Saturday, March 15, 2025
Friday, March 14, 2025
Cops Gone Wild: Feds accuse Milwaukee police officer of helping 'Burleigh Zoo Family' street gang
Ashley Luthern
A former Milwaukee police officer is facing federal charges after authorities say he used his position to help members of a violent street gang.
Juwon J. Madlock is accused of transferring ammunition to a felon, obstruction, lying to federal agents and possessing a machine gun after FBI agents found a gun with a switch device at his residence, according to a federal criminal complaint filed Thursday. Switches are designed to convert handguns into automatic weapons.
The allegations came to light when a federal task force was investigating a suspected member of the “BZF,” also known as the “Burleigh Zoo Family,” and searched a house in Greenfield. During the search, investigators found a cellphone that had contacts between the suspect and Madlock, according to court records.
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He was among two dozen law enforcement officers who kept their jobs after being added to the list, which is maintained by the Milwaukee County District Attorney's Office.
DATABASE: Who's on Milwaukee County's list of police with integrity concerns?
In a statement early Friday, the Milwaukee Police Department said it had become aware of "significant allegations of criminal misconduct involving one of its members."
The officer was arrested Wednesday by investigators from the FBI and the department's Internal Affairs Division, and the officer resigned "during that contact," according to the department statement.
"Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman expects all members, sworn and civilian, to demonstrate the highest ethical standards in the performance of their duties and was extremely disappointed to learn about the misconduct in this case," the department said.
"Chief Norman wants to remind the public that everyone is afforded the right of due process under the law, and as such, are innocent until proven guilty," the statement concluded.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
8 ways to celebrate St. Patrick's Day
Caroline Neal
RACINE COUNTY — St. Patrick’s Day may fall on a Monday this year, but that likely won’t stop many people from partaking in celebrations.
From bar crawls to Downtown Racine Corporation’s 17th annual parade this weekend, Racine residents and businesses are joining in on the fun.
Here’s where you can celebrate this year:
Downtown Racine
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade kicks off Saturday at 12 p.m. at the intersection of State and Main streets. The parade will move south on Main before turning west onto Sixth Street, concluding hear City Hall.
There will be more than 35 participants.
The Ivanhoe
Pub & Eatery
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The Ivanhoe Pub & Eatery will be open for St. Patrick's Day celebrations this Saturday and Monday. |
On Monday, The Ivanhoe Pub & Eatery, 231 Main St., Racine, will be hosting its St. Patrick’s Day celebration.
The Irish pub will be open at 8 a.m. on Saturday, March 15, and Monday, March 17, for Irish breakfast.
Patrons will be able to enjoy the Irish menu, including dishes like potato and leek soup, corned beef and cabbage, Irish stew, Irish coffee and green beer.
McAuliffe’s Pub
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Wendy Lynn Markus will perform at McAuliffe's Pub on Monday. Patrons also will hear from The Craic and Radiation. |
McAuliffe’s Pub, 3700 Meachem Road, Racine, will open at 10 a.m. on Monday.
Customers can try Guinness stout stew and choose from a selection of whiskey and Irish beers.
Starting at 3 p.m., patrons will hear live music from traditional Irish band The Craic, violinist Wendy Lynn Markus and alternative rock band Radiation.
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This weekend, West Racine residents can participate in bar crawls on Saturday and Sunday, visiting establishments like Crazy Train, 600 E Main St., Waterford. |
Bar crawls in West Racine
West Racine County residents can participate in bar crawls this weekend.
The first, St. Patt’s Day Pub Crawl, will be from 2-10 p.m. Saturday, March 15.
With food and drink specials at each establishment, the crawl will include Spanky’s Sports Bar & Grill, Penny Bar, Kelly’s Bleachers, B-Lazy Bar & Grill and Crazy Train.
The Second Annual Shamrock Pub Crawl is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16.
Participating bars include B-Lazy Bar & Grill, Cooler by the Lake, JC’s, Kelly’s Bleachers, Penny Bar, Sportsman’s Pub & Grub, The Boathouse and The Tavern.
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Buckets Pub, 2031 Lathrop Ave., will host a St. Patrick's Day celebration on Monday. |
Buckets Pub 2nd Round
On Monday, March 17, Buckets Pub 2nd Round, 2031 Lathrop Ave., Racine, will host its St. Patrick’s Day celebration from 11 a.m. to midnight.
The Summit Restaurant & Cocktails
Patrons at The Summit, 6825 Washington Ave., Mount Pleasant, can enjoy the St. Patrick’s Day menu on Friday, March 14; Saturday, March 15; and Monday, March 17.
Menu items include corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie and the Reuben.
Blue Badger Bar & Grill
From March 15-17, customers at Blue Badger Bar & Grill, 171 S. Sylvania Ave., Sturtevant, can enjoy St. Patrick’s Day specials, including $1 off the Reuben and $2 green beer.
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Racine residents can participate in the St. Patrick's Day 5k event on Saturday. Open registration opens at 9 a.m. at Festival Hall. |
Celebrations with 5kevents
5kevents is hosting a St. Patrick’s Day 5K on Saturday, March 15. Same-day registration starts at 9:00 a.m. at Festival Hall, 5 Fifth St., Racine.
From 1:30-7 p.m., residents can return to Festival Hall for ShamROCKs and Shenanigans, during which they can enjoy live music and Irish food, whiskeys and beers.
State Farm VP fired over comments in undercover video on wildfires, rate hikes
Wisconsin sheriffs are being called on to assist ICE. How they’re responding varies widely.
“That's not our role on this issue,” Waldera said. “My stance is that immigration is a federal issue, and the federal government would have to address those issues.”
Waldera is describing a well-understood precedent: The federal government can ask local law enforcement for help on immigration, but it's up to them to decide how much to cooperate.
That long-standing separation of duties is now being challenged and reshaped. With the Trump administration ramping up U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations and Republican state lawmakers pushing for more collaboration, sheriffs could play a key role in how immigration is enforced on the local level.
Read and see much more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/special-reports/2025/03/13/wisconsin-sheriffs-share-views-on-immigration-ice-cooperation/81939624007/
Thursday, March 13, 2025
First transgender Congresswoman Sarah McBride misgendered in hearing | USA TODAY
Australia reviews visa of US influencer who snatched baby wombat
City to borrow $17M for Lincoln King center and clinic
Holly Gilvary
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City of Racine Common Council voted March 4 to approve borrowing $17 million in the form of a short-term bond that the city will cover with grant funding in order to fund the new Lincoln King Community Center and Health Clinic. |
RACINE — The City of Racine will borrow $17 million for the construction of the Lincoln King Community Center and Health Clinic.
The Racine Common Council at its March 4 meeting approved promissory notes for the bridge loan with an 8-4 vote. Alders Jeff Coe, Melissa Kaprelian, Renee Kelly and Sandy Weidner voted against the motion.
City of Racine Finance Director Kathleen Fischer said the $17 million will be a short-term bond the city intends to cover with grant funding over the next two years.
Baird Managing Director Bradley Viegut said the final interest rate, locked in by the council’s vote to approve the borrowing, is 3.89%.
The city will refinance the bond in 2027 to pay the money back, with the option of prepaying the bond in 2026, if some grants come in early, as a way to reduce interest costs, Fischer said.
The city will put the grant funds into a separate bank account earning a high rate of interest in order to offset the interest costs associated with the bond.
Fischer added that tax credits also will help offset interest.
Kaprelian said she was concerned what might happen if “even one” of the major grants pending for the city fails to materialize, and asked Fischer what the city’s contingency plan is to meet the 2027 repayment obligation.
According to Fischer, if any of the grants fall through and the city is unable to meet the 2027 repayment obligation, the $17 million would be amortized over a 20-year period and the principal and interest would be paid from debt service tax levy.
Prior to the vote, Weidner said she’d be voting against the motion because the payback is coming from grants, and if the grants fail to materialize, property taxpayers should not have to fund the project.
“I’m afraid that, should these grants not come through, which is a very big possibility, that property taxpayers are going to be paying for perpetuity for a health clinic that they did not ask for,” Weidner said.
She also said that for most of the years she’s served on Common Council, the city’s public safety building has been in need of upgrades.
“If we commit ourselves to almost $20 million in loans for a community center/health clinic, we will have no room to replace a building that’s been needing to be replaced for the last two decades,” Weidner said.
Common Council approved the development and construction of the Lincoln King Community Center and Health Clinic project in August with a 12-3 vote. Alders Coe, Kaprelian and Weidner voted against the motion.
More than 20 people spoke in support of the Lincoln King Center during the Aug. 20 meeting’s public comment period.
The city broke ground on the project in November, and completion is estimated for 2026.
Wednesday, March 12, 2025
A look back on AOC’s 10 cringiest moments amid her latest ethics scandal
‘Absolutely shocked’: Dad’s medical bill soars after using insurance | Morning in America
SpaceX launch to swap ISS crew ‘stranded’ in space | Morning in America
Report: "Broke" insurance companies moved money, watchdog organization asking how?
N.Y. lawmaker wants to give communities power over problematic auto shops
Uptown Racine and police department launch Coffee with Cops
RACINE — Change is in the air in Uptown Racine. Or, at the very least, the smell of coffee certainly is.
In partnership with area business owners, the Racine Police Department launched its Coffee with Cops program Monday at The Branch at 1501, an event space and cafe on Washington Avenue.
The program is a way for the police to informally meet with residents, build relationships and address concerns, said Officer Brady Brenner.
All community members are welcome to attend.
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Multiple Racine Police Department members, including Assistant Chief Richard Toeller and Public Information Officer Sgt. Alicia Mitchell attended the Coffee with Cops event March 10. |
Brenner works at the 16th Street Community Oriented Policing House and helped organize the event, which will occur from 10 a.m. to noon every second Monday at The Branch.
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The Branch at 1501 will host monthly Coffee with Cops events from its location on Washington Avenue. |
Brenner said many business owners in Uptown Racine have reached out to the department with quality of life concerns; he specifically cited speeding on Washington Avenue and crime in and around the neighborhood.
Coffee with Cops is a way to address those concerns.
“I personally have no problem having those tough conversations,” Brenner said. “Really that’s all this is, is to be able to build that connection between police and the community again.”
Brenner plans to have patrol and COP officers attend future events. To him, Coffee with Cops can bolster community trust and help police get to the root of the issues they’re responding to.
To the business owners present Monday morning, Coffee with Cops is one of many ways the community is advocating for itself.
Kristina Campbell owns The Branch and chairs the board of Racine’s Uptown Business Improvement District.
Improved communication with local police is one part of making uptown better for businesses, residents and visitors, she said.
“It’s a bigger picture, and this is one part of that picture,” Campbell said. “All these pieces work together.”
Some of the goals include making the streets safer and cleaner, slowing traffic, planting trees and generally improving the district’s walkability.
“We’re all here with the same goal,” Campbell said. “We’re starting to actually stand up and say like ‘Hey, these are the things that we want to see this area be.’”
Bree Smith, an uptown BID board member and owner of Junoesque by Bree at 1422 Washington Ave., said that Coffee with Cops is like a “snowball.” She hopes to see it grow with time.
Linea Anthony of RMM Interiors, which has three locations along Washington Avenue, has been in the neighborhood for 30 years and acknowledged that new business owners have had to inherit old challenges.
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Linea Anthony of RMM Interiors attended the inaugural Coffee with Cops event at The Branch at 1501 on March 10. |
“It doesn’t seem to matter who’s in power,” Anthony said. “We don’t know if that’s because this area is slated to be one thing in people’s minds or because there just isn’t the money or whatever.”
City-owned buildings are falling apart, and interested developers need government support, Anthony said.
But it has to be nonpartisan, she said.
“They’re trying to divide us more and more these days,” Anthony said. “We can’t fall for that trap. We have to be on a neighborhood basis, working together to make sure that we get our voices heard.”
I've attended a Coffee with Cops event put on by the Mount Pleasant Police Department. It's a good thing.
RUSD seeking voter approval of five-year, $190M referendum
RACINE — Community members recently heard information about the Racine Unified School District’s upcoming five-year, $190 million nonrecurring operational referendum.
The referendum question is on ballots in the April 1 election, and the result could play a critical role in the district’s future.
Read and see the rest of the lies here: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/education/article_f6320be0-f950-11ef-972e-83f8cd9cc3ff.html#tracking-source=home-top-story
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