In a visit to Milwaukee on Thursday, Vice President Kamala Harris pressed the case that the Biden-Harris Administration’s economic policies have helped Americans and, in particular, addressed disparities that affect Black Americans and business owners.

The visit is her fourth to the critical swing state ahead of the November presidential election that is expected to be a rematch of the 2020 race between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Harris’ visit was part of what the White House has dubbed an “economic opportunity tour.”

“A lot of what this tour is highlighting is the various things that we are doing to acknowledge the various dimensions of who we are but in the context of economic opportunity, be it debt, be it homeownership, be it access to loans, be it access to counseling and the services that help people know how to start a business and keep a business,” Harris said during a stop at Discovery World museum in Milwaukee, where she spoke with comedian, radio host and author D.L. Hughley.

Here are a few takeaways from Harris’ visit:

Vice President Kamala Harris focuses on Black homeowners, businesses — a critical voting bloc

The conversation between Harris and Hughley before a packed room focused on the importance of access to information and relationships in building businesses and generational wealth ― and the challenges faced by communities of color across generations.

She said the tour intends to acknowledge both the opportunities and disparities and obstacles for communities of color.

Harris’ comments come as Democrats seek to maintain support among Black voters amid reports that the party’s backing among the key voting bloc has slipped.

She said the tour was designed to share information about the resources available, and she sought help from the people in the audience, who she said were invited to attend because they are business and opinion leaders.

“Please help us get the word out,” she said.

She said the administration was “dropping trillions of dollars on the streets of America” to rebuild infrastructure, invest in clean energy and build resilience to climate change.

Harris highlighted local business owner James Phelps

Harris highlighted James Phelps, president of JCP Construction who introduced her, saying that businesses like his bring to life the work that policy-makers in Washington D.C. envision.

On the issue of Black homeownership, she discussed the consequences of segregation, redlining and racial bias in home appraisals.

The administration, she said, is taking steps including requiring home appraisers to be trained on racial bias. She spoke to the administration’s efforts to forgive student loan debt and remove a prohibition on accessing small-business loans for people who had been previously incarcerated.

Biden last week met with Black voters on a trip to Wisconsin and on Wednesday made his case on Sherwin Hughes’ show on 101.7 The Truth, the news-talk radio station focusing on Milwaukee’s Black community.

Milwaukee mayor, county executive highlight visits by Biden, Harris to swing state Wisconsin

That Biden and Harris are putting time and energy into Wisconsin was a key message from speakers who took the stage before Harris’ arrival, including Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and County Executive David Crowley.

“The administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris has gone to great lengths to invest, to build and to reshape the relationship that Wisconsin residents have with the federal government,” Johnson said.

He called Harris a “true partner to Milwaukee.”

Crowley said investments by the administration are showing up in affordable housing in neighborhoods and ensuring that Black and brown business owners have “the tools that they need to succeed.”

“Under this administration, we have witnessed the fastest growth of Black-owned small businesses in more than 30 years,” Crowley said.

Like Harris ― who made history as the first woman, first Black American, and the first South Asian American to be elected to her position ― Johnson and Crowley are each the first African Americans elected to the positions they hold.

Republicans slam Biden-Harris economic policies

Republicans, in response to the Harris visit, took aim at the administration’s economic policies. Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said in a statement “voters know they cannot afford another four years of Biden and Harris in the White House.”

“Every time Kamala Harris visits Wisconsin, voters are reminded of the failed agenda of the Biden Administration,” he said.

This is Vice President Kamala Harris’ fourth visit to Wisconsin in 2024

The steady rhythm of visits by Democrats and Republicans alike speaks to the intense focus on Wisconsin as both parties seek control of the White House.

If history is any guide, whether Trump or Biden wins Wisconsin in November is likely to be decided by a small margin and both campaigns are making their cases to voters.

In 2020, Biden won the state by about 21,000 votes after Trump won Wisconsin by a similar margin just four years earlier.

Biden has visited the state four times this year while Trump has visited twice.

Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.

Wisconsin Herd’s lease agreement runs until 2026 but a source revealed the team has opt-out provisions that could release them

OSHKOSH — The Wisconsin Herd may be looking for a new home.

Oshkosh could be in danger of losing the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA G League team, as an inside source revealed the Herd “no longer wants to work” with Oshkosh Arena owner Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. after claiming it’s in violation of its current lease.

It’s not exactly certain how Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. is suspected to be in breach of the lease agreement, which runs to 2026, but the source explained the Herd has opt-out provisions that could release the team from that lease.

Efforts to contact officials from the Herd and its managing company, Future Bucks LLC, proved unsuccessful while Fox Valley Pro Basketball Managing Partner Greg Pierce declined comment.

News of the NBA G League team’s possible departure comes two months after Oshkosh Arena was listed for sale following a tumultuous seven-year stretch that has seen the owners file for bankruptcy while facing litigation.

Reports indicate the Herd is willing to stay in Oshkosh to work with new arena ownership, but that would depend on the timing of the sale.

Herd’s impact in Oshkosh: Wisconsin Herd, Oshkosh tout benefits of their relationship: ‘It puts Oshkosh on the map’

The Herd will have to finalize its home court arrangements before the G League schedule releases in early September.

The Herd likely has until August to nail down home court arrangements for the 2024-25 season, considering the NBA releases its G League schedule in early September.

But the sale of Oshkosh Arena may take longer than expected, as any deal would be contingent on Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. settling its current tax arrears with the City of Oshkosh.

According to the city’s finance department, the Oshkosh Arena owners currently owe more than $619,000 in combined personal property and real estate taxes.

It’s just the latest in a long series of financial struggles for Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. since it first built the arena to attract the Herd to Oshkosh in 2017.

The general contractor for what was then the Menominee Nation Arena sued the arena owners for an outstanding debt of $21.5 million in 2019 before Fox Valley Pro Basketball filed for bankruptcy, reporting more than 100 creditors.

Fox Valley Pro Basketball Inc. eventually reached settlements with the creditors, including the city of Oshkosh and the Herd, in 2020 before employees were locked out of the arena three years later as a result of fire code violations.

FVPB Managing Partner Greg Pierce says the plan was always to own Oshkosh Arena for seven to 10 years.

But Pierce told the Northwestern the arena’s listing has nothing to do with its financial challenges, as the initial plan was always to own the building for a seven- to 10-year period.

“We hired a consultant to market it and test the waters to see what we can get for it, and so far we have several groups looking at the building,” Pierce said in an interview with the Northwestern.

“If there’s nothing reasonable in terms of offers, then we continue on with the arena.”

The arena is listed on LoopNet as an 80,000-square-foot sports and entertainment building at 1212 S. Main St. without a price attached.

Young American Capital, SFR Realty and Main Line Executive Realty have been retained to manage the sale.

The listing also says the Oak View Group will manage the facility for the next 10 years while revenue is projected at $8 million next year as a result of sponsorship and booked events.

But that figure stands to take a significant blow if the Herd is no longer a tenant of the arena.

Oshkosh Chamber CEO Rob Kleman estimates each Herd home game generates $100,000 of economic impact in Oshkosh.

The City of Oshkosh would likely feel the pinch as well, as Oshkosh Chamber President/CEO Rob Kleman estimates each Herd home game generates about $100,000 of economic impact in the area.

The arena seats more than 4,000 people and the Herd averaged 87% capacity crowds in 24 home games during the 2022-23 season while selling out 11 of those contests.

According to team President Steve Brandes, the Herd also donated $277,000 to charitable causes that season.

And these are figures not lost on Oshkosh City Manager Mark Rohloff.

“We can’t take them for granted, so I’m working to make sure that they never leave,” Rohloff said when asked about the Herd’s impact on Oshkosh.

“I think they’re important to the community and I think they’re important to the success of the arena because the example I use is that of a mall — you need good anchors in the mall, and the Herd represents a credible anchor for the arena and that’s what perspective buyers will be looking at.”

Oshkosh beat out bids from La Crosse, Racine, Sheboygan and Grand Chute to become the home city for the Milwaukee Bucks’ G League team back in 2017.

And the Herd appeared entrenched in Oshkosh for the foreseeable future after signing a multi-year extension of their lease in 2022 that would see the team remain in Oshkosh Arena through to 2026 with a further option to extend until 2028.

Lease extension: Wisconsin Herd, the Milwaukee Bucks’ NBA G League team, extends lease with Oshkosh Arena

Milwaukee may not be obligated to keep its G League team in Wisconsin, either, as the Denver Nuggets (Grand Rapids Gold), Minnesota Timberwolves (Iowa Wolves) and Miami Heat (Sioux Falls Skyforce) all have their affiliates in outside states.  

The Phoenix Suns don’t have a G League team.

Have a story tip or public interest concern? Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com.

When paired with an M12 CP2.0 Battery, the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer provides over 700 nail fires on a single battery charge and zero ramp-up time.

Milwaukee Tool

Milwaukee Tool has released the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer for builders and construction professionals. The M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Brad Nailer provides users with the ability to power sink nails into hardwoods. 

“The M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer was designed for the Finish Carpenter and Remodeler to provide greater accessibility to hard-to-reach areas with the compact and lightweight design,” said Sean Kelley, director of product marketing. “Weighing only 4.6lbs. when paired with our M12 REDLITHIUM 2.0 battery, the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Brad Nailer provides an ergonomic design and the lightest weight of any cordless brad nailer allowing more productivity on the jobsite.” 

Designed for finish carpentry applications, the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Brad Nailer leverages a nitrogen air spring mechanism that allows users to sink 5/8- to 1-½-in. brad nails to the proper depth in both hard and soft materials while leaving clean, consistent nail holes. When paired with an M12 CP2.0 Battery, the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer provides over 700 nail fires on a single battery charge and zero ramp-up time. For additional runtime, the M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer is fully compatible with all Milwaukee M12 REDLITHIUM Batteries. 

Milwaukee Tool

M12 FUEL 18 Gauge Compact Brad Nailer (2541-20) 

• Weight (tool-only): 4.2 lbs
• Length (tool-only): 9.8 in.
• Height (tool-only): 9.4 in. 
• Width (tool-only): 3.1 in.
• Drive System: Nitrogen Air Spring 
• Minimum Fastener Length: 0.625 in. 
• Maximum Fastener Length: 1.5 in.
• Magazine Capacity: 110