A Volunteer Spirit: Mayor Satoru Kirigaya shares lessons from life and business for being a leader
“Milwaukee Independent” sat down with the Mayor of Zushi, Satoru Kirigaya, in Kanagawa Prefecture on March 14, 2024. The meeting came during a special assignment that reported on the 13th anniversary of the 3.11 earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster....
Janet Boettner shares her love of traditional Japanese comfort food with Milwaukee one taste at a time
One of the unexpected methods that Milwaukee native Janet Boettner instinctively used to reflect on her experiences around the world was to measure the journey of her life in meals. They were the ones she ate at home with her family, practical and affordable. The ones...
Putin’s Proxy: An unhinged Trump berates President Zelenskyy in ambush set by Vance at White House visit
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance unleashed a blistering verbal assault on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office on February 28, abruptly canceling a long-anticipated minerals deal and severing hopes for continued U.S. backing of...
March First Movement: Koreans in Milwaukee observe the anniversary of Korea’s push for Independence
Every year on March 1, Koreans pause to remember the wave of patriotic fervor that swept their country more than a century ago. Known as the March First Movement or the Samil Movement, the historic uprising on March 1, 1919, is widely recognized as a catalyst in...
Governor Evers creates statewide Office of Violence Prevention in wake of Madison school shooting
Just weeks after the tragic shooting at Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Governor Governor Tony Evers created a new statewide office dedicated to preventing gun violence on January 14. The Governor also called on the Republican-controlled Legislature to pass...
Not in our neighborhood: Proposed ICE detention facility in Milwaukee’s 9th District sparks outrage
A controversial plan to establish a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Milwaukee’s 9th Aldermanic District has drawn strong opposition from local officials and community leaders. Alderwoman Larresa Taylor, who represents the district,...
David Crowley: Redefining Milwaukee County’s leadership through education as a new UWM graduate
It is not every day that a high-level elected official quietly attends classes, writes research papers, and sits side-by-side with traditional undergraduates while holding one of the most influential positions in local government. Yet Milwaukee County Executive David...
Back to school: Older adults returning to college is a growing trend fueled by new career goals
Following a demographic shift that is redefining the traditional image of the undergraduate classroom, a growing number of older adults, particularly those in their 30s and 40s, are returning to college to complete degrees they began years ago, or to pursue entirely...
Images of life and politics in 2024 chronicled by photojournalists offer a mirror of American society
To look at news photos is to be charmed, amused, saddened, horrified, amazed, and inspired. Such was the power of photojournalism in 2024, as cameras captured a year of seismic political and societal shifts in the United States. In an election year like no other,...
Edward Morgan: Celebrating the courage and new beginnings at a U.S. citizenship oath ceremony
“The Constitution has a special love for you, a love for you that it will not have for me. Because the Constitution sees in you the spirit of the Founders, people who are willing to risk everything. People who are Americans by consent, not by an accidental birth like...
The Rise of American Autocracy: Lessons from North Korea’s Kim Dynasty about how dictators keep control
With his unpredictable political strategies, contentious policies, and efforts to centralize power, Donald Trump has been a highly polarizing figure in American politics. His style and tactics have often led to comparisons with various autocratic leaders worldwide,...
1000 Days of Defiance: Ukraine’s continued fight for survival and the looming impact of Trump’s return
November 20, 2024, marks the tragic milestone of the 1,000th day since Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. The brutal assault, intended to topple Ukraine’s government within days, instead ignited a fierce national resistance and a war that has...
