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Wrong-way driver passed Harris motorcade; Milwaukee man pleads not guilty

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Wrong-way driver passed Harris motorcade; Milwaukee man pleads not guilty


The Milwaukee man accused of driving the wrong way toward Vice President Kamala Harris’ motorcade in October pleaded not guilty on Wednesday. 

Wrong-way driver

The backstory:

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It happened on Oct. 21. Harris had just wrapped up a rally in Brookfield when the wrong-way vehicle passed her motorcade on I-94 near the Marquette Interchange. Prosecutors said 55-year-old Wayne Wacker was behind the wheel.

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Court filings said Wacker appeared to be driving at “close to highway speeds.” He was stopped near 13th Street, and deputies said he “had a very strong odor of intoxicates emitting from his person, bloodshot and glassy eyes, and extremely slurred speech.”

Wacker told deputies he was on his way home from a Walker’s Point bar and was “unaware” he was driving the wrong way on the interstate, the complaint states. He was taken to the nearby Milwaukee Intermodal Station for field sobriety tests, and the complaint states a preliminary breath test had a BAC reading of .252.

While waiting for a blood draw as part of the OWI investigation, prosecutors said Wacker told deputies he “had no recollection” of entering the freeway or almost striking another vehicle. He also said he had no idea Harris was in Milwaukee and had no intention of harming her or any member of her campaign. 

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In court

What’s next:

Wacker is charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety. Court records show his next court appearance is scheduled for Feb. 18.

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

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Milwaukee, WI

Milwaukee Bucks to decide Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future by NBA draft

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Milwaukee Bucks to decide Giannis Antetokounmpo’s future by NBA draft


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In his first press conference to discuss on-court basketball matters with the Milwaukee Bucks, one in which the organization introduced Taylor Jenkins as its new head coach on May 6, co-owner Jimmy Haslam didn’t waste any time in providing a bit of clarity with the direction of the franchise the Haslam Sports Group bought into in 2023.

Haslam, who said he anticipates being around the Bucks more often going forward, flatly stated the team will decide either trade superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo or continue to build the team around him by the NBA draft, which will be held June 23-24.

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It was a stark departure from the last calendar year, when the organization and locker room navigated through a consistent barrage of trade speculation about the two-time Most Valuable Player.

“I just think before the draft is a natural time, right, because if Giannis does play somewhere else we ought to get a lot of assets,” Haslam said. “And that’s [general manager] Jon [Horst’s] job to do. And if he’s here, you build the team differently.”

Haslam then took a beat to add, without a prompt, “I just want to stress though, that our relationship with him – despite what is reported by certain ESPN writers – is very positive.”

Questions about Antetokounmpo’s future with the organization didn’t entirely dominate Jenkins’ reintroduction to Milwaukee, as the former Bucks assistant and Memphis Grizzlies head coach was able to lay out some aspects of his vision for the team, his partnership with Horst and how he seeks to re-establish a winning culture.

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But Jenkins did acknowledge the looming decision on which direction the team is going to take with – or without – Antetokounmpo was a key point in the hours long discussions he had with co-owners Haslam and Wes Edens, as well as Horst.

“It’s a big one,” Haslam said of the decision over the future of its franchise cornerstone. “It’s a big one. And you gotta get it right. And Jon knows it and Wes knows it. And we didn’t hold back with Taylor. We just said, listen, he may or may not be with us, so don’t come because of that because you want to be straight up with people.”

Horst added that Antetokounmpo did not meet with Jenkins in the interview process, but the head coach and the star have spoken.

And, Antetokounmpo gave an endorsement on the hire to the Journal Sentinel.

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“I think he’s an incredible person,” Antetokounmpo said. “Obviously, he’s an incredible coach. I was able to be with him in 2019 and we made the Eastern Conference finals.

“After that he left, he was one of the first coaches that left the coaching staff and went to Memphis and he had an incredible six years in Memphis. He made them contenders in the West. He had incredible culture in Memphis.

“I had the conversation. I don’t think Milwaukee is just getting just a good coach, I think they’re getting a good person. And that’s where it starts with. Having a good person around that’s gonna be able to set the tone, that set the culture and what Milwaukee Bucks basketball is all about. He’s a really good coach.”

As for the prospect of being coached by Jenkins, Antetokounmpo said, “We’ll see.”

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And clearly that is the approach the organization is taking as well.

“Giannis has brought Milwaukee its second championship and the first in 50 years,” Haslam said. “He’s a phenomenal player. He’s a phenomenal person. He’s arguably one of the best basketball players in the world and we will do what’s best for Giannis and what’s best for the organization.

“We don’t know whether Giannis will stay with us or not, but we’ll work through that with Giannis in the coming weeks.”

For his part, Antetokounmpo addressed how he was going to approach his immediate future with the team on April 12.

“Nothing – phone on do not disturb,” he said after the Bucks’ season finale in Philadelphia. “Working hard every single day to improve my game, be in the best physical shape that I can be and just stay away from it – all of it.

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“I feel like this season, not just because of the way it went, it was draining for me for sure and how everybody approached my situation and the Bucks situation. But again, if it was draining for me, it was definitely draining for the team and for the organization, but I feel like sometimes people just don’t listen.

“They listen to the sources, and the main source is me. It is what it is. So again, do not disturb phone, go about my day, improve and come back better.”



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Milwaukee teacher in the running for ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’

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Milwaukee teacher in the running for ‘America’s Favorite Teacher’


This week marks Teacher Appreciation Week and, as many teachers are honored throughout the week, one local educator is in the running for one of the nation’s top honors. 

America’s Favorite Teacher

What we know:

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Tina Gleason, a teacher at Golda Meir School in Milwaukee, is in the running to become “America’s Favorite Teacher” and needs the support of the community to earn the title. 

Gleason is going up against thousands of teachers nationwide. But each week, that list narrows down. 

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This week wraps up the quarterfinals – where Gleason will rely on public vote to move on. 

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Gleason has been teaching for 31 years. Almost half those years have been catered to STEM and sustainability education. 

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“I think it’s just an honor to be recognized,” said Tina Gleason. “I’m just excited to be in the running at all, I had no idea I’d make it to the quarterfinals.”

How to vote

What you can do:

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Voting for the quarterfinals ends on May 7 at 9 a.m. A single vote is free – while a larger quantity requires a donation to The Planetary Society. 

Help Tina Gleason become America’s Favorite Teacher by casting your vote here. 

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The Source: The information in this post was provided by America’s Favorite Teacher.

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Here’s how Milwaukee high school students can learn to drive for $35 this summer

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Here’s how Milwaukee high school students can learn to drive for  this summer


Summer is almost here, and so is registration for another round of $35 driver’s education classes for Milwaukee Public Schools students. 

Each semester, Milwaukee Recreation offers MPS Drive, a driver’s education program for Milwaukee Public Schools students ages 15 to 17.

Registration for July classes opened May 5. Students can take classes in person, online or both, in addition to getting their driving hours behind the wheel with an instructor.

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Here’s what you need to know about the upcoming driver’s education classes and how you can join.

How do I sign up?

You can sign up through the Milwaukee Recreation registration site here. 

Students signing up for MPS Drive already have an account, according to Nicole Jacobson, citywide programs manager. Students should sign in using the first seven digits of their student ID. Their pin should be their last name with the first letter capitalized.

Students interested in the community-based program will need to be signed up through a parent’s account. To create a parent’s account, you’ll need a username, email and password. You will be asked to provide your name, address, phone number, date of birth and information for any other family members interested in Milwaukee Recreation activities. 

Once signed in, pick the class format, dates, time and location that works best for you, then click ‘add to selection list’ and ‘add to cart.’

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Who can take classes?

Any student attending Milwaukee Public Schools between the ages of 15 and 17 and a half can sign up through MPS Drive. Students at some schools chartered through MPS can join as well. 

To verify if your student’s charter school is eligible, call     414-647-6050.

Where are the classes?

Classes are available in person within some high schools, a hybrid format using both online and in-person classes or an entirely asynchronous online course that students have 90 days to complete. 

All classes, including online courses, will include behind-the-wheel lessons with six hours of observation and six hours of driving, Jodie Donabar, driver’s education supervisor at Milwaukee Recreation, said.

How much does it cost?

The program has a $35 fee, which is used to cover the costs of the driver’s permit. This fee includes classroom education and practice time behind the wheel.

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What if I’m over the age limit?

If you’re over the age limit, you can take your test without completing a driver’s education program when you turn 18. You will need to pass the written permit test, which you can prepare for by studying the Wisconsin Motorists’ Handbook, and take practice permit tests. 

After you receive your permit, you can practice driving with someone who holds a Class D driver’s license that is not probationary. You can then schedule a road test at the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles. 

Those 18 and older can ask for tutoring help with the written permit test from local driving schools. You can also take a class at a private driving school, which costs on average $500 to $700. 


Alex Klaus is the education solutions reporter for the Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service and a corps member of Report for America, a national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities. Report for America plays no role in editorial decisions in the NNS newsroom.

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