Author: Correspondent

Milwaukee philanthropist and County Executive of Milwaukee County Chris Abele, personally issued a $100,000 challenge grant on January 8 to support the reopening of America’s Black Holocaust Museum (ABHM). Located at 401 W. North Avenue in Milwaukee’s Bronzeville African American Cultural and Entertainment District, County Executive Abele’s grant will match dollar-for-dollar all donations and pledges made by February 25, 2019. That day in particular is special. Falling within Black History Month, it is the 105th birthday of museum founder Dr. James Cameron, who passed away in 2006 at age 92. A donation or pledge would make a perfect birthday...

In its first two years, the M³ (pronounced M-cubed) initiative – which brings together Milwaukee Public Schools, Milwaukee Area Technical College and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee – has helped increase the MPS graduation rate and the percentage of MPS grads going on to college. In releasing results at a two-year impact update on January 9, leaders at the three institutions committed to accelerating the progress and to moving the needle in one area that has not yet seen growth: the one-year retention percentage for MPS graduates who attend either MATC or UWM. More than 130,000 students are collectively served...

Some of the best amateur boxers in the country, arranged by the Future Olympian Boxing Association, will duke it out in three-round bouts at the January 17 fundraiser for Zoological Society of Milwaukee. This year’s “Puttin’ on the Ritz” event continues to raise funds for the new Adventure Africa complex at the Milwaukee County Zoo. The 24th annual event will be hosted at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino. The 2018 gala drew more than $162,000 in funding support. The Zoological Society is in the middle of a $25 million capital campaign to fund the first phase of planned improvements...

The Wisconsin Hospital Association (WHA) recently released its 2018 Wisconsin Health Care Workforce Report, which provides recommendations to ensure the state’s workforce remains up to the challenge of providing high-quality care for an aging population. Solutions in this 15th annual report address issues posed by a rapidly changing and increasingly complex health care environment. The report recommends that Wisconsin: Attract entry-level workers to climb heath care career pathways to fill in-demand positions such as registered nurses, surgical technicians, and nurse anesthetists; Implement strategies to more quickly grow our supply of physicians; Reform state law to allow advanced practice providers...

A group of plaintiffs filed a lawsuit on January 10 that aims to overturn all of the measures Wisconsin Republicans passed in a lame-duck session from December 2018, arguing the entire session was unconstitutional. The League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, along with five other plaintiffs, filed a lawsuit in Dane County Circuit Court challenging the enforceability of the legislation adopted during an “extraordinary session” of the Wisconsin Legislature last month. “Our clients are requesting that the courts intervene to prevent a co-equal branch of government exceeding the constitutional limits on its powers. All laws passed during the extraordinary...

Wisconsin ranks 32nd nationwide in funding programs that prevent kids from using tobacco and help smokers quit, according to a report released recently by leading public health groups. Wisconsin spent $5.3 million this year on tobacco prevention and cessation programs, which is just 9.2% of the $57.5 million recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use, the nation’s No. 1 preventable cause of death, and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Wisconsin, 7.8% of high school students smoke cigarettes, while...