North, Zoo beaches earn ‘B’ on report cards for water quality

From The Journal Times.com:



RACINE — North and Zoo beaches have both earned a B grade for water quality, according to the Racine Public Health Department's 2026 North and Zoo Beach Report Card.

The report summarizes the water quality monitoring and environmental data from 2020-25.

According to the report card, 88% of water samples at North Beach and 87% of samples at Zoo Beach met water swimming standards, earning the beaches the B grade.

The largest threat to water quality is stormwater runoff, the report card said; after a quarter-inch of rain, water samples were up to 16 times more likely to fail safety standards than on dry days.

Shoreline health also is an issue.

The beaches have lost almost five acres (31%) of dunes since 2018, which the department said is driven largely by high water levels and storms.

“The dunes and natural areas that help keep the water clean are disappearing, and that affects everyone who visits,” said Adrian “AJ” Koski, a grant coordinator and research assistant.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/article_81ffe14b-8dd0-44c0-b8c4-aa54b0223b52.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Racine man pleads no contest to three counts in child pornography possession case

From The Journal Times.com:

Milana Doné


RACINE — A 22-year-old Racine man pleaded no contest Tuesday in connection to nearly a dozen charges of possession of child pornography.

Ciquil Mangum originally faced 11 counts, to which he pleaded not guilty in March 2025.

On Tuesday, Mangum entered a plea of no contest to three of the counts. The remaining charges were dismissed but read into the court record.

Mangum was charged in February 2025 following a cyber tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

He is scheduled for a sentencing hearing June 23.

From: https://journaltimes.com/news/local/crime-courts/article_ba9daa4a-b061-4a48-9508-7eafd19d50ea.html#tracking-source=home-top-story