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Drug disposal part of clean water effort
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is uniting with allies to tackle the growing issue of prescription pill contamination in water. As part of this new initiative, officials are promoting the use of drop boxes for unused medications, and debuting new boxes in Milwaukee. This new effort comes in the wake of the Oct. 23 […]
New rule-making push on PFAS water contamination
The Wisconsin Natural Resources Board (NRB) on Wednesday moved to establish a rule making process for PFAS levels in water sources for Wisconsinites. The unanimous vote represents another step in addressing water contamination issues statewide. PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of man-made chemicals used in products like non-stick cooking supplies, fast food […]
Public urged to weigh in on water quality
Safe drinking water is receiving significant attention this year, from proposed rule changes by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to creating new incentives for companies to clean up and reduce pollution. But advocates pushing for safer drinking water are still looking for more. “It’s about time EPA takes the crisis seriously by putting forth much […]
Milwaukee rejects slaughterhouse after citizens object
Plans for a proposed slaughterhouse in Milwaukee, owned by Franklin-based Strauss Brands, have been withdrawn by the company. Animal rights activists and community members who opposed the project declared a victory, saying the city has moved a step closer to bringing quality jobs to a blighted neighborhood. Balaji Venkatesan, a lead organizer with Direct Action […]
DNR investigating manure spill in Marathon County
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is currently responding to a manure spill in Marathon County. The DNR is working with the Marathon County Land and Water Conservation District to assess the full impact of the spill. First reported to the DNR on October 7, the spill near Huckleberry Road in northeast Colby has […]
Neighbors and activists call for transparency with proposed slaughterhouse
Activists and community members filled the Common Council chambers at Milwaukee’s City Hall Tuesday morning, voicing discontent at a proposed slaughterhouse in a predominantly African American district on the north side of Milwaukee in the Century City Business Park. Holding signs reading, “stop the slaughter,” organizers pressed the council to suspend a vote on the […]
Rev. Barber brings his campaign for justice to Milwaukee
“Wisconsin is one of those states that’s critical for talking about poverty,” Rev. William Barber told Wisconsin Examiner, shortly before taking the stage at the 2019 Summit On Poverty and SWIM (Scaling Wellness In Milwaukee) Conference last Tuesday. “Normally we racialize poverty,” Barber explained. In Wisconsin, where there are more poor whites than poor African […]
Community outpouring over Milwaukee budget
Dozens of Milwaukee residents gathered at City Hall on October 7, criticizing Mayor Tom Barrett’s proposed 2020 budget plans for nearly four hours. Common Council President Ashanti Hamilton remarked during the meeting, “This has probably been the most people that we have had show up to a community hearing on the budget,” and said he […]
Animal rights activists focus on Wisconsin
Animal rights activists are promoting the idea of an animal bill of rights with protests in 26 cities worldwide, which launched last weekend. Milwaukee was the only city in the Midwest targeted by demonstrators, who assembled outside Gov. Tony Evers’ Cream City office on Saturday, October 4. The demonstration was part of a Global Lockdown […]
Wisconsin DHS testing of vapes underway
Investigations continue into an outbreak of hospitalizations for lung damage nationwide, likely related to vaping products. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) is currently tracking 69 probable cases of vaping-related lung disease, though a single cause remains elusive. Dr. Jonathan Meiman, a DHS chief medical officer, told Wisconsin Examiner, “a big part of this […]
Immigration activists push Milwaukee to clarify policy
Momentum continued to build in Milwaukee as immigration activists flooded City Hall on Thursday for a third time in two consecutive weeks. Dozens of community members marched and chanted through the halls before entering a Fire and Police Commission meeting, calling on officials to protect immigrant families. The Milwaukee Fire and Police Commission’s scheduled vote […]
Black and Latino Roundtable focuses on immigration, incarceration reform
The negative fallout from decades of mass incarceration was a major topic of discussion during the second annual State of Wisconsin Black and Latino Caucus Roundtable held at the Capitol on Thursday, Oct. 3. Eleven state representatives hosted the event, alongside two dozen participants from various criminal-justice and community-advocacy backgrounds. Gov. Tony Evers and Lt. […]