The city’s first Vision Zero Summit, held Wednesday, explored the big “how” questions around the goal of ending traffic deaths and life-changing injuries by the end of 2037.

Eliminating traffic deaths is the main goal of Vision Zero, an initiative that includes a multi-sector approach to help increase traffic safety. 

Jessica Wineberg, Vision Zero policy director for the City of Milwaukee, said the community asked for more places to learn and share ideas during the development of the Vision Zero Action Plan, which was fully launched in 2025. 

Wineberg said more than 300 people registered for the summit, which took place at Centennial Hall, 733 N. 8th St. They participated in panels, walks, tours, a mobility fair and other interactive sessions. 

She added that community members could apply to be part of the Vision Zero Community Advisory Committee to support the plan’s implementation.

“Seeing the community show up for this and be engaged is the most important part of this work because the more of us that are together saying that safety matters and there should be zero deaths, the more we can do and the faster we can do it,” Wineberg said. 

Community members, transportation professionals and speakers from other areas dealing with similar traffic-related challenges gathered to discuss safety, mobility and accessibility for walking, biking, riding transit and driving in Milwaukee.

What is Vision Zero?

The City of Milwaukee unanimously adopted Vision Zero as a policy in 2022 and Milwaukee County committed to Vision Zero and developed its own project in 2024.

According to the city’s Vision Zero annual report, traffic deaths declined from 70 deaths in 2024 to 54 deaths in 2025, although the preliminary 2025 data will not be confirmed until July. 

Milwaukee Police Department reported a 43% increase in reckless-driving-related arrests in 2025, according to department data. Part of the Vision Zero approach is to support accountability in the justice system with a focus on prevention. 

“Our Vision Zero approach where we layer on lots of different strategies to improve safety has been working in Milwaukee, and that’s really what I think we can see in our fatality numbers,” Wineberg said. 

The city and its collaborators have accomplished some of the plan’s 100 action items, including the Milwaukee Department of Public Works changing how they design streets to focus on safety over speed, Wineberg said.  

She said there is still more work to be done.

Changes to the built environment

Engineers from the city and state shared examples of small and large-scale projects they use to improve safety during a session at the summit. Examples included raised crosswalks for pedestrians and lighting up “wrong way” signs on interstate entrance and exit ramps. 

Jesse Jefferson, civil engineering project manager for the Milwaukee Department of Public Works, said the city is moving toward building “human-scale” streets instead of the large, multi-lane roadways like Capitol Drive that can be difficult for bikers and pedestrians to navigate.  

Jefferson and Isabel Gunderson, a civil engineer for the Department of Public Works, said their teams work to find common ground with residents who have questions about how streetscaping projects could impact their access to parking and other concerns. 

“I think it really helps to center the conversation around shared goals,” Gunderson said.

Becky Rabitan, an advocate for persons with disabilities and former Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator for the City of Milwaukee, said after the session that it’s important for planners to engage with the disabled community early. 

“Because even though you may have a design that works, it may not be the best design for persons with disabilities, who have the hardest time as pedestrians,” she said. 

Rabitan, who also spoke on a panel, said everyone at the event was concerned about safety at different levels.

“It’s showing that people’s wheels are turning,” she said.

Personal experiences shape change

In the breakout session, “Families for Safe Streets,” advocates for reckless driving victims shared their personal experiences and how it may affect future policy.
Mariah Johnson’s brother, Jerrold Wellinger, was on his way to the gas station nearly five years ago when he was struck and killed by two reckless drivers speeding at 120 miles per hour.

Since then, Johnson has taken to social media, where she shares her story to over 65,000 followers on TikTok. She also featured in a City of Milwaukee social media and billboard campaign that urged motorists to slow down.

“What I really would like to see is the community take it as serious as we do,” said Johnson, a 53218 resident. “I feel blessed to represent my city, because I feel like so often people that look like me don’t get to represent our city.” 

Erin Mogenson was eight weeks pregnant when a speeding driver going over 100 miles per hour killed her just four blocks from her home. After the tragedy, Mogenson’s mother and mother-in-law banded together for change.

Their action sparked ‘Enough is Enough – a legacy for Erin,’ a foundation committed to raising awareness and supporting legislative actions for public safety against speeding. The foundation created ‘Court Watch,’ which monitors, records and publishes court cases and verdicts for reckless driving. 

“We wanted to create some transparency about what was happening in court,” Lupo said. “We couldn’t change what happened to Erin, but we could help shine a light on what happens afterward.”

How to learn more?

Find a form to apply for the mayor’s Vision Zero Community Advisory Committee and more information on the city’s Vision Zero website. 

Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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Memorial signs stretched along the median of Sherman Boulevard across from Sherman Park on June 6, featuring photos of victims of gun violence.

The drive-through memorial, organized by Stop the Violence 53206 as part of National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, invited families to display yard signs with pictures and names of their loved ones who were shot and killed.

Among those who participated was Marilyn Thomas, whose 21-year-old son, Brandon Thomas, lost his life to gun violence in October 2024.

Sitting with family members near the sign honoring her son, Thomas said she hopes the memorial helps draw attention to the toll of gun violence.

“Hopefully, the community can come together and stop the violence,” she said.

The way to do that, she said, is to “put these guns down.”

Honoring loved ones

The memorial featured photos of people killed by guns in Milwaukee and surrounding communities.

“Every memorial sign represents a life that mattered and a family forever changed,” said Kewannee Allen, who helped organize the memorial.

Allen said she became involved because of her own loss.

“I decided to help organize this memorial with Trinika Walker, founder of Stop the Violence 53206, because I know firsthand the pain of losing a loved one to gun violence,” Allen said. “After losing my son, Amareon, I realized how important it is for families to have a space where they can honor their loved ones, share their stories and feel supported in a new community they didn’t ask to be in.”

She founded the Amareon Allen Foundation in honor of her son. 

Allen described Amareon as a loving, talented and determined young man who touched the lives of so many people.

“He was a freshman at Ellsworth Community College, a gifted athlete and had a bright future ahead of him,” she said. “He was known for his smile, leadership, dedication to football and willingness to help others.” 

Most importantly, she added, “He was a son, brother, grandson and friend who was deeply loved by his family and community.”

What can we learn?

Allen said photos of Amareon and others featured in the memorial can have different impacts on different people.

She wants other families of gun violence victims to know they are not alone.

“There are other parents, families and support systems who understand this pain and are willing to walk alongside them,” Allen said. “Even in the darkest moments, there is hope. Take it one day, one hour and, sometimes, one minute at a time.”

She said she hopes people who drive past the memorial see more than statistics.

“I hope they feel a sense of love, sympathy, empathy, remembrance and community,” she said. “I want them to see beyond the statistics and headlines and recognize that every photo represents a real person.” 

She said community members can support grieving families through simple everyday acts.

“A kind word, giving them grace, a listening ear, showing up to events like this memorial and working together to prevent violence can make a difference,” Allen said.

She hopes the memorial helps people better understand the lasting effects of gun violence.

“The pain doesn’t end when the news cameras leave or when the headlines fade away,” Allen said. “For families like mine, the loss is something we carry every single day.”

Finally, she hopes the memorial can serve as a reminder to invest in violence prevention, mental health support, youth opportunities, healing resources and community-led solutions.

“Real success isn’t just seeing the numbers go down – it’s seeing more young people thrive, more families feel safe and more communities heal,” Allen said.

Wear Orange Weekend

The memorial was part of National Gun Violence Awareness Weekend, commonly known as Wear Orange Weekend.

The goal of Wear Orange Weekend is to raise awareness about gun violence and support efforts to prevent it. 

Recent declines in homicides and shootings have given advocates reason for optimism.

Milwaukee recorded 43 homicides and 160 nonfatal shootings through June 7, down from 56 homicides and 215 nonfatal shootings during the same period last year, according to Milwaukee Police Department data.  

“Without question we are encouraged by the decline in homicides and shootings because we recognize the work of so many residents and partners who have contributed to that progress,” said Bridget Whitaker, executive director of Safe & Sound. 

Safe & Sound is an organization that works to increase safety through resident engagement and by connecting residents, police and other organizations. 

Still, Whitaker said, “Any life lost to gun violence is still one too many.”

She said resources for survivors and families were available during the weekend, including grief counseling, victim advocacy and mental health services.

“I always want people to leave feeling hopeful and fired up to know that they have a role to play in violence prevention,” Whitaker said. “I need people to believe that safety is not one organization’s job. Safety is work we do together.”

For more information

People seeking support moving forward can contact Safe & Sound for information about organizations that offered resources during the weekend.

Safe & Sound can be reached at 414-220-4780 and info@safesound.org. 

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Community organizations continue to mobilize in an effort to address a growing health care crisis in Milwaukee. One of the latest blows was the abrupt closure in April of City on a Hill, a long-standing community health clinic that served many of the city’s most vulnerable residents.

In response, Health Connections Inc., a nonprofit health care organization, and the MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity, a group of leaders and organizations working to reduce disparities in Milwaukee, have been hosting community meetings and conversations to help residents access resources and avoid future crises. 

On June 6, the groups partnered with Safe & Sound to host a Milwaukee Community Health Care Access Day and Unity Weekend. 

The event included a rally, press conference and health care resources and services for community members. Residents learned how to access care, receive free health screenings, improve food security and strengthen community connections. 

“All of this work is about justice work,” said Quinton Cotton, a cofounder of the MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity. “We want to transform systems that impact our everyday experience. So for us this work is all about community-centered care.”

The event, held at the Safe & Sound headquarters, 4422 W. Leon Terrace, was also part of “Wear Orange Weekend 2026,” uniting the fight for health care access with a call to end gun violence.

“It just made sense to marry the events,” said Bridget Whitaker, executive director of Safe & Sound. “Community access is the idea that when I have all the things I need like food, shelter and job access, I’m less likely to think of a different way to get what I need.”

Serving the public

According to Ericka Sinclair, a co-founder of MKE Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity and founder and CEO of Health Connections Inc., people felt hopeless after City on a Hill closed. Organizers wanted to show people that help does exist. 

“It just felt like another loss of resources,” she said. “We wanted to be visible and show the public where they could go to get resources. 

Pastor Greg Lewis said issues impacting communities are compounding. 

“Too many people delay doctors visits, skip medications or go without preventative care because of cost, access or lack of resources,” he said. “Good health should not depend on your ZIP code.” 

Sinclair said City on a Hill’s closure is not isolated.  Safety-net clinics across Milwaukee are under growing pressure from unstable funding, workforce shortages and rising demand.

“We are all experiencing or going to experience funding cuts tied to federal dollars,” Sinclair said. “So we have to partner, merge events and communicate with one another. That’s how we get through this.” 

The network also wants to ensure transparency moving forward. 

“We know organizations are struggling, and sometimes there is a shame that comes with failing,” Sinclair said. “That shame should take a backseat to community wellness.”

People-led care

Cotton said this event was the beginning of a large conversation on what care looks like. 

“Yes, we are here to talk about safety, gun violence and access to quality affordable health care,” he said. “But at the end of the day we want this work to be people directed and people led. The system should work for us.” 

For more information or to get involved, you can reach out to Health Connections Inc.

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Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.

By Kelly Cole, Alverno College

Désirée Pointer Mace, PhD, has been named dean of Alverno College’s School of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LAPS). She will assume the role on July 1.

In this role, she will work in close partnership with the vice president for Academic Affairs, the academic leadership team, and the LAPS community. Alverno’s largest and most academically diverse school, LAPS encompasses five primary academic areas – Business & Communication; Education; Multidisciplinary Studies; Natural Sciences; and Psychology & Social Work.

“Désirée epitomizes Alverno educational innovation with her creation of award-winning programs, such as our EdD program, her commitment to inclusivity with her important work in educating future teachers in a context of multilingual schools, and in her support of faculty and staff, which is grounded in the Abilities and a growth mindset,” said Gina Rossetti, PhD, vice president for Academic Affairs at Alverno.

Pointer Mace is a highly innovative, experienced educator with over 30 years of experience. Most recently, she served as interim dean of LAPS. She also previously served as professor of education and director of graduate programs, and has taught at Alverno since 2007. In that time, she led professional development and educator preparation at the local, state, national, and international levels. Since 2014, she has advanced work in Argentina, Uruguay, and Peru focused on reform in teacher learning, reaching hundreds of educators from multiple Latin American countries. She has also been recognized twice as a Fulbright Teaching Specialist.

“I am deeply committed to the educational innovative culture of Alverno College, and believe that this community of educators and students will continue to make significant and positive change in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, the nation, and the world,” said Pointer Mace.

Pointer Mace earned a Bachelor of Arts in Cognitive Science from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. She earned her master’s degree and doctoral degree in education from the University of California – Berkeley. She serves on the Wisconsin State Superintendent’s Standards Council, a position to which she was appointed. She was also appointed to the City of Milwaukee Charter School Review Committee by the mayor.

About Alverno College

Based in Milwaukee, Wis., Alverno College is a four-year independent, Catholic, liberal arts college for women. Founded in 1887 by the School Sisters of St. Francis, Alverno promotes the academic, personal and professional development of its students in a collaborative and inclusive environment. Graduate programs, digital badges, degree completion programs and certificate programs are open to all genders. A leader in higher education innovation, Alverno has earned international accolades for its highly effective ability-based, assessment-as-learning approach to education, which emphasizes hands-on experience and develops in-demand skills. The college, Wisconsin’s first Hispanic-Serving Institution, ranks among the top schools in the Midwest for its commitment to undergraduate teaching and innovation by U.S. News & World Report.

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Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.

By Leah Thomas, Marcus Performing Arts Center

The Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) announces the return of Rainbow Summer, taking place on July 14-19. Rainbow Summer is a free music and art festival that offers six nights of live music, interactive art installations, and free creative activities for the whole community.

Rainbow Summer 2026 invites the community to join a festive takeover of the grounds of the Marcus Center, featuring family activities and vendors on the beautiful South Lawn, live music performances on the covered stage of Peck Pavilion, and additional family-friendly activations along the riverwalk leading to KidZ Stage, a dedicated outdoor venue designed specifically for young audiences.

In continued partnership with Milwaukee Downtown, BID #21, a new interactive art installation from LeMonde Studio will be featured! Harmonies introduces Milwaukee to a collection of larger-than-life musical instruments and objects that invite audience interaction.

“LeMonde Studio is a creative leader in people-powered art. Each piece is designed for engagement, continuing the Rainbow Summer tradition of artwork that is meant for play and exploration,” says Erica Green, COO of Milwaukee Downtown. “Harmonies is LeMonde’s biggest Milwaukee installation to date, following the success of Light Lane in 2024 and Starlight in 2025. Milwaukee Downtown is delighted to continue our strong partnership with LeMonde and the Marcus Performing Arts Center to present Harmonies, a perfect reflection of vibrant performing arts in the heart of the Milwaukee Theater District.”

The 2026 Rainbow Summer lineup of musical performances has been curated with Milwaukee’s vibrant community in mind, offering a different themed experience with a musical pairing each evening:

• July 14: “Americana Night” featuring Goldpine.
• July 15: “Soul Night” featuring The Soul Rebels.
• July 16: “Feel Good Pop Night” featuring Boy Band Review.
• July 17: “Latin Night” featuring Zonk Rolan and Nicole Nicolalde.
• July 18: “Family Day and Night” featuring Milwaukee Ballet, Marcus Center’s “Broadway Bridges”, School of Rock Shorewood, Kid Boogie Down, CJ Chenier & the Red Hot Louisiana Band. Family activities include bounce houses, Carcade games, and the Bubble Lady!
• July 19: “America250 & Veterans Recognition” featuring Angela Walker, Anthony Hibbler, The Lloyd Stevens Band.

“We are committed to being a world-class gathering place for all, where every guest feels welcomed, valued, and inspired,” says MPAC President and CEO Kevin Giglinto. “Rainbow Summer is such a fun event because it invites our community to share in the joy of gathering together for a shared experience.”

Rainbow Summer is made possible through the support of Milwaukee Downtown, Bid #21, Ascension, U.S. Bank, and MGIC. Family Day is sponsored by Bader Philanthropies, Inc.

Vendor Applications are now open through July 1, 2026. We are inviting local artists, makers, and small businesses to join the festivities each evening. Vendor information and application can be accessed by visiting the Rainbow Summer website: https://www.marcuscenter.org/get-tickets/rainbow-summer/.

Know before you go:

• MPAC Grounds will open at 5 p.m. from Tuesday – Friday, and noon on Saturday/ Sunday.
• Event parking will be available at the Marcus Center Garage for $20 each night.
• Food and beverages will be available for purchase on site, from a variety of food trucks and from Marcus Center Food and Beverage.
• Chairs and blankets can be carried in for the lawn, but no carry-in food or beverage items are permitted.
• No tickets are required to attend Rainbow Summer activities, and new acts are still being added!
• To see the most up to date Rainbow Summer lineup, join our Rainbow Summer email list at https://www.marcuscenter.org/get-tickets/rainbow-summer/.

About Marcus Performing Arts Center

A mission-based non-profit organization located in downtown Milwaukee, the Marcus Performing Arts Center (MPAC) brings high-quality arts and cultural programming to Southeastern Wisconsin. MPAC strives to act as an energizing force that connects the community to the world through collaboration, innovation, social engagement, and the transformative power of the performing arts. A fixture in Milwaukee for over 55 years, MPAC is proud to be part of the Milwaukee Theater District as well as a dedicated War Memorial facility. Learn more at www.MarcusCenter.org.

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After storms in August and April caused flooding, downed trees, property damage and road closures across Milwaukee,  some residents question what is being done to protect them from future weather-related damage. 

With more severe weather expected this week, including the potential for flash floods, we asked local leaders and officials about their preparation plans.

According to the National Weather Service, Milwaukee could experience severe weather, including heavy rainfall on Wednesday and Thursday. 

Some officials said both August’s historic floods and April’s severe weather are not typical. Others encouraged residents to stay prepared as severe weather becomes more common.

What’s being done

According to a Milwaukee County spokesperson, its Office of Emergency Management is working in coordination with the members of the Extreme Weather Task Force to monitor the upcoming storms and prepare for any potential safety issues that may arise.

Bill Graffin, public information manager for the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District, or MMSD, said MMSD is always doing everything possible to ensure plants are good to go.

“If there are things we can do like pause construction or something to prepare then, we’ll do that,” he said. “Both August and April’s flood were pretty out of the ordinary for the Milwaukee area.”

The Department of Public Works is preparing for severe weather by looking into spots known to flood excessively. 

Tiffany Shepherd, marketing and communications officer for the Department of Public Works, said that the significant flooding experienced in Milwaukee resulted from rainfall that were not typical, but she also acknowledged more frequent and intense storms. 

“Ahead of potential storms, the Department of Public Works is performing its typical underpass inspections and cleanings,” Shepherd said. “We are also investigating and cleaning several known trouble spots as needed to help ensure stormwater can move through the system as efficiently as possible.”

‘Know how to prepare yourself’

Shalina Ali, a member of the Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz on Flooding and Resilience, said practical preparedness measures remain important while larger infrastructure solutions are pursued.

The Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz is a coalition examining flooding through the lenses of infrastructure and policy, grassroots advocacy and services, and community education and resilience.

“At this point, the biggest lesson we can take away is to know how to prepare yourself,” she said. “There’s so much work that needs to happen and a lot of work is starting to be done to address flooding. But we’re not necessarily there yet.”

Right now, Ali said, residents who know their homes are vulnerable to flooding should take precautions ahead of storms, including protecting valuables from water, monitoring forecasts and identifying family members, neighbors or services that can provide assistance.

“Trash pickup is critical,” Ali said. “Having a support system ready so that you can have immediate help is going to be critical. Making sure in the areas that tend to flood, like your basements, that you pick things up off the floor and move them to another area, that’s going to be critical.”

Looking ahead

Ali said the Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz is working to address weather emergencies on a larger scale. 

“We want to help figure out how to support increased services and emergency response systems so that people have immediate support when they’re experiencing flooding,” she said. “What people are experiencing as a result of flooding is very adverse. It’s not a one-story-fits-all situation.”

She said city officials, the Department of Public Works, community organizations and residents all have a role to play in improving resilience against future floods.

Looking ahead, Ali said conversations must include housing conditions, roof maintenance and access to resources that help homeowners protect their properties.

Advocates are also using art and public engagement to keep attention on the issue. Through the Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz and TRUE Skool, artists are developing a public mural inspired by stories, concerns and ideas shared by residents during recent community discussions on flooding and resilience.

“We believe that art is one of those vehicles to make sure that the conversation continues and stays at the forefront for our city,” said Ali, who is executive director of TRUE Skool, a nonprofit that uses art to engage youth and others in social justice education.

The coalition plans to share recommendations and strategies developed through the Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz during TRUE Skool’s Summer Park Jam weekend on Saturday, Aug. 15, near the one-year anniversary of last year’s historic floods. That event will take place at the Marcus Performing Arts Center, 929 N. Water St.

Other recommendations from the community

Vaun Mayes, founder of the ComForce MKE-Disaster Relief Division and an organizer of the grassroots group Flood Hope 500, said residents have thoughts on what could help. 

“I’ve seen residents suggest maybe lights or alarms that flash and warn people before approaching flooded and unsafe areas,” he said. “Which I believe is a great idea.” 

Flood Hope 500 organizers Mayes, Aziz Abdullah, Montreal Cain and JaQai Ali have helped residents with water pumping, debris removal, mold remediation and provided other flood recovery support in prior weather emergencies. 

“I also believe the city should prioritize auditing and assessing MMSD and their ability to manage and handle storms and water to those levels so back ups aren’t as prevalent of an issue,” Mayes said. “I’ve seen whistleblowers raise concerns about the conditions and management of that facility.” 

Here’s more recent flood coverage from NNS

Here’s what you can do if you experienced damage from the storms in Milwaukee.

Here’s how Milwaukee’s sewer system functions, and why we flooded in August and April.

Did we really have to dump 2 billion gallons of sewage into local waterways after the April floods?

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The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center hosted its 50th Anniversary Celebration on June 6.

The community center opened in 1976 in King Park, 1531 W. Vliet St., on Milwaukee’s near West Side.

The celebration featured remarks from Milwaukee County leaders, tours of the center, live music and activities for children.

Attendees witnessed the unveiling and ribbon-cutting of a new mural commemorating the center’s 50 years of service to the community.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

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This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

The FBI agents arrived at David Bolter’s Milwaukee home on a cool, cloudy Wednesday morning in late May. They were armed with a list of questions for the 2020 poll worker, who had raised concerns about the way local officials handled the 2020 election, Bolter told Votebeat.

President Donald Trump relied on Bolter’s claims in an unsuccessful 2020 lawsuit that sought to throw out more than 220,000 votes. That would have been more than enough to move Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes from Democrat Joe Biden, who won the state, to Trump. Though courts, several election reviews, and many audits rejected Trump’s claims, the Republican never stopped believing that he was cheated out of the presidency in 2020.

That appears to be why, last month, the FBI sent agents back to Milwaukee to question Bolter as part of an expanding national effort by the second Trump administration to investigate long-debunked claims of fraud in the 2020 election.

The investigation into the 2020 election appears to be relying on already disproven allegations from people like Bolter. Bolter declined to divulge more about his conversation with the FBI, which has not been previously reported, but allegations from Bolter’s 2020 affidavit were central to some conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. For example, he alleged that somebody in Milwaukee’s absentee ballot counting facility announced around midnight on Election Day that a “huge truckload of ballots” was going to be delivered — an accusation for which there has so far appeared to be no additional evidence.

Around the same time Bolter says he talked to the FBI, two plainclothes agents with FBI badges showed up at the apartment of a former Milwaukee resident and 2020 poll worker about an affidavit she submitted, according to the former poll worker, who asked to be identified only by her first name, Christine, to give her the freedom to discuss an ongoing investigation.

Christine had also submitted an affidavit about the 2020 election, saying election workers had been told that all votes were counted, but she then saw workers continuing to count ballots around midnight. That affidavit was the focus of the agents’ questions, Christine told Votebeat.

“I suspected wrongdoing, but I’m not saying that it actually happened,” she said. “I’m just one lowly person that was working there.”

During the interview, she added, an agent showed her a photograph of Claire Woodall, the former Milwaukee election chief, asking her if she recognized the former election official who has been central to false allegations about the 2020 election. She identified her by name. Woodall didn’t respond to a request for comment.

Caroline Clancy, a spokesperson for the FBI’s Milwaukee office, declined to comment.

While investigators seem mainly focused on the 2020 vote, some elections experts believe the Trump administration’s wide-ranging probe is actually designed to create more doubts among Americans about future elections, as Republicans face strong political headwinds that could cost them control of Congress later this year.

“This isn’t about the 2020 election, this is about the 2026 and 2028 elections,” said David Becker, executive director of the nonpartisan, nonprofit Center for Election Innovation and Research. “This is about intimidating election officials. This is about creating a stream of disinformation designed to delegitimize an election the president may believe he’s going to lose. This is designed by the president’s underlings to satisfy the unrealistic expectations of a president that still cannot comprehend that he lost an election that he definitely lost, and it’s incredibly destabilizing.”

Wisconsin is the latest known target of the Trump administration’s 2020 investigation. The FBI is looking to interview elections officials and Milwaukee police officers in what some worry could be a precursor to an effort to seize ballots from the 2020 presidential race, as it already has in Georgia.

The Trump administration is revisiting allegations of election fraud that have been repeatedly scrutinized

In January, federal investigators seized 600 boxes of ballots from the 2020 election in Fulton County, Georgia. The heavily Democratic county, home to Atlanta, was key to Biden’s narrow 2020 victory in the state.

As in Wisconsin, the FBI in Georgia has built its investigation on allegations that have already been repeatedly scrutinized by audits, investigations, and courts without unearthing any evidence of fraud or tampering that could have overturned the results.

The Georgia search represented an unprecedented intervention by the federal government into local administration. Even more unusually, Tulsi Gabbard, who will step down at end of this month as director of national intelligence, personally oversaw the seizure and arranged for Trump to speak directly to the FBI agents via cell phone after they carried out the operation.

The Trump administration investigations stretch from Arizona, where federal officials subpoenaed computerized records of a partisan review state lawmakers conducted of Maricopa County’s 2020 election, to Puerto Rico, where the Office of the Director of National Intelligence procured voting machines to examine for potential security risks.

The administration’s investigations aren’t entirely limited to 2020. The U.S. Department of Justice sent a letter in April to Wayne County, Michigan — home to Detroit — demanding all ballots cast in the 2024 election, which Trump won. But even in that case, to support the request, the Justice Department cited accusations of fraud made after the 2020 election, including a lawsuit that was quickly dismissed after a judge wrote that “plaintiffs’ interpretation of events is incorrect and not credible.” Wayne County never handed over the ballots, because it doesn’t have possession of them.

What do the 2020 elections mean for 2026?

The FBI faces challenges in pursuing cases tied to the 2020 election since the five-year statute of limitations that applies to most of the likely charges expired last year. Law enforcement veterans said it is possible that the Justice Department could pursue broader conspiracy charges in the case, but the prospect remains unclear.

FBI Director Kash Patel suggested in April that the Justice Department would soon announce arrests related to the 2020 election, but that has not yet occurred. Officials with the FBI and Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.

John Keller, a former acting head of the Justice Department’s Public Integrity Section who resigned in 2025 after refusing the Trump administration’s demands to drop corruption charges against then-New York City Mayor Eric Adams, said the administration appeared to be trying to normalize federal investigations of state elections to pave the way for future intervention.

“They are using enforcement directed at the 2020 election as a test run for what they can get away with on Election Day this year, or after, to try and delay certification or invalidate an election” if the results don’t go their way, he said.

Injecting federal law enforcement officials into an ongoing election is a more extreme and serious action than investigating a past one, and it could face stiffer opposition. But it’s clear, at least, that the administration is scrutinizing current elections closely.

Trump last week blasted California’s long vote counting process in its primary election and asserted that Democrats were trying to steal the election and federal authorities were investigating. Last month, Trump also said he was ordering the Justice Department to investigate an error that led to some voters in Maryland receiving ballots for the wrong party in the state’s upcoming primary. State officials in both cases have explained the true causes of the issues and that nothing nefarious was behind them.

Any effort to seize ballots in an ongoing election would create unprecedented new issues, such as a breach in the chain of custody over cast ballots, that could prevent election officials from declaring a winner and throw results into uncertainty.

Catherine Engelbrecht, co-founder of the Texas-based conservative group True the Vote, which has promoted debunked theories about the 2020 election, said she understands Trump’s intentions but believes the 2020 election questions should have been resolved “in the immediate aftermath of the 2020 election.”

“This is not necessarily the way I would have recommended that it would be handled,” she said. “The fact that it wasn’t addressed has left this lingering void.”

In most cases, however, Trump’s claims of voter fraud were addressed in the wake of the 2020 election. Time and again, courts, state investigations, and even the Justice Department concluded that there was no evidence of problems or fraud that would have changed the results.

Engelbrecht said she views the Trump administration’s ongoing investigations as an effort to dig into long-standing concerns about the voting process it wants to address for future elections.

“The past is prologue,” she said. “If we don’t understand what happened, we are doomed to repeat it.”

Dion Nissenbaum is Votebeat’s senior national reporter and is based in Houston. Contact Dion at dnissenbaum@votebeat.org.

Alexander Shur is a reporter for Votebeat based in Wisconsin. Contact Alexander at ashur@votebeat.org.

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization covering local election integrity and voting access. Sign up for their newsletters here.

The post The Trump administration’s multiple investigations of the 2020 election may have more to do with 2026 appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.

By Tony Kearney, Northcott Neighborhood House

Milwaukee will mark Juneteenth with a series of events throughout  June that celebrate African American culture and American history. Activities include a  scholarship pageant, a freedom ball, a parade and festival, concerts, and family-friendly events,  including a cultural cuisine tasting. 

Juneteenth 2026 CelebraFon Schedule 

• Juneteenth Scholarship Pageant Saturday, June 6, Northcott Neighborhood House
• Juneteenth Freedom Ball Friday, June 12, Harley Davidson Museum
• Juneteenth Day Parade & Festival, Friday, June 19, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Drive
• Juneteenth Summer Concert Series Saturday, June 20, Clinton Rose Park
• Taste of Juneteenth Saturday, June 20, Summerfest

For more information, visit juneteenthmilwaukee.com. 

About Juneteenth 

Juneteenth (June 19) commemorates the announcement of General Gordon Granger in Galveston,  Texas, in 1865 that enslaved people in Texas were free — more than two years aCer the  EmancipaEon ProclamaEon. Today, Juneteenth is observed as a day of remembrance, celebraEon,  and conEnued work toward racial jusEce and equality. 

The post Post From Community: Milwaukee prepares to kick off the 55th Annual Juneteenth Day Celebration appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Even as the Milwaukee Police Department backed away from facial recognition technology earlier this year after strong public criticism, records obtained by NNS show the department’s overall surveillance infrastructure continues to grow.

The number of cameras, license plate readers and other surveillance technologies available to the department has increased in recent years, along with the amount of money spent on these systems.

As was the case with facial recognition technology, MPD leaders say the tools help solve crimes and can make investigations more efficient

Critics, however, warn that an expanding surveillance infrastructure could make future monitoring technologies more powerful and raise concerns about privacy, oversight and civil rights violations – the same concerns raised over facial recognition technology.

Vaun Mayes, community activist and violence interrupter for the city’s Department of Community Wellness and Safety, says the cameras are a problem.  

“People don’t want their rights or privacy threatened or infringed on,” Mayes said. 

Critics are also questioning whether the department has produced evidence showing the surveillance expansion has led to measurable improvements in crime-solving or public safety.

More cameras, more systems

As of June 2026, MPD had access to 1,749 cameras, according to department records. Included are 1,200 body-worn cameras, 390 squad-car cameras and 159 fixed cameras.

While many of the cameras serve general surveillance purposes, a growing number are part of automatic license plate reader, or ALPR, systems.

MPD risk manager James Lewis said the department currently uses three separate ALPR platforms operated by different vendors: Flock Safety, Genetec and Axon.

The Genetec system includes 39 fixed ALPR cameras. 

Officers can also access a cloud-based Flock Safety network consisting of 35 ALPR cameras.

Axon ALPR technology is also installed on 80 MPD patrol vehicles, allowing officers to capture and compare license plate data while on patrol.

Records show MPD’s surveillance infrastructure – and the amount spent on it – continues to grow. 

MPD’s first Flock contract, approved in 2022, authorized up to $25,000 in spending. 

By 2025, the department had entered into a new Flock contract worth up to $52,500, which grew to $182,900 through three amendments that added cameras, extended the contract term and expanded services.

Similarly, MPD added Axon ALPR technology in patrol cars in 2025 through a contract amendment that increased the contract by roughly $136,000.

How the technology helps police

The systems can notify officers when they detect a vehicle being sought by law enforcement. 

ALPR systems can alert officers when a scanned plate matches a vehicle on a “be on the lookout” list, according to MPD policy, 

Department policy also allows officers to conduct searches of stored ALPR data collected around the time and location of a reported crime.

Lewis said the systems are used in a range of investigations, which can include shootings, homicides, child abductions and sexual assaults. 

In time-sensitive cases, like the abduction of a child, this technology can make crucial contributions to the investigation, said MPD Inspector Paul Lough, who has provided public testimony about the investigative value of facial recognition technology. 

Lewis cited a homicide case in which surveillance footage showed a suspect getting into a vehicle after a shooting.

“We entered that plate into Flock, and were able to locate and apprehend that suspect,” Lewis said.

But Lewis repeatedly emphasized that surveillance technology is only one part of larger investigations.

“You can’t boil it down to simple, ‘Hey, Flock is the only reason why this happened,’” he said.

He described the systems as tools that complement traditional investigative work.

“We don’t have to stop every red car in the vicinity,” Lewis said. “We can stop the exact make, model and description of the vehicle that we’re looking for.”

He added that the technology can provide pinpoint locations of vehicles they’re searching.

Ongoing concerns about misuse of technology

When asked whether more cameras had resulted in more solved crimes, Lewis said the relationship was difficult to quantify.

“I don’t know that I’m able to correlate it exactly like that,” he said.

Emilio De Torre, executive director of the nonpartisan civic engagement organization Milwaukee Turners, advised careful consideration about the connection between increased surveillance resulting in increased safety. 

He said there is no indication of the safety benefits of systemwide surveillance.  

“That’s rhetoric without any data to back it up,” De Torre said.

Other concerns about MPD’s camera systems follow well-worn lines about privacy, over-policing and unjust surveillance practices – concerns also raised about facial recognition technology. 

A network initially built to collect images can later be paired with software capable of identifying people, analyzing behavior, searching databases or sharing information across agencies, De Torre said. 

“The public is only just learning how Flock and ALPRs are part of a much larger, more insidious web of nonstop surveillance,” De Torre said. “They can too readily determine where any of us are going at all times and what we’re doing.”

Mayes voiced similar concerns. 

He said many residents view surveillance through the lens of previous experiences with policing and government monitoring.

“We see things like the multiple stories of officers being investigated for abusing those tools against people,” Mayes said.

Concerns about surveillance oversight intensified this year after a Milwaukee police officer was charged with misconduct for allegedly using the department’s Flock system to track a person he was dating and that person’s former partner. 

In response, MPD reduced the number of employees with access to the system, required additional training and user agreements and expanded auditing procedures intended to detect misuse.

Safeguards exist, police say

Lewis rejected the notion that the department is building a surveillance state and emphasized that ALPR systems may only be used for legitimate law-enforcement purposes.

“The balance that we do is making sure that those reads and those queries can only be accessed when connected to a case or an investigation,” Lewis said.

He said officers cannot simply browse the systems without a criminal investigation or lawful purpose.

“If somebody does misuse it, there’s accountability for it,” Lewis said.

MPD policy states that employees who knowingly violate the directive are subject to discipline, and violations are investigated through the department’s internal affairs process.

Up next

Contracts can be amended after they are approved, allowing agencies to add equipment, services or funding.

The records reviewed by NNS show MPD’s surveillance technology contracts have been expanded through multiple amendments. This possibility is still present. 

Since 2025, the department has amended its Flock and Axon agreements to add cameras, deploy license plate reader technology in patrol vehicles and increase spending.

De Torre said he thinks MPD is following a fundamentally flawed path that does not make us safer. 

“I think they’re spending too much time looking for an easy solution to address wrongdoings and crime, and they’re moving away from the real answers,” he said.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

The post Police records show Milwaukee’s surveillance infrastructure is growing appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

It’s about to get hot again. And summer is just getting started.  

Here are some ways to stay safe and cool this summer.

Cooling centers

1. Use your phone

Call Impact 211, which can connect you to the overnight shelters and cooling centers closest to you. You can also text your ZIP code to TXT-211.

2. Go online

You can also look at the Milwaukee Health Department’s list of designated cooling centers.

Cooling center locations

Many senior centers and some social service agencies serve as bad weather shelters in extreme heat. Here are a few.

Repairers of the Breach

1335 W. Vliet St.

414-342-9323       

Washington Park Senior Center

4420 W. Vliet St.

414-933-2332

Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Wilson Park Senior Center

2601 W. Howard Ave.

414-282-5566

Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Clinton Rose Senior Center

3045 N. Martin Luther King Drive

414-263-2255

Open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All Milwaukee Public Library locations allow individuals to cool down in the air-conditioning during regular business hours. Call 414-286-3000 to speak with a librarian for information on a specific branch and its hours.

Many local organizations and governmental buildings welcome visitors to air-conditioned common areas and community spaces to stay cool.

Here are places in Milwaukee where you can stay cool and be active in the water this summer.

What you should know about utility shutoffs

Wisconsin law prevents a utility from disconnecting electrical service when a heat advisory, heat warning or heat emergency issued by the National Weather Service is in effect, according to a news release from the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin.

The utility also is required to make reasonable attempts to reconnect service that has been disconnected for nonpayment if a resident says there is a potential threat to health or life because of the heat and loss of service.

After the heat advisory, heat warning or heat emergency expires, the utility can once again disconnect service without notice if payment arrangements have not been made, according to the PSC.

If you have questions about disconnections, contact PSC Consumer Affairs at 800-225-7729.

Air quality and heat tips

Anyone with pre-existing heart or lung conditions, children, older adults, pregnant individuals and those who work or exercise outdoors should be aware of the air quality.

Check in with AirNow to monitor air quality.

Follow these tips from the Milwaukee Health Department to beat the heat:

1. Slow down and limit physical activity, especially if you are working outside or in hot settings.

2. Never leave children, persons with a disability or pets in a parked car – temperatures can become life threatening within minutes.

3. Use fans to increase ventilation, unless temperatures exceed 90 degrees, at which point fans become ineffective in reducing heat-related illness.

4. Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water throughout the day regardless of thirst to avoid dehydration.

5. Check in with neighbors and family to make sure they are staying cool.

Check with the Health Department for more cooling locations and to monitor when it is safe to be outside.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

The post Here are ways to beat the heat this summer appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

The state’s most devoted Democrats are scheduled to gather in Madison this weekend for the party’s annual convention where the seven-way race for the Democratic nomination for governor is likely to take center stage. 

Democratic caucus and county party leaders told Wisconsin Watch they are hopeful the convention could be a clarifying moment in the primary campaign on who has enough support to make it to the August primary. None of the main contenders dropped out ahead of last week’s filing deadline, so seven names will appear on the Aug. 11 Democratic primary ballot.

When Democrats convene at the Monona Terrace Convention Center on Saturday, there will be less than 45 days until early voting starts in late July.

“If their message does not ring true to the delegates at the convention, they better listen to the applause because people will be honest with them,” said Susan Chandler, the 1st Congressional District chair and vice chair of the Walworth County Democrats. “Everybody who goes to the convention is a highly engaged Democrat, and for every one of those highly engaged, we all know 10 people who are not. We’re bringing a lot of background to that convention and critically listening to these candidates.” 

After Democratic Gov. Tony Evers decided not to run for a third term, seven Democratic candidates submitted the signatures to make the ballot. They include former Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, former Department of Administration Secretary Joel Brennan, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, Madison state Rep. Francesca Hong, former Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. Secretary Missy Hughes, Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez and Madison Sen. Kelda Roys. 

The seven Democratic candidates are expected to participate in a gubernatorial candidate forum at Bay View High School, 2751 S. Lenox St., on Thursday, June 11 at 7 p.m. The focus of that forum will be education.

Meanwhile, Wisconsin Republicans have coalesced around U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who received the Republican Party of Wisconsin’s endorsement at their annual convention in May and was endorsed by President Donald Trump in January. Tiffany has just one primary opponent, Andy Manske, a 27-year-old medical service technician.

“We want to know who is best situated to make bold sweeping change here in Wisconsin to provide a better life for Wisconsinites, and who is best situated to beat Tom Tiffany in a head-to-head,” said Brett Timmerman, the chair of the Milwaukee County Democratic Party. “I think that people are going to the convention looking for somebody to stand out in a meaningful way to deliver that message of why they think they are the best person to carry the torch forward.”

The closest comparison to this year’s field is the 2018 Democratic gubernatorial primary when 10 candidates ran for the opportunity to unseat then-Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Two dropped out in June before the primary that year. 

Evers, who had statewide election experience as the superintendent of public instruction, won the Democratic primary that year with 42% of the vote and later defeated Walker in the general election. Evers didn’t win a majority of primary voters, but his closest opponent only mustered 16.4% of the vote. 

A large primary, like the one in 2018, forces candidates to explain why voters should support their campaign, said Martha Laning, who served as the chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin during the 2018 election cycle.

At the 2018 state Democratic convention, the candidates all had the opportunity to make a three-minute pitch to party die-hards on what they would do for Wisconsin, Laning said. A spokesperson for the state party said all seven of the Democrats who made the ballot will also have a chance to speak this weekend. 

“I think it’s great to put all of the candidates up there and to just let people know what their options are,” Laning said. “Again, any of them will be better than Tom Tiffany, so the more people talking about how they would do things and how they would improve people’s lives in Wisconsin is a good thing for us.”

Negativity and consolidation

It’s been a quiet primary among the slew of Democratic candidates over the last six months, with few events that set the campaigns apart. Hong led the field with 14% in the most recent Marquette University Law School Poll in March. The poll also found that 65% of voters were undecided on who to vote for in the primary.

It’s worth watching if the convention is a place where candidates take negative swipes at each other with the August primary on the horizon, said Anthony Chergosky, an associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. 

“This has been a remarkably chill campaign, and I’m wondering if we’re going to see things heat up a little bit,” Chergosky said. 

Hints of discord are emerging in the primary. Hughes last month was the only candidate to publicly support the failed $1.8 billion bipartisan surplus deal negotiated between Evers and Republican legislative leaders. After the deal failed in the Senate, Hughes posted unnamed criticism of “certain self-serving Democratic candidates for governor who would rather boost their own personal political ambitions than serve our kids and taxpayers.” 

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel last week reported that Hong was sued in May by Capital One for nearly $30,000 in credit card debt, which her campaign said had already been paid. Hong in a video posted on social media said the story showed her “opponents are scrambling.” 

“They are scared of what we’ve built, our platform that’s resonating with working class people all across the state who feel left behind, our organizing infrastructure that’s being built stronger every day,” Hong said. “They want to pull me off track and how dare they.” 

The convention could also serve as a milestone for consolidation in the race in the coming weeks, Chergosky said. A fractured field means one of the candidates could win with just 30% of the vote, but the math changes if someone drops out, he noted. 

For Gloria Hochstein, the chair of the party’s Rural Caucus, the circumstances of a large field of candidates make her wish ranked-choice voting was an option for this primary.

“The problem is that there are some really good people running, and the thoughtful voter is really going to have to decide where his or her vote should be,” Hochstein said. 

But the convention could “turn the tide” for some candidates who might drop out if they see they don’t have the statewide reach among the party’s most faithful, she said. 

“I think that’s the realization, some of the candidates, I hope they come to sooner rather than later,” Hochstein said.

The post The Democratic field for Wisconsin governor has been static for months. That could all change this week. appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.

By Marina Murphy, Nearby Nature Milwaukee

A group of over a dozen organizations, loosely named the Lincoln Creek Greenway Workgroup, are excited to announce the 2026 Lincoln Creek Week. The Lincoln Creek Workgroup, and various community partners, will host a week of free, fun and family-friendly activities for all ages, including paddling, biking, hiking and more. Organizations will activate various areas of the city of Milwaukee with the hopes to help residents reimagine and celebrate the beauty of the Lincoln Creek Greenway.

The week will kick off with a community picnic celebration on Saturday, June 20th from 12-3pm at McGovern Park and close on Saturday, June 27th from 12-3 at Lincoln Park. Each event will feature nature- based activities, information from community partners, prizes, giveaways, free food and more. During Lincoln Creek Week, community partners will offer activities such as learning to kayak, educational nature presentations, volunteer service opportunities, a bird walk, and a bike ride. 

The week of events is under the auspices of the Lincoln Creek Greenway Work Group, started by Nearby Nature Milwaukee in 2022, to draw attention to the neglect and disparity in green space development along Lincoln Creek.

All events are free and open to the public. Some events require registration. A full list of events and registration links are below and on the  Nearby Nature web page, or at this link: www.bit.ly/CreekWeek26 

Participating organizations include Friends of Lincoln Park, Havenwoods State Forest – WI DNR, Lake Michigan Bird Observatory, Milwaukee County Parks, Milwaukee Riverkeeper, Milwaukee Water Commons, Nearby Nature Milwaukee, Red Bike & Green Milwaukee, Residents for Change Neighborhood Assn, Waterway Restoration Partnership, Friends of McGovern Park, Wisconsin Green Muslims

Funding Sponsors include

• Fund for Lake Michigan
• Milwaukee Parks Foundation

The post Post From Community: Lincoln Creek Week celebration features a week of free, fun and family-friendly events, June 20-27 appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Editor’s note: Post From Community is the place for community announcements and event postings. If you have a community-oriented event you feel our readers would be interested in, please submit here.

By Victor Huyke, El Conquistador Latino Newspaper

The post Post From Community: State Representative Sylvia Ortiz-Velez named grand marshal for 2026 Puerto Rican Parade appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

As school lets out for students across Milwaukee, more time will be spent at home, and many families will look to prepare quick and affordable meals.

“During the summer, many families experience disruptions to their normal routines, which can make healthy eating more difficult,” said Carmen Baldwin, community nutrition manager for the Hunger Task Force. 

Disruptions in healthy food habits during the summer include increased grocery costs and less-structured meal times, which lead to unhealthy snacking, limited access to healthy foods and more.

Here are some tips and recipes to try with your family over the summer.

Simple at-home recipes

According to Children’s Wisconsin, children should eat three meals and approximately one to three snacks a day. 

In case you’re looking for healthy meal ideas, Baldwin and Community Nutrition Educator Leah Kostos, manage a collection of recipes with the Hunger Task Force, which includes foods like vegetable lo mein, parmesan chicken burgers, chili pasta and more. 

When making healthy food choices, Baldwin suggests paying attention to serving size, added sugars, sodium and fiber on the nutrition labels as a guide.

“A simple tip is to compare similar products and choose the option that has more fiber and less added sugar and sodium,” she said.

Baldwin also encourages families to ensure children stay hydrated since weather will be warmer and activity is increased. 

“Water, milk and fruits with high water content help prevent dehydration,” Baldwin said. 

Foods with calcium, electrolytes, vitamin D and iron serve as an additional support for growth and staying full and active during the day.

For more balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, grains and protein, click here to view the Hunger Task Force’s full collection of recipes.

Making mindful food choices

Bridgett Wilder, founder of Perseverance Health & Wellness Coaching and nutritionist contracted with the County of Milwaukee for nutrition and behavioral health programs, wants adults and children to understand why they eat the way they do. 

“A lot of the time when we have a cultural preference, that’s sometimes associated with highly salted foods, soul food and other recipes,” Wilder said. “I’m more about sustaining a healthy lifestyle.”

To help create positive experiences around food, Wilder takes existing recipes and transforms them into something healthier. 

“If we’re making greens, we can stop putting pork in it and add smoked turkey instead,” she said. “It’s like tweaking it to keep people engaged in healthy eating and also having people still enjoy food that’s culturally relevant.”

Click here to watch Wilder make healthy recipes like sweet heat potatoes, watermelon cucumber salad and banana pudding parfait. 

For nutrition education, collaborative menu planning, emotional eating support and other nutrition and behavioral services, Wilder can be emailed at perseverancewellness@gmail.com

The post Milwaukee experts share meal ideas and tips for families during summer break appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

It’s Monday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.

1. Washington Park Community Town Hall: Monday, June 8

The Milwaukee Police Department and City of Milwaukee Department of Community Wellness and Safety encourage youths and adults to attend a community town hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Monday, June 8 at the Milwaukee Public Library Washington Park Branch, 2121 N. Sherman Blvd. Discussions will focus on sexual violence, neighborhood updates from MPD, the mobile mental health clinic and more. More information here.

2. Neighborhood Meeting:  Monday, June 8

Muskego Way Forward invites residents to its monthly neighborhood meeting from 4:45 to 6:30 p.m. on Monday, June 8 at Milwaukee Community Crossroads, 807 S. 14th St. Neighbors will discuss a variety of topics. Dinner will be provided. More information here.

3. Garden Homes Delivering on the Promise: Monday, June 8

Residents of the 30th Street Corridor will meet from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, June 8 at SHECHEM at Hope Street, 2510 W. Capitol Drive, to discuss education and intergenerational opportunities. Call 414-509-5115 to RSVP. More information here.

4. Hope Street Brunch Tour: Tuesday, June 9

Hope Street Ministry invites residents to enjoy light breakfast refreshments, tour its space and engage in conversations between 8 and 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 9 at 2522 W. Capitol Drive. To RSVP, email Ashley@hopestreetministry.org. More information here.

5. Renter’s Rights Legal Clinic: Wednesday, June 10

Staff attorneys from Legal Action of Wisconsin are offering a free clinic to help Clarke Square residents understand their rights as renters. The clinic will have free legal advice on evictions, termination notices and other legal issues from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10 at the Sixteenth Street Community Health Center, 1036 S. Cesar E. Chavez Drive. Walk-ins are welcome and it’s first come, first served. More information here.

Share your news through our Posts From Community portal

The post 5 things to know and do the week of June 8 appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Six Milwaukee students are graduating from high school with a head start on a career in the medical field. 

The students, who hail from Rufus King High School, Marquette University High School, Golda Meir School and three other schools, recently completed a grant-funded K-12 Medical Assistant pathway program. The program was created through an innovative partnership by MedCerts, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee and Froedtert Hospital. 

The students were honored during a graduation ceremony at the Ready Center, 518 W. Cherry St., on May 27.

Jennifer Kolb, vice president of partnerships and workforce development at MedCert, said the students learned medical skills like how to test blood pressure, took classes such as human anatomy and got clinical hands-on experience at Froedtert Hospital. They participated in the pathway while still enrolled in their full-time classes. 

“They graduate from high school with their high school diploma and a certificate,” Kolb said. “They could go work at hospitals, at clinics, at long-term care facilities; they could work in a variety of places.”

Kolb said Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee also provides support to students in the pathway with material needs like food and housing.

After high school, some students plan to stay near and others are going far – but all are interested in pursuing a career in the medical field.

Meet some of the graduates

AJ Egerson

Alexander “AJ” Egerson, a senior at Marquette University High School, said he is passionate about mental health in his community.

“In Black communities mental health often gets overlooked,” Egerson said. 

He wants to make an impact by becoming a psychiatric nurse practitioner and opening his own clinic. 

“I saw (the medical pathway) as an opportunity to get my foot in the field,” Egerson said.

Egerson is moving south to attend the University of Alabama at Birmingham to get a bachelor’s degree in nursing, where he can also earn his master’s degree in psychiatric nursing at the same time. 

Before he leaves, Egerson will continue to work in the field this summer with Froedtert Hospital. 

Aubree Cathey

Hearing about her grandma’s experiences as an anesthesiologist for the Army made Rufus King High School senior Aubree Cathey want to follow in her footsteps into the medical field.

“I really wanted to be in the operating room,” she said.
“But I don’t have much of a steady hand.” 

She saw the medical assistant pathway as an opportunity to get hands-on experience beyond job shadowing. She said she enjoyed meeting students from other Milwaukee schools and learning alongside a supportive community.

Cathey will attend the North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in the fall to pursue a degree in biology. She’s also looking forward to playing on the school’s tennis and softball teams. 

She said her school’s campus clinic is hiring a medical assistant and the certification from the program sets her up well to apply. 

“I’m really excited to hopefully get into there,” Cathey said.

Maryan Mohamed

Maryan Mohamed said the Medical Assistant pathway program taught her about ethics and laws in the medical field and showed her what it’s like to work in a hospital. 

She said it took a lot of work to balance the rigors of the program with her other obligations. 

“Balancing high school, work and extracurricular activities while being at medical assistant school,” Mohamed said. “It was hard juggling all of those at once.”

She said that throughout her time in the program her classmates helped motivate her when the work got hard.

Mohamed plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to pursue a degree in radiology.

Alex Klaus is the education solutions reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

The post Innovative program helps Milwaukee students graduate high school with medical certification appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

This story was produced in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Investigative Journalism class taught in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Last month deep red Oklahoma became the 17th state to ban child marriage — the practice of allowing minors, typically 16- and 17-year-olds, to marry with parental consent.

“Oklahoma has a responsibility to protect children and make sure they have the opportunity to reach adulthood before making decisions that will shape the rest of their lives,” Republican state Rep. Nicole Miller said in a press release.

Most states that have banned child marriage to date are led by Democrats. Wisconsin, where Republicans control the Legislature, is not following their lead.

In Wisconsin 16- and 17-year-olds can still be married with written parental permission submitted to a county clerk along with a standard marriage license. Between 2015 and 2024, 297 minors were married in Wisconsin, according to the Legislative Reference Bureau.

Notably, these teenagers can be married not just to other minors, but also to adults. State law also provides an exception to its rules on statutory rape: Sexual relations between an adult and a teenager are not a crime as long as they are married.

“These are marriages between a minor woman and an older man,” said state Rep. Ann Roe, D-Janesville, a co-author of recent legislation to ban the practice. “The behavior outside of marriage would be a felony. … Using this old law that’s still on the books that allows for child marriage is incredibly disturbing and incredibly dangerous for young women.”

In the 2025-26 legislative session, Roe joined Sen. Mark Spreitzer, D-Beloit, in his yearslong campaign to end child marriage in Wisconsin. Each time, the legislation has died in committee. It has never received a public hearing, much less reached a floor vote. Republican leadership has refused to move it, saying the proposed law infringes on the rights of parents to decide what’s best for their children.

Incremental changes

The rules for child marriage in Wisconsin have changed throughout history. The 1849 Wisconsin statutes set the minimum marital age for men at 18, and 15 for women. Men under the age of 21 and women under the age of 18 still needed parental consent. By 1959, the minimum age for women was raised to 16. The law was amended again in 1971 to allow all men 18 or older to marry without parental consent, and women under 18 but at least 16 to marry with parental consent.

A change to the law in 1959 allowed a man under 18 to obtain permission from a judge to be married if it would prevent a child he fathered from being born out of wedlock. That allowance was quickly repealed in 1961.

The distinction between sexes was eliminated in 1975, and no changes have happened since.

In 2018, as the #MeToo movement against powerful, abusive men was gaining momentum, Delaware and New Jersey became the first states to ban child marriage. Fifteen more states have since followed suit, including Minnesota and Michigan. Bans on child marriage have been introduced multiple times since 2019 in Wisconsin.

Numbers decline, but not to zero

Statistics paint a picture of how this practice has declined over time in the state.

According to the nonpartisan Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau, 27 minors were married in Wisconsin in 2024: eight 16-year-olds and 19 17-year-olds. That figure represents a steep drop from a peak of 421 child marriages in 1995.

Between 2010 and 2022, the vast majority of minors who married did so with adult spouses. From 2017 through 2019, every single minor who married in Wisconsin did so with an adult.

And from 1995 through 2013 (the last year for which gender data is available) girls made up the overwhelming majority of minors who married. In 2013, 23 16-year-old girls married, compared to just two boys the same age. Among 17-year-olds that year, the ratio was 39 girls to eight boys.

According to advocacy group Unchained At Last, those numbers are consistent with nationwide trends. The vast majority of minors married in the country are girls. Most of those girls married an adult male with the man on average being four years older.

“One of the things we wanted to look at is that, you know, is this young love? Is this two teenagers getting married?” Spreitzer said. “The answer seems to be primarily no. Primarily this is men over the age of 18, marrying girls under the age of 18. So that really heightened the concern.”

The law also includes a surprising twist: You can get married under 18, but you can’t get divorced.

Current law gives some provisions for minors to get an annulment, but there is no explicit statutory right for a married minor to file for divorce. Spreitzer and Roe’s proposed legislation would allow any minors married before their proposal takes effect to get a divorce.

Republicans oppose ban based on parental rights

Spreitzer and Roe’s legislation would prohibit marriage under 18 in all circumstances. More than a dozen states have passed similar outright bans over the years.

The Wisconsin effort was once bipartisan. Republican Reps. Ken Skowronski, R-Franklin, and Chuck Wichgers, R-Muskego, were co-sponsors of the bill as recently as 2020. That support has since evaporated.

In February 2024, former state Rep. John Macco, R-Ledgeview, sent a 2:59 a.m. reply-all email to fellow legislators linking the child marriage ban with restrictions on gender-affirming care for minors — a conflation that bill authors and advocates rejected.

“If you’re really serious about protecting minors I’ll add an amendment to also protect them from sex altering drugs and surgery and then cosponsor with you,” Macco’s email read.

Wichgers declined to comment on his previous support.

For a bill to pass into law, identical versions must pass the Assembly and Senate. After a bill is introduced, leadership in both chambers refers their respective versions to a relevant committee where it may receive a hearing and vote. If a committee chair never schedules a bill hearing, it can wallow until the legislative session ends.

Majority of minors who married did so with adult spouses

Percentage of minors married to adults and to other minors in Wisconsin, 2010–2021.

89% married to an adult

11% married

to a minor

Source: Legislative Reference Bureau

Hongyu Liu / Wisconsin Watch

Majority of minors who married did so with adult spouses

Percentage of minors married to adults and to other minors in Wisconsin, 2010–2021.

89% married to an adult

11% married

to a minor

Source: Legislative Reference Bureau

Hongyu Liu / Wisconsin Watch

Majority of minors who married did so with adult spouses

Percentage of minors married to adults and to other minors in Wisconsin, 2010–2021.

11% married

to a minor

89% married to

an adult

Source: Legislative Reference Bureau

Hongyu Liu / Wisconsin Watch

During the most recent legislative session, the Senate and Assembly child marriage bills sat in committees led by state Sen. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, and state Rep. Patrick Snyder, R-Weston. The bills died without a committee hearing, just like in past sessions.

Kapenga said he sees no reason to act.

“I cannot recall one constituent phone call or interaction where this issue has come up. I don’t have a problem with the current law that allows a 16- and 17-year-old to marry in the state of Wisconsin as long as there is consent from the parent or guardian. Parents know what’s best for their child — not the government,” he said.

Kapenga’s staff confirmed he has not received constituent contacts opposing child marriage, but other Wisconsin legislators, both Republicans and Democrats, have been contacted, according to public records.

Kapenga invoked a broader political philosophy to explain his position. “Frankly, we’ve seen an erosion of parents’ rights over the years by those on the left who believe that it’s the job of government to parent children,” he said. “Given the very low numbers of minors impacted, I do not believe this warrants the passage of this legislation.”

Cathy Myers, a spokesperson for Zonta of Janesville, a women’s advocacy group that worked with Spreitzer on the bill, said the decline in child marriage over time doesn’t justify ignoring the issue.

“We believe this is a pretty easy issue to wrap your head around,” she said. “One child married is one too many.” 

Snyder didn’t respond to a request for comment. Senate President Mary Felzkowski, R-Tomahawk, deferred to Kapenga’s comments. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, did not respond to requests for comment.

Advocates say they hear from supportive Republicans

Spreitzer and Roe said they have heard privately from Republican colleagues who agree with the goal of ending child marriage, but will not say so publicly.

“I think there are many people across the aisle on several different issues, this being one of them …they nod their heads, they look at me, they’re like, ‘We get it, this is an issue,'” Roe said. “And I think when hopefully they feel less obligated to fall into lockstep with their current leadership, I think that offers us an opportunity to have better conversations and figure out how we can work together.”

Spreitzer said he hopes that some of the Republicans who believe in banning child marriage “would start moving that conversation forward within their own party. That’s how we build progress.”

Myers said her organization heard from supportive Republicans during a lobby day at the Capitol this year.

“Several legislators said they didn’t know that children could be married until we met with them,” Myers said. “However, several also said that until they get the green light from their leadership, the bill would not get to the floor and would not become law.”

Child marriage has long-term consequences

Advocates say the consequences for girls are lasting. Roe described a possible trajectory: a teenage girl, newly married to an older man, denied the normal social activities of a 16-year-old and cut off from educational and career opportunities.

“The intentions of that older man are not to establish more freedoms for this young woman,” Roe said. “This is a form of potentially trafficking. This is a form of dominance. That’s just not healthy.”

Studies have linked child marriage among girls to poor mental health outcomes, diminished educational opportunity and higher rates of poverty.

Lauren Papp, a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor of human development and family studies who studies intimate relationships and family dynamics, said adolescence is the wrong time to make a permanent legal commitment to another person — not because teenagers are incapable, but because they are still becoming who they will be.

Papp disagreed that parental consent provides a safeguard because parents may not be privy to all of the relationship dynamics. She, Roe and Spreitzer all noted there can be an imbalance in power dynamics between a child spouse and an older partner who is legally an adult.

“That is certainly just an extra layer of dependence on others,” she said. “There’s a whole host of ways that the younger person could be disadvantaged.”

The post Child marriage with parental consent is still legal in Wisconsin. Republicans have blocked Democratic efforts to change that. appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

Since her neighborhood near North 60th Street and West Silver Spring Drive flooded in August, Angel Flemister is still not back in her home. 

While she continues to wait for repairs to be complete, she’s lived out of hotels, short-term rentals and shelters that have required her to take a breathalyzer and pee in a cup for drug tests. 

“That’s just very degrading,” Flemister said. 

Flemister is one of the residents directly impacted by flooding who attended the Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz on May 27 and 28 at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society/Museum, 2620 W. Center St. 

Residents, members of community organizations and other decision-makers convened to share stories, identify problems, develop priorities and support long-term community participation in flooding resilience and accountability efforts.

The event was a collaboration among various groups and funded through the The Water Foundation. Representatives from Clean Wisconsin, BlueGreen Alliance, Climate Justice Alliance and TRUE Skool served on the planning committee.

“The Milwaukee Justice Strategy Blitz is trying to create the case that change is not owned by any one person or organization,” said Shalina Ali, co-executive director of TRUE Skool and a member of the event’s planning committee. 

In addition to discussion and planning sessions facilitated by UBUNTU Research & Evaluation, the blitz featured a community stories and culture night; free meals and gifts; raffles; and a reflection cruise aboard the Miss Wisconsin. 

People directly impacted by flooding who attended both days and registered in advance received a $500 stipend.

‘A lot of red tape’

Residents from North and South Side neighborhoods opened up about their personal experiences recovering from flooding during heavy rainstorms in August and April, paying out of pocket for repairs and having to advocate for themselves to get access to resources.

“We want to take those stories and use that to mobilize flood victims that participated and flood victims across the city to be able to advocate for policy change,” said Richard Diaz, water infrastructure field manager with BlueGreen Alliance and a member of the planning committee. 

Some residents reported having to stay in homes that are not considered safe because of their preexisting health conditions or exposure to mold and bacteria, while others said they have spent months living outside their homes while repairs are worked on. 

Flemister received assistance from FEMA and her insurance after the August flood, but it wasn’t enough to cover the costly repairs to her home and car. 

She said she’s tried to apply for loan programs that have income requirements and submitted her 2023 and 2024 income tax returns, but now they are asking for her 2025 returns. 

“There’s just a lot of red tape that’s keeping me out of my home,” Flemister said. 

Regina Harmon, who lives in Glendale near the Milwaukee border by Lincoln Park, said she heard a loud boom when a sinkhole opened below one of her home’s walls and collapsed it as her basement flooded overnight during the August storms. 

“It felt like I was in a car wash, and I mean it shook the house like it was an earthquake,” Harmon said. 

As she continues to recover from the traumatic experience, Harmon said she is interested in learning more about addressing repeated flooding and sewer backups on a structural level and improving emergency responsiveness.  

“Maybe I can get information to reach out to people in the community and share information and see what we can do,” said Harmon, who added that she was not satisfied with the responses she got from some agencies when seeking help.  

In the storm’s aftermath, she connected neighbors with retired contractors and handymen who could help out, and called county and other officials and relief organizations on behalf of her neighborhood.

Next steps

As small groups worked on action items, many talked about sharing flood prevention education and resources across neighborhoods, organizing cleanups and putting pressure on elected leaders to address aging sewer infrastructure and make emergency aid more accessible.

Some specific ideas that small groups generated on day two of the blitz included: creating neighborhood resiliency plans, fundraising to provide a monetary incentive to participate in cleanups, demanding a local budget for disaster aid and creating a flood communication portal or app with resources.

Flemister’s group talked about asking elected officials to waive qualifications for disaster victims applying for home repair loan and grant programs.

“That needs to be done ASAP, ’cause there’s money for us out here,” Flemister said. 

During the event, attendees built lists of resources to share with the group and each other’s contacts so they could stay connected and work together. 

Graphic notetakers from TRUE Skool illustrated and wrote notes throughout the blitz and will be using the stories to design a draft for a community mural. 

To move forward, organizers will go through what they learned, check in with individuals and create an organizing vehicle or coalition space to meet and work on next steps together, according to Diaz. 

Diaz said the city’s fall budget cycle and next year’s state budget hearings are opportunities for people to share their stories to impact public policy. 

“Just hearing that people want to stay involved, I think that’s a huge win,” Ali said. 

Meredith Melland is the neighborhoods reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

The post Event brings residents together to share their flood stories and help find solutions appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.

It’s Friday in Milwaukee, and here are some things we think you should know about. If you would like your event to be considered for this column, please submit your news by clicking here at least two weeks in advance.

1. Celebrating 50 Years: Saturday, June 6

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center will be celebrating its 50th anniversary from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at 1531 W. Vliet St. Families will have the chance to look at new murals, participate in activities, enjoy a performance lineup and explore the building’s history. More information here.

2. Promise Zone Bike Ride: Saturday, June 6

The Northwest Side Community Development Corp. has partnered with other organizations to host the ninth annual Promise Zone Bike Ride. The ride will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 in Garden Homes Park, 2600 N. Atkinson Ave. Bikes are limited, so you are encouraged to bring your own. There will also be free bike repairs from 9 to 10 a.m. along with free event T-shirts, snacks and prizes. Come with a helmet and closed-toed shoes. Click here to register. More information here.

3. June in Bloom BBQ: Saturday, June 6

The Native Wellness Garden invites community members to a barbecue to celebrate the laying down of seeds. The barbecue is from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at 3780 S. 6th St. Activities during the cookout include a tea demonstration, native plants discussion, tours of the garden and games. More information here.

4. Homeownership Fair: Saturday, June 6

Housing Resources Inc., the Metropolitan Milwaukee Fair Housing Council and others will be hosting a session about homeownership from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at Greater New Birth, 8237 W. Silver Spring Drive. You will meet real estate experts, speak with HUD housing counselors and learn about down payments and grants. Refreshments and free tote bags will be provided. More information here.

5. Fiesta Puerto Rico Festival and Parade: Sunday, June 7

In honor of National Puerto Rican Day, a festival and parade hosted by El Conquistador Latino Newspaper and other local organizations will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 7 at Humboldt Park, 748 E. Oklahoma Ave. Attendees can expect traditional music, food, children’s activities and other festivities. More information here.

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The post 5 things to know and do the weekend of June 5 appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.