Milwaukee, WI

Capuchin Community Services expands services to help the unhoused during RNC

Published

2 years ago

July 9, 2024

Capuchin Community Services expands services to help the unhoused during RNC

MILWAUKEE — The unhoused population will be pushed out of the security zone in downtown Milwaukee for the Republican National Convention.

That’s why Capuchin Community Services, an organization that aids many vulnerable groups in Milwaukee, is preparing to expand its efforts during the convention.

What You Need To Know

Capuchin Community Services is also preparing to expand its efforts during the convention to help the homeless during the RNC

With access restricted in the security zone, St. Ben’s in downtown Milwaukee will reopen its shelter program that week

The goal of Capuchin Community Services is to eventually offer a year round shelter

Milwaukee County’s homeless outreach team and Milwaukee Continuum of Care partners will be standing by 24/7 and staffing a reception center several blocks from the security zone from July 13-20, which will be a space that can be accessed by anyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the immediate area of the RNC security zone

Father Mike Bertram is the director of the Capuchin Community Services.

He and his team regularly prepare the Community Meal at St. Ben’s Parish five days a week in downtown Milwaukee for those in need.

“It’s certainly free for anyone,” said Bertram. “We serve probably 175 to 200 people every night.”

Bertram said their biggest concern will be making sure they can continue to offer this meal during the convention.

“It will be a challenge for us too, just to get into work, but we really want to talk with the law enforcement agencies to make sure we have some clearance, that we abide by the regulations and the stipulations that you have to have. We recognize that,” said Bertram. “We honor that but still can have that access to continue the services that we are offering.”

With access restricted in the security zone, Bertram said now, more than ever, it is important that they reopen their shelter program that week.

(Spectrum News 1/Phillip Boudreaux)

“Sunday night through Friday night, we are going to offer shelter here for the sake that it is at least cool and comfortable but more for the sake that our guests are safe because you can understand that if somebody breaks that perimeter zone without proper authorization, now we are in some trouble,” said Bertram.

Bertram said he hopes to offer these services after the convention is over. He said their goal is to offer a year-round shelter.

“For many people, St. Ben’s is their home, especially homeless people living on the street and so they look at our services as vital not just occasional but every day,” said Bertram. “We have any number of guests that we recognize by name.”

For Bertram, that means St. Ben’s will always be a place of refuge for the community. He said that’s the first step to help those who are struggling find a better life.

Milwaukee County has also announced expanded efforts to help the unhoused during the RNC.

A spokesperson issued the following statement:

“Milwaukee County’s homeless outreach team and Milwaukee Continuum of Care partners will be standing by 24/7 and staffing a reception center several blocks from the security zone from July 13-July 20, which will be a space that can be accessed by anyone experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the immediate area of the RNC security zone. The homeless outreach team, in collaboration with the Milwaukee continuum of care partners, will be working closely that week with the Milwaukee County Behavioral Health Services (BHS) crisis mobile team in the area to help triage homelessness and mental health needs. This is to ensure the people that County workers are supporting on the street have immediate access to resources and a place to stay overnight.”

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Milwaukee, WI

Can the Brewers duplicate the success of 2025? Here are our predictions for 2026

Published

10 hours ago

March 24, 2026

Press Room

Can the Brewers duplicate the success of 2025? Here are our predictions for 2026

Spring training in Phoenix has wrapped up and the Milwaukee Brewers are set to begin the 2026 regular season at 1:10 p.m. Thursday, March 26 at American Family Field against the Chicago White Sox.

The Brewers exceeded expectations in 2025, recording a franchise-record 97 wins and the best record in baseball (97-65) and advancing to the National League Championship Series. Can they match that in 2026? Here are Journal Sentinel staff predictions for the season.

HOW I SEE IT: I understand what I’m doing with this prediction, ultimately putting so much of the Brewers’ 2026 outlook on a group of largely unproven, young starters. But I think the Brewers do, too. I’d be lying to you if I said I felt good about the plan to throw Brandon Woodruff and a cavalcade of guys with minimal big-league experience, but I also have to acknowledge the potential upside here. It’s been a few years since the Brewers’ rotation was this talented, and we know what the Brewers can do with those kinds of arms. On offense, I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t somewhat concerned about their chances of repeating last year’s scoring output without adding any external thump to the lineup. My brain says it’s going to be a step back this year – although not a big one, maybe just to a wild-card spot – but my eyes have seen this film before. And it usually ends with the Brewers fielding a roster much better than the public is giving them credit for.

2026 PREDICTION: 89-73, NL Central champions, lose in NL Wild Card round.

HOW I SEE IT: Count me among the group of non-believers a year ago at this time. Heck, as late as the start of that series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park in late May I penned a story guessing all the players the Brewers would be trading away in the near future because they were going nowhere. How wrong I was. And I’ve learned my lesson – don’t bet against these guys. Especially with the bulk of the team that ended up winning a franchise-record 97 games and advanced to the National League Championship Series for the first time since 2018 returning. No doubt, Freddy Peralta would look really good anchoring the staff. So would Caleb Durbin at third base. All five of the players Milwaukee received in return are going to factor in, however, with right-hander Brandon Sproat, left-hander Kyle Harrison and infielder David Hamilton in particular expected to fill large roles. There are major questions – most notably whether veteran Brandon Woodruff can remain healthy and how the young starting pitching will fare. No question, the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Pirates are all improved. But the road to the Central Division title has run through Milwaukee the past three years, and this group expects to win.

2026 PREDICTION: 90-72, NL Wild Card spot, advance to NL Division Series.

HOW I SEE IT: I should finally just trust that this franchise can identify the correct unproven arms in the rotation and players who weren’t seen as building blocks in other organizations, transforming that brew into a runaway Central Division title. They did it last year. And 2024. And 2023. Why do I still have this nagging feeling that 2027 will be the year the Brewers really swing for the fences, and 2026 is about seeing what they’ll still need? Remember how weird it was that the Brewers thrived at scoring runs last year because other teams kept committing errors? They were one of the best run-scoring offenses in baseball, and yet it still feels like they got a lot of breaks offensively. Then, they didn’t get perceptively better in the offseason, while the chief rival Cubs and other NL Central brethren did. You know what? Maybe the Brewers just need the semi-professional prognosticators like me to keep hating. And maybe it’s just impossible for me to accept this team has solved the riddle of how to win consistently without overtly addressing their perceived weaknesses. One of these years, though, they really won’t get away with it.

2026 PREDICTION: 86-76, miss playoffs (barely)

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee man identified as victim in shooting that injured four others

Published

22 hours ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee man identified as victim in shooting that injured four others

A 25-year-old Milwaukee man has been identified as the fatal victim following a shooting that injured five people on the city’s north side.

Simeon I. Calvert was shot on March 21 a little after 11 a.m. at the intersection of North Darien and North 37th streets, according to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Calvert was transported to a hospital where he died in the operating room, the medical examiner said.

Four other people were injured in the shooting, ranging in age from 20 to 29 years old.

Police said March 23 that they have “persons of interest” in custody but continue to seek additional information.

The investigation is ongoing, police added, but it is believed that the incident was the result of an argument.

Anyone with any information about the incident is being asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360. To remain anonymous while providing information, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS.

This story was updated to add new information.

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Milwaukee, WI

Where to catch a Brewers shuttle to American Family Field for 2026 games

Published

1 day ago

March 23, 2026

Press Room

Where to catch a Brewers shuttle to American Family Field for 2026 games

With Interstate 94 construction ongoing, handing the wheel over to a shuttle driver might be a popular play for Milwaukee Brewers fans heading to American Family Field this season.

Here’s the latest list of hotels and bars partnering with American Family Field for shuttle services.

Business set their own pick-up and drop-off times, so check with your preferred shuttle spot ahead of time to get their schedule. A map off drop-off points can also be found on the Brewers’ website under “Getting to American Family Field.”