Milwaukee, WI

MLB playoffs 2024: Milwaukee Brewers assert themselves as one of MLB's best teams by clinching first postseason spot

Published

1 year ago

September 18, 2024

MLB playoffs 2024: Milwaukee Brewers assert themselves as one of MLB's best teams by clinching first postseason spot

The Milwaukee Brewers are the most impressive playoff team this season.

No, that’s not hyperbole. It’s just the truth. Granted, the Brewers have never been the “sexy” team or the team that boasts the most elite talent. But despite that, they found a way to run away with their division, leaving the rest of their NL Central rivals in their wake.

On Wednesday, Milwaukee became the first team to clinch a postseason berth this season. With the Cubs’ loss to the Oakland A’s, the Brewers captured their second consecutive NL Central crown and sixth postseason appearance in the past seven seasons.

Despite their propensity for reaching October, there weren’t many who believed the Brewers would be postseason-bound going into this season. During the offseason, their longtime manager, Craig Counsell, decided to head south to become the manager of the Chicago Cubs, leaving the keys to former bench coach Pat Murphy.

When the Brewers also dealt their ace and former NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes to the Orioles, it looked like Milwaukee was headed for a rebuild. Even throughout the season, the challenges continued to arise, including the loss of the team’s best player, Christian Yelich, to a season-ending back injury.

None of that stopped Milwaukee from being one of baseball’s best teams, and with each passing month, they seem to have gotten better and better. And that’s not only through the eye test; the numbers back up their dominance as well.

What makes the Brewers such a good team? There simply aren’t many things they don’t do well. Offensively, they rank fourth in runs scored and second in OPS with runners in scoring position. Defensively, they’re fourth in MLB in both defensive runs saved and outs above average. And their pitching has held up its end of the bargain as well, ranking fourth in team ERA.

Milwaukee has gotten consistent production from throughout its lineup all season, with All-Star performances from William Contreras, Willy Adames and Yelich before his injury. But the player who has helped take this team to another level is rookie phenom Jackson Chourio. Chourio has become every bit the star the Brewers thought he would be when they signed him to an eight-year, $82 million extension before his debut. The 20-year-old has a .901 OPS since June 1.

Across the season as a whole, the Brewers not only built the largest divisional lead in baseball (10.5 games as of Wednesday), but they have also held their division lead the longest. Milwaukee has had a share of or sole possession of first place in the Central since April 12, when they began pulling away from the rest of the division en route to the title.

It’s hard to look at the Brewers and not see Murphy’s imprint throughout the roster. After several years as Counsell’s bench coach, Murphy has transitioned seamlessly to the role of manager. You have to imagine that his presence in the Brewers’ dugout for so many years before he got the job built the kind of trust that it would take other first-year managers much longer to develop.

Also, the “us against the world” mentality doesn’t often go very far, but it feels like a pretty apt attitude for this team.

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This season, the Brewers are a combined 11-14 against the Dodgers, Phillies, Padres, Mets and Diamondbacks, with a minus-4 run differential in those games that shows just how close they were. In the postseason, the numbers — and the outcomes — could easily flip in Milwaukee’s direction.

It’s impossible to predict what’s in store for the Brewers in the ever-volatile NL wild-card round, but their ability to play their best game on a consistent basis makes this a team worth keeping an eye on as the calendar turns to October.

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Milwaukee, WI

Forest Home Avenue construction to resume in Milwaukee County

Published

2 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Forest Home Avenue construction to resume in Milwaukee County

Construction on a stretch of Forest Home Avenue in Milwaukee County is set to resume as part of a Wisconsin Department of Transportation resurfacing project, according to WisDOT.

The project affects Highway 24 — also known as Forest Home Avenue — between Janesville Road in Hales Corners and 45th Street in Milwaukee. The project started in early 2025 and is expected to be completed in mid-2026.

Here’s what to know about the latest construction update.

When will Forest Home Avenue construction resume?

Preparation work for construction along Forest Home Avenue is expected to begin the week of March 16, according to WisDOT.

Active construction work is scheduled to begin the week of March 23, weather permitting.

Where will construction be?

Construction work will take place in two segments along the corridor. The segment between 45th Street and Howard Avenue is already largely complete and will include minor lighting work and restoration.

The segment between Howard Avenue and Janesville Road will include resurfacing, permanent pavement markings, guardrail installation and improvements at several intersections.

What work will be done during construction?

The Highway 24 project will improve about 5 miles of roadway. The work includes resurfacing pavement, replacing traffic signals and lighting at numerous locations, making improvements to the bridge at 76th Street and upgrading sidewalks and curb ramps.

Traffic impacts during Forest Home Avenue construction in Milwaukee County

During construction, Highway 24 will be reduced to one lane in each direction in active work zones. Drivers may also encounter parking lane restrictions, overnight or short-term closures at ramps and intersections, and temporary pedestrian detours.

Access to businesses and residences along the corridor will be maintained during construction.

When will the project be completed?

The project is currently scheduled to be completed in early summer, though WisDOT says the timeline may change depending on weather conditions.

Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee County funeral home debt; committee advances collections plan

Published

14 hours ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Milwaukee County funeral home debt; committee advances collections plan

MILWAUKEE – Milwaukee County leaders are moving forward with a plan to collect unpaid fees owed to the medical examiner’s office by funeral homes.

What we know:

A Milwaukee County committee on Tuesday, March 10, advanced legislation allowing the county attorney to pursue collections from funeral homes with large outstanding debts owed to the Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Earlier this year, the medical examiner’s office began requiring funeral homes with outstanding balances of $25,000 or more to pay fees up front for services such as death certificates, cremation permits and body transport. Funeral homes collect those fees from families and are expected to pass them along to the county.

What they’re saying:

“What is the overall number we’re waiting on?” asked Milwaukee County Supervisor Sky Capriolo.

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“We do list 18 funeral homes that have a balance, currently, of $25,000 or more,” said Timothy Schabo, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner operations manager.

“Our hope is that, certainly, we’ll be able to avoid any litigation,” said William Davidson, deputy corporation counsel.

“If a family is paying a funeral home for services, and someone at the funeral home is not paying the county, where is that money going? We don’t know?” Capriolo asked.

Officials say it is not uncommon for funeral homes to carry large balances, and some are already aware of their debts, are on payment plans or pay quarterly.

The medical examiner says if families cannot pay and qualify for assistance from the state or county, those fees are waived.

“I understand there is some delay for some families receiving assistance from this program,” Milwaukee County Medical Examiner Dr. Wieslawa Tlomak said. “However, the funeral homes that we are talking about haven’t been paying us for a long period of time.”

Dig deeper:

The medical examiner said the outstanding balances continue to grow.

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Medical examiner records show four Milwaukee funeral homes currently owe a combined $1,324,100, including one funeral home with a balance of more than $512,000.

FOX6 reached out to the funeral homes for comment but has not heard back.

The legislation now heads to the full Milwaukee County Board for consideration.

The Source: FOX6 attended the Milwaukee County committee hearing regarding the funeral home debt.

Milwaukee CountyNews

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Milwaukee, WI

Critically missing Milwaukee man; last seen near Teutonia and Good Hope

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Critically missing Milwaukee man; last seen near Teutonia and Good Hope

article

MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in locating a critically missing man, 33-year-old Nicolas Blakely.

Missing man

What we know:

Blakely was last seen around 9:45 p.m. on Monday, March 9 in the area of Teutonia and Good Hope.

Blakely is described as a male, black, 6’1″ tall, 160 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue puffy jacket over a white hooded sweatshirt, with tan Nike sweatpants.

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