Milwaukee, WI
Trump rally shooting: RNC Milwaukee, delegates feel ripple effect
MILWAUKEE – Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, was wounded Saturday in what law enforcement is investigating as an assassination attempt at his Pennsylvania rally.
In a statement on social media, Trump said he was “shot with a bullet that pierced the upper part of my right ear.” He still plans to attend the Republican National Convention.
“I think it’s pretty awful. I’m glad he’s OK,” said Wisconsin resident Christian Walters. “I think there’s no room for that in any of our politics, regardless of where anybody stands. I was really pleased to see previous presidents of both parties come out and condemn this.”
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What it means for the RNC
With the RNC days away in Milwaukee, will the event or security plans change? The stage is already set inside Fiserv Forum.
“I was shocked, I was saddened that our politics have come to this in our country,” said Milwaukee resident Kate Lewis. “We want our city to be represented as the great city that it is when the entire world is watching us, and to have this happen on the eve of the convention here is troubling.”
The RNC and the Trump campaign said: “President Trump looks forward to joining you all in Milwaukee as we proceed with our convention.”
Republican Party leaders picked Milwaukee to host the convention more than 700 days ago, and the security plan has been in the works for more than a year. The Secret Service said everything has been considered – including radiological and biological threats.
Delegates react
Delegates are already converging on Milwaukee. Those who spoke to FOX6 News were shocked and expecting the events in Pennsylvania will bring heightened security to the RNC.
“I think people are going to be more attuned, looking around, not feeling so safe anymore,” said Wisconsin delegate Patty Reiman, who told FOX6 she was in the middle of a foreign press interview when she learned about the shooting.
“There is no excuse for what we are witnessing today on July 13, and this will go down in history,” she added.
A Pennsylvania delegate who is already in Milwaukee said the shooting has put a somber mood over the RNC.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee Housing Authority short on cash after misuse of $2.8 million in funds
Cavalier Johnson and Gwen Moore talk about the impact of frozen federal funds
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore talk about the impact of frozen federal funds on Milwaukee and Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Housing Authority executives are scrambling to cut costs, after the agency’s new chief financial officer discovered that more than $2.8 million in rental assistance funds were misused by his predecessors.
Between 2019 and 2022, the Housing Authority’s former director of finance improperly pulled restricted federal funds out of the Section 8 rent assistance program to cover cash needs in other divisions of the agency, according to the CFO’s discovery.
Those transfers were used to cover a number of expenses — including administrative payroll and costs from construction projects that had gone over budget.
As a consequence, the Housing Authority says it is running an average of 45 days behind on paying its expenditures. The agency also has fallen behind on its pension fund contributions, and costs from its development projects currently exceed the amount covered by construction loans.
Now, executives are making major cuts to help “stop the bleeding.” On Thursday, 20 Housing Authority employees were laid off to bring down expenses.
New finance hire solved $3 million mystery
The dramatic discovery — disclosed publicly during a special meeting of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners on Friday afternoon — solves a mystery that confounded agency leaders, the mayor’s office and federal regulators for nearly two years.
In April 2023, federal auditors reported finding more than $3 million in “unexplained variances” on the Housing Authority’s bank balance. After nearly two years, the agency’s finance team had failed to reconcile that cash balance.
Brad Leak — who joined the Housing Authority’s finance team in November and was promoted to be its chief financial officer on Jan. 19 — was able to trace that cash within a matter of months.
The revelation also comes after a dramatic leadership shakeup inside the agency.
All but one member of the Housing Authority Board of Commissioners are new appointees, and a slew of top executives have either retired or resigned in recent months — including Willie Hines, the agency’s controversial top executive and Fernando Aniban, the Housing Authority’s second-in-command and former chief financial officer.
Other recent departures include Finance Director Rick Koffarnus, Housing Choice Voucher Program Director Jackie Martinez and Warren Jones, vice president of construction for the Housing Authority’s development arm.
No evidence employees pocketed funds, more investigation promised
The use of restricted federal funds for unauthorized purposes is “improper and illegal under federal regulation,” Leak said in his address to the board Friday.
But Leak and Acting Secretary-Executive Director Ken Barbeau say they have not found evidence that the funds were pocketed for personal expenses — only that they were improperly transferred within the agency.
A recent forensic audit, which reviewed every financial record within the Section 8 rent assistance program, also did not find any evidence that employees had pocketed agency money.
That forensic audit, however, did not review financial records in other divisions of the Housing Authority — including within its real estate development arm Travaux, Inc.
Now, as these findings come to light, board is discussing the possibility of another forensic audit to examine other parts of the agency, Barbeau said.
Board chair vows ‘it’s a new day’ for the Housing Authority
Chairperson Charlotte Hayslett, who grew up in public housing and joined the board in November, became emotional as she apologized to residents on behalf of the organization.
“This is an embarrassment,” Hayslett said, adding: “It’s a new day here. I can’t impress upon you enough: It’s a new day here.”
As Hayslett thanked him for immediately coming forward with his findings, Leak wiped away tears.
Hayslett also spoke directly to local nonprofit Common Ground, which has spent the past two years organizing public housing residents and lobbying for reform of the Housing Authority.
“Thank you for that bullhorn,” she said. “Had it not been for you giving voice to the voiceless, people still would’ve been in place doing what they were doing.”
In a statement Friday, Common Ground leaders called for since-departed executives to be held accountable.
“We smelled smoke,” Common Ground tenants and organizers said. “Here’s the fire.”
Milwaukee, WI
Amazon has cut $30 off this Milwaukee M18 Drill & Impact Driver Kit — and it comes with 2 M18 battery packs
Amazon is offering a rare deal on the Milwaukee M18 Drill & Impact Driver Kit that will save you money on one of the most-popular power tools sets you can buy.
The Milwaukee M18 Drill & Impact Driver Kit is on sale for $245, instead of $275, for a savings of 11% off. But there’s a catch — the better deal on this power tool kit is for non-Prime members.
Milwaukee M18 Drill & Impact Driver Kit
Sale Price: $245, instead of $275
Buy Now
Prime members can still grab this Milwaukee M18 Power Tool Kit on sale for $259. However, the Prime price includes free one-day delivery, which will get it to you faster. Non-Prime members will have to wait until Feb. 9 for the tool set to arrive.
Included in this Milwaukee Combo Kit is an M18 brushless 1/2-inch drill driver, a M18 brushless 1/4-inch hex impact driver, two M18 REDLITHIUM battery packs, a M18 to M12 multi-voltage battery charger and a contractor bag.
The power tools in this Milwaukee M18 Kit combine brushless durability with an ergonomic design for easy operation. The drill driver and impact driver have a compact footprint to fit in tight spaces and are lightweight to reduce fatigue.
The brushless motors fitted in these M18 power tools allow them to run 50% longer than brushed models, according to Milwaukee. They also have a forward and reverse switch and a variable speed trigger for easy operation.
An LED light for low-light work is also included, in addition to a belt clip to keep the tools on your person.
Shop for this Milwaukee M18 Drill & Impact Driver Kit deal on Amazon here.
You can also check out more power tool kits on sale from Amazon, including these popular brands:
Find more discounts on power tool kits on Amazon here.
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Dawn Magyar can be reached at dmagyar@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips/.
Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee standoff, tactical response; man taken into custody
MILWAUKEE – One person is in custody after an hours-long standoff from Milwaukee’s north side on Thursday night, Jan. 30.
Man vs. police
What we know:
The Milwaukee Police Department said officers had a tactical set-up on a residence near 45th and Hampton. They had said to avoid the area.
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FOX6 News had a crew on the scene and saw a man jump from a second floor window and take off running from officers, attempting to get away. Witnesses said MPD started arriving the scene around 3 p.m.
The man running was ultimately taken into custody.
What we don’t know:
There is no word on what the man was wanted for. FOX6 reached out to MPD for more information.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
The Source: FOX6 News was on the scene and got some information from the Milwaukee Police Department.
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