Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee early voters say why they're voting before Election Day

Published

1 year ago

October 28, 2024

Milwaukee early voters say why they're voting before Election Day

Early voting for the presidential election began last Tuesday in Wisconsin. On that day alone, nearly 100,000 people turned out statewide, with steady lines continuing throughout the week.

Last Wednesday, despite the cold and wind, about 30 people lined up in front of the Zeidler Municipal Building 30 minutes before it opened, waiting to cast their votes in this year’s presidential election. As more voters arrived, I asked them what motivated them to vote early, ahead of Election Day.

For 79-year-old Milwaukee resident Sam Carr, the answer was simple: he wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.

“If you can do it early and get it over with, do it early,” Carr says. “That’s what I did.”

WUWM’s Eric Von Fellow Nadya Kelly speaks with voters about why they voted early.

For other voters, like Robyn Schultz, voting early was a matter of convenience. She’ll be working on Election Day, so early voting works better with her schedule.

“I have an opportunity. I won’t have one in person on Election Day, and the sooner we start, the sooner we finish,” Schultz says. “Work is a constant challenge. I work in live entertainment, and they schedule events regardless of what else is on the calendar.”

Eighty-year-old Carol Dorau voted early because she’ll be volunteering at Central Count on Election Day.

A line of voters form outside of the Frank Zeidler Municipal Building waiting to cast their vote.

“Zeidler is one of the best places to vote at too. They’re very efficient here. Nobody seems to come and then walk away because it’s not moving,” Dorau says. “But I’m so excited to see so many people voting. This is so important. This is just a monumentally important time. It’s critical.”

Twenty-four-year-old Aidan Frazier and 28-year-old Griffin Oleszczuk also mentioned how critical they feel this year’s election is.

“It was a priority to just do my, do my civic duty as early as possible. There’s a plethora of issues on the table right now. I think right now the freedom of choice is very important,” Frazier says. “These elections produce the outcomes for the community that I live in. It’s important to be an active participant in those decisions and make sure I’m helping to create the community I want to live in.”

“I think there’s a lot of issues on the line that are important and need to be handled, like the economy,” Oleszczuk says. “Inflation, high prices, groceries, gas, all of those combined I think are way too high. I think my vote is going to help bring those down.”

Schultz, the early voter mentioned previously, says her vote is her way of protecting her livelihood.

We’re all very tired of saying it and hearing it, that this is the most important election ever, but this might really be the most important election ever.

Robyn Schultz

“As a trans person who is involved with labor unions, my life depends on this working out the way that we need it to. The threats posed by Project 2025 or Agenda 47, however you want to color it, are threats to my existence,” Schultz says. “It’s threats to all the things I hold so dear that I’ve worked so hard to build and protect. It’s not a spectator sport. We’re all very tired of saying it and hearing it, that this is the most important election ever, but this might really be the most important election ever.”

Seventy-two-year-old Robert Barnett says he has voted throughout his life, since he was 18. He says for this year especially, a vote has a lot of power.

“I do believe in a democracy. Your vote really matters, and knowing the situation that we’re in, or the current climate I would say that we’re in, I think it’s very important that everyone gets out and exercises that vote, that political power that we really have, and if we come together as a community, collectively, as long as we all express our desires, then I’m fine with it.”

Carr, who we heard from at the beginning, also believes in the power of voting. He says it’s a way to honor those who came before him and also shape our future.

“I do vote in every election I can. It’s very important because people have died for us being able to vote, and I want to carry on that tradition. They did it for me. I want to carry on for the future generations that come after me,” Carr says. “It’s very important to vote. That’s where your voice is heard. Even though it’s written down on a piece of paper, it’s still heard.”

Early voting in Milwaukee will continue through Nov. 3. To find your nearest early voting site, visit myvote.wi.gov.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse

Published

12 hours ago

February 27, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse

A Milwaukee County judge on Thursday, Feb. 26, criticized the smell of marijuana inside the courthouse during a sentencing hearing, calling it inappropriate and illegal as visitors described the odor as common.

Posted February 26, 2026 9:30pm CST

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract

Published

24 hours ago

February 26, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract

The Milwaukee Bucks signed guard Cormac Ryan to a two-way contract for the remainder of the regular season.
Ryan will be ineligible to play for the Bucks during the postseason.
Ryan averaged 20.4 points per game for the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, shooting 42.3% from three-point range.

The Milwaukee Bucks rewarded Cormac Ryan for his strong G League season with the Wisconsin Herd by signing him to a two-way contract. That will allow Ryan, 27, the chance to finish out the regular season with the Bucks. He would be ineligible for postseason play, however.

Ryan joins former Dominican High School star Alex Antetokounmpo and Pete Nance on two-way deals. The Bucks now have a completely full roster, with 15 guaranteed contracts as well.

Ryan was originally signed by the team in the summer, when he played in five summer league games, before inking a training camp contract. He appeared in two preseason games.

Ryan then played 29 games with the Herd and shot 42.3% from behind the 3-point line to average 20.4 points per game. He shot 48.9% from the field overall.

Ryan, a 6-foot-5 guard, played at Stanford (2018-19), Notre Dame (2020-23) and North Carolina (2023-24) before going undrafted. He averaged 10.4 points per game in college on 35.2% 3-point shooting. He made 40.7% of his 3-pointers in 2021-22 at Notre Dame.

He initially signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ryan did not make it out of training camp in 2024 but signed to the Thunder’s G League affiliate.

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Milwaukee, WI

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

Published

2 days ago

February 25, 2026

Press Room

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

The Milwaukee Bucks have an opportunity to steal a victory from one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference, they host the tired and diminished Cleveland Cavaliers tonight at Fiserv Forum.

Cleveland (37-22), in contention for a top three seed, beat the New York Knicks on Feb. 24 in Ohio. After flying into Milwaukee after the game, the Cavaliers ruled out MVP candidate Donovan Mitchell and reigning defensive player of the year Evan Mobley. All-star James Harden is questionable to play.

One player who will suit up for Cleveland is point guard Dennis Schröder, who was acquired at the deadline from Sacramento. The 32-year-old is often a thorn in the side of the Bucks, and he scored 24 points in a Kings victory over the Bucks early in the season.

The Bucks are also playing on the second night of a back-to-back, though they slept in their own beds after beating Miami at home. They have won seven of their last nine games.

Milwaukee (25-31) remains out of the postseason picture entirely, however, sitting in 11th place in the East.

The Bucks have beaten teams with winning records in consecutive games only twice this season, with wins over Golden State and New York (Oct. 28-30) and Orlando and Oklahoma City (Feb. 11-12).

And, the Bucks also have struggled against teams that do not have their stars. They lost twice to Denver without all-stars Nikola Jokić and Jamal Murray (and even more starters), lost to Minnesota without all-stars Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert and even Portland without starters Jrue Holiday and Shaedon Sharpe. They also lost to Philadelphia twice without Joel Embiid and Paul George on a minute limit.

Is Giannis playing?

No.

Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is still ramping up in his rehab from a Jan. 23 soleus strain in his right calf, which he self-diagnosed as a four- to six-week injury. Antetokounmpo has done “live” practice work with teammates and coaches after the team returned home from New Orleans beginning on Feb. 21.

Before the game against Miami, Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Antetokounmpo has not gone five-on-five but does not need to. Rivers also added the two-time MVP has not suffered any setbacks with the injury.

What is the Bucks record without Giannis?

10-16

Milwaukee is 15-15 when Antetokounmpo plays any number of minutes.

Cavaliers on hot streak since trading for James Harden

Cleveland, which was the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last year with 64 wins, doubled down its roster heading into this season with the most expensive team in the NBA. But, as the trade deadline approached in early February, the team had fallen short of expectations. So, they began shedding salary and talent, most notably homegrown all-star guard Darius Garland.

They shipped the injured 26-year-old to the Los Angeles Clippers for 36-year-old all-star guard James Harden and received an immediate boost, winning five straight and six of seven heading into the game against the Bucks.

But Harden did suffer a fracture in his right (non-shooting) thumb against the Knicks on Feb. 24.

Harden has been solid since arriving in Cleveland, averaging 18.9 points on 48.8% shooting from behind the 3-point line while also averaging 8.0 assists. His presence has rejuvenated all-star center Jarrett Allen, who has averaged 20.4 points on 76.7% shooting since the point guard’s arrival. Before Harden joining the team, Allen averaged 13.9 points on 60% shooting in his first 40 games.

Taurean Prince, out (neck surgery)
Giannis Antetokounmpo, out (right calf strain)

Milwaukee Bucks probable starters

Guards: Kevin Porter Jr., Ryan Rollins, AJ Green
Forward: Kyle Kuzma
Center: Myles Turner

Cavaliers injury report

Max Strus, out (left foot surgery)
Donovan Mitchell, out (right groin strain)
Evan Mobley, out (left calf injury management)
James Harden, questionable (right thumb fracture)

What time is the Bucks game?

Tip-off is schedule for 7 p.m. CT.

What channel is the Bucks game on?

The game will be simulcast locally on FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin and WMLW The M with Lisa Byington, Marques Johnson and Melanie Ricks on the call.