Site of Paloma Taco and Tequila, 2154 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. Photo taken April 16, 2024 by Sophie Bolich. Over the course of eight months, the commercial space at 2154 S. Kinnickinnic Ave. has transformed from a gray box to a crayon box. The formerly vacant space at the ground level of KinetiK is now the vibrant and colorful home of Paloma Taco and Tequila, which opened its doors to the public on Wednesday. It’s the second location for the taqueria; its flagship restaurant has been open in Washington Heights since July 2020. The new restaurant, designed with help from Three Sixty, is positivel ..read more

The seven members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court hear oral arguments. (Henry Redman | Wisconsin Examiner) The Wisconsin Supreme Court heard oral arguments Wednesday in Gov. Tony Evers’ lawsuit against Republican legislative committee leaders’ power to veto executive actions. The case centers around the Joint Committee on Finance’s authority to stop the spending of funds through the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program, a grant program that allows the Department of Natural Resources to purchase land for conservation purposes. Under current law, one member of the committee — Republicans make up ..read more

Schulz Aquatic Park. Photo taken May 17, 2023 by Graham Kilmer. Milwaukee County Parks is making a final push for this season’s lifeguards. The number of pools opened this summer will depend on how many lifeguards the department manages to recruit. The department went into the 2023 season with just under 100 lifeguards and opened 27 aquatic facilities, which included seven splash pads. The department is holding its final training session next week, and it’s not too late to sign up. The session begins Monday, April 22 with classes at Pulaski Pool. “The number of lifeguards that are needed at ..read more

The Milwaukee Police Administration Building on Thursday, Oct. 13, in Milwaukee, Wis. Angela Major/WPR Homicides in Milwaukee are down nearly 50 percent this year compared to two years ago and 23 percent lower than the same time last year. Milwaukee officials believe it’s a sign that community outreach and partnerships are working to help lower the rate of gun violence in the city. “We continue to see the right direction, right trajectory, but we also know we still have a lot of work to do,” Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said during a press briefing Tuesday morning. Ashanti Hamilton ..read more

Site of Scooter’s Coffee, 6023 W. Forest Home Ave. Photo taken April 16, 2024 by Sophie Bolich. Scooter’s has officially arrived in Milwaukee. But, unlike the annual swarm of Lime, Bird and Veo scooters, this version isn’t dockless or electric. In fact, it’s not a vehicle at all. It’s a coffee shop. The drive-thru cafe recently opened a new location at 6023 W. Forest Home Ave. It’s the first Milwaukee shop for the Omaha-based chain, which sells coffee, espresso drinks, smoothies, teas and snacks such as pastries and breakfast sandwiches. The company is especially known for its signature beve ..read more

Tammy Baldwin and Donald Trump. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump remain locked in a tight race in Wisconsin, according to the latest poll released by Marquette University Law School, which showed Trump leading Biden 51-49 among registered voters. In Wisconsin’s race for U.S. Senate, Democratic incumbent Tammy Baldwin led Republican challenger Eric Hovde 52-47 percent among registered voters — though among likely voters, the race was tied. The results are the latest snapshot of where voters stand less than seven months from Election Day, when Wisconsin could again be one ..read more

The 2024-2028 Milwaukee Common Council – front row, left to right – Mark Chambers, Jr., Russell W. Stamper, II, Andrea Pratt, Sharlen P. Moore, Marina Dimitrijevic, JoCasta Zamarripa, Jonathan Brostoff, Larresa Taylor, Milele A. Coggs, José G. Pérez, Peter Burgelis, DiAndre Jackson, Scott Spiker, Robert Bauman and Lamont Westmoreland. Photo by Jeramey Jannene. The Common Council chamber at City Hall was the center of the Milwaukee political universe Tuesday. Surrounded by family and friends, all 15 council members, newly-elected city attorney Evan Goyke, newly-elected comptroller Bill Christ ..read more

In this darkly funny, sharply intimate portrait, Max Posner chronicles the strained ties between a son and his aging mother, and the hell of a guilty conscience. Next Act Theatre – April 24 to May 19 ..read more

Riverwest Elementary School, 2765 N. Fratney St. File photo by Dave Reid. Beginning sometime after 2000, there was growing concern that many students had difficulty with reading. When comparing reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) among states, Massachusetts stood out. Suddenly, that state’s reading and math scores jumped. Massachusetts’ scores (shown in yellow in the graph below) started the late 1990s looking similar to Wisconsin’s, but then enjoyed a substantial jump. By contrast, Wisconsin scores (shown in gray) were largely flat or decreasing and were ..read more

Site of Brother’s Backyard Barbecue, 3530 W. National Ave. Photo taken Dec. 15, 2023 by Sophie Bolich. Brother’s Backyard Barbeque has closed after just under 18 months in business. The Silver City barbecue spot shared the news on social media Tuesday. “It is with mixed emotions that we announce the closure of Brother’s Backyard BBQ,” the post said. “We have been fortunate to serve you delicious meals and create memories over the years. We want to thank each and every one of you for your loyalty and support. Until then, thank you for your understanding and continued patronage.” The concept h ..read more