Author: Staff

Shopping during Pandemic: Customers at Pete’s Fruit Market get surprise gift of free groceries

Tonit Calaway and Judge David Swanson, along with Major League Baseball Commissioner Emeritus Allan H. “Bud” Selig, came together with Pete’s Fruit Market on April 23 to surprise customers with free groceries. The generous donation of $20,000 by the three individuals provided families that shop at Pete’s Fruit Market on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Drive with groceries and other necessities to help them during the harsh social and economic conditions brought on by the coronavirus and social distancing measures. “There is so much uncertainty and anxiety in the community right now as families try to job loss, bills,...

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More Summer Festivities Fizzle: Pandemic concerns cancel Lakefront Fireworks and July 4th celebrations

Milwaukee County Parks announced on April 27 that the July 3 Lakefront Fireworks have been cancelled for 2020 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and the event will not be rescheduled this year. In lieu of the fireworks celebration, American Family Insurance will make a donation to the newly established Milwaukee Parks Foundation. “We’re obviously disappointed for the many Wisconsin residents who have made the lakefront fireworks an Independence Day tradition,” said Judd Schemmel, American Family Insurance associate vice president of community investment and partnerships. “However, the continuing uncertainty of the pandemic and concern for the health and safety...

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COVID-19 cases rise at Wisconsin Corrections Facilities as health experts warn about nationwide impact

Following the disclosure by officials that the number of confirmed cases at Milwaukee County House of Correction rose to 103 and in the Dane County Jail to 21, a new data model showed that COVID-19 could claim the lives of approximately 100,000 more people nationwide than current projections stipulate if jail populations are not dramatically and immediately reduced. The findings indicate that, even if communities across the United States continue practicing social distancing and following public health guidance, they will still experience much higher death rates if no substantial action is taken to reduce jail populations. “These numbers confirm...

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Black people are 4.2 times more likely to face prosecution for Marijuana possession in Wisconsin

The American Civil Liberties Union released a new report on April 20 that showed Black people are 4.2 times more likely than white people to be arrested for marijuana possession in Wisconsin, despite comparable national marijuana usage rates. Wisconsin ranked 14th in the nation for the largest racial disparities in arrests for marijuana possession and was among 17 states where arrests for marijuana possession increased from 2010 to 2018. Although the total number of people arrested for marijuana possession has decreased in the past decade, nationally, law enforcement still made 6.1 million such arrests over that period, and the...

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Milwaukee Police Department to begin enforcement of “Safer at Home” ordinance

The Common Council passed an ordinance on April 21 to allow Milwaukee Police and the Health Department to issue a citation up to $500, in rare instances where individuals were deliberately violating the Safer at Home order that has been place in the city to help prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Effective May 2, 2020, the Milwaukee City Ordinance “Violation or Obstruction of Orders” citation can be issued. The citation does not replace the option to arrest and pursue criminal charges under state statute. “Quite simply, this action does not affect the range of options and discretion for...

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A wave of black leadership continues with Marcelia Nicholson as Chairwoman of County Supervisors

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors elected Supervisor Marcelia Nicholson to lead the body as Chairwoman for the 2020-2022 term on a vote of 11 to 7 over Supervisor Willie Johnson Jr. on April 24. Supervisor Nicholson’s father is African-American and her mother is Puerto Rican, and with the election she becomes the first Afro-Latina to become Chairperson of the Board of Supervisors. It also follows a trend of sweeping political victories for African American representation in Milwaukee, after David Crowley won his race as Milwaukee County Executive and Alderman Cavalier “Chevy” Johnson became Milwaukee Common Council President. Supervisor...

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