Milwaukee, WI
Children of Longtime Milwaukee Anchor Bill Taylor Host Celebration of Life on Taylor’s Birthday – Milwaukee Courier Weekly Newspaper
Akua Taylor, Bill Taylor’s youngest daughter, speaking to crowd.
Milwaukee,– More than 120 people showed up in person and nearly 100 watched via live video stream as the youngest children of WTMJ-TV Anchor Bill Taylor hosted a celebration of life for him in Milwaukee on Saturday, August 3, what would have been his 80th Birthday. The African-themed celebration took place at the Wisconsin Black Historical Society, 2620 W. Center Street, Milwaukee, WI 53206 and opened with drummers leading the family into the assembly, a performance by the Ko-Thi Dance Company and libations being poured in honor of Bill by Omotolokun Omokunde, who traveled from North Carolina to be a part of the ceremony.
Taylor Family in attendance. (Additional version)
Former TMJ4 anchor Vivian King walked the audience through a program that incorporated community and family reflections. Congresswoman Gwen Moore, representing Wisconsin’s 4th District, kicked off the community reflections, grateful for the August celebration that finally gave Milwaukeeans a time to grieve for the anchor many grew up watching on TV. At the time of Taylor’s death on May 8, the family had asked for privacy while they processed their grief. Longtime engineer, Tony Lucas, shared how Taylor helped him adjust to a station and industry that welcomed few African Americans when he started. Retired photojournalist Andrew Triplett talked about Bill Taylor the colleague-turned friend and big brother after they spent days covering stories and supporting each other far beyond the job.
Former TMJ4 anchor Vivian King, Omotolokun Omokunde, significant other and Milwaukee County Supervisor Willie Johnson pose at the event.
Through career and family videos, those in attendance got to see Bill Taylor at work and at home. Taylor’s youngest daughter, Akua Taylor, opened her remarks by saying it was so good to be home. She talked about the impact of her father and then read an excerpt from a book he was writing about his life. Next up was Taylor’s youngest son, Kwao Taylor, sharing “Dad-isms” and stories about his father. In a surprise to the audience, he ended the celebration with an emotional tribute to his father, a rendition on the violin of “A Change is Gonna Come” by Sam Cooke.
In lieu of flowers, the Taylor family asks that you donate to the Wisconsin Black Historical Society Museum (WBHSM), as Taylor was the inspiration for Clayborn Benson founding the institution.
MILWAUKEE — The Milwaukee Police Department is investigating a shooting that occurred on early Sunday morning on the 4900 block of W. Capitol Drive that left one person injured.
An 18-year-old sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
TMJ4
The police is currently looking for an unknown suspect at this time.
Those with information regarding the shooting are encouraged to contact the Milwaukee Police at (414) 935-7360 or contact Crime Stoppers at (414) 224-TIPS or P3 Tips to remain anonymous.
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MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department requested the public’s help to find 11-year-old Sir’Charles Bason, a critically missing boy who was last seen near Teutonia and Kiley at around 6:20 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
Police described Bason as 4 feet, 5 inches tall with a slim build, brown eyes and black, low-cut hair. He was last seen wearing a gray jacket with green lines, dark-colored jeans, tan sandals and carrying gray Nike Jordan shoes.
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What you can do:
Anyone with information on Bason’s whereabouts is asked to call Milwaukee Police District 4 at 414-935-7242.
The Source: The Milwaukee Police Department released information.
MILWAUKEE – A Milwaukee man, previously named one of Wisconsin’s Most Wanted, has been sentenced to prison for shooting and killing his cousin in 2020.
In court
What we know:
A Milwaukee County jury found 39-year-old Brandon Gladney guilty of first-degree reckless homicide and possession of a firm by a felon earlier this year.
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Judge Michelle Havas sentenced Gladney to 29 years in prison on Friday, April 17. He was granted credit for more than a year’s time served and further sentenced to 14 years of extended supervision.
Arrested in Arizona after years on the run, court records show Gladney has also been ordered to pay the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office more than $1,800 for extradition costs.
Homicide investigation
The backstory:
The shooting happened in May 2020. Investigators said Gladney was captured on video apparently arguing with the victim, his cousin, outside a Milwaukee convenience store near 21st and Meinecke.
“It’s all on video, and it’s devastating for that family,” the marshal on the case told FOX6 when Gladney was profiled on Wisconsin’s Most Wanted. “You have a family member that shot and killed another family member.”
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Prosecutors said Gladney walked away but then returned with a gun pointed directly at the victim and shot him. The victim died from his gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital. Multiple bullet casings were found at the scene.
Gladney went on the run for years. He was arrested in Arizona in January 2023, years after he was charged.
The Source: FOX6 News referenced information from the U.S. Marshals Service, Wisconsin Circuit Court and prior coverage.
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