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Why isn’t Keston Hiura playing more?
It’s a question you have probably wondered aloud in recent weeks, and rightfully so. He leads the Milwaukee Brewers in OPS, has performed excellently against righthanded pitching in his career and seems to produce every time his name is penciled into the lineup.
That pencil just doesn’t scribble his name all that often. He was starting and batting fifth Wednesday night but prior to that had just 12 trips to the plate since being recalled from the minor leagues on August 3. Hiura’s 154 plate appearances in 2022 were tied for 12th most on the Brewers.
A combination of the way Milwaukee’s roster is constructed, Hiura’s defensive limitations and his reverse splits – he struggles against lefties while mashing righties – have made getting him in the lineup a tough task at times.
“We’re gonna try to put the team to try to win the game every night, that’s the best way to say it,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said of Hiura’s sporadic playing time. “I don’t feel like we’re in a spot right now where we’re trying to get somebody at-bats. We’re trying to put a team out there and help us win games.”
Wouldn’t Hiura’s numbers, particularly his .296/.405/.662 slash line against righties this year and .258/.338/.524 for his career, suggest that Hiura’s presence in the lineup would give the Brewers a solid chance to win games?
“I think there’s a case for that,” Counsell said.
One theory for Hiura’s lack of playing time is that there is too much swing-and-miss in his game and a strikeout rate of 43.6% makes this level of production unsustainable. Counsell, however, shot that down Wednesday afternoon.
“Not necessarily,” Counsell said. “I think the overall offensive picture plays into it.”
Because of Hiura's reverse splits and the team's hesitancy to play him at second base, the most direct decision Counsell has to make in regards to playing time boils down to Hiura or Andrew McCutchen at designated hitter. Considering McCutchen is second on the team in plate appearances and most of those come batting either third or fourth in the lineup, you can read between the lines on which player the Brewers prefer on a regular basis.
Hiura, to his credit, has embraced his part-time role since the outset of the season. It was a fate he accepted after hitting just .168 with a .557 OPS during a tumultuous 2021 campaign.
“Going into spring training, given last year’s performance, my goal was to break with the team,” Hiura said. “I know our roster and what it is built up of. Understanding that from the get-go helped me be prepared for anything and everything, whether it was coming off the bench or starting or whatever. It was just being able to be ready for those opportunities at any time.”
This season has been all about adjustments for Hiura. He entered spring training having eliminated his pre-swing toe tap that he had used since high school. Next, during the season, he significantly reduced his leg kick. Most recently, in early July, he closed off his stance more.
“The whole point of toning all that down is to simplify things and I think that’s where I’m at,” Hiura said. “I’ve simplified a lot of things and made things easier to accomplish without doing too much. With the toe tap, leg kick, there’s a lot going on. Pitchers throwing harder with more movement, messing with timing, that led to simplifying all that.”
The difference in Hiura’s pre-swing mechanics are glaring.
Hiura’s most recent adjustment – closing off his front shoulder more toward the pitcher –was something he considered last year but decided against in the end, thinking that between a toe tap, leg kick and closed stance too much would be going on. Now that it’s been implemented, Hiura feels like he is able to keep his front shoulder from flying open on the swing much better.
“Closing up my stance kind of helps me cheat to staying close, forcing myself to use my strength of the field which is that right field, right-center area,” Hiura said.
The results, like the mechanics, are also noticeable.
It would be understandable for frustration to mount as production isn’t met with more opportunity, but to Hiura’s credit, he remains upbeat in his current role.
“Keeping your feet where you are. Being present in the moment regardless of the situation,” Hiura said. “A big thing I’ve been focusing on at the plate is being present for every single pitch. Obviously it doesn’t only apply to hitting. It applies to being here in general.
“We have a good group of guys and you enjoy spending the day with them every single day. Being present, being able to be the best teammate you can be, controlling your attitude and effort is all you can control. Just going out there and focusing on doing those things day in, day out.”
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2022-08-18T03:08:15Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Why hasn't Keston Hiura been in the Milwaukee Brewers lineup more?
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/17/why-hasnt-keston-hiura-been-milwaukee-brewers-lineup-more/10343102002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/17/why-hasnt-keston-hiura-been-milwaukee-brewers-lineup-more/10343102002/
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MEQUON - Daniel Mazziotta arrived in Wisconsin last summer looking to find his way in golf again.
The 33-year-old native of Fort Myers, Florida, fell in love with state and its cornucopia of great courses. It appears that the change of scenery has also breathed new life into his game.
Mazziotta, who caddies at Sand Valley Golf Resort in the Town of Rome, won the 102nd Wisconsin State Open Championship on Wednesday by edging Hunter Eichhorn in an epic playoff at Ozaukee Country Club.
After playing two rounds, Mazziotta and Eichhorn battled for three extra holes and it wasn't settled until Eichhorn lipped out a putt from about four feet with daylight rapidly disappearing a little past 8 p.m.
Mazziotta had to be back at Sand Valley to caddie early Thursday afternoon, so the buzz of victory helped make the two-plus hour drive back a little easier.
"It feels good," Mazziotta said. "I was talking to my mom at the beginning of the week and four days before the tournament I couldn't even really make a full swing.
"Just from caddying. It wasn't from an injury or anything. Just from being stiff. But I told her, when my body feels good I'm playing just as good as I was when I was playing on Tour. And I was like this golf course is perfect for me. It didn't go as I planned. I didn't have my best stuff. It was kind of grinding. I had to grind it out of the dirt."
That $12,000 winner's check is nice, too.
"That's a whole month of looping," Mazziotta said. "I've been flush and I've been broke. I've probably been broke more than I've been flush. I wouldn't call this flush but it gives me options. I'm trying to make my push back to playing full-time.
"I probably am still going to have to wait a year for that to get everything in place. But this will help my confidence knowing I can do it and I'll be able to put it into my savings, my golf account for when I do it full-time."
Mazziotta turned professional in 2011 after finishing at Florida Golf Coast University. He played on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica and the Korn Ferry tours, but found himself in need of a reset.
Then came a fateful meeting in Fort Myers with former Arrowhead High School and University of Wisconsin golfer Charlie Delsman.
"At the time, after I had lost my status on the Korn Ferry Tour, I was working for a friend kind of away from golf and playing very little golf," Mazziotta said. "And I ran into him and I knew he used to caddie at Erin (Hills) and I was just asking.
"He was like I'm at this new place, Sand Valley. We play a ton and we work a ton and he was telling me about it. And I immediately called back home and told (wife) Ash like, hey, I think I'm going to Wisconsin for the summer."
He got invited back this summer. The caddying gets him a lot of experience on a top-flight golf course.
"Body's tough, it's a grind on the body," Mazziotta said. "But I'm still on the golf course every day. And I'm playing golf most days where I was playing once or twice a month before that."
It also gives him chances to explore golf courses around the state. He qualified for this year's State Open after finishing in the top 40 last year at Blackwolf Run in Kohler.
"I don't think there's any better place in the United States to work on your game in the summertime," Mazziotta said. "For the price and for the quality of golf. And the people. Everyone's friendly. I love it up here."
Mazziotta admitted to missing his share of shots on Wednesday, but managed to finish with a 5-under 65 in the third round and a 72 in the fourth for a 275 total.
Eichhorn, the Big East golfer of the year who wrapped up his Marquette career in the spring, turned pro this summer and looked like he was going to cruise to victory after the third round in which he became the second golfer after Jim Schuman to fire a 62 in the event.
But the fourth round proved to be much more difficult with a 75.
"It's just like anything else," Eichhorn said. "We used to grind a lot in college and to compete against a guy like that is obviously something a little different. He's been around and done some of this stuff.
"But I have plenty of experience in tournaments like this. Yeah, it's disappointing to come up short. But I just got a few things to clean up."
Eichhorn learned the game playing on a nine-hole course in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, so he didn't want to blame the encroaching darkness for the missed putt that sealed Mazziotta's victory.
"We play golf like this all the time back home," Eichhorn said. "I hit a good putt, but just a tough little lip-out. But that's golf and that happens."
Eichhorn will compete in Qualifying School for the Korn Ferry Tour in September in Mobile, Alabama, beginning his professional career in earnest. It is a journey that Mazziotta knows well and will likely include ups, downs, frustrations and exhaustion.
Just like their 39-hole duel on Wednesday.
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2022-08-18T05:08:58Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Sand Valley caddie Daniel Mazziotta beats Marquette's Hunter Eichhorn
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/golf/2022/08/17/sand-valley-caddie-daniel-mazziotta-beats-marquettes-hunter-eichhorn/10346567002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/golf/2022/08/17/sand-valley-caddie-daniel-mazziotta-beats-marquettes-hunter-eichhorn/10346567002/
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Two local artists recently completed murals at the Cudahy Health Department that highlight diversity and tell a local story.
One is even interactive.
“I’m passionate of letting people tell their stories through artwork,” said John Kowalczyk, one of the artists hired by the Cudahy Health Department, 5050 S. Lake Drive. “Art can make life easier, joyful and brighter.”
Public Health Manager Teresa Ortiz led the project. She said as the Cudahy Health Department and Third Coast Clinic began to see more activity in early 2022 it was “important to create a more cheerful, welcoming and representative environment.”
“Artists play many important roles in public health, from incorporating critical public health messages into public art, to highlighting the strengths of communities, and creating pieces that support wellbeing, enhance community cohesion, and stimulate social engagement,” Ortiz said.
After the health department put out a call to brighten up the lobby and waiting areas, Kowalczyk said he thought about a study he read from the United Kingdom where art in hospitals actually reduced pain and recovery time in patients.
“I was excited to see that idea coming to life here as well,” he said.
Kowalczyk, a Milwaukee resident, said what drew him to work with the Cudahy Health Department is it was one of the first to declare racism a public health crisis.
“I think it’s necessary for us to acknowledge that as a society,” he said.
South Milwaukee resident Lauren Marvell was also selected. She grew up in Cudahy and said it was a “fun opportunity to break my paints out and work large-scale” to promote positivity and healthy living.
She said the health department was great to work with on the project.
“I feel like I made friends,” Marvell said.
Marvell said she’d work on the mural for a couple hours at a time and it took “quite a few months” to complete the project.
“I think it’s complete,” she said. “I told myself I’m walking away from it.”
She did leave her paints there just in case she needs to add little details.
Kowalczyk, who works for local non-profit Artists Working in Education, said his mural took about two months with all the conversations on design and then the actual painting.
The department didn’t originally plan to hire two artists.
“Although we had originally planned to select one artist for the space, the team agreed that both John and Lauren’s previous and proposed work brought different aspects,” Ortiz said.
Kowalczyk “captured both our mission to pursue health equity and illustrated the diversity of or our community” while Marvell’s proposal “created an engaging space that captured the natural environment of our community, while also capturing the services offered through the Cudahy Health Department,” according to Ortiz.
Heather Puente, health officer for the Cudahy Health Department, said grand funding was utilized to fund the project.
The murals showcase a healthy, inclusive community
Ortiz said some goals for the project was to promote health, celebrate inclusivity and diversity and celebrate the “natural, physical and human environment” of the area.
“I asked them what they wanted to see, what a healthy, whole, complete and well community would like to them,” Kowalczyk said. “(We) focused on diversity and inclusion and how when everyone is treated with dignity and included the world is a better place.”
A lot of big ideas were condensed into “something cohesive and nice,” according to Kowalczyk. His piece looks like a bouquet of people with different backgrounds and abilities scatted amongst a variety of flowers. The watery background pays homage to Lake Michigan.
“It’s surreal with the scale of flowers and humans,” he said. “One piece spells ‘welcome’ in sign language.”
Marvell also wanted to focus on supporting all different sorts of people, celebrate diversity and celebrate different services the health department offers. The department provided her a list of what they do and she made a sketch of what she thought would be fun to show.
She worked with staff to decide on suitable motifs and what interactive elements could be included for kids in the waiting room.
A couple elements in her mural came from Cudahy itself such as the Sheridan Park and Lake Drive signs. She also incorporated elements that would activate the senses, some fruits and vegetables and animals that can be seen around town.
“I’m just reminding kids to keep present and keeping things positive,” she said. “It’s a massive wall of color that wasn’t there before.”
Marvell also had laminated sheets created for dry erase markers, allowing kids to create some artwork of their own or just play around.
Ortiz said the murals brightened and enhanced the space. She said kids who come in love looking at the pictures in Marvell’s piece and playing “find it” games with staff.
“In addition, people have commented that they appreciate the inclusion of people who look like them or share their experiences in John’s piece,” she said.
Puente was also pleased.
“It was amazing to work with two talented artists that were able to capture our mission and the beautiful community we support,” she said. “The murals have elevated our space in many ways, purely through their existence. It has been a conversational piece for clients, an interactive learning game for kids and a lively space for staff.”
Both artists have strong ties to southeast Wisconsin
Kowalczyk has always been an artist and he considers himself lucky to be supported by family and schools. He likes to focus on the community and collaborative aspect of art. Working with teens and other young people on projects “just brings out a life,” he said.
“Sitting in an art studio making paintings all day can get lonely sometimes,” Kowalczyk said.
He likes to insert art into unexpected places so it’s part of the everyday lives of people.
Recently Kowalczyk said he’s been traveling around Wisconsin with projects in the Riverwest neighborhood, Green Bay and a 3,000 square-foot mural in West Allis. He has plans to do another mural in Hartford in September.
Marvell went to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, graduating in 2016 and has been working as a freelance artist since 2019.
“I’ve gotten to do all sorts of really cool things,” she said. Marvell worked with Milwaukee County Parks, the Central Waters tap room in Milwaukee and won first place in a national design contest put on by Culver’s and she is helping South Milwaukee redesign pole banners, among other projects.
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2022-08-18T14:25:54Z
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www.jsonline.com
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New murals at Cudahy Health Department showcase diversity, inclusivity
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/18/new-murals-cudahy-health-department-showcase-diversity-inclusivity/10344201002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/18/new-murals-cudahy-health-department-showcase-diversity-inclusivity/10344201002/
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'I think The Fan changed Milwaukee sports media:' Former radio employees lament loss of Milwaukee sports-talk staple
If you thought the sports-talk radio ecosystem in Milwaukee couldn't support itself forever, you wouldn't be alone.
Once 97.3 The Game opened shop in 2018, that made three stations emphasizing Milwaukee sports, and a fourth if you counted powerhouse WTMJ and its broadcasts of the state's three major pro sports teams.
But back when "The Fan" first switched to a sports-talk format on 1250-AM in 2005, it marked the start of something novel, providing a Milwaukee-centric morning show and local programming at points throughout the day that could compete with WAUK, a station undergoing its own evolution but still relying heavily on ESPN national radio at the time, particularly in the morning.
"You could tell everybody was kind of learning the ropes as we went because most of the people there, this was sort of their first big shot at sports talk radio," said Ramie Makhlouf, whose first of two tenures at 1250-AM began that first year. "There wasn't a lot of sports talk radio in Milwaukee. Maybe it was just me glorifying things in the moment, but it felt like we were building something really good there. I remember those days really fondly."
On Tuesday, the station (WSSP) abruptly stopped broadcasting local content in the early afternoon, switching to CBS national programming. After 17-plus years, the station's on-air staff was laid off by parent company Audacy, part of a string of layoffs across the company.
Programming such as "The Bart Winkler Show" in the morning and "The Big Show" featuring Steve "Sparky" Fifer, former Packers running back Gary Ellerson and Hall of Fame Packers safety LeRoy Butler, were gone. Evening programming like Tim Allen's Brewers postgame show was also off the air.
Current members of the 1250 staff who were asked for comment did not respond.
"Corporate radio being what it is ... it's tough dealing with Wall Street and shareholder return on investment; you have to serve many masters in that regard," said former WSSP program director Tom Parker, also a former director at WTMJ who oversaw The Fan from 2009-19 before his retirement. "I can't imagine the payroll was (so high) that it was that big a deal, but companies are going to do what they're going to do."
"Being on an AM only signal in the year 2022, with two FM blowtorches in Milwaukee, that doesn't do you any favors," said former morning show co-host Mike Wickett, now a morning show host at Lazer 103 in Des Moines, Iowa, who worked at WSSP from 2007 to mid-2016.
"I used to really worry about ratings. Then I realized that in our format... at a station that still didn't have the Bucks, the Brewers, the Packers (game broadcasts), it's tough to pull big numbers. Our goal was to beat WAUK and take some scraps at night from TMJ.
"Then I realized because of our connection to fans, advertisers saw that connection more than numbers; that's why our local advertising was so important to us. You have to stop caring about numbers and ratings-wise."
Sports-talk radio ratings in Milwaukee aren't very high, in general
As ratings go (as compiled by RadioInsight), it's true that The Fan drifted behind ESPN Milwaukee and The Game — which recently landed rights to Packers broadcasts, starting this season. But those numbers were also somewhat negligible in the big picture. ESPN and The Game are ranked 15th and 16th, respectively, among stations in the Milwaukee/Racine market during the July 22 check-in.
"It's three stations beating their brains out for a very small share of audience," Parker said. "You had to know between ESPN and The Game, they were going to be the ones who would hold out longest."
It wasn't for lack of trying to keep up. In 2014, the station began simulcasting on 105.7 FM, but the signal strength had to be essentially cut off from flowing north to avoid interference with 105.7 in Appleton. The FM simulcast was discontinued in 2020 and switched to a hip-hop format.
"It was supposed to make it stronger to the southwest but I think it made it stronger over Lake Michigan, which was useless," Parker said. "I don't blame technical things on not generating as big an audience as you want, but it's a factor."
Parker said the station put in bids to broadcast the pro sports teams, even if he knew it was a longshot. He felt the station was close to landing the Bucks before the franchise ultimately re-upped with WTMJ, even though a cooperative partnership blossomed with the Bucks.
That included a Bucks postgame show hosted by Fifer, whom Parker called "the heart and soul of the whole place" and even converted Parker into an avid Bucks fan.
"He was always in the trenches with the guys, supporting young producers, finding content and how to stage it, find the audio, all the stuff that makes the station sound vibrant and vital," Parker said of Fifer, who had been an assistant program director with the station and remains on staff in some capacity, according to a source.
"To a person, they really were good, a great staff to coach, and I'm just sad for the guys who are still there, especially the youngest guys, producers that really don't make much money but put their heart and soul in it," Parker said. "I hope they find some other outlet to practice that craft. Whether it's a podcast or an audio show, you're still telling stories, relating to an unseen audience, and it's a special skill."
The Fan nurtured its own talent and also held a massive toy drive
One of the elements that made The Fan stand out was developing its own pipeline of talent. Examples of staff who ascended from producer to on-air host include Fifer, Makhlouf, Winkler, Cliff Saunders, Chuck Freimund and Josh Vernier.
"The coaching that we had was phenomenal," Wickett said. "It was such a fun ride to be on that station at a time when the Brewers were getting better, the (Aaron) Rodgers era was beginning, they won a Super Bowl while I was there. I remember when the Bucks drafted a dude with a name they still can't pronounce. It was such a fun time for the city."
Makhlouf, who stayed with the station from 2005 until late 2018, then left for a Minneapolis station that itself underwent mass layoffs, said he had been optimistic about the future of Wisconsin sports radio with current up-and-coming talent such as producers Sam Schmitz and Tobi Altizer.
Makhlouf, now co-host of the Cattles and Ramie afternoon show on Sactown Sports 1140 in Sacramento, California, following a brief return to WSSP, also lamented saying goodbye to his former teammates.
"I was side-by-side with Tim Allen for basically six years to start my radio career," Makhlouf said. "He taught me so much about this business. Sparky and Gary on the Big Show, so much radio knowledge from those guys. LeRoy Butler, to call an NFL Hall of Famer a friend is amazing, and he's one of the best people I've ever met in my life. Bart Winkler is like my brother and the most passionate Milwaukee sports fan to the point that it's bad for him."
Wickett said the passion from the on-air voices came through the speakers.
"You knew Sparky was mad," he said. "You knew Gary was mad. You knew Doug (Russell) or Chuck Freimund or Bart, you knew they were mad. ... No shot at TMJ but when you're the flagship for the three majors, you're not allowed to criticize Ned Yost or Mike McCarthy, Bo Ryan, or whatever. And our station gave you that outlet. WAUK was first, but we were the first to be on the same frequency all day and the local morning show, and that connection is what made The Fan so special."
Added Parker, "We were a little more irreverent, and we could be a little more outrageous, but I think we tried to stay credible, too."
Freimund, who lost his job at WSSP during the COVID-19 pandemic and quickly found a spot with iHeart Radio, said Parker's departure in 2019 was a pivotal moment, when the program-director duties shifted to Mitch Rosen, still serving as operations director at The Score in Chicago.
"Under Tom Parker, the postgame shows, pregame shows, local programming, it was at its best," Freimund said. "I knew when he told me in 2019 that he was retiring, I knew that was the beginning of the end. ... The radio stations can have all the talent in the world, but you've got to have the people in your front office making good decisions and good business decisions and the company behind you."
The station also hosted an annual golf outing and orchestrated an annual holiday toy drive benefitting Children's Hospital, bringing in upwards of $20,000 to $30,000 in donated toys.
"I go to work and have fun and talk about things that don't matter with their friends," Makhlouf said with a laugh. "The only real thing I did at that radio station and at my job that made a difference in the world was that toy drive; I'm super proud of that toy drive."
And maybe they shifted the sports landscape a little bit while they were at it.
"I think The Fan changed Milwaukee sports media; maybe I'm overblowing things and giving myself too much credit," Makhlouf said. "I grew up listening to The Score in Chicago, and I think it brought some big-city accountability to these small market teams for the first time. We put them in uncomfortable spots when things weren't good. It's something not a lot of people were doing before The Fan came around."
Added Freimund: "God bless all the listeners who made that radio station and gave us jobs because that's what it was really about. If it wasn't for the great fans of Milwaukee, that station wouldn't have been able to sustain 17 years. It was the great listeners that made it the thing that it was."
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2022-08-18T14:26:01Z
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www.jsonline.com
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After 1250-AM abruptly ends local programming, ex-radio hosts react
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2022/08/18/after-1250-am-abruptly-ends-local-programming-ex-radio-hosts-react/10349634002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/green-sheet/2022/08/18/after-1250-am-abruptly-ends-local-programming-ex-radio-hosts-react/10349634002/
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Love your job? Nominations are now open for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Top Workplaces 2023 program.
Love your job?
Then nominate your employer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Top Workplaces program.
The Top Workplaces program, which is in its 14th year, is now accepting nominations for 2023 — with those chosen employers to be recognized next May in a special section published by the newspaper.
The Journal Sentinel is partnering with research platform Energage to recognize southeastern Wisconsin workplaces that demonstrate strong organizational health and employee engagement.
Any employer in the area — which encompasses Dodge, Jefferson, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties — with at least 50 employees is eligible to participate.
Employers can include companies, nonprofit groups and governments.
Participating organizations will be evaluated by employees with a 24-question survey. Surveying will take place from August through November.
Nominations can be submitted at https://www.jsonline.com/nominate, or by calling (414) 376-5560.
Energage conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 61 markets and surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in 2021.
The nominations process begins as employers continue to compete for talent in a hot job market.
U.S. employers added 528,000 jobs in July as the labor market now has recovered all 22 million jobs lost in the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the latest monthly report from the U.S. Department of Labor.
The unemployment rate fell from 3.6% to 3.5% in July, matching a 50-year low reached just before the pandemic began in early 2020, the department said.
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2022-08-18T14:26:26Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Nominations open for Journal Sentinel's Top Workplaces 2023 program.
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/08/18/nominations-open-milwaukee-journal-sentinels-top-workplaces-2023-program/10301510002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/08/18/nominations-open-milwaukee-journal-sentinels-top-workplaces-2023-program/10301510002/
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In 2020, at a meeting of Wisconsin construction professionals, an idea surfaced that had nothing to do with supply-chain shortages or the outlook for new projects.
It was about mental health and what contractors could do to help curb a surge in construction worker suicides.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had found that men working in construction had one of the highest suicide rates of all industries — about four times higher than the general population.
In response, the U.S. Department of Labor formed a task force of industry partners, unions and educators to raise awareness of the types of stress that could push construction workers into depression and toward suicide.
The uncertainty of seasonal work, demanding schedules, and workplace injuries treated with opioids were some of the stressors, the Department of Labor said.
Bruce Morton, a risk management consultant for the industry, was at the meeting of Wisconsin construction professionals.
“I said, ‘we have a problem, and we have to do something about it,’” he recalled.
Nationwide, the suicide rate for construction workers was five times greater than the rate for all fatal work-related injuries in construction according to a CDC study.
Mental health issues weren't being adequately addressed, a problem in the general population as well, and the pandemic made things even worse.
“We’re all just humans trying to make it through the day,” said Elizabeth Polheber, safety manager for VJS Construction Services, a general contractor based in Pewaukee.
Out of the crisis, the non-profit Wisconsin Construction Wellness Community was formed to offer some assistance.
Contractors including Hunzinger Construction, CJ Schmidt Construction, Stevens Construction, and Grunau Company are represented on the board of directors.
The group’s members have provided mental health training for construction supervisors and many others in the industry. Hundreds of people have attended the online sessions.
“By getting the message out through so many contractors, supervisors, vendors, relatives and training classes, we are making a difference in mental health discussions in the workplace,” said Morton, senior loss control consultant for the Marsh McLennan Agency in Milwaukee.
“The more normal we make these conversations, the more the stigma will lift, and the more people will get the assistance they need. Our goal is that one day it’s just considered normal to talk about mental health in the workplace,” he added.
Morton has seen the toll emotional health issues can take on people struggling with a work-life balance in the construction industry.
“This is a male dominated profession...where men keep stuffing their feelings down deeper and deeper until they can’t control them anymore,” he said.
An emotional problem is not a sign of weakness.
“If you have a mental health issue and are working through it, you are stronger than anyone else I know,” Morton said.
The Boldt Company, an Appleton based construction management firm, formed a suicide awareness and prevention program called the “Gatekeepers".
Boldt has more than 1,500 employees who work on projects throughout the United States. It's in a variety of markets including health care and energy.
"Construction workers are away from their home and family a lot, which increases their risk for suicide," Renee Wolf, a health coach for the company, told the Appleton Post Crescent.
Gatekeepers uses a peer-to-peer strategy, designating trained volunteers to provide help and referrals to co-workers in need.
Since financial instability is one of the factors of high suicide rates among construction workers, many of whom go through periods of unemployment between jobs, most of the recommended resources from Gatekeepers are free. When an employee must be referred to their own personal therapist or doctor, health insurance could pick up some of the cost, but there could be out-of-pocket expenses.
One of the goals for Wisconsin Construction Wellness Community is to have help available regardless of where someone's employed in the construction industry.
"What we're hoping to do," Polheber said, "is make mental health something that's standardized across the industry."
Mental health resource: National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
Jelissa Burns of the Appleton Post Crescent contributed to this report.
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2022-08-18T14:26:32Z
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Wisconsin contractors team up on suicide, mental health issues
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Mural inspired by 'When Claude Got Shot' documentary illustrates peace, community for North Avenue neighborhood
Loretta Young watched with curiosity at the mural taking shape across the street from her North Avenue home.
The words that float above images of buildings, trees, butterflies and a barely visible outline of Hoan Bridge seemed to catch her eye.
Peace. Love. Community.
“This is one of the communities that need it over here. That’s a good message to start with,” said Young as she stood on her porch, watching a small group of artists slowly bring the mural to life.
The words and imagery forming the mural on a commercial building owned by Hayat Pharmacy, 1003 W. North Ave., were inspired by the Emmy-nominated documentary “When Claude Got Shot.” The film tells the story of how gun violence upended the lives of three Milwaukee residents, including the title character Claude Motley.
A community unveiling of the mural is set for Sept. 13.
The words are a nod to hip-hop roots, which embody peace, love and unity, said Shalina Ali, of True Skool, a youth creative arts organization that uses hip-hop culture to foster entrepreneurship and cultural awareness.
“We decided to do a play on that with peace, love and community,” she said. “We want people to look at that mural and interpret it for themselves. We think that between the positive imagery and the powerful words it is going to be whatever the person needs.”
More:TRUE Skool after school program uses hip-hop to help youth discover their creative side
True Skool partnered with We are the League, a social impact collective, 371 Productions, which produced the documentary, and the North Avenue Marketplace BID 32 to create the mural. The BID wanted to add murals to beautify the area as part of its redevelopment efforts. We are the League and 371 Productions reached out to True Skool to host a screening and discussion around gun violence.
As a creative arts organization, Ali wanted something tangible to come out of the discussion. The idea of the mural came up “as a way to process what was witnessed in the film,” she said. The mural, she added, should lead to healing and communication, while also providing an inspiration to uplift the community.
Its imagery and themes came from a discussion students in the True Skool afterschool program had with Motley, the documentary’s producers and other community stakeholders. Motley saw his legal career ambitions shattered in 2014 when he was shot during an attempted carjacking while visiting Milwaukee for his high school reunion. A few days later, the teen who shot Motley was shot and partially paralyzed by a woman he tried to rob.
Ali described the conversations as intense, layered and deep. That allowed the students, some of whom have been affected by gun violence or caught up in the legal system, to get things off their chest, she said.
Students were encouraged to write, draw or sketch their reactions and feelings about the film, which Ali hoped was cathartic for those involved.
“The whole point of that was to land on solutions. What could inspire a different experience for Milwaukee and how can we translate that through this public mural,” Ali said.
Work on the mural began two weeks ago by True Skool alumni, called mural apprentices. They took those sketches and ideas and translated them into the imagery for the mural. This method allowed everyone to have a part in the mural’s creation, Ali said.
“Everybody's sketches totally looked different,” she said. “We had actually seen a trend of butterflies from many people’s sketches. That’s how the butterflies ended up onto the wall.”
The challenge for lead muralist Fred Kaems was transferring the thoughts and ideas onto a 60-by-18-foot wall. The mural initially didn’t include Motley’s portrait, but Kaems said it gave the piece a stronger message.
The mural illustrates the transformation of a community from abandoned buildings and lifeless trees to a lush green landscape, where Motley's portrait is haloed by a bright yellow sun.
“We are not ignoring some of the other stuff, but we are trying to focus on the light and positivity that is already there,” said Kaems, a mural artist since 2015. He has worked on the welcome to Merrill Park neighborhood mural and the Dream Library mural on 57th and Vliet streets.
Motley’s story is an example of forgiveness for Tyrone Randle.
Randle, 29, was working on Motley’s portrait for the mural. Randle was moved by Motley’s effort to connect to the young man who shot him and possibly be a father figure for someone who didn’t have one.
“That’s another piece of the story – being the village that raises each other, that loves, cherishes and forgives,” he said. “This is the kind of conversation that can come out of this.”
More:Nearly 160 years ago, George Marshall Clark became Milwaukee's only lynching victim. Now, a respectful grave marker is planned.
Ernesto Gomez, 23, of Racine, wanted to be involved with the mural project after seeing the documentary. While scaling the mural for a building was challenging, Gomez hopes passersby get the message it is trying to convey.
“Art is something that when people see, it registers in the subconscious mind that gives a message most people don’t hear in words," he said. "But when they see it in art from, it gives a different message, a different feeling.”
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2022-08-18T14:26:38Z
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'When Claude Got Shot' documentary inspired North Avenue mural
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The state of Wisconsin cannot tax Ojibwe lands that have returned to tribal ownership after a period of non-tribal possession, a federal appeals court has ruled.
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower court ruling in the long-running tax immunity case, which was brought against the state and several towns in 2018 by four Ojibwe tribes with reservations in northern Wisconsin.
The tribes — the Bad River, Lac Courte Oreilles, Lac du Flambeau and Red Cliff bands of Lake Superior Chippewa — sued after some of their members were told they owed property taxes on lands they owned that had passed through non-Native hands at some point.
Under an 1854 treaty that promised the Ojibwe a permanent home, tribes and tribal members are immune from taxes on land within their reservations. But the state argued tribal lands forever lose that tax immunity when sold to non-Natives, even if those lands later come back under tribal ownership.
1854 treaty protects tribal owners, appeals court says
In a ruling issued Monday, a three-judge panel of the 7th Circuit disagreed with the state, and found that Congress never authorized the state to tax Ojibwe lands. The panel found that the 1854 treaty protects tribal owners of reservation land from taxation.
The court drew parallels between the tribes' situation and that of religious organizations also exempt from property taxes. Judge Michael Y. Scudder, Jr. wrote that if a church sells its property to a secular bookstore, that land becomes taxable. But if the church buys the space back and uses it for religious purposes, it becomes tax exempt again.
A spokesperson for the Wisconsin Office of the Attorney General said the state is reviewing the court's decision and did not say whether the state would try to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Taxation threat was a 'huge threat'
Mike Wiggins Jr., chairman of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, praised the appellate court's decision as upholding the tribes' treaty rights.
"It's an incredible decision that affirms what we knew all along in terms of our claim of ownership and right to home over our lands and waters here in Bad River," he said. "This is a historic day for Bad River."
Wiggins estimated at least 50 citizens of Bad River have land that would have been subject to property taxes had the court ruled differently. The tribe has also spent more than $3 million reacquiring land on the Bad River reservation since 2009, Wiggins said.
"We've been busy nation building, and that taxation threat as it manifested was a huge threat to our tribal sovereignty and our future land base," he said.
Sarah Volpenhein is a reporter who focuses on news of value to underserved communities. You can support such work through the our newsroom's Report for America effort. More information can be found at JSOnline.com/RFA. Email her at svolpenhei@gannett.com.
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2022-08-18T14:26:44Z
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Wisconsin can't tax tribal lands once owned by non-Natives, court says
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From Grant to Whitnall, these parks in Milwaukee County are natural gems
There’s a saying in the world of outdoor recreation that the best destination is the one in your backyard.
Indeed, some of my favorite spots are ones that are easy to get to — the trails along the Milwaukee River, where I spent many a pandemic lunch hour; the Oak Leaf Trail, a paved paradise for long bike rides; the prairie trails at Lapham Peak, perfect for a long hike any time of year.
Milwaukee might have a reputation as a blue-collar city, but its green roots run deep, with a multitude of natural gems tucked into every corner of a county split by three rivers along a Great Lake.
With 249 public parks, 90% of residents live within a 10-minute walk of a park, according to the Trust for Public Land.
It’s easy to take those green spaces for granted and instead hit the road for flashier destinations like Devil’s Lake.
MORE:Legendary landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted jump-started Milwaukee park system with three enduring public spaces
But if you don't have time for a road trip or want a dose of nature closer to home, there are plenty of natural spots to explore here. Some are representative of the natural landscape that existed here before European settlement; some are home to a diversity of wildlife; many have pockets where you forget you’re in the city.
Here are some of those natural gems to explore in Milwaukee County.
Lake Michigan parks
It’s easy to forget what a gem we have in having a Great Lake in our backyard. A string of parks provides access to that gem and the beaches and bluffs along it, stretching from Doctors Park in Fox Point to Bender Park in Oak Creek.
Among them are Veterans Park and Lakeshore State Park in the heart of downtown, favorites for both visitors and locals for easy strolls, jogs, picnics, kite flying, bike rides, paddles on the lagoon and photo opportunities. And there's Bradford Beach to the north, with free beach wheelchairs and a mobi mat allowing more people to access it. The paved Oak Leaf Trail connects all of them.
There’s not much natural about the parks — they’re all essentially landfills, created with debris from highway and other construction projects. And Lakeshore’s 22 acres of prairie is more representative of landscapes farther inland; the land along the lakefront was mostly wetlands lined by steep bluffs before it was developed.
Still, it’s a beautiful spot in the heart of Milwaukee, and there’s something special about having so much public greenspace along the lake. You won’t forget you’re in the city, but rather feel like you’re seeing its best side.
More information: Veterans Park is at 1010 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive; Lakeshore State Park is at 500 N Harbor Drive; Bradford Beach is at 2400 N. Lincoln Memorial Drive. All are free to visit. Leashed pets are permitted at Veterans and Lakeshore.
This Lake Michigan park deserves its own mention for its bluffs, beach and a terrific little trail system.
That would be the popular Seven Bridges Trail, which offers a chance for a moderate hike through wooded ravines leading to the lake. The 2-mile trail system actually has 10 bridges, beginning with a covered one that greets visitors with the inscription: “Enter this wild wood and view the haunts of nature.”
There are stories of ghostly happenings in the park, but during the day it's only hauntingly beautiful, with wooded bluffs obscuring views of any city buildings when the trees are leafed out — a particularly scenic sight in the fall.
You can thank the men of the Civilian Conservation Corps for building the foundations for many of the trails in the 1930s. Sixty years later, the Wisconsin Conservation Corps rebuilt sections that had deteriorated, including six bridges.
Most people stick to the 1/2-mile main loop that runs along the main creek leading to the beach, but if you head off on the 1/3-mile bluff-top trail (accessible via a staircase past the stone bench) or any other side trails, you might find solitude, even on a busy summer or fall day.
More information: Grant Park is at 100 E. Hawthorne Ave., South Milwaukee; the Seven Bridges trailhead is on Grant Park Drive on the north side of the park. The park is free to visit. Leashed pets are permitted on the trails but not on the beach.
Schlitz Audubon Nature Center
Here’s another one along the lake worth its own mention. This 185-acre nature center boasts 6 miles of trails (including a mile-long accessible loop) that wind through wetlands, woods and bluffs down to the lake; an observation tower that offers views of all that; and educational programming that includes a raptor program with 15 birds of prey from bald eagles to screech owls.
The property is home to a variety of critters from frogs and turtles to muskrats and monarchs. It's also a birdwatchers’ paradise and has been designated an Important Birding Area. More than 260 species have been spotted here, from herons and hawks to warblers and woodpeckers.
The nature center plays host to hundreds of events throughout the year, from guided hikes to Word with a Bird, a weekly meet-and-greet with the center’s raptors (1-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday).
More information: Schlitz Audubon is at 1111 E. Brown Deer Road. The center’s trails are open 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. daily, with extended hours in the summer (until 8 p.m. Monday-Thursday through August). Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for kids (ages 3-17) and veterans and active-duty military, and free for members ($55 for individuals, $65 for a family, $35 for students and military). Pets are not permitted.
RELATED:Schlitz Audubon celebrates 50 years of providing a place to 'find joy and solace in nature'
County Grounds Park
County Grounds is three natural gems in one, sandwiched among I-41, UW-Milwaukee's Innovation Campus and the Milwaukee Medical Regional Center in Wauwatosa.
On the west side of the park is the Monarch Trail, 22 acres of restored prairie and woods that serve as a roosting site for monarchs as they migrate from their breeding grounds in the north to their winter grounds in Mexico. A narrow trail winds through restored prairie — with plenty of milkweed for the monarchs — oak savanna and past a massive sycamore where monarchs often roost. Dogs, bikes and even jogging are not permitted — making for a truly wild trail (wear pants and bug spray and do a tick check after walking).
RELATED:'No milkweed, no monarch:' Here's how Wisconsin residents can help the quickly declining monarch butterfly population
That’s not to say you’ll forget you’re in an urban area — traffic noise from the interstate and busy Swan Boulevard is a constant companion, and both are visible from the 1-mile trail as it snakes around an apartment complex developed around two historic Eschweiler buildings. But it’s amazing what a small natural enclave can support, from the hundreds of butterflies to the more-than-10-point buck I once spotted in the pocket of woods in the northwest corner.
The east side offers views of the main portion of the park, featuring gently rolling hills of restored prairie. A short gravel trail off Discovery Parkway leads to an overlook of the prairie, and a network of other trails winds through it below. The prairie represents what used to be a dominant landscape in southern Wisconsin. But of the 2 million acres that covered the state before European settlement, only about 12,000 remain, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
Some of those trails lead to Sanctuary Woods, on the east side of County Grounds. The woods served as just that, a sanctuary, for patients in the county’s first mental health facility, which opened in 1880. Remnants of that past can be found throughout, from the stone foundation of a men’s pavilion to staircases that lead down to a ravine in what was the women’s grove (both labeled by small signs). The woods are still a sanctuary today, a forest enclave (with some old-growth trees) in the middle of the state’s most populated region.
RELATED:A 150-year-old, 52 acre green space near Milwaukee’s Regional Medical Center has been saved ... for now
More information: The trailhead for the Monarch Trail is on Eschweiler Drive just west of Discovery Parkway, where parking is available. Find a parking lot for Sanctuary Woods off 87th Street north of Watertown Plank Road. Pets are not permitted on the Monarch Trail, but they are allowed in the rest of the park. There are no official trail markers outside of the Monarch Trail, but there is an established network of well-trodden trails.
Milwaukee River Greenway
This is one of those spots where you might forget you’re in the city, despite being in the heart of it.
The Greenway encompasses nearly 900 acres of green space along a 6-mile stretch of the Milwaukee River, linking 12 public parks and 28 miles of hiking, biking and water trails from Caesar’s Park on the lower east side to Lincoln Park in Glendale. That’s prime access to nature and the river within a mile of downtown — a precious gem indeed.
At the beginning of the pandemic, the southern stretch from North Humboldt Avenue to East Locust Street was my oasis. Trails run along both sides of the river there, passing through wetlands and woods filled with birdsong. In some stretches, the river's steep banks obscure views of almost all city buildings.
At the northern edge of that stretch is the Urban Ecology Center’s Riverside branch. The nonprofit not only has worked to restore land along the river there but also provides community programming throughout the year and access to outdoor equipment for borrowing, including kayaks and canoes.
You can launch one of those from the canoe launch in the adjacent Milwaukee Rotary Centennial Arboretum for paddling along the Milwaukee Urban Water Trail.
More information: Access the trails along the southern stretch of the Greenway from North Riverboat Road just east of North Humboldt Avenue or Caesar's Park, 1939 N. Warren Ave. The Urban Ecology Center's Riverside branch is at 1500 E. Park Place. For more on the Greenway, see riverrevitalizationfoundation.org.
Whitnall Park
Milwaukee County’s biggest park has plenty to explore across its more than 625 acres. The golf course and beer garden aren’t natural, of course, but together with Boerner Botanical Gardens, Wehr Nature Center and the rest of the park, make Whitnall a spot you could easily spend a whole day.
Wehr is the natural core of the park, with 5 miles of trails that wind through 220 acres of woods, wetlands and prairie, and around Mallard Lake, which has a small waterfall at its northern end where it feeds the Root River.
Most of the trails are relatively flat, wide and family-friendly, including a 1/3-mile accessible boardwalk and pier overlooking the lake, a 1/3-mile Sensory Trail that’s labeled as a quiet area, and an accessible family restroom with an adult changing table. The nature center also has an all-terrain wheelchair available to borrow from Access Ability Wisconsin.
The north side of the park is home to Boerner, where there’s always something blooming in warm-weather months. The garden also plays host to many events including the popular China Lights Wisconsin Festival, which returns Sept. 16-Oct. 30.
For more nature with less crowds, head to Mangan Woods, which is home to some of the largest old-growth hardwoods in the park system, according to Milwaukee County Parks. The woods, accessible next to the Ross Lodge off 92nd Street across from the golf course, are home to both hiking-only trails and multi-use trails open to off-road biking (the Kegel-Alpha trails).
More information: Whitnall Park is at 5879 S. 92 St., Franklin. Find parking in lots along Whitnall Park Drive. It’s free to visit.
Parking is also available at Wehr Nature Center but costs $4. The nature center is at 9701 W. College Ave., Franklin. The trails there are open sunrise to sunset daily; the visitor center is open 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. Dogs are not permitted on the Wehr trails.
Havenwoods State Forest
Wisconsin’s only urban forest is more prairie than forest, but it’s all a natural escape in the northwest corner of the city — another one of those spots where it’s easy to forget you’re in Milwaukee.
Six miles of trails wind through the 237-acre property that has an interesting past, from serving as the site for the Milwaukee County House of Corrections and an Army Disciplinary Barracks for soldiers and prisoners of war during World War II to a Nike Ajax missile base during the beginning of the Cold War.
Today the land looks closer to what it would have been before it was cleared for farming by early European settlers — primarily lowland forest. Those woods surround wetlands and prairie that are home to everything from muskrats to meadowlarks. More than 6 miles of trails wind through the park, including about 2 miles of limestone trails and paved roads open to cycling.
More information: Havenwoods is at 6141 N. Hopkins St. The forest is open 6 a.m.-8 p.m. daily and is free to visit. Pets are only permitted in certain areas of the forest; pick up a map from the nature center to see where they’re allowed.
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2022-08-18T14:27:34Z
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From Grant to Whitnall, Milwaukee County parks are natural gems
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A 100-year-old Cudahy school building might soon become eight loft-style apartments
Cudahy’s nearly 100-year-old Lake School building could become loft-style apartments.
The city’s common council voted in favor of amending the city’s comprehensive land use plan and rezoning of the property from single-family residential to multifamily at its Aug. 16 meeting.
The building, seated on approximately 0.44 acres at 3744 E. Ramsey Ave., was constructed in the 1923, according to a Shorewest listing. It was first used as a school and later repurposed by the school district as offices before it was sold in the 1980s as a single-family home.
The asking price is $390,900.
Cudahy Lake School Lofts, LLC is the petitioner looking to convert the interior to eight market rate loft-style apartments. The applicant, Joshua Neudorfer, is director of business development and senior consultant with The Sigma Group, a Milwaukee-based civil and environmental engineering firm, according to his LinkedIn page.
The concept, tentatively titled “Lake School Lofts,” includes one two-bedroom, four one-bedroom with den and three one-bedroom units. One of the units could feature a second-floor bedroom suite. Rents are anticipated to be between $1,500 and $2,000 per month.
“The building is uniquely set-up for adaptive reuse into elegant apartments with high ceilings that range as high as 12 feet and will provide airy, loft-style rental units,” the project summary said. “Large windows that span eight feet in height exist in five of the eight units. Hardwood floors abound.”
There are no plans for any additions to the building or additional structures on the property. For parking, the lot once offered 14 stalls but at some point, between 2005 and 2010, a portion of asphalt was removed leaving between eight and 10 smaller stalls. City code indicates nine stalls is suitable for the eight units. Overflow and guest parking can be accommodated on the street, according to the project summary.
City staff notes the project will maintain the look and feel of the historic building but will significantly increase the taxable value.
The property had three single-family owners, including the current owner who has lived there since 2013. He invested 12,000 hours into refurbishing the building with most of the work done on the brick exterior, according to planning documents.
Neudorfer is buying the property, so the land sale has to be finalized before he submits a final site plan for the project, City Administrator Casey Griffiths said.
Once that site plan is submitted, it will need to be approved by the plan commission.
More:You can own the more than 100-year-old Sheridan Bed & Breakfast in Cudahy -- for $2.3 million
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2022-08-18T18:07:25Z
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Historic Cudahy Lake School building could become loft apartments
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A skeleton was found in an abandoned building in Milwaukee and investigators need help identifying it
The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office is trying to identify a "mostly skeletonized" body discovered in an abandoned multi-use building in Milwaukee’s Harambee neighborhood last week.
The body was discovered Aug. 10 inside a building that once housed the Genesis Missionary Baptist Church, at 231 W. Burleigh St., by a YouTuber named Matthew Nunez, who explores abandoned buildings.
The male body, about 5 feet and 9 inches in length, was found without any visible injuries in an apparent bedroom on the building’s second floor, according to a report from the medical examiner’s office.
He wore a dark colored American Rag Cie brand jacket with orange lining, a shirt with a Pfizo logo and black Adidas pants, the report said. The medical examiner’s office also circulated a photo of five rings the man was wearing in an effort to identify him.
Milwaukee Police have been unable to identify the body
The report indicated police have been unable to identify the body by consulting missing person’s reports or by considering the tattoos still visible on the body.
Nunez also provided police with a cellphone he located in the building, but it belonged to a man who is still alive, the report said.
It is unclear how long ago the man may have died. The report said the building is in an “extreme state of disrepair,” with ceilings and walls crumbling and garbage strewn throughout the interior.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the medical examiner’s office at 414-223-1200 or the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360.
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2022-08-18T18:07:31Z
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Skeleton found in abandoned building in Milwaukee
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The Wisconsin football program has lost another member of its extended family.
Bob Winckler, a four-year starter on the offensive line from 1979-82, died Tuesday at 61. He was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
Winckler was a graduate of West Bend East High School.
He was married for 36 years to his wife, Sue. The couple have three children.
Winckler lived in DeForest and served as an assistant football coach at DeForest High School for several years.
Visitation is set for 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday at Ryan Funeral Home, 6924 Lake Road in DeForest and from 10 to 11 a.m. Monday at Door Creek Church (Sprecher Road Campus), 6602 Dominion Drive in Madison.
The funeral service is set to begin at 11 a.m. Monday.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Winckler’s name be given to the UW Carbone Cancer Center.
Winckler was a first-team, all-Big Ten pick as a senior in 1982, a memorable season in the history of the program.
UW finished 5-4 in the Big Ten, a record that included a stunning 6-0 victory at Ohio State in Week 5. The Badgers received an invitation to the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, Louisiana, and recorded a 14-3 victory over Kansas State to finish the season 7-5 overall.
UW entered that night 0-4 in bowl games.
"Bob was a giant in size and personality," former halfback Troy King wrote on Twitter Thursday morning. "My condolences to his family."
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2022-08-18T18:07:37Z
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Former Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman Bob Winckler dies at age 61
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A mixed-use Bronzeville development featuring production space for filmmakers, musicians and other creatives is taking a step forward.
A $21 million mixed-use Bronzeville development featuring production space for filmmakers, musicians and other creatives, as well as affordable apartments, is taking a step forward.
The Bronzeville Creative Arts and Technology Hub's proposed project site, 1.1 acres north of West North Avenue and west of North Sixth Street, would be sold by the city to the project developers under a plan approved Thursday by the Milwaukee Redevelopment Authority board.
That plan, which sets the stage for the authority to begin negotiating a sale of the site, allows developers Fit Investment Group LLC and Cinnaire Solutions Corp. to pursue financing.
That would include federal and state affordable housing tax credits to help pay for 54 to 60 apartments.
The developers also hope to use federal New Markets Tax Credits to help finance a three-story, 22,000-square-foot building to house musicians, artists, graphic designers and other creatives, including start-up businesses. It also would have a street-level cafe.
Both phases combine to create a development where creatives can live, work and play.
The hub was recommended in April by the Bronzeville Advisory Committee.
It could join other developments proceeding in the Bronzeville area, which runs along North Avenue, from I-43 to North King Drive, and along King Drive centered on North Avenue.
Those other projects include:
• Bronzeville Center for the Arts, a 50,000-square-foot arts and cultural center focusing on Black art. It will replace the former state Department of Natural Resources regional office, 2300 N. King Drive, which is to be razed.
• Bronzeville Center for the Arts offices and gallery, a 6,650-square-foot building replacingr a renovated duplex and vacant lot at 507 W. North Ave.
• ThriveOn King, the conversion of the historic six-story former Schuster's department store, 2153 N. King Drive, into 100,000 square feet of office space, anchored by the ThriveOn Collaboration, led by Medical College of Wisconsin and Greater Milwaukee Foundation; 89 apartments, and 50,000 square feet of early child education and community space, including a food hall.
• Dohmen Co. Foundation Inc.'s new headquarters within a two-story, 34,000-square-foot building at 2007 N. King Drive that housed Fein Brothers before the restaurant supply business moved.
• Niche Book Bar, a vacant building at 1937 N. King Drive being converted into a book store that focuses on Black literature that includes a coffee house and wine bar.
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2022-08-18T21:29:56Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Large mixed-use Milwaukee Bronzeville development takes step forward
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/18/large-mixed-use-milwaukee-bronzeville-development-takes-step-forward/10356931002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/18/large-mixed-use-milwaukee-bronzeville-development-takes-step-forward/10356931002/
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'This is really important'
The amount is what the project was originally approved for through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, but the grant was rejected by an anonymous member of the Joint Finance Committee of the Legislature last year, leaving the Land Trust scrambling for funding.
MORE:Conservationists hoped to protect Cedar Gorge, but an anonymous legislator objected to block funding
MORE:Anonymous buyer seeks to prevent lakefront nature preserve in Ozaukee County, says it would be 'never-ending expense'
Four other projects will move forward
The four other projects also all originally sought funding from the Knowles-Nelson program. The DNR withdrew those requests Thursday, shortly after Evers announcement. Here is a closer look at those projects:
Modrzejewski Park in Milwaukee: $773,910 for new playground equipment, playfield renovations, and other updates. Funding was requested for the project in February 2020.
Caroline Lake Preserve, Ashland County: $28,868, to match a donation from The Nature Conservancy for 34.5 acres. The property will allow for public access to the Caroline Lake State Natural Area, conserve wetland habitat and expand recreation opportunities in the area. Funding for the project was requested in April 2021.
Forest County: $133,800 for land acquisition in the Town of Nashville to continue forest management in the area, enhance public access and safeguard watershed and wildlife access. Funding for the project was requested in May 2021.
Sand Creek, Bayfield County: $1.25 million for the acquisition of property in the towns of Bayfield and Bell for forest management, public access for recreation and to protect Lake Superior watersheds on 1,999 acres of land adjacent to over 75,000 acres of Bayfield County Forest lands. Funding for the project was requested in May 2022.
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2022-08-18T21:30:02Z
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www.jsonline.com
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$4.5 million to fund rejected Wisconsin conservation projects
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/18/4-5-million-fund-rejected-wisconsin-conservation-projects-lions-den-cedar-gorge-sand-creek/10352193002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/18/4-5-million-fund-rejected-wisconsin-conservation-projects-lions-den-cedar-gorge-sand-creek/10352193002/
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MADISON – About six months after he suffered a gruesome injury to his right leg, tight end Clay Cundiff toed the start line for his first 40-yard dash.
With Shaun Snee, Wisconsin’s director of football strength and conditioning, looking on Cundiff covered the distance in 4.66 seconds.
The importance of the time posted by the 6-foot-3, 236-pound Cundiff in late April?
His previous best was 4.77 seconds.
“The strength coaches were like: ‘Holy (expletive),’” Cundiff explained after practice Thursday. “I was like: ‘Oh my God.’
“It felt good to run that.”
Cundiff missed UW’s final five games last season after suffering a dislocated right ankle, broken fibula and torn ligament in the back of the foot on Oct. 30 against Iowa.
Fellow tight end Jack Eschenbach missed three games after suffering a dislocated right shoulder against Michigan and underwent offseason surgery.
Both players were held out of spring ball while recovering from their surgeries, but both players returned for summer workouts and have been full participants in camp this month.
“There was a little bit of rust the first few days,” Eschenbach said. “But now it feels no different than any other camp. It sucks to sit and watch more than you realize. It showed me not to take a single practice for granted.”
Meanwhile, UW was without two offensive linemen Thursday.
Left tackle Jack Nelson (thumb), who started all 13 games last season at right guard, could return next week.
Riley Mahlman, who is battling with Logan Brown to start at right tackle, filled in for Nelson on the left side Thursday. Brown worked at right tackle on the No. 1 unit.
Reserve center/guard Tanor Bortolini (knee) attended practice Thursday wearing a black sleeve on his right leg. According to a source, the injury suffered Monday is neither season-ending nor significant and Bortolini could return in two to three weeks.
More:Paul Chryst is eager to see improvement and consistency in Wisconsin's passing game
More:'We’re always sharing information': Wisconsin linemen Tyler Beach and Jack Nelson swap pointers on new positions
The return of Eschenbach and Cundiff is vital because UW must replace Jake Ferguson, a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys.
Ferguson last season led UW in catches (46), was second in receiving yards (450) and tied for the team lead in touchdown catches (three). He started 36 games and played in 47 at UW.
Eschenbach has played in a total of 18 games — four in 2019, six in 2020 and eight last season. The former walk-on, who played wide receiver in high school, has a total of five catches for 59 yards.
Cundiff has played in six games. He made his college debut in 2019 against Central Michigan and played in five games last season after not playing in 2020.
He has a total of three catches for 86 yards, all coming last season.
“I’m anticipating being out there every play, until someone comes in for me,” Cundiff said. “I’m prepared to be a factor in the run game and in the pass game.
“I talked to Graham (Mertz) and said: ‘Hey, you ever need a release valve just throw it up to me. I’m coming down with that thing.’”
Eshenbach, 6-6 and 241, entered camp focused on becoming a more proficient blocker.
“I’ve come a long way with my blocking,” he said. “Like anyone, there’s still a few things to clean up.”
Specifically: pad level, footwork and hand placement.
“The best blockers you see do that every single time,” he said. “I am trying to get to that level.
“I’ve always felt consistent with my routes but not as much with my blocking. That was my biggest goal for this camp: ‘How do I become consistent with my blocking?’
“That will make me the best player.”
Hayden Rucci, who generally plays on the line of scrimmage, Cundiff and Eschenbach appear to be the top three tight ends. Jaylan Franklin and Cole Dakovich will also be in the mix for playing time.
“As a group," Eschenbach said, "we want to be one of most solid groups in the country and contribute as much as we can."
After suffering injuries last season and missing all of spring ball, Cundiff and Eschenbach are back in position to contribute at a critical position.
"There was a little bit of rust the first few days," Eschenbach said. "But now it feels no different than any other camp."
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2022-08-18T21:30:20Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin Badgers tight ends Cundiff, Eschenback back from injuries
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/18/wisconsin-badgers-tight-ends-cundiff-eschenback-back-injuries/10356097002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/18/wisconsin-badgers-tight-ends-cundiff-eschenback-back-injuries/10356097002/
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Eastbound lanes of I-43 at South 27th Street closed for fatal crash between car, dump truck
All eastbound lanes of Interstate 43 are closed at South 27th Street because of a fatal crash, the Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office said.
The crash involved a car and a dump truck, the sheriff's office said.
The sheriff's office said in a tweet that the crash was fatal, although it was not immediately clear how many people were killed.
The interstate closure is expected to be "prolonged," the sheriff's office said about 5:30 p.m.
Footage streamed from WISN-TV's news helicopter showed a badly damaged car and a large amount of debris.
Traffic was being routed off the interstate at South 27th. Backups stretched west through Greenfield as of 5:30 p.m.
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2022-08-19T00:26:15Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee traffic: I-43 lanes closed for serious crash at 27th St
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/18/milwaukee-traffic-43-lanes-closed-serious-crash-27th-st/7837052001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/18/milwaukee-traffic-43-lanes-closed-serious-crash-27th-st/7837052001/
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Recently, I had a heart-to-heart conversation with my 14-year-old daughter. These heart-to-hearts typically happen around midnight when I’m in her room saying good night just before bed. I don’t know if the dark room makes vulnerability more palatable or if that’s the time of day when she’s feeling most reflective or if she’s just instinctively holding on to her preschool habits of delaying bedtime.
During this particular conversation, as Wendy shared her concerns over making high school friends who “get her,” she said her father, sister and I know her the best. Assuming my knowledge of Wendy would be close to 100%, especially after all these heart-to-heart conversations, I asked her how well she thinks we know her. She thought about it and said, “Probably about 87%.”
“Only 87%?” I exclaimed. “But what about all these talks we have and how hard we’ve worked at understanding you the last few years?”
“Yeah, you have. You’ve done a good job at that,” she acknowledged. “But, back before we started talking more, you probably only knew about 70% of me.”
After talking for another half hour about an argument we'd had earlier in the day (and subsequently being informed by Wendy that my understanding of her had gotten bumped up to 88%), I went to say good night to my 18-year-old daughter.
“How well do you think I know you?” I asked her.
“Um….” She thought about the question for a few moments. “Maybe about 70%?”
“Only 70%?” I exclaimed.
Alex remained calm and explained that while that may seem like a low percentage, she feels that she only knows about 80% of herself.
“So you’re doing pretty well,” she told me reassuringly.
My children are not me. I am not them.
This conversation feels especially relevant as we approach back-to-school season. Both my daughters are starting brand new phases in their lives — Wendy’s first year in high school and Alex’s first year in college.
Hitting those milestones as a mother in the same year has me feeling as if I should write some grand thesis about all the groundbreaking, lifechanging lessons I’ve learned over the past 18 years.
But what’s most on my mind are the lessons I still haven’t learned.
Motherhood started with such an intense feeling of closeness to my children — from feeling them move those last few months of pregnancy to holding them all day long as babies to cuddling them to sleep as toddlers to feeling them grip my hand and cling to my leg as preschoolers. That intense physical closeness ushered in a period of years when it felt impossible to see where I ended and my children started.
Although, of course, they aren’t physically close to me like that anymore — and haven’t been for many years — the intensity of those first few years isn’t something I’ve been able to easily shake off.
I’ve been so intimately aware of my kids’ locations, their schedules, their feelings for so long, it can be hard to separate the justified feeling that they are part of my life from the unjustified feeling that they are part of me.
So — deep breath — the main lesson that I haven’t internalized yet – my children are not me. I am not them.
Here are some things I need to stop doing
Those times when my child is worried about a test or a job interview or a doctor appointment? And I tell them that everything will be fine? Then they stubbornly refuse to believe me so I keep telling them everything will be fine? And then the scary thing happens and turns out to be fine, and I smile (a bit smugly) and say, “See? I told you it would be fine.” Yeah, I should stop doing that.
Over the years, my children have had intense interests in things like “Blue’s Clues” and American Girl dolls and swimming and Tom Holland. I’ve embraced those interests right along with them, and as they’ve grown out of them and moved on to other things, I’ve — too often — made it clear that I wasn’t ready to move on from their childhood interests. I’ve even expressed crazy feelings like, “But you always loved ‘Frozen’ so much. Don’t you want to continue singing ‘Let it go’ on a constant loop all day long?”
Then there are the times I notice an expression on my child’s face that makes me think I know they’re thinking something important that they should tell me about. So I ask them what they’re thinking and they say, "Nothing." And I say, "It looks like you’re thinking about something." And they say, "No, not really." And I say, "I know you’re thinking about something. What is it?"
I need to stop telling my younger daughter — who experiences the world very differently than I do — that I know exactly what she’s going through.
I also need to stop telling my older daughter — who experiences the world very similarly to how I do — that I know exactly what she’s going through.
It’s an irritating but compelling part of my nature to think, “I know exactly how to solve their problems. I’ve been through it before. If they would just listen to me, I could tell them exactly what to do, and their suffering would go away.”
But this feeling is not true.
I can advise my children. I can't live their lives for them.
As people, our experiences are important. They shape who we are. They inform our future choices. And, as parents, our experiences are important because they allow us to empathize with our children when they go through similar things, and because they help us to give informed advice to our children.
What I’m trying to internalize is that the key word in that sentence is “advice.” The relationship I’ve built with my children is important because they often trust my advice. But, as much as I think I’ve gone through the same things they’re dealing with, I haven’t.
Even when those situations — like when they feel like their friends don’t understand them or they’re positive they’ll fail a test or they’re getting bullied or ignored by their classmates — feel painfully familiar, they’re still different. Partly because the teachers or friends or classmates are different than the ones I knew. Partly because the environment is different than the one I was part of. But mostly because Alex and Wendy are different people than I am.
That means I can’t tell them, step-by-step, exactly what to do to ensure that everything will turn out just fine like it eventually did for me. Even if I end up being right about the best course of action to take, they need to have the actual experience in order to learn from it — and to add it to the thousands of experiences, interactions and lessons that shape them into the people they are.
Grading my progress
So, back to my percentages. Considering the new school year is upon us, it seems appropriate to convert those percentages to grades. That means I have a high B for how well I know Wendy and a low C for how well I know Alex. However, considering that Alex only gives herself a B for how well she knows herself, I think I can bump my grade up to a B as well (Yes, I grade on a curve in my internal imaginary classroom.)
Bs are pretty good. But — the bigger question — how comfortable am I with that reality? What’s my grade for understanding — and, more importantly showing them I understand — that I don’t know my children perfectly? At this time, probably about a C. I’d like to get that grade up to a B. We’ll see what this school year brings for all of us.
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2022-08-19T11:08:51Z
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www.jsonline.com
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As kids go back to school, Wisconsin mom thinks she has a lot to learn
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/08/19/kids-go-back-school-wisconsin-mom-thinks-she-has-lot-learn/7832762001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/08/19/kids-go-back-school-wisconsin-mom-thinks-she-has-lot-learn/7832762001/
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Arrowhead High School manufacturing department has grown thanks to partnership with Mark G Sellers Foundation, other businesses, school says
Not every high school student is necessarily college bound, and it's this group of students that Arrowhead High School is trying to reach through its manufacturing program.
To help contribute to the success of that program, the school has partnered with the Mark G Sellers Foundation and other local businesses to provide an opportunity for students to explore manufacturing careers that in turn will prepare a future workforce that these companies will likely tap into.
The foundation has provided a five-year matching grant totaling $100,000, according to a news release. Other businesses that have contributed include D&H Industries' and Bradley Corp., $5,000 each over five years; Frentzel Products, Brelie Gear, Versevo, Integrity Wire EDM and Bryant Products, $2,500 each over five years; Medline, $2,000 over five years; and Dorner Manufacturing, Dynamic Tool and Sjoberg, $1,000 each over five years.
The companies have been taking part in the "High Tech High" initiative launched in spring 2020 when Arrowhead reached out to the MGS Foundation in pursuit of CNC equipment and asked for a partnership and commitment of five years, to which Sellers agreed, the release said.
"Every September, it forces us to talk. That's what I like about that partnership. It forces us to work together. It can't be 'well, I did that once' or 'I contributed once.' No, it's 'we need you to have a seat at the table,' and this five-year partnership allows us to do that," said Anthony Christain, AHS manufacturing and engineering instructor, in a phone interview. "We need to talk. We need to meet. We need to figure out what your needs are and what our needs are. How can we work together and then that's where the magic happens, which is awesome."
The goal of the project is to acquire five CNC machines. So far, the program has acquired two. One of those machines is a CNC brake press that will arrive at the school at the end of September, and the other is a CNC lathe that was acquired on consignment through Premier Machine Tool Midwest in Hartland, according to Christain.
"It's already here. It's already working. The kids have been using it, but we don't own it, and that's one where we want to purchase it so that it's our equipment," Christain said of the CNC lathe.
Christain said the program is hoping to acquire two more CNC mills so that one can be used at the school's North Campus and one can be used at the school's South Campus. He also hopes to acquire a smaller brake press at South Campus.
"It's a five-year commitment for our business partners and the foundation, so the money has to come in and make the payments and make the purchases accordingly," he said.
Since 2012, the school's engineering and manufacturing program has seen investments in curriculum, staff and facilities to generate excitement for and to expose students to career opportunities in manufacturing and automation, according to the release.
Christain said the facility and lab sets the tone for classes and education.
"It's not your grandfather's shop. This is modern manufacturing where you look in and it's bright and it's light and it's clean and it's organized. We have the same equipment that the manufacturers use. Those are the things that bring somebody in. It's like the lights turn on almost," Christain said.
Christain said it's his job to show students the career opportunities that can come from taking the classes.
"I think that's part of my job ... to lift that veil and get them excited. ... This is awesome. Now let's give you the education that you need so that way, you can make really good decisions about your future and where you're going," Christain said.
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2022-08-19T14:12:49Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Arrowhead credits partnership with foundation, businesses to grow manufacturing program
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/hartland/2022/08/19/arrowhead-credits-partnership-foundation-businesses-grow-manufacturing-program/10278086002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/hartland/2022/08/19/arrowhead-credits-partnership-foundation-businesses-grow-manufacturing-program/10278086002/
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Adriatic Fresh Seafood & Steaks to close just six months after opening in Wauwatosa
Just six months after opening, Wauwatosa restaurant Adriatic Fresh Seafood & Steaks announced in a Facebook post that it will be closing because of difficulties with staffing and increased costs spurred by inflation.
“We have made the difficult decision to close our doors and cease operations as of Monday, August 15th. With ongoing staffing shortages and continued price increases on food and supplies, we are unable to continue serving the community at this location. We'd like to thank all of our guests, friends, and family for their support,” the post said.
The third restaurant opened by brothers Ben and Kika Saliu, Adriatic Fresh Seafood & Steak opened at 11200 W. Burleigh St., in the Mayfair Collection. After an extensive soft launch in November 2021, the restaurant officially opened in February 2022.
The Mediterranean-style restaurant featured an open kitchen and offered an eclectic menu that included fresh seafood, freshly roasted vegetables, Mediterranean-style potatoes, pasta dishes, chicken, ribeye steaks, filet mignon and New York strip steak.
The restaurant also offered a variety of wines, as well as a collection of beers from local favorites like Good City Brewing and Milwaukee Brewing Co.
The general manager for all of the brothers' restaurants, Wayne Doney, said that from the start, staffing limited the restaurant's ability to serve and expand its clientele.
“We were always under the gun with staffing. We started to ramp up our promotional campaigns and things but without the staff we needed, we weren't able to do as much as we wanted,” he said.
Shortly after their official opening, Doney said, the increased prices of almost all of the restaurant's basic materials created a problem that the restaurant was never able to overcome. Due to the unique menu, Doney said that a return of the restaurant is unlikely, but if it were to come back it would be in a different location.
“All of our raw material costs went through the roof, and with the kind of menu we had we just felt we weren't able to offer a good affordable menu to our customers,” he said.
The Saliu brothers also own Golden Nest Pancake & Cafe at the Mayfair Collection and Sunview Restaurant in Beaver Dam. Doney said that similar problems have limited both restaurants, but because of the menus they employ they are able to minimize the effects that rising prices have had — but that could change.
“Even the basics like deep fryer oil are extremely expensive right now, but fortunately with the style of those restaurants we are able to still keep our prices affordable for our customers,” Doney said. “This is something that we continue to reevaluate almost on a daily basis so we can know where to make menu adjustments that are needed.”
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2022-08-19T14:12:53Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Adriatic Fresh Seafood & Steaks closing just six months after opening
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/2022/08/19/adriatic-fresh-seafood-steaks-closing-just-six-months-after-opening/10350825002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/2022/08/19/adriatic-fresh-seafood-steaks-closing-just-six-months-after-opening/10350825002/
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Jacob Resneck
Since the end of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the the Pentagon has ordered fewer tactical vehicles, and employment has dropped at the corporation’s Oshkosh assembly plants
Rather than build in its namesake city, the company will assemble next-generation postal vehicles about 900 miles away in Spartanburg, South Carolina at a 97-acre industrial site of a shuttered RiteAid distribution center.
Oshkosh Corp.’s decision to make postal trucks in South Carolina has opened debate over how much loyalty a corporation owes to a community and state that have extended more than $70 million in tax credits and other incentives.
Pfeifer also told investors that the Postal Service’s sudden announcement that it plans to replace some of its fleet with at least 34,500 commercially available “off the shelf” vehicles from other vendors would not hurt the company’s bottom line. But it does raise questions about just how many vehicles the Spartanburg plant will ultimately produce for the Postal Service.
“Our position has always been: We want Oshkosh (Defense) to get the electric vehicle work,” UAW’s national vice president Cindy Estrada told Wisconsin Watch. “But we also want them to do it under a union contract where there’s democracy in the workforce.”
South Carolina’s incentives include a $9 million grant, plus a locally-approved 40-year property tax break. Elected officials in Wisconsin have been careful not to directly criticize the company.
“This isn’t the first time South Carolina, and that part of the country has thrown incentives, with no accountability, trying to poach existing businesses,” said Assembly Minority Leader Rep. Gordon Hintz, D-Oshkosh, and a member of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. board of directors.
Oshkosh Defense has been sending jobs to non-union states for several years. The company outsourced up to 300 assembly jobs to a non-union plant in Jefferson City, Tennessee, in 2019.
In Northeast Wisconsin, the focus has already shifted to the next big federal contract. Much of Oshkosh Corp.’s good fortune can be traced to the success of its Joint Light Tactical Vehicle — a truck it designed to largely replace the U.S. Army’s Humvee.
Even though Oshkosh Defense developed the vehicle and has been producing since winning the contract in 2015, the blueprints now belong to the Pentagon. The contract is being re-bid at the end of the year, and there’s fierce competition for the roughly $7.3 billion dollar prize to build 16,600 vehicles and 10,000 trailers.
“We supported Oshkosh (Corp.),” he said. “It's time for Oshkosh to do the right thing.”
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2022-08-19T14:12:56Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Oshkosh Defense sent work South. Will future jobs stay in Wisconsin?
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/08/19/oshkosh-defense-sent-work-south-future-jobs-stay-wisconsin/10290480002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/business/2022/08/19/oshkosh-defense-sent-work-south-future-jobs-stay-wisconsin/10290480002/
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Legal Action of Wisconsin expands its legal representation program to include debt collection cases
Legal Action of Wisconsin received a $360,000 Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant to expand its Lawyer-For-A-Day program.
The program, which already exists to defend low-income residents in eviction court, will now also be offered to low-income clients facing debt collectors and debt buyers in small claims court.
The goal of the project, according to a statement, is “to enforce consumers’ rights by reducing uncontested and “rubber-stamped” judgments against debtors.” Research from the Legal Services Corp. indicated more than 90% of low-income Americans faced civil litigation with inadequate or no legal help.
Volunteer and corporate attorneys as well as law students are being sought to help the project add capacity.
The grant was awarded by the Legal Services Corp., a nonprofit legal assistance agency that received funding from Congress to support pro bono legal efforts, such as the Lawyer-For-A-Day program. The corporation awarded 15 legal aid organizations across the country a total of $4.75 million to improve access to pro bono legal services.
Legal Action of Wisconsin was one of 12 legal agencies to be awarded a Pro Bono Innovation Fund grant in 2021, receiving nearly $400,000 to expand its Student Legal Aid Project.
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin lauded Legal Action for receiving the grant and using it to expand access to representation.
“Legal Action of Wisconsin has helped fulfill the American ideal ‘justice for all’ and ensure our justice system works for all Wisconsinites,” Baldwin, D-Wis., wrote in a statement.
Talis Shelbourne is an investigative solutions reporter covering the issues of affordable housing, environment and equity issues. Have a tip? You can reach Talis at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.
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2022-08-19T14:13:09Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Legal Action of Wisconsin receives grant to expand legal access
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/19/legal-action-wisconsin-receives-grant-expand-legal-access-debt-collection-pro-bono/10357665002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/19/legal-action-wisconsin-receives-grant-expand-legal-access-debt-collection-pro-bono/10357665002/
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Breakshots/Huba-Huba sold, closing in Oconomowoc
After more than four decades in the city of Oconomowoc, Huba-Huba is closing tomorrow.
Owner Mandy Counsell made the announcement on Facebook on Aug. 15. Her father, Bob "Bugsy" Counsell purchased the building in 1978. At first, it was a bowling alley called The Main Lane. It later became a bar called Huba-Huba, then Breakshots and then Huba-Huba again in 2011.
But after 44 years in business, the family decided 2022 was the time to sell.
“Basically, we got an offer on the building, and we knew it was the right time even though it was a sad decision,” Counsell said. “I’m not totally sure what they’re doing next with it.”
To celebrate over four decades in Oconomowoc, the bar, which is known as both Breakshots and Huba-Huba, is throwing an "I Closed Down Breakshots" sendoff party on Saturday starting at noon. It includes bands that played at the bar in the 1980s, such as Silverback and Abandoned.
“It’s the end of an era,” Counsell said. “We still have a lot of regulars from as far back as 1978. I think that’s another reason that this weekend so many will pile back in for the last day. Even these bands are coming back just for this."
Counsell added that while the bar is closing, she is not done yet in the industry.
“While it is the end of one era, it’s also the start of a new, good one,” she added. “I’m staying in the industry and opening a new place. It’ll be a different vibe and not in Oconomowoc, but it will be in Lake Country.”
For now, though, she said is retiring the Huba-Huba name.
"I can’t begin to say how thankful my family has always been here and the love people have for my dad is as strong as it ever was," she added. "We still see so many people he served, and that’s been my favorite part of all of this. Just keeping his memory alive."
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2022-08-19T16:50:02Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Breakshots Huba-Huba sold, closing in Oconomowoc
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/19/breakshots-huba-huba-sold-closing-oconomowoc/7841944001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/19/breakshots-huba-huba-sold-closing-oconomowoc/7841944001/
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Germantown residents will vote on a water and sewer agreement with Richfield; the referendum question will be on November ballot
Germantown residents will vote in November on whether to share their water and sewer services with a portion of Richfield.
The Germantown Village Board voted Monday to put the referendum on the ballot.
Richfield would bear all costs of extending services, but some Germantown residents are concerned about limited water supply and how this might affect their personal wells.
Germantown Village President Dean Wolter said the state Department of Natural Resources has made sure that Germantown’s aquifer, a water-bearing rock layer that transmits water to wells and springs, is strong enough so residents’ wells will not be affected.
The water would be shared with a portion of Richfield between Interstate 41, Holy Hill Road, Highway 175 and Pleasant Hill Road.
Under the proposal, Richfield residents would pay the same for water as Germantown, but, as part of the intergovernmental agreement, their sewer rates would be 20% higher. The agreement has been discussed over the past two years.
The portion of Richfield that services would be shared with is dedicated to industrial development. For someone to build in that area, they would have to have a consistent water and sewer service.
“(Richfield) approached the village of Germantown and asked if we would consider extending sewer and water services to that area that they want to develop,” Wolter said.
The question on the ballot will be: Shall the Village of Germantown provide water and sanitary sewer service for a fee and on an ongoing basis to customers in a portion of the Village of Richfield pursuant to the terms of an Intergovernmental Agreement between the Village of Richfield and the Village of Germantown?
“It's a nonbinding referendum, but the board did decide that they would uphold whatever the outcome of that referendum question is,” Wolter said.
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2022-08-19T16:50:08Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Germantown-Richfield water referendum placed on November ballot
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/germantown/2022/08/19/germantown-richfield-water-referendum-placed-november-ballot/10347436002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/germantown/2022/08/19/germantown-richfield-water-referendum-placed-november-ballot/10347436002/
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Wauwatosa to provide $3.3 million in funding for affordable housing development geared towards individuals with developmental disabilities
The city of Wauwatosa has approved plans that will provide about $3.3 million in tax incremental financing to the developer of Cornerstone Village, AbleLight.
The development, at 7501, 7423, 7429 W. North Ave., is designed to be a mixed-use affordable housing community aimed primarily toward adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
According to John Ruggini, city finance director, the funding is being provided due to “extraordinary costs that would otherwise prohibit the development.”
Wauwatosa Mayor Dennis McBride said he saw the project as a priority because it directly meets the needs of the Wauwatosa community.
“We don't have housing for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities," he explained. "This is our city's commitment to working with partners like AbleLight to make sure that we have a great living environment for people of all ages and abilities.”
What are the details of the development?
Cornerstone Village will offer 94 residential units and four townhomes. The unit mix will designate 23 units for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities.
At least 20% of the total units will be reserved as affordable housing with an additional nine units set to be priced at no more than 50% of the area median income. Seven units will be at or below 60% of the area median income, and three units will be at or below 80% of the area median income.
According to the city, affordable units will preferably be leased to adults ages 18 or older that have an intellectual or developmental disability. The remaining units will be offered at market rents for people of all abilities.
Further plans for the community include a 5,300-square-foot space for a bank, and retail spaces for businesses that employ individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
There is also a possibility that a Discovery Lab space could be used in conjunction with the Wauwatosa School District to allow for experience opportunities to individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
Where will the city’s funding go?
Cornerstone Village is eligible for TIF because it is within a new TTIF district in the city. A TIF district, which needs Common Council approval, uses property tax revenue generated by the new development to help pay its costs.
This kind of funding allows the city to shift risk to the developer while still providing the needed assistance on the project.
“As is always the case for our TIF districts, these are not handouts to developers; these are investments in our community,” said McBride. “We expect the TIF district to allow us to replace sidewalks and water mains and provide other amenities.”
As for the allocation of the TIF funds, $180,00 will go to demolition, $85,000 will go to utility relocation, $59,000 will go to work within public right of way, $60,000 will go into neighbor-requested screening, $90,000 will go into a temporary trailer for the bank and approximately $2.9 million will go to affordable housing.
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2022-08-19T16:50:20Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Tosa to provide $3.3 million for affordable housing development
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/2022/08/19/tosa-provide-3-3-million-affordable-housing-development/7835812001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/2022/08/19/tosa-provide-3-3-million-affordable-housing-development/7835812001/
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An additional $20 million is needed for Wisconsin Center's cost overruns fueled by inflation and supply chain problems.
An additional $20 million in public debt is needed to finance inflation-fueled cost overruns on downtown Milwaukee's convention center expansion.
The expansion project, initially budgeted at $420 million, is doubling the Wisconsin Center's size. It is to be done by March 2024 — around five months before helping host the Republican National Convention.
The project's debt is being paid off over 40 years by countywide hotel, restaurant and car rental taxes levied by the Wisconsin Center District, the state-created agency which operates the convention center.
The project is facing a $36 million shortfall due to inflation and supply chain issues, according to the district.
So, district board voted Friday to borrow another $20 million to cover the higher costs of steel, concrete and other construction materials.
The remaining gap is being filled with $4 million in excess interest income, $5 million in grants from Levy Premium Foodservice LP, which operates food and beverage concessions at the Wisconsin Center and other district buildings, and $7 million from a reserve account.
The board also voted to extend Levy's food and beverage contract. That contract, which was to expire June 30, could now extend as late a June 30, 2033 under district options.
Bids on various portions of the project, which started a year ago, have been 10% to 15% higher than budgeted.
However, the district's tax revenue has been higher than expected so far in 2022 compared to the year-earlier period.
"All of our bid packs are now in and this funding request will allow us to complete the project as it was originally proposed and deliver the right venue for the city," said Wisconsin Center President and Chief Executive Officer Marty Brooks, in a statement.
Annual direct spending of visitors to Wisconsin Center, estimated at $105 million in 2019, is expected to increase to $154 million during the expansion's first year, according to a study by HVS Global Hospitality Services, a consulting firm based in Westbury, New York.
Full-time jobs at hotels, restaurants and other businesses tied to that spending, now estimated at 800, are expected to increase to 1,200 in 2024, according to the study.
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2022-08-19T16:50:32Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee Wisconsin Center project needs $20 million due to inflation
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/19/milwaukee-wisconsin-center-project-needs-20-million-due-inflation/7841786001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/19/milwaukee-wisconsin-center-project-needs-20-million-due-inflation/7841786001/
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Six years ago, Ron Johnson trailed his Democratic challenger by 9 points in Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate race, according to an August 2016 poll by the Marquette Law School.
Johnson went on to beat Russ Feingold by 3 points in November.
The latest Marquette Poll, released Wednesday, showed the Wisconsin Republican lagging 7 points behind his Democratic challenger, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes. A separate Fox News Poll released Thursday showed Johnson trailing by 4 points.
Ron Johnson has been here before.
Revisiting the 2016 Senate race is a reminder that polls three months before the election don’t always predict the outcome.
It’s a reminder that Johnson has come back from polling deficits before.
But it’s also a reminder that Johnson’s situation is different and, in some ways, more challenging today than it was in 2016.
Johnson's 'negative rating' at all-time high
One difference is that Johnson is considerably more unpopular now than he was six years ago. His “negative rating” — the share of voters who view him unfavorably — is the highest it has ever been (47%) since Marquette began polling on Johnson almost a decade ago.
Another difference is that by this point six years ago, Johnson’s popularity was on the upswing. The GOP senator had been “under water” in the fall of 2015: the share of voters who viewed him favorably (27%) was much smaller than the share who viewed him unfavorably (38%).
But Johnson’s popularity ratings got better early in 2016. By March, 32% viewed him favorably, 31% unfavorably. By early August, 34% viewed him favorably, 32% unfavorably. By October, 41% viewed Johnson favorably and 33% viewed him unfavorably in Marquette’s polling.
As Marquette pollster Charles Franklin puts it, Johnson succeeded during that campaign in converting “don’t knows” (voters who had no opinion of him) into “positives” (voters who viewed him favorably).
That hasn’t happened this time around. There has been no significant election-year improvement in Johnson’s numbers, no recovery into positive territory. His mix of “favorables” and “unfavorables” was 36/42 last October (a minus 6 rating), 33/45 this February (minus 12), 36/46 this April (minus 10), 37/46 this June (minus 9) and 38/47 (minus 9) in the new August poll. Johnson has had a net negative rating now for more than a year, easily his longest stretch “under water” in Marquette’s polling.
More:'This race is going to get nasty on both sides': Mandela Barnes, Ron Johnson poised for expensive, contentious U.S. Senate battle
Meanwhile, the share of voters who view him unfavorably has set or tied its previous high in six consecutive polls. At this point six years ago, 32% gave him an unfavorable rating; today it is 47%.
Johnson went into the 2016 campaign with name recognition — the share of voters who knew enough about him to have an opinion — in the mid-60s, which is pretty low for a sitting senator. It rose to 70% in September of that election year and nearly 80% just before the election.
By contrast, Johnson went into this current election cycle with name recognition of almost 80%. In the new Marquette poll, it’s 85%, which is roughly 20 points higher than it was in summer of 2016.
In short, public opinion is much more entrenched and much more negative toward Johnson than it was at this point in his last campaign.
Differences between 2016 and 2022 could cut for — and against — Johnson
There are other important differences between 2016 and 2022. Some could work against Johnson this time, and some could work in his favor.
Johnson’s current opponent (Barnes) is less well known than Johnson’s previous opponent (Feingold, the former three-term US Senator whom Johnson unseated in 2010).
Barnes’ youth (35) and relative newness to statewide politics may be an asset for Democrats right now. In the new poll, he is viewed positively by 37% of voters and negatively by 22%, while more than 40% had no opinion. Even though his name recognition is under 60%, Barnes led Johnson in the new poll, 51% to 44%. Among independents, only 33% know him well enough to have a favorable opinion, but 52% prefer him over Johnson, meaning Barnes is drawing support right now from many voters who know little about him.
That makes his newness and low name recognition a potential vulnerability, as well. Republican strategists think Barnes is vulnerable on stands he has taken and things he has said about hot-button issues such as crime and immigration. Johnson and his allies will hammer him on TV between now and November (it has already begun). It’s classic election strategy. When you’re a vulnerable incumbent facing an unfamiliar challenger, you view your path to victory as driving up your opponent’s negatives.
One important parallel with 2016 is that Johnson is running once more against the party in power, which is historically a very good place to be. Incumbent senators in the “out party” — the party that doesn’t occupy the White House — rarely lose.
In 2016, Democrat Barack Obama was in the White House. Obama wasn’t an unpopular president at the time; he had positive approval ratings throughout 2016 in Wisconsin. But he had been in office for eight years, so the public’s appetite for change was helpful to Johnson.
This time, Johnson has another Democratic president to run against, Joe Biden, and Biden’s job ratings are much worse than Obama’s. In the new Marquette poll, 40% approve of Biden and 55% disapprove.
That could make this an even better environment for Johnson to run in than 2016 was. But Johnson himself has now been in office for 12 years instead of six, making it harder for him to run as the candidate of change.
And while Biden is a drag on Democrats in 2022, former President Donald Trump is a potential drag on Republicans. Former presidents don’t typically leave their imprint on mid-term elections, but Trump is constantly in the news and actively influencing his party’s candidates.
In the new Marquette poll, Trump is viewed favorably by 38% of voters and unfavorably by 57%. Trump’s role is one reason there are so many mixed signals in the state and national polling right now about the national political environment, and how favorable it is for the GOP.
So how should we view Barnes’ 7-point lead over Johnson in the Marquette survey released Wednesday?
With all the caution that should be attached to every pre-election poll, especially more than two months before Election Day.
And maybe with extra caution in light of Johnson’s history of winning elections where he trailed in the polls, which happened in both 2010 and 2016. In Marquette’s 2016 polling, Johnson trailed Feingold by 9 points in early August, 3 points in late August, 5 points in September, 2 points in early October and 1 point in late October, before winning his race by 3.4 points.
At the same time, every election is different, and 2022 is not 2016.
Johnson’s public standing has never been worse over the course of nearly a decade of Marquette polling. It’s considerably worse than it was at this point in his previous campaign. And there are no real signs in the polling that he is turning that around, as he did six years ago.
Unless he does, Johnson will need to convince a plurality of Wisconsin voters that his opponent is a more unpalatable choice than he is for the United States Senate.
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2022-08-19T16:50:38Z
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www.jsonline.com
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As in 2016, Ron Johnson trails his re-election opponent in August poll
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/2016-ron-johnson-trails-his-re-election-opponent-democrat-mandela-barnes-august-poll/7842734001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/2016-ron-johnson-trails-his-re-election-opponent-democrat-mandela-barnes-august-poll/7842734001/
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MATC receives largest gift in its history to offer full-ride scholarships to some students
Milwaukee Area Technical College has received the largest gift in its history, which will allow the school for the first time to award full-ride scholarships to some students.
Ellen and Joe Checota are giving up to $5 million to the college on the condition that MATC raises $2.5 million on its own, bringing the total amount for the scholarship program to $7.5 million.
The Ellen and Joe Checota Scholarship will be available to students this school year who are seeking a short-term technical diploma and maintain a "C" average each semester.
The Checota scholarship represents a significant expansion of MATC's existing scholarships, most of which are limited to tuition payments. It will cover not only tuition but also books, meals, transportation and child care.
The scholarship will operate as a "last-dollar" award, meaning it will cover what isn’t met by other financial aid a student receives, such as a Pell grant and other scholarships. All state, federal and other available financial support must be exhausted before the funds of the Checota Scholarship Program are utilized
“The $5 million gift of Ellen and Joe Checota is a game changer for MATC," college president Vicki Martin said in a statement. "Thousands of MATC trade and technical students will be able to build and live better and more productive lives because of their generosity."
MATC leaders and the donors will formally announce the gift 11 a.m. Friday at the college's Downtown campus.
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2022-08-19T16:50:50Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee Area Technical College receives largest gift in its history
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/19/milwaukee-area-technical-college-receives-largest-gift-its-history/7841824001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/19/milwaukee-area-technical-college-receives-largest-gift-its-history/7841824001/
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The number of COVID-19 patients in Wisconsin hospitals dropped dramatically during the week starting Aug. 14.
On Tuesday, hospitalizations were as high as 551 patients — the highest total in nearly six months — however that number fell to 524 patients on Wednesday and to 460 patients on Thursday, according to the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
The number of patients with COVID-19 did increase by one patient on Friday. The state reported 440 patients one month ago.
Further, as the state reports a decline in hospitalizations, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services also reported a decline in the number of vaccine doses being administered across the state.
The number of doses being given on a weekly basis has decreased for the last month.
Seven-day average of new deaths reported within 30 days of death: 2 (even deaths from a month ago)
Residents ages 5 to 11 with at least one dose: 141,578 (29% of age group)
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2022-08-19T23:36:48Z
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www.jsonline.com
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COVID hospitalizations in Wisconsin decreases; vaccine doses drops
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/covid-hospitalizations-wisconsin-decreases-vaccine-doses-drops/7846110001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/covid-hospitalizations-wisconsin-decreases-vaccine-doses-drops/7846110001/
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Those who knew Quanita “Tay” Jackson remember her as a community role model.
She advocated for peace, she said things like "it's time to put the guns down and start bringing our loved ones and friends and family together again."
Jackson also organized community events. The day after Jackson organized a 3-on-3 basketball tournament at Moody Park to promote peace in the neighborhood in 2019, she was shot and killed on Milwaukee's north side, a few blocks from the park.
Now, a new 3-on-3 basketball tournament has been planned, set to be held Saturday and Sunday, with a celebrity game set for 2 p.m. Saturday — a day that has been named "Tay Day" by community members and elected officials.
The event will be held at the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center, 5460 N. 64th St.
According to a news release from Ald. Milele A. Coggs' office, former NBA players Rodney Buford and Darius Miles will be in attendance.
Buford is from Milwaukee and played basketball at Vincent High School.
The winner of the tournament receives a cash prize, according to the tournament's Facebook page.
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2022-08-20T01:42:33Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Celebrity basketball game and 3-on-3 tournament planned for 'Tay Day'
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/celebrity-basketball-game-and-3-3-tournament-planned-tay-day/7847595001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/19/celebrity-basketball-game-and-3-3-tournament-planned-tay-day/7847595001/
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River Falls native Alex Call hit his first major-league home run late Friday, and it benefitted the Milwaukee Brewers in the latest chapter of the Josh Hader saga.
Hader did not record an out during a tumultuous ninth inning to absorb the loss, drawing boos from the Padres crowd for a second straight night. Washington, which came into the game with a 40-80 record, the worst mark in the NL, also defeated the Padres one night earlier when Hader yielded a go-ahead walk and allowed two inherited runners to score.
Call was a two-time all-state baseball player at River Falls and played high school baseball with J.P. Feyereisen, the former Brewers pitcher traded to Tampa Bay as part of the exchange for Willy Adames last year. Call played college baseball at Ball State and was a third-round draft pick by the White Sox in 2016.
Hader did not allow a run for the first two months of the season and recorded 18 saves in the process. Since the start of July with the Brewers and Padres, he has allowed 19 earned runs in 12⅔ innings (13.50 ERA).
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2022-08-20T15:12:16Z
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www.jsonline.com
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River Falls native Alex Call hits first MLB homer against Josh Hader
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/20/river-falls-native-alex-call-hits-first-mlb-homer-against-josh-hader/7854140001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/20/river-falls-native-alex-call-hits-first-mlb-homer-against-josh-hader/7854140001/
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North America's foremost waterfowl survey found 34.2 million ducks this spring, a drop of 12% from the last time the work was completed in 2019 and 4% below the long-term average, according to a report issued Friday by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Also of note the 2022 Waterfowl Population Status report represents the fifth consecutive decrease since a record high 49.5 million ducks in 2015 and lowest total since 2005.
The 2022 results were eagerly awaited by many waterfowl hunters and wildlife managers since the survey, which dates to the 1950s, was not performed in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
But the drop in duck numbers was a surprise to no one. Drought conditions most of the last two years in the Prairie Pothole Region, a key duck production area including North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba, suppressed waterfowl production.
Only two (blue-winged teal and redheads) of the top 10 duck species showed increases from the 2019 report.
“Given the widespread dry conditions last year across most of the prairies where ducks breed, it’s not surprising that the breeding population number is lower than it had been throughout most of the 2010s,” said Chris Nicolai, waterfowl scientist for Delta Waterfowl.
The 2022 report summary by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made no mention of potential effects of highly pathogenic avian influenza, a virus that has killed ducks and many other wild bird species across the continent this year.
The data for the report are derived from aerial surveys on more than 2 million square miles of principal waterfowl breeding areas in North America.
The survey has been conducted annually since 1955 by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Canadian Wildlife Service and other partners. It provides the single best picture of continental waterfowl populations.
The information is used by wildlife managers to set waterfowl hunting regulations and help protect populations of wild ducks and geese.
Despite the declines seen this year, overall waterfowl numbers remain in good shape and hunters will see liberal frameworks for ducks in 2022 and 2023. In the Mississippi Flyway (which includes Wisconsin) that means 60-day duck hunting seasons with six duck daily bag limits.
The 2022 report shows 7.22 million mallards, 23% lower than 2019 and 9% below the long-term average.
Wisconsin, however, bucks the trend when it comes to mallards. The 2022 report showed 186,000 mallards in the Badger State, up from 147,000 in 2019 and 2% above the long-term average.
Blue-winged teal, the second-most abundant duck in the survey at 6.49 million, were 27% above the long-term average and 19% above 2019. Green-winged teal indexed at 2.17 million, a 32% decrease from 2019 but on par long-term.
Gadwalls came in at 2.67 million, down 18% but 30% above the long-term average while American wigeon declined 25% to 2.13 million, 19% below the long-term average and northern shovelers declined 15% to 3.04 million and remain 15% above the long-term average.
Among the diving duck species estimated in the survey, scaup (greater and lesser combined) were estimated at 3.6 million, 28% below the long-term average but unchanged from 2019. Canvasbacks came in at 585,000, 10% less than 2019 and 1% below the long-term average. Redheads increased to 991,000, up 35% from 2019 and 36% above the long-term average.
Pintails continued a long-term decline to 1.78 million, 21% below 2019 and 54% below the long-term average. The 2022 pintail estimate is the lowest in the history of the survey.
If the pintail number falls below 1.75 million it would result in a closed season for the species, according to a federal guideline.
On a positive note conditions were much wetter this spring in key waterfowl breeding areas.
The May pond count, a key indicator of duck production potential, showed 5.45 million ponds, 4% above the long-term average and 9% above the 2019 index.
Biologists are anticipating substantially better duck production this year and predicting good flights of waterfowl this fall.
"Remember that we hunt the fall flight, not just the breeding population," Nicolai said. "The years when duck production is strong, like this year should be, generally provide the best hunting seasons.”
The regular Wisconsin duck hunting seasons open Sept. 24 in the northern zone, Oct. 1 in the southern zone and Oct. 15 in the open water zone.
A statewide youth waterfowl hunt will also be held Sept. 17 and 18.
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2022-08-20T21:19:57Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Waterfowl Population Status report: ducks plentiful but trending down
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/08/20/waterfowl-population-status-report-ducks-plentiful-but-trending-down/7844310001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/outdoors/2022/08/20/waterfowl-population-status-report-ducks-plentiful-but-trending-down/7844310001/
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A fire at an apartment building in Brown Deer has displaced more than 100 people.
The fire occurred at the River Place apartments, 4130 W. Hawthorne Trace Rd., at 4:05 p.m. on Saturday, according to a news release from North Shore Fire/Rescue.
First responders found a "significant fire" in the attic of the apartment building. Firefighters evacuated the building and extinguished the fire in about fifty minutes, the news release states.
One firefighter suffered minor injuries on scene and returned to duty. There were no other injuries reported, fire officials said.
"The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it appears it may be related to a lightning strike of the building," the news release states.
The building complex is 110 units and 42 units are not currently habitable. "Approximately ten of the units suffered fire damage, the remaining units are uninhabitable due to either smoke/water damage or because the specific area of the building does not have power," fire officials said.
The Red Cross and North Shore Health Department have set up a shelter for displaced occupants at Brown Deer Elementary/Middle School, 5757 W. Dean Rd. "Anyone displaced by this fire is welcome to join us for a comfortable place to stay, food and other essentials," said Red Cross spokesperson Justin Kern.
Kern said the Red Cross is anticipating approximately 110 people.
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2022-08-21T04:10:57Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Fire at an apartment in Brown Deer displaces more than 100 people
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/20/fire-apartment-brown-deer-displaces-more-than-100-people/7858764001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/20/fire-apartment-brown-deer-displaces-more-than-100-people/7858764001/
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CHICAGO – Heading into the season, Jace Peterson would not have been one of the first names rattled off when listing the most indispensable members of the Milwaukee Brewers.
A five-week absence since suffering left elbow sprain in late July, however, has proved Peterson's worth to the team in many ways, and the utility man is poised to return soon.
Peterson will begin a three-game rehab stint with the Class High-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers beginning Tuesday. Brewers manager Craig Counsell said the team will reevaluate next steps afterward, while Peterson said he has the intent of being activated Friday for a weekend series against the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field.
Peterson, 32, is batting .252/.325/.419 and, thanks in large part to excellent third-base defense, is still the Brewers' second-most valuable position player by wins above replacement (WAR).
When he initially went on the injured list July 23, the Brewers knew they would miss his defensive versatility and offensive consistency. What they didn't know was that Luis Urías, filling in as the everyday third baseman, would hit .159 with a .554 OPS since July 29.
Getting Peterson back by the end of August is positive news for Milwaukee considering the initial prognosis of a two-to-three month injury.
"This is kind of the fast end of how he was gonna be able to do this," Counsell said Sunday before the Brewers' game against the Cubs. "He needed a chance to have some healing. He needed to take a break, and so hopefully we got that. So far he's been in a good place and hopefully that continues."
The biggest hurdle for Peterson to clear before being sent on a rehab assignment was swinging at full effort, which he cleared over the weekend.
"Honestly, better than I thought," Peterson said of how his hitting sessions went. "Swinging-wise it felt pretty good. I've been doing everything. Swinging, ground balls, running, just kind of doing everything we could've done to get it right. It's feeling really good."
More:The Brewers will be without one of their most valuable players for an extended period
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2022-08-21T21:52:30Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Brewers' Jace Peterson expected to return from elbow injury soon
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/21/brewers-jace-peterson-expected-return-elbow-injury-soon/7846456001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/21/brewers-jace-peterson-expected-return-elbow-injury-soon/7846456001/
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Drake Bentley Kassidy Hill
The NFL has released part of the Top 100 Players of 2022 — the league's annual poll is voted on solely by current NFL players.
Only one member of the Green Bay Packers has been named to the list as of Sunday.
The poll is conducted by the NFL in the off-season, and players rank their peers based on how they performed in the most recent season.
Coming in at No. 49 is linebacker De'Vondre Campbell, named to the list for the first time in his career. A fourth-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons in 2016 out of the University of Minnesota, Campbell played four seasons with Atlanta and one with the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Packers in 2021.
"Many guys of that size, that build, not real good in coverage. But, I feel like he a real good cover guy and I feel like that's what he thrives at the most," said Super Bowl champion and Buccaneers linebacker Lavonte David in a video announcing Campbell to the list.
Campbell accumulated two interceptions and five passes defended in 2021. He also led the team with 145 total tackles, which ranked seventh in the NFL, and added two sacks, six tackles for loss, six quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
"Have a guy like that in the middle of the field, controlling everything. Somebody ... making sure everybody is right where they need to be. ... He got a big payday," David said. Campbell signed a 5-year, $50 million contract in March.
Campbell earned first-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press last season. He is the first Green Bay inside linebacker since Ray Nitschke in 1966 to be named to the first-team, although linebacker Nick Barnett was a second-team selection in 2007.
More:Packers' All-Pro tackle David Bakhtiari has 'ambitious' goals after being activated from injury list
More:Packers rookie receiver Christian Watson taking small steps in recovery, including picking Aaron Rodgers' brain
A couple of other players with Wisconsin connections were named to the Top 100 list. Former Wisconsin Badgers' quarterback Russell Wilson, a member of the Denver Broncos, was voted to the No. 61 spot.
Although a member of the Los Angeles Chargers last season, former Green Bay Packers center Corey Linsley was voted No. 60. He was also voted No. 60 last season, the year for which his play was recognized as a member of the Packers.
Last year, six Green Packers made the list: Za'Darius Smith, Jaire Alexander, David Bakhtiari, Aaron Jones, Davante Adams and Aaron Rodgers. Injuries and departures will result in probably only two Packers making the list this year.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers will be vying for the No. 1 spot after being voted MVP again.
Last year, Rodgers placed third. Kansas City Chiefs' quarterback Patrick Mahomes was voted No. 1 and Los Angeles Rams' defensive tackle Aaron Donald was voted No. 2.
The NFL was to reveal Nos. 21-30 later Sunday on the NFL Network. The top 20 will be revealed at 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug 28.
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2022-08-22T01:54:58Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Packers represented on NFL's Top 100 Players of 2022
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/08/21/packers-represented-nfls-top-100-players-2022/10325431002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/08/21/packers-represented-nfls-top-100-players-2022/10325431002/
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10 years of tunes: Racine native Zachary Scot Johnson has recorded a song every day for over 3,600 days and has no plans of stopping
A lot has happened to Zachary Scot Johnson in the past decade.
He's moved across the country multiple times. He became a father. He's sang with famous musicians like Roseanne Cash, "The Office" star Creed Bratton, and Noel Paul Stookey of the '60s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary.
But one part of Johnson's routine has remained the same for the last 10 years: Every day, he posts a video of himself performing a song to his YouTube channel, aptly named thesongadayproject.
Sometimes, it's an original song. Other times, it's something from one of his favorite albums or a suggestion from one of his 10,000-plus subscribers.
Since posting his first video on Sept. 6, 2012, Johnson hasn't missed a day. For the last 3,600-plus days, he's uploaded a new video — and shared another song with the world — on each one.
Johnson, a Racine native who lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, is a singer-songwriter whose musical influences include folk, jazz and rock. In addition to his YouTube channel, he plays 75 to 100 concerts a year.
Next month, Johnson will celebrate the 10-year anniversary of thesongadayproject. But when he started, recording a decade's worth of songs and videos wasn't what he had planned.
"I honestly thought it would last a month or so," he admitted. "But a couple of things converged that made me continue."
One was moving to Tempe, Arizona, where his wife was completing a graduate program.
"I had essentially nothing else going on, because I had just moved across the country where I was unfamiliar with everything," Johnson recalled.
The second was having his talent recognized by one of his musical heroes.
Expecting few if any replies, Johnson, in his channel's first year, began reaching out to musicians he admired, asking if they'd like to play a song with him.
"And right off the bat, some people that I just couldn't believe said 'yes' to sing songs with me said 'yes,'" Johnson said. "(Noel Paul Stookey) was among the first guests I ever had."
On Day 431, Johnson and Stookey recorded a duet of Stookey's "One and Many," which now has over 108,000 views.
"That was like getting anointed by the generation above me," Johnson recalled. "It's like they said, 'There's something worthy about what you're doing here. Follow through.'"
Has Zachary Scot Johnson really never missed a day in his YouTube project?
Johnson said this is by far the most common question he receives about thesongadayproject.
While he really has posted one song every day for the past 10 years, he hasn't recorded one every day.
"There are a few instances in which — if I know it's going to be a really busy travel day the next day — I may record two on one day and post one the next day," he said.
Another time, he recorded over 100 songs in one weekend.
"Three or four years ago, I went to a folk music conference ... called Folk Alliance, where it's like 3,000 folk singers in one hotel for a weekend," he said. "Over three or four days, I recorded 104 collaborations with people."
For more than a year after that, Johnson said he posted one of the collaborations every five days while recording new videos the other four days.
"It was nice to have a regular break that year," he said.
Johnson had a lifelong love of music
Johnson first fell in love with music when he began classical violin lessons at 6 years old.
However, he didn't consider himself a singer-songwriter until he was a student at Lawrence University. There, he wrote and performed his own music at least monthly at the university's coffeehouse.
"I always had this secret ambition to be a singer-songwriter, but when you're younger than 18, that's tough in Racine," he said. "There weren't a whole lot of opportunities for me to perform at that age because it's mostly bars."
In 2006, Johnson graduated from Lawrence with degrees in violin performance, theater arts and psychology. While he wouldn't pursue a triple major if he were to go back to college today, he said theater was "fantastic training" for a career as a musician.
As a theater student, he participated in a comedy improv troupe, which he said made him a much better performer.
"The skill set gained from being in an improv troupe (is) the ability not just to think fast, but to be really open to everything," he said. "The rule of improv comedy is to 'say yes to everything.' The ability to do that is important for every performer of any craft."
He started a YouTube channel as people shifted toward that platform
Although thesongadayproject is about to turn 10, the idea came to Johnson more than a year before he posted his first video. You can fact-check this, Johnson joked.
It's true, his channel was created on March 1, 2011.
"Around 2010, I noticed at gigs that CDs had stopped selling, and I was talking to so many other singer-songwriters, and we were all experiencing it," he recalled.
Johnson and his colleagues observed that many people were now discovering new music on YouTube and iTunes.
But while Johnson had already created a YouTube channel, he said he had to work up the courage to post his first video.
"I was nervous to start. That's why it took me so long," he confessed. "'American Idol' and 'The Voice' were big, and there was so much going on in the discussion of what's 'good' and 'bad' in music. I don't think music is that easily classifiable ... but I felt like I'd be opening myself up for some negativity, and I'm a sensitive person."
Then, Johnson remembered the advice he'd learned in improv: "Say yes to everything."
"If I want to have (a YouTube presence), I want to do something unique," he realized. "So I thought, 'Maybe there's something to the idea of recording every single song that I know,' because I was playing a lot of four-hour bar gigs, and I thought it would be cool — if someone requested a song — to be able to say yes to anything."
For his channel's first 100 days or so, Johnson said, each video received between 100 and 130 views. Then, on Day 128, his cover of Elliott Smith's "Waltz #2" quickly racked up over 50,000 views.
This came as quite a surprise to Johnson, who said, to this day he still doesn't know how to predict which songs will be popular with viewers. In fact, he said, it's often the songs he feels aren't his best work that accumulate the most views.
Johnson's wildest experience saw him play on stage in Ireland to mark five years
Without a doubt Johnson's most memorable — and surprising — experience came around thesongadayproject's five-year anniversary.
One day, he received an email claiming to be from Donovan — the mononymous, U.K.-based '60s and '70s folk singer whose hit single, "Catch the Wind," Johnson covered in his very first YouTube video.
Donovan wrote that he'd seen Johnson's cover and was intrigued by thesongadayproject. He invited Johnson to record with him if Johnson was ever in Dublin.
"I almost deleted the email because I didn't think it was real," Johnson said. "I ignored it because I thought, even if it was the real guy, 'I don't have plans to go to Ireland anytime soon.'"
But a few days later, Johnson got a call from Donovan's manager who told him Donovan would send him a plane ticket so they could record a duet of "Catch the Wind" on stage to mark five years of thesongadayproject.
On Day 1,851, that's exactly what they did.
Johnson said he still can't believe that moment was real.
He'll celebrate 10 years with a concert in his hometown of Racine
Johnson doesn't plan to stop thesongadayproject anytime soon. In fact, he thinks it'd be "really cool" to reach 10,000 days — over 27 years of songs.
But before he sets his sights on the next milestone, Johnson will celebrate 10 years of thesongadayproject with a 7 p.m. concert Saturday, Sept. 10, at First Presbyterian Church of Racine.
In addition to playing original songs and covers, he plans to tell his best stories from the past decade, including the Donovan story and the time he played a gala for Tony Bennett in New York City.
"I've also invited a bunch of friends to sing with me and people who have joined me for songs along the way, including a 60-piece choir," Johnson said. "Anytime you get to sing with a choir backing you up, it's amazing. I'm so excited."
Concert tickets are available for purchase at the door or by calling First Presbyterian Church of Racine at (262) 632-1686.
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2022-08-22T13:13:57Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Zachary Scot Johnson has recorded a song a day to YouTube for 10 years
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/22/racine-zachary-scot-johnson-song-a-day-recorded-10-years-youtube/10287861002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/22/racine-zachary-scot-johnson-song-a-day-recorded-10-years-youtube/10287861002/
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Caitlin Looby Madeline Heim
Last week, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, which will kick off a suite of action on health care, taxes and climate change.
The bill, passed by Democrats without any Republican support, dedicates nearly $370 billion towards climate change and energy security — the largest single investment to tackle climate change in the country’s history.
“We have to do this because Mother Nature has been screaming at us,” said U.S. Rep. Ron Kind, a Democrat representing western Wisconsin.
Scientists say models show Wisconsin is likely to become a much warmer state with temperatures mirroring those currently seen in Missouri. And, as residents have already seen, warmer temperatures bring more extreme storms that cause flooding, coastal erosion and toxic blue-green algae blooms.
From helping farmers to creating resilient coastlines to paving the way for renewable energy, experts say the act will help Wisconsin address the root causes of climate change.
Here are five ways the Inflation Reduction Act will affect Wisconsin:
More funding for farming conservation programs
More Wisconsin farmers who want to start sustainable practices on their land but need funding to do so could get that opportunity with a nearly $20 billion boost to existing U.S. Department of Agriculture conservation programs.
The programs, such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and the Conservation Stewardship Program, provide farmers financial and technical assistance to reduce nitrogen losses, carbon emissions, soil erosion and other harmful environmental impacts through strategies such as cover cropping and managed grazing.
For years, demand for the programs has exceeded the money available. A fact sheet on the IRA's agricultural provisions estimates that for every farmer who receives funding, two more have to be turned away.
"(The EQIP effort) is probably one of the best tools we use to get conservation on the ground," said Christina Anderson, climate resilience program manager for Wisconsin Land and Water, a group that supports the state's local conservation districts and the farmers they work with. She hopes the added funding for the programs will bolster soil health across Wisconsin to reduce runoff and improve water quality.
The measure will also provide about a billion dollars through the Natural Resources Conservation Service to specifically carry out projects to adapt to climate change, as well as collecting data on greenhouse gas emissions and carbon sequestration.
Despite many innovative practices to address the issue, "it's really scary as a farmer to try something totally new," Anderson said. The infusion of money could provide more support.
The money could be vital for farmers who have seen the impacts on their land of a changing climate and want to keep their practices both profitable and better for the environment.
"They have seen (climate change) first-hand with an increasing number of extreme weather events, and they understand that the longer we fail to act, the more costly it will be for our agricultural economy," said U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wisconsin, who supported the bill.
Help for rural areas transitioning to clean energy
The act funnels $2 billion to the Rural Energy for America Program, which provides loan financing and grant funding to agricultural producers and rural small businesses to help kickstart renewable energy and improve energy efficiency.
"So many of our clean energy resources or renewable resources are in the rural areas," said Andy Olsen, senior policy advocate at the Environmental Law & Policy Center.
Despite an appetite for cleaner energy in rural areas, funding for such projects has struggled to keep up with demand.
Over the past 11 years, Olsen said, there have been nearly five times more requests for funds than are available to pursue projects like constructing wind and solar farms and installing high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.
The boost from the IRA should "dramatically" decrease that competition and make more money available in Wisconsin and across the U.S., he said.
Wisconsin's electric cooperatives, which serve about 270,000 homes and businesses in rural areas of the state, will also for the first time be eligible for renewable energy tax incentives.
Investments in wetlands to help both birds and communities
Warmer temperatures, extreme storms and fluctuating lake levels are making it hard for many birds to survive. In Wisconsin, 30 percent of bird species that breed here have populations that are in decline.
Warmer temperatures are shrinking their ranges, changing migration patterns and making it a challenge to find food when they need it, said Marnie Urso, senior policy director for Audubon Great Lakes.
Many of Wisconsin’s birds also rely on wetlands and marshes to nest. The Black Tern — a bird once widespread across Wisconsin, but now endangered — nests on floating mats made of plant material, a behavior threatened by unpredictable lake levels.
Funding from the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative already has made strides in recovering the Great Lakes Piping Plover that breed in Northern Wisconsin, a recovery that climate change now threatens.
The new law will directly invest in important bird habitats, such as wetlands, helping the effort to recover bird populations, like the Black Tern.
A lot of the investments from the new law will work hand in hand, Urso said.
Wetlands and marshes provide a natural buffer for more inland areas because they “absorb that water and help mitigate the effects of flooding not only for bird species, but for communities as well,” said Urso.
RELATED:'Bay City deserves it': Restoration project paves way for Wisconsin village to regain access to Lake Pepin
RELATED: What's the state of the Great Lakes? Successful cleanups tempered by new threats from climate change
RELATED: Bay of Green Bay's dead zones could be getting worse, and scientists say climate change is the likely culprit
More funding for coastal resilience
Blooms of toxic blue-green algae and dramatic swings in lake levels already make climate change a major threat to Wisconsin’s coastal communities. In less than a decade, Lake Michigan water levels swung an unprecedented six feet from a record low to a near-record high, threatening homes and infrastructure along the shoreline.
“We need to be taking a much more proactive approach to coastal resilience in the Great Lakes,” said Joel Brammeier, president of the Alliance for the Great Lakes. The new law will bring in more funding through existing programs designated to restore and rebuild coastlines, such as using nature-based solutions, which mimic the natural features of the shoreline and stabilize the coast.
One example is a planting a living shoreline with diverse plants that can withstand both dry and flooded conditions. It simultaneously helps to prevent erosion during extreme lows and absorbs water during extreme highs, keeping inland communities dry.
Communities will also become more resilient through funding aimed at environmental justice, said Brammeier, helping communities that are suffering from an unfair burden of pollution.
Now, there will be funding to give “communities that are impacted by pollution the resources they need to have a seat at the table to stop that pollution,” he said.
Incentives for energy efficient homes and electric vehicles
Energy efficient appliances will now be more affordable, helping Wisconsin families reduce their monthly bills and make repairs around their homes.
“There's going to be a lot of incentives for people to invest in energy efficient appliances, home upgrades, energy efficient, home remodels,” said Kind, who is not seeking re-election this year after 25 years in office. “We just need to incentivize people to purchase them and reduce their energy consumption.”
There will be rebates available covering 50 to 100 percent of the cost of installing new electric appliances, such as heat pumps, water heaters, clothes dryers, stoves and ovens. Rebates will also be available for households that are making improvements to increase their energy efficiency.
Wisconsinites who install solar panels and battery storage systems will also be eligible for tax credits that cover 30 percent of the installation costs.
There will also be tax credits for communities that install solar panels with an additional bonus for affordable housing properties. Also, grants will be available for state and local governments to adopt the most up-to-date energy codes, saving homeowners in Wisconsin more than 20 percent on their utility bills.
The new law will also make it cheaper for Wisconsinites to purchase electric vehicles with discounts up to $7,500 for new vehicles and $4,000 for used. Recently, the state also submitted a plan using funds from the bipartisan infrastructure bill to build more charging stations throughout the state.
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2022-08-22T13:14:03Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Inflation Reduction Act may help Wisconsin farmers, push clean energy
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/inflation-reduction-act-may-help-wisconsin-farmers-push-clean-energy/7833950001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/inflation-reduction-act-may-help-wisconsin-farmers-push-clean-energy/7833950001/
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Kenosha artist, a Muslim convert, brings bold colors, funky shapes to latest mural at downtown Milwaukee office building
Muralist Jaime Brown brought her signature bold colors and funky shapes to downtown Milwaukee last week for a unique artistic challenge:
Paint an entire mural in the span of one evening.
Brown, a Kenosha native, toted her tools and buckets of paint to the 14-story 310W building, 310 W. Wisconsin Ave., to paint during the Milwaukee Night Market, the monthly summer street festival.
The temporary installation now stands inside the vacant first floor of the office building. It faces a wall of windows, so passersby can view the bright, abstract design from the street.
"I like to use a lot of bold colors that typically don't belong with each other. Anything that makes the viewer uncomfortable is what I shoot for," Brown said. "Generally I like the ones that create a little bit of friction."
More:Mural inspired by 'When Claude Got Shot' documentary illustrates peace, community for North Avenue neighborhood
It's the latest Milwaukee mural for Brown, who grew up Christian and converted to Islam 12 years ago. Projects have taken her from Wisconsin to the Middle East and back.
As a Muslim, Brown doesn't depict any living beings in her art such as people or animals.
So she often incorporates subtle symbols in her geometric shapes and designs.
Another of her murals, on the skywalk connecting The Avenue on North 2nd Street, has seven symbols if one looks closely, she said. It's just down the block and around the corner from the 310W building.
Brown drew inspiration from her own Native American heritage as well as the city's history. Wigwam dwellings, Industrial Age-era smokestacks and the People's Flag of Milwaukee all are woven into the design.
"From the surface level, it's pretty. But once you get to know what it means, it gives you a completely different perspective," she said.
Brown hopes her pieces have universal appeal. Art speaks to people of all languages, backgrounds and political affiliations, she said.
"Art has a way of unifying everyone," Brown said. "For a moment, if people are gathered to look at art, it's if all of those distinctive barriers between them just fall straight to the ground."
It's a message that resonates with Brown, who often finds herself in situations where she doesn't totally fit in. As a white American convert to Islam, none of her family or friends share her faith.
"I'm not American enough for the Americans because I wear hijab," Brown said. "But yet when I'm overseas and I'm in a Muslim country, I'm not really fitting in there either."
More:Bus shelter murals, the Office of Early Childhood Initiatives' latest project, encourage parents to be their child's 'first teachers'
Brown was working in the TV and film industry in Hollywood when she noticed a colleague left every Friday to go to the mosque. She asked him to go to church with her, but he declined.
She wondered what drew him to his faith, so she began reading the Quran and became interested in Islam herself.
"I ended up converting myself to Islam (and) realized that Hollywood was no longer the place for somebody on a spiritual journey," Brown said. "I quit my job and I sold everything I owned."
Brown spent five years in Morocco before returning to the U.S. She's now based in her hometown of Kenosha, but she often takes mural projects abroad.
Street art can be a male-dominated field, so she feels proud to be working in the field as a woman — and a headscarf-wearing woman at that.
When people see her painting in public, sometimes they ask about her identity.
A common one in the summer is: "aren't you hot wearing long sleeves and a head covering?" She is, she says, but then she gets to explain her faith and start a conversation about what it's like to be a female street artist.
"It also shows people that Muslims, especially Muslim women that wear hijab— we can truly do anything we want, just like everyone else does," Brown said.
Find more of Jaime Brown's art on Instagram at instagram.com/jaimenotjamie.
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2022-08-22T13:14:09Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Kenosha artist Jaime Brown paints mural at Milwaukee's 310W building
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/kenosha-muslim-artist-jaime-brown-paints-mural-milwaukee-310-w-building-night-market/7835818001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/kenosha-muslim-artist-jaime-brown-paints-mural-milwaukee-310-w-building-night-market/7835818001/
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5,000 former ITT Tech students in Wisconsin will have their federal loans canceled after investigations into the school's practices
Nearly 5,000 Wisconsin borrowers who attended ITT Technical Institute will have their federal loans canceled, authorities announced last week.
“Student borrowers who were defrauded by a predatory for-profit school shouldn’t be left with federal student loan debt as a result,” Attorney General Josh Kaul said in a statement.
State and federal agencies that investigated the for-profit's practices found ITT Tech used "widespread and pervasive misrepresentations" related to job placement, transfer credits and program accreditation, according to the state Department of Justice.
ITT Tech operated three Wisconsin campuses, in Madison, Greenfield and Green Bay. The 4,830 Wisconsin students who attended ITT Tech between Jan. 1, 2005, and September 2016 will receive $96 million in full loan discharge.
Former ITT Tech students were left with problems after attending school
One of the beneficiaries will be Travis Higgins, who was drawn to the Madison campus in 2009 because ITT staff secured a loan for him within 30 minutes of him visiting the school.
Higgins said he studied criminal justice with plans to transfer to a technical college or University of Wisconsin System campus. Then he learned his credits wouldn’t transfer. With $24,000 in debt already accumulated, he dropped out.
When applying for jobs, the reference to ITT Tech on Higgins' résumé drew questions from employers. Embarrassed, he decided to remove it altogether. He said he's made payments on his loans and is down to about $5,000 left to pay.
Higgins had thought about trying to pursue a bachelor's degree but worried having two sets of loans would complicate his finances. Now, with his debt cleared, he said he's going to seriously consider restarting his education.
U.S. Education Department canceling billions of dollars for ITT Tech students
Borrowers will receive a letter from the U.S. Education Department informing them of the pending discharge. No application is required.
Altogether, the department is wiping away $3.9 billion for 208,000 former ITT Tech students nationally. It's their latest action to crack down on for-profit colleges that have deceived and defrauded students, many of whom ended up with significant debt and no degree.
The Education Department earlier this summer also canceled $5.6 billion in loans for former students of Corinthian Colleges, which operated an Everest College campus in Milwaukee from 2010 to 2013.
Both Corinthian and ITT Tech filed for bankruptcy years ago, leaving taxpayers on the hook for both federal debt discharges.
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2022-08-22T13:14:33Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin ITT Tech student loan debt canceled after investigation
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/22/wisconsin-itt-tech-student-loan-debt-canceled-after-investigation/7842263001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/22/wisconsin-itt-tech-student-loan-debt-canceled-after-investigation/7842263001/
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Jesse Nuese
Almost a year ago, I woke up on the morning of my 28th birthday and turned on the news to see images of the Taliban triumphantly parading through Kabul. Seven years earlier I had celebrated my 21st birthday, not with Spotted Cow or Miller Lite in downtown Madison, but with my platoon in southern Afghanistan as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army.
I grew up in Poynette, DeForest, and Madison. I joined the Army at 19, following in the footsteps of my grandfather, uncles, and cousins. I was proud and excited to serve, jump out of planes, and ultimately deploy to Afghanistan in 2014. We acted as a reserve force, operating out of a central base and flying out to the mountains to reinforce the Afghan National Army, which was failing with alarming frequency even back then.
We spent weeks operating out of abandoned bases with no electricity or running water, doing our best to interrupt the flow of guns, drugs, and Taliban fighters into the country. It feels like a lifetime ago. I was incredibly lucky to return from my deployment relatively whole in body and mind, and that’s allowed me the opportunity to continue my education and build a new career, a luxury that so many who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terror will never be afforded.
More:'A self-inflicted wound': US withdrawal from Afghanistan still haunts Biden's presidency one year later
More:Watchdog: US troop pullout was key factor in Afghan collapse
I was able to come home safely in no small part due to the efforts of the Afghan nationals who risked their lives to provide my unit with intelligence and interpreter services. Today more than 160,000 such Afghans, eligible for Special Immigrant Visa from the State Department or SIV, remain stuck in Afghanistan, where they and their families face imprisonment, torture, or even death daily from the new Taliban government.
These brave Afghans risked their lives to help us accomplish our mission and protect American troops, and in exchange, the U.S. government promised them that they would be allowed to come to the states and build lives of freedom and opportunity. But that pact remains unfulfilled and our nation’s collective promise to these brave folks, and their families, sits broken today. As citizens in a democracy, we must raise our collective voice to bring our government to fulfill our promise to the hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Afghans who risked their lives to aid American soldiers in harm's way.
More:Poll shows Americans support leaving Afghanistan but disapprove of how Biden handled withdrawal
As a nation, we have allowed our country to be led by people who are motivated solely by scoring points on social media and cable news. We must work to elect leaders on both sides of the aisle who have a visceral sense of the stakes of leaving these promises broken. Our national security suffers when our credibility abroad is swiped like a credit card, with no intention of paying the bill.
Leaders like Mike Gallagher, who served in the U.S. Marine Corps, or Deb McGrath, who spent decades in the U.S. Army and CIA, know the stakes of these promises, having served abroad and seen firsthand the power of American reputation. They can lead on these issues, but only if we empower them with our voices and our votes. We need to press Congress to improve, extend, and fully fund the SIV program to process applications expeditiously, in addition to securing safe passage for SIV-eligible immigrants still stuck in the Middle East. Finally, these brave allies need adequate financial resources for resettlement in the United States.
General David Petraeus, who commanded the conflict in both Afghanistan and Iraq, put it this way: "We have an obligation to look after those who have served us and served our mission and served their own country so very faithfully, often involving a great deal of sacrifice. They put their lives on the line."
Growing up in Wisconsin, I was taught the importance of family, of being true to one’s word and of being a good neighbor. I believe these are values fundamental to the state that I know and love. Many of us have lost faith in our ability to influence the government in a meaningful way, but on the issue of our Afghan and Iraqi allies who remain in harm's way, we must not fail to keep our word.
Call your local representative and press them to expand the SIV program, and vote for leaders who understand that the stakes of breaking a promise are far more than just a blip in the polls. With just a phone call or a letter, you can help save the lives of vulnerable Afghan interpreters and their families. I hope you’ll help us live up to our promise.
Jesse Nuese is a Wisconsin native and U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan. He is now studying international business at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
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2022-08-22T13:14:45Z
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www.jsonline.com
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How we can still help U.S allies left behind in Afghanistan
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/08/22/how-help-us-allies-left-behind-afghanistan-siv-program/10348155002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/08/22/how-help-us-allies-left-behind-afghanistan-siv-program/10348155002/
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'J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript' at Marquette University shows how he created 'Lord of the Rings' a page at a time
J.R.R. Tolkien never quit his day job.
Instead, his work as a philologist and professor of Anglo-Saxon and English at the University of Oxford fed the brilliantly detailed fantasy worlds saturated with myth that he created in "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit" and other books.
"J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript," a new exhibit at Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art, will be a pilgrimage site for scholars and fans until Christmas week. Its 147 items include 85 drawn from the "Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit" manuscripts in Marquette's collection, plus loaned materials from Oxford's Bodleian Libraries.
Marquette purchased those manuscripts and other Tolkien materials in 1957; decades later, Tolkien's son and literary executor Christopher sent Marquette additional related writings after he consulted them for his 12-volume work "The History of Middle-earth."
MORE:J.R.R. Tolkien fans — here's your chance to become part of Marquette University's oral history project
MORE:'Unforgettable,' 'Titanic,' 'Mamma Mia' among 18 Milwaukee theater, music and dance performances to see in fall 2022
Exhibit co-curators William Fliss, curator of Marquette's Tolkien Collection, and Sarah Schaefer, assistant professor of art history at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, refer to Tolkien's legendarium, the enormous corpus of writing behind and underneath "LOTR" and "The Hobbit." Visitors to the Haggerty exhibit will see examples of how Tolkien gradually worked up passages of the published books, generally one handwritten or calligraphed page at a time.
For example, visitors will see multiple versions, handwritten, typed and in calligraphy, of the Ring Verse, the famous inscription that includes the signature line "One ring to rule them all."
A look at how Tolkien created Middle-earth
The frugal Tolkien used the blank side of a student essay to write text for "The Departure of Boromir" chapter. On the essay side itself, the curators note, Tolkien doodled words and phrases, some in English, others in Cyrillic script.
Even a superficial look at these manuscript pages shows how Tolkien approached letters and words not only as conveyers of meaning, but also as art in themselves. He calligraphed versions of a passage called "The King's Letter" in invented Elvish script. He also sketched maps of Middle-earth, and created watercolor, ink and pencil scenes for his work in progress — sometimes incorporating text into those artworks.
You may never have read a word of Tolkien or watched a minute of the Peter Jackson movie adaptations of "LOTR" or "The Hobbit." But if you read "Beowulf," in or out of school, you can thank Tolkien, whose 1936 lecture "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics" galvanized study of that epic poem as literature.
The Haggerty exhibit includes several manuscript pages from Tolkien's study and translation of "Beowulf," including his watercolor and ink drawing of the dragon who battles the aged Beowulf to their deaths at the end of the epic. Tolkien patiently delineated the coiled dragon's many green scales.
And to burrrow into the nitty gritty of Tolkien's daily scholarship, feast your eyes on his handwritten chart of vowel changes from Vespasian Psalter glosses. Fortunately, there will not be an exam at the end of the exhibit.
How to see the Marquette University Tolkien exhibit
The Haggerty is selling timed-entry tickets for this exhibit, limiting the number of people who can see it during each two-hour window. For a nearsighted or weak-eyed person like me, it can be daunting, looking at pages of small handwritten text from a certain distance. Fortunately, the Tolkienista who wants to spend a lot of close-up time with these materials can buy the exhibition catalog, which includes all images in the exhibit plus essays by the curators.
In the midst of these aged and occasionally distressed manuscript pages sits a very wide monitor that allows visitors to access a portion of Anduin, a computer system still in progress that eventually will allow scholars to track every version of a paragraph in the Tolkien manuscripts.
The tale grew in the telling, indeed.
One final mindblower is some 14 pages of closely written synoptic time-scheme, or outline, that Tolkien created to keep track of his mammoth story. The Haggerty displays this in a way that stretches across most of a wall. It invites a visitor to stand back at marvel at what the patient labor of a single man created.
"J.R.R. Tolkien: The Art of the Manuscript" continues through Dec. 23 at Marquette University's Haggerty Museum of Art,1234 W. Tory Hill St. Tickets for timed entry are required. Visit marquette.edu/haggerty-museum/tolkien.php.
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2022-08-22T17:12:33Z
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Marquette exhibit shows the creation of Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings"
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18-year-old dies after falling from window of moving car Sunday
Two Milwaukee women ages 18 and 87 are dead after one fell out of the window a moving vehicle and the other crashed a car into a tree in separate incidents Sunday.
The first incident was reported at 2:33 a.m. on the 100 block of North 35th Street, on the north end of the 35th Street Viaduct. Police said the 18-year-old woman was a passenger of a vehicle and sitting on the window frame when she fell and was hit by the rear end of the same car.
The driver of the car remained on scene and cooperated with police.
More:Milwaukee has a reckless driving problem. Here are 4 ways street planners and engineers are helping to solve it.
At 11:41 a.m., police reported the vehicle driven by the 87-year-old left the roadway and struck a tree on the 5400 block of North Sherman Boulevard, near McGovern Park. No other information about the crash was immediately available.
Milwaukee has seen 38 fatal car crashes this year as of Aug. 17, compared to 40 as of the same date in 2021, according to police.
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2022-08-22T17:12:45Z
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www.jsonline.com
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18-year-old Milwaukee woman dies falling from window of moving car
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/18-year-old-milwaukee-woman-dies-falling-window-moving-car/7865214001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/18-year-old-milwaukee-woman-dies-falling-window-moving-car/7865214001/
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Talis Shelbourne Isaac Yu
Nearly a year after millions of dollars from the American Rescue Plan were deployed for housing-related projects, the city is on track to build, rehab and demolish dozens of homes throughout Milwaukee.
In 2021, Milwaukee's Common Council passed a measure appropriating roughly $44 million to multiple city departments for those purposes.
Outside of the $44 million to be spent on housing, money is also being spent on several neighborhood improvement efforts, such as $2 million designated to make homes remediated for lead more energy efficient, $2.3 million to add more sanitation workers as part of project “Clean City” and $20 million to improve the reliability of streetlights.
Many of these are designating significant dollars to census tracts with high rates of poverty.
Here's how the city is planning to spend the funds.
Department of City Development will use $20 million to rehab houses, help homeowners
DCD is currently identifying partners to develop 150 tax-foreclosed properties around the city, adding to the total supply of housing stock. The funding comes as the city faces an affordable housing crisis exacerbated by inflation and a real estate market dominated by out-of-state investors.
The city plans to invest $100,000 per house, a total of $15 million, to prevent further deterioration of city-owned properties and stabilize surrounding neighborhoods.
The rehabilitated homes will either be sold or rented at below-market rates, with low- and middle-income households being prioritized.
Nearly $5 million in additional federal funds will go towards supporting existing housing programs, such as homeowner loans for essential repairs.
Department of Neighborhood Services will use $4 million to raze homes, make repairs
DNS is planning to use $3 million to demolish abandoned buildings, remove waste and asbestos hazards, and landscape empty lots.
DNS spokesperson Tanz Rome said 35 properties have already been selected for razing and 21 more are expected by the end of this year. The goal is to raze 130 to 150 parcels by 2026.
DNS has also made $1 million in zero-interest loans available for homeowners to make repairs and avoid code violations.
Sixty percent of the loans, referred to as “Compliance loans,” have been earmarked for African American and Hispanic households and 50% have been earmarked for homes located in qualified census tracts, or areas with high poverty measures.
The program has a projected target of 67 homes, with 14 projects completed so far.
Department of Administration will use $10 million to rehab affordable housing
The Department of Administration will provide $10 million to the Housing Trust Fund in grants and loans for constructing and rehabbing affordable units over two years. The project aims to preserve 300 units of affordable housing and construct another 225. Households making less than 40% of the county's median income will be prioritized.
In the latest round of funding, applications for the Housing Trust Fund were to be submitted by Aug. 12.
Milwaukee Housing Authority to use $9 million to improve Westlawn Gardens
The housing authority is putting $9 million toward the construction of new affordable housing at the predominately Black and low-income Westlawn Gardens urban development on the city's northwest side.
The plan is being called the “Westlawn Choice Neighborhood Implementation.”
Housing Authority spokersperson Amy Hall said construction will accommodate 141 families and young adults. Twenty-two of those are going to be designated for young people aging out of foster care.
Leasing is scheduled to begin by October 2023.
Environmental Collaboration Office to use $1million to design net-zero energy home
The Environment Collaboration Office is using $1 million to design and construct a net-zero energy home that could be prefabricated and set up anywhere in the city.
The pilot aims to create a modular, durable and affordable home that is climate friendly, addresses housing needs and encourages equity.
More detailed explanations of all the city's plans can be found on the city's Recovery Plan Performance Report.
More:Bay View is getting a new long-range plan. It sets the stage for future developments, including affordable housing, in that neighborhood.
More:Wauwatosa to provide $3.3 million in funding for affordable housing development geared towards individuals with developmental disabilities
If you live near a vacant home in disrepair, you can report the address to the Department of Neighborhood Services. The city’s website has a pamphlet on how to make a complaint or you can call 414-286-2268.
You can visit the city's website for more information about its Home Rehabilitation Loan Program and STRONG Homes Loan Program. To reach someone, you can email nidc@milwaukee.gov or call 414-286-5610.
The Department of City Development has a Housing Resource Guide on its website with information about Milwaukee programs on available loans, repair and rehabilitation, energy efficiency and more. There is also information for prospective homebuyers.
Other agencies that may be able to offer assistance around homebuying, home repairs and how you can take advantage of the city’s housing programs are listed below:
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2022-08-22T17:12:57Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee will spend $44 million in federal ARPA funds for housing
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/22/milwaukee-spend-44-million-federal-arpa-funds-housing/10154069002/
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Roger Roth, a senator in the state Legislature, emerged from a crowded field of eight candidates to become the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor.
Here is what to know about Roth, a Republican from Appleton, as voters head into the general election.
His political experience includes a long history in the Legislature and a failed run for Congress
Roth, 44, was first elected to the Legislature in 2006 after mounting a successful bid to represent the 56th Assembly District. He served two terms before running for the 8th Congressional District in 2010. He was defeated in the Republican primary by former Rep. Reid Ribble.
Roth ran for state Senate in 2014 and won his race in the 19th District by more than 10,000 votes and has represented the district in Madison since.
Roth served as president of the Senate from 2017-21. The senate president is elected by fellow senators and presides over daily proceedings in the upper house of the Legislature.
How Roth got his start in politics
As a college student, he became involved in Republican politics working for then-Gov. Tommy Thompson’s campaign.
Roth is a veteran of multiple tours in Iraq
Roth was a homebuilder and Air National Guard veteran who served multiple tours in Iraq.
Roth and his family live in Appleton
Roth is from Appleton where he currently lives with his wife and five sons. He attended high school in Neenah and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.
What are Roth’s notable recent political positions?
Roth is a fiscal and social conservative who has been a staunch opponent of the Affordable Care Act. Roth spearheaded numerous lawsuits aimed at curtailing Evers' COVID-19 stay-at-home orders and mandates. Roth oversaw efforts to restrict Evers’ powers during the lame duck session between the election of Evers and his inauguration.
Roth blocked multiple nominees put forth by Evers for technical college board positions and has been a party to efforts designed to limit the Department of Natural Resources’ regulatory powers.
Roth also led efforts to force a vote on firing former Parole Commission Chairman John Tate and presided over the rejection of Brad Pfaff for agriculture secretary.
Roth supported calls to break up the Milwaukee public school district, has advocated for eliminating the state income tax, signaled an openness to legalizing recreational marijuana, and is in favor of placing restrictions on abortion access.
Why Roth ran for lieutenant governor and what his party says about him
During his campaign launch, Roth said he believes Wisconsinites "want a change in direction," and added he believes his candidacy "will help empower whomever wins the Republican governor's race to help move Wisconsin forward."
Party spokesperson Anna Kelly said: "With his Fox Valley roots, military background, legislative accomplishments, and business experience, Roger Roth is an excellent complement to Tim Michels on the Republican ticket. Roth would bring a record of cutting taxes, creating jobs and promoting school choice to Madison, and we look forward to getting him across the finish line in November."
How popular is Roth?
In his most recent reelection campaign for the state Senate, Roth won by roughly 5,000 votes and a margin of 53.2%. He enjoyed a dominant performance over his primary opponents for lieutenant governor, netting 30.1% of the vote and defeating the runner-up by about 69,000 votes.
How to contact Roth
Roth’s Madison office can be reached by calling 608-266-0718 or emailing sen.roth@legis.wisconsin.gov.
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2022-08-22T17:13:03Z
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www.jsonline.com
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What to know about Roger Roth, the Republican running with Tim Michels
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/08/22/what-know-roger-roth-republican-running-tim-michels-wisconsin-lieutenant-governor-race/10309278002/
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Sara Rodriguez, an Assembly representative in the state Legislature, captured the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor after romping to victory in the Democratic primary.
Here is a look at Rodriguez, a Democrat from Brookfield, as voters head into the general election.
Rodriguez flipped a GOP-held district in 2020
Rodriguez was first elected to the Legislature in 2020, flipping a Republican-held district in the suburbs of Milwaukee and narrowly defeating four-term Republican incumbent Rob Hutton by just over 700 votes.
Rodriguez has a background in health care
Before entering electoral politics, Rodriguez worked in the health care sector as a registered nurse and held a variety of positions including the principal of a health care consulting firm, the vice president of clinical services at Honeywell Life Care Solutions and a Centers for Disease Control epidemic intelligence officer.
Rodriguez was born and raised in Waukesha County
Rodriguez, 47, is from Brookfield where she attended high school and now lives with her husband and two children. She graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University and earned a master’s in nursing from Johns Hopkins University.
What are Rodriguez’s notable recent political positions?
Rodriguez is a relative newcomer to the Legislature but has sponsored legislation to require cloth face coverings in certain settings, implement ranked choice voting in Wisconsin, facilitate automatic voter registration and establish a student loan repayment program.
Rodriguez has also been a vocal advocate for expanding access to abortion and campaigned on addressing health care staffing shortages in Wisconsin.
Why Rodriguez ran for lieutenant governor and what her party says about her
When she announced her candidacy, Rodriguez said: "I can be a really good partner to Gov. Evers in something as large and as complicated as the Wisconsin state government, but most importantly, public health is my passion."
Rodriguez said that as lieutenant governor she would bring experience as a nurse and public health professional, "working in diverse communities to make sure that we can create environments where people can succeed."
Democratic Party spokeswoman Hannah Menchhoff said: “As a nurse and as a public health professional, Rep. Rodriguez brings valuable experience to the statewide election. When we talk about doing the right thing for Wisconsinites, it’s people like Rep. Rodriguez who have dedicated themselves to making Wisconsin a better place to live and work.
"By flipping a Republican-held seat in 2020, she has also proven her ability to connect with voters and win tough races. We are excited to have Rep. Rodriguez on the ticket and know her campaign will only make the ticket even stronger," she added.
How popular is Rodriguez?
Rodriguez was elected to the Legislature two years ago by a slim margin but won the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor in a 245,000-vote landslide.
How to contact Rodriguez
Rodriguez can be reached at her Madison office by calling 608-267-9836 or emailing rep.SRodriguez@legis.wisconsin.gov.
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2022-08-22T17:13:09Z
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www.jsonline.com
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What to know about Sara Rodriguez, Democrat running with Tony Evers
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/elections/2022/08/22/what-know-sara-rodriguez-democrat-running-tony-evers-wisconsin-lieutenant-governor/10313180002/
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The Wisconsin men’s hockey team will open the season and Big Ten play on the same day.
The Badgers will play at Ohio State Oct. 7-8 and will have three Big Ten series under their belts before the end of the first month.
This will mark the third time in six seasons that UW has opened the season and conference play at the same time. That was one of the highlights of the UW slate, which was announced Monday.
Based on last season’s standings, the Badgers, who were 10-24-3 overall with a 6-17-1 mark (tied for fifth) in the seven-team conference, will have a chance to build the momentum before facing the league's top teams.
Wisconsin’s first meeting with defending conference champion Minnesota will be Dec. 9-10 in Minneapolis. That series is part of a run when the Badgers host league runner-up Michigan on Dec. 2-3 and, after winter break, Notre Dame on Jan. 6-7.
UW will face those teams on consecutive weeks the second time it goes through the league: at Notre Dame (Jan. 27-28), at Michigan (Feb. 3-4) and at home against Minnesota (Feb. 10-11).
Wisconsin also will play in Milwaukee for the second straight season in the Kwik Trip Holiday Face-off at Fiserv Forum. It faces Lake Superior State on Dec. 28 and will take on either Clarkson or Massachusetts the next day.
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2022-08-22T17:13:15Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin men's hockey schedule includes season opener at Ohio State
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This Sussex resident started CannedWater4Kids to take on the world's water problems. This is what Gregory Stromberg has done.
While Gregory Stromberg was an executive in the general can packaging industry, he never forgot the feeling he had when he learned thousands of children worldwide were dying every day because of a lack of clean drinking water.
His journey started in 2007 when he was at The Canmaker Summit, a global meeting to discuss issues and trends in the can-producing industry. He learned if a can is not packaged properly, the water can get contaminated and spoil, which can kill young children.
There are also other dangers in water in developing countries, such as toxins, Stromberg learned.
"Children are dying," he emphasized.
He then decided to take on the world's water problems himself.
The following year, he started the nonprofit organization CannedWater4Kids to "ensure all children have access to safe drinking water," said Stromberg, a longtime Sussex resident.
Now, nearly 15 years later, Stromberg, through his nonprofit, has sent 3.5 million bottles and cans, free of charge, to disaster relief situations from the water products the organization created in 2008. Additionally, the nonprofit has financially supported many clean water initiatives, purification systems and educated others on the issues of clean water.
Now, in his retirement — after working more than 40 years in the general can packaging industry — Stromberg plans to supply more water, do more training and work on more projects to provide clean water.
"Kids are our future. Everything breaks down if they are not healthy," he explained.
More:Milwaukee's chronic problem with lead: Dr. Veneshia McKinney-Whitson explains what parents can do to keep kids safe
More:UWM study finds over half of gun violence perpetrators and victims had elevated blood lead levels as children
Making pure bottled and canned water
The water canned by CannedWater4Kids undergoes the most rigorous testing to ensure it is clean, Stromberg said.
Ball Corp., an aluminum packaging company for beverages, makes the cans in Colorado. They are then shipped to Wis-Pak in Norfolk, Nebraska, where they are filled. They are then sent to the company headquarters in Watertown, where they are stored.
He sells the cans and bottles of water online; 95% of the money collected helps support, fund and deliver sustainable clean drinking water programs that save children worldwide through CannedWater4Kids.
Besides delivering, for free, these canned and bottled water in emergency situations, the proceeds from water help with education, clean water initiatives and funding other projects.
Helping in disaster situations
When Stromberg hears news about a disaster situation relating to unsafe drinking water, his typical response is, "We just have to help."
This was true in February 2021 when Texas had a week of freezing temperatures with more than 10 inches of snow and ice. Because of cracked pipes, nearly half of the people in Texas faced boil-water advisories and a scarcity of safe drinking water.
Under Stromberg's direction, CannedWater4Kids delivered more than 100,000 16-ounce bottles of water to the area.
Stromberg also partnered with American Airlines when Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in September 2017. More than half the population was left without clean water. CannedWater4Kids provided 29,000 pounds of safe, canned drinking water.
He provided more than 170,000 cans of water to Flint, Michigan, when its water was contaminated with lead and possibly Legionella bacteria.
After Haiti suffered an earthquake in 2010, CannedWater4Kids donated more than 200,000 cans of water. Similarly, it donated more than 100,000 cans of water to Japan in 2011 after earthquakes there.
"If the Red Cross calls, we do not hesitate to help when asked," said Stromberg said. "Water is so important. You can only last three days without it."
Helping people in Milwaukee with lead in their water
Closer to home, Stromberg has helped many people in Milwaukee who have lead in their water. Many of Milwaukee's homes, especially some of the oldest homes, have lead pipes. The lead can flake off into the water the pipes carry, affecting vulnerable children. The city of Milwaukee replaced 982 lead laterals last year. But there are more than 70,000 that need to be replaced.
CannedWater4Kids delivered free bottles and cans of water to about 30 pregnant women from January to June this year. The goal was to deliver the water to each woman for up to 12 months. It costs about $100 a month for the water and delivery for each woman.
" (CannedWater4Kids) are fantastic," said Robert Miranda, who is on the steering committee of Get the Lead Out Coalition. "They provided water to pregnant mothers without collecting anything. The mothers are very appreciative. It takes away the stress and the worry of dealing with the water."
"They are just good people," he emphasized.
Stromberg said he had to pull back on providing free water to these women because of a lack of funding. He is working on funding so more mothers can be helped.
Building sustainable clean water systems
Marissa Jablonski is the executive director of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin. When she learned about a program in Guatemala that could help people there get a new water supply system, she knew it would be a great project for the engineering students at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
At the time, she was working on her graduate degree at the university.
When a friend told her that CannedWater4Kids supports what she wants to do, Jablonski was stunned.
"What are you talking about? No one supports what we do," she said, noting that it is hard getting funds for other countries and the problem is not as well known.
When she finally got the nerve to call Stromberg and they had a meeting, he immediately wrote a check for $5,000.
For the last 13 years, the collaborative has raised $40,000 a year to send 10 students and three mentors to Guatemala.
Although it now has funders and corporate sponsors who help, in what is now called Engineers Without Borders, Jablonski said that Stromberg and CannedWater4Kids have been financial supporters each year.
"The money we give them goes to work on sustainable water purification and literally train the people (of Guatemala) to buy pipes and the supplies to build a (water) purification system," said Stromberg.
Jablonski said that because of Stromberg's help, 1,500 homes in Guatemala have a system to provide them with clean water.
Providing clean water in Africa
When Moe Mukiibi went to Kenya four years ago, he saw women and children die in Lake Victoria as crocodiles killed them when they tried to get to the water.
Additionally, the water from the lake was extremely toxic, he said.
"I saw people die every a day," said Mukiibi, president and co-owner of Stonehouse Water Technologies at the Global Water Center in Milwaukee. "I said, 'enough is enough.' "
Through mutual connections, Mukiibi got connected with Stromberg and Canned Water4Kids, which donated to install a water purification system in one of the schools, Point of Grace Academy, in rural Kisumu. For the last four years, the system has delivered more than 10,000 gallons of clean water each day for cooking and drinking.
"The real benefit is that 900 people are saved from going in the lake," said Mukiibi. There are also 2,500 people from the neighboring villages who now have access to the water.
CannedWater4Kids also has funded and completed a clean water project in Lusaka, the capital of Zambia in Central Africa. Because of that project, 400,000 people in that area, most of them children, now have access to clean water. The freshwater allows for good and sustainable agriculture, food and energy production, according to the CannedWater4Kids website.
"Their water can be easily contaminated, so we do education on handwashing and sanitation," Stromberg added.
CannedWater4Kids has funded and delivered more than 30 sustainable wells and water filtration projects in Africa.
Stromberg said he is always planning more projects and initiatives for the nonprofit he started in 2008.
"I want to leave a legacy of helping those in need," said Stromberg.
He said for the world to achieve clean water, it helps if everyone does a little bit.
To donate to CannedWater4Kids, visit www.cannedwater4kids.org/donate-to-cannedwater4kids
To buy canned or bottled water through CannedWater4Kids, visit www.cannedwater4kids.org/buy-cw4k-water
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2022-08-22T20:47:13Z
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www.jsonline.com
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CannedWater4Kids works to provide clean water where it's needed
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/sussex/2022/08/22/cannedwater-4-kids-works-provide-clean-water-where-its-needed/10272728002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/sussex/2022/08/22/cannedwater-4-kids-works-provide-clean-water-where-its-needed/10272728002/
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Milwaukee girl killed in off-road vehicle crash along Muskego's southern edge
MUSKEGO - A 17-year-old Milwaukee girl died after the utility terrain vehicle on which she was riding crashed off-road in Muskego on Sunday evening.
The girl, who was not identified by Muskego police, was a passenger on the UTV driven by someone else on private property in what authorities loosely described as the W13700 block of Union Church Drive, west of 124th Street, on the city's southern edge.
She sustained a head injury in the crash, which occurred shortly before 7 p.m., and was pronounced dead at the scene.
No information was available on the driver, who was also from outside of Waukesha County, according to Muskego Police Lt. Andy Kraus, who posted updated information Monday on the department's Facebook page.
According to Google maps, there are no homes between the W14200 and W13400 blocks of the road, also known as 8 Mile Road, a rural area largely consisting of farmland.
In addition to Muskego police, the Tess Corners Fire and Rescue Department, the town of Norway Police Department, the Racine County Sheriff’s Department and the Wind Lake Fire and Rescue Department were dispatched to the scene. The investigation was turned over to over to the Waukesha County Medical Examiner’s Office as well as the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The medical examiner's office said no further information was immediately available.
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2022-08-22T20:47:14Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee girl killed in off-road UTV crash along southern Muskego
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/muskego/2022/08/22/milwaukee-girl-killed-off-road-utv-crash-along-southern-muskego/7865208001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/news/muskego/2022/08/22/milwaukee-girl-killed-off-road-utv-crash-along-southern-muskego/7865208001/
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Annysa Johnson Sophie Carson
Retired Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert G. Weakland, a once-towering figure in the American Catholic Church who spent his final years in virtual exile after a public fall from grace, has died. He was 95.
He suffered a long illness and died overnight at Clement Manor, a Greenfield senior living center, the archdiocese said Monday.
Weakland served as Milwaukee archbishop for 25 years before stepping down in 2002 amid a scandal that involved paying hush money to a man who had accused him of sexual assault. Weakland had denied the allegations. He would come out as openly gay — possibly the first Catholic bishop to voluntarily do so — in his 2009 memoir “A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church."
His resignation came as the public was beginning to grasp the scope of the church’s global crisis involving the sexual abuse of minors. Weakland, who protected abusive priests and at least initially treated complaints about them with disdain, came to be a face of the crisis in southeastern Wisconsin, a fate that would obscure his earlier accomplishments for the rest of his life.
A Benedictine monk, Weakland was seen by many as brilliant; he spoke more than a half-dozen languages, and his ability to communicate with people from across the world facilitated his career advancement. He was an accomplished musician, having learned as a boy to play an old upright piano his grandmother had bought for his mother. He considered becoming a concert pianist, and studied in Europe and at the Juilliard School in New York. Throughout much of his life, he studied, played, taught, lectured or wrote about music. In 1999, he received his doctorate in musicology from Columbia University in New York. His dissertation was titled "The Office Antiphons of the Ambrosian Chant."
As an archbishop he was a divisive figure. He was viewed as erudite or arrogant; an architect of progressive reform, or the embodiment of liberal excesses wrought by Vatican II; an unwitting accomplice in a flawed system that failed to grasp the enormity of child sex abuse, or a calculating criminal who placed his church above its victims.
In the last years of his life, he was a frail figure living in a senior housing complex.
“For a quarter of a century, Archbishop Weakland led the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and his leadership embodied his Benedictine spirit,” the current archbishop, Jerome Listecki, said in a statement Monday. "May he now rest in peace."
Meanwhile, Peter Isley, of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said Weakland left behind an enduring legacy of covering up abuse in the church.
"His commitment and loyalty to the church, including covering up sex crimes for decades, was strong as any member of the hierarchy of the American church," Isley said. "It was a colossal tragedy and failure that harmed a lot of children and destroyed a lot of lives."
Career ascent
Born George Samuel Weakland in 1927, Weakland was the fourth of six children raised by his widowed mother in a small Pennsylvania town in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains.
He attended high school at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, then went on to St. Vincent College and St. Vincent Seminary as he followed a path to religious life. He became a Benedictine novice in 1945 at age 18; pronounced his first vows as a Benedictine monk — taking the name Rembert — a year later; and solemnly professed as a monk in 1949. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1951.
Weakland rose rapidly, accepting leadership positions at St. Vincent, in the Benedictine Order and at the Vatican. In 1967, at the age of 40, he was elected abbott primate for the Benedictine Confederation. He was the youngest to ever hold the position, and the first American.
His years as leader of the Benedictines cemented his relationship with Pope Paul VI and made him something of a global citizen. Of note, he was in Thailand in 1968 presiding at a meeting of monastic superiors when one of the speakers, Thomas Merton, was tragically killed by an electric shock. Weakland delivered the final anointing to the famed Trappist monk, writer and mystic.
In 1977, Paul VI asked Weakland to become the ninth archbishop of Milwaukee. At the time, a joke making the rounds was that the response at an assembly of Benedictine abbotts was: "Where?" and the response in Milwaukee was: "Who?" At the time, many considered the assignment a stepping stone to the red cap worn by cardinals in the church.
Weakland had not lived in the United States in a decade, and had no understanding of how a diocese or chancery office worked. He looked forward to preaching more and working in a community on issues like social justice and helping the poor. But he worried that the intellectual freedom he enjoyed with the Benedictines would not translate to his new post, and that he would miss the monastic sense of collegiality.
In some respects, both fears were realized. His relationship with the Vatican was strained almost from the beginning, as a newly elected pope, John Paul II, began to move the church to the right. In his memoir, Weakland referred to coming home disillusioned from a visit to Rome, vowing that as a bishop he would not accept what he considered the Vatican's "dehumanizing straightjacket."
He also struggled with loneliness, and though he came to feel at home in Milwaukee, he was something of a cultural misfit.
Vatican tension
Nationally, Weakland was considered a leader among the American clergy in the years after Vatican II. He championed an expanded role for women and the laity in the church, and made no secret that he thought the door should be left open to ordaining women. He led the 1986 drafting of the American bishops' pastoral letter on the economy, tenets of which are being echoed by Pope Francis today. And he took the position that the shortage of new priests was exacerbated by the church's insistence on a commitment to celibacy.
Although he disliked the label, he was routinely referred to as the most liberal bishop in America. He chafed under the centralization of power at the Vatican, and what he saw as the philosophy that a bishop amounted to a branch manager. When he discussed his concerns with John Paul II's inner circle, he was told they disliked his attitude and lack of "docility."
In Milwaukee, Weakland became known for building bridges with other religions and reaching out to Catholics who felt disconnected from their church. He helped found and fund the Milwaukee AIDS Project. He conducted highly publicized listening sessions in an effort to understand Catholic women's views on abortion. He spoke out on issues facing everyday Catholic families — sex education, workplace dignity, social justice, financial pressures.
He responded to declining congregations, demographic changes and the shortage of priests by closing schools and either closing or consolidating numerous parishes. Some considered the decisions ruthless; others saw them as overdue and courageous. To Weakland, the process was painful but necessary.
Near the end of his Milwaukee tenure, he shepherded a radical remodeling of the interior of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, the episcopal see of the archdiocese. Traditionalist Catholics bitterly described it as the destruction of a sacred space that went beyond matters of artistic taste and violated canonical norms. But many considered it a lasting gift from a progressive, artistic visionary. The altar was moved forward, into the nave; the tabernacle was moved to a side chapel; the pews were replaced with chairs, making them easy to reconfigure. All of it was part of the post-Vatican II movement that considered the church an "assembly of believers" and removed barriers between the laity and clergy.
Living in exile
He was succeeded by Timothy Dolan, now cardinal of the Archdiocese of New York.
Weakland withdrew from public ministry, saying he did not want to be a distraction. He spent his days reading, playing the piano, attending the symphony and traveling. He shunned interviews. He lived in a condominium in a south side senior housing complexnear Wilson Park before moving to Clement Manor in Greenfield.
For several years, he continued to celebrate Mass regularly for the Sisters of St. Francis of Assisi in St. Francis.
"He had a brilliant mind and beautiful heart," Sr. Florence Deacon, the order's former superior, previously said. "We felt very affirmed and supported by him. I think all the sisters in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee did."
On two occasions, Weakland attempted to leave Milwaukee and live out his days in the monastic life that formed him.
In 2009, he arranged a move to St. Mary's Abbey in Morristown, New Jersey. Those plans fell through shortly after news accounts detailed the contents of his memoir. In the book, he said that he understood in his days as archbishop that sex with minors was a sin but not necessarily a crime. The book also recounted Weakland's coming to terms with his own homosexuality, in a church that sees homosexuality as "disordered." Weakland accepted the cancelation of the plans, saying he understood that his presence "might be a negative element" because the abbey is home to a boys college prep school.
In 2014, he told friends he was moving back to the St. Vincent Archabbey, a homecoming for him because it was where Weakland's mother sent him to begin his seminary studies in 1940 at the age of 13. Fifty years earlier, he had been archabbott at St. Vincent. However, his plans were dashed by the current archabbott, who feared the move would stir controversy.
A decade after his retirement, he was a central, if largely invisible, figure in the archdiocese's long, bitter bankruptcy proceedings. He admitted in depositions that he shredded copies of sex abuse documents, failed to notify law enforcement officials and moved sexually abusive priests from parish to parish without warning members of their histories.
Isley, of the Survivors Network, on Monday argued that for all the talk about Weakland's liberal values, he shared a "common commitment" with conservative church leaders who wanted to brush aside abuse victims and protect the church.
"In that regard, Weakland was one of the most vigorous, zealous architects of this horrific coverup," Isley said.
In 2019, in response to pressure from church abuse victims and faithful, the archdiocese removed Weakland's name from the pastoral center at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Milwaukee and from a bas-relief inside the cathedral depicting Weakland shepherding small children.
Isley said the news of Weakland's death could bring up difficult memories for survivors of clergy abuse and their families. He urged people to push for positive change in the church.
"That's the proper way to remember his life and legacy, whatever you think about him."
Annysa Johnson is a former Journal Sentinel reporter who covered religion and faith until 2020.
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2022-08-22T20:47:30Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Rembert Weakland, former Milwaukee Archbishop, dies at 95
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/religion/2022/08/22/rembert-weakland-former-milwaukee-archbishop-dead-95-catholic-church-priest-sex-abuse/93122018/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/religion/2022/08/22/rembert-weakland-former-milwaukee-archbishop-dead-95-catholic-church-priest-sex-abuse/93122018/
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Entering Aug. 22, the Brewers were 1½ games back from the nearest playoff spot, though it's really 2½ back since Milwaukee doesn't have a tiebreaker advantage with its nearest competitor, the Philadelphia Phillies.
San Diego 68-56 (½ game ahead of Phillies, 2 games ahead of Brewers)
St. Louis has two doubleheaders on its docket and a trip out west featuring stops in both San Diego and Los Angeles just before coming to Milwaukee for what promises to be a pivotal set. The Cardinals also close the season with six straight against the Pirates, three at home then three on the road. In all, St. Louis will close the season with 11 of 14 on the road. But the team has 21 games remaining against the three worst teams in the NL (Washington, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh) and eight more against the Cubs, the fifth-worst team.
Games ahead of Phillies for second wild card: ½
Games ahead of Brewers: 2
Games behind Padres for second wild card: ½
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2022-08-22T20:47:42Z
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Brewers battling Cardinals, Padres, Phillies for NL playoff spot
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/22/brewers-battling-cardinals-padres-phillies-nl-playoff-spot/7843225001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/22/brewers-battling-cardinals-padres-phillies-nl-playoff-spot/7843225001/
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A four-story, 55-unit apartment building proposed for Milwaukee's east side is being recommended for Common Council zoning approval — despite a lawsuit filed by its opponents.
That site now includes a vacant lot as well as St. Mark's Episcopal Church. That empty site north of the church parish hall is where the apartments would be developed.
The commission on Monday voted 6-0 to endorse the zoning change after a three-hour public hearing. That followed a one-hour closed session to discuss the lawsuit — allowed under Wisconsin's Open Meetings Law.
The church plans to demolish the parish hall and replace it with a smaller facility better suited to St. Mark's current membership count. It would be built as an addition to the historic church, which will remain.
St. Mark plans to use the sale of its vacant lot to help finance the new parish hall.
The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee could consider the proposal at its Sept. 13 meeting.
Supporters include Downer Avenue Business Improvement District and State Rep. Jonathan Brostoff.
Brostoff is the only candidate on the November ballot for the district alderman position left open when former Ald. Nik Kovac was named city budget director in May.
The apartments would benefit the neighborhood, he said, including providing more customers for such businesses as Downer Theatre and Nehring's Sendik's on Downer.
"We need foot traffic," Brostoff said.
Project developer Michael DeMichele told commission members that the apartment building would include 69 underground parking stalls, and a height that fits the neighborhood.
It would be slightly lower than Church In The City, which is just north of the proposed development site at 2648 N. Hackett Ave. The number of parking stalls would be more than what's required by city code.
Opponents said the development would be too large for the site.
They also said its parking structure would be too small — leading to building residents and their guests using street parking in a neighborhood where such spots can be challenging to find.
Meanwhile, five opponents have filed a lawsuit in Milwaukee County Circuit Court against the Plan Commission.
It seeks to block the city from acting on the zoning proposal because neighborhood residents are allegedly being denied guarantees of due process and equal protection under the law.
The City of Department Public Works reviewed those concerns and concluded such a study isn't needed — in part because a large, underused parking structure is located one-half block from the development site.
"We did not see any issues," said Dawn Schmidt, a department civil engineer.
Former Ald. Larraine McNamara-McGraw, one of the lawsuit's plaintiffs, said the opponents' analysis shows the number of cars on one-way Hackett Avenue would "massively" increase.
The proposed building meets the current zoning's height limit, said Sam Leichtling, city planning manager.
The new zoning would raise the limit on the number of apartments allowed on the site, said Leichtling.
That increased density is a goal of the city's comprehensive plan for northeast side, he said.
The proposed building's density would be similar to that of other neighborhood apartment buildings, DeMichele said.
Some opponents, however, said that's generally not true of buildings east of Downer Avenue.
"Could it be a little less dense?" nearby resident Jim Schleif asked about the proposed apartments.
The Historic Preservation Commission in July approved the building's siting, scale, form and materials.
DeMichele hopes to have the building completed by March 2024.
The monthly rents would be around $2.10 per square foot, he said. That translates to rents starting at around $1,050 for a studio unit.
"We need affordable housing," McNamara-McGraw said. "That's not this building."
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2022-08-23T02:38:20Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Approval of Milwaukee east side apartments recommended, foes suing
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/22/approval-milwaukee-east-side-apartments-recommended-foes-suing/7865544001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/22/approval-milwaukee-east-side-apartments-recommended-foes-suing/7865544001/
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'It's a pretty special evening': Venetian Night Lighted Boat parade returns to Port Washington
Decorated boats will light up the night sky again this fall during the Venetian Night Lighted Boat Parade in Port Washington.
The Venetian Night Lighted Boat parade is hosted by the Port Washington Yacht Club and is scheduled for 8 p.m. Sept. 4. It lasts about 45 minutes. Best viewing is from Coal Dock Park, Inner Breakwater and Rotary Park.
"When you see it at night with the twinkling of the lights and all the boats are twinkling and reflecting in the water. It's a pretty special evening," said Greta Schanen, past commodore of the Port Washington Yacht Club.
The weekend kicks off with the annual Labor Day regatta on Saturday followed by a band at Veterans Park in downtown Port Washington.
Awards for the first, second, and third place for both powerboats and sailboats will be given out at 10 p.m. at the marina tent.
Last year the event attracted about 20 boats and more than 1,000 spectators. "Everybody came up, it was quite packed and fun," said Schanen. The yacht club has hosted the parade on and off for the past 40 years.
"We just brought it back last year after a little bit of a lapse. We were surprised about how many people came out," she added. Before last year, there was about a five-year gap because no one organized the event.
Entry forms are available to participate in the parade at the Port Washington Marina Office or by email at commodore@pwycwi.com
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2022-08-23T12:57:37Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Port Washington's Venetian Night Lighted Boat Parade returns September
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/23/port-washingtons-venetian-night-lighted-boat-parade-returns-september/10290814002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/23/port-washingtons-venetian-night-lighted-boat-parade-returns-september/10290814002/
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There’s no arguing the fact that Social Security and Medicare funds will be exhausted in the coming years. Reports have shown that Medicare funds will run dry in 2028, while the trust fund reserves for Social Security will be unable to pay full benefits starting in 2034. This is a serious crisis that most politicians refuse to even discuss.
In recent interviews, Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson took the crucial step to bring this topic to a national conversation. Many media outlets and commentators followed along while Democrats falsely accused Senator Johnson of wanting to “destroy” Social Security and Medicare.
As the President of the 60 Plus Association, I greatly appreciate Johnson for bringing this topic to the national conversation because it is one that has been ignored for quite some time. Our association advocates for common-sense policy that will accurately represent members of our senior and retirement community.
For far too long, our “leaders” have refused to even discuss the viability of these dying programs. However, much like his approach on many other issues, Johnson has been willing to approach this crisis head-on and analyze our programs from a business-minded perspective.
More:Our ancestors created Social Security. Ron Johnson's idea would destroy it, and Medicare along with it.
Senator Johnson believes that Social Security and Medicare are two essential programs that need to be protected and their long-term viability guaranteed for generations to come. He has always been a strong advocate for the senior community so they can enjoy their retirement just like past generations of Americans. The generation before us created Social Security, and Johnson is fighting to ensure their programs remain solvent for our children and grandchildren. That will not happen if we continue steering on our current path.
Our economy continues to spiral out of control with record-high inflation, increased grocery costs, and supply chain shortages. These problems disproportionately affect people on fixed incomes — like most seniors. While the Democrats increase taxes and spending that make our economic conditions even worse, we must ensure that the programs that our seniors depend on — Social Security and Medicare — are preserved and maintained for generations to come.
Johnson’s opponent is not an advocate for the economic prosperity of American families, small businesses, and seniors. Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes is on record supporting higher taxes on nearly every American and spending trillions more that we don’t have. Those sorts of policies won’t only hurt our economic vitality, they’ll further endanger Social Security and Medicare.
The agenda of the Democrats has put seniors’ livelihoods at risk, and Barnes will be just another vote for these reckless policies. As much as ever, we need common-sense leadership to protect seniors and put our country back on the right track.
We have made the promise to our retirees that they will be guaranteed the benefits they have paid into throughout their careers. However, we cannot rely on leaders who pretend that these benefits will continue to exist in perpetuity without reform.
Our nation needs leaders who are willing to have the tough conversations that are needed to protect our seniors’ livelihoods, even if it opens up lines of attacks from their political opponents. That is what real leadership looks like, and Johnson has proved to be a true leader for the people of Wisconsin.
The conversation around the viability of Social Security and Medicare is one that has been sitting on the sidelines for far too long, and Johnson has made it very clear that he is willing to take actions to guarantee that those who have already paid into the program will experience the benefits.
Saul Anuzis is president of 60 Plus the American Association of Senior Citizens, a right-leaning nonprofit advocacy group based in the Washington, D.C. area.
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2022-08-23T12:57:56Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Ron Johnson is a champion for the future of Social Security, Medicare
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/08/23/ron-johnson-champion-future-social-security-medicare/7834959001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/opinion/2022/08/23/ron-johnson-champion-future-social-security-medicare/7834959001/
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Once upon a time, the American Legion National Convention completely took over Milwaukee.
Back in 1941, when the prestigious event chose Milwaukee as its destination, the city scrambled for ample hotel space and food accommodations for the thousands of Legionnaires headed into town. Governor Julius Heil and Milwaukee mayor Carl Zeidler traveled to Boston to advocate for Milwaukee to host (including riding on a Wisconsin parade float), Marquette University delayed the start of fall classes, comedian Bob Hope showed up and Milwaukee officials had to combat a litany of Legionnaire pranks, if you can believe it.
One presumes that the current iteration of the national convention, which descends on Milwaukee from Wednesday to Sept. 1, won't bring the same volume of disruption. But it's notable that an estimated 8,000 attendees will be in town for the 103rd annual gathering. For comparison's sake, roughly 13,000 attended the Northwestern Mutual Conference earlier this year.
Milwaukee won the bid to host the event in 2017, beating out Indianapolis.
“It was a real team effort to win this major convention business for Milwaukee. The combination of the American Legion’s successful convention experience here in 2010, along with a great convention package and the promise of all the new development that will be in place by 2022, helped seal the deal for Milwaukee," said then-President and CEO of VISIT Milwaukee, Paul Upchurch.
More:Downtown Milwaukee's convention center expansion will cost more than its $420 million budgeted price — forcing more public borrowing
Milwaukee also hosted the event in 2000 in addition to the aforementioned 2010 and 1941 events. House Republican Leader John Boehner and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi both made appearances during the 2010 festivities, which included a parade down Kilbourn Avenue.
The convention does not have a parade scheduled this year, nor did it have one last year in Phoenix.
The event will bring to town representatives from each of the legion's 55 departments, including all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, France, Mexico and the Philippines.
Most events are scheduled for the Wisconsin Center and Hilton Milwaukee downtown, though the Milwaukee Brewers will welcome visitors for American Legion Family Baseball Night on Monday at American Family Field.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel investigative reporter Katelyn Ferral and former Appleton Post-Crescent journalist Natalie Brophy will be presented a Fourth Estate Award recognizing achievement in journalism for their work chronicling the tragic cases of four Wisconsin veterans who took their own lives months after serving together in Afghanistan.
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2022-08-23T15:52:02Z
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www.jsonline.com
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American Legion National Convention 2022 comes to Milwaukee
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/23/american-legion-national-convention-2022-comes-milwaukee/7873086001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/23/american-legion-national-convention-2022-comes-milwaukee/7873086001/
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Greendale looks to create TIF district, spend $10.5 million to redevelop former Boston Store property at Southridge Mall
The village of Greendale is looking to create a tax incremental financing district and spend about $10.5 million in village funds to facilitate the redevelopment of the former Boston Store property at Southridge Mall.
The proposed TIF district, TID No. 6, would pay the costs of infrastructure needed to allow Barrett Lo Visionary Development to develop the property.
Barrett Lo plans to construct a 790-unit apartment project and bring 50,000 square feet of retail and commercial space to the 14.8-acre parcel at 5300 S. 76th St.
The Greendale Village Board in December 2021 approved a draft redevelopment agreement for the project.
A formal redevelopment agreement was signed by both sides in January.
The creation of the TID would require multiple approvals
Creating the TIF district would take several steps.
The TID No. 6 draft project plan is expected to be considered by both the Joint Review Board and Plan Commission on Aug. 31, with a public hearing held during the Plan Commission meeting.
The TIF district would also require approval from both the Village Board and the Joint Review Board.
The village anticipates making total expenditures of about $10.5 million, according to the project plan. Of that, an estimated $8.8 million would be spent on infrastructure projects, which would include utilities, sidewalks, walkways, village green and other natural spaces.
The project would enhance the village’s tax base over time, which would help sustain local services, schools and amenities, Greendale Village Manager Mike Hawes said in an email.
"It will also be a boost to the local economy by bringing desirable housing and restaurant/commercial options," he said.
Development expected to increase the property's value to $100 million
The development of the property is expected to increase its value, creating $100.2 million in incremental value by 2035, according to the project plan.
Over the 27-year term of the district, the project would generate $46 million in incremental tax revenue, according to the project plan.
Village leaders are confident in the accuracy of the $100 million projection because the estimate is based on similar developments, Hawes said.
"We also have a development agreement that establishes minimum assessed values for each phase of the project that equals the amount projected in the TID plan," he said.
Project at the former Boston Store at Southridge would be built in three phases
The residential complex would be constructed in three phases with a total of up to 790 upscale, market-rate apartments, including underground parking. The buildings would have a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom units.
Phase 1 would contain about 215-220 units of residential apartments and about 15,000 square feet of retail and commercial space, according to the redevelopment agreement.
Phase 2 calls for about 350 apartment units together with about 15,000-20,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.
Phase 3 would include about 215-220 apartment units and about 15,000-20,000 square feet of retail and commercial space.
The first phase of residential and commercial construction is expected to take place in 2024-26.
Barrett Lo has developed other apartment projects, including The Couture
Barrett Lo is best known for developing The Couture residential high-rise on Milwaukee's lakefront.
The firm also has done suburban apartments developments, including the Emerald Row project at Oak Creek's Drexel Town Square mixed-use site.
In May 2021, the Greendale Village Board voted to buy the former Boston Store and its parking lot for $3.3 million with plans to make it available for new development. The purchase was completed two months later.
The building has been vacant since Bon-Ton Stores Inc., the operator of Boston Store and other department store chains, was liquidated in 2018.
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2022-08-23T18:26:34Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Greendale looks to spend $10.5M to help develop old Boston Store site
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/greendale/2022/08/23/greendale-looks-spend-10-5-m-help-develop-old-boston-store-site/7865312001/
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For the first time in 10 years, the Wauwatosa School District has approved a new human growth and development curriculum, which will address controversial issues of sexual orientation and gender identity. But the action didn't come easily.
The 6-1 vote came late Monday as anxious attendees, spilling out of the crowded boardroom, awaited a decision after nearly four hours of discussion on the topic by students, teachers, caregivers and other community members.
The new curriculum, developed over 10 months, will feature lessons as early as kindergarten. In later grades, it will provide a more comprehensive sex education curriculum and will include information on sexual orientation and gender identity.
The updated curriculum will be implemented in the 2022-23 school year.
What the Wauwatosa School District's approved sex education curriculum entails
The curriculum was created by an internal committee and external committee and involved teachers, health care professionals, caregivers, students and a local clergy member. They used Wisconsin state statutes, Department of Public Instruction standards and National Sex Education standards as a foundation for the new curriculum.
The committees strived to create a curriculum that would be acceptable to the whole community. A poll seeking community feedback showed that 64.5% of respondents strongly agreed with the curriculum.
It should be noted that the poll was subject to outside intervention, and the district explained that it had to clean the original data to only account for Wauwatosa respondents.
The school district provides parents both the option to opt out of the curriculum as a whole or opt out of specific parts of the curriculum. More details on the grade-by-grade outlook can be found at bit.ly/TosaHumanGrowthandDevelopment.
There were demonstrations before the Wauwatosa School Board meeting
Before the school board meeting, multiple demonstrations took place outside the district office.
One protest, put together by Wauwatosa residents on Facebook, was organized to support the curriculum and LGBTQ+ students in the district.
Nate Robertstad, a member of the external committee that worked closely with the district to form the new curriculum, said the revamping of the curriculum was long overdue. He said he was happy to see students getting the education they need and deserve.
“We want to be a lighthouse district, and inclusivity like this is one of those steps to do that. I feel like our community is taking a big step in doing this,” Robertstad said.
Another protest was organized by a group called Moms for Liberty, a national organization that has chapters throughout the country. Although the group does not have a chapter in Milwaukee or Waukesha counties, it does have chapters in nearby Ozaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties.
A member of the group who identified themselves as a Mequon resident said that she came to Wauwatosa because she wanted to defend the innocence of kids in other districts.
Words were exchanged at different times during the simultaneous demonstrations, but a police presence was able to ensure nothing escalated past verbal jabs.
New curriculum would offer needed support, student says
The school board meeting attracted a multitude of community members eager to voice their opinions. To accommodate the larger-than-normal crowds, multiple rooms were opened. The meeting was also livestreamed.
One student who spoke was a teen who detailed his experience realizing his biological makeup did not match how he felt. As he contemplated a transition to his preferred gender, he said, he received no education or information from the school district about what he was experiencing.
“I couldn't fully socially transition for 13 years of my life … that reason being is I didn't even know that there was a choice to be LGBTQ because it was never ever taught in school,” he said.
Each of the 10 students who spoke at the board meeting expressed support and gratitude for the new curriculum.
They were countered by numerous people claiming to be medical professionals from the Milwaukee community who said supporting the internal desires surrounding sexuality and gender identity of younger individuals is "dangerous."
Milwaukee resident Franklin Smith, president of the Milwaukee Guild and Catholic Medical Association, spoke against the curriculum, claiming the curriculum’s teachings pushed kids in a direction they would not go in otherwise.
“There's no doubt in my mind that future generations will observe the damage that occurs when this teaching method is used,” Smith said.
After attendees expressed frustration with the number of non-Wauwatosa people speaking, the board eventually stipulated that individuals could only comment if they live in the Wauwatosa community or have a student who attends a Wauwatosa school.
How did the school board eventually come to its decision?
After a lengthy public comment period, various board members also expressed their concerns.
Michael Meier said that, as an individual, he supported the plan, but as a representative on the school board, he had worries. He cast the only opposing vote to the curriculum.
Board member Sharon Muehlfeld also expressed worries, stating it was a big decision and she wanted to see whether more time could be given to the board, and community members, to ponder the topic.
But Board President Eric Jessup-Anger said that after the 10-month process the curriculum had already gone through, he didn’t know what else the board could hear that it hasn't heard already.
A suggestion by Meier to create a new curriculum for the students of parents who disliked the updated one failed, 5-2. Board member Jenny Hoag said that would only further divide the district and its students.
The board also voted, 5-2, against delaying a vote on the updated curriculum before ultimately approving the curriculum.
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2022-08-23T18:26:40Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wauwatosa School Board approves new sex education curriculum
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/wauwatosa/2022/08/23/wauwatosa-school-board-approves-new-sex-education-curriculum/7873012001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/news/wauwatosa/2022/08/23/wauwatosa-school-board-approves-new-sex-education-curriculum/7873012001/
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Southbound I-43 lanes closed on Milwaukee's south side
The closure runs from West Holt Avenue to West Howard Avenue, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office said a death occurred in the area of Howard Avenue and the interstate. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed it is responding to the location.
The incident occurred around 10:30 a.m. and the closure is expected to last around two hours, the Department of Transportation said.
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2022-08-23T18:27:05Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Southbound lanes of I-43 in Milwaukee closed
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/23/southbound-lanes-43-milwaukee-closed-death-investigation/7874759001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/23/southbound-lanes-43-milwaukee-closed-death-investigation/7874759001/
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Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers announced a plan Tuesday to tap the state's nearly $4 billion biennium budget surplus to provide more than $600 million in tax relief including a 10% income tax cut.
Evers, who is in a tight race for governor with Republican candidate Tim Michels, announced his proposal against the backdrop of rising public concern over inflation and on the same day Michels and other Republicans were in Kenosha highlighting the scenes of rioting two years ago following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.
After hearing of Evers' proposed tax cuts, Michels said, "Tony Evers knows that today is the two-year anniversary of perhaps his largest failure, and he's trying to cloak it over."
The plan will have to be approved by the Republican-controlled Legislature, which previously rejected Evers' tax rebate proposals, saying cuts should come after the November election.
Assembly Speaker Robin Vos dismissed the Evers proposal.
"This is obviously an attempt to distract from his failed record in Kenosha dealing with the riot. The date isn't a coincidence. More politics instead of results from Tony Evers, just like the last 4 years," Vos tweeted.
Tax credits for veterans, seniors and minimum mark-up rules
More:Legislature's Joint Finance Committee objects to Gov. Evers' plan for $31 million opioid settlement money
More:Tim Michels unleashed a one-two punch of massive money and Trump's backing to win. Tony Evers thinks he can turn the tables.
The credit would gradually phase out for single filers with adjusted gross incomes between $100,000 and $120,000 and married-joint filers with incomes between $150,000 and $175,000.
Increasing the income limit to $35,000 from the current law of $24,680 for the Homestead Credit. The Homestead Credit provides tax relief for low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities.
Expand eligibility for the Veterans and Surviving Spouses Property Tax Credit to support the needs of veterans and their families to include those with a disability rating of at least 70% instead of the current law of 100%, providing about $16 million in property tax relief.
Repealing the state’s minimum markup law for motor fuel, which requires gas to be marked up from cost. The cost of this markup has been costing Wisconsin drivers an additional 18 to nearly 30 cents per gallon.
Cap the cost of cost-sharing of insulin at $35.
Creating a Caregiver Tax Credit providing nearly $100 million in relief for an estimated 250,000 Wisconsinites. Evers said most filers would receive up to $500, while married-separate filers would receive up to $250. The governor originally proposed creating the Caregiver Tax Credit in his 2021-23 biennial budget and proposed it as part of his plan to use the state’s surplus earlier this year, but both moves were rejected by Republicans in the Legislature.
Expanding the newly created Child and Dependent Care Credit from 50% of the federal credit to 100%, which would provide nearly $30 million in tax relief to 107,000 Wisconsinites who claim the federal credit, or about $274 per filer. Evers proposed expanding the Child and Dependent Care Credit earlier this year, but it was rejected by Republicans in the Legislature.
Wisconsin Department of Revenue expects more than $5 billion in surplus
The nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau projects the state will end the biennium with a $3.8 billion revenue surplus, nearly $2.9 billion more than was expected in June 2021.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue is expected to announce in the coming days that the state will end the fiscal year with more than $5 billion in state coffers.
"We're in the best fiscal shape we've be in in over a half century," said Peter Barca, secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue. "We welcome and appreciate the governor wanting to share this with hardworking people and those people struggling with wanting to get into the middle class."
Inflation top issue for Wisconsin voters
Evers is barely leading Michels 45% to 43%, according to the latest Marquette University Law School Poll released last week.
Inflation was voters' top issue in the Marquette poll, with 67% saying they are "very concerned." Gun violence and crime followed.
In March, Evers put forward a $1.7 billion legislative package that would have included a $150 tax rebate to every Wisconsin resident and funneled $750 million into education.
Republican lawmakers quickly rejected the proposal.
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2022-08-23T18:27:17Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Evers announces plan to cut taxes $600 million tapping state surplus
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/23/wisconsin-governor-tony-evers-announces-plan-cut-taxes-600-million-tapping-state-surplus/7872384001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/23/wisconsin-governor-tony-evers-announces-plan-cut-taxes-600-million-tapping-state-surplus/7872384001/
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Brewtown Pub and Grill in South Milwaukee suffers significant fire damage
A fire heavily damaged the Brewtown Pub and Grill in South Milwaukee on Monday evening.
Firefighters were dispatched to 1902 17th Ave. at 7:11 p.m. for a fire at the bar, according to South Milwaukee Fire Chief John Litchford.
There was nobody inside, and the establishment appeared to be closed when firefighters arrived, he said. No injuries were reported from occupants or first responders.
The fire did not extend past the first floor, Litchford said. No fire was found in the basement or apartments, only smoke. The fire was under control at 7:29 p.m. and the scene was cleared at 8:49 p.m.
Ten units, including four engines, two trucks, three command vehicles and one EMS vehicle responded. The Oak Creek, Cudahy, St. Francis and Milwaukee fire departments assisted South Milwaukee. The Red Cross, We Energies and South Milwaukee Police were also at the scene.
The business shared a statement on its official Facebook page: “We are extremely sorry to inform everyone that Brewtown caught on fire Monday night. We are grateful to report that no one was hurt, however, the damage is significant, and therefore we will be temporarily closed. Our dedicated team will be working hard over the next several weeks to rebuild, renovate, and bring Brewtown back better than ever.”
The business promised to share updates on renovation progress via Facebook.
Litchford said the top priorities during the response were “life safety and property conservation.”
“The responding departments and other support agencies did an excellent job controlling the incident and protecting life and property,” he said. “I would like to thank everyone involved, and the community that was affected by the event.”
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2022-08-23T20:45:38Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Brewtown Pub and Grill South Milwaukee suffers significant fire damage
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/south-milwaukee/2022/08/23/brewtown-pub-and-grill-south-milwaukee-suffers-significant-fire-damage/7877834001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/south-milwaukee/2022/08/23/brewtown-pub-and-grill-south-milwaukee-suffers-significant-fire-damage/7877834001/
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North Division mourns the sudden death of Principal Keith Carrington at age 48
North Division High School Principal Keith Carrington died Monday afternoon at age 48, three days after asking for prayers before he headed to a hospital.
His wife, Tanzanique Carrington, said he started feeling sick last Monday, the first day of school, because of an infected ulcer. He had surgery Saturday and was recovering well in the hospital when he got sick again Monday, started having trouble breathing and died unexpectedly.
Tanzanique said her husband had a blood clot or heart attack, and she wasn't sure if it was related to the surgery. The Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office reported he died of natural causes at Ascension Columbia St. Mary's Milwaukee. Tanzanique said she didn't ask for an autopsy.
"Words cannot express how I feel with the sudden loss of my soulmate, my best friend, my everything," Tanzanique posted on Facebook Monday night.
In less than 24 hours after her post, hundreds of students, parents and others posted condolences and memories of Carrington as a dedicated mentor and friend. They sent Tanzanique screenshots of conversations they had with him, showing how much he checked in on them.
"It's just been immense," Tanzanique said in an interview. "So much outpouring from young people who said, 'If it wasn't for Mr. Carrington I wouldn't have finished school, if it wasn't for Mr. Carrington I wouldn't be the person I am today.'"
Tanzanique, who is a principal at Morse Middle School, said she had just been laughing and talking with her husband and had expected him to come home from the hospital today.
Keith Carrington and Tanzanique met at a bank and then built careers in education
Keith was born in Dallas and moved to Milwaukee when he was about 8, Tanzanique said.
They met each other in 1994 while Tanzanique was a bank teller and Keith was a customer. He kept returning to her window at the bank and finally asked her out.
"He was like, 'I find you very attractive. Will you go for a walk in the park with me?'" Tanzanique remembered. "And he caught me on a good day because I said yes."
On a walk in Estabrook Park, him being 20 and her being 21, they both talked about how they wanted to build a place for young people in the city, to "be that pillar of education in Milwaukee."
They both graduated from UWM and worked as teaching assistants in Milwaukee Public Schools, then worked their way up. He got a master's degree from Alverno College.
They married and had their daughter, Cairee, who is 24.
"He completely doted on me and our daughter," Tanzanique said. "There wasn't anything that I ever had to worry about because he just took care of everything."
Keith and Tanzanique celebrated their 25-year anniversary in July. Both posted about their love for each other on Facebook.
"What can I say? She has been my best friend for almost 28 years. We have laughed, cried, made each other mad, but we are still here," Keith wrote, adding: "You are my world."
Keith Carrington was an educator, mentor, and Fiserv Forum fixture
After working for about two decades as a paraprofessional, special-education teacher, assistant principal and principal at other MPS schools, Keith Carrington became the principal at North Division in 2016.
"I truly love what I do," he wrote on the school website. "It gives me great joy to see students grow throughout their time in school."
As an additional part-time job, Carrington was a security supervisor for the Bradley Center and Fiserv Forum. The family spent last Christmas at a Bucks game — Carrington working and his wife and daughter in the stands.
Carrington also spent summers mentoring young people at Marquette University's National Youth Sports Program, and also led a mentoring program for young men through his fraternity.
At North Division, Tanzanique said Keith was determined to make the campus a "school of choice" again. He built up programs at the school to help students get internships in information technology and become certified nursing assistants.
The Carringtons lived less than a mile away from North Division. Students would often catch him on his porch enjoying a cigar.
"They would always be like, 'I can't believe you live in the hood,'" Tanzanique said. "It kind of gave him street cred that they could actually see him as part of the community."
He was the kind of principal who could have fun with the students, Tanzanique said. A lifelong Cowboys fan, he made a bet with students soon after he started as principal at North Division. If the Packers beat the Cowboys, he would wear Packers gear to the school.
The next day, there he was in a green and gold jacket. "I'm a man of my word," he said in a Facebook video. "Go, Pack, Go."
Laticia Parker, whose 17-year-old son Darrick Royal went to North Division, said Carrington kept in touch with Royal even when he transferred to another school.
"He was still a mentor to my child," Parker said in an interview. "Mr. Carrington kept telling him, you can do it, you can make it. He stayed on Darrick; it was amazing."
Carrington continued to check in on the family into the new school year, Parker said, recently calling to see how Darrick was feeling, whether he had eaten and if there was anything he could do to help.
"My heart is just really breaking, because he was really like one of the only supports we had," Parker said.
But because of the support Carrington has already given, Parker said she's confident her son will carry that with him.
"Because he did that, I know my son is going to make it," Parker said. "He said, 'Mama, I'm going to make Mr. Carrington proud.' That's what he told me yesterday.'"
Donations can go toward scholarships
In Keith's memory, Tanzanique suggested people could support scholarships for North Division students through the North Division High School Alumni Association.
The MPS Foundation also supports scholarships for North Division students and accepts donations online.
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2022-08-23T20:45:50Z
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www.jsonline.com
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North Division mourns death of Principal Keith Carrington at age 48
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/23/north-division-mps-mourns-death-principal-keith-carrington-age-48/7873064001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/23/north-division-mps-mourns-death-principal-keith-carrington-age-48/7873064001/
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The Archdiocese of Milwaukee has announced funeral plans for former Archbishop Rembert Weakland, who died Monday at 95.
The current archbishop, Jerome Listecki, will celebrate a funeral Mass at 4:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist, 812 N. Jackson Street, Milwaukee.
Visitation will be held at the cathedral from 12 to 4 p.m. that day.
He suffered a series of serious illnesses and died earlier this week at Clement Manor, a Greenfield senior living center, the archdiocese said.
After retiring, Weakland lived at a Wilson Commons, a secular senior living complex near Wilson Park in Milwaukee, before moving to Clement Manor.
As an archbishop, Weakland left a complex legacy.
Nationally, he was considered a leader among the American clergy in the years after Vatican II. He championed an expanded role for women and the laity in the church, and made no secret that he thought the door should be left open to ordaining women.
Although he disliked the label, he was routinely referred to as the most liberal bishop in America.
In Milwaukee, Weakland became known for building bridges with other religions and reaching out to Catholics who felt disconnected from their church. He spoke out on issues facing everyday Catholic families — sex education, workplace dignity, social justice, financial pressures.
Near the end of his Milwaukee tenure, he shepherded a radical remodeling of the interior of the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to modernize and reconfigure it.
His resignation came as the public was beginning to grasp the scope of the church’s global crisis involving the sexual abuse of minors. Weakland, who protected abusive priests and at least initially treated complaints about them with disdain, came to be a face of the crisis in southeastern Wisconsin.
He admitted in depositions during the archdiocese's bankruptcy proceedings that he shredded copies of sex abuse documents, failed to notify law enforcement officials and moved sexually abusive priests from parish to parish without warning members of their histories.
In 2019, in response to pressure from church abuse victims and faithful, the archdiocese removed Weakland's name from the pastoral center at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist and from a bas-relief inside the cathedral depicting Weakland shepherding small children.
Annysa Johnson, a former Milwaukee Journal Sentinel religion and faith reporter, contributed to this story.
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2022-08-23T22:58:30Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Funeral for former Archbishop Rembert Weakland to be held in Milwaukee
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/23/funeral-former-archbishop-rembert-weakland-held-milwaukee-cathedral-st-john-evangelist/7878412001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/23/funeral-former-archbishop-rembert-weakland-held-milwaukee-cathedral-st-john-evangelist/7878412001/
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Kettle Moraine Middle School students win National History Day contest
Two Kettle Moraine Middle School students learned earlier this summer that the hard work they did to make their National History Day projects a success paid off.
Krin Blegen and Emma Manion are the first students in the Kettle Moraine School District's history to win national championships in two categories at the National History Day National Contest, according to a district newsletter.
The contest's theme was "Debate and Diplomacy in History: Success, Failures, and Consequences." To present their research, students could choose to create a paper, documentary, exhibit, performance or website.
"I don't think either of us did National History Day to win. Actually having that gratification, it was just really huge. We spent some of our weekends, late evenings working on it. To get that extra gratification — I was just basically in shock when I heard," Emma said.
"Like Emma said, we didn't do National History Day for the competition. We did it for the experience and the knowledge that we gained, and we can still gain, from doing it. Winning it was just the cherry on top," Krin added.
National History Day is a nonprofit education organization based in College Park, Maryland, that offers academic programming to engage middle and high school students annually "in conducting original research on historical topics of interest."
Krin won the individual documentary category. Her project "What They Taught Us: How Grassroots Debate and Diplomacy Shaped the Milwaukee Open Housing Movement," was a documentary focused on the NAACP Youth Council's 200-day marches in 1967 and 1968 to protest redlining and unequal housing.
"What really drew me to this project was the distinct connection from the present to the past or the past to the present and how much of a difference these youth marchers made and how we can still connect the impact that they made back then to the impact that youth are having on America today," she explained.
Emma won the individual performance category for her project, "Lutie Stearns: The Difficult Debate and Wise Diplomatic Steps to Strengthen Our Democracy by Promoting the Establishment of Libraries across Wisconsin and the Nation.”
She dressed up as Stearns and filmed a play talking about Stearns' life. Stearns' efforts helped set up a public library system in Wisconsin in 1904, according to the district's newsletter.
"Like Krin said, what I thought was interesting about this topic was that it really connects to today's world. Lutie Stearns is really a role model for all of us because back then, she was making sure that everyone had access to books and newspapers and things like that. This connects to how in today's world we're trying to make sure everyone has access to the Internet," Emma said.
Kettle Moraine Middle School history teacher Terry Kaldhusdal praised his students for their accomplishments.
"I'm just so proud of them ... I'm going to be telling their story, their history, for a long time," said Kaldhusdal.
He also talked about the importance of National History Day.
"The whole point of National History Day is not to necessarily make these kids historians, but it's to teach them these critical thinking skills that we all, as a community and as a state and as a country need to move forward," said Kaldhusdal.
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2022-08-24T13:57:14Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin students win at National History Day competition
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/delafield/2022/08/24/wisconsin-students-win-national-history-day-competition/7865543001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/delafield/2022/08/24/wisconsin-students-win-national-history-day-competition/7865543001/
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The American Red Cross is teaming up with other agencies to help more than 100 people displaced in Brown Deer apartment fire
The American Red Cross is teaming up with other agencies to provide resources after a fire at an apartment building in Brown Deer displaced more than 100 people last weekend.
Resources will be available from 1:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Brown Deer Elementary School, 5757 W. Dean Road ,for residents who were displaced by the fire.
"It's one place for people who've been impacted by the fire to come together under one roof to provide resources and referrals," said Laura McGuire, regional communications manager for the American Red Cross Association.
For victims of the fire, resources include mental health services, help replacing lost medications and medical items, help connecting with insurance companies and housing resources.
Services are provided by the following agencies: American Red Cross, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, the Brown Deer School District, the North Shore Fire/Rescue, the North Shore Health Department, the Brown Deer Foundation and the village of Brown Deer.
"What's really unfortunate is that a fire can destroy homes in a matter of seconds. We are here to provide services," said McGuire.
The Brown Deer Foundation set up the Brown Deer Foundation Emergency Fund through Tri City National Bank; anyone can donate. Community members in need of financial assistance should call the Brown Deer Foundation at 414-254-5103.
North Shore Fire/Rescue was dispatched to the River Place apartments at 4130 W. Hawthorne Trace Road, Brown Deer, at about 4:05 p.m. Aug. 20. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but may be related to a lightning strike of the building, according to a news release; 42 of the 110 units in the building are not habitable. About 10 of the units sustained fire damage; the others had smoke or water damage or are without power, the news release said.
If you were displaced by the fire or know someone who needs assistance, call the Red Cross at 800-236-8680.
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2022-08-24T13:57:20Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Red Cross, other agencies help Brown Deer apartment fire victims
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/24/red-cross-other-agencies-help-brown-deer-apartment-fire-victims/7876168001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/24/red-cross-other-agencies-help-brown-deer-apartment-fire-victims/7876168001/
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Developer withdraws plan for Oak Creek bar/gas station concept after chilly reception from residents and city officials
A concept for a combination gas station and bar got a chilly reception by Oak Creek’s plan commission Aug. 23, as well as nearby residents.
The response prompted applicant Jay Walia of Spring South LLC to withdraw his application before the Plan Commission even voted on it.
The concept for the former Ray Bussler’s restaurant space at 10276 S. 27th St. included a 6,500-square-foot building, half of which was slated for a bar and the remainder for a convenience store.
Additionally, a canopied gas pump “plaza” was included in the plans. Fuel sales would be available be 24/7 daily.
The whole project would require about 15 employees, five of them on each shift to run all three elements, according to city documents.
There were no bar hours submitted as part of the concept.
Business is allowed on the site, despite its residential characteristics; however, Mayor Dan Bukiewicz wasn’t especially excited about the concept.
“I don’t think this is the appropriate one,” he said.
City staff and commissioners pointed out numerous issues, including a diesel pump not meeting setback requirements and reducing an access aisle below minimum requirements. In addition, parking requirements were not met and there were issues with landscaping.
A representative from St. John’s Lutheran Church, 10302 S. 27th St., neighbor to the development, said the church had many concerns about environmental issues, specifically the potential contamination of well water.
Commissioner Don Oldani made his point plainly: “Environmental (concerns) aside, bar and liquor store aside, a gas station here makes zero sense, and that’s all I’m going to say.”
Commissioner and Ald. Greg Loreck agreed there are already “more than enough gas stations” to service the area.
Residents also took issue with the proposal, with many signing a Change.org petition against the project that garnered 89 signatures in just a few days.
Walia said he appreciated residents' comments, calling it democracy in action. He, too, didn’t seem sure about his own proposal early in the discussion.
“I hear what their concerns are,” he told the Plan Commission. “I don’t like the plan the way it is submitted.”
Specifically, Walia backpedaled on including a bar.
“There’ll be no bar,” he said.
However, shortly before he withdrew his proposal, Walia asked about the conditional use application process if he still wanted to include a bar in a potential future proposal.
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2022-08-24T13:57:26Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Bar/gas station concept withdrawn in Oak Creek after sour reception
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/oak-creek/2022/08/24/bar-gas-station-concept-withdrawn-oak-creek-after-sour-reception/7882190001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/oak-creek/2022/08/24/bar-gas-station-concept-withdrawn-oak-creek-after-sour-reception/7882190001/
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South Milwaukee Medal of Honor recipient honored as part of new War Memorial Center exhibit
South Milwaukee is home to one of Wisconsin’s 64 Medal of Honor recipients. Gary Wetzel and his fellow Medal of Honor recipients were recently honored by the War Memorial Center through the creation of a new Wisconsin Medal of Honor Exhibit.
Wetzel, a U.S. Army veteran who served in the Vietnam War, achieved the rank of specialist fourth class as part of the 173rd Assault Helicopter Company, 11th Combat Aviation Battalion, 1st Aviation Brigade.
He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor by President Lyndon B. Johnson on Nov. 19, 1968.
During the ceremony, Johnson said the Medal of Honor “goes to a very select and special group of men.” He estimated out of the 4½ million people who had made up the defense of the country, military and civilian, about 3,000 had received the Congressional Medal of Honor to that point.
“As long as Americans love their liberty and revere their freedom, they’ll owe a very special debt to you men who wear that blue ribbon,” Johnson said.
Injured body, unrelenting spirit
Wetzel, born in September 1947 in South Milwaukee, served as a helicopter door gunner as part of an insertion force trapped in a landing zone by enemy fire on Jan. 8, 1968, according to the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and the audio from the Medal of Honor ceremony.
“Wetzel was going to the aid of his aircraft commander when he was blown into a rice paddy and critically wounded by two enemy rockets that exploded just inches from his location,” according to his biography with the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Wetzel suffered significant injury to his left arm — which later had to be amputated — along with wounds to his right arm, chest and left leg from the explosion. Despite these severe injuries and profuse bleeding, he returned to his original position in the gun-well and continued firing.
“His machine gun was the only weapon placing effective fire on the enemy at that time,” Wetzel’s page said, adding that he remained at his post until he “eliminated the automatic-weapons emplacement that had been inflicting heavy casualties on the American troops and preventing them from moving against this strong enemy force.”
While attempting to return to the aid of his aircraft commander, and refusing aid for himself, Wetzel passed out from loss of blood.
When he regained consciousness, he dragged himself to his crew chief to assist in dragging his wounded aircraft commander to safety (during which he passed out a second time).
Activities and other local honors
This isn't the first time the War Memorial Center has honored Wetzel. In 2015, a street sign and stone marker was unveiled for Gary G. Wetzel Medal of Honor Way — specifically, the section of Mason Street that crosses Lincoln Memorial Drive.
He was also the 2015 Milwaukee County Veteran of the Year and the first recipient of the Milwaukee County Purple Heart Pass.
His hometown honored Wetzel by declaring May 18, 2017, as Gary G. Wetzel Day in South Milwaukee. In the proclamation then-Mayor Erik Brooks recalled the incident and a few other accomplishments by Wetzel, including his advocacy for veterans issues in founding Wisconsin Vietnam Vets, Chapter 1, in 1984.
Wetzel is also the founder of Milwaukee Homeless Veterans Stand Down, served on the Fisher House of Wisconsin Marketing and Fund Development Committee and helped a local child to fundraise, enabling her to attend Camp No Limits, a camp to empower young people with limb loss.
A banner on display at the War Memorial Center says Wetzel has also granted wishes for two children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, helps provide service dogs for veterans and provides educational scholarships.
Wetzel, known for leading many charitable motorcycle rides, was seriously injured while riding six years ago.
"He was on his way to Sturgis, South Dakota, to receive the Freedom Fighter Award and be inducted into the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame when he was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident in 2016 — injuries he is recovering from with the same determination, grit and courage he displayed as a soldier," the proclamation read.
After months of physical therapy, Wetzel returned to a fully- remodeled home through the Gary Sinise Foundation.
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2022-08-24T13:57:32Z
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www.jsonline.com
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War Memorial Center honors South Milwaukee Medal of Honor recipient
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/south-milwaukee/2022/08/24/war-memorial-center-honors-south-milwaukee-medal-honor-recipient/7871556001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/south-milwaukee/2022/08/24/war-memorial-center-honors-south-milwaukee-medal-honor-recipient/7871556001/
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From Post Malone to Lil Durk, Chris Stapleton to Carrie Underwood, 20 top Milwaukee concerts this fall
After an overwhelming year of concerts — following 16 months with virtually none of them — it feels like the live music industry, in Milwaukee anyway, is taking a bit of a breather for the fall.
Outdoor season is fading out, although there'll be a couple of Maier Festival Park shows before it gets too chilly. Just a handful of arena concerts remain for 2022, and in the past few weeks there have been an unusually high number of cancellations for health reasons, unforeseen circumstances and so on.
All that said, there's also no going back to the no show situation of much of 2020 and half of 2021, and there are plenty of great acts to check out this September through November, many making their way to town for the first time.
Here are 20 top picks, listed in order of occurrence.
Lindsey Jordan was ready to return to the road late last year after the COVID-19 live music shutdown behind one of 2021's best-reviewed albums, "Valentine" — only to push off the Snail Mail shows due to emergency vocal cord surgery. She's in good singing shape now though, and "Valentine," co-produced by Wisconsin native Brad Cook, is an album that's getting even better with time anyway.
When, where, price: 8 p.m. Sept. 2, Turner Hall Ballroom, 1040 N. Phillips Ave. $25 at the door, the Pabst Theater box office (144 E. Wells St.) and pabsttheater.org. Masks required, and all patrons must provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, with the final shot taken at least 14 days prior.
The prolific British punk band is finally making its way to Milwaukee behind four acclaimed albums released across five years. And while the Riverside and its fixed seats won't be conducive for moshing, that shouldn’t stop Idles from bringing maximum, infectious intensity to the stage.
When, where, price: 8 p.m. Sept. 3, Riverside Theater, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave. $31.25 at the door and through the Pabst.
Another overdue Milwaukee debut, Post Malone has become one of pop’s most consistent hit makers, with 11 top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100 in the last seven years. He’s also one of pop’s most versatile stars, comfortable with hip-hop, metal, country, even a Hootie & the Blowfish cover. Arrive early for one of the buzziest newcomers in hip-hop, Roddy Ricch.
When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Sept. 15, Fiserv Forum, 1111 N. Phillips Ave. $94.50 to $649.50 at the box office and fiservforum.com.
Brendon Urie has talked about how Milwaukee via shows at the Rave was one of the most supportive towns for Panic! at the Disco in its early days. So of course it’s going to be one of the first cities the band will visit after releasing its latest bombastic pop album “Viva Las Vengeance.”
When, where, prices:7 p.m. Sept. 16, Fiserv Forum. $25.50 to $699.
We can’t talk top Milwaukee concerts this fall without mentioning an appearance from Tenacious D, the greatest rock band on Earth. Says who? Says, well, Tenacious D. But with comedians Jack Black and Kyle Gass, D’s concert should be the funniest one in town this year.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Sept. 18, BMO Harris Pavilion, Maier Festival Park, 200 N. Harbor Dr. $54.50 to $174 at the box office and bmoharrispavilion.com.
The rapidly changing hip-hop world rarely rewards patience, but it’s worked out for the veteran Chicago drill rapper, who in the past two years is having the biggest success of his career — including two No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200 and a hit single with Drake — after a split with Def Jam in 2018 suggested his career was doomed.
When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Sept. 20, BMO Harris Pavilion. $24.50 to $275.
The singer-songwriter’s radiant debut album “Collapsed into Sunbeams” set a high bar in the early days of 2021, one few others could jump over. “Sunbeams” won the prestigious Mercury Prize in Parks’ native England and earned her a Best New Artist Grammy nomination.
When, where, price: 8 p.m. Sept. 21, Pabst Theater. $28.50.
Continuing a track record of booking ultra rare Milwaukee performances from revered acts — including Leonard Cohen, Patti Smith and Nick Cave — veteran local concert promoter and Shank Hall owner Peter Jest scored one of just 13 dates for the reunited and revered prog rockers’ first North American tour in 12 years — and Milwaukee’s show will be in the smallest venue on the run.
When, where, prices:7:30 p.m. Sept. 21, Uihlein Hall, Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St. $54.50 to $195 at the box office and marcuscenter.org.
The 69-year-old Williams is at the point of her career where she's starting to get her flowers through various lifetime achievement awards. But Williams is still doing impressive work — as recently as her 14th studio album in 2020, the Grammy-nominated "Good Souls Better Angels." The fact that she's returned to playing guitar after a career-threatening stroke in 2020 is all the more reason to see her now.
When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Sept. 25, Pabst Theater. $29.50 to $205.
A phenomenal blues-oriented guitarist who is always expanding boundaries — incorporating hip-hop, psychedelia and other styles in his sound — Clark Jr. embraced a sociopolitical message on his latest album "This Land," the title track a play on Woody Guthrie, with Clark singing of racial profiling he experienced in his Austin, Texas neighborhood. Going down that route literally led to winning results, with the song earning two Grammys.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Sept. 30, Riverside Theater. $55 to $199.
Take it from Tom Brady, who suggested in June that Pusha T dropped the album of the year with "It's Almost Dry." Critics seemingly agree with the legendary quarterback, with Pusha T's latest collection of drug dealing and street hustling songs consistently getting some of the strongest reviews for any hip-hop album this year.
When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Oct. 1, the Rave, 2401 W. Wisconsin Ave. $35 to $120 at the box office and therave.com.
The outdoor concert season is going extra long in 2022, with the hard rock band closing out one of the busiest seasons ever for the 35-year-old American Family Insurance Amphitheater a week into October. And while Punch packs, well, a punch live, the main incentive to see this show is the expansive lineup, including Mongolian folk metal band the Hu, and metal legends Megadeth, playing their first Milwaukee show after Dave Mustaine's bout with cancer.
When, where, prices:6:30 p.m. Oct. 7, American Family Insurance Amphitheater, Maier Festival Park. $22.50 to $317.50 at the box office and amfamamp.com.
Stapleton was just here in September 2021, headlining a sold-out show at the American Family Insurance Amphitheater for Summerfest. He hasn’t released any new singles or albums since then — but his Milwaukee show this fall is sold out too.
When, where, prices: 7 p.m. Oct. 8, Fiserv Forum. Sold out. Resale tickets begin at $282 through ticketmaster.com.
Emerging from the ashes of acclaimed punk band At The Drive In, Omar Rodríguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala amassed just as many admirers, if not more, with their follow-up prog rock project, before Volta too came to an end 10 years ago. But the two have been quietly working on new music, releasing a couple singles and in September dropping a new album, ahead of their first tour in a decade.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Oct. 9, the Rave. $57.50 to $167.50.
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt
When you're as prolific a songwriter as John Hiatt, and still operating at a top pedigree, you tend to make a lot of friends and admirers. And so just a few months after playing the Riverside Theater with another esteemed co-headliner — blues legend Buddy Guy — Hiatt is returning again, this time opting for an even smaller setting, the Pabst, with another top-notch songwriting veteran, Lyle Lovett, with the two promising they'll be performing side by side.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Oct. 16, Pabst Theater. $55.50 to $115.
The last time Marcus Mumford was in Milwaukee his band Mumford & Sons was playing a sold-out, in-the-round show at Fiserv Forum. He's going Sons-free for now for his first solo album (collaborators include Monica Martin, formerly of Baraboo band Phox), and opting for intimate venues for this reintroduction.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Oct. 20, Pabst Theater. $39.50 to $181.50.
There's little dispute, 17 years after appearing on "American Idol," that Carrie Underwood remains the queen of country music. She's the only female country artist with four albums to appear on the top of the Billboard 200, and has the most Billboard Country Airplay chart toppers of any female artist, 16 so far — a number likely to grow after releasing her ninth studio album "Denim & Rhinestones" this year. Arrive early for Underwood's opener, breakout country artist Jimmie Allen.
When, where, prices: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 23, Fiserv Forum. $34.50 to $338.25.
Despite hailing none too far from Milwaukee in Chicago and having some strong Wisconsin ties (including recording at the shuttered Smart Studios in Madison), Billy Corgan and company haven't been to town for a decade. But patience is at least being rewarded now that guitarist James Iha is back in the lineup, plus fellow '90s alt rockers Jane's Addiction is expected to play an extended opening set.
When, where, prices: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Fiserv Forum. $44 to $777.
Devotchka
Despite running in the same circles and influencing acts like Arcade Fire during that symphonic indie rock boom in the early aughts — and scoring the soundtrack to "Little Miss Sunshine" — the Colorado-based Devotchka never made it to the large theater tour stage that their lush sound, and Nick Urata's gorgeous croon, deserved. On the plus side, seeing them in an extremely cozy venue like the Back Room at Colectivo Coffee, a show postponed from February, will be a sumptuous treat.
When, where, prices:8 p.m. Nov. 10, Back Room at Colectivo Coffee, 2211 N. Prospect Ave. $25 to $27.50 at the door and through the Pabst.
The Milwaukee area hasn't seen Radiohead since 2003 — and given the current ambiguities around the band's status, its uncertain if we ever will. But seeing the Smile is certainly the next best thing, a new spinoff group with Radiohead frontman Thom Yorke and the band's lead guitarist and keyboardist (and Oscar-nominated composer) Jonny Greenwood. Together with drummer Tom Skinner, the band's debut album, "A Light for Attracting Attention," received glowing reviews with positive Radiohead comparisons, and Milwaukee will be one of the trio's first stateside shows.
When, where, prices: 8 p.m. Nov. 29, Riverside Theater. $65 to $235.
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2022-08-24T13:58:08Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Post Malone to Lil Durk to Chris Stapleton: 20 top Milwaukee concerts this fall
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/24/post-malone-lil-durk-chris-stapleton-20-top-milwaukee-concerts-fall/10350364002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/music/2022/08/24/post-malone-lil-durk-chris-stapleton-20-top-milwaukee-concerts-fall/10350364002/
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A lot of words come to mind when you think of Lake Superior: expansive, deep, cold, clear.
But sassy and saucy? Probably not.
Unless you follow "Lake Superior" on Twitter, the account claiming to be the greatest lake of all time — or G.L.O.A.T.
Earlier this summer, the account went viral after sharing a stance on abortion and subsequently trolling opponents. Now @LakeSuperior, which only had 40,000 followers at the start of summer, has more than 220,000, a number that is climbing.
And since then, the account has tweeted about hooking up with the world’s largest rubber duck and how many Wisconsinites it would take to drain the lake if was filled with beer instead of water.
Gov. Tony Evers has even played along, tagging the account on Lake Superior Day in July.
Besides snarky puns and word play, the account shows off the beauty of the northernmost lake as well as the research going on throughout it, and about it.
The account has no official affiliation with Lake Superior, but the person who runs it is well-acquainted with the lake, living their entire life just steps from its shoreline.
Fresh off a morning swim in the lake, the human behind @LakeSuperior — who for now wishes to stay anonymous — spoke with the Journal Sentinel about how they found Lake Superior's "voice," why it's the greatest lake of all time and whether they think the Upper Peninsula should be a part of Wisconsin. The interview was edited for clarity and brevity.
Tell me about how the account got started.
It was probably 10 or 12 years ago, the account was already in existence. I saw that somebody had the Lake Superior handle, but that it was stagnant. I reached out with a direct message and they agreed to turn it over to me. And I've been running with it ever since, without a real formal plan from the beginning, but if Lake Superior had a voice, what would that be? And having a superiority complex has always been that voice.
How did you come up with the 'voice' of Lake Superior?
It's been a slow growth of really listening to what people engage with and what they enjoy. But I get this opportunity to be sassy and confident and superior. And it's really fun. It’s been about crafting this voice and trying to find clever ways to connect with an audience and it comes down to a lot of word play, a lot of puns, and a lot of joking about why I am the greatest lake in the world. There are some liberties that you can have speaking as a lake and that you don't have as a human.
Did you take inspiration from any other accounts?
Not really. It’s really been my own undertaking and learning what works and what doesn't, trying new things and seeing what falls flat. There are core tweets about being sassy and superior and funny. Then there are the ones that are about the beauty of the Great Lakes, which are photos and celebrating people visiting the Great Lakes.
I have a lot of personal enjoyment retweeting and engaging with the scientists across the Great Lakes region and elevating their message. The satire and humor grow the account. And then I get to retweet some of the latest science, and relay that message to the layperson who isn't picking up environmental science journals.
Do you have any environmental concerns when it comes to Lake Superior?
I'm not a scientist and I'm not an environmentalist. I try to hand that message to the people putting in that work and who are experts in those fields. I try to relay their message wherever possible, because they really are the experts. One of the biggest roles I take on is sharing that a lake can't take care of itself. Beavers and bears and fish and eagles can't vote, you know? It’s entirely up to humans to take this on and protect water, either in the Great Lakes or elsewhere.
What is your favorite moment you've had so far on social media?
Every year during the Super Bowl, I live tweet the Super Bowl as the “Superior Bowl,” and everything gets converted. Instead of the New England Patriots, they become the New England Perch. And instead of the kickoff it becomes the fish off. When there's a penalty on the field it becomes a penalty for littering.
Do the other Great Lakes have Twitter accounts and if so, what do you think of them?
Every time I go viral, it seems like a new lake account pops up. What I'm proud of with the Lake Superior account is that it's the only account that has the actual handle of just Lake Superior. The other accounts have a number after it. It’s the most authentic handle. I know there's an active Lake Michigan one, there's an active Lake Erie one. There's a lot of banter ongoing about what lake is the greatest one.
Why are you the greatest lake of all time?
The other Great Lakes are full of my old water. I literally fill the other Great Lakes. I am more than half of all the Great Lakes water combined. And it's absolutely huge, but it's stormy and beautiful and harsh and cold in the fact that it can freeze over at that scale. It’s beautiful, but it’s a harsh place at the same time.
Packers or Vikings?
I plead the fifth.
What’s your favorite season?
The freezing of Lake Superior.
What's your favorite lake activity?
Waves crashing.
What Great Lake is the Robin to your Batman?
I’m still searching.
Rank the lakes from best to worst.
This is going to ruffle some feathers. Lake Superior is number one. Lake Huron is number two because it’s large and isn’t too overcrowded. Then, Lake Ontario because they are quiet and mind their own business. Then, I’ll say Lake Erie. Even though they are really shallow, I have a lot of compassion for what is going on environmentally. And then Lake Michigan because we have the biggest rivalry.
Hot dish or casserole?
Casserole.
What's your favorite Lake Superior national park?
Isle Royale National Park.
Which state has more lakes Wisconsin or Minnesota?
Let's just play safe and say Minnesota.
RELATED:Everything you should know about Wisconsin lakes from the largest to the deepest
Should the Upper Peninsula belong to Wisconsin?
No, the UP should be its own state.
RELATED: No longer a Midwestern secret, Apostle Islands National Lakeshore celebrates 50 years
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2022-08-24T13:58:14Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Lake Superior on Twitter is a popular account with a sassy approach
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/24/lake-superior-twitter-account-is-sassy-popular-tweets-about-abortion/7867068001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/24/lake-superior-twitter-account-is-sassy-popular-tweets-about-abortion/7867068001/
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The destination for Sammy Smith, like any promising young stock car racer, is obvious and the general path is laid out:
Super late models, to ARCA, to the NASCAR Xfinity Series with a possible stopover in trucks, to the Cup Series, to winner to champion.
What Smith can’t really know – and can’t really control – is the timetable or the details or all the assets or impediments he may encounter along the way.
So, to fall back on a familiar cliché, he is approaching his career the way he does every lap, one corner at a time.
“I have a management team that deals with all that, so I’m not too in tuned with that,” Smith said. “I just try to focus on going to the racetrack and being productive and trying to win races.”
In other words, the things he can control.
Smith’s 2022 already has been a wild ride through various series and disciplines, and he’s barely halfway through a planned schedule of 47 races. Wisconsin fans saw him in the past three Slinger Nationals and last year at Wisconsin International Raceway and the Milwaukee Mile; this season they’ve seen him make his Xfinity Series debut on the July 4 weekend at Road America and run the Trans Am TA2 race there.
On Sunday, he’ll be back at the Mile for the ARCA Menards Series Sprecher 150.
But before that he’ll make his superspeedway debut with the Xfinity Series on Friday night at Daytona International Speedway, his fifth start in that series. That comes after finishing a Xfinity career-best third last weekend at Watkins Glen.
“Anytime you can get in a race car and race or try to prepare, it makes you a better driver,” said Smith, who gave up hockey at age 12 to dedicate himself almost entirely to racing.
“I think since February I’ve only had two off weekends. I’ve been very busy and haven’t had a lot of off time. I’ve been racing every weekend and I don’t have an off weekend again until after Phoenix. So just racing every weekend helps. If you have a bad week you go back the next weekend and give it your best and try to go back out and win.”
Given he didn’t turn 18 until June, Smith couldn’t run on the big tracks early in the year, but he has won twice on the ARCA national tour – at Berlin Raceway in Michigan and Elko Speedway in Minnesota – and finished worse than fifth just once while running 10 of the 14 races.
“I feel like we should have had at least five or six,” said Smith, who drives the No. 18 Toyota for Kyle Busch Motorsports.
“We’ve either been taken out in a couple of them or we’ve had mechanical issues or taken ourselves out of them. We feel like we should have more than two wins right now, but I guess that’s how it goes. It’s part of racing. But we’ve had a car to win every time."
Smith also has three ARCA East wins with KBM this year and a pair in super late model races with Donnie Wilson’s powerhouse team.
Smith has backing from Toyota, whose driver development program provides everything from time in the simulator to karting opportunities to guidance from a nutritionist. He also has been paired with high-level teams in ARCA and Xfinity.
Last season Smith ran the eight-race ARCA East Series for Joe Gibbs Racing with three of those also part of the national ARCA Menards Series. In each of the national events he was teamed with Ty Gibbs, and Gibbs won all of them, plus seven others in dominating the championship.
Now Smith – who is about a year and a half younger than Gibbs and about two years behind in terms of development – is watching Gibbs, a close friend, contend for the Xfinity Series title and step in for Kurt Busch in the Cup Series while Busch recovers from a concussion.
“I feel like you can’t really compare, you just do the best you can as a driver and try to keep learning every race as much as you can and I feel like when our shot comes to race each other it’s going to be good,” Smith said.
“It was very unfortunate that Kurt got hurt, but at the same time for Ty it’s fortunate that he got that opportunity. You’ve got to take those opportunities and do good with them and he’s done an awesome job. … Obviously I’m super happy to see him running good, but my focus is trying to be productive in the Xfinity Series and win races and do the same in ARCA.”
With just five fulltime Cup seats, Toyota has had some difficulty placing or retaining its development drivers. But uncertainties now surround the health of the 44-year-old Busch, the ability of JGR to resign Kyle Busch and the subsequent status of KBM as a development option, and the likely retirement of Martin Truex Jr. after next season. The manufacturer’s landscape could change quickly. How Smith might be affected is unclear.
“I’m focused on trying to be productive this year and I don’t think next year is determined on anybody (else), honestly,” Smith said this week. “It depends on if I have sponsorship and what I’m able to do.
“I’m definitely looking forward to the rest of the season and hopefully get everything figured out for next year.”
Smith finished fifth at the Mile last August after starting second alongside his teammate Gibbs. The challenging, flat track is one at which he has been eager for another chance.
“We were really good in practice and qualifying, and we made some adjustments through the race that hurt me,” recalled Smith, who is working with Mark McFarland, the crew chief who helped Gibbs to 10 victories. “But I feel like we’ll have a good balance going back there. It’s probably one of my favorite tracks.
“I just remember during the race the fall-off (in speed over the life of a set of tires) was pretty big. I think it fell off 2-3 seconds, which as a driver, it’s always fun to try to work around that.”
Just one corner at a time.
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2022-08-24T13:58:27Z
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www.jsonline.com
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18-year-old Toyota racer Sammy Smith seeks Milwaukee Mile ARCA victory
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/08/24/18-year-old-toyota-racer-sammy-smith-seeks-milwaukee-mile-arca-victory/7878862001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/08/24/18-year-old-toyota-racer-sammy-smith-seeks-milwaukee-mile-arca-victory/7878862001/
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A drunken driver hit one of the village of Sussex's playgrounds in the Grove at Village Park in May 2020. Now, the insurance money from the crash may allow for new enhancements to the village's splash pad.
The play structure hit by the driver was built in 1995, the older of the two playgrounds at W244 N6260 Weaver Drive.
The village may remove or replace the play structure hit by the driver as part of a greater plan to revamp the park, said Halie Dobbeck, parks and recreation director.
The uncertainty of the play structure's future led the Park Board to propose adding shade structures to the Grove Splash Pad rather than repairing damage from the accident.
"We don’t want to make any additional investments into this older play structure until that has been decided," Dobbeck said. "In reviewing the overall needs in this park, along with the long-term plans, it was determined that the best choice at this time is to move forward with the shade structures."
The Village Board is considering a $50,570 project to build three new 14-by-22 inch shade structures with center posts at the Grove Splash Pad, a highly requested addition, according to the proposal from Dobbeck.
The project would be funded by $38,980 of insurance for damage from the drunken driving incident, a $5,000 parks grant from the League of Wisconsin Municipalities Mutual Insurance and $6,590 from park impact fees.
The village will receive the insurance money only if it is used by May 2023, the proposal said.
The shade structures can withstand 105 mph winds and a snow load of up to 5 pounds per square foot. They will be removed in the winter to protect it from heavy snow loads, Dobbeck wrote.
The structures would be installed in spring 2023. If approved, village will add $3,371 annually to a sinking fund so the shades can be replaced when needed.
The Village Board is expected to vote on the proposal Sept. 8.
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2022-08-24T17:14:51Z
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www.jsonline.com
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New shade structure planned for village of Sussex's splash pad
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/sussex/2022/08/24/new-shade-structure-planned-village-sussexs-splash-pad/7874104001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/sussex/2022/08/24/new-shade-structure-planned-village-sussexs-splash-pad/7874104001/
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A $7 million office and residential project planned for Milwaukee's east side is apparently postponed; development for sale
A $7 million office and residential project planned for Milwaukee's east side has apparently been postponed.
Developer Josh Delaney received Plan Commission and Common Council zoning approvals in summer 2021 to build a three-story, 10,500-square-foot commercial building and four townhomes at 1520-1540 N. Jefferson St.
The new development would replace a two-story, 23,000-square-foot office building, last used as a child care center, that Apachii Capital LLC bought in 2020 for $1,275,000.
The proposed three-story office building, known as The 1540, was to mainly be occupied by Apachii Capital and other ventures operated by Delaney.
But little work has occurred at the site.
And, the development is now being listed for sale for $1.5 million — news first reported by Urban Milwaukee.
"There are multiple plans already drawn up and some approved by city if you'd like to have them or start new, this can be negotiated into the price," says the sale listing at LoopNet.com.
"The existing building has began demo and can start being remodeled or completely torn down.
"Reason for sale is the owner was going to develop and occupy but is moving business out of state," the listing says.
Delaney didn't respond to the Journal Sentinel's request for more information.
The office building was planned for the southeast corner of North Jefferson and East Pleasant streets.
Four townhomes, known as The 1500s, were planned for south of the office building on what is now a vacant lot.
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2022-08-24T17:14:57Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Office/residential project planned for Milwaukee's east side postponed
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/24/office-residential-project-planned-milwaukees-east-side-postponed/7883411001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/24/office-residential-project-planned-milwaukees-east-side-postponed/7883411001/
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President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that he is canceling $10,000 in student loan debt for Americans earning $125,000 or less per year, a move that will help hundreds of thousands of borrowers in Wisconsin.
Biden is offering an additional $10,000 of debt forgiveness for students who received Pell grants in college, as a way to target relief toward those from the lowest-income households. He also extended a pandemic-induced pause on federal student loan payments through Dec. 31.
The long-awaited executive order delivers on one of Biden's campaign promises just months before the midterm election. The decision caps months of deliberation and pressure from both parties. Progressives argue an even larger share of debt should be canceled while Republicans say the move is unfair and will cause more inflation. Conservatives have also questioned the legality of Biden's order, making a legal challenge likely and the implementation of loan forgiveness unclear.
More:How soaring inflation is complicating Biden's decision whether to forgive student loan debt
Wisconsin borrowers hold nearly $24 billion in federal student loan debt, according to the latest federal education data. About 68%, or nearly 500,000 borrowers, owe $10,000 or more.
A handful of borrowers talked to the Journal Sentinel about the loan forgiveness. Some borrowers were supportive while others voiced a variety of concerns. Several noted that $10,000 in loan forgiveness won't fix the larger problem of the increasing cost to earn a college degree.
Austin Hammond, 25
Austin Hammond considered not even going to college. That's how much he worried about the debt he would take on to earn a degree.
As a compromise, Hammond enrolled at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. A two-year degree seemed like less of a financial commitment than a four-year commitment for someone who would be the first in his family to go to college. He took out loans, signed up for a full course load and worked between 25 and 40 hours per week to earn his associate degree in digital media and technology.
Then Hammond made a big decision: He decided to continue his education. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in spring 2021 with a degree in political science and about $29,000 in federal loan debt.
"I think it was worth the investment," he said of his bachelor's degree. "It was worth it to get the skills and I think it has a lot of value."
The Menasha resident, who works as a nonprofit outreach coordinator and also serves as a city alderman, has paid down some of his debt during the student loan moratorium and said his payments will rise to $300 when the pause ends. He estimates he'll be able to pay off all of his debt in 2032.
Older generations don't understand the experience of college students today and how other aspects of social mobility, like home ownership, are now arriving so much later in life because of student debt, Hammond said.
Having $10,000 of student loan debt forgiven is "a tremendous help to borrowers to be able to pursue their dreams," he said. He also pushes back against people who call the concept a "Band-Aid" or "one-time fix."
"I don’t think it’s temporarily relief," he said. "It would help some people for life, especially in this moment when we have a once in a lifetime pandemic, prices skyrocketing because of corporate greed and an increasing cost of education. It would help a whole lot of people."
Joe Krantz, 21
Joe Krantz hasn't graduated college yet and he's already paid off the majority of his student loans. That's through a lot of hard work and a streak of good fortune, he said.
Krantz spent his freshman year at St. Norbert College near Green Bay. He said he received a good-sized scholarship but still had to take out about $20,000 in loans.
The cost of that single year at St. Norbert pushed Krantz to look elsewhere to finish his degree. UW-Madison offered a scholarship that covered most of his tuition for his sophomore and junior years, he said. He was still on the hook for housing, food and textbooks, as well as tuition for his final year of school.
To pay off his debt and make enough to cover his expenses, Krantz, of Waukesha, said he has worked up to 50 hours per week in the summers for a landscaping company and up to 30 hours per week during school. The availability of online classes during the pandemic offered him a more flexible schedule that could accommodate his work hours.
Krantz, who leads the UW-Madison chapter of College Republicans, doesn't support loan forgiveness. For one, he said it unfairly helps college-going individuals while putting people who cannot afford to go to school at a disadvantage. He also said the move will be "absolutely devastating" to the economy.
Krantz would prefer to see more financial aid counseling for high school students and a shift away from a four-year degree being virtually the default option after high school. Many technical and trades schools offer great training at a much more affordable price, he said.
David Wise, 60
The situation feels hopeless to David Wise.
He took out about $75,000 in loans for his bachelor's, master's and law degree back in the 1980s. Over the next three decades, he said he's paid off about $200,000 but due to accumulating interest and penalties for periods when he couldn't afford to pay, he still has more than $230,000 left to pay.
People ages 50 and older are among the fastest-growing groups of student loan borrowers over the past two decades, according to Federal Reserve data.
Some older adult borrowers took out loans to pay for graduate school so they could receive a promotion or higher pay. Others switched careers and needed new skills to supplement the change. And there are many on the hook for loans to pay for their children's education.
"I think others view loan forgiveness as benevolent gratitude for deadbeats and I don’t think that’s an accurate representation at all," Wise said.
Wise started work as a public interest lawyer, a rewarding career but one that barely covered his bills. He took a second job in the restaurant industry.
When funding for the legal job dried up, he said he went into forbearance, which allows borrowers to pause their debt payments for a short time while still accruing interest. Other financial circumstances also caused him to default later in life, he said, leading to hefty penalty fees.
Wise said he got out of default as soon as he could by doubling payments for six months. He also consolidated his loans, but in doing so said he was stuck with a fixed interest rate of 10.5%.
Wise said he's worked his way up from earning $30,000 per year to drawing a six-figure annual salary in recent years, he said. But a collections agency garnishes 25% of his wages, he said.
"$10,000 (in loan forgiveness) isn’t going to do anything for me," he said. "It's better than a stick in the eye, I suppose, but at this rate, at 60 years old, I realize there is no way I will ever repay my student loans. There’s just no way."
Silbi Isein , 33
Silbi Isein has an intimate understanding of how complex student loans can be. She works in the financial aid office at UW-Milwaukee, trying to help students understand their options and grasp the consequences. She also personally has about $50,000 in federal loans.
When Isein was college-shopping, the Racine native knew she wanted to stay in Wisconsin. After exploring her options, with affordability as her top priority, she landed at UWM. Because she switched majors at one point, it took her five years to graduate instead of four.
Now, she's in graduate school at UWM in a program that covers her tuition in exchange for her work in the financial aid office. The work aligns with her interest in higher education policy and has opened her eyes to the need for more financial literacy.
Some individuals coming into the office are current students, often the first in their families to go to college or from a low-income background and overwhelmed by how to pay for school, Isein said. Others are recent graduates who don't understand what loans they were signing up for or how interest rates worked.
"To be honest, it can be frustrating," she said. "Personally, I don’t put blame on them. There needs to be an information highway. Students need to understand what this means."
Isein doesn't regret the debt she took on to fund her own college degree. Education is "the best investment I could make for myself," she said. "But the cost it took to get to that, the amount of loans I took out, it is a point of frustration. Why would anyone need to take four, five, six digits worth of student loans to get an education? It’s really an investment to society."
But Isein also isn't completely sold on loan forgiveness. She wants more details. Like what about today's high school and middle school students? How will the nation's future borrowers be able to afford college when tuition nationally increases year after year?
"Forgiveness is a step in the right direction but it’s not an end-all, be-all," she said. "It can bring relief to a lot of people but if we don’t address the root cause. History will repeat itself."
Brittany Dahl, 32
Come next spring, Brittany Dahl will have a graduate degree in health and human services administration in hand. She'll also walk away with about $81,000 in federal student loan debt.
The number, which includes debt taken on for her associate and bachelor's degrees, worries Dahl. She already works full-time as an IT analyst while also juggling graduate school. She figures she'll have to get a second job after graduation to be able to afford the estimated $600 monthly payment.
Having $10,000 of Dahl's debt forgiven "really means nothing," she said, because her roughly 6% interest rate would add the same amount back onto her total debt within a few years.
"It’s a Band-Aid," the Sparta, Wis. resident said. "It’s a political stunt. And it’s not addressing the huge underlying issues of the student loan system."
One solution, Dahl said, is by restoring bankruptcy protections for borrowers.
Currently, student loan borrowers can discharge debt through bankruptcy but it's quite difficult and expensive. They must prove "undue hardship," which isn't fully defined in bankruptcy code and is typically fought in court by student loan lenders that have far more legal resources.
A bill introduced last year by Sen. Dick Durbin, D-IL, and cosponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, and Sen. Josh Hawley, R-MO, would simplify the process. Borrowers seeking discharge would have to wait at least 10 years, a waiting period designed to prevent scenarios in which students try to eliminate their debt immediately after graduating.
In addition, schools where at least a third of their students receive federal loans must partially repay a student loan to the Department of Education if that loan is later discharged in bankruptcy. The amount the institution must repay depends on their average default and repayment rates.
The bill has yet to receive a vote in committee.
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2022-08-24T20:12:15Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin student loan borrowers weigh in on Biden loan forgiveness
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/24/wisconsin-student-loan-borrowers-weigh-biden-loan-forgiveness/10265086002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/24/wisconsin-student-loan-borrowers-weigh-biden-loan-forgiveness/10265086002/
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Another opening day at Wrigley Field, a balanced schedule and a pair of 10-game road trips are the highlights of the Milwaukee Brewers' 2023 schedule, which was released Wednesday by Major League Baseball.
The Brewers' first true road trip comes next and will be a challenging one, with three games at Arizona (April 10-12), four at San Diego (April 13-16) and three at Seattle (April 17-19).
More:The Brewers have been one of the best teams ever in this area, and you might have never realized it
It will feature teams playing division opponents five fewer times with one series against every team in the other league as a replacement while also keeping in place each team's interleague rival. In the Brewers' case, that's the Minnesota Twins.
The series in Texas will be Milwaukee's first since 2016, and the team's first to Globe Life Field in the regular season. The teams played an exhibition series there to close spring training in 2021.
Milwaukee's second 10-day road trip will also come before the all-star break, with the the Brewers traveling to face Cleveland (June 23-25), the Mets (June 26-29) and the Pittsburgh Pirates (June 30-July 2).
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2022-08-24T20:12:33Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Brewers will open 2023 season vs. Cubs March 30 at Wrigley Field
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/24/brewers-open-2023-season-vs-cubs-march-30-wrigley-field/7884884001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/24/brewers-open-2023-season-vs-cubs-march-30-wrigley-field/7884884001/
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WASHINGTON – Trump administration advisers leaned on Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson in a failed effort to push top health officials to reauthorize the use of an anti-malaria drug as a treatment for COVID-19 during the early months of the pandemic, according to a new congressional committee report.
Those advisers, including doctors consulting the Trump administration, pressed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to reauthorize the use of hydroxychloroquine, a report released Wednesday by the House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Crisis said, despite data showing the drug was not effective against COVID.
The Democrat-led committee's report says Johnson "forged a close alliance" with Dr. Steven Hatfill, who advised the Trump administration on the pandemic and engaged in "constant fighting" with former FDA commissioner Stephen Hahn and other health officials over hydroxychloroquine.
Emails from August 2020 released by the committee indicate Hatfill sent Johnson documents about alleged "long-standing FDA maleficence," and the committee report says Hatfill urged the Oshkosh Republican to call for a federal investigation into senior public health officials and the handling of hydroxychloroquine.
On Aug. 18, Johnson and Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah, wrote a letter to the FDA requesting more information on the administration's decision to revoke authorization of hydroxychloroquine.
The FDA originally authorized the drug in late March 2020 but revoked that approval on June 15, after finding hydroxychloroquine was "unlikely to kill or inhibit" coronavirus.
While Johnson's support for hydroxychloroquine has been public, the committee's report details the Wisconsin senator's contacts with Trump administration officials over the push for hydroxychloroquine's reauthorization.
Johnson over the past two years has raised eyebrows over claims about various purported preventative measures and treatments for COVID. He has sowed doubt over the efficacy of the COVID vaccines and, according to a spokesperson, advocated for letting doctors prescribe drugs for off-label use — referring to drugs that haven't been officially approved specifically for COVID treatment.
YouTube suspended Johnson for a week last year over his promotion of hydroxychloroquine and the anti-parasite drug ivermectin.
Shortly after sending the letter to the FDA, Johnson met with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to discuss renewing emergency use authorization for the drug.
In an Aug. 27 email to a number of doctors, as well as former White House adviser Peter Navarro, Johnson wrote that his meeting with Meadows "went well," according to a copy of the message in the report.
"Other than the President, Meadows, and Navarro, EVERYONE ELSE is [sic] Administration doesn't want to touch HCQ with a 100' pole," Johnson wrote, noting he described to Meadows the potential loss of life and political support that could be possible if hydroxychloroquine wasn't reauthorized.
"I'm still not holding my breath, but it's better than I expected," Johnson added.
In mid-November of 2020, Johnson, then-chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, held a hearing on hydroxychloroquine in which he questioned whether big pharmaceutical companies might have played a role in discouraging alternative COVID treatments.
That hearing came under fire from the medical community, with one doctor labeling the hearing as a “testament to how politicized science has become."
In a statement on the Wednesday report, Johnson spokeswoman Alexa Henning called the government's response to COVID "a miserable failure" and said the senator "has always been completely agnostic regarding what FDA approved drugs could be used 'off label' by doctors."
"The House Select Committee report, and now news reports attempting to smear Senator Johnson’s good faith attempts to promote early treatment, is just another example of how the COVID cartel is doing everything it can to absolve themselves of accountability for the lives lost and destroyed by their miserable failure of a response," Henning said.
"Our public health agencies, the FDA, NIH, and CDC have not been transparent with the American people about the decisions they have made throughout the pandemic," she added. "They need to be investigated and the Select Committee is wasting the American people’s time and money on political hit jobs."
More:'He doesn't understand medicine is a science': Ron Johnson escalates 'guerrilla war' against medical establishment
In recent months, Johnson, who is seeking a third term in the Nov 8 election, has continued to push back on the government’s response to COVID.
He led a panel discussion earlier this month in Washington, D.C., with three doctors who have been accused of promoting COVID misinformation. He spoke of injuries reportedly caused by the coronavirus vaccine and called the doctors, one of whom has touted ivermectin as a miracle drug, “heroes of the pandemic.”
“One of the things that has been most depressing to me from the start is how close-minded the medical establishment has been,” Johnson said on the panel. “Just not willing to open their eyes and take a look at the evidence right in front of their face.”
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2022-08-24T22:54:23Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Trump advisers turned to Ron Johnson in push for hydroxychloroquine
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/24/trump-advisors-turned-ron-johnson-push-hydroxychloroquine/7886363001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2022/08/24/trump-advisors-turned-ron-johnson-push-hydroxychloroquine/7886363001/
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An Ozaukee driver died Tuesday after drifting into a barrier and rolling over on the interstate near Grafton, confirmed the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
Police were called at 6:01p.m. after a Ford F-450 Utility truck drifted into a barrier on northbound Interstate-43 near Highway 60. The Wisconsin State Patrol is investigating the crash.
The name of the driver is being withheld until police can make notifications, said Ozaukee County Sherriff's Department Lt. Chad Eibs.
The right lane on Interstate 43 and exit ramp to Highway 60 remained closed until the traffic control company could replace the barrier. All lanes were reopened by 1 a.m.
Assisting agencies include Ozaukee County Sheriff's Department, Ozaukee County Highway Department, Grafton Police Department, Grafton Fire Department, Mequon Police Department, Mequon Fire Department and the Saukville Fire Department.
This is the second fatality on 1-43 in a week. On Aug. 17, officers responded to a crash on southbound I-43 north of Lakefield Road in the town of Grafton. A semi tractor-trailer was traveling south on I-43 when it was rear ended by a 34-year-old driver, who was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. The two crashes are unrelated, said Eibs.
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2022-08-25T14:20:08Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Ozaukee driver died Aug. 23 after drifting into barrier on I-43
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/25/ozaukee-driver-died-aug-23-after-drifting-into-barrier-43/7883495001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northshore/2022/08/25/ozaukee-driver-died-aug-23-after-drifting-into-barrier-43/7883495001/
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The Sears Hometown store in Cudahy is closing soon.
Yellow signs indicating a “store closing event” with various markdowns ranging from 30% to 50% are on all items in the store, including mattresses, washers and dryers and smaller household essentials like cleaners, bins, tissue and baggies. Tools remain, as well, featuring high markdowns.
However, there are no signs outside the business at 6077 S. Packard Ave. indicating the imminent closure.
One store employee confirmed the store is closing and said the markdowns have been “pretty aggressive.”
The employee was not told a specific date for the closure, although it appears to be coming quickly and likely shy of the business’s one-year anniversary. It opened in late 2021.
RELATED:Remember Kmart? Here’s how all 10 of the former suburban stores have been repurposed
City Administrator Casey Griffiths said the city has not been informed of the closing and he is not aware of a sale of the building or property.
“We have spoken to some developers about the property in terms of allowable uses, city zoning requirements, etc., but there have been no concrete proposals and, to the best of our knowledge, no offers have been made,” he said.
A customer service representative for Sears Hometown said that the store page had already been removed from the company website.
A manager at the Cudahy store refused to comment on the closure.
Sears Hometown is not associated with Sears Holdings Corp., which previously declared bankruptcy. Instead, it’s a locally owned retail business selling appliances, some furniture, automotive and home goods.
Kmart built the store in 1968, and it closed in 2019 as the last Kmart in Milwaukee County.
During the coronavirus pandemic, the building was repurposed into a vaccination clinic in early 2021. It was also used as a pop-up Spirit Halloween.
Before these uses, U-Haul proposed creating a storage retail center in October 2019, but the city rejected it.
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2022-08-25T14:20:14Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Sears Hometown to close in Cudahy after less than a year in business
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/25/sears-hometown-close-cudahy-after-less-than-year-business/7882339001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/25/sears-hometown-close-cudahy-after-less-than-year-business/7882339001/
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Lake Country logrolling program sweeps Lumberjack World Championships podium
Logrolling is often something you might have seen on TV or social media — but not in person. That is unless you go to the YMCA at Pbast Farms in Oconomowoc, where you can find world champions.
At the Lumberjack World Championships on July 21 in Hayward, three men and one woman from Lake Country took home podium finishes in the professional divisions. This followed three straight years with world champions in a sport that combines the precision footwork of a boxer with the endurance of a track runner.
"It's a bizarre, weird niche sport, but it is a lot of fun, and the whole logrolling community is fun to be a part of," said Susie Polentini, the mother of three logrollers from Hartland.
Anthony Polentini, the eldest of the three and a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was crowned this year's champion, outlasting his lifelong friend, Tanner Hallett, in the final. Anthony still finds it surreal that 12 years after starting in the sport he is at the pinnacle of a sport with international competitors.
He said it might not be like golf or tennis, but he admitted, "It's pretty cool to say you're the best in the world."
"Lumberjacking was centered around the upper Midwest in its heyday, but it's really cool being in the Milwaukee area, which isn't what people would say is a forestry or lumberjack area," Anthony added. "It's cool to see college kids and others doing the sport and going to college, work for normal companies, and in the summer we do this crazy sport called logrolling. It's pretty cool."
So what is making Lake Country a logrolling incubator for success? The answer is the legendary coach who calls Oconomowoc home: John Hallett.
How logrolling came to Lake Country
When Hallett moved to Wisconsin in 1998, he settled in Oconomowoc to open his veterinary practice, Hallett Veterinary Hospital. After years in Connecticut, he wanted to start a logrolling community and program near home.
That started at City Beach with a few logs Hallett obtained with the city's parks and recreation department. Soon after, the YMCA opened at 1750 Valley Road and agreed to allow Hallett's program to practice there on carpeted logs that didn't leave woodchips in the water.
Being front and center drew many eyes, including the Polentini family. Twelve years ago, they attended the Syttende Mai Festival in Stoughton and first witnessed logrolling professionals put on a show. They even let the kids try it out when the show was over.
"The kids had so much fun falling off the log and getting back in line," Susie said. "We took them home thinking it was a great day and fun experience they'll always remember. That was it."
In fact, that was not it. Months later while taking swim lessons at the YMCA, Anthony, the eldest Polentini, looked across the pool and was surprised to see logrollers practicing. He asked his mom to sign him up for the next session.
Stories like this are common among local logrollers. Brian Joas, the president of US Log Rolling Association, found Hallett's program while living in Oconomowoc. He grew up in Green Bay, and while he saw logrolling on ESPN 2 and knew of it, he was shocked to see it at his local pool.
"My stepdaughter, who was 12 at the time, and I said we have to sign up," he said. "That was it. That's all it took."
Hallett said that the younger the better in the sport because it's easier to learn balance on the log when you're smaller. That's why the kids who started as young as 6 and have rolled for a decade already are facing off as pros like the Polentinis and Hallett's son, Tanner, who took second to Anthony at the 2022 Lumberjack World Championships and is now a SpaceX engineer.
Pro or not, Hallett's athletes have one goal.
"The whole objective is athlete development and having fun," Hallett said. "It's a really great group of people and a great way to meet people from around the state, the country and even the world."
Friends from all over state, country and world
While rolling in the pool is fun, the real action begins on and off the log in the summer. Hallett's group practices weekly on Upper Oconomowoc Lake, where they have logs of varying sizes, both carpeted and uncarpeted red cedar logs.
All are welcome to participate. Some face off against one another, bobbing the log, splashing (it's legal) and maneuvering the log back and forth with precision to throw off an opponent. Others work off to the side. Some wear regular shoes that can get wet. Others wear modified soccer cleats with metal spikes on the bottom. These are mostly worn for competitions on red cedar logs without carpeting.
Each has their own things to work on and strive for from Hallett.
"For a lot of kids, it's fun for a while, but they realize this sport doesn't come with instant success; it can be frustrating," Susie said. "We are so lucky to have a coach who is such a calming force and gives them small, achievable goals.
"It's never about winning. It's looking for them to stay up for a certain time and then more the next time, or getting one fall on their competitor. He also teaches them to coach each other and they motivate each other. It's incredible."
Hallett is too modest to accept the praise, but his athletes and the parents agree that he is the key ingredient to Lake Country's success in logrolling.
"It's all John," Anthony said. "It's a winning culture. What I mean by that is he doesn't focus on winning much. He builds a good environment and wants you to have fun. You're responsible for your own success and failures, but we work together to improve as a team and individuals. What he has done for this group and this sport, it's immeasurable."
With 40 years of coaching under his belt, plus years of traveling with a lumberjack show earlier in his life, he brings a unbeatable knowledge, passion and coaching ability that is developing world champions as well as an activity so many enjoy at all levels of the sport.
Additionally, Hallett's introducing so many to sport has helped build the community at home and with logrollers from all over the Midwest and the world. This happens each summer when competitions take place all over the upper Midwest.
Logrollers are most prominent in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota and parts of Canada. However, for the Lumberjack World Championships, competitors come from as far as New Zealand, Japan, Australia and Europe.
They all may be competitors on the log, but outside of that, they are also each other's biggest supporters.
"You wan to win out there, but how many sports do you have where your daughter is running around with not just her local teammates but friends she's made from so many different areas?" Joas said. "It's not cutthroat. We make it a positive experience because we want to welcome new rollers and encourage each other to keep improving. We compete, but we want it to be fun."
The years of competing together from a young age culminated with Lake Country's success in recent years, with world champions in 2018, 2019, 2021 and 2022. This includes sweeping the men's podium the last three years and Ellie Davenport taking second in the women's pro division in 2022. This is on top of other accolades and finishes from local athletes.
It's a sport they hope more join.
Logrolling isn't mainstream, but it is certainly growing. College programs are popping up all over the country, including at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Colleges can use carpeted logs in pools or key logs, which are plastic ones that fill with water but are much more expensive. Red cedar logs are around $700, whereas plastic logs are a couple thousand.
Hallett welcomes anyone and any age (usually 6 and older) to give logrolling a chance. He hosts sessions during the school year at the YMCA, typically at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. He said he gets people who want to do it for fun, to compete or to cross train for other sports.
The Lake Country group also hosts two events annually: one in May at the beginning of the season and one in October at the YMCA, Rock N Roll Log Rolling Contest. This year, the event is scheduled for Oct. 2. starting at 10:30 a.m. It will include pros and amateurs facing off and offer opportunities for anyone to try logrolling.
More information is available at uslogrolling.com/home, searching for "Oconomowoc log rolling" on Facebook or by calling the YMCA at Pabst Farms, 262-567-7251.
For anyone interested in trying the sport, Hallett said he understands the hesitation but offers this wisdom: "When you goof up when you're learning, you fall in the water," Hallett said. "What's more fun than that?"
And some world champion's advice?
"Be patient," Anthony said. "There is a heck of a learning curve. You will be really bad when you start, but stick with it. The more you try, the easier it'll get. It's always fun, and whether you're a world champion or not, you can bring it up at Christmas to relatives or in job interviews. Trust me, people always want to hear about it."
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2022-08-25T18:09:25Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Lake Country logrolling program sweeps Lumberjack World Championships
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/25/lake-country-logrolling-program-sweeps-lumberjack-world-championships/10338868002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/25/lake-country-logrolling-program-sweeps-lumberjack-world-championships/10338868002/
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Arrowhead School Board votes to fix electrical issues plaguing the school’s pool to keep the facility open
Concerns raised by parents and community members about the status of Arrowhead High School's swimming pool have been alleviated, at least temporarily.
The pool is endangered by a failing electrical system under the pool.
On Aug. 23, School Board members voted unanimously to spend up to $35,000 to hire an electrical contracting service to design a fix for the problems and to get the project bid out. That cost is expected to be 5% to 10% of the $350,000 estimated it will take to fix the problem.
Repairs are expected to be paid for from surplus funds. The fund balance is used as an emergency reserve account and also for cash flow purposes until tax money is received, explained Superintendent Laura Myrah.
The decision came after parents, community members and even some students spoke about the importance of the pool and why it should stay open.
Parent Lindsay Sarozek offered to start a committee to engage the School Board with the community, swimmers and parents on fixing the pool. Sarozek has a daughter on Arrowhead's girls' swim team.
"Let's come up with something to fix this problem because it needs to be fixed now. Not five years. Not 20 years. Now," said Sarozek.
Board member Amy Hemmer said that going into the meeting, she thought she would vote to shut the pool down. However, she said she would vote to keep the pool open.
"After listening to everybody and hearing what we can do, the protocol we're taking — even though it is a Band-Aid — I think it's worth it, in my opinion," Hemmer said.
Myrah and director of business services Jeff Gross recommended in a memo to School Board members written before the meeting that the board allocate an estimated $350,000 to correct the failing electrical system under the pool, which is dangerous to employees. The repair would keep the school from having to immediately shut down the pool.
Myrah and Gross also said in the memo that if adequate funding were available, they would recommend a complete demolition and rebuild of the pool and maintenance buildings. Portions of the facilities have been deemed unsafe and ineffective for current-day usage. The pool itself is still open.
"As the school board is fully aware, we do not have $12 - 15 million for a new, larger
swimming pool. We also do not have $800,000 - $1 million for a new and relocated
maintenance facility," they wrote.
The pair also noted that funds for a new pool would likely not be approved through a referendum or garnered through donations.
They said the option to fully shut down the pool would leave the school "without a pool, likely for many years."
Even with spending $350,000 to fix the electrical issues, the pool might have to be shut down anyway "as a result of additional dangerous and/or costly facility failures at any point in the future," the memo noted.
If the pool were to be shut down, the school, as well as Lake Country Swim, would use other pools in the area, such as St. John's Northwestern Academies, Hartford Union High School, Germantown High School, the Oconomowoc YMCA, Waukesha South High School and the Schroeder Aquatic Center in Brown Deer.
Myrah and Gross also said that facility and technology infrastructure improvement needs identified "have taken a back seat to prioritized spending to maintain excellent curricular
and co-curricular programs for students."
"Balancing the limited resources coming to our district through local taxes, state aids, federal grants, fees, and donations, across all of the identified expenditures is a significant challenge," they wrote. "That challenge has increased in difficulty as our facilities age, costs increase, and tax revenue caps remain in place."
The memo added a facilities study provided the basis for a $64 million referendum in November 2016, which voters rejected. In April 2017, a reduced version of the referendum focused on infrastructure updates was also rejected.
While district voters narrowly passed an $8.5 million referendum in November 2020, the referendum addressed only high-priority maintenance needs. The pool was not included in that list of needs.
Maintenance building
The district also recommended allocating $50,000 for the demolition of the "barn" maintenance building plus rental or purchase of temporary storage containers for the contents; as well as allocating $48,471 "for the timely restoration work" of a storage shed. The board approved that recommendation.
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2022-08-25T18:09:31Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Arrowhead School Board votes to keep pool open
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/hartland/2022/08/25/arrowhead-school-board-votes-keep-pool-open/7878760001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/news/hartland/2022/08/25/arrowhead-school-board-votes-keep-pool-open/7878760001/
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'Just a mess': West Allis woman volunteers time to spruce up historic Honey Creek Cemetery
Where some may look at a cemetery and see a collection of headstones, Lois Pocian sees history. Each gravestone a story of someone's life, a link to the past.
But at the Honey Creek Cemetery in West Allis, it takes a lot of effort to even find some of those gravestones.
Some are partially or mostly hidden because of overgrowth. Others lean to the side. In some spots, the ground is sinking.
Pocian, of West Allis, is volunteering her time to try to help.
In 2021, West Allis appointed her cemetarian of the Honey Creek Cemetery after she approached the city with her concerns about the state of the site.
"I love cemeteries; I walk through cemeteries," Pocian said. "Even when we go on vacation, we hit some of the old cemeteries. And this one was just a mess. So I called (West Allis Ald. Dan Roadt) on it, and next thing I knew, the city said I could be the cemetarian of the cemetery."
There are more than 500 graves at the historic cemetery. The last person was buried there in 1963, Pocian said.
Every day at the cemetery is different
The hours that Pocian, a retired factory worker, puts in at the cemetery vary. Some days she'll spend six to eight hours there. Other days, just a few. Still others, she won't work at all.
Much of the work is done solo, other times she has volunteer help.
"I have been digging down, getting the bases, even trying to lift the bases back out without damaging them, and then filling it in with gravel and soil and stuff, trying to level them," she said.
The city, which does landscaping and tree trimming at the cemetery, provides her with the fill and the gravel she needs.
But city workers can't touch the markers, Pocian said, because it's considered private property.
"Because a lot of these graves, the family is no longer around, there's nobody there to maintain them," she said. "But (Roadt) did some research, and he said if they had a cemetarian, the cemetarian could make the calls to get some of the stuff straightened out."
But there's a lot of work, and it's a big cemetery, so Pocian started a GoFundMe to benefit the West Allis Historical Society, with funds going toward cemetery projects.
Wenta Monument has bid on one of those jobs, Pocian said, the leveling a resetting of four of the markers. But work might not be completed until next spring or summer because of Wenta's workload and staffing shortage.
Goal is to maintain the historic character of the cemetery
Pocian pointed out that the story isn't about her, it's about preserving the character and the history of the cemetery.
Here are some facts about Honey Creek that Pocian shared:
A lot of babies were buried in the cemetery who died of illnesses that are easily cured today. Many families didn't have a lot of money, so a lot of those graves aren't marked.
Because of illiteracy, being from a foreign country or some other reason, many of the names of the deceased are not spelled correctly. "If someone died, and they wanted to put a marker on the grave, and they would say their name was "Schaefer," but they didn't know how to spell it, the guy making the stone would have to make a call on how to spell it," Pocian said. "So some of the names are spelled three different ways in the records."
There are eight Civil War veterans buried at Honey Creek.
A lone spruce tree stands near the west side of the cemetery. It's the only one left of 100 spruce trees that were planted in the 1870s as a windbreak.
West Allis alderman has been source of support
Pocian said during the process, Roadt has been a good source of support.
"Sometimes I tell him, I think this is a little overwhelming, and he's like, you got it, don't worry about it," she said.
Taking it one grave, one marker at a time helps, she said.
"It's like, don't look at the whole big picture; let's look at little sections at a time."
She said that, gradually, the work is getting done.
"And people in the neighborhood, while I'm working, will come by and say, wow, I can really see a difference, so thanks for what you're doing," she said. "So that really makes me feel good."
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2022-08-25T18:09:37Z
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www.jsonline.com
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West Allis woman works to improve the "mess" at Honey Creek Cemetery
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2022/08/25/west-allis-woman-works-improve-mess-honey-creek-cemetery/7885893001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/southwest/news/west-allis/2022/08/25/west-allis-woman-works-improve-mess-honey-creek-cemetery/7885893001/
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BROOKFIELD-WAUWATOSA NOW
Solar panel installation has nearly doubled this year as Wauwatosa continues to promote renewable energy
The city of Wauwatosa has received 20 applications for solar panels already this year, nearly twice the demand in previous years, according to the city.
The increase is the result of a concerted effort between the city, its residents and solar panel companies whose goal is to promote renewable energy.
This includes the approval of solar energy systems in all zoning districts, the option to buy solar panels at a discounted price through group buys and the fast-tracking of applications that make installing the panels easier.
Residents seeking to install solar panels will usually contact a local contractor who will work with them on size and location. Sometimes city or resident-led groups come together to purchase solar panels in what is called a “group buy.” This allows individuals to buy solar panels at highly reduced prices.
Solar panels can cost about $5,000, but rebates and tax incentives can help lower the price. Group buys will usually save upwards of $200 and also come with the benefit of educating the buyer about how best to set up and use their new panels.
The plans can then be submitted online at the city of Wauwatosa website, after which the city will make an appointment to inspect the plans. Joe Glorioso, master electrician for the city, said the process of obtaining a solar panel permit is usually fast — and it is designed that way.
“This is one of the main ways we have promoted renewable energy … we want the process to be as fast as possible, so we usually have most applications approved within a week of submission,” said Glorioso.
While he noted that not all applications are approved, he also said they are often ways to adjust the plans — such as panel locations and sizes — to get them accepted.
Glorioso also said that he sees the increase in solar panels as a trend that is not stopping anytime soon. He explained that residents are consistently finding ways to afford them and that every year it seems that more are being installed.
“As the technology gets better and better, I don’t see the demand for them slowing down … we already have the systems that can harness solar energy in the day and use it to power a house at night, so that will only get better,” said Glorioso.
With dreary, snow-filled winters and high-reaching trees that shade many parts of residential areas, it is easy to think that installing panels in Wauwatosa might not be worth it. However, Wauwatosa resident and solar panel owner Mike Arney said he saves about $400 a year because of his panels.
Initially purchasing his panels in 2017, with the intent to minimize his carbon footprint, Arney said he is looking at a 12- to 13-year payback. That alone might be enough to motivate someone to buy them, he said.
“Even if you are not buying them for environmental reasons, you can get them paid off in 12 years, and they last 25 years at the very least, so you are looking at a good return,” said Arney.
While he admitted that they are not as effective in the wintertime or on cloudy days, Arney said he is pleased with his decision to purchase the panels.
To learn more about your property's solar potential, visit sunroof.withgoogle.com. Get an estimate of your future panel's performance at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s website, pvwatts.nrel.gov.
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2022-08-25T18:09:43Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Solar panel installation in Wauwatosa has nearly doubled this year
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/2022/08/25/solar-panel-installation-wauwatosa-has-nearly-doubled-year/7845469001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/west/2022/08/25/solar-panel-installation-wauwatosa-has-nearly-doubled-year/7845469001/
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The long-planned expansion of a large riverfront apartment community just north of downtown Milwaukee might start by the end of this year.
Atlantic Realty Partners Inc. in 2017 opened River House, 1785 N. Water St., with 243 units in two buildings on the former Gallun tannery site.
Atlanta-based Atlantic in 2018 sold River House to Kirkland, Washington-based Weidner Apartment Homes. But Atlantic kept the adjacent vacant site.
The firm has just filed a proposal with the Department of City Development to add 14 more units to its plans for River House's second phase at 1801-1881 N. Water St.
That would create a total of 221 units in four-story buildings over an enclosed parking structure on the 2.9-acre site.
That change in plans will need Common Council approval.
Atlantic executives haven't made a final decision to proceed with the second phase, said Chief Executive Officer Richard Aaronson.
"However, we are making some small adjustments to the design which need city approval in the event we do move forward," Aaronson told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
That work could begin in late fall, he said, with completion by early spring of 2024.
More:A four-story, 55-unit apartment building proposed for Milwaukee's east side is being recommended for approval. Opponents are suing the city.
A River House expansion would come as other high-end apartment developments continue to be built in the downtown Milwaukee area despite rising construction costs fueled by inflation.
The Common Council's Zoning, Neighborhoods and Development Committee in February endorsed a proposal to spend $700,000 to help pay for a public river walk along River House's second phase.
That extension would include a public sidewalk connection to Water Street — similar to the river walk in River House's first phase.
The council in 2015 approved spending $3.9 million to help pay for the river walk in connection with River House's two phases.
The city's policy is to pay for 70% of a river walk segment through property tax revenue generated by new development, with the developer paying the remaining 30%.
The estimated cost for the second phase has since increased — hence the need for the additional city cash.
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2022-08-25T18:09:55Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee expansion of River House apartments might start this year
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/25/milwaukee-east-side-expansion-river-house-apartments-might-start-year/7892651001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/money/real-estate/commercial/2022/08/25/milwaukee-east-side-expansion-river-house-apartments-might-start-year/7892651001/
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MADISON – More than 17,000 Wisconsinites left the public workforce in 2021, marking a 20-year high and the second straight year of a net decline in public-sector workers, according to a new report from the Wisconsin Policy Forum.
The report concluded that 1 in 10 employees who were members of the Wisconsin Retirement System's active employees and those who began working in 2021 left the labor force or became inactive by the end of the year.
Data from the WRS regarding public workers includes employment figures among teachers, law enforcement officers, public officials, bureaucrats and higher-education instructors.
The Wisconsin Policy Forum report concluded the exodus of public workforce employees can be attributed to both the state's aging population and strain on state institutions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in the largest spike of nonretirement "other separations" in any single year.
More:Resignations from the Waukesha School District continue to mount. Parents say the school board won't take the issue seriously.
Milwaukee had highest public worker turnover
According to the same report, of all cities in Wisconsin, Milwaukee experienced the highest public employee turnover last year, with a rate of 14% and a rate of over 17% for Milwaukee County.
This high turnover rate, though not out of step with nationwide trends, has reshaped the demography of Wisconsin's public sector, with the average age of WRS members now sitting at 44.6 — the lowest since 2003 — and the average depth of experience in the public workforce hovering at just above 11 years.
Of the various public services impacted by labor departures, the Wisconsin Policy Forum estimates the K-12 education system will bear the brunt of the consequences and posed a series of recommendations to improve workforce retention, including salary increases and workplace flexibility.
More:Teachers of Carmen charter schools in Milwaukee attempt to unionize as they seek better salaries and working conditions
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2022-08-25T18:10:01Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin public-sector workforce shrank for 2nd straight year in 2021
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/08/25/wisconsin-public-sector-workforce-shrank-2nd-straight-year-2021/7893572001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/08/25/wisconsin-public-sector-workforce-shrank-2nd-straight-year-2021/7893572001/
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These are the best performances with Milwaukee Brewers position players pitching
Nine pitches, six strikes and a 1-2-3 inning against the best offense in baseball.
Milwaukee Brewers infielder Pablo Reyes is now on track to finish with the best earned run average of any Brewers pitcher this year at 0.00 ... tied with fellow third baseman Mike Brosseau, who has worked three scoreless innings this year and allowed just two hits and one walk.
Reyes, who threw from 77 to 36.7 mph in a blowout loss to the Dodgers on Wednesday, and Reyes have fared better than catcher Victor Caratini, who yielded three runs Tuesday in another lopsided loss in Los Angeles.
Sure, it's not ideal that the Brewers needed two position players to pitch on back-to-back nights — an indication of the uncompetitive circumstances in what became losses by scores of 10-1 and 12-6. But it beats using three in a game, covering five innings, right?
Do you remember these particularly impressive performances from position players on the hill? We're not counting Brooks Kieschnick, Milwaukee's popular precursor to Shohei Ohtani who came to the team capable of both hitting and pitching.
Lyle Overbay (2014)
One batter, one out. Overbay relieved a struggling Wei-Chung Wang in the eighth inning against the Braves on May 19, 2014, after Atlanta had scored five times to take a 9-3 lead. He threw six pitches and retired Ryan Doumit with a pop fly. The Brewers still lost by that same score.
Jedd Gyorko (2020)
You'd be forgiven for forgetting everything about the 2020 season, but Gyorko did have a smooth 11-pitch outing Aug. 12 against Minnesota in a 12-2 loss, allowing a hit and nothing else.
Rick Dempsey (1991)
In his second pitching appearance of the year, Dempsey allowed just a walk over four batters and negotiated the ninth of a 14-5 loss at home against Texas. The catcher threw 18 pitches. He pitched earlier in the year against Boston in a 14-4 loss.
Jace Peterson (2021)
In his second pitching outing of the year, Peterson needed just 14 pitches to get past St. Louis in the ninth inning of a 10-2 loss Sept. 22. He allowed a hit and struck out a batter (sorry, Edmundo Sosa). He retired Lars Nootbaar and Tommy Edman on grounders.
Peterson allowed two earned runs in his previous outing Aug. 14 in Pittsburgh.
Martín Maldonado (2014)
On April 30 in a 9-3 loss to St. Louis, Maldonado needed 15 pitches to work a scoreless eighth, allowing one hit. After a leadoff single against Allen Craig, Maldonado retired Jhonny Peralta, Greg Garcia and Tony Cruz in succession.
Daniel Robertson (2021)
He had three career pitching appearances and one for Milwaukee, when he allowed a hit but nothing more over 10 pitches and four batters faced at Wrigley Field on April 23. The Cubs won, 15-2, but it wasn't Robertson's fault.
Mark Loretta (2001)
Loretta struck out two Reds batters in a scoreless eighth inning June 20, 2001 in what was the utility man's pitching debut. An error complicated the inning for Loretta, who nonetheless stranded two runners when he punched out Ruben Rivera looking. It was the first Brewers position player to see the mound in 10 years.
"I felt pretty relaxed, actually," said Loretta, who said he had not pitched since college at Northwestern. "I didn't really know where to stand. (Catcher Raul) Casanova put down a curveball sign, and I wasn't sure how to grip it. I had a lot of fun."
The Reds won the game, 11-3.
Terry Francona (1989)
Before he was a long-tenured big-league manager, Francona played several positions for the Expos and four other teams, including the Brewers in 1989 and 1990. He pitched only once, the eighth inning of a 12-2 blowout in Oakland on May 15, 1989, but he retired all three men he faced on just 12 pitches, throwing eight strikes and registering a strikeout of Stan Javier, who had two hits against the game's regular pitchers but struck out looking against Francona.
It was the only strikeout registered by any Brewers pitcher in the game.
He threw fastballs and knuckleballs.
"It was so slow, I couldn't believe he wasn't swinging," Francona said of Javier. "When I let it go, I thought he was going to crush it. I couldn't believe it.
"I'll bet they used a calendar," Francona said when asked what his radar gun readings likely were.
Sal Bando (1979)
Three position players working five innings? Dang.
When third baseman Sal Bando stepped to the mound against Kansas City at Royals Stadium on Aug. 29, 1979, the Brewers were already trailing, 13-4, in the fourth inning and there were two runners on with nobody out, to boot. Bando struggled initially, allowing two singles and a double around a series of groundouts, but he rebounded with not one but two scoreless innings thereafter. He admitted to throwing some spitballs.
George Bamberger said after two innings of work that Bando had told him, "I can only go one more. After that, I won't be able to comb my hair."
Bando, who was charged with two runs on three hits in three innings, allowed only one baserunner in the fifth on an error and worked a 1-2-3 sixth, though the Royals then led, 17-6. Eventually, Kansas City prevailed, 18-8.
Second baseman Jim Gantner pitched the seventh and worked a scoreless inning despite two hits. Catcher Buck Martinez worked the eighth and wasn't as fortunate, allowing a walk and then an RBI double to Hal McRae.
Gorman Thomas did homer twice, tying the franchise record of 36 home runs in a season.
Erik Kratz (2018)
In the same game where Hernán Pérez worked two scoreless innings, Kratz was on point, getting fellow catcher Austin Barnes to strike out and recording a double play off the bat of pitcher Caleb Ferguson to face the minimum in the ninth of the 11-2 loss to the Dodgers on July 22. Kratz, who became a popular fixture during the team's run to the seventh game against the NLCS against those same Dodgers, was making the second of his three pitching appearances that year.
The next one also came against the Dodgers, on Aug. 2 in a 21-5 loss, when he worked an inning and retired all three men he faced on 13 pitches. That included Barnes again and future Brewers catcher Yasmani Grandal.
Joe Inglett (2010)
Nobody can match the efficiency of utility man Joe Inglett's six-pitch performance on July 27, 2010.
In a 12-4 loss to the Reds, Inglett retired Brandon Phillips, Orlando Cabrera and Joey Votto, throwing just two pitches to each player.
Inglett threw 55 mph heaters but didn't want to talk about his outing afterward.
Trent Durrington (2004)
Technically, you actually can match Inglett's efficiency; Durrington threw only one pitch in his lone outing April 17 against the Astros, relieving Luis Vizcaino in a game that was already 14-5 in favor of the Astros in the eighth. Jose Vizcaino flew out immediately against the Australian utility man.
Durrington had pitched in the minors, but that would be his only big-league appearance on the hill.
Hernán Pérez (lifetime achievement)
When it comes to volume, you can't beat Pérez, who appeared in nine games as a pitcher for the Brewers. Over 9⅓ innings, he allowed 11 hits and six earned runs, including two bombs, but five of those runs came in a single outing.
On July 22, 2018 against the Dodgers in an 11-2 loss, he worked two scoreless innings, with a hit, walk, hit batsman (a 48 mph ... uh, changeup ... that hit Austin Barnes) and a strikeout. He got Manny Machado to ground out and retired Cody Bellinger and Matt Kemp in the eighth.
Pérez had two scoreless outings in 2019, a 1-2-3 inning June 4 in a 16-0 loss to the Marlins and an inning with two walks and a strikeout in a 12-8 loss to the Braves on May 17, ended on a double play ball from Dansby Swanson.
Against the Marlins, he threw 10 pitches and was the only one of six pitchers that day to allow fewer than two baserunners, let alone none at all.
In 2021, he threw two clean innings, including a 1-2-3 eighth against St. Louis in a 14-3 loss on April 13, with two strikeouts (Justin Williams and Lane Thomas). He threw a mere nine pitches, including seven strikes.
More:Hernán Pérez helps Brewers make the most out of an otherwise forgettable night
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2022-08-25T21:32:13Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Pablo Reyes and other Brewers moments in position players pitching
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/25/pablo-reyes-and-other-brewers-moments-position-players-pitching/7894996001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/25/pablo-reyes-and-other-brewers-moments-position-players-pitching/7894996001/
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Marquette students of color protest, leading to postponed Convocation
Marquette University postponed its Convocation ceremony Thursday after students of color protested what they see as inadequate staffing for several diversity programs and other concerns about the campus climate.
The Black Student Council encouraged students to "take a stand" at Convocation, a welcome event held on Central Mall for the university's nearly 2,000 incoming students.
Video of the protest posted by the group on social media showed a couple dozen students standing on stage, yelling "shut it down" to rows of mostly empty seats and holding signs that read "We are not a token" and "We have a voice too." The group did not immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday evening about the protest, which Marquette characterized as "disruptive in nature."
"As student leaders we wanted to have a (honest) moment with how the University supports its Students," the Black Student Council posted on Instagram a few hours before the 4 p.m. ceremony. "In these meetings administration have not moved with urgency when we discuss our concerns."
Their concerns include the Office of Engagement and Inclusion, which they claim was entirely eliminated, and an Urban Scholars program for more than 100 students that they said is supported by a single full-time staff member with no additional hires planned until next summer.
Marquette University said in a statement that the Office of Engagement and Inclusion remains open and a priority, with interviews underway to refill an unspecified number of positions left open by people who left. The roles are expected to be filled this semester.
The university also said it has committed to hiring another full-time employee to support the Urban Scholars program in 2023.
The Black Student Council has held protests in recent years, such as a sit-in in the school's main administrative building that led to signed commitments for a Black student cultural center, hiring of Black mental health counselors, and more scholarships for Milwaukee Public Schools graduates, among other items.
Marquette spokesperson Lynn Griffith said a new date for Convocation is still being discussed but both President Michael Lovell and Provost Ah Yun addressed the full freshman class at a separate event later Thursday evening.
About 30% of this year's incoming freshman class identify as students of color, an all-time high, according to the university. Marquette's provost and vice president of student affairs, both of whom identify as people of color, regularly meet with student government leaders on how to improve the campus climate.
"We are deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion on campus," the university statement said.
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2022-08-26T03:17:19Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Marquette student protests prompt rescheduled Convocation
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/25/marquette-student-protests-prompt-rescheduled-convocation/7899226001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/education/2022/08/25/marquette-student-protests-prompt-rescheduled-convocation/7899226001/
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MADISON – One day before the season opener, the NCAA handed the Wisconsin volleyball team its first loss of the season.
College sports' governing body announced Thursday that senior Shanel Bramschreiber, a graduate transfer from Baylor, will not be eligible to play until the second half of the season. UW's compliance office will confirm the first match she can compete, but assuming the NCAA views half the season as half of a team’s scheduled matches, then the target date for her season debut is Oct. 14 at Iowa.
Bramschreiber is one of four transfers signed by the Badgers during the offseason. The penalty comes as a result of a meeting she had with an agent to look into her options for a professional career before she committed to UW.
A libero/defensive specialist, Bramschreiber would have been in the hunt for playing time on a team that graduated its starting libero from last season. She comes to Madison with an accomplished résumé, having spent the past two seasons as the starting libero at Baylor. She was the Big 12 libero of the year in 2020.
"I am heartbroken and disappointed for Shanel," UW volleyball coach Kelly Sheffield said in a statement released by the athletic department. "She is an outstanding student-athlete and representative for collegiate athletics. She made a decision to explore a professional career and is being penalized unfairly for deciding that continuing her education and her collegiate playing career was in her best interest. She is the exact type of individual we should be using to promote NCAA athletics instead of penalizing."
Wisconsin opens the season at 7 p.m. Friday against TCU in Fort Worth, Texas. The Badgers take on Baylor at 4 p.m. Saturday. The home opener is Sept 2 against Marquette.
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2022-08-26T05:42:08Z
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www.jsonline.com
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NCAA rules Wisconsin volleyball transfer ineligible for half of season
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/25/ncaa-rules-wisconsin-volleyball-transfer-ineligible-half-season/7900179001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/25/ncaa-rules-wisconsin-volleyball-transfer-ineligible-half-season/7900179001/
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Asthma afflicts 6 million children, many of whom grow up in poor neighborhoods. Most frustrating: It can be controlled.
Starms Discovery Learning Center school nurse Ashley Capodarco exams student Major Wilson, 9, in her office. Asthma is the most common disease Capodarco sees at the school. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
When Ma’Siah was born, Monica Farr loved watching him. She adored the sounds her son made as he stretched his tiny hands toward her, the way his cheeks would puff before breaking into a smile when she picked him up to nurse him.
But one day, those cheeks started to turn blue. Panic flooded Farr’s body as her baby struggled to breathe. She rushed him to an emergency department, where doctors stabilized him.
Monica Farr, left and her son Ma’Siah, 8. After Ma'Siah turned 3 years old, doctors suspected he was severely asthmatic, but because of his age, they waited to confirm the diagnosis. Photo courtesy of Monica Farr
It was not his first health crisis.
At three months, Ma’Siah had surgery for laryngomalacia, a condition where the tissues above the vocal cords are too soft and flop in the airway, making it harder to breathe.
Farr thought that would be the end of his breathing problems.
But as he grew older, Ma’Siah suffered more and more crises. After he turned 3 years old, doctors suspected he was severely asthmatic, but because of his age, they waited to confirm the diagnosis.
Farr was terrified to sleep, fearing she wouldn’t be available if he began having breathing problems. She watched Ma'Siah to catch the slightest hitch in his breath or wheeze from his chest. On the way home from each emergency department visit, she worried about when the next would come.
After having four healthy children, Farr’s focus on her son’s challenges brought an element of trepidation into the family.
Ma’Siah’s asthma was uncontrolled. And when Farr watched him, her feelings went from joy to helplessness.
Income, housing, race intertwined
Farr’s angst would be familiar to parents and caregivers of the 6 million asthmatic children in the United States. The chronic respiratory condition, which afflicts 25 million people overall, disrupts breathing and prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs. A severe attack can be fatal; on average, 11 people die from an attack every day.
Q&A: What are the signs my child has asthma?
As with so many other health care issues, poverty complicates and intensifies the challenges of asthma management. Poor families living in substandard housing are more likely to be exposed to asthma triggers, such as mold, dust mites, cockroaches and mice. Children with uncontrolled asthma often dwell in the city’s most impoverished and under-resourced neighborhoods.
Further, asthma management doesn’t happen in a vacuum. Low-income parents may need to leave work to address a child’s attack. If that time off multiplies, it can lead to less income, even lost employment. Further, children who miss school may fall behind academically or miss out on social activities. And poorly controlled asthma in youths can lead to even worse respiratory diseases in adulthood, including permanent lung damage.
Much of this has a racial component as well, magnified in a majority-minority city that ranks second in poverty among the 50 largest cities in the United States, according to U.S. Census Bureau data.
Children who live in 53205, a predominately Black ZIP code on Milwaukee’s near north side, visit the emergency department for asthma 20 times more than children living just a 15-minute drive away in the predominately white suburb of Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin Hospital Association data shows.
Milwaukee ranked fourth among the nation's top 20 “asthma capitals” based on estimated asthma prevalence, emergency department visits due to asthma, and asthma-related fatalities, according to a 2021 report by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
Beyond just the city, the rate of Black children visiting emergency departments for pediatric asthma in Milwaukee County was higher than the combined rates of Asian, Hispanic and white children. And statewide, the asthma death rate for Black patients in 2020 was five times that of white patients.
But the ubiquity of asthma means that uncontrolled asthma is often overlooked as a potentially disruptive and debilitating disease, leading to a lack of resources being channeled to address it.
Health clinics are only now beginning to explore how the social determinants of health — housing, income, education — undermine the care asthmatic children receive in emergency departments and urgent care centers. Local nonprofits, such as Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies, do what they can to improve asthma outcomes but tend to be underfunded. Health systems, community health centers and the city don't have enough community health workers to help low-income families learn how to manage asthma triggers and improve health literacy.
‘You have to lose pay to get care’
Ashley Capodarco is a school nurse at Starms Discovery Learning Center.
When someone suffers an asthma attack, it’s Capodarco’s job to provide the child's inhaler. If one isn’t available, she tries to reach someone on the child's contact list to bring an inhaler, or take the child to urgent care. If the child’s guardians don’t respond, Capodarco calls for an ambulance as a last resort.
When she reaches parents, Capodarco said they regularly tell her: “'I’m at work. What am I supposed to do?' I just offer empathy and offer to write them a letter on official letterhead. But often, they have to deal with the consequences of coming to get their kid. It’s a resource strain and costs the family money. You have to take off work, (and) you have to lose pay to get care.”
Assistant Principal Keith Omadahl, right, talks with a student at Starms Discovery Learning Center. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Asthma is the most common disease Capodarco sees at Starms, an elementary and middle school located in the 53205 ZIP code. The student body is more than 90% Black. Reading and math scores are low, so missing school time is particularly detrimental.
Glory Tutaj is a former school nurse who now works as a health practitioner mentoring school nurses at nearly a dozen locations, including Starms.
“I've seen kids whose asthma is so uncontrolled that the parent is picking them up every week to take them to their emergency room, and on the verge of losing their job because of it,” she said.
Missed workdays, and the fear of a potential asthma attack, prompt some families to keep their asthmatic child — or all their children — at home, leading to increased rates of absenteeism.
“I was with a nurse this week, and she was following up with a family,” Tutaj recalled. “And the mom said, ‘Oh, I kept all my kids home today because so-and-so has asthma and with the cold, I knew they’d have an asthma attack.’ So, it’s not even when they’re just having symptoms.”
The Childhood Asthma Leadership Coalition estimates pediatric asthma causes 7.2 million missed school days per year. A 2017 study estimated that each time an asthmatic child has an attack, the child loses three to five school days and the child’s parents lose the same number of workdays.
All that doesn’t account for the concept of “presenteeism.”
The term is used to describe children who do not suffer acute enough symptoms to visit the emergency department, but still struggle to focus in school because their asthma is constantly being triggered. That inability to function is often compounded by sleep deprivation because asthma tends to flare up at night.
Most frustrating to health and school officials, uncontrolled asthma is preventable. By some estimates, improving its management could save a quarter of the roughly $6 billion annual direct cost of pediatric asthma in the United States.
'Triggers' thrive in inadequate housing
Asthma is a two-pronged disease. Patients have inflamed airways prone to being hyperactive, and the airways spasm in response to a patient’s sensitivities to certain triggers, such as dust, pests and pets. That leads to what is known as an asthma “attack.” Managing asthma often requires two medications: a controller taken daily to calm the airways and a rescue inhaler used when those airways begin to spasm in response to a trigger.
When Tamika Glenn worked as an asthma specialist for the Milwaukee nonprofit Community Advocates, she saw plenty of housing-related asthma triggers. “I would say mice and roach problems were very heavy," she said. "With a lot of the animals, dogs and cats, there was pet dander. Older adults definitely had mold in their house.”
Glenn also said landlords were slow to respond to complaints and requests for repairs in the low-income communities where she worked.
Dr. Emmanuel Ngui, an associate professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Joseph J. Zilber School of Public Health, said the highest rates of asthma tend to cluster in counties with significant low-income and minority populations, such as Milwaukee, Menominee and Racine.
The 53205 ZIP code in Milwaukee, where the median income of families is less than $25,000 and nearly one-third of families with children live below the poverty line, is a prime example.
Brown Street Foods in Milwaukee is in the same neighborhood Starms Discovery Learning Center. Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
"If you can afford good housing, you will not live in (a) house with asthma triggers, such as smoke, mold, mildew, cockroaches and rodents,” Ngui said. You also would live away from highways, Ngui said, where the particulate matter of cars and summer heat combine to make it harder for anyone in the community to breathe — "so, you can imagine if you have asthma.”
Managing asthma while being transient or homeless makes the problems worse, said Kevin Izard, a Milwaukee physician and former Cream City Medical Society president.
For example, to reduce the presence of dust mites, he would recommend a family change their child’s bedsheets often and use hypoallergenic bedding. “But a lot of times, you’re talking about people who don’t have a bed to sleep in,” he said.
Moving constantly also makes keeping up with asthma medications difficult. “If you’re moving every other month and getting evicted or staying with other people, things happen in the process, and you lose your inhaler,” he said.
Lack of access; distrust of 'the system'
One big factor in managing asthma is avoiding lung irritants such as secondhand smoke. Again, poverty and race are factors.
Black smoking rates are almost identical to white rates, according to the American Lung Association, but the overwhelming choice among Black smokers is menthol cigarettes. For decades, tobacco companies targeted communities of color with ads featuring menthol-flavored cigarettes.
“We know that menthol additives make it easier to start and harder to quit,” said Edgar Mendez, a member of the Wisconsin Tobacco Prevention and Poverty Network.
When trying to educate families about potential asthma triggers like smoking or persuade them to take their child to see a doctor, Capodarco sometimes breaks through.
But all too often, she hits a wall.
Grades one through three have lunch at Starms Discovery Learning Center. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“There’s definitely a cultural barrier, a lot of distrust based on race,” she said. “It is tough when you’re trying to speak to a parent advocating as hard as you can, as politely as you can, (telling them) ‘Please, you need to take a child in,’ and they just don’t believe it."
Capodarco said many people in the neighborhoods around Starms distrust medical providers with what she described as a “defensiveness against the ‘system.’” As a result, many parents often manage their children’s asthma in the same way their parents managed their asthma.
Even after an asthma attack, some parents tell Capodarco that their child is not sick and just needs water or a nap. “I see a lot of health miscommunication on what’s serious, what’s not serious,” Capodarco said. “What that leads to is the only time they’re going to take them in, is when they’re so sick, they need to be hospitalized and treated a little more seriously.”
It’s a pervasive “buck up” mentality Capodarco recalls from her own childhood. “I didn’t have a lot of money growing up. I wasn’t in deep poverty, but my parents did the exact same stuff."
Getting to the doctor is often a challenge for practical reasons as well.
Single parents who have multiple children struggle to make doctor appointments if they lack a car. And parents working low-wage jobs don’t have the luxury of leaving work for hours when a doctor’s office is only open during business hours. Pulmonologists, who focus on the lungs and often specialize in asthma, can be particularly tough to see.
As a result, some parents make a habit of using the emergency room to temporarily alleviate their child’s asthma attacks, rather than primary care visits to prevent them. Capodarco said she recalls that trend from her time working in an emergency department, where she saw many patients who would not have needed to come in if they had been able to access preventative care.
“I can’t 100 percent tell you why, but I have had people from the neighborhood tell me — grown people — that (the emergency department) is the place to go. Their parents never took them to a primary care physician. I don’t know if it’s because they can’t deny you,” she mused. “It’s a cultural thing where it feels more appropriate to go to the emergency room for help.”
According to the medical standard of asthma treatment, the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program, there are four components of asthma management: “Assessment and monitoring of the level of asthma control to adjust a patient’s management plan accordingly; education to improve self-management skills of patients and their families; pharmacologic treatment; and (the) reduction of environmental triggers that worsen asthma.”
Gary Steven, director of the Allergy, Asthma and Sinus Center, said there’s a hierarchy to those components.
“Medications and even biologics are there to treat inflammation and bring it under control,” he explained. “The holy grail is eliminating the inflammation to begin with. If we can address the root of the problem, eliminate the rodent and cockroach infestations, that’s a much better road to go.”
However, many families don’t even know their child’s asthma triggers because they never undergo allergy or lung testing (also called spirometry), which Steven says is essential to any asthma management program. Without it, Steven said, it’s like trying to treat hypertension without knowing someone’s blood pressure or manage a diabetic without knowing their blood sugar.
This divide between what parents should do versus what they actually do crystallized for nurse practitioner Tutaj when she spoke to a mom relying heavily on the emergency department to manage her child’s asthma.
A school bus passes by Starms Discovery Learning Center at 2035 N. 25th St. on Aug. 15, 2022. Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“She was missing work," Tutaj recalled, "And it wasn’t good, and … we kind of had this heartfelt moment and I was like, ‘You know, I really don't want to call you about your kid and my goal is to never have to call you again. We want your kid to be here and healthy.’ (And her) realizing ‘Oh, if I could get my kid that preventative care, maybe I wouldn't have to pick them up.’ In that moment, it was like it clicked. And after that, there was a huge difference for them.”
Finding an advocate
The tendency to treat asthma on a crisis-to-crisis basis often means health care providers are being asked to deal with the complexity of a low-income asthma patient’s life with just a brief visit and a prescription pad.
For Dorian James, former coordinator of Community Health Asthma Management Program (CHAMP) at Children’s Wisconsin, that’s an inadequate toolkit.
Dorian James former Community Health Asthma Management Program (CHAMP) at Children's Wisconsin on Thursday, July 7, 2022 in Brown Deer. James, a respiratory therapist was instrumental in assisting Monica Farr with navigating her way through the health care of her son, Ma’Siah who has asthma. He also helped her better understand his condition and the use of medications for his treatment. Angela Peterson/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
James has been building his expertise in asthma management since 1998, when he worked at an asthma clinic for St. Joseph Hospital (now known as Ascension – St. Joseph) until 2006. After several years of consulting, he joined the Asthma, Allergy and Sinus Center in 2012, where he worked until 2017. Then he joined Children’s, where he brings a multi-faceted approach to asthma management.
Whenever he visits a new family, James sets the expectations for them right away.
He shows children pictures of the likes of football icon Emmitt Smith and rapper Eminem. Wide-eyed, they tell him they never knew Smith or Eminem had asthma. James tells them, “‘That’s the way asthma is supposed to look.’”
James tells parents that just because their child has asthma doesn’t mean it has to be uncontrolled. Every unscheduled trip to the emergency department, urgent care or hospital for asthma is a sign of uncontrolled asthma, he says, and represents a “failure of treatment.”
Monica Farr, 45, worried every time her some had a hitch in his breathing or the slightest wheezing. After Ma’Siah turned 3 years old, doctors suspected he was severely asthmatic, but because of his age, they waited to confirm the diagnosis. Now 8, his asthma is managed. Photo courtesy of Monica Farr
Farr was encountering that failure of treatment with her son Ma'Siah on a regular basis.
“I was taking him back and forth to the emergency room,” Farr said. “We would (go) to urgent care at the New Berlin clinic a lot, at least a dozen times. And if I felt like I couldn’t make it to New Berlin urgent care, sometimes I would go to Waukesha Memorial (emergency department) just for them to stabilize him.”
But the stabilization wouldn’t last, and Farr would often leave those visits frustrated, wondering how she could get out of the cycle.
“It was so scary,” she recalled. “I would go home and be in shambles because I didn’t have anyone I could ask questions to. You’re telling me it’s going to be OK, but when I’m going home, and he’s turning blue on me, I don’t feel like he’s going to be OK.”
She reached the point where she had trouble trusting anyone. It’s an experience many patients have when they visit an emergency department: a long wait, followed by a brief exam and a few pages of printed instructions.
Farr was particularly frustrated after doctors said they were thinking of prescribing Ma’Siah a $4,000 monthly injection called Nucala.
One time in the doctor’s office, she broke down.
Monica Farr, whose son, Ma’Siah, suffers from severe asthma
I was almost ready to give up.
“I was almost ready to give up, and I think (my doctor) could see that,” she said. “(I had) tears running down my face, and (I was) so distraught. And he said there’s a program that would be a good fit for me and Ma’Siah that would help me with his asthma.”
That program was CHAMP, the Children's Wisconsin program.
James visited her home, building a relationship with Ma’Siah. He explained to Farr the different medications that doctors were prescribing him. He took the humidifier out of his room, added an air purifier, put filters on the home’s vents and pointed out other ways Farr could reduce her son’s exposure to asthma triggers.
“When he contacted me and introduced himself and answered every question that I had for him, I suddenly realized he is the person who is going to advocate for Ma’Siah,” Farr said.
After leaving doctor’s appointments, Farr would call and ask him to translate for her what she should do. When Ma’Siah was stung by a bee, she called James. When Ma’Siah got COVID-19, she called James.
In under-resourced communities, community health workers often take on this role, translating dense medical instructions and providing culturally competent advice. But community health workers are often funded by short-term grants, making the field less sustainable and keeping the ranks low.
“If I could wave a wand to have more Dorians to be a resource between doctors and members of the community, I would,” said Farr, now 45. “If I didn’t have Dorian and this program, Ma’Siah’s asthma would not be under control.”
Once afraid to play outside because he feared triggering a dangerous asthma attack, Ma’Siah is now able to play in the grass and ride his bike, all while being on fewer medications.
But there is only one Dorian. And happy endings for children like Ma’Siah happen much less often than they should.
Uncontrolled asthma is an equity issue
In the 53205 ZIP code, the number of children going to the emergency department for asthma was more than twice the national average from 2018. Figures for the nearby ZIP codes of 53206, 53210, 53216, 53218, 53209 and 53212 are also consistently high. Outside the 5-mile radius of those areas, rates drop below the national average.
Similarly, 53205 leads the city in the rate of hospitalizations for pediatric asthma.
For doctors like Steven, the failure to address asthma treatment in primary care is a constant source of frustration.
“This is a definable disease … we have metrics to assess control. And we’ve got better metrics than ER visits, hospitalizations and courses of oral steroids,” he said.
Children who do not get the medication they need can find themselves at a higher risk for worse long-term respiratory conditions. It’s why, James said, the myth that asthma can be “outgrown” is dangerous.
“If the swelling and inflammation inside the lungs (is) allowed to continue and perpetuate over an amount of time, it’s going to decrease the lung volume,” James explained. “It’s uncontrolled swelling that eventually becomes a part of the anatomy — at that point, we would call it ‘fixed obstruction.’”
Another condition, called “remodeling,” occurs when the airways thicken over time as scar tissue builds up.
Both remodeling and fixed obstruction make it harder to breathe later in life.
“The people who have permanently compromised their lung function in their 50s and 60s from uncontrolled asthma have no idea — they didn’t see it coming,” Steven said.
Dr. Joshua Steinberg, an allergy, asthma and immunology specialist who works at Children’s and teaches at the Medical College of Wisconsin, said although he doesn’t want to overstate the incidence rates, this type of lung damage appears to coincide with a rise in severe asthma rates.
And yet, asthma’s disruptiveness and health impacts continue to be underrated, he said.
Dr. Joshua Steinberg, allergy, asthma and immunology specialist
Sometimes our biggest problems don’t get enough attention.
“Sometimes our biggest problems don’t get enough attention,” he said. “(Asthma) is endemic. It’s chronic. It’s common. Even though it’s such a common diagnosis, it doesn’t tend to get as much attention compared to some rare diseases that get a lot of attention.”
For Erin Lee, a clinical research coordinator at the Medical College of Wisconsin and board member of Fight Asthma Milwaukee Allies, it’s an equity issue.
Among populations with financial resources, health literacy and access to sufficient medical care, asthma is well-controlled, making it a lower priority than other diseases, she said.
Delisa Scott prunes potted flowers on her porch in the 2000 block of N. 25th Street. Children who live in 53205, a predominately Black ZIP code on Milwaukee’s near north side, visit the emergency department for asthma 20 times more than children living just a 15-minute drive away in the predominately white suburb of Whitefish Bay. Angela Peterson / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“It’s sort of this out-of-sight, out-of-mind,” Lee said. “Kids with asthma, you don’t see them reacting as much if they have well-controlled asthma. If you live in the inner city, in schools, you know all the kids who have asthma because they’re always in the nurse’s office.”
It’s why FAM Allies exists, to educate and help reduce the asthma triggers for Milwaukee’s inner-city residents. But the organization operates on a tight budget, and programs such as CHAMP don’t have the capacity to address the number of children suffering from racially and income-disparate asthma outcomes.
“As a small nonprofit, you go to people with money, and they don’t think asthma is a big deal because everyone they know has well-controlled asthma,” Lee explained.
But both Lee and Steinberg agree, asthma is a disruptive disease that deserves better solutions.
“Most asthma deaths are preventable, a large number of hospitalizations are preventable, most ER visits are preventable,” Steinberg said. “Any preventable illness is a shame, (and) when we see it in such volume, it’s very easy to get inured to it.”
“But,” he concluded, “it’s never OK.”
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2022-08-26T11:19:58Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Uncontrolled asthma is magnified in Milwaukee, and can be debilitating
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https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/health/2022/08/26/uncontrolled-asthma-magnified-milwaukee-and-can-debilitating/10036320002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/in-depth/news/health/2022/08/26/uncontrolled-asthma-magnified-milwaukee-and-can-debilitating/10036320002/
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Through TikTok videos, JMatt showcases what makes Milwaukee so special for his 181,100 followers
Before TikTok was the powerhouse of an app that is today, Jeffrey "JMatt" Matthias was on it.
Over the years, he's created all sorts of short-form videos on the platform, from ones of him attempting to solve puzzles on a dry-erase board to him doing popular TikTok trends.
In the summer of 2020, he found his space on the app. That's when his content started focusing on something that he's very passionate about.
His beloved home, Milwaukee.
Now, he creates TikToks that highlight what the city has to offer, from local restaurants to events, and shares them with @JMattMKE's more than 181,100 followers.
From random videos to finding his Milwaukee niche
JMatt joined the app in 2019.
"Any time there's a new platform out there that is getting conversations started, I'm there," said JMatt, a senior content strategist.
He initially posted random videos, then found some success in puzzle and riddle content.
He had noticed that the creators of those videos were typically only showing the puzzles and their hands — not their faces.
Knowing that putting a face to your online content tends to attract more viewers and engagement, that's exactly what he started doing.
"People like to identify with other people," he said.
From consistently posting these and a variety of other videos — from trying out viral trends to him in the KISS FM studios where he was formerly a DJ — he garnered about 25,000 followers.
During the pandemic, JMatt turned to TikTok as his creative outlet and discovered his niche.
JMatt had heard that the "pirate barge" off of the Milwaukee River was for sale during the summer of 2020. When he was on a pontoon boat with a group, they went to check it out and filmed the experience.
The water levels were significantly higher than usual, JMatt said, and they barely cleared a bridge they needed to go under to access the barge.
"That part really drew people in," he said.
The TikTok ends as they reach the barge. JMatt told his followers that if the video blew up, he would post a Part 2 with what it's like on the barge.
He was expecting the first post to get between 50,000 to 100,000 views.
"In under 24 hours, it had a million views," JMatt said. "And that week, I gained 50,000 followers."
That video currently has 5.3 million views and over 760,300 likes.
The TikTok was the perfect storm: An element of risk, some Milwaukeeans not knowing the barge existed, and other locals who had their own connections to the barge, JMatt said.
"You had a large variety of people sharing experiences from being a local," he said. "I was like, 'Man, I think Milwaukee is the angle here."
And with his time in local media and his love for the city, it was the perfect pair.
Promoting Milwaukee and what it has to offer
That summer, JMatt honed in on creating Milwaukee-centric content that would still work during a pandemic.
"For me, it was about supporting local," he said. "It was like, 'How do you promote these restaurants that are still active?"
He made videos on must-visit beer gardens, rooftop patio bars, pizza joints, parks and more.
"When it finally started getting traction, I had a good rhythm behind me and it just continued to grow from there," he said.
At this point, JMatt typically posts between one and three videos a week. Some of his recent content has included five speakeasies in Milwaukee; him participating in the Wisconsin State Fair's cream puff eating competition; and a continuation of his series checking out new or lesser-known restaurants.
"I want to show, in different categories, what's available as options," JMatt said. "I'm very adamant not reviewing anything. I don't rate anything. I don't rank anything. I don't even really recommend anything. I'm simply showing fellow locals what options are available in Milwaukee that they can go and support."
Brands now reach out to JMatt for collaborations.
Red Bull approached him to be one of the celebrity judges for its 2022 Flugtag, which is named after the German word for "flying day."
During the event, teams launched homemade, human-powered airships off of a 27-foot-tall flight deck and glided over — and then into — Lake Michigan. For some, it was more of a crash into the water. It was the first time Wisconsin hosted the event, which has been around for more than three decades.
"When I was up there judging that next to Donald Driver, I was like, 'How did I get here?' " JMatt said. "Literally, I'm next to a Hall of Fam Packer player who needs no introduction. And then I'm a TikToker."
JMatt has also worked with Culver's, Pepsi Dig In, local restaurants and more.
"I don't take it for granted by any means," he said. "I just want to continue to keep doing what I've been doing that people seem to enjoy."
During the past year, JMatt has started hosting meetups for the local TikTok community. He also runs HastagMKE, a social media networking community he founded in 2017.
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2022-08-26T11:20:10Z
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www.jsonline.com
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TikTok @JMattMKE videos highlight Milwaukee businesses, events
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/26/tiktok-jmattmke-videos-highlight-milwaukee-businesses-events/7897482001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/26/tiktok-jmattmke-videos-highlight-milwaukee-businesses-events/7897482001/
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Invasive carp were introduced in the U.S. in the 1970s to control algae in aquaculture ponds. The fish began turning up in Illinois rivers in the '90s, but populations really took off in the mid-2000s. Now there are more carp than any other fish in the Illinois River and officials are trying to keep them out of the Great Lakes.
'Many other species'
Invertebrates can pass through barrier
Risk to Mississippi unknown
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2022-08-26T11:20:16Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Who is protecting the Mississippi River from invasive species?
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/08/26/who-protecting-mississippi-river-invasive-species-carp/7887729001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/wisconsin/2022/08/26/who-protecting-mississippi-river-invasive-species-carp/7887729001/
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Marisa Woloszyn named meteorologist on morning newscast at Milwaukee's WTMJ-TV (Channel 4)
Marisa Woloszyn has been named the meteorologist for the morning newscast on WTMJ-TV (Channel 4), as the station reshuffles its weather lineup in advance of the departure of Brian Gotter.
The Milwaukee NBC affiliate announced Thursday that Woloszyn would be the primary meteorologist on "TMJ News Today" starting Oct. 3.
She's replacing Brian Niznansky, who earlier this month was named chief meteorologist at Channel 4 to replace Gotter. Niznansky's new job moves him up to doing the weather on the station's evening newscasts, also starting Oct. 3.
Gotter announced in June that he was retiring and taking a full-time job with the MACC Fund.
Woloszyn joined Channel 4 in January 2021 as the meteorologist on the station's weekend morning newscasts. Before that, Woloszyn, who grew up in the Detroit area, spent nearly nine years at KEZI-TV in Eugene, Oregon, including as the station's chief meteorologist.
News of Woloszyn's new gig completes the reshuffling of Channel 4's morning news team.
Earlier this month, the station named Tom Durian and Symone Woolridge as co-anchors of the morning newscast, with longtime anchor Susan Kim shifting to a co-anchor spot on Channel 4's 4 p.m. newscast with Steve Chamraz. All of the changes were internal moves.
Kim's longtime co-anchor, Vince Vitrano, left the station and television in February to host the morning show on WTMJ-AM (620).
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2022-08-26T14:24:29Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Marisa Woloszyn named meteorologist on WTMJ-TV Channel 4 morning news
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/08/26/marisa-woloszyn-named-meteorologist-wtmj-tv-channel-4-morning-news/7902618001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/television-radio/2022/08/26/marisa-woloszyn-named-meteorologist-wtmj-tv-channel-4-morning-news/7902618001/
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Two cousins have exchanged the same birthday card for 40 years. It's now a time capsule of their relationship.
In 1982, Steve Mathwig sent a birthday card to his cousin, Karl Freund.
It was a typical birthday card, with a typical corny joke. The setup was on the cover of the card: "Happy Birthday. It's plain to see we're related." Inside was the punchline: "You're the only one that's as good looking as I am."
The following year, Freund did something less typical. He sent the same card back, with a note written under the punchline that said, "Remember this card?"
The cousins laughed at the joke the next time they spoke. Then the following year, Mathwig crossed off the year, wrote in the new year, and sent it back to Freund. On his cousin's next birthday, Freund did the same.
Soon, the cousins stopped just crossing off each year. Instead, they started writing notes — personal milestones that had happened that year, such as getting married, having babies, starting jobs, buying houses. They also noted local and national news from the preceding months — the Packers' Super Bowl wins, the Brewers and Bucks playoff runs, the COVID-19 pandemic, the price of gas. And they continued their inside jokes — like a 2003 note from Freund that said, "A half million Harley drivers came to town in honor of Steve's birthday."
As the years went by and the notes continued, the card became too small to hold the cousins' memories. They started adding panels to the card so that now — on the 40th anniversary of their tradition — it opens like an accordion. They also decided the notes weren't good enough to document their shared history, so they also enclose photos of each other.
"The pictures aren't necessarily from that specific year," Freund clarified during a recent interview with the Journal Sentinel. "They're more just to say, 'hey, remember when we did this?'"
One photograph from the '70s or '80s includes a sarcastic caption reading, "Nice pants." Another picture, with one cousin smiling into a mirror, is partially obscured with a caption, "I'm handsome — and Gosh darn it, people love me."
Memories of a shared childhood
The cousins, now in their 60s, grew up together as part of a tightknit extended family. As they describe it, their lives have unfolded in parallel. They are both the youngest of three siblings, and when their families would get together for parties and holidays, the cousins always paired up according to age.
"He's one year ahead of me, and that's kind of the way it's worked out our whole lives," said Mathwig. "He got married one year before me, he bought his house one year before me, he started having kids one year before me."
Freund grew up on 60th and Capitol, and Mathwig grew up in West Allis. Mathwig remembers riding his bike to Freund's house during summer vacation when they would spend their days together. "We would hang out at Capitol Court and play mini golf," said Mathwig. "We were best friends."
As the cousins grew up, their bond remained strong. They were best men in each other's weddings, and when they bought their first houses, they worked together on remodeling projects.
"I was a computer guy and he was a handy guy and we'd spend one night a week alternating houses, changing electrical, doing projects like that," said Mathwig. "We called it house night."
As their lives got busier and their families grew, they had less time to do things like house night, but shared interests and traditions like the birthday card have kept them close. Now they both live in Franklin and are co-directors of a weekly lawn bowling league.
A birthday card as a time capsule
A lifetime of shared experiences lends itself to a lifetime of inside jokes, and many of them are enclosed in the cousins' shared birthday card. One photo shows them loading up plates with food from a buffet table. The caption reads, "I'm going for seven plates of food today." Freund and Mathwig said the photo references the many trips they used to take to O'Hare airport in Chicago. Mathwig — who worked for Midwest Express, then Midwest Airlines for much of his career — and Freund share a love of airplanes and occasionally traveled to O'Hare to watch planes take off. The first leg of their day trip was always a stop at a restaurant for brunch where the competitive cousins would try to one-up each other on how many plates of food they could eat from the all-you-can-eat buffet.
"Then we would walk it all off at O'Hare," Mathwig said.
The card now has more than just photos enclosed in it.
"You know those cards that make sounds when you open them?" Mathwig said. "I took the mechanism from another card and put that in our card one year. It survived for three or four years before the battery ran out."
The card — which the cousins see as a time capsule of sorts — also has a 1980s-era video game called "Zork!" on a floppy disk inside. A few years ago, Freund put the disk in the card to remind his cousin of the time they each got the brand new-at-the time Commodore 64 computers. Freund jokingly wrote, "Happy birthday! This is the hottest new game in computing — hope you enjoy it! It's a little dog-eared because I had to fight someone for it!"
As the card grew bulkier and the enclosures became more numerous, Freund engineered a sturdier, "heavy-duty cardboard" envelope for the card. He affixed a sticker with the acronym ARRT to the card. While the initials actually reference Freund's membership to the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists, he made the acronym more appropriate to the cousins' tradition by writing: "Atomic Rated and Research Tested: first bullet-proof, nuclear-protective envelope for a birthday card."
Mathwig appreciates Freund's work on the new envelope: "That envelope will be around till after we die," he said.
"Yep, that and the cockroaches," Freund agreed.
'You can really see how everything has changed over the years'
Freund's and Mathwig's relationship is characterized by good-natured teasing and lots of jokes, but it's also clear they both care about their shared birthday card and the relationship it represents.
It's why Freund made the heavy-duty envelope, and it's why Mathwig has taken pictures of every component of the card, just in case it's ever lost. "I also keep the card in a fireproof file cabinet when I have it," Mathwig said.
"It's too valuable to lose; that's one reason we don't physically mail it," said Freund.
Every July 19 — Freund's birthday — and Aug. 30 — Mathwig's birthday — the card is delivered to the birthday cousin's front porch, along with some balloons and a few treats. Favorites include doughnuts, ham and rolls, licorice and beer.
Although the birthday card swap is an important tradition to the cousins, they don't always get everything right. Case in point: Mathwig admitted he forgot Freund's birthday this year and had to sneak his gift onto Freund's porch late at night.
There's also a bit of a sore spot around the timing of the cousins' birthdays.
"Steve gets the better deal. He gets to keep the card for most of the year and I only get it for a month," said Freund. "Steve gets first dibs on all the news that happened that year."
Mathwig agrees he gets the better deal: "I do get to steal all the good stories," he said. "But Karl become a grandpa for the first time this year, and I let him write down that story."
As the cousins reflected on the 40-year life of their tradition and flipped through the card and its many enclosures, Mathwig pointed out an SD card with digital photos of the cousins that he started including in the card a few years ago.
Looking at it side by side with the 1980s-era photographs and the floppy disk video game, he said, "Wow, even the SD card is starting to look dated. We may have to add something like a QR code next."
"Yeah, that's a good idea," said Freund, his eyes lighting up. "Then you can really see how everything has changed over the years."
Mathwig nodded in response. "Yeah, that's kind of the point of our card, isn't it?"
Wisconsin Family:As my kids start high school and college, I am still trying to learn parenting lessons.
Wisconsin Family:Apple picking is a fun thing to do in fall. Here are some pick-your-own apple orchards around Milwaukee.
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2022-08-26T14:24:35Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin cousins exchanged the same birthday card for 40 years
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/08/26/wisconsin-cousins-exchanged-same-birthday-card-40-years/10348992002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/life/wisconsin-family/2022/08/26/wisconsin-cousins-exchanged-same-birthday-card-40-years/10348992002/
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West Allis man dies after motorcycle crash on Milwaukee's south side
A 29-year-old West Allis man died after his motorcycle collided with a parked car on Milwaukee's south side Thursday night
The crash occurred near S. Sixth and W. Orchard streets just before midnight. Police say the motorcyclist suffered life-threatening injuries and died later at a hospital.
The crash remained under investigation Friday.
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2022-08-26T14:24:41Z
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www.jsonline.com
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West Allis man dead after motorcycle crash on Milwaukee's south side
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/26/west-allis-man-dead-after-motorcycle-crash-milwaukees-south-side/7902496001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/2022/08/26/west-allis-man-dead-after-motorcycle-crash-milwaukees-south-side/7902496001/
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Snapping photos, filming videos, editing footage.
Social media content creators and influencers tend to spend a good chunk of time behind screens.
A popular Milwaukee TikToker has created a local community for them — to meet, network, troubleshoot, share ideas and collab — offline and in person.
And there's a pretty good chance you've already "met" the group's founder, Jeffrey "JMatt" Matthias, in some way.
Maybe you saw him judge this summer's Red Bull Flugtag in Milwaukee, used one of his GIFs (which have over 260 million views) or are one of the more than 181,100 TikTok followers who've watched him explore and highlight the restaurants, food, events and unique experiences Milwaukee offers.
JMatt initially launched the HashtagMKE community in 2017 to connect with other social media professionals. At that time, he was a digital media specialist for SaintA (now Wellpoint Care Network) and also working part-time at 103.7 KISS FM as an on-air personality.
A lot of smaller companies and brands in the area had marketing teams of one to three people, he said.
"If you were the social media person at your company, oftentimes you were the only social media person," he said. "So if you ever needed a brainstorm or ran into technical issues with one of the platforms, you didn't have anyone to ask."
And when JMatt would attend area networking events, he said, he would usually find finance industry folks ... and few individuals in his field.
So, he took it upon himself to fill those voids.
He did that — and continues to do that — by organizing free monthly social media-focused meetups across Milwaukee.
Just like JMatt's popularity on TikTok has grown, so have his socials — expanding to include influencers with followings of all sizes, social media enthusiasts, photographers, web developers and many others.
How the meetups work, have grown
Over the years, the meetups have grown from networking events to each social having its own theme.
"I basically host events that I would want to attend myself," JMatt said.
Topics have included influencer marketing, foodies, video creation, how to create better content from your phone and more. About twice a year, free professional headshots are offered.
"We invite local experts to come and be available," JMatt said. "We don't do panels or presentations. It's just simply: Show up, these people will be there, ask them your questions that you have directly, and just have a casual conversation."
Matt Curtis, a senior content strategist for Hoffman York, was one of four people who attended JMatt's inaugural event in January 2017. Relatively new to the area, he was looking for networking opportunities and had connected with JMatt on Twitter.
Since then, the community has grown about 10 times in size, and Curtis has gone to just about every social.
"Having all these people from all these different avenues, these walks of life and these professions able to give their insight and their information on these platforms that are developing and changing so rapidly in real time is really impactful and helpful," Curtis said.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meetups were drawing between 50 and 75 people, according to JMatt.
That's a testament to JMatt's "welcoming" and "hands-on" approach to running the group, Curtis said.
At each meetup — held from 6 to 8 p.m. the second Thursday of the month — JMatt greets every person at the door, whether it's their first or 20th time attending.
He then asks what they want to get out of the meetup or who he can connect them with.
Any time JMatt sees two new people connecting or exchanging contact info at one of his events, he said it's like a "pat on the back."
Milwaukee resident Tia Derflinger checked out her first HashtagMKE event in the spring of 2018 after coming across an Instagram post about the community. She was slightly apprehensive — "when you put yourself in a crowd of people, it can be a little nerve-wracking," she said.
Those nerves she had quickly disappeared.
"Everyone was really welcoming and really talkative," she said. "There's a lot of mingling. It didn't feel overwhelming when I got there."
Since no one in her circle at that time was interested in content creation, she wanted to meet people who shared that passion and to talk through some Instagram ideas. Her Instagram account, @midwestgirladventures, is a compilation of her adventures, from Milwaukee to around the world.
From being a part of the group over the years, she's been able to learn how to promote and grow her account and its following, get feedback on her content, and form many friendships.
"I think that meeting with other content creators in Milwaukee has helped grow the account," she said. "We all kind of keep tabs on each other and support each other."
JMatt himself is a success story of the community's networking at work.
In 2020, Entercom made pandemic cuts and JMatt lost his "dream job" at KISS FM, beingthe midday on-air personality and digital program director.
Curtis let him know about an opening for a senior content strategist position where he works. JMatt went on to land the gig.
TikTok meetups
Seeing how social media stans are brought together through his HashtagMKE meetups, JMatt decided to launch a similar space for the local TikTok community.
And he wanted to support Milwaukeeans in need while doing so.
JMatt tested out this idea for the first time in October 2021, then had a larger-scale TikTok meetup in February 2022 at 3rd Street Market Hall.
It drew more than 40 attendees, who brought more than 125 donations for Riverwest Food Pantry (now Kinship Community Food Center). And Palermo’s Pizza matched their donations $10 for every item up to $1,000, JMatt said.
"It's something we need to be donating to year-round and not just when the holidays are around and we're feeling in that giving mood," he said. "I really wanted to find (an organization) that serviced the community directly ... I wanted to make sure if we were bringing people together here in the city of Milwaukee — given that my TikTok content is so focused on the city of Milwaukee — I wanted to make sure that what we raised stayed here."
For these meetups, JMatt is picking family-friendly spots so that younger creators can be a part of them too.
"The interesting thing about TikTok is that it has such an age range," JMatt said. "I didn't want anyone to feel excluded."
He's also hosting the gatherings in spaces that promote content creation.
The next TikTok meetup is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Aug. 27 at Punch Bowl Social, 1122 Vel R. Phillips Avenue.
"If you want to come and create a TikTok while you're at the event, there's opportunities throughout the venue," he said.
Registration for the event can be done at bit.ly/3T4Skwn, but people are welcome to just show up, JMatt said. It's "super casual."
When people arrive, they can make a nametag so people know they're part of the group. They can just drop by or stay the whole time.
A list of TikTokers that plan to stop by can be found on the event's webpage. If someone is a follower of one of the about 15 featured TikTokers and wants to meet them, the event is for them as well, JMatt said.
Attendees are asked to bring non-perishable food items for the Kinship Community Food Center. Palermo’s Pizza will once again match donations $10 for every item donated up to $1,000, he said.
When asked why giving back is important to him, JMatt brought up what a friend told him a decade ago that has stuck with him ever since.
"When people have a voice, people need to use it for something impactful instead of just self promotion," JMatt said. "If you have a voice, use that voice in a positive way."
He carries that motto into how he uses his platforms, especially Instagram.
Using social media to help others
Around the time HashtagMKE got started, JMatt was challenged by a friend to do the "22 Pushup Challenge," which brings awareness to veteran suicide and prevention.
At the time, that number was representative of the number of veterans who die by suicide each day, he explained.
Participants do 22 pushups a day for 22 days.
"I wasn't even sure I could do 22 pushups on the first day," JMatt said.
He could — and hasn't stopped yet. He completed day 2,059 this week.
He shares videos of himself on Instagram doing the pushups all over the city, from on stage during a Summerfest show to outside Fiserv Forum.
This is one of his ways of regularly sharing mental health resources with his followers, he said, including the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (988) and the Crisis Text Line (Text HELLO to 741-741).
"It was a way for me to take ownership of my own mental health struggles and in the process I became more of a public-facing mental health advocate," he said.
To keep up with JMatt, follow him on TikTok, tiktok.com/@jmattmke, or Instagram, instagram.com/jmattmke. And for more information on HashtagMKE, visit hashtagmke.com.
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2022-08-26T14:24:47Z
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www.jsonline.com
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HashtagMKE builds community for Milwaukee social media influencers
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/26/hashtagmke-builds-community-milwaukee-social-media-influencers-content-creators/10331126002/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/milwaukee/2022/08/26/hashtagmke-builds-community-milwaukee-social-media-influencers-content-creators/10331126002/
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Bryan Torres hunts alone and the baseball field is his ocean.
When he swims into the batter's box, he feasts on pitchers as if they were baby seals. He bites off one hit at a time.
There are whispers throughout the league about El Tiburon.
Or as Milwaukee Manger Anthony Barone puts it:
“He’s like a shark when there’s blood in the water. ... It’s just uncanny,” Barone said. “He’s laser focused with men on base. He loves driving runs in. He loves creating havoc on the bases. He’s just a multidimensional offensive player and defensive player.”
Torres, "El Tiburon" or "The Shark," plays in a league known for its big home runs and power pitching, but in his first season with the Milkmen, he’s putting up record numbers as the leadoff hitter for the Milkmen.
Entering play Thursday, he led the league in both batting average (.392) and in hits (131) in 83 games.
At the start of a game, Torres circles the pitcher, mentally, watching his delivery, his motion.
“I study the pitcher and I know the pitcher’s plan,” Torres said. “I’ve got a plan and I always, always focus on swinging early, in the middle and making good contact with the ball.”
But there’s only so much that can be seen while waiting to step in the box.
“The challenge is if he has movement,” Torres said adding he’ll switch his approach if he thinks a curveball or breaking ball is coming. “And if I’m uncertain (of the pitch) then I’ll work the corners. I look for if he’s throwing higher or lower.”
As the Milkmen head into the final homestand of the season and in second place in East Division of the independent American Association, Barone is counting on Torres to contribute in the postseason.
“When he’s going into that batter's box he’s ultra-confident in himself that he’s better than the pitcher,” Barone said. “He fully believes he’s going to go in there and do something special all time.”
The American Association for Professional Baseball record for average in a season is .406 set by Blake Gailen in 2011.
“After a while, it can’t keep going unnoticed, what he’s doing,” Barone said. “It’s incredible. ... In a way, I feel bad for Bryan, just because you want to see him get a little more publicity but in the other aspect, it’s keeping him grounded.”
Torres has already flirted with pulling ahead of the record. On Aug. 12 against the Gary SouthShore RailCats he went 3 for 5 and pushed his average to .401. He kept his average above that mark for the next six games, getting as high as .404.
But Torres is focused on winning games.
“When I’m playing in the field, how I play this game, I want to be productive for the team,” Torres said. “No matter what happened that day, start the next day and focus on what makes you productive for the team.”
But the prospect of Torres hitting .400 has become a hush-hush topic in the Milkmen clubhouse.
“It’s something we don’t really want to place too much emphasis on,” Barone said. “Baseball is a mental game, too. And if you start seeking out hits, and start worrying about that, it’s a tough milestone to achieve. I tell people you have to go 2 for 5 every game just to maintain a .400 average. You go 1 for 3, your average is going down. It’s very difficult to maintain a .400 average.”
Torres isn’t shy about the possibility of batting .400.
“Of course it’s a special number,” Torres said. “When I was at .300 my focus was .380 as a goal. And when I got to .380, I was close to .400, and although it’s far, it was effective. Anything is possible if you work for it.”
Caguas ‘the capital of Puerto Rico’
While Puerto Rico might be known for its beaches, Torres was born and raised in Caguas, a city set in a valley surrounded by mountains.
“It’s a city that, for me, is the capital of Puerto Rico,” Torres said. “It’s a city with a lot of baseball history.”
The Criollos de Caguas are a historic team that once had Roberto Clemente on its roster.
“I came from a middle-class family who loves baseball,” Torres said. “I got turned on to baseball thanks to my older brother who played baseball. Thanks to him, I’m a baseball player.”
Torres remembers his mother taking him and his siblings to the park to play sports.
In 2015, at 17 years old, he was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers and played in the Dominican Summer League. He joined the Brewers rookie squad in 2018 and was with the team until 2021 when he signed with the San Francisco Giants organization.
With the Giants, he got as high as Class AA playing for the Richmond Flying Squirrels before signing with the Milkmen during the offseason.
Although he’s not in affiliated baseball, being on a Milwaukee team again makes him feel comfortable.
“It’s special to be here in Milwaukee,” Torres said. “This is where the first organization gave me an opportunity to play professionally, and it was a beautiful experience.”
Torres’ start to the year was rough. After getting one hit on opening day, he went hitless the next three games and his average sunk to .067.
“I’ll be honest, some of the Latin players have a tough time in Milwaukee sometimes due to weather at the beginning of the year,” Barone said. “It’s a little colder than Puerto Rico.”
More:'I’m happy I can represent my heritage, my culture': Milwaukee Milkmen catcher Christian Correa doubles as team's translator
More:MLB organizations are turning to a unexpected place to find talent: independent teams like the Milwaukee Milkmen
More:Champs! The Milwaukee Milkmen defeat Sioux Falls to win the American Association championship
Along with the change in organization, Torres also moved from playing primarily catcher, to second base and center field.
“It shows what an athlete he is,” Barone said. “How many guys can do that? How many catchers do you that can play center field? How many catchers do you know that can play second base? It’s just something that makes him Bryan Torres. He’s unique.”
Barone started Torres in the ninth spot in the lineup and he became “almost like a second leadoff hitter,” and then the game started slowing down for him.
"Probably 20, 25 games in, he was just too damn good to keep him down there,” Barone said. “We decided to move him to leadoff and since then he’s come into his own.”
In the 83 games he’s played this season entering Thursday, Torres has only gone hitless in 11 and had a 22-game hitting streak through July and into August.
“He’s the MVP of the league right now,” Barone said. “That’s something that I hope doesn’t go unnoticed, when it comes to voting for things. If the season ended right now, he’s the MVP. There’s no doubt in my mind.”
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2022-08-26T14:24:53Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Bryan Torres is 'like a shark' for Milkmen while flirting with .400
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/08/26/bryan-torres-like-shark-milkmen-while-flirting-400/7874503001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/2022/08/26/bryan-torres-like-shark-milkmen-while-flirting-400/7874503001/
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From uncommon backgrounds, teammates Rajah Caruth and Nick Sanchez are making their way in racing. Next stop: Milwaukee.
For Nick Sanchez, the seed was planted with the backhoes and excavators of his father’s construction company, fertilized by classic automobiles and nurtured by a trip to a NASCAR truck race.
For Rajah Caruth, the inspiration similarly came when he was a preschooler, albeit from an animated movie. “Cars” captured his imagination.
But a childhood whim is one thing, adult reality entirely another. Even more so for someone with racing dreams growing up away from the national or even local-level hotbeds.
“It’s pretty surreal, and the fact that it’s so unlikely, it means a lot to me to have this opportunity,” said Caruth, 20, a college student from Washington, D.C.
“It’s truly amazing.”
“Literally we Google searched it,” said Sanchez, 21, of Miami, “how do you get to NASCAR, how do you get to IndyCar?
“Obviously there’s steps. We had no idea what they were.”
While neither is yet near the pinnacle of the sport, Sanchez and Caruth are pointed in the right direction.
Teammates at Rev Racing, they compete in the ARCA Menards Series – three steps down in stock car racing from the premier NASCAR Cup Series – and on Sunday will race at the Milwaukee Mile in the Sprecher 150.
More:At 18, rising racing star Sammy Smith is taking his career as it comes and looking for another shot at the Milwaukee Mile
Sanchez leads the ARCA standings and Caruth sits third through 14 of 20 races.
And that’s a long way from where either came.
Sanchez became a fan of the sport when he was taken to a NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race when he was 5 but didn’t get the bug to compete until he was about 10 or 11.
“I didn’t watch it religiously by any means,” Sanchez said. “I thought, like, oooh, fast car, let me turn on the TV and watch it. And I would only go to a race once a year when NASCAR came to Miami.
“I started asking my parents to race, and they probably didn’t pull the trigger soon enough because they didn’t know how the hell I was supposed to start racing.”
The closest big tracks to Miami were Homestead-Miami Speedway, about 40 miles to the south, then the location of the NASCAR season finale, and Daytona International Speedway, 260 miles to the north, location of the opener.
Weekly short tracks? Not really.
But what the area did have was a bustling karting scene.
“My focus first was on the open-wheel route, I would say mainly IndyCar, like the people that I raced with and everyone I knew,” Sanchez said. “Obviously Formula One was out of the question. I knew that wasn’t very realistic early on.
“It’s not because I didn’t like NASCAR. I loved NASCAR. I just didn’t know NASCAR.”
In karting, Sanchez was surrounded by people whose families came from varied backgrounds.
Formula One, IndyCar and NASCAR race winner Juan Pablo Montoya worked with his son, Sebastian, at the track where Sanchez practiced in the shadow of Homestead-Miami. Some competitors would go on to race in the open-wheel steppingstone series in Europe.
“It’s weird because growing up racing, in karting, the whole field is Latin American, South American,” Sanchez said. “Obviously watching NASCAR, thinking about it, the only Cuban American racing was Aric Almirola on the NASCAR side. You had Juan Pablo Montoya, who’s Colombian.
“Now there’s a lot more with Daniel Suarez being Mexican and you still have Aric Almirola, who is Cuban American. I definitely see that growing in years to come.”
At 16 Sanchez connected with Rev and competed in Legends cars for the summer. Then he participated in NASCAR’s Drive For Diversity combine and landed a seat in one of Rev’s late models for 2018 and ’19 before moving to the ARCA East division in ’20 and the national tour last season.
Sanchez has won four ARCA national races so far, all on bigger tracks, Kansas last fall and Talladega, Kansas and Michigan this season.
“We’ve left so, so many points and I think multiple wins on the table, but we have visited victory lane three times so I guess that is a positive,” said Sanchez, who leads Daniel Dye by a slim 13 points.
“It’s hard to put a letter grade, but I’d say we are significantly better than last year. We have more speed and we’ve been able to capitalize on certain things a little more than last year. I think that is due just to my team now, going back to tracks for the second time sometimes.”
While Sanchez considers himself a late starter in racing, Caruth began later yet.
A rabid fan throughout childhood, he went to his first NASCAR race at Richmond International Raceway when he was 12 and cheered for Jimmie Johnson. At 15 he drove a go-kart for the first time at an indoor facility.
Caruth already knew there weren’t many people of color at the track, especially as competitors.
But he watched on TV as Lewis Hamilton won championship after championship on racing’s biggest stage in Formula One and became aware of Bubba Wallace as Wallace climbed the ladder in NASCAR. Wallace won a half dozen truck races on his way up and won in the Cup Series last year.
“It’s not that I actively thought about it, but when I watched races I watched for them,” Caruth said. “I could understand that it was going to be hard, but seeing them make it, it kind of made me feel like I could do it.
“It’s something that identity and understanding being a minority, that’s something you understand from a young age, from my point of view. To see them be successful was a big help.”
Caruth’s parents set him up with iRacing, the ultra-realistic online racing simulation game and training tool, and from that alone he earned a spot racing legends cars in the Charlotte Motor Speedway, a steppingstone Wallace also had used. Then in 2019, Caruth came through the Drive for Diversity combine and was able to move into late models, his first full-sized cars.
Three and a half seasons later he has augmented his first full ARCA season – after five races last year – with two starts in the third-level NASCAR trucks and three in the second-tier Xfinity Series.
“It’s a huge growing experience,” said Caruth, who is just 17 points behind Sanchez and four behind Dye in the ARCA standings. “Certainly some growing pains and certainly some bright spots for both myself and the organization.
“(With the added NASCAR races) I’ve gone through some things and made some mistakes and learned what it takes. So it’s really helped me from a lot of aspects with the ARCA stuff, and I think it’ll help me through the rest of this year and then when I move up to those divisions in due time.”
Caruth said he doesn’t yet know specifically what his racing plans are for next year and beyond, other than continuing to grow and build experience.
Off the track, he said, he’d appreciate the opportunity to share his passion.
“I would really love to do it more, to get more kids, especially kids of color, to the sport of NASCAR,” Caruth said, “to not only show them that it’s possible for them to be in the sport as a driver but there’s so many other opportunities and ways to get involved in various capacities.”
Sanchez, who has made two Xfinity Series starts, said he has a couple of things in the works for 2023 but nothing to announce yet.
In the shorter term, Sunday will be the second time for both drivers to race at the Mile, with its long, flat, challenging corners.
Sanchez finished 12th and Caruth 13th last year. Rev has had better results on the longer tracks this season compared to the shorter ones and those such as Milwaukee that are hard on tires.
“Last year we flat-out sucked,” Caruth said. “I’m confident in what the team is going to bring, confident in what I can bring and I’m excited to go back to a racetrack I’ve been to before. It’s been a while.
“So to go back to a place I’ve been to and have a good stretch of places I’ve been to previously with notes it’s going to make me feel good. I really can’t wait.”
Sanchez and Caruth have gotten further closer to the top in their sport than most drivers have, but both still have a long way to go.
Can they make it?
“I know what I’m capable of and I know every time I step foot in a race car I want to win,” Sanchez said. “That’s my mindset.
“If it takes me to the top, cool. If it doesn’t, I’ll live with it. Only time will tell.”
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2022-08-26T14:25:05Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Nick Sanchez, Rajah Caruth drive to succeed in ARCA, NASCAR
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/08/26/nick-sanchez-rajah-caruth-drive-succeed-arca-nascar/7897877001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/motor/2022/08/26/nick-sanchez-rajah-caruth-drive-succeed-arca-nascar/7897877001/
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The hummingbirds are leaving Wisconsin for the year. Where are they going? Here’s what we know about their annual migration
Picture this: You’re sitting outside with a slice of watermelon under the shade of neighboring trees. Suddenly, a buzz by your ear alerts you to one of Wisconsin’s tiniest visitors: the hummingbird.
As it nears the end of August, hummingbirds are migrating to warmer weather after summering in the Midwest. Wisconsinites have long been fascinated by the tiny bird, and many place feeders in their yard in hopes of brief sightings.
"They're very common around homes and backyards because of all the hummingbird feeders that are put out and all the flowering plants that are in people's yards," said David Drake, University of Wisconsin Madison professor and Extension wildlife specialist. "They're just super cool birds."
As the hummingbirds start to head south, here are some answers about their migration.
When do hummingbirds migrate?
Hummingbirds start leaving at a steady rate in late August and are completely gone by Oct. 1. There have been sightings in November, but those are rare, Drake said.
The male birds will start to arrive in the state in March or April, and the females will follow soon after.
More:Here’s how to share your yard with these tiny, beloved birds.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the only species that nest in the state. In fall, they fly to Mexico or Central America.
Drake said the birds fly during the daytime in tailwinds, and travel about 20 to 25 miles a day. Some even cross the Gulf of Mexico — a 500-mile uninterrupted flight. He said that birds flying long expanses without a break will often "fall out."
"They get to the other side of the water and they're just exhausted and they literally fall out of the sky," Drake said. "Then they recoup their energy, refuel, get their wings under them for a couple days, and they'll continue on their journey."
More:Are you tired of being attacked by bloodthirsty mosquitoes? Try creating a dragonfly garden.
Before they migrate south, Drake said the tiny birds pack on 25% to 40% extra weight in preparation for the journey.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds can be seen frequently in backyards, feeding on nectar and occasionally small insects. Drake said they will drink sugar water from feeders as well, and they are attracted to the color red.
"I have cardinal flower in my garden and some different types of black-eyed Susans," Drake said. "They'll feed on anything that's flowering right now."
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2022-08-26T17:01:09Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Hummingbirds are migrating from Wisconsin; here's what that means
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/26/hummingbirds-migrating-wisconsin-heres-what-means/7894109001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/lake-country/2022/08/26/hummingbirds-migrating-wisconsin-heres-what-means/7894109001/
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It’s usually easy to find something unique in a thrift store.
A new thrift store with a unique business model makes it even easier. In the case of Thrift on Wheels along Milwaukee County's South Shore, you don't even need to go to the store. The owners will bring it to you.
Thrift on Wheels started delivering deals in August to customers in Milwaukee County. Owner Sydney Larsen, a self-described “thrift head,” and her fiancée, Marshall Nies, live in Cudahy and drive their personal van to customers who can browse inventory on Facebook.
Larsen said she always wanted to own a business and this idea was a perfect marriage with her love of thrifting.
The soon-to-be-married couple said the response has been “shocking.” In three days, the duo had 150 likes on their Facebook page — 117 of them coming Day 1, according to Nies. They're now over 200.
“There’s so many good people and vibes that came our way,” Larsen said, adding she's heard many say they really like the idea of a thrift store on wheels.
The idea was a melding of Larsen’s dream to own a business and an idea Nies said just popped in his head during the pandemic.
Nies said people were afraid to go out during the pandemic.
“We don’t see anyone delivering thrift items,” he said.
It’s hard to miss the couple’s colorful van pulling up to wherever the client wants to meet, whether that's a residence or public place. Covered with hand-drawn images and wording for the business, the van is memorable. Larsen said the design is “a mystery machine kind of van.”
The van has delivered to Milwaukee, Oak Creek, Cudahy, South Milwaukee and St. Francis. Customers choose what they want delivered to see or purchase, and the van will deliver. There is a gas fee, though Larsen said she never charges more than $5. Payments can be made via Cash App, PayPal and Venmo.
Their best customer out of South Milwaukee has already bought about 50 items and gave the couple a gift.
“She was so nice, she gave us pet fish,” Larsen said.
Getting inventory and offering sales
A failed garage sale led them to post products on Facebook Marketplace. Soon after, the idea for Thrift on Wheels came about, and they used those items to get the business rolling.
Messages come not only from people looking to buy but wanting to donate. Clothes, an old sewing machine, fire pits and more have been donated and put up for sale.
So much had been donated the couple made up mystery bags, including Halloween-themed ones, which sold out.
“They came from my obsession with Halloween,” Larsen said.
The couple are considering getting a storage unit for all the donations soon but hope one day to have a physical location in addition to the delivery component.
“When we get up to that point, I would love to get a storefront,” Larsen said.
For now, both are working part-time jobs in addition to their new business venture, with hopes it could grow enough to become their full-time gig.
“On our days off we try our hardest to post on the page, hand out flyers, things like that,” Larsen said.
Thrift on Wheels held its first big sale in late August at a friend’s house; more events could come in the future. One sale that is sure to come every week is 15% off clothing on Wednesdays.
To those who have never thrifted before, Larsen has a message: “Another man’s trash is another man’s treasure,” she said. “You’ll find something you’ll fall in love with.”
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2022-08-26T17:01:15Z
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www.jsonline.com
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This new thrift store in Cudahy comes right to your door
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/26/new-thrift-store-cudahy-comes-right-your-door/7871721001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/south/news/cudahy/2022/08/26/new-thrift-store-cudahy-comes-right-your-door/7871721001/
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Since a Rhode Island man fell to his death from a downtown Milwaukee bridge as it opened on Aug.15, it remains unclear how the operator, controlling it remotely from another bridge tower, could have missed him in the surveillance video.
Richard Dujardin, a retired reporter from Rhode Island who was on his way to church, was already walking on the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge when the traffic gates lowered and bells began to sound, a witness told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Department of Public Works does not record the live video feed bridge operators watch, according to a open-records employee at the department.
The Journal Sentinel has filed additional requests for records from the city to learn more about what occurred.
Here's what we know — and don't know — about the incident, and how Milwaukee bridges operate.
How did the fall occur?
Richard Dujardin and his wife, Rose-Marie, were in Milwaukee for a conference and were crossing the bridge about noon on Aug. 15, headed to Old St. Mary's Catholic Church.
As out-of-town visitors, the Dujardins didn’t know the bridge under their feet could open, the family said.
Rose-Marie had been doing a fitness routine, walking ahead of her husband and walking back to him, and she made it to the other side in time. But Richard was near the middle of the bridge when it began to open.
It's thought that Richard, who was 77 and used a hearing aid, didn't hear the bridge's warning bells at first, a report from the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner's Office said.
When he did realize what was happening, he tried to catch up to his wife, but he couldn't make it to her in time. He grabbed onto the side railing and held on for one to two minutes as the bridge continued to rise, the report said.
Richard suffered head trauma and died from his injuries at the scene, the medical examiner said.
How does the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge work?
The Kilbourn Avenue Bridge is a bascule bridge, or drawbridge. It has two halves, called leaves, and splits in the middle.
It is one of 13 bascule bridges in the city. It works like a seesaw. The roadbed swings upward and is balanced by a counterweight.
The other seven movable bridges in the city are vertical lift bridges, in which the entire bridge deck rises vertically in one piece.
How does the bridge operator remotely open a bridge?
The operator must check two cameras with live footage of the Kilbourn Avenue bridge before, during and after opening it.
And "while a bridge house is responsible for multiple bridges, only one bridge is to be moving at a time," said Brian DeNeve, spokesperson for the city Department of Public Works.
Multiple operators do not oversee the same bridge. Each remotely operated bridge is assigned to a specific bridge tower.
The operator watches the live feed on video monitors and uses a control panel to open and close the bridge.
After Dujardin's death, Public Works officials have said in statements that remotely operating bridges is "a safe and standard industry practice" and "a practice that has been in effect for decades."
How many bridges are operated remotely?
Milwaukee has second largest number of movable bridges of any city in the country behind only Chicago.
Of the 20 movable bridges in Milwaukee, 10 are operated remotely, according to the Department of Public Works.
A bridge operator oversees the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge from the Water Street Bridge tower.
There, the operator controls four bridges in total: Kilbourn, Water and the north and south Sixth Street bridges over the Menomonee River.
Five movable bridges in Milwaukee are staffed at least 16 hours a day, seven days a week. Four of them are staffed 24/7.
What kind of warning measures are in place before the bridge opens?
According to the Department of Public Works, before each bridge opens, the following sequence is supposed to occur:
Horns sound for boat traffic.
Bells sound for traffic and pedestrians on land.
Lights at the bridge entrance flash
Gates over the road and sidewalks go down.
The bridge opens.
What measures have been taken in recent years to change bridge operations?
In recent years, city bridge operators have made a few changes to their protocol to ease traffic backups and reduce noise after riverfront residents complained.
The bells previously rang throughout the entire bridge opening and closing process. Now, they only ring when the traffic gates are lowering. They turn off once the gates are down.
The bells resume when the bridge is flat again and the gates are reopening.
The Department of Public Works also extended by a half-hour the period of time during evening rush hour in which the bridges will not open for anyone except the largest, heaviest boats.
Have bridge openings increased in recent years? Why?
Bridge openings are up compared to previous years.
In 2021, the city recorded more than 27,700 openings at its movable bridges. That's up 19% from 2017, according to Department of Public Works data.
And the Kilbourn Avenue Bridge has seen an 87% rise in openings since 2017. The boost is in part due to a boat line that moved farther up the river last year, according to testimony at a July meeting of the Common Council's Public Works Committee. Five additional bridges now stand between the Milwaukee Boat Line and Lake Michigan, including Kilbourn.
Most of the openings are for recreational boats, a Public Works representative said in the meeting.
Is the surveillance footage that the bridge operator sees recorded?
The live video feed that the bridge operator watches is apparently not recorded.
An open-records employee told the Journal Sentinel that "the Department of Public Works does not maintain any cameras that record video footage within the City."
The grainy footage shown on TV news stations that depicted Dujardin on the bridge was taken from a live feed from a camera mounted to a downtown building and maintained by a website called MKE.com, which hosts two continuous live camera feeds with views of downtown.
Have police charged the bridge operator with a crime?
The bridge operator, who has not been identified publicly, has been interviewed by police but has not been charged with a crime.
The operator remained on paid, administrative leave as of Thursday, Aug. 26, DeNeve said.
Milwaukee police said they are continuing to investigate the incident and have not recommended any charges to the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
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2022-08-26T17:01:21Z
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www.jsonline.com
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What we know about Milwaukee bridge operations after Kilbourn death
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/26/what-we-know-milwaukee-bridge-operations-after-kilbourn-death/7875058001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/local/2022/08/26/what-we-know-milwaukee-bridge-operations-after-kilbourn-death/7875058001/
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The Germantown Library's Pride-themed exhibit sparked controversy. Now, the board is considering banning public use of the display case.
Germantown Library Director Trisha Smith has proposed changing the library's display, exhibit and posting policy so the public can no longer contribute to the display case.
The Germantown Community Library's existing policy allows the public to put up their own exhibits in the display case. In July, a 15-year-old Germantown resident decorated it to celebrate LGBTQ+ Pride.
Complete with rainbows, pictures of gay celebrities, literature and definitions, he hoped it would help foster inclusivity and education, said his mother, who asked to remain anonymous.
That's when emails to the library came in from concerned community members, sparking an ongoing debate over what the library's display case policy should be.
In response, the Library Board decided to reevaluate its policy, planning to vote on changing the policy Aug. 24. However, Wednesday's meeting made it clear that the debate isn't over yet.
Some residents say the display is inappropriate, not showing the full view of the 'LGBTQ+ lifestyle'
The Pride display is evidence of a "crumbling civilization," one emailer wrote.
The flip side of the "LGBTQ+ world" should be shown, another said, including "pedophiles grooming them at a young age" and "testimonies of those who have left the LGBTQ+ lifestyle."
The concerns were brought to a Germantown Community Library Board on July 27, where the public also voiced their opinions in person.
Language used in the July exhibit — such as "gender fluid" and "Jesus had two dads and he turned out fine" — offended residents, raising questions of what could be displayed. Some said that content addressing sexuality shouldn't be where kids can see it.
Library director proposes to change display case policy
Some residents who spoke to the board on Wednesday urged members to keep the policy the same.
Linda Gould, a retired special education teacher from the Germantown School District, voiced support for the current policy. Backlash over the Pride display was "heartbreaking," she said.
"All voices should be heard," Gould said. "All voices. As a retired teacher from this community, I am outraged."
However, some residents said that even if the policy were to remain the same, the Pride-themed display went against the rule prohibiting "inappropriate or sexual" content in the display case.
After taking the public's concerns from the previous meeting into consideration, Smith drafted a proposal that would change how the display case could be used in the future.
"What (the new policy) does is not allow the public to rent out the display going forward," Smith said. "It limits the space in library and on library grounds to be used for library events, library information and displays by library staff."
Attorney advises revisions to policy
Sajdak told the board the policy's language was not narrow enough to hold up in court.
For example, the policy says that the display must be for the benefit of the community, which can mean a multitude of things, he explained.
Sajdak said one sound optionwould be for the library to create the displays itself, instead of allowing for public use. People could give suggestions, but it would be up to the library as to what would go inside.
The library could choose to put up a Pride display, "but that doesn't mean that you go to the community and say, 'Hey, come on in and do it,' because now you're inviting somebody else to speak for you. But you could choose to speak the way that you wanted to speak," Sajdak said.
Another option would be to "tighten up" the policy's language.
"There's some discretion in (the rules) and there's some words that, as a lawyer, worry me little bit because they're not precise enough to really help us deal with the concerns that exist within the community," Sajdak said.
Smith and Sajdak will work together on a revised policy to be considered at the board's Sept. 28 meeting.
Family who created display board reacts to possible policy change
The mother of the teen who created the Pride display walked out of the Aug. 24 meeting in tears.
"I think it's a tragedy that (the board) would cave to the bullying of the small but loud extremist group," she told the Journal Sentinel.
She and her 84-year-old mother, who also attended the meeting, helped her son make the display"out of love," she said.
She reminded the board of a statistic from the Trevor Project, a national organization to support LGBTQ+ youth.
"If an LGBTQ youth has just one adult supporting them, there's a 40% reduction in suicide attempts," she said.
A Pride display accepting an LGBTQ child's identity could save their life, she said.
The Germantown mother told the Journal Sentinel that she's afraid of what's to come next for the library, like the removal of certain books.
The group of residents who spoke out against the Pride display at the Aug. 24 meeting declined to comment on the library director's proposal to change the policy.
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2022-08-26T19:30:46Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Display case may be barred from public use after LGBTQ display controversy
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/germantown/2022/08/26/display-case-may-barred-public-use-after-lgbtq-display-controversy/7893380001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/northwest/news/germantown/2022/08/26/display-case-may-barred-public-use-after-lgbtq-display-controversy/7893380001/
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WAUKESHA - Fresh off two rulings that went against him, Darrell Brooks Jr. erupted in anger as a hearing resumed Friday in Waukesha County Circuit Court and later asked to be allowed to withdraw from the rest of the hearing.
Yelling that the proceedings were "political" and "a show" and prompting deputies to restrain him in his chair, the Milwaukee man forced the hearing to pause early for lunch shortly before 11 a.m., ahead of the planned discussion about the jury questionnaire conference for the October trial.
It came about 15 minutes after Judge Jennifer Dorow ruled that the 77-count Waukesha Christmas Parade homicide case against Brooks would continue, despite defense motions that challenged a jail search in July and statements made in initial police interviews Nov. 21 and Nov. 22.
"People like you do not know where I come from," Brooks said angrily, looking generally around the courtroom.
As Dorow repeatedly asked Brooks to look at her so she could address him, he yelled, "Why? To listen to all this political stuff you all got going on?"
More:A judge has ruled against Darrell Brooks' efforts to dismiss the case and suppress statements in the Waukesha Christmas Parade trial
He also told deputies, who were holding the back of his chair behind his defense attorneys' desk, to not push and to not put their hands on him. When Dorow told him that they hadn't, he shouted, "They better not put their hands on me!"
"All right, we are going to take a break and come back after lunch," Dorow said. "I'm not going to do this with him right now. He needs to be here, and he's not cooperating."
Addressing him directly, Dorow added: "I'm going to give you the warning, Mr. Brooks, that if you continue to interrupt when we go back on the record, you will forfeit your right to be in the courtroom today. I can't have these interruptions."
The entire exchange, which was livestreamed at Wicourts.gov and could be seen by anyone streaming the hearings, lasted less than two minutes.
It also followed a moment near the end of the morning session where Waukesha District Attorney Sue Opper noted that Brooks seemed noticeably detached from the hearing involving the fate of his case.
"I've observed, for the past 40 minutes, Mr. Brooks appears to be asleep in the courtroom," Opper said. "I don't know if he's just being disrespectful, uninterested or not feeling well."
When the court session resumed shortly after 1 p.m., Brooks was back in the chair next to his attorneys.
Less than an hour later, through his attorneys, Brooks requested to be excused from the remainder of the hearing. No reason was given.
Dorow, in a discussion with Brooks, addressed him directly to confirm that he wanted to be returned to his jail cell, understood what was happening and that he had the option of returning.
"I just want to go," he said.
The court also did not address what happened during the two-hour break as officials continued to discuss jury-related issues ahead of his planned Oct. 3 trial.
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2022-08-26T21:48:28Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Brooks shouts in anger during Waukesha Christmas Parade case hearing
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/2022/08/26/brooks-shouts-anger-during-waukesha-christmas-parade-case-hearing/7904425001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/communities/waukesha/2022/08/26/brooks-shouts-anger-during-waukesha-christmas-parade-case-hearing/7904425001/
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The Brewers get one of their most valuable players this season back prior to a weekend series against the Cubs
The Brewers did get some positive injury news Friday as Jace Peterson was activated from the injured list after missing six weeks with a left elbow sprain.
Peterson was batting .255/.325/.439 before being place on the IL coming out of the all-star break in July. He had been one of the most valuable members of the Brewers prior to the injury and is still second on the team in wins above replacement according to Baseball Reference.
He will likely emerge in a platoon with Luis Urías at third base while also utilizing his versatility to play elsewhere from time to time.
More:The Brewers' Jace Peterson is quietly in midst of best all-around season of his career
“When he’s not around, you just have less options," Counsell said. "It’s harder to maneuver or go in a different direction because Jace often provides an answer or an option at some of those positions. You’re just not able to do that.”
Peterson saw action both at the plate and in the field over three games during a rehab stint with high-Class A Wisconsin. Getting full-effort swings in on his elbow was the biggest hurdle to clear before returning and it appears Peterson has done so.
“Pain-free, that was the main thing,” he said. “Just kind of gave it a little bit of extra time waiting on the swings but I feel like we’re in a good spot with it.”
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2022-08-27T01:50:03Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Brewers activate Jace Peterson from injured list
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/26/brewers-activate-jace-peterson-injured-list/7908683001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/26/brewers-activate-jace-peterson-injured-list/7908683001/
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The Milwaukee Brewers have reached into their bag of top outfield minor-league prospects in hopes of making a late playoff push.
Outfielder Garrett Mitchell, who entered 2022 as the Brewers top-ranked prospect by the Journal Sentinel and is currently ranked No. 5 in the Milwaukee system according to MLB Pipeline, was promoted from Class AAA on Saturday afternoon before the Brewers played the Chicago Cubs at American Family Field.
Mitchell was hitting .343/.435/.466 in 20 games at AAA since being promoted earlier this month. Overall in the minors this season, he has an OPS of .804 with 16 doubles, five homers and 17 stolen bases.
Jonathan Davis was placed on the injured list with right elbow effusion to create the space on the roster for Mitchell. Alex Jackson was transferred to the 60-day injured list to clear a 40-man roster spot.
Mitchell was the Brewers' first-round draft pick in 2020 out of UCLA. A left-hander hitter, he will likely complement the right-handed Tyrone Taylor in center field.
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2022-08-27T20:09:38Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Milwaukee Brewers promote prospect Garrett Mitchell
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/27/milwaukee-brewers-promote-prospect-garrett-mitchell/7920442001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/mlb/brewers/2022/08/27/milwaukee-brewers-promote-prospect-garrett-mitchell/7920442001/
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The Wisconsin volleyball team started strong Saturday but couldn't sustain it.
The Badgers, ranked No. 3 by the American Volleyball Coaches Association, lost, 3-2, to No. 16 Baylor in a Big Ten-Big 12 Challenge match at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas. UW, which opened the season with a straight set win over TCU Friday, fell by a score of 21-25, 25-22, 26-24, 21-25 and 16-11.
The loss snapped a 13-match winning streak.
Sophomore outside hitter Sarah Franklin finished with team highs in kills (22) and digs (10) while hitting .388. Julia Orzol, another sophomore outside hitter, had 13 kills with five coming during the first set. Setters Izzy Ashburn and MJ Hammill combined for 47 assists and 17 digs. Senior Danielle Hart and junior Caroline Crawford finished with five blocks each.
Wisconsin’s first-and-fourth-set wins came on the strength of its best hitting of the match. Overall, however, the Badgers couldn’t maintain that offensive precision. They hit below .200 in the sets they lost, including a .143 hitting percentage in the final set, compared to .333 in the first set and .382 in the fourth.
Next Wisconsin will play its home opener at UW Field House against Marquette at 8 p.m. Friday. The national championship banner will be unveiled before the match.
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2022-08-28T01:18:00Z
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www.jsonline.com
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Wisconsin volleyball can't sustain strong start, falls to Baylor
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/27/wisconsin-volleyball-cant-sustain-strong-start-falls-baylor/7922327001/
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https://www.jsonline.com/story/sports/college/uw/2022/08/27/wisconsin-volleyball-cant-sustain-strong-start-falls-baylor/7922327001/
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