Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Housing Authority short on cash after misuse of $2.8 million in funds

Cavalier Johnson and Gwen Moore talk about the impact of frozen federal funds
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore talk about the impact of frozen federal funds on Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Housing Authority executives are scrambling to cut costs, after the agency’s new chief financial officer discovered that more than $2.8 million in rental assistance funds were misused by his predecessors.
Between 2019 and 2022, the Housing Authority’s former director of finance improperly pulled restricted federal funds out of the Section 8 rent assistance program to cover cash needs in other divisions of the agency, according to the CFO’s discovery.
Those transfers were used to cover a number of expenses — including administrative payroll and costs from construction projects that had gone over budget.
As a consequence, the Housing Authority says it is running an average of 45 days behind on paying its expenditures. The agency also has fallen behind on its pension fund contributions, and costs from its development projects currently exceed the amount covered by construction loans.
Now, executives are making major cuts to help “stop the bleeding.” On Thursday, 20 Housing Authority employees were laid off to bring down expenses.
New finance hire solved $3 million mystery
The dramatic discovery — disclosed publicly during a special meeting of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Friday afternoon — solves a mystery that confounded agency leaders, the mayor’s office and federal regulators for nearly two years.
In April 2023, federal auditors reported finding more than $3 million in “unexplained variances” on the Housing Authority’s bank balance. After nearly two years, the agency’s finance team had failed to reconcile that cash balance.
Brad Leak — who joined the Housing Authority’s finance team in November and was promoted to be its chief financial officer on Jan. 19 — was able to trace that cash within a matter of months.
The revelation also comes after a dramatic leadership shakeup inside the agency.
All but one member of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners are new appointees, and a slew of top executives have either retired or resigned in recent months — including Willie Hines, the agency’s controversial top executive and Fernando Aniban, the Housing Authority’s second-in-command and former chief financial officer.
Other recent departures include Finance Director Rick Koffarnus, Housing Choice Voucher Program Director Jackie Martinez and Warren Jones, vice president of construction for the Housing Authority’s development arm.
No evidence employees pocketed funds, more investigation promised
The use of restricted federal funds for unauthorized purposes is “improper and illegal under federal regulation,” Leak said in his address to the board Friday.
But Leak and Acting Secretary-Executive Director Ken Barbeau say they have not found evidence that the funds were pocketed for personal expenses — only that they were improperly transferred within the agency.
A recent forensic audit, which reviewed every financial record within the Section 8 rent assistance program, also did not find any evidence that employees had pocketed agency money.
That forensic audit, however, did not review financial records in other divisions of the Housing Authority — including within its real estate development arm Travaux, Inc.
Now, as these findings come to light, board is discussing the possibility of another forensic audit to examine other parts of the agency, Barbeau said.
Board chair vows ‘it’s a new day’ for the Housing Authority
Chairperson Charlotte Hayslett, who grew up in public housing and joined the board in November, became emotional as she apologized to residents on behalf of the organization.
“This is an embarrassment,” Hayslett said, adding: “It’s a new day here. I can’t impress upon you enough: It’s a new day here.”
As Hayslett thanked him for immediately coming forward with his findings, Leak wiped away tears.
Hayslett also spoke directly to local nonprofit Common Ground, which has spent the past two years organizing public housing residents and lobbying for reform of the Housing Authority.
“Thank you for that bullhorn,” she said. “Had it not been for you giving voice to the voiceless, people still would’ve been in place doing what they were doing.”
In a statement Friday, Common Ground leaders called for since-departed executives to be held accountable.
“We smelled smoke,” Common Ground tenants and organizers said. “Here’s the fire.”

Milwaukee, WI
LA Clippers Announce Trade With Milwaukee Bucks

The LA Clippers did not make the blockbuster moves that the Los Angeles Lakers or Sacramento Kings did, but they made moves on the margins.
One of those moves was to send backup guard Kevin Porter Jr. to the Milwaukee Bucks in a trade for MarJon Beauchamp. The Clippers announced the trade and made it official on Friday morning.
“Beauchamp, 24, has played in 26 games with the Bucks this season, averaging 2.0 points, 1.2 rebounds and 4.7 minutes. The 6-foot-7 forward has appeared in 126 games across three NBA seasons with Milwaukee, averaging 4.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 11.4 minutes. Prior to being selected with the 24th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft, Beauchamp spent time with the G League Ignite and appeared in the 2022 Rising Stars during NBA All-Star Weekend,” the Clippers said.
The trade was a bit shocking from the standpoint of Kevin Porter Jr. having an important role on the Clippers. He played in 46 games for the Clippers, averaging 9.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists on 42/25/65 shooting in 19.6 minutes a game.
The Clippers used Porter so heavily that he was taking rotation minutes from long-time guard Terance Mann, who was also traded to the Atlanta Hawks.
Ben Simmons is finalizing a contract buyout with the Brooklyn Nets to become a free agent, sources tell me and @WindhorstESPN. Simmons will meet with the Cavaliers and Clippers starting Friday as he decides his next home. pic.twitter.com/guz2MhmJ5A
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 7, 2025
While the Clippers have been linked to acquiring Ben Simmons after his buyout from the Brooklyn Nets, it remains to be seen who’ll take the backup point guard minutes for the team.
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Milwaukee, WI
Canvassing for clues: Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee family is canvassing for clues one month after their loved one was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver.
Beverly Fair was killed in a crash on Jan. 4 at 34th and Lloyd.
Photo submitted by family
No arrests or charges have been made.
Thursday night, Fair’s family invited TMJ4’s Mariam Mackar to tag along as they went door-to-door just blocks away from the scene, asking for help finding the person responsible.
“We’re just going door-to-door today, seeing if there’s anything you see, any tips you may have,” said Fair’s daughter, Shyla Deacon. “This is my duty to make sure people are doing their due diligence to get criminals off the street.”
Watch: Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver
Milwaukee family asks for help apprehending hit-and-run driver
Seventy-year-old Fair was a wife, grandmother, and mother of five.
Deacon says they’ve been seeking justice ever since her death.
TMJ4
“It wasn’t fair. She didn’t deserve to die that day like that. It’s a tragedy that her last breath was because of somebody going 75 or 80 miles per hour in a residential area,” Deacon said.
Alongside community members, Deacon and her family left fliers in search of new tips about a person they believe was involved in Fair’s death.
Photo submitted by family
It’s TMJ4’s policy not to identify a suspect until they’ve been formally charged. Milwaukee police say that hasn’t happened yet.
“We respect the police and we appreciate how they are helping the family, but we’re also going to take that initiative to knock on doors, make phone calls, put things on social media to see if we can get this guy caught,” Deacon told Mackar.
The family urges anyone with information on the hit-and-run to speak to police.
Until an arrest is made, the family says they will continue to fight for accountability.
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Milwaukee, WI
One-Time Bucks Center Believes Giannis Antetokounmpo Could Leave Milwaukee

The Milwaukee Bucks have one of the best players in the NBA in Giannis Antetokounmpo. He’s a top-five player in the league by any measure.
He is the biggest reason why the Bucks were able to win the NBA title back in 2021 over the Phoenix Suns. As long as the Bucks have him, they think they can be a contender to win the title every year.
His presence and need to win now are part of the reason why the Bucks decided to trade for Kyle Kuzma ahead of the trade deadline. They want to maximize the time they have with Antetokounmpo.
Read more: Bucks Trade Khris Middleton for Kyle Kuzma in Blockbuster Deal
The Bucks are terrified of losing Antetokounmpo. That’s why they traded for Kuzma this season and for Damian Lillard prior to last season.
One former Bucks player thinks that the Bucks could eventually lose Antetokounmpo. Former center DeMarcus Cousins believes he could leave if the Bucks don’t start getting closer to another title.
Boogie Cousins believes Giannis could leave Milwaukee if things don’t work out
“As his teammate I learned there’s always truth in his humor…if the Bucks don’t work out, I could absolutely see him in Chicago.”
(🎥 @RunItBackFDTV )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 6, 2025
Cousins had some interesting things to say about what Antetokounmpo could be thinking. Speaking on Run It Back, Michele Beadle asked if Cousins could see Antetokounmpo being a Knick someday.
“One thing I learned being his teammate is that there is always truth in his humor, and he’s a lot smarter than he likes to give. So the things that he says, there’s truth in it always. So I could see that happening.”
Antetokounmpo has been vocal that he wants the Bucks to make sure they are doing everything possible to contend for titles. He wants to win, and that’s all he cares about.
More Bucks news: Bucks News: Clear Winner Emerges In Khris Middleton For Kyle Kuzma Trade
Cousins thinks that if the Bucks don’t win a championship in the next couple of years, Antetokounmpo could decide that he wants to be somewhere else.
He isn’t wrong, but Antetokounmpo just re-signed with the Bucks recently. He clearly thinks that the team is trying its hardest to surround him with players who can help him win another title.
Right now, the Bucks need to focus on playing better basketball. They are just 2-5 in their last seven games and now sit fifth in the Eastern Conference standings.
Antetokounmpo is averaging 31.8 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game this season.
More Milwaukee Bucks news: Blockbuster Kyle Kuzma Trade Could Boost Bucks Into Deep Playoffs Run
Kyle Kuzma Reacts to Being Traded to Bucks
For more news and notes on the Milwaukee Bucks, visit Milwaukee Bucks on SI.
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