Author: Staff

During the daily COVID-19 video press conference on April 7, Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele said that he was left with no choice but to take action concerning the overcrowding of Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses. County leaders switched to a lighter bus schedule as the coronavirus spread across the region, and stopped collecting fares from riders on March 28. MCTS has kept the transit system going, to help essential workers get to jobs, and individuals without transportation visit the doctor. Under the current “Safer at Home” order, non-essential businesses have been closed since March 12, with gatherings...

The Milwaukee County Historical Society has been no exception to the list of statewide closures due to the efforts aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19, but MCHS saw it as an opportunity expand into digital tourism. Where many institutions might see challenges in presenting their content in a digital format, MCHS looked for a way to bring their 2020 feature exhibit, “Revealed: Milwaukee’s Unseen Treasures,” to a sheltered public. That creative spark allowed for the development of short videos that would expand on the artifacts presented in the exhibit. “We thought it would be a shame if all...

Milwaukee Film is opening up a new channel to bring people together in film, even while the Oriental Theatre remains closed to combat the spread of the coronavirus. Called Sofa Cinema, the local nonprofit launched its first virtual film portal on April 2 with support of Associated Bank. Through the Sofa Cinema page on Milwaukee Film’s website, film fans are able to access new independent film titles, with a portion of the rental proceeds supporting Milwaukee Film. “Closing our cinema doesn’t mean closing off access to inspiring, intriguing and entertaining films,” said Jonathan Jackson, CEO and Artistic Director for...

While the stages remain dark during the COVID-19 global pandemic, Milwaukee Rep is rallying its creative resources to bring the world-class theater audiences have come to know and love directly into homes. In addition to the HD streaming of “Eclipsed” available through April 12, Milwaukee Rep has devised several ways to not only serve its audience. Over the next few weeks, Milwaukee Rep will bring theater from “Our Home to Your Home” in several unique ways. Even during the pandemic, Milwaukee thrive as a cultural community of artists. Ten of Milwaukee Rep’s most beloved artists, including Nova Y. Payton...

The Milwaukee County Unified Emergency Operations Center (UEOC) and local partners are planning ahead to prepare for the predicted surge in COVID-19 patients in the State of Wisconsin. An Alternative Care Facility, to be constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, will provide additional hospital beds for low-acuity COVID-19 patients so local healthcare systems can dedicate their facilities to the most acute cases. “Preparing for an escalation of COVID-19 cases is critical as we take every possible measure to minimize the impact on our community,” said Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele. “We make this urgent request of our...