Milwaukee, WI
MPS students repair bikes for free through WI Bike Federation program
Wisconsin Bike Fed interns bring repairs to neighborhoods
Wisconsin Bike Fed students bring mobile bike repair services directly to Milwaukee neighborhoods at no cost.
On a typical summer day, Tanysia Kelley pedals a cargo bike loaded with tools and supplies to parks and libraries across Milwaukee.
Kelley, a junior at Milwaukee High School of the Arts, is one of three high schoolers working this summer for the Wisconsin Bike Federation to repair bikes for free in underserved neighborhoods. On a scorching July afternoon, Kelley and her fellow mechanics set up shop in the shade at Emigh Playfield, on Milwaukee’s south side, where a steady queue of riders waited for the team to fix their flat tires, loose chains and worn-out brake pads.
For Kelley, the best part of the job is giving back to the community and watching them ride away with a bike she worked on herself.
“I love seeing all the kids come over and getting their bikes fixed,” she said as she adjusted the seat of a bike with a wrench. “Yesterday, we fixed this little boy’s bike with his brakes, and he just started zooming all over the park.”
Toni Casagrande, the program’s manager and lead mechanic, said the goal of the program is to expand access to repair services in communities that lack bike shops while giving teens hands-on mechanical skills. The nonprofit Wisconsin Bike Federation pays the students $15 per hour, trains them to perform minor repairs and provides each with a cargo bike for transportation.
Casagrande said the team expects to repair about 300 to 400 bikes by the end of the summer. The program particularly focuses on Clarke Square, Layton Boulevard West, Harambee, Lindsay Heights and other low-income neighborhoods where residents may face transportation barriers. Over 40% of residents in the City of Milwaukee do not drive, according to a county service assessment released last year.
A majority of riders who used the Wisconsin Bike Federation’s mobile repair service last year were people of color, according to the program’s annual report.
The mobile bike repair program launched in 2014. Jake Newborn, assistant director of the Wisconsin Bike Federation, said the organization had long brought bikes and education programs into Milwaukee Public Schools, but staff noticed some families stopped using their bikes when they lacked access to a nearby bike shop or couldn’t afford repairs.
After moving from North Division High School, the program’s main base is now at Bradley Tech High School, where students learn to identify issues through a a 30-point bike inspection. The most common repairs include replacing brake pads, tubes, tires and chains, using both new and recycled parts from donated bikes.
“Many of these are pretty significant repairs,” Casagrande said. “People are often surprised by what we can do with the setup we have, given that it all just fits in a cargo bicycle.”
Kelley said she had no prior mechanic experience – or even a bike – before starting the job. Now she finds herself biking everywhere and is confident in her skills. After returning one rider’s repaired bike, Kelley received a $20 tip. She said some participants also offer donations to the Wisconsin Bike Federation after receiving repairs.
“Most of them are very grateful,” Kelley said. “We’re really trying to help people.”
Casagrande said many students end up pursuing jobs in mechanics once the program is complete. After the summer, Kelley said, she wants to learn how to fix cars or pursue opportunities with other local bike organizations.
For now, she’s happy spending her summer helping neighbors get back on their bikes.
“I really like doing work to feel accomplished in the end,” Kelley said. “I’ll work on things for a really long time just to feel confident, so this is the perfect job for me.”
Mobile bike repair locations
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 20-23 at Green Bay Ave Playfield, 3872 N. Eighth St.
- 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 20 at Villard Square Library, 5190 N. 35th St.
- 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 23 at Atkinson Library, 1960 W. Atkinson Ave.
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 27-31 at Whittier Playfield, 4382 S. Third St.
- 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. July 27 at Mitchell Street Library, 906 W. Historic Mitchell St.
- 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 1 at Good Hope Library, 7715 W. Good Hope Road
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 3-7 at Merrill Park, 461 N. 35th St., and Lyons Park, 3301 S. 55th St.
- 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 10-14 at Holt Playfield, 1716 W. Holt Ave.
Kayla Huynh covers K-12 education, teachers and solutions for the Journal Sentinel. Contact: khuynh@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @_kaylahuynh.
Kayla Huynh‘s reporting is supported by Herb Kohl Philanthropies and reader contributions to the Journal Sentinel Community-Funded Journalism Project. Journal Sentinel editors maintain full editorial control over all content. To support this work, visit jsonline.com/support. Checks can be addressed to Local Media Foundation (memo: “JS Community Journalism”) and mailed to P.O. Box 85015, Chicago, IL 60689.
The JS Community-Funded Journalism Project is administered by Local Media Foundation, tax ID #36-4427750, a Section 501(c)(3) charitable trust affiliated with Local Media Association.
WEYAUWEGA (WLUK) — Troopers at the Wisconsin State Patrol Wausau Post arrested 44-year-old Mario L. Koran of Milwaukee Friday afternoon.
A state trooper stopped a 2014 Subaru Impreza for an equipment violation and for following another car too closely on U.S. Highway 10 near County Highway 10 in Weyauwega.
Upon contact with the driver, later identified as Koran, the trooper smelled intoxicants on him and saw other signs of impairment.
Koran was then arrested for operating under the influence, 4th offense.
Getty
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN – AUGUST 06: Dustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers celebrates against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the sixth inning at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
On Thursday, the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Pittsburgh Pirates (at home) by a score of 5-2.
Dustin May made his debut for the team, going 6.0 innings (and allowing just two earned runs).
Dustin May Sends Out 2-Word Post After Brewers Debut
GettyDustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the second inning at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
After his debut with the franchise, May made a post to Instagram.
He wrote: “Brew Crew”
There were over 20,000 likes on his post in less than 24 hours.
Here’s what people were saying in the comments:
@ha_rrison5646: “Don’t leave the brew crew please”
@cole30084: “Yessir Dustin welcome to the brewers”
@rileys_2222: “Gonna miss big red in St. Louis”
@w_may28: “Come back to STL after this year I promise we gon be much better”
@taten_mullikin: “Your best baseball will be in Milwaukee”
GettyDustin May #21 of the Milwaukee Brewers pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Looking At May
GettyDustin May #3 of the St. Louis Cardinals pitches against the Chicago Cubs in the first inning at Busch Stadium on July 29, 2026 in St Louis, Missouri.
May had been traded (via the St. Louis Cardinals) earlier this week.
He is currently 6-7 with a 4.30 ERA in 22 starts this season.
The Cardinals wrote (via X) on August 3: “We have acquired OF Alexander Frias and OF Josiah Ragsdale from the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for RHP Dustin May and LHP JoJo Romero.”
May was picked in the 3rd round of the 2016 MLB Draft.
He has also had stops with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox over seven total MLB seasons.
The 28-year-old has gone 25-27 with a 3.98 ERA in 93 games (79 starts).
Brewers Right Now
GettyJackson Chourio #11 of the Milwaukee Brewers hits a solo home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Brewers are in the middle of a fantastic season.
They are currently the first-place team in the National League Central with a 72-43 record in 115 games.
Over their last ten games, the Brewers have gone 6-4 (and are 39-21 in 60 games at home).
GettyGarrett Mitchell #5 of the Milwaukee Brewers throws ice on Gary Sánchez #99 after a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at American Family Field on August 06, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
On Friday, the Brewers will host the Minnesota Twins.
Ben Stinar Ben Stinar has been covering the NBA for over seven years.
He has written for OnSI, Forbes, Amico Hoops, The Big Lead and had a podcast with former All-Star Jameer Nelson. More about Ben Stinar
Milwaukee, WI
Robot mowers roll out on Milwaukee golf courses, staff see them as a tool — not a threat
MILWAUKEE — Mini automatic mowers are turning heads on Milwaukee golf courses, and the staff using them say the technology is a welcome addition — not a threat to their jobs.
The battery-powered mowers, made by Kress robotics, use GPS and sensors to cut the rough grass around the greens. At Brown Deer Golf Course, one of the machines has been nicknamed “Little Timmy” after a crew member.
Jon Canavan, superintendent of turf and golf operations for Milwaukee County Parks, said each mower runs on battery power and can cut about seven acres in 48 hours. Canavan said golf has grown increasingly popular, but hiring enough staff has become more and more difficult.
“With how busy golf has been since pretty much COVID, we’ve really struggled to get ahead of golfers and get the course ready,” Canavan said.
When asked whether the technology would cost workers their jobs, Canavan said:
“No, we were looking these at not replacing any jobs. We were looking at this as kind of helping our staff along,” Canavan said. “But we are not planning on replacing any jobs.”
The robots handle routine mowing while crew members focus on more detailed work on the greens. Course employee Grayson Radakovich said the machines have made a real difference.
“They’re honestly like a big help. It like saves us a lot of time because this isn’t our main focus getting this cut,” Radakovich said.
Golfer Jeff Heath said he has noticed the mowers on the course.
Watch: Robot mowers roll out on Milwaukee golf courses, staff see them as a tool — not a threat
Robot mowers roll out on Milwaukee golf courses, staff see them as a tool — not a threat
“I think they’re fabulous, and I’ll tell you why. They’re non-invasive. They don’t make noise. You don’t have to yell ‘fore’ because there’s nobody pushing something,” Heath said.
Heath said he is not worried about the machines displacing workers, either.
“Not really, I think the areas that they’re doing are just, you know, areas that if an individual was cutting that, you know, their time could be used better somewhere else,” Heath said.
The robots are not without their quirks — they occasionally get stuck, spin in circles, or seem to have a mind of their own. Still, staff are giving Little Timmy and the other machines a chance to prove their worth.
“It’s another tool to help with the golf courses, help our staff, and offer a better product,” Canavan said.
The robots are being used at four golf courses currently. Canavan said there will be further discussions about if more will be implemented after trying them out this summer.
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