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Deer District shows dire warnings about tearing down highways have fallen flat | Opinion

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Deer District shows dire warnings about tearing down highways have fallen flat | Opinion



WisDOT is considering several options for I-794 that fall into three buckets: improve it, replace it or tear it down entirely.

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There are a handful of topics you know will rile people up: abortion, gun control, and, if you live in Southeast Wisconsin, what to do with I-794.  

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If you’ve somehow managed to be in the dark on this debate, there is a question of what to do with the aging infrastructure of the I-794 lake interchange, which cuts through the heart of Milwaukee’s downtown. WisDOT is considering several options that fall into these three buckets: improve it, replace it or tear it down entirely.

Last week, a study was released to the public that gave a first look at where traffic would be diverted to if the mile stretch were to be torn down. While WisDOT has not made a decision yet, during a presentation last Tuesday, one of the project consultants noted that tearing down that mile stretch of 794 appears to be “the most feasible option”. If X/Twitter commentary and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Letters to the Editor on this topic are any indicators, tearing down the freeway will elate many while leaving plenty of people outraged.

But in order to gauge whether or not that outrage is justified, we should turn back the pages of Milwaukee history twenty years to the last time people were outraged about the removal of a mile stretch of road: Park East freeway.

One man, George Watts, was so angry about the potential of tearing it down that he first tried to recall Mayor John Norquist over it. When that didn’t work, he ran against Norquist and centered this issues in his campaign. In one of his letters to the editor to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel he went so far to say that  “taking away freeways like this would “give us the same despair that Third World countries have now.”

More perspectives on I-794 options:

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7 reasons why: Removing I-794 would be a boon for downtown Milwaukee

Who wins from I-794 removal? Developers. Rest of us will be stuck in traffic.

Removing roads like I-794 can work: Just look at the Fiserv Forum.

794 removal would hurt Bay View. And revive the bridge to nowhere.

Looking around the Deer District today doesn’t quite paint the image of the despair of a developing country. In the four years I’ve lived in Milwaukee, I’m not sure I have gotten into a traffic jam once around the McKinley and Knapp intersection, except that one time Disney on Ice was at the Fiserv. It’s safe to say, no one misses the Park East Freeway.

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As WisDOT continues to do their due diligence by developing alternative plans and producing more studies, they would be wise to also take history into account. This city has played almost this exact record before. As City of Milwaukee planner Peter Park has stated, historically, “every single time a freeway came down, a neighborhood got better and access got better.” For once, here’s hoping we let history repeat itself.

Kristin Brey is the “My Take” columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.



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Milwaukee, WI

San Diego Padres shut out Milwaukee Brewers, 1-0

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San Diego Padres shut out Milwaukee Brewers, 1-0


MILWAUKEE, WI – JUNE 08: Manny Machado #13 of the San Diego Padres celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the game between the San Diego Padres and the Milwaukee Brewers at American Family Field on Sunday, June 8, 2025 in M

The Milwaukee Brewers lost to the San Diego Padres in the final game of their series at American Family Field on Sunday, June 8. The final was 1-0, in favor of the Padres. 

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Game breakdown

What we know:

It took nothing more than a Manny Machado home run to take the game for the Padres on Sunday. It also secured the series for San Diego. 

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The Brewers have had a recent struggle at the bat. Milwaukee left 10 men on base over the last five innings.

Neither team got a hit through the first 4½ innings as Milwaukee’s Freddy Peralta and Bergert were both outstanding. 

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Milwaukee’s first hit was a one-out single by Rhys Hoskins in the fifth. 

The Padres broke through on Tyler Wade’s leadoff single in the sixth.

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The Source: The information in this post was provided in part by FOX Sports and The Associated Press.

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Milwaukee, WI

'Wear Orange Weekend:' Milwaukee gun violence prevention efforts

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'Wear Orange Weekend:' Milwaukee gun violence prevention efforts


“Wear Orange Weekend” in Milwaukee

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson issued a proclamation recognizing National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Saturday, part of “Wear Orange Weekend” and National Gun Violence Awareness Month.

Johnson said local organizations have distributed hundreds of gun locks across the city and shared safety information with residents this weekend. He also said the city is offering free youth programming all summer through its “Hello Summer” initiative.

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“Change is something that all of us can accomplish together, each and every single one of us,” he said, “if we come together, if we stand behind a common cause to reduce gun violence and make sure that people who should not have their hands on guns in the first place, don’t get the chance to do it.”

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“Wear Orange Weekend” began as a tribute to a teen who was shot and killed in Chicago. It has now become a recognized movement to reduce gun violence nationwide.

By the numbers:

The most recently available Milwaukee Police Department crime data shows, as of June 5, there have been 205 non-fatal shootings in the city this year – a 15% drop compared to the same point in 2024 and a 39% drop compared to 2023. While the city tracks homicides overall, it does not track fatal shootings, specifically, on its dashboard. 

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Those statistics do not include a violent stretch that began Friday afternoon and continued into Saturday morning. Milwaukee police responded to at least four shootings that left two people dead and seven others wounded. Two shootings happened minutes apart on Hampton Avenue.

The Source: Information in this report is from city officials and the Milwaukee Police Department.

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Milwaukee, WI

Could Houston Rockets Pursue Milwaukee Bucks Big Man?

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Could Houston Rockets Pursue Milwaukee Bucks Big Man?


As the Houston Rockets gear up for free agency this summer, one player they could circle back to is Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez. Some fans will remember during the 2023 offseason when Brook Lopez was a target for Houston, before the center ultimately chose to stick with the Bucks for another attempt at another title.

With those attempts falling short, the former two-time All-Defensive player could be on the move this summer, with a potential flame reigniting with the Houston front office in attempts to add a veteran floor spacer and depth at the center position.

Lopez, who is set to be on the way out of Milwaukee as the team heads for a rebuild, is eligible for an extension, although it has already been mentioned that the veteran center will more than likely head for unrestricted free agency.

While it has been reported that veteran center Steven Adams is one of the Rockets’ highest priorities this summer, if the New Zealand center is offered a bigger contract elsewhere as an unrestricted free agent, then a play for Brook Lopez could be in the cards for Houston.

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Brook Lopez (11)

Apr 6, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Milwaukee Bucks center Brook Lopez (11) looks on from the scorers table against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images / Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

“If Adams leaves, team sources said the Rockets could reignite their interest in Brook Lopez. The 37-year-old, who averaged 13.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.9 blocks per game shooting 37 percent from 3 in Milwaukee last season, was previously a target for Houston and would theoretically be a fit, given his two-way production and health (played 237 games over the last three seasons).” said Kelly Iko of The Athletic.

Lopez is a big-time threat in the paint as a defender as well, logging almost two blocks per game average for the past three seasons. He offers a two-way play style that Rockets head coach Ime Udoka covets in his players.

Whether or not Adams is re-signed is remained to be seen this offseason, but if he is not, expect the Rockets to be in play for a veteran like Brook Lopez.



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