Author: Correspondent

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele announced that his upcoming 2018 budget proposal will include new dedicated revenue for County Parks and transportation projects, a decision informed both by independent fiscal analysis and by the feedback of County residents who participated in the Engage MKE initiative. Through the Balancing Act platform, a significant majority of users indicated that a revenue increase was needed; the County simply cannot fund all of our important services at the same levels without new resources, like a vehicle registration fee and dedicated revenue for County Parks. Balancing Act users on average supported an average increase...

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified the Wisconsin Elections Commission on September 22 for the first time that “Russian government cyber actors” unsuccessfully targeted the state’s voter registration system in 2016. WEC Administrator Michael Haas has informed WEC Chair Mark Thomsen, who directed Commission staff to investigate why election officials were not notified earlier. “This scanning had no impact on Wisconsin’s systems or the election,” Haas said. “Homeland Security specifically confirmed there was no breach or compromise of our data.” Wisconsin is one of 21 states whose chief election officials were notified by DHS officials that their systems...

One-Year anniversary celebrated with two new murals and green space. The East Side’s Black Cat Alley mural destination is celebrating its one-year anniversary this month. Last year, it premiered during Doors Open Milwaukee 2016 to thousands of enchanted visitors. This year, visitors during Doors Open Milwaukee 2017 will enjoy a beautiful new urban garden in front of Tia Richardson’s 2016 mural “Milwaukee Gaia Buddha,” executed by Sam Alford; a brand-new mural by local illustrator and artist David Zimmerman; and the live installation of another mural by Chicago artist Goosenek. The Black Cat Alley is a corridor of world-class murals...

…Bus shelters. The nooks and crannies behind a high-rise office. In abandoned buildings. On benches in secluded areas of county parks. Under a bridge. In a friend’s garage. In the upper reaches of a parking ramp. Roaming through empty streets as dawn hovers over downtown Milwaukee… These are the locations Community Advocates Homeless Outreach Nursing Center (HONC) staff search out in the early hours of the morning twice a week when they offer assistance to Milwaukeeans living in uninhabitable areas. The members of the Homeless Outreach Nursing Center—Program Manager Mary Ann Patti, plus Winnie Butler, Bindu Derksen, Dani Koehler,...

A new statewide effort to drive economic opportunity into underserved communities is ramping up to deliver millions of dollars in new capital to fuel small businesses, create jobs and answer the statewide need for more affordable housing. The Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) is teaming up with the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) on this innovative urban-rural strategy to spur growth in Milwaukee communities as well as support important projects in the state’s 46 rural counties. As part of the effort, LISC is investing $5 million in a newly created statewide Wisconsin Business Opportunity Fund, which will...

Marcus Theatres announced it will celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month, September 15 to October 15, by showing a variety of Hispanic-directed and Hispanic-focused films at select locations. The special series will feature seven movies including blockbusters, classics and family films that recognize the histories, cultures and contributions of the Hispanic community in the U.S. and beyond. “Marcus Theatres is proud to observe National Hispanic Heritage Month by showcasing the many contributions of Latinos in the entertainment industry,” said Rolando Rodriguez, chairman, president and CEO of Marcus Theatres. “We hope this special series will not only educate multiple generations of...