Javier Baez returned to Wrigley Field on Tuesday night for the first time since the 2021 trade. It’s a special moment for him as he’s among one of the most important players in Chicago Cubs history.

The current Detroit Tigers shortstop hasn’t found similar success since leaving the team, but what he did with the Cubs was second to none. There was a part of his career when he looked like arguably the best shortstop in Major League Baseball, and he played a big part in them winning the World Series in 2016, breaking one of the biggest droughts in professional sports history.

Chicago honored him in many ways during his first game back, including a name above his locker, a tribute video, and more.

It’s well-earned, given the success he found there.

Baez told reporters, including Meghan Montemurro of the Chicago Tribune, that he still thinks about the 2016 World Series run.

“That’s one of the things that no one will take from you. You’re always going to be a champion here.”

A two-time All-Star,  Gold Glove Award winner, Silver Slugger, and NLCS MVP, it’s easy to see why the Cubs welcomed him back with open arms. They decided to head in a different direction from him because of the situation the team was in, not because of his play.

Before being traded, he had some impressive campaigns.

In 2018, he finished with 34 home runs, 111 RBI, and slashed .290/.326/.554 with an OPS+ of 129.

While his time with the Tigers hasn’t seen him do half of what he did in Chicago, perhaps that player is still there. He’s shown signs of improvement throughout the past month, which is very positive for Detroit as they move forward.

It hasn’t exactly been sunshine and rainbows throughout the past month, but he’s starting to figure it out a bit at the plate. Considering he’s under contract until the end of the 2027 season, they’ll need him to get back on track.

It’s important that the Cubs are showing him this type of love, too. Many around the game seem to forget how good he truly was. The contract situation makes his lack of production a bit tougher on him for many reasons, but that doesn’t take away from what he did for Chicago and their fan base.

Hopefully, he can show those fans what they’re missing and produce for the Tigers as they look to get a massive series win against a beatable Cubs team.

The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse, which has dotted the city’s landscape since 1926, has been empty since 1966. And despite a local nonprofit’s promises to restore the historical landmark in 2013, it remains untouched and inaccessible.

Brookfield-based nonprofit Optima Enrichment acquired the lighthouse for free from the National Park Service in 2013, promising $2.5 million worth of major renovations in hopes to create a publicly accessible museum by 2015. Now, almost ten years later, not much has changed.

After Madison resident Steve Tyska purchased property in Sheboygan last year, he noticed a lighthouse in the harbor was in need of some renovations. Thinking it could be a fun project to tackle after retirement, he dove into research.

That’s when he stumbled on past Journal Sentinel articles about the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. Upon learning of Optima Enrichment’s goals to renovate the building, he called the organization’s owner, Brookfield optometrist Randall Melchert, for some advice.

“This guy tried to do, on a much bigger scale, what I was thinking about doing,” said Tyska.

But Tyska said he was never able to reach Melchert. Disappointed he was unable to find out what came of the project, he contacted Public Investigator.

“10 years later, nothing’s been done,” Tyska said. “Who is overseeing this project? Should the city get involved?”

Despite multiple attempts to reach Melchert through email and phone, Public Investigator was also unable to get in touch with him.

In 2016, Melchert told the Journal Sentinel his nonprofit raised less than $20,000 since it received the deed, which was mostly spent on insurance.

“We were a little optimistic,” Melchert said at the time.

National Park Service spokesperson Jordan Fifer said the lighthouse is still owned by Optima Enrichment.

According to Fifer, the National Park Service is aware that the group hasn’t raised enough money to fulfill its obligations under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.

Under the act, federally-owned historic lighthouses can be transferred at no cost to federal, state or private entities that pledge to preserve them. The entity that acquires the lighthouse must make it publicly available for educational, recreational, cultural or historic preservation purposes.

If this fails to occur, Fifer said, it’s up to the federal General Services Administration to determine if if the entity should lose ownership.

Fifer said the National Park Service monitors compliance with the act every two years and “maintains regular contact” with the General Services Administration.

Public Investigator asked the General Services Administration whether it has kept tabs on the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. The agency did not respond by the time of publication.

Meanwhile, Port Milwaukee spokesperson Madison Goldbeck said the city has no authority or jurisdiction over the lighthouse.

Had no other qualified nonprofits or government agencies expressed interest in the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse at the time, it would’ve been sold to the highest bidder, according to the Journal Sentinel’s 2013 article.

For now, Tyska said he’s hopeful an article may spark public officials’ interest.

The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse is one of the last examples of a fully enclosed breakwater lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Its Fresnel lens — the glass that once surrounded the lighthouse’s bulb — is currently on display at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.

“It’s something that could potentially be a benefit for the city if it was tended to,” Tyska said, “and it’s certainly something that could be a liability to the city if it’s neglected.”

Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Quinn_A_Clark.

About Public Investigator

Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We’ll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Enjoy a wonderfully pleasant Wednesday with lots of sunshine and highs in the upper 70s, though a few clouds and wildfire haze may linger throughout the day.

Wednesday’s forecast 

It’s a beautiful Wednesday with dew points in the 50s and temperatures in the mid to upper 70s. The Twin Cities metro has a daytime high of 78 degrees and overnight lows in the 60s. 

Expect a few passing clouds and lingering haze from wildfire smoke in the atmosphere, which will push off to the north by Thursday. 

Overall, it’s nice and quiet as we head through the day on Wednesday. Enjoy the abundance of sunshine, with some exceptions across western Minnesota, which will have more cloud coverage. 

Looking ahead 

The Minnesota State Fair starts on Thursday, and things look relatively mild. The metro area will experience some cloud coverage and a high of 79 degrees. 

Isolated storms are possible late Wednesday night into Thursday morning in western Minnesota. The storms will try to push east but could fall apart in central Minnesota by mid-morning. 

The isolated storms redevelop late Thursday night and into early Friday morning, which may include the Twin Cities metro area. The rain clears up by the afternoon, and things become much more humid and muggy. 

Early showers are possible on Friday morning, but not everyone will get wet. Things clear out Friday afternoon, but the humidity returns. Expect a high of around 80 degrees in the metro area.

The weekend is far more uncomfortable with increased humidity and heat. Temperatures peak on Sunday and Monday with highs near 90 degrees. 

Here’s a look at your seven-day forecast: