MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Board of School Directors on Thursday announced the start of its search for a new Milwaukee Public Schools superintendent.

The board is scheduled to receive an update from Hazard, Young, Attea and Associates – the search firm leading the effort – at a Thursday night meeting. In collaboration with HYA, the school board said it is organizing “stakeholder engagement sessions” to gather input from the community.

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Details about those engagement sessions will be available on the MPS website next week. The sessions will include:

• Group Forums: Open forums will be held to allow community members to share their thoughts and expectations for the new superintendent.
• One-on-One Conversations: HYA representatives will engage in individual discussions with local leaders to gather detailed insights.
• Community Sessions: Dedicated sessions will be organized to hear from different community groups, ensuring broad representation.
• Zoom Opportunities: Several virtual sessions will be available to provide feedback, making it convenient for all stakeholders to participate.
• Online Survey: An online survey will be launched to collect input from those who may not be able to attend the sessions in person.

The former superintendent, Keith Posley, resigned in June after it was revealed the district failed to report important financial data to the state. The state threatened to withhold millions of dollars in funding as a result.

In July, the school board voted to appoint Eduardo Galvan as MPS’ interim superintendent.

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – The Minneapolis City Council has released its proposed restrictions on cannabis businesses in the city, as the state moves into the next steps of recreational marijuana legalization.

What we know

The city is working to update its zoning for cannabis businesses, as licenses are issued in the coming months in Minnesota.

City staff have proposed a series of restrictions for businesses.

• Dispensaries must be a minimum of 500 feet from schools and 500 feet from other dispensaries.
• Cannabis businesses can’t grow plants outdoors.
• Cannabis will also face restrictions on odors.
• Cannabis manufacturing will only be allowed in commercial and mixed-use areas – similar to breweries.

Context

Earlier this month, the state met with cities to provide guidance on cannabis restrictions that cities can implement under the new state law.

Just last week, the City of St. Paul passed a similar set of restrictions on cannabis businesses.

What’s next?

The proposed zoning restrictions are still in the early stages of consideration and need further approval from the council.

Currently, the Office of Cannabis Management expects to finalize its draft rules for businesses in early 2025. The licensing process is expected to start in 2025 after the rules are in place. Currently, cannabis sales are only allowed on tribal lands.

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Former NBA player Metta World Peace and other panelists on Thursday participated in the Circle City Classic’s mental health panel discussion.

The nonprofit Indiana Black Expo‘s Circle City Classic, in its 40th year, will conclude Saturday with a parade and football game.

The former Indiana Pacers player once known as Ron Artest shared his personal mental health journey and the importance of removing the stigma around seeking help. “It’s been going on before us, during our time here, and after us so it’s the opportunity to give tools, some encouragement and some support.”

Thursday’s event was billed as the first time World Peace has spoken about mental health in Indiana. He says he was particularly happy to talk to youths at Warren Central High School as they navigate changes in their lives. “It’s good to be back here, especially in Indiana, to talk about the stigmas with mental health, especially when you’re trying to become a professional, exit high school or college. What’s next?”

Cara Holdsclaw, the chief operating officer of Indiana Black Expo (IBE), says, after receiving good feedback regarding talking about mental health during IBE’s Summer Celebration in June, organizers of the Circle City Classic thought continuing the discussion was important. “We want to make sure that people know it’s OK to ask for help if they know something might not be right, and to be able to seek the help that you may need, or be able to see that somebody else in your family or friends need help as well,” Holdsclaw said.

As Masimba Taylor, the principal of Warren Central High School, sees it, the mental health discussion with students was very needed. “They always bring up mental health, and so the fact that the young people are talking about it, the fact that they’re asking for more information, and asking for help, so if we can provide even just a small bit or the opportunity to hear from professionals, then it’s everything.”

Student and football player Madden Beriault says listening to a former professional athlete tell his story and give advice is a great way for him to better his own mental health as he navigates school and sports. “Being a student-athlete is a lot of different things on your plate and a lot of different stresses from a lot of different angles, so hopefully learn how to cope with different types of stress.”

While some people may not have the resources to get the mental health support they need, World Peace — also known as Metta Sandiford-Artest — says it’s important to continue to believe in yourself even when the journey gets rough. “Practice breathing. Practice meditation. Make sure you stay spiritual and remember your core values and keep your families first. But, I also believe in collaborating with others across the board. Sometimes it’s hard to go through things on your own.”

Mental health resources