MILWAUKEE – A new U.S. Navy warship from a once-troubled fleet is set to be commissioned this week in Milwaukee.

The USS Beloit is the newest warship of the U.S. Navy, and it’s sitting in Milwaukee, at 378-feet long in Veterans Park.

“It’s great, it’s beautiful, it’s history,” said Linda Gilbert of Beloit.

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Retired U.S. Navy Reserve Vice Admiral Dirk Debbink is leading the committee for the USS Beloit. The littoral combat warship made in Wisconsin is one of the most advanced ships in the world with an expensive past. 

“This is the last time we will likely ever see this ship in the Great Lakes after she’s commissioned,” Debbink said.

He believes it’ll have a different fate than the $750 million USS Milwaukee. The ship was decommissioned in 2023 after only eight years. It was the ninth littoral warship to be pulled from active service.

“I think this ship is a fully capable ship and I don’t think it will have the problems the Milwaukee had,” Debbink said. “A lot of those were engineering plant issues, and they definitely resolved those.”

Debbink said there have been significant upgrades to weapons and combat systems. 

“Marinette Marine and the Navy learned from these earlier ships and included a lot of ship alterations and improvements in these later ships,” Debbink said.

While littoral combat ships have a history of failure, people touring on Tuesday said they have hope that this ship will have a more lasting impact.

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“With what their mission is and what they described to us, I believe it serves a vital purpose, so, I hope that we would get our money’s worth out of it,” said Navy veteran David Morrow.

“I would think that the ship will serve its time,” said Navy veteran Greg Stamatelakys. “And if it is going to mothballs it will be ready and able to go back out.”

The USS Beloit will be commissioned on Saturday, Nov. 23.

Thousands are expected to attend the ceremony as the ship leaves Veterans Park, heading to its home port at Naval Station Mayport in Jacksonville, Fla.

MILWAUKEE — A Milwaukee mom confronted the man who, she says, sold vaping devices to her underage son. Reason Hill wants businesses that sell to minors to be held accountable.

“I found out that this gas station was selling my son tobacco products, selling him vapes — he’s only 14,” explained Hill, a concerned mother who has worked as a nurse and says she knows the dangers of vaping.

“I’ve seen what it does to kids,” she said. “I’ve seen them have tubes in and out their body, on breathing machines.”

Watch: Milwaukee mom confronts an employee who sold vapes to her 14-year-old son

Milwaukee mom confronts an employee who sold vapes to her 14-year-old son and demands accountability

It’s why she didn’t hesitate to confront an employee of the Lover’s Lane Petro Mart who, she believed, sold vapes to her underage son.

She used her cellphone to record the confrontation and shared the video with Milwaukee police. Police confirmed to TMJ4 that they investigated and issued the employee a citation with a $691 fine.

MPD also filed a report ensuring the underage sale violation will be considered when the business is due for a tobacco license renewal.

Hill says it’s not enough. “Honestly, I feel like their tobacco license should be taken. My son is not the only one they’re selling vapes to, and there are a lot of kids in this area.”

Last year, the city of Milwaukee adopted an ordinance to limit where new vape and smoke sellers can open, blocking them within 1,000 feet of a school.

The village of Greendale has similar zoning restrictions and an ordinance that goes a step further—businesses can have their license revoked if they’re repeatedly caught selling vaping products to minors.

“We pride ourselves on being a very pro-business community, but we also want there to be basic regulations being followed,” explained Mike Hawes, Greendale village manager.

He says in the past 13 months, one particular shop, Smoke On, has been issued five citations for selling to minors. Last week, it led to the business surrendering its license to sell electronic vaping devices. “These are pretty basic standards that are in place for them to follow, and the other businesses have been able to follow it,” Hawes added.

When TMJ4’s Andrea Albers stopped at Smoke On, she was told the business had been sold, and the new owners didn’t want to speak to TMJ4.

The shop is about 600 feet from Martin Luther High School. Because it existed before Greendale’s zoning ordinance, it was grandfathered in. The village anticipates the new owner will apply for a new vape license but says it is no longer protected.

“We have advised them that according to our ordinance, we will not issue a new vape license to a business located within 1,000 feet of a school,” reiterated Hawes.

Hill applauds the repercussions in Greendale and wants Milwaukee to take note. In the meantime, she has a message she wants parents to hear: “We’re all our kids have. You know? At the end of the day—be responsible, get on stuff like this. This shouldn’t be happening, and put a stop to it. That’s it.”

Hill also reached out to Milwaukee Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, and he responded to her call for accountability. “I have a ZERO tolerance policy when it comes to selling any tobacco or vaping products to minors, and if I could ban all sales of those products in Milwaukee, I would do so tomorrow. In my view, these products are poison and are a menace to the health and wellness of our community,” Alderman Lamont Westmoreland said in a statement, noting that tobacco/vaping licenses are applied for at the city but are ultimately approved by the State of Wisconsin.

“I have worked closely with the Milwaukee Health Department, the Milwaukee Police Department, and the State of Wisconsin to address this issue and hold people accountable, and I will continue to do so. We must make it MUCH harder for a tobacco and vaping license holder to stay in business if they are caught selling to minors, and I will push for changes that give more control to local officials so we can better prevent outlets that are looking to sell this poison to our kids.”

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MILWAUKEE – There was a hazardous materials response at Maitland Park in Milwaukee on Tuesday, Nov. 19. 

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office tells FOX6 News that deputies responded to Maitland Park for a possible domestic violence incident.

While at the park, deputies came across an encampment of some sort and found jug-like containers with what they believed contained possible hazardous chemicals.

A hazmat team responded to contain and dispose of the material. Park rangers moved the encampment.

There is currently no danger to the public. 

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FOX6 News is working to gather information about this incident. When we have more information, we will update this post.