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Milwaukee County workers pick up nearly 1 million pounds of trash a year; spring cleanup is now underway

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Milwaukee County workers pick up nearly 1 million pounds of trash a year; spring cleanup is now underway


MILWAUKEE — This month, you might see workers in bright yellow jackets along Milwaukee’s highways. That’s because Milwaukee County has launched its 2025 Highway Cleanup, a vital effort to remove litter and keep our roadways safe and clean.

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Milwaukee County Highway Workers

Hundreds of county workers are busy cleaning up the trash that has been piling up. TMJ4 spoke with Kevin Beasley, a county worker who has been with the county for five years. He said there are ways everyone can help make a difference.

“If everyone does their part, it really helps. I hate to see people throwing trash out the window,” he said.

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Kevin Beasley, a county highway worker

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Kevin Beasley, a county highway worker

Milwaukee County Highway Director Eduardo Santiago explained how this annual cleanup project goes beyond just picking up trash. He said maintaining a clean environment not only improves the roadways but also helps keep drivers safe.

“Once the snow melts, you start seeing all the trash out there,” he said.

Milwaukee County Highway Director Eduardo Santiago

TMJ4

Milwaukee County Highway Director Eduardo Santiago

Santiago emphasized the scale of this cleanup. He shared that county workers typically pick up about a million pounds of garbage throughout the year. And it’s not just the usual trash. Workers remove everything from plastic bottles to larger debris, including accident remnants left over from winter.

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“Some of it is accident debris left over from winter, like car parts. It’s a little bit of everything,” said Santiago.

Watch: Milwaukee County workers pick up nearly 1 million pounds of trash a year; spring cleanup is now underway

Milwaukee County kicks off annual highway cleanup to tackle litter and improve safety

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Beasley said the cleanup is about more than just a job – it’s about taking pride in the community.

“We come across all kinds of things – weapons, cash, you’d be surprised. A lot of garbage flies off the back of trucks,” he said.

The cleanup is a crucial part of Milwaukee County’s commitment to sustainability and public health. While county crews are busy removing litter, they also ask the community to do their part. Beasley urges people to be mindful of the environment and avoid littering.

“If we can all just be mindful, this belongs to all of us. Help us keep it clean,” added Beasley

Milwaukee County’s cleanup efforts are just beginning. The focus right now is on removing as much litter as possible to prepare the grass for mowing. The county plans to continue tackling other areas throughout April.

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“Remember to slow down or move over when you see our crews out here. It’s very dangerous for our folks who are picking up litter,” said Santiago


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Milwaukee, WI

Bucks waive Pete Nance

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Bucks waive Pete Nance


With the Bucks having 17 rostered players, cuts were going to have to happen at some point, and Pete Nance is the first casualty. Nance was always the most obvious player to cut because of his non-guaranteed $2.5m contract, which would have become guaranteed if they kept him past Saturday. Also, Milwaukee acquired a fair few guys who play his position via the Giannis trade (Ware, Jaquez, Ament). I should mention that this technically does not proclude the Bucks from signing the big man to another deal, but it feels unlikely, given the aforementioned lack of spots.

This is something of a kick in the guts for many fans, including myself, who really thought Milwaukee had found a diamond in the rough with Nance. The number of times we would remark on Deer Diaries about how he was “always in the right spots” and “did all the little things” was… pretty large! After coming to the Bucks late in the 2024-25 season, Nance had a breakout 2025-26 campaign (although his numbers certainly don’t jump off the page), averaging 5.4 PPG and 2.7 RPG on 51.5% from the field and 42.0% from three. Assuming it isn’t with the Bucks, let’s hope he lands somewhere that gives him a real shot.



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Leaders of ‘United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign’ grateful for support

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Leaders of ‘United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign’ grateful for support


MILWAUKEE — As Venezuela continues to recover from devastating earthquakes, support from Milwaukee’s “United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign” is soon heading to the disaster-stricken country.


What You Need To Know

  • Donations from Milwaukee’s “United for Venezuela Emergency Relief Campaign” are soon heading to the disaster-stricken country
  • Organizers say the support for the campaign has been so strong that they had to pause donations
  • While logistics are a concern in Venzuela, organizers say they have finalized a trusted transportation plan for the donations
  • Volunteers are being asked to help pack boxes into trucks for delivery to Venzuela on Friday and Saturday

The basement of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church is filled to the brim with donations ticketed for Venezuela, the culmunation of a week of community generosity.

From food to clothing and toys, the outpouring has been remarkable said Father Norberto Sandoval, who is from Venezuela and serves as associate pastor of Blessed Sacrament.

“This [has been] overwhelming,” said Sandoval.  “I mean, if you can see [the basement], you were able to get in on Monday. Now we [are not] able to walk.”

(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)

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Aura Escobar, who is also from Venezuela, has been doing whatever she can to help her home country, including packing donations. She described the support from friends, coworkers, and strangers as something special to witness.

“In my Venmo, I had three thousand dollars in less than 24 hours,” Escobar said. “And I was able to buy stuff to donate. It’s been amazing. It’s very heartwarming to have so many people that care about Venezuela.”

Due to limited storage capacity and the logistical planning required to transport the supplies to those who need them most, organizers have decided to stop accepting donations after Friday afternoon.

“We have more than a thousand boxes right now. We are expecting two semi-trucks either to move [Friday] in the afternoon or tomorrow,” Sandoval said.

(Spectrum News 1/Blake Dietz)

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He acknowledged that corruption in times of trauma is a long-standing concern in Venezuela. For that reason, the trucks will take the local donations to Miami, where a Venezuelan organization he fully trusts will handle the final distribution.

“We have already the person and it’s going to be [done] free. It’s going to be directly to a group of religious groups in Venezuela. So, in that way people will get the donations,” he said.

Sandoval and other organizers are putting out one final plea for volunteers to help load the semi-trucks on Friday and Saturday.



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Milwaukee, WI

Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face-covering and park ordinances?

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Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face-covering and park ordinances?


Video circulating this week shows masked federal agents in Milwaukee arresting people. City leaders say the face coverings violate a city ordinance — but whether federal agents are required to follow local ordinances is a legal question that may ultimately be decided by a federal judge.

RELATED | Father with no criminal record detained by ICE on Milwaukee’s south side, family says

Local attorney Russell Jones said the answer depends on the specific ordinance and what federal authorities are doing.

“The issue becomes whether or not the local ordinances interfere with the operations of the federal officers acting under federal law. If it does, federal law will supersede it. Right, it’s the supremacy clause of the Constitution. If it doesn’t interfere with their operations, then typically they will follow those ordinances. So that’s really the question: do the ordinances interfere with the legitimate operations of the federal agency?” Jones explained.

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For the past week, masked federal agents have been seen in Wisconsin arresting people they say are in the country illegally.

Watch: Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?

Do federal agents have to follow Milwaukee’s face covering and park ordinances?

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Galo Suarez described one encounter.

“They broke our side window, and they told us that if we didn’t comply, we would face several heavy consequences,” Suarez said.

Images have also surfaced of what appear to be federal agents in Milwaukee County parks.

Federal agents wearing masks and being in county parks, according to city and county leaders, are against local ordinances.

Milwaukee’s city ordinance prohibits law enforcement officers from wearing face coverings. A Milwaukee County ordinance prohibits any law enforcement agency from using a park as a staging area without a permit.

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When asked whether a resolution to the legal question was possible now, Jones said it likely falls to the courts.

“That’s a question that eventually probably some federal judge will answer,” Jones said.

Before the city’s face covering ordinance was passed, City Attorney Evan Goyke wrote in a memo that “it is legal and enforceable.”

Enforcement of the ordinance would fall to Milwaukee Police, who earlier this week said they have “requested a formal written legal opinion from the city attorney’s office regarding the ordinance’s applicability and enforceability.” TMJ4 News reached out to Goyke on this and is waiting to hear back.

ICE has already stated it “will not abide by unconstitutional bans,” noting that “ICE officers wear face coverings for one reason: to protect themselves and their families from real-world threats including agitators.”

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Jones said the practical challenge of enforcing a local ordinance against federal officers adds another layer of complexity.

“Enforcing a local ordinance right is typically done with an arrest or issuing a ticket, and certainly arresting ICE officers would interfere with their operations,” Jones added. “Ultimately, a federal judge will decide if these ordinances interfere with federal operations, and if they do, they will be superseded by federal law, and if they don’t, then ICE would likely have to follow them.”

This story was reported on-air by Jenna Rae and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.


Let’s talk:

Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we’re all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips.

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