Author: Correspondent

In honor of “National Make a Friend Day” on February 11, the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) talked with four long-time best buddies and co-workers. Mike Allen, David Butler, Greg Lewis, and Kevin Pumphrey first met each other while working for another company and then migrated to MCTS. The interview asked the four about their early years with MCTS, and what it takes to remain close over 30 years of friendship. When and where did you all first meet one another? Greg: Over 30 years ago. David: First at Loomis Armored Car Company. Kevin: We were all working together...

As a salute to their former and longtime home nearby, the Milwaukee Bucks will name their new sports bar after the MECCA Arena, currently scheduled to open in late April at the Entertainment Block adjacent to Fiserv Forum. Located in the same building as Good City Brewing, the 11,500-square-foot, two-story establishment is owned by Head of the Herd Real Estate Development LLC, an affiliate of the Bucks. “The MECCA Sports Bar and Grill will be a major attraction for Milwaukee’s passionate sports fans,” said Michael Belot, Senior Vice President of Bucks Ventures and Development. “The Entertainment Block has a...

Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 is among the latest wave of community influencers to claim a West Wisconsin Avenue address on the burgeoning arterial. The downtown advocacy group announced it will occupy 5,000 square feet at The Avenue, 301 W. Wisconsin Avenue, by early fall 2019. The announcement came on January 21 on the heels of the recently unveiled transformation plan for The Avenue. Formerly The Shops of Grand Avenue, the new space is planned to include the 3rd Street Market Hall and new headquarters for GRAEF. Milwaukee Downtown BID #21 will occupy a high-profile space on the first floor...

The unravelling of the promised investment in Wisconsin, touted by President Donald Trump as proof that he could revive America’s Rust Belt, has set off a political storm and landed the world’s largest contract electronics manufacturer in hot water. According to media reports, Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn intends to drastically scale back its proposed Wisconsin operation, yet again. The latest developments in the troubled deal cut by Wisconsin Republicans raises new questions about their actions in December 2018. During the lame-duck session before former Governor Scott Walker left office, one of many policies passed by Legislators to restrict the...

Just as there is a partisan split at the top of Wisconsin’s state government, partisan divisions remain a major force that influences public opinion across the state, according to a recent Marquette Law School Poll. The findings are also likely to support criticisms and reinforce the establihed polarization. The first poll since the November election finds voters split generally along party lines on state issues such as whether Wisconsin should drop out of a lawsuit challenging the Affordable Care Act, often known as Obamacare, increase the minimum wage or prioritize increasing school spending over holding down property taxes. However,...

The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation (WEDC) has invited Wisconsin companies that want to establish or expand their export efforts to participate in a global trade venture to China from April 5 to 17. The trade venture will include visits to Chengdu, Shanghai, and Beijing, which are markets of particular opportunity for Wisconsin companies. In each city, participating companies will be scheduled for customized business meetings with potential local partners. “China represents a market that cannot be ignored for Wisconsin, especially in the areas of medical and scientific instruments, industrial machinery and electrical machinery,” said Katy Sinnott, vice president of...