Milwaukee, WI
Why tomorrow’s election is a referendum on Trump
I’m Hope Karnopp, and this is the Daily Briefing newsletter by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Sign up here to get it sent to your inbox each morning.
It’s going to be chilly for the Brewers’ home opener today, with temperatures feeling like the mid-30s by first pitch. It should stay dry for Election Day tomorrow, though western parts of the state could see rain and snow. Meteorologists are tracking the potential for more strong storms Wednesday.
Why tomorrow’s election is a referendum on Trump
Wisconsin voters will elect a new Supreme Court justice tomorrow. But the April election is much more than a state-level race — it represents a referendum on President Donald Trump and his first 20 weeks in office, Molly Beck and Daniel Bice report.
Brad Schimel, the conservative candidate, has leaned heavily into Trump’s endorsement and joined him for a “tele-rally.” A spokesman for Susan Crawford, the liberal in the race, said Schimel “resorted to being fully at the mercy of Elon Musk and Donald Trump.”
Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School poll, said Schimel’s strategy has never been tried before in Wisconsin, making it “risky.”
“It probably will mobilize some Trump voters who don’t normally vote in spring elections, but also is likely to mobilize Democrats who are extraordinarily opposed to Trump, but perhaps not otherwise intense about the court race,” Franklin said. “So is mobilization or counter-mobilization the greater effect?”
Can We Energies demand backpay on a faulty meter?
Sharon Saxelby, who is retired and on a fixed income, got a We Energies bill for $926 in January. After calling We Energies three times, she was told she owed nearly $700 in backpay due to a “bill irregularity.” She contacted our Public Investigator team, who looked into the matter.
We Energies discovered in December that the “wrong meter” was installed for Saxelby’s Brookfield condo. That meter had recorded just 75% of the electricity used for “the last few years,” a spokeswoman said. Now, We Energies is demanding Saxelby pay for the additional electricity she used over the past two years because of a state law.
Although Saxelby owns her condo, she doesn’t own or control the electricity meter and says it’s unfair for her to pay for We Energies’ mistake. We Energies says customers should know this is a “a very rare case, and the overwhelming majority of our 2.2 million meters work exactly as they should.”
Gina Lee Castro also breaks down whether back billing is legal, and how a similar situation was resolved in the 1970s.
Don’t miss these
Hope Karnopp can be reached at HKarnopp@gannett.com or on X at @hopekarnopp.
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Milwaukee, WI
Milwaukee police officers injured in separate holiday weekend incidents
MILWAUKEE – On Tuesday, July 7, Milwaukee officials are set to release new quarterly crime numbers, following two separate incidents over the holiday weekend in two of the city’s popular entertainment districts that injured two police officers.
Holiday weekend violence
What we know:
Shortly after midnight Sunday, Milwaukee police said officers were chasing after people setting off fireworks in the Brady Street area when a firework injured an officer, a 33-year-old woman, near Cambridge and Brady Streets.
Viewer video of the fireworks
About two hours later, police said officers were running to the sound of gunshots near Water and Knapp Streets, when a car fleeing the scene hit an officer.
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In that incident, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said the injured officer, as well as other officers, shot at the vehicle – which sped off. Norman said the car was found about 12 blocks away, near 12th and Fond du Lac, as well as the injured 18-year-old driver. He was taken to the hospital for treatment of gunshot wounds, and is expected to survive. Police said a gun was found in the suspect vehicle, as well as in the area where the man was arrested.
Milwaukee police said both officers are recovering.
Officials respond
What they’re saying:
On Monday, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson noted the hundreds – if not thousands of people – who celebrated the holiday weekend responsibly, while calling out the upbringing of people who cause chaos in the city.
“This is beyond a policing thing,” said Johnson, following a press conference in the city’s Uptown neighborhood at 55th and Wright. “I don’t want to put this at the feet of the police department. Those folks who go down there and cause problems, they make a decision to do that,” Johnson said.
The events are just the latest incidents to happen in the city’s entertainment districts. Brady Street recently implemented its pilot safety plan.
“Is there a concern these have an impact on business and drawing more people that want to be there, to enjoy a safe environment?” asked FOX6’s Bill Miston.
“I’m always taking a look, and trying to be cognizant of what these sort of events mean for businesses, for public safety, and for the city as a whole,” Johnson said.
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Milwaukee Downtown said it was disheartened by the incidents on Water and nearby Brady Streets, and wished the officers a quick and full recovery. In a statement, Milwaukee Downtown thanked police for their dedication to keeping the entertainment districts safe.
“Downtown Milwaukee welcomed tens of thousands of guests over the milestone holiday weekend. It is unfortunate that these actions overshadow the many positive experiences shared by residents and visitors,” said CEO Matt Dorner.
Portions of this article were formatted using A.I. FOX6’s Bill Miston and an editor reviewed it for accuracy and tone prior to publishing.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from the Milwaukee police, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson, and Milwaukee Downtown.
Milwaukee, WI
Vice President JD Vance to visit Milwaukee on Wednesday
JD Vance emphasizes unity in July Fourth speech
JD Vance highlighted unity and shared purpose in a Fourth of July speech celebrating 250 years of America’s strength and future.
Vice President JD Vance will be in Milwaukee on July 8 at the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Refueling wing, Republican Party of Wisconsin Chairman Brian Schimming said.
It will be an official event, Schimming told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Republican vice president was last in Wisconsin about four months ago, when he spoke at Pointe Precision in Plover on Feb. 26, two days following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address. That visit was part of a campaign by the White House to put the president and top administration officials in front of voters in battleground districts.
In August 2025, Vance visited La Crosse to promote provisions of the Trump administration’s sweeping tax and spending law.
And he made multiple stops in Wisconsin during the 2024 campaign.
The White House has not yet released details about Vance’s visit.
Milwaukee, WI
Two Milwaukee officers hurt over Fourth of July weekend
MILWAUKEE – Two Milwaukee female officers were injured on duty over the weekend. Police said one was hit by a car, while the other was hurt by fireworks.
Video shared on social media shows a blast blowing a Milwaukee police officer to the ground.
“The next thing you know, police coming from everywhere,” said Tracey Dent, a community activist.
Witnesses told FOX6 News it happened around midnight Sunday. They said someone was setting off and throwing fireworks in a crowded parking lot near Brady Street and Cambridge Avenue.
“It’s just a small minority of people who want to mess it up for everybody and think it’s funny, and it’s not funny,” Dent said.
But this was not the only overnight incident where an officer was hurt on duty. Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman said a suspect hit a female officer with a car, which led to an officer-involved shooting around 2:15 a.m. near Knapp and Water streets.
“Uniformed Milwaukee police officers patrolling our downtown entertainment district heard multiple gunshots,” said Norman.
Norman said officers responding on foot saw an Audi leaving the area. He said the 18-year-old male suspect hit a 25-year-old female officer with his vehicle while fleeing.
“Officers, including the injured officer, discharged their weapons at the vehicle,” Chief Norman said.
The officer was taken to the hospital with nonfatal injuries. The suspect was found and also taken to the hospital with nonfatal injuries. He was later arrested.
Police found the unoccupied suspect’s vehicle with a gun inside on Fond du Lac Avenue near Walnut Street.
Police told FOX6 News all the officers involved in this morning’s shooting will be placed on administrative duty which is standard protocol.
Additional officers involved in this incident are a 28-year-old male with over 7 years of service and a 27-year-old male with over 8 years of service. The injured officer has served for less than year.
Chief Norman said two other people arrived at hospitals with gunshot wounds, though it is unclear if they are connected to the officer-involved shooting.
FOX6 News is still waiting on more information from the Brady Street fireworks incident.
The Source: Information in this story was gathered from Tracey Dent, Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman, a police scanner broadcast, Facebook video and the Milwaukee Police Department.
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