"Sad history of Talgo in Milwaukee" comes to an end, trains moving out
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee still has two high-speed trains that were at one point on track to connect three Midwestern cities.
Support sexual assault survivors by... wearing jeans?
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Wearing jeans will take on a new meaning Wednesday, April 23, as Mayor Tom Barrett and Dr.
Barrett: "We disagree" with Commission's ruling on streetcar
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Public Service Commission of Wisconsin has ruled the city of Milwaukee cannot make utility companies pay to move underground lines for the proposed downtown streetcar system.The ruling, if it stands, would force the city to approve more money to pay for the project.Milwaukee's Department of Public Works commissioner told the Milwaukee Business Journal he estimates the city will need to find $20 million more to move the private underground utilities if this project is to move forward -- though that estimate is not definite.The Milwaukee Business Journal says much of the Public Service Commission's decision is based on an item the Wisconsin Legislature included in the budget it approved last year.That item prohibits Milwaukee from forcing private utility companies and their ratepayers to pay utility relocation costs for the streetcar.The city is likely to appeal the PSC decision in court.Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett issued the following statement Wednesday:“We’re not surprised that the Public Service Commission continues to politicize a local public works improvement project.
"Faith has a role to play" in fighting crime in Milwaukee
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee's mayor and police chief are asking for help when it comes to curbing violence in the city.Tuesday morning they addressed church goers and leaders in the faith community at the Milwaukee Ceasefire Sabbath Clergy Meeting and breakfast started with a prayer, which is appropriate for an event geared towards involving the faith community in the city's anti-violence initiative."If you figure we have close to 2,000 police officers, sworn officers on the street, if we have a 150 or 200 members of the clergy who are really working as a cavalry that's helpful," explained Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett.While Mayor Barrett is optimistic about whom the faith community can reach and what they can do to further the cause, he's not naive about it."I am well aware of the fact that the people who are causing the problems in this city are not sitting in pews at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning," said Barrett. "But they may have a mother or a grandmother or a sister or a spouse who is sitting there, and that's who we want to reach."Police Chief Ed Flynn agrees -- the more help they get, the closer they can get to end the violence in the city."I think the clergy has terrific potential for a strong partnership with our attempts to reduce the levels of violence.
The Bridge Project aims to unite Milwaukee against violence
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- After a violent week in Milwaukee, several organizations gathered together Saturday morning, April 12th, to help put an end to the violence before the change of season.Community members marched across the Father James E.
City leaders take aim at tougher gun laws on felons, criminals
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, along with Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn, are sending a message to Wisconsin lawmakers with the goal of keeping guns out of the hands of felons.A two-year-old boy is one of the latest victims of gun violence in Milwaukee.
Chief Flynn: "Help us save a life" by turning in those with illegal guns
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and Milwaukee Police Chief Ed Flynn made an impassioned plea during a news conference on Thursday, April 10th to get illegal guns off the streets.The news conference was prompted by the non-fatal shooting of a two-year-old boy near 4th and Keefe late Wednesday.
Milwaukee to hire 25 of the unemployed to fix city's potholes
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has announced a program that will help fix the city's potholes and put the unemployed to work.The city of Milwaukee has 75 full-time employees dedicated to patching potholes -- but they're about to get some more help.The initiative is described as a "transitional jobs" program -- and will involve the creation of 25 full-time, temporary jobs for street maintenance.From the beginning of the year through Tuesday, February 18th, 1,251 pothole location requests were received.
Milwaukee street to be re-named in honor of Michelle Witmer
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A section of Milwaukee's Richards Street will be renamed this coming weekend after Army Specialist Michelle Witmer.Witmer was killed on April 9, 2004 during an attack by small-arms fire and an improvised explosive device in Baghdad.
City leaders to gather, urge Gov. Walker to veto early voting bill
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- City leaders will gather Thursday, March 27th in Milwaukee and Madison to urge Gov.
Milwaukee students help with city's spring cleanup
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Students at La Escuela Fratney took a break from the classroom to enjoy some fresh air and clean-up what was the hidden mess under all of this winter's snow."It can help us make a difference because we can have a cleaner city and community," said 5th grader Maya Schmitz.The spring clean-up is a partnership between the city of Milwaukee and Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful.Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett visited the students to emphasize the importance of keeping our environment clean."Mother Nature doesn`t take care of the bottles and the cans and the newspapers, so whose got to take care of that?
Barrett urges Milwaukeeans to clean up "lasagna problem"
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Thousands of visitors will be piling into Milwaukee next week to catch some NCAA action.
Group says it'll sue County if "Couture" project moves forward
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The so-called "Shoreline bill" has passed the state Senate, and now awaits Gov.
Milwaukee earns $1M grant to improve water quality in Lake Michigan
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The City of Milwaukee was awarded on Wednesday, March 12th, a $1 million Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Milwaukee will use the EPA grant, in combination with $2.1 million in City funding, to install porous pavement that will filter stormwater and reduce the amount of untreated runoff discharged to the Kinnickinnic, Menomonee, and Milwaukee Rivers that flow into the Milwaukee Estuary Area of Concern and Lake Michigan.Milwaukee is one of 16 cities to receive funding in the initial round of EPA’s new Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Shoreline Cities grant program.
Dems blast Rep.-backed bill that would restrict early voting
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- This week, the Wisconsin Senate will vote on a Republican-backed bill that would restrict early voting.
New options considered for rebuild of I-94 E-W corridor
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) is gearing up for a massive construction project that could tie up traffic along a busy stretch.
Mayor Barrett says Milwaukee out for Dem. National Convention
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- FOX6's media partners at the Milwaukee Business Journal are reporting Milwaukee is out as a potential venue for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.The Democratic National Committee — which organizes the Democratic National Convention, sent letters to about 30 cities — inviting them to bid on the 2016 convention, and Milwaukee got one of those letters.But according to the Milwaukee Business Journal, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett sent a letter to the Democratic National Committee Wednesday, Marcy 5th -- explaining that the city is already bursting with events in the summer and wouldn’t be able to accommodate the convention.The Milwaukee Business Journal published a portion of Mayor Barrett's letter, which says:“Our summers in Milwaukee are jam packed with festivals and conventions, including the world’s largest music festival, Summerfest, ethnic festivals and large business conventions, such as Northwestern Mutual’s annual meeting.
Hundreds line up to get their fill of Paczki on Fat Tuesday
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- The doors opened to crowds of people at National Bakery the morning of Fat Tuesday ready to fill their bellies with Paczki.
Officials work to end violence against young African-American men
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett returned Friday, February 28th from a trip to New Orleans where he attended a meeting tackling one question -- how do you stop young black men from being murdered?Barrett, along with leaders from 56 other U.S. cities, came together as part of Cities United, a nationwide effort to fight and prevent violence among African-Americans."The vast majority of homicides, in Milwaukee and in many large cities in our country, are African-American men and I'm sad to say it, but when I get contacted about a homicide the first things I'm thinking is 'this is going to be a young African-American man,'" said Barrett.Last year, the city had 106 total homicides.
Mayor Barrett says more needs to be done on infant mortality
MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- In his State of the City address delivered on Monday, February 24th, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said improving the city's infant mortality rate is one of Milwaukee's biggest challenges.