Voters will head to the polls Tuesday to vote on high-profile races for Wisconsin Supreme Court and state superintendent of public instruction, as well as a statewide referendum on voter ID.

But they will also be faced with decisions about local school board races and referendums.

While these are smaller races affecting smaller numbers of voters locally, school board races still are tremendously important, as board members make many decisions about how schools are actually run. They determine any number of issues, including how money is allocated, policy, what kids should study and who should be hired to work hands-on in classrooms on a daily basis. They also hire administrators who oversee things on a bigger scale.

Most school board members work for little or no money on a job that takes hours each month.

We’ve been covering a handful of suburban school board races and referendums since January.

Local races get underway with candidate filings

Jan. 8, 2025: In the Milwaukee area, who can you expect to see on the ballot for school board this spring?

Jan. 9, 2025: New look coming to MPS board, as three incumbents decide not to run again, and new faces take their places

School districts statewide will once again put referendums on the ballot

Jan. 23, 2025: Arrowhead District heads back to voters right away with slimmed down $136.2 million referendum

Feb. 14, 2025: Dozens of Wisconsin schools again turn to referendums for help financing operations and building projects

March 6, 2025: See which Milwaukee area school districts have referendums on the April ballot

March 6, 2025: Amid shooting fears, Wisconsin K-12 districts spend millions of property tax dollars on security

March 6, 2025: Here’s what to know about the use of referendums for K-12 security upgrades in Wisconsin

March 20, 2025: A lawsuit alleges that Arrowhead Union High School is misrepresenting the costs associated with a $136M referendum

High interest in three area districts, where primaries narrowed the field

Jan. 29, 2025: Five candidates running for two seats on Oak Creek-Franklin School Board

Jan. 30, 2025: Seven candidates running for three seats on the Hartland-Lakeside School Board

Jan. 30, 2025: High interest in Cedarburg School Board, as eight candidates seek just three seats on the board

Feb. 18, 2025: Primary narrows field for Cedarburg, Hartland-Lakeside, Oak Creek-Franklin school boards

Heading into the general election

March 12, 2025: Partisan support divided among six candidates for Cedarburg School Board

March 12, 2025: Like last year, two blocs of Waukesha School Board candidates square off before April 1 election

March 13, 2025: Four candidates running for two seats on Oak Creek-Franklin School Board April 1

March 17, 2025: Transparency, transportation among issues Hartland-Lakeside School Board candidates want addressed

March 19, 2025: Wauwatosa School Board will have a new look after April 1, with four seats up for grabs on the seven-seat board

March 26, 2025: Email surfaces of Wauwatosa school board candidate describing student as a ‘hooker’

March 28, 2025: MPS school board candidates answer questions on policing, test scores, district finances

March 28 , 2025: Lone competitive MPS school board race draws donors from mayor, city council members, teachers union

Contact Alec Johnson at (262) 875-9469 or alec.johnson@jrn.com. Follow him on X (Twitter) at @AlecJohnson12.

Cleo Krejci covers K-12 education and workforce development as a Report For America corps member based at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Contact her at CKrejci@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @_CleoKrejci. For more information about Report for America, visit jsonline.com/rfa.

MILWAUKEE — The Canadian government is trying to persuade Americans to urge their government to rethink imposing tariffs through a new ad campaign.

The move comes as a trade war escalates between the U.S. and Canada. The campaign features digital billboards seen across the country, including in Milwaukee.

The Canadian government is hoping to reach Americans in hopes of urging U.S. lawmakers to reconsider tariffs in place and future tariffs.

At the corner of Oakland and Locust, the message “Tariffs are a tax at the gas pump” rotated every 20 minutes.

Residents in the neighborhood, like Julia Williams, never thought they would see something like this.

“That is just wild,” Williams said. “We’ve never had Canada try to get our attention like that; I’ve got to be honest.”

The billboards are also drawing strong reactions from people online.

TMJ4 spotted the advertisement in two other locations around the city.

Some, like Samantha, think it is a great move by the Canadian government.

“Tariffs are not a great move, and I think it gets straight to the point,” Samantha said.

Watch: Mixed feelings over Canadian government anti-tariff billboard campaign in Milwaukee

Canadian government uses billboards to get America’s attention

Christian told TMJ4 he supports imposing tariffs on Canada and isn’t sure the campaign will be effective.

“Maybe it will work. Maybe it won’t. I guess we’ll see what happens,” Christian said.

Even if it doesn’t change any minds, the messaging is catching some people’s attention.

“I think it sends a message, but I don’t know if it will necessarily change people’s opinions,” Julianna said. “I think people are very set in their ways, and it’s a very polarizing political climate.”

It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.

Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.

Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip

For the second year running, Milwaukee Wine Academy (MWA) invites wine lovers and wine industry professionals to partake in a five-day festival celebrating wine and wine culture. 

Milwaukee Wine Weekend is slated to take place  April 10 through 14, offering a slew of immersive events showcasing both local and national tastemakers a locations throughout our city.

“With this year’s Milwaukee Wine Weekend, we are creating new experiences that Milwaukee has never seen,” notes Dr. Jeffrey Coleman, co-founder of MWA. “Not only are we elevating the city’s wine culture, but we do so all while embracing the diversity that makes our city and the world of wine so enchanting.”

Peruse the slate of activities in which you can participate all weekend long!

Thursday, April 10 from 6-8 p.m.
Milwaukee Wine Weekend Opening Happy Hour 
Location: Thelma Carol Wine Merchants, 605 W. Virginia St.
[Get tickets]

Friday, April 11 from 6 to 9 p.m.
Vino Royale
Charles Allis Art Museum, 1801 N. Prospect Ave.
Take part in a lively, casino-inspired event where guests can play wine-themed games like Wine Bingo, Wine Roulette and Blackjack while enjoying music and winning prizes.
[Get tickets]

Saturday, April 12 from noon to 3 p.m.
Black Wine Expo
Lupi & Iris, 777 N. Van Buren St.
Experience a premier tasting experience showcasing Black-owned wine brands and producers available in Wisconsin. Includes a VIP panel discussion, wine sampling and bottle purchases available through Lupi & Iris.
[Get tickets]

Sunday, April 13 from 2 to 4 p.m.
Read Between the Wines: Book Talk & Rosé Tasting with Charles Springfield
Niche Book Bar, 1937 N. Doctor M.L.K. Jr. Dr.
Join Charles Springfield as he discusses his book “Maneuvering Rosé Wine with Style” and directs a guided rosé tasting.
[Get tickets]

Monday, April 14 from 6 to 9 p.m.
‘414 Day’ Wine Dinner
The Diplomat, 815 E. Brady St.
Indulge in a five-course wine dinner led by James Beard Award-winning chef Dane Baldwin. Each course will feature a wine that aligns with MWA’s mission to promote diversity in the wine industry.
[Get tickets]

Tickets for Milwaukee Wine Weekend events are available for purchase online at mkewineacademy.com. Early registration is encouraged, as space is limited for each event.