Milwaukee, WI
MLB Contender: Nobody Talks About The Surging Milwaukee Brewers
![MLB Contender: Nobody Talks About The Surging Milwaukee Brewers MLB Contender: Nobody Talks About The Surging Milwaukee Brewers](https://imageio.forbes.com/specials-images/imageserve/66c4b210daefe46ff279009e/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&height=900&width=1600&fit=bounds)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – JULY 28: Jackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after hitting a … [+]
The Milwaukee Brewers are one of the most underrated teams in Major League Baseball.
The Brewers are running away with the National League Central Division.
The Brewers have a commanding game lead in their division, even with their best player on the Injured List.
All Star Christian Yelich, 32, is now recovering from successful back surgery.
At the time of his surgery, Yelich was hitting .315/.406/.504.,909, with 12 doubles, three triples, 11 homers, and 42 RBIs in 315 games.
Yelich’s barking back allowed him only 315 plate appearances this season, but he was a catalyst in the Brewers lineup.
But the Brewers might be the Rodney Dangerfield of MLB. It doesn’t seem they get the respect they are due.
Social Media conversations usually include the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Orioles, the Astros, the Phillies, and other high profile teams. It seems to this writer that the Brewers are often an afterthought.
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – AUGUST 8: Willy Adames #27 of the Milwaukee Brewers reacts after hitting a solo … [+]
Plenty Of Firepower:
Even with Yelich on the sidelines, the Brewers offense remains plenty dangerous.
The Brewers hit for average, hit for power, and are third in Major League Baseball, with 161 stolen bases.
The Brewers find a way to get on base, steal second, possibly steal third, and score.
It seems a different Brewer hitter contributes on a daily basis. Someone steps up every night.
Shortstop Willie Adames, who can become a free agent following this season, leads the team in home runs, with 22, and 85 RBIs. A shortstop with that type of power and speed is a true plus to any offense.
All Star catcher William Contreras contributes from a position not normally known for offensive production. However, Contreras has a rare combination of power and a very good hitting tool, which results in an excellent batting average.
Second baseman Brice Turang, 24, has had a superb season. He leads the team in stolen bases, with 37. Turang was a 1st round Brewers draft pick in 2018.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JULY 24: Joey Ortiz #3 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates after scoring in the … [+]
Two Budding MLB Stars:
Without Yelich in the lineup, two young Brewers have continued to step up and help lead the charge.
Jackson Chourio, still only 20, is a very legitimate candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.
Chourio makes excellent contact, has very good speed, and can hit the ball out of any park.
Chourio signed an 8-year, $82 million contract with Milwaukee that takes him through 2032.
To date, Chourio is hitting .274. He went 4-for-5 in the team’s 10-6 extra inning loss to the St. Louis Cardinals August 21. He stole his 18 base in the game.
The Brewers traded their right-handed pitching ace, Corbin Burnes to the Baltimore Orioles in February 2024. In return, the Brewers received left-handed pitcher DL Hall, and infielder, Joey Ortiz.
To this old scout, Ortiz, 26, has stardom written all over himself.
He can become a consequential part of future Brewers clubs.
A right-handed hitter, it’s possible Ortiz will assume the starting shortstop position if Willie Adames leaves via free agency.
Using a sweet, right-handed swing, Ortiz makes this happen. He gets big hits at big moments.
So far this season, Ortiz is hitting .248, but he is gaining experience and becoming a very important component of the winning Brewers team.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 10: Devin Williams #38 of the Milwaukee Brewers has Gatorade dumped … [+]
Outstanding Brewers Pitching:
It wasn’t easy to trade Burnes, who can become a free agent after this season. However, other Brewers pitchers have stepped up.
A rotation that normally includes right-handers Freddy Peralta, Colin Rea, Frankie Montas, Tobias Myers, and Aaron Civale, has been efficient, and relatively effective.
There are no real stars among the group. While Peralta had once been viewed as well above average, he has had some good moments, and bad.
Pitchers Robert Gasser (Tommy John surgery), Wade Miley (Tommy John surgery), and Brandon Woodruff (shoulder surgery), are all on the Brewers injured list.
The Brewers bullpen has been outstanding.
If the starters can give the team five or six innings, the pen is very credible in holding down the opposition.
Returning from injury himself, closer Devin Williams is almost automatic. He took over the 9th inning when the Brewers traded All Star Josh Hader. William has been terrific.
Williams did have a rough outing August 21, blowing a 9th inning save in the tough loss to St. Louis.
Lefties Jered Koenig, and Bryan Hudson, and right-handers Bryan Hudson and Joel Payamps have been very, very efficient in setting-up Williams.
The Brewers high-leverage relievers have been a major contributor to the team’s amazing success.
Right-handers Nick Mears, Elvis Peguero, Bryan Wison, and Joe Ross complete the pen.
Conclusions:
To this writer, the Milwaukee Brewers have such a well-balanced team, they can give the Dodgers and Phillies, and any other National League contender a run for their money in the National League pennant chase.
![](https://newspub.live/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/np-logo.png)
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson takes the stage at DNC in Chicago
Cavalier Johnson at 2024 DNC: ‘We’re bringing Bronzeville back’
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson delivered remarks about infrastructure at the 2024 Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson got a brief moment in the Democratic National Convention spotlight Wednesday evening.
The second-term millennial mayor gave joint remarks about infrastructure upgrades with Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval at the United Center in Chicago, where the DNC was in its third day.
Johnson credited President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, with helping to bring back Milwaukee’s Bronzeville neighborhood after it was decimated by freeway expansion.
“In Wisconsin, keeping promises is important. So is making amends for your mistakes,” Johnson said. “One of those mistakes happened 60 years ago in a neighborhood called Bronzeville, brimming with Black music, Black culture and entrepreneurship. And then came urban renewal and the construction of Interstates 94 and 43, ripping our communities apart.
“Sixth Street was widened and people of color were displaced, homes destroyed, businesses shuttered, all for a quicker commute. Under Kamala Harris and Joe Biden, we’re bringing Bronzeville back.”
The neighborhood now has more green space, bike paths and walkable streets, he said.
“The music is coming back, the culture is coming back, and thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the opportunities are coming back,” he said.
Biden came to Milwaukee in March to highlight $36.6 million in federal funds from the Infrastructure Act to convert a 2.6-mile section of Sixth Street to a “complete street.” The effort seeks to make streets safe and convenient to pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users and anyone else who wants to use them, regardless of age or ability.
He had previously described his remarks as a “baton handoff” and downplayed their significance in the political career he has been working to build since his early teens.
The mayors’ three or so minutes on stage came on the night Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, the party’s vice-presidential nominee, was scheduled to give the keynote speech.
In an interview with the Journal Sentinel at the Wisconsin delegation’s Wednesday morning breakfast, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley said he was “so elated for everybody from Milwaukee who’s going to be speaking.”
“This speaks directly to the fact that if you’re going to win the White House, you got to go through Wisconsin. Which quite frankly means you got to go through Milwaukee,” Crowley said. “So, to have Milwaukee represented means a lot.”
Crowley said he couldn’t remember anyone from Milwaukee speaking on the convention stage in the past several years. Kenneth Stribling, a retired Teamster from Milwaukee, also spoke Tuesday night.
Two Milwaukee advocates for lead pipe removal also briefly took the stage Wednesday evening. Crowley said that “speaks to a broader issue” of providing clean water to children and families free from lead or PFAS.
Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com. Hope Karnopp can be reached at hkarnopp@gannett.com.
Milwaukee, WI
Is the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee? Here’s the city’s role in the week
Kamala Harris officially becomes 2024 Democratic nominee for president
After roll call at the DNC in Chicago, Kamala Harris received Democrats’ nomination for her as president at a rally in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee and southern Wisconsin have played a major role in this year’s presidential election.
Between hosting the 2024 Republican National Convention in July and a Kamala Harris campaign rally Aug. 20, it makes sense why some Milwaukeeans might be wondering if the Democratic National Convention is coming to town.
The answer is no, the DNC is not taking place in Milwaukee. It’s happening about 90 miles away in Chicago from Aug. 19 through Aug. 22.
Still, important players in the election have stopped by the Milwaukee area this week to campaign in Wisconsin, a key swing state likely to play a big role in who wins the election. A few hours before Harris’ widely attended Fiserv Forum rally kicked off, Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance spoke in front of the Kenosha County Courthouse ― his third visit to Wisconsin since he was named Donald Trump’s running mate at the RNC.
Although Milwaukee isn’t hosting this year’s DNC, residents may remember that the city was slated to host the Democratic convention in 2020 before COVID-19 pandemic restrictions forced the 2020 DNC to scale back to a largely virtual event at the Wisconsin Center (now the Baird Center).
Here’s what to know about the year’s DNC.
Where is the Democratic National Convention?
The 2024 Democratic National Convention is taking place in Chicago from Monday, Aug. 19 through Thursday, Aug. 22. The United Center, home of the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, is hosting the convention’s major evening events and speeches.
Each day of the convention includes a full schedule of events for delegates, but the main programming of the DNC takes place from about 6 to 10 p.m. each night of the convention. Official daytime business, meetings and briefings are taking place at McCormick Place, another convention center in downtown Chicago.
More: How to watch and stream the 2024 Democratic National Convention
What is the Democratic National Convention?
The DNC is a weeklong event where Democratic delegates from each state officially select the party’s nominees for president and vice president.
Traditionally, delegates vote at the convention for the nominee, but DNC organizers held a virtual vote this year to confirm Vice President Kamala Harris as the nominee ahead of the convention. Harris also announced her vice presidential pick, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, prior to the convention.
Like the RNC, well-known political figures and celebrities are expected to speak and be in attendance at the DNC. So far, highlights from the convention have included speeches from President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, former First Lady Michelle Obama and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York.
More: Takeaways from DNC Day 2: Obamas blast Trump, Tony Evers’ face plant and Lil Jon
More: After RNC spotlight, Milwaukee Democrats Cavalier Johnson and David Crowley head to DNC
Milwaukee, WI
A nonprofit pledged to restore the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. What happened?
![A nonprofit pledged to restore the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. What happened? A nonprofit pledged to restore the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. What happened?](https://www.gannett-cdn.com/presto/2023/06/13/PMJS/82a3aedc-0f0d-4965-9021-82886a618551-4030b349-7086-48be-9e04-89923a4864e7_thumbnail.png?auto=webp&crop=849,478,x0,y0&format=pjpg&width=1200)
Take a rare look inside the historic Milwaukee breakwater lighthouse
Take a rare look inside the historic Milwaukee breakwater light.
Mike De Sisti, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse, which has dotted the city’s landscape since 1926, has been empty since 1966. And despite a local nonprofit’s promises to restore the historical landmark in 2013, it remains untouched and inaccessible.
Brookfield-based nonprofit Optima Enrichment acquired the lighthouse for free from the National Park Service in 2013, promising $2.5 million worth of major renovations in hopes to create a publicly accessible museum by 2015. Now, almost ten years later, not much has changed.
After Madison resident Steve Tyska purchased property in Sheboygan last year, he noticed a lighthouse in the harbor was in need of some renovations. Thinking it could be a fun project to tackle after retirement, he dove into research.
That’s when he stumbled on past Journal Sentinel articles about the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. Upon learning of Optima Enrichment’s goals to renovate the building, he called the organization’s owner, Brookfield optometrist Randall Melchert, for some advice.
“This guy tried to do, on a much bigger scale, what I was thinking about doing,” said Tyska.
But Tyska said he was never able to reach Melchert. Disappointed he was unable to find out what came of the project, he contacted Public Investigator.
“10 years later, nothing’s been done,” Tyska said. “Who is overseeing this project? Should the city get involved?”
Despite multiple attempts to reach Melchert through email and phone, Public Investigator was also unable to get in touch with him.
In 2016, Melchert told the Journal Sentinel his nonprofit raised less than $20,000 since it received the deed, which was mostly spent on insurance.
“We were a little optimistic,” Melchert said at the time.
National Park Service spokesperson Jordan Fifer said the lighthouse is still owned by Optima Enrichment.
According to Fifer, the National Park Service is aware that the group hasn’t raised enough money to fulfill its obligations under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act of 2000.
Under the act, federally-owned historic lighthouses can be transferred at no cost to federal, state or private entities that pledge to preserve them. The entity that acquires the lighthouse must make it publicly available for educational, recreational, cultural or historic preservation purposes.
If this fails to occur, Fifer said, it’s up to the federal General Services Administration to determine if if the entity should lose ownership.
Fifer said the National Park Service monitors compliance with the act every two years and “maintains regular contact” with the General Services Administration.
Public Investigator asked the General Services Administration whether it has kept tabs on the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse. The agency did not respond by the time of publication.
Meanwhile, Port Milwaukee spokesperson Madison Goldbeck said the city has no authority or jurisdiction over the lighthouse.
Had no other qualified nonprofits or government agencies expressed interest in the Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse at the time, it would’ve been sold to the highest bidder, according to the Journal Sentinel’s 2013 article.
For now, Tyska said he’s hopeful an article may spark public officials’ interest.
The Milwaukee Breakwater Lighthouse is one of the last examples of a fully enclosed breakwater lighthouse on the Great Lakes. Its Fresnel lens — the glass that once surrounded the lighthouse’s bulb — is currently on display at the Wisconsin Maritime Museum in Manitowoc.
“It’s something that could potentially be a benefit for the city if it was tended to,” Tyska said, “and it’s certainly something that could be a liability to the city if it’s neglected.”
Quinn Clark is a Public Investigator reporter. She can be emailed at QClark@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Quinn_A_Clark.
About Public Investigator
Government corruption. Corporate wrongdoing. Consumer complaints. Medical scams. Public Investigator is a new initiative of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and its sister newsrooms across Wisconsin. Our team wants to hear your tips, chase the leads and uncover the truth. We’ll investigate anywhere in Wisconsin. Send your tips to watchdog@journalsentinel.com or call 414-319-9061. You can also submit tips at jsonline.com/tips.
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