Milwaukee, WI

How a Milwaukee Teenager’s Bedroom Became a Worldwide Micronation

Published

4 months ago

October 29, 2025

How a Milwaukee Teenager’s Bedroom Became a Worldwide Micronation

READ MORE FROM OUR “HIDDEN MILWAUKEE” FEATURE HERE.

Once upon a time – Dec. 26, 1979, to be specific – 14-year-old Robert Ben Madison declared his bedroom in his house on Prospect Avenue to be a sovereign nation, the Kingdom of Talossa. He named himself, King Robert I, as sole resident. Rather than becoming a passing childhood fantasy, the kingdom slowly grew.

Madison’s friends soon joined his kingdom and began to create a system of government, a flag, media (a handwritten newsletter titled Støtanneu) and, most impressive, their own Romance-based language that has developed tens of thousands of unique words over the last 46 years. By 1995, Talossa had a couple dozen citizens, many of whom participated and created their own political parties.

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Talossa is an early example of what researchers like Chris Roth call “micronations.” Roth, a Milwaukee author who also has studied microstates and separatist movements, says micronations are “usually done for fanciful or hobbyist reasons rather than serious ones,” but motives and types range widely, from avant-garde artist experiments to right-wing militias.

“It allows small people to feel very big and that they’re part of something substantial,” Roth adds. “It’s an escape in many cases.” Some micronations claim a small sliver of land, like Madison did with his bedroom; some are online “cybernations.”

The internet changed Talossa forever. Legions of “cybercitizens” from around the world joined Talossa’s “Old Growthers” (original citizens). Internet infighting led to a separatist group who formed a Republic of Talossa in 2004. It was, to use a Talossan term, ’n aviecă – a slap in the face – to its founder.

“They … eventually decided they wanted to win all the elections so they just declared themselves the ‘real Talossa’ and deleted everyone’s accounts,” Madison says. It’s an incident referred to as “The Great Theft” in a 194-page report by Madison titled The Kingdom of Talossa.

Those loyal to Madison tried to regroup, but on July 4, 2011, he declared that Talossa was dissolved and “reunited” with the U.S. Being shut out of his kingdom, Madison says, was “the most catastrophic event of my life.”

Talossan Tariffs?

With the tariff wars raging, King Txec says he invited President Donald Trump to submit an oath of fealty to his kingdom. No response on that, or Talossa’s sanctions – refusing to drink American beer – in response to U.S. immigration policy. The monarch says he hasn’t ruled out “counter-tariffs” if threatened.

What Madison calls the “fake Talossa” has continued on, and since last November has been ruled by King Txec I (pronounced Zheck), a public school teacher in Riverside, California, who joined Talossa about 12 years ago after stumbling across a Wikipedia entry.

Talossa claims all of Milwaukee as its territory, divided into provinces and referred to as the Greater Talossan Area. Its cybercitizens even cheer on our local team but refer to them as the Maricopa Brewers, named after the province in which American Family Field is found. King Txec rules about 200 citizens, working closely with the seneschal (prime minister).

“I could never become president, or the king of England, but in Talossa I can write laws. It’s a way to experience things you don’t get to do in real life,” King Txec says. He admits “being referred to as ‘Your Majesty’ is a bit weird.”

As for Madison, a king without a kingdom, he still calls Talo … uh, Milwaukee home and designs roleplaying wargames like Death in the Trenches, a WWI-inspired strategy title.

This story is part of Milwaukee Magazine’s October issue.

Find it on newsstands or buy a copy at milwaukeemag.com/shop.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

Published

8 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks injury report: Is Giannis playing tonight vs. Celtics?

The Milwaukee Bucks host the Boston Celtics at Fiserv Forum just over 24 hours after one of their most disappointing losses of the season, when they scored just eight fourth-quarter points and gave up a 39-point swing in the second half in a blowout loss at Chicago on March 1.

Boston comes into town as one of the league’s hottest teams having won eight of its last 10 and after beating Philadelphia on March 1. The Celtics (40-20) are currently the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference and are looking to stay in front of New York.

The Bucks (26-33), meanwhile, had been winning games but have dropped two in a row and three of their last five. In those three losses, all to teams currently in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, the team failed to score 100 points.

Is Giannis playing?

Yes.

Giannis Antetokounmpo began the day as questionable to play, and was upgraded to available after his pregame workout. It was the first time he had been listed as anything other than “out” since reinjuring his calf on Jan. 23. The game will mark the return of the former two-time MVP, who has missed the last 15 games with a strain of his soleus muscle in his right calf.

What is the Bucks record without Giannis?

11-17.

Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes. They are 1-2 when he has exited games early due to injury.

Is Jayson Tatum playing?

No.

Boston’s all-NBA wing is continuing to work his way back from a torn Achilles tendon suffered during the playoffs in May. Tatum has been doing five-on-five work lately.

Boston Celtics injury report

Jayson Tatum, out (Achilles)
Jaylen Brown, out (illness)
Neemias Queta, out (rest)

Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)

Giannis Antetokounmpo, questionable (right calf strain)

Bucks probable starters

Guard: AJ Green, Ryan Rollins, Kevin Porter Jr.
Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Center: Myles Turner

What time is the Bucks game?

The game is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be broadcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin with Lisa Byington, Wesley Matthews and Melanie Ricks on the call. The game was originally supposed to be a national broadcast on Peacock but was moved to NBA TV.

NBA playoff standings

The Bucks are currently out of the postseason picture entirely. Here are the play-in standings in the Eastern Conference heading into game play on March 2:

No. 7: Orlando (31-28): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. The Bucks host the Magic on March 8.

No. 8: Miami (32-29): The Bucks and Magic have split the season series 1-1. Milwaukee travels to Miami on March 12.

No. 9: Atlanta (31-31): The Bucks lead the season series 1-0. The Bucks host the Hawks on March 4 and then travel to Atlanta on March 14.

No. 10: Charlotte (30-31): The Bucks own the tiebreaker over the Hornets having won the season series 3-1.

No. 11: Milwaukee (26-33): The Bucks have had better luck against the play-in teams to date, as they are just 5-13 against the top six seeds in the conference.

“We say we didn’t play ourselves out of it,” Bucks head coach Doc Rivers said. “Obviously I’m competitive. I think we should’ve had an even better record. But, not having your best player for that long and staying above .500 is huge for us. It’s funny, when he went out (Jan. 23) the talk around me was ‘being .500’ and I was like we can be better than that. We were. I’ll take it. But, never satisfied.”

The four teams in the play-in will face one another to determine the final two playoff teams (which will face the top two seeds). Teams that hold the Nos. 7 and 8 seeds only have to win one game to advance, teams that hold the Nos. 8 and 9 seeds must win twice to advance

Bucks vs. Celtics odds

Boston is a 7.5-point favorite over Milwaukee with the over/under set at 216.5 points, per BetMGM.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Weather – Frosty and cold morning, sunny day ahead

Published

20 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels

Frosty Monday morning with temps in the teens inland to low 20s near the lake.
Mostly sunny to sunny skies on Monday. Highs in the mid-40s inland, upper 30s near the lake.
A total lunar eclipse will happen Tuesday morning, total eclipse from 5-6am. It may be tough to see due to increasing clouds.
Increasing clouds on Tuesday with highs in the low 40s. Chance of rain and storms possible Wednesday through Friday with warming temperatures.

Today: 39 Lake. Mostly sunny.
High: 44°
Wind: SE 5-10

Tonight: Partly cloudy this evening, mostly clear overnight.
Low: 27°
Wind: SE 5

Tuesday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy.
High: 43°
Wind: E 5-10

Wednesday:41 Lake. Chance for scattered showers and t-storms.
AM Low: 32° High: 45°
Wind: E 5-10

Thursday: 39 Lake. Mostly cloudy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 37° High: 42°
Wind: NE 5-10

Friday: Chance for showers and t-storms Warmer. Warming at night.
AM Low: 37° High: 57°
Wind: SE 5-15

Saturday: Mostly cloudy with AM rain showers. Blustery with falling afternoon temperatures.
AM Low: 47° High: 53°
Wind: NE 5-10

6-day planner

FOX6 Weather Extras

Local perspective:

Meanwhile, FOX6Now.com offers a variety of extremely useful weather tools to help you navigate the stormy season. They include the following:

FOX6 Storm Center app

FOX LOCAL Mobile app

FOX Weather app

FOX Weather

Big picture view:

Maps and radar

We have a host of maps and radars on the FOX6 Weather page that are updating regularly — to provide you the most accurate assessment of the weather. From a county-by-county view to the Midwest regional radar and a national view — it’s all there.

School and business closings

When the weather gets a little dicey, schools and businesses may shut down. Monitor the latest list of closings, cancellations, and delays reported in southeast Wisconsin.

FOX6 Weather Experts in social media

Daily ForecastWeatherMilwaukee

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Milwaukee, WI

Four new community-powered fridges open on Milwaukee’s North Side

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Four new community-powered fridges open on Milwaukee’s North Side

Community members and city leaders celebrated the opening of four new community-powered fridges on the North Side of Milwaukee. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held on Friday, Feb. 27, at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, 3624 W. North Ave., to mark the occasion.

The effort to fight food scarcity by opening community-powered fridges comes after several grocery stores closed in the area, creating a food desert.

Ald. Russell W. Stamper, II, emceed the ribbon cutting ceremony for the grand opening of four new community-powered fridges.

District 15 Ald. Russell W. Stamper II, who saw several grocery stores in his district close over the past few years, served as the event’s emcee.

“We could either complain about the problem, or we could come together to find a solution,” Stamper said.

People fill up the community-powered fridge with fresh produce.

In July 2025, a Pick ‘n Save on the North Side closed, prompting the opening of a community-powered fridge at Tricklebee Café in the Sherman Park and Uptown area. Since then, several other grocery stores have closed in the area.

This led Stamper, FEED MKE, Metcalfe Park Community Bridges and One MKE to open four more community-powered fridges.

Christie Melby-Gibbons, executive director of Tricklebee Café, talks about opening the first community-powered fridge at her cafe.

Christie Melby-Gibbons, executive director of Tricklebee Café, talked about the organization’s community-powered fridge. About a week ago, the fridge was empty for the first time since its launch, so staff turned to their online community for support.

“Within 20 minutes, a woman came in with bags of food and filled the fridge for less than $100,” Melby-Gibbons said.

Danell Cross (right), executive director at Metcalfe Park Community Bridges, Metcalfe Park resident Farina Brooks (left), and other attendees applaud during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The community-powered fridge network is run by residents on a take-what-you-need, leave-what-you-can model. Taking a grassroots approach to solving food insecurity in the area, community members provide fresh produce and other healthy food options to ensure that their neighbors have access to nutritious foods.

Residents line up to fill the community-powered fridge with fresh produce.

“Everybody deserves to eat. I can’t go to sleep at night knowing my neighbors are hungry,” said Melody McCurtis, deputy director of Metcalfe Park Community Bridges.

Here’s a list of all the community-powered fridges:

Metcalfe Park Community Bridges

3624 W. North Ave.

Rooted & Rising- Washington Park

3940 W. Lisbon Ave.

Sherman Park Community Association

3526 W. Fond du Lac Ave.

Dominican Center

2470 W. Locust St.

Tricklebee Café

4424 W. North Ave.

Jonathan Aguilar is a visual journalist at Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service who is supported through a partnership between CatchLight Local and Report for America.

This article first appeared on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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