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Evers pushes legal cannabis and justice reform as Badger State reinvestment
Cannabis legalization and other criminal justice reform strategies took center stage Wednesday in Gov. Tony Evers’ live stream discussion of his Badger Bounceback plan. “This budget isn’t my budget, it’s your budget,” the governor said during the event. “Our justice system has put a strain on our state, and on our communities, and on our […]
Milwaukee DA discusses timing of Alvin Cole decision
On April 8, Wisconsin Examiner reported on documents indicating that the Milwaukee District Attorney’s announcement of a decision in the shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole by a former Wauwatosa officer was delayed due to the ongoing unrest in Kenosha. The records, obtained through Freedom of Information Act requests with the U.S. Marshals Service, also suggested […]
Marshals saw Kenosha as ‘unique opportunity’ to get ‘what we all know we need’
When federal law enforcement operations like Relentless Pursuit and Operation Legend first began under the Trump Administration, local communities expressed concerns about being targeted. At face value, these programs focused on violent crime in a handful of cities, including Milwaukee. But residents and elected officials shared concerns that the operations could be used as proxies […]
Was the Alvin Cole shooting decision delayed by Kenosha unrest?
On Aug. 25 2020, someone within the Operations Bureau of the Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) contacted members of the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) to assist in curfew enforcement after the announcement of the decision in the shooting of 17-year-old Alvin Cole. This was 43 days before Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm announced that no […]
Joint Finance Committee grilling of DNR shows split in priorities
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) secretary Preston Cole came before the Legislature’s Joint Finance Committee on Wednesday to discuss the department’s budget, more than a year after the onset of the pandemic. Throughout the hearing, Cole was grilled by Republican members of the committee on DNR policies, from changes the department has made to its […]
Wildfire state of emergency declared in Wisconsin
Gov. Tony Evers has declared a state of emergency, as all of Wisconsin is currently at a high wildfire risk. A combination of unseasonable warm weather, dry vegetation fresh from the thaw, and low humidity has fueled these concerns. The executive order issued by Evers will allow the National Guard to assist by mobilizing its […]
Wauwatosa police sport thin blue line flag during children’s book reading event
The Wauwatosa Police Department (WPD) caught online criticism after a picture of an officer participating in a book reading event at the local middle school surfaced with a “thin blue line” flag in the background. Particularly after the protests of 2020, which focused on acts of police violence and misconduct, the flags are sometimes regarded […]
Lt. Gov. Barnes gets his first COVID vaccine in Milwaukee
Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes got his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine on April 5, at a site in Milwaukee’s North Division High School. “At one point Wisconsin was the epicenter,” said Barnes, “and I’m so proud of the work that the Department of Health Services (DHS) has done to make sure that vaccine accessibility is […]
U.S. Marshals came directly from Portland to Kenosha during unrest
Newly obtained documents show that teams of U.S. Marshals in Portland, Ore. were demobilized and sent to Kenosha in late August, as protests and unrest in the city grabbed the world’s attention. The records were obtained by the Wisconsin Examiner through Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) requests with the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS). The documents […]
Gov. Evers grants 17 pardons, bringing total to 174
Gov. Tony Evers announced on Friday that another 17 pardons have been granted by his administration. The pardons were granted after the Governor’s Pardon Advisory Board heard from applicants virtually. So far, the Evers Administration has granted 174 pardons. Individuals convicted of a Wisconsin felony may apply for a pardon if they’ve completed their sentence […]
DNR announces report on runoff management grants
An annual report on runoff management grants has been announced by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The grants have been particularly valuable in the state’s responses to polluted runoff, which affects Wisconsin’s water systems. Runoff management grants helped local governments employ over 20 distinct pollution control practices and storm water planning activities during 2020. […]
A look at Milwaukee PD’s fusion center
“The fusion center, they’re sort of the ‘jack-of-all-trades,’ if you will,” explained inspector Paul Formolo, speaking of the heart of the Milwaukee Police Department’s (MPD) hub for intelligence gathering. “They have a multitude of functions.” Fusion may not be the most publicized aspect of MPD, but its operations are on the cutting edge of the […]