of curriculum and learning and principal of Menomonee Falls High School. Golla holds a master's degree in educational leadership from Marian University and is pursuing a doctorate through the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the document said.
Plank is superintendent for the Burlington Area School District. He was previously a principal in the Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District, Lakes Community High School, Mary D. Bradford High School and Durand High School. He was also the director of fine arts at Adlai Stevenson High School in Lincolnshire, Illinois. He holds a doctorate in administrative leadership from Loyola University and a master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the document said.
The three finalists were scheduled to interview with district officials early this week, meet with stakeholders and tour the district, Kafka said.
School Exec Connect, a national search and consulting firm, handled the search process. It started the process by building a candidate profile, according to Kafka.
"To accomplish this, they conducted a superintendent survey to collect as much feedback as possible from parents, staff, community, and local business leaders. They also held focus groups (teachers, leadership, parents/community, local businesses) to get feedback about what to look for in the next supt (superintendent). In addition, they also held open forums for the same groups where people could come and speak about what to look for in the next supt.(superintendent)," said Kafka in a separate email.
School Exec Connect presented six semifinalist candidates to the Franklin School Board to interview. The board narrowed the field to the three finalists and hopes to make its final selection later this week. | 2022-04-26T19:29:30Z | www.jsonline.com | Three finalists are being considered for Franklin superintendent | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/franklin/2022/04/26/three-finalists-being-considered-franklin-superintendent/7444724001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/franklin/2022/04/26/three-finalists-being-considered-franklin-superintendent/7444724001/ |
Bucks in six?
It sure looks like it will be five after they routed the Bulls in Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the series.
Game 5 is set for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Podcast:Grayson Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks have seized control of the Bulls series
The Bucks are 12-point favorites.
The Bucks are favored by 12. Larry Rupp says bet the under. He wrote: "Don't forget that the under hit in 24 of the Bulls' 43 away games this season. A blowout here could lead to a lot of clock-chewing in the second half for a Milwaukee team looking to get the job done at home."
They list the Bucks as a 11.5-point favorite.
The Bucks are listed as a 12.5-point favorite. | 2022-04-26T19:29:36Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks vs. Bulls odds, predictions in Game 5 2022 NBA playoff series | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/26/bucks-vs-bulls-odds-predictions-game-5-2022-nba-playoff-series/9542030002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/26/bucks-vs-bulls-odds-predictions-game-5-2022-nba-playoff-series/9542030002/ |
Menomonee Falls has agreed to work with a Milwaukee business to enable it to buy a 62,000-square-foot building on Commerce Drive.
The Village Board on April 18 unanimously voted to work with Keiding to provide $6.4 million in public bonds.
Keiding recycles paper to make packaging for a variety of products.
This company plans to move into the building at N90 W14507 Commerce Drive, and would create 15 to 20 new jobs in the village. The property is currently occupied by Nova Technology International, but is being sold.
Keiding would also continue to occupy its building at 4545 W. Woolworth Ave., Milwaukee.
More:Construction is to begin this week for SpringHill Suites in Whitestone Station in Menomonee Falls
Financing for the project would come from $6.4 million of industrial development revenue bonds, a program through the federal government that offers the borrowing at a lower interest rate than other traditional options.
Village Manager Mark Fitzgerald said that the program requires a municipal partner. "But we have no liability," he added. He said the financing is underwritten by the federal government. "It is not on us (if they don't pay). We are only a conduit agent," he added.
"It is a great company, and I think it is great for our village," said Trustee Jeremy Walz | 2022-04-26T22:10:33Z | www.jsonline.com | Keiding to use public bonds to finance a Menomonee Falls location | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/menomonee-falls/2022/04/26/keiding-use-public-bonds-finance-menomonee-falls-location/7412318001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/menomonee-falls/2022/04/26/keiding-use-public-bonds-finance-menomonee-falls-location/7412318001/ |
A five-story condominium building containing a mix of townhomes and condos is being proposed for National Avenue in West Allis.
Transit Oriented Development, LLC is looking to combine two properties on the south side of West National Avenue, west of 80th Street, for the $17 million development, according to city documents.
The lots are the former locations of PyraMax Bank and Happy Hobby.
The 87,048-square-foot condo building, which would be called Urban Pioneer, would contain units ranging from "micro condo" studios to 2,000-square-foot townhomes.
The Urban Pioneer name is a nod to the Pioneer Neighborhood of West Allis, the National Avenue corridor between South 76th and South 86th streets, the historical original settlement of the city.
The West Allis Plan Commission on Wednesday will review a special use application along with site, landscaping and architectural plans for the proposed project.
Project would fill a market demand, developer says
Jaqulynn Honl, outreach coordinator for Transit Oriented Development, said the proposed development would fill a need in the city.
"The city of West Allis has experienced a steep influx of apartments built in the area in the last two years," Honl said in an email. "Given the abundance of apartments and the current demand for home occupancy in this location, the development of Urban Pioneer condos and townhomes are timely in the marketplace."
If the project receives city approval, she said they're hoping to see construction start this year.
Condos could help support nearby businesses
The condos would be a good fit for the Pioneer Neighborhood, West Allis Planning and Zoning Manager Steve Schaer said in an email.
He said it would be supportive of nearby businesses, including Flour Girl & Flame, Cream City Print Lounge, Transaction Skate Shop and JC’s Pub and Grub.
"The development presents an opportunity to create additional traction/destination uses within this part of West National Avenue," Schaer said.
The overall height of the proposed building — 77.5 feet — would be comparable to that of the Heritage senior living apartments just to the east, he said.
More:New east side Milwaukee apartment complex will focus on attracting people who don't own cars. Features include Teslas for tenants.
Structure designed to capture 'pioneer spirit' of neighborhood
The building is designed to capture and pay homage to the "pioneer spirit" of the city's historic Pioneer Neighborhood and its industrial roots, according to the proposal.
The double-story ground level would be built with concrete panels to present an industrial strength at the building's base.
The building's main entrance would be at the corner of 80th and National.
"Here, the lobby meets the street as floor-to-ceiling, transparent storefront-style windows offer an inviting look into the building from the sidewalk," the proposal says.
Two-story lofted townhomes with individual entrances and porches would line the building's frontage along West National Avenue.
The building would have a central tower accented by faux stained glass, designed to be an identifying feature for the Urban Pioneer.
Townhomes and condos of different sizes are proposed
Honl said the proposed development would be a mix of one- and two-bedroom ground floor townhomes with lofts, open ceilings and attached garages, as well as three additional stories of condos with access to underground and surface parking.
The condos would range in size and type.
The largest would be two-bedroom, two-bathroom units with 1,800 square feet of space. The smallest would be "micro condos," 500-square-foot studios which Honl said are targeted for the "serious urban dweller who enjoys a smaller footprint and sustainable lifestyle."
Prices for the units will range from $159,000 to $429,000, she said.
Urban Pioneer plans to have 12 diverse floor plans with a "flex-space design," giving homeowners the opportunity to use each unique space in a way that complements their lifestyle.
Interior highlights include custom windows, built-in appliances, walk-in showers, and desired Noor lighting and window treatments, Honl said.
Modular utility walls provide storage, wardrobe, and entertainment needs, along with features such as space-saving Murphy beds.
Minimum parking requirement could be waived
The building would be served by 47 parking stalls, which is below the minimum parking requirement of 73 spaces, according to the proposal.
But city staff is recommending the common council waive the parking requirement because the proposal "aligns with the city's proposed zoning code requirement, has ample on-street parking, targets residents with fewer vehicles and is served by strong access to walking, biking and public transit."
The 47 parking spots would include 10 surface parking stalls and 37 underground parking spaces. | 2022-04-26T22:10:39Z | www.jsonline.com | Five-story, $17 million condominium project proposed in West Allis | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2022/04/26/five-story-17-million-condominium-project-proposed-west-allis/9538153002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2022/04/26/five-story-17-million-condominium-project-proposed-west-allis/9538153002/ |
Caratini played Monday in the Brewers' 4-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
More:Brewers pitcher Brent Suter will debut his children's book in early June
Last season he hit .137 with three homers and 12 RBI in 52 games split between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins. He was acquired from the Marlins on April 6 in exchange for a pair of minor-leaguers.
Additionally, the Brewers announced hard-throwing prospect Abner Uribe will miss 6-8 months after undergoing meniscus surgery on his left knee.
Uribe, a right-hander who has topped out at 103 mph with his fastball, had four strikeouts and four walks in three innings over two appearances this season with the Class AA Biloxi Shuckers. | 2022-04-26T22:10:51Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Brewers catcher Victor Caratini on COVID-19 injured list | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/04/26/milwaukee-brewers-catcher-victor-caratini-covid-19-injured-list/7451082001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/04/26/milwaukee-brewers-catcher-victor-caratini-covid-19-injured-list/7451082001/ |
For the second time in three years – and for his second team – Jrue Holiday has been named by his peers as the NBA’s teammate of the year.
“It’s hard to find all the descriptors for Jrue as a human being, as a teammate,” said Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, who announced the award to Holiday and the team at practice on Tuesday.
“He’s just all about the right things, he cares about people. He puts other people above himself. He just does so many little things off the court that I think people don’t know about. On the court I think people get to see that a lot and appreciate that. He’s just got character, just deep, deep, deep character and it comes out in many, many, many ways.
“So I’m very happy for him, impressed by him. I love coming to work with Jrue Holiday every day. It’s a pleasure.”
More:Get to know Bucks guard Jrue Holiday, who has been influential on and off the court in his first season in Milwaukee
More:Jrue and Lauren Holiday pledge to make profound impact — both in Milwaukee and elsewhere — through social justice fund
The 31-year-old Holiday won the award by accumulating 964 total points in voting although the Dallas Mavericks’ Boban Marjanović received more first-place votes (48 to 39). Marjanović finished second with 936 points.
Holiday also won the award in 2019-20 as a member of the New Orleans Pelicans, and he is the first player to win it twice since its creation in 2012-13.
“I think he just has the respect of his peers,” Bucks guard Pat Connaughton said. “When you talk about awards to be won, I think the ones that speak highest are the ones that are from you peers because we all have that competitive edge, right?
“So you’re all trying to win different things, you’re all trying to win as a team, but when guys on other teams – obviously there’s 15 of us, there’s 450 guys in the NBA – when the 435 other guys are voting for you and you’re getting that award, especially for what he did as teammate of the year, from people that aren’t even on his team, I think that speaks volumes.”
Holiday is one of the most well-respected players in the league, as he won the league’s sportsmanship award last season and was a finalist for the inaugural 2020-21 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award as well.
RELATED: Zach LaVine, Alex Caruso may miss NBA playoff Game 5 vs. Bucks
RELATED:Bucks vs. Bulls NBA playoff Game 5: how to watch on TV, streaming
RELATED:Bucks vs. Bulls odds, predictions in Game 5 2022 NBA playoff series
The teammate of the year award is named after Rochester/Cincinnati Royals teammates Jack Twyman and Maurice Stokes. In the last game of the 1957-58 regular season, Stokes sustained an injury that permanently paralyzed him, and Twyman supported him for the rest of his life as Stokes’ legal guardian and advocate.
“Jrue’s just a great person,” Bucks guard Wesley Matthews said. “He’s a great person on and off the court. Hell of a teammate. Definitely somebody that I wanted to be on a team with for awhile now, so I’m grateful to be on this team and be his teammate.” | 2022-04-26T22:11:09Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Bucks' Jrue Holiday named NBA teammate of the year | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/26/milwaukee-bucks-guard-jrue-holiday-named-nba-teammate-year/7451209001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/26/milwaukee-bucks-guard-jrue-holiday-named-nba-teammate-year/7451209001/ |
The Kenosha Common Council's Parks Commission decided Monday to push off a decision on an Anthony Huber memorial in a Kenosha park.
Huber, 26, died when he was shot by Kyle Rittenhouse during civil unrest in Kenosha following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Rittenhouse was found not guilty on all charges in November.
Huber's girlfriend, Hannah Gittings, filed the request for a memorial plaque at the Memorial Tree in Anderson Park, according the parks commission's agenda.
The commission's chairperson, Ald. Eric Haugaard, said that lawyers advised the commission to table the request and not make an official decision, citing an ongoing lawsuit.
Gaige Grosskreutz, 27, was injured by Rittenhouse's gunfire the night of the shooting, and is now suing a handful of Kenosha authorities, including the city of Kenosha.
The commission allowed for public comments and most of the people who spoke urged the commission to deny the request. Some members of the commission reiterated to the public that a decision to table is not approval of the request, it just means the commission must vote before the request is placed on the agenda again.
All members of the commission, except one, voted to table the request. The one member who voted against tabling the matter said he would vote to deny Gittings' request. | 2022-04-27T02:53:53Z | www.jsonline.com | Decision on an Anthony Huber memorial pushed off to a future meeting | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/26/decision-anthony-huber-memorial-pushed-off-future-meeting/9547449002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/26/decision-anthony-huber-memorial-pushed-off-future-meeting/9547449002/ |
Juvenile arrested in connection to Lily Peters homicide
Mary Spicuzza Chris Mueller Elliot Hughes
CHIPPEWA FALLS - A juvenile was arrested Tuesday evening in connection to the homicide of 10-year-old Lily Peters.
"The suspect was not a stranger," Chippewa Falls Police Chief Matthew Kelm said during a news conference. "The suspect was known to the victim."
Police do not believe "there is any danger to the community at this time," Kelm added.
He said a search warrant was executed at 422 N. Grove Street.
"Evidence was collected, and additional interviews were conducted," Kelm said.
The chief declined to provide additional information about the cause of death, the suspect's relationship to Lily, or where the arrest was made — other than to say it was inside the city limits.
"I'm confident that there's no further danger to the community at this time," he said.
Police had begun searching for Lily after her father reported Sunday evening that she had not returned home from a visit to her aunt’s house on North Grove Street.
Lily's body was found at about 9:15 a.m. Monday in a wooded area near the walking trail.
Police already had received more than 200 tips about the case, Kelm said.
Kelm urged people to continue avoiding the path and the wooded area near the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company and Grove Street, describing it as "the crime scene."
'She's a very sweet little girl'
"She's a very sweet little girl," her great grandmother, Diane Eyerly, said Tuesday in an interview with the Journal Sentinel. "She's very polite and very sweet."
Peters' death rattled the community of Chippewa Falls, a small city north of Eau Claire in western Wisconsin. Some gathered to tie purple ribbons to the lampposts downtown in honor of her memory.
"We're a tight community, a great community of people," she said. "This hit really hard for us."
Teri Ouimette said Lily’s murder has left many in Chippewa Falls feeling shocked and helpless.
"You feel so helpless," Ouimette said. "You want to make everything all better.
"We don’t know what else to do. What can you do?"
"It was like a punch in the stomach. It was awful," she said. "It literally just happened right in our backyards."
'Where we can show our support right now'
A fence near Parkview Elementary — where Lily was a fourth-grade student — was lined with flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and other items left as a memorial to Peters.
Tiffany Thompson and her stepdaughter, Lexy Frank, 8, stopped by the memorial as school let out Tuesday afternoon. The last few days haven’t been easy, Thompson said, but have shown how the community can come together.
"As long as we can show as much support and love to them and keep them informed of how to stay safe in the community right now is most important," she said.
Thompson said she was concerned about how her stepdaughter would handle the situation, but leaving a few items, including a stuffed unicorn and a drawing, at the memorial seemed to help.
"We didn’t know how she would take it, but she's being very strong and she wants to support Lily as much as she can," she said.
As students climbed onto buses outside of the school, Thompson described the memorial as the place "where we can show our support right now."
"Honestly, it makes us feel really warm inside," she said. "The fact that the community comes together and does things like this for a child in our community is very special."
Ingrid Sievers was tying a purple bow outside Olson's Ice Cream, which she owns with her fiancé and his parents.
"We’re all mourning," she said. "It's a small town that's pretty tight-knit and I think it was just a shock."
"We’re just here to show solidarity and love to one another and the family and friends who lost her," she said. | 2022-04-27T02:53:59Z | www.jsonline.com | Juvenile suspect arrested in connection to Lily Peters homicide | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/26/juvenile-suspect-arrested-connection-lily-peters-homicide/9543654002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/26/juvenile-suspect-arrested-connection-lily-peters-homicide/9543654002/ |
9 ways to celebrate the Kentucky Derby around the Milwaukee area, from an 'exclusive' party to a river rubber duck race
Milwaukee may be hundreds of miles away from Churchill Downs, but that doesn't mean we can't get our Kentucky Derby celebration on.
The 148th Kentucky Derby is on May 7. Post time is at 5:57 p.m. CT (6:57 p.m. in Louisville).
So, don hats, bowties and bright colors — and get ready for what's often called "the most exciting two minutes in sports."
Here's what restaurants, bars, hotels and venues across the Milwaukee area are doing for it this year, from Maxie's 15th annual Derby Day party to a KenDucky Derby river rubber duck race in Cedarburg.
St. James 1868 Kentucky Derby Party and grand opening
The St. James 1868 Kentucky Derby Party is also a grand opening for the wedding and special event space two years after its historic renovation, according to a news release.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled to host this celebration at the St. James 1868,” Kate Crowle, the venue's owner, said in the release. “Renovation of the event venue was completed when COVID-19 shut down the world. It couldn’t have been a worse time to open a new event space, but we were cautious, careful, and incredibly patient and now we are ready to celebrate!”
The event, which runs from 2 to 6 p.m., will feature music, food, cocktails and the Kentucky Derby will be played on oversized projections, the news release said. Vendors will include Nobel Catering Company, Front Room Photography, Woodford Reserve and David Charles Productions.
The 25,000-square-foot space, including two indoor and two outdoor venues, will be transformed with a Kentucky Derby theme. The "Hyde" area will have a jockey club look and the "Abbey" will be "a southern experience," the news release said.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve been able to get dressed up and celebrate some of our favorite traditional events,” Crowle said. “The Kentucky Derby is a perfect way for us to dive back into fun, fashion, and entertainment. We hope attendees grab their hats and bowties and come dressed to have a great time.”
Tickets cost $95 and are available through bit.ly/stjamesderby. A portion of ticket proceeds will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, according to the release. The venue is located at 833 W Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee.
Maxie's 15th annual Derby Day party
Maxie's 15th annual Derby Day party returns to its full indoor-outdoor glory on May 7 at the Southern-themed restaurant, 6732 W. Fairfield Ave, per a previous Journal Sentinel report.
Kentucky Derby-inspired menu items will be available May 6 to 8. The party itself, which starts at 2 p.m. May 7 with food, drinks, pre-race coverage and music outdoors by the Jackson Park Jazz Orchestra, will be the biggest since before the pandemic, and it benefits Hunger Task Force.
Revelers have two options for admission. The "grandstand" includes a reserved table with full service in the restaurant (with seating for two to eight people) and guaranteed views of television coverage. The donation is $35 a person, with reservations through OpenTable at maxiesmke.com. Tables, seated anytime from 2 to 3:30 p.m., are reserved until the race ends about 6. Each customer in the grandstand receives two betting forms — actually for a randomized raffle.
Entry to the tented "infield" outdoors is by $20 donation on Derby Day, where table seating is first come, first served. Customers will have access to an outdoor bar and food truck, and multiple TVs will show the race. Each donation includes one "betting" form.
The event is rain or shine, and donations for admission are nonrefundable. The donations go to Hunger Task Force, as do profits from food and drink and proceeds from raffles and silent-auction items. (Admission doesn't include food, drink or tip.)
The party includes contests for best dressed and best hat, so wear your finest.
Maxie's will be open for regular indoor table service after the race, until 9 p.m.; it will be closed May 2 and 9.
- Contributed by Carol Deptolla
Deck shuffleboard and mint juleps at NorthSouth Club
At NorthSouth Club's Kentucky Derby celebration, guests can play deck shuffleboard while watching the derby races — and sipping on a mint julep.
Those interested can reserve a 1.5-hour slot for deck shuffleboard, which includes a mint julep cocktail, a raffle ticket to try to win a bottle of limited-edition Woodford Reserve and a chance to win prizes for the fanciest hat, according to a news release.
All of the races will be played on TVs adjacent to the shuffleboard courts.
The bar, which also has ax throwing, is located at 230 E. Pittsburgh Ave. in Walker’s Point.
Lane reservations, which run from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., can be made at northsouthclub.com.
Jumbotron, contests and specials at Matty's Bar & Grille
You can catch the big race on a new 18-foot LED Jumbotron in the Big Backyard at Matty's Bar & Grille, 14460 W. College Ave., New Berlin.
Matty's party, which starts at 1 p.m., will feature food and drink specials, giveaways and special guests, the event's Facebook page said.
There will be prizes for the best-dressed male, female, couple, and for the best derby hat. Nominations end at 4 p.m. and judging will be at 5 p.m.
Guests can taste the official bourbon of the Kentucky Derby from the Woodford Reserve family from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Space is limited and sign ups for this begin at 1 p.m.
Live music by Jypsy will starts at 8 p.m. inside.
'Exclusive watch party' and also a free shindig at Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel
Milwaukee's Saint Kate - The Arts Hotel, 139 East Kilbourn Ave., is hosting an "exclusive watch party" and also a free party for the Kentucky Derby.
Tickets ($49) to the exclusive event held on the second floor include "private access" to Giggly Champagne & Wine Bar and The Dark Room to watch the race, according to the event's Facebook page. Participants will also receive two drinks and a selection of small bites.
Reservations are required and are limited to 30 spots. Tickets can be purchased at bit.ly/stkatederby.
A free party will be held in the bar on the hotel's first level. There will be live music from a bluegrass band in the lobby and Derby Day festivities.
A drink menu in partnership with Woodford Reserve, featuring mint julep cocktails, will be showcased.
Attendees will have the opportunity to enter a best dressed and best hat contest, the event's Facebook page said. The winner will receive a free night's stay at the hotel and dinner for two. The runner-up will receive a free dinner for four at ARIA.
KenDucky Derby with Rebellion Brewing to support All My Friends Inc.
All My Friends Inc. and Rebellion Brewing are putting on a KenDucky Derby river rubber duck race in Cedarburg to support the All My Friends organization.
Rebellion, N57W6172 Portland Road, will also have themed drinks, live music and entertainment, and a horse-betting game, according to the event's Facebook page.
While Rebellion Brewing opens at 11 a.m., the rubber duck race will start at 4 p.m. at Rebellion/the Columbia Road Bridge, the Facebook page said. The finish line will be at the Cedar Creek Park Bridge.
It costs $5 per duck or five ducks for $20. Monetary prizes will be from percentage of sales, according to the Facebook page. First place will win 10%, second place will receive 5% and third place will get 2.5%. There will also be additional prizes.
Pre-purchasing ducks online at bit.ly/kenduckyderby or at Rebellion is recommended. On-site duck purchases will be first come, first served, while supplies last.
Jumbo screens, entertainment and VIP options at The Iron Horse Hotel
The Iron Horse Hotel in Milwaukee is "pulling out all the stops" for this year's "Talk Derby to Me" party, according to the hotel's website.
The space, 500 West Florida St., will have vendors, food trucks, live entertainment, jumbo screens showing the race, a 360-degree video booth for photos, additional bars and more.
Attendees are encouraged to dress in their "Derby finest" and to compete in the best hat and best bow tie contests.
The event, which runs from 2 to 7 p.m., is free to attend and open to the public. However, there are also three levels of VIP table packages this year, which can be reserved by emailing apaquette@theironhorsehotel.com.
A limited number of souvenir mugs with three mint juleps will be available at the door for $45.
Commemorative glasses and food/drink specials at Spanky's Hideaway
At Spanky's Hideaway's Kentucky Derby party in Mequon, guests who wear Derby hats will get a 148th Derby julep glass, according to the event's Facebook page.
There will be Derby food and drink specials, as well as games. Races will be on throughout the day.
The party starts at 3:30 p.m. at 5208 W. County Line Road.
Kentucky Derby Dinner Train in East Troy
All aboard the Kentucky Derby Dinner Train at the East Troy Railroad Museum, 2002 Church Street.
The train departs at 3:30 p.m. During the experience, guests will chow down on a southern pimento cheese spread with petite toasts; southern sweet potato and spinach salad; small plates of Kentucky hot brown sliders; shrimp and smoked grits; and dirty derby bread pudding, according to the event's Facebook page.
Passengers will arrive back at the Depot at 5:30 p.m., in time for the big race, and will receive more appetizers there, the event's website said.
Prepaid reservations, which are limited, are required. They must be made at least one day prior to the event. Tickets cost $88 and can be purchased at bit.ly/trainderby or by calling 262-642-3263. | 2022-04-27T14:26:20Z | www.jsonline.com | Kentucky Derby 2022 parties at Milwaukee-area restaurants, bars | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/04/27/kentucky-derby-2022-parties-milwaukee-area-restaurants-bars/7309487001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/2022/04/27/kentucky-derby-2022-parties-milwaukee-area-restaurants-bars/7309487001/ |
1. Midwest Gaming Classic
The Midwest Gaming Classic, the weekend-long celebration of all things in the gaming universe, returns to the Wisconsin Center April 29 to May 1. About 100 game creators, champion game players, artists, performers, filmmakers, voice actors and more will be on hand. And then there's the game-playing — everything from air hockey and pinball to board games and role-playing card games. There's a preview night from 6 p.m. to midnight April 29, with the event going full throttle 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 30 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 1. Tickets are $45 for the preview night, $50 for April 30 admission, $25 for May 1, $60 for the two full days (April 30-May 1) and $100 for the full weekend. Kids 9 and younger get in free April 30-May 1. Info: midwestgamingclassic.com.
2. Ice Storm Drone Racing at Pettit Center
Billed as Wisconsin's first indoor pro drone races, the Ice Storm Drone Racing Competition motors into the Pettit National Ice Center in West Allis April 29 to May 1. The races, hosted by Milwaukee Montessori School and drone-racing league MultiGP, will feature more than 50 drone pilots from around the country and as far away as South Korea. The drones are expected to fly around the Pettit oval at 90 to 120 mph. The races are from 6 to 10 p.m. April 29 and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. April 30, with the finals from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. May 1. Tickets are $10 a day or $25 for the whole weekend; kids 5 and younger get in free. Info: wisconsindroneracing.com.
3. Milwaukee Zine Fest
Milwaukee Zine Fest returns after two years of virtual-ness as an in-person shindig at the Milwaukee Public Library's Central Library, 814 W. Wisconsin Ave., from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. April 30. The fest, put on by The Bindery in partnership with the library, is a celebration of small-press and indie publications, with how-to workshops, publications to explore and more than 70 vendors on hand. Admission is free; masks are required. Info: binderymke.com/milwaukeezinefest.
4. Paved Paradise
It's part music happening, part pop-up shop. Paved Paradise, a traveling record shop and block party, camps outside 88Nine Radio Milwaukee, 220 E. Pittsburgh Ave., from noon to 6 p.m. May 1. There'll be two tents of vinyl, CDs, cassettes and other items from five indie record labels Secretly Canadian, Dead Oceans, Ghostly International, Numero Group and Jagjaguwar — the latter the home of Badger State fave Bon Iver and its satellite outfits. Admission is free. Info: pavedparadise.secretlygroup.com.
More:Milwaukee's Memorial Day parade will not continue because of lack of enthusiasm, rising costs
More:'Everyone can be an artist': Children are invited to help create a mural at Village Park in Menomonee Falls | 2022-04-27T14:26:38Z | www.jsonline.com | 4 things you probably should be doing in Milwaukee this weekend | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/events/2022/04/27/4-things-you-probably-should-doing-milwaukee-weekend-apr-30/7388825001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/events/2022/04/27/4-things-you-probably-should-doing-milwaukee-weekend-apr-30/7388825001/ |
'It's not too hard for me:' Two teens with autism team up to create an inspirational children's book
Keira Thompson "loves, loves, loves" basketball. The 15-year-old from Brookfield was introduced to the sport when she was 10. She loves that there's always action going on in the game, she loves her teammates and coaches and she loves learning new skills.
But Keira's favorite sport hasn't always come easily for her. Keira is on the autism spectrum and also has global apraxia, which means motor movements are difficult for her.
"Any type of physical movement or new skill has involved a lot of practice and determination by Keira," said Beckie Thompson, Keira's mom. "I'm incredibly proud of what she accomplishes because almost everything has been a struggle."
MORE:Looking for inexpensive ways to celebrate Mother's Day? These Milwaukee venues have free admission for moms.
MORE:Wisconsin zoos are helping visitors empathize with animals. They hope that will encourage conservation.
When Keira was 8, her occupational therapist recommended she join Special Olympics, an organization that provides sports training and competition opportunities for people with disabilities. At first, she learned basic skills like how to kick a soccer ball. Eventually, she would move on to team sports. After dismissing sports like baseball — she thinks there's too much downtime — Keira found "her sport."
"Keira has a gift for basketball, and she's spent a lot of time practicing and practicing to be good at it," said Beckie. " And it couldn't have been a better thing for her in terms of confidence, socialization and developing leadership skills."
'Mila and the Too Hard Hoop'
Basketball also taught Keira that hard work is worthwhile when the goal is something valuable to a person, and that's a lesson she tapped into when she set out to accomplish her next project — writing a children's book.
"Mila and the Too Hard Hoop" is a picture book about a monster named Mila who — just like Keira — loves basketball, rainbows and her dragon stuffed animal.
Every day, Mila tries to make a basket in her driveway basketball hoop. She tries standing on a chair, she tries with different colored basketballs (she has one for every color of the rainbow) and she tries after getting coached by her older sister.
Every day she fails to make a basket, and the page ends with her declaration that "Basketball is too hard." Then she goes to her room to hug her stuffed dragon, who she imagines is encouraging her to try again the next day.
Finally, Mila decides to try 20 times to make a basket. When that doesn't work, she tries 20 times the next day. Finally, she makes a basket. And the story ends with, "Basketball is hard, but it's not too hard for me."
"It was interesting to me when Keira came up with those scenes," said Beckie. "One thing my husband and I have said her entire life is we never expect you to be perfect, we just expect you to try, and we are proud of you for whatever that trying brings in terms of accomplishments."
Keira has internalized that message, and she said her mom encourages her a lot. "When I can't do something, she tells me to do the best I can do," said Keira.
After Keira took a class about writing a children's book, Beckie encouraged her to take her idea to fruition and publish it.
Working together during COVID
Just like her experience with basketball, the book-writing process turned out to be more complicated than she anticipated.
"It took a long time," said Keira. "I know to a lot of people, six months seems like a short time, but I thought it would be done in, like, three weeks, so it seemed really long."
With her story idea in mind, Keira needed someone who could draw the pictures to make her children's book come alive. She had met MiguelAngel Rosales, who also has autism, in a graphic design class at Islands of Brilliance, an organization that provides project-based learning and mentoring to people with autism.
When Beckie reached out to MiguelAngel's mom Talia, she was thrilled with the idea, and the two teens got to work on their book.
"This was during COVID, so they met over Zoom, and then put together an entire book through email," said Beckie. "The tendency to focus to the exclusion of everything else on one thing is often seen as a negative trait in autism. But they used that to their advantage when they made this book. They focused, got down to their task and made it happen. It was incredible to watch."
Keira would send MiguelAngel her vision for the next part of the story every week, and MiguelAngel (who uses they/them pronouns) would give their artistic input, and the two collaborators wrote and illustrated two pages per week until the story was done.
At first, Keira and MiguelAngel planned to make Mila, the protagonist of the book, an animal. But Keira said they couldn't decide on an animal so they went with a monster instead.
"In the past, I've drawn lots of friendly, colorful animals like panthers and lions and llamas," said MiguelAngel. "But then we came up with the idea of a colorful monster, and it turned out really cute."
Learning to cope with difficult emotions
The collaboration was a learning experience for both Keira and MiguelAngel, helping them to advance their skills in writing and drawing, but also their social skills.
"I was really excited because it shows how much MiguelAngel has matured," said Talia. "They would take suggestions from Keira but not take differences of opinion personally because they understood that this was a collaboration. MiguelAngel was very patient and accepted the feedback."
MiguelAngel agreed, noting their professionalism and remembering a "little bump in the road" when their hard drive died, but they figured it out and kept working on the book illustrations.
"You didn't give up, just like Mila!" Talia said to MiguelAngel, laughing.
The book project helped MiguelAngel as well because it allowed them to focus on art, something they have come to realize helps to regulate their emotions.
"I've been drawing emotions lately so I don't have to use my mouth when I'm upset," said MiguelAngel. "It helps me filter what I don't want to say. If I have a bad time or I'm in a bad mood, drawing helps me feel better. It's like therapy."
For Keira, basketball does something similar — helping her to focus on something that's important to her, even when there are "bumps in the road."
"At one of my first basketball games, my mom invited my physical therapist to watch the game, and a boy knocked me over," Keira remembered.
Beckie said she, her husband and the physical therapist looked at each other from the crowd and thought, "Oh no, this isn't going to go well."
"The grown-ups all thought I was going to get upset and have to go home because I've never liked to get pushed into," said Keira. "But I just got up and ran to get the ball."
Keira knows those moments of trying to deal with big emotions are relatable to all kids, and she hopes to publish more books about Mila, possibly focusing on a different emotion in each book.
Keira said she has an idea for a book about conquering fear, and she thinks she'd call it "Mila and the Too Scary Coaster."
Beckie thinks parents can use the books to talk to their kids about different emotions, and to encourage them to talk through emotions with trusted grown-ups.
"We tell Keira that any feeling you're having is OK, and if you're willing to share how you're feeling, together we can come up with a solution," said Beckie. "If you share with someone you trust, you have the relief of feeling a little less burdened and there's someone who cares enough about you to help you cope."
Keira agrees with her mom: "I try to tell my mom about what I'm feeling." Sometimes I cry a lot, but I tell my mom." | 2022-04-27T14:26:50Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin teens with autism write a children's book about basketball | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/04/27/wisconsin-teens-autism-write-childrens-book-basketball/9476557002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/04/27/wisconsin-teens-autism-write-childrens-book-basketball/9476557002/ |
A fresh face in the Milwaukee mayor's office, Cavalier Johnson blends both change and tradition
The breakthrough finally came. After decades of exposure to high-profile Black politicians, from Vel Phillips to Marvin Pratt, Milwaukee voters elected our first African-American mayor. In a city that has been majority minority since the 1990s, a person of color finally holds the community’s highest office.
Cavalier Johnson’s landslide win in the April 5 mayoral race was certifiably historic, but not entirely on racial grounds. It was also a victory for youth. At 35, Johnson may not be the freshest face to occupy the mayor’s office, but he’s close. Only four of his elected predecessors were younger at the time they took the oath: James Cross (just over 35 in 1855), Dan Hoan (barely 35 in 1916), Carl Zeidler (32 in 1940), and Sherburn Becker (29 in 1906). Becker was a one-term wonder who lives on in local lore as the “boy mayor.”
Editorial:Cavalier Johnson's election is a mark of progress for all of Milwaukee. But urgent challenges are just ahead.
Few politicians in any period can claim a more meteoric rise than Cavalier Johnson. He won his first elective office just six years ago, becoming the Second District’s alderman in 2016. Cobbling together a slim majority of votes, he became the Common Council’s president in 2020, which put him in exactly the right place at the perfect time. When Tom Barrett announced his departure for Luxembourg last year, Johnson became acting mayor and the instant front-runner to fill the remainder of Barrett’s term.
His personality did the rest. I served with Chevy Johnson on the Milwaukee Public Library Board shortly after he became an alderman. I recall him as deliberate, articulate, and anything but confrontational. Those qualities shone through on the campaign trail. Johnson positioned himself as a calm presence in a time of bombast, a conciliatory figure in an age of division. If you want flashy, look elsewhere. Not unlike the city he now leads, the new mayor resembles a Chevy Cavalier much more than a Chevrolet Corvette.
In a longer view, Johnson’s win puts at least a temporary bookend on one of the most extraordinary periods in the history of American municipal government. Milwaukee has a well-publicized penchant for mayoral tenures that seem like geological epochs, politically speaking. The city has had only eight elected chief executives in the last 106 years, and that includes Johnson.
The elder statesman of the bunch was Henry Maier with 28 years in office (1960 to 1988), followed by Daniel Hoan with 24 (1916 to 1940), Tom Barrett with nearly 18 (2004 to 2021), John Norquist with almost 16 (1988 to 2003), and Frank Zeidler with 12 (1948 to 1960). Stability is one of Milwaukee’s enduring values. As long as the wheels of city government turn with a minimum of friction, we’re inclined to stick with what we know.
A pattern less familiar but just as noteworthy is the predominance of open seats in our mayoral history. Dan Hoan was Milwaukee’s only sitting chief executive to lose an election in the last 106 years; everyone else served for as long as he cared to and then retired or moved on to other pursuits.
Hoan’s defeat was one of the great upsets in twentieth-century politics in Milwaukee. During his 24 years as mayor, the Socialist warhorse had transformed the city, which had a long history of corruption in high places, into a model of good government. Time Magazine put Hoan on its cover in 1936 and called him “one of the nation’s ablest public servants.”
A challenger, however, emerged from inside City Hall: Carl Zeidler, a charismatic young assistant city attorney who mounted what many consider Milwaukee’s first modern political campaign. It was short on substance but long on style, emphasizing Zeidler’s blonde good looks, agreeable singing voice, and status as the city’s most eligible bachelor.
On the rare occasions when he did discuss ideology, the candidate was not afraid to engage in redbaiting. When asked why he had entered the mayoral race, Carl Zeidler replied, “I wanted to help free the people of Milwaukee from the shackles of Socialism…. So I became a candidate, fighting against the implantation of foreign ‘isms’ and un-American principles in the United States.”
Such statements must have created some tension in Carl’s family circle; his younger brother, Frank, had already emerged as a leader of the city’s fading Socialist movement.
Voters chose youth over experience in 1940, handing Carl Zeidler a 53% to 47% victory. Dan Hoan, convinced that the Socialist party had run its electoral course, went on to campaign unsuccessfully for governor on the Democratic ticket in 1944 and 1946, and in time he became one of the state party’s most prominent figures.
Although Carl Zeidler had great potential for higher office, his political career ended after only two years in the mayor’s chair. He went off to war in 1942 as commander of the gunnery crew on a U.S. merchant vessel and never came back, the victim of a German submarine attack in the south Atlantic.
John Bohn, as Common Council president, completed the last half of Zeidler’s tenure and won a caretaker term of his own in 1944 before retiring. Every mayor since then has competed for an open seat. All emerged from crowded fields with some quality that set him apart from his rivals.
In 1948, Frank Zeidler had name recognition and a solid record on the Milwaukee School Board. (He also effectively combated the usual redbaiting. When one opponent charged that Zeidler would socialize every corner grocery store in Milwaukee, the candidate went out and got the endorsement of the Independent Neighborhood Grocers Association.)
In 1960, Henry Maier ran on his record as a state senator and one of the builders of the modern Democratic Party. In 1988, John Norquist, another state senator, was the standard-bearer of a youth movement. (He is now 72.) In 2004, Tom Barrett was the seasoned hand, with experience on both the state and national levels. And in 2022, Cavalier Johnson was the breakthrough candidate by virtue of both his race and his age.
For the first time in 18 years, Milwaukee has a new chief executive. Will Johnson continue the venerable local tradition and become another multi-term mayor? That, of course, is a massively open question, but there is no doubt that we have entered new political territory. One side effect of Milwaukee’s epic mayoral tenures is that every transition feels like a new beginning. Chevy Johnson represents another fresh start, but, for all the emphasis on the historic nature of his win, he is also the voice of tradition.
Claiming victory on election night, Johnson said, “We want our city to be loving, nurturing, and stable. That’s why I ran for mayor.” Is there a single Milwaukeean who wouldn’t endorse those sentiments? They have been among our community’s core values for generations, with special emphasis on “stable.”
As a new term and a new day begin, the challenges are obvious, but so are the opportunities. Best of luck, Chevy. May the breadth of your political gifts and the depth of your commitment help you safeguard the best of the old Milwaukee and guide us to the promise of the new. | 2022-04-27T14:27:02Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson blends both change and tradition | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/27/milwaukee-mayor-cavalier-johnson-blends-both-change-and-tradition/9541819002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/27/milwaukee-mayor-cavalier-johnson-blends-both-change-and-tradition/9541819002/ |
After nearly four decades, Ottawa Town Clerk Melissa Klein has led the town's community members through dozens of elections.
"I've been around for awhile, and I have a lot of history in my head," she said. "It's been a really good job for a long time."
Klein, 66, will retire April 29 after 37 years with Ottawa, where she served as the clerk and treasurer — the town's only full-time employee.
There have been many changes over the nearly four decades she's worked in the town.
"I started working before we had fax machines. We've come a real long way since then. We use to do election on little paper ballots. Things have changed tremendously. Technology is a wonder," Klein said.
What she said she'll miss most, though, is working with the community, which she said has become like family to her over the years.
"I've made a lot of friends. I've met a lot of people. It's a small town," she said.
She never set out to become the clerk. But that changed when she moved to Ottawa with her husband and wanted more information on their tax bill as new homeowners.
"I stood outside of the town hall in a blizzard," she said. "And as I usually do, I opened my mouth and said 'Well, I could do a better job than this.'"
She ran as a write-in candidate and was elected 37 years ago.
"She knows the town backwards and forwards," said former Town Chairman Dick Arrowood. "I don't think there's anything she can't get taken care of when she puts her mind to it."
"Very knowledgeable. Did a terrific job," added Arrowood.
During retirement, Klein said she's looking forward to not having to set her alarm for 5:30 a.m. having time to pursue her hobbies, including knitting, gardening, reading and sewing.
"I'm just waiting to goof off. It's going to be a lot of fun," she said.
And she'll get to vote on election day with the rest of the town. On April 5, she worked her last election as the clerk.
"I left that night feeling really good. Elections are really hard. I'm glad to be stepping away from that. There's a lot to it," she said.
"Ottawa has had my heart and soul for a very long time. It's just what I do. I get up and go to work — until this Saturday morning." | 2022-04-27T18:17:07Z | www.jsonline.com | Ottawa Town Clerk Melissa Klein retires after 37 years | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/04/27/ottawa-town-clerk-melissa-klein-retires-after-37-years/7451763001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/04/27/ottawa-town-clerk-melissa-klein-retires-after-37-years/7451763001/ |
But eventually the connection was made and the two perpetrators, young teenagers at the time, were forced to face the consequences, including one incident at a very public location.
A previously unreported 2016 sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl at the Mukwonago Public Library has resulted in the conviction of two teens charged several years after the incident.
As part of criminal investigations that occurred long after the library ordeal Tyler Hoyt, 19, of the village of Mukwonago and Tyler Ledford, also 19, of the town of Mukwonago were also implicated in other sexual incidents from 2014 to 2019 — some involving Hoyt alone and two involving both of them — that involved other girls 16 and younger and a male relative of Hoyt.
All charges arose from a criminal investigation that began in January 2020, when the Waukesha County Sheriff's Office followed up a Child Protective Services report that ultimately involved Hoyt and Ledford to varying degrees. That investigation led authorities to the 13-year-old girl, who recounted the incident at the library sometime between March and May 2016.
Related:How this Milwaukee woman is helping others who've experienced sexual assault and domestic violence
The latter also involved Ledford and allegations that the girl was unknowingly given intoxicants that left her helpless during a joint sexual assault in the camper on the Hoyt family property.
The incidents all involved forcible sexual encounters. The complaint also included a sexual assault involving a 6-year-old male relative of Hoyt in 2014, when Hoyt was 12. | 2022-04-27T18:17:25Z | www.jsonline.com | Teens convicted in 2016 Mukwonago library sex assault, other cases | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/mukwonago/2022/04/27/teens-convicted-2016-mukwonago-library-sex-assault-other-cases/7440971001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/mukwonago/2022/04/27/teens-convicted-2016-mukwonago-library-sex-assault-other-cases/7440971001/ |
Lasry and Godlewski have been buoyed by TV advertising. Lasry's campaign has spent around $4.4 million on ads since going up with its first spot last fall while Godlewski has spent more than $1 million on advertising since going on air last month.
The Barnes campaign has not yet gone up with TV spots.
More:Bucks executive Alex Lasry, Wisconsin Treasurer Sarah Godlewski spend big in Democratic U.S. Senate race
In February, Barnes was the choice of 23%, Lasry was at 13%, Nelson was at 5% and state Godlewski was at 3%. Nearly half of those surveyed didn't have a preference.
"So, a tightening of the race but no evidence that people are making up their minds more," Franklin said.
Meanwhile, Johnson's favorable number ticked up from 33% in February to 36% in the current poll. He was viewed unfavorably by 46% in this new poll.
Just 43% approved of President Joe Biden's job performance, with 53% disapproving, around the same as February.
In the Republican primary for governor, former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch was the choice of 32%, Waukesha County business consultant Kevin Nicholson at 10% and state Rep. Tim Ramthun at 4%.
Nearly half the voters don't have a pick yet.
And significantly, the poll was conducted before the recent entry of businessman Tim Michels into the contest as Republicans scramble to take on Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in the fall.
The GOP numbers are similar to the February survey that showed Kleefisch the choice of 30%, Nicholson at 8% and Ramthun at 5%.
For his part, Evers was viewed favorably by 47% and unfavorably by 42%, around the same as the February poll.
The survey of 805 Wisconsin voters was conducted April 19-24 with a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1%.
For the primaries, 363 Democratic voters were polled with a margin of error of plus or minus 6.6% while 375 Republican voters were surveyed with a margin of error of plus or minus 5.6%.
The Marquette Poll dug into the public's confidence in elections, with 84% of those surveyed confident or very confident in the accuracy of the April election with just 14% say they were not too confident or not confident at all.
Those numbers were in stark contrast to confidence in the 2020 election, which ex-President Donald Trump has falsely claimed was stolen. Sixty-four percent said they were confident in that election while 35% were not.
Franklin said: "People were very confident about the election we just held. I think that maybe suggests that it’s not about the elections or the way we’re holding them it’s about the argument about 2020 rather than the underlying doubt about how elections are conducted in this state."
Most people, including Republicans, hadn't heard enough about the Republican-led probe of the 2020 election in Wisconsin, which is headed up by former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman.
Just 13% approved of the job Gableman is doing while 27% disapproved.
Asked about the possibility of decertifying the the 2020 election, 25% said the Legislature should do so, while 62% said it should not.
Whatever questions people have, though, it's clear voters are fired up about going to the polls this fall, with 57% of Democrats and 57% of Republicans saying they are very enthusiastic to vote in the fall.
"I have to tell you Wisconsin people like to vote," Franklin said.
On some top issues, 69% of voters said they are very concerned about inflation, 50% are very concerned about public education and 38% about illegal immigration.
Twenty-seven percent were very concerned about "crime in your community" while 22% were very concerned about the pandemic.
On education, 16% of voters are very satisfied and another 47% are satisfied with public schools in their community, while 19% are dissatisfied and 13% very dissatisfied.
Those numbers haven't changed much in the last decade, Franklin said.
Fifty-eight percent favor extended tax-payer funded vouchers statewide without income limits for families, while 33% were opposed.
The state's current concealed carry law is backed by 69% and opposed by 26% with only 16% in favor of allowing people to carry concealed guns without a license.
Seventy-two percent of those surveyed support same-sex marriage. In May 2014, just 55% supported same-sex marriage. | 2022-04-27T18:17:55Z | www.jsonline.com | Marquette Poll shows tight U.S. Senate primary between Barnes, Lasry | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/27/marquette-poll-shows-tight-u-s-senate-primary-between-barnes-lasry/9554859002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/27/marquette-poll-shows-tight-u-s-senate-primary-between-barnes-lasry/9554859002/ |
To many around the world, Giannis Antetokounmpo is already larger than life. Soon, he'll be three stories tall — as a mural in downtown Milwaukee.
Mauricio Ramirez, who creates contemporary art throughout the country, is painting a "photorealistic" three-story mural of Antetokounmpo on the east façade of the 600 EAST building, at 600 E. Wisconsin Avenue, according to a news release from the Milwaukee Bucks.
“This collaboration is a nod to one of the greatest basketball players in the game and what he has done and continues to do for our city," Ramirez said in the news release.
The groups behind the project are the Bucks, Milwaukee Downtown Business Improvement District No. 21 and 600 EAST, which is owned by Dan Nelson Jr.
BID No. 21 approached the Bucks with the idea, Dustin Godsey, Bucks chief marketing officer, said in the news release. And, Nelson provided the "perfect location."
"We also want to thank Mauricio for his extraordinary ability to capture the essence of Giannis, and we look forward for this mural to be appreciated and enjoyed for years to come," Godsey said.
More:Giannis Antetokounmpo was the subject of Final Jeopardy on April 26, but the Bucks superfan contestant wasn't around to answer
“Mauricio’s artistry showing Giannis figuratively looking forward — and literally toward downtown Milwaukee, the Deer District and his Fiserv Forum home court — seems fitting for a champion who has achieved so much yet continues to strive to improve every day," Nelson, a longtime Bucks supporter and season ticket holder, said in the news release. | 2022-04-27T18:18:01Z | www.jsonline.com | Giannis Antetokounmpo mural being painted on Milwaukee building | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/giannis-antetokounmpo-mural-being-painted-milwaukee-building/9542615002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/giannis-antetokounmpo-mural-being-painted-milwaukee-building/9542615002/ |
Charles Barkley is never afraid to call out an NBA player in his analysis during "Inside the NBA" on TNT, as was the case with Kevin Durant this week.
But on Wednesday night, the NBA Hall of Famer had nothing but love for Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo on the pregame show before Milwaukee took on the Chicago Bulls for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first-round series at Fiserv Forum
After Antetokounmpo posted a 30-point triple double against the Golden State Warriors earlier this season, Barkley called the Bucks two-time MVP "the man in the NBA."
More:A three-story Giannis Antetokounmpo mural is being painted on a building in downtown Milwaukee
Barkley said Wednesday with Khris Middleton still out with an MCL sprain Antetokounmpo would have the Bucks in the right mindset to close out the Bulls. The Bucks entered Wednesday night leading the best-of-seven series, 3-1.
After sweeping the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, the Boston Celtics await the winner of the Bucks-Bulls series.
Barkley mostly sang the praises of the Bucks on their way to the NBA championship, though he did say the team played dumb at times.
Barkley and Antetokounmpo were both members of the NBA's 75th anniversary team this season. | 2022-04-28T03:26:03Z | www.jsonline.com | Charles Barkley compares Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo with Tim Duncan | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/charles-barkley-compares-milwaukee-bucks-mvp-giannis-antetokounmpo-tim-duncan-inside-nba-tnt/9561716002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/charles-barkley-compares-milwaukee-bucks-mvp-giannis-antetokounmpo-tim-duncan-inside-nba-tnt/9561716002/ |
Mike Hart JR Radcliffe
The Boston Celtics, a franchise that has won 17 NBA championships, will be up next for the defending champion Milwaukee Bucks. Boston and Milwaukee both finished 51-31 this season, with the Celtics earning the No. 2 seed and home-court advantage over No. 3-seeded Milwaukee on account of tiebreakers.
Here's what to know about Milwaukee's opponent in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
Possible starters for Celtics
Jayson Tatum (26.9 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 4.4 assists)
Jaylen Brown (23.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Marcus Smart (12.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.9 apg)
Al Horford (10.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 3.4 apg)
Daniel Theis (7.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Robert Williams (10.0 ppg, 9.6 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Grant Williams (7.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 1.0 apg)
Payton Pritchard (6.2 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.0 apg)
Derrick White (11.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.5 apg)
Game 1 - Sunday, May 1 at Boston, 1 p.m. (ABC)
Game 2 - Tuesday, May 3 at Boston, TBA (TNT)
Game 3 - Saturday, May 7 at Milwaukee, TBA (ABC)
Game 4 - Monday, May 9 at Milwaukee, TBA (TNT)
*Game 5 - Wednesday, May 11 at Boston, TBA (TNT)
*Game 6 - Friday, May 13 at Milwaukee, TBA (ESPN)
*Game 7 - Sunday, May 15 at Boston, TBA (TBA)
They just swept the Brooklyn Nets
Needless to say, the Celtics are playing good basketball right now after sweeping a Brooklyn Nets team that figured to be a tough first-round matchup for anyone (and a title contender in the eyes of many), given that Brooklyn boasted the talents of star players Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and maybe even midseason acquisition Ben Simmons.
But Simmons never saw the floor and the disappointing Nets couldn't even get a game in the only sweep of the NBA playoffs' first round this year. It's the first time Durant has been swept in any playoff series and the first time Irving has gone out in the first round. Granted, the Celtics won the four games only by a combined 18 points, but it still felt triumphant. Oddly, the Celtics had a poor record in close games during the regular season, but not so far in this postseason.
How did Boston do it? The Celtics reinforced their reputation as the league's best defensive team, led by the league's defensive player of the year in Marcus Smart, but star Jayson Tatum was superb in limiting Durant to 38.6% shooting.
They've been the best team in the league since January
Over the final 32 games of the season, Boston crushed teams, outscoring opponents by 14.8 points per 100 possessions.
A team that was once 23-24 closed the year by going 28-7, with a 4-0 start to the postseason thereafter. Perhaps it was jelling under first-year coach Ime Udoka, but it's not as if Boston has merely squeaked by in close games.
Robert Williams is returning, and that's only going to make Boston better
Big man Robert Williams returned to the court in the playoffs after a four-week absence because of a meniscus injury in late March. He played only 30 minutes over two games, but he'd been a major part of the Celtics' turnaround and figures to see increased playing time, especially with the extended rest following the end of Boston's first-round series.
Once he's back to full health, he'll no doubt return to the starting lineup. He's averaged close to a double-double this year with 2.2 blocked shots per game.
Jayson Tatum has taken a star turn
Tatum averaged nearly 30 points per game in the series with the Nets after averaging close to 27 in the regular season, and he's shot 42% from 3-point range in the playoffs thus far. He just turned 24 years old in March and is playing the best basketball of his career, outplaying Durant for the latest feather in his cap. His buzzer-beater in Game 1 certainly got Boston out on the right foot.
The Celtics rely on the 1-2 punch of Tatum and Brown, offering a challenge to a Milwaukee defense that won't have Khris Middleton available to start (or maybe at any point) in the series.
If there's a weakness, it might be three-point shooting
As much success as Boston has had, it's still shooting just 35.6% from three-point range (35.5% in the playoffs), which isn't horrid but ranks a couple percentage points below some of the best teams in the league. It's also fair to note that Milwaukee will present challenges on defense that Brooklyn did not.
Marcus Smart will no doubt be up to no good
Smart became the first guard to win the league's defensive player of the year award since Gary Payton with the Sonics in 1996. He's a big reason the Celtics led the league in defensive rating and points allowed per game, but more importantly in a protracted series, he has the ability to irritate opponents.
Familiar faces aplenty on Boston
Former Marquette University star and Stevens Point native Sam Hauser, who did not play in the series against Brooklyn, comes off the bench. Boston stuck exclusively to its eight-man rotation (expanding to nine when Williams returned), so it doesn't seem particularly likely Hauser would play.
The same can be said for reserve center Luke Kornet, who briefly spent time with Milwaukee this year and is the son of former Bucks player Frank Kornet.
How did the Bucks fare against the Celtics during the regular season?
The teams split the four games, but it's hard to draw many conclusions from the them. The squads met only once after Christmas (before the reborn Celtics began their rampage), and several players were missing from that April 7 meeting.
Nov. 12: Boston, 122, Milwaukee 113 (OT). Giannis Antetokounmpo was unavailable with an ankle injury and Middleton also was sidelined, and yet Milwaukee was still able to force overtime before falling at TD Garden. Boston's biggest threat that night was point guard Dennis Schröder, who's no longer with the team.
Dec. 13: Boston 117, Milwaukee 103. Tatum scored 42 points in Boston, and the Bucks incurred a rare loss with their Big Three of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Jrue Holiday together on the court, though Middleton left in the third quarter with a hyperextended knee.
Dec. 25: Milwaukee 117, Boston 113. In his first game back from a five-game absence in the health and safety protocol, Antetokounmpo scored 36 points, and the Bucks roared back from 19 points down to win on Christmas. Boston was playing short-handed, with enough players in the health and safety protocol themselves that it wasn't clear whether the game would even be played.
April 7: Milwaukee 127, Boston 121. That Milwaukee had to struggle here is potentially a bad sign; the game was at home, Boston was on the second game of a back-to-back and didn't have Tatum, Williams or Al Horford. With seeding implications on the line, the Bucks nonetheless rallied behind the work of Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez.
Who is Celtics coach Ime Udoka?
Ime Udoka, the first Nigerian-American head coach in NBA history, is in his first year as coach of the Celtics, hired by predecessor Brad Stevens, who left the sideline to become the Celtics' director of basketball operations.
Udoka was an assistant with San Antonio (2012-19), Philadelphia (2019-20) and Brooklyn last year, which became especially notable when he met his former team in the first round. None of his 10 teams has ever missed the playoffs.
The Oregon-born Udoka represented Nigeria in international competition as a player and also has coached with Gregg Popovich as an assistant with the Team USA men's national team.
The 44-year-old, whose playing career in the NBA and overseas ran from 2003-12, is engaged to actress Nia Long. They have a son, born in 2011, and he is stepfather to Long's older son.
The Bucks and Celtics have a rich playoff history
There have been some great battles, including in recent history. When Milwaukee beat Boston in five games during the 2019 Eastern Conference semifinals, it marked the first trip to the conference finals for the Bucks since 2001. That Boston team also had younger versions of Brown and Tatum, plus Horford, Williams, Theis and Smart, with the latter three in smaller roles than they play now. Irving, the player recently sent home by the Celtics, played his final game in a Boston uniform in that series.
In 2018, the seventh-seeded Bucks pushed Boston to the brink in the opening round but fell, 4-3. Boston also got the best of Milwaukee in 1987 (4-3 in conference semifinals), 1986 (4-0 in conference finals) and 1984 (4-1 in conference finals) after Milwaukee swept the Bucks in 1983 (conference semifinals).
Boston also beat the Bucks in a heartbreaking 4-3 series in the 1974 NBA Finals, a game remembered for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's buzzer-beating skyhook in Game 6. Overall, Boston holds a 21-18 lead in playoff games on Milwaukee. | 2022-04-28T03:26:09Z | www.jsonline.com | What to know about the Boston Celtics, who face Bucks in NBA playoffs | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/what-know-boston-celtics-who-face-bucks-nba-playoffs/9546942002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/27/what-know-boston-celtics-who-face-bucks-nba-playoffs/9546942002/ |
In a Third Ward condo situated for spectacular views, she adds oodles of her own flower art
At Home With Patrice Procopio
Floral artist Patrice Procopio says she’s spent the greater portion of her life in the pursuit of garden flowers and wildflowers across the Midwest, and that she’s drawn to the outdoors.
Why, then, one might ask, does she live in a condo in the Third Ward overlooking a sea of buildings and the lake?
“The condo is sort of a winter home. I spend my summers at my home in Door County, where I photograph flowers all summer. When the weather changes and I can’t do that anymore, I come here and paint.
“Winter gives me a lot of time to paint. This place is nice because it’s up high and I can see everything around me. It feels a little like the farm in Iowa where I grew up. I can stretch out and nobody is near me,” she said.
Procopio, who specializes in oil paintings showing florals, landscapes and gardens, will open her two-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Warehouse 525 in the Third Ward to the public in this year's Spaces & Traces tour on May 7. The tour is being held in the Third Ward as well as the downtown, Westown and Yankee Hill neighborhoods.
Even though her condo is on the top of her building on the sixth floor, she’s found ways to fill it with flowers, both real and on canvas.
“I have two decks. One wraps around the great room; the second one is off the master bathroom. I have big pots out there, and when the weather is warmer I plant lettuce, tomatoes and basil, and I plant flowers so I still get my hands in the soil, which is near and dear to my heart. I like to get dirt under my fingers,” she said.
Her paintings grace all the walls in her home, giving it a bright and cheerful look.
Procopio said she had to make few changes when she bought her condo 12 years ago, as it was fairly new.
All she did then was repaint her new space, replace sinks in both bathrooms, put new carpeting in both bedrooms, and replace a kitchen backsplash.
“The former owner had done an incredibly hideous job painting it. The kitchen was a grape purple, and the bedroom had rose colored walls. It was a pretty intense color of rose. She also had the master bathroom done in a pink. It was a Pepto Bismol pink," Procopio said.
Because she wanted a neutral backdrop for her artwork and furnishings, she used three tones of a light gray/green color throughout the house. She only deviated when she picked a color for the hallway.
“I have one wall in the hallway that’s a deep, rich red. It’s a long space and I wanted to define it. Now it looks pretty smart.”
She said she updated the sink in her guest bathroom, too, because she didn't like the style.
“It was a clear bowl and then you could see the pipes below. I also added a new cabinet. The new bowl looks like a piece of art. It’s just beautiful. It’s the single most expensive thing I did at this condo, and it’s one of my favorite things. I got it at a high-end store. The bowl is red and gold and sort of a bronze color.
“I changed the two sinks in the master bathroom because they were just boring. The new sinks are big and round and thick and heavy.”
In the kitchen she installed a glass backsplash in tan and brown as a way to define that space, she said.
In addition to Procopio's striking decor, the condo is notable for its commanding views and abundant natural light in nearly every room.
“I have floor-to-ceiling windows in the great room, and there are four doors in there that slide open and have screens that access the deck. Two of the doors face north and two face west.
“There’s another large section of windows with a patio door off the master bathroom that faces north. That patio is deeper; it’s about the width of the bathroom, and I have a little wrought iron table and chair set out there and my pots of flowers. It’s a nice little place for breakfast and to look over at the lake and to see the boats,” she said.
A good portion of the wall in her master bedroom is also made up of windows.
Because the view is so important to her, she added no window treatments, and positioned her furnishings so she could see outside.
She even put the bed in the master bedroom close to the windows.
“When I wake up I can see outside. I wake up looking at the clouds in the morning,” she said.
The view even influenced her color selections in furnishings and accent pieces.
“There’s a lot of red brick, creamy colors, and browns. It’s colorful out there, and I wanted to have those same colors in my living area so it would make the room feel bigger.
“In the kitchen I have a red toaster, a red mixer, a red pot with red utensils, a red tray, and a red teapot. ... In the great room, there’s a cushy red leather chair, red leather chairs at the dining room table, and an oversized oriental-style rug with red in the center,” she said.
The furnishings she added were both old and new and give her home an eclectic look.
“I have a lot of vintage pieces. Some were given to me by my great-aunt Gertie. I also have some pieces that are modern. It’s a real blend.
“In my bedroom, there’s a cedar chest my aunt gave to me in her will. … She knew I would take care of it. I put family history pieces inside it. It’s simple and very pretty, and it means a whole lot to me.
“I also have a tall desk in the bedroom that’s old. It’s not a favorite piece, but it works as I need it to. I needed a place to hold my collection of ceramics,” she said.
Other favorite pieces include a dressing table in the master bedroom that she bought at an antiques store; an Eastlake settee in the hallway from an antiques store in Vermont; and an antique cabinet in the hallway she bought in Cedarburg that she keeps family pieces in.
“One of my favorite things that was given to me is in my studio space, which is off the great room. It’s a large and heavy easel that was given to me in 1973 by a Dr. Weir. He was a friend of my kindergarten teacher. Art was a hobby for him, and he knew I was interested in art. He also gave me oils and brushes, some of which I still have. It was the best gift ever. It has his name and the date he gave it to me written on it.”
When she furnished her spare bedroom, Procopio had Murphy beds installed for when family members visit and added two chairs that she can read in, one vintage and one contemporary.
“I have three children, including one new grandson. My son is in Colorado, and he has a girl and a boy, then my second daughter lives in Europe. Right now she’s in England. My youngest daughter just had a baby boy. She lives near the Twin Cities.
“The library converts into a bedroom when I pull down the Murphy beds. There are also a lot of shelves. I have a rolling ladder so I can get to the tops for my books. The shelves are filled mostly with books on sewing and knitting. I also have a lot of books about special gardens and flowers,” she said.
She recently talked about the tour and how much she enjoys the condo she shares with her cats Lioness and Bella.
“Lioness is a big 20-pounder. She is the sweetest cat. She greets me at the door and she talks. Bella is a shy and retiring cat,” she said.
Question: Is all the artwork in your home yours?
Answer: Most of it. I also have some pieces my children did.
Q: Where do you sell your art?
A: In galleries in Door County and Milwaukee. I also sell at my home here and in Door County by appointment. People can contact me through my website, patriceprocopio.com. In addition to the paintings, I have also designed some clothing with flowers. I’ve done dresses and blouses and palazzo pants. I’ve also made shoes, and I do things like shower curtains that are fun.
Q: Do you have any flowers that are favorites to paint?
A: Poppies. My label on the clothing I make is the poppy, and it’s on my website. They just burst out. They don’t last long, but they are beautiful.
Q: How many condo units are on your floor?
A: Just two. There’s an enclosed hallway between the units. I hung some of my artwork on the walls there.
Q: What areas of the city do you see when you look out your windows?
A: Most of the windows look out over downtown. But I can also see the lakefront from here. When I look at the water, it always tells me what the weather will be like. I also look at which way the flags are moving, so then I know which way the wind will be coming from. I can also see the Allen-Bradley clock tower from here. It’s fun living down here.
Q: Do you have a view from your master bathroom?
A: Yes. I can sit in my hot tub and enjoy myself with a glass of wine.
Q: What kind of windows are in the spare bedroom?
A: That room has transom windows, but it still gets lots of light.
Q: How high are your ceilings?
A:. They’re 14 feet.
Q: Do you spend much time on the balcony?
A: On sunny days when weather is better, I will read outside. I don’t do artwork out there.
Q: Do you grow any indoor plants?
A: Yes. I have a large grouping near the patio door in my bathroom year round.
Q: Can you describe the headboard in your master bedroom?
A: I bought a headboard for the bed that looks like a screen or divider. It’s very architectural. It looks like a screen in the middle of the room.
Q: Can you describe your kitchen?
A: It has an angled island with a black marble countertop and a stainless-steel sink. The cabinets are very contemporary; the tops are painted a cream color, and the bottom cabinets are done in a natural-wood look. They have square knobs. There is also a built-in pantry and stainless-steel appliances.
Q: How would you describe your work space?
A: It’s partitioned off. I have a computer there on one side, and on the right is where my easel is. I have great light there all day long. It’s wonderful.
Q: What do you store in the collection of baskets that partially surrounds your work space?
A: I store fabrics and other things for sewing in them, and also things for my other projects.
Q: Did you sew and/or re-cover any pieces in your home?
A: I made the cover duvet and the shams in my bedroom. The design is from one of my original paintings, and I had it printed on the cloth. I also re-covered a number of the pieces in my home, like the small settee in the master bedroom.
Q: Do you use your dining room table much?
A. I do have sit-down meals, so I do use it. It’s in the great room. The top is a chunk of quartz. The chairs are covered in red leather.
Q: Do you entertain much?
A: Not that much anymore, but I like to entertain here on July 4 for the fireworks.
Q: Can you tell me about the collage in the lobby of your building?
A: It’s a piece of artwork I made that shows the history of the building. There are bits and pieces of the kinds of things that would have been found in this building. I found most of the pieces online from places in Wisconsin. When this building was first built in 1916, there were only three stories and it was used for printing. Then two more floors were added, and it continued to be used for printing. They added the sixth floor when the building was rehabbed and turned into condos 16 years ago.
Q: Is this your first time on a home tour?
A: Yes, but I have had so many people visit my studio over the years because of my art. I’m pretty used to having people around.
Q. Why did you decide to participate in this tour?
A: It’s a fun space, and I want to let people see it as well as my art. I would also like to see more seniors moving into this area. Now there are a lot of younger people moving in. It’s a wonderful area.
Q: What style is your Door County home?
A: It reminds me of a house in Nantucket. It’s very contemporary. We like to spend time up there around New Year's and Christmas. It’s three stories. It’s white and blue with yellow accents. It’s about 36 years old and is on Whitefish Dunes beach.
Q: What do your gardens in Door County look like?
A. I have two boats I put plants in. One is a larger boat, and one is a canoe. Those are my planters. I don’t do heavy gardening anymore. I do have a lot of flowers up north, some that my parents bought me. I have some family treasures up there. I have a yellow day lily, a pink peony, rhubarb and a fernleaf peony. … I really love the plants. That’s how my floral artwork came about.
Do you, or does someone you know, have a cool, funky or exquisite living space that you’d like to see featured in At Home? Contact Joanne Kempinger Demski at .joanne.demsk@gmail.com.
What: Spaces & Traces 2022: Organized by Historic Milwaukee. Guided tours of restored and newly constructed apartments, condos, hotels, commercial spaces
Where: In Milwaukee’s downtown, Westown, Yankee Hill and Third Ward neighborhoods.
When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 7.
Tickets: $20 for members of Historic Milwaukee, $25 for no-members, $10 for volunteers.
Other events: Three virtual lectures are included in the ticket price: Historian John Gurda will talk about neighborhoods on the tour at 6 p.m. May 2; Lafayette Crump, Milwaukee commissioner of city development, will discuss efforts to update the downtown plan at 5:30 p.m. May 4; developer Juli Kaufmann and architect Patrick Jones will discuss the Dubbel Dutch hotel renovation at 6 p.m. May 9.
For tickets and more information: See historicmilwaukee.org or call (414) 277-7795. | 2022-04-28T11:29:49Z | www.jsonline.com | Spaces & Traces 2022 tour condo is packed with art, great views | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/home-garden/at-home-with/2022/04/28/spaces-traces-2022-tour-condo-packed-art-has-great-views-third-ward-historic-milwaukee/7438333001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/home-garden/at-home-with/2022/04/28/spaces-traces-2022-tour-condo-packed-art-has-great-views-third-ward-historic-milwaukee/7438333001/ |
The first of five courts planned to address a criminal case backlog in Milwaukee County could open as soon as June, the county's chief judge said this week.
The second and third courts likely will open later in the summer, Chief Judge Mary Triggiano told the Community Justice Council.
The new courts are the centerpiece of the criminal justice system's plan to clear the pandemic-related backlog using $14.6 million in COVID-19 relief funds.
As of April 25, Milwaukee County had a backlog of 1,665 felony cases, 2,411 misdemeanor cases and 812 criminal traffic cases.
"It's an all hands on deck approach," Triggiano said. "Again, we're all working at making sure we use this money efficiently and effectively."
The criminal justice system faces a steep challenge in getting those courts up and running as it contends with an ongoing labor shortage. The relief funds will be used to hire more than 30 attorneys, half prosecutors and half public defenders.
The shortage of public defenders has been especially apparent in recent weeks. Two women charged with shooting a George Webb employee in Wauwatosa waited months before getting a public defender. One Milwaukee County court commissioner has even recorded a speech about the problem that he's been playing in the courtroom.
"We have a very significant concern about the shortage of lawyers taking criminal appointments," said Tom Reed, regional attorney manager for the State Public Defender's Office.
Historically, the office in Milwaukee always had enough staff or private bar attorneys — who get paid a set rate to take public defender cases — to manage the caseload, but that changed during the pandemic, he said during the Community Justice Council meeting.
"One of the things that has created the backlog, or contributed to the backlog, is that there are quite a few people that we are delayed in getting lawyers for them and their cases just sort of languish a bit until we can get a lawyer appointed," Reed said.
Reed previously said the relief money will be used to pay for staff attorneys in the Public Defender's Office, not privately appointed attorneys.
The private pay rate is $70 per hour if the attorney is contracted through the state Public Defender's Office but jumps to $100 per hour if a judge orders a private bar appointment. If a judge orders the appointment, the county picks up the cost, not the state.
The Community Justice Council is working to get agreements signed with the state and county to finalize how the relief funds will be spent and accounted for, said Mandy Potapenko, the council's director.
"The award of the funds is just kind of a starting point for us to continue to work together to try and problem-solve," she said.
This week, the council also announced it had awarded sub-grants to four community organizations, marking the first time it had taken such an action. Project RETURN, Milwaukee Turners and The Way Out each received $34,500, while Clean Slate received $34,000.
Project RETURN will use the money to expand its Circle of Support programming for people coming home from incarceration. Milwaukee Turners will use the money for Level Up From Stress, a wellness program for those impacted by the justice system.
The Way Out is expanding its ability to match people involved in the justice system with employment, while Clean Slate MKE is working to help people expunge criminal records or receive executive clemency.
Funding came from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and its Safety and Justice Challenge initiative, which Milwaukee has been part of since 2016. | 2022-04-28T11:30:01Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee courts to address criminal case backlog to open in June | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/28/milwaukee-courts-address-criminal-case-backlog-open-june/9559342002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/28/milwaukee-courts-address-criminal-case-backlog-open-june/9559342002/ |
One thing I’ve learned from 35 years of Wisconsin politics is that predicting the outcome of elections in a 50/50 state can be a fool’s exercise.
But here’s a prediction I feel pretty confident in making.
I am betting that for all practical purposes, these legislative races have already been decided.
And I’m betting they’ve been decided not by the quality of the candidates or the power of their ideas or the size of their war chests or the persuasiveness of their message or the mood of the voters.
I’m betting that they’ve been decided by the way that the state Assembly’s 99 districts have been drawn.
At the end of a high-stakes redistricting fight, Wisconsin’s highest court ruled a few weeks ago in favor of a legislative map passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature, the same legislature that owed its lopsided majorities to a gerrymandered map passed in 2011.
Let’s recap what this new legislative map looks like — how favorable it is for one party and how hostile it is to competitive elections.
Then we’ll talk about how we got to the point where the map is the election, and the election is an afterthought.
To evaluate the new map, you need to understand the partisan makeup of the 99 Assembly seats and 33 state Senate seats in Wisconsin.
There are different ways to measure this, but the one I’ve been using has a pretty simple logic to it. Drawing on data generated by John Johnson, research fellow at the Marquette Law School’s Lubar Center, I looked at how every legislative district voted in the state’s three most recent top-of-the-ticket elections: for president in 2016 (won by Republicans by eight-tenths of a point); for governor in 2018 (won by Democrats by 1.1 point) and for president in 2020 (won by Democrats by six-tenths of a point).
Why these races? They were important. They were recent. And they were close. They mirrored the state’s overall 50/50 character. Wisconsin has roughly equal numbers of Republican and Democratic voters statewide, and these contests reflected that.
To calculate each district’s partisan lean, I simply averaged the outcome of all three elections. For example, if a district’s voters gave Republicans a 5-point margin for president in 2016, a 6-point margin for governor in 2018 and a 7-point margin for president in 2020, that meant this district has a 6-point Republican lean.
What does this analysis tell us?
That the new legislative map, drawn by Republican lawmakers and approved by the conservative 4-3 majority on the state Supreme Court, all but guarantees huge GOP majorities in both the state Assembly and state Senate.
What’s more, the new map is even more favorable to Republicans than the gerrymandered map that governed legislative elections over the previous decade, from 2012 through 2020.
Under that map, 61 of the 99 Assembly districts tilted toward the GOP in their makeup. But under the new map, 63 Assembly districts lean Republican, meaning if the Republican Assembly candidate wins each district in which Republican voters outnumber Democratic voters, the GOP will win 27 more seats than Democrats (63-36).
Under the old map, 21 or 22 of the 33 state Senate districts tilted toward the GOP. But under the new map, 23 lean Republican in their makeup, meaning in a 50/50 election year in this 50/50 state, Republicans can be expected to win more than twice as many seats as Democrats (23-10).
The new map makes a two-thirds super-majority (enough to override a governor’s veto) very likely in the state Senate. In the Assembly, it gives the GOP a plausible shot at winning 65 seats (one shy of two-thirds) but winning a 66th seat is improbable. since it would require winning at least one district with a 7-point Democratic lean.
Democrats don’t have the faintest chance of winning control of either chamber under this map.
To win the state Senate over the next few years, Democrats would have to win seven seats that lean Republican, including five seats that have at least a 5-point GOP lean and one seat that has a 10-point GOP lean.
The dwindling of competitive seats
Aside from its partisan skew, the new map further reduces the number of competitive seats. Gerrymanders achieve their purpose by drawing uncompetitive districts — in this case, a minority of safe Democratic seats and a majority of safe Republican seats.
Of 99 Assembly districts in the new map, only 14 have a partisan lean of less than 10 points. That is down from 21 under the previous gerrymandered map, and down from around 40 under the court-approved map in use during the 2000s.
Only seven have a partisan lean of under 5 points, compared to nine in the previous map and around 20 in the map before that.
And only two have a partisan lean of under 5 points, compared to three under the previous map, and 7 or 8 under the map before that. There is only one state Senate district that has a partisan lean of under 4 points, meaning there are arguably fewer competitive state Senate seats in Wisconsin now than there are competitive U.S. House seats (two of Wisconsin’s eight U.S. House districts are competitive under the new congressional map approved by the state Supreme Court).
Not only is control of the Legislature now a foregone conclusion, but so is control of all but a handful of individual seats.
You can see how this works from the previous gerrymander. Between 2012 and 2020, the overall outcome in the state Assembly varied little, no matter which party was winning statewide elections or by how much. Republicans won 60, 63, 64, 63 and 61 seats respectively. Individual districts rarely changed hands from one party to the other. It happened only seven times in the 396 Assembly races from 2014 to 2020.
How did we get to the point where legislative elections were so meaningless?
Gerrymandering isn't the only factor
Gerrymandering is a central reason, though it isn’t the only reason.
Even without a gerrymandered map, Republicans would have a better shot than Democrats at winning the Wisconsin Legislature.
But the 2011 and 2022 gerrymanders have given the GOP a much more lopsided edge than it would have had “naturally,” and have very purposefully reduced the number of competitive seats.
The final factor worth noting here is the courts.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in 2019 that partisan gerrymanders were beyond the purview of the federal courts, which meant that federal judges couldn’t reject a legislative or congressional map simply because it was drawn to excessively favor one party.
The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled in November, amid a redistricting impasse between the Republican Legislature and the Democratic governor, that it would accept only maps that made minimal changes to the pre-existing districts enacted by Republicans in 2011.
That effectively enshrined a deeply gerrymandered map drawn by politicians elected more than a decade ago. And it meant that even Democratic alternatives to the GOP plan would strongly favor the GOP, just by a little bit less.
Democrats won a short-lived and modest legal victory when the state Supreme Court last month chose a plan submitted by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers over the Legislature’s plan. The Evers plan still baked in Republican control of the Legislature. But it had slightly fewer Republican-leaning seats (60 in the Assembly instead of 63), slightly more competitive seats, and would have cut more deeply into GOP majorities in good Democratic years.
The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Evers’ legislative map, however, leading the state Supreme Court to adopt the GOP plan. (More litigation is expected after the 2022 election).
Contact Craig Gilbert at craig.gilbert@marquette.edu. | 2022-04-28T11:30:07Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin redistricting gives Republicans a lock on the Legislature | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/analysis/2022/04/28/wisconsin-redistricting-gives-republicans-lock-legislature/9559616002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/analysis/2022/04/28/wisconsin-redistricting-gives-republicans-lock-legislature/9559616002/ |
MADISON – Tim Michels wants his family’s construction business to continue to seek millions of dollars in state contracts if he’s elected governor, arguing he wouldn’t have a role in whether the firm gets any work.
The approach he plans to take could create ethical challenges for him because state law bars officials from taking actions that benefit them financially. The amount of money in question is huge — Michels Corp. of Brownsville has received more than $660 million in payments from the state in the last five years, records show.
Michels jumped into the Republican primary last week with plans to bankroll his campaign using the fortune he has amassed from his family business.
Mac Davis, a former state senator and former judge who previously served on the state Ethics Commission, said Michels would have a difficult time navigating the state's ethics code if he is elected and maintains his ownership stake in Michels Corp.
State law requires governors to sign road construction contracts valued at more than $1,000. The requirement to approve those contracts is in conflict with the ethics code's ban on taking official actions that benefit oneself, Davis said.
"What are the governor's official duties? And I don't think he can delegate them," Davis said. "He can't say, 'Well, I just, on Michels' road contracts, I'll leave that to the lieutenant governor.' I doubt that works at all because he's made the decision to delegate it, so he's still in charge, so to speak."
A Republican, Davis said he is not backing anyone yet in the primary. Also running are former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, management consultant Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Tim Ramthun of Campbellsport.
Former Republican Gov. Scott McCallum said he thinks Michels could find a way to avoid conflicts with his family business if he's elected. He's endorsed Kleefisch but said the public should welcome candidates like Michels to the field.
"The last thing you want are just people that have been brought up in government who have done nothing in their life — so I see that as a positive, somebody who's had real work experience," he said.
McCallum noted Michels will have to publicly report his holdings during the campaign, which he said will help voters decide if they think he has any conflicts of interest.
"If his family business is bidding on something, he can abstain from being involved in that decision until it just comes to his signature," he said.
Michels told WTMJ-AM on Monday he was "stepping aside" from Michels Corp., which according to his campaign means he is no longer on its payroll. The campaign has given no indication that he has given up any of his ownership stake in the company he and his brothers have run for years.
In the radio interview, Michels noted that roadbuilding work for the state Department of Transportation goes to the lowest qualified bidder.
“The governor has no say in who gets DOT contracts,” Michels said. “And I’m stepping aside from the business today anyhow. I’m going to focus on leading Wisconsin and doing the right thing for all the people of Wisconsin.”
Asked whether the company would seek state work if he became governor, Michels said: “I certainly hope so. It won’t be my decision. It will be my brothers’ decision but again we bring value — we bring value to the taxpayers of Wisconsin.”
While state officials have little discretion in awarding construction contracts because they go to the lowest qualified bidder, governors can prevent or delay roadwork by putting off signing contracts.
Governors also have a large say in how much the state spends on roadwork every year in budgets they write in conjunction with lawmakers. The more spent on roads, the more opportunities for all contractors to win state work.
The state is spending more than $2.2 billion on road and bridge projects this year. Those jobs are being funded with a mix of state and federal money, with the state money largely coming from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees.
Michels' opponents see his business ties as a campaign issue.
"Wisconsinites deserve a governor who will make decisions because they’re best for our state, not because they’re best for their personal interests," said a statement from Kayla Anderson, a campaign spokeswoman for Evers. "Anyone running for governor, and especially a candidate whose business relies on state contracts, needs to give Wisconsinites a clear plan on how they’ll avoid conflicts of interest and protect taxpayer dollars.”
Courtney Mullen, a spokeswoman for Nicholson, released a statement that said Nicholson "makes his living in the private sector, completely separate from the Madison industrial complex."
"To get our society back on track, we need new leadership in Wisconsin — and it needs to be an actual outsider," the statement said. | 2022-04-28T11:30:13Z | www.jsonline.com | Michels wants family business to seek state contracts if he's governor | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/28/michels-wants-family-business-seek-state-contracts-if-hes-governor/9556872002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/28/michels-wants-family-business-seek-state-contracts-if-hes-governor/9556872002/ |
'The mistakes made were mine': Wisconsin hockey coach Tony Granato feels the heat, especially after a contract extension
MADISON – When Tony Granato and athletic director Chris McIntosh discussed the state of the Wisconsin men’s hockey program, they quickly reached a consensus:
The Badgers, who slid to fifth place in the Big Ten last season and failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament just one year after winning the league’s regular-season title, aren’t winning at the level that is expected.
“I want to get better,” Granato said by phone Wednesday afternoon. “Two years ago, we won the Big Ten. Last year we had a bad, bad year. I want to get back to where we can win and compete for the Big Ten, but not just have one push and then fall back. I want to be able to sustain it.
“That is the goal that Mac and I talked about. How can we be more consistent? We don’t want to see a Big Ten title and then drop to fifth place the following year.
“Being consistent is about being better prepared for underclassmen to leave all at the same time. That is what this summer is all about and about the (transfer) portal.
“The portal is a free-agent market. As a university and as a program and as a coach you’ve got to be on your toes to understand that how recruiting and how filling your roster once was is now different. That is the season we are in now.”
McIntosh announced Friday that Granato, who has led the Badgers to the NCAA Tournament just one time in his six seasons as head coach, would return next season. The UW athletic board then approved a standard one-year contract extension.
The Executive Committee of the UW Board of Regents was scheduled to discuss Granato’s contract earlier this week, but UW officials have no discussed whether the contract was amended.
McIntosh could not be reached Wednesday and Granato declined to discuss any specifics.
Led by Cole Caufield, UW won the 2021 Big Ten regular-season title with a 17-6-1 mark but was upset in the opening round of the NCAA tournament and finished 20-10-1.
This past season, the Badgers never overcame the departure of Caufield and other key players and finished 6-17-1 in the Big Ten and 10-24-3 overall.
Associate head coach Mark Strobel then resigned after five years on the staff. Granato does not have a timetable to find a replacement.
“It is important to go through the process to find the right person that fits our needs and will come in and help us,” he said. “There is always recruiting to do, so the quicker we can get our person in, the quicker we can get them on the road.
“But I’m not going to rush it just to get that body in. I want to go through the process the right way. There are still some coaches coaching that could be the right fit, whether it be the USHL or other leagues. We’re going to do it right and make sure that everybody that is interested has an opportunity to show what they can bring to us.”
Granato’s task remains showing he and his staff can produce teams that win consistently.
“We wanted to carry the momentum from last year into this year to be able to sustain the consistency and the level our program should be at,” he said. “The mistakes made were mine and because of that the season didn’t go as well as expected.
“All you can do is learn and try to move forward in a positive way. I’ve done that. I’ve taken last year and accepted responsibility that the performance wasn’t up to par.
“We all want to be in the Big Ten championship game. We all want to be in the (NCAA) tournament every year.
“If I didn’t think we could do it, I’d be somewhere else right now.” | 2022-04-28T11:30:19Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin hockey coach Tony Granato takes blame for team's fall | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/04/28/wisconsin-hockey-coach-tony-granato-takes-blame-teams-fall/7451685001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/04/28/wisconsin-hockey-coach-tony-granato-takes-blame-teams-fall/7451685001/ |
Brett Favre will do a weekly radio interview during Green Bay Packers season on ESPN Milwaukee's 'Jen, Gabe & Chewy' show
Talk about a Monday morning quarterback.
Green Bay Packers legend and NFL Hall of Famer Brett Favre will do a weekly half-hour interview on the "Jen, Gabe & Chewy" show on WKTI-FM (94.5), aka ESPN Milwaukee, Monday mornings at 7:30 a.m. starting Aug. 29, the sports-talk station's owner, Good Karma Brands, announced Thursday.
Favre will be in familiar company; Chewy, of course, is former Packers tight end Mark Chmura, who co-hosts the show with Jen Lada and Gabe Neitzel. Chmura and Favre were teammates on the Packers from 1993-1999.
The addition of Favre — a popular and sometimes controversial figure in Packers history who helped lead the team to two Super Bowls and was a key player in the team's resurgence in the 1990s — comes as another Good Karma station, WTMJ-AM (620), is losing its role as flagship station for Packers game broadcasts to WRNW-FM (97.3).
Good Karma said the Favre interviews will be replayed on other ESPN Wisconsin shows; news-talk stations WTMJ-AM (620) and The Truth at 101.7 FM; and Good Karma's digital platforms. | 2022-04-28T14:33:21Z | www.jsonline.com | Brett Favre to have weekly radio gig during Green Bay Packers season | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/04/28/brett-favre-have-weekly-radio-gig-during-packers-season-wtki-fm/9568492002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/04/28/brett-favre-have-weekly-radio-gig-during-packers-season-wtki-fm/9568492002/ |
Maureen Busalacchi
The data is clear: Wisconsin has the highest rate of excessive alcohol consumption in the nation.
Both in Wisconsin and nationwide, deaths with alcohol as an underlying or contributing cause of disease have increased by more than 25% during the pandemic.
Unfortunately, alcohol use causes death in other ways, such as suicide, violence, motor vehicle crashes and falls (especially among the elderly). The number of Wisconsinites who died from alcohol-related falls more than tripled in the last two decades.
Roughly half the deaths due to alcohol are not disease related, yet all alcohol-related deaths are preventable.
And disturbingly, the data show that Black Wisconsinites have higher alcohol-related deaths than the average among Black people nationally. The oversaturation of alcohol outlets, especially in Black neighborhoods, is striking. The data show that there is a direct relationship between alcohol availability and alcohol-related problems such as violence.
Alcopops, also known as flavored malt beverages, which have higher alcohol content and cost less per standard drink than most beer, have made the problem worse. Those who market and sell alcopops often target Black neighborhoods.
A statewide effort to reduce the effects of overconsumption of alcohol
Given this data, the State Council on Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse recently released the report, "Moving Forward: Policies and Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Excessive Alcohol Use in Wisconsin." It recommends ways to reduce the billions spent on injuries, chronic health conditions and deaths due to the overconsumption of alcohol.
The report doesn't focus on people who do not drink excessively. But it's a fact: Reducing excessive drinking could save all taxpayers money — more than $650 per person. And it could increase public safety, reduce injuries and reduce alcohol-induced diseases, including cancer.
We also could better protect our children.
When teens drink alcohol, especially if they binge drink, their brain development can be stunted, causing academic problems, loss of interest in hobbies and sports, difficulty with learning and memory, and leaving them vulnerable to assaults, poisonings, motor vehicle crashes and legal issues.
Excessive alcohol use is defined this way:
• Binge drinking (four to five drinks in a single occasion).
• Any drinking while pregnant.
• Heavy drinking (more than one drink for women; more than two drinks a day for men).
• Underage drinking.
There are effective ways to reduce excessive alcohol use research has shown, and everyone can play a role in making Wisconsin safer and healthier. Civic organizations, health care systems, local and state government, and others can all take steps to help Wisconsin thrive.
Hosting an event? There is no need to provide alcoholic beverages, but if you do, provide fewer. Municipalities could operate semi-annual alcohol age compliance checks in every town, village and city in our state to discourage the sale of alcohol to kids. State government could fund prevention efforts and law enforcement to reduce kids’ access to alcohol.
The state council, through its prevention committee, worked with a group composed of experts and people who have experienced loss and harm from alcohol to develop recommendations that support the goal of reducing heavy drinking, binge drinking and alcohol-related deaths.
The workgroup was charged with identifying barriers to reducing alcohol consumption. Members discussed possible recommendations, new research and data that showed the most harmful alcohol-related problems. They heard from representatives of the alcohol industry.
One of the hallmarks of the report is its focus on primary prevention. It doesn’t include more penalties for operating a vehicle while intoxicated but does show ways to stop the over-serving of alcohol at its source. The report also recommends screenings and brief interventions to identify people at risk of developing an alcohol-use disorder and providing the support needed to help them reduce or stop drinking before it escalates.
Other top recommendations from the report:
• Raising the price of alcohol, which could reduce youth, binge and heavy drinking.
• Reducing the density of alcohol outlets.
• Compliance checks to help enforce the drinking age.
• Banning alcohol advertising from municipal property
• Avoiding encouragement of excessive alcohol consumption at celebrations and fundraisers
These recommendations challenge Wisconsin’s drinking culture.
Wisconsin has allowed additional alcohol licenses; increased hours of sale; increased access to alcohol such as takeaway drinks; and the state lacks sufficient enforcement resources.
Generally, Wisconsin policies related to alcohol sales over the past decade have focused on increasing availability and accessibility to alcohol under the false assumption that the alcohol beverage industry was an economic driver.
Wisconsin, meantime, has dedicated almost no state resources to reduce excessive alcohol use.
Unfortunately, the data show that the cost of excessive alcohol use to the state far exceeds the money collected through alcohol taxes. For example, the cost of binge drinking alone, including costs to health care, government and lost productivity, is more than 60 times the alcohol tax revenue collected.
Wisconsin is a local control state, but without sufficient financial support from the state government, municipalities are stymied. Municipalities issue nearly all alcohol licenses and have the authority to police them. But while some municipalities have put a great deal of effort into reducing excessive alcohol use, many report they do not have enough resources to conduct semiannual alcohol age compliance checks and enforce other policies.
The first step in solving a problem is recognizing that it exists. The second is creating solutions. The state council's alcohol prevention workgroup provides a roadmap for those solutions and offers hope for Wisconsin. Let’s make these changes.
About the state council and its report
Maureen Busalacchi chaired the alcohol prevention workgroup, which developed a wide range of policies and practices that could help reduce excessive alcohol use in Wisconsin. Alcohol impacts much of the work done at the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin. By bringing the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project to the CIC, communities have effective tools they can use to change their alcohol environment and reduce excessive drinking.
The recommendations from the State Council on Alcohol and other Drug Abuse were voted and agreed upon by council members; they were not necessarily endorsed by their employers. This advisory council is part of the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, and its members are appointed by the governor and represent state agencies, the Legislature, treatment providers, consumers and citizens.
Maureen Busalacchi is director of the Wisconsin Alcohol Policy Project and the Comprehensive Injury Center at the Medical College of Wisconsin. | 2022-04-28T14:33:45Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin's alcohol problem: State should take steps to limit drinking | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/28/wisconsins-alcohol-problem-state-should-take-steps-limit-drinking/7297483001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/28/wisconsins-alcohol-problem-state-should-take-steps-limit-drinking/7297483001/ |
Alex Jackson is the latest backup catcher who has to hit the ground running for the Brewers
PITTSBURGH – Getting backup catchers up to speed is becoming alarmingly routine for the Milwaukee Brewers.
First, they needed to onboard Pedro Severino, only to lose him for 80 games at the end of spring training after a positive PED test.
Next came Victor Caratini, who was just settling into his role before landing on the COVID-19 injured list Tuesday.
Next up is Alex Jackson, who was recalled from Class AAA Nashville and joined the Brewers mid-game Tuesday and was still trying to gain his bearings before Wednesday's game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park.
"Obviously, the biggest thing coming in is meeting the guys, talking to (manager Craig Counsell) and saying hello to everyone, and then just diving in as quickly as possible and getting to know guys and what their stuff does and what they like to and how I can help them be the best versions of themselves.
"So, it can be a handful, but that’s part of the job and that’s what’s fun."
Milwaukee traded a pair of minor-leaguers to the Miami Marlins for Jackson on April 6, the same day the team also acquired Caratini from the San Diego Padres in the wake of Severino's suspension.
Jackson was hitting .229 with two home runs and 10 runs batted in over 10 games with Nashville. He does have 61 games of major-league experience since 2019, when he broke in with the Atlanta Braves.
In 52 games last season split between Atlanta and Miami, he hit .137 with three homers and 12 RBI. Strikeouts have been his biggest issue; in 173 plate appearances, he's struck out 82 times.
His stint with the Brewers will likely be a short one once Caratini is deemed OK to return. But in the meantime Jackson's focus will be learning the pitching staff and how best to call games when he receives the opportunity.
"It’s always an experience when you’re learning a new staff," he said. "Anytime you can get that extra help to prepare yourself, it’s really important. And as you go through it time and time again, you learn to handle things a certain way and how to speed up the process and make it easier on yourself.
"The biggest thing is just learning them as a person, learning what makes them tick. Learning what they like to do and building that relationship, because then that allows everything on the field to kind of happen more naturally, and that’s what you want."
Added Counsell: "There's no secret way to do this. You just soak in as much as you can and then you go out there and you compete, and that's what we'll ask him to do. Give him the basics, and go get 'em."
Jackson began his career as the sixth pick in the 2014 draft by the Seattle Mariners. Now with his fourth organization, he's still only 26 years old. That's one of the reasons the Brewers were interested in picking him up.
"You know what? This is not an easy game, as everyone knows," Jackson said. "It’s a game of adjustments and learning yourself, and sometimes it takes longer to figure out who you are, how to better yourself and how to play the game you want to play. And that’s the biggest thing – learning yourself, trusting yourself and when the time’s right, the time’s right.
"Even as a player, the game is so tough and so demanding that a lot of times you truly forget situations you’re in and all that. I even forget how young I am sometimes, because I want to be the best version of myself I can be right away and there’s a lot of stuff I have to learn and experience to be able to better myself.
"And that’s the biggest thing, is learning that and how to handle that and how to use that to your advantage so that way you can better yourself and the team."
Despite the fact he's bounced around so much, Jackson is one of the rare players who can lay claim to a World Series ring thanks to the 10 games he played for the Braves last season before being traded to the Marlins.
And as most everyone remembers, the Braves knocked the Brewers out of the NLDS in four games en route to winning the title.
"I had an amazing time over there and obviously I wish I could have been there when they won it," he said. "But at the same time, the time I spent there was truly amazing and I had a blast and the guys over there are great and I have really good relationships with a lot of them. So, it was definitely cool to see them finish that."
In a classy move, the Braves organization presented Jackson the ring in person a couple of weeks ago when Nashville played a six-game series against Gwinnett, which is Atlanta's Class AAA affiliate.
"They brought it to me and handed it to me, which was super awesome," Jackson said. "It just makes the whole experience that much better. Then they had the trophy there as well, which was super.
"It just lined up perfectly." | 2022-04-28T14:33:51Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Brewers' new backup catcher Alex Jackson must learn quickly | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/04/28/milwaukee-brewers-new-backup-catcher-alex-jackson-must-learn-quickly/9551479002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/04/28/milwaukee-brewers-new-backup-catcher-alex-jackson-must-learn-quickly/9551479002/ |
Shams Charania of The Athletic reported Thursday morning that the medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered by Milwaukee Bucks standout Khris Middleton will keep him out of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, and possibly even deeper into the postseason should the Bucks advance.
According to Charania, Middleton, who injured his left knee in Game 2 of the first-round series against the Chicago Bulls, has a Grade 2 sprain (the middle of three severities). Initial reporting suggested Middleton would be out at least two weeks, and the Bucks would hit that benchmark by Game 3 of the series with Boston, scheduled May 7 in Milwaukee. But Charania said the injury "places a potential Conference Finals in jeopardy for him as well."
The Bucks won all three of their games without Middleton in the series with the Bulls and did so handily, but the Celtics present a much greater challenge. The Bucks and Celtics both finished the year with 51-31 records.
Bucks assistant Mike Dunlap tweeted that Middleton's absence will be a big deal but also noted that playoff life is not fair. Last year, Milwaukee lost Giannis Antetokounmpo to a knee injury in the Eastern Conference finals against the Atlanta Hawks, but Middleton was among those who rose to the occasion in leading the Bucks to two wins and a trip to their first NBA Finals since 1974.
Dunlap wrote: "luck made w/ togetherness & gritty D, & having players that can create and make shots. Precision, execution, detail matter." | 2022-04-28T14:33:57Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks' Khris Middleton reportedly won't play in series against Celtics | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/28/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-reportedly-wont-play-series-against-boston-celtics/9569043002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/28/milwaukee-bucks-khris-middleton-reportedly-wont-play-series-against-boston-celtics/9569043002/ |
5 spring wildflower hikes in the Milwaukee area
It was a beautiful spring day in Wisconsin, one of the first 60-degree days of the season, and the trails around Wehr Nature Center in Whitnall Park were buzzing with visitors.
On the accessible boardwalk near Mallard Lake, many visitors had their eyes, binoculars and cameras trained high up in a tree where a red-tailed hawk perched and preened.
After snapping a few photos of my own, I aimed my camera at a lower target: a small patch of dainty pink flowers that stood out among the brown leaf litter.
I had spotted patches of purple glory-of-snow earlier in my hike, but this little hepatica was my first native wildflower sighting of the day, and I was giddy with the discovery. Spring wildflowers, even in small doses like this one, always provide an extra jolt of joy after a long Wisconsin winter.
Hepatica isn’t exactly rare, but it only blooms for a brief time in early spring. Timing a hike to find it — and other spring ephemerals that only bloom for a short period — is like trying to time prime fall colors. A week or two can mean the difference between a few colors and a field of them.
Hunting for spring ephemerals is a little like a scavenger hunt, especially early in the season when there might only be a few pops of color here and there. But early in the season it is a kid-friendly search, since the bursts of green are relatively easy to spot before the trees leaf out and the understory fills in.
Some like hepatica, skunk cabbage and marsh marigold bloom as early as April, while others like trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit and wood violets — the Wisconsin state flower — join them toward the end of the month and into May. Most grow in wooded areas, the flowers taking advantage of the sunlight that makes its way to the forest floor before the trees and shrubs steal it.
You’re bound to find some spring ephemerals in just about any wooded area in southeastern Wisconsin, but here are five spots to get you started, and what kinds of flowers to look for in each spot. Remember to leave the flowers where you find them so others who visit after can enjoy them as well (and because it's illegal to pick flowers in Milwaukee County and Wisconsin state parks).
More:Legendary landscape designer Frederick Law Olmsted jump-started Milwaukee park system with three enduring public spaces
More:8 boardwalks and paved trails for spring hikes in Wisconsin
More:12 Wisconsin waterfalls to explore in the spring
Whitnall Park
Whitnall Park in Franklin, Milwaukee County’s largest park, has a wealth of spring bloomers, from native wildflowers along wooded trails to cultivated beds at Boerner Botanical Gardens.
One of the season’s first to sprout is skunk cabbage, an unfortunately named plant that can bloom while there’s still snow on the ground, thanks to its ability to generate its own heat, a process known as thermogenesis. It gets its name from the odor it emits and is distinguishable by its white-streaked, maroon spathe, a hood-shaped leaf that emerges before the large, vibrant green leaves.
The plant likes to grow in wet areas like bogs and swamps and along rivers and streams. Look for it along the 0.4-mile Wetland Trail near Wehr Nature Center.
Other spring flowers to look for at Wehr include hepatica, phlox, violets and marsh marigolds.
For more, including many cultivated varieties, head to Boerner Botanical Gardens in the northeast corner of the park.
Look for winter aconite — a bright yellow, six-petaled flower — as early as late March below the Rock Garden and south of the Education and Visitors Center.
Also around the Visitors Center are beds of tulips and daffodils, which start blooming in April. Come May, the park’s cherry and crab apple trees will put on their spring display.
More information: Whitnall Park is free to visit, but there is a $4 fee for parking at Wehr Nature Center, 9701 W College Ave, Franklin. Dogs are not permitted on the trails around the nature center. For more on Wehr, see friendsofwehr.org.
Boerner Botanical Gardens, 9400 Boerner Drive, Hales Corners, is free to visit in the off-season. Summer admission (May 1-October) for Milwaukee County residents is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors, students, children and those with disabilities. Nonresident admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children. The gardens are open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (last admission at 7 p.m.). For more, see boernerbotanicalgardens.org.
Cudahy Nature Preserve
Tucked along busy College Avenue just south of Mitchell International Airport, this nature preserve doesn’t offer complete silence from the sounds of civilization.
What it does offer is a slice of nature that you might have all to yourself, and a chance to look for more than 160 of Wisconsin’s native species at one of only three state natural areas in Milwaukee County (Cudahy Woods State Natural Area).
The trails in this park are part of Milwaukee County Parks' Forked Aster hiking trail system. Two trails that total about 1 mile traverse hardwood forest that represents what the area looked like before European settlement. A river separates a dryer forest of oaks, cherry and hickory trees in the north from a wetter, old-growth forest of sugar maple, American beech and more to the south.
Near the river look for marsh marigolds, which boast bright yellow flowers that look more like buttercups than marigolds, and leaves that resemble lily pads. They sprout in April and bloom through June.
Other spring species to look for include hepatica, trout lily, Gleason's trillium, bloodroot and spring beauty, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
More information: Find the preserve at 501 E. College Ave., Oak Creek. It’s free to visit. Dogs are not permitted. There’s a small parking area and a shelter, but there are no other facilities. For a map, see countyparks.com.
The popularity of the Seven Bridges Trail in Grant Park means a lot of feet trampling in areas they shouldn’t be and less native vegetation than there might be otherwise.
But there’s still plenty of green and pops of color to see in the spring, especially if you branch off from the main trail that leads to the beach.
Skunk cabbage is common along the ravines in April. Not as common but also popping up in April are marsh marigolds and a few nonnative garden escapees: purple and yellow crocuses, little white snowdrops and purple Siberian squill.
Come late April and early May, the aptly named mayapples show up, recognizable by their umbrella-like leaves and small white flowers. Also look for trillium, wild geranium, jack-in-the-pulpit and yellow trout lily.
Because the park is along Lake Michigan, a major bird migratory route, it’s also a good spot for birdwatching in the spring when migrants like warblers and cormorants mix their calls with year-round residents like woodpeckers and cardinals.
More information: Grant Park, 100 E. Hawthorne Ave., South Milwaukee, is free to visit. Leashed dogs are permitted on the trails, but they’re not allowed on the beach. For a map, see countyparks.com.
Kettle Moraine State Forest
The dozens of trails that wind through the northern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest are prime spots for searching for spring wildflowers, including hepatica and trillium.
Trillium are one of the most easily recognizable spring blooms; the tri- prefix in their name is a reminder to look for flowers with three white petals and three broad leaves. They’re most common in May, but they can start blooming as early as April.
Look for them along any segment of the Ice Age Trail in the forest, including the 13.9-mile Parnell segment. That stretch also passes through the Butler Lake Flynn's Spring State Natural Area, a good spot for seeing marsh marigold.
For more wildflowers in the area, try the Polk Kames State Ice Age Trail Area, which includes the Cedar Lakes segment of the Ice Age Trail. The northern stretch travels through farm fields before heading into dense forest filled with spring wildflowers, including trillium, wood anemone, mayapple, violets, jack-in-the-pulpit and shooting stars, according to the Ice Age Trail Alliance Guidebook.
More information: The southern trailhead for the Parnell segment of the Ice Age Trail is at Mauthe Lake Recreation Area, N1490 County Road GGG, Campbellsport. The area requires a state parks admission sticker; federal parks passes are also accepted. Leashed pets are permitted.
Find parking for the Cedar Lakes segment of the trail on County Highway NN north of Slinger. The area is free to visit.
Havenwoods State Forest
The grasslands at Havenwoods steal the flower show in July and August, but spring is the time for woodland wildflowers in the state's only urban forest.
Six miles of trails wind through those grasslands and forest as well as pockets of wetlands. In the woods, look for bloodroot in April and May. The flower gets its name from the dark red sap in its roots, which Native Americans used as a dye. The flower is white, however, with eight to 16 petals that open during the day in full sun and close at night.
Other spring flowers to look for include spring beauty, trillium, violets and wild geranium.
More information: Havenwoods State Forest is at 6141 N. Hopkins St.
Havenwoods staff will lead a Wildflower Walk to explore the forest's flowers from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. May 21. The mile-long walk is open to all ages.
A state parks admission sticker is not required to visit Havenwoods. Leashed pets are only allowed on certain trails in the forest; pick up a map from the nature center to see where. | 2022-04-28T14:34:03Z | www.jsonline.com | Spot spring wildflowers on hikes at these parks in the Milwaukee area | https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/outdoors/2022/04/28/spring-wildflowers-hikes-parks-milwaukee-area/7415453001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/travel/wisconsin/outdoors/2022/04/28/spring-wildflowers-hikes-parks-milwaukee-area/7415453001/ |
Just out of prison? Need housing, counseling, job advice? These Milwaukee-area organizations want to help.
Donna Hietpas comforts one of the women attending a Sisters Program group session at the Benedict Center at Reformation Lutheran Church. The Sisters Program is designed to help women engaged in street prostitution begin a journey toward a healthier, safer life. Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
DAY 1: THE MARLIN DIXON STORY | DAY 2: CULTIVATING LEADERSHIP | DAY 3: AGAINST ALL ODDS
The United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world — both per capita and by volume — and Wisconsin locks up a higher percentage of its population than almost any democracy on the planet.
At any one time, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, roughly 41,000 people from Wisconsin are behind bars. Its rate of incarcerating 663 people per 100,000 is five times higher than the United Kingdom, six times higher than Canada, and seven times higher than France, Belgium and Italy.
Overall, people of color — particularly Blacks — are vastly overrepresented, reported the Prison Policy Initiative. For every 100,000 Black residents in Wisconsin, more than 4,000 are incarcerated. For every 100,000 Native American residents, more than 2,600 are incarcerated. For Hispanic residents, it's more than 600. For white residents, slightly more than 400.
Many organizations in southeastern Wisconsin help those who have been incarcerated get back on the right path once they have been released. These groups also fight to get laws changed to reduce recidivism and prevent targeting people of color.
Here are a few of those groups:
American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin is the state affiliate of the national ACLU. The nonprofit has 13,000 members and is dedicated to defending civil liberties and civil rights. Nationally and locally, it's a leading voice for criminal justice reform and its Smart Justice campaign is a multiyear effort to reduce the U.S. prison population by 50% and challenge racism in the legal system.
Website: aclu-wi.org
Address: 207 E. Buffalo St., Milwaukee, WI 53202
The Benedict Center provides services and advocacy for women in the criminal justice system so they can live safer, healthier lives for themselves, their children and the community. It provides mental health and substance abuse treatment, helps women in the street-based sex trade, supports incarcerated women reentering the community and advocates for a more equitable justice system.
Website: benedictcenter.org/
Address: 1849 N. King Drive, Suite 101
Center for Self Sufficiency, located inside of Community Advocates, offers Windows to Work, a program that works with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections and Employ Milwaukee. Windows to Work teaches those reentering the community conflict resolution and communication skills. Job readiness and career advancement services, and support services to promote smooth reintegration are also offered.
Website: https://centerinc.org/services/revitalization-reentry/
Address: 728 N. Lovell St., Milwaukee, WI 53233
Clean Slate Milwaukee assists formerly incarcerated individuals with expungement and pardons. It is a resource hub offering help with job searchers and obtaining education. Since 2012 the organization has been able to expunge 2,200 records and connect 1,189 ex-felons to jobs. The mission is to decrease recidivism by removing barriers to employment and housing
Website: cleanslatemke.org/
Employ Milwaukee connects job seekers with employment opportunities and provides education and training options in high-growth, high-demand sectors. The group also provides a skilled and sustainable workforce to attract, retain and grow diverse businesses in the Milwaukee region.
Website: employmilwaukee.org/Employ-Milwaukee.htm
Address: 2342 N. 27th St., Milwaukee, WI 53210
EX-incarcerated People Organizing works to end mass incarceration and eliminate all forms of structural discrimination against formerly incarcerated people. EXPO's members have helped lead campaigns to “ban the box,” which would forbid employers from asking on an initial job application whether an individual has been convicted of a crime; expand funding for Wisconsin’s Treatment Alternatives and Diversion Program; reduce the use of solitary confinement in Wisconsin prisons; and expand funding for the state transitional jobs program. The group has active chapters in Milwaukee, Madison, Eau Claire, Racine, Superior, Wausau, Green Bay and the Fox Cities.
Website: expowisconsin.org
Address: EXPO of Wisconsin, P.O. Box 259654, Madison, WI 53725
Email: info@expowisconsin.org
Milwaukee Inner-City Congregations Allied for Hope, founded in 1988, is a multiracial, interfaith organization committed to justice issues. MICAH's membership includes 39 congregations with the goal of empowering people to act together in pursuit of justice through civic engagement, criminal justice and prison reform, education, and job and economic development.
Website: micahmke.org/
Address: 2821 N. Phillips Ave., Suite 213, Milwaukee, WI 53212
Project RETURN (Returning Ex-incarcerated people to Urban Realities and Neighborhoods) has been working toward social justice for more than four decades. Its mission is to help formerly incarcerated men and women make a positive return to the Milwaukee community. The group helps with job searches, works with landlords to open up housing and provides "circles of support" groups. It also has a women's support group that focuses specifically on issues facing women who were incarcerated.
Website: projectreturnmilwaukee.org
Anthony Washington, left, talks with William Harrell, property manager and executive secretary for Table of the Saints. Washington lives at The Family House, a residence for former inmates run by the organization. Angela Peterson
Table of the Saints helps those who were incarcerated to make a positive transition into community and family life. The goal is the help the returning citizens with their re-entry process through walking in obedience as men and women of God. The organization provides housing for men; counseling; driver’s license recovery; child support adjustment; mental health treatment; and drug and alcohol counseling.
Website: tableofthesaints.blogspot.com/p/home.html
Wisconsin Community Services has helped reintegrate ex-offenders for several decades. Services offered are behavioral health, electronic monitoring, alcohol and other drug abuse services including transitional housing resources, and community and reintegration services.
Website: wiscs.org/programs/comm/
Address: 3732 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53208 | 2022-04-28T17:14:23Z | www.jsonline.com | Just released from prison? These Milwaukee-area groups can help | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/here-some-milwaukee-area-groups-fighting-recidivism/6080745001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/here-some-milwaukee-area-groups-fighting-recidivism/6080745001/ |
Anthony Washington, 57, sits in his room at The Family House in Milwaukee. Washington is among four other tenants living at the six-bedroom home that was established by Table of the Saints Inc. to assist those who were previously incarcerated help transition back into the community and family life. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Anthony Washington neatly tucks in his bedspread and tidies up his sparse bedroom at The Family House in Milwaukee's Riverwest neighborhood.
The duplex on North Booth Street houses men who were formerly incarcerated and gives them a chance to get back on their feet by taking care of their most essential need after release: housing.
People who were formerly incarcerated are nearly 10 times more likely to be homeless than the general public, according to the Prison Policy Initiative, a nonprofit organization that researches incarceration. The homelessness rates are worse for people of color, particularly Blacks, regardless of gender, the organization has found.
The crisis intensifies every Tuesday, when prisons in Wisconsin typically release inmates who have completed their sentences. Many can't go back to the home they once knew; family members may have died or moved, or living situations may be inappropriate given their vulnerability. Add to that the dearth of affordable apartments and the reluctance of landlords to accept former offenders, and ex-inmates can feel cornered.
Washington, 57, has stayed at The Family House in the past. This time around, he's just in his third day.
He and some apartment roommates had planned to move to a new location, but the deal fell through and they couldn't go back to their old place.
“If it wasn’t for The Family House, I would probably be homeless,” Washington said.
The duplex blends into the neighborhood. Tenants are responsible for maintenance and upkeep. There are three bedrooms on the first floor and three on the second. Walls are decorated with framed photos of some of the men who have lived there.
There is a common kitchen area with a walk-in pantry and staple items like peanut butter, pasta and coffee. Taped to the kitchen door are the rules of the house. No alcohol or drugs, and residents are subject to random drug tests. No threats or acts of violence. No smoking. No overnight guests. No borrowing money from other residents. No entering another person’s room without their permission.
“Everything in my room is mine,” Washington said.
Residents must test negative for COVID-19 or be vaccinated. Sex offenders are not allowed.
Homelessness is a chronic problem
The Family House has its roots in a Bible study group formed in 2007 in the Felmers O. Chaney Correctional Center. William Harrell and his cellmate, Charles Hampton, used scripture to change the trajectory of their lives. Harrell had the idea of someday addressing housing for the formerly incarcerated.
The group called itself Assembly of the Saints. As participants were released from prison, they continued meeting weekly in the basement of Rehoboth Miracle Temple Church, 2804 N. 29th St., around a big wooden table.
Many groups in southeastern Wisconsin help people after incarceration
Wisconsin locks up a higher percentage of its population than almost any democracy on the planet. When those people get out, they need support.
"When I was released in October 2009, and I saw the table, we knew we had to change the name to Table of the Saints," Harrell said.
That led to the founding of Table of the Saints Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on helping previously incarcerated men and women make a positive re-entry into their community. In addition to helping find housing, the group assists with everything from getting a driver’s license to addressing mental health needs — all in service of restoring life skills through what the organization calls "Christ-centered aftercare."
“All of these issues are important, but the number one issue is housing,” said Harrell, 67, property manager of The Family House.
House rules are posted at the entry door of The Family House in Milwaukee. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Few prisoners have a loving family waiting for them, and sometimes, for legal reasons, ex-prisoners cannot go back to the place that was once their home, Harrell said.
“Too many of those who are released end up in homeless shelters, and some just end up outdoors, and we know that there are just so many beds available in the shelters anyway,” Harrell said.
A safe and affordable place is necessary, Harrell said.
The North Booth Street house was donated to Table of the Saints by Maureen Kilgore-Marx, in honor of her late husband Larry Kilgore, who mentored former prisoners. A second residence, The Kelly House on North Phillips Avenue, will open later this year. It's a multi-bedroom apartment on the second floor of a building. Its name honors John Kelly, a schoolteacher who died in 2015; a portion of his estate was used for furnishings.
To be admitted to either house, candidates are interviewed and undergo a vetting process. Residents pay between $400 and $500 a month for rent, with a $300 security deposit.
By not dealing with childhood trauma, 'We have already lost a whole generation'
“They don’t live for free. We are not a rescue mission and we want to work with people who want to help themselves,” Harrell said. “We find that individuals who work the hardest are the most successful.”
Washington said the expectations and rules provide stability.
“It’s not just a house to lay your head," he said. "It’s all the other things that go along with it. I meet with people and talk about my goals and how to reach them. They want you to be better than when you got here."
'We don't turn our back on you'
Washington's mother died when he was 13, and, he said, he grew up in the foster care system and was abused.
“I fell through the holes of the system, and when I caught a burglary charge, I got sent to a group home and I never got the treatment I needed,” he said.
Washington has been in an out of prison for years, for burglary and habitual criminality. Ultimately, he was diagnosed with schizoaffective bipolar disorder, he said, which can lead to bouts of depression and anxiety. To cope, he keeps a daily logbook.
The day he was tidying up his room, he said he was suffering from a “spiritual anxiety crisis.” His hands were shaking and he felt nervous.
“Sometimes, I wake up and I don’t feel like nothing. I don’t feel like life is worth living," he said.
After a meeting with members from Table of the Saints, he said he felt better.
Sharon McMurray, executive director for Table of the Saints in Milwaukee. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“When you have a mental health disorder that is difficult to treat, you need support from people who will not abandon you, and one thing about Table of the Saints, they have never abandoned me,” he said.
When Washington stayed at the duplex on another occasion, he moved out once he felt he was stable enough. When things didn’t work out, he moved back.
Then he suffered a drug relapse and checked himself into a drug and rehab facility.
He wondered what would happen to his items.
Sharon McMurray, executive director of Table of the Saints, had his items placed in storage, and told Washington when he was ready, he could come back.
“We don’t turn our back on you because you have a misstep," she said. "We know people make mistakes and we want to do our best to help them and not punish them.”
Not perfect but better than most
Bobby Ryan has been in the residence for four months. His criminal history and felonies made it all but impossible to find housing.
He works at Goodwill Industries as a price setter.
“If you don’t have a renter’s history and (have) a felony, nobody is going to rent to you,” Ryan said.
Ryan said the home reminded him of his grandmother’s house.
Bobby Ryan, left, talks about living at The Family House. Ryan has been living at the house for several months. He works at Goodwill Industries and is taking classes to counsel others about substance abuse. Also pictured in the background are Anthony Washington, center, and Michael Shultz. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Things are organized and clean. I’ve been here four months and I’ve never seen a bug in it. This is the house of God,” he said.
The house does have some issues. The stove is on the fritz and there are other things that don’t work, Ryan said.
“This is what you get with an old house,” he said. “But I will tell you this, you won’t find anything better if you have a felony.”
Ryan, 53, who was an addict for 35 years, said he has been in and out of prison 16 times.
Former inmate Bobby Ryan describes his transition back into society
Bobby Ryan was an addict for 35 years. He now works at Goodwill Industries as a price setter.
James E. Causey and Lou Saldivar, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“I’ve never in my life had more than two months on the streets since I was 17. I’ve just celebrated my eighth month being out, and a lot of that is due to The Family House,” he said.
With the stove out, men in the house on a recent warmer day decided to cook on a grill outside.
As they sat in chairs around the grill, they shared stories of their incarcerations, and the ways they deal with life after prison.
Ryan uses art. Washington, his journals.
One thing that helps ease their minds, they agreed, is not worrying about a place to stay.
As a result, they believe that it places them one step closer to being whole again.
The Family House is accepting donations of clean linen, appliances, laundry detergent; new or gently used men’s clothing and underwear. To donate call (414) 374-8029, or email tableofthesaints2009@gmail.com | 2022-04-28T17:14:29Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee housing program tries to address key issue for ex-prisoners | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/milwaukee-program-family-house-tries-address-key-issue-ex-prisoners-housing/6080893001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/milwaukee-program-family-house-tries-address-key-issue-ex-prisoners-housing/6080893001/ |
Marlin Dixon makes a connection at a Project RETURN gathering at Marquette University in October. A number of prison activists in attendance tried to help Dixon with job, church and housing resources. James Causey / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Early in his career, Kevin Carr learned the importance of holding people accountable for their actions.
But at a recent gathering involving mostly former inmates, the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections said it's not enough to ensure the safety of others.
“If accountability was all that it took, incarceration all by itself would work, but it doesn’t. People would leave our system reformed and go back into their communities and never return,” he said. “Our incarceration rates are too high, and we lock up too many people for too long and at too high of an expense without enough to show in the way of results.”
Kevin Carr, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Carr has worked more than four decades in the criminal justice system, spending a large amount of that time working with youths. He spoke those words in October to a gala at Marquette University’s Alumni Memorial Union celebrating Project RETURN’s 41 years of service to the formerly incarcerated.
The organization's mission is to help men and women make a positive, permanent return to the community.
Most of the 200 people in attendance had served time behind bars. One of them was Marlin Dixon, released about a year earlier after 18 years in prison for his role in the infamous 2002 north side Milwaukee beating death of Charlie Young Jr.
Dixon was 15 when he was sentenced in adult court; he has spent more than half his life incarcerated.
Carr rattled off a list of initiatives that were called for in Gov. Tony Evers’ 2021-23 executive budget:
Expanding the Opening Avenues to Reentry Success program that supports the prison-to-community transition.
Expanding the Windows to Work program that promotes self-sufficiency for individuals returning to the community
Expanding the Earned Release Program and substance-use disorder programming.
Adding more beds to the Alternatives to Revocation program that allows inmates to complete their sentences in communities instead of in custody.
Expanding the adult basic education program, and in the process shortening the waitlist.
“Now all of these sound good, but unfortunately, a number of these initiatives were removed or cut by the Legislature,” Carr said to boos from the crowd.
Sen. Lena Taylor, (D-Milwaukee) who was in the crowd, stood up and said, “By the who?”
“By the Legislature,” Carr repeated.
“That wasn’t by our side,” Taylor said, making sure the crowd knew Republicans stripped out the provisions.
Carr agreed.
Taylor has made it a point to visit state prisons. One of the men she spoke to on one of those visits was Dixon, when he was at Waupun.
“I will never forget what she said. She told all of us to keep our heads up and never give up,” Dixon said.
When he came face to face with Taylor at the Project RETURN gala, he said: "I just wanted to say thank you for speaking out. You may not know it, but it meant a lot.
The two hugged.
“This warms my heart knowing that my words helped,” Taylor said. | 2022-04-28T17:14:35Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin corrections secretary says state locks up too many people | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/wisconsin-corrections-secretary-kevin-carr-says-accountability-alone-doesnt-work/7227052001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/special-reports/2022/04/28/wisconsin-corrections-secretary-kevin-carr-says-accountability-alone-doesnt-work/7227052001/ |
We Energies, WPS want to increase rates by $60 to $72 a year for the average residential customer starting in 2023
WEC Energy Group is seeking approval from state regulators to increase its electric rates between 5% and 6%, or about $60 to $72, for the typical residential customer, starting in 2023.
The increase will affect We Energies customers and WPS customers. The last time WEC Energy Group asked for a rate increase was in 2019.
The average We Energies residential customer currently pays about $109 per month, up about 14% from 2011.
The average WPS customer pays about $92 per month, up about 19% from 2011. The national average is $122 per month.
More:We Energies is creating a new solar farm in Oak Creek
More:New plan points Wisconsin toward energy independence with carbon-free electricity replacing out-of-state fuel sources
"Even with this request, when you look at us, versus our peers, even with this request, our bills will remain below the national average and in line with the Midwest average," Bert Garvin, executive vice president of external affairs, said in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
In addition, We Energies natural gas customers would see a small increase in their monthly bills in 2023 as part of the plan. Bills for We Energies steam customers in downtown Milwaukee would remain relatively flat in 2023.
The Public Service Commission will determine the actual rate increase after reviewing the application and holding a hearing, which will be scheduled for a later date.
After having kept rates frozen for four years the utility raised rates 5.9% in 2019.
Tom Content, executive director of the Citizen's Utility Board said his experts will provide testimony for the PSC as the case unfolds. Content said the profits the utilities are making are well above the national average and the focus should be on savings.
"At a time where we are seeing a lot cost pressures across the economy, including what we saw with heating bills this winter, every increase needs to be scrutinized," Content said. "This is another pill to swallow."
Content said it is also not clear what the proposed increase will be in 2024, since WEC has asked that the rate case be left open.
Utility transforming to clean energy
WEC Energy Group's proposal comes at a time when the utility is in the midst of the largest clean energy transition in the company's history.
This transition will ultimately save $1 billion over the next 20 years, as older, less-efficient fossil fuel plants are closed and replaced with solar energy, Garvin said.
WEC Energy Group, Wisconsin's largest utility, will retire 1.8 gigawatts of coal and natural gas generation as part of its effort to become carbon neutral by 2050. The plan includes the retirement of the 1,100-megawatt South Oak Creek coal plant over the next five years.
WEC Energy officials told the Public Service Commission on Thursday, that WPS needs to recover $290 million and We Energies needs to recover $835 million for renewable energy projects approved or pending approval in 2022.
These projects include Badger Hollow II, a $175 million plant just west of Dodgeville; the $390 million Paris Solar-Battery Park project in Kenosha County; and the $158 million Red Barn Wind Farm near Madison.
A $402 million solar and storage project in Darien has not yet been approved by the PSC. | 2022-04-28T19:42:30Z | www.jsonline.com | We Energies wants a $60 to $72 rate increase for the average customer | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/04/28/we-energies-wants-60-72-rate-increase-average-customer-wps-wisconsin/7275091001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/04/28/we-energies-wants-60-72-rate-increase-average-customer-wps-wisconsin/7275091001/ |
A new $20 million fund has been created to provide grants for affordable apartment developments throughout Wisconsin.
A new $20 million fund has been created to provide grants for affordable apartment developments throughout Wisconsin, state officials have announced.
The grants will be provided to apartment developments which have already received federal or state affordable housing tax credits in 2020 and 2021, according to a statement from Gov. Tony Evers and Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Elmer Moore Jr.
Several such development have run into difficulties obtaining enough additional financing as inflation has caused the prices of materials and labor to rise rapidly.
Developers that receive tax credits must generally provide at least 85% of a building's apartments at below-market rents to people earning no higher than 60% of the local median income.
Developers sell the tax credits, often to banks and other investors, to raise capital for their projects. Most of the additional funds are usually provided through commercial loans.
It's not unusual for an affordable apartment development to still have a gap in its financing.
Those gaps can be filled with such options as federal grants, deferred fees for the developers and tax incremental financing districts — which use local property tax revenue generated by the new developments.
The new state fund, using federal cash provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, will provide grants to help fill additional gaps.
It is expected to move forward approximately 1,800 affordable rental units throughout Wisconsin, according to state officials.
“Affordable housing links business growth, job creation, and education, and it’s good for our workforce, our kids and families, and our seniors," Evers said, in a statement.
In a separate action, Evers in February announced that Milwaukee is getting $15 million from the state's ARPA-financed Neighborhood Investment Fund.
That includes $12.9 million that will be used to help develop more than 400 affordable rental units.
More:This Bronzeville development plan features production space for filmmakers, musicians and other creatives, and affordable apartments. | 2022-04-28T19:42:36Z | www.jsonline.com | $20 million fund created to help finance Wisconsin affordable housing | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/04/28/20-million-fund-created-help-finance-wisconsin-affordable-housing/9573898002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/04/28/20-million-fund-created-help-finance-wisconsin-affordable-housing/9573898002/ |
60-year-old man dies in single-car crash on Milwaukee's west side
A 60-year-old Milwaukee man is dead after his car was seen weaving through traffic and crashing on the city’s west side Wednesday.
Police reported the crash at 6:23 p.m. along the 3000 block of North 68th Street, south of Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. The victim was identified as Tyrone Henry by the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
A witness told investigators he saw Henry’s vehicle pass his own and weave through traffic before the driver lost control and crashed into the Mother of Good Counsel Parish, 3001 N 68th St., according to a report from the medical examiner’s office.
More:Unidentified man dies after losing control of vehicle and crashing into pole on Milwaukee's northwest side
More:62-year-old man dies after car crash on Interstate 43 in Milwaukee
Henry's vehicle was heading east on West Lisbon Avenue, a four-lane road, before the crash. The witness said the car was moving faster than others "but not overly fast," the report said.
It also appeared that Henry did not wear a seat belt, the report said.
It is the 18th motor vehicle fatality reported in Milwaukee this year, according to police. That compares with 20 fatalities from crashes as of the same date in 2021, when the city finished with 67 on the year.
The crash remains under investigation by Milwaukee police. Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 414-935-7360, or to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or use the P3 Tips app. | 2022-04-28T19:42:42Z | www.jsonline.com | Car seen weaving through traffic before fatal crash in Milwaukee | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/28/car-seen-weaving-through-traffic-before-fatal-crash-milwaukee/9571486002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/28/car-seen-weaving-through-traffic-before-fatal-crash-milwaukee/9571486002/ |
The restaurant and butcher shop Bavette la Boucherie is ready to open its new Third Ward home, at 217 N. Broadway. Lunch on Friday will be the first service open to the public.
Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
The new location, like the old one, has a distinctive feature: the table where a butcher cuts meat for the restaurant to use or for customers to cook at home. Diners seated at the bar and at some nearby tables can watch the butcher at work.
A bigger kitchen is letting Bavette expand its menu — it now will be able to prepare the steaks that its butcher cuts.
Bavette typically will have a butcher's cut of some sort on the menu, the kind that meatcutters would take home for themselves, rather than the pricier rib-eye, say.
The first one on the new menu is a toro steak, which comes from the beef belly, or navel. "It looks a little like a flank steak" but with more integrated fat, chef-owner Karen Bell said. "It has the texture of a flank steak, a little more chew to it, but great flavor."
The new menu also lists coppa, steak cut from the upper pork shoulder, that's served in mole. The fish selection is fish cheeks.
The menu choices are "what we've always tried to do, use parts that need to be used, too, and maybe not so common, to be sustainable, too," Bell said.
Diners will find four or five sandwiches on the menu and about five of the large plates. The lunchtime salads will become vegetable dishes at night. For example, the cauliflower salad will be served as a warm roasted dish for dinner.
The new Bavette has room for an espresso machine and for more retail items. Beyond wine, crackers, condiments and other food and drink, the restaurant is selling home goods, such as glasses, vases, plates and platters.
"It's kind of fun to search these out and find handmade products," said Bell, who plans to include more pieces by local ceramists.
Bell announced in November that she would move her restaurant from 330 E. Menomonee St. to the former site of Swig restaurant, just a few blocks away. The Menomonee location closed April 2 for the move.
"The space itself is beautiful, in my opinion," Bell said, citing the 19th-century building's exposed Cream City brick, high wooden ceilings and beams, and maple floor. At the back of the restaurant is an old freight elevator. New flooring was installed at the restaurant's rear to level the surface and prevent wobbly tables.
A bigger pass, or window, was installed at the kitchen so diners still will be able to watch the cooks as they did on Menomonee.
The new restaurant has 12 seats at the bar and about 45 in the dining room, which has a long L-shaped banquette. Bell is exploring whether private dining space can be added in the building.
Reservations are recommended at the restaurant, which now has a short flight of stairs at the entrance. For the time being, it's best to make reservations online at Tock or bavettelaboucherie.com, or by email at info@bavettemilwaukee.com, until the phone hookup is finished, Bell said. Bavette's number will remain the same, (414) 273-3375. | 2022-04-28T21:57:02Z | www.jsonline.com | Bavette's new restaurant opens Friday in Milwaukee's Third Ward | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/04/28/bavettes-new-restaurant-opens-friday-milwaukees-third-ward/9570705002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/04/28/bavettes-new-restaurant-opens-friday-milwaukees-third-ward/9570705002/ |
Dwyane Wade will return to Marquette as undergraduate commencement speaker
One of the most recognizable alumnus in Marquette University history will be back on campus to speak to the graduating class of 2022 when Dwyane Wade serves as the school's commencement speaker Sunday, May 22.
Wade, who attended Marquette from 2000-03 and left early for the NBA draft, became an NBA superstar who won three championships, an Olympic gold medal in 2008 and a place on the NBA's list of the 75 greatest players ever.
Wade delivered a virtuoso performance against top-ranked Kentucky in the Elite Eight of the 2003 NCAA Tournament, when he recorded a triple double of 29 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists that helped send Marquette to its first Final Four since 1977.
“Through his voice and his actions, both on and off the court, Dwyane Wade has done what Marquette University asks of all of its students and alumni: to Be The Difference,” Marquette president Michael R. Lovell said in a release. “He is a credit to the transformational experience our university offers its students and, in turn, has been a great source of excitement and pride to the Marquette community. We are delighted to once again welcome Dwyane back to Milwaukee to deliver an inspiring address and offer a memorable send-off to our graduates.”
Wade, who is eligible for induction into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2023, was selected with the No. 5 pick of the 2003 NBA draft by the Miami Heat, where he won all three of his titles and won plaudits such as NBA Finals MVP (2006) and all-star game MVP (2010).
More:Dwyane Wade provided many memorable moments in his two seasons at Marquette
More:Retiring NBA star Dwyane Wade reflects on a special time at Marquette
More:Budweiser tribute video to Dwyane Wade will make you teary-eyed as former Marquette star prepares for final games
Wade finished his playing career with a second go-round in Miami in 2018, after brief stops with the Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers. He participates in a number of post-playing ventures, including serving as an analyst for TNT basketball coverage and producing books and visual programming, including the Oscar-winning animated short "Hair Love." He's also been an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
His relationship to Marquette includes his Live to Dream summer reading program at Marquette's Hartman Literacy and Learning Center. | 2022-04-28T21:57:08Z | www.jsonline.com | Former Marquette star Dwyane Wade will speak at 2022 commencement | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2022/04/28/former-marquette-star-dwyane-wade-speak-2022-commencement/9571778002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/marquette/2022/04/28/former-marquette-star-dwyane-wade-speak-2022-commencement/9571778002/ |
Teen charged in the sexual assault of an 87-year-old Waukesha woman will be tried in adult court
WAUKESHA - A Waukesha County juvenile court judge has agreed that a 14-year-old boy accused of sexually assaulting and robbing an 87-year-old woman should be tried in adult court.
Judge Maria Lazar presented her oral ruling Thursday in the juvenile division of Waukesha County Circuit Court, ultimately siding with prosecutors, that severity of the allegations and the public's interests outweighed other factors, including the welfare of the youth, Khalil Perry.
Perry, of Waukesha, is now expected to face criminal charges in adult court at 1 p.m. Friday, following the filing of a criminal complaint that, for all intents and purposes, will mirror the juvenile petition filed five months ago.
The assault reportedly happened outside the Waukesha Public Library
The case stems from an incident outside the Waukesha Public Library at about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30, when Perry allegedly pulled a knife on the woman when she was trying to load books into the book-return machine, commandeered her car with her in the passenger seat and drove to an area nearby, where he sexually assault her.
According to the juvenile petition, the equivalent of an adult court criminal complaint, the woman later told authorities that Perry stated that he was "the devil," knew where she lived and would "come kill her whole family" if she reported the incident.
Perry was arrested a short time later after he dropped her off near the library, drove her car to his home to hide certain evidence, and then drove to an area less than two miles south of the library off Grand Avenue, where he intended to "ditch" the car. There, he was spotted by police and taken into custody after a short foot chase.
Because of his age, the charges against him were filed in juvenile court, with the records sealed as the case was processed. But prosecutors with the Waukesha County District Attorney's Office petitioned the court on Dec. 2 to move the case to adult court.
Sentencing in adult court would be much more severe
In the juvenile court waiver hearing on March 9, prosecutors argued that the seriousness of the alleged crimes combined with the potential for relatively light sentences in juvenile court warranted that Perry be tried as an adult.
Under what's known as a "serious juvenile offender" program, Perry, if convicted of sexual assault, would likely face a maximum of five years of supervision, compared to as many as 20 years for the equivalent Class B felony in adult court, Assistant District Attorney Edward Bremberger told Lazar at the March 9 hearing.
But the boy's defense attorney, Nicole Ostrowski, argued that the only compelling argument prosecutors have made about waiving juvenile court jurisdiction is in the seriousness of the crimes.
Other factors should be considered, as well, she said, particularly the kind of specialized treatment he could receive in the serious juvenile offender program, which takes into account studies that detail the workings of immature, developing minds in youths accused in crimes.
Faced with those opposing viewpoints, Lazar, in her oral ruling Thursday noted four points outlined in a state law that were germane to a waiver of juvenile court jurisdiction in the case: the personality of the juvenile, prior record of the offender, the seriousness of the alleged crimes, the adequacy and suitability of facilities and services for juvenile offender's treatment.
Serious juvenile offender program would not offer sufficient treatment, judge says
But she said she simply couldn't ignore the nature of the charges, which she repeatedly referred to as "heinous."
"The state has in fact met its burden of proof," Lazar said, noting in particular the "extreme vulnerability" of the woman, who told authorities her life had been "shattered" by assault and the threats to her life that included a knife being held to her throat.
Lazar was critical of two pieces of testimony: Waukesha County social worker Kevin Tolzman's opinion that state Department of Correction's serious juvenile offender program would adequately address Perry's treatment, and a report by state psychologist that favored juvenile-oriented treatment options.
Lazar noted that Tolzman's experience with juvenile offenders had never involved anything as serious as the allegations at hand, which diminished his recommendation that suggested that the juvenile treatment program would be effective in this case.
The doctor that performed a court-ordered exam of Perry showed a lack of knowledge about some important elements of serious juvenile offender program and had missed some other information later provided to the court, Lazar said.
Thursday's decision did result in one point of confusion that attorneys are expected to clear up by Friday.
During the March hearing and again in Thursday's oral ruling, Lazar had suggested her word might not be the final one on whether the case remains in adult court. She said she was under the impression that the defense could petition for a reverse waiver back to juvenile court.
But Deputy District Attorney Ted S. Szczupakiewicz, speaking to the court via Zoom at the conclusion of Lazar's ruling, said reverse waivers are only applicable when a case involving a juvenile starts in adult court, not when a juvenile court judge has already waived jurisdiction.
Perry is currently being held in a Washington County juvenile detention facility, but would be transferred to the Waukesha County Jail once criminal charges are filed and bail is set by the adult court. | 2022-04-29T00:03:10Z | www.jsonline.com | Waukesha boy charged in 87-year-old's sex assault to be tried as adult | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/2022/04/28/waukesha-boy-charged-87-year-olds-sex-assault-tried-adult/7436849001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/2022/04/28/waukesha-boy-charged-87-year-olds-sex-assault-tried-adult/7436849001/ |
Nickel: Giannis unafraid to take a charge call in the paint when defenses try to build a wall to stop him
Chicago tried. And tried. Patrick Williams and DeMar DeRozan put a forearm shiver to Giannis Antetokounmpo's back, pushing him around the blocks. The Bulls built walls of two, or three, to protect the rim from Giannis' unimpeded view. Heck, down by 10, or was it 20? Chicago guard Ayo Dosunmu even gave Antetokounmpo a good little shove … on the circle, before a jump ball.
On the brink of elimination in Game 5 of the first round of the NBA playoffs, and with a depleted roster due to injuries, Chicago coach Billy Donovan believed that there were more offensive fouls and charges to extract from Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokounmpo in Fiserv Forum. To their credit, the Bulls played physical and menacing to the end to get them, trying their best to arm wrestle a tornado.
“Like, it's kind of like a compliment that they will try to get in front of me to take a charge," said Antetokounmpo, with complete sincerity.
Ultimately, the Bulls were defeated 116-100 Wednesday night, as Antetokounmpo poured in 33 points in 30 minutes on 11 of 15 shooting and the question now becomes two-part: will the Boston Celtics try this same approach in the next round?
And, is this approach really working?
“You can see that they were trying to do that,” said Antetokounmpo. “I just keep going on this stuff. There's going to be times that they will take a couple charges, but when I look at the game and watch the clips, I'm like, I'm being aggressive.
“I'm doing my job, and they're doing the job also.”
There was a time when matching Antetokounmpo bicep-flex for bicep-flex was a pretty intriguing strategy. In 2019, he was whistled for charges and that put him in foul trouble too early. In November of that year, in a game against the Bulls, Antetokounmpo was whistled for five fouls -- all of them on the offensive end.
More:Bucks at a loss understanding foul calls (or non-calls) related to Giannis Antetokounmpo
It would leave Antetokounmpo second-guessing himself a bit: How could he help his team sitting on the bench?
But that was then, and the difference now is Antetokounmpo plays less out of control, in the wild, and more with clear and defined purpose, a man with a mission.
The paint is Antetokounmpo's, and if he is whistled for trying to get there, so be it. In Game 3 in Chicago, he was called for three offensive charges, but the Bucks still dominated.
“Usually, why they try to take a charge from you is maybe to give you like a foul or two to kind of slow you down,” said Anteotokounmpo. “But the history I've showed: I might have three charges and may (go for) the fourth one – and I'm getting in the paint.
“And I can go back at night and relax with my family and know that I tried to get into the paint, and (if) I couldn't, it was because they build a wall of five people and I took five charges.
“But I can live with that. You know I cannot live with, ‘oh I'm scared to get a charge, afraid to get in the paint.’”
The way Antetokounmpo insists on playing, and not backing down, means the business of trying to draw charges out of him will take a toll on everyone. Bulls center Nikola Vucevic tried to take a charge early in Game 5, but it looked awkward, and he fell backward, slamming the back of his head to the court that led to gasps from those who saw it.
Antetokounmpo pointed out that he understands there are times he commits and offensive foul. And he understands when the defenses he faces are trying to stop him. He respects the job. But he’s not a fan of defensive opponents flopping, or half-flops, or poorly executed attempts at drawing a charge.
“There were times guys were just falling down, which I think is extremely dangerous because... There's nowhere for you to go,” said Antetokounmpo. “Then you try to avoid him and you can put yourself in danger to injuries.”
That said, Antetokounmpo is resigned to play this way still, testing the limits of the barricades placed before him. At 27, he doesn’t have the worry yet about saving his body or preserving his career longevity.
“I just keep trying to play with my instinct and try to make the right play and try to avoid guys but a charge doesn't necessarily slow my aggressiveness," said Antetokounmpo. “There's going to be times that they're going to come in there and try and try to get charge that I am going to swing it to an open guy who is going to make a three.
“I still have my mindset and my mindset is to try to get in to the paint, try to create for myself, try to create for my teammates.”
Against Chicago, Antetokounmpo won. Without the injured Khris Middleton to take some of the defense off of him, will Boston try more of the same in the Eastern Conference semifinals? | 2022-04-29T10:08:02Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo lives with charging fouls in NBA playoffs | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/29/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-lives-charging-fouls-nba-playoffs/9551674002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/29/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-lives-charging-fouls-nba-playoffs/9551674002/ |
Mining company seeks permission to start exploratory drilling near scenic site in Marathon County
A mining company is seeking permission for exploratory drilling of a possible gold deposit in Marathon County, near the environmentally sensitive Dells of the Eau Claire River County Park.
Green Light Metals submitted its application for exploratory drilling to Marathon County on Thursday, according to a county official.
Though it's an early-stage proposal, mining at the site could become the first such activity in Wisconsin in years, in part due to a moratorium in place until it was overturned by the state Legislature in 2017.
Green Light, which has an office in Medford, received an exploration permit from the state in February that will last through June 30 but still must also receive Marathon County permission. The company will be required to notify the DNR at least 30 days in advance of any drilling activity at the deposit, and no exploration activities can take place without prior authorization from the DNR mining program, the document said.
The potential gold mining site, known as the Reef Deposit, would likely be an open-pit mine. According to filings with the Canadian Securities Administration, an unidentified number of holes will be drilled within the boundaries of the deposit, at an expected cost of about $815,000.
Green Light also purchased the mineral rights for the Bend Deposit, located within the Chequamegon National Forest, about 19 miles north of Medford. It was discovered in 1986 and first drilled in the 1990s. It contains copper, gold and silver, totaling an estimated 4.23 million tons of ore that would be accessed via an underground mine.
More: Mining company files papers to conduct exploratory drilling at Bend and Reef deposits in Wisconsin
According to filings, the company plans to drill seven holes to search for minerals at the Bend property, costing the company nearly $500,000.
Marathon County officials are preparing to hear feedback from community members over the proposal to drill at the site.
"It's still very preliminary because right now, this exploratory drilling," he said. "This is still very, very early in the process."
Nonetheless, community members like Nancy Stencil are concerned, especially because of the proximity of the Reef Deposit to the Dells of the Eau Claire and the Ice Age Trail.
"It's such a pristine beautiful area," she said. "Leave it alone, you know. We don't need people touching that."
She's worried that the impact of drilling and mining could leave impacts on the area for generations to come.
"Not all the bad signs show up right away, sometimes it's down the road," she said. "What are going to be the implications down the road from mining here?"
Moew:Conservationists hoped to protect Cedar Gorge on Lake Michigan, but an anonymous legislator objected to block funding
State and local permissions needed to mine in Marathon County
The exploratory drilling permit from Marathon County is a relatively new step for mining companies interested in the area. The county was one of several that began drafting its own ordinances following the approval of new mining regulations for the state in 2017.
The regulations, which were signed into law by former Gov. Scott Walker in December 2017, repealed a law that required companies seeking a non-iron mining permit to show regulators another U.S. or Canadian mine that has operated for at least 10 years and has been closed for at least 10 years without polluting.
The new law prompted worry for local governments concerned about mines being opened in or nearby their communities, and the impact mining would have on the environment around them.
More:'That's sacred land to us': Wisconsin residents worry about exploratory drilling near Wolf River
Marathon County quickly responded to the new law, setting new rules for mining exploration as well as any mines opened within the county.
Langenhahn said the ordinance was a hot topic for the county at that time, drawing comments from dozens of community members at hours-long board meetings. Ultimately, he said, the ordinance will keep both the community and the businesses involved in mining protected.
"I'm proud to say that at the end of that process, I think the committee did an extremely good job of balancing the interests of any potential mining companies that could do business in Marathon County, while protecting the interests of the residents of those particular communities," he said.
If a company like Green Light were to move forward with an active mine, the ordinance spells out several requirements. The company would first have to apply for a conditional use permit from the county, and agree to other terms, such as a prohibition on mining within 800 feet of county land and land owned by a city, village or town.
Companies would have to pay a $50,000 application fee and would be responsible for costs the county incurs to review the permit application.
Companies would also be required to contribute to funds to help cover water wells potentially impacted by the mine, protect property values, pay for road damage and compensate communities for their costs.
More: DNR Board passes new mining regulations, raises permitting fees for metallic mining
The county also created a mining committee to oversee any potential mines, but the group has not met since 2019, according to the Marathon County website.
Langenhan said the committee has been inactive since the ordinance was created, but will likely begin to reconvene to discuss the mining interests at the Reef deposit.
In addition to the county, the company would also have to go through state permitting and federal permitting, which would likely take years. | 2022-04-29T14:42:12Z | www.jsonline.com | Green Light Metals seeks exploratory drilling near Dells of Eau Claire | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/29/green-light-metals-seeks-exploratory-drilling-near-dells-eau-claire/7398261001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/04/29/green-light-metals-seeks-exploratory-drilling-near-dells-eau-claire/7398261001/ |
Four Republican candidates are vying to defeat Democratic incumbent Gov. Tony Evers, Wisconsin's first-term governor.
The winner of the Aug. 9 primary will face Evers in the general election Nov. 8.
Here are the four Republicans you'll see on the primary ballot:
Kleefisch, 46, is running for governor after serving eight years as lieutenant governor to former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. She survived a colon cancer diagnosis during her first campaign in 2010 and fended off a recall in 2012 over Walker's signature law known as Act 10, which effectively eliminated collective bargaining for most public employees.
Now, Kleefisch is running on a platform of abolishing the Wisconsin Elections Commission, expanding the state police force, breaking up the Milwaukee public school district, allowing firearms to be carried in a concealed manner without a license, and expanding private school vouchers in the state.
Michels, 59, last ran statewide in 2004 for U.S. Senate when he was defeated by the then-incumbent Russ Feingold. Michels now seeks the governor's office after leading his family's construction business, Michels Corp., which is now the largest of its kind in the state.
He served 12 years in the U.S. Army as an Army Ranger. Michels has said if elected he would sign bills that would ban election officials from using private funding, expand taxpayer-funded school vouchers to all students, and bar classroom lessons on systemic racism.
Nicholson, 44, is a management consultant and U.S Marine veteran. He ran in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate in 2018, losing to then-state Sen. Leah Vukmir who ultimately lost the general election to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Nicholson is running for governor as an anti-establishment candidate who has criticized Republican Party leaders and legislative leaders.
He supports banning classroom lessons on systemic racism, making abortion illegal in all cases, allowing the concealed carry of firearms without licenses, expanding private school vouchers and breaking up the Milwaukee public school district.
Ramthun, 65, is serving his second term in the state Assembly representing District 59 in eastern Wisconsin. He has worked as a consultant and is running for governor largely on the platform of overturning the results of the 2020 presidential election in Wisconsin.
Ramthun has called to decertify the results of the election, despite it being legally impossible. He also supports keeping abortion illegal in all cases, allowing concealed carry of firearms without licenses, overhauling election rules, and expanding school vouchers to all students.
More:Tommy Thompson won't launch a fifth campaign for Wisconsin governor | 2022-04-29T14:42:19Z | www.jsonline.com | Republicans in 2022 Wisconsin governor primary election | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/29/republicans-2022-wisconsin-governor-rebecca-kleefisch-tim-michels-kevin-nicholson-tim-ramthun/9574776002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/04/29/republicans-2022-wisconsin-governor-rebecca-kleefisch-tim-michels-kevin-nicholson-tim-ramthun/9574776002/ |
Opinion: As a massive infrastructure upgrade begins, Wisconsin needs to invest in its workforce
Megan Tanel
I grew up in Milwaukee County and have chosen to raise my family here. When I graduated from Wauwatosa West High School, it was a given that most students would continue to a four-year degree. My friend “wasted” time at a local four-year college before he realized carpentry was his calling. Today he runs his own local homebuilding business — and he out-earns many degree-holding people I know.
I now have children in Milwaukee County schools and, like most children in today’s schools, they too are being guided toward four-year colleges, even when it's not a good fit for the student, their aptitude or their passions. As the president of the Milwaukee-headquartered Association of Equipment Manufacturers, I can attest to the good future a career in the trades can provide, and I hope more families and students will start to consider skilled trades as an important career path for their future and the future of our country.
More:Wisconsin to use $100 million in federal funds for workforce development grants
More:The child care worker shortage is reaching crisis proportions nationally. Could Milwaukee provide the answer?
Every parent wants to put their child on the path to success. But, today, success might be found in places most have not previously considered — like infrastructure. For many students, a job in infrastructure might provide a lifetime of opportunity. Wisconsin has dedicated more than $5 billion to rebuild our roads and bridges, improve transit, expand broadband access, ensure access to clean drinking water and modernize our airports.
In addition to finally developing world-class infrastructure here at home, this spending is expected to spur economic growth and supply the next generation — our kids — with good-paying careers. With more than 2 million jobs expected to join the infrastructure sector every year for the next 10 years, we must encourage our schools and elected officials and business leaders to embrace the value of workforce development.
To better understand how to maximize returns on this once-in-a-generation investment, AEM partnered with the Brookings Institution to look at best practices for workforce development. According to the report, there are 17.2 million American infrastructure workers currently employed across 91 different skilled trades. Even though this accounts for 10% of the American workforce, there are not enough skilled workers to meet the long-term demand of the infrastructure sector.
More:12 projects aimed at boosting Wisconsin's workforce get $59.5M in federal funds
Infrastructure spending will bring millions of dollars to communities across Wisconsin for the planning and development of large-scale infrastructure projects. That means we need to be training qualified workers for long-term careers in local infrastructure operations and development, not just short-term construction jobs.
From aircraft mechanics to water treatment operators, the infrastructure labor force is made up of a wide range of talent. The broad scope of trades and technical skills needed for next-generation infrastructure development is impressive, and training for such a diverse workforce will need to be comprehensive and coordinated.
With state and local leaders now deciding how to allocate their infrastructure dollars, there is no better time to discuss the importance of workforce development. Careers in infrastructure pay better than many other options — workers can earn 30% more with the right skills.
With long project lifecycles and an abundance of work, infrastructure is an exciting career field for young, working families pursuing the American dream. This is a great way for our leaders to maximize their return-on-investment because, by investing in their workforce, communities will thrive.
In addition to creating career paths for Wisconsin’s youth, coordinated workforce development programs can also help reskill left-behind workers and prepare them for meaningful careers in the infrastructure sector. By leveraging innovative partnerships, these programs could use targeted infrastructure dollars to develop trades-based education programs, create a pipeline of high-skilled workers, and supply industry with homegrown talent to modernize Wisconsin’s infrastructure.
It’s all very doable, but it will take planning and coordination to seize this opportunity.
Parents and business leaders should call on decision-makers to include trades-based education as part of infrastructure spending. Let’s give Wisconsin’s youth and forgotten workers the opportunity to invest in their future during this massive infrastructure upgrade.
Megan Tanel is president of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers in Milwaukee. | 2022-04-29T14:42:25Z | www.jsonline.com | As infrastructure push begins, Wisconsin needs to invest in workforce | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/29/infrastructure-push-begins-wisconsin-needs-invest-workforce/9554450002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/04/29/infrastructure-push-begins-wisconsin-needs-invest-workforce/9554450002/ |
The Greendale High School marching band will play in the 2023 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade
For a second time, the Greendale High School marching band will have the opportunity to play its music in front of millions of television viewers, and represent the state of Wisconsin, in next year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The band learned of the invitation to the New York City parade in a surprise April 28 announcement at Greendale High School's auditorium in front of marching band members and Greendale Middle School students. Greendale last made an appearance at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in 2016. It also made an appearance at the Rose Parade in Pasadena, California in January 2020.
Greendale High School marching band director Tom Reifenberg said the achievement speaks to the band's legacy.
"I think it's important to recognize that 20 years ago, we were a band of 80 students and we wouldn't have the opportunity to do some of the things like the Rose Parade and the Macy's Parade without the students from the last 20 years putting in the time and effort in growing that program. So this isn't just an achievement for the current students in the band," said Greendale High School marching band director Tom Reifenberg in a phone interview. "It's an achievement that covers many Greendale band graduates."
A news release from Macy's said the band was selected from more than 100 applicants as one of 10 to march in the parade. The bands will be part of the parade which famously includes floats, giant character balloons, clowns and superstar performers.
More:'The entire experience was incredible': Greendale High School band steps in to play for Yale against Purdue in NCAA Tournament | 2022-04-29T16:48:25Z | www.jsonline.com | Macy's 2023 Thanksgiving parade will include Greendale marching band | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/greendale/2022/04/29/macys-2023-thanksgiving-parade-include-greendale-marching-band/9576113002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/greendale/2022/04/29/macys-2023-thanksgiving-parade-include-greendale-marching-band/9576113002/ |
Best Version Media LLC might be the largest magazine publisher you've never heard of.
Founded in 2007 with six magazines in the Milwaukee area, Best Version's monthly publications have feature stories that focus on local communities.
Fifteen years later, Best Version distributes monthly magazines for more than 1,000 affluent communities throughout the United States and Canada, including more than 30 communities in Wisconsin.
That includes such titles as Brookfield Neighbors, Franklin Neighbors and Germantown Richfield Neighbors — with a focus on what Best Version calls "positive, family-friendly stories."
Meanwhile, the Brookfield-based company has landed several awards for its workplace environment.
That includes a spot on this year's annual Milwaukee Journal Sentinel list of Top Workplaces in Southeastern Wisconsin.
“It’s so inspiring. It’s a tremendous recognition of our team and the leaders that we have within Best Version Media," said Chief Executive Officer Kevin O’Brien.
Best Version has 176 employees, including around 100 employees based at the home office.
The company has used a variety of approaches to create a strong workplace culture.
That includes employees playing in a summer volleyball league, going to Brewers and Bucks games and planning volunteer activities with organizations such as United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County and Hunger Task Force, said Mitch Writt, assistant public relations manager.
Best Version also conducts a weekly staff call to provide updates, celebrate birthdays and work anniversaries, and hear from leadership.
"This is a great way for us to come together while many of our people are still working remotely," Writt said.
Along with those team-building activities, Best Version features "a collaborative and close-knit administrative team who support one another and lend a helping hand when needed," he said.
Meanwhile, after Best Version's home office, at 19355 Janacek Court, shut down during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company adopted a new flex schedule for employees.
That includes offering people the ability to work remotely or in the Brookfield office.
"We’ve seen a tremendous response to this added flexibility and it has allowed us to continue building upon our award-winning company culture," Writt said.
Best Version's growth has come during a time when many print magazine publishers have seen declines in revenue as readers shift to digital coverage of news, sports and features.
But unlike such well-known titles as Time, Sports Illustrated and Better Homes and Gardens, Best Version's focus is intensely local.
Each monthly publication features a cover feature story about a family from the community.
The magazines also highlight such items as a community events calendar, youth sports and notices from the local library, school district and other institutions.
The print magazines are the foundation of the business, with Best Version continuing to open new publications throughout the country.
The magazines are mailed at no charge to community residents, with Best Version's revenue coming from ads purchased by small and midsize businesses.
Best Version also draws revenue through advertisements at a sports website, bvmsports.com, which the company launched in 2020.
It shares local, national and international sports headlines from the Associated Press while also producing staff-written and reader-submitted stories on "local athletes, coaches and teams that other media outlets often overlook," Writt said. | 2022-04-29T16:48:37Z | www.jsonline.com | Best Version may be largest magazine publisher you've never heard of | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/best-version-may-largest-magazine-publisher-youve-never-heard/6975869001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/best-version-may-largest-magazine-publisher-youve-never-heard/6975869001/ |
For 13 years, the Journal Sentinel has honored the Top Workplaces for Southeastern Wisconsin. In that time, only nine companies have been present on every list.
Muskego-based architectural products provider Inpro placed 10th in the large businesses division in 2022. Inpro offers commercial window treatments, door/wall protection and privacy systems.
Inpro said it strives to create a positive workspace that will facilitate visionary thinking and strengthen its position in the industry. One of the ways it does this is by establishing an internal counsel for improvement that seeks to improve the employee experience. In 2021, Inpro was recognized by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources as a 2021 Recycling Excellence Award winner.
CG Schmidt is a fifth-generation family-owned construction management firm founded in Milwaukee. The company finished 18th in the large businesses division in 2022 and has worked on notable Milwaukee buildings such as the Northwestern Mutual Tower & Commons and a new professional office building for the Medical College of Wisconsin.
As a construction firm, CG Schmidt is committed to the safety of its employees and has implemented a safestart program designed to train employees and promote efficiency and reduce injuries.
In 1981, Kapur & Associates, Inc. started providing full-service engineering consulting; 41 years later, the Milwaukee-based company has built a network of 320+ professionals based in nine offices across Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana.
In 2022, Kapur & Associates, Inc. finished fifth in the midsize-businesses division, climbing five spots higher than its position on the same list last year. The firm prides itself on a highly diverse workspace that promotes innovation.
Bank Five Nine moved up three spots from last year to rank ninth in the 2022 midsize-businesses division. Serving Milwaukee since 1859, Bank Five Nine has 14 banking offices in several communities throughout southeastern Wisconsin.
Guided by the simple philosophy of “Make Lives Better” Bank Five Nine has a strong community presence that defines its professional ideology and allows it to be aware of community needs.
Children’s Wisconsin ranks 18th in this year's large-businesses division. Through the up and downs of the COVID-19 pandemic Children’s Wisconsin said it consistently adapted to keep staff safe while still providing the best experience possible for patients.
For the second year in a row, Children's Wisconsin is ranked in six specialty areas in U.S. News & World Report’s 2021-22 Best Children’s Hospitals report. Children's Wisconsin seeks to balance the child and family experience with the employee experience to create the best atmosphere for all involved.
Godfrey & Kahn S.C. is a Milwaukee-based law firm that has five locations across Wisconsin and Washington, D.C., as well as 380 employees worldwide. The firm ranked 13th this year in the midsize-businesses division.
Godfrey & Kahn S.C. said it is guided by core values that include a focus on client success, a relationship of trust internally and with the client, a culture of teamwork that promotes efficacy and development, an emphasis on work ethic and integrity to stay focused on what is best for their employees, clients and community.
Publicly traded company Douglas Dynamics, Inc. manufactures and upfits work truck attachments and equipment while employing 305 workers across southeastern Wisconsin. The company placed 15th in the 2022 midsize-businesses division.
Douglas Dynamic, Inc. said it has sustained success by investing in the development of its team and culture in ways that breed innovation, efficiency and safety. It even created a Douglas Dynamics University service that helps to train employees.
Staffing and recruitment company QPS Employment Group was founded in 1985 and has since grown from a two-person operation to a company that now staffs 350 employees in nearly 50 office locations throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and Missouri.
QPS Employment Group placed 21st this year in the midsize-businesses division and in 2021 was named Best of Staffing Talent Satisfaction by ClearlyRated.
von Briesen & Roper S.C. is a law firm servicing clients in three offices across Southeastern Wisconsin. The firm ranked 40th in the 2022 midsize-businesses division.
von Briesen & Roper places an emphasis on being community-driven with the firm hosting blood drives, annual fundraising campaigns for United Way of Greater Milwaukee and Waukesha County, and the United Performing Arts Fund. | 2022-04-29T16:48:43Z | www.jsonline.com | These nine companies have become Top Workplaces mainstays | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/these-nine-companies-have-become-top-workplaces-mainstays/9425460002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/these-nine-companies-have-become-top-workplaces-mainstays/9425460002/ |
Top Workplaces: Bank Five Nine has deep roots in southeastern Wisconsin
nullIn 1859, Oregon became a state, Charles Dickens published "A Tale of Two Cities" and the chimes of Big Ben rang for the first time in London. It was also the year that Bank Five Nine opened its doors in Oconomowoc.
Still headquartered in Oconomowoc, Bank Five Nine has a long history of serving communities in southeastern Wisconsin. The company was previously known as First Bank Financial Centre until changing its name to Bank Five Nine in 2020. All the while, its mission has been to “Make Lives Better” both inside and outside the company.
“Through it all, we’ve stayed true to who we are; a locally-owned, community bank,” said Becky Miller, marketing manager at Bank Five Nine, in an email. “And we intend to stay that way, helping our local communities with their banking needs.”
The company placed ninth out of all midsize companies in this year’s Top Workplaces survey. Bank Five Nine has been on the list for 13 consecutive years — every year since the Journal Sentinel program began.
This year, the bank also won a special award for managers. Employees ranked Bank Five Nine’s management the highest out of all companies, describing managers as flexible, open to communication and action-oriented when it comes to employee’s concerns.
“I feel like I can ask questions when I need to,” one employee said. “I can learn from my mistakes without it being held against me in the future. I am encouraged to grow and learn.”
Another employee said their manager “trusts me to do what I have been trained to do, is available when I have questions, meets with me regularly to see what I am working on and how she can help.”
The bank has 14 locations in southeast Wisconsin and employs 340 people in the state. Employees have access to a variety of benefits, such as paid time off, 401(k) contributions and medical, dental and vision insurance. In addition, the company also offers training and mentoring opportunities, a discounts and services program and an employee wellness program.
Miller also mentioned CEO Mark Mohr’s open-door policy where employees are able to stop by his office with questions, concerns or just to say hi.
Mohr hosts a quarterly roundtable discussion with employees from around the organization to “gain insight as to how they see the organization and ideas for improvements or ways we have been successful,” Miller said.
Outside the workplace, Bank Five Nine regularly engages in community service initiatives. In 2021, employees collectively spent 6,800 hours volunteering at organizations. At the corporate level, the bank donated $240,000 to 128 local initiatives and organizations. They also won a Champion for Children Award from the Waukesha chapter of Blessings in a Backpack, which provides meals on weekends for school-age children in need.
Bank Five Nine is a top 30 Small Business Administration (SBA) lender in the country and No. 1 in Wisconsin, according to its website. Its Downtown Loan Pool program provides low-interest loans to local small businesses in each of the communities where branches are located.
Last year, the bank was honored by American Banker magazine on its annual Best Banks to Work For list. Locally, the Wisconsin Bankers Association awarded Bank Five Nine with the Financial Education Innovation Award for commitment to improving financial literacy.
“Our mission to Make Lives Better applies to our customers, communities and our employees,” Miller said. “It is a sincerely held belief that drives our employee benefits, continuing education efforts, additional training and career opportunities, and our daily interactions within the organization.” | 2022-04-29T16:48:49Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Bank Five Nine has been a Top Workplace for 13 years | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-bank-five-nine-has-been-top-workplace-13-years/9505957002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-bank-five-nine-has-been-top-workplace-13-years/9505957002/ |
Top Workplaces: Employee ownership, size help Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly stores compete in hotly-contested grocery market
The Fox Bros. chain of Piggly Wiggly grocery stores is thriving in a hotly competitive market where its competitors happen to be some of the largest and best-run retail companies on the planet.
That's just fine with Mike Olwig, president of Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly, which operates nine grocery stores in Milwaukee's northern and western suburbs.
The company is 100% employee-owned and that gives Fox Bros. an advantage in being able to attract and keep some of the best employees in the industry in a tight labor market, Olwig said.
The company has been named a Top Workplace for six consecutive years.
"We feel that being an (employee-owned company) is very advantageous to us as it just adds another benefit to the overall package," Olwig said. "The labor market is very tight and job seekers are weighing all of the pros and cons when choosing where to work.
"We feel that our total compensation/benefits package is as good or better than most in the industry," Olwig added. "We are the only 100% employee owned grocer in southeastern Wisconsin."
Fox Bros. operates stores in Richfield, Jackson, Hartford, Slinger, West Bend, Hartland, Oconomowoc, Port Washington and Saukville.
Besides employee ownership, the company's size gives it an advantage, Olwig said.
"By being an independent, employee-owned grocer, we have an advantage in that we are the truest form of your locally-owned and operated store," he said. "With being so dialed into the communities in which we serve, we are better able to understand and able to take care of our customer’s needs."
The company has built a significant product line with its own brand of sausage, which it makes itself.
Different communities have different preferences for their local grocery store and "we are able to tailor each store's offerings to those communities," he added.
The company's size also makes it nimble and able to shift quickly to meet changing market conditions.
That came in handy when the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, grocery demand skyrocketed and supply chains became extremely strained.
"Being smaller, we are also able to adapt and change to any challenge fairly quickly," Olwig said. "Perfect examples of this occurred over the past two years when there was so much uncertainty and we were able to react quickly and implement new policies or identify new sources of product.
"We have our processes, but we are able to make decisions quickly, without having to go through a corporate approval structure that may not be totally in touch with what is happening in our communities," Olwig added. | 2022-04-29T16:49:01Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Fox Bros. Piggly Wiggly stores are employee-owned | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-fox-bros-piggly-wiggly-stores-employee-owned/9511216002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-fox-bros-piggly-wiggly-stores-employee-owned/9511216002/ |
This is the 13th year employee survey company Energage has partnered with the Journal Sentinel to identify outstanding workplaces in southeastern Wisconsin.
For 2022, 147 employers made the winners list. Energage invited 2,162 organizations to participate, and they were eligible provided they had 50 or more employees in the region. Most of the surveying was done between September and December 2021.
Surveys went out to 61,960 employees in the region and 39,755 responded.
Energage also determines special award winners for some employers who have standout scores in certain areas of the survey, such as leadership, values, direction, communication, meaningfulness and benefits.
To nominate a company for next year’s program, go to jsonline.com/nominate. | 2022-04-29T16:49:07Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: How to become a Top Workplace for Southeastern Wis. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-how-become-top-workplace-southeastern-wis/9469740002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-how-become-top-workplace-southeastern-wis/9469740002/ |
Top Workplaces: Milwaukee staple Saz's Hospitality Group celebrates 46 years of service
It started with Steve Sazama, a well-known local bartender who dreamed of opening his own restaurant. Now, 46 years later, Saz's Hospitality Group continues to grow as a key Milwaukee-area catering and hospitality business.
The company's leaders plan to keep going strong for another 46 years, and with their many dedicated, longtime employees, commitment to consistent progress and a company-wide passion for service, Saz's may just be on track to do that.
Those ambitions helped Saz's become one of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Top Workplaces for 2022.
"There's a lot of folks that have been with us 10 plus, plus, plus years that come and stay," said Kellie Commons, the chief progress officer for Saz's. "Everybody seems to have a Saz's story. There's so many people for whom working in catering or for festivals was their first job. "
Saz's Hospitality Group sprouted out of Saz's State House Restaurant on Milwaukee's west side in 1967. Sazama built the business into what would become synonymous with good Summerfest food.
Saz's Hospitality Group includes the restaurant, and a catering business for events and corporate buildings, a festival provider and retailer of barbecue sauce.
"That's why I love it ... it's constant motion," Commons said. "It would be easy after 46 years in business to sit back and say we've got to figure it out. ... I kind of think if you think you've got it figured out, it's probably heading downhill."
That growth can also be attributed to the deep loyalty its employees have for the company, a loyalty that digital marketing specialist Sarah Werner said comes with a shared passion for service.
"To be working with so many like-minded people that are very much passionate about giving people a really good experience, I think that is the driving force of why we do what we do and why we do it so well," Werner said.
It's also a place where employees feel heard, Werner added.
One example is Saz's recent launch of a Spanish-language curriculum for its employees, after many workers noted that cross-cultural communication between employees and customers was a challenge.
"I think people are impacted more by the little things that show you're listening," Commons said. "Those little details that really add up instead of making the big gestures that are sometimes performative ... it's not about spending the big money. It's about paying attention."
Despite the pandemic changing the landscape of hospitality and entertainment, Commons said that Saz's doesn't have any plans to slow down, even if goals put on hold in 2019 can't be picked back up so quickly.
"As an organization that deals in food and fun, there's always opportunities that are coming up for us to review ... and determining in this post-COVID world what is possible for us," Commons said. | 2022-04-29T16:49:13Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Milwaukee staple Saz's Hospitality Group marks 46 years | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-milwaukee-staple-sazs-hospitality-group-marks-46-years/9472164002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-milwaukee-staple-sazs-hospitality-group-marks-46-years/9472164002/ |
Top Workplaces: ORBIS helps keep plastics out of landfills
Reduce, reuse, recycle. You might be familiar with the three R’s of sustainability, which are also guiding principles for ORBIS Corp. based in Oconomowoc.
ORBIS manufactures reusable plastic packaging for a variety of industries, with a goal of making the supply chain more sustainable. By reducing the need for single-use plastic, reusing packaging over time and recycling its products at the end of life, the company operates a “circular economy” where plastics stay out of the landfill.
ORBIS was named No. 18 out midsize businesses on this year’s Top Workplaces list. It is the ninth consecutive year that the organization has been recognized as a top place to work in Wisconsin.
The company has a long history in the state’s economy. ORBIS operates under the Menasha Corp., which got its start making wooden pails in the town of Menasha in 1849. ORBIS was created in 1996 as a subsidiary to “meet the material handling and reusable packaging needs” of Menasha Corporation’s customers, according to its website.
ORBIS’ products include reusable plastic bins, containers, pallets and totes. It supplies its for food and beverage, environmental, industrial and storage and distribution purposes across the supply chain.
Today, ORBIS employs more than 3,000 people across the U.S. and Europe. In addition to medical/dental insurance and retirement plans, the company offers a number of benefits through the Menasha Foundation. That includes college scholarships for the children of employees, donations to schools for employees who volunteer more than 20 hours per school year and gift matching for philanthropic contributions.
The company also regularly engages in community volunteer projects, as a testament to the philanthropy of Menasha Corp. founder Elisha D. Smith.
ORBIS’ Community Action Team “identifies and selects groups, agencies and causes in its local community that are in need of financial support, time or volunteers,” according to its website. The company has made contributions to Make-a-Wish, Humane Animal Welfare Society of Waukesha County, Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin and other local food pantries and literacy groups.
In the workplace, employees describe an environment that is challenging, yet supportive and with a strong sense of team morale.
“I feel I am on a winning team that understands and appreciates the importance of people and teamwork,” one employee said. “We challenge ourselves to be our best and create the environment that enables it.”
ORBIS’ commitment to a greener supply chain is also a draw for some.
“Our products help companies be more sustainable and that is exciting for our employees,” Samantha Goetz, marketing communications manager at ORBIS, said in an email.
One employee said: “I'm able to work here without compromising my moral values.” The employee noted that the work is “mentally stimulating and challenges me to think in lateral ways.”
In 2021, ORBIS introduced a new pallet for its customers, made entirely of recycled content and designed to replace wooden pallets. The company also received a Green Supply Chain Award from Supply and Demand Chain Executive magazine.
But the year was not without challenges.
“Like many companies, raw material availability, logistics costs and labor availability created challenges for our business,” Goetz said.
The company worked between departments to rapidly execute projects to face these challenges. “Our focus was always on our customers and how these challenges impacted their businesses, so many projects addressed how to make and deliver product faster and better for them,” Goetz said.
In the coming year, the company is planning to release more reusable products for customers working in the retail and automotive supply chains. It is also updating its Life-Cycle Analysis Calculator, which helps customers calculate how they’ve cut down on CO2 emissions, electricity and solid waste by using ORBIS’ products.
“That is a great opportunity to show our customers the environmental impact of their packaging and the clear benefits of implementing reusable pallets and totes,” Goetz said in an email. | 2022-04-29T16:49:19Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: ORBIS Corp. helps keep plastics out of landfills | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-orbis-corp-helps-keep-plastics-out-landfills/9505976002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-orbis-corp-helps-keep-plastics-out-landfills/9505976002/ |
Top Workplaces 2022: Q&A with three CEOs who were recognized for their leadership during a transitional year
Milwaukee-area CEOs say they're still navigating the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. But these last two years have taught them to be nimble, humble and more compassionate.
Three executives were recognized with a special award for leadership in the Journal Sentinel's 2022 Top Workplaces for Southeastern Wisconsin. The honorees are: Sue Marks, CEO of the talent and recruitment company, Cielo, recognized for large employers; Tim Schmidt, Delta Defense LLC, for midsize companies (Delta Defense is part of the U.S. Concealed Carry Association, which provides training and marketing for supporting safe gun ownership); and Brandon Briesath, CEO of Touching Hearts at Home, a home-care service for older adults and people with disabilites in the small companies category.
The Journal Sentinel talked with Marks, Schmidt and Briesath about how they led their companies during the last year. Here is an edited version of those conversations:
How has the pandemic changed the way you lead?
Briesath: The pandemic has posed its challenges for sure! I think the ability to adapt to the new environment and lead the team through one of the most challenging few years in my 15-year tenure was a great learning experience. I truly feel we came out stronger than we did pre-pandemic.
Marks: I’d like to think it hasn’t … in terms of transparency, openness, humility, authenticity. But in reality, the pandemic demanded different things of all of us as leaders. I think mostly it demanded a much more “human,” more personal — authentically personal — and vulnerable kind of leadership. Each of us went through this roller coaster of a couple years with our own ups and downs, and acknowledging it was and is OK was absolutely necessary. We don’t hire an associate for eight hours a day or whatever. … We hire a whole person who is that person 24x7. And supporting them in bringing their best self to work and to their personal lives was and is critical. And when any of us can’t and doesn’t bring their best — and we all have those times — giving ourselves and others some grace is key.
Schmidt: To effectively navigate the pandemic, we have had to continue the flexibility we offer in most areas of our business. Since our inception, we have been a dynamic and entrepreneurial company, equipped with employees who understand and embrace the pace of change. In March of 2020, we effectively moved a large portion of the company to remote operations within 48 hours and implemented changes in work and staffing schedules as needed to ensure our customers could continue to count on us. We implemented new tools to improve cross-company communication efficiency as well — and I’m incredibly proud of how quickly we adapted.
What was the most difficult decision you had to make for your company in 2021? What did you do and why?
Briesath: The toughest decision I likely made during 2021 was having to turn families down simply because of the lack of available employees. We are very particular on the caregivers we chose here, and facing a countrywide employee shortage made our process that much more difficult. We opted to be very transparent with new families on how this will impact the time it takes to find the right fit for their loved one.
Marks: I think the hardest decisions we had to make throughout 2021 were about how to flex and scale appropriately for ourselves and for our clients, particularly as each country and region was in a different place with the pandemic. We also had to balance staying as flexible as possible with our employees. And needing to do all of this with imperfect and incomplete information was and still is, hard. We consistently listened to our people and to our clients and remained agile in our approach to make accommodations based on strategic direction and comfort level.
Schmidt: Having a growth mindset is one of our core values at Delta Defense. The most difficult decision was keeping our foot on the gas and continuing to grow the company. While companies around the country scaled back or slowed down, we chose to keep moving forward and expanded the company, hiring 270 employees.
What are the biggest challenges you see for your company in the year ahead?
Briesath: The employee shortage will continue to be our largest hurdle in 2022. Fortunately, we have managed to retain almost all of our tenured staff and continue to excel in staffing our live-in 24/7 cases!
Marks: Continuing to be a great place to be. Note I didn’t say to “work.” … I want our organization to be a place where people can be their authentic selves … where they can achieve more than they thought possible … where their aspirations can become reality … where they learn and grow personally and professionally. And if they need to change gears or directions, we need to be a place that accommodates that as well, which we are.
Schmidt: The continued growth that Delta Defense saw in 2021 and already in 2022 makes the scaling-up process one of the challenges in the year ahead. Over the past two years, the organization's exponential growth created the necessity to smartly pivot initiatives and infrastructures, allowing the organization’s efforts and newly established roles to proliferate in the coming year.
How do you instill confidence in your employees?
Briesath: We support our staff with constant communication and recognition. I feel that if we make a good match upfront and show our gratitude towards the work that they do, they will feel confident and appreciative during their time here at Touching Hearts.
Marks: Consistent, open communication of our plan, commitment to our customers’ success and commitment to employee growth and success.
Schmidt: It is very simple — through open, honest, and transparent communication. At Delta Defense, we implemented a weekly companywide meeting where we review performance, provide updates, celebrate success and give employees the opportunity to provide comments or questions on current company initiatives or ones they believe should be explored.
What makes you a great leader?
Briesath: I enjoy what I do and the people who work with me. We all share common goals and have similar mindsets. I try to recognize my team's accomplishments and support them throughout their workday. Staying passionate about the work we do and surrounding myself with the best people has helped me to be a better leader.
Marks: Well, you’d have to ask others about that. I guess what I’d say is I’ve made enough mistakes to be humble, I’m experienced enough to know what I don’t know and I’m open and transparent. I also empower people to act, to be bold in making decisions and to make mistakes and learn from them.
Schmidt: The key to a great business is to lead by example. I embrace the gratitude and servant leadership approach. As CEO, I can have visions and goals, but those are brought to the market through the efforts of every employee at Delta Defense, providing them a valuable and recognizable part in the success of this company.
As a servant leader, I can’t stress the word helping enough. My role as CEO is to provide guidance, empower and challenge my team members to exceed their goals. If I am a great leader, it is because I never stop learning, assisting, surrounding myself with industry experts and championing the continued innovation of those around me. Looking at Delta Defense today, I am humbled by the lifesaving work performed and the culture that has garnered us seven years of Top Workplace Place recognition. | 2022-04-29T16:49:19Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Q&A with CEO honorees Marks, Briesath and Schmidt | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-q-a-ceo-honorees-marks-briesath-and-schmidt/7165722001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-q-a-ceo-honorees-marks-briesath-and-schmidt/7165722001/ |
Top Workplaces: Shorewest Realtors, Keller Williams Milwaukee and West Bend Mutual earn large company honors
A real estate agency, a broker agency and an insurance company received top honors in the large companies category for this year's Journal Sentinel Top Workplaces in Southeastern Wisconsin.
Shorewest Realtors
Shorewest Realtors is a one-stop shop for Wisconsin real estate services. Since 1946, the company has helped families buy and sell homes as well as deliver mortgage, home and insurance services.
The family-owned company celebrated 75 years in 2021. This is the 11th-straight year it has been voted a Top Workplace.
Headquartered in Brookfield, Shorewest has over 20 offices and roughly 1,200 employees.
“We really are a family. We have a lot of employees, some for over 25 years. We're the local brand, the local name,” said Joe Horning, president of Shorewest Realtors.
“We've been here, and we have a good reputation as being a leader in the industry.”
Shorewest says it strives to set the standard on how to bring family and employees together as a team to serve Wisconsin families. The company provides a comprehensive training program for agents.
“We're here to provide our agents the best tools, training and technology to succeed,” said Horning.
Committed to its employees and the greater community, Shorewest is also often involved with the community and charitable giving.
Keller Williams Milwaukee
Headquartered in Whitefish Bay, Keller Williams Milwaukee is a full-service residential real estate brokerage serving the five-county metro area.
Founded in 2015, the company has four other locations around southeastern Wisconsin.
“We're in our infancy of what we're capable of doing. There’s many markets that we are established in and many markets that we have not tapped into,” said Charlie Stalle, general manager at the Keller Williams Milwaukee office.
“We firmly believe we have an incredible runway for organic growth in the southeastern Wisconsin area.”
Keller Williams has around 660 employees and it focuses on creating an environment where everyone works together. Stalle says more than 200 people are present on every team meeting call.
The company also offers an extensive training program for agents including a YouTube channel with training video resources.
“Our environment is one that's unlike anything I've ever seen in that everyone wraps their arms around each other,” said Mandy Katte, team leader at Keller Williams.
West Bend Mutual Insurance is a property and casualty mutual insurance company. It sells insurance through independent agents to a variety of businesses and consumers.
Two-thirds of its claims come from business insurance and the other one-third is related to auto and home insurance, said Kevin Steiner, president and CEO of West Bend Mutual.
The three offices in Wisconsin employ around 1,300 employees. Over 300 people have made it to the company’s 25-year club, with over 200 of those still working at the company today.
“Culture trumps strategy,” said Steiner. “We attract really good, talented individuals to our company. We describe our culture with one word: relationships.”
Volunteering and fundraising are also part of the West Bend mission.
“All of our officers are on the board of nonprofits. Not only are we giving our treasures, but we're giving our time and our talents,” said Steiner.
The company donates nearly $3 million from its charitable foundation to nonprofits across the country, with a good share of it staying in Wisconsin.
This is the 11th-straight year the company has been voted a Top Workplace. | 2022-04-29T16:49:31Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Shorewest, Keller WIlliams, West Bend Mutual honored | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-shorewest-keller-williams-west-bend-mutual-honored/9505702002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-shorewest-keller-williams-west-bend-mutual-honored/9505702002/ |
A home care employer, construction company and a wholesale distributor received top honors in the 2022 Top Workplaces small business category.
Touching Hearts at Home
Touching Hearts at Home provides in-home, nonmedical senior care for older adults, seniors and people with medical conditions and/or disabilities. The company serves around 50 clients, mainly in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties.
Caregivers at Touching Hearts work anywhere from a few hours a day to 24/7 and provide live-in care, helping with housekeeping, meals and companionship.
Brandon Briesath opened a franchise office in Brookfield 15 years ago. He says that everyone at Touching Hearts has a passion for helping people.
“It's a very rewarding industry and we’re very fortunate to be surrounded with great office folks, caregivers and people in the field,” Briesath said.
The recruitment process is very particular. The company wants to make sure the right people are placed with the right clients.
Touching Hearts at Home has been named a Top Workplace for the past five years in a row.
Hunzinger Construction Co.
Hunzinger Construction is a general contractor and construction management firm. Founded in 1907, the company is celebrating its 115th anniversary this year.
Hunzinger has built some of Wisconsin’s most notable projects including American Family Field, the Marcus Amphitheater at Summerfest and the Deer District in downtown Milwaukee.
“The foundation of our culture is all around building strong relationships and maintaining those relationships, not only with the clients but with our subcontractors,” said Joan Zepecki, director of corporate affairs at Hunzinger.
“It's a great place to work and the work is interesting. We get to work with a lot of great clients.”
Hunzinger prides itself on the use of modern technology and green construction practices.
Headquartered in Brookfield, the company has just under 100 employees and is in its fourth generation of family leadership.
Founded in 1927, Illing Packaging is a family owned and operated packaging distribution company.
The company offers a variety of services including packaging design, supply, decoration and delivery. It has high speed labeling, silk screen printing and most recently, shrink sleeving capabilities.
This is the company’s second year as a Top Workplace with just over 50 employees based in Wisconsin. Headquartered in Richfield, Illing has other locations in greater Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Tampa, Atlanta, and Chicago.
Illing lives by the motto “family first, have fun and create.”
“The family first motto, it’s actually true here,” said Krista Hanamann, human resources and safety manager.
“You can feel it, not just because it's a family-owned company, but because of the values people have and bring to work.”
With an emphasis on providing value chain solutions and service, Illing dedicates time and resources to its employees to ensure quality service.
“The leadership is incredibly open to new ideas and continuous improvement so were asking for feedback from all employees all the time,” Hanamann said. | 2022-04-29T16:49:38Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Small business category winners | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-small-business-category-winners/9505783002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-small-business-category-winners/9505783002/ |
Top Workplaces: STS made a pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic that paid off
In the early days of COVID, airlines felt the pressure of lost revenue as flights were canceled all over the world. STS Technical Services, a staffing company that serves clients in the aviation industry, had a front-row seat as the disaster unfolded.
“The commercial aviation industry was crushed in 2020. Nobody was flying anywhere,” said Bryan Shaw, the company’s marketing director. Regular clients began to put projects on hold as the need for aircraft mechanics and other service personnel dwindled.
As company leaders watched other staffing companies lay off parts of their workforce, the STS team didn’t panic, Shaw said. Instead, they took things one step at a time and transitioned their staffing team to remote work, while shifting to meet the needs of clients outside the commercial aviation sector.
The flexibility resulted in new successes. During 2020, Oshkosh Defense awarded STS a contract to provide workforce services to build a fleet of Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLVTs) that will replace U.S. military Humvees.
Shaw describes the contract as “a huge win for us while staring COVID in the face.”
This is the company’s first year on the Top Workplaces list, ranking fourth out of all midsize companies. Employees describe an environment that is rewarding, independent and supportive.
“I can see that what I'm doing matters,” one employee said. “I'm able to help people further their career and I'm given the support and tools I need to succeed.”
Founded in 1986, STS Technical Services began in Reno, Nevada. It started as a staffing company for aviation alone, but acquisitions and partnerships over the decades brought it into other sectors such as aerospace and industrial manufacturing.
The staffing team recruits for hundreds of technical, trade and engineering jobs, hiring skilled workers who can provide labor for a variety of clients all over the world. Today, STS is headquartered in Brookfield and has several offices around the United States.
Despite the international focus, STS serves a number of Wisconsin companies, including Harley-Davidson and Oshkosh Defense.
Nearly 90% of the staffing team works remotely, Shaw said.
“I think STS has been able to handle that transition really, really well,” he said. “They implemented a lot of tools that allow the team to stay connected.”
One of those tools is a bonus system to reward employees. Shaw said he thinks it is important that hard work is recognized and rewarded within the company, whose mission is “to promote the growth and well-being of our employees by investing in a cultural atmosphere that emphasizes our values and strives towards excellence through collaboration and fostering a sense of PRIDE in workmanship, reliability, innovation, generosity and spirit.”
The company’s PRIDE initiative, which stands for professionalism, respect, integrity, dependability and enthusiasm, seeks to reward those who go above and beyond.
The five attributes represent the qualities that team members strive for. When someone excels in one of these categories, they receive a token that can be exchanged for a monetary reward once they’ve collected all five.
And outside the workday, employees also meet up for virtual happy hours to connect and chat.
“Although I am fully remote, my managers at STS have always worked to make me feel included and valued,” one employee said.
Remote work will remain a facet for the company going forward. Future plans include the continuation of projects in various sectors and securing new clients and contracts.
“Our team is slated to grow,” Shaw said. By the end of 2022, he said the company’s revenue is expected to expand 15% to 20% from pre-pandemic levels.
“I think that's a huge testament to what we've been able to accomplish, the hurdles we've been able to overcome, and some of the big, new client signings and projects that we have coming up in the pipeline.” | 2022-04-29T16:49:40Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: STS Technical Services benefited from strategy change | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-sts-technical-services-benefited-strategy-change/9505917002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-sts-technical-services-benefited-strategy-change/9505917002/ |
Data collected from more than 2 million workers in 2021 showed people were less engaged in their work compared with a year earlier. Engagement looks at a combination of factors: motivation, loyalty to the workplace and how likely people are to recommend their workplace to others.
Employee engagement dropped to 62.9% in 2021 compared with 65.3% in 2020.
Referral — employees who say they would recommend their workplace to others — peaked at 88.6% in April 2020 and bottomed out at 81.8% in September 2021. Like loyalty, it showed a steady decline throughout 2021 but picked up at the end of the year.
Employee motivation dropped, too, in 2021. Measuring 86.5% in December 2020, it went on a steady slide through September 2021, falling to 83.3%, before rising in Q4 2021.
The data show how the last two years have been a roller-coaster ride for people’s relationship with work.
The first half of 2020 reflected uncertainty in the job market, when the pandemic hit and some companies started layoffs. It was risky to look elsewhere and people wanted psychological safety. “People were happy to have a job,” Black said. “The workplace is something predictable.”
In 2021, many employees decided that if their employers were calling them back to the office, they didn’t want to commute anymore or they didn’t want to give up the flexibility of working from home, Black said. Those who enjoyed flexibility became used to it.
But this doesn’t mean people gave up on their jobs in 2021. It just means they were less positive about their employment situation when compared to the first wave of the pandemic. Employee engagement in 2021 was greater than in 2015 to 2019.
People are more mindful, empathetic and trying harder to make sure voices are heard, Black said. There’s also a greater focus on diversity, equity and inclusion. “We’ve figured out how to work better together,” she said.
Still, although inclusiveness was up, employees said they felt slightly less clued in than before. Black’s takeaway: Two-way communication still needs some work. “Just because you are included doesn’t mean you’re informed,” she said. | 2022-04-29T16:49:46Z | www.jsonline.com | Top Workplaces: Workers did plenty of soul-searching in 2021 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-workers-did-plenty-soul-searching-2021/9469490002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/top-workplaces-workers-did-plenty-soul-searching-2021/9469490002/ |
UScellular praised for flexible workplace, benefits
Kristy Baron was working two jobs as a waitress, and was a cake decorator as well, when she landed a customer service position at UScellular.
She wanted to return to college, and the company offered a tuition reimbursement program that strongly appealed to her.
Fast forward 15 years. Baron has since completed her associate's and bachelor's degrees and has nearly finished her master's degree in business — with all the tuition covered by UScellular.
"Candidly, without taking on huge student loans, it was the only way for me to go back to school," she said.
She's also moved up in the company from an entry-level position into customer care management, operations and information technology.
Now she's director of sales and operations for Wisconsin and Illinois.
Paid tuition, career advancement and now the ability to work from home are among the reasons UScellular was named a Top Workplace winner.
The Chicago-based company has around 5,200 employees nationwide, including 300 in southeast Wisconsin. Its employee benefits package includes many perks such as medical insurance, a 401(k) with a company match, a Roth 401(k) with a company match, educational assistance, adoption assistance, long-term incentives and wellness programs.
UScellular is large enough for a career path in many fields, according to Baron.
"It doesn't really matter what door you enter through ... it's a very open space in terms of where your career goes," she said.
Until the pandemic, the company had a customer call center in Waukesha with several hundred employees. That's since been closed and those employees are now working remotely.
"We did some surveys internally and we heard 'loud and clear' that people wanted to be able to do that," Baron said. "All of those jobs were retained."
The company welcomes young talent fresh out of high school or college, according to Baron, and there's mentorship available early on.
"We take care of each other, too," she said.
"It may sound cliché, but we're not the largest wireless carrier, and we have a really tight-knit working team. It's not so large that we don't know each other by name."
The company has been recruiting through its UScellular.com website.
"We offering many work-remote opportunities with customer care," Baron said, and there's also a new office in Brookfield.
Her advice for someone in that job interview: "Be your authentic self. We have a lot of different opportunities within the organization."
Telecom is a fast-growing career field.
"If you are looking to achieve big goals with your education and your career, you will have people along the way who will support you," Baron said about UScellular. | 2022-04-29T16:49:52Z | www.jsonline.com | UScellular praised for flexible workplace, benefits | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/uscellular-praised-flexible-workplace-benefits/6939805001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/top-workplaces/2022/04/29/uscellular-praised-flexible-workplace-benefits/6939805001/ |
Two Colorado babies are born with MCAD deficiency, a rare but treatable disorder. The one born on Tuesday lives. The one born on Friday dies.
John Fauber Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Two babies were born with the same rare disease, in the same state, in hospitals only about an hour's drive apart.
One was born on a Tuesday and is now a healthy toddler.
The other was born on a Friday and may have died because of that.
The reason: In Colorado, like many other states, the state medical lab does not process newborn blood samples that come in on the weekend.
So when Noah Wilkerson was born on that Friday in 2009, the blood sample that was drawn early the next morning at Penrose-St. Francis Medical Center in Colorado Springs waited for two days before it was taken by courier to the lab.
The delay proved deadly.
Colorado Data
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment would not release data with hospital names.
On Tuesday, when Noah was 4 days old, the baby was tucked in a sling against his mother's chest while his parents ate dinner. When Sarah Wilkerson lifted Noah out for his own feeding time, he was blue and unconscious.
At the hospital, doctors and nurses inserted a breathing tube and IV lines. They tried adrenaline and a drug to start his heart, tried CPR and ventilation. They spent nearly an hour, his parents watching helplessly. But Noah's breathing never returned.
"I just sat there and hovered in the reality of knowing my son had gone without oxygen so long that he would either be brain-damaged or die," Sarah Wilkerson said. "It was hell on earth."
At 9:47 p.m., Noah was pronounced dead.
The next day, a Wednesday, the Wilkersons' pediatrician received the results from his newborn blood test.
It revealed Noah had MCAD deficiency, a genetic disorder that prevents the body from breaking down fats, which can lower blood-sugar to dangerous levels. The condition, which can emerge within days of birth, is treatable — if detected early — with a special diet and frequent feedings.
Had Noah been born two days later, he may have survived.
"These are life and death samples," said R. Rodney Howell, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Miami who specializes in newborn genetic disorders. "Sick babies don't take a holiday."
Closed for the weekend
An investigation by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel found that in 27 states — from Hawaii to West Virginia — newborn screening samples are not processed on the weekend. In many cases the labs are closed entirely. In some, they process only samples received late Friday.
In 2011, those states accounted for 1.7 million births, or 42% of the nation's total. Lab directors and health officials blame tight budgets for the lack of weekend hours. Critics say the policies are a foolish gamble that each year leave hundreds of babies at high risk for lifelong disabilities or death.
Three years after Noah's death, in 2012, Colorado changed its regulations to require hospitals to perform the blood draw within 48 hours after birth, rather than 72 hours.
The new rules also say the samples should not be mailed to the lab; they must be sent by courier service or overnight delivery within 24 hours of being taken. In addition, Colorado now has a seven-day-a-week courier service that can pick up samples on weekends, though hospitals are not required to use it.
On its website, the lab carries this warning: "Any delay in shipping newborn specimens to the lab could critically impact the infant's life."
Yet the state lab still does not process new samples on weekends. All the changes addressed hospital shortcomings, not any delay caused by the lab's lack of weekend hours.
Mark Salley, a spokesman for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, said the hours of operation for the lab are determined in consultation with medical experts and the state's newborn screening advisory committee.
"The current hours of operation have been in place for over 25 years," he said.
While the lab does not screen samples received on Saturdays or Sundays, it does test samples that arrive on Fridays and makes immediate notification on abnormal tests.
The lab begins testing on weekend-arriving samples at 6 a.m. Monday. The lab remains open to do testing if there is a three-day weekend caused by a holiday.
Salley said that as a result of all the changes instituted because of Noah Wilkerson's death, more samples are getting screened faster. In the first quarter of 2012, before the changes occurred, 63% of samples were delivered to the lab within four days of collection. As of the second quarter of 2013, that number had increased to 88%.
But experts say there is little reason all samples can't arrive in four days — or even three days or two — when you consider how effective overnight delivery is in the business world.
"There can certainly be extenuating circumstances," said Carol Greene, a professor of pediatrics at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, who then offered this list of extremes as an example of what would be acceptable: "Bad snowstorm and the courier does not go. Fed Ex plane crash. Katrina or Sandy or earthquake."
Lab costs vs. treatment costs
In 2008, Michigan added Saturday hours for its lab, a move aimed at protecting babies — and saving costs in the long run.
The state has about 111,000 births a year. Adding the extra hours meant between 10,000 and 13,000 samples that come in on Saturdays can be tested without a weekend's delay, said Bill Young, a newborn screening manager in Michigan's Department of Community Health.
The decision added about $316,000 to the program's $13 million annual budget, an increase of about 2.4%. Young said it was well worth it, considering long-term costs.
"It prevents early symptoms and damage to the brain," he said.
It can also can save money.
In 2004, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the total lifetime costs of one baby born with mental retardation that might otherwise be prevented by newborn screening at more than $1 million. Often, such costs are absorbed by taxpayers through Medicaid or other programs.
"Newborn screening seems to be one of the rare health care interventions that is beneficial to patients and, in many cases, cost saving," researchers at Indiana University concluded in a 2006 paper that analyzed the cost-effectiveness of screening for eight different disorders.
Yet, in state after state, the labs remain closed on weekends.
Arkansas' lab is closed, yet its newborn screening website carries this message to hospitals: "Serious problems can be prevented if we find out about the disorders right away."
Ed Barham, a spokesman for the Arkansas Department of Health, declined to comment about the lab's hours of operations.
The lab in Oregon, which also tests samples for five other states, does not process samples that come in on Saturdays until at least Monday. Its website warns: "The importance of early sample collection and prompt transit is illustrated by the fact that infants with galactosemia, organic acidemias and fatty acid oxidation disorders may die within a week or two of birth."
Jonathan Modie of the Oregon Public Health Division said the lab's medical consultants "have assured us that no infant is put at risk because of our schedule."
Modie said the number of days a week that a lab operates is only one factor in the timely testing of newborn screening samples. He said the Oregon lab has processed 4.7 million samples over the last 50 years, and "we are unaware of any baby being harmed in any way because of our operating hours."
In Kansas, which processes about 45,000 newborn screening samples each year, officials said lab hours are restricted by cost.
Colleen Peterson, newborn screening lab manager, said she would prefer to have the lab open at least on Saturdays, but she would need two people to run the lab. Those technicians earn about $80,000 year, including benefits.
"Give me the funding and the staff," she said.
The downtime caused by labs being closed on the weekend is just as detrimental as delays caused by hospitals, said Gerard Vockley, chief of medical genetics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
"If you can't provide the service you say you are providing," he said, "then you shouldn't be in the business."
The diseases are rare, so a single baby's odds of testing positive are small. But when the delay involves samples from thousands of babies, it is much more likely something bad can happen.
Doctors say about one of every 800 newborns has a potentially severe or lethal condition that can be detected through screening and treated.
Said Vockley: "Eventually you are going to get caught on the math."
A life saved
Kay Kelly plays with her son near their home. "He climbs, he runs, he's completely healthy," she says. Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Babies are unable to change some of the fats they eat into energy the body needs. Instead, too many unused fatty acids build up.
effects Early signs are sleeping longer, poor appetite, fever, vomiting, diarrhea and low blood sugar. If untreated, the disorder can cause breathing problems, brain damage, even death.
In March of last year, another baby was born in a Denver-area hospital with the same disorder that killed Noah.
But the baby was born early in the week and the condition was discovered when he was 3 days old.
The baby's mother, Kay Kelly, got an urgent call on a Friday evening from the family's pediatrician. Her son's test results for the disease were so high that he had to be fed every two hours to keep his blood sugar from slipping to dangerous levels, the doctor told her.
"He said if I didn't answer the phone he was going to drive to the house and knock on the door," Kelly said. "Rapid newborn screening absolutely saved his life that night. I am 100% convinced of that."
The parents asked that the baby's name not be used to protect his future medical privacy. After her son was born, Kelly began writing a blog, MCADD for Moms, and joined a national group that aims to improve newborn screening programs.
Now 19 months old, the boy is a blur of energy. He sits at the table pouring water back and forth from one glass to another, chases balls that he throws down the hallway and, banana smeared on his face, sits in an overstuffed chair watching TV.
"He climbs, he runs, he's completely healthy," Kelly said.
A life lost
Sarah Wilkerson said she holds both the lab and hospital responsible for Noah's death.
She said the hospital should have used the lab's weekend drop box so Noah's sample was available for testing first thing Monday morning.
Christopher Valentine, a spokesman for the hospital, said the hospital didn't send the sample in immediately because there was no one to leave a sample with on weekends. The state lab, though, says it has had a weekend drop box for years.
Sarah Wilkerson holds her son Noah in 2009 shortly after his birth. Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wilkerson said she believes if the lab had been open with an established weekend policy, the hospital would have sent Noah's sample in right away.
"I understand their desire to cover their bases by having traceable steps with handing off test samples to an actual person rather than leaving it in a box somewhere," Wilkerson said. "But in the end, it cost some extra time which my son simply didn't have."
After Noah died, friends gathered up all his belongings and put them in his room. The door to the nursery remained closed for nearly a year.
When Wilkerson and her husband, Chris, decided to have a second baby, they used in vitro fertilization so genetic testing could be done on the embryo to check for MCAD deficiency. Aaron, now 3, does not have the disorder.
Sarah Wilkerson joined a group she had never heard of before Noah's birth: the Save Babies Through Screening Foundation, a parent-driven group that is pushing for improvements to screening programs.
"I think about him all the time," she said of Noah. "Every moment. Every day. If we are having a family dinner, I know my son isn't there."
In Denver, her husband is reminded of what happened in a different way. When he sees construction crews working on Saturdays on roads and highways, he knows government officials can arrange work schedules in ways that makes sense.
"So they prioritize building a highway over saving children's lives," Chris Wilkerson said. "That's just wrong. Things still get done at the state level. Why is this not one of them?"
Kristyna Wentz-Graff of the Journal Sentinel staff contributed to this report. | 2022-04-29T18:41:54Z | www.jsonline.com | Many states do not process newborn screening samples on weekends | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/many-states-do-not-process-newborn-screening-samples-weekends/7380333001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/many-states-do-not-process-newborn-screening-samples-weekends/7380333001/ |
Despite calls for reform, newborn screening programs vary widely by state
Newborn Screening Saves Life Act is again before Congress, but lack of oversight remains
When federal lawmakers set out to improve the nation's newborn screening programs in 2007, they succeeded in creating grants and increasing the number of conditions tested throughout the country. Yet little has been done to ensure consistency among states when it comes to how quickly newborn babies are tested for deadly disorders.
Now the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act is up for renewal and — as drafted — the same holes remain.
Many quality initiatives are still voluntary for the state-run programs, information about hospital performance remains hidden, and outcomes for babies continue to vary greatly depending on where they were born.
Screening newborns for genetic disorders is required in every state, with testing coordinated by public labs and health departments. For nearly 15 years, federal advisory groups have said state programs need to be standardized — from the minimum number of conditions being tested to how quickly blood samples arrive at labs.
Passed initially in 2008, the Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act gave a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services a bigger advisory role in making federal recommendations for newborn screening. But many recommendations laid out by federal advisory groups in the late 1990s and again in 2005 have been ignored.
There is little oversight of hospitals' performance even though they are the first crucial step in the newborn screening process — collecting the baby's blood sample and sending it within 24 hours to a testing lab, according to the recommendations. The Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals and sets standards on patient care, does not have standards for how hospitals run their newborn screening programs.
These and other problems were laid out in a 2005 report by the American College of Medical Genetics that was funded by the federal government. The report outlined the lack of consistency among newborn screening programs, highlighting in particular that the number of disorders screened in each state varied widely. It also said labs and hospitals should be held accountable for their performance through more uniform data collection, and outlined how hospitals should handle babies' blood samples.
The guidelines said blood samples from hospitals should take no more than three days to arrive at labs. A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found only two states where hospitals met that standard 99% of the time in 2012 — Iowa and Delaware. Some state labs don't even track how long it takes for samples to arrive at labs; others do but look the other way when hospitals send samples late.
The newborn screening bill, which has been awaiting a vote in Congress since March, would continue to fund programs that address many important aspects of newborn screening, including follow-up care for children; education and outreach; quality control in labs; and research on new disorders and treatments. The bill also reauthorizes a committee of experts that advises the U.S. health and human services secretary on newborn screening issues.
But it doesn't make hospitals accountable and offers few incentives for states to follow federal recommendations.
"There is no stick in the system," said Michael Watson, executive director of the American College of Medical Genetics, which spent three years researching and preparing the 2005 report that called for more standardization.
One way to establish meaningful newborn screening standards, Watson said, is to turn to the Joint Commission, which accredits hospitals seeking reimbursements from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
The pending bill includes provisions for gathering data from state newborn screening programs to make improvements. Yet participation by state programs remains voluntary, and much of the meaningful data won't be made available to the public.
The Association of Public Health Laboratories, which represents state labs across the country, is coordinating the data effort known as NewSTEPs (Newborn Screening Technical assistance and Evaluation Program). It will enable public health officials to trade best practices and provide states with experts to help improve their programs, said Sikha Singh, manager of the program.
Yet the effort won't reveal to the public how specific hospitals perform, or even offer an in-depth look at how states perform.
"No state will ever be called out," Singh said. "No state will ever be identified, so there is nothing punitive."
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia refused to release to the Journal Sentinel newborn screening data detailing the performance of specific hospitals. Parents in those states have no way of knowing if the hospital where their child will be born sends tests in a timely manner.
Edward McCabe, chief medical officer for the national March of Dimes, reviewed newborn screening programs for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the late 1980s. Back then, reviews found hospitals sent samples late to labs.
"To be 50 years into a system and still have problems arising that we identified two decades ago is concerning," said McCabe, who believes openness and accountability could help fix the fragmented system.
"It's the nature of institutions to try to protect themselves from embarrassment," he said. "Personally, I believe in transparency, so I think it is good for the system to be challenged, and that will make the system better." | 2022-04-29T18:42:00Z | www.jsonline.com | Newborn screening programs vary by state, despite calls for reform | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/newborn-screening-programs-vary-state-despite-calls-reform/7380289001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/newborn-screening-programs-vary-state-despite-calls-reform/7380289001/ |
Less than 24 hours after coming home, Colton Hidde wound up back in the hospital facing a life-or-death struggle that could have been avoided. Family photo
New London — Less than 24 hours after Karen and Michael Hidde returned home from the hospital with their newborn son, the baby went quiet. Karen could not wake him. Following the advice of a nurse, the new mother ran a cold bath and held Colton, her only child, in the bracing water.
The baby did not move. His body remained limp, eyes closed.
The Hiddes rushed Colton back to New London Family Medical Center. There, staff began drawing blood from Colton's foot for testing.
But as the new parents watched, foamy blood began pouring from their baby's nose and mouth. Someone called out: Doctor, you need to come in right now.
"They tried finding an airway and they were having problems getting the tube down," Michael said. "There was too much blood."
Over the next 12 hours, Colton would be rushed by rescue helicopter to a hospital in Neenah, then by a second emergency flight to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa. He would arrive at Children's so close to death that two doctors would struggle to decide whether anything could be done to save him.
It was a crisis that never should have happened.
The state of Wisconsin screens virtually all newborn babies for 44 rare and treatable disorders. One is the metabolic disease that had brought Colton to the brink of death.
Had the New London hospital followed Wisconsin guidelines and forwarded Colton's blood sample to the state lab within 24 hours of taking it, doctors could have treated the baby's illness before it became critical.
Colton could have been put on a special diet and sugar water, then gone home after an extra day or two in the hospital, according to one of his doctors, David Dimmock, an expert in metabolic diseases at Children's and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
Colton's case raises troubling questions about a landmark public health program used across the nation and trusted by millions of parents like the Hiddes.
Developed 50 years ago, newborn screening was designed to save babies from death or irreversible harm by detecting rare diseases quickly. The tests have changed infant health in this country, saving or improving the lives of 12,000 babies a year, according to a 2013 report by the Association of Public Health Laboratories.
But a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation found that delays at some hospitals undermine the effectiveness of the tests and put babies at risk. Records show Colton's test was not received at the state lab until five days after it was taken and nearly a week after his birth.
The New London hospital reviewed Colton's treatment in response to questions from the Journal Sentinel. But the hospital would not discuss the case in detail, even though the Hidde's signed waivers allowing officials to do so. The hospital did issue a brief statement saying the baby's blood sample was collected on time, though it was not sent to the state lab until four days later.
Doctors say that sometimes screenings are delayed because a hospital waits until it has a group of tests to send together — a discouraged but unregulated practice known as "batching." Colton's test appears to have been delayed by this practice, according to a genetics counselor at Children's who called the New London hospital to find out what had happened.
Members of a committee that advises Wisconsin's newborn screening program acknowledged that some hospitals batch repeatedly even though the state pays for a courier to shuttle blood samples to its lab.
Hospitals get away with it because no laws require them to follow the state guidelines; no penalties are imposed when they fail. In fact, the state is reluctant to name hospitals that batch.
For five months, the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene resisted preparing or releasing data about hospitals that would allow parents to see which ones send in their newborn tests promptly. Finally, on Nov. 6, after 25 other states had provided their data, Wisconsin followed suit and sent records to the Journal Sentinel.
Among health experts, there is little argument when it comes to batching.
"Hospitals should never, ever batch samples," said Ada Hamosh, clinical director of the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "Samples should be sent out at least daily."
In state after state, newborn screening websites explicitly warn hospitals not to batch.
"The screening is extremely time sensitive," said Brad Therrell, director of the National Newborn Screening and Global Resource Center, based in Austin, Texas. "Some of the things we screen for can start causing problems within a few days after birth."
With galactosemia, another rare metabolic disorder, the goal is to get the results back to doctors within five days of birth, he said.
"If it's not within five days, babies can die."
Normal pregnancy
The Hiddes are a working couple from New London. Karen, 32, manages a Burger King; Michael, 23, is a machine operator for a lumber mill. They attend a Lutheran church in Clintonville. The couple had celebrated their first wedding anniversary only two weeks before Colton was born.
Although Karen had been diagnosed with gestational diabetes, a condition that forced her to give up coffee and sweets, among other things, the pregnancy had been fairly easy. No morning sickness, just a little heartburn.
On Tuesday evening, Oct. 2, 2012, Karen delivered by Caesarean section. Colton weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces.
Karen Hidde looks at her newborn son. Family photo
At 32 hours of age, within the recommended time frame, Colton had a small blood sample taken from the heel, his newborn screening test. Once the sample had been preserved on filter paper, the clock began ticking. According to the Wisconsin guidelines, Colton's blood was to be sent to the state lab in Madison within 24 hours.
"I really didn't think anything of it," Karen says of the screening, "because I didn't know about the importance of it."
Often overlooked, the tests have changed the face of certain diseases in this country.
Phenylketonuria, better known as PKU, was a disease that often left patients profoundly disabled and institutionalized for life. Today PKU is caught early enough to allow most patients to experience a normal mental development and life span.
The disease known as MCAD deficiency, which renders the body unable to convert certain fats to energy, once caused sudden death.
"It is now essentially unheard of for patients to die of MCAD deficiency. It happens once a year, if that," said Gerard Vockley, chief of medical genetics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh.
One reason parents like the Hiddes know little about the screening is that each condition is rare individually — one in 10,000 births, one in 300,000, as few as a handful of cases around the world.
Collectively, though, one out of every 800 newborns has a potentially severe or lethal condition that can be detected through screening and treated, according to a government estimate.
At the New London hospital, Colton displayed some symptoms that, in retrospect, might have been red flags. He had trouble feeding by breast or bottle. To nourish him, nurses sometimes held a dropper in his mouth. His temperature fell.
On Oct. 5, the day the family went home from the hospital, medical staff placed Colton in a warmer to heat him up.
During his one day at home, Colton ate little. He hardly wet his diaper. He was sleepy. His whole body felt floppy.
When the cold water did not stir him, the Hiddes rushed their baby back to the hospital. After Colton began bleeding, doctors stabilized him. They told the Hiddes they did not know what was wrong with their baby.
They had called a rescue helicopter to take Colton to Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah.
Michael went to the hospital chapel to pray.
While the child was en route to Neenah, Karen's parents drove her and Michael the 30 miles to Theda Clark.
I'm not going to tell you what to do, Karen's mother said. But you might think about getting him baptized.
In Neenah, doctors received the results of Colton's blood test and were alarmed.
The baby's ammonia levels were off the charts. A normal measure is between 11 and 35; Colton's was over 1,000. How much over no one knew. The machines didn't measure any higher.
A massive buildup of ammonia in the blood is comparable to a city experiencing a garbage strike. Under normal conditions the urine acts like a garbage crew, clearing ammonia from the body. Certain disorders, however, cause ammonia to build up like trash in the street. At high enough levels the ammonia begins killing brain cells, leading to permanent damage, coma and even death.
The doctors in Neenah told the Hiddes that with so much ammonia in his blood, Colton needed dialysis and needed it fast. But performing dialysis on a newborn baby is risky. It could be done at two hospitals.
One, American Family Children's Hospital in Madison, was on the Hiddes' insurance plan, but couldn't take Colton right away. The other, Children's Hospital in Wauwatosa, could start right away, but was not in the family's health insurance network.
Were they willing to pay the bills?
They had no idea what treatment might cost, but their baby's life was at stake. Of course they would pay.
David Dimmock, on call for Children's Hospital that night, was at home in bed when the phone rang. It was a transport team asking to bring Colton to Children's. The voice on the other end described a baby with an alarmingly high ammonia level, so high that it was not clear he could be saved.
"The real dilemma we had at this point," Dimmock said, "was: Do we even transport the child down?"
A decision had to be made. Dimmock told the team to bring the baby.
Then he dressed and drove to the hospital.
Lack of weekend lab hours adds to delay, putting babies as risk | 2022-04-29T18:42:06Z | www.jsonline.com | Newborn screening test delay put Colton Hidde's life at risk | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/newborn-screening-test-delay-put-colton-hiddes-life-risk/7380267001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/newborn-screening-test-delay-put-colton-hiddes-life-risk/7380267001/ |
Son's disability spurred researcher's quest for test
His simple blood test led to newborn screening for various disorders
The test that changed infant health in America began half a century ago with a microbiologist whose son was born disabled.
Robert Guthrie, of the University of Buffalo, never learned the cause of his son John's disability, but having such a child gave a strong focus to his work.
"John stimulated me to go into research aimed at preventing mental retardation and developmental disabilities," Guthrie wrote in the European Journal of Pediatrics in 1996.
In 1963, Guthrie pioneered a simple test for detecting the genetic disorder phenylketonuria, commonly called PKU, using just a few drops of blood collected from a baby's heel and placed on filter paper.
The test offered a way to detect high levels of phenylalanine, the amino acid that builds up in PKU. Guthrie knew there was a substance that would stop the growth of a certain bacteria in gel. He also knew phenylalanine disabled this substance. The bacteria was unrelated to PKU but provided a clever way to detect the disease.
Phenylketonuria (PKU)
Body cannot break down an amino acid called phenylalanine.
effects If left untreated, it can cause brain damage and even death.
treatment/solutions A dietary treatment including specific medical foods: a phenylalanine-free medical formula and foods low in protein.
prevalance Affects 1 in every 10,000 - 15,000 babies born in the U.S.
If a person had large amounts of phenylalanine in the blood, the disease's signature, bacteria would proliferate; otherwise the bacteria would be held in check. Guthrie determined this by taking the baby's dried blood, punching a spot out with a hole-puncher and placing the blood spot in the gel.
The blood sample, which would come to be known as a Guthrie card, was first used to screen babies for PKU, then expanded to congenital hypothyroidism, then to a host of other rare diseases. From just a few drops of blood, Wisconsin now screens for 44 disorders.
"That so much could be done with such a small amount of blood — that was the revolutionary idea," said Natasha Bonhomme, director of Baby's First Test, a clearinghouse for information on newborn screening in America.
Before screening, many of the disorders were not apparent to parents and doctors until symptoms appeared. PKU, for example, wasn't picked up until the baby was between 6 months and 2 years old. Often by the time children were diagnosed, irreversible damage had already been done. The same was true of other disorders that were added later to the screening.
By diagnosing the disorder within days, doctors could alter the course of the disease, treating babies with special infant formula and diets before the disorder caused mental retardation.
Before screening, children with PKU faced a life marked by years in institutions. Guthrie's test made it a disorder that no longer prevented children from living a full and normal life.
The difference is clear to Ada Hamosh, clinical director of the Institute of Genetic Medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Two of her patients, born with PKU in the 1950s, missed the benefits of screening and are now institutionalized.
"It's a big event in their lives when they take a field trip," she said. "I also have an astrophysicist and pharmacist (born after screening began), both of whom have PKU. There is no way to describe the impact. It is huge."
In the decades since the test began, the PKU story has been repeated for some of the other disorders added to the screening panel.
"There is nothing subtle about this," Hamosh said of the program. "Newborn screening absolutely saves lives and it absolutely saves money."
Screening expands rapidly
In 1963, four states took advantage of Guthrie's discovery and began to screen babies for PKU: Massachusetts, Oregon, Delaware and Vermont. Three more states adopted screening in 1964, and an additional 27, including Wisconsin, came on board a year later.
Over the years the screening program grew, aided by the development of better technology.
In 1964, Robert Phillips developed the punch index machine that could punch four holes in filter paper at once, allowing a single blood sample to be used in four different tests.
In the early 1990s, a technique called tandem mass spectrometry made testing for as many as 50 different diseases faster and cheaper. The technology worked by separating extremely small amounts of dozens of different compounds in blood — compounds linked to various inherited disorders. The tests produced a printout listing the levels of these compounds; abnormally high levels were flagged.
The new technique fueled a rapid expansion of the screening program.
An abnormal result is indicated. The doctor of this child will be contacted with the information. Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
In 2003, 46 states were screening for just six disorders. Today, most states screen for at least 29 disorders — the number recommended under the federal Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act, which became law in 2008. The remainder test for 28.
The law set national guidelines and provided money to help states improve and expand their programs and offer follow-up and treatment for infants with disorders. It is up for reauthorization this year.
Early in the 2000s, just before the program's growth spurt, Wisconsin was the nation's leader in newborn testing, screening for 21 disorders. In 2008, the state became first to test for severe combined immunodeficiency, also known as bubble boy disease. Today, some states such as Michigan have surpassed Wisconsin in the number of disorders they test for. Michigan screens newborns for 52 different disorders.
Newborn screening has become one of the nation's most important public health programs. Health researchers have studied the program, finding strong evidence that it saves lives and reduces costs for thousands of children who years ago required long hospitalizations or lifetime care.
"It's the sheer scale," said Beth Tarini, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan who studies screening and its implications for children. "Four million babies are born in this country each year, and nearly every one of them gets a newborn screening." | 2022-04-29T18:42:24Z | www.jsonline.com | Son's disability spurred Robert Guthrie's quest for test | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/sons-disability-spurred-robert-guthries-quest-test/7380317001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/sons-disability-spurred-robert-guthries-quest-test/7380317001/ |
Secrecy clouds efforts to track newborn blood tests
Scattershot approach means children suffer preventable damage
Patrick O'Connor plays with his son Peter, 6 1/2, at home in Darien, Conn. Mark F. Conrad / For the Journal Sentinel
Darien, Conn. — For the first 99 days of his life, no one knew why little Peter O'Connor was so sick. He wasn't growing. His eyes wouldn't track. His skin was cold.
Doctors should have known within his first week of life that the baby didn't have a functioning thyroid gland, which produces hormones crucial for growth and brain development. Since the 1970s, a routine blood test for newborn babies has alerted doctors to the condition, which is easily treated with a daily dose of thyroid hormone.
It should have been that way for Peter.
But Peter's blood sample never made it to the Connecticut State Public Health Laboratory after he was born in 2007. It was never tested for 40 genetic disorders, including the one that prevented him from developing normally and was once a leading cause of intellectual disability in the United States.
No one at the hospital or state lab realized his blood sample hadn't arrived and was never tested, according to court records. The state required all birthing facilities to develop a system to make sure results were received for every newborn. But hospital staff admitted in court that they had no system to track the life-saving tests — and state health officials weren't checking to see that they did.
Connecticut's health department says it now has a computerized system so hospitals can track babies' blood samples when they are sent to the lab for newborn screening. But state health officials won't say if the system has been implemented or is being used by hospitals.
The secrecy surrounding Connecticut's newborn screening program — where more insight can be gained in court records from Peter's malpractice lawsuit than from state health officials — highlights the scattershot way in which many hospitals and health departments track, or don't track, babies' blood samples.
Some states have a system that allows doctors and nurses to log in and check on a newborn screening sample for a specific patient, just like customers can track a retail package being shipped to their home. But many others do not, or won't disclose how their system works — or even if they have one.
It's impossible to know how often samples are lost each year among the almost 4 million babies born in the United States. But for every child whose sample is lost, newborn screening can be worse than useless, as it can delay diagnosis even longer as doctors assume that the baby doesn't have conditions that were supposed to be identified by the test.
"Something routine and so simple didn't catch this," said Peter's mom, Katrina O'Connor.
MARK F. CONRAD, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL
Katrina O'Connor, Peter O'Connor's mother
Something routine and so simple didn't catch this.
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigation published in November revealed that newborn screening nationwide is anything but the standard, routine procedure it should be to quickly diagnose and treat infants with genetic disorders. Thousands of hospitals send blood samples late to state labs; labs in half the country are closed on weekends; and many hospitals and labs fail to follow guidelines and regulations meant to make newborn screening effective. There is often little oversight of the process and no consequences for hospitals or labs that perform poorly.
As a result, children who should be diagnosed and treated shortly after birth are suffering preventable brain damage, disability and even death — as if they had been born decades before today's screening tests and treatments were available.
The Journal Sentinel's investigation was based on an analysis of nearly 3 million newborn screening samples from 26 states. Connecticut was one of 24 states that refused to release data on how long it took specific hospitals to send samples to state labs.
In December, health officials in Connecticut, Maryland and New Hampshire finally released the information, revealing more hospitals that have failed to quickly send in babies' blood tests. In Connecticut, nearly 8% of blood samples arrived at the lab six or more days after they were collected. At three hospitals, more than 30% of samples were that late. The state only provided data for six or more days, not the three-day delivery time-frame recommended by federal guidelines.
In the remaining 21 states and the District of Columbia, parents have no way of knowing if the hospital where their baby will be born handles newborn screening tests in a timely manner.
It was Katrina O'Connor who first thought to ask about her son's newborn screening test 93 days into his ordeal.
Congenital Hypothyroidism (CH)
Affects babies' thyroid gland, a small organ in the lower neck. Babies are unable to produce enough thyroid hormone, a chemical essential for healthy growth and development.
effects Early signs include jaundice, constipation, weak muscle tone, swelling around the eyes, swollen tongue, hoarse-sounding cry and delayed growth. Delayed treatment can put children at risk for intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, developmental delays and delayed growth.
treatment/solutions Babies may need to take L-thyroxine pills, a synthetic thyroid hormone, to replace the natural thyroid hormone that their bodies do not make enough of. Babies may also need to restrict the amount of soy and iron in their diet.
prevalance Affects 1 in every 3,000 - 4,000 babies born in the U.S.
Peter spent his first 31/2 months in and out of the hospital. For nearly all that time, the baby was tethered to oxygen as doctors and his parents tried to figure out what was wrong.
The newborn screening test would have quickly alerted Peter's doctors that he has congenital hypothyroidism, a condition that affects about 1 in every 3,000 to 4,000 newborns.
e they start receiving hormone treatments within the first week or two after birth, before brain damage occurs.
Peter's parents remember what the neurologist said after their son was finally diagnosed: "There is a profound likelihood there was neurological damage."
"You hear something like this and you never forget it," said Patrick O'Connor, Peter's father.
Now 61/2, Peter O'Connor is an expressive little blond-haired boy who likes blocks, dinosaurs and wrestling with his two big brothers. But the neurological damage he suffered in his first three months of life has left him significantly behind his peers in most everything.
His speech is difficult to understand, and he has a hard time with motor skills, from running and zipping his coat to brushing his teeth and buttoning his pants. His grip is weak; his movements clumsy.
In his kindergarten classroom, Peter requires an aide and receives speech, physical and occupational therapy, as well as social support from a school psychologist.
He is terrified by simple things most children his age understand. A siren from down the street can have him in tears. Earlier this month, a tree branch moving slightly in the wind at a Christmas tree farm sent him into hysterics. It's as if his brain isn't able to process what is going on around him, Patrick said.
Earlier this year his parents settled a medical malpractice case against Stamford Hospital, where Peter was born. Neither the O'Connors nor their lawyer, Ernie Teitell, would comment on the lawsuit, citing a confidentiality agreement.
But the O'Connors are worried the same thing could happen to another child if hospitals, state authorities, doctors and parents don't pay more attention to newborn screening.
Patrick believes newborn screening is not taken as seriously as it should be, treated as nothing more than "a compliance issue" at many hospitals.
"It's just a box to check," he said. "What test do you take at your doctor that you don't hear back from?"
Systems vary by state
Stamford Hospital said in a statement it has in place "rigorous procedures to ensure compliance with the newborn screening process," a response to the "tragic situation involving Peter O'Connor more than six years ago."
The hospital said it verifies each step related to newborn screening, including timely collection of blood samples, shipping to the state lab and receipt of reports from the lab. The hospital also said it has extensive, ongoing training for all staff who are involved with newborn screening to make sure they understand the entire system.
Newborn screening in Connecticut
Samples received after five or more days: 2,685 (7.62%)
In 2012, Stamford Hospital had almost 98% of babies' blood samples arrive at the lab within five days. However, that means that 49 blood samples still took six or more days to reach the lab after being collected.
New Hampshire used the same cutoff in reporting its newborn screening data. In that state, almost 97% of samples arrived at the lab within five days of being collected.
Five days is considered by many experts to be an exceedingly long time for samples to reach labs because an infant could be well over a week old before results are available — too late for babies with certain disorders. The babies often appear healthy at birth but can become extremely sick, or die, within days, so timeliness is critical.
Several states are now making an effort to have hospitals meet standards recommended in 2005 by a newborn screening committee created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. That standard recommends that all blood samples take no more than three days to arrive at a lab for testing after they have been collected.
That will be the new goal in Maryland.
Earlier this year, Maryland health officials said they did not track the timeliness of newborn screening samples so they could not release information to the Journal Sentinel.
In September, in response to the newspaper's inquiries, the health department began a quality improvement initiative to inform Maryland hospitals about the need to improve the timeliness of sending babies' blood samples to the state lab for testing.
State officials now have a goal of making sure 90% of babies' blood samples reach the state lab within three days of collection. In the first six months of this year, 67% of samples met that mark, according to a Journal Sentinel analysis of newly released data from Maryland.
The same measure is being targeted in Arizona. Will Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said he wants 95% of all newborn screening samples to reach the state lab within three days of when they were collected. Last year in Arizona, nearly 17% of samples took five or more days to get to the state lab for testing.
The Journal Sentinel found that Iowa and Delaware were the only states that met the three-day turnaround time for 99% of blood samples last year.
Many state lab and health officials don't notify hospitals unless samples have taken seven, 10 or even more days to arrive after collection.
When contacted by the Journal Sentinel, hospitals said they were unaware of their performance because state labs had not given them feedback.
Health officials in dozens of states have made specific plans to improve their newborn screening programs, from keeping labs open on weekends to identifying problem hospitals and providing them with regular performance reports. National advocacy organizations, trade groups for state labs and U.S. senators from both parties have also promised reforms within the past month.
The Association of Public Health Laboratories is leading an effort to collect information on how each state tracks newborn screening samples, which can then be used to improve state systems.
In Iowa — which has one of the most comprehensive and effective newborn screening programs in the country — the state lab is updating its tracking system using open-source software so that other states can duplicate the Iowa system for little cost.
"If you don't have a tracking system, the lab doesn't know they didn't receive the specimen. The hospital doesn't know it wasn't received," said Stanton Berberich, program manager at Iowa's State Hygienic Laboratory.
Hospital staff overseeing newborn screening can generate reports to look up the status of samples received by the lab, check results for individual patients, run quality control reports and review "turnaround statistics" to see how quickly samples get to the lab and results to the hospital.
"It provides a protection for the babies and helps the hospitals' systems be more efficient as well," Berberich said.
Difficulties after birth
Katrina held Peter for about 15 minutes shortly after he was born in 2007. The baby had rosy cheeks and resembled his oldest brother, Will, except with his own look: surprisingly blond hair, a cowlick already visible in the yellow fuzz.
Doctors said he was having trouble breathing, maybe just fluid in his lungs from birth. Soon he was in neonatal intensive care. Peter stayed at Stamford Hospital for the next month. Oxygen levels in his blood were low, and he just wasn't thriving. He was sleepy most of the time and his skin felt rough.
At the end of September, Peter was transferred to Yale-New Haven Hospital. The baby underwent dozens more tests. Doctors thought he might have a condition where the tissue between his lungs wasn't quite developed. The O'Connors contacted a doctor in Texas who was an expert in these conditions. He agreed to have his team review the case.
In mid-October, Peter was sent home. The plan was to have the baby get a little bigger and stronger before doing more invasive tests.
Patrick and Katrina brought their son home with tanks of oxygen in their car. Medical tubing wound throughout their home, connecting to an oxygen compressor in Peter's bedroom. The baby needed to breathe oxygen through a tube in his nose at all times, even during his baths. The family dog, a golden retriever named Grady, had to go.
In mid-November, Peter was scheduled for a lung biopsy so doctors could determine why he was having trouble breathing. The night before the surgery, Patrick had been at Mass with the two older boys and called Katrina on his way home.
"Father Frank and Father Chris are coming to baptize Peter," he said.
The priests arrived with the huge brass baptismal font that usually sat near the altar at church. Peter was baptized that night in the family's living room.
The lung biopsy was the next day. Peter had trouble waking up from the anesthesia and was put into intensive care. He was discharged two days later, but at home again, he got sicker.
Katrina noticed his head wasn't growing. He had barely any muscle tone and wouldn't smile.
The doctors in Texas were studying part of the tissue from Peter's lung biopsy. A young pathologist called his parents and said she thought Peter might have a metabolic issue. They had seen lung tissue like this once before in a child who didn't have a thyroid gland.
Katrina thought about the newborn screening test she believed all three of her boys had received. She knew it tested for metabolic disorders. She called the pediatrician's office on Nov. 29, 2007. Peter was just over three months old. The test wasn't in his medical file. But Peter had been so sick, transferred to so many different hospitals and units, she thought it probably had just been separated from his other paperwork.
That was a Thursday. The doctor's office said it would take a new blood sample from Peter but would wait until Monday, since the state lab is closed on weekends and the sample wouldn't be tested on the weekend anyway.
A few days later Peter was back in the hospital. He had a cold, then a respiratory infection. Again, he got sicker.
As Patrick was changing Peter's clothes, the baby stopped breathing. Monitors rapidly beeped and his room was flooded with nurses and doctors. Patrick called Katrina at home. A friend who was delivering a plate of fried chicken had just walked in their door. Katrina left her with the other two boys and drove 40 minutes to the hospital.
Peter was intubated — a tube inserted down his throat — when Katrina got to the hospital. Over the next few days, nurses took blood from the baby several times to run more tests. Katrina asked them to do a thyroid screen. A few hours later she was on her cellphone down the hall when Patrick beeped in on the other line. She needed to come back to Peter's hospital room.
At least 10 doctors and nurses were crammed into the room. They went down the line, introducing themselves. The last three doctors were endocrinologists.
"It's his thyroid, right?" Katrina remembers asking.
"We don't even think he has a thyroid," a doctor replied.
Tests showed that Peter had virtually no thyroid hormone in his body. Infants with his condition are usually quickly given replacement hormones to supplement what their bodies can't naturally produce.
Treatment started immediately, but doctors weren't sure he would survive. Family and friends came to the hospital and gathered by his bed.
Within 10 days, Peter had improved significantly. His cheeks became rosy again, his skin soft and white like when he was first born. He started smiling and making eye contact. His head started growing.
"I remember thinking I was so happy that his brain was growing," Katrina said. "But then it would remind me that it hadn't been growing."
About two weeks after Peter was diagnosed, he was able to go home. Each day, Patrick and Katrina gave him hormone replacements by crushing a pill into his formula and feeding it to him with a dropper.
He was still on oxygen but started physical therapy with an in-home therapist within a few weeks, working on holding his head up and rolling over.
Therapy, doctor's appointments and daily treatments have been Peter's life ever since. His parents and doctors don't know his ultimate prognosis.
"Doctors said you'd have to go to a Third World country to find a child who hadn't been diagnosed for this long," Patrick said. | 2022-04-29T18:42:30Z | www.jsonline.com | Tracking newborn blood tests clouded by secrecy | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/tracking-newborn-blood-tests-clouded-secrecy/7380368001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/tracking-newborn-blood-tests-clouded-secrecy/7380368001/ |
Lacking blood screening results, Wisconsin doctors try to figure out what's killing newborn
Dying infant is airlifted to Children's Hospital, where doctors struggle with whether and how to treat him
At Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, doctors wrestled with whether Colton Hidde should even be treated. In the end, they tried an experimental approach. Family photo
Wauwatosa — As Colton Hidde began his fifth day of life, an emergency helicopter waited in the pre-dawn darkness to fly him to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. It would be his third hospital in less than 12 hours.
The baby hovered near death in the neonatal intensive care unit of Theda Clark Medical Center in Neenah. His blood ammonia levels had soared into perilous territory, beyond anything the hospital equipment could measure.
Karen and Michael Hidde watched the flight nurse baptize their baby, sprinkling water on him from a small shell.
Before Colton was being transferred by helicopter to Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, a flight nurse baptized him using this shell. KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF / JOURNAL SENTINEL
Before the helicopter lifted off early that morning of Oct. 7, 2012, Michael held his son's tiny hand and said he loved him and would see him soon. Karen could not bring herself to say goodbye. She feared the words would turn into an omen.
Doctors still did not know what was killing Colton.
The answer was waiting in the tiny blood spots on the baby's newborn screening test. But no one had heard anything about the test since it was administered three days earlier by the hospital where Colton was born, New London Family Medical Center. Wisconsin guidelines recommend that hospitals send tests to the state lab within 24 hours; the screenings are supposed to be processed promptly and phone calls made immediately to the baby's doctor if an urgent problem is found.
As the helicopter carried Colton the 80 miles to Children's Hospital, doctors there were already discussing whether he was beyond saving.
David Dimmock, an expert in metabolic diseases at Children's, was sure the baby had some kind of urea cycle disorder, a group of conditions that hinder removal of ammonia from the blood. At high enough levels, ammonia begins killing brain cells; this presents doctors with a dilemma. They can end up preserving life at a heavy cost: a child doomed to years of profound disability.
Colton arrived at Children's around 5:30 in the morning; when doctors saw him they were alarmed. They pinched the baby's toes. Colton did not respond.
He was in a coma.
Within 10 minutes, his breathing stopped. Then his heart.
By inserting a new tube into the baby's airway, doctors were able to restore his breathing and heartbeat. But he needed dialysis to lower his ammonia levels.
Having driven from the hospital in Neenah, Karen and Michael arrived at Children's to see a respirator pumping air into their baby's lungs, his tiny chest expanding and deflating in rapid succession.
A half-hour later, a nurse told the couple: He's going into surgery if you want to say your goodbyes.
Colton was hooked up to so many machines they couldn't get close enough to kiss him.
The surgery was needed to insert a catheter in his neck for dialysis. The blood-cleansing process is risky for babies. Small bodies contain a small amount of blood, and when much of it is diverted for dialysis, babies can experience a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
Even if dialysis succeeded, Colton could die or suffer severe brain damage, possibilities that weighed on Dimmock and neonatologist Steve R. Leuthner as they discussed what to do.
"Just based on the ammonia level, his brain had taken such a bad hit. The child was not even able to breathe," Dimmock said. "His heart was not working. His liver was not working as it should. His lungs were not working. ... We both felt pretty confident that based on the standard care options we had available, this child was as good as dead, and there was nothing we could do about it."
People might think that a doctor must try anyway. After all, what could be worse than the death of a child?
"There are worse things than death," Dimmock said.
He believed he'd witnessed something worse while working in the emergency room of an Arizona hospital. Doctors had saved a drowned child, but there had been severe brain damage. The damage caused the boy's muscles to contract so drastically that his thigh bones curled back and fractured. Dimmock never forgot the sound of the bones breaking and the fear that the child had suffered.
And yet, he could not withdraw treatment from this baby. He knew there was no logical argument for continuing.
Later Dimmock would say that he felt "a still, small voice" telling him not to stop.
Then he remembered an online discussion of experts in metabolic diseases. There had been talk of "cooling" babies.
The theory was that by lowering the body's core temperature, doctors would slow down metabolism and decrease the brain's workload. Cooling would reduce both the production of ammonia and the rate at which cells were dying. The lower ammonia levels would bring down swelling in the brain.
Cooling is a standard treatment for babies suffering lack of oxygen, but when Dimmock searched online he could find no medical papers describing its use in babies with metabolic disorders. The cooling device had not been approved for such cases. Dimmock hoped he could find a hospital that had cooled a child in similar circumstances and get a copy of the step-by-step protocol doctors had followed.
But his email to the discussion group went unanswered.
He called Children's National Medical Center, suspecting that the Washington, D.C., hospital might have tried cooling in a similar case. He was right. The technique had been tried in Washington, and in hospitals in Philadelphia and Heidelberg, Germany.
Just six times worldwide.
The hospital in Washington emailed the protocol. Usually, new procedures of this kind go for approval to the Medical College of Wisconsin's institutional review board, the group that oversees research involving human subjects. In Colton's case, there was no time.
The baby was still in surgery to install the catheter for dialysis when Dimmock approached the parents in the waiting room. The Hiddes had now been at Children's about one hour. They were exhausted and worried. Karen looked so tired that doctors had tested her own blood fearing she might have the same metabolic disease as her son (she didn't).
Dimmock told the couple that if Colton received dialysis alone, there was at least a 50% chance he would die anyway. Adding cooling could save his life, but the procedure was only experimental.
We don't know if it will work, Dimmock said.
Do whatever you have to, the Hiddes said.
Two-pronged approach
Within two hours of installing Colton's catheter, doctors started the baby on cooling and a very aggressive form of dialysis. The baby had between 300 and 400 milliliters of blood in his body. The dialysis circuit diverted as much as one-third of that total at any given time.
Directing the cooling effort was Michael T. Meyer, the doctor on call for the intensive care unit that day. As luck would have it, Meyer was also the hospital's cooling expert. His experience had involved standard use of the technique to help infants experiencing serious heart or breathing problems.
Meyer had confidence in the procedure and supported the decision to use it for Colton. He watched as a special blanket was placed over the baby. Inside the blanket was a thin plastic membrane filled with cool water. Rapidly, Colton's temperature dropped two to three degrees.
Dialysis and cooling were risky by themselves, even more so when performed together. Dimmock feared the worst: Colton's blood pressure would plummet.
"He'd lose all of it," the doctor recalled thinking, "and die in front of us."
Dialysis went on for four hours. Colton's ammonia dropped to safer levels without his blood pressure crashing. Doctors began to see evidence of brain activity.
The cooling, which would last for three days, kept the baby in a coma-like state.
The next day, after running a blood test at Children's, Dimmock and his colleagues finally learned what had caused Colton's crisis.
Argininosuccinic Aciduria (ASA)
Causes dangerous levels of ammonia to build up in the body.
effects Vomiting, trouble breathing, poor appetite and tiredness. It can lead to mental retardation, seizures, coma and death.
treatment/solutions High-calorie, protein-restricted diet; arginine supplementation; and administration of sodium benzoate and sodium phenylacetate.
prevalance Estimated to affect 1 in 70,000 babies in the U.S.
He was born with argininosuccinic aciduria, which occurs in one in 70,000 babies, and can lead to mental retardation, seizures, coma and death. The disorder was among those Colton had been tested for on his newborn screening.
Records from New London Family Medical Center show his screening had been taken just after 4 a.m. on Oct. 4. According to state guidelines, the sample should have been sent within 24 hours to the lab in Madison.
It was now Oct. 8 and Colton's doctors had yet to learn the results of the screening. The next day a state lab official called Dimmock because of his expertise in rare metabolic diseases.
Wisconsin had a new baby with a metabolic disorder, the lab reported.
Let me guess, Dimmock replied: Colton Hidde.
Records show that Colton's blood sample was not received at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene until Oct. 9. It had taken five days for the sample to go 115 miles from the New London hospital to the lab.
The hospital said it sent Colton's blood sample to the lab on Oct. 8, three days later than state guidelines recommend. The hospital statement in response to questions from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel suggested that sending the sample earlier would not likely have made a difference:
"Colton returned to the Emergency Department on Oct. 6, 2012 which would have likely coincided with the lab results being reported if the sample had been sent on Oct. 4th or 5th."
When Karen and Michael Hidde's son Colton was born, his screening test didn't arrive at the lab as quickly as called for by state guidelines. By the time the results came back, Colton was in the intensive care unit at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin in Wauwatosa. Journal Sentinel
The hospital, however, has never explained to the Hidde's or to the Journal Sentinel why it took four days to send in Colton's blood sample.
Amy White, senior genetic counselor at Children's Hospital, said she called the New London hospital and spoke with a representative in the lab shortly after learning of Colton's screening. White said she was told, "It's a small hospital. They had four or five babies born that week, which is a lot for them, and they decided to send them in all at once."
Saving blood samples to send in together is called "batching." State guidelines address the practice on the lab's website, warning hospitals, "DO NOT BATCH SPECIMENS."
White sits on a subcommittee that advises the newborn screening program and, despite the warnings on the website, she said, "there are still plenty of hospitals that batch." When they do, lab officials call hospitals and remind them they need to send their screening samples every day, White said. "There's nothing else they can do."
In an effort to examine the extent of the batching problem, the Journal Sentinel asked the state lab for electronic records that would show how long it took hospitals to get their samples to the lab. After refusing for five months, officials released the records Nov. 6.
From March 2012 to February 2013, the New London facility performed 102 screenings. Of those, four took five days or longer to reach the lab — a period when some of the diseases can cause death. That's a rate of 3.9%; statewide about 2.9% of samples took five days or more to reach the lab.
The afternoon Dimmock learned of Colton's screening, he told the Hiddes about the delay.
"We were mad. I don't even know how to describe it," Karen said. "You wanted to know who to get mad at."
She liked the staff at the New London hospital and did not want to get anyone in trouble, "but something needed to be done," she said.
Damage and development
They had a more immediate concern. Doctors told them that the process of bringing Colton back from cooling, actually warming his body, would be delicate. Raising a baby's temperature just a small amount changes metabolism and can overwhelm a child's heart.
The Hiddes tried to stay optimistic. Karen carried Colton's baptism shell wherever she went; she saw it as a connection to her son.
Gradually, over a period of 24 to 36 hours doctors warmed Colton.
On Oct. 13, Karen saw one of her baby's feet flex up, then down. The movement shocked her. She'd grown accustomed to seeing his body lie still.
The same day Karen and Michael learned the results of a CT scan of Colton's brain. The scan revealed major damage, including a blood clot in the brain.
On Oct. 14, Colton opened his eyes. He began trying to move.
Four days later, doctors met with the Hiddes. Colton still had the blood clot and damage to his brain. The brain injuries were severe enough that doctors told the parents they could stop treatment if they wished. They had to explain the option, though by now they knew the Hiddes would never take it.
Two days later, Karen got to hold Colton for the first time since his crisis.
Michael Hidde holds Colton for the first time since a dangerous buildup of ammonia in the blood forced him to be rushed by helicopter to Children's. Family photo
Almost three more weeks went by before the Hiddes returned home to New London on Nov. 9. They took with them a list of seven different medications for Colton, including methadone to help wean him off painkillers. They went home also with a complex schedule of feedings, injections and medications that would take them from 6 each morning until 4 the next morning.
The good news was that Colton had become just the seventh patient with a metabolic disease in the world to be saved by cooling. By late this summer, he showed a bright, alert smile, punctuated by five tiny teeth.
But there have been steep costs to the New London hospital's delay in processing Colton's newborn screening.
Instead of a special diet, sugar water and an extra day or two in the hospital, the baby spent more than a month at Children's. His bills stand at $479,000, the Hiddes said. The two rescue flights cost an additional $12,000.
Their insurance company, Network Health, ruled that the trip to Children's was an emergency and agreed to pay many of the bills. Even so, the Hiddes have to cover about $10,000 themselves, a bill that forced Karen to withdraw money from her 401(k). The couple say they are considering legal action over the handling of their son's screening. They don't want another family to go through what they have.
Twice-daily injections of a blood thinner took care of Colton's blood clot. But no one knows the extent of his brain damage. It may take years to determine how delayed he is in reaching key developmental milestones.
At 10 months old, he had yet to crawl or pull himself to a standing position, or grasp objects between his thumb and fingers.
He said "Ma-ma" and "Da-da" and "Ba-ba" (for bottle), but little else. A speech therapist worked with Colton every two weeks; a physical therapist came just as often.
Colton Hidde's life is one of doctors and therapists. At left, occupational therapist Lisa LaCoursiere, works with Colton as his mother, Karen, provides encouragement. Above, Colton falls asleep on his father's shoulder during a follow-up visit to Children's Hospital. Pictured are David Dimmock (left), the doctor who first treated Colton at Children's, genetics counselor Amy White and dietitian Kari De Fouw. Colton Hidde's life is one of doctors and therapists. At left, occupational therapist Lisa LaCoursiere, works with Colton as his mother, Karen, provides encouragement. Above, Colton falls asleep on his father's shoulder during a follow-up visit to Children's Hospital. Pictured are David Dimmock (left), the doctor who first treated Colton at Children's, genetics counselor Amy White and dietitian Kari De Fouw. Colton Hidde's life is one of doctors and therapists. At left, occupational therapist Lisa LaCoursiere, works with Colton as his mother, Karen, provides encouragement. Above, Colton falls asleep on his father's shoulder during a follow-up visit to Children's Hospital. Pictured are David Dimmock (left), the doctor who first treated Colton at Children's, genetics counselor Amy White and dietitian Kari De Fouw. KRISTYNA WENTZ-GRAFF / JOURNAL SENTINEL
The Hiddes returned to Children's in August for a follow-up visit. Michael used a vacation day and Karen switched hours with another employee at Burger King so they could bring Colton to Wauwatosa.
Dimmock examined the 10-month-old.
"He's actually functioning more like a normal 6-month-old," the doctor said.
Dimmock tapped at the baby's knee. Colton chewed on Dimmock's identification badge.
The doctor noted that Colton was making speech sounds, "but not really jabbering away for us today."
All in all, though, the news was not bad, given what the baby had been through. On the contrary.
"I'm stunned at how well he's doing," Dimmock said quietly, addressing the parents. "The first couple of times we saw you, I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop."
On a Sunday afternoon in October, a few days after Colton's first birthday, the Hiddes celebrated at a bowling alley in New London. Karen and Michael wore Green Bay Packers jerseys; Colton wore a baby-blue shirt that said, "Look Who's 1."
Michael Hidde holds his son during a party to celebrate Colton's first birthday. Doctors don't know what to predict for Colton's future. Kristyna Wentz-Graff, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
At one end of a table sat bags of presents; at the other end, a "Dinosaur Train" cake frosted to look like the children's television show. Cake is one of the foods Colton usually can't eat because of his disorder, but his dietitian had approved it for his birthday.
"He can have some because he won't eat that much anyway," Karen said.
Before opening presents, the new mother placed her son on the floor for some exercise. The baby pushed himself onto all fours. As relatives watched, he crawled two feet. Three.
Then his stomach sank to the floor. That's how the effort to crawl had been going. There was no certainty about how far he would go, only about how far he'd come.
"I don't know what to predict for the future," Dimmock said at their follow-up visit, "because he's exceeded all expectations." | 2022-04-29T18:42:36Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin doctors try to figure out what's killing newborn | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/wisconsin-doctors-try-figure-out-whats-killing-newborn/7380273001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/archives/2022/04/29/wisconsin-doctors-try-figure-out-whats-killing-newborn/7380273001/ |
Willem Dafoe delivering commencement address at UWM, his alma mater
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee alumnus and Academy Award-nominated actor Willem Dafoe will return to his alma mater next month as the university's commencement speaker.
Dafoe, who grew up in Appleton, will also receive his honorary doctorate at the afternoon commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 22.
“My time at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee was a very formative and positive experience,” said Dafoe in a statement from the university. “I was young and very unsophisticated, but eager to train and perform. I was totally involved and spent most nights on a couch in the theatre because I was always working and studying and didn’t want to go home.”
More:Willem Dafoe hosts 'Saturday Night Live' for the first time, shows off his 'Wisconsin accent'
More:Dwyane Wade will return to Marquette as undergraduate commencement speaker
Dafoe attended UWM from 1973-74 before leaving to join Theater X, an independent, experimental theater company that started out as a UWM faculty-student workshop. UWM stages became home to some of his earliest acting work when he appeared in Jean Racine’s “Phaedra” and Eugene O’Neill’s “A Moon for the Misbegotten.”
Since then, the actor has made more than 100 films and is internationally renowned for his roles in many of the iconic films of our time. The New York Times named him one of the 25 greatest actors of the 21st century. | 2022-04-29T18:42:42Z | www.jsonline.com | Willem Dafoe will return to Milwaukee to speak at UWM's commencement | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/04/29/willem-dafoe-return-milwaukee-speak-uwms-commencement/9585310002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/04/29/willem-dafoe-return-milwaukee-speak-uwms-commencement/9585310002/ |
A popular online real estate brokerage service has agreed to change its policies as part of a $4 million settlement with the National Fair Housing Alliance and nine other fair housing organizations, including one in Milwaukee.
"They were deciding who got services, whose homes were worthy of being marketed and what areas and what kind of services they would provide," said William R. Tisdale, president of Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council, in an interview.
Their policies can either "perpetuate racial segregation or help create more inclusive, fair housing opportunities,” he said.
The lawsuit, filed in October 2020, highlighted the company's policy of setting minimum home listing prices in each market for which it will offer services to buyers or sellers.
The fair housing groups had argued the policy served "no legitimate purpose" because the company's rules already guaranteed a minimum commission regardless of home price.
More:Milwaukee homes draw less value in Black neighborhoods. More diverse appraisers could reduce that housing discrimination.
As part of the settlement, Redfin is getting rid of the minimum home price requirement and the policy of using home prices for referrals to local partner agents, as well as making changes to training and recruitment of staff and partner agents. The company did not admit to any wrongdoing in the agreement.
The monetary amount will pay back the fair housing groups for the cost of the lawsuit and underlying investigation into Redfin. It also will be used for monitoring and compliance programs "that expand homeownership opportunities in the cities covered by the lawsuit," according to a news release.
In addition to Milwaukee, Baltimore, Chicago, Detroit, Kansas City, Long Island, Louisville, Memphis, Newark and Philadelphia were cited in the lawsuit.
In Milwaukee, Redfin was about eight times more likely to offer no service at all in extremely non-white ZIP codes and did not offer its "best available service" for homes in extremely non-white ZIP codes, an investigation by the local fair housing council found.
The "best available service" meant buyers and sellers were connected to Redfin agents and offered perks. "No service" indicated Redfin did not offer any services for the property.
"Extremely non-white zip codes" were those in which 70% or more of residents did not identify as white, according to census data. | 2022-04-29T18:42:48Z | www.jsonline.com | Redfin settles fair housing lawsuit involving Milwaukee council | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/04/29/redfin-settles-fair-housing-lawsuit-involving-milwaukee-council-redlining/9584444002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/04/29/redfin-settles-fair-housing-lawsuit-involving-milwaukee-council-redlining/9584444002/ |
Dan Harris was UW-Milwaukee's first men's soccer coach and also helped grow MSOE athletics
Sasho Cirovski had just finished his first semester at UW-Milwaukee when he got a call from men's soccer coach Dan Harris.
"He called me to congratulate me on a good academic semester and it’s something that kind of resonated," Cirovski said Friday. "Wow, this guy cares a lot more than just my assists and goals on the field. I just have such wonderful memories of the quality of man that he was. I’m very grateful he gave me the opportunity to get my education at Wisconsin-Milwaukee and I cherish my time at UWM and Milwaukee thanks to Dan."
Harris, who died earlier this month at 81, spent more than 50 years in college athletics. He was UWM's first men's soccer coach and ended his career with a 20-year stint as Milwaukee School of Engineering's athletics director.
Cirovski still feels Harris' influence as the head coach at the University of Maryland, where he has won three NCAA championships.
“Dan was just a wonderful human being," Cirovski said. "The first thing I think about is what a great gentleman he was. I remember my first few days in Milwaukee in 1981. He took the team to his home for a cookout on the shores of Lake Michigan. I thought it was the coolest thing around to have a college coach bring us over (with) open arms. And it’s something I do with my Maryland teams right now. I open up every preseason by having the team over to my house.”
Harris was an assistant coach at the Air Force Academy before being hired by UWM in 1973. He quickly immersed himself in the city's small-but-fervent soccer community.
Cudahy native Pete Knezic was one of Harris' top players from 1977-80 and remains third in program history with 125 points.
"The greatest thing Dan did, in my opinion, was he did a great job of recruiting a lot of the so-called American kids but we were really foreigners," said Knezic, whose family immigrated from the former Yugoslavia. "Because we were playing soccer all the time. And it was kids from Sport Club, Bavarians and all these other clubs. He went out to recruit the Serbs, Milwaukee Serbs, United Serbs.
"And he brought us all together at UWM. And most of us weren't friends. I mean, we did not really like each other when we were playing club soccer. We got a chance to be close friends. Really not just for those four years but when I see people I play with it's always a big hug at seeing that person. We owe a lot of that to Dan."
Harris remained with the Panthers until 1983, compiling a 109-70-15 record and leading the Panthers to their first two NCAA tournaments. He was also briefly the coach at Concordia University.
“I think Dan was a leader in trying to promote soccer," Cirovski said. "UWM was a big deal in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. I think he always had a visionary way of trying to promote the game. I remember he got corporate sponsorships for our preseason tournaments before almost anybody in the country."
Harris put together the Miller Lite Panther Invitational and also promoted UWM's local rivalries with the Milwaukee Cup (vs. Marquette), the LeWang Cup (vs. Northern Illinois) and the Chancellor's Cup (vs. UW-Green Bay).
Harris was well-known in the Milwaukee soccer community, working with the Milwaukee Kickers club team and doing camps and clinics in the area. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Soccer Hall of Fame in 1997.
Harris was athletic director at MSOE from 1995-2015. The Raiders added seven varsity teams and won 47 conference championships during his tenure.
"He was there when the Kern Center got built," Knezic said. "He was there for the soccer field across the street with the parking lot (Viets Field). When you start thinking about all that, for sure you think to yourself that's fantastic the amount of things he was part of and helped accomplish in this community."
There will be a celebration of life for Harris held from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at MSOE's Diercks Hall. | 2022-04-29T22:28:15Z | www.jsonline.com | Dan Harris was UW-Milwaukee soccer coach and MSOE athletic director | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/2022/04/29/dan-harris-uw-milwaukee-soccer-coach-msoe-athletic-director-obituary/9584459002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/2022/04/29/dan-harris-uw-milwaukee-soccer-coach-msoe-athletic-director-obituary/9584459002/ |
Prior to the start of the Boston-Brooklyn first-round NBA playoff series, Nets guard Bruce Brown said his team would attack the interior of the Celtics defense as they were to be without center Robert Williams III for the series as he recovered from meniscus surgery.
Brooklyn star Kevin Durant quickly tried to check that hubris – and it proved unfounded anyway.
In sweeping the series, the Celtics held the Nets to an average of 35.0 points in the paint, which bettered their 42.5 average in the regular season.
And Boston did it with primarily with 35-year-old, 6-foot-9-inch center Al Horford, supported by 6-6 power forward Grant Williams and 6-8 backup center Daniel Theis.
Williams ended up returning to action in Games 3 and 4, playing a total of 30 minutes off the bench.
“I think they have some very good individual defenders and some guys that are talented defensively,” Milwaukee Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said Friday after practice for the second-round matchup with the Celtics.
“I think their bigs, Williams has been very good. Picking Theis up halfway through the season and Horford, those guys are all big and smart and have high defensive IQs. And obviously Marcus Smart has been recognized as the defensive player of the year and a lot of respect for him and how he impacts the game, including keeping people out of the paint.”
More:Nickel: Silence is golden for the Bucks' Pat Connaughton when he goes home to Boston and TD Garden
More:Bucks vs. Celtics odds, predictions for the NBA Eastern Conference semifinal playoff series
More:What to know about the Boston Celtics, who will play the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the NBA playoffs
On paper it would seem the Bucks have a mismatch when it comes to the painted area as the teams head into their third playoff series in the last five seasons, with 7-foot Brook Lopez, 6-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo and 6-10 Bobby Portis in the regular rotation.
But throughout the year the Celtics made it hard for teams to make baskets within 9 feet of the rim. They were No. 5 in field goal percentage allowed from 0-4 feet (61.6%) and No. 3 from 5-9 feet (38.5%), and the combination of Horford and Williams worked to the tune of a sparkling 99.2 defensive rating (in 761 regular season minutes) when paired.
“They’re both great individual defenders, they’re big guys, they’re great help side defense, pretty athletic, big, long,” Lopez said. “They take up a lot of space. They do a great job of reading one another, having each other’s backs and helping one another.
“They just do a good job of taking the space that you kind of want. They’re in the paint, they kind of take the territory as their own before really you can kind of get there. There’s two of ‘em, obviously not even counting the other guys who are there helping as well. They take up a lot of space, you know? They’re really good at it.”
The four games the teams played this season offer some hints of what may come, but that’s it. Lopez missed three games and Horford two. Williams and Antetokounmpo each missed one, along with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. Khris Middleton missed one game and left another early with a knee injury and will miss part of the series, at least.
With all those lineup variables, the Bucks did average 50 points in the paint. In two losses, the Bucks scored 42 and 44 points in the paint and in two wins they went for 56 and 58.
In his three games, Antetokounmpo averaged 19.3 points per game inside and Lopez was 6-for-12 for 12 points in his lone game against Boston (which was without Horford and Williams). Portis has developed into a floor spacer in his short Bucks career, but he still mixes it up inside and in four games against the Celtics he averaged 8.0 points in the paint.
Putting pressure on the rim is always an emphasis for the Bucks – and of course effectiveness inside isn’t always based off size – but with Middleton’s absence complicating lineups and matchups finding a way to solve the Celtics’ interior defense will be important.
Khris Middleton’s status unchanged
As the calendar creeps into the second week since Middleton sprained his left medial collateral ligament April 20 against Chicago, the Bucks still plan to re-evaluate the injury after Game 2 in Boston. Despite a report from The Athletic midweek that Middleton will miss the entire Celtics series and perhaps the Eastern Conference Finals should the Bucks advance, Budenholzer would not say that was the case.
“There’s nothing new on his timeline,” the head coach said Friday. “When we have something to update you with, we will. So, there’s nothing new.” | 2022-04-29T22:28:21Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Bucks look to solve Boston Celtics' defense in paint | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/29/bucks-look-solve-celtics-paint-defense-khris-middletons-status-for-series-unchanged/9584265002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/04/29/bucks-look-solve-celtics-paint-defense-khris-middletons-status-for-series-unchanged/9584265002/ |
Thunderstorms are forecast for southern Wisconsin and the Milwaukee area on Saturday and some of the storms could become severe, forecasters say.
Forecasters will be watching the situation closely on Saturday, said Kevin Wagner, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sullivan.
The far southern portion of Wisconsin was placed in the "slight" risk category, which is the second-lowest risk level, on a scale used by the national Storm Prediction Center.
"Our biggest concern is along the Wisconsin-Illinois border — those counties in the far southern part of the state," Wagner said. "There is definitely a potential on Saturday afternoon to see some severe weather."
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, the weather service said "large hail and damaging winds are the main concerns, but there could be a brief window for a tornado or two," for Saturday afternoon or evening.
Related:Lack of springtime rain leads to high fire risk for portions of Wisconsin
That does not mean severe storms are a certainty, Wagner said. All the atmospheric ingredients have to come together at the right time for strong to severe storms to form.
Cooler air in areas closer to Lake Michigan might prevent strong storms from forming, Wagner said.
Still, anyone with outdoor plans on Saturday afternoon or evening should keep an eye on the forecast, he said.
Rain is a pretty good bet on Saturday. "Anywhere from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, I think, are our best chances for rain," Wagner said.
Rain chances on Saturday range from 80% in Milwaukee to 90% in Waukesha to 100% in Lake Geneva, according to the weather service.
On Sunday, southern Wisconsin should see cloudy skies, a 30% chance of rain and a high around 55 degrees.
More storms are possible again on Tuesday. | 2022-04-30T00:12:23Z | www.jsonline.com | Severe storms possible on Saturday, especially south of Milwaukee | https://www.jsonline.com/story/weather/2022/04/29/severe-storms-possible-saturday-especially-south-milwaukee/9590024002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/weather/2022/04/29/severe-storms-possible-saturday-especially-south-milwaukee/9590024002/ |
Milwaukee Fire Chief Aaron Lipski on Friday nominated Deputy Chief Sharon Purifoy‐Smoots to be the department's assistant chief. If approved, Purifoy-Smoots will become the highest ranking Black, female fire official in Wisconsin history.
Recognizing the historic moment, the Milwaukee Fire Department opted to hold the announcement event at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society.
"It is monumental for not just a single person, not just a single department. Not just a single city. It's monumental for a fire service, monumental for our state," said Lipski.
Cavalier Johnson, the first African American to be elected mayor of Milwaukee, attended Lipski's announcement and talked about the significance of representation in positions of authority.
"You're opening doors and opening eyes to so many people, so many kids, kids who live in neighborhoods like this, about the possibilities, because they can see their own reflection in you," Johnson said.
"This promotion I think reflects her background, her hard work, as well as her accomplishments," he added.
Purifoy-Smoots has been with the fire department since 2003. She started as a firefighter and moved up the ranks eventually becoming a battalion chief in 2019, and served most recently as deputy chief of emergency medical services.
She has also served as a fire cadet instructor and as director of recruitment.
Purifoy-Smoots was never recruited by the fire department. She took a test offered by the city and thought she did well but didn't hear anything about her results for 13 years.
She credits the Milwaukee Brotherhood of Firefighters — a faction of Black firefighters within the fire department — for filing an EEOC complaint in the 1990s which provided opportunity for people of color and women to join the department.
"If you would have known me 20 some years ago, firefighting was never in my future. But I have done really well in the career, moved up the ladder, and it wasn't by me doing this by myself," said Purifoy-Smoots.
Black women, and women in general, have not historically made up a large portion of firefighters in Wisconsin and nationally. Purifoy-Smoots said she recognizes her responsibility to provide opportunities for others.
"I am glad that I am first. But, I know my first is not going to mean much to me unless I am directly responsible in getting the second and the third and the fourth here," she said.
Lipski's nomination will need to be approved by the city's Fire and Police Commission. Dana World-Patterson, a member of the commission, attended Friday's event, indicating a likely favorable review from the commission. Lipski went as far to call her a "shoo-in."
More:'It's about time': Milwaukee reacts to Cavalier Johnson's milestone as city's first elected Black mayor
More:Fire and Police Commission appoints Aaron Lipski to four-year term as fire chief | 2022-04-30T14:07:29Z | www.jsonline.com | Black Milwaukee deputy fire chief could make history with new job | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/black-milwaukee-deputy-fire-chief-could-make-history-new-job/9591857002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/black-milwaukee-deputy-fire-chief-could-make-history-new-job/9591857002/ |
Journal Sentinel recognized in National Headliner Awards
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel has been recognized with two first-place finishes in the National Headliner Awards competition.
One award was for a series on dysfunction in the Milwaukee Police Department over the handling of a rape complaint, the other for a story that examined an attempt on the University of Wisconsin men's basketball coaching staff to oust head coach Greg Gard.
The series, "Abuse of Trust," was reported by Ashley Luthern and Gina Barton. It won first place among news series for newspapers not in the top 20 media markets.
Judges noted the series "was loaded with the details that can come only from shoe-leather reporting and deep institutional knowledge. From the lede, which introduced a compelling subject who refused to be interviewed, to the graphics that helped readers keep up with the many characters, the stories connected all the dots. Each component left us stunned at the cronyism, wrongdoing and injustice uncovered. The writing was clear and interesting throughout. Beautifully executed."
The UW-Madison story, by Badgers writer Jeff Potrykus, was titled "Badger basketball: A perfect marriage fails.”
Judges noted the Badgers "were supposed to be one of the top NCAA men's basketball teams for the 2019-2020 season, but the real drama happened off the court.'
They went on to say: "After the team was bounced early from the NCAA tournament, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinal revealed that former Badger star player turned assistant coach Alando Tucker was jockeying to replace head coach Greg Gard during the season. Relying on multiple sources within the Wisconsin program, reporter Jeff Potrykus demonstrated the value of shoeleather reporting and revealed the power struggles within big-time college athletics and their impact on players' careers and the game itself."
The Headliner Awards, one of the nation's oldest journalism contests, are organized by the Press Club of Atlantic City.
Other Journal Sentinel recognitions include:
"Waukesha Christmas Parade attack," a team effort to cover the attack on the parade by a man driving a red SUV, leaving six dead and more than 60 injured. The award, in the name of the Journal Sentinel staff, took second place in the breaking news category for newspapers of all sizes.
“Holy Hill covered in ice,” by photojournalist Mike De Sisti, second place in the pictorial category.
"Migrant worker deaths," a pair of stories from reporter Maria Perez on questionable deaths involving migrant workers, including among a group that was put on a bus home to Mexico after a COVID outbreak at a green bean canning plant in Gillett. The story won third pace in the business reporting category.
“National Guard investigation," a series of stories by reporters Katelyn Ferral of the Journal Sentinel and Natallie Brophy of the Appleton Post-Crescent examining how the National Guard mishandled sexual assault cases and suicides. The series earned third place in public service, for newspapers not in the nation's top 20 markets. | 2022-04-30T14:07:35Z | www.jsonline.com | Journal Sentinel recognized in National Headliner Awards | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/journal-sentinel-recognized-national-headliner-awards/9589459002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/journal-sentinel-recognized-national-headliner-awards/9589459002/ |
If you think that hearing live music again after two years of COVID-19 lockdowns is a wonderful experience, image the delight musicians are feeling in returning to the stage.
That delight was evident on both sides of the footlights on Friday evening from the moment world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and his long-time collaborator, British pianist Kathryn Stott, took the Bradley Symphony Center stage for an artfully programmed recital presented by the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra.
The beautifully played, completely engaging program opened and closed with sets of stand-alone pieces grouped into sets. The pair took barely a breath of time between pieces in the sets, making a fluid, silent bit of ballet out of the simple act of moving music from the previous piece out of the way to read the music for the next.
In effect they held the audience in the palms of their hands whether they were playing or moving between pieces.
MORE:Milwaukee Symphony's 2022-'23 season will feature Water Festival, more choral singing
Without pauses for applause, the works of the first set became a single musical statement that tugged at one’s heart, all the more so because it was performed by dear, longtime friends who play together with a comfortable, natural communication.
The set consisted of Felix Mendelssohn’s “Song Without Words,” the Stephen Hough arrangement of “Scarborough Fair,” the Caroline Shaw arrangement of “Shenandoah,” and Jean Sibelius’ “Was it a Dream?”
Ernest Bloch’s poignant, modal “From Jewish Life” followed, played with the solemnity and urgency of a prayer. The program’s first half closed with a deeply expressive performance of Antonin Dvořák's “4 Romantic Pieces.”
The program’s second half opened with a terrifically evocative performance of Errollyn Wallen’s “Dervish,” in which both players took on the role of percussionists, knocking on their respective instruments to create the sound of drum beats.
The final set was constructed of the percolating rhythms and vivid colors of tangos by Cesar Camargo Mariano, Violeta Parra and Astor Piazzolla. Ma and Stott delivered these delightful pieces with a combination of musical abandon, technical finesse, and palpable joy that elicited foot tapping and head bobbing throughout the hall.
Throughout the program, Ma and Stott played not only with the musical finesse and technical precision one expects from these two artists, but with a single-minded sense of ensemble that goes beyond well-rehearsed and clearly marked musical choices to the respect and affection of good friends who have made music together for nearly four decades — all in all, a grand evening.
Returning to the stage with Ma sporting a blue MSO baseball cap, the pair answered a booming, standing ovation with gently sentimental performance of Jorge Calandrelli’s arrangement of the 1939 song “We’ll Meet Again.” Another standing, cheering ovation followed. | 2022-04-30T17:14:35Z | www.jsonline.com | Yo-Yo Ma, pianist Kathryn Stott thrill Milwaukee listeners in recital | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2022/04/30/yo-yo-ma-pianist-kathryn-stott-milwaukee-recital/7444462001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2022/04/30/yo-yo-ma-pianist-kathryn-stott-milwaukee-recital/7444462001/ |
Dontre Hamilton's family hopes his new downtown Milwaukee memorial can help better the city
Raquel Rutledge
A park bench in front of a downtown Starbucks is no longer a place of only sorrow for the family of Dontre Hamilton and a scar on the city of Milwaukee.
On Saturday, eight years to the day since Hamilton was awoken as he slept on the bench and shot 14 times by a Milwaukee police officer, the bench at Red Arrow Park became a place of hope.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, dozens of friends, family members and community leaders gathered to unveil a memorial bench that they hope will spark conversations around mental health and lead to meaningful change.
A plaque centered on the back of the bench reads:
“Dontre Hamilton was a man given to us to inspire, motivate, encourage, strengthen, love, and so much more. Every day he continues to manifest within our lives, to keep us united and strong not only as a community but as a family, to uplift us, to continue our fight towards justice. We also have used Dontre’s name to shed light on the difficulties we face around mental health issues. We can challenge Milwaukee to be better educated and informed on how to bring more consciousness in supporting those who deal with mental health.”
Hamilton suffered from mental illness and family members say he didn’t get the support he needed from Milwaukee County’s mental health services. And the police officer who killed him wasn’t adequately trained on approaching people who may be suffering from mental illness.
Hamilton’s mother, Maria Hamilton, told the racially diverse crowd that seeing the community come together over the years to fight for justice has filled her heart with joy.
“I lost a son but I gained hundreds and hundreds of human beings as my family,” she said. “You all strengthen me.”
She also made it clear that Milwaukee and the country need to do more to combat racial injustice and protect people with mental illness.
“Every time we start feeling better about it there are more killings,” she said. “It continues to keep happening.”
Milwaukee County Supervisor Sequanna Taylor, a lead sponsor of county legislation in support of providing the $3,000 bench, said the Hamilton family wanted the bench to be a healing place for a hurting city.
“This is a bench to commemorate her son but in no way is this justice for the life of her son,” she said. “We’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Standing around talking before the ceremony, longtime Milwaukee resident Xavier Thomas, took notice of what sounded like police sirens in the neighborhood.
“I think we’ll be done with this when that sound doesn’t make my knees shake and make me scared,” said Thomas, who is Black. “That’s a paramedic and everybody who is Black out here broke their neck to turn around and look.”
What’s equally disturbing to Thomas is what his young son says during imaginary play time.
“What’s crazy is my 4-year-old son saying ‘the police are coming to get you.’ I’m like ‘where did you learn that?’”
County Executive David Crowley said the Hamilton family’s continued focus on the issue of mental health and justice over the years has had a positive impact on the community.
“This is a time not only to remember his death and recognize the many of the injustices and disparities we continue to see not only in our own community but across this country, this is also an opportunity to recognize how this family has continued to use this death to inspire others,” Crowley said. “They will not allow Dontre’s death to be in vain.”
Police officer Christopher Manney was fired following Hamilton's killing.
Manney’s use of deadly force was deemed justified by then-police chief Edward Flynn, but Flynn fired him for violating two department rules pertaining to when to initiate a pat-down and how to approach people who may suffer from mental illness.
Manney appealed his firing and tried unsuccessfully for several years to gain his job back.
More:Dontre Hamilton memorial bench approved by Milwaukee County Board following tense debate | 2022-04-30T22:28:10Z | www.jsonline.com | Dontre Hamilton memorial unveiled at Red Arrow Park in Milwaukee | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/dontre-hamilton-memorial-bench-unveiled-red-arrow-park-downtown-milwaukee/9598516002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/04/30/dontre-hamilton-memorial-bench-unveiled-red-arrow-park-downtown-milwaukee/9598516002/ |
Wisconsin basketball lands Max Klesmit, a guard from Neenah transferring from Wofford
MADISON – Still working to rebuild the roster for next season, Greg Gard and the Wisconsin staff have added a second transfer guard.
And like the first, this player has ties to the state.
Max Klesmit, a standout at Neenah High School, who played two seasons at Wofford, announced Saturday he is transferring to UW.
Klesmit, 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds, had offers to transfer to South Carolina and Vanderbilt of the SEC, Clemson and Colorado State.
He joins guard Kamari McGee, a graduate of Racine St. Cathernine's, who is transferring to UW after playing one season at UW-Green Bay.
Klesmit averaged 14.9 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.6 steals per game last season. He shot 34.0% from three-point range (68 of 200), 44.6% overall (156 of 350) and hit 83.7% of his free-throw attempts (82 of 98).
Klesmit started two games and played in 19 as a freshman. He averaged 8.2 points and 2.7 rebounds per game and 37.3% from three-point range (25 of 67), 46.6% overall (54 of 116) and 84.6% from the free throw line (22 of 26).
“He has filled out a great deal since he left high school,” Neenah coach Lee Rabas said. “He is bigger. Wilder shoulders. Bigger frame.
“For us, as a senior he did everything. He could score. He could get to the basket. He could hit outside shots off the catch, off the dribble. He had too many dunks to count his senior year.”
Can Klesmit make the jump from the Southern Conference to the Big Ten?
“He is somebody who has always adjusted,” Rabas said, adding Klesmit was also an all-conference defender as a senior. “He started for us right away his sophomore year.
“He is a super competitive kid with a lot of mental toughness. He will take the necessary strides. He is one of those – he will always get better. He has every step along the way. He has adjusted to what ‘new’ was for him.”
Wofford finished 10-8 in the Southern Conference last season and lost in the semifinals of the league tournament to top-seeded Tennessee-Chattanooga, 79-56.
Tennessee-Chattanooga, then led by former UW assistant Lamont Paris, went on to win the league tournament and then pushed Illinois in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament before falling, 54-53.
Paris took over the South Carolina program on March 22 and eventually pursued Klesmit.
Klesmit scored 27 points in a loss to South Carolina last season and had 17 points, including 15 in the second half, in a victory at Georgia.
Before signing with Wofford, Klesmit was a three-time, all-state performer at Neenah. He averaged 25.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game as a senior when he led the Rockets to a 23-2 mark.
Klesmit played AAU ball for the Wisconsin Blizzard. Rich Kuranda of the Blizzard believes Klesmit was underrecruited coming out of Neenah. His reasoning? Klesmit scored 37 points in his team’s 84-79 overtime loss to Las Vegas Elite in July, 2019.
Las Vegas Elite’s team featured Jalen Green, the No. 2 pick in the 2021 NBA draft; and Josh Christopher, who went No. 24 in that draft.
“I thought: ‘He can play with anybody. This kid is big-time,’” Kuranda said.
Kuranda recently talked to Klesmit about the decision to leave Wofford.
Klesmit told Kuranda: “I really think I can play at a Power 5 (school). That has always been my dream. I’m going to give it a shot.”
He has that shot now, in his home state. | 2022-05-01T00:51:30Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin men's basketball gets guard Max Klesmit from Neenah, Wofford | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/04/30/wisconsin-mens-basketball-gets-guard-max-klesmit-neenah-wofford/9602585002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/04/30/wisconsin-mens-basketball-gets-guard-max-klesmit-neenah-wofford/9602585002/ |
Humbled and hungry after his time at Maryland, former Nicolet basketball star James Graham commits to Missouri State
The next chapter for James Graham will be spent in Springfield, Missouri.
The former Nicolet standout who started his college career at Maryland announced his commitment to Missouri State on Saturday. The 6-foot-8 guard/forward chose the Bears after also strongly considering offers from Boise State, Iowa State and Tulsa.
The commitment gives Missouri State a four-star recruit from the Class of 2021 who expects to have four years of eligibility remaining.
Graham’s announcement comes six months after he announced his intention to transfer from Maryland after growing unhappy in the program. The move left him far from the bright lights of Division I basketball.
“It was difficult. It was humbling, but at the same time I appreciate it,” Graham said. “Sometimes you need to go through things to learn.”
Graham returned home and continued to work on his game. He also found a job and occasionally had to deal with the “What are you doing here?” questions.
But having gone through the recruiting process once, he took his time with it the second time.
Taking his time with recruiting
Graham committed to the Terrapins in Aug. 2020, the midst of the pandemic, when the recruiting was done via Zoom calls. This time he made the most of his on-campus visits.
“Basically, I looked for coaches who didn’t sound like what I heard the first time,” Graham said. “I didn’t listen for the glitz and glamour. I’d rather wait until I visit the schools to see how the coaches interact with their players for real.”
A factor in his decision was the opportunity to play for a Black head coach. Dana Ford will be starting his fifth year with the Bears next season.
“The coaching staff looks like me,” he said. “I think that is a big thing in terms of communication and in terms of relatability. And on top of that, they believe in my game and my ability.”
Graham joins a program that is coming off its best season in more than a decade, a 23-11 campaign that ended with a berth in the National Invitation Tournament.
This offseason the program has added five other transfers.
“We’ve got a great chance to win the Missouri Valley and get into the tournament,” Graham said. “The team is real good and that was important to me, too. … That’s what it’s all about.”
Bypassed senior season at Nicolet
Graham averaged 20.3 points and 6.6 rebounds in his junior season at Nicolet, displaying the ability to score inside and out with a high level of efficiency. His stock skyrocketed during the pandemic and he committed to Maryland after strongly considering offers from Wisconsin, Auburn and Memphis.
Graham skipped his senior season at Nicolet to enroll early at Maryland as a 17-year-old. He averaged 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds in 2020-21. He played in just one game last season before announcing his transfer.
Graham said coaching turnover and roster changes played a role in his decision.
“(DeAndre Haynes) and Bino (Ransom), my two main recruiters left,” Graham said when asked about his departure. “Dre is at Marquette. Bino is at De Paul. Then on top of that transfers come in. … Politics is just there.”
Graham hopes to have four years of eligibility. Players who played during the COVID season 2020-21 were granted an additional year of eligibility, and since he played just one game last season, he hopes to retain his four years.
When Graham reports to campus in May or June, he’ll be in excellent shape. In high school, he weighed 237 pounds. He trimmed down to 195 while at Maryland. He is now at 205 and feels his fitness and strength are their best ever.
He is ready to get back in the game.
“In order to be hungry you’ve got to be humbled,” he said. “I just got humbled, so I’m ready to be hungry. I can’t wait to get back on the court with college-level players and college-level conditioning.” | 2022-05-01T00:51:36Z | www.jsonline.com | Former Nicolet star James Graham commits to Missouri State | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-schools/2022/04/30/former-nicolet-star-james-graham-commits-missouri-state/9602142002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/high-schools/2022/04/30/former-nicolet-star-james-graham-commits-missouri-state/9602142002/ |
A 26-year-old man died in a single-vehicle, rollover crash early Sunday morning on Interstate 41, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said.
The man, who was the only person in the vehicle, was ejected, the sheriff's office said.
The crash occurred on I-41 southbound near Appleton Avenue, on Milwaukee's northwest side.
Authorities closed all southbound lanes from Good Hope Road to Appleton Avenue about 6:45 a.m., according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. By 10:15 a.m., the interstate reopened.
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said the man's autopsy is set for Monday. | 2022-05-01T16:35:25Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee sheriff says man, 26, killed in rollover crash on I-41 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/01/milwaukee-sheriff-says-man-26-killed-rollover-crash-41/9606762002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/01/milwaukee-sheriff-says-man-26-killed-rollover-crash-41/9606762002/ |
Giannis Antetokounmpo is usually featured on social media for rim-rattling dunks and dazzling drives to the basket.
But in the first half of Game 1 in the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics, Twitter was taking notice of his ability to turn heads by sharing the basketball.
Due to the defensive attention Antetokounmpo received when he drove toward the hoop, Giannis finished the half with seven assists as the Bucks hit 10 of 20 three-pointers in the first half Sunday afternoon.
More: Milwaukee Bucks look to solve Boston Celtics' defense in paint
NBA fans in Cyberspace took notice of Giannis' sometimes "magical" ability to create open opportunities for his teammates.
Well on his way to a triple-double at halftime, like Magic's Lakers, playoff time is winning time for Giannis.
But apparently, a few folks are still not impressed. | 2022-05-01T20:04:21Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo compared to Magic Johnson in NBA playoffs | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/01/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-compared-magic-johnson-nba-playoffs/9608450002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/01/bucks-giannis-antetokounmpo-compared-magic-johnson-nba-playoffs/9608450002/ |
As gun violence and reckless driving continue to plague Milwaukee, 15-year-old Rena Ellis is afraid to go outside.
A ninth grade student at Milwaukee Excellence charter school, Rena has seen people get shot outside her front door and cars drive onto the basketball courts where she plays with her friends.
"It's sad. I don't have a childhood. I can't grow up," Rena said Sunday at an anti-violence march organized by community activist Tracey Dent.
Nathaniel Alston, another ninth grader at Milwaukee Excellence, said kids who do venture into parks find bullet casings in the grass.
"They're not even able to grow and develop as children, to experience the world," he said. "I can't even bring my little cousins to go down the slide because somebody might pull up to the park and shoot a gun because they think it's just a toy to play with."
The march Sunday afternoon along North King Drive capped a week of anti-violence programming at the school.
The event drew a diverse group of marchers, from school leaders to motorcyclists to members of a drum line. Participants agreed that change would only happen if people from all backgrounds work together.
The Rev. Doyle Sprewer, assistant pastor at Christ the King Baptist Church, said it's important that faith communities, politicians and neighborhood residents focus on improving the city for young people.
"Milwaukee can be a great place if people just come together and work together," he said.
It's been disheartening, Sprewer said, to see the gun violence worsen in recent years.
"Every time you try to do something good, the violence just seems to overwhelm all the work you're trying to do. But that won't stop us," he said. "We're mandated to make sure that we provide for our community."
Teens Rena and Nathaniel called for streets safe from shooting and reckless driving, two issues Milwaukee has struggled to contain in recent years.
Homicides are up 48% this year in comparison to the same time period in 2021 — when the city broke its record for the second year in a row.
The fatal shooting of 13-year-old Shanaria Wilson outside her home last weekend on Milwaukee's south side has renewed calls for peace in the city.
Shanaria was killed April 24 after a shooting erupted while she and other family members were playing outside. An 18-year-old man and Shanaria’s 10-year-old sister, Shyier Wilson, were also injured.
At Sunday's rally, Milwaukee resident Michelle Flagg carried a sign that read, "Put down the guns. Let's talk." Flagg had never participated in a march before but said she felt she had to do something because of the level of violence she's witnessed recently among youth.
"I don't know what it's going to accomplish. But one more person supporting them can't hurt," she said.
The crowd of about 50 marchers was led by Milwaukee police squads and about 20 motorcyclists, who blocked traffic along North King Drive. The group began at the intersection with West Vine Street and headed north to Victory over Violence Park, 2625 North King Drive.
The noise of the motorcycles and drummers drew the attention of people in homes and storefronts along the route and several looked outside to cheer and film the crowd.
Lyndee Belanger, senior director of talent at Milwaukee Excellence, said the future of the city lies with young people.
"They want and deserve a platform for change in their community," she said. "Experiences like this show them this city is theirs." | 2022-05-01T23:02:57Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee teens urge end to gun violence in Victory Over Violence walk | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/01/milwaukee-teens-urge-end-gun-violence-victory-over-violence-walk/9607691002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/05/01/milwaukee-teens-urge-end-gun-violence-victory-over-violence-walk/9607691002/ |
On Sunday, thousands of people, from Racine to Green Bay, marched about two miles from Milwaukee's south side to downtown to demand that President Biden pass protections for immigrant workers and their families.
Milwaukee is one of 39 cities across the country "standing up and demanding" that Biden do this and fulfill his promise to end 287(g), Christine Neumann-Ortiz, executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said outside the Milwaukee Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, where U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson's office is located.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) Program gives local law enforcement the power to act with federal authority in questioning, reporting and detaining undocumented immigrants.
"287(g) legalizes racial profiling and turns police and sheriffs into immigration," Neumann-Ortiz said. "They prioritize deportation over public safety. President Biden said he would end it. He has the power to end it. And we're here to say: End it."
ICE has 287(g) agreements with law enforcement agencies in eight Wisconsin counties, including Waukesha, Fond du Lac and Sheboygan.
"We fight for a humane, safe and dignified immigration system that is worthy of a nation built by waves of immigrants, refugees and oppressed people who have struggled to make the American dream of equality and liberty a reality," Neumann-Ortiz said.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson said it's important to realize that the immigrant story is the story of Milwaukee.
He said he will stand and fight with those who are trying to live a better life, whether they immigrated to the United States or are fleeing from a war-torn place.
"It's the right thing to do," he said. "We know that when people immigrate to Milwaukee, they add vibrancy to our neighborhoods. You lift up and support our businesses and help to make our neighborhoods stronger and more stable. That's what we should be looking to see everywhere across this entire city."
"We're all worthy of being treated with dignity regardless of where we came from or who we are," said Karina Tweedell, a Ukrainian immigrant whose family relocated to Milwaukee in 2014 because of war. "Instead of adjusting to a system that is broken, we need to adjust that broken system."
'Days without Latinxs and Immigrants'
On Sunday and Monday, Voces de la Frontera's statewide members and allies are taking part in "Days Without Latinxs and Immigrants," a two-day general strike. More than 142 Wisconsin businesses closed in solidarity, Neumann-Ortiz said.
Israel Peña, an immigrant worker from Green Bay and a Voces member, has worked in the United States since 2008 for wineries in California, in fields harvesting nuts and fruit, washing cars, in construction and at restaurants. He now works in manufacturing.
"In every one of these jobs, I put forth my best effort and dedication with the goal of being able to provide for my family and contribute to the economy of this great country," Peña said.
Addressing Biden, governors and other leaders, Peña said: "We deserve" immigration reform and driver's licenses. "We worked through the pandemic, risking exposure for ourselves and our families."
Ahead of Sunday's march, there was a rally at the Voces office, 737 W. Historic Mitchell St., with live music, dance, a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic and speakers. Around noon, attendees began marching downtown.
"I'm a pretty privileged person overall and so I need to use that to help other people fight and be an ally," said marcher Emma Pucker of Milwaukee. "Getting here, being out, it just rejuvenates me in that fight."
Milwaukee resident Rebecca Martinez Kemnitz and her almost 17-month-old daughter, Jazmín, met up with the marchers downtown to "support a vital part of our community."
"The important thing is recognizing people's humanity and trying to make a better society," she said.
"Even though we did not win immigration reform, our movement is stronger than ever," Neumann-Ortiz said. "The majority of people in this country are on our side." | 2022-05-02T01:52:17Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee marchers demand Biden protect immigrant workers, families. | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/01/milwaukee-marchers-demand-biden-protect-immigrant-workers-families/9607914002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/01/milwaukee-marchers-demand-biden-protect-immigrant-workers-families/9607914002/ |
A vehicle struck and killed a Milwaukee man after the driver ran a red light Saturday afternoon, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.
Police said a vehicle “disregarded a red light” and was struck by another vehicle on N. 20th Street and W. Burleigh Street shortly after 1 p.m.
The impact of the collision caused the vehicle that had run the red light to strike a pedestrian who was on a corner of the intersection, police said.
The pedestrian, 72, sustained serious injuries. He was transported to a hospital, where he later died. | 2022-05-02T01:52:23Z | www.jsonline.com | Vehicle struck, killed Milwaukee man after running red light Saturday | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/01/vehicle-struck-killed-milwaukee-man-after-running-red-light-saturday/9610751002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/01/vehicle-struck-killed-milwaukee-man-after-running-red-light-saturday/9610751002/ |
TOWN OF RUTLAND – In the past couple of months, he turned 50 and then turned heads with his performance in the Boston Marathon. He has been nominated for the NASCAR Hall of Fame.
But when he comes home to Madison International Speedway, Matt Kenseth in many ways is the same old Matt.
He’s back in a stock car after a year out of the seat. Back with friends he’s known for more than 30 years. Back at a track where he won the 1994 championship, nine years before he took the NASCAR Cup title. Back in the familiar pits, where fans – old enough to be his parents or young enough to be his children – walk past wearing jackets and hats with logos of his long-ago sponsors. Maybe T-shirts too, but on this chilly Sunday, those would have been buried by layers.
“It’s been a while since I’ve raced here, so for sure when you come back it makes you think of different things,” Kenseth said after practice for the afternoon’s Joe Shear Classic.
“Time goes by in hurry, as you know. … You think about it a little bit, about how long it’s been, about when you started racing here and all that stuff.”
Most of those memories are fond, although Sunday’s 200-lapper wasn’t what he wanted. He finished 14th, one lap down.
Casey Johnson of Edgerton held off Dalton Zehr to win the $15,000 top prize in the second round of the ARCA Midwest Tour. Camping World Truck Series regular Derek Kraus was third, John DeAngelis Jr. fourth and Riley Stenjem fifth.
Kenseth, a native of nearby Cambridge, has five more races on his schedule this season after none last year.
Left without a full-time ride with Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of 2017, Kenseth did a partial 2018 season with Roush Fenway Racing came back in 2020 to run the final 32 races for Chip Ganassi Racing in place of suspended Kyle Larson.
Kenseth also is scheduled to race in the July 12 Slinger Nationals at Slinger Speedway – going for a record-extending ninth title – and the second half of the six-races, made-for-TV Superstar Racing Experience schedule in July.
“The desire to go professional stock car racing is all the way flushed out of my system,” Kenseth said. “I’m definitely not bored. At all. I just want to come back and try it to have fun racing. I like racing with Joe (Wood) and Jason (Schuler, both longtime friends and partners at Pathfinder Chassis), and I thought I’d try some SRX races, race on dirt.
“It’s kind of for fun, more than anything else.”
Family keeps Kenseth busy, as does training.
Kenseth recently ran his first Boston Marathon at a pace of less than 7 minutes per mile and placed 141st among more than 1,300 runners in the men’s 50-54 age bracket.
He’s not sure when his next marathon might be, maybe London in October.
Kenseth served as an analyst for Fox Sports on one NASCAR race weekend early in the season but has no plans at this point to do more.
Six races seemed about right when Kenseth signed up for them, but that could change.
“I could tell you after the year,” he said. “It might be a half-dozen too many. I don’t know. And then I might love it so much I’d wish I was doing more.
“There’s just a lot going on with the kids, and I hate being away from them and I enjoy being with (wife) Katie and the kids, whether they’re doing sports or traveling around or whatever they’re doing. You do miss a little of that, and I don’t want to miss much of it.”
On Wednesday, Kenseth will find out whether he will be enshrined next year in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, although he had to be reminded of the significance of the day.
“I knew it was sometime this week,” Kenseth said. “I get up every morning, look at my phone and the schedule on it and what we’ve all got going on that day.”
Kenseth is one of 10 modern-era nominees. The selections to be announced at 4 p.m. during a live stream on NASCAR.com, with three people will be elected, two from the modern era ballot and one from the pioneer ballot.
Kenseth and two-time Cup Series champion crew chief Tim Brewer will be on the modern era ballot for the first time, joining eight holdovers: drivers Neil Bonnett, Jeff Burton, Carl Edwards, Harry Gant, Larry Phillips and Ricky Rudd; and crew chiefs Harry Hyde and Kirk Shelmerdine.
With 39 victories, including two Daytona 500s, Kenseth is the most successful at that Cup Series level among the drivers nominated.
“I don’t want to minimize, because it’s a huge honor just to be on that list, whether you make it or not,” he said. “But I’ve got to be honest. I haven’t spent much time thinking about it.
“As you get older things like that are really cool, and if it happens it would be really cool because you’re done with your career and you’re looking back so that’s fun. But I never really raced for that kind of stuff I always raced for that day and to try to win and try to beat the best and do the best you can.” | 2022-05-02T01:52:29Z | www.jsonline.com | Matt Kenseth discusses homecoming, racing plans, NASCAR Hall of Fame | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/05/01/matt-kenseth-discusses-homecoming-racing-plans-nascar-hall-fame/9598473002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/05/01/matt-kenseth-discusses-homecoming-racing-plans-nascar-hall-fame/9598473002/ |
My mom and I often talk about one of the funniest TV episodes we’ve ever seen. On an episode of the 2010s-era sitcom, “The Middle,” Frankie Heck, played by Patricia Heaton, is asked by her family what she wants for Mother’s Day.
In a move relatable to moms everywhere, Frankie tells her husband and three children that what she really wants is a day completely to herself in her house. Not flowers, not candy, not breakfast in bed. Just hours of uninterrupted time to herself to do whatever she wants.
On Mother’s Day morning, with her family away from the house on their own adventures, Frankie goes to her living room in her pajamas with a box of doughnuts in hand and sits down to a stack of magazines. Then — in a move relatable to moms everywhere — she gets distracted by a chore she thinks she should be doing, which leads to another, which leads to another until she realizes her family will be home any minute, whereupon she sprints back to the couch, and manages to eat a bite of two of her first doughnut and read a sentence or two of her first magazine before she hears the door open as her husband and children return.
Frankie’s family tells her about the places they went, the picnic they had and all the fun they had without her. In a move relatable to moms everywhere, she cries because not only did she waste her precious time to herself on chores, she also missed out on quality time with her family.
What do moms really want for Mother's Day?
Mother’s Day can be difficult. We crave, need and deserve time to ourselves. There are so many moments during a typical day when we fantasize about what we would be doing if we didn’t have to drive someone to practice. Or balance a work deadline around someone’s dentist appointment. Or clean one of a million things.
But we also crave, need and deserve to appreciate those little moments of joy that are the best part of being a parent. The picnics, the silly — or sometimes unexpectedly profound — conversations. The hugs and cuddles.
And of course there’s also the ever-present mom guilt. Because of course we love these people we’re so lucky to have in our lives. And of course we should be grateful for every second we get with them. How could we be so selfish as to actually wish for time away from them?
Mother’s Day is hard because we try to achieve the best of both worlds. Some time to ourselves. A perfect, Instagrammable family photo with our kids smiling adoringly at us. And it’s not going to go that way. It never does. Because it’s life, and that’s just the way it goes.
So, if I could just let go of the mom guilt and be realistic, honest and open, here’s what I would want — and not want — on my own perfect Mother’s Day. I hope it’s relatable to moms everywhere.
More:Here's what Mom really hopes to eat on Mother's Day (as described by several local momss
I don't want breakfast in bed
Yes, it’s an adorable and sweet way for children to thank their mothers for millions of meals. But I’m never hungry enough to eat French toast, pancakes, eggs and bacon first thing in the morning. And the kitchen is going to be a mess that I’ll probably have to clean. And I won’t be awake enough to have as much enthusiasm as my chefs deserve. Oh, and mostly importantly, I don’t want to be awake that early anyway.
I do want to sleep
At least until 10. Better yet, 11. Maybe even noon? At that time, I would be happy to have my family come into the room to give me kisses, hugs, cuddles and homemade cards. Plus, my favorite Starbucks drink, a chocolate bar and a book would be great.
I don't want to go to a restaurant for brunch, lunch or dinner
If we’re going out on Mother’s Day, I probably was the one to make the reservations. And going out to eat requires me to get out of my pajamas. And to make sure the kids have clean clothes. And once we get to the restaurant, I’ll have to give special orders to the server, and ask that the leftovers are placed in separate boxes because if the food touches, the kids won’t eat it when I heat it up later.
I do want takeout
That someone else has picked up for me. In containers that can be easily recycled so I don’t have to do any dishes. And I want to sit in front of the TV while we eat. And, as much as I love seeing my kids enjoy their favorite cartoons, I’m in charge of what we watch. Even if it’s a sappy movie that will make me cry or a sitcom that my kids claim is outdated and cringey.
I don't want to go anywhere crowded
I love the museums and the zoo and the Domes and the Botanical Gardens and the nature centers we have around Milwaukee. I’m happy and excited to go to any of those places any other time of year. But, on my special day, I want something much more low-key where I don’t have to be hyper-aware to avoid losing my family in crowds.
I do want to go to a quiet park with a playground
I want to sit on a bench and relax while the kids play. When my kids were little, I was happy to enjoy squeals and giggles as I pushed them on the swings a few times, and I’ll gladly play Frisbee or catch or volleyball for a few minutes. But when I get tired or bored, I get to stop and return to my bench.
I don't want gifts
Well, let me clarify. I don't want any of the generic Mother’s Day cards, plants or knick-knacks that are ubiquitous this time of year. I know how much my family loves me, and they don’t need to spend money on something from the grocery store that says “Happy Mother’s Day” to prove their love.
I do want gifts
Again, let me clarify. I have always loved kid-created picture frames made from painted macaroni, jewelry crafted into odd shapes by air-dry clay and construction paper cards with misspelled poems and declarations that I’m the best mom ever. Those all make me cry — in a good way.
Oh, and what about those coupon books that kids inevitably make when they belatedly realize that it’s Mother’s Day and they need a gift fast? I will gladly accept those, and I greatly appreciate the coupons I can redeem for free hugs, promises to clean rooms without complaint and uninterrupted time to myself. The only caveat my children should be aware of? If they give me those coupon books, they’d better be ready at all times to follow through on their promises. Because I will cash them in. Mom guilt-free. | 2022-05-02T12:01:18Z | www.jsonline.com | What do moms want for Mother's Day? Skip breakfast in bed and sleep in | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/2022/05/02/what-do-moms-want-mothers-day-skip-breakfast-bed-and-sleep/9476652002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/2022/05/02/what-do-moms-want-mothers-day-skip-breakfast-bed-and-sleep/9476652002/ |
A pair of developments will bring two new taco restaurants and a coffee shop to West Milwaukee.
A Taco Bell is on track to open this summer near the Pick 'n Save on Miller Park Way.
Across the street, a Taco John's and Scooter's Coffee are planned. All three will have drive-thrus.
The Taco Bell restaurant, being constructed in the parking lot of the Pick 'n Save at 2201 Miller Park Way, is expected to open in June or July, a representative with Taco Bell said in an email.
The 2,148-square-foot restaurant is expected to hire 40 workers, including some management-level positions.
For more information about jobs at the business, call 847-955-1000, visit alborapply.com or text "tacomakers" to 855000.
It will be the first Taco Bell in West Milwaukee. The closest current location is at 60th and National in West Allis.
But it's not the only new taco restaurant planned in the village.
Taco John's, Scooter's Coffee also coming to West Milwaukee
A Taco John's is going in across the street, at 2172 Miller Park Way, at the former Deutsch & Sons Co. site.
A Scooter's Coffee also will be built at that location.
West Milwaukee Village President John Stalewski said crews are working on the stormwater infrastructure underneath the Scooter's site, and construction is anticipated to begin in mid-May.
He said the 641-square-foot Scooter's is expected to open in the fall, if not sooner.
Taco John's, with a footprint of 2,417 square feet, has a similar timetable, he said.
Cheyenne, Wyoming-based Taco John’s operates and franchises nearly 400 restaurants in 23 states, according to the company's website, making it one of the largest Mexican quick-service restaurant brands in the U.S.
Currently, the only Milwaukee-area Taco John's location is in Waukesha.
Omaha, Nebraska-based Scooter's has no restaurants in the Milwaukee area. It has locations in Menasha and Middleton, according to its website.
Scooter's menu includes hot drinks, iced drinks, blenders, smoothies and teas, along with food items such as breakfast sandwiches and burritos, muffins, cinnamon rolls, chocolate chip cookies and red velvet cake bites, according to its website. | 2022-05-02T17:27:47Z | www.jsonline.com | Taco Bell, Taco John's and Scooter's Coffee coming to West Milwaukee | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/2022/05/02/taco-bell-taco-johns-and-scooters-coffee-coming-west-milwaukee/9553848002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/2022/05/02/taco-bell-taco-johns-and-scooters-coffee-coming-west-milwaukee/9553848002/ |
A second Vendetta Coffee Bar is planned for Walker's Point, with espresso and Italian cocktails
Vendetta Coffee Bar, the Italian-style cafe in Wauwatosa's village district, is planning a second location in Walker's Point, and this one would also serve Italian cocktails.
In addition to being a coffee shop, it would be a Negroni and spritz bar, serving eight to 12 variations on each, said Tommy Orlando, one of the partners in Vendetta.
The second location will be at 524 S. Second St., That's the original location of the tapas restaurant Movida.
Stand Eat Drink restaurant group moved Movida to Hotel Madrid in the pandemic, and the Second Street location for a time was the Carriage House, a private-event venue.
Vendetta Coffee Bar opened at 7613 W. State St. in 2021, a joint venture among Bill Haley, Tommy Orlando and Orlando's son, also named Tommy.
The Tosa spot, in a building with an ornate bar from 1906, serves espresso and espresso drinks, Italian baked goods, panini, beer and wine.
Customers can buy an espresso for $1 if they drink it standing at the bar, Italian style. Vendetta uses Orlando's own blend.
"When I came back from Italy 17 years ago, I couldn’t find any espresso that I liked," aside from the Italian imports Illy and Lavazza, Orlando said, and that was becoming expensive. So he began experimenting at home with blends of coffee beans and roasting them himself, and that's the blend Vendetta uses now.
Orlando said the hope is to open the Walker's Point coffee bar in early June, although he expects the opening will be closer to July.
Vendetta would be open regular coffee shop hours at the start of the week and open later Thursday through Saturday, he said.
Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co.'s roastery, cafe and bar are nearby, around the corner at 224 W. Bruce St., but Vendetta would be in an area of the city that otherwise has few coffeehouses and increased numbers of apartments and offices.
"Walker's Point is great. It's obviously an expanding area," Orlando said. "A lot of great new businesses are already there." | 2022-05-02T17:27:53Z | www.jsonline.com | Vendetta Coffee Bar in Walker's Point would have espresso, cocktails | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/05/02/vendetta-coffee-bar-walkers-point-would-have-espresso-cocktails-milwaukee-full-bar/9615533002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/dining/2022/05/02/vendetta-coffee-bar-walkers-point-would-have-espresso-cocktails-milwaukee-full-bar/9615533002/ |
Milwaukee's WISN-TV (Channel 12) is planning to add a 4 p.m. weekday newscast
WISN-TV (Channel 12) plans to start a 4 p.m. weekday newscast June 6.
The hourlong newscast will be co-anchored by Derrick Rose and Kristin Pierce, with the ABC affiliate's chief meteorologist Mark Baden doing the weather.
Pierce joined Channel 12 as the station's weekend news anchor in March. Rose, who joined the station in 2018, has anchored the station's 9 p.m. newscast airing on Channel 12.2.
Channel 12 has been running "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" in the 4 p.m. slot. Starting June 6, that show, which is ending after this season, will move to 3 p.m.; it'll be replaced this fall by "The Jennifer Hudson Show." The "Tamron Hall" talk show, which currently airs at 3 p.m., will move to 2 p.m.
More:Longtime 98.3 radio host Andrea Williams will join WTMJ's Channel 4 TV news staff
More:Dario Melendez, host of Brewers and Bucks shows, is named sports director at Milwaukee's WISN-TV (Channel 12)
"The Good Dish," which had been added to the lineup to replace "Dr. Oz" and is being canceled after this season, is gone from the daytime schedule.
Channel 12 is the last of the four local television news operations to add a 4 p.m. newscast. | 2022-05-02T17:27:59Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee's WISN-TV (Channel 12) adding a 4 p.m. weekday newscast | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/05/02/milwaukees-wisn-tv-channel-12-adding-4-p-m-weekday-newscast/9615404002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/05/02/milwaukees-wisn-tv-channel-12-adding-4-p-m-weekday-newscast/9615404002/ |
The last ground-floor business in downtown Milwaukee's Water Street nightlife area that's not a tavern or restaurant is on its way to becoming a tavern.
The historic building that houses A. Werner Silversmiths Inc., 1241 N. Water St., is to become the home of Water Street University, a tavern operated by Steggeman Investments LLC.
That's according to a new building permit application filed with the city Department of Neighborhood Services.
A. Werner has operated in the two-story, 3,520-square-foot building since 1956. The building is a former diner that was built in 1895, according to the Wisconsin Historical Society.
It sticks out as as an outlier on a two-block stretch of Water Street between Highland Avenue and Knapp Street.
The silversmith business has been operated by members of the Wied family since the 1950s. Mike Wied last year put the building on the sale block, listing it with Barry Co., after deciding to retire.
Since the late 1980s, around the time the Bradley Center opened to host Milwaukee Bucks games and other events, the area evolved from a mix of businesses to the Water Street nightlife area. That arena has since been demolished and replaced by Fiserv Forum, which opened in 2018.
The Water Street strip's businesses include Duke's on Water, AJ Bombers, Red Rock Saloon, Brothers Bar and Grill, Bar None, McGillycuddy's, Pourman's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Elwood's Liquor and Tap and Lowcountry Milwaukee.
A. Werner was founded in 1888 by Austrian immigrant Adolf Werner. His son, Leo, started operating the business in 1940, with the Wied family buying it in 1954.
The demand for silver restoration services has declined steadily for decades, Mike Wied told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in December.
The building includes a four-space parking lot.
More:Downtown's Water, Van Buren streets to become more friendly for bikes and walkers — and less welcoming for reckless drivers
More:Deer District office planned for vacant space in Fiserv Forum parking structure. That downtown site was envisioned for retail. | 2022-05-02T17:28:06Z | www.jsonline.com | Water Street will be all bars, restaurants when silversmith closes | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/05/02/water-street-nightlife-district-all-bars-restaurants-when-a-werner-silversmith-closes/9613063002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/05/02/water-street-nightlife-district-all-bars-restaurants-when-a-werner-silversmith-closes/9613063002/ |
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Police Chief Jeffrey Norman gathered at the city’s tow lot Monday morning to remind residents that as of Sunday, the city will begin towing unregistered vehicles that engage in reckless driving.
Norman said the first vehicles towed under the measure had all been pulled over by police for speeding more than 30 mph over the posted limit. At least one tow led to officers recovering a weapon and drugs.
Both he and Johnson acknowledged how disruptive it can be for residents to have a car towed, but they described the measure as a necessary response to a reckless driving problem that over the last few years has emerged as one of the most pressing public safety issues locally.
The measure also comes as a response to frustrations from residents over the pervasiveness of unregistered vehicles in the city and their penchant for driving recklessly.
More:'This has gotta stop': Brother of Milwaukee crash victim speaks out against reckless driving
More:Improved roads and bike lanes to help fight reckless driving in downtown and other Milwaukee neighborhoods are coming under new plan
“I don’t want to be doing this, but unfortunately we have too many people who are disobeying the rules of the road and endangering the greater public safety,” Johnson said.
Police will now tow unregistered vehicles that have engaged in at least one of four infractions: reckless driving, speeding 25 mph above the limit, fleeing police or racing.
Officers are expected to tow those cars during a traffic stop or otherwise whenever an officer “comes into contact” with a vehicle involved in a crash investigation.
In order to recover a towed vehicle, owners will have to present a valid driver’s license, proof of registration, proof of insurance and pay all associated fees.
Norman said the measure should also force car owners to think harder about who they loan their vehicle to.
“If you are loaning your car out, understand who you’re loaning your car out to,” he said. “It’s important to understand that the responsibility is on you just as well as the one who is driving your car.”
The measure was passed by a 5-1 vote by the Fire and Police Commission in February. Officials delayed the enforcement until May 1 to launch a public awareness campaign in advance.
The lone vote in opposition came from Commissioner Amanda Avalos, who argued the measure does nothing to address root causes of reckless driving and that it would have disparate effects on certain communities in Milwaukee.
Other commissioners agreed with Avalos, but argued reckless driving was a pressing public safety issue that deserved such an enforcement tool. Ed Fallone, the chair of the commission, has indicated he wants to review the effects of the towing policy in December to potentially amend or repeal the measure.
Monday’s press conference came one day after a speeding car ran a red light, crashed into a second vehicle and then struck Gerald Newton, 72, and killed him at the intersection of North 20th and West Burleigh streets. Newton was a Vietnam War veteran who had struggled with homelessness in the past, according to a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.
In 2020, Milwaukee County set a record with 107 fatal crashes. Seventy-eight occurred in the city of Milwaukee. That was followed by 87 fatal crashes countywide and 66 in the city in 2021, according to police.
Police have reported 18 motor vehicle deaths in Milwaukee as of Sunday, compared to 20 as of the same date in 2021. | 2022-05-02T17:28:12Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee to tow unregistered vehicles involved in reckless driving | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/05/02/milwaukee-reckless-driving-towing-measure-for-unregistered-vehicles-effect/9617013002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/05/02/milwaukee-reckless-driving-towing-measure-for-unregistered-vehicles-effect/9617013002/ |
Join our conversation with the Washington Post's Catherine Rampell tonight at 6 p.m.
Join us at 6 p.m. today for a conversation with Washington Post columnist Catherine Rampell, who will discuss her data-driven coverage of economics, public policy, immigration and politics with Ideas Lab Editor David D. Haynes.
Our discussion will cover Rampell’s career path and expertise as well as her thoughts on the economy, including the impact of inflation and how the war in Ukraine is affecting both our politics and our pocketbooks.
In addition to her work at the Post, Rampell is also a political and economic commentator for CNN and a special correspondent for “PBS News Hour.” Before joining The Post, Rampell was a reporter and editor for The New York Times.
She is the spring Public Affairs Journalist in Residence at the UW-Madison campus, which is funded by the La Follette School's Kohl Initiative, University Communications, and the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.
Rampell will also be a featured panelist at Wednesday's "La Follette Forum: American Power, Prosperity & Democracy." That event will be at Monona Terrace in Madison, but you also can attend virtually.
David D. Haynes is editor of the Ideas Lab. He reports on innovation in business and government and on government transparency. Email: david.haynes@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DavidDHaynes or Facebook. | 2022-05-02T17:28:18Z | www.jsonline.com | Join our chat with Washington Post's Catherine Rampell Monday night | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/05/02/join-our-chat-washington-posts-catherine-rampell-monday-night/9616041002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/05/02/join-our-chat-washington-posts-catherine-rampell-monday-night/9616041002/ |
An Oaukee County circuit court judge has upheld part of the state Department of Instruction's ruling that the Cedarburg School District did not properly investigate a parent's claim that her biracial son was racially harassed.
Judge Steven Cain also ruled that one of the incidents discussed in parent Jessica Mchomvu's original complaint did not constitute a racially hostile environment, based on the district's harassment policy.
Cain's decision came in an oral ruling April 29. He ordered that the district conduct another investigation into specific allegations of Confederate flags being on vehicles in Cedarburg High School's parking lot and the use of a racial slur in the school's hallways.
"I'm really pleased with this ruling," said Elisabeth Lambert, an attorney with the ACLU who represented Mchomvu. "I think the core issue in this case is a district's reasonable duty to do a reasonable investigation when it learns about potential racial harassment in its schools.
"I think the court was very clear that what Cedarburg had done was not adequate to get the facts that it actually needed to understand what students are experiencing."
"This is really good. The district is going to have to go back and instead of just a pro forma fact-checking investigation that's not really designed to develop facts, they're actually going to have to talk to people with on-the-ground information," Lambert said in an April 29 phone interview. "They're going to have to talk to teachers. They're going to have to look at what's being displayed in their parking lots, and they're going to have to come to grips with the facts."
Mchomvu was also pleased by the ruling.
"It's a good thing. The district has to re-investigate, which I'm going to look at as a win. I'm upset that my kid has to go through the whole process all over again, but his social anxiety has gotten way better, so he is totally willing to talk to them this time, which is good," Mchomvu said in an April 29 phone interview.
Jennifer Williams, the attorney representing the Cedarburg School District, did not respond to phone and email requests for an interview.
The Cedarburg School District released a statement after the ruling on its website and via email to a reporter that said the court determined the DPI had erred in finding the district did not follow its own anti-harassment policies when responding to certain harassment complaints and that the district "adequately investigated certain complaints of harassment."
"While the Court determined that there are additional steps the District can take to investigate other of the parent’s allegations, the Court held that there was no basis for the DPI to have issued the District a corrective order. The District takes complaints of harassment seriously, and it is pleased that today’s Court decision rejected the DPI’s overreaching requirement that the District take extraordinary and burdensome measures, not justified by policy or law, to investigate even the vaguest allegations of harassment. Today’s decision validates the District’s efforts to create a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students," the district said in its statement.
The ACLU of Wisconsin said in a news release May 2 that the district's email to parents about the ruling was misleading.
"In actuality, the court ruled that the District had conducted an inadequate investigation into key allegations of the complaint and ordered a new investigation," the organization said in its release.
School district's appeal of DPI decision
Cain's ruling came after a months-long effort by the Cedarburg School District to appeal a July 2021 DPI decision.
The DPI's decision said the school district's investigation into a racial harassment complaint from Mchomvu was deficient. It also asked the district to submit a corrective action plan within 30 days to specify actions it will take to comply with its own discrimination policies and procedures, as well as to specify steps to conduct a complete factual investigation of the parent's claims.
The district appealed the DPI's decision in August 2021 to the Ozaukee County Circuit Court.
Racial harassment complaint
The case started when Mchomvu filed a racial harassment complaint with the school district in October 2020.
In her complaint, Mchomvu said her son had overheard a student at Cedarburg High School praising Kyle Rittenhouse and saying he would run over Black Lives Matter protesters.
She also said her son frequently heard the n-word at Cedarburg High school and at school-sponsored sporting events.
Mchomvu also said students displayed Confederate flags on their vehicles in the school's parking lot and that students wore Trump 2020, MAGA and Thin Blue Line apparel during the school day, which she said created a racially hostile environment.
Independent investigation and subsequent rulings
The district hired an independent investigator, who concluded in December 2020 that there was no evidence of racial harassment or bullying, and that the district did not violate board policy, state or federal law. The superintendent adopted the findings Jan. 11, 2021.
The ACLU filed an appeal with the DPI on Jan. 25, 2021, which led to the DPI's ruling in July 2021.
In his April 29 ruling, Cain said there was no evidence the n-word had been used at school-sponsored sporting events.
But he also said the district didn't do enough to investigate potential comments in hallways by failing to speak with staff or to consult discipline records to see whether such comments had been addressed in the past.
"The court is going to uphold DPI's determination there. The substantial evidence in the record does support that determination," said Cain, of the district's efforts to investigate comments in school hallways.
Cain also upheld the DPI's decision about the district's investigation into the display of Confederate flags on vehicles in the school's parking lot being unreasonable.
"The record is clear that despite the assistant principal not being aware of that, that the investigator or anyone else associated with the district didn't take any steps to do what would be a simple investigation," said Cain.
"The parking lot is easily defined. It's not particularly big and probably could be walked in an hour and the investigator failed to do that," he added.
In addressing Mchomvu's claim that there was a racially hostile environment at Cedarburg High School because of an overheard comment about running over BLM protestors, Cain said the DPI's decision was not supported because the harassment was not directed individually toward Mchomvu's son.
He also said the school's assistant principal addressed the issue appropriately.
"If the court were to adopt that manner in evaluating the complaints not specifically directed at one particular person ... that would open up a floodgate of harassment complaints if anyone were to overhear something. It frankly would result in an unworkable and unreasonable outcome," Cain said.
A status conference for determining how the new investigation will be conducted is scheduled for May 6. | 2022-05-02T19:51:08Z | www.jsonline.com | Judge: Cedarburg Schools must reinvestigate racial harassment claims | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/news/cedarburg/2022/05/02/judge-cedarburg-schools-must-reinvestigate-racial-harassment-claims/9585585002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/news/cedarburg/2022/05/02/judge-cedarburg-schools-must-reinvestigate-racial-harassment-claims/9585585002/ |
The Corners of Brookfield is getting a new chicken restaurant this summer.
Here Chicky Chicky, a fast-casual restaurant that will serve chicken-centered meals and sandwiches, will be operated by the owners of Goddess and the Baker, which already has a location at The Corners.
The new restaurant will have several menu options, including chicken sandwiches, baskets, wraps and salads, with a wide range of sauces and flavors. Beer, wine and champagne will also be served.
“What makes us different from other chicken spots is not only our top product and range of items, but also the atmosphere — it’s meant to be fun, playful and inviting," said Tami Mizrahi, co-owner of Goddess and the Baker and Here Chicky Chicky. "We have some exciting things in the works, and we can’t wait for the community’s first taste.”
The 3,150-square-foot space will be just east of Fresh Fin Poke on the south side of the shopping center. It'll have space for 70 people inside.
The interior of the restaurant will include a "‘70s aesthetic, with fresh and contemporary fixtures," a press release said.
The Goddess and the Baker — an all-day cafe with baked goods, salads and sandwiches — already has a Nashville hot chicken sandwich on the menu, which has been a popular item. That party spurred the concept for the restaurant.
“We’re thrilled to be welcoming Goddess and the Baker’s new restaurant concept, Here Chicky Chicky to the town center," said Robert Gould, CEO of Brookfield Corners LLC. "Tami and her team do an exceptional job, we know Goddess is unique and we have every confidence that the same culture of excellence will run through to the menu and service with Here Chicky Chicky." | 2022-05-02T19:51:14Z | www.jsonline.com | The Corners of Brookfield: Here Chicky Chicky coming summer 2022 | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/brookfield/2022/05/02/corners-brookfield-here-chicky-chicky-coming-summer-2022/9616772002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/brookfield/2022/05/02/corners-brookfield-here-chicky-chicky-coming-summer-2022/9616772002/ |
Despite anticipated rain and low temperatures, the Bucks will host a watch party in the Deer District for Game 2 of the second-round series against the Boston Celtics, but with limited services.
The main screen on the plaza will be on, but there will be no outside food and beverage vendors. You will have to buy food and beverage at one of the Deer District establishments that are covered, like The Beer Garden and Tanduay Tiki Hut.
"Fans are still encouraged to come watch the game in Deer District, where the game will be shown on the screens in the Plaza and The Beer Garden, as well as inside Deer District establishments," the Bucks said in a statement.
Tip-off for Game 2 in Boston is 6 p.m. Central time. The Bucks lead the series, 1-0, after a dominating victory in Game 1, where Giannis Antetokounmpo had a triple-double. | 2022-05-02T19:51:20Z | www.jsonline.com | Deer District open for Bucks-Celtics Game 2, but with limited services | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/05/02/deer-district-open-bucks-celtics-game-2-but-limited-services-nba-milwaukee-boston/9619698002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/05/02/deer-district-open-bucks-celtics-game-2-but-limited-services-nba-milwaukee-boston/9619698002/ |
BOSTON – Of many statements that could be said about the way Giannis Antetokounmpo approaches each game, the fact that he never concedes anything – anything – would have to be at the top of the list.
He doesn’t concede baskets as a defender or loose balls he feels he can reach, and he doesn’t concede the rim on offense.
The “Giannis Wall” has been in effect around the league for years. Total team defense from opponents is a nightly occurrence. They’re just measures to slow his unwavering assault on that orange, steel cylinder.
“What we see is every team tries to play him essentially the same way,” Bucks guard Wesley Matthews said. “They try to build a wall, they send a crowd, double teams, flood the paint – all that.
“I think one of the differences that makes Boston special and really, really good on the defensive (end) is that they have really good defensive players. So, you can have different teams try to do the same thing but if you don’t have the players to do it, then it’s not really going to make a difference as much.”
The Celtics showed that Sunday night at TD Garden in Game 1 of their second-round NBA playoff series in helping to force Antetokounmpo into missing 16 of his 25 shots. That 36% field goal percentage was Antetokounmpo’s sixth-worst of this season and by far his lowest when attempting at least that many.
More:'Maybe I'm weird.' Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo feels great after a physical game leaves his body beat up
He shot 36% or lower just four times last season and seven times in 2019-20.
It was the eighth-worst shooting performance of his playoff career.
He scored 14 of his 24 points in the paint, but he was just 7-for-18 when diving and driving and Eurostepping into the teeth of the Celtics defense.
No, Antetokounmpo didn’t concede anything – but he definitely had to give the Celtics their just due on if they had made his life very, very difficult over his 37 minutes of game play in the Bucks’ 101-89 victory.
“Yeah. Yeah,” he said Sunday night. “Obviously, they’re showing help, being physical. Being physical, bringing that help, being active. They’re really good.”
There were no qualifiers there.
Boston’s collective effort made Antetokounmpo try to make right handed lay-ins from the left side of the paint. They swiped at the ball as he gathered himself into shooting position. They always had a hand, a forearm, a shoulder, a hip connected to him.
“They have good individual defenders – it usually starts with that,” Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer said. “I think just that toughness and ability, the point of attack is good. Williams, when he’s on the court, Robert is basically coming to block shots and protect the paint and protect the rim and he’s done it at a high level basically all year. It sounds like Giannis said, give them credit.
“We have to work for our baskets. Both teams are going to have work for their baskets. It’s high-level defense against high-level players.”
Matthews said a key difference for the Bucks and Antetokounmpo, at least in Game 1, was that Antetokounmpo took advantage of that strong Boston defense in a different way – by totaling 12 assists. It was the second-best assist total in Antetokounmpo’s playoff career.
“I’d say a couple years ago he would probably be like a ram, just hitting his head against the wall over and over like, ‘no, I’m going to beat this wall, I’m going to beat this wall, no one can stop me, two people can’t stop me, three people can’t stop me,’” Matthews said.
“And you know what? Eighty percent of the time he’s right. For him to start manipulating defense, manipulating coverages, see where the defenders are, know where we are. A lot of it is trust on his part, trusting us to be in the right spots, and that’s part of what we need to do. When I say set the table, we need to be in the right spots so he can throw those over-the-top behind-his-head passes and wrap-around passes at a split-second notice because he knows we’re there.” | 2022-05-02T22:01:59Z | www.jsonline.com | Giannis Antetokounmpo turned to passing in Game 1 against Celtics | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/02/giannis-antetokounmpo-turned-passing-game-1-against-celtics/9613735002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/02/giannis-antetokounmpo-turned-passing-game-1-against-celtics/9613735002/ |
MADISON – Construction company executive Tim Michels is running for governor of Wisconsin after spending the last decade living part-time in Manhattan and Connecticut, where his children attended school.
Michels, a co-owner of the Brownsville-based Michels Corp. who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, said Monday he calls the Waukesha County lake country community Chenequa home but also has split his time for the last nine years on the east coast.
Most recently, Michels and his wife purchased a $17 million estate in Greenwich, Connecticut in 2020 — real estate holdings first reported Sunday by the conservative website Wisconsin Right Now.
Michels defended his ties to the Badger State on Monday following the release of the Wisconsin Right Now story questioning his residency.
He told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel in March he and his family began living in New York after Michels Corp. won a bid to build the company's largest project at the time, a new subway tunnel in Manhattan. The three-year project began in 2013, according to the company's website.
"It required a lot of oversight — you know, I pretty much had to live out there. And the whole family decided that we all wanted to go and stay together. So there was a good chunk of a four-year period that the project was going on that we were all living in New York," Michels told the Journal Sentinel, in comments he made berfore joining the race for governor.
"I was as careful as I could be to maintain my Wisconsin residency. There was one year that I tripped over and had too many days in New York but we’ve always technically been Wisconsin residents. We’re cheeseheads through and through.”
Michels, who was born in Lomira, said Monday he considers the family's Waukesha County home to be his primary residence and since 2013 has spent at least 183 days of each year there except in 2015, when the Manhattan tunnel project was "at its peak."
Michels has consistently voted in Wisconsin for years and has listed a Wisconsin address in his numerous campaign contributions. His wife, Barbara, listed their New York address as her home when she made political donations she made in 2016 and 2020.
State law allows people to temporarily move and continue to vote from their home address as long as they intend to return to that address.
"We probably could have moved back a few years ago, but my daughter was going to be a senior in high school. She was doing great," Michels said in an interview on WIBA-AM, referring to his daughter Sophie, who survived a rare brain cancer. "We just said you know what, we're not going to move back to Wisconsin, so that she didn't have a disruptive senior year.
"Life brings you circumstances and you just roll with them. We did the right thing for our family. I did the right thing for the company, but I've always been a Wisconsin resident."
Michels' company also regularly competes for road-building contracts in Wisconsin and has secured hundreds of millions of dollars in work from the state in recent years. Michels said last week that he would divest himself from the family business if he's elected after ethical questions were raised.
Michels is competing against former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, business consultant Kevin Nicholson and state Rep. Tim Ramthun in the Aug. 9 Republican primary. The winner will face Gov. Tony Evers in Nov. 8 general election.
Bill Glauber and Patrick Marley of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel contributed to this report. | 2022-05-03T00:07:49Z | www.jsonline.com | Wisconsin governor candidate Tim Michels defends east coast homes | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/05/02/wisconsin-governor-candidate-tim-michels-defends-east-coast-homes/9616323002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/05/02/wisconsin-governor-candidate-tim-michels-defends-east-coast-homes/9616323002/ |
Three people were injured, including two officers, after a driver ran a red light and struck a squad car Monday afternoon, according to the Milwaukee Police Department.
A 33-year-old woman "disregarded the red light" and struck a police squad car shortly before 1 p.m. on North Holton and East Locust streets, police said.
Two officers and the driver of the other vehicle sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were transported to a local hospital.
Milwaukee Police are investigating the crash. | 2022-05-03T03:58:20Z | www.jsonline.com | Two officers injured after driver struck squad car: Milwaukee police | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/02/two-officers-injured-after-driver-struck-squad-car-milwaukee-police/9624514002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/02/two-officers-injured-after-driver-struck-squad-car-milwaukee-police/9624514002/ |
Molly Beck Bill Glauber
MADISON - Almost all abortions in Wisconsin would be illegal as early as this summer under a draft decision obtained by Politico showing the U.S. Supreme Court voted to strike down the court's landmark Roe v. Wade ruling that made abortion legal for the last 50 years.
If the opinion holds and the 1973 decision is overturned, a 19th century state law would go back into effect that bans Wisconsin doctors from performing abortions except when saving the life of the mother.
If the state's abortion law went back into effect, doctors could be charged with felonies for performing abortions and face up to six years in prison and $10,000 in fines. Wisconsin lawmakers passed the law in 1849, a year after Wisconsin became a state.
The leak of the draft opinion, which could change before it is officially released, is an explosive development in Wisconsin's already tense midterm campaign season with Republican candidates for governor celebrating what the leak suggested would mean for the state. Democratic officials and U.S. Senate hopefuls urged Congress to take action to preserve abortion rights.
"I pray this is true," Republican candidate for governor Kevin Nicholson tweeted late Monday, sharing Politico's report. Minutes later, Madison's Democratic mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway tweeted the same story with the comment, "Welcome to Gilead" — a reference to the dystopian "The Handmaid's Tale" novel and television series in which women "handmaids" are forced to produce children.
PolitiFact: Yes, if federal abortion law were overturned, Wisconsin law could make procedure a crime
The potential ruling could be unpopular in Wisconsin. In an October poll conducted by the Marquette University Law School, 61% of Wisconsin voters said abortion should be legal in all or most cases and 34% said it should be illegal in all or most cases.
If the draft opinion holds, campaigns for the fall's midterm elections could transform into debates over abortion rights.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has called for keeping abortion accessible, while Republicans seeking to replace him have called for Roe v. Wade to be overturned and do not support adding exceptions to the state law.
"Our work to defend access to reproductive healthcare has never been more important," he tweeted late Monday. "Before I became governor, I promised I’d fight to protect access to abortion and reproductive rights. I’ve kept that promise, and I will fight every day as long as I’m governor."
Three Republicans seeking to unseat Evers – former Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, construction business co-owner Tim Michels and Nicholson – posted messages on Twitter welcoming such a decision.
“It’s about time!” Kleefisch tweeted.
A fourth Republican running for governor, state Rep. Tim Ramthun of Campbellsport, has described himself as “hardcore, 100% pro-life without exceptions.”
In interviews in February, Kleefisch and Nicholson expressed similar sentiments, saying they would oppose exceptions to an abortion ban for rape or incest. Michels got in the race a little over a week ago and so far has not agreed to an interview.
Republicans control the Legislature by a wide margin and are all but certain to hang onto it after the fall elections. They would be extremely unlikely to add any exceptions to a ban on abortion regardless of who is governor.
Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin and four top Democratic contenders vying to unseat Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson called for the Senate to take action by abolishing the filibuster and passing a measure to codify the Roe v. Wade decision and make sure abortion remains legal.
State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski planned to hold a press conference late Monday in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington. She said in a statement, “The Senate needs to end the filibuster, codify Roe and defend reproductive freedom. Democrats need to act now.”
“It has never been more clear why we need to abolish the filibuster and take immediate action to protect every person’s right to make decisions about their own bodies,” Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said in a statement.
Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson declared: “The Supreme Court has shown their hand. Senator Chuck Schumer must call a special session to blow up the filibuster and codify Roe now.”
Senate hopeful Alex Lasry, a Milwaukee Bucks executive, also tweeted a photo of himself protesting outside of the Supreme Court in Washington.
"Abortion care is a fundamental human right and I will fight like hell to protect it," he said in a tweet.
Johnson did not comment on the substance of the draft opinion and alleged the goal of its leak was to "intimidate" conservative justices.
"This is yet another example of how the radical left intends to 'fundamentally transform' America. Undermine our judicial system, open our borders, drive gasoline prices to record levels, forty year high inflation, and spark a crime wave," Johnson said in a statement.
In 2019, Johnson said he supported a national ban on abortion after 20 weeks and told reporters he wished the U.S. Supreme Court had not legalized abortion in 1973 in the Roe v. Wade case, saying the issue should have been left for state legislators and voters to decide.
Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat who is up for re-election this fall, said women will die unnecessarily if abortion is banned under state law.
"Allowing politicians to interfere in women’s reproductive health decisions is backwards and wrong. A government that forces women into labor is not a government that’s protecting freedom," Kaul said.
Former state Rep. Adam Jarchow and Fond du Lac County District Attorney Eric Toney, Republicans running for Attorney General, did not have an immediate reaction to the potential of the ruling be overturned.
In a tweet, Jarchow suggested disgust over the draft opinion being leaked.
"God Bless and protect Justice Alito," he said, referring to the opinion's author. | 2022-05-03T03:58:26Z | www.jsonline.com | Abortions would be outlawed in Wisconsin under leaked Roe decision | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/05/02/abortions-would-outlawed-wisconsin-under-leaked-roe-decision/9623687002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/05/02/abortions-would-outlawed-wisconsin-under-leaked-roe-decision/9623687002/ |
With nearly 250 maps and photographs, the newly published "The Geography of Wisconsin" (University of Wisconsin Press) is an engaging introduction to the physical features of this state.
Authors John A. Cross and Kazimierz J. Zaniewski, both emeritus professors of geography at UW-Oshkosh, also devote considerable attention to the human geography of Wisconsin, including settlement patterns and economic activity.
The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted even the work of geographers, they point out in the preface to their book, noting its impact on the 2020 census. While some pandemic effects on schools, tourism and business were immediately apparent, "the resulting unemployment, business failures, and financial losses will be felt in the state for years," Cross wrote.
From highlights of Wisconsin's physical landscape to the foods cultivated and consumed, here are 20 mostly superlative and sometimes surprising facts gleaned from their book:
1. Astride the 45ºN parallel, Wisconsin is halfway between the equator and the North Pole.
RELATED:This Wisconsin town is famed for being the center of the northwest hemisphere. It's not.
2. Wisconsin's 54,310 square miles make it the middle child of the United States. Twenty-four states have a larger land area, while 25 states have less.
3. Timms Hill in Price County, elevation 1,951.5 feet, is the highest spot in the state.
4. The coldest minimum temperature recorded in Wisconsin was minus 55°F, at Couderay in Sawyer County in 1996.
5. Wisconsin is one of the best places in the world to see drumlins — streamlined hills formed by moving glacial ice. Geologists have mapped more than 2,000 drumlins in the area of the Green Bay Lobe, a broad mass of glacial ice that flowed from what is now Green Bay to Madison about 18,000 years ago.
6. In the early 1800s, about 85% of Wisconsin was covered by forests. During the 1890s, Wisconsin produced more timber than any other state.
7. Wisconsin's deadliest tornado hit New Richmond in St. Croix County on June 12, 1899, killing 117 people. It was the ninth deadliest tornado in U.S. history.
8. Wisconsin ranks fifth in the nation in sales of cut Christmas trees.
9. The Morrill Act of 1862 established the system of land-grant colleges. Educational institutions were granted acreage of federally controlled land either for expansion or to sell to raise funds. Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, was one such school. But there wasn't enough public land in New York state for Cornell's grant. So Cornell was granted 500,000 acres of timberland in Wisconsin's Chippewa River valley. Rather than selling the land immediately for market value, Cornell hung on to it until the early 1900s, adding $5 million to the Cornell endowment.
10. Lafayette County is 84.5% farmland (per 2017 figures), the state's largest proportion.
11. The number of Wisconsin’s farms has fallen sharply since 1950, when 168,561 were counted. The 2017 census tallied 64,793 farms, most too small for a full-time living.
12. The statewide average or mean farm size in 2017 was 221 acres, while the median was 90 acres, showing how a few large farms affect the statistics.
13. Wisconsin is the nation's third-largest producer of potatoes. They grow well in the sandy soil of Portage and other counties.
14. The world leader in cranberry production, Wisconsin had 48.9% of the nation’s harvested cranberry acreage in 2017. It produced 5,372,000 100-pound barrels of cranberries, 64.2% of the nation’s harvest.
15. Wisconsin ranks second nationally in its number of organic farms. Only California has more.
16. Thanks to advances in dairy technology, in 2017 a typical Wisconsin milk cow produced 23,725 pounds of milk annually, nearly three times the average yield in 1950.
17. By 2019, Wisconsin had 56 Amish settlements with an estimated combined population of 22,020. Only three other states have more Amish residents than Wisconsin.
18. Led by mozzarella, Italian cheeses account for 50.5% of Wisconsin's cheese output, according to the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics report of 2019.
19. In the whole U.S., grocery stores outnumber taverns by 13%. But Wisconsin has 2.7 taverns for every grocery store, the nation's highest ratio. "Within many small Wisconsin communities, it is far easier to obtain a beer than to buy a gallon of milk," Cross writes.
20. "More people have moved away from Wisconsin than to the state every year for more than a decade," a Wisconsin Policy Forum workforce report stated in 2019. | 2022-05-03T12:27:21Z | www.jsonline.com | 20 superlative and surprising facts from 'The Geography of Wisconsin' | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/05/03/20-superlative-and-surprising-facts-the-geography-wisconsin/9569421002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/books/2022/05/03/20-superlative-and-surprising-facts-the-geography-wisconsin/9569421002/ |
'We are going to create the next generation': Chefs are cooking up culinary program for Milwaukee students ages 14 to 18
Table Chat
Setting his sights on some of the culinary world’s most rigorous competitions, Daryl Shular combined his love of food and sports to reach the top of his game, literally.
As a young chef he became a member of the American Culinary Federation’s olympic team. Participating in the Internationale Kochkunst Ausstellung meant competing with chefs from about 60 nations.
Next, he set out to become a certified master chef. Completing the eight-day challenge in 2014, he became the country’s first African American to receive the certified master chef designation and in 2017 was named a member of the African American Chefs Hall of Fame.
Rising to challenges and setting goals is a learned skill in Shular’s eyes, one he aims to pass on to the next generation of chefs in Milwaukee.
In 2019, he founded the for-profit Shular Institute and FarmED in Tucker, Georgia. This summer, he and business partner Sean Rush, a graduate of Milwaukee's Riverside University High School, are expanding from Shular Institute to launch Brigade MKE.
Beginning with culinary boot camps, the goal is mentoring and training, starting with students ages 14 to 18. Based at Parklawn Assembly of God, 3725 N. Sherman Blvd., the program is aimed at culinary development and inspiring entrepreneurs.
During a recent phone interview, Shular and Rush shared their inspiration and why they’re focusing on Milwaukee’s next generation of chefs. For information on the program, go to brigademke.com.
RELATED:Upstart kitchen, in Sherman Park, has a line of entrepreneurs eager to start food businesses
Question: What got you started in the kitchen? How did you decide on a culinary career?
Daryl Shular: I’m president of the Shular Institute in Atlanta. I’ve been in the industry since I was 19. My inspiration in cooking began at home with my mother. I always said that if she took the role of being a professional, she’d be an executive chef.
I entered the Culinary Institute of Atlanta in 1993. … By 22 I was executive chef at a large hotel. At 24 I opened my first restaurant in New Jersey. In 2008, after spending many years in culinary competitions I tried out for the culinary olympic team and represented the U.S. team in Germany. That was the platform I needed to become a certified master chef, and I took the test that took eight days.
Q: Why choose the culinary olympian and master chef path?
Shular: I decided to take that path for the same reason we are here today. I saw the ultimate goal as a successful businessman with a lot of concepts throughout the United States. I wanted to be an expert at my craft.
When I graduated from culinary school there was a chef, Darryl Evans. He was the first minority on the culinary olympic team. It was a combination of my passion for sports and the culinary world. … I knew that if I successfully became a master chef certified, it would unlock a lot of doors in my career. ….That is why I wanted to take that role, it wasn’t for money, but to obtain the skill set and knowledge that not too many of the chefs of my color, or chefs period, have obtained.
Q: How did the two of you connect, and what brings the Shular Institute to Milwaukee?
Sean Rush: I was raised in Sherman Park near Upstart Kitchen. I was a graduate of Riverside (University High School) in 1993. I traveled to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. I worked in different verticals in branding.
It wasn’t until I started at Le Cordon Bleu in 2004 that I got a love for education and culinary arts, and what the culinary arts does for a person’s career path ….Le Cordon Bleu was the largest culinary program in the world. At the same time, Johnson & Wales and Culinary Institute of America were pumping out a lot of graduates. We were flooding the market with kids who were also coming into a lot of debt. The culinary industry is not equipped to pay them to pay the loans that they have for college.
During that time I got to see chef Shular go through the certified master chef program. … He gave me his lifelong vision of creating this institute. The core mission was getting these kids and young adults ready day one for the reality of the industry. Also, on the flipside, not burdening them with the student loan debts. It is our mission to provide a top tier master chef level education to people who are passionate and earn a spot, but they come out pretty much debt free.
Q: Currently, both MATC and WCTC offer well known culinary programs. How does your program compare?
Rush: The beauty of MATC and WCTC, even with these two schools, even with our institution and you could put two more, it is not enough. The culinary industry … the labor has been reduced.
I did look at those programs. That’s why we created Brigade MKE as a bridge rather than a competitor. … We envision uplifting the city, starting with the youth ages 14 to 18.
Q: Tell us about Parklawn and the space you are utilizing.
Rush: It is a beautiful, fantastic kitchen that will house Brigade MKE and other initiatives. We recently received a grant from Milwaukee County, specifically a juvenile correction facility … they’ve been our first financial support system to allow us to develop this kitchen.
Parklawn has also taken on investment since the kitchen will have other uses. … We will bring in new equipment, flooring, refrigeration, shelving, smallwares, and we will be reaching out to sponsors and organizations. … This is a long-term investment. We have meetings with Prostart Wisconsin and MPS, and we are working with members of Upstart Kitchen. We plan to kick off with a three-day camp in June.
Q: What is the biggest challenge you faced creating this program?
Rush: This conversation in Milwaukee started two years ago, during COVID. … At that time people were just trying to save their businesses. The conversation in Milwaukee originally started as a higher level program like we have here (in Atlanta). As we talked, workforce development training was more essential. … The Brigade MKE program for kids ages 14 to 18 is about getting these kids ready at a younger age.
Q: Chef Shular, how do you approach teaching culinary arts?
Shular: It goes back to culinary arts and hospitality is reflective of sports. You have to work as a team. The more you work on your skills, the better you become. … This is really early levels of early leadership academy. Even your baseline employees should have leadership qualities. …
We are going to create the next generation of the industry.
More from Table Chat:Food Network contestant draws on her Muskego youth for a 'not contrived' approach to healthy dining
More from Table Chat:This woman changed careers at 50, started raising sheep — and now has one of the world's best cheeses | 2022-05-03T12:27:27Z | www.jsonline.com | Shular Institute chefs bring culinary lessons to Milwaukee students | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/chef-chat/2022/05/03/shular-institute-chefs-bring-culinary-lessons-milwaukee-students/7415173001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/food/chef-chat/2022/05/03/shular-institute-chefs-bring-culinary-lessons-milwaukee-students/7415173001/ |
BOSTON – Turns out deflections are Brook Lopez’s thing, and not just around the rim.
If we left the man to his first and second and third answers, the Milwaukee Bucks center would just deflect credit off himself to everyone else. For being one of the best 34-and-older players in the NBA. For coming back from back surgery in the same season. For antigravity jumps.
Lopez begins and ends with “we have a deep team here, the way Coach budgets rotations, he does a great job to keep guys fresh ..." and "my recovery this year is really a microcosm of how good our training staff is,” and that is true, of course.
But there’s no Botox for this league, no shortcuts that pause time. If you age well after 14-plus years and 935 games, if you’re more than relevant and still dominating, there’s so much work behind it that it’s a disservice to believe otherwise.
And Lopez does all work, at all times; he avoids sitting on planes, “breaking every FAA regulation,” assistant coach Josh Oppenheimer says with a laugh; he submerges himself among icebergs in a tub that could be a small pool; and he submits a chunk of his paycheck for a gadget on advice from Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Lopez just wasn’t built for a sit-behind-a-desk job: 7 feet tall, 280 pounds, he was built to dominate in this game.
That he still does this job is a credit to him.
More:Boston's version of the 'Giannis wall' was stout in Game 1, so the Bucks star set the table another way in Game 1
The back pain and problems are 16 years in the making. Before Lopez’s freshman year at Stanford, he had a partial discectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the damaged portion of a herniated disk in his spine.
“Obviously when I was younger in the league, I was less proactive about dealing with it,” Lopez said. “As I got older, it was something to deal with more and more. It didn’t keep me out of games, but it'd be sore.”
After winning the NBA title with the Bucks last July, Lopez returned for the season in September, but by Oct. 21, the same injury in the same spot occurred. Lopez and the team tried everything to get him back without surgery but failed. He went in for surgery Dec. 1.
Backs are tricky, but fixing the back of a 34-year-old man that has seen nothing but pounding and wear and tear for more than two decades would take more than surgery.
So this is Lopez’s new normal:
ICE: Cold tubs take some getting used to, but Lopez prefers the tried and true method (as opposed to cryotherapy) of submerging himself in the crinkling ice, up to his chest, for 10 minutes after every game and practice, distracting himself by reading, gaming or watching videos on his phone.
“Just do whatever I can to get through it, because that's the toughest thing. It's my least favorite. That hurts,” Lopez said.
CHAMBER: Bucks director of performance Troy Flanagan found Lopez a hyperbaric chamber so large it could fit two of him, and Lopez decided to make the investment. It arrived at the end of the regular season.
"I got it on Giannis' advice; he said he really enjoyed it,” Lopez said. “Apparently, he got it from Kyle Korver, I think. I've been using it the past couple of weeks and – maybe it's a placebo effect, I don't know – but if it feels like it makes a difference."
STANDING: This was somewhat unexpected but it makes sense: Lopez doesn’t sit around a lot.
"On the plane I try to either stand or lie down,” he said. “I'm trying to sit as little as possible, because sitting is the worst position for my back. Sitting at 90 degrees puts the most pressure on, so either when you're lying down or you're standing, that's the least pressure, and that makes a lot of difference."
Instead, he sleeps and naps a lot, and watches a lot of movies and TV.
FOOD: Lopez also takes advantage of the Bucks’ in-house nutritionist, Susie Parker-Simmons. She creates snack bags for every player, helpful on the road. She collects urine samples to check hydration levels and creates different fuel plans for everybody.
“I'm sure you see her during games handing out water, Pedialyte, all the different concoctions for each person,” Lopez said. “She's so knowledgeable it's unbelievable. She'll go in to your deficiencies, where your body's doing well with, create a game plan for nutrition and it's really good.”
The rest – massages, leg circulation, core work with exercises like dead bugs – is all pretty standard for taking care of a hard-working back. But Lopez is devoted to all of it and remains diligent with his care.
In the 2018-19 season Lopez came one game short of his fourth full 82-game season. (He was rested before the playoffs because the Bucks had the best record in the league). This year was unusual: just 13 regular-season games. But he came back at a critical time.
In the five-game series with Chicago, Lopez shot 50%, had eight blocks and averaged 13.2 points in 28.8 minutes.
In the Game 1 win at Boston in the Eastern Conference semifinals Sunday, Lopez played brilliantly, whether he filled in for Antetokounmpo in the unique lineup featuring one center and four guards, or whether he pirouetted around the dunker for rim defense. Lopez made his presence felt immediately by backpedaling on defense to block a shot in transition by Jayson Tatum.
"He's so active," Antetokounmpo said. "When guys drive the ball, he's always there, to cover for everybody, to rebound the ball for us."
Boston's team defense is so good the Celtics blocked Lopez on his way for a driving layup, and Lopez fell hard. But he bounced right back up, no wincing or grimacing.
"Him not having to go through the entire grind of 82 games of the season, I think there's a mental freshness and physical freshness for Brook," Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. "If there can be a silver lining to a significant injury, I think we're hopeful that there is a silver lining. We rely on him. He's incredibly important to us, and him playing well is a big part of who we are."
StatMuse.com has a category: Who are the best NBA players aged 34 and older? And Lopez is No. 2, right behind Golden State's Stephen Curry.
It's a fun stat, but it doesn't matter. Lopez has another number in mind for his career. He’s nowhere near it yet, he said. Whether it is 40, or more or less, it doesn’t seem to matter, because he looks to be far from whatever that final year may be. | 2022-05-03T12:28:03Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks' Brook Lopez has ways to keep back problem in check | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/03/bucks-brook-lopez-has-ways-keep-back-problem-check/9574969002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/nba/bucks/2022/05/03/bucks-brook-lopez-has-ways-keep-back-problem-check/9574969002/ |
An east-side Milwaukee apartment development that will target people who don't own cars has received its first city approval.
The four-story, 53-unit building planned for the 1500 block of East North Avenue will provide a relatively small number of parking spaces for its residents.
It will take advantage of its location near Milwaukee County Transit System bus stops, a ZipCar car sharing service, a Bublr Bikes share station — and provide two battery-powered Tesla cars for residents to rent on a short-term basis.
The project received conceptual approval Tuesday from the East Side Architectural Review Board.
It will need final approval from that board, as well as variances from the Milwaukee Board of Zoning Approvals.
With those rulings, developers Ryan Pattee and Shar Borg plan to begin work this year, with completion of the apartments and street-level commercial space by spring 2024.
The building isn't providing an underground parking structure because the costs of adding that feature would require the monthly rents, tentatively set at around $1,000, to be higher.
Related:This Bronzeville development plan features production space for filmmakers, musicians and other creatives, and affordable apartments.
Related:This historic Riverwest bank has been revitalized as a rooming house with sober living space. It replaces a hostel the pandemic shut down.
That's partly because digging underground would force the developers to deal with environmental issues from the block's legacy of once being home to two dry cleaners, a gas station and an auto service garage, said Bob Monnat, Mandel Group Inc. senior partner.
Mandel Group owns one of the buildings the developers are acquiring for the project. Monnat is an advisor to the developers.
For apartments residents, the development will include 19 private on-site parking spaces, 11 public spaces on the street and 20 parking spaces available at night at the Small Animal Hospital, 2340 N Newhall St., Pattee said.
A credit union that will be one of the commercial tenants will have its own 21-space parking lot, he said.
The reduced number of parking spaces, and focus on other forms of transportation, is part of a growing national trend encouraged by city planners in Milwaukee and other communities.
Supporters of reduced parking requirements for apartment developments cuts the cost of developing affordable housing.
Also, there are a growing number of younger renters who are environmentally conscious and want to live in a densely populated neighborhood like Milwaukee's east side, according to the developers. | 2022-05-03T21:48:27Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee apartments targeting carless people win first city approval | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/05/03/milwaukee-apartments-targeting-carless-people-win-first-city-approval-tesla-electric-cars-provided/9630937002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/05/03/milwaukee-apartments-targeting-carless-people-win-first-city-approval-tesla-electric-cars-provided/9630937002/ |
As Milwaukee Public Schools leaders write the budget for the next school year, the pressure is high.
Just a couple of months ago, most of the state’s lawmakers voted to dissolve the district. It was saved, for now, by the governor’s veto pen.
Meanwhile, the district has been losing students at an alarming rate to private schools and other competitors, in a city where the population of school-age children is declining on the whole. MPS expects to lose another 1,000 students next year, after losing more than 6,000 the past two years, for a projected enrollment of 67,500 students.
Teachers are also breaking away from the district, or away from the profession altogether, as the expectations become overwhelming and the pay fails to keep pace with other job options.
On Thursday, Superintendent Keith Posley will present a $1.3 billion budget proposal that pledges to maintain staff positions in schools and adds art, music and physical education teachers thanks to the district’s referendum.
The referendum, approved by voters in 2020, allowed MPS to gradually increase its tax revenue above the limit set by the state, which does not grow with inflation. It allowed MPS to add $77 million in tax revenue to its budget in the last two years. That cushion will grow to $84 million for this budget, and cap out at $87 million for future years.
What's in the budget
Posley's proposal, self-described as a "status quo" budget due to funding constraints, would largely maintain staffing levels with a net addition of about 29 full-time staff positions, according to budget documents.
Under the plan, the referendum dollars would support 27 new teaching positions next school year: 12 in music, eight in physical education, and seven in art. That's on top of about 73 positions added to these subject areas in the last two years because of the referendum: 27 in music, 25 in physical education and 21 in art.
The new referendum funds also would support a new agriculture teacher at Vincent High School and two restorative practices coaches.
Whether the district will be able to fill the positions is another issue. About a quarter of the positions funded by the referendum this school year were unfilled, the district reported.
MPS has struggled to fill not only teaching positions but also aides and workers in food services and other building services. Posley's budget proposal includes an expected savings of over $58 million from vacancies, based on this year's vacancy rate. The previous year's vacancy offset was about $20 million.
Looking to better recruit and retain employees, the school board already approved a wage increase that will be part of this budget. The inflationary raise, 4.7%, applies to all district employees.
School board members will have the opportunity in the coming weeks to suggest amendments to the budget.
More:MPS board members give themselves first raise in over 20 years, keep leadership in place
What about the federal COVID funds?
The $1.3 billion budget does not include the roughly $780 million in federal COVID relief funds that have flowed to MPS. Those dollars were counted in previous budgets, though the district can continue spending them until September 2024.
School board members have already approved plans for those dollars in previous meetings.
The funds are earmarked to support about 110 staff positions in the district in the next school year, according to budget documents, including a force of 24 staff meant to support classroom teachers in math and literacy.
The funds are also supporting maintenance, repairs and renovations at buildings throughout the district, and giving each school control over spending their own $100,000 stipends.
More:MPS using latest installment of COVID relief funding to invest in retaining older staff, literacy and math instruction, green efforts
How to learn more and weigh in
Posley will present his proposal at a school board committee meeting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 5.
While members of the public cannot attend in person due COVID precautions, meetings are streamed on the MPS YouTube channel. To speak during the meeting, register by 3 p.m. Thursday online or by calling 414-475-8200.
A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. May 17.
Find the district's budget documents online at mpsmke.com/budget. | 2022-05-03T21:48:33Z | www.jsonline.com | Posley offers '22-'23 budget, with referendum spending on arts, music | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/05/03/mps-2022-23-budget-proposal-predicts-loss-another-1000-students/9615399002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/05/03/mps-2022-23-budget-proposal-predicts-loss-another-1000-students/9615399002/ |
When the Stadium Freeway North — Wisconsin Highway 175 — was built in the early 1960s, it split neighborhoods, demolished several blocks of homes and carved off the western edge of Washington Park.
Now, as plans for the I-94 East-West Corridor rebuild continue to be debated, some are pushing for undoing that damage by converting 175 into an at-grade boulevard.
The Wisconsin Department of Transportation on Tuesday announced a Wednesday afternoon news conference to announce a new study on what to do with the Stadium Freeway North.
The stadium freeway's future being reexamined was first reported by local journalist Dan Shafer of The Recombobulation Area, a news and opinion newsletter site.
The planned I-94 East-West Corridor project is set to begin utility work in 2025. At the center of that project is the Stadium Interchange. Wisconsin Highway 175, or Stadium Freeway North, runs north from the Stadium Interchange. The entirety of Highway 175, including the southern portion below the interchange, is just under two miles long.
Some elected officials want alternatives to the current setup to be considered.
More:Here are the big Milwaukee-area road construction closures and changes for 2022
More:Interstate 41 construction work to ramp up in Wauwatosa. Here's what you need to know.
"Gov. Evers is very interested in some of the recently circulated proposals and the important dialogue happening at the community level relating to WIS 175. He looks forward to continuing those conversations and future opportunities to work with local partners on this issue," Gov. Tony Evers’ spokesperson Britt Cudaback said.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also sees opportunity in the idea.
“The mayor is very open to the possibility of reconfiguring that stretch of roadway so that it is open to pedestrians, businesses, and other new development,” said Johnson’s spokesperson Jeff Fleming.
When Freeway North opened in the early 1960s, its construction — in addition to severing neighborhoods — led to the removal of trees, paths and other park amenities, as well as increased air pollution and noise from freeway traffic, said Robert Schneider, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee urban planning professor.
A tree-lined boulevard to replace the freeway could help repair some of that damage, Schneider said.
Other supporters of an at-grade boulevard say it would make more land available for development and promote healthier living through walking and biking.
A longtime proponent of the at-grade boulevard plan is state Rep. Evan Goyke, D-Milwaukee. His district encompasses most of Stadium Freeway North.
"I have always believed and envisioned that 175 could be repurposed and reimagined, or just be changed to really connect communities that are east of the freeway and west of the freeway, but also a really vital north-south connection between the north side and south side," Goyke said.
Stadium Freeway North is a barrier between the Washington Heights and Washington Park neighborhoods, and transforming the highway into a boulevard will allow for more accessibility to pedestrians and potentially reduce speeds in the area, Goyke said.
Andrew Davis, director of governmental affairs with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, said the group needs to give further thought to the proposal but likened the situation to the Park East Freeway removal in the early 2000s that brought new development to acres of downtown Milwaukee.
Goyke also credits others with proposing and pushing an at-grade boulevard, including the Fix at Six plan, which was proposed by the ACLU of Wisconsin, 1000 Friends of Wisconsin, Sierra Club and others as an alternative to highway expansion.
As the name of the plan suggests, these advocates are also focused on maintaining the footprint of the interstate through the corridor by not increasing the number of lanes from 6 to 8.
I-94 East-West corridor project
Evers reignited the I-94 East-West Corridor project in 2020. That area of the highway is 60 years old and needs to be rebuilt to reduce congestion and improve safety, the DOT has said. Evers also said the project would create 6,000 to 10,000 jobs.
"We know that deferring road maintenance could cost us more down the road and put safety at risk, so getting to work on this project is good common sense," Evers said at a 2020 news conference on the project.
The project — under current plans — would rebuild the portion of I-94 between the Marquette and Zoo interchanges and expand the number of lanes from 6 to 8.
While there are preliminary plans, what the project looks like and how much space it takes up are still up for debate.
"The 94 project is going to happen. The question is, what does it look like?" Goyke said.
Expansion of the corridor is supported by business groups. Davis, with the commerce association, said more lanes need to be added to accommodate growth in population.
"MMAC has always supported the 94 expansion project, as part of the bigger picture for our transportation in the region. We support a multimodal transportation system that efficiently moves both people and products throughout the region and provides capacity for wanting to grow for decades in the future," Davis said.
Those opposed to expansion don’t want to see the Stadium Interchange get any bigger or taller, citing environmental and noise concerns. They cite the negative effects highway expansion has had on the Black community.
Fleming said Johnson hasn't taken a position on adding lanes to the corridor but that he's open to adding lanes if it can be done within the current footprint.
The DOT is currently working on an environmental impact analysis on the project and will hold a public hearing on it this summer.
Stadium Interchange
At the center of the East-West Corridor project is the reconstruction of the Stadium Interchange and what shape that takes.
Michael Pyritz, a spokesperson with the DOT, said the agency hasn't finalized plans for the Stadium Interchange, so they don't have the final heights for the ramps. However, according to DOT, the current plans for the stadium interchange would have the highest ramps 70 feet above the lowest roadway, which is significantly higher than current heights.
Residents in the Story Hill neighborhood — which sits directly next to the interchange — have voiced concerns about the height of the project, believing the current proposed size of the interchange will result in more noise for residents.
"One concern is just noise in the freeway, it will not just be bigger but quite a bit higher. There's already significant noise for half the neighborhood," said Jay Thorson, Story Hill Neighborhood Association president.
There are aspects of the project that Story Hill residents support. Pyritz said "there will be no left-hand ramps" in the proposed Stadium Interchange, and Thorson said his residents were glad to hear that.
Thorson said funneling all exits to the right-hand side is safer. He said during rush hour and Brewers games, the interchange is congested and creating a pattern that funnels traffic to the right is the smartest option.
"There are safety issues that must be addressed. The left exit issue needs to be addressed. So, the Stadium Interchange needs some real public safety upgrades," Goyke said.
Goyke said he shares the concerns of Story Hill residents about the size and height of the project. The bigger the size, the bigger the carbon footprint, Goyke said. Attendees at last year's informational meeting, hosted by the DOT, voiced concerns about the environmental effects of increasing the size of the Stadium Interchange.
Johnson echoed Goyke's sentiments.
"As to the Stadium Interchange, the mayor wants safety issues addressed, but he does not want the footprint of the interchange to be expanded," Fleming said. | 2022-05-03T21:48:39Z | www.jsonline.com | Should Stadium Freeway North be converted into an at-grade boulevard? | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/03/should-milwaukee-i-94-stadium-freeway-north-converted-into-grade-boulevard-highway-175/7197652001/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/05/03/should-milwaukee-i-94-stadium-freeway-north-converted-into-grade-boulevard-highway-175/7197652001/ |
The Milwaukee Bucks and Charles Barkley lovefest continued during Tuesday's Game 2 pre-game show.
The 1993 MVP said the Bucks will sweep the Boston Celtics in round 2 and proclaimed Giannis Antetokounmpo as the best player in the world.
"I watched this game, and I said to myself, I don't think the Celtics can win a game," Barkley said.
"A game?," asked longtime co-host Kenny Smith. "A game," replied Barkley.
Of course, the Bucks then came out ice cold and were never really in the game, losing 109-86.
Barkley went on to say the Celtics will have a difficult time matching up with the Bucks, before he got sidetracked in a different direction: Declaring Giannis as the best player in the world.
"If I hear anybody else talk about Giannis not being the best basketball player in the world, we should ... get them off TV. This dude's the best basketball player in the world, and I'm willing to say by far," Barkley said.
Not Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić or Kevin Durant, Barkley said. Giannis, Embiid and Jokić are the three finalists for MVP. Jokić is the favorite based off members of media who have released their vote to the public.
Barkley said the public have started taking Giannis for granted and he wants to remind fans that Giannis is "incredible ... he plays so hard, he can dominate the game offensively and defensively, and now the thing he's added to his game, he's making the correct pass every time."
The other member on the "Inside the NBA" panel, NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal, said he agrees with Barkley that Giannis is the best player in the world. But disagrees with Barkley's take that the Bucks will complete a sweep.
Barkley didn't "guarantee" the sweep, as he has become so famous for doing.
It is worth noting that Barkley wrongly predicted a sweep of the Bulls in the first round. Bucks won that series, 4-1.
The TNT production crew made sure to remind Barkley of his statement at halftime by replaying his words. The Celtics had a 25-point lead over the Bucks.
Related:Boston Celtics will be missing key player in Game 2 battle with Milwaukee Bucks | 2022-05-04T02:39:54Z | www.jsonline.com | Bucks will sweep the Celtics, Giannis best in the world, Barkley says | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/05/03/bucks-sweep-celtics-giannis-best-world-barkley-says/9636623002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/05/03/bucks-sweep-celtics-giannis-best-world-barkley-says/9636623002/ |
Now fully healthy, Luis Urías was back in the lineup and at third base Tuesday for the Brewers
The numbers he put on his his rehab assignment at Class AA Biloxi left something to be desired, no question.
But Luis Urías went through the process, his left quad strain is fully healed and he was back at third base and hitting ninth for the Milwaukee Brewers in Tuesday's matchup with the Cincinnati Reds at American Family Field.
"They didn’t go well at all. I kind of struggled a little bit down there," said Urías, who hit .148 with a double, two runs batted in and three walks in 30 plate appearances with the Shuckers last week.
"I have to give some credit to the guys down there. I was more worried about my body feeling good and being able to move around."
And to that end, it was mission accomplished for Urías.
"I finally feel completely ready," he said. "My body feels good."
More:Six things we learned about the Brewers as they jumped out to a tie for the best April record in National League
More:The Brewers are the best in baseball at developing this specific skill and you may have never noticed it
More:Milwaukee Brewers round out their bobblehead lineup with Giannis Antetokounmpo
Getting the 24-year-old back into a lineup that finally has shown signs of life in the last week is certainly good news for the Brewers, who'd been rotating Jace Peterson and Mike Brosseau at third base with Urías out.
Urías was one of the team's best run producers in 2021, when he hit .249 while setting career highs with 23 home runs and 75 RBI.
He also led the Brewers in games (150), at-bats (490), runs (77), hits (122) and extra-base hits (49). He was second in homers, RBI, total bases (218) and walks (63).
"If you look at the whole season, he was a very consistent player," manager Craig Counsell said of Urías' 2021 performance.
"He was healthy, he was out there the whole season. He played a bunch. And he's young. I say that because young players have the most room to keep getting better, so Luis will try to keep getting better and we'll see what that holds."
The Brewers optioned Brosseau to Class AAA Nashville on Monday with teams needing to cut down to the 26-player limit, leaving Urías and Peterson as the options at third base.
Getting Urías back also fortifies the Brewers at shortstop behind starter Willy Adames as well as at second base behind Kolten Wong.
Urías was injured in his first game of the spring, with the initial prognosis of a couple weeks on the sideline. But it didn't take long for that timetable to lengthen, as he remained behind in Maryvale to do his rehab and recovery work after the Brewers broke camp.
"Not being able to compete, not being able to be with my teammates was kind of hard," he said. "I would say that’s probably the toughest part of being hurt, but it is what it is. I’m back now and I’m ready to go."
Jake Cousins' injury not considered serious
Right-hander Jake Cousins shed a little more light on the elbow issue that sent him to the injured list on Sunday.
He last pitched Saturday, throwing 30 pitches in the ninth to close out a 9-1 victory.
"I was feeling pretty good coming into the day, then I felt a little something during the throwing program," he said. "I was fine for the majority for my warmup, and then I would say 10, 15 pitches into my outing I started to feel a little something.
"So, I told them. From what I understand, my elbow's aggravated and that's pretty much all it is. We just need the inflammation to go down and then we'll go from there. But all the stress tests and muscle tests, I passed them when I was having my worst symptoms.
"So, if I passed them when I was in the most pain, I should be fine."
Then, Cousins quipped: "I shouldn't have thrown 30 pitches. That was the issue."
Cousins has had no history of elbow problems during his time as a professional. He's tied for third on the Brewers with eight appearances and is 2-1 with a 4.50 earned run average and WHIP of 1.63.
He has struck out 13 in eight innings of work.
"I don't know if I would commit to 10 days, but I think it's going to be short," Counsell said of the expected length of Cousins's absence. | 2022-05-04T02:40:00Z | www.jsonline.com | Milwaukee Brewers' Luis Urías is healthy, back in lineup at third base | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/05/03/milwaukee-brewers-luis-urias-healthy-back-lineup-third-base/9626714002/ | https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/05/03/milwaukee-brewers-luis-urias-healthy-back-lineup-third-base/9626714002/ |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.