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Poor People’s Campaign comes to Ron Johnson’s office
In Moral Mondays actions around the country, the Poor People’s Campaign continues to push for a $15 minimum wage, restoration of the Voting Rights Act, and doing away with the filibuster. In Milwaukee, activists staged a demonstration outside the office of Sen. Ron Johnson on Monday, which culminated in the delivery of an open letter […]
Baldwin calls for rejecting Purdue Pharma’s bankruptcy plan
Sen. Tammy Baldwin has joined five Senate colleagues in requesting that the United States Bankruptcy Court of the Southern District of New York reject Purdue Pharma’s requests for executive and employee bonuses. Purdue’s requested $34.7 million in employee bonuses, including $5.4 million for its top executives, could amount to more than payouts for victims and […]
Baldwin and Moore call for civil rights probe of Wauwatosa PD
Growing concerns over tactics used by the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) during the protests of 2020 have reached top officials in Wisconsin government. On Wednesday, Congresswoman Gwen Moore and Sen. Tammy Baldwin requested a civil rights probe of WPD. The pair’s concerns were outlined in a brief letter which was sent to Assistant Attorney General […]
Legalize fentanyl testing strips, says Milwaukee County official
Milwaukee County Supv. Sylvia Ortiz-Velez is calling on the state of Wisconsin to legalize fentanyl testing strips. The strips would allow law enforcement, emergency medical technicians (EMTs), and ordinary individuals to test for fentanyl in drugs they consume. In Milwaukee County, drug overdose deaths reached a new record high of 544 in 2020, with fentanyl […]
Community mourns Milwaukee man killed during mental health crisis
Activists and community members gathered in front of Milwaukee Police Department’s District 2 station over the weekend to demonstrate solidarity and respect for Roberto “Touch” Zielinski and his grieving family. The 49-year-old was killed on May 30 by an officer from the department’s Tactical Enforcement Unit (TEU) after police were warned of a suicidal man […]
Sharp-tailed grouse hunting season will remain closed
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced that the fall 2021 sharp-tailed grouse hunting season will remain closed. Spring surveys have shown concerns over the future viability of the sharp-tailed grouse population. Therefore, permits and applications to hunt the bird will not be available this year. This will mark the third season in which […]
Rebuilding community trust is top priority for new Tosa police chief MacGillis
On July 26, the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) will officially welcome its new chief of police, James MacGillis. Until then, an optimistic MacGillis has focused on breaking the ice not only within the department, but also in the community. “I’m not the chief yet,” MacGillis told Wisconsin Examiner, “but in the coming weeks I’m not […]
Milwaukee reaches a tentative deal to keep Chief Morales from coming back
Former Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales has reportedly reached a $626,000 deal with the city and will not be re-assuming his old job. Details must be approved by Milwaukee’s city council, but it for now the chief won’t be coming back to work this week. Some elected officials and activists in Milwaukee were appalled when […]
Rare green violet re-discovered in Wisconsin
A conservation biologist with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) located what the department is calling “the holy grail” of rare plants in Wisconsin. Green violets (Hybanthus concolor), which were thought to have disappeared from the state, were found growing by the hundreds in a west central state natural area. The last time green a […]
Wolf study raises questions about what’s going on in Wisconsin’s woods
After contributing to an independent study to assess how many wolves were killed during the February wolf hunt, Professor Adrian Treves expected some criticism. “There’s just more controversy surrounding wolves, their protected status, and the conflict that some people experience with them that makes management very difficult and controversial,” Treves, a professor of environmental studies […]
Milwaukee unarmed responder task force draws questions
Milwaukee is exploring ways to send unarmed responders to certain calls rather than police. It’s an experiment that’s been on the minds of local elected officials and community organizers for some time — especially since protests of police violence started in 2020. Such responders would be particularly trained to respond to mental health crises. Ald. […]
Texts show Kenosha officers called armed civilians ‘very friendly’ hours before Rittenhouse shooting
Around 10 p.m. on Aug. 25, 2020, teenager Kyle Rittenhouse was standing outside a dealership in Kenosha with a group of other armed men who said they were protecting the business on 59th Street and Sheridan Road from protesters. The city was in the midst of a multi-day eruption of demonstrations against police violence following […]