Criminal Justice
Attempting to shift balance, Janet Protasiewicz says she’ll bring fairness to state Supreme Court
Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz says that if elected to the state Supreme Court in April, she’s not looking to just establish a liberal version of the reliably conservative voting block that currently controls the court. The former prosecutor is one of four candidates and two liberals running for the open seat being […]
Staffing shortages and rising population still plague Lincoln Hills
Troubles with a rising population of youth and chronic staffing shortages have continued to plague the Lincoln Hills School for Boys. Recent months have seen the population in the notorious detention center remain over 70 incarcerated kids, after shooting up to 85 youth in August. Although a recent monitor’s report highlights ways in which the […]
Is ShotSpotter gunshot detection tech working for Milwaukee?
Since 2010, technology to detect and locate gunfire called ShotSpotter has steadily expanded in the city of Milwaukee. The network of acoustic sensors, operated jointly by the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD) and the ShotSpotter company, is intended to boost situational awareness and responses by police to gunfire. Milwaukee’s contract with ShotSpotter will expire and require […]
Family, lawyer, activists blast Milwaukee jail for ‘preventable’ suicide
Conditions in the Milwaukee County Jail are under scrutiny following a Thursday meeting between Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm and the family of Brieon Green. In June, the 21-year-old Green was found dead in his jail cell hours after being arrested for misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon, and […]
Waukesha Co. judge announces run for state Supreme Court
Waukesha County Circuit Court Judge Jennifer Dorow announced on Wednesday she’s joining the race for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Dorow recently gained attention for presiding over the trial of the man who drove through the Waukesha Christmas Parade last year and killed six people. That attention from the high profile case […]
One year since Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy
One year after the Waukesha Christmas Parade tragedy, residents gathered to remember and pay their respects. The memories are still raw for many Waukesha residents, still haunted by the actions of then-39 year old Darrell Brooks, who was convicted of driving an SUV through the parade on Nov. 21, 2021. Six people lost their lives, […]
Bipartisan committee tackles National Guard sexual misconduct
Ten potential bills have been developed so far to address more than a decade of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations reportedly mishandled by the Wisconsin National Guard. Allegations first surfaced in 2019, when Wisconsin U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin asked the Air Force to investigate the 115th Fighter Wing’s Security Forces Squadron, based in Madison. […]
Milwaukee County budget passes as some residents, board members express discontent
Milwaukee County adopted its 2023 budget, which passed the board of supervisors by a 15-3 vote last Thursday. During public listening sessions in early November, residents spoke out against budget cuts across several departments with some services in danger of being entirely eliminated. While some of those programs were saved by subsequent budget amendments, other […]
FBI confirms a single juvenile suspect behind most bomb threats to dozens of HBCUs
WASHINGTON — The FBI has officially announced that a single minor youth is the main suspect in most racially motivated bomb threats to dozens of Historically Black Colleges and Universities earlier this year that terrorized students. The FBI in a statement on Monday did not release any further details — only that the individual is […]
Recreational marijuana use will be legal in 21 states after ballot measures pass
Advocates for marijuana liberalization saw mixed results as legalization ballot measures were counted Tuesday, with Maryland and Missouri voters approving recreational use for adults but Arkansas, South Dakota and North Dakota rejecting the proposal. Maryland and Missouri will bring the list of states where recreational marijuana use is legal to 21. Maryland’s referendum passed easily, […]
Milwaukee County residents speak up on 2023 budget
The future direction of Milwaukee County’s budget weighed heavily on the minds of residents who spoke during a public hearing with the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday night. County residents gathered both in person and virtually for the meeting, which offered the public a chance to weigh in on the proposed 2023 county […]
Man who attacked Speaker Pelosi’s husband wanted to break ‘her kneecaps,’ DOJ says
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Justice on Monday announced federal charges against the man who allegedly broke into U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco home and attacked her 82-year-old husband with a hammer. If convicted, David DePape could receive up to 50 years in prison. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s complaint and affidavit […]