Milwaukee, WI
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.
“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.
See the aftermath of high-speed reckless driving in Milwaukee
Journalist James Causey and his wife narrowly escaped a high-speed chase and accident when an SUV ran past them and through an intersection, colliding with a Mercedes.
Milwaukee County will receive nearly $25 million in federal funding for 67 traffic safety projects along 10 of the county’s most hazardous roadways, according to a Jan. 12 announcement from County Executive David Crowley’s office.
That funding will support upgrades for pedestrian infrastructure, intersections and high-speed corridors in Milwaukee, West Allis, Glendale, Brown Deer, Shorewood and on multiple county highways.
Collectively, these projects could reduce fatal and serious injury crashes in hazardous areas by 26%–50% and save an estimated $1.2 billion in car crash costs over 20 years, according to the announcement.
Preliminary designs are anticipated to begin in 2027, with all projects completed by 2031.
The funding comes through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All Grant, which the county’s Department of Transportation applied for in 2025 as part of its Complete Communities Transportation Planning Project, an initiative to increase safety and reduce reckless driving across its roadways.
Already, the county has analyzed crash data, identified 25 “Corridors of Concern,” and reviewed potential project opportunities.
Milwaukee County’s award amounts to the third-largest grant in the federal program’s 2025 funding cycle. It will be managed by the county and distributed to the five municipal recipients.
The municipalities will lead the projects and provide a 20% local match to support costs.
More details about the projects’ locations will be posted on the transportation department’s website, according to the announcement.
The 65 infrastructure projects and two studies enabled by the grant aim to improve safety along 10 hazardous roadways the county has identified.
Pedestrian infrastructure upgrades will include high-visibility crosswalks, upgraded pedestrian walk signals, restricting right-turn-on-red options, and sidewalk network expansion.
Intersection upgrades will include traffic signal upgrades, better visibility for pedestrians, bump-outs, and select geometric realignments. High-speed corridor upgrades will entail traffic calming improvements that help drivers stay in their lanes.
One of the projects will also seek to reduce reckless driving on the 16th Street viaduct, the 27th Street viaduct and the 35th Street viaduct.
The grant will also fund a safety analysis study on West Lincoln Avenue between South 124th Street and South 52nd Street, which will issue recommendations for future projects. The grant will also fund a county Department of Transportation report assessing the county’s progress toward the Vision Zero goal.
Contact Claudia Levens at clevens@usatodayco.com. Follow her on X at @levensc13.
MILWAUKEE – New details are emerging in the death of a pregnant woman found dead after a house fire investigators say was intentionally set, as the man charged in the case appeared in court.
What we know:
21-year-old Cameron Washington appeared Sunday, Jan. 11, at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, where prosecutors outlined allegations tying him to the death of 22-year-old Gladys Johnson-Ball.
Washington faces six felony charges, including first-degree recklessly endangering safety and arson, all connected to the fire that broke out the night of Jan. 5.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX LOCAL Mobile app for iOS or Android
According to the criminal complaint, Johnson-Ball was the mother of Washington’s 3-year-old daughter and was pregnant with another child at the time of her death. Investigators say Washington lived with Johnson-Ball and her family at a home near 26th and Locust.
Police were called to the home for reports of a person with a weapon. When officers arrived, they reported seeing flames on the second floor of the house. While clearing the home, officers found Johnson-Ball unconscious in a bedroom that was on fire.
She was taken outside and pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators noted Johnson-Ball had bruises across her body and blood coming from her nose and mouth, according to the complaint.
The complaint says Johnson-Ball’s mother told police Washington and her daughter had been inside the bedroom together all day and that family members had been unable to reach her. She told investigators Washington would not allow anyone inside the room and pointed a gun at family members.
What they’re saying:
“He was blocking the door like, ‘No you not getting in here,’ then I turned around and that’s when he pointed the gun at my daughter Kayla,” said Michelle Johnson, the victim’s mother.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
Family members told investigators the fire started moments later in the bedroom and Washington ran away from the house. He was later arrested, and police say a lighter was found in his pocket.
“Ultimately, this is extremely dangerous and deliberate behavior,” said Assistant District Attorney Anthony Moore.
Dig deeper:
In court, Washington’s bond was set at $100,000. Prosecutors said he could face more than 50 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
Court Commissioner Maria Dorsey noted Washington has not yet been charged with homicide because the medical examiner’s report was not completed when charges were filed.
What’s next:
Washington’s next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 20.
The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.
The Milwaukee Police Department is asking for the public’s help in locating a critically missing 15-year-old girl who was last seen with an unknown man.
Esther D. Prado was last seen Sunday, Jan. 11, around 12:30 a.m. near West Fillmore Drive and West Sumac Place. That’s near Jackson Park on the southwest side of Milwaukee.
Esther is described as a white female, 5 feet, 3 inches tall and weighing 120 pounds. She has brown hair, brown eyes and may be wearing pink pajamas.
Anyone with information is asked to call MPD’s District 6 at (414) 935-7262.
“Critically missing” is a label police apply to people who may be especially vulnerable due to a variety of factors.
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@gannett.com.
Detroit man arrested following manhunt for double murder in Tennessee
George Kittle used bottle of tequila to deal with devastating Achilles injury
Parents fear closing of Good Street Learning Center as leaders push to stay open
College football player transferred from Miami to Indiana before national championship
When will the big nor’easters return? Boston in midst of second-longest streak without hefty snowfalls. – The Boston Globe
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
San Antonio ends its abortion travel fund after new state law, legal action
UN top court set to open Myanmar Rohingya genocide case
Arson engulfs Mississippi synagogue, a congregation once bombed by Ku Klux Klan
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from enforcing mail-in voting rules in executive order
Four killed, 20 injured in overnight Russian strikes across Ukraine
-
Detroit, MI1 week ago2 hospitalized after shooting on Lodge Freeway in Detroit
-
Technology6 days agoPower bank feature creep is out of control
-
Dallas, TX4 days agoAnti-ICE protest outside Dallas City Hall follows deadly shooting in Minneapolis
-
Delaware3 days agoMERR responds to dead humpback whale washed up near Bethany Beach
-
Dallas, TX1 week agoDefensive coordinator candidates who could improve Cowboys’ brutal secondary in 2026
-
Iowa6 days agoPat McAfee praises Audi Crooks, plays hype song for Iowa State star
-
Montana2 days agoService door of Crans-Montana bar where 40 died in fire was locked from inside, owner says
-
Health1 week agoViral New Year reset routine is helping people adopt healthier habits