Governor Tony Evers calls Special Session to expand BadgerCare and invest in State’s economic recovery
Governor Tony Evers announced on May 19 that he was calling a special session to expand BadgerCare, and invest the $1 billion in cost savings realized under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) into Wisconsin’s economic recovery. With more than 50 projects and economic...
“Moving Milwaukee Forward” Health Order to expire on June 1 because COVID-19 vaccinations are working
In light of the Center for Disease Control’s announcement on May 13 that vaccinated individuals can safely resume activities without a mask, the Milwaukee Health Department has made the decision to let the Moving Milwaukee Forward Health Order expire on June 1. The...
Vote by Wisconsin GOP shows their utter contempt for unemployed workers impacted by the pandemic
Unemployed Wisconsinites will now have one more barrier to overcome if they hope to collect Unemployment Insurance, owing to the ill-advised votes of Republican members of the Joint Committee on the Review of Administrative Rules (JCRAR). It is yet another example of...
Another biblical irony: Evangelicals invented the “cancel culture” they claim to hate
Every day I see Christians lamenting the “Cancel Culture,” yet claiming whenever they face accountability for their words or their conduct or for the policies or politicians they support, that they are being systematically silenced. This is irony of biblical...
Pro-Cancel Culture: Right-wing ideology has always tried to ostracize people for the views it despises
“It’s official: the Republican party is more devoted to a one-term, twice impeached con man than they are to the truth and protecting our democracy. Truth shouldn’t be political. Those who speak uncomfortable truths should be heard, not pushed to...
Backing the Big Lie: Republicans seek to airbrush the 1/6 Capitol attack from history to avoid an investigation
“Tuesday, September 11, 2001, dawned temperate and nearly cloudless in the eastern United States.” So begins the report of the 9/11 commission, which investigated the terrorist attacks 20 years ago with bipartisan support. Will there be a similarly limpid introduction...
Bublr Bikes gives the public a first look at new E-Bike program for the Greater Milwaukee area
Greater Milwaukee’s bike share program unveiled its new e-bike (electric-assist) program on May 19 at Indeed Brewery. Nearly 200 of the e-bikes will be integrated into the Bublr Bikes network later this season. The City of Milwaukee and Bublr Bikes hope to improve...
Milwaukee expands travel options with dockless scooter program and extra Bublr Bike stations
The City of Milwaukee plans to expand modes of travel for residents throughout the city with both a 2021 dockless scooter pilot study and an expansion of the Bublr bike share program. The Department of Public Works (DPW) has selected three scooter companies – Bird,...
Invisible Cyclists: Why people of color need to be part of post-pandemic transportation planning
By Julian Agyeman, Professor of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning, Tufts University As states and workplaces begin opening up at different speeds and with various levels of health safety restrictions after a year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people are...
Milwaukee Independent earns 40th Press Club award since 2016 with 10 honors for excellence in journalism
The Milwaukee Independent earned ten distinctions on May 19 from the Milwaukee Press Club for Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism, during the virtual ceremony of its 2021 Gridiron Awards. The journalism honors follow the third year in a row of double digit recognition...
Burlington School District misses deadline to offer plan for solving its “Racially Hostile Environment”
Just weeks after the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) issued its ruling against the Burlington Area School District (BASD) for their failure to redress their “hostile racial environment,” the Burlington Coalition for Dismantling Racism (BCDR) has received...
What it means now that Milwaukee has banned police from using chokeholds without exception
Police in Milwaukee are now banned from using chokeholds, following a unanimous vote by the Fire and Police Commission. The FPC meeting was preceded by weeks of organizing by residents and activists pushing for the ban on a hold officers were not trained to utilize....
