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Milwaukee neighbors embrace snow after lackluster winter

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Milwaukee neighbors embrace snow after lackluster winter


MILWAUKEE — Fresh snowfall brought sledding, shoveling, and winter excitement to Milwaukee on Wednesday.

Near the lakefront, kids and adults took advantage of the rare accumulation.

“This is our go-to spot when there’s snow,” said Kathleen Culen-Ritter, an East Side resident.

“There hasn’t been too much, so anytime there is, we get out there. It’s nice to have Colectivo for a hot chocolate afterward, too.”

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Kathleen Culen-Ritter and her son Michael.

Sledding isn’t just for little kids, either. Michael Lynch, a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, joined his fraternity brothers for an impromptu sledding event.

“Right now, we don’t have school, so we’re just enjoying it,” Lynch said. “We’re big kids—we can still have fun.”

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Michael Lynch and friends.

After a lackluster winter so far, neighbors said even mundane tasks like shoveling seemed magical.

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“I was missing out because we didn’t get any snow. Just bring a shovel and wedge your way in between,” East Side resident Duncan Kelly said as he shoveled out a coveted street parking spot.

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Duncan Kenny

Milwaukee received about three inches of snow by Wednesday afternoon, with more falling into the evening.

Leaders with the City of Milwaukee’s Department of Public Works said salt trucks pre-treated main and residential streets early Wednesday morning.

Once the snow began, more than 100 city drivers worked to clear major roads, while roughly 80 garbage packer trucks with plows arrived later in the afternoon to start clearing side streets.

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Watch: Milwaukee neighbors embrace snow after lackluster winter

Milwaukee neighbors embrace snow after lackluster winter

DPW estimates it will take 18 to 24 hours after the snow stops to clear all 7,000 lane miles.

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“The roads are slippery, but if you go with caution, they should be fine,” Culen-Ritter said. “Lots of plowers are out, but some roads are still slushy.”

Street parking remains a concern. A snow emergency was not declared Wednesday, but city officials will assess conditions Thursday. Residents are encouraged to park close to the curb and sign up for alerts at Milwaukee.gov/parking.

City officials also ask residents to follow alternate-side parking rules and all winter parking regulations. Proper parking allows plows to clear roads more efficiently, especially near driveways, alleys, and intersections.

City of Milwaukee parking regulations are available at Milwaukee.gov/Parking/ParkingRegulations.

“This is why you have to make the most of it,” Culen-Ritter smiled. “Winter lasts a quarter of the year, so when it snows like this, with the right gear, it’s fun to be outside.”

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Officials urge residents to drive carefully, avoid shoveling snow into the street, clear sidewalks within 24 hours, and keep fire hydrants accessible.


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Sheriff’s Office backpedals on controversial facial recognition deal

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Sheriff’s Office backpedals on controversial facial recognition deal


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  • The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office has decided against a contract for facial recognition technology.
  • Sheriff Denita Ball cited community concerns and the importance of public trust in the decision.
  • The move follows similar pushback that led the Milwaukee Police Department to pause its own pursuit of the technology.
  • Local officials and advocates have raised concerns about racial bias, surveillance, and civil rights violations.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office will not move forward on a potential deal to use facial recognition technology, Sheriff Denita Ball announced Friday.

In a statement on Feb. 27, Ball said after “thoughtful evaluation” and “meaningful dialogue” with community stakeholders and leaders, she decided to stop pursuing a contract with Biometrica, a Las Vegas-based company whose technology allows authorities to compare photos to a large database of photos for matches. 

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“While we recognize the potential of this software as an investigative tool, we also recognize that trust between the MCSO and the people we serve is important,” she said.

“My discussions with local advocates highlighted valid concerns regarding how such data could be accessed or perceived in the current national climate. This decision is not a retreat from innovation but rather an understanding that timing matters, too,” Ball said.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported on Feb. 17 that the Sheriff’s Office was on the verge of signing off on the use of facial recognition technology after news broke at a community advisory board meeting held by the office.

The update on the office’s sign-off on an intent to enter into a contract with Biometrica blindsided local officials and advocates because it contradicted earlier claims that the office had not moved forward with a controversial contract.

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At the time, supervisors on the county’s judiciary and legislation committee called for more information from the Sheriff’s Office about the nature of the then-potential contract.

Supervisor Justin Bielinski, who chairs the committee, said Ball’s decision to step away from the deal was good news, but said he was still feeling wary.

“I would like to see more I guess,” he said of the two paragraph statement from Ball. “At what point would she reconsider, right?”

County Executive David Crowley, who is running for governor as a Democrat, had also voiced concerns about a possible contract when news came to light earlier this month.

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After learning of Ball’s decision to not move forward with Biometrica, Crowley thanked community members who voiced concerns about facial recognition technology, saying he will “continue doing everything in my authority to ensure our residents’ First Amendment rights, civil liberties, and personal data are protected.”

In recent months, Milwaukee politicians and residents rebuffed local law enforcement’s efforts to pursue the use of such technology at both the city and county levels, with many citing concerns over racial bias and unjust surveillance of residents.

The Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors voted last summer to recommend the development of a policy framework for the use of facial recognition technology as worries about its use by local law enforcement grew in the community.

The policy emphasized that the use of such technology doesn’t “suppress First Amendment-related activities, violate privacy, or otherwise adversely impact individuals’ civil rights and liberties,” and called for a pause on acquiring new facial recognition technology until regulatory policies were in place to monitor any existing and new surveillance technology.

In early February, the Milwaukee Police Department paused its pursuit of facial recognition technology after almost a year of pushback from activists and some public officials at public meetings. The department also noted that community feedback was a part of its final decision as well as a volatile political climate amid the federal government’s immigration crackdown.

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(This story was updated to add new information.)



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Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse

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Milwaukee judge calls out marijuana odor in courthouse


A Milwaukee County judge on Thursday, Feb. 26, criticized the smell of marijuana inside the courthouse during a sentencing hearing, calling it inappropriate and illegal as visitors described the odor as common.

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Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract

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Milwaukee Bucks sign Cormac Ryan to two-way contract


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  • The Milwaukee Bucks signed guard Cormac Ryan to a two-way contract for the remainder of the regular season.
  • Ryan will be ineligible to play for the Bucks during the postseason.
  • Ryan averaged 20.4 points per game for the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, shooting 42.3% from three-point range.

The Milwaukee Bucks rewarded Cormac Ryan for his strong G League season with the Wisconsin Herd by signing him to a two-way contract. That will allow Ryan, 27, the chance to finish out the regular season with the Bucks. He would be ineligible for postseason play, however.

Ryan joins former Dominican High School star Alex Antetokounmpo and Pete Nance on two-way deals. The Bucks now have a completely full roster, with 15 guaranteed contracts as well.

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Ryan was originally signed by the team in the summer, when he played in five summer league games, before inking a training camp contract. He appeared in two preseason games.

Ryan then played 29 games with the Herd and shot 42.3% from behind the 3-point line to average 20.4 points per game. He shot 48.9% from the field overall.

Ryan, a 6-foot-5 guard, played at Stanford (2018-19), Notre Dame (2020-23) and North Carolina (2023-24) before going undrafted. He averaged 10.4 points per game in college on 35.2% 3-point shooting. He made 40.7% of his 3-pointers in 2021-22 at Notre Dame.

He initially signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ryan did not make it out of training camp in 2024 but signed to the Thunder’s G League affiliate.

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