Author: Correspondent

No growth in revenue and rising healthcare costs require difficult decisions. Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Darienne B. Driver unveiled a proposed budget for the 2017–18 school year that puts students first, continues the service/delivery reorganization of Central Services, and provides additional support to schools. The $1.17 billion budget is down 1.8 percent or $21 million from 2016–17. This reflects an expected decrease in revenues because the 2016–17 budget included borrowing from the construction fund that is not included in the 2017–18 proposed budget. “While every budget inherently has changes and opportunities, developing the proposed 2017–18 budget posed a greater...

Three Milwaukee area high schools were nationally recognized by U.S. News and World Report for top academic honors. An MPS high school, Carmen High School of Science and Technology-South Campus, has been named the number one school in the state of Wisconsin by U.S. News and World Report, according to the 2017 list released recently. Additionally, three more MPS high schools have earned the distinguished honor of being Nationally Recognized by U.S. News and World Report. Schools that receive the “Nationally Recognized” designation must qualify as high-performing schools based on state exam performance. Schools listed in this category are...

Retired Green Bay Packers star safety LeRoy Butler will speak to the community about civic engagement on May 8, at a free event hosted by the St. Thomas More Center. A member of the NFL’s 1990s All-Decade team, Butler played 12 seasons with the Packers and was inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2007. Growing up in poverty and spending much of his early childhood in a wheelchair, Butler will share how he kept a positive outlook and remained persistent while overcoming the many obstacles that he encountered in his life. “LeRoy Butler has an incredible perspective...

Sculpture Milwaukee, an outdoor urban sculpture experience in downtown Milwaukee, will be on public viewing from June 1 to October 22. Installation of the pieces will begin in mid-May. Featuring 22 sculptures by 21 artists, the pieces will be positioned along Wisconsin Avenue from 6th Street to O’Donnell Park and will be free to the public. The installation will include internationally renowned artists such as Santiago Calatrava, Tony Cragg, Alison Saar, Joel Shapiro and Jessica Stockholder. Along with three Milwaukee-based artists, Michelle Grabner, Paul Druecke and Jason S. Yi, the sculptures will range in size and material, including a...

Associated Bank announced plans for a new full-service branch at 250 East Wisconsin Avenue, downtown Milwaukee. The new branch will replace Associated’s current location at 401 East Kilbourn Street in downtown Milwaukee. All employees will move to the new branch, which is anticipated to open late fall 2017. Designed by Rinka Chung Architecture, Inc., the new 2,100 square foot branch includes Associated’s unique branded architecture, full-service lobby with teller stations, drive-thru banking with 24-hour ATM, and fully integrated digital services. The branch will provide the latest in convenient self-service banking solutions, including iPads allowing customers to sign up for...

Governor Scott Walker announced on April 25 that the Wisconsin Housing and Economic Development Authority (WHEDA) will provide amended loan guarantees to dairy farmers and processors with more favorable terms. The loan guarantees will help Wisconsin dairy producers and processors access much-needed capital to address current market conditions. The changes will provide more favorable repayment and collateral terms to farmers and increased guarantees for producers at lower fees. “This is a difficult time for many of Wisconsin’s dairy farm families due to Canada’s dairy trade policies, and we’re going to do everything we can to help them,” Governor Walker...