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Milwaukee, WI

MPD data: Homicides declined in 2024, but other crimes on the rise

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MPD data: Homicides declined in 2024, but other crimes on the rise


MILWAUKEE — According to recently released data from the Milwaukee Police Department (MPD), Milwaukee experienced a 39% drop in homicides from 2022 to 2024.


What You Need To Know

  • In 2022, the City of Milwaukee recorded a staggering 215 murders. In 2023, the city had 172 murders. In 2024, that number fell to 132 – the lowest the city has seen in five years
  • Between 2023 and 2024, the city saw a 23% decrease in homicides
  • MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said that while the decline signaled progress, there is still much work to do
  • Despite the promising decline in homicides, other crime categories, including carjackings, auto thefts and robberies, saw increases compared to 2023


In 2022, the City of Milwaukee recorded a staggering 215 murders. In 2023, the city had 172 murders. In 2024, that number fell to 132 – the lowest the city has seen in five years. 

Between 2023 and 2024, the city saw a 23% decrease in homicides. 

MPD Chief Jeffrey Norman said that while the decline signaled progress, there is still much work to do.

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“Yes, we had double-digit reductions, but it could be even more,” Norman said during a press conference Tuesday afternoon. “Many of those homicides involved kids with handguns, tragically using them against each other. It’s preventable and absolutely unacceptable.”

Despite the promising decline in homicides, other crime categories, including carjackings, auto thefts and robberies, saw increases compared to 2023.

Norman acknowledged the complexity of addressing these trends, noting that the department’s ability to respond is hindered by a staffing shortage.

Another issue dominating the public safety conversation is the role of school resource officers in Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS). Norman stated that discussions with school leaders are ongoing, but Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson expressed frustration with the financial burden falling on taxpayers.

“When you go to a restaurant and order a meal, the chef doesn’t prepare the meal and then pay the bill,” Johnson said. “That’s essentially what we’re being asked to do, and I think it’s wrong for taxpayers and the City of Milwaukee. We will continue working with MPS leadership to get this sorted out.”

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Police staffing remains another critical challenge, according to the department. MPD fell short of its recruitment goals in 2024. Under a newly enacted state law, Milwaukee’s state funding is now tied to the city growing its police force over the next decade.



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Milwaukee, WI

Beloit Memorial star Amare Hereford remains loyal, signs with Milwaukee Panthers

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Beloit Memorial star Amare Hereford remains loyal, signs with Milwaukee Panthers


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  • Amare Hereford, a Wisconsin “Mr. Basketball” finalist, honored his commitment to UW-Milwaukee’s basketball team.
  • Hereford turned down a last-minute scholarship offer from the Wisconsin Badgers to sign with the Panthers.
  • As a senior at Beloit Memorial, he led the state by averaging 37.5 points per game.

Loyalty is a word you rarely hear anymore when it comes to college sports.

Amare Hereford is an exception.

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The night before he was able to put pen to paper and make his commitment to the UW-Milwaukee men’s basketball team official earlier this week, the Beloit Memorial standout was invited for an on-campus visit with the Wisconsin Badgers.

Hereford did his due diligence. What player wouldn’t have in his position?

“Me being an 18-year-old kid, my first high major [visit], I just decided to go check it out,” Hereford said.

UW put on the full-court press in an attempt to lock down the Wisconsin “Mr. Basketball” finalist.

“They offered me a scholarship,” Hereford said. “It all happened so fast. It was all within a day.”

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Hereford went home, processed the situation with his family and came to a decision.

He would honor his commitment to the Panthers, with his signature cementing the deal and UWM announcing the news Thursday, April 16.

“No, it wasn’t really hard to turn down,” Hereford said, referring to UW’s offer. “I love every school and I appreciate every school that reaches out to me. But I’m going to choose a school that I have a great relationship with, with all the coaching staff, and that’s been thinking highly of me and recruited me for the longest time. And that was the Panthers.

“Wisconsin is a great school, of course. But I’m going to the school that has been with me for the longest time.”

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The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Hereford is a huge addition for a Panthers squad that, like so many other programs due to transfer portal madness, is in the midst of rebuilding its roster for the 2026-2027 season almost from scratch.

“Amare will be a star here at Milwaukee,” coach Bart Lundy said. “He will be a fan favorite from the beginning. He is a complete basketball player but probably has as good of an ability to score as I’ve seen in any high school player. He is a great student and a great worker and completely fits our culture.

“We are so excited that he will represent the city of Milwaukee and the state and especially his hometown of Beloit.”

Indeed, Hereford put the ball through the net for Beloit Memorial at a prodigious rate, averaging 37.5 points per game – tops in the state – as a senior. He finished as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 2,493 points in four years.

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Hereford also poured in 49 points in his final high school game, a WIAA sectional semifinal loss to Verona last month.

Hereford was tough to guard going to the basket as his 60.7% shooting this past season indicates, but he also shot a terrific 45% from from 3-point range (81 for 180) and capitalized on all the contact he drew to the tune of 83% accuracy at the free-throw line.

More than just a scorer, though, Hereford also finished with team-leading averages of 8.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 3.9 steals per game.

“My playing style fits the way [the Panthers] play – they get up and down, play fast,” Hereford said. “Coach Lundy said he definitely sees me running [point guard], having the ball in my hands, playing the same way I did in high school, finding teammates, getting to the rim and scoring at all three levels.”

Defense is typically where newcomers experience the biggest growing pains, learning the all-out effort it takes to guard at a high level on every possession.

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Hereford, however, indicates he’s more than just a scorer.

“I love playing defense,” he said. “Hitting the gaps, getting steals and different things like that, being active with my hands a lot. I’m definitely looking forward to getting pushed defensively and picking up the ball full court, on-ball pressure in the half court.”

Hereford took his visit to UWM in mid-March, after the season had been completed, but saw enough games on TV to cement his opinion of the challenge ahead.

“The Horizon League is amazing,” he said. “There’s a lot of guards who play the same way I play, like to get up and down, play fast. That’s why I love Coach Lundy and the Panthers and the rest of the staff. They let guys be themselves. They play fast, get up and down, play together as one.

“They let everybody touch the ball and be themselves.”

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Before Wisconsin entered the picture, Hereford said he’d narrowed his school choices to UWM and San Diego, where Whitefish Bay Dominican product and former Iowa State assistant JR Blount has taken over as head coach.

Now, Hereford projects as an important piece in the Panthers’ rebuilding process.

“Coach Lundy and the staff, they believe in me heavy. And I just want to prove them right,” Hereford said. “I want them to see that I can come in and make a huge impact right away for the team and in the Horizon League.

“I’m definitely going to come in and compete for my minutes. And obviously, I want to stay there.

“So, definitely looking forward to coming in and earning my spot.”

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee area flooding hits Bay View, south side neighborhoods

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Milwaukee area flooding hits Bay View, south side neighborhoods


Recent storms brought flooding back to parts of Milwaukee, causing new damage in neighborhoods still recovering from historic flooding last August.

Local perspective:

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Along South Fulton Street in Bay View, piles of debris lined the road Thursday night as residents threw out water-damaged items from their basements. While the damage was not as severe as last year, neighbors said it is still frustrating.

Residents were also seen picking up dehumidifiers and fans, trying to dry out before more rain arrives.

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At the intersection of Howell and Oklahoma, which was underwater Wednesday night, a business flooded again.

“We’re kind of used to it over so many years,” said Michael Arenas, an insurance agent with Reilly’s Insurance Services.

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Arenas said flooding has become almost an annual issue, often leaving water in the building’s basement. He pointed to window seals that were pushed out by floodwaters.

“We even had some of these windows sealed up over here, and the flood actually pushed these out pretty good, so we’re gonna have to get these […] yeah, they pushed them out pretty good, and put all these leaves and stuff down here from the window wells,” Arenas said.

What they’re saying:

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About a mile away, homeowner Allison Gipp listed what she had to throw out after water entered her basement.

“Boxes, a TV, luggage, you know, wrapping paper and toilet paper,” Gipp said.

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She said sewage backed up through her floor drain, reaching about three inches this time.

“They’re saying, ‘Well, our biggest priority is not to have sewage in people’s basements.’ Well… This is what keeps happening,” Gipp said.

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In August, Gipp said her basement had about three feet of water.

The cleanup is not as extensive this time, but she said more storms could bring more work.

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“Hopefully it doesn’t happen again,” she said. “Hopefully, if it does, it’s not worse.”

Gipp said she is holding off on fully cleaning her basement in case more flooding happens.

The Source: The information in this post was collected and produced by FOX6 News.

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5 Expensive Milwaukee Tools Users Say Are Worth Buying – SlashGear

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5 Expensive Milwaukee Tools Users Say Are Worth Buying – SlashGear






We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

There’s no way around it: Milwaukee is an expensive brand. The toolmaker produces a lot of niche tools that specialized professionals rely on, as well as more common work tools and small, portable alternatives for DIYers and renters, and none are known for being especially affordable. For that, you’ll want to look at cheaper brands like Ryobi, Hercules, and Kobalt instead.

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However, purchasing an expensive tool doesn’t mean you’re wasting your money. Sure, buying into the Milwaukee ecosystem is a serious investment, but sometimes that investment pays off in spades. That’s true for a lot of the more expensive Milwaukee tools, but the five examples on this list represent the most beloved products made by the brand that the community absolutely recommends, even if they have a big price tag attached.

Of course, you should check for any active promotions. If you shop at Home Depot, for example, you can often get a Milwaukee tool with a battery included at no extra cost.

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M18 Fuel Hammer Drill and Impact Driver Combo Kit

This kit, which includes the M18 Fuel Hammer Drill, the Impact Driver, and two M18 XC 5.0Ah batteries, is normally $400. It is not the cheapest way to get a drill and a driver, and even Milwaukee itself sells a more affordable hammer drill and impact driver bundle as part of the M12 portable productivity system lineup.

That said, $400 is a good price for a kit as versatile and powerful as this, at least according to professional reviewers and those who own it. The bundle has a nearly perfect review score on Home Depot, and Pro Tool Reviews called the M18 Fuel Impact Driver in this kit “the best all-around impact driver we’ve tested to date.” While the publication didn’t have quite the same words for the drill, it was still highly recommended, especially for its overall value.

That’s the secret to this bundle. While it isn’t cheap, the reason users so often recommend it is that, compared to buying its individual components, the kit is a steal. The two included batteries are usually sold for $170 each, while just one of these tools costs more than $200, making this combo kit, model number 3697-22, the cheaper option by far. Plus, the kit often goes on sale, and sometimes it comes with the High Output 6.0Ah M18 battery pack as a “free gift,” which is worth $200.

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M18 Fuel Oscillating Multi-Tool

Sold for $250, most users say the M18 Fuel Oscillating Multi-Tool is worth the price, even if other brands’ alternatives are quite a bit cheaper. DeWalt even sells a whole kit with battery, a charger, a bag, and an oscillating multi-tool for less than just the Milwaukee tool. Professional reviews of Milwaukee’s tool are very positive, with Pro Tool Reviews listing its relatively slow tool-free blade change as the only negative. Meanwhile, users simply love it, with many comparing it favorably to DeWalt’s version. At the time of writing, this tool is offered in a bundle with a High Output 6.0Ah M18 battery at no additional cost. According to users, this kind of deal happens pretty often.

While it seems to be aimed at carpenters (lots of enthusiastic users are, in fact, carpenters), there’s a lot you can do with a Milwaukee oscillating multi-tool. However, you need to get the right blades and attachments first. You can buy Milwaukee blades. However, with much less attention from users, it’s hard to say if they’re worth the higher price. Thankfully, a number of Ryobi attachment sets work on Milwaukee multi-tools, and they’re way cheaper than Milwaukee’s originals. A 16-piece set of blades and accessories from Ryobi will cost you about $50, significantly less than Milwaukee’s $70 eight-piece blade kit.

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M18 Fuel Hackzall Reciprocating Saw

While it’s now a somewhat common term for all small reciprocating saws, Milwaukee invented and owns the name Hackzall. It’s no surprise, then, that the company makes some of the best versions of this versatile one-handed tool. Its versatility means you’ll likely be using it more often than other cutting tools. Users recommend you pick the best of the best, the M18 Fuel Hackzall. This is a brushless tool, meaning (among other things) that the motor is less likely to fail; great for something you’ll get a lot of use out of.

The Fuel Hackzall is more expensive than non-M18, non-Fuel Milwaukee versions, as well as other brands’ alternatives. DeWalt’s Atomic Brushless reciprocating saw is technically just as expensive (both are sold at $200 when not on sale), but you can get DeWalt’s for free “with a qualifying purchase,” like a big pack of batteries and chargers.

Still, users say the Milwaukee is absolutely worth the price for the pivoting shoe and power. It gets 4.8 out of 5 stars on Home Depot, is recommended by many of its users, and has great professional reviews as well.

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M18 Fuel 1/2-inch Controlled Mid-Torque Impact Wrench

Why is an impact wrench that only goes up to 250 ft-lb of torque priced at $1,599.00? As you might imagine, the 1/2-inch Controlled Mid-Torque Impact Wrench isn’t a normal impact wrench. “Controlled” in the name refers to the ability to set a target torque via the One Key app without worrying that the tool will overtorque: an ability that few impact wrenches have, and one that Milwaukee claims to have perfected. And every single user review on Home Depot is a full five stars, wholeheartedly recommending this tool to those who need it.

According to Milwaukee, rather than relying on the imprecise method of counting the blows performed by the tool, this impact wrench uses sensors and “machine learning developed algorithms” to achieve higher repeatability. In this context, high repeatability means that repeated uses of the tool under similar circumstances create very similar results. Setting the torque to 100 ft-lb might not result in that exact number (that’s accuracy), but it will produce the same number every time.

If you were confused by its price, you weren’t the only one. Users ask about it quite often on the Milwaukee subreddit, and the answer is always the same: For someone who works on large-scale installation projects where precise torque levels are necessary, this tool (or the higher and lower torque models) is absolutely worth the money. As Milwaukee points out, the controlled torque line is designed for utility-scale solar projects like solar farms. And as noted by Pro Tool Reviews in its buying guide for this product, a trusty controlled torque impact wrench can save lots of time by removing the need to finish each bolt with a manual torque wrench.

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M18 Fuel Gen-2 Mid Torque Impact Wrench

More users recommend the Fuel Mid Torque Impact Wrench over the high torque version, since it’s not as heavy and can still handle most of what you can throw at it. With up to 650 ft-lb of breakaway torque, 2,575 max rpm, and a dedicated function to maximize torque when removing tough bolts, it shouldn’t have any problems with removing lug nuts from cars, SUVs, and pickup trucks.

Some users point out that it can struggle with nuts stuck with rust, but most owners seem to agree that, even at $279, the Mid Torque 1/2-inch Impact Wrench is worth its price. It has a near-perfect review score on Home Depot, with a 4.9-star average from over 2,500 user reviews. Users on forums praise the weight-to-power ratio, and professional reviews place it near the top of the pile for mid-torque impact wrenches.

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When using it with a large 5.0Ah battery, it weighs only around five pounds, while the head is only about six inches long, which helps it fit into tighter spaces. With four power modes and an auto shut-off to prevent overtightening, it’s a relatively precise tool, too.





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