Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee County gets $29M in federal funds for road improvements, new buses
MILWAUKEE – Nearly $29 million in federal funds are headed to Milwaukee County for road repairs and new buses, County Executive David Crowley announced Tuesday.
“Enhancing roadway safety and investing in public transit assets for all who use them are important in supporting the health, well-being, and economic vitality of Milwaukee County,” Crowley said in a statement.
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Almost $22 million will go toward redesigning and rebuilding segments of county-owned highways and bridges, according to the county executive’s office. Projects will focus on redesigning them as safer streets and, wherever feasible, “complete streets.”
Milwaukee County notes “corridors of concern” in its community transportation planning project, where fatal and serious injury crashes and acts of reckless driving occur regularly. It includes stretches of 76th Street, Silver Spring Drive and Layton Avenue that are now slated for full redesigns using federal funds.
Milwaukee County and the Milwaukee County Transit System will also receive more than $7 million to replace 13 buses, the county executive’s office said. MCTS has a current fleet of more than 300 buses that have an average lifespan of approximately 12 years or 500,000 miles.
“For Milwaukee County to have a modern and robust transportation network, we continually seek to provide infrastructure that also ensures the safety and well-being of the traveling public,” Donna Brown-Martin, Milwaukee County director of transportation, said in a statement. “Similarly, new buses for the MCTS fleet will support connectivity by moving more people timely and efficiently, while also reducing operational and maintenance costs through the replacement of vehicles past useful life standards.”
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The county said federal funds will also go toward street safety improvements in Greendale, Shorewood, South Milwaukee, Wauwatosa and West Allis. The county will also partner with the city of Milwaukee to address a segment of the 35th Street corridor.
A project-by-project breakdown of the federal funding can be found on the county’s website. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation awarded the money, received from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, through its Surface Transportation Program.
MILWAUKEE – The clock is ticking in the fight between ICE and Milwaukee. The federal Department of Justice gave Milwaukee until Friday to respond.
Law enforcement mask ban
The backstory:
In April, Milwaukee passed an ordinance that bans all law enforcement from wearing masks. There are exemptions for health or safety reasons. Those breaking it can face a fine of up to $10,000.
Supporters said it was part of what they called “ICE Out Milwaukee.” It was clear from debate, they were targeting immigration agents.
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The U.S. DOJ sent the mayor and city attorney a letter on July 10. It says the federal government will not comply. It tells the city to respond by this Friday, July 17, that it will not enforce the ban against federal agents.
One Milwaukee nonprofit leader critical of ICE responded to the situation.
“I look at the federal government’s threats to Milwaukee as analogous to David versus Goliath,” said Emilio De Torre of the Milwaukee Turners at Turner Hall. “David was doing the right thing in the face of of violence and oppression, and Milwaukee’s doing the right thing too. If a person is proud of what they’re doing, if they know that what they’re doing is legal and justified, then they don’t need to be a coward and hide behind a mask.”
U.S. DOJ ultimatum
What we know:
The U.S. Department of Justice letter was signed by an assistant attorney and also Brad Schimel, who leads the U.S. attorney’s office in Eastern Wisconsin.
It says the mask ordinance is unconstitutional by breaking the U.S. Constitution’s supremacy clause.
“This Mask Ban endangers federal officers and undermines federal law enforcement operations,” the letter also states. “The consequences are severe. Protecting the personal identities of federal officers and their families is especially critical in part due to the increasingly common threats of targeted harassment, tracking, interference, and assaults on federal agents for simply doing their jobs.”
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Several Milwaukee groups held a vigil and protest against ICE on Wednesday, July 15 in Burnham Park. That included Milwaukee Turners, the Milwaukee teachers’ union and Voces de la Frontera. They are criticizing recent deaths.
Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Jason Calvi and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the U.S. Department of Justice, and Emilio De Torre, the Milwaukee Turners, along with Milwaukee’s ordinance on law enforcement masks.
The City of Chicago has awarded a $3 million Community Development Grant for the redevelopment of the former Grace’s Furniture building at 2618 N. Milwaukee. Planned by Bluestar Properties and Marc Realty, the building was built in 1914 as a storage warehouse and sits within the Logan Square Boulevards District.
2618 N. MilwaukeeGoogle Maps
With K2 Studio serving as the architect, the existing structure will be converted into a four-story health club with a ground floor restaurant and cafe. Set to be known as Logan Square Athletic Club, the health club will be operated by Chicago Athletic Clubs.
The redevelopment will rehabilitate the existing brick facade along N. Milwaukee Ave while creating a new brick facade on the south elevation.
2618 N. MilwaukeeK2 Studio
The $11 million development will be supported in part by the $3 million Community Development Grant, which is funded through the city’s Housing and Economic Development bond.
According to Block Club Chicago, the project is expected to begin construction in Fall 2026 with construction expected to last for one year, with the gym set to open in late 2027.
The Holton Street Bridge nearly ready to reopen after a rehab project
The Holton Street Bridge in Milwaukee is nearly ready to reopen after a rehabilitation project. A public reopening ceremony on will take place on July 16.
A teen was shot in Milwaukee on the afternoon of July 14, and the Milwaukee Police Department is asking the public for information about the incident.
Police said a 16-year-old was shot in the 2700 block of North 44th Street around 4:23 p.m., according to a news release. The circumstances leading up to the shooting remain under investigation.
Milwaukee police are looking for unknown suspects.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Milwaukee Police Department at 414-935-7360 or, to remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 414-224-TIPS or submit a tip through the P3 Tips app.
Adrienne Davis is a general assignment and breaking news reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
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