Irpin under siege: Alderman Rainey asks public to help Milwaukee’s sister city as it faces humanitarian crisis
Milwaukee’s sister city in Ukraine has been under siege for weeks by invading Russian forces, and agencies have been enlisted to facilitate aid to those affected by the crisis. As chair of Milwaukee’s Sister Cities Committee, Alderman Khalif J. Rainey said that the...
Suffering for art: What Mikhail Baryshnikov gets wrong about being punished for a nation’s sins
The Creative Arts have always been a bridge in times of trauma. They can inspire a population struggling with the daily impact of trauma, and teach lessons to later generations who were not alive during such times. Music and dance have also helped bridge cultural...
The guilt of safety: Ukrainian woman finds temporary peace away from war with her Milwaukee family
In the early days of Putin’s brutal invasion of Ukraine, I spoke with many members of Milwaukee’s Ukrainian American community. I learned about their personal connections to the war, so that their voices could be shared with the public. During one of the...
Photos from the frontlines: Sergi Mykhalchuk documents images of war as civilians evacuate Irpin
Milwaukee’s sister city remains a strategic area as Russian invasion forces push to the capital city of Kyiv. Irpin has been under siege since March 4 and, like many smaller towns, has been targeted with indiscriminate and heavy bombardments. Lacking the ability...
Happy Days: Milwaukee’s RiverWalk welcomes the return of a newly refreshed Bronze Fonz
After spending several weeks away from its RiverWalk location in downtown Milwaukee for restoration, the Bronze Fonz returned on March 11 with an official unveiling ceremony. The Bronze Fonz is typically refreshed on the RiverWalk to preserve its condition. However,...
Milwaukee hosts inaugural Wisconsin E-Sports Summit as video game industry drives interest in pro gaming
More than one hundred E-Sports influencers and leaders gathered in Milwaukee’s Deer District on March 10 for the first ever Wisconsin Esports Summit. What started in the 1980s, when kids rushed to arcades after school to drop quarters in games like Pac-Man and Space...
Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism: Milwaukee Independent recognized as Finalist for 8 MPC awards
The Milwaukee Press Club announced the winners of its 92nd Annual Gridiron Awards for Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism, and Milwaukee Independent was selected as a finalist for 8 features. The recognition brings a total of 48 journalism honors, in competition...
Wisconsin warns public about charity scams claiming to help those affected by Putin’s invasion of Ukraine
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) and the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) released information on March 1 urging the public to do their research before sending money to a charity claiming to help those...
Siege of Irpin: Images show conditions in Milwaukee’s sister city as civilians flee Russian bombardment
Urban centers in Ukraine, including Milwaukee’s sister city Irpin, continued to face increasingly heavy bombardment on March 6 and 7 as Russia’s nearly two-week invasion of its neighboring country intensified. Scenes of destruction were reported around the...
Ukraine is the first military engagement of America’s Proxy Wars where a country wants to fight for itself
In statements addressing Western leaders, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for help fighting the Russians. But in a way very unusual from the American experience. He has asked to be armed with weapons. Zelenskyy said that no one needed to...
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson speaks with Mayor of Irpin as Milwaukee’s sister city faces brutal attack
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson spoke with the Ukrainian Mayor of Irpin, Milwaukee’s sister city, on March 4 for an update with the deteriorating conditions on the ground as Putin’s invasion stretches into its second week. With a population of roughly 62,000...
Veteran Anna Mae Robertson honored on her 98th birthday for distinguished service in Six Triple Eight
Acting Mayor Cavalier Johnson presented veteran Anna Mae Robertson with a proclamation on March 4 at the Tabernacle Community Baptist Church, in celebration of her military career and civilian accomplishments in advance of her 98th Birthday on March 5. Pastor Donna...
