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Palermo's Pizza celebrating 60 years in operation

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Palermo's Pizza celebrating 60 years in operation


MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee’s own Palermo’s Pizza is expanding. The company will start building a new 200,000 square-foot facility this summer in West Milwaukee. 


What You Need To Know

  • Palermo’s Pizza was founded by Italian immigrants in the 1950s
  • It’s expanding into a new 200,000 square-foot facility this summer
  • That means the company is hiring for 50 new positions

It will allow Palermo’s to grow its production capacity and add 50 new jobs. This comes as the family-owned business is celebrating 60 years in operation. 

Founded by Italian immigrants in the 1950s, Palermo’s Pizza has deep roots in Milwaukee, family and tradition.

“My grandparents came over from Italy with nothing in their pocket,” said Nick Falluca, chief product and innovation officer at Palermo’s.

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He said they worked hard and eventually turned some of their favorite Italian recipes into a business.

In 1964, the Falluca family opened a bakery out of a house on Milwaukee’s East Side. Four years later, they transitioned that bakery into an Italian restaurant. That’s where the family began offering their signature frozen pizzas for customers to buy and make at home. From there, they started selling those frozen pizzas at local grocery stores and bars.

Decades later, Palermo’s Pizza has grown into a national and international brand, selling millions of pizzas each year at major retailers, like Costco. Despite its growth, Palermo’s remains committed to its roots and values.

Still, every one of its frozen pizzas ties back to grandma and grandpa.

“We’d be at the dinner table, and everybody would be like, ‘Why is he screaming?’ And we would be like, ‘No, that’s just how grandpa talks,’” Falluca said. “He was loud and vibrant. That’s how the name ‘Screaming Sicilian’ came about.” 

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Dax Schaefer is the corporate chef for Palermo’s, and Brianna Fyock is a manager and senior food scientist for the company. They both said while they are not related to the Falluca family by blood, anyone who works for Palermo’s is treated like family.

“The Falluca family has been nothing but generous to their employees,” Schaefer said.

“It really does feel like family here,” Fyock added. “To actually see the start to finish, from the idea of a pizza to creation, and then be able to buy it for your family in a grocery store, is such a great experience.”

Falluca said prioritizing the customer, employees and a quality product also comes from grandpa.

“That’s how he ran the restaurant, putting the customer first, really great food, and focusing on your employees,” Falluca said. “That’s how to create a great business, product and customer service.”

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Milwaukee, WI

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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Milwaukee, WI

Megan Thee Stallion, Benson Boone, Killers, Lainey Wilson Among 2025 Milwaukee Summerfest Headliners

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Megan Thee Stallion, Benson Boone, Killers, Lainey Wilson Among 2025 Milwaukee Summerfest Headliners


Milwaukee’s Summerfest announced its jam-packed 2025 lineup on Wednesday (Feb. 12), which includes headliners Megan Thee Stallion (with Flo Milli), The Killers, Benson Boone, The Lumineers (with Hippo Campus), Def Leppard (with Tesla), Hozier (with Gigi Perez) and James Taylor (with Jason Mraz and Tiny Habits).

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The three-weekend throwdown on the banks of Lake Michigan will take place on June 19-21, June 26-28 and July 3-5 across 12 stages in its 75-acre festival park. Among the other acts slated to perform are: BossMan DLow, The Avett Brothers, Japanese Breakfast, CAKE, The Head And The Heart, Riley Green, Gary Clark Jr., Young the Giant, Babymetal, Loud Luxury, OFFSET, Jack’s Mannequin, Lindsey Stirling, Whiskey Myers, Billy Corgan and the Machines of God, Ayra Starr, Richard Marx, Porter Robinson, Dirty Heads, The Fray, Natasha Bedingfield, DEVO,  Motion City Soundtrack, Betty Who, Snow Tha Product and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, among others.

“As an independent music festival, Summerfest delivers a one-of-a-kind experience, bringing fans together from all backgrounds to enjoy incredible performances and Milwaukee’s vibrant energy,” said Sarah Pancheri, President and CEO, Milwaukee World Festival, Inc. in a statement. “Today is an exciting day as we unveil this year’s lineup with over 160 artists spanning all genres of music.”

Tickets are on sale now, with details available here. For a limited time, fans can also purchase a UScellular Power Pass for only $57, which includes admission for all nine days of the fest; the Power Pass is only available now through Feb. 18 at 11:59 p.m.

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See the full 2025 Summerfest lineup poster below.



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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee inmate accused of offering bribe to correctional officer

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Milwaukee inmate accused of offering bribe to correctional officer


An inmate at the Milwaukee County jail is accused of trying to bribe a correctional officer. The accused, 46-year-old Shawn Sims, is charged with attempted bribery of a public official. 

Bribery case

What we know:

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According to the criminal complaint, a Milwaukee County Correctional Officer reported on Dec. 12, 2024, that an inmate, later identified as Shawn Sims, passed him a note at the Milwaukee County Jail and Criminal Justice Facility. 

The note promised the correctional officer money in exchange for letting Sims out of jail early, court filings say. 

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The correctional officer said that Sims had promised to pay him $800 through the Cash application.

Sims was later interviewed, and admitted to offering the correctional officer cash in exchange for his release from custody, per the complaint. 

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Sims claimed he was wrongfully being held in custody, and that is why “it has come to this point” of writing letters to correctional officers offering to pay cash to be released, the complaint states. 

Online court records show that Sims was undergoing competency evaluations for a Milwaukee County case when the attempted bribe occurred. 

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The Source: Information in this report is from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office and Wisconsin Circuit Court.

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