Tuesday, August 4, 2026
Monday, June 29, 2026
Friday, May 1, 2026
Saturday, April 4, 2026
We Energies delays Oak Creek coal plant closure again
Francesca Pica
We Energies will again delay the closure of its aging coal plant in Oak Creek.
The utility said in public filings to state regulators it's considering keeping two coal units at the Oak Creek Power Plant open into 2027. We Energies initially planned to shut down the plant in 2023 but delayed closure to 2025, then 2026, "to meet high energy demand periods."
The coal units first went online in the 1960s. They now run during periods of peak demand, typically the hottest and coldest days of the year, to help support the electric grid.
The utility says it wants to ensure grid reliability before shutting down the plant, referencing the extreme cold that hit southeast Wisconsin in January.
"Having available generation was incredibly important for reliability and also valuable for our customers," We Energies spokesperson Brendan Conway said.
We Energies is also waiting for new natural gas plants in Oak Creek and Kenosha County to go into service. The plants will help supplement new wind and solar projects as demand for electricity is expected to increase.
"How much [the coal plant] may run, even now through then, remains to be seen," Conway said. "But keeping it available will be super important for a really hot stretch or cold polar vortex."
Environmental groups say decision hurts public health
Environmental groups like Clean Wisconsin said extending the plant's life adds to damage the environment and the health of nearby residents.
"It's turning its back on the communities who are dealing with the pollution that comes from that plant every single day," Amy Barrilleaux, Clean Wisconsin communication director, told the Journal Sentinel.
Plant closure deadlines are set by utilities and don't have an enforcement mechanism – rendering them "meaningless," Barrilleaux said.
"To sit here and say, now it's going to be the end of 2027, I don't know who's going to believe that," she said.
Barrilleaux said the move keeps Wisconsin ratepayers on the hook longer for coal power, which is more expensive than renewable sources like wind and solar.
Conway said that because the plant runs only during periods of peak demand, when energy is at its most expensive, the electricity it supplies to the grid helps reduce overall costs.
The move comes as the Trump administration has ordered retiring coal plants to remain open, including in Michigan and Indiana. The Oak Creek extension is unrelated, Conway said.
Because the Michigan and Indiana plants operate on the same regional grid, Wisconsin residents pay costs associated with them in addition to the Oak Creek facility, Barrilleaux said.
"[The Trump administration's] desperate attempt to prop up what is a dying fuel source is just going to cost us a lot of money," Barrilleaux said.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
O&H Danish Bakery debuts new Easter kringle flavors
Adrienne Davis
Got a sweet tooth? No problem – because a popular Racine bakery has fan-favorite baked goods and new flavors just in time for spring.
O&H Danish Bakery, a family-owned bakery known for its festive selection of sweets, announced March 30 that it was leaping into spring with a new lineup of desserts that includes two new kringle flavors that will debut as part of the bakery's well-known Homecoming Series.
O&H Danish Bakery President and fourth-generation co-owner Peter Olesen said the company wanted to bring classic desserts like strawberry shortcake and the family’s carrot cake into its kringle lineup.
"Our Easter lineup is especially meaningful this year," said Olesen in a news release. "Of course, it’s one of our favorite times of year, so we’re bringing back fan-favorites like Easter Braided Colored Bread and Easter Chocolate Crème Kringle as well to keep cherished traditions alive.”
The Easter collection combines traditional treats with fresh seasonal flavors.
These flavors, including Raspberry Lemon Cheesecake Kringle, will be available through April 4.
The new Carrot Cake Kringle is made from Grandma Olesen's carrot cake recipe, featuring fresh carrots, spice and cinnamon, nutmeg and creamy frosting.
The new Strawberry Shortcake Kringle, inspired by the classic treat of the same name, features sweet cookie pieces and a special O&H signature made-from-scratch filling, topped with buttery streusel, sweet ice and pink chocolate curls.
Both seasonal flavors are in featured in Hop on Home Kringle, a part of the Homecoming Series that debuted fall 2025. The flavors will be available for purchase until April 19.
The bakery's Easter collection is now available for in-store and online nationwide delivery.
O&H Danish Bakery was founded in 1949, by Den Christian Olesen, a Danish immigrant who came to the United States in 1924. Now in its 76th year, the bakery-chain has five locations in Racine, Sturtevant and Oak Creek.
The business has been named best kringle for 10 consecutive years by the Journal Times and has earned honors for best bakery and best customer service-retail in Racine County.
For more information, or to place a order, visit the bakery's website at ohdanishbakery.com.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Friday, March 27, 2026
Racine-based Burn Pit BBQ coming to Wisconsin Walmart stores in April
Business grew out of pandemic-era hobby
Burn Pit BBQ, a small Racine-based barbeque seasoning business, is moving into the world's largest brick-and-mortar retail chain.
Walmart will carry Burn Pit BBQ's garlic seasoning and Memphis-style barbeque rubs at 70 Wisconsin stores starting April 19. It's a dramatic expansion for a business that grew out of a pandemic-era hobby.
Founders Ben Kreple and Greg Fischer, former soccer teammates at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside, bonded after graduation over a shared love for grilling.
"It was a way to continue to get our families together," Kreple told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Racine residents saw more neighbors fire up their backyard grills, some for the first time. So, they started a blog offering recipes and tips.
"When Greg and I first started grilling together, we would reach out to ask questions, and there'd be times you'd get trounced on for asking certain questions," Kreple said. "Our vision was to have something for the newer, beginning grillers to feel free to ask questions."
Soon, Kreple and Fischer began experimenting with their own recipes. They opened an online store, Burn Pit BBQ, in 2020.
Burn Pit BBQ specializes in barbeque sauces, seasonings, and hot sauces. Sauces and seasonings run $12 per bottle, and hot sauces cost $15 per bottle.
The business boasts all-natural ingredients and gluten-free options. Kreple and Fischer said they wanted to offer a healthy, Wisconsin-made option for new grillers and enthusiasts alike.
After a couple years of online sales growth, Burn Pit BBQ expanded to a few local retailers. Among them are Metcalfe's Market in Wauwatosa, Butcher Block Meat Market in Oak Creek, and Harry Hansen Meat Service in Caledonia.
Walmart's Open Call program provided an opportunity
Last spring, a friend made Kreple and Fischer aware of Walmart's Open Call program, which invites small businesses to pitch for a chance to put their products on the retail giant's shelves. They applied online and were invited to meet with a buyer at Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas.
"We got 30 minutes to pitch our brand and our products, and after that 30
minutes, we were told that they'd like to give us a shot," Fischer said.
The pair run Burn Pit BBQ with the help of partner distributors and co-packers, but this new expansion has them looking bring on more people in the next few years. If all goes well, they hope to grow regionally.
"We want to focus on our backyard," Kreple said. "That's always been our goal – focus really heavily on Wisconsin, where we're from, and the Midwest."
Kreple and Fischer, both of whom served in the U.S. military, also host an annual "Back Yard Bash" fundraiser at Greendale's Explorium Brewpub to support local veterans' organizations. The event has raised more than $30,000 since it began five years ago.
"Being a veteran-owned business, it's very important for us to continue to remember our service as well as those that have served and continue to serve," Fischer said.
During this period of rapid growth, Kreple and Fischer want to keep accessibility central to Burn Pit BBQ.
Each online product description offers a rundown of flavor profile and which meats are best paired with it. Burn Pit BBQ's blog posts weekly recipes and grilling advice.
It's a part of helping others continue to bond over the grill, they said.
Francesca Pica can be reached at fpica@usatodayco.com.
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Saturday, March 7, 2026
Waukesha School District considers random drug tests for student athletes
Saturday, February 14, 2026
Monday, February 9, 2026
Monday, November 10, 2025
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
Microsoft drops Caledonia data center after facing opposition. Company looking for new site
Ricardo Torres
Microsoft Corp. has pulled its plans for a Caledonia data center after opposition from area residents and elected officials.
"Based on the community feedback we heard, we have chosen not to move forward with this site," according to a Microsoft statement provided to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"We remain committed to investing in Southeast Wisconsin and look forward to working with the Village of Caledonia and Racine County leaders to identify a site that aligns with community priorities and our long-term development goals," the Oct. 8 statement said.
Microsoft is still planning a second data center in Mount Pleasant — where there's been little opposition.
A Microsoft spokesperson said it's possible a data center could be built in a different area of Caledonia or in a different part of Racine County. The change likely impacts the development timeline.
The Caledonia Plan Commission had recommended rezoning the data center site — 244 acres of farmland along Douglas Avenue and Botting Road, near the We Energies power plant in neighboring Oak Creek.
The Village Board was to consider the rezoning proposal on Oct. 14.
Microsoft change surprises critic
Village Trustee Fran Martin, a data center critic, was surprised about the change in plans.
“I commend Microsoft for listening to the community,” Martin said. “And for also addressing the concerns that the community had and that I had about that particular site.”
Martin has suggested the company build a data center along Interstate 94.
Racine County Executive Ralph Malicki said the county is committed to helping Microsoft find a location in Caledonia or somewhere in Racine County.
“We believe them to be an excellent partner and a good steward of our resources and whatnot in our community,” Malicki said.
Hope Otto, director of human services for Racine County, who spoke on behalf of Malicki at the Plan Commission meeting, said the majority of people who spoke at the meeting were against the project in that location.
“(Microsoft) has a high degree of social responsibility to the community that they’re investing in, so I think they heard the message that that location was not going to be a desired spot for them,” Otto said.
“And they want to make sure that they are respected and wanted in the areas in which they’re investing. And we’re committed to finding that for them and hopefully still in Caledonia.”
In a joint statement, the Racine Economic Development Corp. and Milwaukee 7 regional economic development organization said:
"We appreciate Microsoft’s collaboration in working with the Village of Caledonia, RCEDC and M7 to bring new development opportunities to the Racine County region.
"While Microsoft will no longer be considering the originally proposed site, we look forward to continuing our conversations and partnerships to strengthen our local economy and support the essential services that make Racine County and southeastern Wisconsin a great place to live and work."
Using AI to organize against Microsoft
Caledonia resident Chris Atkinson said the work isn't done for data center opponents.
“Regardless of people’s national politics, locally, people have been able to unify and find a common objective that they're working together to achieve,” Atkinson said. “The fight is not over.”
Atkinson helps run the website nodata.center which pushed against the Caledonia project and could be a model for other communities.
“I think I’m going to use that one going forward to help other people in the country rally and maybe create a unified plan,” Atkinson said. “Without the strategic plan that was implemented under a common directive, you don’t win against giants like Microsoft.”
Nodata.center includes these notes: “Developed using Gemini AI deep research and Grok 4 deep research. All facts sourced from public documents and news reports.”
The Caledonia data center was planning to assist Microsoft’s AI operations in Mount Pleasant.
“That’s hilarious and yeah, definitely the definition of irony,” Atkinson said about the notes. “You can leverage AI to do deeper searches and connect dots that no human mind can ever do.”
Microsoft's decision was announced one day after hundreds of people attended a Port Washington Common Council meeting to oppose a data center planned for that community.
The council on Aug. 19 unanimously approved a development agreement with that data center's operator, Denver-based Vantage.
The agreement covers a new tax incremental financing district that would reimburse Vantage for fronting $175 million in infrastructure improvements and other project costs. The financing district funds would come from property tax revenue generated by the data center.
(This story was updated with new information).
Friday, August 1, 2025
Microsoft begins hiring for Mount Pleasant data center that opens in 2026. Expansions coming
Microsoft Corp. has begun hiring employees for its $3.3 billion data center opening in Mount Pleasant in early 2026, and is proceeding with expansion plans at the 1,900 acre-site.
Earlier this year the company paused work on the expansion sites as it evaluated the buildout strategy. The latest work in Mount Pleasant will be in addition to what the company pledged in May 2024, a Microsoft spokesman told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
"We’re now preparing our plans to proceed with that expansion," the spokesman said.
The company says that by the end of 2026 it will have around 500 employees and contractors running the Racine County center.
“We’ve already begun to hire full-time employees that will support our operational phase,” the spokesman said, not offering further information.
Data centers housing thousands of computer servers are springing up across the country, enabling activities such as social media, streaming video and ChatGPT.
In Wisconsin, Microsoft has led the way with its project in Mount Pleasant. The company has plans for a smaller project in Kenosha.
Data centers planned in Caledonia, Port Washington
A pitch for a data center in Caledonia, in Racine County, recently ran into resistance as community members spoke out against rezoning 240 acres of farmland. It would be along Douglas Avenue and Botting Road, near the We Energies power plant in neighboring Oak Creek.
The Caledonia Plan Commission postponed a July 28 vote until at least late August to give the developer more time to address concerns.
"As often happens, we are putting the cart before the horse. We don't know any specifics of the proposed data center, who the owners would be, what their reputation is, what economic benefit it would bring the Village in terms of tax base (and) jobs," Caledonia Trustee Fran Martin said, in a statement.
In Beaver Dam, site work is underway for a data center on 830 acres near U.S. Highway 151 and County Road A.
Beaver Dam officials have declined to name the developer of their planned center.
Bloomberg News has cited an unnamed source to report its developer is Facebook parent company Meta and that it's a nearly $1 billion project.
Denver-based Vantage Data Systems is planning a data center in rural Port Washington that’s still in the planning stage. It has already resulted in more than 700 acres of property acquisitions.
QTS Data Centers, of Virginia, has eyed the Town of Vienna in Dane County for a project.
Wisconsin Rapids has plans for a $200 million data center, and Janesville recently announced that it’s seeking one for the former General Motors vehicle assembly plant that’s been vacant since 2008.
Friday, May 23, 2025
Monday, March 31, 2025
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Microsoft abandons some data center projects. Company says Mt. Pleasant work on track
Rick Barrett
Microsoft has abandoned data center projects set to use 2 gigawatts of electricity in the U.S. and Europe in the last six months due to an oversupply relative to its current demand forecast, Reuters reported Thursday, citing an industry analyst.
The tech giant's withdrawal from new capacity leasing was largely led by the decision not to support additional training workloads from ChatGPT maker OpenAI, the analyst firm TD Cowen said in a research note obtained by Reuters.
TD Cowen did not say which projects Microsoft had abandoned.
In a statement, Microsoft said the moves will not affect the $3.3 billion data center now under construction in Mount Pleasant.
Cowen said in February that Microsoft had scrapped leases totaling "a couple of hundred megawatts" of capacity with at least two private data center operators.
"Thanks to the significant investments we have made up to this point, we are well positioned to meet our current and increasing customer demand," a Microsoft spokesperson said in an email to the Journal Sentinel.
"Last year alone, we added more capacity than any prior year in history," the statement said. "While we may strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions. This allows us to invest and allocate resources to growth areas for our future. Our plans to spend over $80B on infrastructure this FY remain on track as we continue to grow at a record pace to meet customer demand."
In southeast Wisconsin, Microsoft currently has a $3.3 billion data center under construction in Mount Pleasant and a smaller one planned for Kenosha.
Earlier this month, without explanation, the company paused construction on expansion sites for the Mount Pleasant location.
“The long and short of it is that we strategically pace our infrastructure,” Microsoft spokesman Nick Michetti said in an email to the Journal Sentinel last week.
"Our commitments to Wisconsin have not changed. We’re fully on track with construction on our data center in Mount Pleasant, it’s still expected to go online in 2026, and our $3.3 billion commitment remains intact," Microsoft said in the statement to the Journal Sentinel.
"We have expansion sites in Mount Pleasant where we intend to build additional infrastructure, and we’ve already done preliminary work for those future builds."
In a response to Reuters, Microsoft said while it may "strategically pace or adjust our infrastructure in some areas, we will continue to grow strongly in all regions."
Last week, Microsoft told the Journal Sentinel it remained “fully on track” with phase one of the $3.3 billion Mount Pleasant project and that it’s still expected to go online in 2026.
Data centers house thousands of computers, in one or more buildings, linked to the outside world by fiber optic cables. They enable most everyday online activities, including social media, streaming video, banking, ChatGPT and much more.
Data centers are measured by the amount of electricity they consume.
When phase one of the Mount Pleasant project is complete, it will require the equivalent of approximately 450 megawatts of electric utility capacity, according to Microsoft, which would be less than one-half gigawatt.
Comparing data center and residential electricity usage requires rough calculations, but energy experts say 450 megawatts could meet the needs of more than 300,000 homes.
The Mount Pleasant project has been at the center of a debate over the need for a We Energies gas-fired power plant in Oak Creek.
We Energies says it needs the plant, and other gas generating facilities, to satisfy the growing demand for electricity in southeast Wisconsin, including data centers.
Critics say the demand for data centers remains uncertain and that We Energies ratepayers could be saddled with higher electric rates for gas plants that won't actually be needed.
This story has been updated with new information.
Wednesday, March 26, 2025
Friday, December 13, 2024
O&H Danish Bakery releases its new, limited-edition holiday kringle flavor for 2024
Claire Reid
The new recipe, "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" kringle, is "made with the bakery's signature flaky Danish pastry combined with a warm vanilla filling," the company says. The pastry is topped with citrus zest and a "sweet vanilla bean" frosting.
The festive kringle is available at the bakery's five locations and online for nationwide shipping through the end of 2024.
"We are excited to introduce another holiday flavor that will evoke cherished memories of the Christmas season with every bite," Peter Oleson, president and fourth-generation co-owner of O&H, said in a statement. "Inspired by the magic of the holidays, we look forward to being part of holiday celebrations and festivities at kitchen tables across the country with our beloved seasonal pastries."
Christmastime has long been O&H's busiest time of year. The bakery says it makes up to 7,000 kringles each day in December.
O&H introduces a new holiday kringle flavor each year, and some popular versions stick around for years. The bakery debuted its toffee and caramel "Reindeer Tracks" kringle last year and its "Christmas Fudge" kringle in 2021. Both kringles are available again this holiday season.
Where are O&H Danish Bakery's stores?
O&H has been making kringle in the Racine area since 1949. The bakery has five locations, with its Oak Creek location being the closest to Milwaukee.
"White Christmas" kringle and other seasonal and regular kringles can be purchased and picked up in-store at these O&H locations:
- Racine (west): 5910 Washington Ave.
- Racine (north): 4917 Douglas Ave.
- Racine (south): 4006 Durand Ave.
- Sturtevant: 717 S. Sylvania Ave., inside of the Highway 20 Petro Travel Plaza off Interstate 94.
- Oak Creek: 9540 S. 27th St.
More:How did kringle become so big in Wisconsin — and why is it nearly unique
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