Milwaukee, WI
Bucks vs. Pacers: Bobby Portis redeems himself as Milwaukee stays alive without its stars
MILWAUKEE — A few minutes into the Milwaukee Bucks’ Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers, Bobby Portis was ejected for scuffling with Andrew Nembhard. The veteran forward went back to the visitor’s locker room deep inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, took a seat at his locker and watched the rest of the game without even taking off his jersey. Time and again throughout the night, he saw moments where he knew he could have helped his team.
As Game 5 approached, all Portis wanted was a chance to set things right. He started the day by apologizing to his teammates during a film session, then went out and showed them he really meant it by pouring in a playoff-career-high 29 points on 14-of-24 shooting from the field and grabbing 10 rebounds in the Bucks’ season-saving 115-92 win.
By the time he walked off the court for good late in the fourth quarter, he did so to a standing ovation and the familiar “Bobby! Bobby!” chant that has become a staple at Fiserv Forum throughout his tenure.
“Every time he steps on the court he leaves it all out there,” Brook Lopez said. “He goes out there and he can hoop, he wants to win and fans just love that obviously. We knew BP was gonna come out and be himself and be great.”
After winning Game 1 comfortably, the short-handed Bucks dropped three in a row and found themselves down 3-1 — a deficit they have never overcome in franchise history. Giannis Antetokounmpo hasn’t played the entire series due to a calf injury, and Damian Lillard has sat out of the last two games due to an Achilles issue.
It’s unclear when or if the Bucks’ stars will be back in the first round, and Portis hadn’t handled the extra pressure their absences put on him very well during the Bucks’ three consecutive defeats. He gave the Pacers bulletin board material by calling them “frontrunners” after Game 2, scored 31 points on 31 shots in Games 2 and 3 combined, then got tossed from Game 4.
Rivers was “very proud” of how Portis responded on Tuesday, as were his teammates. While they all knew how Portis felt about letting them down a few nights ago, Khris Middleton said it “meant a lot” that Portis got up in front of the group and held himself accountable.
Portis’ mature and steady performance meant even more. He got to his spots, knocked down shots and played within the flow of the offense. And when the two teams got into it once more in the middle of the second quarter, Rivers said Portis was the one keeping everyone calm.
“Sometimes in basketball games or any type of competitive scene, there’s kind of individual battles you fight throughout the game,” Portis said. “I got caught up in an individual war with one of their players [in Game 4]. Just tried to zone out tonight, just worry about doing the things that coach and my team needed. Just follow the game plan and just play as hard as I could knowing that it was an elimination game.”
Portis is, in many ways, a bellwether for this Bucks team.
They were 10-4 in the regular season when he scored 20 points or more and 22-11 when he put up at least 15 points, compared to 27-22 when he failed to get to the latter number. He was much better at home, where he averaged 15.5 points on 53.6% shooting, compared to 12 points on 47.2% shooting on the road. Likewise, the Bucks went 31-11 in Milwaukee and 18-22 on their travels.
All of those trends have been magnified in the playoffs given their injury problems. Portis’ heroics may have extended the series long enough to give Antetokounmpo and Lillard — both “very, very close” to playing per Rivers — the chance to return. If not, they’ll need Portis to break the season-long trends and deliver in Indianapolis on Thursday night in Game 6.
“We know what we gotta do,” Lopez said. “We know the team we are, we know the players we are, we know the challenge we have ahead… The past is in the past. He just has to come out, be himself, take it a game at a time.”
Milwaukee, WI
Travelers see shorter lines at Milwaukee Mitchell despite the ongoing partial government shutdown
MILWAUKEE — Despite a partial government shutdown causing long TSA lines at airports across the country, travelers at Milwaukee Mitchell airport are experiencing short wait times ahead of spring break.
John Wahlen and his colleague Joe Orendorf were coming back home from North Carolina and prepared for a much different scene.
“We were remarkably surprised that it was as easy as it was,” Wahlen said.
Brendyn Jones/TMJ4
A national TSA spokesperson told TMJ4 that over 3,450 TSA officers called out across the country on Thursday. The national call-out rate was at 11.83% percent, the highest since the shutdown began.
While the TSA could not provide specific numbers for Milwaukee Mitchell, the airport was not in the top-10 for call-out rates.
The highest percentages of call-offs came from much larger airports, including George Bush Intercontinental in Houston at 44 percent, Atlanta at almost 41 percent, and Baltimore at 37 percent.
“We were in smaller airports, Raleigh-Durham, I think we waited for two people, and one of them was him,” Orendorf said.
Watch: Travelers see shorter lines at Milwaukee Mitchell despite the ongoing partial government shutdown
Travelers see shorter lines at Milwaukee Mitchell despite the ongoing partial government shutdown
A spokesperson for Milwaukee Mitchell told TMJ4 that around 11,000 people are expected this Friday and Saturday, and next Friday and Saturday as spring break travel peaks.
President Trump signed an executive order to pay TSA agents, meaning a resolution may be on the horizon. Travelers, including Selena Mauricio, said they are thankful for the agents who are still showing up.
Brendyn Jones/TMJ4
“Their jobs aren’t easy, and I commend the ones that still come to work, definitely,” Mauricio said.
This story was reported on-air by Brendyn Jones and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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MILWAUKEE — A truck drove through the Grace Coffee Co. in Milwaukee’s Historic Third Ward on early Friday morning, the owners announced in a social media post.
Due to the extensive damage that was done, the coffee shop will be closed until further notice.
TMJ4
“We’re incredibly grateful no one was hurt, and we’ll keep you updated as we begin repairs,” the coffee shop said in the post.
TMJ4 reached out to the Milwaukee Police Department but have yet to hear back.
Let’s talk:
Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.
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MPS cuts face backlash
Milwaukee Public Schools plans about 200 layoffs to close a $46 million budget gap, but union leaders say cuts could impact student safety while district leaders say no classroom teachers will be eliminated.
MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee Public Schools is planning to cut roughly 200 positions next school year as the district works to close a multi-million-dollar budget gap — but there’s disagreement over which roles will be impacted.
What we know:
District leaders say the goal is to close a roughly $46 million shortfall, prompting changes that Superintendent Brenda Cassellius says are necessary.
Milwaukee Public Schools said about 201 staff members will be impacted. District leaders say no classroom teachers, counselors or social workers will be cut — something the teachers’ union disputes.
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The reductions stem from a previously approved plan to eliminate about 260 non-classroom roles. The final number dropped after retirements and existing vacancies. The Milwaukee Board of School Directors approved that plan on March 9.
What they’re saying:
“We have a $50 million deficit, we are for sure not going to be able to do business the same way that we’ve been able to do business,” Cassellius said. “Change is just hard. It’s just hard. And every single one of our employees is so important.”
But some educators say the cuts go too far.
“MTEA is setting up a distress signal. We are talking about our teachers, art teachers, music teachers, physical education teachers, counselors — things that the voters of referendum of Milwaukee actually voted for,” said Ingrid Walker-Henry, president of the Milwaukee Teachers’ Education Association. “Staffing is being cut to the extent that they are concerned about student safety.”
Cassellius acknowledged the uncertainty and asked school leaders for patience.
“We just have to for sure know our budget situation, where we’re at with that after these cuts are made in order to make those decisions,” she said. “So I’m asking my principals, be patient with us.”
By the numbers:
The district outlined the 201 affected positions as:
- 70 central office roles
- 62 educators with a teaching license but not assigned to one classroom
- 59 assistant principals
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MPS says the savings will support new class size guidelines, including:
- 18 students per teacher in K3
- 20 students per teacher in K4
- 22 students per teacher in K5
Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS)
District leaders say no students will be asked to leave a school to meet class size guidelines. Officials say they are working with schools that may not have space or that require larger classes based on specific programs.
What’s next:
Milwaukee Public Schools plans to present its proposed 2026–27 budget to the Milwaukee Board of School Directors in May.
The Source: Information in this post was provided by Milwaukee Public Schools and prior FOX6 coverage.
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