Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee has (again) been named one of the top cities in America for bed bug infestations
Where do bed bugs come from? How they get could get into your home
Does the thought of bed bugs keep you up at night? Here’s what to know.
Here’s something that’ll give you the creeps ― bed bugs are on the rise in Milwaukee.
On Monday, the international pest control company Orkin released its annual list of the 50 most bed bug-infested cities in the United States. Milwaukee was named the 25th-most bed bug-infested city, moving up 15 spots from 40th-most infested last year. The only city to rise more spots in the rankings was Greensboro, N.C., which moved up 25 spots from 43rd to 18th.
The most bed bug-infested cities list is based on Orkin’s data on which metropolitan areas they performed the greatest number of bed bug treatments in between Dec. 1, 2022, and Nov. 30, 2023. The ranking includes both residential and commercial pest control treatments.
What U.S. city has the most bed bugs?
Chicago topped Orkin’s list for the fourth year in a row. It’s been a rough year for the Windy City in terms of pests. Chicago was also named America’s most rat-infested city by Orkin last year. Way to hit Milwaukee’s southern neighbor/rival when they’re down.
New York and Philadelphia held the second and third spots, respectively, for the second year in a row.
What are America’s 50 most bed bug-infested cities?
- Chicago
- New York City
- Philadelphia
- Cleveland-Akron, Ohio
- Los Angeles
- Detroit
- Washington, D.C. (+2)
- Indianapolis (-1)
- Charlotte, N.C. (+5)
- Champaign, Ill. (+1)
- Columbus, Ohio (-1)
- Cincinnati (+1)
- Atlanta (+3)
- Grand Rapids, Mich. (-2)
- Denver
- Baltimore (-8)
- Richmond, Va. (+9)
- Greensboro, N.C. (+25)
- St. Louis (+6)
- Youngstown, Ohio (+7)
- Pittsburgh (-3)
- Dallas-Ft. Worth (-5)
- Flint, Mich. (-2)
- Raleigh-Durham, N.C. (-4)
- Milwaukee (+15)
- Charleston, W.Va. (-7)
- Greenville, S.C. (-3)
- Norfolk, Va. (-5)
- Davenport, Iowa (+8)
- Nashville, Tenn. (+3)
- Tampa, Fla. (+10)
- Toledo, Ohio (+6)
- Dayton, Ohio (+1)
- Knoxville, Tenn. (-4)
- Las Vegas (new to list)
- Omaha, Neb. (-4)
- South Bend, Ind. (-9)
- Houston (+6)
- Cedar Rapids, Mich. (-8)
- Ft. Wayne, Ind. (-5)
- San Francisco (-19)
- Buffalo, N.Y. (-13)
- Harrisburg, Pa. (-7)
- Seattle (-5)
- Miami
- Orlando, Fla. (+1)
- Minneapolis (new to list)
- Oklahoma City (new to list)
- Louisville, Ky.
- Lexington, Ky. (-4)
What do bed bugs look like?
Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. They’re quite small, measuring roughly 1-to-7 millimeters, or up to 1/4 of an inch, long. The little pests have a flat, oval body and dark, protruding eyes, as well as short antennae.
Adult bed bugs are reddish-brown in color after feeding on blood. Young bugs are whitish-yellow and closer in size to a poppy seed.
You can learn more about the appearance of bed bugs throughout their life cycle on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s website.
Why are bed bugs a problem?
Bed bugs feed on human blood, often when people are sleeping. The bugs are not known to transmit or spread disease, the EPA says, but they can cause itchy bites that irritate human hosts.
Bed bug bites can affect each person differently. Bite responses can range from an absence of any physical signs of the bite, to a small bite mark, to a serious allergic reaction, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say. While the bugs aren’t dangerous, an allergic reaction to several bites may require medical attention.
Additionally, sometimes excessively itching the bites can increase the chance of a secondary skin infection, the CDC warns.
Another sinister thing about these pests is that they travel easily without human detection.
“Bed bugs are usually transported from place to place as people travel,” the CDC says. “The bed bugs travel in the seams and folds of luggage, overnight bags, folded clothes, bedding, furniture and anywhere else where they can hide. Most people do not realize they are transporting stow-away bed bugs as they travel from location to location, infecting areas as they travel.”
Bed bugs can also spread quickly. Female bugs can deposit one to five eggs per day and can lay as many as 500 eggs in their lifetime, Orkin says. The bugs can survive several months between blood meals.
“Bed bugs are extremely resilient, making them difficult to control. As travel plans ramp up, it’s important that Americans know how to protect themselves through pest identification and proper control,” Orkin entomologist Ben Hottel said. “While bed bugs are visible to the naked eye, they are excellent at hiding. Involving a trained professional at the sight of a bed bug introduction is recommended.”
How do I know if I have a bed bug infestation on my hands?
Most people don’t realize they have a bed bug problem until their skin breaks out in itchy red welts. These bite marks can take as many as 14 days to appear, according to the CDC.
The CDC and EPA recommend you check your bed sheets or mattress for the following signs:
- Dark spots (about this size: •), which are blood-filled fecal matter excreted by bed bugs.
- Pale yellow exoskeletons, which look like tiny eggshells, that baby bed bugs shed as they molt.
- A musty, sweet odor that bed bugs produce through glands on their lower body.
- Blood stains where bed bugs have been accidentally crushed.
- Live bed bugs in the seams, piping and folds of your mattress.
How do I prevent a bed bug infestation?
Here are some tips Orkin and American Pest Solutions recommend:
- Inspect your home for signs of bed bugs regularly. Check the places where bugs hide during the day, including mattress tags and seams, and behind baseboards, headboards, electrical outlets and picture frames.
- Decrease clutter around your home to make it easier to spot bed bugs on your own or during professional inspections.
- Vacuum frequently.
- Examine all secondhand furniture and clothing before bringing it inside your home.
- Bed bugs will lay eggs in dirty clothing but hate the heat, so wash and dry your laundry on the hottest temperature setting when returning from a trip.
- Inspect your bedding and luggage carefully if you’ve been traveling. Look for signs of bed bugs. If you see signs of bed bugs on items that can’t be washed, keep those items outside of your home until they can be treated.
How do I get rid of bed bugs if I find them?
If you find bed bugs, it is recommended you call a professional exterminator as soon as possible.
If you can, dispose of any beds, mattresses and cloth-covered furniture that bed bugs have infested. Wrap contaminated items in plastic to prevent any bugs from escaping, and label the items as “bed bug infested” so others don’t unknowingly bring the pests into their homes.
Finally, bed bugs hate the heat, so if you find them on your clothes, it is recommended you dry your clothes on a high-heat setting.
Indianapolis Star reporter John Tufts contributed to this report.
More: Milwaukee is one of the most rat-infested cities in America, but not as rat-infested as Chicago, Orkin says
More: Ticks are active across Wisconsin right now. The good news? There are several ways to prevent the bloodsuckers from biting
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Brewers Flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski Has Historic Night Against Yankees – World Baseball Network
The Milwaukee Brewers shut out the New York Yankees in a 6-0 victory on Friday night, and Jacob Misiorowski was dominated at a historic level.
In the first two innings of Friday night’s game, Misiorowski threw eight of the 10 fastest pitches ever by a starting pitcher. Of those eight, seven are now the fastest pitches ever thrown by a starting pitcher, according to Codify Baseball.
Misiorowski’s velocity has been a major topic of discussion ever since he made his debut last season. He lights up the radar gun early in games, but usually sees his velocity drop as the game goes on. However, in the fifth inning, he was able to throw a 103 mph fastball to Ryan McMahon. He also threw a 102.7 mph fastball to Cody Bellinger in the sixth inning.
Misiorowski leads all of baseball in strikeouts, notching his 70th strikeout of the season in the sixth inning of Friday’s game. Misiorowski has a 2.45 ERA on the season and had 11 strikeouts against the Yankees. The 60 fastest pitches thrown by a starting pitcher this season all belong to the Brewers ace.
It was Misiorowski’s first time facing the Yankees, and it was not just fans who were left in awe. Spencer Jones, the Yankees’ No. 6 prospect, made his MLB debut on Friday night and felt happy to just foul a pitch off against the flamethrowing righty.
“I’ve never seen pitches that hard in my life,” Jones said after the game, per MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy. “To foul off a couple is pretty great, so I’ll take that for now.”
Misiorowski’s teammate, Sal Frelick, was also in disbelief when Misiorowski kept touching triple digits late in the game.
“I kept looking up at the velo after every pitch as he got deep,” Frelick said per McCalvy. “I couldn’t believe it.”
Misiorowski picked a great night to showcase his best stuff. CC Sabathia was in the house to be inducted into the Brewers Wall of Honor, and he gave Misiorowski a glowing endorsement before the game.
“I love Misiorowski,” said Sabathia, per McCalvy. “I think he’s going to be a great pitcher.
“Honestly, he reminds me of myself as a young pitcher.”
If Misiorowski can become the type of player Sabathia was, he will be breaking records for years to come. He has played his best in big games so far in his career, but he is still only 24 and getting better with every start.
He credited adrenaline to his sustained velocity on Friday, so it makes sense that he has his best stuff in big games.
Photo: Milwaukee Brewers’ Jacob Misiorowski pitches during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Friday, May 8, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Aaron Gash)
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Weather: Mild and breezy Saturday, slight chance of showers
MILWAUKEE – Forecast from FOX6 Meteorologist Lisa Michaels
Partly sunny skies on Saturday with a slight chance for a few sprinkles or a shower.
Temperatures warmer on Saturday in the mid to upper 60s. Isolated 70s near the border. Breezy with winds gusting near 30mph.
Cooler temperatures in the upper 50s on Sunday (Mother’s Day) with increasing clouds. Patchy frost Saturday night into Sunday and Sunday night into Monday.
Next chance of rain and storms arrives on Tuesday.
Today: Partly sunny. A few showers possible. Breezy.
High: 67°
Wind: NW 10-25
Tonight: Partly cloudy. Patchy frost.
Low: 42°
Wind: NW 5-10
Sunday: Increasing clouds.
High: 57°
Wind: NW 5-15
Monday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 39° High: 59°
Wind: E 5-10
Tuesday: Warm and windy. Chance storms.
AM Low: 42° High: 68°
Wind: SW 10-25
Wednesday:Partly sunny.
AM Low: 46° High: 59°
Wind: NW 5-15
Thursday: Mostly sunny.
AM Low: 42° High: 64°
Wind: S 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
Milwaukee, WI
Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — The Bobby Portis Foundation hosted a luncheon Friday at Roosevelt Middle School to honor teachers — many of whom are also mothers — with Mother’s Day and Teacher Appreciation Week overlapping on the calendar.
Portis and his mother, Tina Edwards, spent the day celebrating educators and reflecting on the mission behind the foundation.
“We just want to make sure that we let the teachers know you are appreciated because sometimes it goes beyond being a parent at home, but sometimes teachers are parents at school,” Edwards explained.
Ariel Campos, TMJ4 Sports
For Portis, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks, the foundation has always been rooted in one person.
“The Bobby Portis Foundation has always just been solely based upon really my mom, and that’s the inspiration behind it,” Portis said.
WATCH: Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation
Bobby Portis and his mom share the story behind his foundation while honoring Milwaukee teachers
Growing up, Portis watched his mother raise four boys on her own.
“My mom worked tirelessly to take care of all four of us,” Portis said.
Edwards made sacrifices for her sons from the very beginning — including turning down a basketball scholarship after becoming pregnant with Bobby.
“I still was offered a scholarship after I had him, but I wanted to choose him over ball,” Edwards said.
Tina Edwards
That sacrifice brought her full circle through her son’s career.
“With Bobby becoming an NBA player, he’s living my dream, and I’m living the dream through him,” Edwards shared.
For Portis, the event was an opportunity to honor everything his mother has given him.
“I can’t just put into words what my mom has done for me, not only for my basketball career – that’s just like a small portion of my life – I’m talking about just me as a human being, as a man. I mean, I didn’t have a dad growing up, so my mom played both roles. She did a hell of a job raising not only me but my three other brothers,” Portis said.
His grandmother’s message to spread his blessings continues to drive his work.
“Being able to be in a position now to have a voice, to have a platform, to give back, to help inspire. I try to use it to the best of my abilities,” Portis said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist 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.
It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device.
Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more.
Report a typo or error
-
World58 seconds agoIran warns US against attacks on tankers; Israel kills dozens in Lebanon
-
News31 minutes agoBobby Cox, Hall of Fame manager of Atlanta Braves, dies at age 84
-
New York2 hours agoRail tickets to New Jersey World Cup matches will be $105, not $150.
-
Detroit, MI3 hours agoDetroit Tigers lose fifth straight, Kerry Carpenter injured
-
San Francisco, CA3 hours agoFallen tree downs powerlines in SF, delays Muni line
-
Dallas, TX3 hours agoFC Dallas vs Real Salt Lake: Lineup notes 📝
-
Miami, FL3 hours agoYour 2026 Miami Dolphins Draft Picks Expectations
-
Boston, MA3 hours ago
Texas A&M SS Boston Kellner suffers orbital bone fracture