Milwaukee, WI
Second lead screening clinic held for Milwaukee Public Schools students
Older Milwaukee homes at higher risk for lead exposure
Lead is a dangerous neurotoxin often found in older Milwaukee homes painted with lead-based paint or lead pipes. Children are especially vulnerable.
Lou Saldivar, Wochit
It was no coincidence that Terresa Linton and her 9-year-old son were among the first to step foot in the May 7 lead screening clinic at Milwaukee’s North Division High School.
Her son, Thailand Hodges, attends Brown Street Academy — one of the two most recent Milwaukee Public Schools buildings that will close so lead hazards can be addressed.
When the school closes May 12, students and staff will move to Andrew S. Douglas Middle School.
Linton, 39, of Milwaukee said she had been nervous walking into the clinic but breathed a sigh of relief when the test results came back within minutes showing her son didn’t have elevated levels of the toxic metal in his blood.
“Everyone should get their children tested and … make sure that they’re safe,” she said.
Screenings hope to identify children with concerning lead levels
The afternoon clinic was the second held by Milwaukee Public Schools, Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers, Children’s Wisconsin and the City of Milwaukee Health Department as the district contends with deteriorating facilities that pose a risk to its students.
The clinic had the capacity to screen 300 children.
The first lead screening clinic, which was held in March, found “a very small number” of the approximately 250 children tested had elevated levels of the toxic metal in their blood.
Even as more children have been getting tested, including at their pediatricians’ offices, the fact that few children are testing positive has not put health officials’ minds at ease.
“The children that are in most need of screening often have the most barriers to getting screened, often low-income families,” said Milwaukee Health Department Deputy Commissioner for Environmental Health Tyler Weber.
That’s why various clinics, including these two, have been held and why city health officials are encouraging the school district to hold screening clinics at specific schools, he said.
The health department also is readying a team of health workers to deploy to areas with low screening rates to ensure the children hardest to reach get tested, Milwaukee Health Commissioner Mike Totoraitis told a meeting of the city’s Board of Health on May 7.
Some of the MPS students identified as having lead poisoning are older than 6 years old, the age when children stop getting tested for lead under city recommendations. He encouraged parents of MPS students to get their children and teens tested, no matter their age.
“When we start looking at older children, we’re going to find lead-poisoned kids,” he said.
‘Small amount of lead … has ramifications that affect everyone’
Outside the screening clinic, a group of about 15 had gathered to call for changes.
Among them was Kat Cisar, whose twin first-graders attend Trowbridge Street School of Great Lakes Studies in Bay View. The school reopened in March after being closed for nearly two weeks to address lead issues.
She said she was happy that children were getting tested but that the approach of responding to lead-poisoned children also put the youngest Milwaukeeans on the “front lines.”
She urged thinking about the city’s lead issue not as an individual problem but as a collective public health issue.
“My kids might be fine, but that’s not acceptable to me if other kids aren’t, because we all grow up together,” she said. “They are all going to grow up together. They’re going to be adults together, and if they have negative impacts from even a small amount of lead that has ramifications that affect everyone.”
Lead action plan will continue to grow
Totoraitis expressed confidence in the MPS lead action plan released last week after the protesters called for changes.
He called the plan a “living document that is continuing to grow” and said he appreciated input on it.
Totoraitis addressed a central concern raised by the protesters that the school district’s lead action plan was more reactive than proactive, saying that, at this juncture, the focus is on bringing the school district back into compliance after years of degradation.
“Ideally, we would love to get ahead of potential poisonings, not just in the school buildings but in homes and daycares, everywhere across the city,” he said.
Once the district is in compliance, he said, officials will look to continue the discussion about the investments the city needs to ensure safe and healthy housing.
Alison Dirr can be reached at adirr@jrn.com.
Sarah Volpenhein can be reached at svolpenhei@gannett.com or at 414-607-2159.
Brewers have a chance to win their second series in a row and their first of July this evening in Arizona as they get set to take the season series against the Diamondbacks.
After a late night yesterday with over eight innings thrown by the Brewers bullpen, they’ll lean on Brandon Woodruff to provide them with rest. Woodruff will be making his third start on the mound since returning from the injured list and his ninth overall on the season. Since returning, Woodruff has thrown 11 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits, no runs, and has struck out 16. That brings his season total to a 2.59 ERA with 41 strikeouts.
Tonight’s start will be Woodruff’s ninth against the Diamondbacks in his career. Most recently, he was sent to the injured list after he completed 1 1/3 innings at the end of April. Overall, he has been up-and-down throughout the course of his career against the Diamondbacks, posting a 4.65 ERA with 51 strikeouts.
For the Diamondbacks, Merrill Kelly will be handed the ball to make his 15th start of the season. He’s been in the midst of his worst season up to this point in his career as he enters tonight with a 5.84 ERA, having allowed 18 home runs, 33 walks, and only striking out 33. He finished the month of June with a 7.31 ERA, as in his last start, he allowed five runs to the Tampa Bay Rays.
Lifetime against the Brewers, Kelly has been successful, posting a 3.41 ERA in 11 games. However, in his last outing against the Brewers in April, he gave up five runs on six hits and five walks.
Though no lineups have been announced yet, much of both of these lineups have faced both teams’ starting pitcher. For the Brewers, Sal Frelick and Brice Turang have witnessed the most success against Kelly, as they hope to replicate what they did in Milwaukee back in April.
You’ll be able to listen to tonight’s game on the Brewers Radio Network on WTMJ 620 while being able to watch it on Brewers.TV. First pitch will be another late one as it’s slated for 8:40 p.m.
Every morning throughout Summerfest 2026, we’ll deliver a guide that covers the day’s entertainment and how you can get in the gate free of charge. This is where you’ll find info about the AmFam Amp headliners, eclectic picks from our knowledgeable staff and the music lineup for the day (see the full 2026 Summerfest lineup here).
Today at the AmFam Amp
Jelly Roll w/Tyler Hubbard, Three 6 Mafia, 7 p.m.
If you’re not familiar with the Jelly Roll Cinematic Universe, this must look like the weirdest lineup at the amphitheater during Summerfest 2026. You’ve got Mr. Roll himself at the top, with his swirl of country and rap that broke through in 2023 to the tune of two platinum-selling albums: Whitsitt Chapel and Beautifully Broken. Then there’s Tyler Hubbard, a comparatively straight-ahead country artist who’s found success solo and as a member of Florida Georgia Line.
Which brings us to Three 6 Mafia, the influential Memphis hip-hop group whose deep catalog of crunk and other rap subgenres left a huge mark on countless artists, including Jelly Roll. The Amp’s headliner has said Three 6 Mafia is one of the reasons he started rapping in the first place, and he’s collaborated with DJ Paul while appearing live with the group’s members frequently over the years. No doubt they’ll share the big stage tonight at some point.
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #1
Known Moons @ T-Mobile Stage, 2:30 p.m.
This reco is a “six degrees” situation that started back when I was in some mediocre (read: shitty) pop-punk bands that played with a group called Pleasant Street. Guitarist Nick Woods was part of that band and went on to other projects like Direct Hit!, which made the best punk albums of the mid-2010s. His Pleasant Street bandmate Danny Walkowiak is, in my opinion, among the best drummers in this or any generation. He’s now part of Milwaukee alt/dream-pop band Known Moons, another very good product of our city’s music scene. Go see them today.
— Jay Burseth
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #2
Soul Asylum @ Generac Power Stage, 5:30 p.m.
It was almost exactly a year ago that Soul Asylum’s Dave Pirner and Ryan Smith stopped by our HQ for a Studio Milwaukee Session and, in the process, reconfirmed my belief in the power of pioneering alternative bands.
Soul Asylum might have been the first one I hooked onto after reaching the age when I was musically mature enough to make responsible album-purchasing decisions, and those songs from Grave Dancers Union and Let Your Dim Light Shine still rattle around in my brain. Pirner and Smith were wonderful to watch last summer in our space, and it’ll be great to catch them again on the Big Gig’s final day.
— Brett Krzykowski
Radio Milwaukee staff pick #3
VALÉ & Gego Y Nony @ Aurora Pavilion, 3:15 p.m.
Barranquilla lands in Milwaukee with a lot of pop, R&B in a language I know all too well: Spanglish.
VALÉ, the 23-year-old Colombian artist now based in Los Angeles, has been busy releasing singles and EPs since 2021, building a collection of music that gets audiences dancing. This artist introduces moments of reggaeton within an electrifying pop beat, all while weaving between her native Spanish and English as she speaks on the pressures of love and family.
Headlining her first tour in November, this is a great chance to see VALÉ as she continues to rise in the world of Latin alternative. She also happens to be a great match for the duo following her on stage at the Aurora Pavilion: homegrown reggaetoneros Gego Y Nony.
Hailing from a family of percussionists, these brothers keep Puerto Rico and Milwaukee close to their heart as they sing, rap and compose their own music while leaning into the “new wave” of reggaeton, influenced by artists like R.K.M and Ken-Y. What makes this concert all the more exciting is the fact they’re from Milwaukee, which continues to be a place where artists’ unique styles, DIY spirit and community-centered focus shine. Expect love tracks (all clean — a plus for families), dancing and plenty of positive vibes.
— Paula Lovo
How to get in free today
Freedom on the Fourth Food Drive presented by Harley-Davidson
From noon to 3 p.m., the first 5,000 patrons who donate three nonperishable food items will receive one free admission ticket, valid for the day and time of the promotion only. All food will be collected at the Mid Gate entrance. Canned fruits and vegetables are especially appreciated. All donations benefit Hunger Task Force.
Summerfest schedule for Saturday, July 4
American Family Insurance Amphitheater
American Family Insurance House
- 4 p.m. — The Temper Trap
- 2 p.m. — Soul Asylum
BMO Pavilion
- 10 p.m. — Sam Barber
- 7:15 p.m. — Preston Cooper
- 5:30 p.m. — Palmer Anthony
Miller Lite Oasis
- 10:30 p.m. — Kerry King
- 8:30 p.m. — Sunami
- 6:45 p.m. — Drown the Lifeguard
- 5 p.m. — SIIN
- 3:15 p.m. — The Maiden Voyage
- 1:45 p.m. — Flatwounds
- 12:15 p.m. — Horizon
T-Mobile Stage
- 10:15 p.m — The Temper Trap
- 8:15 p.m. — Joywave
- 6:15 p.m. — Pure Hex
- 4:15 p.m. — Carolina Liar
- 2:30 p.m. — Known Moons
- 12:45 p.m. — The Last Bees
Generac Power Stage
- 10 p.m. — BoDeans
- 7:30 p.m. — The Jayhawks
- 5:30 p.m. — Soul Asylum
- 3 p.m. — Nicole Lawrence
- 1:30 p.m. — Ur Mom
- 12:15 p.m. — Oh Geeez, Not Again
Uline Warehouse
- 10 p.m. — Straight No Chaser
- 7:30 p.m. — Mindi Abair
- 5:30 p.m. — Jerry Harrison
- 3:30 p.m. — Poi Dog Pondering
- 2 p.m. — Porcupine
- 12:30 p.m. — Blaze Francisco
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard
- 10 p.m. — Jonah Kagen
- 8 p.m. — John Vincent III
- 6 p.m. — KT Tunstall
- 4 p.m. — Elephonic
- 2:30 p.m. — Louie & The Flashbombs
- 1 p.m. — BERMS.
Aurora Pavilion
- 9 p.m. — Sad Boy Saturday
- 7 p.m. — Baha Men
- 5:45 p.m. — Tag Team
- 4:30 p.m. — Gego y Nony
- 3:15 p.m. — Valé
- 2 p.m. — Krusher (Rockonsin winner)
- 12:45 p.m. — Candy Cigarette (Rockonsin runner-up)
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