"Zombie houses:" Mayor speaks out on bill that would allow homes to sit vacant for a year

MILWAUKEE -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday, March 7th warned more "zombie houses" will be created if state senators pass a new law in Madison.The so-called "zombie houses" are abandoned by their owners, and unwanted by the banks.Current law forces banks to put a "zombie house" up for sale five weeks after it is found to be abandoned.A new proposal would move the deadline back to 12 months.Mayor Barrett says that would mean more empty houses.Barrett is asking that senators not take the bill up for a vote.

Pres. Obama cites gains in health coverage during visit; "You worked your tails off"

MILWAUKEE -- President Barack Obama is trumpeting the nation's declining uninsured rate and says 20 million people have gained insurance as a result of his signature health coverage law.The president visited Milwaukee Thursday, March 3rd to congratulate local leaders for winning a national health insurance enrollment contest -- beating 19 other cities, adding 38,000 new health insurance participants under the Affordable Care Act."I could not be prouder of you.

Wisconsin Supreme Court considers residency requirement in City of Milwaukee

MADISON -- The Wisconsin Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 24th heard arguments about the City of Milwaukee's controversial requirement that its employees live within city limits.The city has stopped enforcing the requirement while the case is pending, and Mayor Tom Barrett said that about 10 percent of the city's 7,000 employees have moved out of the city as a result.

Political newcomer James Methu endorses Tom Barrett for mayor of Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE -- After he was knocked out in the spring primary election on Tuesday, February 16th, James Methu is throwing his support behind Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.Methu held a news conference on Thursday afternoon, February 18th to announce his endorsement of Barrett.Methu, a political newcomer, finished fourth in the primary -- garnering just three percent of the vote."I learned the political process the hard way.

State of the City: Mayor Tom Barrett confident despite homicides, police reform

MILWAUKEE  — Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett on Monday, February 8th struck a confident tone as he delivered his State of the City address -- despite a spike in homicides and a federal review of the Milwaukee Police Department.In his address, Barrett said the plan to address the challenges facing the state's largest city includes economic development, health care and violence prevention.The speech was delivered at the Hmong American Peace Academy near 84th and Glendale in Milwaukee."It`s an award-winning school that`s educating Milwaukee`s future leaders," Mayor Barrett said.This was Barrett's eleventh State of the City address.