Author: Correspondent

In light of recent discoveries concerning the contamination of drinking water and groundwater across the state, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has initiated a new voluntary PFAS testing program. The DNR will ask 125 municipal wastewater treatment facilities to begin sampling and analyzing water flowing in and out of the facilities for PFAS compounds to gain a better understanding of how and where PFAS contaminants could be entering the air, land, and waters of the state before ultimately ending up in public and private drinking water. PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades...

The University of Wisconsin System announced recently that it is assessing student behavioral health needs and existing services at its 13 universities with an eye toward recommending additional approaches early next year. Three System work groups led by six senior student affairs officers will make the recommendations. The UW System has already begun taking stock of services provided on campuses and collecting ideas for improvements. “With a wealth of expertise on campus, our institutions are already providing a range of behavioral health services to students,” said Andrew S. Petersen, Board of Regents President. “We want to replicate what works...

The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently awarded the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) with its 2019 APTA Innovation Award for the world–renowned ‘MCTS Excellence’ program. MCTS Excellence began in late 2016 as a video series posted on the organization’s website and official social media accounts. Each video, which was produced in-house by the MCTS Marketing Department, used bus surveillance footage to tell a unique story that highlighted an employee’s act of kindness or compassion. “MCTS Excellence is a testament to the hard work, heroism and humanity that our employees bring to the job every day; not only to...

Time Equities, Inc. (TEI) announced on July 18 that The Westown Association, a non-profit business and cultural association focused on championing the economic and social development of downtown Milwaukee, signed a lease at its recently rebranded 310W, located at 310 West Wisconsin Avenue. The nonprofit organization will be housed in a 2,930 rentable-square-foot space on the top floor of the 14-story tower located in the heart of Westown, a bustling district along the Milwaukee River. TEI acquired 310W in December 2017 and has committed approximately $30 million to upgrading the location. TEI Chairman and CEO Francis Greenburger was joined...

The Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services issued a raze order against the former Northridge Mall three months ago, and a city of Milwaukee panel has declared the action reasonable. Mall owners challenged the order on July 18 before the city’s Standards and Appeals Commission. Black Spruce disagrees with the City’s conclusion that its property can be razed against its wishes or that any repairs that could be made are presumed unreasonable. “Black Spruce has made significant progress on its plans to renovate the Northridge Property and would like an opportunity to share these plans and developments with the City...