Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee mom confronts an employee who sold vapes to her 14-year-old son and demands accountability
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, WI
Hazardous materials response at Maitland Park in Milwaukee
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.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Bucks 101-100 Houston Rockets: Damian Lillard leads late Bucks charge
Defeat ended a five-game winning run for the Rockets, who trailed by 14 points at one stage. Fred VanVleet scored 26 points and Jalen Green 21 for the Rockets.
The Bucks are fourth from bottom in the Eastern Conference, while the Rockets are fourth in the West.
The Los Angeles Clippers held off a comeback from the in-form Golden States Warriors to win 102-99 at Intuit Dome.
Norman Powell scored 23 points for the Clippers, including five three-pointers, while Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 26.
“I’m proud of the team. They made a big run like they always do, and we were able to keep our composure and come away with the win,” said Clippers coach Tyronn Lue.
The Clippers are ninth in the Western Conference and the Warriors second.
Milwaukee, WI
Paul Skenes named NL rookie of the year; Brewers’ Jackson Chourio finishes third
Here are our Milwaukee Brewers player grades for 2024
Here are our Milwaukee Brewers player grades for 2024, based on analysis by Milwaukee Journal Sentinel writers Todd Rosiak and Curt Hogg
Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio etched his name in the record books in 2024, at 20 years old becoming the youngest player in major-league history to hit 20 home runs and steal 20 bases.
But in the end, it wasn’t enough to earn him notice as the top newcomer in the National League.
Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Paul Skenes was named the senior circuit’s rookie of the year, earning 23 of a possible 30 first-place votes, with San Diego Padres centerfielder Jackson Merrill finishing second (seven first-place votes) and Chourio third.
Skenes, 22, went 11-3 with a 1.96 ERA and WHIP of 0.95 in 133 innings over 23 starts for a Pirates team that didn’t call him up from Class AAA Indianapolis until the second week of May.
Despite the delayed start, Skenes was the talk in baseball for most of the season, even becoming the first rookie to start an All-Star Game since 1995. He accounted for 4.3 Wins Above Replacement according to FanGraphs.
In 156 games, Merrill hit .292 with 24 home runs and 90 runs batted in with an OPS of .826 for a Padres team that finished with the same record as the Brewers – 93-69 – but in second place in the NL West behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Merrill, 21, also stole 16 bases and was named an all-star. He accounted for 5.3 WAR according to FanGraphs.com.
Then there was Chourio, who earned 26 third-place votes. Chicago Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga garnered the other four.
It was a little over a year ago Chourio signed a record-breaking $82 million contract extension with the Brewers despite having never played in the major leagues.
He made Milwaukee’s opening-day roster out of spring training as the youngest player in the majors and then scuffled for most of the first two months before finally hitting his stride.
By season’s end, it could have been argued that Chourio was the Brewers’ best all-around player. In 148 games, Chourio hit .275 with 21 homers and 79 RBI to go along with an OPS of .791.
He also stole 22 bases and despite switching back and forth between right and left field was a net positive with the glove having been credited with 12 defensive runs saved and five outs above average.
Chourio saved his best for last, as he racked up five hits and three RBI in Milwaukee’s wild-card series loss to the New York Mets. He slugged two homers in Game 2, making him the fifth-youngest player in baseball history to go deep in the postseason.
Chourio’s WAR total of 3.9 ranked third on the Brewers behind catcher William Contreras (5.4) and shortstop Willy Adames (4.8).
Right-hander Devin Williams is the last Brewers player to have been named rookie of the year (2020).
Milwaukee’s next shot at a Baseball Writers Association of America postseason award comes Tuesday, with Pat Murphy considered a favorite to be named NL manager of the year.
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